Predation and infanticide influence ideal free choice by a parrot occupying heterogeneous tropical habitats

The ideal free distribution (IFD) predicts that organisms will disperse to sites that maximize their fitness based on availability of resources. Habitat heterogeneity underlies resource variation and influences spatial variation in demography and the distribution of populations. We relate nest site productivity at multiple scales measured over a decade to habitat quality in a box-nesting population of Forpus passerinus (green-rumped parrotlets) in Venezuela to examine critical IFD assumptions. Variation in reproductive success at the local population and neighborhood scales had a much larger influence on productivity (fledglings per nest box per year) than nest site or female identity. Habitat features were reliable cues of nest site quality. Nest sites with less vegetative cover produced greater numbers of fledglings than sites with more cover. However, there was also a competitive cost to nesting in high-quality, low-vegetative cover nest boxes, as these sites experienced the most infanticide events. In the lowland local population, water depth and cover surrounding nest sites were related with F. passerinus productivity. Low vegetative cover and deeper water were associated with lower predation rates, suggesting that predation could be a primary factor driving habitat selection patterns. Parrotlets also demonstrated directional dispersal. Pairs that changed nest sites were more likely to disperse from poor-quality nest sites to high-quality nest sites rather than vice versa, and juveniles were more likely to disperse to, or remain in, the more productive of the two local populations. Parrotlets exhibited three characteristics fundamental to the IFD: habitat heterogeneity within and between local populations, reliable habitat cues to productivity, and active dispersal to sites of higher fitness

Big issues for small feet : developmental, biomechanical and clinical narratives on children's footwear

The effects of footwear on the development of children's feet has been debated for many years and recent work from the developmental and biomechanical literature has challenged long-held views about footwear and the impact on foot development. This narrative review draws upon existing studies from developmental, biomechanical and clinical literature to explore the effects of footwear on the development of the foot. The emerging findings from this support the need for progress in [children's] footwear science and advance understanding of the interaction between the foot and shoe. Ensuring clear and credible messages inform practice requires a progressive evidence base but this remains big issue in children's footwear research

Identification of a Classical Bipartite Nuclear Localization Signal in the Drosophila TEA/ATTS Protein Scalloped

Drosophila melanogaster wing development has been shown to rely on the activity of a complex of two proteins, Scalloped (Sd) and Vestigial (Vg). Within this complex, Sd is known to provide DNA binding though its TEA/ATTS domain, while Vg modulates this binding and provides transcriptional activation through N- and C-terminal activation domains. There is also evidence that Sd is required for the nuclear translocation of Vg. Indeed, a candidate sequence which shows consensus to the bipartite family of nuclear localization signals (NLSs) has been identified within Sd previously, though it is not known if it is functional, or if additional unpredicted signals that mediate nuclear transport exist within the protein. By expressing various enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) tagged constructs within Drosophila S2 cells, we demonstrate that this NLS is indeed functional and necessary for the proper nuclear localization of Sd. Additionally, the region containing the NLS is critical for the wildtype function of ectopically expressed Sd, in the context of wing development. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we have identified a group of five amino acids within this NLS which is critical for its function, as well as another group of two which is of lesser importance. Together with data that suggests that this sequence mediates interactions with Importin-α3, we conclude that the identified NLS is likely a classical bipartite signal. Further dissection of Sd has also revealed that a large portion of the C-terminal domain of the protein is required its proper nuclear localization. Finally, a Leptomycin B (LB) sensitive signal which appears to facilitate nuclear export is identified, raising the possibility that Sd also contains a nuclear export signal (NES)

he effects of multiple representation based instruction of integer on sixth grade students' success model preference and skills of translations among representations

Doktora Tezi. YÖK Tez No:436707Bu araştırmanın amacı, "Tam sayılar" konusunun Sorgulayıcı Öğrenme (SÖ) yaklaşımı ve çoklu temsil destekli Dinamik Çoklu Modelleme (DÇM) ile öğretiminin, öğrencilerin başarılarına etkisini araştırmak, öğrencilerin "Tam sayılar" konusuna ilişkin model tercihlerini, temsiller arası geçiş becerilerini ve SÖ süreci aşamalarındaki yeterlilik düzeylerini ortaya koymaktır. Bu araştırma hem nicel hem de nitel araştırma desenli karma yöntem çalışmasıdır. Dinamik çoklu modeller, Tam sayılar konusunun öğrenilmesi ve 6. Sınıf öğrencilerinin başarılarına etkisini araştırmak amacı ile ilgili geliştirildiği için nicel araştırma deseni olarak, eşleştirilmiş örneklem, öntest - sontest deneysel desen seçilmiştir. Başarılarını detaylı incelemek amacıyla nitel durum desenlerinden durum çalışması deseni uygulanmıştır. Araştırmanın örneklemini, eşleştirilmiş örneklem yoluyla oluşturulmuş iki gruba dâhil etmek üzere 54 adet 6. sınıf öğrencisi oluşturmaktadır. Uygulama sürecinde, dinamik modellemeye dayalı orijinal geliştirilen öğretim materyalleri kullanılmıştır. Veri toplama araçları olarak, Başarı Testi, çalışma yaprakları ve yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme kayıtları kullanılmıştır. Nicel veriler SPSS 22.0 paket programıyla, nitel veriler ise betimsel analiz ve doküman incelemesi yoluyla yorumlanmıştır. Uygulama sonucunda, Tam sayılar konusunu SÖ yaklaşımıyla çoklu temsil destekli DÇM ile öğrenen öğrencilerin, geleneksel yöntemle öğrenen öğrencilere göre daha başarılı oldukları görülmüştür. Görüşmelerden elde edilen bulgularla birlikte, deney grubu öğrencilerinin model tercihlerinin kontrol grubu öğrencilerin model tercihlerine kıyasla daha çeşitli olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Çalışma yapraklarından elde edilen bulgularla, öğrencilerin çoğunluğunun, SÖ sürecinde, "modelleme" "veri toplama" "ilişkilendirme" adımlarında "genelleştirme" adımına göre daha iyi performans sergiledikleri görülmektedir. Bu araştırmada en önemli sonuç, 6. sınıf Tam sayılar konusunda geliştirilen özgün materyallerin öğrenci başarısını arttırdığıdır, bu doğrultudaki öneri ise DÇM yoluyla SÖ sürecinin öğrencilerin öğrenme süreçlerine katkı niteliği taşıyabileceğidir.The aim of this research is searching the effect of teaching the integers with the multiple representation based Dynamic Multiple Modeling (DMM) by the Inquiry Learning (IL) approach to the students' success presenting the proficiency level of students on the phases of IL process, switching between representation skills, model choices on the integers. This research is an experimental study which has both quantitative and qualitative research patterns. The research pattern has been chosen and implemented as paired sample, and pretest and posttest pattern. Case study pattern has implemented with the aim of verifying the results of experimental pattern. 54 6th grade students are forming the research sample to integrate them to the two equivalent group which are formed by the paired sample approach. Materials are based on dynamic modelling and originally developed. Success Test, worksheets and semi-structured interview records has been used .The quantitative data has been analyzed by SPSS 22.0 package programme . The qualitative data has been interpreted with the way of document examination,descriptive analysis. As a conclusion, by DMM approach is more successful than the students who are learning with the traditional methods. With the outcomes from worksheets it has seen, most of the students about IL has performed better in the "modelling", "collecting data" and "finding relation among data" than "generalizing" phase. The most important result is that the learning process and the materials are improving the students' success. The suggestion is that IL process with the DMM method can contribute to the students' success