Suburban Females Research Articles

Population genetic structure and dispersal patterns of a cooperative breeding bird in variable environmental conditions

Understanding the effects of environmental conditions in cooperatively breeding species helps reveal the nature of evolutionary forces leading to this type of social system. In particular, environmental variability may affect demographic processes such as mortality and dispersal which can ultimately define the fine-scale genetic structure of cooperatively breeding populations, including direct and indirect fitness opportunities for individuals. We investigated the population genetic structure and dispersal patterns of obligately cooperative white-winged choughs, Corcorax melanorhamphos , exploring within-group relatedness and genetic differentiation among groups sampled over several years of above average rainfall. We compared our results with data from a previous study in the surrounding area, conducted during a drought period. White-winged chough groups showed similar significant genetic differentiation among groups during both drought and nondrought periods. However, we found female-biased dispersal during abundant rainfall years, which contrasts with the previous study conducted during a drought. We also examined differences in genetic structure in the present study, between groups breeding in suburbs versus native woodlands, finding higher within-group relatedness in woodland birds. Dispersal was female biased in both suburban and woodland habitat but subadult females in suburban habitat were more likely to disperse than adult females. We suggest that higher mortality in chough populations (both during a drought and in suburban habitats) led to more breeding opportunities, resulting in higher dispersal, and reflecting lower group stability. Our study suggests ecological conditions are important drivers of social structure in a cooperatively breeding bird, which are likely to be impacted by environmental change, including climate and urbanization. • Chough groups show significant genetic variation in drought and nondrought years. • In nondrought years, in both suburbs and woodland, dispersal is female biased. • Among suburban females, subadults are more likely to disperse than adults. • In drought years dispersal is not sex biased.

Incidence of grinspan syndrome among tribal and suburban population of Maharashtra - A cross sectional study.

Grinspan syndrome is characterised by presence of the triad: hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM) and oral lichen planus (OLP). OLP, seen in hypertension and diabetes mellitus, is caused by drugs used to treat these diseases according to literature, however the incidence of this syndrome in India has not yet been reported anywhere. Hence the present study was conducted with the following objectives: (i) To determine the incidence of Grinspan syndrome amongst tribal and suburban study population of Maharashtra in different gender and age groups (ii) To correlate occurrence of OLP with DM type 2 and hypertension (iii) To find out the number of patients with OLP, DM type 2 and hypertension either alone or in combination. The present study was conducted on 4681 new patients attending the routine outpatient department (O.P.D.) of the dental hospital between January 2017 and December 2018. Patients with OLP or DM (type-2) or hypertension or any combination of these diseases were included in the present study. Brief case history of each patient was recorded. Data thus collected were analysed using SPSS version 20 for Chi-square test. Grinspan syndrome was found in 1.62% of the study population. Syndrome was seen in 1.02% of female and 0.59% of male. Maximum patient affected by syndrome were in 35-50 years of age group. Incidence of Grinspan syndrome was 1.62%, mainly seen in sub-urban females of 35-50 years and OLP seen in hypertension and diabetes mellitus has different etiology and is not caused by drugs used to treat these diseases.

Methamphetamine use among suburban women: Implications for nurse practitioners

The purpose of this article is to provide nurse practitioners (NPs) with more effective strategies to diagnose methamphetamine (MA) use and assess healthcare needs of MA-using women. The researchers collected data from 65 suburban women who were MA users living in the suburbs of a large southeastern city in the United States. We conducted in-depth interviews and focus groups examining their life history, drug history, risk behaviors, and access to health care. The qualitative findings are examined here. Three main themes emerged from the data: (a) gendered stigmatization of MA use; (b) MA-related health risk behaviors; and (c) barriers to health and social services, which resulted in a domino effect that led to further life and health complications. When these factors are not effectively addressed, the result is more serious health problems for the women and their children. This article offers awareness and assessment tools to provide NPs adequate knowledge about the factors associated with MA use in order to treat patients holistically. NPs are strategically positioned to effectively assess, diagnose, treat, and provide linkage to health and social services, especially for suburban females who are a hidden population of drug users.

Home Range and Land Use of Urban Long-eared Owls

Abstract. From 2004 to 2006 we studied the spatial activity of Long-eared Owls (Asio otus) breeding in the city of Ceske Budějovice, Czech Republic. Two main factors (size and proportion of home range in developed area) clearly distinguished the owls into two groups: urban (n = 5) and suburban (n = 4). Urban owls occupied home ranges >50% in developed area; home ranges of suburban owls were <50% in developed area. We obtained 866 radio fixes from nine individuals while they were feeding offspring, when both males and females participated in hunting. The home ranges of urban owls were larger than those of suburban owls (95% kernels: 446 vs. 56 ha, respectively). Urban males and females used home ranges of similar sizes that overlapped greatly with those of the opposite sex and with those of other breeding pairs. In contrast, suburban male owls had home ranges larger than those of suburban females. Wooded areas and meadows were the vegetation types preferred by both urban and suburban owls, and both groups ...

Untold Tales of the Intra-Suburban Female

Untold Tales of the Intra-Suburban Female

Adolescents’ knowledge of and beliefs about herbs and dietary supplements: a qualitative study

Objective To explore adolescents’ knowledge of and beliefs about dietary supplements, including herbs, and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Methods Eighteen focus groups with 81 adolescents in Monroe County, New York, explored teens’ familiarity with and beliefs about CAM, specifically dietary supplements. We asked about general health beliefs and opinions of OTC medications to provide a framework for understanding how dietary supplements are conceptualized. Groups were conducted with suburban adolescents, urban minority adolescents, adolescents with chronic illness, (asthma, eating disorders, and diabetes), and patients of complementary/alternative practitioners (“CAM practitioners”). Transcripts were analyzed for themes relating to prevention (“ staying healthy”) and treatment of illness (“ getting better”); direct quotations are used to illustrate adolescents’ views. Results Most adolescents are familiar with “herbal medicine,” “herbal remedies,” or “nutritional supplements,” and are able to name specific products or complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) therapies; however, many are unfamiliar with the term “alternative medicine.” Adolescents are more familiar with remedies or CAM therapies commonly used by people from their own cultural or ethnic background. Older suburban females and those with chronic illnesses are more familiar with herbs and supplements than other adolescents. Most supplement use is conceptually linked with treating illness rather than with preventive care. Conclusions Most adolescents are familiar with culturally based herbal products and nutritional supplements, used for treatment of illnesses, and not for preventive care. Providers and researchers should consider chronic illness status and culture/family tradition, and clarify terms, when asking adolescents about self-care, OTCs, or CAM.

Does Differential Access to Protein Influence Differences in Timing of Breeding of Florida Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma Coerulescens) in Suburban and Wildland Habitats?

Abstract Timing of breeding in Florida Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens) varies both within and between years. Social status and breeding experience may explain much of the within-year variation, but the availability of certain foods may partially explain between-year patterns. Scrub-jays in suburban habitats with access to unlimited human-provided foods breed earlier and with less between-year variation in timing of breeding than jays in wildland habitats. We hypothesized that those differences in timing of breeding result from access to human-provided foods in the suburban site. Human-provided food may influence timing of breeding by improving the overall body condition of females, or it may influence breeding by providing nutrients essential for breeding. If condition mediated, breeding females in the two habitats should differ in certain physiological parameters relative to time before egg laying and calendar date. If the effect is not related to body condition, we expect differences in prebreeding females relative to calendar date, but not in relation to time before egg laying. To test those predictions, we measured plasma levels of total protein, calcium, luteinizing hormone, and estradiol. We also measured variables associated with body condition—body mass, a size-corrected condition index, and total body lipids. Most variables tended to increase with both days before laying and calendar date, except total body lipids, which decreased. Suburban females had higher levels of plasma protein relative to both days before egg laying and calendar date than female breeders in the wildland habitat. Luteinizing hormone differed between sites relative to calendar date but not days before laying. Our data suggest that suburban scrub-jays with access to predictable sources of high-quality human-provided foods accumulate endogenous protein that can be used to breed earlier.

Females' Labor Force Participation and Rape

Ellis has observed that although feminist theorists clearly identify gender inequality as the fundamental cause of violence against women, they are vague about the direction of the causal effect. Using data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (1992-1994) incident-level rape subset data file, this article tests the hypothesis that females' labor force participation will increase their rape victimization by frustrating resentful males into using violence as an ultimate resource in humiliation and control (i.e., the backlash hypothesis). Contrary to this proposition, results show that unemployed women are more likely to be raped than employed women. They also show that poor, older, unmarried, White, suburban females have disproportionate risks of rape victimization. Implications of these data for the debate on the uniqueness of violence against women are discussed.

High school student satisfaction and perceptions of the school environment

The satisfaction of high school students was studied using an adaptation of reinforcement theory. An instrument entitled Students and Their Schools was developed to assess the perceived availability and value of 35 different academic and interpersonal dimensions of the high school environment and student satisfaction with these areas. This was distributed to 411 students in two city and three suburban public high schools. Availability of resources alone is more highly related to satisfaction than their value. Small but consistent differences were found between male and female students, with suburban females reporting lower levels of availability and satisfaction but higher value ratings than other students. City students have higher levels of satisfaction, but lower levels of value, than suburban students. Most of the differences concerned academic aspects of school and interactions with administrators and faculty. If students perceive a high availability of rewarding aspects of their school environment, they report higher levels of satisfaction with school. Thus, an adaptation of reinforcement theory can be used as an empirical measure of student satisfaction with school.