Modeling Sustainability of Arctic Communities: An Interdisciplinary Collaboration of Researchers and Local Knowledge Holders

How will climate change affect the sustainability of Arctic villages over the next 40 years? This question motivated a collaboration of 23 researchers and four Arctic communities (Old Crow, Yukon Territory, Canada; Aklavik, Northwest Territories, Canada; Fort McPherson, Northwest Territories, Canada; and Arctic Village, Alaska, USA) in or near the range of the Porcupine Caribou Herd. We drew on existing research and local knowledge to examine potential effects of climate change, petroleum development, tourism, and government spending cutbacks on the sustainability of four Arctic villages. We used data across eight disciplines to develop an Arctic Community Synthesis Model and a Web-based, interactive Possible Futures Model. Results suggested that climate warming will increase vegetation biomass within the herd’s summer range. However, despite forage increasing, the herd was projected as likely to decline with a warming climate because of increased insect harassment in the summer and potentially greater winter snow depths. There was a strong negative correlation between hypothetical, development-induced displacement of cows and calves from utilized calving grounds and calf survival during June. The results suggested that climate warming coupled with petroleum development would cause a decline in caribou harvest by local communities. Because the Synthesis Model inherits uncertainties associated with each component model, sensitivity analysis is required. Scientists and stakeholders agreed that (1) although simulation models are incomplete abstractions of the real world, they helped bring scientific and community knowledge together, and (2) relationships established across disciplines and between scientists and communities were a valuable outcome of the study. Additional project materials, including the Web-based Possible Futures Model, are available at http://www.taiga.net/sustain.     

Different effects of subchronic doses of 17-beta estradiol in two ethologically based models of anxiety utilizing female rats

Estrogen may have differing effects on 'anxiety' responses under different conditions. The current study tested the effects of estrogen on anxiety-like behavior when administered for 6-7 days in ovariectomized (OVX) female rats. Two animal paradigms were utilized; the elevated plus maze (EPM), measuring changes in innate fear of exploration of open spaces; and the social interaction test (SIT), measuring the exploration of a novel, same gender partner. In the EPM, estradiol-treated OVX females both entered and spent more time in the open arms than control OVX females, indicating an anxiolytic-like action of estradiol. In contrast, estradiol treated OVX females interacted less with the partner animal in the SIT compared with controls suggesting anxiogenic-like effects. The possible anxiogenic effect of estradiol in the SIT is supported by two findings: (1) the effect is reversed by the anxiolytic drug alprazolam and (2) estrogen did not affect locomotion and therefore, the reduced social interaction is not due to reduced activity. Acute administration of progesterone (5 mg/kg), which has anxiolytic properties, did not reverse estradiol-induced social interaction deficits, suggesting that lack of progesterone did not account for estradiol's anxiogenic effects. These results, while seemingly contradictory when interpreted within a unified concept of anxiety, may well reflect the ethological roles of reproductive hormones and their effects on different types of exploratory anxiety.     

Development and Application of a Framework for Analyzing the Impacts of Urban Transportation

To adequately analyze the impacts associated with the rising use of automobiles, an assessment framework is needed that includes environment, health, economic, and sociocultural impacts. Such a framework was developed and applied to a proposed freeway-widening project in Edmonton, Canada. The assessment framework was developed using both Multi-Criteria Analysis and the Ecosystem Approach to Human Health (Ecohealth). Community participation was vital in the application of the assessment framework to this case study. Six stakeholder groups, including community members, City Councillors, and health, environment, and transportation experts, provided needed qualitative data for the assessment framework. Quantitative data were gathered from an ecological study design that associated traffic volumes with respiratory conditions in Edmonton. Community members perceptions about the impacts of the freeway widening differed from those of the expert groups in a number of areas. Environmental and health degradation was more of an issue to community members than to expert groups. Though respiratory conditions were not projected to increase by a significant amount because of the freeway widening, further analysis is necessary on other biophysical and socioeconomic impacts listed in the assessment framework. The divergence in opinion between community members and experts suggests that more communication is needed between these groups in relation to transportation planning. The Ecohealth approach ensures that community concerns are addressed in transportation planning.     

Age differences in spatial positioning of males in a chimpanzee unit-group at the mahale mountains National Park,Tanzania

Proximity partner choice by male chimpanzees of various age classes was analyzed in relation to their spatial positioning. Field work was carried out twice at the Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania. Proximity data were recorded at 3 and 10m from the focal animal. The data for the proximity between the focal male and other individuals allowed the males to be classified into two categories according to both criteria: early adolescence to young adult, and prime to old age. Between the males, the 3m proximity data permitted a classification into two categories as above, but those for 10m did not. These two spatial distances thus probably have different meanings for the males. The numbers of male proximity partners and proximity with the alpha male also allowed the males to be classified into two categories: early and late adolescence, and young adult to old age. Together, the above results support the classification of males into three age-graded categories: (1) early and late adolescence, (2) young adult, and (3) prime to old age. This does not arise because the males of each category form an age group. Prime or older males are most frequently in proximity, while their juniors consistently attempt to approach them. However, even prime or older males are not equally in proximity with one another. Their proximity partners change as time passes. Probably recognizing such changes, they form coalitions or are in rivalry. The sexual interest of adolescent males is probably a factor stimulating them to separate from their mothers, and to approach older males. Young adult males, even though physically mature, do not have equal proximity relations with older males. They are not yet sufficiently qualified to join the coalitions formed by their seniors.     

二炮某部夏秋入伍新兵应对方式、社会支持及心理健康状况调查

目的:调查分析夏秋入伍新兵心理健康状况及其与应对方式、社会支持的关系,为针对性开展新兵心理卫生服务,提高新兵心理健康水平提供参考依据。方法:采用自编心理需求调查问卷、简易应对方式、社会支持以及症状自评量表(SCL-90)对二炮某部首次夏秋季入伍新兵进行心理测试,并进行相关回归分析。结果:新兵在应对方式上的得分与全国成人常模存在显著差异;在社会支持量表的得分与军人常模存在显著差异;在SCL-90中,与2010年新兵比较在躯体化、强迫症状、忧郁、焦虑、恐怖、精神病性6个因子之间存在显著差异,与军人常模比较在躯体化、强迫症状、人际关系敏感、忧郁、敌对、恐怖、偏执、精神病性8个因子之间均存在显著差异。简易应对方式、社会支持与心理健康的相关分析显示,消极应对与心理健康各因子间均存在显著相关关系;主观支持与强迫症状、人际关系敏感、忧郁和敌对4个因子间存在显著相关,客观支持与人际关系敏感、敌对2个因子间存在显著相关,对支持的利用度与人际关系敏感、焦虑、敌对、恐怖和精神病性5个因子间存在显著相关。以新兵心理健康作为因变量,社会支持与应对方式作为自变量,进行逐步回归分析,最终进入回归的因子为对支持的利用度和消极应对。结论:本年度新兵整体心理健康状况良好,他们多采用积极应对方式应对应激事件,所得到的社会支持以及对支持的利用度良好,愿意在新训期间通过心理素质训练,提高心理健康水平。     

Effect of social media use on learning,social interactions,and sleep duration among university students

BackgroundSocial networking sites are widely used by university students. This study investigated the purposes for which social networking sites are used and their effects on learning, social interaction, and sleep duration.Material and methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 300, 17–29-year-old female students at Prince Sattam bin Abdul Aziz University. A questionnaire was used to collect data. Chi-squared (Fisher’s exact test) test was used to analyze the data.ResultsThe results showed that 97% of the students used social media applications. Only 1% of them used social media for academic purposes. Whereas 35% of them used these platforms to chat with others, 43% of them browsed these sites to pass time. Moreover, 57% of them were addicted to social media. Additionally, 52% of them reported that social media use had affected their learning activities, 66% of them felt more drawn toward social media than toward academic activities, and 74% of them spent their free time on social media platforms. The most popular applications (i.e., based on usage) were Snapchat (45%), Instagram (22%), Twitter (18%), and WhatsApp (7%). Further, 46% and 39% of them reported going to bed between 11 pm and 12 am and between 1 am and 2 am, respectively. Finally, 68% of them attributed their delayed bedtime to social media use, and 59% of them reported that social media had affected their social interactions.ConclusionsA majority of the participants reported prolonged use of social networking sites for nonacademic purposes. These habitual behaviors can distract students from their academic work, adversely affect their academic performance, social interactions, and sleep duration, and lead to a sedentary lifestyle and physical inactivity, which in turn can render them vulnerable to non-communicable diseases and mental health problems.     

The pathogenic potential of the combined action of chronic Opisthorchis felineus infection and repeated social defeat stress in C57BL/6 mice

Parasitic food-borne diseases and chronic social stress are frequent attributes of day-to-day human life. Therefore, our aim was to model the combined action of chronic Opisthorchis felineus infection and repeated social defeat stress in C57BL/6 mice. Histological examination of the liver revealed inflammation sites, pronounced periductal fibrosis, and cholangiofibrosis together with proliferation of bile ducts and hepatocyte dystrophy in the infected mice, especially in the stress-exposed ones. Simultaneously with liver pathology, we detected significant structural changes in the cerebral cortex. Immunohistochemical analysis of the hippocampus indicated the highest increase in numerical density of Iba 1-, IL-6-, iNOS-, and Arg1-positive cells in mice simultaneously subjected to the two adverse factors. The number of GFAP-positive cells rose during repeated social defeat stress, most strongly in the mice subjected to both infection and stress. Real-time PCR analysis showed that the expression of genes Aif1 and Il6 differed among the analysed brain regions (hippocampus, hypothalamus, and frontal cortex) and depended on the adverse factors applied. In addition, among the brain regions, there was no consistent increase or decrease in these parameters when the two adverse treatments were combined: (i) in the hippocampus, there was upregulation of Aif1 and no change in Il6 expression; (ii) in the hypothalamus, expression levels of Aif1 and Il6 were not different from controls; and (iii) in the frontal cortex, Aif1 expression did not change while Il6 expression increased. It can be concluded that a combination of two long-lasting adverse factors, O. felineus infection and repeated social defeat stress, worsens not only the hepatic but also brain state, as evidenced behaviorally by disturbances of the startle response in mice.     

Review: Optimizing ruminant conversion of feed protein to human food protein

Ruminant livestock have the ability to produce high-quality human food from feedstuffs of little or no value for humans. Balanced essential amino acid composition of meat and milk from ruminants makes those protein sources valuable adjuncts to human diets. It is anticipated that there will be increasing demand for ruminant proteins in the future. Increasing productivity per animal dilutes out the nutritional and environmental costs of maintenance and rearing dairy animals up to production. A number of nutritional strategies improve production per animal such as ration balancing in smallholder operations and small grain supplements to ruminants fed high-forage diets. Greenhouse gas emission intensity is reduced by increased productivity per animal; recent research has developed at least one effective inhibitor of methane production in the rumen. There is widespread over-feeding of protein to dairy cattle; milk and component yields can be maintained, and sometimes even increased, at lower protein intake. Group feeding dairy cows according to production and feeding diets higher in rumen-undegraded protein can improve milk and protein yield. Supplementing rumen-protected essential amino acids will also improve N efficiency in some cases. Better N utilization reduces urinary N, which is the most environmentally unstable form of excretory N. Employing nutritional models to more accurately meet animal requirements improves nutrient efficiency. Although smallholder enterprises, which are concentrated in tropical and semi-tropical regions of developing countries, are subject to different economic pressures, nutritional biology is similar at all production levels. Rather than milk volume, nutritional strategies should maximize milk component yield, which is proportional to market value as well as food value when milk nutrients are consumed directly by farmers and their families. Moving away from Holsteins toward smaller breeds such as Jerseys, Holstein-Jersey crosses or locally adapted breeds (e.g. Vechur) would also reduce lactose production and improve metabolic, environmental and economic efficiencies. Forages containing condensed tannins or polyphenol oxidase enzymes have reduced rumen protein degradation; ruminants capture this protein more efficiently for meat and milk. Although these forages generally have lower yields and persistence, genetic modification would allow insertion of these traits into more widely cultivated forages. Ruminants will retain their niches because of their ability to produce valuable human food from low value feedstuffs. Employing these emerging strategies will allow improved productive efficiency of ruminants in both developing and developed countries.     

Alleviating social avoidance: Effects of single dose testosterone administration on approach–avoidance action

Testosterone is an important regulator of social–motivational behavior and is known for its dominance-enhancing and social-anxiolytic properties. However, to date no studies have systematically investigated the causal effect of testosterone on actual social approach–avoidance behavior in humans. The present study sets out to test the effects of testosterone administration in healthy female volunteers using an objective implicit measure of social motivational behavior: the social Approach–Avoidance Task, a reaction time task requiring participants to approach or avoid visually presented emotional (happy, angry, and neutral) faces. Participants showed significantly diminished avoidance tendencies to angry faces after testosterone administration. Testosterone did not affect approach–avoidance tendencies to social affiliation (happy) faces. Thus, a single dose testosterone administration reduces automatic avoidance of social threat and promotes relative increase of threat approach tendencies in healthy females. These findings further the understanding of the neuroendocrine regulation of social motivational behavior and may have direct treatment implications for social anxiety, characterized by persistent social avoidance.