EFFECTS OF SEX, ENVIRONMENT, AND CONDITION ON THE MUSKING BEHAVIOR OF SYMPATRIC GARTERSNAKES (THAMNOPHIS SPP.)

Despite an abundance of studies documenting antipredator and defensive behaviors of gartersnakes (genus Thamnophis), few have quantitatively examined musking, a widely utilized antipredator tactic. In this study we quantify musking behaviors in the Terrestrial Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans) and the Plains Gartersnake (T. radix) when hand-captured at four sites in and near Denver, Colorado, USA. Overall, Plains Gartersnakes musked significantly more often than Terrestrial Gartersnakes. Female Terrestrial Gartersnakes musked more frequently than males, a pattern not evident in the Plains Gartersnake. Additionally, we observed a positive correlation in body condition and musking propensity in Terrestrial Gartersnakes, suggesting resource-dependent behavior in this species. Musking behavior was consistent across variations in predation pressure, environmental conditions, and snake body size, all factors shown to influence other gartersnake defensive behaviors. These results corroborate other research which demonstrates that snake antipredator behaviors are determined by complex interactions of abiotic and biotic factors

Lev Vygotsky Speaks: Early childhood curricula

Early childhood curricula have become a major source of conversation in recent decades. The desire for growth and reform in the education field has contributed to changing tides in the classroom, leading to more child-centered approaches that are believed critical in the acquisition of holistic development. Two such curricula that have received recent attention are Reggio Emilia and Tools of the Mind, both of which stem from the foundational beliefs of Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky. It is the aim of this paper to analyze both Reggio Emilia and Tools of the Mind in terms of how they compare to Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory of development. Due in large part to the interpretation of his theoretical components, these two models have caught the attention of early childhood education leaders and scholars. However, the degree to which Vygotsky is represented in each curriculum remains up for discussion. It is through the intentional promotion of strong social environments and the development of necessary cognitive skills that a curriculum model could actualize the beliefs of Vygotsky. Additional research to understand what this might involve is certainly worth further analysis

Computing Matveev's complexity via crystallization theory: the boundary case

The notion of Gem-Matveev complexity has been introduced within crystallization theory, as a combinatorial method to estimate Matveev's complexity of closed 3-manifolds; it yielded upper bounds for interesting classes of such manifolds. In this paper we extend the definition to the case of non-empty boundary and prove that for each compact irreducible and boundary-irreducible 3-manifold it coincides with the modified Heegaard complexity introduced by Cattabriga, Mulazzani and Vesnin. Moreover, via Gem-Matveev complexity, we obtain an estimation of Matveev's complexity for all Seifert 3-manifolds with base $\mathbb D^2$ and two exceptional fibers and, therefore, for all torus knot complements.Comment: 27 pages, 14 figure

Innovation in risky markets. Multinational and domestic firms in the UK regions

This paper analyses the relationship between firm engagement in innovation and perception of market risk. It points to heterogeneity in the behaviour of multinationals (MNEs) versus single domestic firms, emphasising how this relationship changes across regional contexts

Isotope analysis of water by means of near-infrared dual-wavelength diode laser spectroscopy

A novel diode laser spectrometer was developed using dual-wavelength multiplexing, ensuring ideal conditions for high-precision and simultaneous measurements of the 2H/1H, 17O/16O, and 18O/16O isotope ratios in water. A 1.4-µm diode laser probed a H16OH/HO2H line pair near 7198 cm-1, while a similar laser observed H16OH, H17OH, and H18OH ro-vibrational lines around 7183 cm-1, or a H16OH/H18OH line pair near 7200 cm–1. The 1-σ standard deviation is 0.2‰ for 18O/16O, and 0.5‰ for the 2H/1H and 17O/16O isotope ratios. Preliminary experiments with repeated injections of a natural abundance sample point to an accuracy of about 1‰ for all three isotope ratios in natural samples.

Modeling metal influence on the gate opening in ZIF-8 materials

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) undergo pressure-induced phase transitions that are peculiar to each ZIF. The phase transition is associated with the rotation of the imidazolate, and it is accompanied by an increase of their pore openings, affecting ZIFs performance in separation processes. This phenomenon is known as the gate opening or the swing effect. Here we report the metal dependence of the ambient pressure and high pressure (HP) phases of ZIF-8(M) with M = Mg, Fe, and Zn, determined by using periodic Kohn-Sham density functional models. We show that the substitution of Zn with Mg or Fe has a big influence on the gate opening energy, which significantly decreases, an opposite trend than what was previously reported upon functionalization of the linker. The lowest energy phase of ZIF-8(Fe) is different than for ZIF-8(Mg) and ZIF-8(Zn), and its structure is significantly closer to the HP phase. Multireference wave function methods have been used to study the electronic structure of ZIF-8(Fe), confirming the metal center to be high spin (S = 2) divalent iron in antiferromagnetic coupling. The high-spin nature of the iron species coupled with a band gap in the visible light range makes ZIF-8(Fe) an interesting material for catalysis and photocatalysis

Thermal Treatment Effect on CO and NO Adsorption on Fe(II) and Fe(III) Species in Fe3O-Based MIL-Type Metal-Organic Frameworks: A Density Functional Theory Study

The properties of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based on triiron oxo-centered (Fe3O) metal nodes are often related to the efficiency of the removal of the solvent molecules and the counteranion chemisorbed on the Fe3O unit by postsynthetic thermal treatment. Temperature, time, and the reaction environment play a significant role in modifying key features of the materials, that is, the number of open metal sites and the reduction of Fe(III) centers to Fe(II). IR spectroscopy allows the inspection of these postsynthetic modifications by using carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO) as probe molecules. However, the reference data sets are based on spectra recorded for iron zeolites and oxides, whose structures are different from the Fe3O one. We used density functional theory to study how the adsorption enthalpy and the vibrational bands of CO and NO are modified upon dehydration and reduction of Fe3O metal nodes. We obtained a set of theoretical spectra that can model the modification observed in previously reported experimental spectra. Several CO and NO bands were previously assigned to heterogeneous Fe(II) and Fe(III) sites, suggesting a large defectivity of the materials. On the basis of the calculations, we propose an alternative assignment of these bands by considering only crystallographic iron sites. These findings affect the common description of Fe3O-based MOFs as highly defective materials. We expect these results to be of interest to the large community of scientists working on Fe(II)- and Fe(III)-based MOFs and related materials

Can molecular cell biology explain chromosome motions?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mitotic chromosome motions have recently been correlated with electrostatic forces, but a lingering "molecular cell biology" paradigm persists, proposing binding and release proteins or molecular geometries for force generation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Pole-facing kinetochore plates manifest positive charges and interact with negatively charged microtubule ends providing the motive force for poleward chromosome motions by classical electrostatics. This conceptual scheme explains dynamic tracking/coupling of kinetochores to microtubules and the simultaneous depolymerization of kinetochore microtubules as poleward force is generated.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We question here why cells would prefer complex molecular mechanisms to move chromosomes when direct electrostatic interactions between known bound charge distributions can accomplish the same task much more simply.</p

A Critical Lens on Drawing the Body: Intersections of Gender, Race, and Size in Fashion Illustration Textbooks

Scholars have extensively studied representations of race, gender, body, and size in visual imagery circulating in the fashion system. Our study extends Reddy-Best and Kane\u27s (2015) study and examines representations of gender, race, and the body in fashion illustration textbooks. We asked (a) what body sizes are present?, (b) do the illustrations have diverse racial representation?, (c) and how are bodies positioned?. This study is informed by intersectionality theory, in that we critically examined multiple subject positions in relation to systems of oppression (Shields, 2008). Using content analysis, we analyzed 3622 individuals in textbooks between 2006 and 2013. The fashion illustration texts are lacking mostly in racial diversity. Additionally, Black individuals were more often pictured with lighter skin colors continuing the issues of colorism. These findings highlight the reflections of racial hierarchies present in our society, and support the need for more diverse representations in fashion illustration texts