Extraordinary Sex Ratios: Cultural Effects on Ecological Consequences

We model sex-structured population dynamics to analyze pairwise competition between groups differing both genetically and culturally. A sex-ratio allele is expressed in the heterogametic sex only, so that assumptions of Fisher's analysis do not apply. Sex-ratio evolution drives cultural evolution of a group-associated trait governing mortality in the homogametic sex. The two-sex dynamics under resource limitation induces a strong Allee effect that depends on both sex ratio and cultural trait values. We describe the resulting threshold, separating extinction from positive growth, as a function of female and male densities. When initial conditions avoid extinction due to the Allee effect, different sex ratios cannot coexist; in our model, greater female allocation always invades and excludes a lesser allocation. But the culturally transmitted trait interacts with the sex ratio to determine the ecological consequences of successful invasion. The invading female allocation may permit population persistence at self-regulated equilibrium. For this case, the resident culture may be excluded, or may coexist with the invader culture. That is, a single sex-ratio allele in females and a cultural dimorphism in male mortality can persist; a low-mortality resident trait is maintained by father-to-son cultural transmission. Otherwise, the successfully invading female allocation excludes the resident allele and culture, and then drives the population to extinction via a shortage of males. Finally, we show that the results obtained under homogeneous mixing hold, with caveats, in a spatially explicit model with local mating and diffusive dispersal in both sexes.Comment: final version, reflecting changes in response to referees' comment

Measurement of the threshold sensitivity of honeybees to weak, extremely low-frequency magnetic fields

Experiments reported previously demonstrate that free-flying honeybees are able to detect static intensity fluctuations as weak as 26 nT against the background, earth-strength magnetic field. We report here an extension of this work to weak, alternating fields at frequencies of 10 and 60 Hz. Our results indicate that the sensitivity of the honeybee magnetoreception system decreases rapidly with increasing frequency. At 60 Hz, alternating field strengths above 100 µT are required to elicit discrimination. These results are consistent with biophysical predictions of a magnetite-based magnetoreceptor

Voices of steel: a case study of a Pennsylvania high school steel band

Steel bands have become more prevalent in U.S. schools since the early 1980's. Through discussions with several of the leading steelpan builders in the United States, it is now estimated that there are over 600 steel bands in U.S. schools and universities. An appealing aspect of these ensembles is that they attract a wide range of students, from accomplished instrumentalists to students with no musical background. Due to their uniqueness in school music programs, steel bands are often extra-curricular activities but are often highly sought after for performances. This case study examines students' motivations to play in steel band (nontraditional music ensembles) including informal music education and learning, pedagogy, curriculum, and repertoire. It was found that students are attracted to the ensemble due to the uniqueness of the instruments, the repertoire, and for the opportunity to be part of a close community. Students value the opportunity for learning music in an informal manner where they are able to have input on the instructional process and what material is performed

EARLY 20TH CENTURY XENOPHOBIC PERCEPTIONS AMONG AMERICAN SECURITY RALLY OF MONTANA PARTICIPANTS IN 2016

The goal of this research was to investigate immigration perceptions among participants in the American Security Rally of Montana using in-depth interviews and participant observation qualitative techniques. The thesis was guided by the following questions. What are the perceptions of participants among the American Security Rally of Montana with respect to immigration, where do they come from and why are they are created? The main theme highlighted by participants was one of xenophobia. This xenophobic rhetoric was predominantly directed towards potential Syrian refugee migrants to Montana but also encompassed a perspective pertaining to Hispanic/Latino undocumented migrants. Theodore Adorno’s notion of the “authoritarian personality” and his ideas on the “culture industry” are applied along with social identity theory to explain where the anti-immigrant rhetoric highlighted throughout the findings of the current study come from. This study is important because it addresses one of the most controversial contemporary topics in American culture. It represents a social issue that is timely and applicable on the local, national, and international levels. The study is unique because it addresses anti-immigrant beliefs in a rural northwestern state with one of the least diverse, mostly white, populations in the United States (Schmalzbauer 2014). Findings are important because they highlight a xenophobic narrative from the past that has persisted from the time Theodore Adorno started his work in the early 1900’s (Hafez 2015: 24; Ekman 2015; Bulliet 2003)

THE ABSORPTION OF WATER BY WASHED PARCHMENT COFFEE WHEN STORED UNDER WATER

THE ABSORPTION OF WATER BY WASHED PARCHMENT COFFEE WHEN STORED UNDER WATE

Supply Chain Relationships in Procurement: Is Collaboration Reality?

Supply Chain Management (SCM) often requires independent organizations to work together to achieve shared objectives. This collaboration is necessary when coordinated actions benefit the group more than the uncoordinated efforts of individual firms. Collaboration is a key dimension of SCM, and it has numerous key dimensions of its own. These include information sharing, resource sharing, decision synchronization, incentive alignment, goal congruence, joint knowledge creation, and collaborative communication. Trust and commitment are also key factors that intertwine with these dimensions. Successful implementation of these types of collaborative relationships can lead to a collaborative advantage, where firms working together achieve greater success than they would have alone. Recent research has indicated that collaboration attempts between firms in supply chains have not been as widespread as anticipated. This is despite the commonly reported benefits that may be gained by working together, which may be attributed to traditional business practices where innovation-driving competition between firms is commonplace. A large cause of this might be that academics are far outreaching practitioners with where collaboration should be in its present state of practice. This research investigates the progress the purchasing function of global organizations has made in achieving collaboration in supply chain relationships, ranging from firms practicing a silo mentality to firms working together to compete with other supply chains. Input is solicited from purchasing professionals with a survey and a series of semi-structured interviews in an effort to present a current snapshot of the utilization of collaboration in procurement and how supply chains can transition to more collaborative structures in the future. Results from the data analysis indicate that true collaboration is not yet present in buyer-supplier relationships. Although certain key collaboration initiatives are present, such as information sharing, other critical aspects like trust are not yet widespread. Therefore, firms and supply chains still have room for improvement in order to achieve the close relationships required in order to collaboratively practice supply chain management. Finally, more research is identified to further progress the field and to gain an improved understanding of the complex relationships necessary for true collaboration

POWERS - EXCLUDING CREDITORS OF THE DONEE OF A GENERAL POWER BY EXPRESS PROVISIONS BY THE DONOR

There is very little authority upon this subject; lawyers seemingly assume that the picture is complicated enough without venturing into new fields. In only two jurisdictions are there actual reported cases where the donor has tried by specific provisions to restrain creditors of the donee