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Timing and social dynamics of divorce in wild great tits: a phenomenological approach
Get PDFSocial behaviour is a key part of life for many species. In monogamously breeding species, social
associations between breeding partners are particularly important. Selection of a breeding partner often
begins well before reproduction, and this process can affect subsequent reproductive success. Thus, the
non-breeding season can shape behaviour during the breeding season. However, it is currently unknown
how breeding season outcomes can impact associate choice during the non-breeding season, as studying
this requires high volumes of cross-context individual social data. This study used three years of wild great
tit social data from Wytham Woods, Oxford, UK, to examine social associations between pairs classified
with respect to prior and future breeding status (divorcing, faithful, new and juvenile). We found
distinct patterns of social association in ’divorcing’ pairs from early winter, suggesting that divorce is an
ongoing behavioural process. Newly forming pairs initially associated similarly to divorcing pairs, but
became similar to faithful pairs over time. On a finer spatiotemporal scale, the behaviour of faithful and
divorcing birds diverged over the winter. These results provide the first evidence of a behavioural signature of
divorce during the non-breeding season in great tits, while suggesting that different behaviours may drive
behavioural divorce at different times
Density-dependent network structuring within and across wild animal systems
No full textTheory predicts that high population density leads to more strongly connected spatial and social networks, but how local density drives individuals’ positions within their networks is unclear. This gap reduces our ability to understand and predict density-dependent processes. Here we show that density drives greater network connectedness at the scale of individuals within wild animal populations. Across 36 datasets of spatial and social behaviour in >58,000 individual animals, spanning 30 species of fish, reptiles, birds, mammals and insects, 80% of systems exhibit strong positive relationships between local density and network centrality. However, >80% of relationships are nonlinear and 75% are shallower at higher values, indicating saturating trends that probably emerge as a result of demographic and behavioural processes that counteract density’s effects. These are stronger and less saturating in spatial compared with social networks, as individuals become disproportionately spatially connected rather than socially connected at higher densities. Consequently, ecological processes that depend on spatial connections are probably more density dependent than those involving social interactions. These findings suggest fundamental scaling rules governing animal social dynamics, which could help to predict network structures in novel systems
Tools and strategies to improve human locomotion performance and safety throughout history: on ice skates, skis, mountains and the battlefield
No full textHumans have developed tools and strategies to improve locomotion performance and safety throughout history. In particular, unusual environmental conditions and danger have pushed the limits of imagination and initiative, laying the foundations for the development of several tools to enhance locomotion. This Review summarises studies on the biomechanics and energetics of human locomotion on ice and snow, from a historical perspective and in load-carrying conditions. Environmental conditions challenge our locomotor performance: steep mountain paths and snow on the ground increase the metabolic cost of walking, ice increases the risk of falls, and fighting on the medieval battlefield required protection. In these conditions, humans evolved and developed tools and strategies to improve their locomotor performance and safety, typically with a trade-off between increasing the weight carried and reducing the metabolic cost of locomotion and/or increasing safety. Materials engineering and empirical understanding of muscle and locomotion biomechanics have aided performance improvement. In addition, environmental and even genetic changes have contributed to a superior physiological performance at high altitude. This Review presents and discusses findings integrating the biomechanics and energetics of locomotion. Overall, the thought-provoking historical perspective of this work helps to hypothesise some of the current technological and technical limitations to human physiological performance and highlights how improving the latter may well require a wide multidisciplinary approach
Exploring the Relationships between Encountering Potentially Traumatic Work Events, Coping, and Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Saudi Paramedics: A Daily Diary Study
Get PDFBACKGROUND:
Paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) suffer from high levels of trauma at work due to traumatic incidents they face each day. This study aimed to investigate the association between daily Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms and daily incidents, coping styles and social support among Saudi ambulance personnel.
METHODS:
Utilizing a daily diary design, 63 Saudi paramedics completed the baseline questionnaire and 51 of them completed at least two shifts. The baseline measurements included Screen of Post-traumatic Stress Disorders Scale (SPTSS), PTSD Check-List-5 (PCL-5), Brief Coping scale (BC), and a social support scale. While the daily measurements included PCL-5, brief coping, social support and a list of incidents.
RESULTS:
Using hierarchical linear modelling, higher numbers of daily incidents were significantly associated with a greater number of daily PTSD symptoms. Coping styles and social support were not associated with daily PTSD symptoms, but passive coping was found to moderate the association between daily incidents and daily PTSD symptoms such that paramedics who reported higher passive coping levels were more vulnerable to experience higher PTSD symptoms on days they were exposed to potentially traumatic events.
CONCLUSIONS:
Ambulance organisations must do more to support paramedics during and after traumatic incident exposure by offering appropriate prevention and intervention programs
Crochet is Sick!
No full textThis video essay draws on a range of horror films that utilise crochet and crocheted objects. It uses crochet as a way to think through costume and set dressing in terms of material culture, that is, through the objects that are used by people in specific cultural and historical contexts
Suffocated But Screaming
No full textThis video essay explores how the ageing woman is made monstrous in kaibyō eiga (Japanese ghost cat films). The supporting statement reflects on the scholarly rationale for, and the making of, the video essay and then makes a case for its original contribution to horror studies and videographic criticism
Pinning Down an Octopus:Towards an Operational Definition of AI Systems in the EU AI Act
Get PDFThis article examines the recently adopted EU AI Act, which lays the groundwork for AI regulation in the EU. We argue that the current problem definition for AI regulation is mainly conceptual, establishing jurisdictional authority; however, this definition alone is insufficient for effective AI regulation in practice. To contribute to discussions on future amendments to this regulatory framework, we propose an operational framework for the regulation of AI. We argue that defining AI systems should focus on their immutable, rather than mutable components. Much like the proverbial attempt to define an octopus—where one should not focus on mutable characteristics such as the colour and shape of its limbs, but rather on its immutable features (every octopus has one head, three hearts, and eight limbs, regardless of the colour and shape which do change over time)—the definition of AI systems should similarly have at its core the characteristics that do not change over time. Our framework, therefore, decomposes the development and use of AI products into three main components that enable adequate problem structuring: (1) decision models, (2) data, and (3) interface design. Within these components, we identify nine specific issues that warrant focused regulatory attention if we are to uphold the fundamental principles and values derived from the broader EU institutional framework, the values set out in the EU AI Act itself, and the traditional rationales—both social and economic—for regulatory intervention. Comparing the current EU AI Act with our proposed framework, our analysis reveals and discusses a number of areas where the current EU framework for the regulation of AI could be amended
Dose-dependent and tissue-specific adverse effects of exogenous glucocorticoids: insights for optimizing clinical practice
Get PDFPurpose
There is limited data on dose-specific metabolic effects of exogenous glucocorticoids (GC) doses. This study aimed to investigate the differential tissue-specific and dose-dependent effects of low-to-intermediate prednisolone doses on insulin sensitivity and bone metabolism in healthy individuals.
Methods
We performed a post-hoc pooled analysis of three independent clinical trials, each administering one week of daily prednisolone at 10 mg, 15 mg, or 20 mg, in a total of 30 different healthy male volunteers (aged 18–65; BMI 20–35 kg/m²; normal kidney function). Outcome measures included: changes in liver (endogenous glucose production-EGP, β-hydroxybutyrate-OHB), muscle (M/I value, Glucose disposal-Gd) and adipose tissue (NEFA, glycerol) insulin sensitivity assessed across a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Bone turnover was evaluated through osteocalcin levels.
Results
Prednisolone 10 mg had minimal impact on metabolic parameters. 15 mg and 20 mg caused similar reductions (no dose effects) in liver (time effect p < 0.05 for EGP and OHB) and skeletal muscle (time effect p < 0.05 for M/I and Gd) insulin sensitivity. However, detrimental effects on adipose tissue were dose dependent (dose*time interaction p < 0.05 for NEFA and glycerol). Osteocalcin levels decreased similarly after both 15 mg and 20 mg of prednisolone (p = 0.199).
Conclusions
Prednisolone-induced insulin resistance exhibits tissue-specific and dose-dependent effects. While 15 mg daily for 7 days appears to induce clinically relevant metabolic changes in this population, the dose-dependent effects observed in adipose tissue suggest tissue-specific variability in response. These findings highlight the importance of dose selection in GC therapy, particularly in individuals predisposed to metabolic complications, though further studies are needed in populations with underlying metabolic disorders
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