Dear enemy effect in the Mexican volcano mouse Neotomodon alstoni: Implications of sex in the agonistic behaviour among neighbours.

Two opposite phenomena have been found in territorial animals, the "dear enemy'' and the "nasty neighbour'', which refer to individuals that show less aggression toward neighbours than toward strangers and vice versa. However, the need to maintain territory should differ for males and females because sexual reproduction is the result of the different adaptive strategies of the sexes. In this study, we explore territorial behaviour in the context of dear-enemy and nasty neighbour effects in the Mexican volcano mouse (Neotomodon alstoni). Patterns of spatial relationships between individuals and the degrees of agonistic behaviour among neighbours were analysed for a period of one year. Results exhibit a greater spatial proximity between male pairs during the non-reproductive period than during the reproductive period, and greater spatial proximity between pairs of females during the reproductive period than during the non-reproductive period. The analysis of agonistic behaviour showed that there is less tolerance for distant neighbours than for nearest neighbours. However, there is a greater frequency of aggression between male pairs than between females, while females appear to exhibit non-aggressive avoidance among individuals. The results support the theory that Mexican volcano mouse exhibits the "dear enemy phenomenon".

Modelo de proximidad espacial para definir sitios de muestreo en redes urbanas de calidad de aire / A spatial proximity model to define monitoring sites in urban air quality networks / Modelo de proximidade espacial para definir áreas de amostragem em redes urbanas de qualidade do ar

Resumen Este artículo presenta un modelo de proximidad espacial a vías, usos industriales del suelo y zonas verdes para determinar concentraciones de material particulado y localizar sitios de monitoreo de calidad de aire en zonas urbanas. Se utilizan datos de concentración promedio mensual de PM10 (µgm/m3), medidos en nueve sitios de monitoreo en la ciudad de Medellín entre enero de 2003 y diciembre de 2008. Con estos datos se calculan mapas mensuales de concentración, usando métodos de interpolación geoestadísticos con semivariogramas J-Bessel que caracterizan espacialmente la concentración de PM10. Se calculan tres factores de proximidad espacial (a vías, a industrias y a zonas verdes) y uno combinado para multiplicarlos por los mapas de concentración. Con este resultado, se propone una red de sitios de monitoreo para Medellín. Las técnicas de análisis espacial y el modelo de proximidad permiten inspeccionar la distribución del contaminante sobre el territorio, resaltando el efecto de las intersecciones de las vías principales y las zonas industriales donde se dan las mayores concentraciones, y el efecto amortiguador de las zonas verdes. Esto complementa las disposiciones normativas existentes en Colombia para la definición de la ubicación de sitios de monitoreo en sistemas de vigilancia de la calidad del aire.

Abstract This paper presents a model of spatial proximity to roads, industrial uses of land and green areas, to determine concentrations of particulate matter and locate air quality monitoring sites in urban areas. The model uses monthly average concentration of PM10 (µgm/m3) measured at nine monitoring sites in the city of Medellin between January 2003 and December 2008. With these data, monthly maps were calculated using geostatistical interpolation methods with J-Bessel semivariograms to characterize the concentration of PM10. Three factors of spatial proximity (to main roads, industries and green areas) were calculated along with one combined factor. They were then multiplied by the concentration maps. With this result, a network of monitoring sites was proposed for Medellín. The Spatial analysis techniques and the proximity model allow for the assessment of the distribution of the contaminant on the territory, highlighting the effect of intersections and industrial areas on high concentrations and the dampening effect of green areas. This work may complement the existing regulatory provisions in Colombia for locating critical monitoring sites of the air quality surveillance systems.

Resumo Neste artigo se apresenta um modelo de proximidade espacial a vias, utilização industrial do solo e áreas verdes, para determinar concentrações de material particulado e localizar lugares de monitoração da qualidade do ar em áreas urbanas. Utilizam-se dados de concentração de média mensal de PM10 (µgm/m3), medidos em nove lugares de monitoração em Medellín, entre janeiro de 2003 e dezembro de 2008. Com estes dados calculam-se mapas mensais de concentração, utilizando métodos de interpolação geoestatísticos com semivariogramas J-bessel, caracterizando espacialmente a concentração de PM10. Calculam-se três fatores de proximidade espacial (a vias, as industrias e a áreas verdes), e um combinado para multiplicá-los nos mapas de concentração.Com este resultado, propõe-se uma rede de lugares de monitoração para Medellín. As técnicas de análise espacial e o modelo de proximidade permitem inspecionar a distribuição do poluente sobre o território, ressaltando o efeito das interseções das vias principais e as áreas industriais onde ficam as maiores concentrações, e o efeito amortecedor das áreas verdes. Isto complementa as disposições normativas que existem na Colômbia para a definição da localização de lugares de monitoração em sistemas de vigilância da qualidade do ar.

The geometry of expertise.

Theories of expertise based on the acquisition of chunk and templates suggest a differential geometric organization of perception between experts and novices. It is implied that expert representation is less anchored by spatial (Euclidean) proximity and may instead be dictated by the intrinsic relation in the structure and grammar of the specific domain of expertise. Here we set out to examine this hypothesis. We used the domain of chess which has been widely used as a tool to study human expertise. We reasoned that the movement of an opponent piece to a specific square constitutes an external cue and the reaction of the player to this "perturbation" should reveal his internal representation of proximity. We hypothesized that novice players will tend to respond by moving a piece in closer squares than experts. Similarly, but now in terms of object representations, we hypothesized weak players will more likely focus on a specific piece and hence produce sequence of actions repeating movements of the same piece. We capitalized on a large corpus of data obtained from internet chess servers. Results showed that, relative to experts, weaker players tend to (1) produce consecutive moves in proximal board locations, (2) move more often the same piece and (3) reduce the number of remaining pieces more rapidly, most likely to decrease cognitive load and mental effort. These three principles might reflect the effect of expertise on human actions in complex setups.