518 research outputs found
Retinotectal circuitry of larval zebrafish is adapted to detection and pursuit of prey
Retinal axon projections form a map of the visual environment in the tectum. A zebrafish larva typically detects a prey object in its peripheral visual field. As it turns and swims towards the prey, the stimulus enters the central, binocular area, and seemingly expands in size. By volumetric calcium imaging, we show that posterior tectal neurons, which serve to detect prey at a distance, tend to respond to small objects and intrinsically compute their direction of movement. Neurons in anterior tectum, where the prey image is represented shortly before the capture strike, are tuned to larger object sizes and are frequently not direction-selective, indicating that mainly interocular comparisons serve to compute an object's movement at close range. The tectal feature map originates from a linear combination of diverse, functionally specialized, lamina-specific, and topographically ordered retinal ganglion cell synaptic inputs. We conclude that local cell-type composition and connectivity across the tectum are adapted to the processing of locationdependent, behaviorally relevant object features
Teacher-student relationship as a lens to explore teacher identity in an intercultural context
The present study explores international teachers' identity in an intercultural context as manifested through their interpersonal behaviors. In this study with fourteen native speaker Chinese language teachers and one hundred and ninety-two students, survey and interview methods were used as primary sources of data, and classroom observations were stimuli for interviews. The findings reveal that overseas teaching experiences strengthen teachers' professional identity, although they also bring teachers tensions. The study demonstrates that the teacher-student relationship is a useful lens to explore and interpret teacher identity in an intercultural context. The findings not only highlight how pre-existing beliefs and working context influence teachers’ identity development but also illuminate the distinctions of identity among teachers with different interpersonal profiles.Teaching and Teacher Learning (ICLON
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An introduction to Trends in Extreme Weather and Climate Events: Observations, Socioeconomic Impacts, Terrestrial Ecological Impacts, and Model Projections
Weather and climatic extremes can have serious and damaging effects on human society and infrastructure as well as on ecosystems and wildlife. Thus, they are usually the main focus of attention of the news media in reports on climate. There are some indications from observations concerning how climatic extremes may have changed in the past. Climate models show how they could change in the future either due to natural climate fluctuations or under conditions of greenhouse gas-induced warming. These observed and modeled changes relate directly to the understanding of socioeconomic and ecological impacts related to extremes.Integrative Biolog
A tool for simulating and communicating uncertainty when modelling species distributions under future climates
Tools for exploring and communicating the impact of uncertainty on spatial prediction are urgently needed, particularly when projecting species distributions to future conditions.
We provide a tool for simulating uncertainty, focusing on uncertainty due to data quality. We illustrate the use of the tool using a Tasmanian endemic species as a case study. Our simulations provide probabilistic, spatially explicit illustrations of the impact of uncertainty on model projections. We also illustrate differences in model projections using six different global climate models and two contrasting emissions scenarios.
Our case study results illustrate how different sources of uncertainty have different impacts on model output and how the geographic distribution of uncertainty can vary.
Synthesis and applications: We provide a conceptual framework for understanding sources of uncertainty based on a review of potential sources of uncertainty in species distribution modelling; a tool for simulating uncertainty in species distribution models; and protocols for dealing with uncertainty due to climate models and emissions scenarios. Our tool provides a step forward in understanding and communicating the impacts of uncertainty on species distribution models under future climates which will be particularly helpful for informing discussions between researchers, policy makers, and conservation practitioners
A case for taking the dual role of counsellor-researcher in qualitative research
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Qualitative Research in Psychology on 3rd August 2016, available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2016.1205694There is ongoing debate about whether the challenges of practice-based research in counselling, with clients’ discourses providing the raw data, can be overcome. This article begins by considering the argument of whether taking a dual role of counsellor-researcher within case study research is a legitimate qualitative approach. A case example using sand-tray in short-term therapy with adults from a pluralistic perspective is provided to demonstrate how the challenges of the dual role can be managed to produce effective research findings. It is suggested that this approach closes the gap between research and practice to produce findings that are highly relevant to the counselling context. The ethical considerations of taking a dual role of counsellor-researcher are considered, and opportunities and challenges when adopting this approach are identified
Psychological distress and suicidal ideation in patients with atrial fibrillation: prevalence and response to management strategy
Background: An association between atrial fibrillation ( AF ), anxiety, and depression is recognized, but the spectrum of psychological distress remains unclear. We aimed to characterize the severity and predictors of distress associated with AF in a tertiary population and its response to AF management. Methods and Results: Seventy-eight patients with symptomatic AF underwent evaluation, including of AF symptom severity, health-related quality of life, psychological distress, suicidal ideation, and specific personality traits. Twenty participants underwent AF ablation and 58 were managed medically, with repeat assessments at 4, 8, and 12 months. Severe distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score, ≥15/42) was identified in 27 of 78 (35%). Independent predictors were a personality marked by vulnerability to stress (Perceived Stress Scale: R2, 0.54; β=0.7±0.1; t=7.8; P<0.001) and 1 marked by negativity/social inhibition (Type D Personality Scale: R2, 0.47; β=0.7±0.1; t=6.7; P<0.001). Suicidal ideation was reported by 16 of 78 (20%) and was predicted by personality traits (Perceived Stress Scale score: R2, 0.35; odds ratio, 1.22±0.06; P<0.001; Type D Personality Scale score: R2, 0.48; odds ratio, 1.43±0.14; P<0.001). Effective AF ablation (median AF burden 1% [0-1%] over 12 months) was associated with significant reductions in distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score, 13.9±1.8 to 4.3±1.8; P<0.05) and prevalence of suicidal ideation (30-5%; P=0.02). Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of severe psychological distress (35%) and of suicidal ideation (20%) in a tertiary AF population, with personality traits predicting both. Effective AF ablation was associated with significant improvements, suggesting AF itself may be a treatable causative factor of distress.Tomos E. Walters, Kate Wick, Gabriel Tan, Megan Mearns, Stephen A. Joseph, Joseph B. Morton, Prashanthan Sanders, Christina Bryant, Peter M. Kistler, Jonathan M. Kalma
Motivation for or from bilingual education? A comparative study of learner views in the Netherlands
Teaching and Teacher Learning (ICLON
Localisation of gamma-ray bursts from the combined SpIRIT+HERMES-TP/SP nano-satellite constellation
Multi-messenger observations of the transient sky to detect cosmic explosions
and counterparts of gravitational wave mergers critically rely on orbiting
wide-FoV telescopes to cover the wide range of wavelengths where atmospheric
absorption and emission limit the use of ground facilities. Thanks to
continuing technological improvements, miniaturised space instruments operating
as distributed-aperture constellations are offering new capabilities for the
study of high energy transients to complement ageing existing satellites. In
this paper we characterise the performance of the upcoming joint SpIRIT +
HERMES-TP/SP nano-satellite constellation for the localisation of high-energy
transients through triangulation of signal arrival times. SpIRIT is an
Australian technology and science demonstrator satellite designed to operate in
a low-Earth Sun-synchronous Polar orbit that will augment the science
operations for the equatorial HERMES-TP/SP. In this work we simulate the
improvement to the localisation capabilities of the HERMES-TP/SP when SpIRIT is
included in an orbital plane nearly perpendicular (inclination = 97.6)
to the HERMES orbits. For the fraction of GRBs detected by three of the HERMES
satellites plus SpIRIT, the combined constellation is capable of localising 60%
of long GRBs to within ~ 30 deg on the sky, and 60% of short GRBs within ~
1850 deg. Based purely on statistical GRB localisation capabilities (i.e.,
excluding systematic uncertainties and sky coverage), these figures for long
GRBs are comparable to those reported by the Fermi GBM. Further improvements by
a factor of 2 (or 4) can be achieved by launching an additional 4 (or 6)
SpIRIT-like satellites into a Polar orbit, which would both increase the
fraction of sky covered by multiple satellite elements, and enable 60%
of long GRBs to be localised within a radius of ~ 1.5 on the sky.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in PAS
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