Understanding the need for novelty from the perspective of self-determination theory

A fundamental tenet of self-determination theory is that the satisfaction of three basic, innate psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness is necessary for optimal functioning. The aim of this research was to propose novelty as a basic psychological need in self-determination theory and develop a new measure to assess novelty need satisfaction, the Novelty Need Satisfaction Scale (NNSS). Two studies were performed, one at the global lifestyle level (Study 1: general adults, N = 399, Mage = 31.30 years) and the other at a contextual level in physical education (Study 2: first-year post-compulsory secondary school students, N = 1035, Mage = 16.20 years). Participants completed the NNSS alongside measures of psychological needs and regulation styles from self-determination theory and psychological well-being. The six-item NNSS showed adequate psychometric properties and discriminant validity with other psychological needs in both studies. Novelty need satisfaction predicted life satisfaction (Study 1) and intrinsic motivation in physical education (Study 2) independent of the other three psychological needs. Results provide preliminary evidence that need for novelty is a unique candidate need alongside existing needs from self-determination theory, but further confirmatory and experimental research is required

The Sun's Preferred Longitudes and the Coupling of Magnetic Dynamo Modes

Observations show that solar activity is distributed non-axisymmetrically, concentrating at "preferred longitudes". This indicates the important role of non-axisymmetric magnetic fields in the origin of solar activity. We investigate the generation of the non-axisymmetric fields and their coupling with axisymmetric solar magnetic field. Our kinematic generation (dynamo) model operating in a sphere includes solar differential rotation, which approximates the differential rotation obtained by inversion of helioseismic data, modelled distributions of the turbulent resistivity, non-axisymmetric mean helicity, and meridional circulation in the convection zone. We find that (1) the non-axisymmetric modes are localised near the base of the convection zone, where the formation of active regions starts, and at latitudes around $30^{\circ}$; (2) the coupling of non-axisymmetric and axisymmetric modes causes the non-axisymmetric mode to follow the solar cycle; the phase relations between the modes are found. (3) The rate of rotation of the first non-axisymmetric mode is close to that determined in the interplanetary space.Comment: 22 pages, 18 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Perspectiva paleobotánica y geológica de la biodiversidad en México

The origin of the extant vegetation and diversity of Mexico has a long history. Possibly the extent of this history is the point where the proposals differ, one states that the history begins in the Cretaceous (ca. 132 my) while other emphasize processes restricted to the Plio-Pleistocene (5.3 my), especially if referring the appearance of extant vegetation. Increased knowledge of the geological evolution of Mexico, and the constant change in physiography, along with the study of fossil angiosperms of the region, generates a clearer concept of how and when life forms differentiated and partnered. A hypothesis that combines geological processes and physiographic changes with the presence of plants and vegetation on the emerged continental parts is presented. It is proposed that existing biodiversity does indeed start ca. 132 million years ago, and although lineages that live in Mexico today can be recognized from this time, it is difficult to place their representants within a family, probably because they may represent members of the stem group. By the Paleogene (65-32 my) families, and even genera, that continue to live in Mexico are more easily recognized, but groups of extinct plants or plants growing today in other regions are still common. Based on the morphological/anatomical approach the Neogene (32-1.8 my) fossil plants resemble more those living naturally in Mexico, but still have important differences supporting the recognition of new species only. If in relatively recent times extant and fossil plants in Mexico seem closer based on their morphology/anatomy, it is to be expected that with the vegetation types a similar process can be recognized. The fossil record suggests that from communities that developed under hot-humid conditions in the Cretaceous, vegetation types with different capabilities to tolerate water stress, and communities that favored cool temperate conditions diverged. The process of divergence apparently occurred at two different times in two different regions. During the Paleogene it affected northern Mexico and during the Neogene it affected central and southern Mexico. Further geological and paleobotanical work will refine this proposal that suggests that changes that enable or constrain biological responses are part of other components of the Earth System.El origen de la vegetación actual de México y su diversidad tiene larga historia. Posiblemente es la extensión de esta historia el punto en que discrepan las propuestas, una planteando que inicia en el Cretácico (ca. 132 ma) y otras haciendo énfasis en procesos restringidos al Plio-Pleistoceno (5.3 ma), sobre todo si se refieren al origen de la vegetación actual. El aumento del conocimiento sobre la evolución geológica de México, y del constante cambio en su fisiografía, así como del estudio de las angiospermas fósiles de la región, genera un concepto más claro de cómo y cuándo las formas de vida fueron llegando y asociándose. Se presenta una hipótesis en la que se combinan procesos geológicos y cambios fisiográficos, con la presencia de plantas y vegetación en las partes emergidas que se van desarrollando. Se propone que la biodiversidad actual efectivamente inicia hace ca. 132 millones de años, aunque linajes que hoy viven en México se pueden reconocer desde este tiempo, es complicado ubicarlos en familias, pues posiblemente representen miembros del grupo troncal. En el Paleógeno (65-32 ma) las familias, y aun géneros, que continúan viviendo en el país son más fácilmente reconocidos, pero grupos extintos o que hoy crecen en otras regiones siguen siendo comunes. Es en el Neógeno (32-1.8 ma) que desde un punto de vista de la morfológico/anatómico las plantas fósiles se parecen más a las que viven de forma natural actualmente en el país, pero muestran diferencias que en general permiten proponer nuevas especies. Si las plantas fósiles y actuales de México se relacionan morfo/anatómicamente más solo en tiempos relativamente recientes, es de esperar que con los tipos de vegetación suceda algo similar. El registro fósil sugiere que a partir de comunidades que se desarrollaron bajo condiciones cálido-húmedas en el Cretácico, divergieron tipos de vegetación con capacidades diferentes ante el estrés hídrico, y comunidades que se favorecieron de condiciones templadas a frías. Esto sucede aparentemente en dos momentos distintos en dos regiones diferentes; durante el Paleógeno se afecta al norte y en al Neógeno al centro y sur del país. Trabajo geológico y paleobotánico conjunto y comparativo permitirá refinar esta propuesta que sugiere que los cambios que activan o restringen respuestas biológicas forman parte de otros componentes del Sistema Tierra

INGA 3D - creative transfer of competence in 3D footwear CAD to VET professionals

INGA 3D project - Creative Transfer of Competence in 3D Footwear CAD to VET Professionals aims to transfer and extend innovative software solutions and 3D technologies for Footwear Computer Aided Design. The project brings together universities, research and training centres, adult education providers and IT companies from Romania, Spain, Portugal, and UK. The project products introduce innovative solutions for e-learning in order to test and to validate new teaching methodologies and approaches suitable for vocational training. The INGA 3D training content, its supportive guide as well as the online learning platform was designed, developed, tested and evaluated in line with the best practices identified by partners in their institutions, countries and elsewhere in Europe. INGA 3D project contributes to developing skills and competencies of VET teachers, trainers, tutors, in order to face the future challenges raised by the necessity of adding to the current curricula in VET institutions ICT skill sets that will enable their graduates to work with highly specialized footwear CAD technologies

Causes of the regional variability in observed sea level, sea surface temperature and ocean colour over the period 1993-2011

We analyse the regional variability in observed sea surface height (SSH), sea surface temperature (SST) and ocean colour (OC) from the ESA Climate Change Initiative (CCI) datasets over the period 1993-2011. The analysis focuses on the signature of the ocean large-scale climate fluctuations driven by the atmospheric forcing and do not address the mesoscale variability. We use the ECCO version 4 ocean reanalysis to unravel the role of ocean transport and surface buoyancy fluxes in the observed SSH, SST and OC variability. We show that the SSH regional variability is dominated by the steric effect (except at high latitude) and is mainly shaped by ocean heat transport divergences with some contributions from the surface heat fluxes forcing that can be significant regionally (confirming earlier results). This is in contrast with the SST regional variability, which is the result of the compensation of surface heat fluxes by ocean heat transport in the mixed layer and arises from small departures around this background balance. Bringing together the results of SSH and SST analyses, we show that SSH and SST bear some common variability. This is because both SSH and SST variability show significant contributions from the surface heat fluxes forcing. It is evidenced by the high correlation between SST and buoyancy forced SSH almost everywhere in the ocean except at high latitude. OC, which is determined by phytoplankton biomass, is governed by the availability of light and nutrients that essentially depend on climate fluctuations. For this reason OC show significant correlation with SST and SSH. We show that the correlation with SST display the same pattern as the correlation with SSH with a negative correlation in the tropics and subtropics and a positive correlation at high latitude. We discuss the reasons for this pattern

Distribution patterns and trophic characteristics of salmonids and native species inhabiting high altitude rivers of Pampa de Achala region, Argentina

The Pampa de Achala in central Argentina is an area with low fish species richness where salmonids were first introduced at the beginning of the twentieth century. A total of 19 rivers of different order were sampled during the low water period by using portable electrofishing equipment. We covered different identified macrohabitats (pools, riffles, glides and cascades) in reaches of 300-500 m length. The native species Trichomycterus corduvensis and two exotic salmonids such as Salvelinus fontinalis and Oncorhynchus mykiss represented the most common species, showing allopatric and sympatric distribution in some streams. Stomach contents and diet overlapping were also analyzed. Cluster results showed a first main group comprised those streams with high diet similitude between T. corduvensis and O. mykiss whereas a second main group consisted of streams with high diet similitude between O. mykiss and S. fontinalis. Mean niche width was similar among all these species but T. corduvensis showed that widest range whereas S. fontinalis exhibited the narrowest trophic niche. We were able to document a direct predation on T. corduvensis by O. mykiss in two stream although distribution overlapping among native and exotic species were low. In turn diet overlapping among species were negligible. Trophic niche amplitude of S. fontinalis was inversely related to stream order, providing clues that geomorphology and hydrology may exert also influence of trophic characteristics and can be used for predicting the potential for food competition with native species. Analysis by Tokeshi plot revealed that T. corduvensis ranged from specialist to generalist whereas both salmonids showed generalist feeding habits with a heterogeneous and homogeneous diet

Flora and vegetation of the seasonally dry tropics in Mexico: origin and biogeographical implications

Among the many explanations for the large biological diversity of Mexico is that it is the result of the contact between the Nearctic and Neotropical biotas; however, this contact-related explanation is not fully satisfactory and needs further examination in the light of historical biogeography. We offer newer insights into this issue by examining the history of the flora and the vegetation heterogeneity of the seasonally dry tropics of this country. Several environmental criteria can be used to define the seasonally dry tropical regions, but setting their precise geographical boundaries is not always straightforward. This is largely due to the large vegetation heterogeneity of this region, within which the tropical dry forest (TDF) is prominent. The origin of the TDF flora can be traced back at least as far as 20 million years before present and seems to be associated with the Tertiary North American flora. Available evidence does not support a South American origin of the TDF flora. Similarly, the separation of the TDF and the hot North American desert floras into two different biogeographical realms is not warranted. The history of the seasonally dry tropical flora of Mexico strongly suggests that this biogeographical dichotomy should be replaced by the recognition of the existence of a Pan-American Realm