Perceived Predation Risk And The Responses Of Adult And Nestling Tree Swallows (tachycineta Bicolor)

Some species of birds have alarm calls that are functionally referential and provide their nestlings with information about the level of threat predators may pose. Although several investigators have examined the responses of nestlings of species with open-cup nests to the anti-predator calls of adults, few have conducted such studies with cavity-nesting species of birds. Therefore, the objectives of my study were to examine the vocal responses of cavity-nesting adult Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) to different nest predators, some able and others unable to enter nest cavities, and to examine the responses of nestlings to those vocalizations. My study was conducted from April to July 2016 at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Madison County, Kentucky. I conducted 68 trials at 22 nest boxes. Tree Swallows were exposed to models of four potential predators, including taxidermy mounts of a raccoon (Procyon lotor) and an eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus), a study skin of an American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), and a rubber model of a black rat snake (Pantherophis obsoletus), as well as a study skin of an American Robin (Turdus migratorius) used as a control. Experiments began at nests when nestlings were 12 or 13 days old. To assess responses of adults and nestlings during trials, predators or the control were placed on or adjacent to nest boxes. The vocal responses of adults and the behavioral responses of the nestlings were simultaneously recorded. I found no differences in call rates or the characteristics of calls across trials, with the exception that rates at which alarm shriek (F4,33 = 3.4, P = 0.02) were uttered were greater during trials with the American Kestrels than during trials with the rat snake model (P \u3c 0.05). In addition, I found no difference in the proportion of nestlings that crouched during trials across all predator models. These results suggest that adult Tree Swallows do not use a referential alarm call system, i.e., uttering different calls in response to different potential nest predators (F4,34 = 0.7, P = 0.60). Although the rate at which alarm calls were uttered differed among trials with different predator models, nestling responses did not differ. Such results suggest that adult Tree Swallows are also not encoding information about potential predators by varying call rate

Factors Affecting Students' Career Choice in New Zealand

The aim of this study was to identify the factors influencing career decisions of tertiary students in New Zealand. The relationship between the factors and cultural values held by students was also ascertained. In addition, the career decision self-efficacy (CDSE) was used to assess if perceived significant others’ influence increased their degree of belief as to whether they are able to successfully complete tasks necessary to make career decisions. Finally, the relatedness between students’ career choice and fields of study were examined. Participants of this study were full-time students, who were in the final academic year of their qualification. They were recruited, via e-mail invitations, to complete an online questionnaire, measuring four constructs – factors affecting career decision, cultural/personal values, perceived significant others’ influence, and CDSE. The final sample consisted of 151 respondents. Results showed that collectivistic values correlated significantly with extrinsic and altruistic factors while individualistic values correlated significantly with intrinsic values. Cultural values had no significant impact on perceived significant others’ influence. There were no gender differences in relation to perceiving the influence of significant others and both genders preferred seeking career advice from their mothers/stepmothers compared to their fathers/stepfathers. Only supportive relationships (a form of perceived significant others’ influence) correlated significantly with CDSE. Finally, relatedness between career decision and field of study increased with age and was higher in students enrolled in a field of study developing specific skills and in students pursuing post-graduate qualifications. Although no causal inferences may be drawn from the results of this study, this research has further contributed to the limited number of studies focusing on career decision making among students in New Zealand. It is hoped that the findings are able to provide some critical information to tertiary institutions, organisations, and career counsellors.

A Comparison of Children’s Reading on Paper Versus Screen: A Meta-Analysis

This meta-analysis examines the inconsistent findings across experimental studies that compared children’s learning outcomes with digital and paper books. We quantitatively reviewed 39 studies reported in 30 articles (n = 1,812 children) and compared children’s story comprehension and vocabulary learning in relation to medium (reading on paper versus on-screen), design enhancements in digital books, the presence of a dictionary, and adult support for children aged between 1 and 8 years. The comparison of digital versus paper books that only differed by digitization showed lower comprehension scores for digital books. Adults’ mediation during print books’ reading was more effective than the enhancements in digital books read by children independently. However, with story-congruent enhancements, digital books outperformed paper books. An embedded dictionary had no or negative effect on children’s story comprehension but positively affected children’s vocabulary learning. Findings are discussed in relation to the cognitive load theory and practical design implications.publishedVersio

Análisis del Subcomplejo Regional Andino: entre los discusos de seguridad y los mecanismos de cooperación

En la Subregión andina ha sido difícil la construcción de un escenario de cooperación duradero, lo cual se encuentra asociado a que los gobiernos colombiano, venezolano y ecuatoriano han hecho una identificación disímil de amenazas asociadas principalmente a su vecino. Estas amenazas giran alrededor de tres temas principales: la lucha contra el narcotráfico, contra el terrorismo y la influencia del los Estados Unidos en la subregión haciendo que la agenda de seguridad predomine en las relaciones entre estos países. Sin embargo, existe una alternativa a esta visión realista, que es la visión liberal-funcionalista la cual permite tener en cuenta otros elementos importantes para consolidar dicho escenario como instancias y foros de discusión que podrían invocarse a pesar de su desinstitucionalización, además de proyectos de infraestructura que podrían redundar en un mayor acercamiento geopolítico y geoeconómico.The building of a cooperation scenario has proved to be extremely difficult in the Andean Subregion, involving Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador, mainly due to the great emphasis their governments have put on apparent threats from their neighbors. Threats are associated to three main topics: fight against drug dealing, fight against terrorism and the USA influence on the region. Hence, the security agenda predominates in their relations. An alternative to this position comes from the liberal-functionalist view which considers other important elements such as discussion forums to consolidate cooperation, closeness and mutual understanding among these government

Muscle Dysmorphia and the Effects of Emotion Regulation and Fitness Media

Research on Muscle Dysmorphia (MD) has identified various cognitive and behavioral variables related to other psychopathology (i.e., eating disorders, additive disorders) associated with increased levels of impulsivity, compulsivity, and difficulty regulating emotions. PURPOSE: The aim of the current study was to investigate the degree to which emotional dysregulation (EDys), through the mediating effects of compulsivity and impulsivity, influence one’s risk towards MD symptomatology. Due to recent findings relating social media and negative regulatory associations, exploratory analyses assessed the effect of ‘fitspiration’ content on the model. METHODS: Using MTurk with a Qualtrics survey, 129 adults (aged 23-69 years) completed a background questionnaire, the Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale – Short English Version, and the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale – Modified for Body Dysmorphic Disorder. For mediation analyses, PROCESS Model 4 was used in SPSS, and Model 59 was used to assess if ‘fitspiration’ exposure moderated any of the paths. RESULTS: Higher EDys was related to higher impulsivity (a1 = 0.21; 95% CI [0.15, 0.28]) and compulsivity (a2 = 0.39; 95% CI [0.31, 0.48]). Higher compulsivity was associated with increased MDDI scores (b2 = 0.32; 95% CI [0.12, 0.53]), while impulsivity was not (b1 = 0.01; 95% CI [-0.29, 0.29]). A direct effect was found for both models (c1’ = 0.68; 95% CI [-0.56, 0.81]; c2’ = 0.55; 95% CI [0.42, 0.69]); only compulsivity mediated this effect (a2 x b2 = 0.13; 95% CI [0.04, 0.23]). ‘Fitspiration’ exposure did not moderate this model (aint = -0.08; 95% CI [-0.22, 0.06]; bint = 0.50; 95% CI [-0.22, 1.23]; cint = -0.23; 95% CI [-0.64, 0.19]). CONCLUSION: Compulsivity significantly mediated the relationship between EDys and MD symptomatology, implying higher scores of EDys were associated with greater compulsivity, and increased compulsive scores were associated with more MD-related cognitions and behaviors. While related to EDys, impulsivity was not associated with dysmorphic symptoms. Exploratory analyses found ‘Fitspiration’ content exposure did not significantly moderate the model utilizing compulsivity as a mediating variable

Cross-Desensitization and Cointernalization of H1 and H2 Histamine Receptors Reveal New Insights into Histamine Signal Integration

G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling does not result from sequential activation of a linear pathway of proteins/enzymes, but rather from complex interactions of multiple, branched signaling routes, ie, signaling networks. In this work we present an exhaustive study of the crosstalk between H1 and H2 histamine receptors (H1R and H2R) in U937 cells and CHO transfected cells. By desensitization assays we demonstrated the existence of a cross-desensitization between both receptors independent of protein kinase A (PKA) or C (PKC). H1R agonist stimulation inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in U937 cells following treatment for 48h. H1R-induced antiproliferative and apoptotic response was inhibited by an H2R agonist suggesting that the crosstalk between both receptors modifies their function. Binding and confocal microscopy studies revealed cointernalization of both receptors upon treatment with the agonists. In order to evaluate potential heterodimerization of the receptors, sensitized emission FRET experiments were performed in HEK293T cells using H1R-CFP and H2R-YFP. To our knowledge these findings may represent the first demonstration of agonist-induced heterodimerization of the H1R and H2R. In addition, we also show that the inhibition of the internalization process did not prevent receptor cross-desensitization which was mediated by GRK2. Our study provides new insights into the complex signaling network mediated by histamine and further knowledge for the rational use of its ligands.Fil: Alonso, Maria Natalia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina;Fil: Fernández, Natalia Brenda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Farmacología. Cátedra de Química Medicinal; Argentina;Fil: Notcovich, Cintia Karina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina;Fil: Monczor, Federico. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Farmacología. Cátedra de Química Medicinal; Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina;Fil: Simaan, May. National Institutes of Health; Estados Unidos de América;Fil: Baldi, Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina;Fil: Gutkind, J. Silvio. National Institutes of Health; Estados Unidos de América;Fil: Davio, Carlos Alberto. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Farmacología. Cátedra de Química Medicinal; Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina;Fil: Shayo, Carina Claudia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina

Caregiver Participation Engagement in Child Mental Health Prevention Programs: a Systematic Review

Prevention programs are a key method to reduce the prevalence and impact of mental health disorders in childhood and adolescence. Caregiver participation engagement (CPE), which includes caregiver participation in sessions as well as follow-through with homework plans, is theorized to be an important component in the effectiveness of these programs. This systematic review aims to (1) describe the terms used to operationalize CPE and the measurement of CPE in prevention programs, (2) identify factors associated with CPE, (3) examine associations between CPE and outcomes, and (4) explore the effects of strategies used to enhance CPE. Thirty-nine articles representing 27 unique projects were reviewed. Articles were included if they examined CPE in a program that focused to some extent on preventing child mental health disorders. There was heterogeneity in both the terms used to describe CPE and the measurement of CPE. The majority of projects focused on assessment of caregiver home practice. There were no clear findings regarding determinants of CPE. With regard to the impact of CPE on program outcomes, higher levels of CPE predicted greater improvements in child and caregiver outcomes, as well as caregiver-child relationship quality. Finally, a small number of studies found that motivational and behavioral strategies (e.g., reinforcement, appointment reminders) were successful in promoting CPE. This review highlights the importance of considering CPE when developing, testing, and implementing prevention programs for child mental health disorders. Increased uniformity is needed in the measurement of CPE to facilitate a better understanding of determinants of CPE. In addition, the field would benefit from further evaluating strategies to increase CPE as a method of increasing the potency of prevention programs

A Comparison of Children’s Reading on Paper Versus Screen: A Meta-Analysis

This meta-analysis examines the inconsistent findings across experimental studies that compared children’s learning outcomes with digital and paper books. We quantitatively reviewed 39 studies reported in 30 articles (n = 1,812 children) and compared children’s story comprehension and vocabulary learning in relation to medium (reading on paper versus on-screen), design enhancements in digital books, the presence of a dictionary, and adult support for children aged between 1 and 8 years. The comparison of digital versus paper books that only differed by digitization showed lower comprehension scores for digital books. Adults’ mediation during print books’ reading was more effective than the enhancements in digital books read by children independently. However, with story-congruent enhancements, digital books outperformed paper books. An embedded dictionary had no or negative effect on children’s story comprehension but positively affected children’s vocabulary learning. Findings are discussed in relation to the cognitive load theory and practical design implications

Reduced sensitivity to azoxystrobin is stable in Monilinia fructicola isolates

A shift towards declining azoxystrobin sensitivity has been previously documented in a collection of Brazilian Monilinia fructicola isolates, but information on the stability of this trait after in vitro sub-culturing is not available. In this study, one highly-sensitive isolate and two isolates with reduced sensitivity to azoxystrobin, not exhibiting point mutations at codons 129, 137 and 143 in the target gene of cytochrome b were used. Two independent experiments consisted of 10 weekly transfers of each strain in potato dextrose agar (PDA). Conidial production and germination were quantified in the initial culture and, again, after the third, sixth and tenth transfer. Measures of mycelial growth were obtained in colonies growing on PDA amended with azoxystrobin at 1 µg mL−1 and salicylhydroxamic acid at 100 µg mL−1. Data were normalized to mycelial growth rate after each of the 10 transfers. The colony diameter in the less sensitive isolates was stable across the transfers in the PDA amended with the fungicide. The conidial production and mycelial growth rate did not decrease in non-amended media either. Our results suggest that the trait of reduced sensitivity to azoxystrobin is stable under no selection pressure for azoxystrobin

Small collections remembered: Sámi material culture and community-based digitization at the Smithsonian Institution

Of the 158 million things housed by the Smithsonian Institution, about 56 objects originate from Sámi communities. By all accounts a small group of objects—even by the standards of the Arctic collections at the Institution—it may be easily overlooked or dismissed as insignificant, based on entrenched ideologies about idealized collections. Presenting a community-based methodology for the engagement of distant museum collections using three-dimensional technologies, this article establishes the latent potential of small collections for Indigenous communities. We demonstrate how a group of 56 objects not only chronicles complex histories of exchange and colonialism, but also provides a manageable conduit for learning and exchange to facilitate the continued restructuring of relationships between museums and descendent stakeholders, from the individual to community level. Small collections, far from incomplete, may not only contain materials significant to descendent groups on their own terms, but provide the grounds to generate new forms of Indigenous initiated, balanced reciprocity