Phenology effects on productivity and hatching-asynchrony of American kestrels (Falco sparverius) across a continent

Climate-driven advances in spring can result in phenological mismatch between brood rearing and prey availability and consequently cause decreased productivity in birds. How consequences of mismatch vary across species' ranges, and how individual behavior can mitigate mismatch effects is less studied. We quantified the relationship between phenological mismatch, productivity, and behavioral adaptations of American kestrels (Falco sparverius) across their breeding range in the United States and southern Canada. We obtained phenology and productivity data using nest observations from long term nest box monitoring, remote trail cameras, and community-scientist based programs. We collected data on parental incubation behavior and hatch asynchrony using trail cameras in nest boxes. Kestrels that laid eggs after the start of spring had higher rates of nest failure and fewer nestlings than earlier nesters, and effects of mismatch on productivity were most severe in the Northeast. In contrast, kestrels in the Southwest experienced a more gradual decline in productivity with seasonal mismatch. We attribute the effect of location to the growing season and temporal nesting windows (duration of nesting season). Specifically, resource availability in the Northeast is narrow and highly peaked during the breeding season, potentially resulting in shorter nesting windows. Conversely, resource curves may be more prolonged and dampened in the Southwest, and growing seasons are becoming longer with climate change, potentially resulting in longer nesting windows. We found that the onset of male incubation was negatively associated with lay date. Males from breeding pairs that laid eggs after the start of spring began incubation sooner than males from breeding pairs that laid before the start of spring. Early-onset male incubation was positively associated with hatching asynchrony, creating increased age variation in developing young. In sum, we demonstrate that American kestrels are vulnerable to phenological mismatch, and that this vulnerability varies across space. Northeastern populations could be more vulnerable to mismatch consequences, which may be one factor contributing to declines of kestrels in this region. Also, we demonstrate early onset of incubation as a potential adaptive behavior to advance average hatch date and spread out offspring demands, but it is unknown how impactful this will be in mitigating the fitness consequences of phenology mismatch.

The Effect of Exercise on the Total Leukocyte, Absolute Neutrophil, Lymphocyte and Platelet Counts among Sudanese Football Players

Background: Aerobic exercise induces physiological stress on the body and brings changes in hematological parameters. This study aimed to determine the effect of playing football as an exercise on the total white blood cell count, absolute Neutrophil, lymphocyte and Platelet counts among Sudanese football players. Material and method: This was a descriptive case control study, done on a number of football players in Khartoum state, Sudan and conducted within the period from August 2021 to October 2021. Three ml of venous blood samples had been collected from every participant in the study, parameters had been measured and calculated using blood cells counter (Sysmex KX-21N). Results: When compared the TWBCs, Absolute Neutrophil, Lymphocytes and platelet counts between cases and control there was a significant differences with (P ≤0.05). Also there was a significant difference in the case group before and after one hour of exercise with (P =0.00), and in significant differences between different age groups with (P ≥0.05). Conclusion: Playing football for 1 hour cause a significant increase in the TWBCs, absolute Neutrophils, absolute Lymphocytes and Platelets counts. Age variation has no effect on the measured parameters Keywords: Football, TWBCs, Neutrophils, Lymphocytes and Platelets.

Oral Squamous Cells and Age Estimation in Exfoliative Cytology with Hematoxylin and Eosin Stain– A Quantitative Study

Introduction: Exfoliative cytology in age estimation is a simple, painless, less invasive collection of exfoliative cells from epithelial layers, used as a diagnostic aid for age estimation. The oral cavity is an ideal site for exfoliative epithelial cells with a physiological turnover of cells, turnover decreases as the age increases show age variation with cellular morphological changes. Age estimation is one of the important factors to identify an individual and also helps to know the chronological age of a person. Aim: To analyze and estimate the age from buccal smear and comparing the average cellular size under Image morphometric analysis. Materials and Methods: Buccal mucosal smears are taken using a wooden spatula in gentle motion of scraping and smeared on a clean glass slide and fixed in 95% ethanol immediately after smearing a minimum of around 15 minutes and stained with Haematoxylin and eosin stain. After staining, the cells were observed by microscope and measured by a paint tool. Pearson correlation analysis was done using SPSS software. Results: The cell and nuclear size difference values observed using a Pearson correlation coefficient were statistically significant with p value<0.05 revealing that there is shrinkage in cells with increase in age. Conclusion: Exfoliative cytology is a successful and vastly growing technology that is used for the detection of premalignant lesions.

Pre-operative direct and inverse clinical characteristic variations by age do not resolve up to 24 months following open roux-en-y gastric bypass

Background: Today open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (ORYGB) is reserved for abdomens too complex or obesity too severe for laparoscopic surgery. However, outcomes by age in ORYGB are unknown. Objective: Identify variation by age in ORYGB patients. Setting: Independent database. Methods: 5389 ORYGB BOLD patients was analyzed retrospectively by age: <30 (591), 30-40 (1252), 40-50 (1527), 50-60 (1388), 60-70 (592) and >70 (39). Statistics: ANOVA/general linear model. Results: Baseline female/male (p<0.01), weight, BMI, African-American, Hispanic, Medicaid, Private insurance, self-pay (p<0.0001), PCOS, PTC (n=10) varied inversely with age. Medicare, CHF, HTN, angina, LEE, PVD, IHD, dyslipidemia, OHS, diabetes, gout, IFS, and unemployment varied directly. Caucasian, Asian, Other race, DVT/PE, hernia, cholelithiasis, GERD, panniculitis, liver disease, SUI, MSP, fibromyalgia, alcohol and tobacco abuse, depression, PI, MHD (n=17) vary non-linearly. At 12 months, in spite of equal BMI by age, CHF, HTN, angina, PVD, dyslipidemia, cholelithiasis, SUI, diabetes, gout, IFS (n=10) varied directly. PCOS and PTC varied inversely, and LEE, OSA, hernia, MSP, tobacco abuse, depression, MHD varied non-linearly. 24 months CHF, HTN, angina, dyslipidemia, diabetes, IFS, and MSP vary directly. PTC and tobacco abuse varied inversely. LEE, OSA, PHTN, hernia, PCOS, and tobacco abuse varied non-linearly. Conclusions: ORYGB patients vary dramatically by decade of age. Pre-operatively 10 co-morbidities varied inversely, 13 directly, and 17 non-linearly by age. In spite of equal BMI by age at 24 months, important co-morbidities CHF, HTN, angina, dyslipidemia, diabetes varied directly, tobacco inversely, and OSA non-linearly. This advance clinical knowledge of age variation can aid ORYGB management

Pattern of earlobe attachment among the Ika ethnic group in Delta State, Nigeria

Objective: The aim of this study is investigating the distribution of earlobe attachment among the Ika ethnic group, in Delta State, Nigeria. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Ika speaking communities in Delta State, Nigeria. The sample consists of 384 subjects (192 males and 192 females) and the participants were categorized in accordance of sexual category with age ranges from 18 to 60 years. Data was collected by visual observation and the data obtained was analyzed with the aid of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 21.0. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The males portrayed the highest frequency distribution of attached earlobe while the females showed more of free earlobe. There is no significant gender difference in the pattern of earlobe attachment (p =.46). Free earlobe manifested among the 39-48years age range with the highest frequency distribution and the least by age interval within 59years and above. The attached earlobe displayed age differences in distribution with the highest frequency from 49-58 age range and the least by age range 59years and above. There is a remarkable age variation in earlobe attachment (p =.001). Conclusion: The attached earlobe is more predominant than the free or unattached earlobe among the Ikas in Delta State, Nigeria. The association between age and pattern of earlobe attachment is significant and there is no significant gender variation in the pattern of earlobe attachment.

The Age-Graded Consequences of Justice System Involvement for Mental Health

Objectives: Drawing on the life course and social stress perspectives, this paper examines age variation in the mental health consequences of justice system involvement by assessing arrest, conviction, or incarceration as possible age-graded stressors that amplify harm at younger ages of involvement. Methods: Individual fixed effect regression models utilizing National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (1997) data test whether age moderates the mental health impact of arrest, conviction, or incarceration. Follow-up analyses for moderated associations compute and compare age-specific relationships to identify differences in the significance and magnitude of mental health consequences for contacts spanning late adolescence, emerging adulthood, and adulthood. Results: The incarceration-mental health relationship is moderated by age, as significant harms to mental health are exclusively observed following secure confinement in late adolescence (ages 16–17) and emerging adulthood (18–24), but not in adulthood (25–33). The lack of moderation between arrest and mental health indicates a universally harmful experience at all ages. Conclusions: Evidence supports conceptualizing incarceration as an age-graded social stressor that is correlated with pronounced harm to mental health during late adolescence and emerging adulthood. Future research should identify the mechanisms of this unique stress response following earlier incarcerations and its long-term salience for processes of cumulative disadvantage.

Partner Selection Across the Life-Course: Age Variation in Partner Preferences in the Czech Republic

The proportion of people seeking a partner later in life has increased in recent decades. However, studies exploring age variation in partner preferences are quite rare. We aim to fill this gap by examining the partner preferences for household care skills, financial resources, and education of unpartnered individuals aged 19–65 years ( n = 1145) who participated in speed-dating events in the Czech Republic. We hypothesized that the importance of these characteristics varies with age, and that this variance may differ for men and women. The results show that gender differences concerning these characteristics are mostly stable across age groups. The exception is the importance of household care skills, which increases for older men and decreases for older women. We found that older adults value financial resources more than younger adults, and that this increase is true for women and men. Finally, we did not find evidence that the importance of education differs with age.