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Avian grape predation at vineyards: Evaluating fruit preferences and non-invasive deterrent methods
No full textMost fruit colours evolved to attract seed dispersers which causes problems in agricultural areas where bird predation costs growers thousands of dollars per hectare annually. My work quantified avian damage in local vineyards in Essex County, Ontario and determined whether intensity of avian grape predation corresponds to fruit colour and/or sugar content. In this study, we observed the amount of grapes taken and damaged by both bird and non-bird related sources (e.g. mold, insects), and we observed the change of numerous grape features, such as grape colour, size, sugar content, over the growing season. Our preliminary analyses indicate that grape colour and the habitats surrounding a given grape patch affect the level of avian predation, and that various grape types change differently in regards to hue, brightness, and chroma. My research has both evolutionary and agricultural components, in that it aids our understanding of what drives avian fruit colour preference and how particular fruits co-evolved to become more attractive to these species, while also helping lend insight to which grape cultivars are more at risk of avian predation and when the grapes will be most targeted by avian grape predators during ripening
Patterns of diversity in stream macroinvertebrate communities in the Sydenham River watershed (SW Ontario)
No full textStream macroinvertebrates are commonly employed bioindicators for stream assessments, as their tolerances to pollution and other stressors are well studied. However, invertebrate diversity metrics might assess streams at different, often finer scales than that of human disturbance, especially in agriculture landscapes. Our research seeks to better understand how water quality, sediment and land-use impacts stream biodiversity in the Sydenham River watershed, Southwestern Ontario. More specifically, this study asks: does macroinvertebrate diversity vary predictably with environmental factors at the microhabitat or reach scales? Here we present biodiversity data from a watershed survey of the Sydenham River and its tributaries conducted in Fall of 2020. Invertebrates were sampled at randomly selected and existing monitoring sites following Ontario Benthic Biomonitoring Network protocols. Water quality, sediment and land-use data were collected using a modified Ontario Stream Assessment Protocol. Data were analysed using a suite of exploratory statistics, including ordination and other community analyses, to determine which factors best explained variance in invertebrate richness and biodiversity indices across microhabitat and reach scales. Watershed assessment and restoration face challenges in overcoming barriers of scale as while restoration actions take place locally, previous publications suggest that coordinated actions across a landscape may be required to ensure ecosystem recovery. The findings of this research have the potential to inform local understanding of ecosystem health and help accelerate more coordinated restoration and stewardship practices in the region
Ubisol-Q10 as a Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease in a Transgenic Mice Model
No full textThis project aims to discover whether the water-soluble formula of Ubisol-Q10 shows therapeutic benefits in AD mouse models by preventing neurodegeneration
Clarifying emotional transformation: Temporal patterns of emotional involvement and emotional processing
No full textEmotional involvement refers to the willing activation of feeling, whereas emotional processing describes one's personal understanding of an activated emotion, including its underlying unmet need (Greenberg, 2010; Greenberg & Safran, 1984, 1987). It appears that emotional involvement and processing both permit emotional transformation, yet there is a lack of research examining the association between emotional involvement and processing. The present study seeks to clarify the temporal relationship between these two factors through a correlational design and observational analysis of an archival dataset involving a two-chair intervention for self-criticism (Kramer & Pascual-Leone, 2015). After enacting their inner critic, participants (N = 39) completed two stages: (1) an initial reaction to their self-criticism and (2) a subsequent reaction to their self-criticism following a written priming task intended to facilitate the verbalization of an unmet existential need. Changes in the level of emotional involvement expressed across these two stages depended on whether participants verbalized an unmet need during their subsequent reaction to their self-criticism. Participants who verbalized an unmet need expressed greater levels of emotional involvement during the initial reaction to self-criticism than those who did not. These results suggest that elevated levels of emotional involvement precede emotional processing. Thus, before encouraging clients to engage in emotional processing, therapists should ensure that clients have expressed sufficient levels of emotional involvement
Innovation for sustainability: Antecedents for technological innovation in China
Full text linkThis research is intended to explore the relationship between various cultural and institutional factors and technological innovation capability in China, with the focus on what particular factors help improve firm performance and then on how cultural context moderates this relationship
Declines in Wintering Snow Bunting Populations as a Function of Climate Change and Agricultural Intensification in North America
Full text linkHealthy Great LakesPopulations of many bird species are in decline around the world, a situation which has been attributed to many factors such as habitat loss and climate change. The snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) is no exception to this calamity, as this songbird's numbers have declined over 60% in the second half of the last century. Despite being studied extensively in Europe, the dietary habits, habitat preferences, and population dynamics of snow buntings during the winter months are poorly understood in their North American range. A grassland specialist, this species is known to inhabit farmland and feed on seeds left behind after harvest, though the extent of their reliance on cropland is unknown. Dr. Oliver Love's lab seeks to broaden our understanding of the behaviour and health of wintering snow bunting populations, and to discover relationships that exist between snow bunting numbers, climate change, and changes in agricultural practices in Canada and the United States. Here we examine extensive records of Audubon's Christmas Bird Count data, climate and weather data from the Canadian government and NOAA databases, and crop yields and farmland area reports from Statistics Canada and the USDA. We also examine possible relationships between chemical applications to farms and the decline in snow bunting numbers. The current data set spans nearly 100 years to the present. We hypothesize that declines in snow bunting numbers are related to decreasing farmland habitat and increased crop yield in the last century. Results for the effect of climate and chemical application on snow bunting populations are forthcoming. This study highlights the need for more thorough inquiry into the environmental impact of human activities on birds
Ancestral construction techniques in southern Ecuador: from pre-Hispanic cultures to contemporary practices
No full textThis article examines the construction methods employed in southern Ecuador prior to the Spanish conquest, focusing on their historical development, archaeological presence, and continued application in vernacular architecture. Emphasising the lesser-studied Cañari tradition alongside Inca techniques, this study analyses five methods, bahareque, adobe, rammed earth, cob, and carved stone, on the basis of archaeological records, the historical literature, and field observations. Rather than evaluating individual buildings, this research assesses these techniques as evolving knowledge systems, highlighting their material logic, climatic adaptability, and seismic resilience. Special attention is given to two major archaeological sites, Ingapirca and Pumapungo, whose architectural features reflect both indigenous and imperial influences. The study also addresses the erosion of traditional construction knowledge and contemporary regulatory challenges but affirms that the discussed construction methods, especially when enhanced by modern adaptations, hold relevance for sustainable, low-carbon design in Andean settings. By contributing new insights from an underrepresented geographical and cultural context, the article advances the international debates on heritage conservation, ecological construction, and the revalorisation of vernacular knowledge in global architectural discourses
Realization of Modified Electrical Equivalent of Memristor-Based Pavlov’s Associative Learning to Avoid Training Fallacies
No full textBiological systems learn from past experiences by establishing relationships between two simultaneously occurring events, a phenomenon known as associative learning. This concept has promising applications in modern AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning). To leverage it effectively, a precise electrical model that can simulate associative learning observed in biological systems is essential. The paper focuses on modeling Pavlov’s famous experiment related to the drooling of dogs at the sound of bell after associating the food with the bell during training. The study addresses limitations in existing circuit designs that fail to accurately replicate associative learning in dogs, particularly when the sequence of food and bell signals deviates from a specific pattern. We propose a novel design using a few CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) transistors and memristor models that produces an output corresponding to the dogs drooling only when food and bell signals are associated, mirroring real-life training conditions. The results section first discusses simulations using the standard TiO2 (Titanium Oxide) memristor model, followed by experimental results obtained from a classical memristor emulator. Both simulation and experimental findings confirm the effectiveness of the circuit designs
Vertical jumping power normative-reference values: Utilizing a large cohort of Canadian University students
No full textStudy aim: This study aimed to develop vertical jumping power normative-reference standards based on a large cohort of Canadian university students. Material and methods: Data were collected from a sample of 960 male and female participants, aged 20 to 29 years (mean body mass index [BMI]: 24.44± 3.80). Participants performed the Sargent jump-and-reach test using a wall-mounted vertical jumping height scale, where vertical jump distance (VJD) was determined by subtracting standing reach height from vertical jumping reach height. An independent samples t-test was conducted to compare the means of all variables (i.e., absolute power, relative power, and VJD) and to test for statistical significance between sexes. Results: Data from all variables were higher ( P < 0.05) among male participants, including absolute power (W), relative power (W·kg −1 ), and VJD (m), and statistically significant differences between sexes were noted. Collected data facilitated the creation of sex-specific normative-reference standards including percentile rankings and seven performance classifications. Conclusions: These norms will be instrumental in supporting the convenient and practical evaluation of vertical jumping power performance data and may even reduce the need for other, more exhaustive testing methods (e.g., Wingate Anaerobic Test)
