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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2010.07.004 Byline: Pia O. Gabriel, Jeffrey M. Black Abstract: Behavioural syndromes describe consistent and correlated individual differences in behavioural traits. Quantifying individual differences often requires researchers to capture and hold animals in captivity while short-term behavioural assays are recorded. We compared behavioural responses of adult, territorial Steller's jays in short- and long-term field assessments of behavioural traits in two ecological contexts, risk taking and exploration. Individuals' risk taking was similar in short-term and long-term contexts (i.e. alarm calling in the presence of a predator mount and while re-entering a trap, respectively). However, a measure of short-term exploration of a novel object in a feeding context was not related to a long-term index of annual habitat exploration (i.e. travel distance outside home territory). Risk-taking and exploration indices were correlated across ecological contexts, indicating that these traits contributed to a behavioural syndrome in jays. Annual assessments of risk-taking and exploration behaviours were repeatable. Individuals with high scores in risk taking and exploration were more likely to be recaptured in a familiar trap. We conclude that short-term experiments are adequate measures of specific behavioural strategies, but because short-term responses did not necessarily predict long-term annual behaviours in related contexts, expression of behavioural types and associated ecological strategies should be regarded as species and context specific. Long-lived residents are useful study species to overcome sampling biases for traits measured in captivity, because they provide opportunity to evenly sample a population over all personality types, including trap-shy individuals. Author Affiliation: Department of Wildlife, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA, U.S.A. Article History: Received 2 April 2010; Revised 3 May 2010; Accepted 16 June 2010 Article Note: (miscellaneous) MS. number: A10-00230

Analysis of the breeding behavior of wild barnacle geese, Branta leucopsis, suggests that the geese pair randomly with individuals from their own breeding sites, despite occurrence of pairing in different breeding regions. Pairing with familiar individuals from the same breeding region improves mate complementarity in adjustment to the same habitat. The geese either select partners from past associates or individuals with phenotypic traits similar to their breeding region.

Mate selection strategies in the monogamous barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis, were investigated. Geese were found to make 'trial liaisons' with from one to six possible mates, with heavier and more vigilant females having a greater number of trial mates. Two strategies appear to be used; 'one-step decisions' in which the bird moves to a new partner after rejecting an earlier, and 'partner-held' where a mate is retained while a new one is sampled. Females appear to prefer the first strategy, males the second. The 'partner-held' and early pairing would appear to offer advantages.

Research tested the predator protection and similar habitat hypothesis of the red-breasted goose. Findings support the hypothesis that such geese like to nest near raptors.

Thermoelectrochemistry involves the study or application of temperature-dependant parameters in an electrochemical system. Thermoelectrochemistry can be exploited in non-isothermal cells to form thermogalvanic cells (or thermocells) to convert a temperature gradient into a useful electrical current. However, heat can also transfer and reduce the temperature gradient, while spillage is a potential issue for liquid electrolytes. For this reason, we have investigated aqueous thermocells containing potassium ferricyanide and potassium ferrocyanide (0.1 M K 3 [Fe(CN) 6 ]/0.1 M K 4 [Fe(CN) 6 ]) as a gelled electrolyte. Fumed silica and gelatine were not found to be sufficient gelling agents, whereas agar agar (agarose) and beads of poly(sodium acrylate) were found to form effective gelled electrolytes; the latter gel was also self-healing. Thermocells were prepared using commercial CR2032 battery casings, and surface treatments and preparations of the stainless steel electrodes evaluated for their electrocatalytic effects and influence on long-term current output. Emphasis was placed upon body heat harvesting, and preliminary heat transfer modelling through the CR2032 systems also performed. Ultimately, the gelled electrolytes were found to result in more stable power output and effectively frustrate heat transfer through the cells, relative to the un-gelled (liquid) electrolytes. These results will inform the development of both more efficient electrolytes and housings for thermocells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lubrication properties of imidazolium and phosphonium bis(oxalato)borate ionic liquids (ILs) are compared in a reciprocating sliding contact at 80 °C and 140 °C. Both the influence of the alkyl chain length and the cation architecture on friction, wear and lubricant breakdown are investigated. Imidazolium ILs showed lower friction than phosphonium ILs though only phosphonium-based ILs reduced wear. A longer alkyl chain reduced friction only in the case of the imidazolium-based ILs. Analysis of the wear scars was consistent with chemical breakdown solely of the anion. Chemical changes in the ILs after the tribotests were more pronounced for imidazolium-based ILs, and comparison of breakdown and tribofilm formation implicated catalysis by the imidazolium center, which, in turn, had a strong dependence on the surface self-assembly. [Display omitted] • The effects of the nature of the cation of an ionic liquid on its lubrication properties are revealed. • The Lewis acidity of the imidazolium cation is responsible for the different extent of lubricant breakdown. • Chemical reactivity is shown to be modulated by self-assembly at the surface. • Breakdown of the anion is a prerequisite for sacrificial tribofilm formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A survey of radioactivity in groundwater (110 sites) was conducted as a precursor to providing a baseline of radiation exposure in rural and remote communities in Queensland, Australia, that may be impacted upon by exposure pathways associated with the supply, treatment, use and wastewater treatment of the resource. Radionuclides in groundwater, including 238U, 226Ra, 222Rn, 228Ra, 224Ra and 40K were measured and found to contain activity concentration levels of up to 0.71 BqL−1, 0.96 BqL−1, 108 BqL−1, 2.8 BqL−1, 0.11 BqL−1 and 0.19 BqL−1 respectively. Activity concentration results were classified by aquifer lithology, showing correlation between increased radium isotope concentration and basic volcanic host rock. The groundwater survey and mapping results were further assessed using an investigation assessment tool to identify seven remote or rural communities that may require additional radiation dose assessment beyond that attributed to ingestion of potable water. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Details of a customized cryogenic test system for use in in situ single-event radiation tests on semiconductor devices at cryogenic temperatures are presented. The lightweight portable system is designed for performing heavy-ion broadbeam single-event radiation testing at different beam facilities. It is designed for use with either liquid nitrogen or liquid helium as cryogens, depending on the desired lower temperature limit. A controlled heating system on the inside allows for single-event radiation tests as a function of temperature. To enable single-event strikes at angles, the device under test can be rotated about a vertical axis without having to break vacuum. Electrical connectivity to the device under test is provided through six fully customizable hermetically sealed connecting ports. The system has been used to conduct single-event tests over temperature on a test circuit fabricated in IBM CMOS 130nm technology. Single-event transient pulse widths were found to increase by up to 30% as the temperature was varied from −135°C to +20°C. Device simulations indicate that single-event-induced parasitic bipolar transistor turn-on in the n-well of PMOS transistors is responsible for the observed increase in pulse widths across the temperature ranges considered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) was used to investigate the relationship between white matter and reading abilities in reading impaired and non-reading impaired children. Seventeen children (7 non-reading impaired, 10 reading impaired) participated in this study. DTI was performed with 2mm isotropic resolution to cover the entire brain along 30 noncollinear directions. Voxelwise analyses were conducted on data processed through Tract Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS). The data replicated previous results seen across multiple studies and extended findings to include measures of both real word and pseudoword decoding. Negative correlations were observed in the left posterior corpus callosum between fractional anisotropy (FA) values and both measures of decoding. Positive correlations between FA values and real word and pseudoword decoding were observed in the left superior corona radiata. This extension of findings regarding correlations between the corona radiata and reading skills suggests an important direction for future research into the neurological substrates of reading. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Spring distributions of black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) are closely related to that of their primary food plant, eelgrass (Zostera marina). Using historical (1931–2001) brant data from Humboldt Bay, California, we show that proportional use of two main feeding areas in the bay strongly reflects food abundance. We used multiple regression to investigate whether the spatial relationship between brant and eelgrass holds at the flyway level. We related peak brant numbers at 11 staging areas in the Pacific flyway to the sites'' Z. marina abundance and isolation from other important staging areas. We explained 90% of the variation in peak brant numbers across sites with these variables; isolated bays with high eelgrass abundance supported the most brant. Our results emphasize the importance of protecting large eelgrass habitats along the Pacific Coast, particularly in bays that are geographically isolated from other large staging areas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]