scholarly journals Multiple new species of Ophiocordyceps on ants

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Araújo ◽  
David P Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Behavioral Change ◽  
Ecosystem Functioning ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Evolutionary Relationships ◽  
Spore Dispersal ◽  
Specific Species ◽  
Amazonian Region ◽  
Ascospore Morphology

In tropical forests, one of the most common relationships between parasites and insects is that between the fungus Ophiocordyceps (Ophiocordycipitaceae, Hypocreales, Ascomycota) and ants, especially within the tribe Camponotini. These fungi have the ability to penetrate the exoskeleton of the ant and to manipulate the behavior of the host, making it leave the nest and ascend understorey shrubs, to die biting onto the vegetation: hence, the term zombie-ant fungi to describe this behavioral changes on the host. It is posited that this behavioral change aids spore dispersal and thus increases the chances of infection. Despite their undoubted importance for ecosystem functioning, these fungal pathogens are still poorly documented, especially regarding their diversity, ecology and evolutionary relationships. Here, we describe multiple new and host-specific species of the genus Ophiocordyceps on Camponotus and Polyrhachis ants from the central Amazonian region of Brazil, USA, Australia and Japan, which can readily be separated using classic taxonomic criteria, in particular ascospore morphology.

scholarly journals Unravelling the diversity behind the Ophiocordyceps unilateralis (Ophiocordycipitaceae) complex: Three new species of zombie-ant fungi from the Brazilian Amazon

Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 220 (3) ◽  
pp. 224 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Paulo Machado Araújo ◽  
Harry Charles Evans ◽  
David Michael Geiser ◽  
William P Mackay ◽  
David Peter Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Morphological Traits ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Dna Sequence Data ◽  
Three New Species ◽  
Specific Species ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Amazonian Region ◽  
Ophiocordyceps Unilateralis

In tropical forests, one of the most commonly encountered relationships between parasites and insects is that between the fungus Ophiocordyceps (Ophiocordycipitaceae, Hypocreales, Ascomycota) and ants, especially within the tribe Camponotini. Here, we describe three newly discovered host-specific species, Ophiocordyceps camponoti-atricipis, O. camponoti-bispinosi and O. camponoti-indiani, on Camponotus ants from the central Amazonian region of Brazil, which can readily be separated using morphological traits, in particular the shape and behavior of the ascospores. DNA sequence data support inclusion of these species within the Ophiocordyceps unilateralis complex.

Spouse Caregivers' Perceptions of Influence of Dementia on Marriage

2002 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulla Eloniemi-Sulkava ◽  
Irma-Leena Notkola ◽  
Kaija Hämäläinen ◽  
Terhi Rahkonen ◽  
Petteri Viramo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Change ◽  
Intervention Study ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Spouse Caregivers ◽  
Dementing Illness ◽  
Male Patients ◽  
Patients Experience

Objectives: To investigate what kind of changes spouse caregivers of demented patients experience after the onset of dementia (a) in the general atmosphere, happiness, and relations of marriage and (b) in the sexual side of marriage. Design: Semistructured telephone interviews of spouse caregivers of demented patients. Setting: Community-living demented patients and their spouse caregivers in eastern Finland. Participants: The spouse caregivers of 42 demented patients recruited from a previous intervention study. Measures: The questionnaire covered different areas of marriage from the time before and after the onset of dementia. Results: A statistically significant decline had occured in extent of happiness (p = .012), in equal relations (p = .001), and in patients' expressions of sexual needs (p < .001) when compared the time before and after dementia. Twenty-five (60%) of the caregivers reported that the demented patient had shown at least one negative sexual behavioral change during the course of dementia. Seven male patients (24%) had shown the behavioral symptom of constantly expressing need for making love. One in 10 caregivers had experienced positive sexual behavioral changes. In one third of the patients, the expressions of tenderness towards the caregiver had increased. Dementia did not affect significantly the general atmosphere of the marriage. Out of those still in home care, at 3 years from the onset of dementia, 19 couples (46%) continued to practice intercourse, at 5 years the number was 15 couples (41%), and at 7 years it had declined to 7 couples (28%). Conclusions: Dementing illness has a major negative impact on many dimensions of marriage. However, there are also positive changes and preserved aspects of marriage. Dementia seems to have a surprisingly little impact on whether the couple continues to have intercourse when compared with the general aging population.

scholarly journals Impact of a Booklet about Diabetes Genetic Susceptibility and Its Prevention on Attitudes towards Prevention and Perceived Behavioral Change in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Their Offspring

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masakazu Nishigaki ◽  
Eiko Sato ◽  
Ryota Ochiai ◽  
Taiga Shibayama ◽  
Keiko Kazuma
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Genetic Susceptibility ◽  
Behavioral Change ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Type 2 Diabetic Patients ◽  
The Patient’S View ◽  
Self Administered Questionnaire ◽  
Type 2 Diabetic

Background. Offspring of type 2 diabetic patients are at a high risk of type 2 diabetes. Information on diabetes genetic susceptibility and prevention should be supplied to the offspring.Methods. A six-page booklet on diabetes genetic susceptibility and prevention was distributed to 173 patients who ere ordered to hand it to their offspring. The patients answered a self-administered questionnaire on booklet delivery and attitudinal and behavioral changes toward diabetes and its prevention in themselves and their offspring.Results. Valid responses were obtained from 130 patients. Forty-nine patients had actually handed the booklet. Booklet induces more relief than anxiety. From the patient's view, favorable attitudinal and/or behavioral changes occurred in more than half of the offspring who were delivered the booklet.Conclusion. The booklet worked effectively on attitudes and behaviors toward diabetes and its prevention both in patients and their offspring. However, the effectiveness of patients as information deliverers was limited.

scholarly journals Effective but fragile? Responses to repeated nudge-based messages for preventing the spread of COVID-19 infection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shusaku Sasaki ◽  
Hirofumi Kurokawa ◽  
Fumio Ohtake
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Change ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Survey Experiment ◽  
The Third ◽  
Compliance Level ◽  
Change Effect ◽  
Loss Frame ◽  
Over Time

AbstractNudge-based messages have been employed in various countries to encourage voluntary contact-avoidance and infection-prevention behaviors to control the spread of COVID-19. People have been repeatedly exposed to such messages; however, whether the messages keep exerting a significant impact over time remains unclear. From April to August 2020, we conducted a four-wave online survey experiment to examine how five types of nudge-based messages influence Japanese people’s self-reported preventive behaviors. In particular, we investigate how their behaviors are affected by repeated displays over time. The analysis with 4241 participants finds that only a gain-framed altruistic message, emphasizing their behavioral adherence would protect the lives of people close to them, reduces their frequency of going out and contacting others. We do not find similar behavioral changes in messages that contain an altruistic element but emphasize it in a loss-frame or describe their behavioral adherence as protecting both one’s own and others’ lives. Furthermore, the behavioral change effect of the gain-framed altruistic message disappears in the third and fourth waves, although its impact of reinforcing intentions remains. This message has even an adverse effect of worsening the compliance level of infection-prevention behaviors for the subgroup who went out less frequently before the experiment. The study’s results imply that when using nudge-based messages as a countermeasure for COVID-19, policymakers and practitioners need to carefully scrutinize the message elements and wording and examine to whom and how the messages should be delivered while considering their potential adverse and side effects.

scholarly journals Komunikasi Persuasif Pada Pelaksanaan Advokasi Public Relations

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-133
Author(s):  
Fathiya Nur Rahmi ◽  
Hanny Hafiar ◽  
Iriana Bakti
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Behavioral Change ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Persuasive Communication ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
Central Route ◽  
Analysis Models

AbstractThe awareness of job providers to employ people with disabilities is directly proportional to the participation of persons with disabilities in the formal work sector which is relatively low. Another problem faced by persons with disabilities is a negative stigma attached to them. This research was conducted to find out persuasive communication conducted on the Advocacy of LSM Saujana’s Public Relations, related to elements of communicators, messages, and audiences involved in persuasive communication. The research method used in this research is a case study with qualitative analysis techniques. Data collection techniques used in this study are interviews, observation, and documentation. Researchers conducted data analysis based on Flow Analysis Models. Based on the results, there were stages of persuasive communication undertaken including the preparation of communicators, delivery of messages, the use of online and offline media in delivering messages, the behavioral changes and evaluation. The LSM Saujana used the central route in persuasive communication that was appropriate to support advocacy. The findings suggest the institution focus on messages delivered to the target audience, starting with raising awareness and focusing on behavioral change.

scholarly journals Tourism and Climate Change Mitigation, a Focus on Behavioral Change in Air Travel

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (7) ◽  
pp. 1469-1476
Author(s):  
Komukama Grace
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Behavioral Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Climate Change Mitigation ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Aviation Industry ◽  
Technological Advancement ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Online Databases ◽  
Change Mitigation

It is undisputable that tourism has grown since the last decades and is the main source of foreign exchange for most developing countries. This growth is partially attributable to technological advancements in the aviation industry which has eased transportation from one region to another. However tourism contribution to carbon dioxide emissions through air transport is alarming with the sector contributing 40% of the overall carbon print and therefore if immediate remedies are not undertaken the earth system may go in a state where it may never recover. The aim of the paper therefore is to point out how behavioral change is the immediate solution for reduction in climate change emissions especially those originating from the aviation industry, since reliance on the technological advancement is mythical. Content analysis was used to conduct the study by using the crucial keywords in three online databases and 17,966 results were analyzed. Findings indicate that behavioral change is the immediate remedy for climate change mitigation. This is coupled with the fact that most air customers are living in denial and yet governments and the aviation industry lack commitment to controlling climate change. Therefore, if any tangible reduction is to be achieved in climate change emanating from aviation industry, there is need for realistic measures from both the governments and the aviation sector in order to encourage individual behavioral changes.

scholarly journals A regional study of the genus Phyllopsora (Ramalinaceae) in Asia and Melanesia

MycoKeys ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 23-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonja Kistenich ◽  
Mika Bendiksby ◽  
Charles S. Vairappan ◽  
Gothamie Weerakoon ◽  
Siril Wijesundara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Species Identification ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Regional Study ◽  
Secondary Chemistry ◽  
Herbarium Material ◽  
National Studies ◽  
Ascospore Morphology

Phyllopsora is a crustose to squamulose lichen genus inhabiting the bark of trees in moist tropical forests and rainforests. Species identification is generally challenging and is mainly based on ascospore morphology, thallus morphology and anatomy, vegetative dispersal units, and on secondary chemistry. While regional treatments of the genus have been conducted for Africa, South America and Australia, there exists no study focusing on the Asian and Melanesian species. Previously, 24 species of Phyllopsora s. str. have been reported from major national studies and checklists representing 13 countries. We have studied herbarium material of 625 Phyllopsora specimens from 18 countries using morphology, anatomy, secondary chemistry, and molecular data to investigate the diversity of Phyllopsora species in Asia and Melanesia. We report the occurrence of 28 species of Phyllopsora including the following three species described as new to science: P.sabahana from Malaysia, P.siamensis from Thailand and P.pseudocorallina from Asia and Africa. Eight species are reported as new to Asia. A key to the Asian and Melanesian species of Phyllopsora is provided.

scholarly journals Moralizing Physical Distancing during the COVID-19 Pandemic -- Personal Motivations Predict Moral Condemnation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Bor ◽  
Marie Fly Lindholt ◽  
Frederik Juhl Jørgensen ◽  
Michael Bang Petersen
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Change ◽  
Social Trust ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Moral Issue ◽  
Moral Condemnation ◽  
The Government ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Early Phases ◽  
Western Democracies

Physical distancing is a crucial aspect of most countries’ strategies to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. However, keeping distance to others in public requires significant changes in conduct and behavior relative to ordinary circumstances. Throughout history, an effective strategy to make people engage in such behavioral change has been to morally condemn those who do not behave in an appropriate way. Accordingly, here, we investigate whether physical distancing has emerged as a moralized issue during the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially explaining the massive changes in behavior that have occurred across societies to halter the spread of the pandemic. Specifically, we utilize time-sensitive, representative survey evidence from eight Western democracies to examine the extent to which people (1) find it justified to condemn those who do not keep a distance to others in public and (2) blame ordinary citizens for the severity of the pandemic. The results demonstrate that physical distancing has indeed become a moral issue in most countries in the early phases of the pandemic. Furthermore, we identify the most important predictors of moralization to be age, behavioral change, social trust, and trust in the government. Except for minor differences, this pattern is observed within all countries in the sample. While moralization was high during the first wave of the pandemic, temporal analyses also indicate that moralization is lower in the second wave of the pandemic, potentially making it more difficult to engage in sufficient behavioral changes.

scholarly journals Small mammals feeding on hypogeous fungi

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 89-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Połatyńska
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Ecosystem Functioning ◽  
Food Source ◽  
Proximal Colon ◽  
Spore Dispersal ◽  
Hypogeous Fungi ◽  
Dominant Component ◽  
Morphological Adaptations

Fungi serve as a food source for a wide variety of animals. Among mammals, most species feed on fungi occasionally or accidentally while foraging for other type of food, but some species are frequent mycophags and fungi can be a dominant component of their diet. Examples of mycophags can be found among marsupials: wallabies and bettongs; and rodents: squirrels, chipmunks, voles and mice. Hypogeous fungi produce closed, underground sporocarps without opening mechanisms, and thus are unable to release their spores into the air. In case of those fungi, animals feeding on sporocarps and spreading spores in their faeces are considered to be the main vector of spore dispersal. Animals that frequently feed on fungi and other heavy digestible food have developed morphological adaptations such as longer gut retention and a spiral construction of the proximal colon, to digest more fungal material which is rich in nitrogen. The spores stay viable after passing through the animal gut, and in some cases their ability to germinate and form mycorrhiza is enhanced after leaving the intestine. Hypogeous fungi are mycorrhizal partners for plants and it is therefore possible that the interactions between mycorrhizal fungi and animals spreading their spores also play an important role in ecosystem functioning.

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