scholarly journals Attraction to Smelly Food in Birds: Insectivorous Birds Discriminate between the Pheromones of Their Prey and Those of Non-Prey Insects

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1010
Author(s):  
Luisa Amo ◽  
Irene Saavedra
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Ecology ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Predation Rate ◽  
Insectivorous Birds ◽  
Pheromone Dispenser ◽  
Oak Trees ◽  
Food Detection ◽  
Potential Use

Natural selection has favored the evolution of different capabilities that allow animals to obtain food—e.g., the development of senses for improving prey/food detection. Among these senses, chemical sense is possibly the most ancient mechanism used by organisms for environmental assessment. Comparative studies suggest the prime role of foraging ecology in the evolution of the olfactory apparatus of vertebrates, including birds. Here, we review empirical studies that have shown birds’ abilities to detect prey/food via olfaction and report the results of a study aiming to analyze the specificity of eavesdropping on prey pheromones in insectivorous birds. In a field study, we placed artificial larvae and a dispenser with one of three treatments—prey (Operopthera brumata) pheromones, non-prey (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) pheromones, or a control unscented dispenser—on the branches of Pyrenean oak trees (Quercus pyrenaica). We then measured the predation rate of birds on artificial larvae. Our results show that more trees had larvae with signs of avian predation when they contained a prey pheromone dispenser than when they contained a non-prey pheromone dispenser or an unscented dispenser. Our results indicate that insectivorous birds can discriminate between the pheromones emitted by their prey and those emitted by non-prey insects and that they only exhibit attraction to prey pheromones. These results highlight the potential use of insectivorous birds in the biological control of insect pests.

Are wild insectivorous birds attracted to methyl-jasmonate-treated Pyrenean oak trees?

Behaviour ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 155 (13-15) ◽  
pp. 945-967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Saavedra ◽  
Luisa Amo
Keyword(s):  
Jasmonic Acid ◽  
Methyl Jasmonate ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Predation Rate ◽  
Signalling Pathway ◽  
Insectivorous Birds ◽  
Oak Trees ◽  
Prey Location ◽  
Oak Tree ◽  
Herbivore Induced Plant Volatiles

Abstract Plants emit herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) when they are attacked by herbivorous arthropods to attract natural enemies of the herbivores. Previous studies have suggested that insectivorous birds can detect the HIPVs for prey location. The production of HIPVs is partly mediated by the jasmonic acid signalling pathway. Methyl jasmonate is one compound involved in the jasmonic acid signalling pathway. Therefore, spraying of methyl jasmonate (MeJa) solution on plants can induce the emission of volatiles similar to the HIPVs induced by herbivory. We performed two field experiments to test whether insectivorous adult birds are attracted to Pyrenean oak trees (Quercus pyrenaica) treated with MeJa solutions. We used artificial larvae to measure bird predation rate. There were no differences in the predation rates of plasticine larvae between control and MeJa treatments, suggesting that insectivorous birds were not attracted to trees treated with MeJa. We also tested whether blue tit nestlings without previous experience in foraging respond to the scent of Pyrenean oak tree leaves treated with MeJa, to test whether the attraction to MeJa-treated trees is innate. A similar number of nestlings performed begging responses when exposed to the scent of leaves of MeJa-treated trees compared to the scent of leaves of control untreated trees. Furthermore, the duration of the first begging was similar in response to the volatiles emitted by MeJa-treated trees and untreated trees. Despite previous evidence suggesting that insectivorous birds are attracted to HIPVs, our results show that neither insectivorous adult birds nor inexperienced nestlings were attracted to trees treated with MeJa. Further studies are needed to disentangle whether the differences in the emission of volatiles between herbivore-infested trees and MeJa-treated trees can explain this lack of attraction to MeJa-treated Pyrenean oak trees.

Mathematics Textbook as an Object of Research/Matematički udžbenik kao predmet istraživanja

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dubravka Glasnović Gracin
Keyword(s):  
Mathematics Education ◽  
Mathematical Knowledge ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Mathematics Textbooks ◽  
Mathematics Textbook ◽  
Mathematics Book

AbstractA mathematics textbook can be described as an officially authorized and pedagogically designed mathematics book written to provide mathematical knowledge to students. This description suggests the authority of the textbook - because it has been authorized by an administrative source and because it deals with authorized knowledge. This paper provides an overview of research on mathematics textbooks. The emphasis is on questions concerning the extent to which and how textbooks are used in mathematics education in Croatia and in the world.Research results show that mathematics textbooks are widely used in mathematics education worldwide. This finding points to the need for research on the content and structure of textbooks. Such studies are combined with the associated results on how textbooks are used in the classroom and which methods teachers apply in using textbooks in mathematics education. The results of the empirical studies show that teachers use textbooks for lesson preparation and pupils use mathematics textbooks for exercises to a great extent. These results imply that such an important role of textbooks in mathematics education deserves additional attention, with the goal of understanding and improving mathematics education.Key words: mathematics education; overview; research on textbook---SažetakMatematički udžbenik može se opisati kao službeno autorizirana i pedagoki osmiljena matematička knjiga napisana s ciljem da učenicima ponudi matematičke sadržaje. Taj opis sugerira autoritet udžbenika jer ga je autorizirao administrativni izvor i jer sadrži autorizirano znanje. Ovaj članak daje pregled istraživanja matematičkih udžbenika, a naglasak je na pitanjima u kojoj mjeri i kako se udžbenici koriste u nastavi matematike u Hrvatskoj i u svijetu.Rezultati raznih istraživanja pokazuju da se udžbenici u velikoj mjeri koriste u nastavi matematike irom svijeta. Taj nalaz ukazuje na potrebu za istraživanjem sadržaja i strukture matematičkih udžbenika. Uz to, prikazani su rezultati istraživanja o tome na koji se način udžbenici koriste u razredu i koje metode nastavnici prakticiraju prilikom upotrebe udžbenika na nastavi. Rezultati empirijskih studija pokazuju da nastavnici udžbenike većinom koriste za pripremu nastavnog sata, a učenici udžbenike koriste u najvećoj mjeri za vježbanje. Ti rezultati ukazuju na to da tako važna uloga udžbenika u matematičkom obrazovanju zaslužuje dodatnu pažnju s ciljem razumijevanja i poboljanja nastave matematike.Ključne riječi: istraživanje udžbenika; nastava matematike; pregled.

Role of Cardiac MRI in Detecting Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Review

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Marymol Koshy ◽  
Bushra Johari ◽  
Mohd Farhan Hamdan ◽  
Mohammad Hanafiah
Keyword(s):  
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Genetic Disorder ◽  
Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Proper Diagnosis ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri ◽  
Potential Use

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a global disease affecting people of various ethnic origins and both genders. HCM is a genetic disorder with a wide range of symptoms, including the catastrophic presentation of sudden cardiac death. Proper diagnosis and treatment of this disorder can relieve symptoms and prolong life. Non-invasive imaging is essential in diagnosing HCM. We present a review to deliberate the potential use of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in HCM assessment and also identify the risk factors entailed with risk stratification of HCM based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

The Role of Theories of Embodied Cognition in Research and Modeling of Emotions

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 124-138
Author(s):  
Alexandra V. Shiller
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Embodied Cognition ◽  
Mirror Neurons ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Unknown Quantity ◽  
Emotional Processes ◽  
Strong Artificial Intelligence ◽  
European Philosophy ◽  
Postmodern Philosophy

The article analyzes the role of theories of embodied cognition for the development of emotion research. The role and position of emotions changed as philosophy developed. In classical and modern European philosophy, the idea of the “primacy of reason” prevailed over emotions and physicality, emotions and affective life were described as low-ranking phenomena regarding cognitive processes or were completely eliminated as an unknown quantity. In postmodern philosophy, attention focuses on physicality and sensuality, which are rated higher than rational principle, mind and intelligence. Within the framework of this approach, there is a recently emerged theory of embodied cognition, which allows to take a fresh look at the place of emotions in the architecture of mental processes – thinking, perception, memory, imagination, speech. The article describes and analyzes a number of empirical studies showing the impossibility of excluding emotional processes and the significance of their research for understanding the architecture of embodied cognition. However, the features of the architecture of embodied cognition remain unclear, and some of the discoveries of recent years (mirror neurons or neurons of simulation) rather raise new questions and require further research. The rigorously described and clear architecture of the embodied cognition can grow the theoretical basis that will allow to advance the studies of learning processes, language understanding, psychotherapy techniques, social attitudes and stereotypes, highlight the riddle of consciousness and create new theories of consciousness or even create an anthropomorphic artificial intelligence that is close to “strong artificial intelligence.”

Expectations from Chinese Muslim Converts for Islamization of Society in Malaysia: Lessons from Life of the Companions (Angkaan Pengubahsuaian Cina Islam untuk Pengislaman Soci-ety di Malaysia: Pelajaran dari Kehidupan Para Sahabat)

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 278-296
Author(s):  
Mek Wok Mahmud ◽  
Sayed Sikandar Shah Haneef
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
The Self ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
Chinese Muslims ◽  
Process Studies ◽  
Divine Guidance

Reversion to Islam while opening golden opportunities for a revert in terms of divine guidance and spiritual salvation is coming with somewhat insurmountable challenges in terms of Islamization of the self, family and contributions to the overall development of Malaysia as a multi-religious country. This is especially so when Islam as an official religion has made the issue of Islamization of the Malaysian society and its systems amongst the pivotal national agendas in the country.  As to what is the role of Chinese Muslims (reverts) in the process, studies, among others, have purported to present the statistics about their share in socio-economic development. Similarly, empirical studies point to the odds faced by this community at personal, family and community levels in their path for transition to the full Islamic way of life. To the presenters of this paper, however, the macro dimension of what it means to become a Muslim which is essential for adjustment to the Islamic requirements has not been sufficiently highlighted in discourses in the area. Accordingly, this paper presents the position statements on Islamic expectations from Chinese reverts with the purpose of motivating them to achieve greater things in the area of Islamization of their community and the nation to the effect. Keywords: Chinese converts, Islamization, expectations and challenges. Abstrak kembalinya seseorang kepada agama Islam selain dari membuka peluang keemasan dalam mendapat  petunjuk Ilahi dan pengisian rohani turut disertai dengan cabaran yang amat sukar untuk diatasi termasuklah cabaran Islamisasi diri, keluarga serta sumbangan kepada pembangunan keseluruhan Malaysia sebagai negara berbilang agama. Hal ini menjadi satu keutamaan terutamanya apabila Islam memegang status sebagai agama rasmi persekutuan yang menjadikan isu Islamisasi masyarakat Malaysia sebagai satu agenda nasional. Bagi menjayakan agenda ini, peranan umat Islam dari kalangan masyarakat Cina (cina muslim) juga perlu diambil kira. Statistik menunjukkan cina muslim turut mempunyai bahagian dalam menyumbang terhadap pembangunan sosio-ekonomi negara. Dalam pada masa yang sama, kajian empirikal membuktikan adanya bentuk bentuk cabaran yang dihadapi oleh komuniti ini di peringkat peribadi, keluarga dan komuniti dalam perjalanan mereka untuk kembali kepada cara hidup Islam yang sepenuhnya. Bagi kami pengkaji kertas ini, dimensi makro dalam menjadikan dan mengertikan  seseorang itu Muslim terutamanya dalam menyesuaikan diri dengan ajaran  Islam masih belum cukup diberi  penjelasan dan penerangan yang sewajarnya. Oleh itu, makalah ini cuba menerangkan idea dan cadangan yang berguna kepada cina muslim dengan tujuan memotivasikan  mereka bagi  mencapai kejayaan  yang lebih besar dari aspek Islamisasi di kalangan komuniti mereka seterusnya memberi sumbangan kepada negara. Kata kunci:  Cina Muslim, Islamisasi, harapan dan cabaran.

Fluid Multilingual Practices among Youth in Cameroon and Mozambique

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torun Reite ◽  
Francis Badiang Oloko ◽  
Manuel Armando Guissemo
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Urban Youth ◽  
Social Space ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Theoretical Discussion ◽  
The South ◽  
African Cities ◽  
Social Lives ◽  
The Social

Inspired by recent epistemological and ontological debates aimed at unsettling and reshaping conceptions of language, this essay discusses how mainstream sociolinguistics offers notions meaningful for studying contexts of the South. Based on empirical studies of youth in two African cities, Yaoundé in Cameroon and Maputo in Mozambique, the essay engages with “fluid modernity” and “enregisterment” to unravel the role that fluid multilingual practices play in the social lives of urban youth. The empirically grounded theoretical discussion shows how recent epistemologies and ontologies offer inroads to more pluriversal knowledge production. The essay foregrounds: i) the role of language in the sociopolitical battles of control over resources, and ii) speakers’ reflexivity and metapragmatic awareness of register formations of fluid multilingual practices. Moreover, it shows how bundles of localized meanings construct belongings and counterhegemonic discourses, as well as demonstrating speakers’ differential valuations and perceptions of boundaries and transgressions across social space.

scholarly journals Role of beneficial fungi in managing diseases and insect pests of tea plantation

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kishor Chand Kumhar ◽  
Azariah Babu ◽  
John Peter Arulmarianathan ◽  
Bhabesh Deka ◽  
Mitali Bordoloi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Insect Pests ◽  
Tea Plantation ◽  
Beneficial Fungi

scholarly journals Imaging Familial and Sporadic Neurodegenerative Disorders Associated with Parkinsonism

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Brooks
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Lewy Body Dementia ◽  
Imaging Biomarkers ◽  
Imaging Findings ◽  
Subclinical Disease ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Potential Use

AbstractIn this paper, the structural and functional imaging changes associated with sporadic and genetic Parkinson’s disease and atypical Parkinsonian variants are reviewed. The role of imaging for supporting diagnosis and detecting subclinical disease is discussed, and the potential use and drawbacks of using imaging biomarkers for monitoring disease progression is debated. Imaging changes associated with nonmotor complications of PD are presented. The similarities and differences in imaging findings in Lewy body dementia, Parkinson’s disease dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease are discussed.

scholarly journals Characterization of symbiotic and associated bacteria from entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis sp. (nematode: Heterorhabditidae) isolated from India

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rashid Pervez ◽  
Showkat Ahmad Lone ◽  
Sasmita Pattnaik
Keyword(s):  
Insect Pests ◽  
Entomopathogenic Nematode ◽  
Alcaligenes Faecalis ◽  
Symbiotic Bacteria ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Associated Bacteria ◽  
Molecular Approaches

Abstract Background Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) harboring symbiotic bacteria are one of the safest alternatives to the chemical insecticides for the control of various insect pests. Infective juveniles of EPNs locate a target insect, enter through the openings, and reach the hemocoel, where they release the symbiotic bacteria and the target gets killed by the virulence factors of the bacteria. Photorhabdus with Heterorhabditis spp. are well documented; little is known about the associated bacteria. Main body In this study, we explored the presence of symbiotic and associated bacteria from Heterorhabditis sp. (IISR-EPN 09) and characterized by phenotypic, biochemical, and molecular approaches. Six bacterial isolates, belonging to four different genera, were recovered and identified as follows: Photorhabdus luminescens, one each strain of Providencia vermicola, Pseudomonas entomophila, Alcaligenes aquatilis, and two strains of Alcaligenes faecalis based on the phenotypic, biochemical criteria and the sequencing of 16S rRNA gene. Conclusion P. luminescens is symbiotically associated with Heterorhabditis sp. (IISR-EPN 09), whereas P. vermicola, P. entomophila, A. aquatilis, and A. faecalis are the associated bacteria. Further studies are needed to determine the exact role of the bacterial associates with the Heterorhabditis sp.

scholarly journals Relationships between Final Purchasers and Offerors in the Context of Their Perception by Final Purchasers

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 3271
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Izabela Baruk
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
World Literature ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Marketing Process ◽  
Research Gap

The aim of this article was to identify the role of good mutual relationships with offerors for final purchasers, as well as define the meaning of the perception of offerors in the scope of listening to purchasers’ opinions and profiting from purchasers’ readiness to cooperate for the specificities of the prosumeric activity. A deep analysis of the world literature was used to prepare the theoretical part of this paper. The results of this analysis confirm the existing cognitive gap and research gap regarding mentioned aspects, including energy market. Empirical studies were conducted to reduce identified gaps. The survey method was used to collect primary data. The collected data were subjected to quantitative analysis, during which statistical analysis methods and tests were applied (Pearson chi-square independence test, V-Cramer factor analysis, Kruskal–Wallis test (KW), and exploratory factor analysis). The results of the statistical analysis and testing allowed the three research hypotheses formulated to be checked. Between the significance of good relationships with offerors and their perception, a statistically significant dependence was identified for all groups of offerors. The perception of offerors was a feature differentiating respondents’ opinions about the significance of good relationships with offerors for the two following groups: producers and traders. Additionally, the perception of offerors was a feature differentiating forms of prosumeric activity of respondents only for three interpurchase behaviors. The results obtained have a visible cognitive and applicability value. They contribute to the theory of marketing, as well as possibly facilitating the formation of good mutual relationships between offerors (including offerors of energy) and final purchasers as key partners cooperating with offerors in the marketing process. The approach presented in this paper has not been studied and analyzed so far, either in theoretical or in practical terms. This fact confirms its originality and value.

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