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A common assumption is that titillation by adult female Trachemys scripta (Slider Turtles) always represents female participation in courtship, but there is only limited empirical support for this assertion and some data may contradict this supposition. Behavioral interactions were staged among wild-caught T. scripta throughout the local season of activity for this species (April–October). Each of 47 trials involved 6 turtles (total = 282 turtles: 94 melanistic males, 94 nonmelanistic males, 94 females) videotaped for 3 h (total = 141 h). During our study, titillation behaviors initiated by females were largely intrasexual, exhibited no peak during the local mating period, and did not stimulate males to attempt copulation. We concluded that such characteristics were inconsistent with the traditional assumption of a courtship function and were more consistent with the characteristics of agonistic signals, signals that communicate sender identity, or compound signals with multiple communicative fun...

The effects of stream size and flow regime on spatial and temporal variability of stream fish distribution, abundance, and diversity patterns were investigated. Assemblage variability and species richness were each significantly associated with a complex environmental gradient contrasting smaller, hydrologically variable stream localities with larger localities characterized by more stable flow regimes. Assemblages showing the least variability were the most species-rich and occurred in relatively large, stable environments. Theory suggests that species richness can be an important determinant of assemblage variability. Although this appears to be true in our system, we suggest that spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the environment largely determines both assemblage richness and variability, providing a more parsimonious explanation for the diversity–variability correlation. Changes in species richness of local assemblages across time were coordinated across the landscape, and assemblages formed spatially and temporally nested subset patterns. These results suggest an important link between local community dynamics and community-wide occurrence. At the species level, mean local persistence was significantly associated with regional occurrence. Thus, the more widespread a species was, the greater its local persistence. Our results illustrate how the integrity of local stream fish assemblages is dependent on local environmental conditions, regional patterns of species distribution, and landscape continuity.

Very low in situ permeability gas reservoirs (Kgas

Intrasexual variation in courtship behavior is common but the potential for such variation within turtles has not been considered. Forty-seven behavioral trials with wild-captured slider turtles (Trachemys scripta) were conducted throughout the local season of activity for this species (April–October). The frequency of occurrence, seasonality, and directionality of courtship behaviors (i.e., biting, chasing, and titillation) performed by melanistic and nonmelanistic males were examined. I tested the hypotheses that the expression of these behaviors during the mating season (late August to mid-October) would differ between melanistic and nonmelanistic male T. scripta and that melanistic and nonmelanistic males would differ with respect to their precopulatory display rates. Biting, chasing, and titillation directed toward females by melanistic and nonmelanistic male T. scripta during the mating season were significantly different. Courtship behaviors (i.e., precopulatory displays) were not always p...

Background Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is targeted for elimination through annual mass drug administration (MDA) for 4–6 years. In 2006, Zanzibar stopped MDA against LF after five rounds of MDA revealed no microfilaraemic individuals during surveys at selected sentinel sites. We asked the question if LF transmission was truly interrupted in 2006 when MDA was stopped. Methodology/Principal Findings In line with ongoing efforts to shrink the LF map, we performed the WHO recommended transmission assessment surveys (TAS) in January 2012 to verify the absence of LF transmission on the main Zanzibar islands of Unguja and Pemba. Altogether, 3275 children were tested on both islands and 89 were found to be CFA positive; 70 in Pemba and 19 in Unguja. The distribution of schools with positive children was heterogeneous with pronounced spatial variation on both islands. Based on the calculated TAS cut-offs of 18 and 20 CFA positive children for Pemba and Unguja respectively, we demonstrated that transmission was still ongoing in Pemba where the cut-off was exceeded. Conclusions Our findings indicated ongoing transmission of LF on Pemba in 2012. Moreover, we presented evidence from previous studies that LF transmission was also active on Unguja shortly after stopping MDA in 2006. Based on these observations the government of Zanzibar decided to resume MDA against LF on both islands in 2013., Author Summary Lymphatic filariasis was highly endemic in Zanzibar when MDA commenced in 2001 to eliminate the disease. In 2006, Zanzibar, in the United Republic of Tanzania, was the first territory in Africa to complete five rounds of annual treatment using a combination of albendazole and ivermectin at 100% geographic coverage and achieving effective treatment coverage of over 65% during each round. MDA was stopped in 2006 after sentinel site surveys revealed parasite infection rates of zero in both humans and mosquito populations. In 2012, when new tools became available to verify the absence of transmission, we asked the question if transmission was truly interrupted when MDA was stopped in 2006. In January 2012, we performed the WHO recommended transmission assessment surveys (TAS) on the main islands of Unguja and Pemba to verify the absence of LF transmission in line with ongoing efforts to shrink the LF risk map. Altogether, 3275 children were tested on both islands and 89 were found to be CFA positive; 70 in Pemba and 19 in Unguja. The distribution of schools with positive children was heterogeneous with pronounced spatial variation on both islands. Based on the calculated TAS cut-offs of 18 and 20 CFA positive children for Pemba and Unguja respectively, we demonstrated that transmission was still ongoing in Pemba where the cut-off value was exceeded. We also presented evidence from previous entomological studies that LF transmission was active on Unguja shortly after stopping MDA in 2006. Based on these findings we concluded that LF transmission was still active in Zanzibar, and one million people at risk of acquiring LF, and recommended the resumption of MDA on both islands to eliminate the disease. In 2013, the government of Zanzibar decided to resume MDA with ivermectin plus albendazole on both islands.

El modelo PEAR (“Actividades Agradables-Restricción Conductual”) ha sido propuesto como una manera de entender los efectos del ocio sobre el malestar de cuidadores de personas con demencia. En base al modelo PEAR y al de estrés y afrontamiento, el objetivo de este estudio fue analizar de forma conjunta el papel de la frecuencia y la satisfacción con la activación conductual en la explicación del malestar del cuidador (depresión, ansiedad, salud percibida), el riesgo de institucionalización de la persona cuidada, los estresores y recursos del cuidador (rumiación y reevaluación cognitiva) en una muestra de 275 cuidadores. Método: Se dividió a la muestra en cuatro grupos en función de sus niveles en la frecuencia y la satisfacción con la activación conductual: BFBS = Baja frecuencia + baja satisfacción; BFAS = Baja frecuencia + alta satisfacción; AFBS = Alta frecuencia + baja satisfacción; y AFAS = Alta frecuencia + alta satisfacción. Resultados: Mientras que los cuidadores del grupo AFAS mostraron un perfil más positivo en variables relacionadas con los recursos y de salud, y menores puntuaciones en riesgo de institucionalización en comparación con el resto de los grupos, los cuidadores del grupo BFBS utilizaron en mayor medida estrategias de regulación emocional desadaptativas y mostraron peores consecuencias sobre variables de resultado de salud. Discusión: Los resultados sugieren la importancia de considerar el perfil de frecuencia y satisfacción con el ocio a la hora de entender el malestar del cuidador, The PEAR (pleasant events-activity restriction) model has been proposed as a way of understanding leisure effects on dementia caregivers‟ distress. Considering both the PEAR model and the stress and coping model, the purpose of this study was to analyze the potential of both frequency and satisfaction with leisure to explain caregivers‟ distress (depression, anxiety and perceived health), risk of institutionalization of the care recipient, caregivers‟ stressors and resources variables (rumination and cognitive reappraisal) in 275 caregivers. Methods: The sample was divided in four groups based on caregivers‟ scores on frequency and satisfaction with leisure: LFLS = Low frequency + low satisfaction; LFHS = Low frequency and high satisfaction; HFLS = High frequency + low satisfaction; HFHS = High frequency + high satisfaction. Results: Results indicated that while caregivers from the HFHS group showed a generally more positive profile on resources variables, health outcomes and lower levels of risk of institutionalization compared with the other groups, care-givers from the LFLS group used significantly less adaptive emotional regulation strategies and showed worse consequences on health outcomes. Discussion: The results of this study suggest the importance of considering caregivers‟ profile on frequency and satisfaction with leisure in order to understand caregiving distress, The preparation of this article was supported by grants from both the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innova-tion (Grant SEJ2009-8132/PSIC) and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Grant PSI2012-31293)

The objective of this study was to explore whether measures of visual and cognitive performance in a safe computerized driving environment were associated with collision involvement and the cost of collisions in a sample of professional motor vehicle operators. One hundred and nine (109) school bus drivers in a large metropolitan area were asked to take a 15-minute interactive computer-based driving assessment. The skills included visual target identification, scanning in four directions, divided-attention, reaction time, steering smoothness, false positive responses, and evasive maneuvers. An overall score validated in previous research summarized each driver’s performance. Each driver’s collision history over the last three years was then compared to the driving assessment scores. Collision data included collision type, frequency, and damage cost associated with each incident. Drivers with collisions (n = 27) were compared to drivers with no collisions (n = 82). Drivers with collisions had significantly lower overall scanning and steering smoothness scores than drivers without collisions. Drivers with collisions also had significantly higher braking and target false-positive scores, indicating disorientation. The total cost of collisions for the lower 40th percentile test scores was $42,261, whereas the cost for the upper 60th percentile was $10,314. The results indicate that drivers who are prone to become disoriented and overwhelmed in a high-demand computerized assessment were more likely to have had collisions on the road. The relationship between collision cost/incidence and test scores suggests that a sufficiently complex and rapidly paced computerized assessment has utility in identifying drivers who would benefit from remedial training.

There are many ways to send humans to Mars. Credible technical reports can be traced to the 1950's. More recently, NASA has funded major studies that depict a broad variety of trajectories, technologies, stay times, and costs. Much of this data is still valid with direct application to today's exploration planning. This paper presents results comparing these studies with particular emphasis on the in-space transportation aspects of the mission. Specifically, comparisons are made on propulsion systems used for getting the crew and mission equipment from Earth orbit to Mars orbit, descending and ascending from the surface, and returning to Earth orbit. Areas of comparison for each of these phases include crew size, mission mass, propellant mass, delta v, specific impulse, transit time, surface stay time, aero-braking, and others. Data is analyzed to demonstrate either strong trends toward particular technologies or diverging solutions.

Underbalanced drilling is used with increasing frequency on a worldwide basis to reduce invasive formation damage effects and drilling problems associated with many horizontal wells in challenging reservoir exploitation situations. When the primary objective of the underbalanced drilling operation is to reduce or eliminate formation damage effects, the importance of maintaining a continuous underbalanced pressure condition during the complete operation is essential in obtaining the maximum benefit with respect to formation damage reduction. The importance of this has been emphasized in previous work, but this paper details some of the specific reservoir design and operational parameters which must be considered to ensure that the underbalanced pressure condition is maintained on a continuous basis. This includes such issues as pipe connection effects, various wellbore geometries, frictional flow and back pressure effects, localized depletion effects, gravity invasion and drainage effects, countercurrent imbibition effects, hole cleaning, bit jetting, and a number of other issues which can affect the ability to maintain a continuously underbalanced condition in a given reservoir situation. Examples of these situations will be presented, along with suggestions in certain operational circumstances which can be utilized to reduce the effect of these problems. What is Underbalanced Drilling? Underbalanced drilling, in its simplest definition, refers to a condition where the net pressure exerted by the circulating drilling fluid in the annular space between the drill string and the formation is less than the effective pore pressure in the formation adjacent to the wellbore. This results in a pressure imbalance situation where the flow of oil, water, or gas (which may be contained within the pore space) is induced into the wellbore and returns to the surface along with the circulating drilling fluid. Ideally, this condition is generated in every portion of the exposed viable reservoir pay during the complete drilling operation, but in some situations, due to circumstances which will be discussed in detail later in this paper, this may not be the case.

A prospective screening program of 11,161 newborns identified twenty-one infants who had postaxial type-B polydactyly (a prevalence of one in 531 live births). Sixteen infants (76 per cent) had bilateral postaxial type-B polydactyly. Eighteen infants (86 per cent) had a family history of the anomaly. The racial prevalence was one in 143 live births of black infants and one in 1339 live births of white infants. The duplicated small fingers were treated in the newborn nursery with suture ligation at the base of the pedicle. One infant had a second procedure to remove a blackened digit that remained firmly attached one month after the initial treatment. No other complications occurred. Fifteen patients (twenty-eight fingers) were reexamined at an average age of twenty months (range, twelve to thirty-seven months). Twelve fingers (43 per cent) had a residual bump, with an average diameter of two millimeters (range, one to six millimeters). Despite the residual bumps, all of the parents were satisfied with the cosmetic result.

War has always had a powerful influence on music. At times it has the ability to motivate composers even more than love, religious belief, or money. Throughout the ages, both war and music about war have changed dramatically. The destructive power of war has reached its ultimate capabilities -- the potential to eliminate all life. As war has become more and more horrible, and has caused unprecedented amounts of needless deaths, the world's view of war has changed completely. This change in attitude toward war is evident also in the development of war music.

Underbalanced drilling has been utilized with increasing frequency to minimize problems associated with invasive formation damage which often greatly reduce the productivity of oil and gas reservoirs, particularly in open hole horizontal well applications. Underbalanceddrilling, when properly designed and executed, minimizes or eliminates problems associated with the invasion of particulate matter into the formation as well as a multitude of other problems such as adverse clay reactions, phase trapping, precipitation and emulsification which can be caused by the invasion of incompatible mud filtrates in an overbalanced condition. In many underbalanceddrilling operations, additional benefits are seen due to a reduction in drilling time, greater rates of penetration, increased bit life, a rapid indication of productive reservoir zones and the potential for dynamic flow testing while drilling. Underbalanced drilling is not a solution to all formation damage problems. Damage due to poorly designed and/or executed underbalanced drilling programs can rival or even greatly exceed that which may occur using a well-designed conventional overbalanced drilling program. Potential downsides and damage mechanisms associated with underbalanced drilling will be discussed. These include: Increased cost and safety concerns.Difficulty in maintaining a continuously underbalanced condition (due to such factors as pipe connections in rotary drilling, bit trips, mud pulsed logging, bit jetting and flushing effects, localized depletion and subsequent repressurization effects, poor knowledge of initial reservoir pressure, multiple zones with differing initial pressures, slug flow and liquid holdup in the vertical section of the wellbore, frictional pressure drop and mechanical problems with surface equipment or gas supply sources).Spontaneous imbibition and countercurrent imbibition effects.Glazing, mashing and cuttings induced damage.Macroporosity gravity induced invasion.Difficulty of application in zones of extreme pressure and permeability.Political/career risk associated with championing a new and potentially risky technology. This paper discusses reservoir parameters required to design an effective underbalanced or overbalanced drilling program, laboratory screening procedures to ascertain the effectiveness of underbalanced drilling in a specific application and presents screening criteria with respect to the types of reservoirs which present good applications for underbalanced drilling technology.

The need for accurate methods of age determination in life-history studies is well recognized. Techniques used to estimate the age of turtles include analysis of body size (Balazs, 1982; Frazer and Ehrhart, 1985; Frazer and Ladner, 1986), weighing eye lenses (. Frazier,J. Ballon, and S. Salas, unpubl.), counting growth zones on plastral scutes (Cagle, 1946; Sexton, 1959; Gibbons, 1983), and skeletochronology (Mattox, 1935; Zug, 1990; Klinger and Musick, 1992). Each technique has its disadvantages, and finding a technique that is accurate and can be applied objectively has been difficult (Zug, 1991). An ideal age estimation technique would not cause stress or mortality to the individual being aged, would be valid for all age/size classes, would be based on a clearly recognizable structure that is permanent throughout the life of the individual, and would not require subjective judgment. The use of claws could potentially satisfy three of these requirements for turtle age estimation. Zug (1991) suggested that because claws grow continuously throughout the life of a turtle and because growth is affected by environmental factors, the formation of seasonal growth layers might be expected. The objective of our study was to determine whether annual layers could be observed in sections of claws from Trachemys scripta and Deirochelys reticularia and whether counts based on such layering could provide reliable data for age estimation.