In the Grashopper Warbler Locustella naevia, males with better nutritional condition at the winter ground arrive earlier than other males at the breeding ground

The aim of this study was to answer the question: Does grasshopper warbler Locustella naevia males with better physical condition in the winter quarter arrive earlier at the breeding ground than other males. This was accomplished by measuring growth bars in tail feathers and then correlate these measurements with different times of arrival at the study area of Björka lertag. The results strongly indicate that early arriving males had better physical fitness (nutritional condition) than later arriving males, at least when their feathers were growing on the wintering grounds in Africa.

Can Death be Postponed?—The Death-Dip Phenomenon in Psychiatric Patients

The authors explored the “death-dip phenomenon,” the previously-reported decrease in deaths occurring before significant dates, with a cohort of 4800 psychiatric patients. The dates of death were compared with each individual's birthday, with Christmas, and with New Year's Day. These comparisons were done for the total group of deaths and separately for suicide, homicide, accidental deaths, deaths from circulatory diseases, and deaths from all other causes. In general, the findings were negative. No death-dip phenomenon was identified in any group, with any grouping of cause by date. There was a significant increase in accidental death preceding birthdays. There was a suggestion that suicide deaths increased just before Christmas. Total deaths increased during the winter quarter; all other findings were negative.