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How to study a predator that only eats a few meals a year: high-frequency accelerometry to quantify feeding behaviours of rattlesnakes (Crotalus spp.)
No full textBackground: Many snakes are low-energy predators that use crypsis to ambush their prey. Most of these species feed very infrequently, are sensitive to the presence of larger vertebrates, such as humans, and spend large portions of their lifetime hidden. This makes direct observation of feeding behaviour challenging, and previous methodologies developed for documenting predation behaviours of free-ranging snakes have critical limitations. Animal-borne accelerometers have been increasingly used by ecologists to quantify activity and moment-to-moment behaviour of free ranging animals, but their application in snakes has been limited to documenting basic behavioural states (e.g., active vs. non-active). High-frequency accelerometry can provide new insight into the behaviour of this important group of predators, and here we propose a new method to quantify key aspects of the feeding behaviour of three species of viperid snakes (Crotalus spp.) and assess the transferability of classification models across those species. Results: We used open-source software to create species-specific models that classified locomotion, stillness, predatory striking, and prey swallowing with high precision, accuracy, and recall. In addition, we identified a low cost, reliable, non-invasive attachment method for accelerometry devices to be placed anteriorly on snakes, as is likely necessary for accurately classifying distinct behaviours in these species. However, species-specific models had low transferability in our cross-species comparison. Conclusions: Overall, our study demonstrates the strong potential for using accelerometry to document critical feeding behaviours in snakes that are difficult to observe directly. Furthermore, we provide an ‘end-to-end’ template for identifying important behaviours involved in the foraging ecology of viperids using high-frequency accelerometry. We highlight a method of attachment of accelerometers, a technique to simulate feeding events in captivity, and a model selection procedure using biologically relevant window sizes in an open-access software for analyzing acceleration data (AcceleRater). Although we were unable to obtain a generalized model across species, if more data are incorporated from snakes across different body sizes and different contexts (i.e., moving through natural habitat), general models could potentially be developed that have higher transferability
High-impact practices (HIPs) benefits from study abroad country agent: a multi-method multi-perspective approach
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this study is to extend the Blevins et al. (2020) study by empirically examining the benefits of using a customized study abroad host-country provider (hereafter referred to as “SAA”) of logistical and other services that support non-native host country (hereafter referred to as non-indigenous) college of business study abroad educators. This study also makes a significant contribution by extending Strange and Gibson’s (2017) call by examining transformative learning experiences (TLEs), a high-impact practice, from educators’ and students’ perspectives of two types of study abroad experiences (i.e. one with and one without an SAA). Design/methodology/approach: A mixed methods and multiple perspectives triangulation of the three studies (i.e. student survey, student-produced artifacts data and faculty interviews conducted in Canada, Spain and the UK) was used for this study to increase confidence in the findings by providing a comprehensive picture of the results. A mixed methodology provides rich, in-depth data for analysis as to how study abroad experience [hereafter referred to as experience(s) abroad] benefits from contracting with an SAA to work with a non-indigenous business course educator. Findings: This study\u27s findings demonstrate the positive impact of transformative learning from a short-term study abroad experience from contracting with an SAA. Practical implications: Benefits of contracting with a host-country SAA are increased time and a reduction in the emotional toll on educators. Educators are free to provide memorable international business educational experiences abroad, resulting in student satisfaction and transformative learning. Originality/value: The originality of this study is the mixed methods and multiple perspectives approach to the topic
Franchising variation across US states
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this study is to examine whether variation in franchising across US states can be explained by differences in state regulatory burdens. Design/methodology/approach: Three years of US state-level panel data is used on measures of franchising activity published by the International Franchise Association. The authors measured variation in regulatory burdens across state governments using the regulatory freedom index, developed by the Cato Institute. Multiple regression analysis was the statistical technique used. Findings: Controlling for state-level per capita personal income, educational attainment, unemployment and share of population identifying as non-white, the authors find states with fewer regulatory burdens for business owners have more franchises and franchise jobs per 100,000 residents, higher franchise output per capita and a larger share of small businesses are franchises. These results were robust to alternative econometric specifications. The results support our hypothesis that states with lower regulatory burdens will have more franchising activity. Research limitations/implications: Only three years of data are currently available; however, our research provides some practical avenues for managers and policy makers to explore when considering new franchise opportunities or developing policies that impact regulatory burdens for small businesses. Originality/value: This study contributes to the literature by providing supporting evidence for the relationship between US state institutional factors and franchised small businesses, and it adds a cross-state study to the existing literature using cross-country and cross-city data
Dominant attitudes and values toward wildlife and the environment in coastal Alabama
No full textSurveys assessing attitudes and values about the environment can help predict human behavior toward wildlife and develop effective conservation goals alongside local communities. Coastal Alabama, in the southeastern United States, is a hotspot for biodiversity and endemism and needs protection. Land and wildlife management practices in Alabama have moved from indigenous-led, which is more in harmony with the environment, to larger-scale exploitative uses for agriculture and plantations. We therefore predicted that a large proportion of the population has a dominant view of the environment in which land and wildlife are primarily for human benefit. To test this hypothesis, we surveyed over 1300 residents in Mobile and Baldwin counties—the two southernmost counties in Alabama—to assess attitudes toward local vertebrate wildlife, knowledge of the region\u27s biodiversity, and whether individuals value protected areas where they live and/or work. As hunting is generally considered a dominant behavior, we used self-identified hunters versus non-hunters to examine the relationship between humans and the environment. Overall, hunters would kill or kill to eat more often than non-hunters, and would kill even when it is not for food. Furthermore, regardless of hunting status, most participants in our survey would kill a snake, indicating that targeted environmental education is needed for this group. Both hunters and non-hunters, independently of demographic differences including education and income levels, were not familiar with the especially rich biodiversity of the area and would not be willing to invest money to protect it. Our results indicate that targeted education about the unique and rich biodiversity of southern Alabama compared to the rest of the United States is needed to support successful environmental management, conservation actions, and local participation
Viewing mass extinctions through the lens of mathematical modeling: Comment on “Knowledge gaps and missing links in understanding mass extinctions: Can mathematical modeling help?” by I. Sudakow, C. Myers, S. Petrovskii, C.D. Sumrall and J. Witts
No full text(TLie)-Leibniz algebras and related properties
No full textIn [6], it is studied properties of the class DLie of non-perfect Leibniz algebras with non-trivial Lie-centers. In this paper, we study properties of Leibniz algebras of class TLie, a subclass of both the class DLie and the class of Lie-stem Leibniz algebras. We determine necessary and sufficient conditions under which a non-Lie Leibniz algebra is of class TLie and study their relationship with pseudo-abelian Leibniz algebras. We also show that Leibniz algebras of class TLie have semi-simple central Lie-derivations
Preliminary Study on the Gratifications Received by Listeners of Daily News Podcasts
No full textPrevious podcast studies have examined motivations and gratifications for why consumers listen to podcasts, but there has been very little examination into why listeners choose to listen to daily news podcasts specifically and what gratifications they receive from consuming these podcasts. This preliminary study aimed to examine why audiences choose to listen to daily news podcasts and what gratifications they receive from listening to this emerging form of journalism. In addition, this current study provides a foundation for future researchers to use when exploring this topic
Reevaluating the Latency Period Between CPR Recertifications Among Non–Allied Healthcare Providers
No full textCardiopulmonary Resuscitation, or CPR, is defined by the Mayo Clinic as a lifesaving technique that is useful in many emergencies such as a heart attack, stroke, choking or drowning, in which someone’s breathing and heartbeat has stopped. Under the guidelines put forth by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) and the Emergency Cardiovascular Care organization (ECC), the American Red Cross and American Heart Association, the two largest CPR certification organizations in the US, currently require that an individual’s CPR certification be renewed every two-years. However, an increasing amount of data has suggested that non-allied healthcare providers, such as school-based personnel, may require more regular training and certification to maintain CPR proficiency levels
Founding team homogeneity and network positioning: The moderating role of environmental and organizational factors
No full textOrganizations with homogeneous founding teams have strong motivation to reach out to diverse network resources by occupying a structural hole position to overcome the lack of heterogeneity within their teams. However, whether those organizations can occupy such a network position is contingent on environmental and organizational factors. We find that a firm’s founding team homogeneity is positively related to the occupancy of a structural hole position. However, this relationship is weakened when this firm operates in a community with strong localism or when the firm\u27s founding team has a higher proportion of immigrant members, whereas the relationship is strengthened by local partnership experience of the firm
Effect of Leveled Literacy Intervention on Reading Comprehension of Students with Specific Learning Disabilities
No full textThe Leveled Literacy Intervention System was designed by Fountas and Pinnell to address deficits in reading and comprehension. This intervention system consists of a 30-minute scripted lesson designed to address phonics/word work as well as comprehension skills to increase a student’s reading proficiency. The researcher will determine the effectiveness of the Leveled Literacy Intervention program in reading comprehension for students who have an eligibility of Specific Learning Disability. Presentation will include a description of a student with an eligibility of Specific Learning Disability in the academic area of reading. This research is a single-subject A-B design over a six-week period. The results from the pre-assessment, progress monitoring points, and post-assessments will determine the amount of growth for each participant in the study