Relatedness facilitates cooperation in the subsocial spider, Stegodyphus tentoriicola

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cooperative hunting and foraging in spiders is rare and prone to cheating such that the actions of selfish individuals negatively affect the whole group. The resulting social dilemma may be mitigated by kin selection since related individuals lose indirect fitness benefits by acting selfishly. Indeed, cooperation with genetic kin reduces the disadvantages of within-group competition in the subsocial spider <it>Stegodyphus lineatus</it>, supporting the hypothesis that high relatedness is an important pre-adaptation in the transition to sociality in spiders. In this study we examined the consequences of group size and relatedness on cooperative feeding in the subsocial spider <it>S. tentoriicola</it>, a species suggested to be at the transition to permanent sociality.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We formed groups of 3 and 6 spiders that were either siblings or non-siblings. We found that increasing group size negatively affected feeding efficiency but that these negative effects were reduced in sib-groups. Sib groups were more likely to feed cooperatively and all group members grew more homogenously than groups of unrelated spiders. The measured differences did not translate into differential growth or mortality during the experimental period of 8 weeks.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The combination of our results with those from previous studies indicates that the conflict between individual interests and group interests may be reduced by nepotism and that the latter promote the maintenance of the social community.</p

Development and evaluation of digital learning tools promoting applicable knowledge in economics and German teacher education

Digital teaching interventions allow for tailor-made university teaching. This is especially relevant for teacher education, where applicable professional teaching knowledge needs to be promoted for later professional success. Digital teaching tools have been shown to be a promising supplement for this purpose. Even though the corresponding demands in teacher education have been increasing in recent years, the need to develop digital learning tools usable in instruction is still urgent. The TWIND project develops digital learning tools for teacher education and evaluates them in a quasi-experimental design. The present work investigates the usability and application of these newly developed tools. Sixty-three trainee teachers worked independently over four weeks with one of two digital learning tools, focusing on either ‘Multilingualism in Classrooms’ or ‘Professional Communication in Classrooms.’ This study includes a pre-post-test of pedagogical knowledge facets as well as student and instructor ratings on the digital tools. The digital learning tools led to a positive change in the respective target facets of pedagogical knowledge. The student and instructor feedback reflected positively on the usability and usefulness of the new digital tools. Based on these findings, the limitations of the study as well as implications for further research and teacher education practice have been outlined

Mobile eye tracking applied as a tool for customer experience research in a crowded train station

Train stations have increasingly become crowded, necessitating stringent requirements in the design of stations and commuter navigation through these stations. In this study, we explored the use of mobile eye tracking in combination with observation and a survey to gain knowledge on customer experience in a crowded train station. We investigated the utilization of mobile eye tracking in ascertaining customers’ perception of the train station environment and analyzed the effect of a signalization prototype (visual pedestrian flow cues), which was intended for regulating pedestrian flow in a crowded underground passage. Gaze behavior, estimated crowd density, and comfort levels (an individual’s comfort level in a certain situation), were measured before and after the implementation of the prototype. The results revealed that the prototype was visible in conditions of low crowd density. However, in conditions of high crowd density, the prototype was less visible, and the path choice was influenced by other commuters. Hence, herd behavior appeared to have a stronger effect than the implemented signalization prototype in conditions of high crowd density. Thus, mobile eye tracking in combination with observation and the survey successfully aided in understanding customers’ perception of the train station environment on a qualitative level and supported the evaluation of the signalization prototype the crowded underground passage. However, the analysis process was laborious, which could be an obstacle for its practical use in gaining customer insights

Evaluation bibliothekarischer Online-Angebote: Usability und Usefulness – zwei Seiten einer Medaille

DOI: 10.12685/027.7-1-3-39Aus Anwendersicht sind für die Qualität bibliothekarischer Online-Angebote zwei Aspekte entscheidend. Einerseits müssen für sie relevante Inhalte zur Verfügung stehen. Andererseits sollte es mög­lichst einfach und intuitiv möglich sein, diese Inhalte zu finden und auf sie zuzugreifen. Die Themen Usefulness und Usability sind daher für Bibliotheken von grosser Bedeutung. Der Beitrag beschreibt wie diese beiden Aspekte evaluiert werden können und wie Bibliotheken anhand von BibEval und PECI selb­ständig ihre Angebote überprüfen können.From the users’ point of view two aspects are essential for the quality of library online services. On the one hand, relevant content must be available. On the other hand, it should be simple and intuitive to find and to access this content. Therefore, the topics usability and usefulness are of great importance for li­braries. This article describes how these two aspects can be evaluated and how libraries can use BibEval and PECI for assessments of their own services

The PinK Study - Methodology of the Baseline Survey of a Prospective Cohort Study of Couples Undergoing Fertility Treatment

Der Methodenbericht beschreibt die Basiserhebung der PinK-Studie "Paare in Kinderwunschbehandlung". Ziel der Studie ist ein besseres Verständnis der Situation von Paaren mit unerfülltem Kinderwunsch und umfassende Erkenntnisse über die Wege in die Kinderwunschbehandlung. Der Ansatz der Studie ist interdisziplinär. Sie ist als prospektive Kohortenstudie in einem klinischen Umfeld angelegt. Zielgruppe der Studie sind Paare mit unerfülltem Kinderwunsch, die zwischen Juli 2012 und Mai 2013 ein Kinderwunschzentrum in Rheinland-Pfalz oder in der hessischen Landeshauptstadt aufgesucht haben. Als Erhebungsinstrument kamen schriftliche Fragebögen zum Einsatz, die den Patienten durch das Personal der Kinderwunschzentren übergeben wurden. Der finale Datensatz enthält alle bis Ende Juli 2013 zurückgesendete Fragebögen. Es haben 323 Frauen und 242 Männer an der Befragung teilgenommen, darunter 234 Paare, für die vollständige Informationen zu beiden Partnern vorliegen. Der Datensatz ermöglicht damit neben Geschlechtervergleichen auch Paaranalysen. Die Gesamtrücklaufquote liegt bei 31% mit teilweise erheblichen Unterschieden zwischen den Kliniken - mögliche Ursachen und Folgen werden diskutiert. Die Studienpopulation wird hinsichtlich zentraler soziodemografischer Merkmale beschrieben.This paper describes the realization of the baseline survey of the study ‘PinK- Paare in Kinderwunschbehandlung’ (couples undergoing fertility treatment). The study aims at a broader and better understanding of the situation of couples with an unfulfilled desire to have a child and of pathways leading couples to the fertility clinic. The approach of the study is interdisciplinary. It is designed as a prospective cohort study in a clinical setting. The study population consists of couples with an unfulfilled desire to have a child who presented themselves in a fertility clinic in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate (RP) or in the capital city of the state of Hesse between July 2012 and May 2013. Self-administered questionnaires were used to gather information from patients at fertility clinics. These were handed out to the patients by the staff at the fertility clinics. Questionnaires returned by the end of July 2013 were included in the data set. The final sample consists of 323 female and 242 male respondents. In 234 couples, both partners participated. The overall response rate is 31%, with considerable variation across the clinics - reasons for and consequences of this are discussed. The final sample is described in terms of the distribution of core socio-demographic variables

Glycemic index and microstructure analysis of a newly developed fiber enriched cookie

A diet with a high glycemic index (GI) is associated with an elevated risk for obesity or type 2 diabetes. We investigated the GI of a newly-developed fiber enriched cookie and characterized the microstructure of ingredients used. In a study with 26 non-diabetic healthy volunteers it was shown that the fiber enriched cookie has a GI of 58.9 in relation to white bread as reference. Using a conversion factor of 1.4, the GI of the fiber enriched cookie in relation to a glucose-solution is 42.0 and can be classified as a low-GI food. Postprandial insulin concentration was significantly lower after consumption of fiber enriched cookies compared to white bread. Glucose release after in vitro digestion was significantly lower from fiber enriched cookies compared to other cookies tested. In addition to its high percentage of fiber, the cookies’ low GI can be attributed to the limited gelatinization potential of the starch granules found in the ingredients used. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy it is shown that starch granule surface area of whole grain barley flour, spelt flour and oat flakes bears cluster-shaped protein–NSPS complexes that preferentially absorb water in conditions of water shortage and thereby prevent starch gelatinization

Complete genome sequence, lifestyle, and multi-drug resistance of the human pathogen Corynebacterium resistens DSM 45100 isolated from blood samples of a leukemia patient

Schröder J, Maus I, Meyer K, et al. Complete genome sequence, lifestyle, and multi-drug resistance of the human pathogen Corynebacterium resistens DSM 45100 isolated from blood samples of a leukemia patient. BMC Genomics. 2012;13(1): 141.BACKGROUND: Corynebacterium resistens was initially recovered from human infections and recognized as a new coryneform species that is highly resistant to antimicrobial agents. Bacteremia associated with this organism in immunocompromised patients was rapidly fatal as standard minocycline therapies failed. C. resistens DSM 45100 was isolated from a blood culture of samples taken from a patient with acute myelocytic leukemia. The complete genome sequence of C. resistens DSM 45100 was determined by pyrosequencing to identify genes contributing to multi-drug resistance, virulence, and the lipophilic lifestyle of this newly described human pathogen. RESULTS: The genome of C. resistens DSM 45100 consists of a circular chromosome of 2,601,311 bp in size and the 28,312-bp plasmid pJA144188. Metabolic analysis showed that the genome of C. resistens DSM 45100 lacks genes for typical sugar uptake systems, anaplerotic functions, and a fatty acid synthase, explaining the strict lipophilic lifestyle of this species. The genome encodes a broad spectrum of enzymes ensuring the availability of exogenous fatty acids for growth, including predicted virulence factors that probably contribute to fatty acid metabolism by damaging host tissue. C. resistens DSM 45100 is able to use external L-histidine as a combined carbon and nitrogen source, presumably as a result of adaptation to the hitherto unknown habitat on the human skin. Plasmid pJA144188 harbors several genes contributing to antibiotic resistance of C. resistens DSM 45100, including a tetracycline resistance region of the Tet W type known from Lactobacillus reuteri and Streptococcus suis. The tet(W) gene of pJA144188 was cloned in Corynebacterium glutamicum and was shown to confer high levels of resistance to tetracycline, doxycycline, and minocycline in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: The detected gene repertoire of C. resistens DSM 45100 provides insights into the lipophilic lifestyle and virulence functions of this newly recognized pathogen. Plasmid pJA144188 revealed a modular architecture of gene regions that contribute to the multi-drug resistance of C. resistens DSM 45100. The tet(W) gene encoding a ribosomal protection protein is reported here for the first time in corynebacteria. Cloning of the tet(W) gene mediated resistance to second generation tetracyclines in C. glutamicum, indicating that it might be responsible for the failure of minocycline therapies in patients with C. resistens bacteremia

The PinK Study - Methodology of the Follow-up Survey of a Cohort Study of Couples Undergoing Fertility Treatment

The paper describes the follow-up survey of the PinK study 'Paare in Kinderwunschbehandlung' (couples undergoing fertility treatment). This interdisciplinary study aims at a broader and better understanding of the situation of couples with an unfulfilled desire to have a child. The focus in the follow-up survey is on the situation of the couples one year after their first visit to a fertility clinic in Rhineland-Palatinate or in the capital of Hesse, Wiesbaden. Approximately one year after the baseline survey, self-administered questionnaires were sent to respondents who had signed a written agreement to remain in the study. The field period lasted from June 2013 to August 2014. The final sample consists of 140 women and 93 men. In 89 couples both partners participated. The longitudinal data set includes 224 respondents. The share of baseline survey participants who also participated in the follow-up is 39.6 %. This report describes the study design and materials for the follow-up as well as the sample and analyses the selectivity of dropouts from the baseline sample