Assessment of Soybean Resistance Level to Pod Sucking Bug Riptortus linearis F. (Hemiptera: Coreidae) based on No-choice and Free-choice Tests

Background: The infestation of the pod sucking bug Riptortus linearis is one of the limiting factors of soybean productivity in Indonesia. The research aims were to identify the level of resistance to the pod sucking bug R. linearis on several soybean genotypes based on the no-choice test (NCT) and free-choice tests (FCT). Methods: The genetic materials used were 49 soybean genotypes. The study was conducted in the Indonesian Legumes and Tuber Crops Research Institute (ILETRI) from August to December 2020, using the randomized block design in triplicates. The evaluation for pod sucking bug resistance was based on NCT and FCT. Result: The FCT resulted in two genotypes with a consistent moderately resistance level (20-40% of damage intensity) to pod sucking bug based on the pod and seed damage intensity. The NCT method resulted in five genotypes as moderately resistant (20-40% of damage intensity) to pod sucking bug based on the seed damage. The NCT resulted in higher average intensity of pod and seed damage (80.25% and 71.23%, respectively) than the FCT (69.91% and 69.09%, respectively). Two soybean genotypes (Degra/Anjasmoro-1-559 and Anjasmoro/IAC100-2-618) with a consistent moderately resistance level could be used for cultivar improvement in the breeding program. The pod trichome density was suggested to be one of the effective morphological defenses against the pod sucking bug attack.

Review and Comparison of Four-Tier Multiple Choice and Five-Tier Multiple Choice Diagnostic Tests to Identify Mastery of Physics Concepts

Misconceptions of a concept in a lesson will have an influence in understanding the next concept. Having misconceptions that exist in learning can understand the nature of the misconceptions and consequently can help student learning progress. Therefore, a diagnostic test for misconceptions is needed, including the newest four-tier multiple choice and five-tier multiple choice. This research is a literature review that provides information systematically using the PRISMA method which often occurs in students' misconceptions in high school physics subjects. The data for this research are 60 selected articles from 2017-2021. The purpose of this study is to reveal the use of four-tier multiple choice and five-tier multiple choice diagnostic tests in physics and also provide a comparison of each instrument with the strengths and weaknesses of the four-tier multiple choice and five-tier multiple choice diagnostic tests. Furthermore, the use of multiple choice four levels (83.33%) and multiple choice five levels (16.67). %). In the use of the four-tier multiple choice physical material diagnostic test, which are often used in identifying misconceptions, are optical devices (12%) and energy businesses (10%). And the use of an additional five-tier multiple choice instrument diagnostic test that is often used is to present an overview or conclusion at the fifth level. However, each type of four-tier multiple choice and five-tier multiple choice tests has its own advantages and disadvantages in assessing students' conceptions

Correcting Students’ Understanding about Simple Direct Current (DC) Circuits through Scientific Approach

This paper reports the effect of teaching electricity in simple DC circuits using a scientific approach on students’ understanding. The study was a pre-experimental design using 12 students. They were all studying in specific first secondary schools in the sub-urban area in Kasongan City, Katingan Regency, Central Kalimantan Province. This work used the multiple-choice tests to combine reasoning and certainty of response index (CRI). This test was used as pre and post-test, respectively, to assess students’ understanding of electricity in simple DC circuits. As a result, it is found that the secondary students have alternate conceptions about simple DC circuits, such as “electricity comes out of both ends of a cell” and “a circuit uses up the electric current”. On the other hand, the results of this study showed that the use of a scientific approach in learning could help students achieve conceptual change about electricity in simple DC circuits. The findings from the study suggested that there was a difference in students’ understanding of simple DC circuits between pre-test and post-test. The scientific approach to learning seemed to help students achieve conceptual change about electricity in simple DC circuits.

Video playback versus live stimuli to assess quantity discrimination in angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)

Video playback is a widely used technique for presentation of visual stimuli in animal behavior research. In the analysis of behavioral responses to social cues, presentation of video recordings of live conspecifics represents a consistently reproducible stimulus. However, video-recordings do not interact with the experimental subject, and thus this stimulus may be inferior in the social context. Here, we evaluated how angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) respond to a video playback of conspecifics versus a live shoal of conspecifics. Using binary choice tests, subjects were presented different stimuli. Time spent close to one versus the other stimulus was considered an index of preference. We found angelfish to prefer a live shoal of conspecifics to an empty tank, and also the video playback of a shoal of conspecifics to a blank screen, although the level of preference in the latter was lower than in the former. These results indicate that video-playback of live conspecifics may be appropriate in angelfish, thus allowing manipulation of specific cues that angelfish may use in quantity discrimination. However, when we directly contrasted a live and a video recorded shoal, both having the same number of members, experimental fish preferred the live shoal. When the choice consisted of a live shoal of four conspecifics versus a video playback of a shoal of nine conspecifics no clear preference emerged. These results imply that video-playback has disadvantages in quantity discrimination studies with angelfish. Exploring procedural and/or technological parameters will verify the suitability of video-recording-based stimulus presentation for future use in angelfish.

Can Estivation Preferences Be Used to Develop Novel Management Tools against Invasive Mediterranean Snails?

Terrestrial snails that live in hot and dry climates have developed strategies to cope with high summer temperatures. Several species estivate during the warmest months of the years by resting on vertical supports, typically in groups. Understanding how snails choose their estivation sites and aggregate may lead to the development of new management tools in areas where these snails are invasive. Here, we investigated the preferences of four snail species for vertical supports varying in widths and heights under laboratory and field conditions, and tested whether the presence of conspecifics or snails of other species affected these preferences. The results show that the snails strongly preferred wider supports in laboratory dual-choice tests, and one species (Theba pisana) showed a consistent preference for taller supports as well. These results were confirmed in the field, where more snails were found on wider and taller supports 24 h after being placed in test quadrats. The percentage of snails found in groups on a support was strongly density-dependent. The presence of conspecifics or their mucus did not affect the choices of the snails, nor did the presence of snails of other species or their mucus. Taken together, these results could lead to the development of attractive supports that could be used to mass-capture snails in the field.

Endosymbiotic male-killing Spiroplasma affect the physiological and behavioural ecology of Macrocheles - Drosophil a interactions

While many arthropod endosymbionts are vertically transmitted, phylogenetic studies reveal repeated introductions of hemolymph-dwelling Spiroplasma into Drosophila . Introductions are often attributed to horizontal transmission via ectoparasite vectors. Here, we test if mites prefer to infect Spiroplasma poulsonii MSRO infected flies, and if MSRO infection impairs fly resistance against secondary mite ( Macrocheles subbadius ) attack. First we tested if mites prefer MSRO+ or MSRO– flies using pair-wise-choice tests across fly ages. We then tested whether mite preferences are explained by changes in fly physiology, specifically increased metabolic rate (measured as CO 2 production). We hypothesize that this preference is due in part to MSRO+ flies expressing higher metabolic rates. However, our results showed mite preference depended on an interaction between fly age and MSRO status: mites avoided 14-days old MSRO+ flies relative to MSRO– flies (31% infection), but prefered MSRO + flies (64% infection) among 26-day old flies. Using flow-through respirometry, we found 14 day-old MSRO + flies had higher CO 2 emissions than MSRO– flies (32% greater), whereas at 26 days old the CO 2 production among MSRO+ flies was 20% lower than MSRO– flies. Thus, mite preferences for high metabolic rate hosts did not explain the infection biases in this study. To assess changes in susceptibility to infection, we measured fly endurance using geotaxis assays. Older flies had lower endurance consistent with fly senescence, and this effect was magnified among MSRO+ flies. Given the biological importance of male-killing Spiroplasma, potential changes in the interactions of hosts and potential vectors could impact the ecology and evolution of host species. Importance Male-killing endosymbionts are transmitted mother to daughter and kill male offspring. Despite these major ecological effects, how these endosymbionts colonize new host species is not always clear. Mites are sometimes hypothesized to transfer these bacteria between hosts/host species. Here we test if 1) if mites prefer to infect flies that harbour Spiroplasma poulisoni MSRO and 2) if flies infected with MSRO are less able to resist mite infection. Our results show that flies infected with MSRO have weaker anti-mite resistance but the mite preference/aversion for MSRO+ flies varied with fly age. Given the fitness and population impacts of male-killing Spiroplasma , changes in fly-mite interactions have implications for the ecology and evolution of these symbioses.

The educational e-portfolio: preliminary evidence of its relationship with student’s self-efficacy and engagement

The educational use of portfolios has been increasing in the last few years, especially as technology has also developed electronic versions of portfolios. Although there is abundant information about their benefits and practice description, few studies provide empirical evidence of their implementation. The objective of this study was to provide initial evidence about the use of the portfolio in higher education. Concretely, we aimed 1) to explore the correlation between students’ performance on the portfolio and their performance on more traditional assessment methods 2) to explore whether student’s personal variables predict performance in key elements of the e-portfolio, such as individual reflections, and if these contribute to general academic performance in the course, and 3) to evaluate whether the use of the e-portfolio during a semester changes the students’ self-efficacy and engagement. For this purpose, an initial sample of 73 students were recruited, and an e-portfolio (based on Mahara) was implemented over a semester. The results showed that performance on the portfolio correlated with the score obtained on multiple choice tests. There was an increase in self-efficacy after one semester of e-portfolio implementation, and engagement proved to be an important predictor of the final course grade through the mediation of individual reflections. These results offer preliminary and promising evidence about the relationship of a specific element of e-portfolios, individual reflections with several variables related to academic achievement such as self-efficacy and engagement.

Neoseiulus tunus (De Leon, 1967) (Acari: Phytoseiidae): is this a potential natural enemy of Aculops lycopersici (Massee, 1937) (Acari: Eriophyidae)?

This study aimed to determine the biological parameters of Neoseiulus tunus (De Leon, 1967) feeding on Aculops lycopersici (Massee, 1937). We conducted experiments to assess the predation rate of the former and its biological cycle when consuming A. lycopersici exclusively. Moreover, we assessed the preference of N. tunus for A. lycopersici concerning the pollen of Typha domingensis Pers. (Typhaceae) and Tetranychus urticae Koch, 1835, using free-choice tests. The obtained data indicates A. lycopersici is an appropriate prey to N. tunus, as it allows it to complete its development, reproduce and increase its population. We also noticed that this phytoseiid prefers A. lycopersici to the two other food sources. Though more robust studies will be needed, these preliminary results allow some inferences, such as N. tunus being a potential natural enemy of A. lycopersici.

The ABCs of Teaching Family Counseling: Putting “Fun” into the Fundamentals of the Profession

Becoming a family counselor requires knowledge of the history, theories, techniques, and trends within the profession. These tasks are not easy to accomplish and require a dedication of learning where the field has been as well as where it appears to be going. Multiple-choice tests, essay questions, term papers, case histories, internships, special projects, and class presentations are some of the means used to teach and evaluate student’s mastery of the field. However, another way that is fun and effective is class exercises and games. One such game titled “The ABCs of Family Counseling” is explained here. This article examines the rationale for using this teaching tool and how the pedagogy tied to this exercise can help students become more aware of what they have learned, as well as help students develop a readiness to begin working with couples and families.

EMOTION-LADEN TEXTS AND WORDS

This study takes a mixed-methods approach to explore the influence of emotion-laden (positive vs. negative vs. neutral) texts and words on vocabulary learning for Spanish heritage and foreign language learners. Participants (N = 121) were tasked with learning emotion-laden pseudowords embedded in three emotion-laden texts centered around themes of bilingualism, immigration, and identity. Form recognition, translation, and multiple-choice tests were designed to measure vocabulary recall and retention. Results from a mixed-effects modeling analysis showed that the neutral and negative emotion-laden texts predicted better vocabulary learning outcomes than the positive text for both HLLs and FLLs and that neutral words were learned best by all learners. Qualitative findings from open-ended questionnaires suggest emotional arousal as another influential affective factor in vocabulary learning for learners of diverse sociolinguistic backgrounds. Directions for future emotions research in SLA and pedagogical implications of socially relevant, emotion-laden material for vocabulary learning are discussed.