bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treatment of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: No Need for Postmaneuver Restrictions
Authors: Nuti Daniele , Nati Catia AT , Passali Desiderio
Published: September 2010

The liberatory maneuver of Semont is an effective physical treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. It works because it causes otoconia to move out the posterior canal. The effectiveness of the maneuver is thought to be indicated by the appearance of a liberatory nystagmus. After the maneuver, patients are usually instructed to keep their heads erect for several days and not to lie on the pathologic side for about a week. Here we investigated the prognostic value of liberatory nystagmus and whether restrictions are necessary after treatment. Fifty‐six patients with posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo underwent the Semont maneuver and were checked after 20 minutes, 24 hours, and 1 week. The patients were told that they could sleep or move as they pleased, without any particular precautions. We found that liberatory nystagmus had a high prognostic value and that it was not necessary for patients to avoid certain positions or movements after treatment.
Surgical management of hard palate malignancies
Authors: Truitt Theodore O. , Gleich Lyon L. , Huntress Gordon P. , Gluckman Jack L.
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE

A variety of surgical procedures can be used to treat malignancies of the hard palate and inferior maxilla. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of alveolectomy, palatectomy, and infrastructure maxillectomy in the treatment of cancers in these areas.

METHODS AND MATERIAL

A retrospective review of 50 patients who underwent alveolectomy, palatectomy, or infrastructure maxillectomy from 1971 to 1997 was performed. The pathology of these lesions included squamous cell carcinoma (25), adenoid cystic carcinoma (11), adenocarcinoma (6), and others (8).

RESULTS

The 5‐year survival rate by Kaplan‐Meier analysis for all lesions was 85%. The 5‐year survival rate for squamous cell carcinoma was 76%, and that for adenoid cystic carcinoma was 90%. The 10‐year survival rate for adenoid cystic carcinoma was 75%. There was minimal morbidity associated with these procedures.

DISCUSSION

Alveolectomy, palatectomy, and infrastructure maxillectomy are the procedures of choice for lesions in the region of the hard palate. The differences between these surgical techniques are presented, and indications, contraindications, and results for each technique are discussed.
The effect of enteral supplementation of a prebiotic mixture of non-human milk galacto-, fructo- and acidic oligosaccharides on intestinal permeability in preterm infants
Authors: Westerbeek Elisabeth A. M. , van den Berg Anemone , Lafeber Harrie N. , Fetter Willem P. F. , van Elburg Ruurd M.
Published: September 2010

Preterm infants have an impaired gut barrier function. We aimed to determine the effects of enteral supplementation of a prebiotic mixture consisting of neutral oligosaccharides (short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides (SCGOS)/long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (LCFOS)) and acidic oligosaccharides (AOS) on intestinal permeability of preterm infants as measured by the sugar absorption test in the first week of life. Furthermore, we determined host- and treatment-related factors associated with intestinal permeability. In a randomised controlled trial, preterm infants with a gestational age < 32 weeks and/or birth weight (BW) < 1500 g received enteral supplementation ofSCGOS/LCFOS/AOS or placebo (maltodextrin) between days 3 and 30 of life. Intestinal permeability, reflected by the urinary lactulose/mannitol (L/M) ratio after oral ingestion of lactulose and mannitol, was assessed at three time points: before the start of the study (t = 0), at day 4 (t = 1) and at day 7 (t = 2) of life. Data were analysed by generalised estimating equations. In total, 113 infants were included. Baseline patient and nutritional characteristics were not different between theSCGOS/LCFOS/AOS (n55) and the placebo groups (n58).SCGOS/LCFOS/AOS had no effect on the L/M ratio betweent = 0 andt = 2. In both the groups, the L/M ratio decreased fromt = 0 tot = 2 (P < 0·001). Low BW increased the L/M ratio (P = 0·002). Exclusive breast milk feeding and mixed breast milk/formula feeding during the first week of life decreased the L/M ratio (P < 0·001 andP < 0·05, respectively). In conclusion, enteral supplementation of a prebiotic mixture does not enhance the postnatal decrease in intestinal permeability in preterm infants in the first week of life.
Bifidobacteriumanimalis subsp. lactis BB-12 in reducing the risk of infections in infancy
Authors: Taipale Teemu , Pienihäkkinen Kaisu , Isolauri Erika , Larsen Charlotte , Brockmann Elke , Alanen Pentti , Jokela Jorma , Söderling Eva
Published: September 2010

The impact of controlled administration of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 (BB-12) on the risk of acute infectious diseases was studied in healthy newborn infants. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 109 newborn 1-month-old infants were assigned randomly to a probiotic group receiving a BB-12-containing tablet (n 55) or to a control group receiving a control tablet (n 54). Test tablets were administered to the infants twice a day (daily dose of BB-12 10 billion colony-forming units) from the age of 1–2 months to 8 months with a novel slow-release pacifier or a spoon. Breastfeeding habits, pacifier use, dietary habits, medications and all signs and symptoms of acute infections were registered. At the age of 8 months, faecal samples were collected for BB-12 determination (quantitative PCR method). The baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar, as was the duration of exclusive breastfeeding. BB-12 was recovered (detection limit log 5) in the faeces of 62 % of the infants receiving the BB-12 tablet. The daily duration of pacifier sucking was not associated with the occurrence of acute otitis media. No significant differences between the groups were observed in reported gastrointestinal symptoms, otitis media or use of antibiotics. However, the infants receiving BB-12 were reported to have experienced fewer respiratory infections (65 v. 94 %; risk ratio 0·69; 95 % CI 0·53, 0·89; P = 0·014) than the control infants. Controlled administration of BB-12 in early childhood may reduce respiratory infections.
Polystoma vernonin. sp. (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) from the sharp nosed grass frogPtychadena oxyrhynchus(Smith, 1849) in South Africa
Authors: du Preez L.H.
Published: September 2010

Polystoma vernoni(Polystomatidae) is a new species in the urinary bladder ofPtychadena oxyrhynchusin KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.Ptychadenais a true African species and the 49 currently known species in Africa harbour 11 polystome parasites.Ptychadena oxyrhynchushas an extensive distribution through Africa and harboursPolystoma prudhoeiin West Africa. This new parasite differs significantly fromP. prudhoei. The new species is distinguished by its long body relative to its haptor length, its unique shape and its ratio of marginal hooklets. In a sample of 13 frogs, 53.8% were infected with up to 18 parasites per host (mean intensity 4.86).
In vitro activity of Cameroonian and Ghanaian medicinal plants on parasitic (Onchocerca ochengi) and free-living (Caenorhabditis elegans) nematodes
Authors: Ndjonka D. , Agyare C. , Lüersen K. , Djafsia B. , Achukwi D. , Nukenine E.N. , Hensel A. , Liebau E.
Published: September 2010

Ethanolic and aqueous extracts of selected medicinal plants from Cameroon and Ghana were assessed for their in vitro anthelmintic activity by using the bovine filarial parasite Onchocerca ochengi and the free living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a model organism for research on nematode parasites. Worms were incubated in the presence of different concentrations of extracts and inhibitory effects were monitored at different time points. Among the extracts used in this study, ethanolic extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus, Khaya senegalensis, Euphorbia hirta and aqueous extracts from Annona senegalensis and Parquetina nigrescens affected the growth and survival of C. elegans and O. ochengi significantly. The mortality was concentration dependent with an LC50 ranging between 0.38 and 4.00 mg/ml for C. elegans (after 72 h) and between 0.08 and 0.55 mg/ml for O. ochengi after a 24 h incubation time. Preliminary phytochemical screenings on these extracts revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, carbohydrates and tannins in the extracts. Accordingly, application of A. leiocarpus, K. senegalensis, E. hirta and A. senegalensis extracts could provide alternatives in the control of helminthic infections.
On nonlinear Alfvén-cyclotron waves in multi-species plasma
Authors: MARSCH ECKART , VERSCHAREN DANIEL
Published: September 2010

Large-amplitude Alfvén waves are ubiquitous in space plasmas and a main component of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence in the heliosphere. As pump waves, they are prone to parametric instability by which they can generate cyclotron and acoustic daughter waves. Here, we revisit a related process within the framework of the multi-fluid equations for a plasma consisting of many species. The nonlinear coupling of the Alfvén wave to acoustic waves is studied, and a set of compressive and coupled-wave equations for the transverse magnetic field and longitudinal electric field is derived for waves propagating along the mean-field direction. It turns out that slightly compressive Alfvén waves exert, through induced gyro-radius and kinetic-energy modulations, an electromotive force on the particles in association with a longitudinal electric field, which has a potential that is given by the gradient of the transverse kinetic energy of the particles gyrating about the mean field. This in turn drives electric fluctuations (sound and ion-acoustic waves) along the mean magnetic field, which can nonlinearly react back on the transverse magnetic field. Mutually coupled Alfvén-cyclotron--acoustic waves are thus excited, a nonlinear process that can drive a cascade of wave energy in the plasma, and may generate compressive microturbulence. These driven electric fluctuations might have consequences for the dissipation of an MHD turbulence and, thus, for the heating and acceleration of particles in the solar wind.
On the parametric decay of a circularly polarized wave
Authors: STENFLO LENNART , BRODIN GERT
Published: September 2010

The nonlinear decay of a circularly polarized wave is reconsidered. We deduce an explicit expression for the growth rate, and present it in a form which is significantly simpler than those of previous papers.
IDENTIFICATION IN TRIANGULAR SYSTEMS USING CONTROL FUNCTIONS
Authors: Kasy Maximilian
Published: September 2010

This note discusses identification in nonparametric, continuous triangular systems. It provides conditions that are both necessary and sufficient for the existence of control functions satisfying conditional independence and support requirements. Confirming a commonly noticed pattern, these conditions restrict the admissible dimensionality of unobserved heterogeneity in the first-stage structural relation, or more generally the dimensionality of the family of conditional distributions of second-stage heterogeneity given explanatory variables and instruments. These conditions imply that no such control function exists without assumptions that seem hard to justify in most applications. In particular, none exists in the context of a generic random coefficient model.
Mate guarding and social mating system in male common chameleons (Chamaeleo chamaeleon)
Authors: Cuadrado Mariano
Published: September 2010

Male common chameleons Chamaeleo chamaeleon actively followed the female closely as a typical mate guarding behaviour during the mating season. Guarding behaviour and spatial organization were studied in 34 radio‐tagged males in a population in southern Spain during three summers. Timing and extent of guarding were highly variable among males. Overall, guarding started on 16 August (range 28 July–5 September, n=34) and ended on 4 September (range 21 August–15 September, n=24) lasting 13.4 days (range 0–46 days, n=30). Males showed a polygynous serial‐type mating system where males sequentially guarded (and mated) several females during the breeding season but only one at a time. The number of guarded females (mean 2.8, range 0–8, n=34) and number of mates per male (mean 0.7, range 0–3, n=34) were also highly variable among males. In general, guarding males abandoned the females soon after mating in association with clear signs that females were no longer receptive. Males showed a remarkably complex spatial organization in close association with the home range of guarded females. Guarding behaviour resulted in territorial behaviour, and ‘stable’ as well as ‘mobile’ territories were recorded. In ‘stable’ territories, males defended non‐overlapping areas where the home range of one female or more was included. Although monogamy was the predominant mating system recorded in this population, social polygyny occurred in all study years. Polygynous groups were only feasible because females aggregated in small‐sized areas without apparent symptoms of intrasexual competition. Breeding asynchrony of females seems to influence this complex mating system as more competitive (large) males mated with large (early reproducing) females and small (late reproducing) ones (cf. Cuadrado, 1999). Most aggressive interactions were male–male chasing of a solitary intruder by a guarding male. A removal experiment of guarding males revealed that newcomers were small‐sized males, suggesting that an important fraction of males were acting as floaters searching for mating opportunities. Male characteristics (especially size and body weight) were the main factors influencing the spatial organization and the reproductive success of males in this population.
Debate on the authenticity of Pseudonovibos spiralis as a new species of wild bovid from Vietnam and Cambodia
Authors: Brandt John H. , Diolo Maurizio , Hassanin Alexandre , Melville Richard A. , Olson Link E. , Seveau Arnoult , Timm Robert M.
Published: September 2010

In the February 2001 issue of the Journal of Zoology a paper was published by Robert Timm and John Brandt (2001) that provided a new identification for two bovid frontlets held in the Kansas Natural History Museum. The frontlets had been collected in 1929 from Suoi Kiet, Binh Tuy Province in Vietnam and had been previously identified as kouprey Bos sauveli. Timm and Brandt re‐identified the two frontlets as adult male and female representatives of the recently described spiral‐horned ox Pseudonovibos spiralis Peter & Feiler, 1994.
Prey classification by Portia fimbriata, a salticid spider that specializes at preying on other salticids: species that elicit cryptic stalking
Authors: Harland Duane P. , Jackson Robert R.
Published: September 2010

Portia fimbriata from Queensland, Australia, is an araneophagic jumping spider (Salticidae) that includes in its predatory strategy a tactic (cryptic stalking) enabling it to prey effectively on common sympatric salticids from other genera. Using standardized tests in which only optical cues were available (prey enclosed in small glass vial within large cage), the reactions of P. fimbriata to 114 salticid species were investigated. Except for Myrmarachne spp. (ant mimics), all salticids tested triggered cryptic stalking by P. fimbriata. This included not only sympatric, but also allopatric, salticids. The salticid on which P. fimbriata most commonly preys in nature is Jacksonoides queenslandicus, but cryptic stalking was triggered by salticid species with considerably different appearances, including beetle mimics, species with unusual body shapes and species with a wide variety of camouflaging markings. Portia fimbriata was also tested with lycosid, clubionid, theridiid and desid spiders and with flies and ants, but none of these arthropods triggered cryptic stalking. Optical cues used by P. fimbriata for discrimination between salticid and non‐salticid prey are discussed.
Eruption rates of the mandibular incisors of naked mole‐rats (Heterocephalus glaber)
Authors: Berkovitz B. K. B. , Faulkes C. G.
Published: September 2010

Naked mole‐rats Heterocephalus glaber are highly social hystricomorph rodents endemic to the arid regions of East Africa. Living entirely underground, they excavate an extensive system of tunnels with their continuously growing extra‐buccal incisors. The majority of the burrow is composed of foraging tunnels, constructed in search of the underground roots and tubers that form their staple diet. Subterranean foraging imposes risks associated with not finding food, and a high energetic cost, and in addition could be limited by the rate of wear of the incisor teeth. The aim of this study was to determine eruption rates for mandibular incisors in naked mole‐rats to investigate whether they showed evidence of faster eruption as an adaptation to their subterranean niche and mode of digging. Impeded eruption rates (when the teeth were left in normal occlusion) were initially determined over a period of 1 week in a group of 12 naked mole‐rats kept in laboratory conditions. Unimpeded eruption rates were then monitored in the same animals by cutting one mandibular incisor free of occlusion thrice weekly, and measuring growth over a 2‐week period. Mean daily impeded eruption rates were c. 228.7±17.5 μm, while mean daily unimpeded rates were higher at c. 624.7±10.4 μm. While impeded eruption rates under laboratory conditions may be an underestimate of the rates occurring in the wild, unimpeded rates (usually about twice the impeded rate) indicate the maximum potential eruption rates of the teeth and are independent of functional activity. These data are not dissimilar from those determined for laboratory rodents and lagomorphs suggesting that the naked mole‐rat does not display unusual patterns of eruptive behaviour. Tooth wear resulting from their subterranean lifestyle may be offset as a limiting factor by the social behaviour of the naked mole‐rat, where digging activity is distributed among a large workforce during favourable burrowing conditions.
Host–parasite interactions in natural holes: marsh tits (Parus palustris) and blow flies (Protocalliphora falcozi)
Authors: Wesołowski Tomasz
Published: September 2010

Infestation of marsh tit (Parus palustris, Paridae, Passeriformes) broods by bloodsucking larvae of Protocalliphora falcozi Séguy 1928 (Calliphoridae, Diptera) was studied over an 8‐year period in a population breeding in natural holes, in the primeval forest (Białowieża National Park, eastern Poland). Overall 54% of 222 marsh tit nests were parasitized. Prevalence (27–88%) significantly changed across years. This variation did not depend on the timing of the marsh tit breeding season, or winter/spring temperatures. Frequency of infestation did not depend on forest type or hole attributes. Infestation intensity was rather low (median 8, max. 75 flies/nest, 85% of nests with <3 flies/young). Intensity and prevalence were weakly, but positively, correlated. Larger broods contained significantly more blow flies, but per nestling load did not depend on brood size. No effect of infestation on nestlings was recorded – their mortality did not increase, nor was fledging delayed. In response to the presence of blow flies, parents apparently attempted to increase their feeding rate. There was a clear reproductive cost: 60–63% of female and 68–69% of male marsh tits that had none up to eight blow flies, survived to the next spring, but only 34% of females and 44% of males with more than eight flies/brood did so. It is suggested that the small clutch size of marsh tits could have evolved, inter alia, to reduce the fitness costs of ectoparasites.
A spatial analysis of a population of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the Dutch coastal dune area
Authors: Dekker Jasja J. A. , Stein Alfred , Heitkönig Ignas M. A.
Published: September 2010

The red fox Vulpes vulpes is usually classified as being territorial, dispersing or transient. Past studies have focused almost exclusively on territorial or dispersing foxes, leaving transient foxes out of the analysis. In this paper, we present spatial‐statistical methods for the classification of free‐ranging foxes, using 95% fixed kernels and 100% minimum convex polygons. By means of these procedures we classify individual foxes on the basis of their spatial behaviour, using home‐range size and home range shift. Also, we make a methodological comparison between these classification procedures and interpret the composition of these classes ethologically. The procedures apply to a sample of 24 foxes, radio‐tracked in the dune area of the Netherlands from January 1997 to June 1999. We analysed size of home range and successive 3‐month overlap using a geographical information system (GIS). Classifying the sample using 95% fixed kernel home ranges resulted in two classes of foxes: a class of 20 territorial foxes with relatively small home ranges (<250 ha), and a class of four dispersing and transient foxes with relatively large home ranges (400–600 ha). This study shows that a fox population can be divided into different classes of individuals in a quantitative statistical way, honouring measured characteristics. This is a clear extension of more informal ways relying on expert judgement applied so far.
Feeding ecology of the loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta in the western Mediterranean
Authors: Tomas J. , Aznar F. J. , Raga J. A.
Published: September 2010

We studied the feeding ecology of juvenile loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta in the western Mediterranean based on the contents of the digestive tract of 54 turtles (range of CCL: 34–69 cm) seized in Barcelona (Spain) in 1991. Turtles had been captured in fishing trawls, but specific information about dates and localities is not available. Despite this limitation, we obtained interesting evidences about the foraging strategies of loggerheads, with potentially important conservation implications. We report 33 new taxa in the diet. Results indicated that western Mediterranean loggerheads feed in an opportunistic way. Numerically, fish made up the most important prey group, followed by pelagic tunicates, crustaceans, molluscs and other invertebrates. The importance of fish as a food resource has been rarely reported, and several lines of evidence indicated that fish were possibly consumed as discarded by‐catch. This raises the question over whether or not western Mediterranean fisheries are an important food source for juvenile loggerheads. The number and diversity of prey increased with turtle size, this may reflect the lack of prey selectivity of juvenile loggerheads coupled with a higher retention of food remains in larger turtles. Discounting prey that could be consumed as discarded by‐catch, dietary data suggest that most, if not all, loggerheads of our sample were captured in neritic habitats. However, many turtles contained remains of both pelagic and benthic‐demersal prey. These observations support the existence of an intermediate neritic phase in loggerheads' developmental shift from pelagic–oceanic to benthic–neritic foraging habitats, as previously suggested. During this phase, loggerheads would feed upon both pelagic and benthic prey.
Seasonal and interspecific evaluation of predation by mammals and birds on the introduced red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Crustacea, Cambaridae) in a freshwater marsh (Portugal)
Authors: Correia Alexandra Marçal
Published: September 2010

The crayfish Procambarus clarkii is an introduced species in Portugal, becoming a new available resource that has possibly changed local trophic relationships. The purpose of the present study was to understand better how a naïve assembly of predators reacted to a recent invader. Predation on P. clarkii by nine species of mammals (Order: Carnivora) and six species of birds (Order: Ciconiiformes) in a marsh area in Portugal, was surveyed through the collection of faeces and pellets over a 24‐month period. Seasonal variation in the consumption of this prey by different predators was evaluated, and estimation made of size and weight of P. clarkii consumed by them. Procambarus clarkii was readily preyed upon by four species of mammalian carnivores and five species of ciconiiform birds. The consumption of P. clarkii varied seasonally in both years with a trend between seasonal exploitation and its population structure and availability. Generally, the use of P. clarkii by all predators was more intense in spring, summer and autumn than in winter, and was directed towards larger and heavier individuals. These findings result from the population dynamics presented by P. clarkii in the marsh area studied here, since larger and heavier individuals were more available in spring, summer and autumn. Procambarus clarkii is an important food resource for mammals and birds and it seems to play a key role in the trophic interactions of the riparian and terrestrial communities of the marsh.
Dietary adaptations of extant and Neogene African suids
Authors: Harris J. M. , Cerling T. E.
Published: September 2010

Plio‐Pleistocene suid assemblages of sub‐Saharan Africa seem to have been derived from the immigration of Asian tetraconodontines during the late Miocene and of Asian suines in the mid Pliocene. Lineages of both subfamilies display evolutionary changes that decrease the length of the premolar row and increase the length, height and complexity of the molars. Such changes have proved useful for estimating the relative ages of the sites from which suid fossils have been retrieved. They have also been used for interpreting the probable habitat and as evidence of environmental change through time. Isotopic analyses of tooth enamel from extant suid species generally confirm field observations of their dietary preferences. Similar analyses of suid dental enamel from Neogene localities of eastern Africa provide information that partly supports previous interpretations of the diets of extinct suid species. The increase in size and complexity of nyanzachoere teeth reflects their exploitation of C4 vegetation, although the nyanzachoeres did not acquire their grazing habits until after contemporary perissodactyls and proboscideans had become dedicated C4 grazers. In contrast to earlier interpretations, kolpochoeres and metridiochoeres were already dedicated grazers by the time they became significant components of the East African biota. Like their living counterparts, the warthogs and forest hogs, metridiochoeres were less water‐dependent than kolpochoeres.
The effect of tooth wear on the feeding behaviour of free‐ranging koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus, Goldfuss)
Authors: Logan Murray , Sanson Gordon D.
Published: September 2010

The free‐ranging feeding behaviours of five adult koalas Phascolarctos cinereus with varying degrees of tooth wear were investigated using acoustically sensitive radio telemetry. An increase in tooth wear was found to be associated with a significant increase in the average amount of time spent feeding, average number of leaves consumed and the average number of daily chews. This suggests that koalas compensate for tooth wear by increasing food intake. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the average number of chews per leaf and average chew rate, suggesting a greater investment in processing each leaf.
Bells reduce predation of wildlife by domestic cats (Felis catus)
Authors: Ruxton Graeme D. , Thomas Sarah , Wright Jessica W.
Published: September 2010

Twenty‐one cat owners from a 100 km2 area, centred on Carnforth, Lancashire, England, recorded each dead prey item delivered by their cat or cats during an 8‐week period, following one of three experimental schedules, each of which required each cat to have a bell on a collar for only half of the time. The mean number of items each cat delivered to the owner was 2.9 in the 4 weeks when the cats had a bell attached, compared to 5.5 for the equivalent time when the bell was absent. The bell had no effect on the relative numbers of different prey types delivered, and there was no evidence that the cats adapted their hunting behaviour to reduce the effect of the bell over time.
Colony and social structure of the Ghana mole‐rat (Cryptomys zechi, Matchie) (Rodentia: Bathyergidae)
Authors: Yeboah S. , Dakwa K. B.
Published: September 2010

Some aspects of the colony and social structure of the Ghana mole‐rat Cryptomys zechi were studied in a mesic Guinea savanna woodland in Ghana. Colony size ranged between one and seven (average 3.6). The mean adult body weight was 217.9 g and the colony biomass was 634 g. Responsibility for colony safety in C. zechi, as revealed from order of capture in response to damage to the burrow system, is age dependent, with sub‐adults being the most frequent repairers. There are indications that male workers are more involved in colony maintenance than females and that the reproductive individuals, especially the males, perform little work. We discuss the finding that C. zechi although a social bathyergid, is close to the bottom of the sociality ladder.
Population dynamics of badgers (Meles meles) in Oxfordshire, U.K.: numbers, density and cohort life histories, and a possible role of climate change in population growth
Authors: Macdonald D. W. , Newman C.
Published: September 2010

Between 1987 and 1996 the numbers of badgers Meles meles in Wytham Woods rose from 60 to 228 adults. The area occupied by the population has not changed and thus density has also risen from 10 adult badgers/km2 to 38/km2. This rise parallels an increase in badger abundance seen across Britain in recent years. The hypothesis that this increase is either the consequence of improved badger protection or of changes in habitat can be rejected for this site. Instead, a link between increasing numbers and changing weather patterns, possibly resulting from climate change, is investigated. In particular, attention is drawn to a correlation between mild winters and heavier body weights of badgers in January. Furthermore socio‐spatial restructuring within the population may be the mechanism that has permitted high density to be sustainable. The increase in badger numbers at Wytham has not affected population sex ratio, which has remained relatively constant at parity throughout the study.
Visual capabilities in a crepuscular marsupial, the honey possum (Tarsipes rostratus): a visual approach to ecology
Authors: Arrese C. , Archer M. , Beazley L. D.
Published: September 2010

Behavioural and anatomical analyses were undertaken to determine the visual capabilities of a small nectivorous Australian marsupial, the honey possum Tarsipes rostratus. It is proposed that, despite a crepuscular lifestyle and a low visual acuity, vision contributes substantially to the honey possum's perception of its environment. Visual acuity, determined using a discrimination task, revealed a slightly higher performance in daylight (0.63 cycles/degree) than in moonlight and starlight (0.60 cycles/degree). Ultrastructural analysis of the outer retina revealed a rod to cone ratio comparable to that found in diurnal retinae (20:1 in the central retina). Two types of oil droplets were distinguished on the basis of size. The degree of neural convergence was also similar to that found in a diurnal retina, with a ratio of 12 photoreceptors:1 ganglion cell. The remarkable total field of view, approaching 240° of visual angle and including a binocular overlap of 80° in the horizontal plane, provides an efficient predator detection capacity. The visual capabilities of the honey possum are discussed in relation to its lifestyle and the associated visual requirements.
Pupillary mobility in four species of marsupials with differing lifestyles
Authors: Arrese Catherine
Published: September 2010

The pupillary response to the onset of bright light (10 000 lx) and darkness (4 lx) is compared in four species of Australian marsupials with different activity patterns. Maximal and minimal pupil width in relation to eye width was measured and the rate of change assessed. In the arrhythmic fat‐tailed dunnart Sminthopsis crassicaudata, there were marked changes in pupil size with the range of pupil width to eye width of 0.73–0.10; constriction was rapid (54% s−1) and dilatation slower at 10% s−1. The crepuscular honey possum Tarsipes rostratus had a small range of pupil size at 0.56–0.46, with constriction and dilatation being slow at 4% s−1 and 3% s−1, respectively. The strictly nocturnal burrowing bettong Bettongia lesueur had a small pupil with a limited size range of 0.21–0.12; constriction at 25% s−1 outstripped dilatation at 7% s−1. The greater bilby Macrotis lagotis, also strictly nocturnal, had a small and immobile pupil with a fixed pupil width to eye width ratio of 0.08. In conclusion, contrary to most previous assumptions, pupil size is not fixed in marsupials, and not all nocturnal animals possess a wide pupil. Moreover, as a regulatory process, pupillary mobility reflects more than a differentiation between diurnal or nocturnal condition, and seems to correlate with specific visual requirements. The results of this study are discussed in relation to the lifestyle of the species and the associated illumination levels, and as a method of predicting the marsupials' periods of activity in the field.
Effects of intermittent feeding on the growth of oophagous (Chirixalus eiffingeri) and herbivorous (Chirixalus idiootocus) tadpoles from Taiwan
Authors: Liang Min‐Fang , Huang Chen‐Huei , Kam Yeong‐Choy
Published: September 2010

The effects of intermittent feeding on the growth of oophagous Chirixalus eiffingeri and herbivorous Chirixalus idiootocus tadpoles were studied. Tadpoles were fed, once every 1, 2, 4, 8, 14, or 20 days (feeding treatments 1D, 2D, 4D, 8D, 14D, and 20D, respectively). At each feeding, C. eiffingeri were given yolk from chicken eggs, and those of C. idiootocus were given boiled spinach, ad libitum. For each species, each treatment consisted of 12 replicates of one tadpole each. For C. eiffingeri, the 1D feeding treatment was eliminated because the tadpoles were unwilling to eat daily. Chirixalus eiffingeri tadpoles in the 2D and 4D feeding treatments grew fastest, while tadpoles in the 20D treatment grew slowest. At least five tadpoles from each treatment, except 20D treatment, reached metamorphosis. Chirixalus idiootocus tadpoles in the 1D and 2D feeding treatments showed signs of growing, but tadpoles in the other four treatments did not grow at all. Only tadpoles in the 1D treatment reached metamorphosis. In another experiment, yolk digestion in the stomach of C. eiffingeri tadpoles was monitored. Yolk use was slow and egg yolk remained in the stomach for at least 8 days. Chirixalus idiootocus tadpoles could not tolerate long periods without food, probably because their digestive tract had a short clearance time and their stomach was incapable of long‐term food storage. In contrast, between feedings, C. eiffingeri tadpoles seemed to mobilize food stored in their stomach, providing a continuous supply of nutrition to facilitate normal growth and development. These results and observations provide important insights into the maternal brood care of female C. eiffingeri.
The unusual development of the sagittal crest in the Brazilian tapir (Tapirus terrestris)
Authors: Holbrook Luke T.
Published: September 2010

Two of the four living species of tapir (genus Tapirus) possess a distinct sagittal crest, but the development of this crest follows an unusual path in one species, T. terrestris. In T. pinchaque, T. bairdii, and T. indicus, as in other mammals, temporal ridges form on either side of the braincase, and, as postnatal ontogeny proceeds, these ridges migrate dorsad and mediad. In T. pinchaque and other mammals with a true sagittal crest, the temporal ridges eventually meet at the dorsal midline of the skull. In T. terrestris, paired temporal ridges never develop; instead, the crest simply erupts from the skull midline early in postnatal ontogeny. The sagittal crest continues to heighten, resulting in the tall crest that is characteristic of this species. Development of the sagittal crest is generally thought to be linked to the development of the temporalis muscle. Dissections of one adult and one neonate of T. terrestris indicate that the temporalis is strongly developed in this species and unusually extensive in its origin at an early age. A lack of comparative data forbids any conclusive statements about the relative development of this muscle as compared to that in other tapirs, but the unusual pattern of crest development seen in T. terrestris may be a consequence of the development of the temporalis muscle in this herbivorous ungulate. The pattern of crest development observed in T. terrestris is unique among tapirs, and perhaps among mammals. This explanation of the unusual sagittal crest morphology of T. terrestris is consistent with current interpretations of skull morphology and the taxonomy of Pleistocene Tapirus.
Factors influencing the distribution, abundance and diversity of geophilomorph and lithobiomorph centipedes
Authors: Blackburn James , Farrow Malcolm , Arthur Wallace
Published: September 2010

Geophilomorph and lithobiomorph centipedes were collected from 45 sampling sites spread across an area ofc.4000 km2in north‐east England. Data on physical variables were also collected at these sites, including the soil variables of pH, moisture content, organic content and compaction, which have been generally neglected in previous studies of centipede ecology. Fourteen species were found overall, evenly split between the two orders. Of these 14, three were ‘rare’ (≤ three individuals), six were ‘intermediate’ (10–50 individuals), and five were ‘common’ (100+ individuals). Analysis of presence/absence data on the intermediate species showed that the geophilomorphs were markedly synanthropic whereas the lithobiomorphs were not. More extensive analysis of the data on the five common species revealed a number of patterns, including: (1) a negative association between the two largest lithobiomorphs; (2) the importance of many predictor variables, including the soil variables, but with very different patterns for different species. Overall, synanthropic sites had the highest centipede diversities, but this effect was almost entirely caused by the synanthropic tendencies of the ‘intermediate’ geophilomorphs.
Dental polymorphism in a population of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) from Poland
Authors: Szuma Elwira
Published: September 2010

Dental polymorphism in a population of the red fox Vulpes vulpes (L.) from Poland was studied in a sample of 1453 specimens (637 males, 535 females and 281 specimens of unknown sex). Frequency distributions in 15 groups of morphotypes (A–O) were analysed and a pattern of qualitative features was constructed on the ground of frequency analysis of particular morphotypes. An increase in complication of tooth shape of the carnassial region (P4, P4, M1, M1), as well as higher morphological variation of the teeth from borders of the cheek rows (P1, P1, M2, M3) were ascertained. Almost all groups of morphotypes, excluding three, presented absence of significant sexual differences. The pattern of qualitative features was used to verify an existing model of genetic control of evolutionary changes in dental morphology of mammals. Positive, statistically significant relationships between the dental size and presence or degree of formation of the dental structures confirmed the operation of the size‐related mechanism, i.e. threshold mechanism, during ontogeny.
Patterns of growth and the effects of scale on the feeding kinematics of the nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum)
Authors: Robinson Michael P. , Motta Philip J.
Published: September 2010

Successful capture of prey often depends, in part, on the magnitude, duration and speed of feeding behaviours. Animal size and experience are potentially important to these aspects of behaviour, but the effects of scale on the muscular dynamics of and capture by aquatic vertebrates remain relatively unknown. This study examines scale effects on prey capture kinematics in the nurse shark Ginglymostoma cirratum, an inertial suction feeder. Morphometric analyses were performed on the heads and feeding apparati of 12 specimens between 71 and 244 cm total length (TL). These data indicated isometric growth of the feeding apparatus. The kinematics of prey capture in another 12 specimens (33 to 268 cm TL) were recorded with high speed video (200 fps). Across the size range, maximal angular excursions remained constant whereas the maxima of linear excursions increased isometrically. However, various phases of the prey capture sequence apparently did not increase in duration. Regressions of the components of prey capture timing generally had slopes between 0 and 0.5, supporting a model of muscular scaling initially proposed for largemouth bass. This model implies that increases in the duration of prey capture are the result of physiological constraints on muscular contraction. There is also a pattern of scaling across several taxa of aquatic vertebrates consistent with a second model of musculoskeletal scaling, although it does not necessarily apply within each taxon.
No lunar phobia in swarming insectivorous bats (family Vespertilionidae)
Authors: Karlsson Britt‐Louise , Eklöf Johan , Rydell Jens
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of moonlight on the swarming activity of bats at an abandoned mine in southern Sweden. The mine serves as a hibernaculum for six species of insectivorous bats. Swarming activity at one of the mine entrances was measured on 12 nights between 1 August and 8 September 2000, by electronically counting the number of bats passing through an opening (about 30×40 cm) leading to a mine tunnel. The number of bat passes outside the mine was also counted, using a bat detector. Most bats were males, as confirmed by mist‐netting outside the mine. Low frequency vocalizations, indicating territorial interactions, were heard frequently. The number of bats entering the mine was closely correlated with the number of bats flying outside, and neither was affected by moonlight. We conclude that the insectivorous bats at high latitudes may not have been exposed to significant nocturnal predator pressure, leading to the evolution of lunar phobia, as have many tropical bats.
The hepatopancreas of Scorpio maurus fuscus; seasonal changes in mass and water content as related to gender and oogenesis
Authors: Warburg M. R. , Elias Rivka , Rosenberg Mira
Published: September 2010

Changes in hepatopancreas mass in nymphs, male and female Scorpio maurus fuscus (Scorpiones, Scorpionidae) from northern Israel, were followed through the year, and its percentage water content calculated. The hepatopancreas mass was positively correlated with body mass in males, females and nymphs, and changed significantly with season. In nymphs it ranged between 0.1549 g and 0.5351 g, in males between 0.1631 g and 0.3431 g, and in females between 0.2240 g and 0.6669 g. The hepatopancreas mass of males differed significantly from that of females during summer and autumn, and from nymphs during summer and winter. The hepatopancreas mass of nymphs differed significantly from that of females during autumn, winter and spring. In females, the hepatopancreas mass increased from autumn to spring. During that time, the embryonic diverticula (Ed) containing the embryos increase in number and size during embryogenesis. The depletion of the hepatopancreas mass is positively correlated with the Ed during the latter part of the gestation period before parturition. The percentage water content of the hepatopancreas ranged between 47.8% and 68.4%, and varied seasonally as well as between the genders. It is suggested that these changes in both hepatopancreas mass and water content are related to physiological events such as growing and moulting in nymphs, feeding and mating activities in males and the oogenetic cycle in females.
The hair cuticle of mammals and its relationship to functions of the hair coat
Authors: Meyer W. , Schnapper A. , Hülmann G.
Published: September 2010

Based on a computer‐assisted method and regression analysis several structural parameters of the hair cuticle pattern of primary hairs of 94 mammalian species from seven orders were evaluated and compared between the different groups studied. Relevant relationships could only be demonstrated for directly scale‐dependent parameters (scale area, scale perimeter, ratio of scale width to height). However, the species‐specific shape and size of hair cuticle scales in mammals may be of certain value for biological interpretations of hair coat structure and function. This seems to be especially true for the Canidae and the Felidae, and even more for small mammals (insectivores, chiropterans, small rodents). In the latter group relationships between scale‐dependent parameters and hair coat density indicate a homogeneity of hair coat structure which reflects effective insulation qualities.
Attendance patterns of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) and their young during winter
Authors: Trites Andrew W. , Porter Boyd T.
Published: September 2010

Winter attendance patterns of lactating Steller sea lions Eumetopias jubatus and their offspring were recorded during the late stages of nursing when the young were expected to move from milk to independent foraging. Trip duration and nursing visits to shore by 24 mothers with pups (7–9 months old) and six mothers with yearlings (19–21 months old) were noted during 600 h of observations (from 22 January to 1 April 1996) at a non‐breeding haulout site in south‐eastern Alaska. Pups and yearlings tended to stay on or near the haulout while their mothers were away and showed no signs of weaning during winter. Their average trips to sea were 43% shorter in duration than those of lactating females, suggesting that pups and yearlings make independent trips away from the haulout while their mothers forage. The winter attendance cycle of lactating females (consisting of one trip to sea and one visit on land) averaged about 3 days, with the mothers of pups spending an average of 15 h of this time onshore with their offspring. The winter attendance cycle of pups and yearlings averaged just over 2 days, with the immature sea lions spending an average of 22 h on shore. Foraging trips by mothers of yearlings were significantly longer than those by mothers of pups. However, there was no significant difference in the foraging times of mothers of male and female pups. Lactating females spent more time at sea during winter than during summer. The probability of sighting an individual on the winter haulout during daylight hours was 15% for lactating females and 40% for immature animals.
The photophores of the squid family Cranchiidae (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida)
Authors: Herring Peter J. , Dilly P. N. , Cope Celia
Published: September 2010

Examples of the ocular, digestive gland and brachial end‐organ photophores of specimens from all 13 cranchiid genera are described. The cranchiine and taoniine subgroups have different ocular photophore morphologies, but very similar brachial end‐organs in adult females. Most taoniines have ocular photophores that contain large numbers of crystalloids, but these are lacking in Helicocranchia and Sandalops. There are no crystalloids in cranchiine ocular photophores, in taoniine digestive gland photophores (Megalocranchia) or in the brachial end‐organs of both groups. The cranchiine Leachia atlantica uniquely has one group of photocytes that contain aggregates with some similarities to the taoniine crystalloids. The end‐organs of mature females have a glandular structure; the deciduous photocytes are structurally different from those present in the ocular or digestive gland photophores. The reflectors of Sandalops and Megalocranchia contain unusual arrangements of iridosomal platelets. End‐organs lack any reflective structures. The comparative anatomy of the photophores supports the separation of the cranchiine and taoniine groups but the ultrastructural detail provides common links between the two.