PREDATION AND BEHAVIORAL PLASTICITY IN GREEN SWORDTAILS: MATE CHOICE IN FEMALES AND EXPLORATORY BEHAVIOR IN MALES

Two studies were carried out with green swordtails, Xiphophorus helleri, to investigate the effect of predation on swordtail behavior, and to determine how behavioral plasticity operates in both a mate choice and an anti-predator context. Male green swordtails vary in colorful conspicuous traits, e.g. the colorful dorsal fin and sword. Female swordtails have a preexisting bias for males with a sword, and prefer long-sworded males to short-sworded males, but this preference is plastic. The first study examined predator-related plasticity in the behavior of males differing in size. Smaller males showed greater behavioral plasticity; they were more active in the absence of a predator, but reduced activity in the presence of a predator, while larger males maintained lower activity levels regardless of predation environment. Males, regardless of size, entered the area nearest to where a predator had been, shortly after it had swam off. Males also utilized refuges furthest from a successful predator while the predator was visible, but did not differentially use refuges after the predator departed, regardless of male size. The second study examined whether different predation environments differ in their effects on female sword responses. Females switched their preference to short-sworded males, regardless of whether the predator was a large cichlid chasing and consuming a male swordtail with a short sword, a large cichlid alone, or a small cichlid alone. We also looked at the lasting effect of predation environment on sword response and found that the preference for short-sworded males persisted to the following day. To our knowledge, this is the first example of enduring plasticity in a receiver bias. Finally, we addressed whether females respond differently to differing predation environments in a non-mating context. Females perceived large cichlid predators alone to be as dangerous as successful predators, but not small cichlids. The results of these studies indicate that predation can have a profound influence on the expression of suites of behaviors, in both mating and non-mating contexts. Advisor: Alexandra L. Basol

A Method to Determine the Presence of Averaged Event-Related Fields Using Randomization Tests

We present a simple and effective method to test whether an event consistently activates a set of brain electric sources across repeated measurements of event-related scalp field data. These repeated measurements can be single trials, single subject ERPs, or ERPs from different studies. The method considers all sensors simultaneously, but can be applied separately to each time frame or frequency band of the data. This allows limiting the analysis to time periods and frequency bands where there is positive evidence of a consistent relation between the event and some brain electric sources. The test may therefore avoid false conclusions about the data resulting from an inadequate selection of the analysis window and bandpass filter, and permit the exploration of alternate hypotheses when group/condition differences are observed in evoked field data. The test will be called topographic consistency test (TCT). The statistical inference is based on simple randomization techniques. Apart form the methodological introduction, the paper contains a series of simulations testing the statistical power of the method as function of number of sensors and observations, a sample analysis of EEG potentials related to self-initiated finger movements, and Matlab source code to facilitate the implementation. Furthermore a series of measures to control for multiple testing are introduced and applied to the sample dat

Genomic Investigations in Ascomycota: Leveraging Machine Learning, Phylogenetics, and Comparative Genomics Methods to Explore Evolution and Ecological Specialization

This dissertation investigates the fungal phylum Ascomycota through computational methodologies, including machine learning, phylogenetics, and comparative genomics. Chapters explore the topics of ecological specialization and the evolutionary dynamics of fungal fruiting bodies and introduce a new method for predicting gene function through machine learning. This work investigation provides valuable insights into the biology, ecology, and genomics of Ascomycota, emphasizing the importance of leveraging bioinformatics for mycological research.</p

Ragu: A Free Tool for the Analysis of EEG and MEG Event-Related Scalp Field Data Using Global Randomization Statistics

We present a program (Ragu; Randomization Graphical User interface) for statistical analyses of multichannel event-related EEG and MEG experiments. Based on measures of scalp field differences including all sensors, and using powerful, assumption-free randomization statistics, the program yields robust, physiologically meaningful conclusions based on the entire, untransformed, and unbiased set of measurements. Ragu accommodates up to two within-subject factors and one between-subject factor with multiple levels each. Significance is computed as function of time and can be controlled for type II errors with overall analyses. Results are displayed in an intuitive visual interface that allows further exploration of the findings. A sample analysis of an ERP experiment illustrates the different possibilities offered by Ragu. The aim of Ragu is to maximize statistical power while minimizing the need for a-priori choices of models and parameters (like inverse models or sensors of interest) that interact with and bias statistics

Happiness at work: a phenomenological study of the experiences of hospitality industry employees

Though happiness might be an interesting factor to consider in the discussion on retaining employees, only a limited number of studies on&nbsp; happiness of hospitality employees has been done. This master’s thesis study, rooted in the tradition of the interpretative phenomenological analysis, unpacks the connection of work experiences and feelings of happiness of five hospitality employees aged between 20 and 30. In-depth interviews revealed that happiness is found in moments of external recognition of professional achievements, while contributing to the company’s performance or to guest experiences. We see that these moments reinforce a high-performance attitude that, however, could also create a form of addiction. We recommend integrating appreciative feedback of staff achievements on a regular base during operations. Furthermore, we suggest staff coaching with the aim to develop self-awareness and self-acknowledgement. Keywords: added value, external recognition, happiness, interpretative phenomenological analysis, transient leve

Apolipoprotein E4 effects on topological brain network organization in mild cognitive impairment.

The Apolipoprotein E isoform E4 (ApoE4) is consistently associated with an elevated risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's Disease (AD); however, less is known about the potential genetic modulation of the brain networks organization during prodromal stages like Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). To investigate this issue during this critical stage, we used a dataset with a cross-sectional sample of 253 MCI patients divided into ApoE4-positive (‛Carriers') and ApoE4-negative ('non-Carriers'). We estimated the cortical thickness (CT) from high-resolution T1-weighted structural magnetic images to calculate the correlation among anatomical regions across subjects and build the CT covariance networks (CT-Nets). The topological properties of CT-Nets were described through the graph theory approach. Specifically, our results showed a significant decrease in characteristic path length, clustering-index, local efficiency, global connectivity, modularity, and increased global efficiency for Carriers compared to non-Carriers. Overall, we found that ApoE4 in MCI shaped the topological organization of CT-Nets. Our results suggest that in the MCI stage, the ApoE4 disrupting the CT correlation between regions may be due to adaptive mechanisms to sustain the information transmission across distant brain regions to maintain the cognitive and behavioral abilities before the occurrence of the most severe symptoms

ANALISIS STRATEGI IMPLEMENTASI TAMBAHAN PENGHASILAN PEGAWAI DALAM UPAYA PENINGKATAN KINERJA PEGAWAI DINAS KESEHATAN KOTA BANDUNG

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui dan menganalisis strategi implementasi tambahan penghasilan pegawai dalam upaya peningkatan kinerja pegawai Dinas Kesehatan Kota Bandung. Hasil penelitian yang dilakukan diharapkan dapat memberi masukan untuk Dinas Kesehatan Kota Bandung sebagai bahan acuan untuk pengambilan keputusan pimpinan dalam mengimplementasikan Tambahan Penghasilan Pegawai. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah analisis deskriptif kualitatif. Pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah wawancara dengan menggunakan wawancara disertai dengan teknik observasi dan kepustakaan. Teknik analisis data menggunakan analisis model interaktif terdiri dari pengumpulan data, reduksi data, penyajian data dan penarikan kesimpulan. Hasil penelitian dapat diketahui bahwa implementasi pemberian tambahan penghasilan pegawai di Dinas Kesehatan Kota Bandung sudah berdasarkan beban kerja, prestasi kerja, tempat bertugas, kondisi kerja, kelangkaan profesi, serta pertimbangan objektif lainnya. Namun demikian penerapan tambahan penghasilan pegawai dalam upaya peningkatan kinerja pegawai Dinas Kesehatan Kota Bandung masih ditemukan ketidakadilan terhadap penilaian prestasi kerja pegawai. Hal ini menyebabkan tidak tepat sasaran penerapan kebijakan pemberian tambahan penghasilan pegawai yang menitikberatkan pada kinerja aparatur pemerintahan yang professional, berkontribusi, dan memiliki kinerja tinggi bagi organisasi. Kata Kunci : Tambahan Penghasilan Pegawai, Kinerja Pegawa

Evaluation Study on Exercise Programs in Healthcare Centre Gein, Determinants of Physical Activity

Lichamelijke inactiviteit en de daarmee geassocieerde gezondheidsproblemen zijn een groot probleem. 45% van de Nederlanders beweegt onvoldoende. Daarom is er binnen de Nederlandse gezondheidszorg veel aandacht voor beweegprogramma’s teneinde een actieve leefstijl te bevorderen, zo ook in wijkgezondheidscentrum Gein te Amsterdam Zuid Oost. Het is onbekend of en hoeveel patiënten, die hebben deelgenomen aan een beweegprogramma van gezondheidscentrum Gein, doorgaan met regelmatig bewegen op langere termijn