scholarly journals Exploring Kid Space in the wild: a preliminary study of multimodal and immersive collaborative play-based learning experiences

Author(s):  
Sinem Aslan ◽  
Ankur Agrawal ◽  
Nese Alyuz ◽  
Rebecca Chierichetti ◽  
Lenitra M. Durham ◽  
...  
2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melany H. Chapin ◽  
Mike Maunder ◽  
Katherine E. Horak

Island floras have been subject to catastrophic changes since human colonization; the Hawaiian Islands exemplify this pattern of species decline and ecological change. Archaeological and historic findings support the former existence of coastal, lowland and interior Pritchardia dominated forests. Wild Pritchardia populations are highly fragmented and exhibit poor or absent regeneration in the wild. This study records seed predation, goat grazing, pig damage, and human harvesting on six wild populations of three species and outlines requirements for the long-term management of wild populations. Only one population of the six studied was found to contain seedlings. Recommended conservation management strategies are outlined.


NeoBiota ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 61 ◽  
pp. 33-46
Author(s):  
Jiří Patoka ◽  
Romanus E. Prabowo ◽  
Miloslav Petrtýl ◽  
Julian D. Reynolds ◽  
Pavlína Kuříková ◽  
...  

The pet trade in aquatic organisms is a significant source of non-indigenous species introductions. In comparison with ornamental animals, unintentionally transported invertebrate assemblages are easily overlooked by traders and keepers. Moreover, hitchhiking species detection and identification is difficult even for experts. The densities of “hitchhikers” in aquaria may be relatively higher than those in the wild. These phenomena are known in freshwater aquaria but poorly studied in marine ones. We found 17 species of non-ornamental marine invertebrates in one of the leading importers of aquarium species in the Czech Republic in November 2017. The set comprised six gastropods, two bivalves, three cnidarians, two echinoderms, two crustaceans, and two polychaete worms. In one case, a symbiont was also detected, associated with the host “hitchhiker”. No “live rocks” are traded by the surveyed wholesaler. Thus, the found animals were not imported together with this item as larvae or eggs. Contrary to the transport of targeted ornamental species, it is clear that transport of “hitchhikers” is occurring despite standard legislative regulations and should be brought to the attention of conservationists, wildlife managers, policymakers and other stakeholders.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Vaglio ◽  
Stefano S. K. Kaburu ◽  
Christopher Young ◽  
Richard Pearce ◽  
Sarah Smith ◽  
...  

AbstractAlmost half of the primate species recognized today worldwide are classified as endangered or critically endangered in the wild. Captive breeding is vital for primate conservation, with modern zoos serving a crucial role as breeders of populations acting as buffers against extinction, ambassadors of endangered species, and educators of the general public. However, captive populations may experience welfare issues that may also undermine their breeding success. In order to design and test a new scent enrichment programme to enhance the breeding success and well-being of critically endangered zoo primates, we carried out a preliminary study to assess the effects of lavender on captive red-ruffed lemurs (Varecia rubra) and Lar gibbons (Hylobates lar) as these species presently show a low success rate in captive breeding and are critically endangered in the wild. We combined behavioural observations and faecal endocrinology analyses to assess the effects of lavender on two captive troops (N = 8) housed at Dudley Zoo and Castle (UK). We recorded observations of natural species-specific and abnormal stress-related behaviours for 144 hr using instantaneous scan sampling. We collected 78 faecal samples and measured the faecal cortisol concentrations using radioimmunoassay. We found a significant effect by the scent enrichment on social interactions and stress-related behaviours (i.e., pacing and self-scratching), with both species reducing their rates of stress-related behaviours after they were exposed to lavender. We also found that both species displayed a significant increase in faecal glucocorticoids following the exposure to lavender. Our findings suggest that lavender may work as scent enrichment to decrease the stress levels of zoo primates across the major lineages, but its effects might change depending on the species-specific social lives and olfactory repertoires of primates.


2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luz Edith Herrera Díaz ◽  
Darlene González Miy

Over the last decade, the community of inquiry framework has proved successful for online learning experiences in diverse disciplines, although studies in the teaching of English as a foreign language arena are still scarce. In this vein, this article reports a preliminary study about the development of the oral skill in a Basic English online course, uncovering the relationship between the community of inquiry framework (with its three forms of presence: teaching, cognitive, and social) and some indicators of the oral skill. Findings, based on learners’ perceptions, confirmed the existence of such framework and suggest that the teaching presence fosters grammar, accuracy, and vocabulary. Discussion of findings, limitations of the study and future possible research actions conclude this report.


Toxics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 267
Author(s):  
Cristian Rial-Berriel ◽  
Andrea Acosta-Dacal ◽  
Manuel Zumbado ◽  
Luis Alberto Henríquez-Hernández ◽  
Ángel Rodríguez-Hernández ◽  
...  

Animal poisoning is one of the greatest conservation threats facing wildlife. In a preliminary study in the oceanic archipelago of the Canary Islands, we showed that the degree of threat from this circumstance was very high-even higher than that reported in other regions of continental Europe. Consequently, a legal framework for the effective prosecution of the crime of wildlife poisoning came into force in 2014 in this region. We present the results of the investigation of 961 animals and 84 baits sent to our laboratory for the diagnosis of animal poisonings during the period 2014–2021. We were able to identify poison as the cause of death in 251 animals and 61 baits. Carbofuran stands out as the main agent used in this archipelago. We have also detected an increasing tendency to use mixtures of several pesticides in the preparation of baits. The entry into operation of two canine patrols has led to the detection of more dead animals in the wild and a greater number of poisoned animals. The percentage of poison positives is significantly higher in areas with lower population density, corresponding to rural environments, as well as in areas with greater agricultural and livestock activity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofi Mursidawati ◽  
Adhityo Wicaksono

The controlling mechanisms for the growth and differentiation of Rafflesia from a flower bud into the anthesis stage is currently unknown, particularly if any plant growth regulator (PGR) physiological pathways play some type of roles. In the wild, the number of flower buds available to study are extremely limited. In this study, we grouped six flower buds of Rafflesia patma Blume into three different treatments: two buds injected with auxin (indoleacetic acid, IAA), two buds injected with cytokinin (kinetin), and two buds injected with sterile distilled water as a control. Buds enlarged with both IAA and kinetin treatments compared to the control, but only buds injected with IAA showed a transition stage with the bract revealed (cupule-bract stage from previously cupule stage) within two weeks of five weeks of observation. These results raise further questions whether Rafflesia development is more likely due to auxin exposure when in flower bud as compared to cytokinin. Future studies should include increased sample size for treatments, enhanced PGR administration to allow exposure to the tissue and less tissue damage, injection of other PGRs such as gibberellin (GA) and jasmonic acid (JA), and histological tissue analysis to investigate PGR effects in depth.


Author(s):  
John H.L. Watson ◽  
John L. Swedo ◽  
R.W. Talley

A preliminary study of human mammary carcinoma on the ultrastructural level is reported for a metastatic, subcutaneous nodule, obtained as a surgical biopsy. The patient's tumor had responded favorably to a series of hormonal therapies, including androgens, estrogens, progestins, and corticoids for recurring nodules over eight years. The pertinent nodule was removed from the region of the gluteal maximus, two weeks following stilbestrol therapy. It was about 1.5 cms in diameter, and was located within the dermis. Pieces from it were fixed immediately in cold fixatives: phosphate buffered osmium tetroxide, glutaraldehyde, and paraformaldehyde. Embedment in each case was in Vestopal W. Contrasting was done with combinations of uranyl acetate and lead hydroxide.


Author(s):  
H.D. Geissinger ◽  
C.K. McDonald-Taylor

A new strain of mice, which had arisen by mutation from a dystrophic mouse colony was designated ‘mdx’, because the genetic defect, which manifests itself in brief periods of muscle destruction followed by episodes of muscle regeneration appears to be X-linked. Further studies of histopathological changes in muscle from ‘mdx’ mice at the light microscopic or electron microscopic levels have been published, but only one preliminary study has been on the tibialis anterior (TA) of ‘mdx’ mice less than four weeks old. Lesions in the ‘mdx’ mice vary between different muscles, and centronucleation of fibers in all muscles studied so far appears to be especially prominent in older mice. Lesions in young ‘mdx’ mice have not been studied extensively, and the results appear to be at variance with one another. The degenerative and regenerative aspects of the lesions in the TA of 23 to 26-day-old ‘mdx’ mice appear to vary quantitatively.


Author(s):  
Thecan Caesar-Ton That ◽  
Lynn Epstein

Nectria haematococca mating population I (anamorph, Fusarium solani) macroconidia attach to its host (squash) and non-host surfaces prior to germ tube emergence. The macroconidia become adhesive after a brief period of protein synthesis. Recently, Hickman et al. (1989) isolated N. haematococca adhesion-reduced mutants. Using freeze substitution, we compared the development of the macroconidial wall in the wild type in comparison to one of the mutants, LEI.Macroconidia were harvested at 1C, washed by centrifugation, resuspended in a dilute zucchini fruit extract and incubated from 0 - 5 h. During the incubation period, wild type macroconidia attached to uncoated dialysis tubing. Mutant macroconidia did not attach and were collected on poly-L-lysine coated dialysis tubing just prior to freezing. Conidia on the tubing were frozen in liquid propane at 191 - 193C, substituted in acetone with 2% OsO4 and 0.05% uranyl acetate, washed with acetone, and flat-embedded in Epon-Araldite. Using phase contrast microscopy at 1000X, cells without freeze damage were selected, remounted, sectioned and post-stained sequentially with 1% Ba(MnO4)2 2% uranyl acetate and Reynold’s lead citrate. At least 30 cells/treatment were examined.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document