A social psychological study of ethnonyms: Cognitive representation of the ingroup and intergroup hostility

Ethnonyms (M. G. Levin & L. P. Potapov, 1964; from the Greek roots meaning "a national group" and "name") are the names an in-group uses to distinguish itself from out-groups. There has been no social psychological research to date exploring the effects of ethnonyms. The authors report the results of 3 studies examining the potential effects of various features of ethnonyms on intergroup behavior. Analyses of archival data indicate that among indigenous African cultures (Study 1), indigenous Native American cultures (Study 2), and African Americans (Study 3), intergroup hostility was greater among in-groups characterized by less complex ethnonyms. Discussion considers the implications of these results and suggests new directions for research in the social psychological study of ethnonyms

A Rebuttal to Borchgrevink’s Criticism of Our Meta-Analytic Recommendations

Borchgrevink presented flawed arguments against our (Lynn & Mullen) previous recommendation that hospitality researchers employ meta-analytic techniques other than those of Hunter and Schmidt. The problems with his criticisms are briefly discussed in this article

A Complex Interaction Between Reduced Reelin Expression and Prenatal Organophosphate Exposure Alters Neuronal Cell Morphology.

Genetic and environmental factors are both likely to contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders including schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, and major depressive disorders. Prior studies from our laboratory and others have demonstrated that the combinatorial effect of two factors-reduced expression of reelin protein and prenatal exposure to the organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos oxon-gives rise to acute biochemical effects and to morphological and behavioral phenotypes in adolescent and young adult mice. In the current study, we examine the consequences of these factors on reelin protein expression and neuronal cell morphology in adult mice. While the cell populations that express reelin in the adult brain appear unchanged in location and distribution, the levels of full length and cleaved reelin protein show persistent reductions following prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos oxon. Cell positioning and organization in the hippocampus and cerebellum are largely normal in animals with either reduced reelin expression or prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos oxon, but cellular complexity and dendritic spine organization is altered, with a skewed distribution of immature dendritic spines in adult animals. Paradoxically, combinatorial exposure to both factors appears to generate a rescue of the dendritic spine phenotypes, similar to the mitigation of behavioral and morphological changes observed in our prior study. Together, our observations support an interaction between reelin expression and chlorpyrifos oxon exposure that is not simply additive, suggesting a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors in regulating brain morphology

Quantitative trait loci controlling agronomic and biochemical traits in \u3ci\u3eCannabis sativa\u3c/i\u3e

Understanding the genetic basis of complex traits is a fundamental goal of evolutionary genetics. Yet, the genetics controlling complex traits in many important species such as hemp (Cannabis sativa) remain poorly investigated. Because hemp’s change in legal status with the 2014 and 2018 U.S. Federal Farm Bills, interest in the genetics controlling its numerous agriculturally important traits has steadily increased. To better understand the genetics of agriculturally important traits in hemp, we developed an F2 population by crossing two phenotypically distinct hemp cultivars (Carmagnola and USO31). Using whole-genome sequencing, we mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with variation in numerous agronomic and biochemical traits. A total of 69 loci associated with agronomic (34) and biochemical (35) trait variation were identified. We found that most QTL co-localized, suggesting that the phenotypic distinctions between Carmagnola and USO31 are largely controlled by a small number of loci. We identified TINY and olivetol synthase as candidate genes underlying colocalized QTL clusters for agronomic and biochemical traits, respectively. We functionally validated the olivetol synthase candidate by expressing the alleles in yeast. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry assays of extracts from these yeast colonies suggest that the USO31 olivetol synthase is functionally less active and potentially explains why USO31 produces lower cannabinoids compared to Carmagnola. Overall, our results help modernize the genomic understanding of complex traits in hemp

Using a Game Engine to Integrate Experimental, Field, and Simulation Data for Science Education: You Are the Scientist!

The purpose of this project is to use a game engine tointegrate geo-referenced research data, whether experimental orsimulated, to present it interactively to the user. Geo-referencedmeans that every image, video, or sound file, every pressuremap, and every simulated temperature chart is attached to aspecific point on a map or body. These data may also be timereferenced,so that different data sets may be available at thesame location for different times of the day or seasons of the year.Target users for the interactive applications are high-school andcollege students who can then conduct their own “experiments”or “explorations” as a way to get exposed to the problems andmethodologies of science and research. We use two examples ofprojects to illustrate the approach

Reviews

Reviews of International and comparative industrial relations, Tatau Tatau - one big union altogether, Remedy for present evils: a history of the New Zealand Public Service Association from 1890, Sexual harassment in the workplace, Employee selection, Legislating for workplace hazards in New Zealand: overseas experience and our present and future needs, People and enterprises - human behaviour in New Zealand organisations and From school to unemployment? The labour market for young peopl

Differential Evolution (DEoptim) for Non-Convex Portfolio Optimization

The R package DEoptim implements the differential evolution algorithm. This algorithm is an evolutionary technique similar to genetic algorithms that is useful for the solution of global optimization problems. In this note we provide an introduction to the package and demonstrate its utility for financial applications by solving a non-convex portfolio optimization problem

RR Lyrae mid-infrared Period-Luminosity-Metallicity and Period-Wesenheit-Metallicity relations based on Gaia DR3 parallaxes

We present new empirical infrared Period-Luminosity-Metallicity (PLZ) and Period-Wesenheit-Metallicity (PWZ) relations for RR Lyrae based on the latest Gaia EDR3 parallaxes. The relations are provided in the WISE $W1$ and $W2$ bands, as well as in the $W(W1, V - W1)$ and $W(W2, V - W2)$ Wesenheit magnitudes. The relations are calibrated using a very large sample of Galactic halo field RR Lyrae stars with homogeneous spectroscopic [Fe/H] abundances (over 1,000 stars in the $W1$ band), covering a broad range of metallicities ($-2.5 \lesssim \textrm{[Fe/H]} \lesssim 0.0$). We test the performance of our PLZ and PWZ relations by determining the distance moduli of both galactic and extragalactic stellar associations: the Sculptor dwarf spheroidal galaxy in the Local Group (finding $\bar{\mu}_{0}=19.47 \pm 0.06$), the Galactic globular clusters M4 ($\bar{\mu}_{0}=11.16 \pm 0.05$) and the Reticulum globular cluster in the Large Magellanic Cloud ($\bar{\mu}_{0}=18.23 \pm 0.06$). The distance moduli determined through all our relations are internally self-consistent (within $\lesssim$ 0.05 mag) but are systematically smaller (by $\sim$ 2-3$\sigma$) than previous literature measurements taken from a variety of methods/anchors. However, a comparison with similar recent RR Lyrae empirical relations anchored with EDR3 likewise shows to varying extents a systematically smaller distance modulus for PLZ/PWZ RR Lyrae relations.Comment: Accepted by ApJ, 14 pages, 5 Figures, 2 Table

Protected fish spawning aggregations as self-replenishing reservoirs for regional recovery

Dispersal of eggs and larvae from spawning sites is critical to the population dynamics and conservation of marine fishes. For overfished species like critically endangered Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus), recovery depends on the fate of eggs spawned at the few remaining aggregation sites. Biophysical models can predict larval dispersal, yet these rely on assumed values of key parameters, such as diffusion and mortality rates, which have historically been difficult or impossible to estimate. We used in situ imaging to record three-dimensional positions of individual eggs and larvae in proximity to oceanographic drifters released into egg plumes from the largest known Nassau grouper spawning aggregation. We then estimated a diffusion–mortality model and applied it to previous years' drifter tracks to evaluate the possibility of retention versus export to nearby sites within 5 days of spawning. Results indicate that larvae were retained locally in 2011 and 2017, with 2011 recruitment being a substantial driver of population recovery on Little Cayman. Export to a nearby island with a depleted population occurred in 2016. After two decades of protection, the population appears to be self-replenishing but also capable of seeding recruitment in the region, supporting calls to incorporate spawning aggregation protections into fisheries management.publishedVersio