Switching barrier scaling near bifurcation points for non-Gaussian noise

We study noise-induced switching of a system close to bifurcation parameter values where the number of stable states changes. For non-Gaussian noise, the switching exponent, which gives the logarithm of the switching rate, displays a non-power-law dependence on the distance to the bifurcation point. This dependence is found for Poisson noise. Even weak additional Gaussian noise dominates switching sufficiently close to the bifurcation point, leading to a crossover in the behavior of the switching exponent

What a difference a term makes:the effect of educational attainment on marital outcomes in the UK

Abstract In the past, students in England and Wales born within the first 5 monthsof the academic year could leave school one term earlier than those born later inthe year. Focusing on women, those who were required to stay on an extra termmore frequently hold some academic qualification. Using having been required tostay on as an exogenous factor affecting academic attainment, we find that holding alow-level academic qualification has no effect on the probability of being currentlymarried for women aged 25 or above, but increases the probability of the husbandholding some academic qualification and being economically active.33 Halama

Crater lake cichlids individually specialize along the benthic-limnetic axis

A common pattern of adaptive diversification in freshwater fishes is the repeated evolution of elongated open water (limnetic) species and high-bodied shore (benthic) species from generalist ancestors. Studies on phenotype-diet correlations have suggested that population-wide individual specialization occurs at an early evolutionary and ecological stage of divergence and niche partitioning. This variable restricted niche use across individuals can provide the raw material for earliest stages of sympatric divergence. We investigated variation in morphology and diet as well as their correlations along the benthic-limnetic axis in an extremely young Midas cichlid species, Amphilophus tolteca, endemic to the Nicaraguan crater lake Asososca Managua. We found that A. tolteca varied continuously in ecologically relevant traits such as body shape and lower pharyngeal jaw morphology. The correlation of these phenotypes with niche suggested that individuals are specialized along the benthic-limnetic axis. No genetic differentiation within the crater lake was detected based on genotypes from 13 microsatellite loci. Overall, we found that individual specialization in this young crater lake species encompasses the limnetic- as well as the benthic macro-habitat. Yet there is no evidence for any diversification within the species, making this a candidate system for studying what might be the early stages preceding sympatric divergence

An open-label clinical trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of corifollitropin alfa combined with hCG in adult men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism

Subject disposition. (EPS 1138 kb

Seasonal rooting, as measured by four parameters, of ten woody ornamentals treated with acid (H₂SO₄), base (NaOH) and IBA

Cuttings of ten woody ornamentals were treated with acid (10 sec. dip in 2N H2SO4) and base (10 min. soak in NaOH pH 10.5) alone and in combination with two rates of IBA (1,000 and 3,000 or 8,000 ppm talc formulation) to determine pretreatment effects on percent rooting, root quality grade, root ball diameter, and root dry weight at three seasons. Five acid tolerant species (Cornus florida, Tsuga canadensis, Rhododendron obtusum \u27Coral Bells\u27, Ilex cornuta \u27Burfordii\u27, Juniperus horizontalis \u27Bar Harbor\u27) and five base tolerant plants (Juniperus conferta, Juniperus virginiana, Cercis canadensis, Philadelphus coronarius, Euonymus japonicus) were tested as softwood (Spring), semi-hardwood (Fall) and hardwood (Winter) cuttings to determine treatment effects but also to detect any correlation between pH tolerance and chemical treatment could be observed. Rooting parameters were correlated to see if a measure less laborious than dry weight could be adopted. The majority of species had highest correlation coefficients between root quality grade and root ball diameter. These two parameters also correlated well with dry weight but coefficients varied from season to season and even among treatments. Thus, several parameters were used to evaluate rooting of most species. Dry weight and root quality grade showed obvious differences in seasonal rooting. Euonymus was easily rooted at any season; shore juniper, mockorange and dogwood rooted best in spring; Burford holly and \u27Bar Harbor\u27 juniper in winter; and azalea in the fall. Red Cedar rooted very poorly and redbud and hemlock not at all. Averaged over all species rooting was generally better in spring followed by fall and winter. The treatment giving best rooting for the fall experiment was high IBA. For winter hardwood cuttings, best treatments were IBA at either rate and combinations of IBA + base. Spring softwood cuttings rooted best when treated with high IBA, base + high IBA, base + low IBA and, usually, low IBA. Best treatments for acid tolerant plants were base + high IBA, high IBA and base + low IBA. However, there was no obvious trend where base alone significantly increased rooting of acid-tolerant species. Base-tolerant species reacted much the same as acid-tolerant plants. Best response occurred with high IBA, base + high IBA, low IBA and base + low IBA. Acid treatment did not increase rooting of the base-tolerant plants tested. Treatments which gave consistently best results for Euonymus japonicus were low or high IBA, acid + high IBA and base + high IBA. Best treatments for Juniperus horizontalis \u27Bar Harbor\u27 were base, high IBA, acid + high IBA, base + low or high IBA and even control plants were acceptable. Consistently good rooting occurred for Juniperus conferta treated with high or low IBA. Juniperus virginiana rooted only slightly in the winter with best results occurring with high IBA, or base + high IBA. Best treatments for Ilex cornuta were base, base + high IBA, low IBA and high IBA. For Philadelphus coronarius high IBA and base + high IBA gave best results. No significant differences due to treatments were recorded for Rhododendron obtusum \u27Coral Bells\u27. For Cornus florida high IBA and base + high IBA were found to be superior treatments. The single best treatment for Juniperus virginiana, Philadelphus coronarius, Rhododendron obtusum \u27Coral Bells\u27, Ilex cornuta \u27Burfordii\u27, and Cornus florida was base + high IBA. Euonymus japonicus and Juniperus conferta rooted best under high IBA. For Juniperus horizontal is \u27Bar Harbor\u27 base alone was the single best treatment. Both Tsuga canadensis and Cercis canadensis failed to root in any season regardless of chemical treatment

The Impact of Yogurt Consumption on Life Expectancy

Yogurt, a widely consumed dairy product that undergoes fermentation, has garnered considerable interest due to its perceived capacity to promote health and well-being. The objective of this paper is to provide a thorough examination of the scholarly literature pertaining to the correlation between the consumption of yogurt and longevity. This study investigates the nutritional composition of yogurt, the significance of probiotics, potential mechanisms affecting lifespan, and the implications of yogurt consumption on chronic diseases and gastrointestinal well-being. Based on the existing body of evidence, it can be inferred that the consumption of yogurt potentially plays a role in extending the duration of one’s life by virtue of its positive impact on overall health and well-being

Developmental differences in reported speech and internal state language in preschoolers’ personal narratives

The present study explored developmental differences in preschoolers’ use of reported speech and internal state language in personal narratives. Three-, four-, and five-year-olds attending a laboratory preschool shared 204 stories about ‘a time when you were happy/sad’. Stories were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded for reported speech (direct, indirect, narrativized) and internal state language (cognitive states, total emotion terms, unique emotion terms). Personal narratives told by five-year-olds included more cognitive states and more narrativized speech than those told by three- and four-year-olds, even when accounting for children’s vocabulary skills, and that reported speech (narrativized, direct) were positively correlated with cognitive state talk. These findings highlight distinct shifts in children’s use of cognitive state talk and reported speech in personal narratives told at age five. Associations between reported speech and internal state language are both informed by and support Vygotsky’s (1978) fundamental claim that psychological processes are socially mediated by language