Adult Pairs Research Articles

Cocreation of a Video Feedback Tool for Managing Self-Care at Home With Pairs of Older Adults: Remote Experience-Based Co-Design Study.

Involving older adults in co-design processes is essential in developing digital technologies and health care solutions to enhance self-care management at home, especially for older adults with chronic illness and their companions. Remote co-design approaches could provide technologically sustainable solutions that address their personal needs. This study aimed to cocreate and test the usability of a video feedback tool to facilitate self-care management at home. This experience-based co-design approach involved collaboration between 4 pairs of older adults, 4 researchers, and 2 service designers in three steps: (1) six iterative workshops (5 remote and 1 in person) to cocreate self-care exercises within an existing video feedback tool by identifying factors influencing self-care management; (2) developing and refining the self-care exercises based on suggestions from the older adults; and (3) usability testing of the cocreated exercises with the 4 pairs of older adults in their homes. Among the older adults (68-78 years), 3 adults had heart failure and 1 adult had hypertension. Data were analyzed inductively through thematic analysis and deductively using the USABILITY (Use of Technology to Engage in Adaptation by Older Adults and/or Those With Low or Limited Literacy) framework. The identified influencing factors guiding the contents and format development of 2 new self-care exercises were that pairs of older adults support and learn from each other in performing self-care, which increases their motivation and engagement in practicing self-care at home. The usability test of the 2 new self-care exercises, "Breathing exercises" and "Picking up from the floor," revealed that the pairs found the exercises and the video feedback component valuable for learning and understanding, for example, by comparison of performances highlighting movement variability. However, they found it difficult to manage the video feedback tool on their own, and a support structure or tailored education or training was requested. This study emphasizes that the video feedback tool holds the potential to facilitate learning and understanding in self-care management, which may support motivation. The studied video feedback tool can be beneficial for pairs of older adults managing self-care at home as a complement to traditional health care services, but an accurate supporting structure is required. The effectiveness of the video feedback tool and its integration into existing health care services still need to be assessed and improved through careful design and structured support.

The interplay of genetic and environmental factors on the morphology of the limbic cortex and hippocampal subfields: Insights from an MRI twin study

IntroductionThe limbic system and the hippocampus are complex brain structures with key roles in memory, emotions, sexual stimulation and learning, with subregion abnormalities associated with a range of disorders and psychopathologies. Our study aimed to explore the heritability of specific subfield structures within the limbic system and hippocampus first in a Caucasian twin sample with volBrain pipeline. Materials and Methods59 healthy adult Caucasian twin pairs from the Hungarian Twin Registry without any history of previous neurodegenerative or cerebrovascular diseases underwent brain MRI on a 3.0 T scanner (43 monozygotic, MZ and 16 dizygotic, DZ pairs, with a median age of 50±+27 years). The volBrain automated volumetry pipeline was used to calculate the subcortical and general brain volumes from three-dimensional T1-weighted images. Based on age- and sex-adjusted MZ and DZ intra-pair correlations, the univariate ACE model was applied to calculate additive genetic, shared and unshared environmental influences. ResultsAdjusting for age and sex, moderate to strong heritability (A: 59.7 to 73.1 %) was found for most limbic cortex volumes, except for the volumes of entorhinal area and posterior cingulate gyrus where common environmental contribution was detected (C: 56.6 % and 65.0 %, respectively). A substantial heritability (A: 67.0 to 79.4 %) was estimated for the overall hippocampus and most subfield volumes, except for the CA2-CA3 region which was determinated by common environmental factors (C: 45.7 %). Unique environmental variance was a minor to moderate contributor across all variables (E: 20.6 to 54.3 %). ConclusionsAlbeit most limbic cortex, overall hippocampus and most subfield volumes are under substantial genetic influence in healthy adult twins, the volumes of entorhinal area, posterior cingulate gyrus and the CA2-CA3 region of the hippocampus are influenced common environmental factors. The findings underline the importance of unique environmental factors which may play a role in the prevention of disorders related to limbic cortex and hippocampus.

Lifestyle differences between co-twins are associated with decreased similarity in their internal and external exposome profiles

Whether differences in lifestyle between co-twins are reflected in differences in their internal or external exposome profiles remains largely underexplored. We therefore investigated whether within-pair differences in lifestyle were associated with within-pair differences in exposome profiles across four domains: the external exposome, proteome, metabolome and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA). For each domain, we assessed the similarity of co-twin profiles using Gaussian similarities in up to 257 young adult same-sex twin pairs (54% monozygotic). We additionally tested whether similarity in one domain translated into greater similarity in another. Results suggest that a lower degree of similarity in co-twins' exposome profiles was associated with greater differences in their behavior and substance use. The strongest association was identified between excessive drinking behavior and the external exposome. Overall, our study demonstrates how social behavior and especially substance use are connected to the internal and external exposomes, while controlling for familial confounders.

Causal relationships between height and weight with distal tibia microarchitecture and geometry in adult female twin pairs.

Higher stature and lower weight are associated with increased risk of fracture. However, the pathophysiology for the associations of height and weight with bone microarchitecture and geometry is unclear. We examined whether these associations were consistent with causation and/or with shared familial factors. In this cross-sectional study of 566 female twins aged 26-76yr, a regression analysis for twin data, Inference about Causation by Examination of FAmilial CONfounding (ICE FALCON), was used for testing causation. The bone microarchitecture and geometry of the distal tibia was assessed using HR-pQCT and the StrAx1.0 software. Higher stature was associated with larger total bone cross-sectional area (CSA), lower total bone volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), larger cortical CSA, thinner cortices, higher porosity of the total cortex, compact cortex, outer and inner transitional zone (TZ), lower cortical vBMD, and larger medullary CSA (regression coefficients (β) ranging from -.37 to .60, all p<.05). Using ICE FALCON, the cross-pair cross-trait associations attenuated toward zero after adjusting for the within-individual association (absolute values of β ranging from .05 to .31, all p<.001). Higher weight was associated with higher total bone vBMD, larger cortical CSA and thicker cortices, lower porosity of the total cortex and inner TZ, and higher cortical vBMD (β ranging from -.23 to .34, all p<.001), and thinner trabeculae, higher trabecular number, lower trabecular separation, and higher trabecular vBMD (β ranging from -.31 to .39, all p<.05). Only cortical CSA attenuated toward zero after adjusting for the within-individual association between weight and bone microarchitecture (β = .042, p=.046). Higher stature was associated with a weaker cortical, not trabecular bone traits, whereas higher weight was associated with stronger cortical and trabecular bone traits. The results were consistent with height having a causal effect on weaker cortical bone structure, whereas weight had a casual effect on the larger cortical CSA.

Risk of dementia after initiation of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors in adults aged 40-69 years with type 2 diabetes: population based cohort study

ObjectiveTo compare the risk of dementia associated with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors in adults aged 40-69 years with type 2 diabetes.DesignPopulation based cohort study.SettingKorean National...

Enclosure design and welfare of plains zebras: Impact of enclosure design on behavior and space use of plains zebras under human care

ABSTRACT Plains zebras are commonly hosted in zoos, but few welfare-related studies are available in the literature. This research aimed to assess the effect of enclosure design on two groups of captive zebras housed at the Giardino Zoologico di Pistoia – GZP (Italy) and Parco Faunistico Valcorba – PFV (Italy) through the analysis of behavior and enclosure use. The groups consisted of an adult pair and a male juvenile at GZP and six adult females at PFV. We collected data in 2019 over 19 sampling days using the continuous focal animal sampling technique. We performed 12 observation sessions per day, with each session lasting 30 min. We analyzed the subjects’ behavioral time budget and enclosure use using Generalized Linear Mixed Models and the Electivity Index. The results showed that the time allocated to feeding behavior varied from 8–16% in the enclosure with gravel substrate (GZP) to 72–85% in the exhibit enriched with a pasture (PFV), with this last percentage resembling data reported for wild zebras. Results showed that institution was a significant predictor of feeding behavior, suggesting that the presence of a pasture can stimulate food-related behavioral patterns. Regarding enclosure use, the presence of hay and water troughs influenced the animals’ space use. Our findings also suggest that evaluating both behavior and enclosure use can provide a more comprehensive overview of the welfare state of the animals. However, future studies are needed to better investigate the influence of social factors on the behavior and enclosure usage of captive Plains zebras.

Physical activity and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: A twin study

Background and aimsLow levels of physical activity (PA) have been associated with depression. However, shared familial (genetic and environmental) factors might confound this association, given PA and depression tend to cluster in families. We investigated the association between levels of PA and depression symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, and then controlled for shared familial factors by design, and assessed if being in lockdown modified this association. MethodsWe applied within-individual and within-pair regression models to questionnaire data from adult same-sex twin pair members of Twins Research Australia collected between August and November 2020. Depression score was measured using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and PA levels and changes since the onset of the pandemic were self-reported. Adjusted models included body-mass-index, sleep adequacy, smoking, and alcohol consumption. ResultsThe sample of 1148 twins was predominantly female (80%) and had a mean age of 52.5 (Standard Deviation = 15.7). Reduced PA was associated with higher depression scores (β = 1.22, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.70–1.73, P < 0.001) in the adjusted within-individual model, but evidence of a within-pair association was weak. Lockdown status was an effect modifier (P = 0.006); relative to the co-twin, increased PA was associated with lower depression scores for those not in lockdown but higher scores for those in lockdown. ConclusionShared familial factors play a role in the association between PA and depression. Health interventions and educational campaigns for families rather than just individuals might be better suited to improve mental health outcomes, especially when opportunities for PA and exercise are limited.

Effects of a nurse-led motor function rehabilitation training program for patients with ischemic stroke and family caregivers: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundBoth individuals and society bear a considerable burden from ischemic stroke (IS), not only do patients continue suffering from motor dysfunction after discharge from hospital, but their caregivers also undertake the principal responsibility of assisting them in reintegrating into the family and society. To better improve the IS patients’ limb function and daily life activities, their caregivers should also be involved in the training of the motor function rehabilitation during the period transitioning from hospital back home. This study mainly aims to investigate the effects of a nurse-led training for IS patients and their family caregivers on the improvement of the patients’ physical function and the burden of caregivers.Methods/designA randomized controlled trial with blind assessment will be conducted in hospitals and during the follow-ups at home. Fifty-eight pairs of adults diagnosed with ischemic stroke and their primary caregivers will be included. Participants will be randomly given with (1) a nurse-led, home-based motor rehabilitation training participated by caregivers (intervention group) or (2) routine self-care (control group). Both groups will receive assessment and health guidance on the day of discharge, and the intervention group will receive an additional home-based training program and supervision. These two groups will be followed up every week after discharge. The primary results are drawn from the evaluation of physical function and caregiver-related burden, and the secondary results derived from statistics of the modified Barthel index, stroke-specific quality of life, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. Differences between the two groups will be measured by two-way repeated measures ANOVA, considering the data at baseline and at 1-week and 4-week follow-up after training.DiscussionResults may provide novel and valuable information on the effects of this culturally appropriate, caregiver-involved, and home-based rehabilitation training on the physical function of IS patients and caregiver-related burden.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry (chictr.org.cn) ChiCTR2300078798. Registered on December 19, 2023.

Pairing laboratory-housed adult male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): Success rates in relation to behavioral response and duration of visual contact

While the benefits of pair housing have been well documented, less is known about increasing success in adult male macaque pair introductions. In this retrospective study, 95 unfamiliar adult male macaque (Macaca mulatta) pairs were examined to determine whether duration of visual contact, behavior, age, and weight were associated with success rate, with “success” defined as two weeks in full tactile contact without excessive behavioral indicators of incompatibility or injury requiring clinical treatment or care. Overall, the unfamiliar adult male pairs achieved a success rate of 72 % and wounding requiring medical attention was rare (2 %). A significant negative relationship between pair success and time in visual contact for pairs was found. Pairs who moved into tactile contact within 48-hours showed more positive social behaviors in protected and full contact and had a high rate of success (91 %), while those who exhibited negative social behaviors were maintained in visual contact for longer. Nevertheless, rapid signs of compatibility were not necessary for the formation of successful pairs. While social introduction success rates steadily declined with increased periods of maintained visual contact, longer durations of 3 days to 1 week (70 %), and 8+ days (58 %), were still accompanied by high to moderate success, respectively. These results indicate that when negative social behavior is present early in visual contact success may be expected to decrease, but it is not necessarily indicative of incompatibility. Providing extra time in visual contact can reduce overall incidences of single housing.

The Role of Play in the Social Development of Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus) Pups with Comparative Notes on the Harbour Seal (Phoca vitulina).

Juvenile grey seals are known to be highly social, interacting with contact behaviours interpreted as gentle play. However, minimal sociality of pups with their mothers and among weaned pups has been suggested. The present study aimed to observe the natural social interactions of pups to track the early ontogeny of their sociality. Pup behaviour at a salt marsh colony on the east coast of England was video-recorded. Pups interacted with their mothers around suckling bouts and after weaning as they gathered around pools. The records were transcribed to spreadsheets in 30 s time segments to estimate the frequency and co-occurrence of different behaviours. Mother-pup interaction comprised nosing contacts and sometimes contact play, involving one laying the head and fore-flipper over the other. Initial weaned pup encounters involved tentative nosing and defensive splashing, indicating contact shyness. However, socially orientated locomotor play, supine posturing, and exaggerated raising of fore- and hind-flippers led to reduced shyness and pups following one another towards the sea. Archive data on subadult interactions and on harbour seal behaviours were re-analysed. Gentle play-like contact between mother-pup, juvenile, and adult pairs is interpreted here as a universal mode of social bonding, underscoring the social structure of both grey and harbour seals.

Description of immature stages of Neolycus Bourgeois, 1883 and Rhyncheros LeConte, 1881 (Coleoptera: Lycidae: Lycinae) from the New World

ABSTRACT The study of immature stages of the Lycidae family is currently limited. Only approximately 2% of the described species have documented larvae in different instars and pupae, with a focus mainly on the fauna of the Old World. During fieldwork in Hidalgo, Mexico, we collected adult pairs of Neolycus fernandezi Dugès 1878 and Rhyncheros simulans. We kept the adults in laboratory conditions and obtained the eggs and first instar larvae. The comparison of chaetotaxies between N. fernandezi and R. simulans provides useful characters for differentiating genera. Additionally, the morphological characters of the first larval were compared with those described for Lycostomus ferrugineus Fabricius, 1798, L. formosanus Pic, 1937, as well as Calopteron terminale (Say, 1823). These comparisons revealed differences in the shape of the epicranium, relationship between the length of the maxillary palpomere and mala, prementum division, prosternum amplitude, pronotum shape, and abdominal spiracular plate division. The knowledge of the immature stages of two species within the Lycini tribe is significant since the egg and first instar larval of any American species belonging to this tribe have yet to be identified.

Circulating Metabolite Profiles and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease Among Racially and Geographically Diverse Populations.

Metabolomics may reveal novel biomarkers for coronary heart disease (CHD). We aimed to identify circulating metabolites and construct a metabolite risk score (MRS) associated with incident CHD among racially and geographically diverse populations. Untargeted metabolomics was conducted using baseline plasma samples from 900 incident CHD cases and 900 age-/sex-/race-matched controls (300 pairs of Black Americans, White Americans, and Chinese adults, respectively), which detected 927 metabolites with known identities among ≥80% of samples. After quality control, 896 case-control pairs remained and were randomly divided into discovery (70%) and validation (30%) sets within each race. In the discovery set, conditional logistic regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator over 100 subsamples were applied to identify metabolites robustly associated with CHD risk and construct the MRS. The MRS-CHD association was evaluated using conditional logistic regression and the C-index. Mediation analysis was performed to examine if MRS mediated associations between conventional risk factors and incident CHD. The results from the validation set were presented as the main findings. Twenty-four metabolites selected in ≥90% of subsamples comprised the MRS, which was significantly associated with incident CHD (odds ratio per 1 SD, 2.21 [95% CI, 1.62-3.00] after adjusting for sociodemographics, lifestyles, family history, and metabolic health status). MRS could distinguish incident CHD cases from matched controls (C-index, 0.69 [95% CI, 0.63-0.74]) and improve CHD risk prediction when adding to conventional risk factors (C-index, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.65-0.76] versus 0.67 [95% CI, 0.61-0.73]; P<0.001). The odds ratios and C-index were similar across subgroups defined by race, sex, socioeconomic status, lifestyles, metabolic health, family history, and follow-up duration. The MRS mediated large portions (46.0%-74.2%) of the associations for body mass index, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia with incident CHD. In a diverse study sample, we identified 24 circulating metabolites that, when combined into an MRS, were robustly associated with incident CHD and modestly improved CHD risk prediction beyond conventional risk factors.

Establishing a Freshwater Turtle (Emydura subglobosa) Laboratory Line (FTLL) as a novel model species for research and education

&lt;b&gt;The Jardine River turtle (Emydura subglobosa) was selected as a potential model species for studies on freshwater turtles and general reptile physiology. Attempts to establish a freshwater turtle laboratory line were made when an adult pair of E. subglobosa was received in 2016 by the Laboratory of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture (Poznań University of Life Sciences). The first generation of offspring was obtained in 2017, and the second generation in 2023. In each generation, unrelated specimens were added to the animal cohort to avoid inbreeding. Husbandry regimes were established, and a basal diet for nutritional experiments was developed and manufactured by two methods, producing extruded feed and a gelatine-solidified variant. The establishment of the Freshwater Turtle Laboratory Line (FTLL) provides an opportunity to improve the development of husbandry techniques, increase knowledge of reptile physiology, and use laboratory-raised animals as model species for research and education.

Oviposition biology and seed damage by Smicronyx lutulentus Dietz (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a biological control agent of Parthenium hysterophorus L. (Asteraceae) in South Africa

The seed-feeding weevil Smicronyx lutulentus Dietz (Curculionidae) was released in South Africa in 2015 to supplement the biological control programme against the invasive annual weed Parthenium hysterophorus L. (Asteraceae). Larval feeding within young, developing ovules and larval-induced abortion of adjacent seeds within the flowerheads causes seed destruction, augmenting low levels of natural seed abortion. We studied female fecundity in a glasshouse trial, to identify critical periods in oviposition and inform mass-rearing and field release protocols. Newly emerged mated females displayed a pre-oviposition period of 1–2 weeks, a peak in oviposition after 7–8 weeks and a lifetime fecundity of 324–446 eggs. We also studied the relationship between weevil density and seed damage during two separate glasshouse trials, to facilitate predictions of seed damage under field conditions. Plants exposed to 15 mating pairs of weevils harboured substantially higher proportions of larval-damaged flower buds (75 %) than plants with five pairs (45–56 %) or a single pair (19 %). Larval progeny from five adult pairs caused significantly higher seed inviability (38 %) than progeny from a single pair (14 %), versus the weevil-free control (5 %). Progeny from 15 pairs damaged 30 % of developing seeds, potentially causing up to 60 % seed inviability due to enhanced abortion of neighbouring seeds. Although ≥5 females per plant caused appreciable seed damage, the proportions of unexploited new buds (25–55 %) versus buds with multiple occupancy (≥2 larvae; 35–47 %) indicate the importance of floral phenology in oviposition site selection, as flowerbuds of 2–3 mm are preferred. Although progeny from five females per plant could cause up to 30 % seed reduction, within a week of oviposition, higher densities are required to limit the entry of viable seeds into the soil seed banks.

Implementing evidence-based assertions of clinical actionability in the context of secondary findings: Updates from the ClinGen Actionability Working Group

PurposeThe ClinGen Actionability Working Group (AWG) developed an evidence-based framework to generate actionability reports and scores of gene-condition pairs in the context of secondary findings from genome sequencing. Here we describe the expansion of the framework to include actionability assertions. MethodsInitial development of the actionability rubric was based on previously scored adult gene-condition pairs and individual expert evaluation. Rubric refinement was iterative and based on evaluation, feedback, and discussion. The final rubric was pragmatically evaluated via integration into actionability assessments for 27 gene-condition pairs. ResultsThe resulting rubric has a 4-point scale (limited, moderate, strong, and definitive) and uses the highest-scoring outcome-intervention pair of each gene-condition pair to generate a preliminary assertion. During AWG discussions, predefined criteria and factors guide discussion to produce a consensus assertion for a gene-condition pair, which may differ from the preliminary assertion. The AWG has retrospectively generated assertions for all previously scored gene-condition pairs and are prospectively asserting on gene-condition pairs under assessment, having completed over 170 adult and 188 pediatric gene-condition pairs. ConclusionThe AWG expanded its framework to provide actionability assertions to enhance the clinical value of their resources and increase their utility as decision aids regarding return of secondary findings.

National Trends in Utilization of Normothermic Machine Perfusion in DCD Liver Transplantation.

In liver transplantation, advances in ex situ normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) have improved outcomes compared with traditional static cold storage (SCS) in donation after circulatory death (DCD) organs. We aimed to characterize trends in the utilization of NMP versus SCS in DCD liver transplantation in the United States. This retrospective cohort study used data from the United Network for Organ Sharing database to identify recipient-donor adult liver transplant pairs from DCD donors from January 2016 to June 2022. Utilization of NMP and changes in donor risk index (DRI) and components between NMP and SCS were assessed across transplant year eras (2016-2018, 2019-2020, and 2021-2022). Statistical comparisons were made using the Kruskal-Wallis test or the chi-square test. A total of 3937 SCS and 127 NMP DCD donor transplants were included. Utilization of NMP ranged from ~0.4% to 3.5% from 2016 to 2021 and rose significantly to 11.2% in early 2022. Across transplant eras, median DRI increased significantly for SCS and NMP, but the magnitude of the increase was larger for NMP. With NMP DCDs, there were significant increases in median donor age, national share proportion, and "cold ischemic time" over time. Finally, there was a shift toward including higher DRI donors and higher model for end-stage liver disease score transplant recipients with NMP in later transplant eras. In recent years, NMP utilization has increased and expanded to donors with higher DRI and recipients with higher model for end-stage liver disease score at transplant, suggesting increasing familiarity and risk tolerance with NMP technology. As NMP remains a relatively new technique, ongoing study of patient outcomes, organ allocation practices, and utilization patterns is critical.

The effectiveness of the buddy program training module to enhance the daily living function, social participation and emotional status of older adults in residential aged care homes.

The Compeer Model, which was originally designed to match individuals recovering from mental illness with volunteers from their community, served as the basis for the development of the buddy program. However, limited research was available related to the buddy program among older adults in a Malaysian context. The study aimed to identify the effectiveness of the buddy program training module to enhance the daily living function, social participation and emotional status of older adults in residential aged care homes. A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 30 pairs of buddies and older adults for both the experimental group and control group in two randomly selected residential aged care homes. The buddies in the experimental group received the buddy program training module related to activities of daily living (basic and instrumental) while the buddy-older adults pairs in the control group continued to perform their usual daily life activities in residential aged care homes. Baselines were performed before intervention and at eight weeks post-intervention. Over the eight weeks, for the older adults in the experimental group, there was a significant main effect of time after the intervention on BADL (p = 0.010). There were no significant interaction effects for the experiment group and control group on IADL and social participation. Also, there were no significant interaction effects for all domains in emotional status: depression, anxiety and stress. For buddies, there was a significant interaction effect for depression (p = 0.045) in the control group. The buddy program training module can be used as a guideline for older adults with more significant disabilities in residential aged care homes in managing activities of daily living. Future studies could be implemented to explore the intergenerational buddy program among older adults and young children in the community.

Post-Fledging Movements and Factors that Influence Permanent Departure of Juvenile Crested Caracaras in Florida

ABSTRACT We tracked 48 young Crested Caracaras (Caracara plancus) in south-central Florida from fledging through their first year and sought to define the post-fledging pre-dispersal period and the timing and drivers of permanent departure (PD) from the natal area. By examining Euclidean distances between telemetry locations and the nest for each tagged caracara, we defined the post-fledging dependency period as the first 2 mo after fledging, when fledglings remained mostly within 2.5 km of the nest and were dependent on their parents for food. Before PD, young caracaras explored areas as much as 11 km from their nest but returned to the natal area, resulting in areas used by fledglings up to 6 times the average home range size of an adult breeding pair. Some caracaras remained within their parents’ home range for several months after fledging, even after becoming independent of their parents for food. A fledgling permanently departed its natal area when telemetry indicated it made an abrupt long-distance movement away from its natal area and did not return. We used generalized linear mixed models and a hierarchical modeling approach to test environmental and biological factors that may affect the timing of PD. The most supported model indicated that PD depended on parental reproductive strategy and on the timing of fledging relative to the length of the breeding season. Birds with parents that raised only one brood remained in the natal area for 11.6–21.0 wk longer than birds with parents that raised multiple broods in the same breeding season; fledglings from the first of two broods departed at a younger age, suggesting that the PD decision is partially triggered by the level of parental investment in the first and subsequent brood. Additionally, birds that fledged early in the breeding season departed the natal area 2.8–12.2 wk earlier than those that fledged later in the breeding season, and birds that were exposed to high heat during the nestling stage departed the natal area earlier than those exposed to less heat. The period between fledging and permanent departure from the natal area is important for the conservation of species with delayed dispersal. When developing a conservation strategy for Florida’s caracara population, attention should be paid to protecting areas used by fledglings until PD rather than just focusing on a limited protection zone around the nest.

Intergenerational transmission of moral decision‐making inclinations

AbstractObjectiveThis study investigated the intergenerational transmission of utilitarian and deontological inclinations, examining whether these pass from parents to adult children and exploring the potential moderating effects of parenting style and intergenerational involvement in this process.BackgroundFamily factors, including religious norms and work values, influence moral development, but the intergenerational transmission of two moral inclinations—utilitarianism (emphasizing consequences, e.g., sacrificing one person to save five) and deontology (emphasizing intrinsic norms, e.g., refraining from intentionally harming the innocent)—remains underexplored.MethodWe measured these inclinations in 171 parent–adult child pairs using a moral decision thought experiment and questionnaires on parenting style and intergenerational involvement.ResultsPositive correlations emerged between parents and adult children for both inclinations. “Emotional warmth” in parenting style and intergenerational involvement showed significant negative moderating effects on the transmission of utilitarianism between generations.ConclusionThis study provides empirical evidence of intergenerational transmission of moral inclinations. Higher emotional warmth and increased intergenerational involvement inhibit the transmission of utilitarian inclinations, leading to reduced prioritization of better consequences.ImplicationsEnhanced emotional warmth and greater intergenerational involvement by parents can deter the transmission of utilitarian inclinations among adult children, prioritizing adherence to intrinsic norms over intentional harm for greater benefits.

A quasi-experimental study in sibling dyads: differential provocation-aggression patterns in the interactive taylor aggression paradigm.

The Taylor Aggression Paradigm (TAP) is a well-established tool for assessing provocation-induced reactive aggression. We introduce an interactive version, the iTAP, with real-time opponents across 60 trials, including five simulated provocation trials in the middle. In this quasi-experimental study, we evaluate the effectiveness of the paradigm to investigate reactive aggression in interacting participants. The design allows us to employ the TAP in settings of high familiarity dyads, addressing an existing gap. Twenty-eight healthy same-sex adult sibling pairs (N = 56) competed against each other in the iTAP, exemplifying high familiarity through their social and emotional co-development, and mutual knowledge. Additionally, we explore naturally arising aggression types in terms of sibling pairs' reciprocal aggression trajectories across trials. Lastly, we investigate situational and personal variables influencing reactive aggression on the iTAP within high familiarity dyads. In line with non-interactive TAP versions, siblings employed a global "tit-for-tat" strategy in response to heightened provocation: Aggression increased during manipulated trials of increasing provocation, persisted during real interaction and declined in the final block, suggesting sibling co-regulation which was underscored by the convergence in within-pair aggression level. We found no gender differences in these dynamics but a trend for higher initial aggression levels within brother pairs and higher responsiveness to increased provocation in sister pairs. Overall aggression levels were related to situational variables including trial outcome (lost, won, and tie), Further, siblings' state anger correlated positively with aggression scores on the iTAP. Aggression was not reliably related to personal variables predicting aggression. We identified subgroups of sibling pairs with distinct provocation-aggression patterns related to differences in reported behavioral motivations and emotional states. The results highlight situational over personal variables in determining aggressive behavior on the task in this sample of healthy adults. While no direct link between sibling relationship quality and aggression was found, the overall behavior was likely influenced by the familiarity between siblings and the specific context of their relationship. The iTAP demonstrates promise as a tool for studying reciprocal aggressive behavior. The emergence of different interaction patterns underscores the ecological validity introduced by the interactive context, which complements the standard versions of the TAP.