Social learning in nest-building birds : a role for familiarity

© 2016 The Author(s).It is becoming apparent that birds learn from their own experiences of nest building. What is not clear is whether birds can learn from watching conspecifics build. As social learning allows an animal to gain information without engaging in costly trial-and-error learning, first-time builders should exploit the successful habits of experienced builders. We presented first-time nest-building male zebra finches with either a familiar or an unfamiliar conspecific male building with material of a colour the observer did not like. When given the opportunity to build, males that had watched a familiar male build switched their material preference to that used by the familiar male. Males that observed unfamiliar birds did not. Thus, first-time nest builders use social information and copy the nest material choices when demonstrators are familiar but not when they are strangers. The relationships between individuals therefore influences how nest-building expertise is socially transmitted in zebra finches.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Social learning in nest-building birds : a role for familiarity

© 2016 The Author(s).It is becoming apparent that birds learn from their own experiences of nest building. What is not clear is whether birds can learn from watching conspecifics build. As social learning allows an animal to gain information without engaging in costly trial-and-error learning, first-time builders should exploit the successful habits of experienced builders. We presented first-time nest-building male zebra finches with either a familiar or an unfamiliar conspecific male building with material of a colour the observer did not like. When given the opportunity to build, males that had watched a familiar male build switched their material preference to that used by the familiar male. Males that observed unfamiliar birds did not. Thus, first-time nest builders use social information and copy the nest material choices when demonstrators are familiar but not when they are strangers. The relationships between individuals therefore influences how nest-building expertise is socially transmitted in zebra finches.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Assessing ternary materials for fluoride-ion batteries

Although lithium-ion batteries have transformed energy storage, there is a need to develop battery technologies with improved performance. Fluoride-ion batteries (FIBs) may be promising alternatives in part due to their high theoretical energy density and natural elemental abundance. However, electrode materials for FIBs, particularly cathodes, have not been systematically evaluated, limiting rapid progress. Here, we evaluate ternary fluorides from the Materials Project crystal structure database to identify promising cathode materials for FIBs. Structures are further assessed based on stability and whether fluorination/defluorination occurs without unwanted disproportionation reactions. Properties are presented for pairs of fluorinated/defluorinated materials including theoretical energy densities, cost approximations, and bandgaps. We aim to supply a dataset for extracting property and structural trends of ternary fluoride materials that may aid in the discovery of next-generation battery materials

Slaves, Soldiers, Citizens: African American Artifacts of the Civil War Era

Based on the exhibit Slaves, Soldiers, Citizens: African American Artifacts of the Civil War Era, this book provides the full experience of the exhibit, which was on display in Special Collections at Musselman Library November 2012- December 2013. It also includes several student essays based on specific artifacts that were part of the exhibit. Table of Contents: Introduction Angelo Scarlato, Lauren Roedner ’13 & Scott Hancock Slave Collars & Runaways: Punishment for Rebellious Slaves Jordan Cinderich ’14 Chancery Sale Poster & Auctioneer’s Coin: The Lucrative Business of Slavery Tricia Runzel ’13 Isaac J. Winters: An African American Soldier from Pennsylvania Who Fought at Petersburg Avery Lentz ’14 Basil Biggs: A Prominent African American in Gettysburg after the Battle Lauren Roedner ’13 Linton Ingram: A Former Slave Who Became a Notable African American Educator in Georgia Brian Johnson & Lincoln Fitch ’14 Uncle Tom’s Cabin Theatre Poster: Racism in Post-Emancipation Entertainment Michelle Seabrook ’13 Essay Bibliographies Grand Army of the Republic Exhibit Inventory Acknowledgmentshttps://cupola.gettysburg.edu/libexhibits/1001/thumbnail.jp

Enhancing global health communication during a crisis: lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic

Background/objective: The understanding and practice of public health crisis communication are improved through the study of responses to past crises, but require retooling for present challenges. The ‘Addressing Ebola and other outbreaks’ checklist contains guiding principles built upon maxims developed from a World Health Organization consultation in response to the mad cow (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) crisis that were later adopted for Ebola. The purpose of this article is to adapt the checklist for the health communication challenges and public health practices that have emerged during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The communication challenges of promoting vaccine acceptance are used to illustrate a key area that requires strengthened communication. Type of program or service: Effective communication principles for application during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced unique challenges for public health practitioners and health communicators that warrant an expansion of existing health communication principles to take into consideration: the new infodemic (or mis/disinfodemic) challenge – particularly as treatments and vaccines are being developed; communication of risk and uncertainty; health-information behaviours and the instantaneous nature of social media, and the relationship between media literacy and health literacy; the effects of the pandemic on other health issues; and the need for a flexible communication strategy that adapts to the different stages of the pandemic. Lessons learnt: Principles discussed in this article will help build preparedness capacity and offer communication strategies for moving from the acute phase to the ‘next normal’ with likely prevention (e.g. herd immunity achieved through vaccination) and societal COVID-19 resilience

Predator-induced fear causes PTSD-like changes in the brains and behaviour of wild animals

© 2019, The Author(s). Predator-induced fear is both, one of the most common stressors employed in animal model studies of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a major focus of research in ecology. There has been a growing discourse between these disciplines but no direct empirical linkage. We endeavoured to provide this empirical linkage by conducting experiments drawing upon the strengths of both disciplines. Exposure to a natural cue of predator danger (predator vocalizations), had enduring effects of at least 7 days duration involving both, a heightened sensitivity to predator danger (indicative of an enduring memory of fear), and elevated neuronal activation in both the amygdala and hippocampus – in wild birds (black-capped chickadees, Poecile atricapillus), exposed to natural environmental and social experiences in the 7 days following predator exposure. Our results demonstrate enduring effects on the brain and behaviour, meeting the criteria to be considered an animal model of PTSD – in a wild animal, which are of a nature and degree which can be anticipated could affect fecundity and survival in free-living wildlife. We suggest our findings support both the proposition that PTSD is not unnatural, and that long-lasting effects of predator-induced fear, with likely effects on fecundity and survival, are the norm in nature

Spider fauna of semiarid eastern colorado agroecosystems: Diversity, abundance, and effects of crop intensification

Spiders are critical predators in agroecosystems. Crop management practices can influence predator density and diversity, which, in turn, can influence pest management strategies. Crop intensification is a sustainable agricultural technique that can enhance crop production although optimizing soil moisture. To date, there is no information on how crop intensification affects natural enemy populations, particularly spiders. This study had two objectives: to characterize the abundance and diversity of spiders in eastern Colorado agroecosystems, and to test the hypothesis that spider diversity and density would be higher in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in crop-intensified rotations compared with wheat in conventional rotations. We collected spiders through pitfall, vacuum, and lookdown sampling from 2002 to 2007 to test these objectives. Over 11,000 spiders in 19 families from 119 species were captured from all sampling techniques. Interestingly, the hunting spider guild represented 89% of the spider fauna captured from all sites with the families Gnaphosidae and Lycosidae representing 75% of these spiders. Compared with European agroecosystems, these agroecosystems had greater diversity, which can be beneficial for the biological control of pests. Overall, spider densities were low in these semiarid cropping systems, and crop intensification effects on spider densities were not evident at this scale. © 2013 Entomological Society of America

Searching for Elements of Evidence-Based Practices in Children's Usual Care and Examining Their Impact

Most of the knowledge generated to bridge the research-practice gap has been derived from experimental studies implementing specific treatment models. Alternatively, this study uses observational methods to generate knowledge about community-based treatment processes and outcomes. Aims are to (a) describe outcome trajectories for children with disruptive behavior problems (DBPs), and (b) test how observed delivery of a benchmark set of practice elements common in evidence-based treatments may be associated with outcome change while accounting for potential confounding variables. Participants included 190 children ages 4 to 13 with DBPs and their caregivers, plus 85 psychotherapists, recruited from six clinics. All treatment sessions were videotaped and a random sample of 4 sessions in the first 4 months of treatment was reliably coded for intensity on 27 practice elements (benchmark set and others). Three outcomes (child symptom severity, parent discipline, and family functioning) were assessed by parent report at intake, 4, and 8 months. Data were collected on several potential covariates including child, parent, therapist, and service use characteristics. Multilevel modeling was used to assess relationships between observed practice and outcome slopes while accounting for covariates. Children and families demonstrated improvements in all 3 outcomes, but few significant associations between treatment processes and outcome change were identified. Families receiving greater intensity on the benchmark practice elements did demonstrate greater improvement in the parental discipline outcome. Observed changes in outcomes for families in community care were generally not strongly associated with the type or amount of treatment received