Diets,population structure,and seasonal activity patterns of mudpuppies (Necturus maculosus) in an urban,Great Lakes coastal habitat

Freshwater species native to the Laurentian Great Lakes region face numerous environmental stressors, and the conservation status and ecological relationships of many remain poorly understood. One such species, the mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus), is declining, but better information on their natural history and development of more effective population monitoring techniques is needed. We assessed seasonal variation in capture success, biases in capture techniques, and feeding ecology of mudpuppies in Wolf Lake, a highly perturbed and urban former estuarine wetland complex to Lake Michigan. Trapping periods of ≥ 3 consecutive nights occurred from January to May 2015, and October 2015 to March 2016. Overall trapping success differed among trapping periods (p = 0.01) and declined precipitously at water temperatures above 14.1 °C (p < 0.001). Mudpuppies in traps (mean 26.9 ± 0.5 cm) were larger than those caught with hand nets (mean 14.7 ± 0.8 cm, p < 0.0001), suggesting that multiple methods may be needed to accurately assess demographics. Stomach contents obtained through gastric lavage included mollusks, leeches, insects, isopods, amphipods, crayfish, fish, a frog, and a juvenile conspecific. Invasive species, including rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus), round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus), and zebra/quagga mussels (Dreissena spp.) were present in guts, suggesting mudpuppy foraging has changed along with aquatic communities in the region. Prey community analyses revealed differences in overall diet among size classes of mudpuppies (p = 0.001), but relatively weak similarity within size classes. Results suggest that mudpuppies in lake ecosystems occupy a broad niche that changes as they grow.     

The benefits of flexible team interaction during crises.

Organizations increasingly rely on teams to respond to crises. While research on team effectiveness during nonroutine events is growing, naturalistic studies examining team behaviors during crises are relatively scarce. Furthermore, the relevant literature offers competing theoretical rationales concerning effective team response to crises. In this article, the authors investigate whether high- versus average-performing teams can be distinguished on the basis of the number and complexity of their interaction patterns. Using behavioral observation methodology, the authors coded the discrete verbal and nonverbal behaviors of 14 nuclear power plant control room crews as they responded to a simulated crisis. Pattern detection software revealed systematic differences among crews in their patterns of interaction. Mean comparisons and discriminant function analysis indicated that higher performing crews exhibited fewer, shorter, and less complex interaction patterns. These results illustrate the limitations of standardized response patterns and highlight the importance of team adaptability. Implications for future research and for team training are included. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Optimisation of rancidity stability in long‐chain PUFA concentrates obtained from a rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) by‐product

This research was focused on the production of polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrates from a farmed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) by‐product (i.e. belly muscle). The effect of different process variables (urea/fatty acids (FA) contents ratio, crystallisation time and temperature and stirring speed of the urea/FA mixture) on the lipid oxidation development during the urea complexation process was investigated. For this purpose, an experimental design (26 runs) following the response‐surface methodology was developed. As a result, peroxide value and TOTOX index showed to be dependent on the crystallisation time and temperature and the urea/FA ratio, while no influence of the crystallisation stirring speed was detected on both indices; additionally, polyene index was affected by the urea/FA ratio and its interaction with the crystallisation time. An optimised desirability score near 1.0 was attained provided values of 2.8 °C, 3.05 h and 3.57 were applied for crystallisation temperature, crystallisation time and urea/FA ratio, respectively.     

Cultivation approach for comparing the nutritional quality of two pepper cultivars grown under different agricultural regimes

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the cropping system (organic or conventional) and the growth medium (soil or soilless) on the antioxidant content of peppers from Almuden and Quito cultivars. This cultivation study complements a previous farm study. For both cultivars, organic cultivation led to higher fruit lipophilic antioxidant content than conventional management but differences in the hydrophilic fraction were not observed. The effect of the growth medium on pepper composition depended on the studied cultivar. In Almuden, neither the hydrophilic nor the lipophilic fractions were affected by the growth medium, while in Quito most compounds showed higher values in soil-grown plants. Taking into account the results from the present and the previous farm study we conclude that the effect of organic vs. conventional cultivation on pepper quality can be attributed to the different nutritional regimes and other factors associated with the agricultural system. However, both aspects are not necessarily different in organic and conventional commercial crops. The effect of the growth medium (soil or soilless) on pepper quality depended on the cultivar: Almuden was not affected by the growth medium and Quito was seen to be less suitable for soilless cultivation.     

A model to describe the interaction between UO2 and zircaloy in the temperature range 1000–1700°C

During high temperature transients the Zircaloy claddings in a nuclear power reactor may chemically interact with their environment, either on the internal or on the external surfaces. The external oxidation due to the interaction with the coolant has been extensively studied and described in models. However, the internal oxide-metal interaction is less well known and has not yet been satisfactorily described in models. In this paper the internal oxidation, which results from the reduction of the UO₂ pellets by the Zircaloy cladding material is analyzed. A model is developed which solves only the oxygen diffusion problem in the five phases which are formed due to the UO₂/Zircaloy interaction, without taking into account zirconium and uranium diffusion. The oxygen diffusion coefficients of four of the phases are determined and the oxygen concentrations at some of the interfaces are adjusted in order that the interface movements be in accordance with the experimental data published in the literature for the temperature range 1000 to 1700°C. The model attempts only to simulate the kinetics of the system during the first stages of the process when all the interface movements obey parabolic rate laws.     

Kindling-induced emotional behavior in male and female rats.

Modeling fear in animals is a critical approach for identifying the neural mechanisms involved in human disorders such as generalized anxiety and panic. Amygdala kindling has proven useful in this regard because it produces dramatic increases in fearful behavior. The purpose of this experiment was to compare the behavioral effects of kindling in male and female rats. Compared with the sham-stimulated rats, the kindled male and female rats showed similar increases in fearful behavior, with some sex differences in fear-related open-field activity. They also showed decreased immobility in the forced-swim test and increased sucrose consumption. These results suggest that kindling-induced fear is generally similar in male and female rats and that kindling does not appear to induce depression-like behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Engineering better wheelchairs to enhance community participation.

With about 2.2 million Americans currently using wheeled mobility devices, wheelchairs are frequently provided to people with impaired mobility to provide accessibility to the community. Individuals with spinal cord injuries, arthritis, balance disorders, and other conditions or diseases are typical users of wheelchairs. However, secondary injuries and wheelchair-related accidents are risks introduced by wheelchairs. Research is underway to advance wheelchair design to prevent or accommodate secondary injuries related to propulsion and transfer biomechanics, while improving safe, functional performance and accessibility to the community. This paper summarizes research and development underway aimed at enhancing safety and optimizing wheelchair design.