Biological Sex Differences in the Monodelphis Domestica: Investigating Behavioral Responses in Environmental Enrichment and Conditioned Place Preference Paradigms

The Monodelphis domestica, commonly known as the grey short-tailed opossum, has become an increasingly frequented animal model for areas of psychological study, including comparative psychology. Despite the growing interest in utilizing the Monodelphis as an animal model, several areas of research remain limited in what has been studied. This includes associative learning and the effects of environmental enrichment on the Monodelphis. This study novelly incorporates the two using environmental enrichment with the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm to both diversify associative learning literature and expand existing knowledge on the Monodelphis domestica. The CPP paradigm included interactive objects as environmental enrichment to investigate biological sex differences in Monodelphis behavioral responses

Alcohol-Related Consequences Among First-Year University Students: Effectiveness of a Web-Based Personalized Feedback Program

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a web-based personalized feedback program using an objective measure of alcohol-related consequences. Participants were assigned to either the intervention group or an assessment-only control group during university orientation. Sanctions received for campus alcohol policy violations were tracked over the academic year. Results indicated high-risk drinkers in the control group received significantly more sanctions than other students. Results support the effectiveness of web-based interventions

Hybrid sunflower seed yield, composition and deterioration after chemical desiccation

The impact of chemical desiccation on yield showed contrasting results depending on seed moisture content at the time of application. Its effects on seed deterioration are still unknown and could be modified by seed composition. Objectives were to evaluate the impact of chemical desiccation on: i) hybrid sunflower seed yield and composition at harvest time, ii) seed deterioration during long-term storage and iii) the relationship between seeds deterioration and oil or oleic acid content. Six hybrids including low, mid and high oleic were evaluated in three experiments. Two treatments were applied on female lines at 27-30% seed moisture: (i) spraying with Paraquat and (ii) detaching heads with a knife. Control remained in the field until 10% seed moisture. Seeds were stored during 19 months under room and cold chamber conditions. Yield, number of seeds and hybrid seed composition (thousand seed weight, kernel percentage, oil and acid oleic content) were determined. Seed deterioration during storage was analyzed by germination and vigour. Paraquat advanced harvest by 35-43 days, without affecting yield or seed composition. During storage the germination of Paraquat treatments remained above that of control, without differences between storage conditions, while vigour remained above control only in cold chamber, for low oleic hybrids. Associations between deterioration (germination and vigour) and oil or oleic acid content, were not significant. Desiccation with Paraquat allows advanced harvest without yield losses or modifications in seed composition. The deterioration of desiccated seeds was lower and independent from oil and oleic acid content.EEA Hilario AscasubiFil: Szemruch, C.L. Universidad Nacional de Lomas de Zamora. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Universidad de Lomas de Zamora. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Investigación sobre Producción Agropecuaria, Ambiente y Salud; ArgentinaFil: Cantamutto, Miguel Angel. Universidad Nacional de Lomas de Zamora. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Hilario Ascasubi; Argentina. Universidad de Lomas de Zamora. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Investigación sobre Producción Agropecuaria, Ambiente y Salud; ArgentinaFil: García, F.A. Universidad Nacional de Lomas de Zamora. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Aguirre, M. Universidad Nacional de Lomas de Zamora. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Renteria, S.J. Advanta Semillas; ArgentinaFil: Rondanini, D.P. Universidad Nacional de Lomas de Zamora. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas; Argentina. Universidad de Lomas de Zamora. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Investigación sobre Producción Agropecuaria, Ambiente y Salud; Argentin