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Investigating reproductive success and endocrine regulation of mating strategies in male medaka
Get PDFMate guarding, when two males compete for one female, is a reproductive strategy seen across a variety of vertebrate species. This often leads to hierarchical relationships, in which one male exerts dominance over other, subordinate males. However, the physiological mechanisms that promote dominance or subordinance in males remain largely unexplored. This study investigates the reproductive success and endocrine signals of these reproductive strategies in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). To identify dominant and subordinate males, triads consisting of two males of different genotypes and one female were observed repeatedly for 5 days. Male reproductive success was determined by genotyping embryos from each female. We found that the number of eggs fertilized by dominants and subordinates did not differ (p=0.29), indicating that dominant behavior does not guarantee reproductive success and that subordinate males may successfully fertilize eggs using sneaker male tactics. We hypothesized that these behaviors are linked to activity in the reproductive endocrine axis. To test this hypothesis, we quantified pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in dominant and subordinate males using ELISAs. While FSH did not differ between the groups, LH was unexpectedly higher in subordinate males (p=0.047). This indicates that either LH production is stimulated, or its pituitary release is inhibited in subordinates. To investigate these opposing explanations, we measured mRNA levels of LH, FSH, and GnRH receptors in the pituitary, and GnRH and AVT in the brain of dominant and subordinate males using qPCR. Mean differences between dominants and subordinates were not significant for any gene. Dominant fish expressed higher lhb in 8/12 tanks, indicating that LH production is not stimulated in subordinates, but as the transcripts for GnRH and its receptors also did not differ, further studies are needed to determine the mechanism by which LH release may be inhibited
Effect of Higher Education on Opioid Overdose Deaths: A Case Study of the US
No full textOpioid abuse is rising and is a serious epidemic that currently has a major impact on many Americans. It places a burden on all American citizens and American institutions through healthcare and pharmaceutical companies, while making it difficult to create a healthy culture for future generations. People tend to think of opioid abuse to occur in lower-income populations and to be more correlated with uneducated individuals. We estimate the effect of having received some college education or more on overdose deaths across the U.S. We use having some college education or more and standard high school education. We find that people who have obtained some form of higher education were likely to be significantly impacted by the opioid crisis
Japanese Whaling and the International Whaling Commission
Get PDFThis project examines the effect the International Whaling Commission has had on the Japanese Whaling Industry. Economic research into this field has been limited, and new analyses are needed considering Japan’s recent departure from the International Whaling Commission and resumption of commercial whaling. In particular, we seek to determine whether the 1986 moratorium banning commercial whaling has had a significant impact on the quantity of whales harvested by Japanese whaling vessels. Although this project did not find that the moratorium significantly impacted whale harvesting, there is a number of limitations to this research that suggest further study is required
Vegetius and Julius Caesar: A Proper Roman General
No full textLittle is known about Vegetius, who wrote a military handbook, Epitoma Rei Militaris (RM), most likely for Emperor Theodosius I (although even that is not certain) during the late 3rd or early 4th century CE. His manuscript is extensive, examining a wide array of military practices and norms that a proper Roman army should follow. The RM covers specific tasks and responsibilities of a general, which Vegetius appears to have drawn from earlier Roman writers, mainly those from the late Republic and early Principate. Comparing Vegetius’s writings to those of Julius Caesar, specifically to Caesar’s own narrative of his actions in Book I of De Bello Gallico (BG), provides insight into how Roman ideals of good military leadership progressed through centuries of histor
Error Related Negativity and Moderate Exercise
No full textPrevious research has found that moderate levels of exercise are related to improved cognitive functioning, along with increased P3 (stimulus evaluation) and decreased N2 (response monitoring), which are components of error processing. Previous studies have also shown an enhanced effect of exercise on executive functioning. The present study aims to determine whether athletes will have a smaller error-related negativity (ERN), another aspect of error processing, than non-athletes. This study will include giving the Flanker task while connected to an electroencephalogram (EEG), having participants bike for fifteen minutes, completing the Flanker task again, and measuring positive and negative affect, mental toughness, and intrinsic motivation as possible mediators. We hypothesize that participants who fit in the athletic category and all participants’ second trial will make fewer mistakes overall on the Flanker task and have a smaller ERN. We will also explore other factors to look for mediation in the relationship
Representations of Disability in Literature and Elementary Education
Get PDFBy purposefully sharing diverse and inclusive literature with children during their formative years, educators can help them develop ideals which are positively inclusive of others and which support positive self-understandings. This project, an ENGL 491 independent study supervised by Dr. Chris Foss, investigates the ways that the disability community is represented within literature, as well as how positive, diverse, and inclusive literary representations of disability can benefit this community and those around it. With time, small-scale ideological shifts toward inclusivity can further spread throughout society. Thus, these literary representations can enrich all readers and have lasting positive implications for broad societal change. My project aims to make this knowledge accessible and engaging for educators by explaining what positive representations of disability are (and what they are not), how they can be used in the classroom, and why this is important for all students
Supporting Families with Home Learning Schedules
No full textDuring this time of virtual learning, parents are often juggling multiple children’s schoolwork while also managing their own jobs. Learning schedules can be a valuable resource when personalized by teachers and shared with parents. With clear expectations, students and parents may find an easier rhythm to their days, yielding more productivity and predictability
Description of Income and Substitution Effects using Slutsky Identity
Get PDFIn the paper we describe how income and price changes affect consumer\u27s decision making using the Slutsky Identity. We also investigate economical meaning of curve turn-movements of consumer\u27s budget. For analyzing the changes of consumer\u27s choice we are using two step movements (turn, then parallel movement) of budget curve
Anticommutative Associative Algebras And The Binomial Theorem
Get PDFWe examine the binomial theorem and its components in a noncommutative associative algebra. Specifically, we examine the relationship between the 1-binomial and -1-binomial coefficient, as well as exploring alternatives for the exponential identity for non-commutative and anticommutative elements. Through this investigation we found that the 1-binomial can be mapped to the -1-binomial and that the relationship could be used to prove a defined alternative for the exponential identity for anticommutative elements
Markov Chain Model for the Spread of an Epidemic
Get PDFIn this project, I analyze a mathematical model for the spread of an epidemic using techniques from statistics, probability, and differential equations to track and test the severity of an epidemic. I focus on chlamydia and use 2018 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which includes prevalence in all genders and ages within the United States. I manipulated MATLAB code for the analysis. The results are examined to understand the stochastic processes which capture the epidemic model. With this understanding, we can map the disease and raise awareness in the populations that are prone to infection, in an effort to change the outcome and rapid spread of disease