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By examining how economic insecurity as a non-medical factor impacts health and can lead to involvement with child protective services, we provide a view into the shortcomings of our social [...]

Rodent jaws evolved structurally to support dual functionality, for either biting or chewing food. Rodent hands also function dually during food handling, for actively manipulating or statically holding food. How are these oral and manual functions coordinated? We combined electrophysiological recording of muscle activity and kilohertz kinematic tracking to analyze masseter and hand actions as mice of both sexes handled food. Masseter activity was organized into two modes synchronized to hand movement modes. In holding/chewing mode, mastication occurred as rhythmic (~5 Hz) masseter activity while the hands held food below the mouth. In oromanual/ingestion mode, bites occurred as lower-amplitude aperiodic masseter events that were precisely timed to follow regrips (by ~200 ms). Thus, jaw and hand movements are flexibly coordinated during food handling: uncoupled in holding/chewing mode and tightly coordinated in oromanual/ingestion mode as regrip-bite sequences. Key features of this coordination were captured in a simple model of hierarchically orchestrated mode-switching and intramode action sequencing. We serendipitously detected an additional masseter-related action, tooth sharpening, identified as bouts of higher-frequency (~13 Hz) rhythmic masseter activity, which was accompanied by eye displacement, including rhythmic proptosis, attributable to masseter contractions. Collectively, the findings demonstrate how a natural, complex, and goal-oriented activity is organized as an assemblage of distinct modes and complex actions, adapted for the divisions of function arising from anatomical structure. These results reveal intricate, high-speed coordination of disparate effectors and show how natural forms of dexterity can serve as a model for understanding the behavioral neurobiology of multi-body-part coordination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management science professors who teach large classes often assess students with multiple-choice questions (MCQs) because it is efficient. However, traditional MCQ formats are ill-fitted for constructive feedback. We propose the reward for omission with confidence in knowledge (ROCK) format as an original formative assessment technique to help guide feedback associated with MCQs in an introductory undergraduate management science course. Our study contributes to theory by empirically showing that students can self-assess their state of knowledge, signal it to the professor, and use proper answering options. In practice, ROCK is an easily implementable MCQ format that allows professors to gain information on student learning based on answers selected. ROCK identifies lack of knowledge or misinformation at both individual and collective levels thus providing opportunities for better feedback in class and during office hours. Limitations of the application of ROCK are also discussed.

Eastern Towhees (Pipilo erythropthalmus) are partial migrants that inhabit dense thickets of shrubs in both breeding and nonbreeding seasons and have declined range-wide by approximately 50% since the mid-1960s. Few studies have addressed the nonbreeding season natural history of Eastern Towhees. The objectives of our study were to (1) describe and quantify nonbreeding habitat use and social interactions, and (2) relate these metrics to winter weather conditions. We captured and radio-tagged 9 Eastern Towhees and tracked them using homing and triangulation for a total of 528 locations from late November 2015 to March 2016, plus 3 Eastern Towhees tracked in 2014-2015. The mean ([+ or -] SE) home range size (80% kernel isopleth) was 7.31 [+ or -] 0.22 ha, and the mean ([+ or -] SE) core area (30% kernel isopleth) was 1.52 [+ or -] 0.94 ha. The mean overlap of home ranges between neighbors was 36%, and 24% between neighboring core areas. The study area was classified into 4 habitats: mowed, blackberry scrub, woody shrub, and wooded. Habitat use did not directly correspond with availability: Eastern Towhees occupied woody shrub habitat most (48% of locations vs. 35% of available habitat), suggesting that of our 4 habitat types, woody shrub was preferred. For weather, wind speed did not significantly affect habitat use, foraging method, vocalizations, or flock size. Although temperature did not significantly affect any of the behaviors, there were trends for less ground foraging and more use of wooded habitat in freezing temperatures. Snow cover influenced habitat use (odds ratio = 0.60). vocalizations (odds ratio = 1.77), and flock size (odds ratio = 1.97), but not foraging. These results contribute to understanding the nonbreeding natural history of Eastern Towhees and demonstrate that inclement weather in the nonbreeding season may influence habitat use and behaviors in ways that could affect nonbreeding season survival. Key words: habitat, home range, Kentucky, kernel density estimation, radio telemetry, scrub-shrub, shrubland. Los rascadores Pipilo erythropthalmus son migratorias parciales que habitan arbustales densos durante las temporadas reproductiva y no-reproductiva, y que han declinado aproximadamente 50% desde mediados de la década de 1960. Pocos estudios se han dedicado a la historia natural de la temporada no-reproductiva de estos rascones. Los objetivos de nuestro estudio fueron (1) describir y cuantificar el uso de hábitat no-reproductivo e interacciones sociales y (2) relacionar estas métricas a las condiciones del estado del tiempo en el invierno. Capturamos y colocamos radiotransmisores a 9 rascadores y los seguimos usando triangulaciones respecto a puntos fijos para un total de 528 posiciones de finales de noviembre de 2015 a marzo de 2016. además de 3 rascadores que seguimos en 2014-2015. La media ([+ ó -] EE) del ámbito hogareño (isopleta kernel del 80%) fue 7.31 [+ ó -] 0.22 ha y la media ([+ ó -] EE) del área núcleo (isopleta kernel del 30%) fue 1.52 [+ ó -] 0.94 ha. La media del traslape de ámbitos hogareños entre vecinos fue de 36%, y 24% entre áreas núcleo adyacentes. El área de estudio se clasificó en 4 hábitats: podado, arbustal de zarzamoras, arbustal leñoso y arbolado. El uso de hábitat no correspondió directamente con la disponibilidad: los rascadores ocuparon en su mayoría hábitats de arbustal leñoso (48% de las posiciones vs. 35% del habitat disponible), lo que sugiere que de los 4 tipos de hábitat, el arbustal leñoso fue el preferido. Del estado del tiempo, la velocidad del viento no afectó significativamente el uso de hábitat, método de forrajeo, vocalizaciones o tamaño de parvada. Aunque la temperatura no afectó significativamente ninguno de los comportamientos, encontramos tendencias para un menor forrajeo en el suelo y un mayor uso de hábitat arbolado en temperaturas de congelación. La cobertura de nieve influenció el uso de hábitat (oportunidad relativa = 0.60), vocalizaciones (oportunidad relativa = 1.77) y tamaño de parvada (oportunidad relativa = 1.97). mas no para el forrajeo. Estos resultados contribuyen al entendimiento de la historia natural no-reproductiva de los rascadores y demuestra que el estado del tiempo inclemente en la temporada noreproductiva podría influenciar el uso de hábitat y comportamientos en formas que podrían afectar la sobrevivencia en la temporada noreproductiva. Palabras clave: ámbito hogareño, arbustal. arbuslal-matorral, estimación de densidad kernel, hábitat, Kentucky, radiotelemetría., Shrub-dependent bird species are collectively in decline due to habitat loss, as shrubland has been converted to agriculture or matured to forest (Askins 1993). Scrub-dependent birds are now more reliant [...]

Guano was analyzed for seven bat species captured while foraging within and adjacent to sites in south-central Indiana both before and after the sites were used as no-harvest controls or experimentally manipulated with either even-aged (clear-cut and shelterwood cut) or uneven-aged (group and single tree selection) techniques as part of the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE). Despite collecting samples for six years, sufficient samples for comparison were obtained for only three species: northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), and eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis). None of these species experienced a significant change in diet associated with experimental harvest. This result is surprising because concurrent studies on the HEE have shown insect prey abundance changes as a response to harvest treatments. Our results reinforce previous conclusions that bats are selective opportunists that focus on particular groups of insects even when habitat manipulations change the abundance of those foods. Keywords: Bats, diet, forest management, Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE), INTRODUCTION Insectivorous bats feed on night-flying insects, including many pest species. Understanding how the diets of these species changes with changing forest conditions is important to understand how bats respond [...]

ABSTRACT. The Indiana Forest Alliance (IFA) sponsored an extended biodiversity survey (i.e., Ecoblitz) between 2014 and 2018 within the Back-Country Area of Morgan Monroe and Yellowwood State Forest in Indiana. [...]

Young people at the intersection of child welfare and immigration face significant challenges to successfully transitioning to adulthood and independence from foster care. This transition is made even more difficult [...]

ABSTRACT. Surprising biodiversity can be found in cities, but urban habitats are understudied. We report on a bioblitz conducted primarily within a 24-hr period on September 16 and 17. 2016 [...]

The majority of women serving short-term sentences in provincial prisons in Canada are incarcerated for illegal activities involving alcohol and substance use. Although there is a wealth of research on substance use among those serving sentences within the federal prison system, little of that literature addresses the needs and experiences of women prisoners. Additionally, very scant research exists on the experience of women incarcerated in the provincial system for crimes related to drug and alcohol use. The purpose of this article is to present the results of a Canadian participatory research project conducted in a minimum-medium security provincial prison. In conducting this project, our objectives were to understand incarcerated women's perspectives on reasons for their substance use, why they continued to use, the consequences of their use, and their suggestions for change. The data were collected and analyzed by the collaborative efforts of both the peer researchers who were incarcerated women at the time of the research and university-based researchers. Upon release, several women continued on the project as co-researchers and co-authors of this paper. We present the results of a "drug of choice" survey and the qualitative responses to open-ended questions concerning prisoners' use of drugs and alcohol. (Contains 2 tables.)

School counselors can use groups as an effective and efficient means of helping students. Psychoeducational groups provide information and build skills to help prepare students for developmental tasks. As students complete elementary school, these preadolescents face the challenging tasks of moving to middle school and beginning puberty. School counselors can capitalize on peer influence and prepare students for the transition to middle school by using the group format. This article describes a model of a psychoeducational group aimed at preparing fifth graders for the transition to middle school. Implications and results of a pilot group are also presented.