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The non‐breeding season presents significant energetic challenges to birds that breed in temperate or polar regions, with clear implications for population dynamics. In seabirds, the environmental conditions at non‐breeding sites drive food availability and the energetic cost of regulatory processes, resulting in variation in diet, behaviour and energetics; however, very few studies have attempted to understand if and how these aspects vary between populations. We investigated whether non‐breeding location influenced diet, behaviour and energetics in the common guillemot Uria aalge. We studied guillemots from four UK breeding colonies, two located on the west coast of Scotland and two on the east. We quantified non‐breeding distribution, foraging behaviour and activity budgets of 39 individuals from July to March, using geolocation–immersion loggers and time‐depth recorders, and used feather stable isotope signatures to infer diet during the post‐breeding moult. We calculated energy expenditure and investigated whether the peak (an indicator of the potential vulnerability to marine threats) varied between colonies. Individuals were spatially segregated according to the coastline they breed on, with west coast guillemots distributed off the west coast of the UK and east coast guillemots distributed off the east coast. Diet and behaviour were more similar in guillemots that shared a breeding coastline than those that did not, as west coast guillemots foraged at a lower trophic level, spent less time diving and engaged in more pelagic foraging than east coast guillemots. However, energy expenditure was remarkably similar between colonies, peaking during late February/early March, indicating that, during our study period, there was high synchrony between colonies in the timing of potential vulnerability to marine threats. Therefore, any anthropogenic changes that result in decreased food availability or increased energy expenditure during late winter may have greater impacts on energy balance, with consequences for population dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Difficult romantic relationships are common in college, with painful breakups often leading students to seek help from the college counseling center. However, these already painful situations are further complicated when one member of the couple refuses to allow the relationship to end. An area of particular confusion on the part of the college counselor is when to seek the Dean's campus equivalent of a restraining order. In the following we suggest the Dean's intervention can be both sensitive to the unique psychological struggles of a person in such a relationship and important to further the student's personal development. Several of Shakespeare's sonnets and the work of Jacques Lacan are used to further develop an appreciation of the obsessive dynamic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the use of radio-transmitters to help monitor the spring migration of Sanderling Calidris alba in Iceland. Characteristics of the species; Reasons why some birds stop in Iceland.

The costs and benefits of dominance status have been investigated in the past and it has generally been reported that subdominant birds are at a nutritional disadvantage owing to their low dominance status. The nutritional condition of birds during winter can be important in determining their likelihood of survival. This is particularly so in small passerines that are sensitive to severe weather conditions. Ptilochronology is an accurate method used to produce a long-term estimate of body condition spanning the number of days that it takes to grow a new feather. Ptilochronology was used during this study to estimate the nutritional condition of Coal TitsParus aterduring one winter and how condition was affected by dominance status. Dominant Coal Tits produced poorer quality feathers, which they grew at a slower rate, than did subdominant conspecifics. This study highlights a nutritional cost to high dominance status that could have long-term consequences because the induced tail feathers will not be replaced for at least 5 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capsule: Serious violations of the model assumptions were seen. Aims To illustrate the manner in which violations of the mark-recapture model assumptions may occur. Methods Attempts were made to model annual and seasonal survival of several shorebird species at Teesmouth, northeast England. The database contained 25 years of colour-ring resightings and several suites of models were tested. Results There was significant heterogeneity in survival and recapture probabilities for all five species of shorebird that had been colour-marked. Various attempts and blocking, stratifying and constraining our survival models, while in many cases providing more parsimonious solutions, had no effect on these heterogeneities. Conclusions Our problems stem from both the methodology used and lack of information about the status of individuals (e.g. territoriality and variability in the level of site fidelity). We suggest ways in which data more appropriate to survival analyses might be collected in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a response to the comments of the article discussing the intervention of obsessive relationship among students. Right of a student to seek for legal and institutional administrative intervention; Primary function of the dean's restraining order; Punitive nature of a restraining order.

Introduction: The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-targeted therapies trastuzumab (T) and lapatinib (L) show high efficacy in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, but resistance is prevalent. Here we investigate resistance mechanisms to each drug alone, or to their combination using a large panel of HER2-positive cell lines made resistant to these drugs.Methods: Response to L + T treatment was characterized in a panel of 13 HER2-positive cell lines to identify lines that were de novo resistant. Acquired resistant lines were then established by long-term exposure to increasing drug concentrations. Levels and activity of HER2 and estrogen receptor (ER) pathways were determined by qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and immunoblotting assays. Cell growth, proliferation, and apoptosis in parental cells and resistant derivatives were assessed in response to inhibition of HER or ER pathways, either pharmacologically (L, T, L + T, or fulvestrant) or by using siRNAs. Efficacy of combined endocrine and anti-HER2 therapies was studied in vivo using UACC-812 xenografts.Results: ER or its downstream products increased in four out of the five ER+/HER2+ lines, and was evident in one of the two intrinsically resistant lines. In UACC-812 and BT474 parental and resistant derivatives, HER2 inhibition by T reactivated HER network activity to promote resistance. T-resistant lines remained sensitive to HER2 inhibition by either L or HER2 siRNA. With more complete HER2 blockade, resistance to L-containing regimens required the activation of a redundant survival pathway, ER, which was up-regulated and promoted survival via various Bcl2 family members. These L- and L + T-resistant lines were responsive to fulvestrant and to ER siRNA. However, after prolonged treatment with L, but not L + T, BT474 cells switched from depending on ER as a survival pathway, to relying again on the HER network (increased HER2, HER3, and receptor ligands) to overcome L's effects. The combination of endocrine and L + T HER2-targeted therapies achieved complete tumor regression and prevented development of resistance in UACC-812 xenografts.Conclusions: Combined L + T treatment provides a more complete and stable inhibition of the HER network. With sustained HER2 inhibition, ER functions as a key escape/survival pathway in ER-positive/HER2-positive cells. Complete blockade of the HER network, together with ER inhibition, may provide optimal therapy in selected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]