The dryad Minois dryas, described in 1763 by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli, belogs to our endangered species of butterflies. Its expansion today is restricted to a few localities in Central and Southern Bohemia and Southern Moravia only. Renewal and preservation of appropriate types of biotopes and research of its autecology and bionomy play the key roles in conservation of this species. The intention of my thesis was to identify host plants of Minois dryas caterpillars, to find out which grass is the most preferred one and to verify the correctness of hypothesis that the most preferred plant is also dominant from the range of potential host plants in the chosen area (a meadow in the vicinity of Žehuň in Central Bohemia). In the first part of experiment caterpillars were offered grasses collected in Žehuň. Plants which were eaten by caterpillars, were determined as host plants. According to results of this stage the host plants of caterpillars in the Czech republic are Dactylis glomerata, Bromus erectus, Festuca rubra, Arrhenatherum elatius and Carex acutiformis. In the second part of experiment caterpillars were offered all grasses evaluated in the first part as host plants and frequency of eaten / untouched leaves was recorded. Results identified Bromus erectus as the most desired grass and statistical proved there was a strong dependance among the plants . As Bromus erectus is indeed the most dominant grass in the location (approx. 30 % of all grasses), the hypothesis was confirmed. The experiment contributed with some other knowledge about dryad's bionomy. Observations confirmed that caterpillars pupate at the turn of June and July, primarilly at night. Larvae pupates in or on the ground. I did not notice any silk spinning during the time of pupation which is mentioned by Beneš et al. (2002). The pupal stage lasted 22 -- 23 days. Butterflies hatched in the morning. Imagos chose red watermelon as a food in most cases which proves that adults prefer red colour while deciding on their food (Vrabec et al., 2007).

No description available.

Older adults often engage in few activities, for short periods of time, and typically engage with one item without switching to other items. The purposes of this study were (a) to further evaluate the MSWO preference assessment as well as the utility of the brief free-operant presentation method with older adults with dementia to identify preferred activities, (b) to determine if non-variable selection during a free operant preference assessment was due to repetitive behavior through concurrent engagement analyses, and (c) to determine the reinforcing effectiveness of stimuli identified via the single-array MSWO and free operant preference assessments through a reinforcer assessment. The results suggest that for 6 of the 7 participants the free operant was a better predictor for time allocation and engagement with a preferred activity. The results suggest that the single array MSWO was not as predictive of time allocation or engagement as the free operant, resulting in false positives. The results also suggest that individuals not switching items may be a result of the environment rather than a symptom of dementia (repetitive behavior), showing that it was not that the participants could not switch, but rather that they chose not to switch.

The present study examined choice and preference of slot machines between two groups based on the themes of slot machine. Twenty-one participants split into two group based on random assignment. A choice group that had the opportunity to change slot machines at any time, and the preferred choice group that only could play on the most preferred slot machine, were compared on the dependent measures of betting and response latency. Results demonstrated that there was no significant differences between groups on the dependent measure. Further analysis of within subjects demonstrated that wins in one phase was somewhat correlated with bets in the following phase; however, these effects were not at a significant level. Implications of this research are discussed.

abstract: The study of son preference in India has been the focus of research for a few decades. The desire for sons leads to unfavorable consequences for daughters such as unequal access to resources, abortion, and female infanticide. Work on men's education and son preference is relatively scarce and this dissertation contributes to existing literature by exploring this relationship from a life course perspective. I have argued that education changes men's attitudes towards son preference by encouraging them to re-evaluate traditional gender roles and that this relationship is mediated by wealth. I use the National Family and Health Survey-III to examine fertility intentions and behaviors as measures of son preference. I have found support for some of my hypotheses. The findings from three studies walk through the different phases of reproduction for the Indian man. They show that son preference manifests itself at the beginning when there are no children, is strongly present after the birth of children, and then shows itself again at the end when the man wishes to stop childbearing. Being educated leads to the preference of sons being weaker and this is perhaps due to traditional gender roles being challenged. Wealth may mediate the relationship between men's education and son preference at the beginning, but does not act as a mediator once children are born. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Sociology 2013

Class of 2012 Abstract / Specific Aims: The purpose of this study is to assess rural community members in Cochise County, Arizona, to determine if healthcare screenings and informational sessions are desired by the community members for chronic disease states, and from which healthcare providers the community members prefer to obtain these services. Identify which health professional rural members are most likely to seek for healthcare screening. Identify which health professional rural members are most likely to seek for healthcare informational sessions. Determine if rural community members are willing to pay for healthcare screening and informational sessions. Methods: This descriptive study obtained data through 350 questionnaires distributed during selected Cochise County community events in late 2011. Main Results: 341 surveys were completed. The majority of results favored physicians with 47.7% of the people stating they would very likely attend a health care screening conducted by a physician. 34.5% responded they would very likely attend an informational session conducted by a physician. Of the respondents willing to pay for health screenings, 63.9% would pay $30 or less. 70.9% stated they would not be willing to pay for an informational session. However, the majority of participants, 61.3%, indicated they would utilize pharmacists for OTC questions. Regarding questions about prescription medications, 43.4% would go to pharmacists, and similarly, 44% indicated they use physicians. Conclusions: As seen from the results, pharmacists are underutilized by rural community members; except for OTC questions. Respondents with higher levels of education were also more likely to prefer and attend events held by pharmacists.

Preference assessments provide individuals with an opportunity to make choices and thus, increase their autonomy. Furthermore, preference assessments are used to identify stimuli that can be used as reinforcers in behavior change programs. Two studies were conducted to examine the validity of vocal preference assessments used with adults with developmental disabilities. In Study 1, the concurrent validity between vocal and stimulus paired-choice assessments, with and without activity access following a participant's selection, was evaluated. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were computed to evaluate the correspondence between assessments. Results showed that similarity in consequence (i.e., activity access) impacted the correspondence between preference assessment results; whereas, similarity in antecedent (i.e., assessment format) did not impact the correspondence between preference assessment results. In Study 2, the predictive validity of reinforcer effectiveness of the preference assessments from Study 1 were evaluated. Specifically, the reinforcing efficacy and potency of high-preference activities were evaluated using a progressive-ratio schedule of reinforcement, within a multielement design. Results showed the preference assessments that included activity access were more likely to identify reinforcers that were effective under increasing response requirements, than were assessments that did not include activity access.

No description available.

The industrialized agricultural system has resulted in ecological, economic, and social imbalances in several ways. Community gardens have become a trending interest to minimize the negative consequences of the modern agriculture system, especially in food insecure disadvantaged neighborhoods. Although community gardens have numerous economic, environmental, and social benefits, they have faced considerable degradation in some of the neighborhoods. Also, many of them have been lost to other land uses due to the lack of powerful public support. To achieve greater public support, knowledge about people’s perceptions and attitudes towards the community garden environment is important. This knowledge can help to develop more successful community gardens that can foster an increased involvement and support of community gardens. Community gardeners and non-community gardeners in five different low-income and low-access neighborhoods were chosen as study participants in the City of Roanoke, Virginia. Quantitative and qualitative data were used together for this study. Factor analysis, descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and T-Test procedures were used for the quantitative phase. Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Findings showed that people’s preferences are based on several factors including content and spatial organization of the environment, maintenance level of the community garden site, and the opportunities that community gardens offer to its users and residents. Particularly, participants preferred well-maintained community garden landscapes equipped with well-constructed raised beds, pavilions, pathways, and sitting structures offering opportunities for gathering and social events. Participants negatively responded to untidy community garden scenes with features such as unorganized garden spaces, uncontrolled weeds, overgrown vegetation, and poorly constructed structures. Results also showed that mental health and stress relief, outdoor exercise and physical health, community pride, and food access were the main motivation themes to participate in community gardening. On the other hand, theft and damage, difficult access, too much effort, and no personal interest were the main motivations not to participate in community gardening. Findings from this study may help gardeners, community garden program managers, planners, and designers to develop more successful community garden projects that can expand involvement and support for community gardens and increase the permanence of these landscapes in urban neighborhoods. / Ph.D. / The modern agricultural system has resulted in several negative ecological, economic, and social impacts. Community gardens have become a trending interest to minimize these negative impacts, especially in low-income and low-access neighborhoods. Although community gardens provide economic, environmental, and social benefits, they have been lost to other land uses due to the lack of powerful public support. To achieve greater public support, knowledge about people’s landscape preferences and their attitudes towards the community garden environment is important. This knowledge can help to increase public involvement and support and to develop more successful community gardens. Community gardeners and non-community gardeners in five different low-income and low-access neighborhoods were chosen as study participants in the City of Roanoke, Virginia. Participants were asked to rate a series of community garden scenes. They were also asked about their opinions on community garden design and their motivations to participate or not to participate in community gardening. Findings showed that people’s landscape preferences are based on several factors including organization of landscape elements, maintenance level of the community garden site, and the activities that community gardens offer to its users and residents. Particularly, participants preferred well-maintained community garden landscapes equipped with well-constructed raised beds, pavilions, pathways, and sitting structures offering opportunities for gathering and social events. Participants negatively responded to untidy community garden scenes with features such as unorganized garden spaces, uncontrolled weeds, overgrown vegetation, and poorly constructed structures. Results also showed that mental health and stress relief, outdoor exercise and physical health, community pride, and food access were the main motivation themes to participate in community gardening. On the other hand, theft and damage, difficult access, too much effort, and no personal interest were the main motivations not to participate in community gardening. Findings from this study may help gardeners, community garden program managers, planners, and designers to develop more successful community garden projects that can expand involvement and support for community gardens and increase the permanence of these landscapes in urban neighborhoods.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第23941号 / 農博第2490号 / 新制||農||1090(附属図書館) / 学位論文||R4||N5376(農学部図書室) / 京都大学大学院農学研究科生物資源経済学専攻 / (主査)准教授 三谷 羊平, 教授 伊藤 順一, 教授 梅津 千恵子 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DGAM