Within-Individual Canalization Contributes to Age-Related Increases in Trait Repeatability: A Longitudinal Experiment in Red Knots.

Age-related increases in the repeatable expression of labile phenotypic traits are often assumed to arise from an increase in among-individual variance due to differences in developmental plasticity or by means of state-behavior feedbacks. However, age-related increases in repeatability could also arise from a decrease in within-individual variance as a result of stabilizing trait expression, that is, canalization. Here we describe age-related changes in within-individual and among-individual variance components in two correlated traits-gizzard mass and exploration behavior-in a medium-sized shorebird, the red knot ().

Evolutionary design of a flexible, seasonally migratory, avian phenotype: why trade gizzard mass against pectoral muscle mass?

Migratory birds undergo impressive body remodelling over the course of an annual cycle. Prior to long-distance flights, red knots ( Calidris canutus islandica) reduce gizzard mass while increasing body mass and pectoral muscle mass. Although body mass and pectoral muscle mass are functionally linked via their joint effects on flight performance, gizzard and pectoral muscle mass are thought to be independently regulated.

Variations in asthma treatment in five European countries--judgement analysis of case simulations.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore and compare treatment decisions and the influence of specific patient characteristics on asthma management in five European countries, and to relate this to existing guidelines.

Methods: Using the technique of clinical judgement analysis, doctors in The Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Sweden and the Slovak Republic (40-100 doctors per country) were presented with sets of written simulated cases on asthma treatment. Patient characteristics were varied to determine their influence on the doctors' decisions.

Gender and achievement in clinical medical students: a path analysis.

Background And Purpose: Men and women interact differently with the learning environment. Women's standards and goals are responsive to social and environmental influences. Men seem relatively indifferent but check their performance against strongly internalized standards.

An international comparison of physicians' judgments of outcome rates of cardiac procedures and attitudes toward risk, uncertainty, justifiability, and regret.

Objective: Compare U.K. and U.