Stronger Prejudices Are Associated With Decreased Model-Based Control

Background: Prejudices against minorities can be understood as habitually negative evaluations that are kept in spite of evidence to the contrary. Therefore, individuals with strong prejudices might be dominated by habitual or “automatic” reactions at the expense of more controlled reactions. Computational theories suggest individual differences in the balance between habitual/model-free and deliberative/model-based decision-making.Methods: 127 subjects performed the two Step task and completed the blatant and subtle prejudice scale.Results: By using analyses of choices and reaction times in combination with computational modeling, subjects with stronger blatant prejudices showed a shift away from model-based control. There was no association between these decision-making processes and subtle prejudices.Conclusion: These results support the idea that blatant prejudices toward minorities are related to a relative dominance of habitual decision-making. This finding has important implications for developing interventions that target to change prejudices across societies.

Nutrient Regulation of Relative Dominance of Cylindrospermopsin-Producing and Non-cylindrospermopsin-Producing Raphidiopsis raciborskii

Raphidiopsis raciborskii (previously Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii) can produce cylindrospermopsin (CYN) which is of great concern due to its considerable toxicity to human and animals. Its CYN-producing (toxic) and non-CYN-producing (non-toxic) strains co-exist commonly in natural water bodies, while how their relative dominance is regulated has not been addressed. In this study, we combined field investigation with laboratory experiments to assessed the relationship between toxic and non-toxic R. raciborskii abundances under different nutrient levels. The rpoC1- and cyrJ-based qPCR was applied for quantifying total and toxic R. raciborskii abundances, respectively. The field survey showed that toxic R. raciborskii was detected in 97 of 115 reservoirs where its proportion ranged from 0.3% to 39.7% within the R. raciborskii population. Both total and toxic R. raciborskii abundances increased significantly with trophic level of these reservoirs, consistent with our monoculture and co-culture experiments showing in an increase in R. raciborskii growth with increasing nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) concentrations. In the monoculture experiments, growth rates of non-toxic and toxic strains from Australia or China were not significantly different under the same culture conditions. On the other hand, in the co-culture experiments, the toxic strains displayed a significantly faster growth than non-toxic strains under nutrient-replete conditions, resulting in an obvious shift toward the dominance by toxic strains from day 3 to the end of the experiments, regardless of the strain originating from Australia or China. The reverse was found under N- or P-limited conditions. Our results indicated that the toxic strains of R. raciborskii have a competitive advantage relative to the non-toxic strains in a more eutrophic world. In parallel to an increase in dominance, both toxic strains grown in the mixed population significantly increased CYN production under nutrient-replete conditions as compared to nutrient-limited conditions, suggesting that CYN may be of significance for ecological advantage of toxic R. raciborskii. These results highlight the importance of nutrient availability in regulating abundances and strain dominance of two genotypes of R. raciborskii. Our findings demonstrated that elevated nutrients would favor the growth of CYN-producing R. raciborskii and CYN production, leading to more blooms with higher toxicity at global scale.

Composition and Pattern of Vegetation Distribution at the Tree Level in the Forest Area of Sorong Nature Tourism Park

This study aims to determine the species composition, frequency, density, dominance, important value index (INP) and the distribution of tree species. The method used in this research is the Line Transect Plot Method. The total area of the sample plots is 1 ha (10.000 m2) with a total of 25 sample plots, which are placed purposively at the study site. Observational data were analyzed according to the parameters and described qualitatively and quantitatively and presented in the form of tabulations and pictures. The composition of vegetation types in the Sorong Nature Tourism Park forest contains 50 plant species, namely 30 known families and 3 plant species not yet traded, scientific and family names. The number of tree levels is 36 species with the largest density value (K) for resak (Vatica papuana) and guava (Syzygium, sp ) which is 29.81/ha with a Relative Density (KR) of 15.897% with the smallest density value (K). 0.962/ha, and the value of relative density (KR) was 0.5128%, respectively. The largest frequency (F) value is found in guava with a value of 0.731, relative frequency (FR) of 13.19%, and the lowest value of frequency (F) is 0.038 %, the smallest relative frequency (FR) is 0.694%. With the largest dominance value (C) in resak plants of 2,561 and relative dominance of 15.95%, while the lowest dominance was 0.033 and relative dominance was 0.208%. Where the highest Importance Value Index (INP) is on the guava tree at 43.117 and the lowest Important Value Index (INP) is in the Trichadenia tree, sp 1.3964. The distribution pattern at the tree level is based on the morista index, which is spread in groups or in clusters.Keywords: Composition, Vegetation, Nature Park

Identification of Dominant Runoff Controls Using Hydrologically Informed Machine Learning Approach

Relative dominance of the runoff controls, such as topography, geology, soil types, land use, and climate, may differ from catchment to catchment due to spatial and temporal heterogeneity of landscape properties and climate variables. Understanding dominant runoff controls is an essential task in developing unified hydrological theories at the catchment scale. Semi-distributed rainfall-runoff models are often used to identify dominant runoff controls for a catchment of interest. In most such applications, the model selection is based on either expert's judgement or experimental and fieldwork insights. Model selection is the most important step in any hydrological modelling exercise as the findings are largely influenced by the selected model. Hence, a subjective model selection without sufficient expert's knowledge or experimental insights may result in biased findings, especially for comparative studies like identification of dominant runoff controls. In this study, we use a physics informed machine learning toolbox based on genetic programming Machine Induction Knowledge Augmented - System Hydrologique Asiatique (MIKA-SHA) to identify the relative dominance of runoff controls. We find the quantitative and automated approach based on MIKA-SHA to be highly appropriate for the intended task. MIKA-SHA does not require explicit user selections and relies on data and fundamental hydrological processes. The approach is tested using the Rappahannock River basin at Remington, Virginia, United States. Two rainfall-runoff models are learnt to represent the runoff dynamics of the catchment using topography-based and soil-type-based hydrologic response units independently. Based on prediction capabilities, in this case, the topography is identified as the dominant runoff driver.

Strategies of Brazilian Elite Domination

In order to maintain their dominant socio-economic and political positions, Brazilian elites developed and employed a range of strategies in order to maintain the basic inequality regime established during the colonial period. Still among the most unequal countries in the world by Gini Coefficient, this paper seeks to show how Brazilian elites maintained their position of relative dominance through superstructural and material transformations in Brazilian society in terms of their collectively finding solutions to four problems: the Ideology of Creole Revolution, Unmanaged Elite Competition, Race Relations, and Democracy. As the latter three remain serious problems for Brazilian elites, the way previous elites navigated these threats to their position and maintained the basic nature of the inequality regime through transformations in the material base and superstructure provide insights into how Bolsonaro and contemporary conservative elites may attempt to manage the social democratic forces of the PT.

Strategies of Brazilian Elite Domination

In order to maintain their dominant socio-economic and political positions, Brazilian elites developed and employed a range of strategies in order to maintain the basic inequality regime established during the colonial period. Still among the most unequal countries in the world by Gini Coefficient, this paper seeks to show how Brazilian elites maintained their position of relative dominance through superstructural and material transformations in Brazilian society in terms of their collectively finding solutions to four problems: the Ideology of Creole Revolution, Unmanaged Elite Competition, Race Relations, and Democracy. As the latter three remain serious problems for Brazilian elites, the way previous elites navigated these threats to their position and maintained the basic nature of the inequality regime through transformations in the material base and superstructure provide insights into how Bolsonaro and contemporary conservative elites may attempt to manage the social democratic forces of the PT.

Electric fish use electrocommunication signals to fine tune relative dominance and access to resources

Social animals establish dominance hierarchies to regulate access to resources. Although communication signals could reduce costs in negotiating dominance, their detailed role and emergence in non-mammalian vertebrates is not well researched. We tracked electrocommunication signals and agonistic behaviors of the gymnotiform fish Apteronotus leptorhynchus in staged competition experiments. Subordinates emitted the majority of so called “rises” in dependence on the competitor’s relative size and sex. Rises provoked ritualized biting or chasing behaviors by dominant fish. Already after 25 minutes losers were accurately predictable based on rise numbers, but they continued to emit rises. We suggest the interplay between communication and aggression to fine tune relative dominance without questioning dominance rank. This communication system regulates the skewness of access to resources within a dominance hierarchy and allows A. leptorhynchus to populate neotropical rivers with high abundances.

Gambling Harms: A Dominance Analysis of Cognitions, Motivation and Impulsivity

Explanatory models of substance and behavioral addictions typically emphasize the contributions of three predictor domains: distorted cognitions related to control; motivations related to rewards and stress-reduction; and, failure to regulate emotions. In the present study, 271 (161 females) patrons at a racetrack-slots facility completed a survey comprising standardized measures of gambling-related cognitions, motivations for gambling, trait impulsivity, and problem gambling severity. The purpose was to explore dominance analysis as a statistical procedure to identify the relative importance of the three domains as predictors of the experience of gambling harms. The first step of the analysis isolated the dominant facet within each of the three multi-dimensional domains. The final step computed relative dominance among those facets. The results indicated that the most dominant predictor was the cognition of an inability to stop gambling. Motivation to avoid life stressors was the second most dominant predictor followed by the tendency to act rashly in the presence of negative emotion (negative urgency). The relative dominance of the predictors of gambling harm may provide a framework for scaffolding interventions directed at mitigating gambling harms.

Etude dendrométrique de Lophira lanceolata de la forêt classée de Toui-Kilibo et ses environs au Bénin

La connaissance des paramètres dendrométriques d’une espèce est nécessaire pour sa conservation durable. Elle permet d’évaluer les ressources disponibles et de lutter contre sa destruction. Cette étude analyse les paramètres dendrométriques de Lophira lanceolata de la forêt classée de Toui-Kilibo et ses environs au Bénin. Les données dendrométriques sont collectées à l’intérieur de 64 placettes carrées de 30 mètres de côté. L’analyse des données prend en compte la contribution en surface terrière de Lophira lanceolata, la densité relative, la dominance relative, la fréquence, l’amplitude d’habitat, le diamètre moyen par les types de formations végétales. Le diamètre moyen de Lophira lanceolata (25,5 cm), la hauteur moyenne (15,21 cm) et la surface terrière moyenne (0,63 m2/ha) de la forêt claire et savane boisée sont supérieurs aux autres types de formations végétales. Ce constat est fait également sur la fréquence, la densité relative, la dominance relative. La contribution en surface terrière de Lophira lanceolata est de 9,363% en forêt claire et savane boisée, 7,398% en savane arborée et arbustive et 2,65% en champs et jachères. En forêt claire et savane boisée, lorsque le diamètre de Lophira lanceolata s’accroît d’un centimètre, sa surface terrière augmente de 0,043 m2/ha. L’étude permet de connaître les ressources disponibles sur Lophira lanceolata et de prendre les décisions sur son aménagement.Mots clés : Lophira lanceolata, paramètres dendrométriques, forêt, savane, Bénin. English Title: Dendrometric study of Lophira lanceolata of the Toui-Kilibo classified forest and its surroundings in Benin Knowledge of the dendrometric parameters of a species is necessary for its sustainable conservation. It makes it possible to assess the resources available and to combat its destruction. This study analyses the dendrometric parameters of Lophira lanceolata of the classified forest of Toui-Kilibo and its surroundings in Benin. Dendrometric data is collected inside 64 square plots 30 meters wide. Data analysis concerns the contribution in basal area of Lophira lanceolata, the relative density, the relative dominance, the frequency, the range of habitat, the average diameter by the types of plant formations. The average diameter of Lophira lanceolata (25.5 cm), the average height (15.21 cm) and the average basal area (0.63 m2/ha) of the open forest and wooded savannah are superior to other types of plant formations. This observation is also made on the frequency, the relative density, the relative dominance. The contribution in basal area of Lophira lanceolata is 9.363% in open forest and wooded savannah, 7.398% in tree and shrubby savannah and 2.65% in fields and fallows. In open forest and wooded savannah, when the diameter of Lophira lanceolata increases by one centimeter its basal area increases by 0.043 m2/ha. The study makes it possible to know the resources available on Lophira lanceolata and to take decisions on its development.Keywords: Lophira lanceolata, dendrometric parameters, forest, savanna, Benin.

Turbulent characteristics of flow in the vicinity of mid-channel braid bar

The impact of a mid-channel bar on the turbulent flow structure has been investigated in this research. A new Dominance Function S_(i,H) is proposed in this study as a measure of the relative dominance of ejection and sweep events in turbulent flow structure. Occurrence of the kolk-boil phenomenon is observed due to interaction of ejection and sweep events.. A new parameter Movement Ratio is formulated in this study which is found to faithfully reflect the fluvial processes of sedimentation and scouring on the channel bed.. Acceleration of flow is seen to occur at adjoining regions close to the upstream end of the bar. Due to the presence of the bar, the flow area in its proximity decreases which has caused increment in the velocity at sections located near the upstream end of the mid-channel bar. For model runs with bars, a distinct bulge in the turbulent intensity graph is observed.