University of Lincoln

About: University of Lincoln is a education organization based out in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 2341 authors who have published 7025 publications receiving 124797 citations.

Copulation, genital damage and early death in Callosobruchus maculatus

Abstract: Antagonistic sexual coevolution stems from the notion that male and female interests over reproduction are in conflict. Such conflicts appear to be particularly obvious when male genital armature inflicts damage to the female reproductive tract resulting in reduced female longevity. However, studies of mating frequency, genital damage and female longevity are difficult to interpret because females not only sustain more genital damage, but also receive more seminal fluid when they engage in multiple copulations. Here, we attempt to disentangle the effects of genital damage and seminal fluid transfer on female longevity in the beetle Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). Males copulating for the sixth time in succession inflicted greater levels of genital damage, but transferred smaller ejaculates in comparison with virgin males. The number of copulations performed by males was negatively related to female fecundity and positively related to female longevity, suggesting a trade-off between fecundity and longevity. However, inclusion of fecundity as a covariate revealed sperm and/or seminal fluid transfer to have a negative impact on female longevity above that caused by the fecundity–longevity trade-off. The consequences of multiple copulations on female longevity were examined. Females that mated twice laid more eggs and died sooner than those that mated once. However, incorporation of fecundity as a covariate into our statistical model removed the effect of female mating frequency on female longevity, indicating that double-mated females suffer greater mortality owing to the trade-off between fecundity and longevity. Males of this species are known to transfer very large ejaculates (up to 8% of their body weight), which may represent a significant nutritional benefit to females. However, the receipt of large ejaculates appears to carry costs. Thus, the interpretation of multiple mating experiments on female longevity and associated functional explanations of polyandry in this species are likely to be complex.

Enabling stable MnO2 matrix for aqueous zinc-ion battery cathodes

Abstract: The primary issue faced by MnO2 cathode materials for aqueous Zn-ion batteries (AZIBs) is the occurrence of structural transformations during cycling, resulting in unstable capacity output. Pre-intercalating closely bonded ions into the MnO2 structures has been demonstrated as an effective approach to combat this. However, mechanisms of the pre-intercalation remain unclear. Herein, two distinct δ-MnO2 (K0.28MnO2·0.1H2O and K0.21MnO2·0.1H2O) are prepared with varying amounts of pre-intercalated K+ and applied as cathodes for AZIBs. The as-prepared K0.28MnO2·0.1H2O cathodes exhibit relatively high specific capacity (300 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1), satisfactory rate performance (35% capacity recovery at 5 A g−1) and competent cyclability (ca. 95% capacity retention after 1000 cycles at 2 A g−1), while inferior cyclability and rate performance are observed in K0.21MnO2·0.1H2O. A stable δ-MnO2 phase is observed upon cycling, with the reversible deposition of Zn4SO4(OH)6·5H2O (ZSH), ion migration between electrodes and synchronous transition of Mn valence states. This work firstly and systematically reveals the role of the pre-intercalated ions via density functional theory simulations and show that above a threshold K/Mn ratio of ca. 0.26, the K ions suppress structural transformations by stabilizing the δ phase. To demonstrate its commercial potential, AZIBs with high-loading active materials are fabricated, which deliver adequate energy and power densities compared with most commercial devices.

Attitudes of veterinary students at one US college toward factors relating to farm animal welfare.

Abstract: Rationale for study – The American Veterinary Medical Association’s policy states that veterinarians are obliged to promote good animal welfare. In order to establish how compatible the attitudes of future veterinarians in one North American Veterinary College were with the promotion of good animal welfare, students were surveyed with respect to their opinions about the humaneness of commonly employed agricultural procedures (e.g., hot branding) and their beliefs about the cognitive ability of various domesticated species. Methodology – A Web-based questionnaire was made available to all veterinary students at Cornell University. Descriptive summary data were collected with regards to students’ perceptions of the cognitive abilities of six different domesticated species. Students were also asked if they considered certain agricultural procedures to be humane for each of these species. The data were analyzed with respect to students’ future career goals. Chi-squared tests and nonparametric statistical techniques were used to examine differences between species and desired career goals. Results and Conclusions – Veterinary students were more likely to believe that dogs and cats had cognitive abilities than farm animals did. Students considered various procedures to be more humane for farm mammals than for dogs and cats. Students aspiring to work with food animals considered more procedures to be humane for all species than did students aspiring to work with small animals. The inconsistency of students’ attitudes for different species has implications for veterinary education and animal welfare. Scientific fields integral to understanding animal welfare may need to be emphasized within the veterinary educational curriculum.

Animal-Assisted Interventions in the Classroom—A Systematic Review

Abstract: The inclusion of animals in educational practice is becoming increasingly popular, but it is unclear how solid the evidence for this type of intervention is. The aim of this systematic review is to scrutinise the empirical research literature relating to animal-assisted interventions conducted in educational settings. The review included 25 papers; 21 from peer-reviewed journals and 4 obtained using grey literature databases. Most studies reported significant benefits of animal-assisted interventions in the school setting. Despite this, studies vary greatly in methods and design, in intervention types, measures, and sample sizes, and in the length of time exposed to an animal. Furthermore, a worrying lack of reference to risk assessment and animal welfare must be highlighted. Taken together, the results of this review show promising findings and emerging evidence suggestive of potential benefits related to animals in school settings. The review also indicates the need for a larger and more robust evidence base driven by thorough and strict protocols. The review further emphasises the need for safeguarding for all involved—welfare and safety are paramount.