Nestling White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) eaten by a Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila verreauxii) at a nest occupied for a record 21 years.

An adult Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila verreauxii) was observed eating a White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) nestling at a nest at Sango in the Savé Valley Conservancy, south-eastern Zimbabwe on 13 October 2017. This nest has been regularly occupied for 21 successive breeding seasons. To our knowledge, this observation represents a previously unrecorded species in the diet of Verreaux’s Eagle, and it is also apparently the longest known continually-occupied White-backed Vulture nest

Top Paper Panel

Panel Chair: Kerry Byrnes-Loinette Papers presented: Quantifying apoptosis induced by the fusion of EWS-FLI1 by means of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) dUTP Nick-End Lableing (TUNEL) using the zebrafish model by Rozen Gilerman How Economic Indicators Influence Mexican Immigration, and Mexican Immigration Success, in the United States by Daisy Jaimez The Electric Spacecraft Propulsion System by Alexander J. Harper Abstract: Spacecraft propulsion systems play a pivotal role in the modern Aerospace Industry as they are responsible for allowing craft to move and navigate and therefore operate as they are intended to. While chemical systems are more well known, electric propulsion systems stand as the next step in the journey to the stars and are seeing more widespread use on spacecraft than ever before. An exploration of the properties and inner workings of electric ion drives demonstrates how they operate at a greater efficiency than chemical rockets and therefore the most sustainable and economically feasible option for extra-atmospheric maneuvers. An exploration of non-ionic drives demonstrates how engineers and scientists are taking the next step to develop creative and resourceful new methods of propulsion, and that these methods are the future of spacecraft propulsion. Biblical Allusions in the Brothers Karamazov by Lindy Winter Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, written in 1880 in the Russian language (although translated to English in 1912), is the last book that Dostoyevsky wrote. This passionate novel covers a multitude of significant themes that reflect Dostoyevsky’s own religious and philosophical views such as free will, the existence of God, and ethics. Throughout the novel, however, these themes could not be expressed without the use of biblical allusions, which are indirect references to the bible. Therefore, in order to fully comprehend Dostoyevsky’s purpose for this final novel, this essay will examine the question: to what extent and why does Fyodor Dostoyevsky implement biblical allusions in his novel, The Brothers Karamazov? Answering this question requires a complete and thorough investigation of reviews and criticisms on Dostoyevsky’s novel, background of the author’s life, context of the time period, and an exploration of religious texts that relate to the book. Primary sources, such as scriptural accounts in The Bible, are used to prove the existence of biblical allusions as well as discover a relationship between the novel and biblical text. Furthermore, secondary sources such as literary analyses are critically observed in order to understand the reasoning for Dostoyevsky’s use of biblical allusions. The research primarily focuses on the overall implementation of biblical references in the novel and why they are used. Thorough analysis and investigation of the previously mentioned strategies shows that Dostoyevsky ultimately implemented biblical allusions in a highly profuse and distinctive manner, allowing his readers to understand character relationships on a deeper level, realize his personal religious and philosophical views, and further appreciate the role of faith in the entire novel

Speech pathologists' perceptions of the impact of student supervision

Qualitative studies have described clinician perspectives on student placements. These studies highlight likely contributors to placement shortages, but little is documented in speech pathology (SP). This article describes SP clinician perceptions of student impact/s on their clinical and other work tasks, stress levels and time management, and explores factors that may contribute to these perceptions of their experience. Interpretive description was selected to analyse public health sector SP clinician online survey responses. Open-ended questions explored clinician perceptions of student impact on specified components of their work as well as any other aspects clinicians identified. Thirty-four SP clinicians with varying caseloads and experience levels responded. Clinicians perceived that students can positively or negatively impact their clinical and non-clinical activities. Many also identified negative impacts on their stress levels. Some commented on differing impacts for patients and other colleagues. Collective themes of Clinician, Supervision Practices, Workplace, and Student are presented in a model of potential influences on the experience of student impact. SP clinicians perceived that experience of student impact is varied and complex. Influences are likely to be multi-factorial and further research is needed in a range of contexts to guide clinicians, managers and universities in supporting SP student clinical placements

Inhibitory Deficits, Delay Aversion and Preschool AD/HD: Implications for the Dual Pathway Model

The dual pathway model proposes the existence of separate and neurobiologically distinct cognitive (inhibitory and more general executive dysfunction) and motivational (delay aversion) developmental routes to AD/HD. The study reported in this paper explores the relation between inhibitory deficits and delay aversion and their association with AD/HD in a group of three-year-old children. Children identified as having a pre-school equivalent of AD/HD (N=19) and controls (N=19), matched for gender and IQ, completed a battery of inhibition and delay tasks. Correlational and factor analysis supported a dissociation between inhibitory deficits (go-no-go, set shifting) and delay aversion (choice delay) with delay of gratification cross-loading. Children with AD/HD displayed more inhibitory deficits and were more delay averse than controls. The data support the value of the distinction between motivational and cognitive pathways to AD/HD. Furthermore, the data suggest that such a distinction is apparent relatively early on during development

Analysis of publication trends and its relationship with academic success among dermatology residents and fellows

Background: Exposure to academic research is regarded as a meaningful component of medical training. Despite the importance placed on research activities, little is known regarding the extent to which dermatology residents and fellows participate in research. Thus, we sought to determine if research productivity during residency and fellowship training predicted future research and academic success.Methods: We assessed whether research productivity during residency predicted future research and academic success. We searched for names of graduates from a random sample of 50 reputable dermatology programs. For each of the 202 graduates included, we determined the number of peer-reviewed publications (published before, during, and after residency), the total number of first authored peer-reviewed publications, H-index score, fellowship program, and if the graduate is currently working in a private or academic setting.Results: One hundred dermatology residency programs were identified, for which 50 were included in our sample. Graduate rosters were available for 16 programs (32%) with a total 202 residents. The majority of graduates had 1-5 publications (94/202, 46.5%), with 28/202 (13.8%) having 0 publications and 8/202 (3.96%) having >30 publications. The average number of publications prior to residency was 0.98, 3.33 during residency, and 3.39 after residency. Overall, the average number of total publications per resident was 7.71. Greater than one-half of first-authored publications were completed during residency (347/635, 54.6%). Lastly, one-third of graduates (68/202, 33.6%) elected to pursue a fellowship, and 66 graduates (of 202, 32.6%) chose to pursue a career in academia after completion of residency training.Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that graduates of dermatology residency and fellowship programs are actively involved in research opportunities throughout their medical training. The value placed on research during dermatology training appears to carry with graduates into their postgraduate career, accounting for the continued research productivity after residency. We emphasize the importance of active involvement in research during and after residency in an effort to equip training physicians with valuable skills in order to accurately interpret and apply research outcomes to better patient care

Trade in vulture parts in West Africa:Burkina Faso may be one of the main sources of vulture carcasses

The current catastrophic decline in African vultures is caused mainly by poisoning, and killing for consumption and belief-based use (traditional medicine). To find out more about the key threats to vultures in West Africa, we assessed the main anthropogenic causes of vulture mortality in Burkina Faso. We analysed incidents of mass vulture mortality, based on interviews conducted in 2016 with local butchers, veterinarians, foresters, and abattoir watchmen at 44 sites across the country. A total of 730 interviews revealed that poisoning was the main cause of mortality of vultures in Burkina Faso (20 of the 23 mass mortality incidents described by respondents were caused by poisoning). Poisoning was also the most lethal threat to vultures (779 out of 879 known vulture deaths were due to poisoning). According to the survey, intentional poisoning of vultures with poisoned baits (which comprised 15 out of 23 mass mortality incidents) produced the highest number of victims (577 out of 879 dead vultures). The number of vultures killed by poisoned baits was higher closer to the borders than elsewhere in Burkina Faso and we believe these recent intentional vulture poisoning events in Burkina Faso were intended to meet the growing demand for vulture body parts in West Africa. The survey showed that unintentional poisoning was the second main cause of vulture mass mortality (5 out of 23 mass mortality incidents comprising 202 of 879 dead vultures). Other important anthropogenic causes of vulture mortality included electrocution at electricity poles and motor vehicle collisions. Our results highlight the need for awareness campaigns, improved policy and legislation, and stronger commitment from governments in West Africa, to halt the trade in vultures and prevent their extirpation.</p

Preharvest Management Strategies and Their Impact on Mycotoxigenic Fungi and Associated Mycotoxins

Mycotoxigenic fungi that contaminate grain crops can lead to reduced grain quality, crop yield reduction and mycotoxicosis among humans and livestock. Preharvest management of fungi and mycotoxin contamination is considered among the most important mitigating strategies. Approaches include the breeding of resistant cultivars, use of microorganisms chemical control, production practises and the management of plant stressors. Resistant plants provide an effective and environmentally sound strategy to control mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins; and have been documented. Their incorporation into commercial cultivars is, however, slow and complex. Therefore, emphasis should be placed on determining the resistance of cultivars and landraces currently used by producers. Chemical control has been successfully used for wheat; yet little to no research has been done on other important crops. Biological control strategies have focussed on Aspergillus flavus that produces aflatoxins and infects commercially important crops like maize and groundnuts. Commercial biological control products have been developed and field-tested in several African countries with promising results. The impacts of production practises are unclear under variable environmental conditions; but subsequent disease manifestation and mycotoxin contamination can be reduced. Each preharvest approaches contribute to managing mycotoxigenic fungi and their mycotoxins but integrating approaches may provide more effective management of fungal and mycotoxin contamination in crops