Tempo of trophic evolution and its impact on mammalian diversification

Mammals are characterized by the complex adaptations of their dentition, which are an indication that diet has played a critical role in their evolutionary history. Although much attention has focused on diet and the adaptations of specific taxa, the role of diet in large-scale diversification patterns remains unresolved. Contradictory hypotheses have been proposed, making prediction of the expected relationship difficult. We show that net diversification rate (the cumulative effect of speciation and extinction), differs significantly among living mammals, depending upon trophic strategy. Herbivores diversify fastest, carnivores are intermediate, and omnivores are slowest. The tempo of transitions between the trophic strategies is also highly biased: the fastest rates occur into omnivory from herbivory and carnivory and the lowest transition rates are between herbivory and carnivory. Extant herbivore and carnivore diversity arose primarily through diversification within lineages, whereas omnivore diversity evolved by transitions into the strategy. The ability to specialize and subdivide the trophic niche allowed herbivores and carnivores to evolve greater diversity than omnivores.     

Development and validation of a revised short version of the working alliance inventory

Abstract

Although countertransference phenomena have been given much attention within psychotherapy theory, single-case studies and clinical anecdotes, empirical research is still conspicuous by its absence. To assess the therapists’ emotional reactions, which are understood to be part of the countertransference (CT), we used the Feeling Word Checklist 58 (Røssberg, Hoffart, &; Friis, 2003); a self-report questionnaire, comprising 58 feeling words. The aims of the present study were to examine the underlying factor structure and psychometric properties of these factors, and to validate the factors by exploring the relationships between countertransference feelings and the following variables: therapeutic alliance, patient personality pathology, suitability for psychodynamic therapy, interpersonal problems, level of general functioning, and symptoms. Six therapists, who treated 75 patients, with weekly, psychodynamic therapy, over 1 year, completed the checklist after each session. To establish the number of subscales in the checklist, a principal component analysis with promax rotation was conducted. The analysis revealed four clinically meaningful factors named Confident, Inadequate, Parental and Disengaged. The psychometric properties of all subscales proved to be acceptable. Alliance as reported by both patient and therapist showed differential correlations with the subscales. The patients’ relational functioning showed stronger correlations with the CT feelings than the patients’ symptoms and level of functioning. The four subscales found in the Feeling Word Checklist-58 seem to capture clinically meaningful aspects of the therapeutic dyad, and countertransference feelings are systematically related to different relational variables.     

Sedentary behavior in everyday life relates negatively to mood: An ambulatory assessment study

Empirical evidence shows that physical behavior positively impacts human health. Recently, researchers have started to differentiate between physical activity and sedentary behavior showing independent effects on somatic health. However, whether this differentiation is also relevant for mood dimensions is largely unknown. For investigating the dynamic relationships between sedentary behavior and mood dimensions in daily life, ambulatory assessment (AA) has become the state‐of‐the‐art methodology. To investigate whether sedentary behaviors influence mood dimensions, we conducted an AA study in the everyday life of 92 university employees over 5 days. We continuously measured sedentary behavior via accelerometers and assessed mood repeatedly 10 times each day on smartphone diaries. To optimize our sampling strategy, we used a sophisticated sedentary‐triggered algorithm. We employed multilevel modeling to analyze the within‐subject effects of sedentary behavior on mood. Sedentary time (15‐minute intervals prior to each e‐diary assessment) and sedentary bouts (30‐minute intervals of uninterrupted sedentary behavior) negatively influenced valence and energetic arousal (all Ps < 0.015). In particular, the more participants were sedentary in their everyday life, the less they felt well and energized. Exploratory analyses of the temporal course of these effects supported our findings. Sedentary behavior can be seen as a general risk factor because it impacts both somatic and mental health. Most importantly, physical activity and sedentary behavior showed independent effects on mood dimensions. Accordingly, future studies should consider the two sides of the physical behavior coin: How should physical activity be promoted? and How can sedentary behavior be reduced?     

基于ISSR的连翘遗传多样性研究

目的研究不同居群连翘的遗传多样性。方法采用ISSR分子标记技术对连翘25个自然居群的样本进行分析,利用POPGENE32软件分析多态位点百分率(P)、Nei’s基因多样性指数(H)及Shannon多样性指数(I);居群间遗传一致度采用NTSYSpc-2.10软件进行聚类分析。结果选出13条ISSR引物,扩增出353条清晰条带,物种水平P为100%,H为0.252 3,I为0.394 0,遗传分化系数(Gst)为0.331 8,居群间基因流(Nm)为1.007 0,遗传距离0.031 0～0.155 5;NTSYSpc软件进行系统聚类,将25个聚群划分为2大类,7分组;连翘个体间进行聚类分析,195份连翘样品划分为2大类,5分组。结论连翘种群遗传多样性水平较高,但连翘种群间遗传距离与地理距离没有相关性,与生态因子和生长环境有关。     

Constructing health capital in ecological systems: A qualitative evaluation of community‐based health workshops in the refugee community

Refugee communities face numerous health and mental health concerns both during and after resettlement. Health issues, already deteriorated by chronic poverty, malnutrition and poor living conditions, are exacerbated by acculturative challenges, such as cultural and language barriers, stigma, and lack of resources and information. Since such needs in refugee communities affect both individual and collective capacity, it is important to consider policy environment and socioecological contexts for cultural adjustment and community resources for navigating systems, rather than individual health behaviours and communication skills only. To expand our understanding of health promotion capacity and resources, a broad and context‐dependent concept will be necessary. Adopting a concept of health capital, this study aims to explore the impact of community‐based health workshops, while expanding and redefining the framework in the context of health promotion efforts for the refugee community in resettlement. As part of community‐based participatory research, this qualitative study conducted seven focus group discussions (FGDs) with 22 Bhutanese refugees in 2014. Using a hybrid thematic analysis, themes emerged from the FGD data were organised and categorised into health capitals in ecological systems. The participants reported enhanced confidence and capacity for health promotion at individual, family and community levels. Given the interdependent coping and lifestyles of refugee communities, impacts on the participants’ interactions and relations with family and community were significant, which emphasises the importance of assessment of interventions beyond an individualistic approach. The findings of this study underscore the vital role of varied forms of health capital in promoting health in the refugee community and connecting members to needed health resources and information. Health capital is an old and yet still new concept with a great potential to broaden our understanding of health resources by elaborating the impacts and interactions in individuals, family and community for health promotion.     

Ecological analysis of college women’s physical activity and health-related quality of life

ABSTRACT

Despite significant health benefits of regular physical activity, over 60 percent of college women do not meet recommended physical activity guidelines to promote their health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), a comprehensive construct including physical and psychosocial health functioning. The major purpose of this study was to examine the influences of individual (e.g., self-efficacy, enjoyment), social (e.g., family and friend support), and physical environmental factors (e.g., crime safety) on college women’s physical activity and HRQoL. Participants were 235 (Mean age = 21.0 years) college women from a public research university located in the southwest region of the United States. They completed validated surveys assessing their perceptions of physical activity, HRQoL, and social ecological factors during the spring semester of 2012. The findings of three multiple linear regressions, entering individual factors first, followed by social and physical environmental factors, revealed that self-efficacy and crime safety were significantly related to physical activity. For HRQoL-physical functioning, significant factors were self-efficacy, enjoyment, and crime safety. Enjoyment was the only factor related to HRQoL-psychosocial functioning. These findings indicated that physical activity professionals need to foster safe environments, enhance self-efficacy, and provide enjoyable activities to promote college women’s physical activity and HRQoL.     

小叶黑柴胡野生居群生物学特性与活性成分含量对典型生境的响应

目的 探索不同微生境对小叶黑柴胡Bupleurum smithii var.parvifolium药材形成的影响,为其驯化栽培奠定基础。方法 通过样方调查对不同生境中小叶黑柴胡种群结构、优势物种、药用植物多样性及柴胡表观形态特征进行统计分析;采用烘干法对土壤水分含量进行测定,采用550℃烧失量法对土壤有机质含量进行测定;采用HPLC法对柴胡中代表组分柴胡皂苷成分含量进行测定。结果 哈思山地区野生小叶黑柴胡分布的典型生境有3个类型,分别为戈壁型、草甸型和灌丛型。戈壁型生境包括流石滩亚型和岩壁缝隙亚型,生境中无优势植物种群,戈壁型柴胡以匍匐型为主,地上部分生物量相对较少,地下生物量相对较多,活性成分含量相对较高;草甸型生境包括低海拔和高海拔2个亚型,低海拔草甸优势植物为地榆,高海拔草甸优势植物为珠芽蓼;灌丛型包括叉子圆柏灌丛、鲜黄小檗灌丛和峨眉蔷薇灌丛,草甸型和灌丛型柴胡以直立型为主,地上部分生物量相对较多,活性成分含量相对较低。结论 小叶黑柴胡是一种极具开发潜力且对恶劣生境适应性极强的药用植物,不同微生境条件下小叶黑柴胡的表观形态和药材品质不同,为其驯化栽培和野生资源保护奠定了一定基础。     

道地产区当归药材品质区域划分

目的:进行当归药材的品质区划研究,指导当归的合理栽培。方法:通过走访和实地调查,从定西市5个县857个样地,采集当归样品857份,使用全球定位系统(GPS)获取采样点信息,超高效液相色谱法(UPLC)测定当归药材8个指标成分含量,结合全国生态因子数据,利用最大熵模型(MaxEnt),SPSS软件,ArcGIS软件进行当归品质适宜性分析。结果:当归的分布适宜区集中在定西市中部及南部,在适宜区范围内阿魏酸、阿魏酸松柏酯、洋川芎内酯H含量由南向北递减;绿原酸含量由北向南递减;洋川芎内酯A,洋川芎内酯I含量由东向西递减;丁烯基苯酞含量规律性不强,含量最高区域在岷县西部、渭源县清源镇、上湾乡、会川镇;藁本内酯在适宜区范围内含量一致性高,含量最高区域在渭源县中部及通渭县北部地区。岷县、漳县、渭源县南部、通渭县北部地区当归药材指标成分含量高,综合品质好。结论:该研究对定西市当归药材品质适宜性进行了等级划分,生成了各指标成分及当归综合品质适宜性区划图,研究结果可为当归药材的综合利用,正确选建优质当归原料基地,科学指导当归药材生产与区域开发提供参考依据。     

Electrochemical and X-ray Examinations of Erosion Products during Dressing of Superhard Grinding Wheels Using Alternating Current and Ecological Electrolytes of Low Concentration of Chemical Compounds

This article introduces significant cognitive and usable values in the field of abrasive technology especially in the development of new methods of the electrochemical dressing of superhard grinding wheels with metal bonds. Cognitive values mainly concern the elaboration of the theoretical backgrounds of the electrochemical digestion of compounds of grinding wheel metal bond and gumming up products of the cutting surface of grinding wheel (CSGW). Cognitive values also deal with determining the mathematical relationships describing the influence of technological conditions of dressing on shaping of cutting abilities of superhard grinding wheels. On the other hand, the useful values refer to the industry implementation of the elaborated method and equipment for the electrochemical dressing of suparhard grinding wheels using alternating current (ECDGW-AC). The cost of the device for the realization of this process is low and can be applied in the production conditions. The novel achievements presented in the article are: the elaboration of a new method and equipment for electrochemical dressing of superhard grinding wheels (ECDGW-AC), the selection of electrolytes of low concentration of chemical compounds, tests concerning the digestion of grinding wheel metal bond compounds and gumming up products of CSGW using X-ray analysis, as well as the determination of chemical reactions taking place during elaborated new dressing process, the elaboration of mathematical relationships describing influence of technological conditions of this process on dressing speed and shaping of cutting abilities of superhard grinding wheels, and the performance of technological tests of dressing of superhard grinding wheels using ECDGW-AC method. The elaborated method can be used in ambient temperature and does not cause thermal damages of abrasive grains of cutting surface of grinding wheel and is useful not only for dressing super hard grinding wheels but also for correcting their geometrical deviations.