Predation risk reduces a female preference for heterospecific males in the green swordtail

The presence of a predator can result in the alteration, loss or reversal of a mating preference. Under predation risk, females often change their initial preference for conspicuous males, favouring less flashy males to reduce the risk of being detected by predators. Previous studies on predator-induced plasticity in mate preferences have given females a choice between more and less conspicuous conspecific males. However, in species that naturally hybridize, it is also possible that females might choose an inconspicuous heterospecific male over a conspicuous conspecific male under predation risk. Our study addresses this question using the green swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri) and the southern platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus), which are sympatric in the wild. We hypothesized that X. helleri females would prefer the sworded conspecific males in the absence of a predator but favour the less conspicuous, swordless, heterospecific males in the presence of a predator. Contrary to our expectation, females associated more with the heterospecific male than the conspecific male in the control (no predator) treatment, and they were non-choosy in the predator treatment. This might reflect that females were attracted to the novel male phenotype when there was no risk of predation but became more neophobic after predator exposure. Regardless of the underlying mechanism, our results suggest that predation pressure may affect female preferences for conspecific versus heterospecific males. We also found striking within-population, between-individual variation in behavioural plasticity: females differed in the strength and direction of their preferences, as well as in the extent to which they altered their preferences in response to changes in perceived predation risk. Such variation in female preferences for heterospecific males could potentially lead to temporal and spatial variation in hybridization rates in the wild

AI vs. Human : a comparative study of visual and textual advertising effects on purchase intention

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming an important part of our lives, and its recent technological advancements show no signs of deceleration. Nonetheless, as AI continues to develop at a rapid pace, it is becoming imperative to research and classify its potential impacts. This research examines the ability of AI to create effective advertisements in comparison to those created by humans within the smartphone industry. It further aims to analyze possible dissimilarities in the effect of advertisements created by AI and humans on purchase intention and brand preference under the consideration of distinct content forms within the hierarchy­of effects framework. After quantitively choosing brands as well as developing and validating the created stimuli in a focus group and interviews, the main experimental survey with eight distinct stimuli groups yielded supporting results. The findings of the research show that AI­generated advertisements can indeed be compared to human­created advertisements in their effect on purchase intention and brand preference. Moreover, all forms of content output created by AI show no significant difference in their effectiveness compared to human­created advertisements. Ultimately, the study suggests that AI might even be able to develop more effective advertisements than humans as technology continues to accelerate. Overall, this research provides important insights into the applicability of AI in everyday work life within the marketing industry, which can help marketers realize how AI impacts the purchase intentions of consumers and how it can be employed to mitigate possible difficulties within the traditional creative process.A inteligência artificial (IA) está a tornar­se cada vez mais presente nas nossas vidas, e os recentes avanços tecnológicos não mostram sinais de desaceleração. No entanto, à medida que a IA continua a desenvolver­se a um ritmo acelerado, torna­se imperativo investigar e classificar os seus potenciais impactos. Esta investigação examina a capacidade da IA para criar anúncios eficazes em comparação com os criados por humanos na indústria dos smartphones. Além disso, tem como objetivo analisar possíveis diferenças entre os anúncios produzidos por IA e humanos em relação à intenção de compra e preferência de marca, considerando diferentes tipos de conteúdo dentro da hierarquia de efeitos. Após selecionar marcas quantitativamente e desenvolver estímulos validados em grupos focais e entrevistas, foi conduzida a pesquisa experimental principal com oito grupos de estímulos distintos. As conclusões da investigação mostram que os anúncios gerados por IA podem ser comparados aos anúncios criados por humanos em termos de impacto na intenção de compra e preferência de marca. Além disso, todas as formas de conteúdo produzidas por IA apresentam eficácia semelhante aos anúncios humanos. Finalmente, o estudo sugere que a IA pode até ser capaz de desenvolver anúncios mais eficazes do que os humanos, à medida que a tecnologia avança. No geral, esta investigação fornece informações importantes sobre a aplicabilidade da IA no quotidiano da indústria do marketing, auxiliando os profissionais a compreender o impacto da IA nas intenções de compra dos consumidores e a forma como pode ser utilizada superar desafios no processo de criação tradicional

Abortion in America After Roe: An Examination of the Impact of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization on Women’s Reproductive Health Access

This thesis will examine the limitations in access to abortion and other necessary reproductive healthcare in states that are hostile to abortion rights, as well as discuss the ongoing litigation within those states between pro-choice and pro-life advocates. After analyzing the legal landscape and the different abortion laws within these states, this thesis will focus on the practical consequences of Dobbs on women’s lives, with particular attention to its impact on women of color and poor women in states with the most restrictive laws. The effect of these restrictive laws on poor women will be felt disproportionately due to their lack of ability to travel to obtain care from other states that might offer abortion services. And even if these women find a way to obtain access to abortions, there is now the real possibility of criminal prosecution for those who seek or assist women who obtain abortions post-Dobbs. To compound the problem, the Court made clear in Dobbs that its decision to revisit the privacy rights issue signals the possibility of new limitations on protections previously taken for granted in the areas of In vitro fertilization, birth control, emergency contraception, and other civil rights such as gay marriage. Finally, this thesis will examine the political and legal efforts of liberal states, private companies, and grassroots organizations attempting to mitigate Dobbs’s effects. These pro-choice actors have, to some extent, joined forces to protect access for women in the United States through protective legislation and expanding access in all facets of reproductive healthcare, particularly for minority women who will be disproportionately affected by abortion bans in conservative states. The current efforts to mitigate the legal and medical implications of Dobbs will determine the future of women’s rights in America, not only regarding abortion but more broadly in terms of adequate reproductive care access

Evidências eletroquímicas da eficiência de proteção do álcool propargílico sobre o aço-carbono em soluções etanólicas, por medidas de condutividade elétrica

It is shown that electrical conductivity measurement is a good method to characterize corrosion processes that occur on low-carbon steel in ethanolic solutions. Different aggressive coonditions were tested by changing the water content in distilled ethanol and by adding acid. Propargyl a alcohol inhibits the corrosion reaction. The specific conductivity of the solution decreases in the presence of propargyl alcohol for varying levels of aggressiveness. In dilute acetic acid ethanolic solutions, the proyection efficiency was better in 1.0mM propargyl alcohol than in the other concentrations.Neste trabalho é apresentado que a medida da condutividade elétrica da solução é um bom método para caracterizar os processos de corrosão que ocorrem sobre o aço-carbono em meio etanólico. Diferentes condições agressivas foram testadas modificando-se o conteúdo de água no etanol destilado e, por adição de ácido acético. O álcool propargílico inibe a reação de corrosão. A condutividade específica da solução diminui na presença de álcool propargílico mesmo em diferentes níveis de agressividade. Em soluções etanólicas diluídas de ácido acético, a eficiência de proteção foi melhor em uma solução 1,0 mM de álcool propargílico, do que nas outras concentrações

Diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of recurrent renal stone disease

Recurrent renal stones occur in 7.5% ofCaucasian men and 3% of all women. Even withincreasing urbanisation, renal calculi are reported inless than I% of black South African men and women. Four hundred recurrent stone formers were studied at the metabolic stone clinic using routine and special tests. The appropriate therapy for each subgroup is outlined and studies on various different treatments are presented. In addition, lithogenic risk factors were studied in normal black and white subjects and in black stone formers, in order to clarify the low incidence in the black population.Patients were classified according dietary andmetabolic lithogenic risk factors. 10% of stoneformers had pure dietary factors. The percentage ofstone formers in each of the various metabolicsubgroups was as follows: Renal hypercalciuria 12%, Absorptive hypercalciuria 10%, Mild metabolichyperoxaluria 20%, Hypocitraturia 50%. Successfultherapy in terms of preventing further stoneformation was reported using indapamide, calciumcarbonate and potassium citrate in renal hypercalciuria,mild metabolic hyperoxaluria and hypo-citraturia respectively. Black volunteer subjects hadsignificantly higher 24hr urinary sodium excretionand significantly lower 24hr urinary calcium, citrateand cystine excretion than white volunteer subjects. Twenty-four hours urinary values in black stoneformers were found to be approaching those levelsfound in white.As urbanisation occurs in the black population, the incidence of urolithiasis would be expected to increase. We conclude that a detailed metabolic work-up is essential in the elucidation of the various metabolic risk factors. in so-called "idiopathic" CaOx stone formers. It allows appropriate, specific and highly cost-effective therapy aimed at the prevention of recurrence. [Erratum appears in AJN, 2017; 20(1):200.

Correction: Diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of recurrent renal stone disease

In Table 3 of the original publication of this article [1], the citrate excretion in white subjects is given as 1.39(0.92), which is incorrect. The correct value is 2.39(0.92). Reference1. Meyers A, Whalley N, Martins M. Diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of recurrent renal stone disease. Afr J Nephrol. 1998; 2(1):12-17

City indicators : now to Nanjing

This paper provides the key elements to develop an integrated approach for measuring and monitoring city performance globally. The paper reviews the role of cities and why indicators are important. Then it discusses past approaches to city indicators and the systems developed to date, including the World Bank's initiatives. After identifying the strengths and weaknesses of past experiences, it discusses the characteristics of optimal indicators. The paper concludes with a proposed plan to develop standardized indicators that emphasize the importance of indicators that are measurable, replicable, potentially predictive, and most important, consistent and comparable over time and across cities. As an innovative characteristic, the paper includes subjective measures in city indicators, such as well-being, happy citizens, and trust.Cultural Policy,City Development Strategies,Cultural Heritage&Preservation,ICT Policy and Strategies,Housing&Human Habitats