Experiments on egg discrimination in two North American corvids: further evidence for retention of egg ejection

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (9) ◽  
pp. 1399-1407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd J Underwood ◽  
Spencer G Sealy ◽  
Celia M McLaren

In the absence of brood parasitism in North America, black-billed magpies, Pica hudsonia (Sabine, 1822), and yellow-billed magpies, Pica nuttalli (Audubon, 1837), may have retained egg-discrimination behaviour that evolved in Eurasian magpies, Pica pica (L., 1758), in response to parasitism by Old World cuckoos. We further examined this hypothesis by testing the egg-discrimination abilities of black-billed magpies and the American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos Brehm, 1822, which has no history of brood parasitism. In addition, we tested an alternative hypothesis that black-billed magpies evolved or retained egg discrimination to counter conspecific parasitism by testing their ability to eject foreign conspecific eggs and by using a signal detection model to estimate the level of conspecific parasitism required for ejection to be favoured. Black-billed magpies ejected all non-mimetic eggs and 62% of mimetic eggs. Significantly more mimetic eggs were ejected during the incubation stage than during the laying stage. Magpies ejected significantly more non-mimetic eggs than mimetic eggs overall, but there was no difference in ejection frequency during incubation. American crows ejected 21% of non-mimetic eggs and 8% of mimetic eggs. There was no significant difference in ejection frequency of the two egg types. Black-billed magpies ejected 11% of conspecific eggs and a relatively high level of conspecific parasitism (22%–49%) would be required to select for conspecific ejection, which provides little support for conspecific parasitism as a current selection pressure for maintaining egg discrimination. Thus, black-billed magpies appear to have retained egg rejection in the absence of parasitism through speciation from Eurasian magpies.

Author(s):  
Apoina Kartin ◽  
Hertanto W Subagio ◽  
Suharyo Hadisaputro ◽  
Martha I Kartasurya ◽  
Suhartono Suhartono ◽  
...  

Background: The prevalence of growth disorders among school-aged children in Indonesia is high (30.7%). Pesticides have been massively used in Indonesian agricultural areas. Objective: To determine if exposure to pesticides is associated with stunting among children in agricultural areas. Methods: This case-control study included 160 children (48 cases and 112 controls) aged 8–12 years. Exposure to pesticides was measured based on the history of the exposure since perinatal period, infancy, and childhood of the participants. Stunting was determined as a height for age z-score (HAZ) < -2 SD. Other variables measured were levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), hemoglobin, zinc, albumin, nutrient adequacy level (energy and protein), and history of infection, low-birth weight (LBW), and mother's height. Results: There were no significant difference between the cases and controls in terms of in the baseline characteristics, except for the median IGF-1 level; it was significantly (p<0.001) lower in the cases (66.73 ng/mL) than the controls (112.57 ng/mL). High level of pesticide exposure (p=0.029) and low IGF-1 levels (p<0.001) were significantly associated with stunting. After adjusting for confounding variables, these variables were found to be independent risk factors for stunting in children (aOR 3.90, 95% CI 1.15 to 13.26; and aOR 8.35, 95% CI 3.65 to 19.14, respectively). Conclusion: Pesticide exposure could be a risk factor for the occurrence of growth disorders in children living in agricultural areas. Necessary actions should be taken to protect children living in agricultural areas from exposure to pesticides.


Author(s):  
Douaa Al Rez ◽  
Hasan Naser Eldine ◽  
Marwan Alhalabi

Background: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a serious problem on the women, it defined as two or more consecutive pregnancy losses before the fetus has reached birth. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between the elevation in the factor VIII and RPL. Because women who have thrombophilia have increased risk of fetal loss in most studies.Methods: A total 72 women were recruited in this case control study. They divided into two groups: the RPL group included 41 women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss and the control group included 31 healthy women, who had at least one successful pregnancy and none of them had a history of fetal loss or complicated pregnancy.Results: A majority of the patients of this study didn't have a high level of factor VIII, 9 of 41 (22%) patients of RPL group in comparison with 21 of 32 (65,6%) of control group, that suffer from the increase rate of FVIII, this means that factor VIII doesn't effect on RPL.Conclusions: The present study showed that the serum elevation in the factor VIII is not significantly associated with RPL.


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (05) ◽  
pp. 0822-0824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elvira Grandone ◽  
Maurizio Margaglione ◽  
Donatella Colaizzo ◽  
Marina d'Addedda ◽  
Giuseppe Cappucci ◽  
...  

SummaryActivated protein C resistance (APCR) is responsible for most cases of familial thrombosis. The factor V missense mutation Arg506>Gln (FV Leiden) has been recognized as the commonest cause of this condition. Recently, it has been suggested that APCR is associated with second trimester fetal loss. We investigated the distribution of FV Leiden in a sample (n = 43) of Caucasian women with a history of two or more unexplained fetal losses. A group (n = 118) of parous women with uneventful pregnancies from the same ethnical background served as control. We found the mutation in 7 cases (16.28%) and 5 controls (4.24%; p = 0.011). A statistically significant difference between women with only early fetal loss vs those with late events (p = 0.04) was observed. Our data demonstrate a strong association between FV Leiden and fetal loss. Furthermore, they indicate that late events are more common in these patients.


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (05) ◽  
pp. 0955-0958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carole A Foy ◽  
Peter J Grant

SummaryPAI-2 is a fibrinolytic inhibitor produced predominantly by monocytes. Most PAI-2 is intracellular making study in clinical conditions difficult. Abnormalities in production may be associated with inflammation and fibrinolysis at sites of tissue damage such as the atherosclerotic plaque.PAI-2 gene variants have been described: variant A consists of Asn120, Asn404 and Ser413 and variant B consists of Asp120, Lys404 and Cys413. We designed a PCR-RFLP assay using primers spanning the region containing Asn/Lys404 and Ser/Cys413. Variant B contains an Mwol restriction site. We analysed 302 Pima Indians and 286 healthy Caucasian volunteers. To investigate relationships between genotype and vascular disease we analysed 333 Caucasian patients undergoing coronary angiography.Gene variant B was more common in the Pimas than in Caucasians (p <0.0001). There was no significant difference in genotype distribution between the volunteers and patients. In the patients there was no association between genotype and either a history of MI or extent of coronary atheroma.


2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
YAEL DARR

This article describes a crucial and fundamental stage in the transformation of Hebrew children's literature, during the late 1930s and 1940s, from a single channel of expression to a multi-layered polyphony of models and voices. It claims that for the first time in the history of Hebrew children's literature there took place a doctrinal confrontation between two groups of taste-makers. The article outlines the pedagogical and ideological designs of traditionalist Zionist educators, and suggests how these were challenged by a group of prominent writers of adult poetry, members of the Modernist movement. These writers, it is argued, advocated autonomous literary creation, and insisted on a high level of literary quality. Their intervention not only dramatically changed the repertoire of Hebrew children's literature, but also the rules of literary discourse. The article suggests that, through the Modernists’ polemical efforts, Hebrew children's literature was able to free itself from its position as an apparatus controlled by the political-educational system and to become a dynamic and multi-layered field.


Author(s):  
Marcela Moreira Salles ◽  
Viviane de Cássia Oliveira ◽  
Ana Paula Macedo ◽  
Claudia Helena Silva-Lovato ◽  
Helena de Freitas Oliveira Paranhos

Implant-supported prostheses hygiene and peri-implant tissues health are considered to be predictive factors for successful prosthetic rehabilitation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of brushing associated with oral irrigation measured as biofilm-removing capacity, maintenance of healthy oral tissues, and patient satisfaction. A randomized, crossover clinical trial was conducted with 38 patients who wore conventional maxillary complete dentures and mandibular overdentures retained by the O-ring system. The patients were instructed to use the following hygiene methods for 14 days: mechanical brushing [MB (brush and dentifrice - Control)]; and MB with oral irrigation [WP (Waterpik - Experimental)]. Biofilm-removing capacity and maintenance of healthy oral tissues were evaluated by the Modified Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index (GI), Probing Depth (PD), and Bleeding on Probing Index (BP) recorded at baseline and after each method. In parallel, patients answered a specific questionnaire using a Visual Analogue Scale after each hygiene method. Data were analyzed by Friedman and Wilcoxon tests (α=0.05). The results showed significantly lower PI, GI, PD, and BP indices after application of the hygiene methods (P&lt;0.001) than those observed at baseline. However, no significant difference was found between MB and WP. The satisfaction questionnaire responses to both methods showed high mean values for all questions, with no statistically significant difference found between the answers given after the use of MB and WP (P&gt;0.05). The findings suggest that WP was effective in reducing PI, GI, PD, and BP indices and provided a high level of patient satisfaction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Farokh Saljughi ◽  
Mitra Savabi-Esfahani ◽  
Shahnaz Kohan ◽  
Soheila Ehsanpour

Mother-infant attachment is an intimate, lasting and satisfying relationship that leads to better cognitive, emotional and social growth of the infant. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of breastfeeding training by role-play on mother-infant attachment behaviours. This research was a randomised clinical trial (parallel design). Inclusion criteria were: no history of mental disorders; ability to read and write the Persian language to complete the questionnaire; no history of drug and tobacco intake in primigravida women. The sample comprised 100 pregnant women (in 2 groups), selected through simple random sampling at healthcare centres. The researcher reviewed prenatal care registries of selected healthcare centres and extracted the names of pregnant women in their early third trimester. The data were imported into randomisation software. The control group received routine breastfeeding training, while the intervention group received routine training together with training through role-play. The data collection tool was the Maternal Behaviour Inventory Questionnaire. Consequently 75 samples were analysed in SPSS16. Independent t-tests and chi-square tests were used to examine the difference between the two groups. Results showed that the mean score of mother-infant attachment one week after delivery was significantly higher in the intervention group in comparison to that in the control group (p<0.001). No significant difference was observed between the two groups in maternal age, age of marriage, neonatal gender, maternal employment and education, number of parity, and number of abortions (P>0.05). Since breastfeeding training through role-play could affect mother-infant attachment, it is suggested that this type of training should be provided for pregnant women to promote mother-infant attachment and exclusive breastfeeding.


The paper is a review on the textbook by A. V. Yeremin, «The History of the National Prosecutor’s office» and the anthology «The Prosecutor’s Office of the Russian Empire in the Documents of 1722–1917» (authors: V. V. Lavrov, A. V. Eremin, edited by N. M. Ivanov) published at the St. Petersburg Law Institute (branch) of the University of the Prosecutor’s office of the Russian Federation in 2018. The reviewers emphasize the high relevance and high level of research, their theoretical and practical significance. The textbook and the anthology will help the students increase their legal awareness, expand their horizons.


Combination of genotypes of main types’ genetic markers causes milk productivity in cattle. The article studies correlation between kappa casein genotypes (C3N3), beta-lactoglobulin (LGB), their complexes and milk production indices in cows bred under equal conditions at a breeding farm. The calculation of parental milk yield and fat indices between the three breeds showed a significant difference (P>0,999) of PCI of Ayrshire and Holstein cattle breed milk yield - 3395 kg, PCI of fat - 0,22%; between Holstein and Yaroslavl cattle breeds - 3200 kg, PCI offat - 0,16%. A significant difference of realization indices of protein between all three breeds was not stated. The highest realization ofparental milk yield index was stated - between Ayrshire and Yaroslavl cattle breeds- 113%, Holstein cattle breed - 88%. As for the fat and protein indices, all three cattle breeds showed a high realization of PCI from 98% to 109%. However, Holstein cattle breed showed the highest percentage: protein - 101%, fat - 109%. A significant difference of PCI realization of milk productivity in CSN3 and LGB genotypes was not stated. It was also stated that there is a tendency of high level parental indices realization when there is a higher number of B-allele variants in genotypes of cows.


Author(s):  
Nadiia Kulesha

The centenary of the Ukrainian Revolution (1917―1921s) made relevant the interest to the developments and the personalities of that time, specifically, to the personality of the President of the ZUNR, Petrushevych, Yevhen. The newspaper «Ukrayinskyi Prapor» founded in 1919 in Vienna, throughout its existence, was considered as an official print organ of the Dictator (i.e., Y. Petrushevych). The Vienna period of this publication lasted from August 1919 to mid-November 1923. From the end of November 1923 till April 1932, the paper was published in the capital of the Weimar Republic, Berlin. It was the only newspaper of the Ukrainian emigration published for the longest time in interwar Germany. It was an example of a socio-political periodical. There collaborated outstanding editors and publicists. The pages of this paper record the history of the diplomatic struggle of the West Ukrainian foreign representatives for the liberation of the Eastern Galicia from the protectorate of Poland and the restoration of Ukrainian statehood. Its materials documented the course of the occupation of the Eastern Galicia by Poland and the process of «Polonization» of the Ukrainian population of that region. The article explores the Berlin period of existence of the magazine. Specifically, it studies the changes in the ideological line of the magazine, more specifically, its pro-Soviet editorial orientation because of the illusions about the transformation of the national policy of the Soviet rule in Ukraine, especially during the period of Ukrainization. Then the traditional headings of the magazine were joined by the publications with positive coverage of the flourishing Ukrainianization in Soviet Ukraine. The newspaper also actively reacted to the SVU (Union for Liberation of Ukraine) trial in Kharkiv, justifying the position of the Soviet authorities. The paper’s editorial staff were well-known figures of Ukrainian politics, science, and culture: Yu. Bachynsky, O. Hrytsai, A. Zhuk, M. Lozynsky, R. Perfetsky, and others. They provided a high level of editorial content with high-quality, multifaceted texts. We conclude that in terms of the editorial content and formal aspects, the newspaper «Ukrayinskyi Prapor» matched the standards of the European mainstream press of that time.


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