In this activity, learners will analyze Steller sea lion population trends using real data from the National Marine Mammal Laboratory's Alaska Fisheries Science Center. The objectives in this activity are to identify the differences between seals and sea lions, name factors contributing to the population decline of Steller sea lions and compare and graph Steller sea lion population numbers.

Mink became infected with San Miguel sea lion virus when fed ground meat from seal carcasses showing vesicular-like lesions in the skin. The mink also contracted the infection when they were fed San Miguel sea lion virus infected pig meat or cell culture propagated virus. San Miguel sea lion virus i...

California sea lions are one of the major marine mammal species along the Pacific coast of North America. Sea lions are susceptible to a wide variety of viruses, some of which can be transmitted to or from terrestrial mammals. Using an unbiased viral metagenomic approach, we surveyed the fecal virome in California sea lions of different ages and health statuses. Averages of 1.6 and 2.5 distinct mammalian viral species were shed by pups and juvenile sea lions, respectively. Previously undescribed mammalian viruses from four RNA virus families (Astroviridae, Picornaviridae, Caliciviridae, and Reoviridae) and one DNA virus family (Parvoviridae) were characterized. The first complete or partial genomes of sapeloviruses, sapoviruses, noroviruses, and bocavirus in marine mammals are reported. Astroviruses and bocaviruses showed the highest prevalence and abundance in California sea lion feces. The diversity of bacteriophages was higher in unweaned sea lion pups than in juveniles and animals in rehabilitation, where the phage community consisted largely of phages related to the family Microviridae. This study increases our understanding of the viral diversity in marine mammals, highlights the high rate of enteric viral infections in these highly social carnivores, and may be used as a baseline viral survey for comparison with samples from California sea lions during unexplained disease outbreaks. PMID:16778837

...of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Dr. South, Box 723905, Los Angeles, California 90095-7239 to conduct research on California sea lions (Zalophus...

...Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Missile Launch Operations From San Nicolas Island...species of seals and sea lions incidental to missile launch operations from San Nicolas Island...californianus), by harassment, incidental to missile launch operations at SNI, were...

Populations of sea otters, seals and sea lions have collapsed across much of southwest Alaska over the past several decades. The sea otter decline set off a trophic cascade in which the coastal marine ecosystem underwent a phase shift from kelp forests to deforested sea urchin barrens. This interact...

We present an analysis of the distribution of bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus schools spotted during aerial surveys in the Gulf of Lions, in relation to oceanographic features. Bio-optical and thermal properties of the sea surface derived from high-resolution sensors (AVHRR and SeaWiFS) were studied on...

...DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket...EL10-84-000] CAlifornians for Renewable Energy, Inc. (CARE) v. Pacific Gas...2010), CAlifornians for Renewable Energy, Inc. (Complainant)...

Objective? The importance of tear film integrity to ocular health in terrestrial mammals is well established, however, in marine mammals, the role of the tear film in protection of the ocular surface is not known. In an effort to better understand the function of tears in maintaining health of the marine mammal eye surface, we examined ocular glands of the California sea lion and began to characterize the biochemical nature of the tear film of pinnipeds. Procedures? Glands dissected from California sea lion eyelids and adnexa were examined for gross morphology, sectioned for microscopic analysis, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The tear film was examined using interferometry. Tears were collected from humans and pinnipeds for the analysis of protein and carbohydrate content. Results? The sea lion has sebaceous glands in the lid, but these glands are different in size and orientation compared with typical meibomian glands of terrestrial mammals. Two other accessory ocular glands located dorsotemporally and medially appeared to be identical in morphology, with tubulo-acinar morphology. An outer lipid layer on the ocular surface of the sea lion was not detected using interferometry, consistent with the absence of typical meibomian glands. Similar to human tears, the tears of pinnipeds contain several proteins but the ratio of carbohydrate to protein was greater than that in human tears. Conclusions? Our findings indicate that the ocular gland architecture and biochemical nature of the tear film of pinnipeds have evolved to adapt to the challenges of an aquatic environment. PMID:23067374

...location, number of times sampled per year...monitoring collects data on invertebrate larval...visited two to three times per month for sampling...negative low tide series. Due to the large...Steller sea lions to desert a breeding area at...sites one to three times per year for a...

Domoic acid (DA) is a neurotoxin produced by the harmful algae Pseudo-nitzschia that has been directly linked to mass stranding events of the California Sea Lion (CSL). The purpose of this paper is to review the anthropogenic influence on the production of this neurotoxin and examine how human activ...

This document contains 15 papers. Topics include a review of some California fisheries, spawning biomass of the northern anchovy, marine fisheries, habitat alterations, fishery management, reproduction, population dynamics, acoustic Doppler currents and sea lion interaction and depredation. Each paper will be indexed and entered separately on the energy data base. 54 figs., 29 tabs. (KD)

The spatial structure of demersal fish assemblages on the continental shelf of the NW Mediterranean Sea was examined on a large scale between the Straits of Gibraltar and the Gulf of Lions. In contrast to its predominant role in the spatial distribution of species composition, described worldwide, i...

The Vancouver Aquarium conducts cutting edge cetacean, especially the killer whale, research in addition to being a fully-accredited newly-expanded aquarium. This website lets visitors learn about their cetacean and sea lion studies, marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, and killer whale adoption program. The website describes the killer whale mating patterns, genetic analysis, and long-term monitoring efforts of the Aquarium.

Dolphins, manatees, and sea lions are all aquatic mammals but are not closely related taxonomically. All three species are marine mammals, meaning they spend part or all of their lives in the sea and contiguous bodies of water. Dolphins belong to the taxonomic order Cetacea, which includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Manatees (sea cows), however, belong to the order Sirenia, which also includes the dugong. Sea lions were once placed in the order Pinnipedia, with seals, but now belong to the order Carnivora with bears, dogs, and raccoons. Even though these species at first glance may seem similar, the way they are classified shows that each has very different characteristics and abilities. The specific characteristics and abilities are outlined in this article.

Abstract in spanish Se estimó la distribución y la abundancia poblacional del lobo marino común Otaria flavescens en la costa de Chile central durante los meses de enero y febrero de 2007. Adicionalmente, se analizaron los cambios en la abundancia de esta especie durante el período 1970-2007. Los censos poblacionales se basaron en fotografías tomadas desde embarcaciones menores o desde avionetas. Se contabilizaron un total de 16301 lobos marinos (IC = 16209-16375) en 33 colonias (6 repr (more) oductivas y 27 no reproductivas). Después de corregir por la proporción de animales en el agua y por crías no registradas al momento del censo, se estimó una abundancia promedio de 18179 (95 % CI = 17777-18851) lobos marinos en el área de estudio. El análisis de tendencia poblacional presentó que desde 1970 a 1985 la abundancia-lobo marino com-mostró una tendencia positiva de aproximadamente 2.1 % año-1. Sin embargo, entre 1985 a 1997, y entre 1997 a 2007, el número de lobos marinos muestra una tendencia estable o ligeramente negativa de 0.4 ± 0.1 % año-1 y 0.5 ± 0.1 % año-1, respectivamente. Se sugiere que la sobreexplotación y la declinación de las principales pesquerías en la zona central de Chife podría haber impactado negativamente la distribución y abundancia del lobo marino común en el área de estudio. Abstract in english The onshore distribution and abundance of the South American sea lion Otaria flavescens along the central Chilean coast was estimated during the period January-February 2007. Additionally, changes in population abundance during the period 1970-2007 were examined. Population surveys were based on photographs taken from boats or aircraft. A total of 16301 sea lions (CI = 16209-16375) were counted in 33 colonies (6 breeding and 27 non-breeding sites). After correction to acc (more) ount for the proportion of individuals at sea and for pups not seen at the time of the survey, the mean estimated abundance was 18179 (95 % CI = 17777-18851) sea lions. Population trend analysis showed that from 1970 to 1985, South American sea lions showed a positive increase of approximately 2.1 % yr-1. Nevertheless, between 1985 and 1997 and between 1997 and 2007, the estimated number of sea lions showed a stable or slightly negative trend of 0.4 ± 0.1 % yr-1and 0.5 ± 0.1 % yr-1, respectively. We suggest that the overexploitation and decline of the principal fisheries in Central Chile could adversely impact the abundance and distribution of the South American sea lion in the study area.

Sporadic cases of cryptococcosis have been reported in marine mammals, typically due to Cryptococcus neoformans and, more recently, to Cryptococcus gattii in cetaceans. Cryptococcus albidus, a ubiquitous fungal species not typically considered to be pathogenic, was recovered from a juvenile California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) rescued near San Francisco Bay, California. Yeast morphologically consistent with a Cryptococcus sp. was identified histologically in a lymph node and C. albidus was identified by an rDNA sequence from the lung. Infection with C. albidus was thought to have contributed to mortality in this sea lion, along with concurrent bacterial pneumonia. Cryptococcus albidus should be considered as a potential pathogen with a role in marine mammal morbidity and mortality. PMID:23060504

Tissue cadmium and zinc levels in Steller sea lions have been analysed to elucidate the body distribution of these metals and their age-related accumulation. A significant correlation between age (0.7-8.8 year old) and renal and hepatic cadmium concentration was noted. Of the tissues examined, the kidney manifested the highest cadmium content (mean: 20.9 ..mu..g g/sup -1/ dry wt). A similar zinc distribution pattern was observed; its concentration was more uniform among tissues than that of cadmium. The tissue cadmium concentration in the Steller sea lion was lower than in other pinnipeds from various areas, possibly due to their feeding habits which may represent a major pathway of metal accumulation.

Lung collapse is considered the primary mechanism that limits nitrogen absorption and decreases the risk of decompression sickness in deep-diving marine mammals. Continuous arterial partial pressure of oxygen profiles in a free-diving female California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) revealed that (i) depth of lung collapse was near 225 m as evidenced by abrupt changes in during descent and ascent, (ii) depth of lung collapse was positively related to maximum dive depth, suggesting that the sea lion increased inhaled air volume in deeper dives and (iii) lung collapse at depth preserved a pulmonary oxygen reservoir that supplemented blood oxygen during ascent so that mean end-of-dive arterial was 74 ± 17 mmHg (greater than 85% haemoglobin saturation). Such information is critical to the understanding and the modelling of both nitrogen and oxygen transport in diving marine mammals. PMID:22993241

...DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket...EL10-84-001] Californians for Renewable Energy, Inc. (CARE) v. Pacific Gas...CFR 385.215, CAlifornians for Renewable Energy, Inc. (Complainant)...

...Docket No. EL12-82-000] Californians for Renewable Energy, Inc., Michael E. Boyd, Robert M. Sarvey...Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA), Californians for Renewable Energy, Inc., Michael E. Boyd, and Robert M....

Abstract in portuguese O leão marinho da Califórnia (Zalophus californianus californianus) é a única espécie de Otariidae (PINNIPEDIA) que vive em permanência no Golfo da Califórnia, México. Vive em grupos, principalmente em rochas, ilhas ou porções de praias de algumas ilhas. Este artigo descreve pela primeira vez as variações da abundância e estrutura populacional dos leões marinhos desta região, nas quatro estações do ano. Realizamos seis censos, entre Outubro de 1989 e Jane (more) iro de 1992 (3 censos correspondendo ao outono e um a cada uma das outras estações. Os censos foram feitos de barco, em terra ou combinados, com contagem direta e separando os indivíduos em 5 classes de idade e sexo. As estimativas de abundância variaram de 17,162 indivíduos, em Julho de 1990 (na Primavera), ao mínimo de 7,470, no Inverno de 1992, o que representa uma redução de 10,000 leões marinhos. A hipótese da migração de parte da população para o Oceano Pacífico é discutida e comparada com a de residência da população, bem como a nossa proposta de uma dispersão dos indivíduos pelo Golfo do Califórnia. Abstract in english This paper describes for the first time the relative abundance, population structure and numeric variation of California sea lions in the Gulf of California, Mexico, during four different seasons. The relative abundance estimates varied from the highest 17,162 sea lions in July of 1990 (summer) to a minimum 7,470 in February of 1992 (winter), representing a reduction of 10,000 sea lions. Hypotheses about the migration of part of the population to the Pacific Ocean were co (more) mpared and discussed against their residency inside the Gulf, and seasonal dispersion of individuals along this inner sea.

The Mediterranean Sea is a region of intense air?sea interactions, with in particular strong evaporation over sea which drives the thermohaline circulation. The Mediterranean region is also prone to strong precipitation events characterized by low spatial extent, short duration, and high temporal variability. The impacts of intense offshore precipitation over sea, in the Gulf of Lions which is a spot for winter deep convection, are investigated using four sensitivity simulations performed at mesoscale resolution with the eddy-resolving regional ocean model NEMO-MED12. We use various atmospheric fields to force NEMO-MED12, downscaled from reanalyses with the non-hydrostatic mesoscale Weather Research and Forecasting model but differing in space resolutions (20 and 6.7?km) or in time frequen...

Mammalian sweet taste is primarily mediated by the type 1 taste receptor Tas1r2/Tas1r3, whereas Tas1r1/Tas1r3 act as the principal umami taste receptor. Bitter taste is mediated by a different group of G protein-coupled receptors, the Tas2rs, numbering 3 to ?66, depending on the species. We showed previously that the behavioral indifference of cats toward sweet-tasting compounds can be explained by the pseudogenization of the Tas1r2 gene, which encodes the Tas1r2 receptor. To examine the generality of this finding, we sequenced the entire coding region of Tas1r2 from 12 species in the order Carnivora. Seven of these nonfeline species, all of which are exclusive meat eaters, also have independently pseudogenized Tas1r2 caused by ORF-disrupting mutations. Fittingly, the purifying selection pressure is markedly relaxed in these species with a pseudogenized Tas1r2. In behavioral tests, the Asian otter (defective Tas1r2) showed no preference for sweet compounds, but the spectacled bear (intact Tas1r2) did. In addition to the inactivation of Tas1r2, we found that sea lion Tas1r1 and Tas1r3 are also pseudogenized, consistent with their unique feeding behavior, which entails swallowing food whole without chewing. The extensive loss of Tas1r receptor function is not restricted to the sea lion: the bottlenose dolphin, which evolved independently from the sea lion but displays similar feeding behavior, also has all three Tas1rs inactivated, and may also lack functional bitter receptors. These data provide strong support for the view that loss of taste receptor function in mammals is widespread and directly related to feeding specializations. PMID:22411809

Sea lion mortalities in central California during May and June 1998 were traced to their ingestion of sardines and anchovies that had accumulated the neurotoxin domoic acid. The detection of toxin in urine, feces, and stomach contents of several sea lions represents the first proven occurrence of domoic acid transfer through the food chain to a marine mammal. The pennate diatoms, Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries and P. australis, were the dominant, toxin-producing phytoplankton constituting algal blooms near Monterey Bay, Half Moon Bay, and Oceano Dunes, areas where sea lions with neurological symptoms stranded. Toxic Pseudo-nitzschia were also found near Morrow Bay, Point Conception, Point Arguello, and Santa Barbara, demonstrating that these species were widespread along the central California coast in June 1998. Measurements of domoic acid during three cruises in early June showed the highest cellular toxin levels in P. multiseries near Point A?o Nuevo and in P. australis from Morro w Bay. Maximum cellular domoic acid levels were observed within 20 km of the coast between 0 and 5 m depth, although toxin was also measured to depths of 40 m. Hydrographic data indicated that the highest toxin levels and greatest numbers of toxic cells were positioned in water masses associated with upwelling zones near coastal headlands. Nutrient levels at these sites were less than those typically measured during periods of active upwelling, due to the 1998 El Ni?o event. The flow of cells and/or nutrients from coastal headlands into embayments where cells can multiply in a stratified environment is a possible mechanism of bloom development along the central California coast. This coupling of toxic Pseudo-nitzschia growth near upwelling zones with physical processes involved in cell transport will be understood only when long-term measurements are made at several key coastal locations, aiding in our capability to predict domoic-acid producing algal blooms.

Five novel DNA-dependent DNA polymerase (Dpol) herpesviral sequences were generated using nested consensus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in clinical samples from a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), orca (Orcinus orca), California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), and a Phocid herpesvirus 2 (PhHV-2) isolate from a harbor seal (used as positive control). These novel sequences and other representative herpesvirus sequences were included in Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood analyses to illustrate the phylogeny of herpesviruses amongst the marine mammal host species and in comparison to those of other animals. All 19 novel and known marine mammal herpesviruses included in the analyses aligned with members of the Alphaherpesvirinae or Gammaherpesvirinae subf...

We analyze willingness to pay (WTP) for environmental programs whose time periods of benefit and repayment differ, using a net present value framework that identifies parameters of both WTP and personal discount rates. Respondents to a contingent valuation survey focusing on protection of critical habitat buffer zones for the endangered Steller Sea Lion in Alaska were asked their willingness to pay for 1-, 5-, and 15-year repayment periods. We jointly estimate the personal discount rates and WTP via maximum likelihood, and compare with a model assuming a fixed, market discount rate.

Retrievals of total sea ice concentration from four algorithms using the 85.5 GHz vertically and horizontally polarized channels of the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) over the marginal ice zone in the Barents and Greenland Seas are compared with retrievals of total sea ice concentration from helicopter-borne linescan camera observations made during a cruise of the R/V Polarstern during May-June 1997. The goals are to evaluate (1) SSM/I 85.5 GHz retrievals of total sea ice concentration for climatological purposes, and (2) the ability of 85.5 GHz data to show the sea ice edge through cloud cover, for operational purposes. The SSM/I 85.5 GHz channels offer a spatial resolution of 12.5 km, which is sufficient to resolve ice edge features and small polynyas; however, there is generally more atmospheric contamination of the sea ice signal at 85.5 GHz than at the lower frequencies (19 and 37 GHz) traditionally used for sea ice remote sensing. A self-adjusting algorithm that performs a nonlinear correction for atmospheric moisture, without explicit atmospheric input data, yields the best accuracy over total sea ice concentrations greater than 30%. However, this algorithm can misclassify clouds over open water as sea ice, and is therefore unreliable for locating the sea ice edge. The best algorithm for locating the sea ice edge is found to be the SEA LION algorithm, which explicitly uses meteorological reanalysis data to correct for atmospheric contamination. For total sea ice concentrations in the range 20-70%, empirical 85.5 GHz hybrids of lower-frequency algorithms developed at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center can improve the accuracy of these algorithms.

Abstract in spanish La explotación humana puede causar cuellos de botella genéticos asociados con una variabilidad genética reducida y menor aptitud. La población del lobo marino de California (Zalophus californianus) en el Golfo de California, México, fue objeto de una explotación prolongada durante los siglos XIX y XX que pudo haber causado un cuello de botella genético. Sin embargo, la explotación que deriva tamaños poblacionales bajos no siempre causa cuellos de botella genétic (more) os. El conocimiento de las consecuencias genéticas de la caza del lobo marino de California es crítico para la conservación de la población del Golfo de California, que está en declive y es genéticamente distinta de otras poblaciones. En este estudio usamos una base de datos de 10 marcadores polimórficos de microsatélite amplificados en 355 individuos pertenecientes a seis colonias mexicanas. Estos datos fueron analizados con diversos métodos (BOTTLENECK y razón M) para determinar si ocurrió un cuello de botella genético. Nuestros resultados indican que la explotación histórica del lobo marino no causó un cuello de botella genético en la población del Golfo de California; sin embargo, las simulaciones sugieren que si la población hubiese sido reducida a menos de 100 individuos sí hubiésemos detectado una reducción de la variabilidad genética. Con base en estos resultados concluimos que la explotación histórica de esta población no fue tan intensa como se pensaba previamente y, por tanto, no causó un cuello de botella genético. No obstante, la explotación se concentró en machos adultos y este sesgo podría haber afectado la dinámica poblacional de estas colonias y su aptitud general. Abstract in english Human exploitation can lead to genetic bottlenecks associated with reduced genetic variability and lower fitness. The population of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) in the Gulf of California, Mexico, was hunted during the 19th and 20th centuries, potentially leading to a genetic bottleneck; however, even exploitation that leads to low population sizes does not always cause genetic bottlenecks. Understanding the genetic consequences of past sea lion hunts is c (more) ritical to the conservation of the Gulf of California sea lion population, which is currently declining and is genetically distinct from other populations. We used available data from 10 amplified polymorphic microsatellite loci in 355 individuals from six Mexican colonies. Microsatellite data were analyzed using diverse approaches (BOTTLENECK and M-ratio) to determine if a genetic bottleneck had occurred. Our results indicate that human exploitation did not cause a genetic bottleneck in the sea lion population of the Gulf of California. Simulation analyses revealed that a reduction in genetic variability would have been detected if fewer than 100 individuals had remained after exploitation. We conclude that past exploitation was not as severe as previously thought and did not cause a genetic bottleneck in the Gulf of California sea lion population. Nevertheless, historical hunts specifically targeted adult males and this sex-biased exploitation may have influenced the population dynamics and overall fitness.

The planktonic foraminiferal record of core MD99-2346 (Gulf of Lion) shows a decrease of sea surface temperature (SST) at the time of Heinrich event H2 (24?23.5?cal kyr BP), Younger Dryas and during the early to middle Holocene. These events were associated with a decrease of surface water salinity. The salinity lowering events were similar and synchronous to those recorded in the North Atlantic Ocean during H1, H2 and the Younger Dryas. They can be explained by a decrease in the salinity of the Atlantic surface water entering the Mediterranean through the Strait of Gibraltar. This result indicates that the Mediterranean Sea remained a concentration basin and that its freshwater budget was not significantly different from the modern conditions at the time of these low salinity events. High...

...Most lions in the Central African region are found in the Sahel savannah belt (Bauer and Van Der Merwe 2004, p. 30). The...isolated populations remaining scattered chiefly through the Sahel area. Lions are declining even in some protected areas...

The Lions Club, Bellegarde Pays de Gex, organised a visit to CERN and to Voltaire's castle for the delegates of the Lions de Charente and the winners of a scientific competition organized by them (1/2 page).

Recent studies indicate that trophy hunting is impacting negatively on some lion populations, notably in Tanzania. In 2004 there was a proposal to list lions on CITES Appendix I and in 2011 animal-welfare groups petitioned the United States government to list lions as endangered under their Endangered Species Act. Such listings would likely curtail the trophy hunting of lions by limiting the import of lion trophies. Concurrent efforts are underway to encourage the European Union to ban lion trophy imports. We assessed the significance of lions to the financial viability of trophy hunting across five countries to help determine the financial impact and advisability of the proposed trade restrictions. Lion hunts attract the highest mean prices (US$24,000-US$71,000) of all trophy species. Lions generate 5-17% of gross trophy hunting income on national levels, the proportional significance highest in Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia. If lion hunting was effectively precluded, trophy hunting could potentially become financially unviable across at least 59,538 km(2) that could result in a concomitant loss of habitat. However, the loss of lion hunting could have other potentially broader negative impacts including reduction of competitiveness of wildlife-based land uses relative to ecologically unfavourable alternatives. Restrictions on lion hunting may also reduce tolerance for the species among communities where local people benefit from trophy hunting, and may reduce funds available for anti-poaching. If lion off-takes were reduced to recommended maximums (0.5/1000 km(2)), the loss of viability and reduction in profitability would be much lower than if lion hunting was stopped altogether (7,005 km(2)). We recommend that interventions focus on reducing off-takes to sustainable levels, implementing age-based regulations and improving governance of trophy hunting. Such measures could ensure sustainability, while retaining incentives for the conservation of lions and their habitat from hunting. PMID:22247772

In 1998, domoic acid (DA) toxicosis was first documented in marine mammals, when more than 400 California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) were determined to have been exposed to DA through contaminated prey that was linked to a bloom of toxin-producing diatoms. Over the last fifteen years, these blooms have increased in frequency and distribution, and DA toxicosis has become a more complex disease. Evidence with laboratory animals show that DA can cause epilepsy, may affect brain development, and may have synergistic effects with some pollutants. Detecting these effects in marine mammals requires quantitative methods to evaluate brain morphology in live animals. In this study, our goal was to employ magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the morphologic effects of DA toxicosis on t...

Consumption of marine organisms represents one of the main exposure sources of contaminants for human populations. To obtain a global view of the contamination in commercial fish in the NW Mediterranean Sea, we analysed four types of priority contaminants (PCBs, PBDEs, Hg and (137)Cs) in the European hake, Merluccius merluccius, from the Gulf of Lions in relation with organism's trophic level (?(15)N). All contaminants presented a significant increase in concentration in hake muscle with trophic level. However, obvious differences between contaminants were evidenced. Biomagnification factors (BMF and FWMF) along the hake food web were higher for Hg and CB-153 than for BDE-47 and (137)Cs, and increase in contaminant concentration with trophic level occurred at different rates depending on contaminants. Such differences of biomagnification patterns can be related to physico-chemical properties of the different contaminants. PMID:22404970

Habitat fragmentation is a major force that will influence the evolution of a species and its distribution range. Pomatoschistus minutus, the sand goby, has a North Atlantic Mediterranean distribution and shows various level of habitat fragmentation along its geographic repartition. The use of mitochondrial sequences of the cytochrome b (cyt b) gene and two co dominant sets of nuclear markers (introns and microsatellites) allowed us to describe the relationships between P. minutus populations belonging to several different geographical regions of Europe and to assess the structure of populations inhabiting the Golfe du Lion, along the French Mediterranean coast. The present study confirms that the taxon located in the Adriatic Sea (Venice) should be considered as a distinct species, separa...

Coastal mesoscale eddies were evidenced during a high-frequency radar campaign in the Gulf of Lions (GoL), northwestern Mediterranean Sea, from June 2005 to January 2007. These anticyclonic eddies are characterized by repeated and intermittent occurrences as well as variable lifetime. This paper aims at studying the link between these new surface observations with similar structures suggested at depth by traditional acoustic Doppler current profiler measurements and investigates the eddy generation and driving mechanisms by means of an academic numerical study. The influence of the wind forcing on the GoL circulation and the eddy generation is analyzed, using a number of idealized configurations in order to investigate the interaction with river discharge, buoyancy, and bathymetric effects...

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a multi trial diagnostic and prognostic approach, based on nondestructive bio markers and residue analyses, to evaluate eco toxicological risk to endangered species of southwest Atlantic pinnipeds. Two colonies of the sea lion Otaria flavescens, one located in a heavily polluted harbour (Mar del Plata, Argentina) and the other in a `remote area` (Punta Bermeja, Patagonia, Argentina) were the subject of this preliminary research. Samples of hair and excreta were collected in a completely non-invasive way from several specimens of each colony. Blood and skin samples were obtained from a few specimens in each colony after anaesthetising the animals. These preliminary results illustrate the potential of this approach for hazard assessment in endangered species.

On 2 November 1995 a Mistral storm in the Gulf of Lions sank the 16 metre yacht Parsifal claiming six lives out of the nine member crew. The authors analyse the storm with different meteorological and wave models, verifying the results against the available buoy and satellite measurements. Then the authors consider the accuracy of the storm forecasts and the information available the days before the accident. The limitations related to the resolution of the meteorological models are explored by hind casting the storm also with the winds produced by some limited area models. Finally, the authors discuss the present situation of wind and wave hind cast and forecast in the Mediterranean Sea, and the distribution of these results to the public.

We quantified seasonal and interannual variability of pelagic and demersal fishes available to marine predators in southeastern Alaska focusing on prey of the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus). Estimates of abundance were determined from echo integration mid-water trawl and demersal longline surveys. The dominant species were walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) (average biomass 9057t), Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) (1715t), Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) (1176t), Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) (average catch rate 524kg per 1000 hooks), Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) (177kg per 1000 hooks), sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) (120kg per 1000 hooks), and sandpaper skate (Bathyraja interrupta) (26kg per 1000 hooks). Of these species, seasonal differences in species a...

To study the luteal and placental function of pinnipeds, we analyzed the localization of steroidogenic enzymes (P450scc, 3 ? HSD and P450arom) in the corpus luteum and the placenta of ribbon seals (Phoca fasciata) and Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) immunohistochemically. P450scc and 3 ? HSD were present in all luteal cells of both species. Almost all of the luteal cells were immunostained for P450arom, while P450scc and 3 ? HSD were negatively immunostained in placentae and P450arom was present in the syncytiotrophoblast of placentae. These findings suggest that 1) corpora lutea of both species synthesize pregnenolone, progesterone and estrogen during the entire pregnancy period, and 2) like other terrestrial carnivores in the suborder Caniformia, placentae of both species do not have the capability for synthesizing progesterone in the latter half of active pregnancy period.   

Thoracic auscultation is an important diagnostic method used in cases of suspected pulmonary disease in many species, as respiratory sounds contain significant information on the physiology and pathology of the lungs and upper airways. Respiratory diseases are frequent in marine mammals and are often listed as one of their main causes of death. The aim of this study was to investigate and report baseline parameters for the electronic-mediated thoracic auscultation of one cetacean species and two pinniped species in captivity. Respiratory sounds from 20 captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), 6 California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), and 5 South African fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus) were recorded with an electronic stethoscope. The sounds were analyzed for duration of the respiratory cycle, adventitious sounds, and peak frequencies of recorded sounds during expiration and inspiration as well as for sound intensity as reflected by waveform amplitude during the respiratory cycle. In respiratory cycles of the bottlenose dolphins' expiring "on command," the duration of the expiration was significantly shorter than the duration of the inspiration. In the examined pinnipeds of this study, there was no clear pattern concerning the duration of one breathing phase: Adventitious sounds were detected most often in bottlenose dolphins that were expiring on command and could be compared with "forced expiratory wheezes" in humans. This is the first report of forced expiratory wheezes in bottlenose dolphins; they can easily be misinterpreted as pathologic respiratory sounds. The peak frequencies of the respiratory sounds reached over 2,000 Hz in bottlenose dolphins and over 1,000 Hz in California sea lions and South African fur seals, but the variation of the frequency spectra was very high in all animals. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first systematic analysis of respiratory sounds of bottlenose dolphins and two species of pinnipeds. PMID:22779229

The coastal areas of the North-Western Mediterranean Sea are one of the most challenging places for ocean forecasting. This region is exposed to severe storms events that are of short duration. During these events, significant air-sea interactions, strong winds and large sea-state can have catastrophic consequences in the coastal areas. To investigate these air-sea interactions and the oceanic response to such events, we implemented the Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport Modeling System simulating a severe storm in the Mediterranean Sea that occurred in May 2010. During this event, wind speed reached up to 25 m.s-1 inducing significant sea surface cooling (up to 2°C) over the Gulf of Lion (GoL) and along the storm track, and generating surface waves with a significant height of 6 m. It is shown that the event, associated with a cyclogenesis between the Balearic Islands and the GoL, is relatively well reproduced by the coupled system. A surface heat budget analysis showed that ocean vertical mixing was a major contributor to the cooling tendency along the storm track and in the GoL where turbulent heat fluxes also played an important role. Sensitivity experiments on the ocean-atmosphere coupling suggested that the coupled system is sensitive to the momentum flux parameterization as well as air-sea and air-wave coupling. Comparisons with available atmospheric and oceanic observations showed that the use of the fully coupled system provides the most skillful simulation, illustrating the benefit of using a fully coupled ocean-atmosphere-wave model for the assessment of these storm events.

In recent years the Gulf of Lion within the western Mediterranean Sea has become a unique natural laboratory to study both the evolution and interaction of deep processes (geodynamics, tectonics, subsidence, isostasy) and surficial processes (river behavior, sedimentary fluxes, sea-level changes, climatic impacts). We present the three main objectives for the GOLD deep drilling project at the foot of the continental slope (2400 m water depth) in the Gulf of Lion, the only place where the complete high-resolution history of the last 30 Ma of Mediterranean history is recorded in some 7.7 km of sedimentary archive 1) For the substratum: the upper continental crust thins to less than 5 km, and changes laterally to a relatively thin crust with high velocities whose precise nature is still undetermined (Gailler et al., 2009). The aim of the drilling is to reach this crucial zone, which is essential for the understanding of margin formation and the evolution of sedimentary basin (Aslanian et al., 2009). 2) The drilling will allow the dating and characterization of the impact of climate variations on sedimentation in the deep basin. For the Miocene and older sediments the drilling, will yield information about the nature, paleoenvironments and age of deposits enabling an astronomically-tuned Neogene time scale to be refined for the period of Aquitanian through Langhian interval. The Messinian extreme event represents a unique crisis in Earth history. It is a unique case to study the impact of sea-level drop (more than 1000 m, one order of magnitude greater than Late Quaternary glaciations) on sedimentary river behavior, deltaic and evaporitic deposition and ensuing biotic crisis. Deep drilling with the R/V Chikyu is the only way to go through the complete series of evaporites in the Provence Basin, sample the initiation and evolution of the crises, the first deposits related to the lowering of sea-level on the one hand and to the salinity crisis on the other. 3) The drilling will represent a first-class opportunity to study the microbial communities and processes in extremely deep marine sediments of the Mediterranean Sea, so-called "the deepest biosphere". This site is particularly interesting to address the susceptinility and adaptability of life in environmental extremes since many extraordinary conditions such as high P, high T°, salt layers and fossilized organic matter, are predicted in GOLD-1 site. It would represent an opportunity to reach the biotic fringe and determine the limits of life in terms of depth, physicochemical constraints, isolation and their interactive impact. Finally, the drilling could be a site for a deep instrumented observatory

In recent years the Gulf of Lion within the Occidental Mediterranean Sea has become a unique natural laboratory for the study both the evolution and interaction of deep processes (geodynamics, tectonics, subsidence, isostasy) and surficial processes (river behavior, sedimentary fluxes, sea-level changes, climatic impacts). Here, representing a large group of international researchers, we present the main objectives for a deep drilling project at the foot of the continental slope (2400 m water depth) in the Gulf of Lion. This position is the only place in the Gulf of Lion where the sedimentary column is expected to be complete without major erosional hiatuses or time gaps. It is located sufficiently far from the shelf and slope to not have been affected by the extraordinarly erosional event of the Messinian, and at the same time be free from salt-related faulting and diapirism. At this position we have recorded nearly a complete high-resolution history of the last 23 through 30 Ma of Mediterranean history in some 7.7 km of sedimentary archive. From the petroleum exploration perspective the deepest part of the margin reamain underexplored since all existing wells were drilled on the shelf and slope GLP1 & 2 being the deepest one. New interpretations in the region (especially concerning the Messinian event) have considerably changed earlier views of potential hydrocarbon reservoirs. New results expected from deep drilling are numerous: 1) For the substratum: the upper continental crust thins to less than 5 km, and changes laterally to a relatively thin crust with high velocities whose precise nature is still undetermined (Gailler et al., 2009). The aim of the drilling is to reach this crucial information which is essential for the understanding of the evolution of the sedimentary basin (Aslanian et al., 2009). 2) The drilling will allow the dating and characterization of the impact of the initiation and changes in glacioeustatic cyclicity in alpine glaciers and ultimately on sedimentation in the deep basin. For the Miocene and older sediments the drilling, will yield information about the nature, paleoenvironments and age of deposits enabling an astronomically-tuned Neogene time scale to be refined for the period of Aquitanian through Langhian interval. 3) The Messinian extreme event represents a unique sedimentological, hydrological, oceanographic, biological and probably climatological crisis in Earth history. It is a unique case to study the impact of sea-level drop (more than 1000 m, one order of magnitude greater than Late Quaternary glaciations) on sedimentary river behavior, deltaic and evaporitic deposition and ensuing biotic crisis. Deep drilling with the R/V Chikyu is the only way to go through the complete series of evaporites in the Provence Basin, sample the initiation and evolution of the crises, the first deposits related to the lowering of sea-level on the one hand and to the salinity crisis on the other. 4) Finally, this drilling will represent the first opportunity to study the composition and functioning (metabolic processes and products, regulation of populations, etc.) of the microbial communities (bacteria, Archaea, viruses, fungi and protists) from the deep biosphere of the Mediterranean Sea. An additional and linked MSP GOLD-2 project has the objectives of recovering a unique global Pliocene records preserved on the shelf (Rabineau et al., this congress, session CL 1.6) We invite all interested scientists to join us in planning and promoting this drilling project. We are proposing an IODP Magellan workshop in Banyuls in October 2010 to bring together all interested scientists and stake-holders around these proposals and other drilling projects in the Mediterranean Sea (e.g. ICDP). Please contat us at the earliest opportunity.

The aim of the present study was to describe the distribution and remobilization of plutonium (Pu) in the sediments off the Rhone river mouth. Most of the {sup 238}Pu and {sup 239,240}Pu isotopes introduced into the Rhone River were discharged by the liquid effluents released from the Marcoule reprocessing plant, located 120 km upstream the river mouth. Due to its high affinity for particles and its long half life, {sup 238}Pu is a promising tracer to follow the dispersion of particulate matter from the Rhone River to the Mediterranean Sea. During the 3 REMORA cruises, sediment samples were specifically collected in the Rhone pro-delta area and more offshore on the whole continental shelf of the Gulf of Lions. The measurements of alpha emitters gave a first detailed spatial distribution of Pu isotope concentrations in surface sediments off the Rhone mouth. Using {sup 137}Cs concentrations and their correlations with Pu isotopes, we were able to give a first estimate of Pu inventories for the sediments of the study area. In 2001, plutonium inventories were estimated to 92 {+-} 7 GBq of {sup 238}Pu and 522 {+-} 44 GBq of {sup 239,240}Pu for an area of 500 km{sup 2} in front of the Rhone River mouth. Roughly, 50 % of these inventories are trapped in an area of 100 km{sup 2} corresponding to the extent of the Rhone pro-delta zone. In spring 2002, an ADCP, with current velocity and wave measurements, was moored off the Rhone River mouth. This unique in situ dataset highlights the major role of South-East swells in the erosion of pro-deltaic sediments and their dispersion to the South-Westward direction. Plutonium remobilization was examined using a new experimental design based on sediment resuspension processes studied within a linear recirculating flume. For Gulf of Lions sediments and for a given hydrodynamic stress, remobilization fluxes raised a maximum of 0.08 Bq.m{sup -2}.h{sup -1} for {sup 238}Pu and 0.64 Bq.m{sup -2}.h{sup -1} for {sup 239,240}Pu. A first plutonium budget determined for the study area indicates that at least 85 % of the Pu discharged over the 40 past years by the Marcoule reprocessing plant, are currently trapped in the sediments off the Rhone River mouth. Plutonium remobilization is potentially an important process but dispersion of contaminated sediments appeared to be limited in space. These results suggest a low exportation of particulate matter introduced by the Rhone River towards the continental shelf of the Gulf of Lions and the North-Western Mediterranean basin. (author)

Mängufilm "Kes liigutavad ettureid" ("Lions for Lambs") : režissöör ja näitleja Robert Redford : stsenarist Matthew Michael Carnahan : produtsent ja näitleja Tom Cruise : näitleja Meryl Streep : Ameerika Ühendriigid 2007

Contraction of their historic geographic ranges and conflicts with humans underpins declines in large carnivore populations worldwide. These declines, which characterize pastoral systems where carnivores, people and livestock live in close contact, may be paralleled by changes in carnivore behaviour. We investigated this by comparing the behaviour, demography and space-use of three lion (Panthera leo) prides in the protected Masai Mara National Reserve and the adjoining Koyiaki pastoral ranch in southwestern Kenya during 2005-2006. The mean times lions were inactive was similar between the three prides except when the ranch lions were severely disturbed and became more nocturnal and inactive. The reserve lions ate their kills on open plains and returned to them often but the ranch lions did so only inside bushes and abandoned unfinished kills during a drought in 2005. The reserve lions spent most of their time on open plains while the ranch lions did so in bushes and woodlands. Activity budgets were similar between the prides regardless of land use. Adult lions altered not so much the type but the spatial location and timing of their behaviour on the pastoral ranches relative to the reserve. We discuss the implications of these findings for lion conservation on pastoral lands.

Biological communities populating the Mediterranean Sea, which is situated at the northern boundary of the subtropics, are often claimed to be particularly affected by global warming. This is indicated, for instance, by the introduction of (sub)tropical species of fish or invertebrates that can displace local species. This raises the question of whether microbial communities are similarly affected, especially in the Levantine basin where sea surface temperatures have significantly risen over the last 25 years (0.50 ± 0.11 °C in average per decade, P Synechococcus, was examined during two cruises through both eastern and western Mediterranean Sea basins held in September 1999 (PROSOPE cruise) and in June-July 2008 (BOUM cruise). Diversity was studied using dot blot hybridization with clade-specific 16S rRNA oligonucleotide probes and/or clone libraries of the 16S-23S ribosomal DNA Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region, with a focus on the abundance of clades that may constitute bioindicators of warm waters. During both cruises, the dominant Prochlorococcus clade in the upper mixed layer at all stations was HLI, a clade typical of temperate waters, whereas the HLII clade, the dominant group in (sub)tropical waters, was only present at very low concentrations. The Synechococcus community was dominated by clades I, III and IV in the northwestern waters of the Gulf of Lions and by clade III and groups genetically related to clades WPC1 and VI in the rest of the Mediterranean Sea. In contrast, only a few sequences of clade II, a group typical of warm waters, were observed. These data indicate that local cyanobacterial populations have not yet been displaced by their (sub)tropical counterparts.

Cabruca is an agroforest of cacao trees shaded by native forest trees. It is the predominant vegetation type throughout eastern part of the range of the golden-headed lion tamarins, Leontopithecus chrysomelas, an endangered primate endemic to Atlantic Forest. Understanding how lion tamarins use this agroforest is a conservation priority. To address this question, we documented the diet, home range size, group sizes and composition, density, number of litters and body condition of lion tamarins living in cabruca, and other habitats. Jackfruit, Artocarpus heterophyllus, was the most used species used by lion tamarins in cabruca and was widely available and used throughout the year. In cabruca, home range size was the smallest (22-28 ha) and density of lion tamarins was the highest (1.7 ind/ha) reported for the species. Group size averaged 7.4 individuals and was not significantly different among the vegetation types. In cabruca, groups produced one or two litters a year, and all litters were twins. Adult males in cabruca were significantly heavier than males in primary forest. Our study is the first to demonstrate that breeding groups of golden-headed lion tamarins can survive and reproduce entirely within cabruca agroforest. Jackfruit proved to be a keystone resource for lion tamarins in cabruca, and bromeliads were important as an animal prey foraging microhabitat. In cases where cabruca contains concentrated resources, such as jackfruit and bromeliads, lion tamarins may not only survive and reproduce but may fare better than in other forest types, at least for body condition and reproduction.

... The Gnat and the Lion The Monkey and the Dolphin The Jackdaw and the Doves The Horse and the Stag The Kid and the Wolf The Prophet The Fox and the Monkey The Thief and the Housedog The Man the Horse the Ox and the Dog The Apes and the Two Travelers The Wolf and the Shepherd The Hares and the Lions The Lark ...

Ilmunud ka: Delovõje Vedomosti 15. aug. lk. 9. Dunkri Kaubanduse AS pidi loobuma Läti importalkoholi hulgimüüja Lion ostmisest, kuna pooled ei jõudnud tehingu maksumuses kokkuleppele. Kommenteerib Alexander Bondarev. Tabel: Dunkri käive kasvas mullu üle 40%. Lisa: Lion. Vt. samas: Tehingu katkemine pidurdab laienemist

Cabruca is an agroforest of cacao trees shaded by native forest trees. It is the predominant vegetation type throughout eastern part of the range of the golden-headed lion tamarins, Leontopithecus chrysomelas, an endangered primate endemic to Atlantic Forest. Understanding how lion tamarins use this agroforest is a conservation priority. To address this question, we documented the diet, home range size, group sizes and composition, density, number of litters and body condition of lion tamarins living in cabruca, and other habitats. Jackfruit, Artocarpus heterophyllus, was the most used species used by lion tamarins in cabruca and was widely available and used throughout the year. In cabruca, home range size was the smallest (22?28?ha) and density of lion tamarins was the highest (1.7?ind/h...

Abstract in spanish En otáridos se han estudiado la presencia de circaritmos de actividad sobre la base de cambios en las densidades poblacionales en las loberas. En este trabajo, se estudiaron los ritmos circadiano (24 h) y circanual (1 año) del lobo marino común Otaria flavescens en las loberas de Cochoa y Punta Curaumilla en Chile Central. El ritmo circadiano fue estudiado en ambas loberas. En cada una de ellas se realizaron censos cada 45 min durante 3 días de observación continuos (more) (72 h). Los resultados demuestran que se produce un aumento del número de animales en tierra en horarios diurnos y una disminución en los nocturnos. Dichas fluctuaciones están asociadas a un ciclo de 24 h, y demuestran la existencia de un ritmo circadiano en estas loberas. El ritmo circanual fue estudiado en la lobera de Cochoa. Para ello se realizaron 145 observaciones durante 3 años consecutivos (1995-1998). Los resultados muestran un aumento de la población en los meses de otoño a primavera, y una disminución brusca en el verano. Estas fluctuaciones se asocian a un ciclo de un año, y demuestran la existencia de un ritmo circanual en esta especie. Abstract in english In otariids the presence of circarhythms activity has been studied on the basis of population density changes in sea lion colonies. In this work, the circadian rhythm (24 h) and the circannual rhythm (a year) of the South American sea lion Otaria flavescens from Cochoa and Punta Curaumilla colonies in Central Chile were studied. The circadian rhythm was studied in both colonies. In each one, census were performed every 45 minute during three days (72 h) of continuous obse (more) rvation. The results show that the number of animals on land increases during day times and decreases in the night. Such fluctuations are associated to a 24 h cycle and show the existence of a circadian rhythm in these colonies. The circannual rhythm was studied at Cochoa colony. With this purpose 145 observations were performed during three consecutive years (1995-1998). The results show a population increase during Autumn and Spring and a sudden decrease in the Summer. These fluctuations are associated to a one year cycle showing the existence of a circannual rhythm in this species.

Abstract in spanish El reconocimiento de componentes bióticos constituye una primera etapa hacia una teoría biogeográfica sintética. En México podemos caracterizar 3 componentes bióticos principales, cada uno con una combinación diferente de elementos bióticos. El componente Neártico (región Neártica) incluye las áreas áridas subtropicales del norte del país, en las provincias biogeográficas de California, Baja California, Sonora, Altiplano Mexicano y Tamaulipas. En este compo (more) nente predomina el elemento original (Septentrional Antiguo o Paleoamericano), junto con otro de dispersión más reciente (Neártico) y un tercero Neotropical Antiguo. Los eventos vicariantes asociados con la evolución biótica del componente Neártico se relacionan con la formación de la Sierra Madre Occidental, que aisló el desierto de Chihuahua de los desiertos de Sonora y Mohave; y la expansión del Mar de Cortés, que aisló la Península de Baja California del continente. El componente Transicional (Zona de Transición Mexicana) incluye las áreas básicamente montañosas del centro del país, que se asignan a las provincias biogeográficas de la Sierra Madre Oriental, Sierra Madre Occidental, Eje Volcánico Transmexicano, Cuenca del Balsas y Sierra Madre del Sur. En este componente coexisten los elementos Paleoamericano, Neártico, Mesoamericano Tropical y Mesoamericano de Montaña. Los eventos vicariantes asociados con la evolución biótica del componente Transicional se relacionan con el desarrollo de las Sierras Madre y el vulcanismo del Eje Volcánico Transmexicano. El componente Neotropical (región Neotropical) incluye áreas tropicales húmedas y subhúmedas del sur de México, asignadas a las provincias biogeográficas de la Costa Pacífica Mexicana, Golfo de México, Chiapas y Península de Yucatán. En éste predomina el elemento Mesoamericano Tropical, aunque también presenta los elementos Neártico y Antillano. Los eventos vicariantes asociados con la evolución biótica del componente Neotropical se relacionan con el desarrollo de los istmos de Tehuantepec y Panamá y la inundación de las tierras bajas de Nicaragua y de la Península de Yucatán. Abstract in english Recognition of biotic components constitutes the first step toward a synthetic biogeographic theory. In Mexico we can characterize three main biotic components, each one having a particular combination of different biotic elements. The Nearctic component (Nearctic region) includes the arid subtropical areas in the north of the country, in the Californian, Baja Californian, Sonoran, Mexican Plateau and Tamaulipan biogeographic provinces. This component is dominated by the (more) original element (Old Northern or Paleoamerican), together with one of more recent dispersal (Nearctic) and a third of ancient Neotropical origin. Vicariant events associated with the biotic evolution of the Nearctic component are related to the uplift of the Sierra Madre Occidental, which separated the Chihuahuan desert from the Sonoran and Mojave deserts; and the expansion of the Sea of Cortes, separating the Peninsula of Baja California from the continental mainland. The Transitional component (Mexican Transition Zone) includes basically montane areas in central Mexico, which are assigned to the Sierra Madre Oriental, Sierra Madre Occidental, Transmexican Volcanic Belt, Balsas basin and Sierra Madre del Sur biogeographic provinces. In this component, the Paleoamerican, Nearctic, Tropical Mesoamerican and Montane Mesoamerican elements coexist. Vicariant events associated with the biotic evolution of the Transitional component are the development of the Sierras Madre and the volcanism of the Transmexican Volcanic Belt. The Neotropical component (Neotropical region) includes humid and subhumid tropical areas of southern Mexico, assigned to the Mexican Pacific Coast, Mexican Gulf, Chiapas and Yucatan Peninsula biogeographic provinces. In it the Tropical Mesoamerican element predominates, but Nearctic and Antillean elements are also present. Vicariant events associated with the biotic evolution of the Neotropical component are related to the development of the isthmuses of Tehuantepec and Panama, and the inundation of the lowlands of Nicaragua and the Yucatan Peninsula.

Studies of auditory sensitivity in marine mammals generally rely on behavioral psychophysical methodologies. While these studies are the standard for hearing assessment in marine mammals, data are limited to only a few individuals representing a small proportion of species. Accumulating research on dolphin auditory physiology has resulted in the refinement of electrophysiological methods appropriate for odontocete cetaceans and an increase in available audiometric information. Electrophysiological methods have also been used with pinnipeds, but there are significant gaps in our understanding of pinniped auditory physiology that must be addressed before such appoaches can be broadly applied to investigations of pinniped hearing. We are taking a bottom-up approach to developing suitable methods for evoked potential audiometry in pinnipeds, including technology transfer from studies of cetaceans and other mammals, mapping of response amplitude with respect to recording positions on the skull, characterization of responses in relationship to various stimulus types and presentation parameters, and determination of whether useful frequency-specific data can be reliably obtained using electrophysiological methods. This approach is being taken with representative pinniped species including California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), and northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) using both training and chemical immobilization techniques. [Work supported by NOPP.

Abstract in spanish Aunque en el golfo de California, el único pinnípedo residente es el lobo marino de California (Zalophus californianus), existen registros ocasionales de otras 3 especies; en la presente nota se proporcionan 4 registros recientes de lobo fino de Guadalupe (Arctocephalus townsendi), 6 de elefante marino del norte (Mirounga angustirostris) y 2 de foca común (Phoca vitulina). La foca común se ha observado principalmente durante los meses de invierno-primavera en años de (more) El Niño, antes del calentamiento anual del agua en verano. Es posible que los juveniles y los machos sub-adultos y adultos tanto de A. townsendi como de M. angustirostris hagan uso del golfo como un sitio alternativo durante la temporada de alimentación intensiva como de su expansión geográfica debido a su incremento poblacional. Abstract in english Although the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) is the only pinniped resident in the Gulf of California, there are occasional records of 3 additional species; here we report 4 recent records of the Guadalupe fur seal (Artocephalus townsendi), 6 of the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) and 2 of the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina). Harbor seals have been observed mostly during the winter-spring months of El Niño years, before water temperature warms i (more) n the summer. It is possible that juveniles and subadult and adult males of A. townsendi and M. angustirostris are using the Gulf as an alternative feeding area during the season of intensive feeding as individuals disperse more and more widely as their populations grow.

The widespread use of organochlorine compounds as insecticides during the past few decades has led to their ubiqitous presence in the environment. The polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were produced for use as coolant and insulator fluids for transformers and capacitors, as heat transfer fluids and as fire retardants for wood products; heavy industrial usage has led to widespread contamination of the environment with the PCBs. Organochlorine insecticides (OCIs) and PCBs are highly lipid soluble and are resistant to environmental degradation. In human beings these compounds are stored in adipose tissue and are resistant to metabolism. These substances are present in women and the fetus is exposed during utero development by transplacental transfer. Relatively high serum levels of OCIs and PCBs have been found in women with premature delivery. Also, DDT and PCB residue levels were higher in California sea lions which gave birth prematurely than in those with full-term pups. OCIs may disturb the hormonal balance of pregnancy and perhaps precipitate labor. Some DDT analogs are reported to have estrogenic effects and PCBs were also estrogenically active. Limited data exist on the levels and kinetics of OCIs and PCBs during pregnancy and in newborns.

Mammalian faunal remains recovered from archaeological sites in the western US indicate that during the Holocene some taxa altered their ranges in response to climatic change whereas other taxa altered their ranges or migrational patterns due to historic commercial activities. The range of pygmy cottontail (Brachylagus idahoensis) in eastern Washington state shrank during the last 4,000 yrs in concert with a decrease in the range of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata). Recent biological surveys indicate that this taxon no longer occupies areas where it was found early in the 20th century, suggesting modern agricultural practices of burning and plowing sagebrush resulted in their local extirpation. Remains of newborn and female California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) from late Holocene sites on the Oregon coast indicate that these species bred and pupped on this coast until the end of the 19 century. The absence of historical reports of these behaviors suggests that commercial exploitation of these species around the turn of the century resulted in the extirpation of local resident populations. In 1925 mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) were introduced to what was to become Olympic National Park in Washington in 1938. Modern wildlife management policy calls for removal of this exotic, non-native species from Park lands. However, biogeographic data from archaeological excavations indicate great potential that mountain goats were extant on Park lands prehistorically. While conclusive evidence is not yet available, debates presently underway clearly indicate that the fossil record must play a role in modern wildlife management decisions.

The main objective of this work was to establish the influence of sex, maturity and reproduction on the contamination of the demersal fish Merluccius merluccius by organochlorine compounds. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and p,p'DDE were quantified in muscle, liver and gonads of female and male hakes collected in the Gulf of Lions in 2004 and 2005. Observed levels appeared higher than the population of the Bay of Biscay and lower than the population of the Thyrrenian Sea. Contaminant fingerprints were roughly constant whatever the studied organ and the hake biological condition. Concentrations varied significantly according to the sex and maturity of hakes. Mature specimens were more contaminated than immature, and males presented higher levels than females. This sex effect can be linked to a lower growth rate of males, and a contaminant elimination during female spawning. Gonadal contamination depends on the importance of lipid content and increases with the maturation degree. Although the main organ of energy and PCB storage is the liver, muscle appears as the main contributor to the gonad contamination. PMID:19875155

Human exploitation of pinnipeds has considerable antiquity but shows increasing impacts on population numbers in the Holocene. Pinnipeds are a rich source of fat as well as protein. A few well-documented cases of regional extirpation of seals and sea lions by non-industrial peoples exist. The northeastern Pacific region, from southern California to Alaska, has yielded archaeological evidence for distributions and abundances of eared seals that differs markedly from historically documented biogeography. This is especially true of the northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus), among the most common pinnipeds in many archaeological sites from the Santa Barbara Channel area through to Kodiak Islands. This chapter reviews contemporary eared seal biogeography, evidence for the earlier timing and extent, of occurrence of northern fur seals along the northeastern Pacific coast, zooarchaeological and isotopic evidence for their foraging and probable maintenance of rookeries in lower latitudes, and for their disappearance from the southernmost part of their ancient distribution well before European contact. It also reviews ongoing debates over the behavioral ecology of ancient fur seals and over humans role in contributing to their disappearance.

Shortcuts, tips, and tools for making the most of the new Mac OS X Lion Mac OS X Lion is the eagerly anticipated updated desktop operating system installed on every new Apple computer. Packed with the latest and greatest tips, tricks, and techniques for getting the most out of all that Lion has to offer, this handy guide is like having an Apple genius at your fingertips. Inside you'll find savvy advice on everything from simple tasks like getting started to intermediate-level information that covers how to use the coolest features of the new Mac operating system. Written in an authoritative an

Published field studies have shown that chemical weathering rates demonstrate strong positive correlations with erosion rates whereas the intensity of chemical weathering positively correlates with precipitation and temperature. However, two unknowns include how climatically controlled thresholds might impact chemical weathering rates and intensities, and the controls on weathering zone thicknesses. For the latter, three models have been proposed, including an exponential function, where the production rate of weathered material declines exponentially with weathering zone thickness, a hydrological model where weathering zone thickness depends on the vertical fluid flux, and a base level model, where the weathering zone thickness is set by local base level (sea-level or a bedrock stream bed). From field investigations of Californian granodiorite and Hawaiian basalt we have identified a chemical weathering threshold at MAP=ET (where MAP = mean annual precipitation and ET = evapotranspiration). Where MAPweathering displays strong textural control and the weathering zone thickness is limited to ˜1 m. Conversely, where MAP>ET, weathering intensity is greater and weathering extends through the vadose zone, with the bottom limit frequently set by local base level. Variable vadose zone hydrology results in considerable heterogeneity in weathering rates and dominant reactions, even in basalt in a wet tropical location (Hawaii). This is demonstrable through greater mass losses and clay precipitation where fracture flow occurs, whereas zone of matrix permeability are characterised in granodiorite by oxidation of biotite, lower mass losses, and minimal clay precipitation. Porosity and permeability data confirm these relative differences in flow rates. The oxidation of biotite is also shown by synchrotron X-ray fluorescence to be an early reaction in granodiorite weathering under a Mediterranean climate, with the associated volumetric expansion responsible for matrix shattering. Qualitative evidence for local base level control on weathering zone thickness includes weathering thicknesses of 40+ m to near sea-level, weathering zones extending down to bedrock stream beds, and deep weathering profiles on steep (30° + slopes). These observations are consistent across lithologies (granodiorite and basalt) and climatic regimes (Mediterranean and wet tropical climates). Because the extent of the vadose zone will be set by relative incision rates and local topographic relief over time, our results indicate that where precipitation rates are sufficiently high, geomorphic processes may exert an important influence on rock weathering rates.

Quaternary glacial–interglacial cycles create lasting biogeographic, demographic and genetic effects on ecosystems, yet the ecological effects of ice ages on benthic marine communities are unknown. We analysed long-term datasets to develop a niche-based model of southern Californian giant kelp (Macr...

Groups of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) eggs were hatched in a Californian hatching system with and without an astro-turf artificial substrate, and food was presented at four different points in development. Dry weight development and protease activities were studied. Irrespective of time of transfe...

SAWG�s member organizations include farmers, environmentalists, consumers, and farmworkers who work together to influence policy changes that increase support for organic and sustainable agriculture. SAWG works with organizations, including: the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture, the Community Food Security Coalition, the regional SAWGs, the Consortium for Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, and Californians for Pesticide Reform.

We studied the seasonal and annual evolution of the diatom assemblages through the analysis of two sediment trap records from the Gulf of Lions (Northwest Mediterranean). The general circulation in the GoL is dominated by an along-slope current called Northern Current (NC) that flows in a cyclonic direction along the continental slope Particle fluxes to the sea floor were controlled by changes in sea surface circulation and primary productivity, which underwent strong annual cycles. To investigate seasonal and annual changes in particle fluxes over the last decade two sediment traps were deployed in the middle part of the Planier and Lacaze-Duthiers canyons and samples were taken fortnightly or monthly from 1993 to 2006. Diatoms annual cycle can be divided in four stages that approximately coincide with the four seasons. The diatom fluxes exhibited an unimodal pattern with maximum fluxes at the beginning of the spring season that present the perfect conditions for the diatom growth with a photic zone replenish with nutrients and optimum radiation. More than 120 diatom species were identified in the samples. Thalassionema frauenfeldii was the dominant taxa during the study period for both traps. Planier station was the trap with less influence of the continental shelf and, among others, exhibited the classical succession Skeletonema-Chaetoceros-Rhizosolenia through the spring bloom. Lacaze-Duthiers station showed important differences with Planier, as higher productivity caused by the fertilizing effect of the Rhône river or maximum diatom productivity peaks in different moments. Despite the differences between the two tramps, both showed very strong seasonal variations and repetitive from year to year.

...Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Pile Driving in Port Townsend Bay, WA AGENCY...lions (Eumatopius jubatus) incidental to pile driving activities conducted during the...shafts. During the project, up to 56 piles will be removed (40 timber and 16...

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In India, solar thermal systems are used both in domestic as well as commercial and industrial applications. Although domestic consumption still comprises the lion's share, process heat applications show great promise. (orig.)

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Jun 8, 1973 ... loaded,. 41,000 ml, moth-. California. a reading light, several lockers. Rock. Friendswood. Male. Siamese kittens,. $15 each,. 482- anicafty perfect; ... Indian mother's back, the lion at oxyg .... ill also cut steel. $25,. Svejcar,. 483 ...

Ekraniseering C.S. Lewise 1950.a. ilmunud romaanist "Narnia lood : Lõvi, nõid ja riidekapp" ("Chronicles of Narnia : The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe") : režissöör Andrew Adamson : Ameerika Ühendriigid 2005

Eri stiile-ajastuid ühendavast Peeter Vähi kujandatud muusikafestivalist "Klaaspärlimäng" 22. juulist-24. augustini. Kontsertidest Pärnu kontserdimajas: gamelaniansambli Gamelan Son of Lion kontserdist 22. juulil, Vardo Rumesseni kontserdist ja CD esitlusest 28. juulil, tütarlastekoori "Ellerhein" kontserdist 30. juulil

Walden Media tootis koos Walt Disney Pictures'iga ekraniseeringu C.S. Lewise 1950.a. ilmunud romaanist "Narnia lood : Lõvi, nõid ja riidekapp" (Chronicles of Narnia : The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe")

We studied the annual evolution of the planktonic foraminifer assemblages through the analysis of two sediment trap records from the Gulf of Lions (Northwest Mediterranean). Sea surface circulation in this region is the result of the interaction between the Northern Current and wind-driven currents along the continental shelf. Particle fluxes to the sea floor were controlled by changes in sea surface circulation and primary productivity, which underwent strong annual cycles. To investigate seasonal and annual changes in particle fluxes over the last decade two sediment traps were deployed in the middle part of the Planier and Lacaze-Duthiers canyons and samples were taken fortnightly or monthly from 1993 to 2006. More than 120 diatom species were identified in the samples. Thalassionema frauenfeldii was the dominant taxa during the study period for both traps. Planier station was the trap with less influence of the continental shelf and, among others, exhibited the classical succession Skeletonema-Chaetoceros-Rhizosolenia through the spring bloom. Lacaze-Duthiers station showed important differences with Planier, as maximum diatom productivity peaks in different moments or the dominance of the summer season by Chaetoceros RS (resting spores), caused by the influence of the Rhône river and the general oceanic circulation along the shelf. Eleven planktonic foraminifer species were recognized in our study, however, the assemblage was generally dominated by Globigerina bulloides, Neogloboquadrina pachyderma, Globorotalia inflata and Globorotalia truncatulinoides. The foraminifer assemblages in both sediment traps show a clear relationship with the seasonal changes of stratification of the water column and the spring phytoplankton bloom. Globigerina bulloides is the dominant species in both records and its distribution is closely related with the primary productivity cycles. The seasonal distribution of Neogloboquadrina pachyderma and Globorotalia inflata seems to be mainly controlled by water temperature, and secondarily by the primary productivity. Globorotalia truncatulinoides is an abundant species at times of strong vertical water mixing, which usually occurred in winter in this region. Temperature and primary productivity seem to play a secondary role on the distribution of this species.

Abstract in spanish A nivel internacional, paralelo a la declinación y al colapso de pesquerías de gran escala, surgió un interés creciente por el estudio de las interacciones entre mamíferos marinos y pesquerías. El golfo San Matías (Patagonia, Argentina) es considerado un ecosistema pesquero independiente de las aguas de la Plataforma Continental Argentina, con condiciones oceanográficas y biológicas particulares. La condición de sistema semi-cerrado podría generar escenarios pa (more) rticulares para la interacción entre la flota pesquera de arrastre de fondo y la población de lobos marinos de un pelo Otaria flavescens. En el presente trabajo se caracterizó la dieta del predador y la composición de las capturas pesqueras a fin de evaluar el solapamiento trófico entre ambos componentes. A partir de este análisis y la comparación de las tallas de las presas consumidas, se encontró que la posibilidad de una interacción competitiva entre la flota pesquera y los lobos marinos, a partir de la utilización de recursos similares, sería baja en el ecosistema del golfo San Matías. Abstract in english As world fisheries began to decline and massive collapses were observed, the competition between marine mammals and fisheries became an issue of growing concern. San Matías Gulf (Patagonia, Argentina) is considered to be a fishery ecosystem independent of the Argentine Continental Shelf waters, with particular oceanographic and biological properties. As a semi-enclosed ecosystem, this gulf may generate particular scenarios for interactions between the demersal trawl fish (more) ery fleet and the population of South American sea lions Otaria flavescens. In this paper, the diet of the top predator and the composition of fishery catches were characterized in order to assess the trophic overlap between these two components. This analysis and a comparison of the sizes of prey consumed revealed a low probability of competition for similar resources between the fishing fleet and the marine mammals in the San Matías Gulf ecosystem.

Nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS and ETS) sequences from 39 native Californian (USA) Allium species and congeners were combined with 154 ITS sequences available on GenBank to develop a global Allium phylogeny with the simultaneous goals of investigating the evolutionary history (monophyly) of Allium in the Californian center of diversity and exploring patterns of adaptation to serpentine soils. Phylogenies constructed with ITS alone or ITS in combination with ETS provided sufficient resolution for investigating evolutionary relationships among species. The ITS region alone was sufficient to resolve the deeper relationships in North American species. Addition of a second marker (ETS) further supports the phylogenetic placements of the North American species and adds resolution within subgenus Ame...

The California Dental Association has taken the lead to improve the oral health literacy of its residents, and dental practices play an essential role toward this end. The communication skills of the dental team are essential to increasing oral health skills of Californians. The purpose of this article is to provide suggestions and recommendations for creating and maintaining health literacy-based practices in private practice, public clinics, and dental schools. PMID:22679673

There are few reports on the vascular system of the lion or Panthera leo except for that on the facial artery investigated by Lin and Takemura (1990). Morphological analysis of the masseter muscle of the lion according to the muscle-tendon theory has been performed only by Takemura et al. (1991). The present authors attempted to elucidate the blood supply of the masseter, using 3 lion heads injected with acryl plastic into the carotid system by the plastic vascular injection method. This description is based on examination of the detailed laminar formation of the masseter. The findings are discussed in comparison with those of the felid family in carnivorae. Masseteric branches of the superficial temporal, buccal and facial arteries were distributed to the primary sublayer of the superficial layer, those of the above arteries and the masseteric artery to its secondary sublayer, the intermediate layer and the anterior and posterior portions of the deep layer, and those of the superficial temporal and masseteric arteries to the primary sublayer of the posterior portion of the deep layer. The maxillomandibularis muscle was supplied by the buccal and masseteric arteries and the zygomaticomandibularis by the superficial temporal and posterior auricular arteries as well. No gross differences between the lion and cat were observed in arterial supply of the masseter proper and improper, although the superficial temporal artery was distributed only to the superficial and intermediate layers in the cat but to all the deep layers in the lion.   

This report, second in a series of eight, highlights some of the findings from two recent surveys of the opinions of adult Californians on products and policies affecting youth tobacco use. The specific focus is on public perceptions of the role of the media in affecting youth tobacco consumption. The surveys were conducted in October and November of 1997 for the California Center for Health Improvement. Of those surveyed, 52%, including 40% of smokers, believed that the media is having a negative effect on children and youth in their attitudes toward smoking. The survey also found that people of color and adults with less than a high school education are more likely to believe the media has a negative effect on youth attitudes about tobacco. Additional research is required to explain the different smoking prevalence rates among age, gender, and ethnic subgroups of California youth and to clarify whether these perceptions are true. Seven of ten Californians surveyed believe that smoking by actors and actresses in movies and on television influences minors to start smoking. The surveys also found that a majority of Californians (57%), including 39% of surveyed smokers, support establishing some rules about how tobacco products are used in movies and television. The very limited support for government standards or prohibitions suggests that early strategies to change tobacco depiction in the media should focus on public education along with initiatives to raise awareness about and within the industry. Some of the programs with the potential to do this are described. The surveys also captured the views of Californians on other issues related to smoking by young people. A majority of Californians surveyed (53%), including 35% of surveyed smokers, believe that increasing tobacco taxes will discourage people from smoking, especially children and youth. Policy recommendations to help prevent tobacco use include supporting and expanding public and private efforts to education and mobilize the entertainment industries to take responsibility for the depiction of tobacco in the media. Other strategies, including increasing state excise taxes on tobacco, are suggested. (Contains seven tables and seven references.) (SLD)

Abstract Sera collected from 442 mountain lions in 48 California counties between the years of 1987 and 2010 were tested using immunofluorescence assays and agglutination tests for the presence of antibodies reactive to Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis, Bartonella henselae, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum antigens. Data were analyzed for spatial and temporal trends in seropositivity. Seroprevalences for B. burgdorferi (19.9%) and B. henselae (37.1%) were relatively high, with the highest exposure in the Central Coast region for B. henselae. B. henselae DNA amplified in mountain lion samples was genetically similar to human-derived Houston-1 and domestic cat-derived U4 B. henselae strains at the gltA and ftsZ loci. The statewide seroprevalences of Y. pestis (1.4%), F. tularensis (1.4%), and A. phagocytophilum (5.9%), were comparatively low. Sera from Y. pestis- and F. tularensis-seropositive mountain lions were primarily collected in the Eastern and Western Sierra Nevada, and samples reactive to Y. pestis antigen were collected exclusively from adult females. Adult age (?2 years) was a risk factor for B. burgdorferi exposure. Over 70% of tested animals were killed on depredation permits, and therefore were active near areas with livestock and human residential communities. Surveillance of mountain lions for these bacterial vector-borne and zoonotic agents may be informative to public health authorities, and the data are useful for detecting enzootic and peridomestic pathogen transmission patterns, particularly in combination with molecular characterization of the infecting organisms. PMID:22925024

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The energy value of the main prey and the growth of juvenile hake in the Gulf of Lions were analysed to determine whether fish condition could be linked to difference in prey quality and resulted in growth difference. Large differences in energy content (15.6 to 23.6 kJ g(-1) DW) among prey types we...

We prove that the classical Lions-Peetre compactness theorems for linear operators still hold for Lipschitz operators. As a consequence, we deduce that certain Uryson integral operators are compact. We also show that Lipschitz operators can be interpolated by a wide class of J-functors.

FreeFem++ is an open source platform to solve partial differential equations numerically, based on finite element methods. It was developed at the Laboratoire Jacques-Louis Lions, Universit ?e Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris by Fr ?ed ?eric Hecht in collaboration with Olivier Pironneau, Jacques Morice,...

The deterministic Skorohod problem plays an important role in the construction and analysis of diffusion processes with reflection. In the form studied here, the multidimensional Skorohod problem was introduced, in time-independent domains, by H. Tanaka and further investigated by P.-L. Lions and...

... 2 ' 2, Re'sal 2 ' 3 , Htlie 2 '', Sarrau 2 ' 5 , Moisson 2 ' 6, Hugoniot 27, Gusset and Lion- ...... to the base of the model approaches the limit of the model's strength. ...... in residual tensile hoop stresses in the elastic outer fibers and compressive .... the scored section, and are machined from annealed type 304 stainless steel, ...

A relationship between the notion of viscosity solution in the sense of Crandall and Lions and the generalized solution in the sense of Clarke for the infinite dimensional Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation is established. This problem arises in optimal control of fluids.

The Bourcart?Hérault canyon interfluve in the Gulf of Lions (NW Mediterranean) was the site of very high sedimentation (up to 2.5 m/kyr) around the Last Glacial Maximum, due to the vicinity of major fluvial systems that fed the shelf edge. Shoreface deposits and offshore muds deposited during each g...

We define the Ladyzhenskaya-Lions exponent $\\alpha_L(n)=(2+n)/4$ for Navier-Stokes equations with dissipation $-(-\\Delta)^{\\alpha}$ in ${\\Bbb R}^n$, for all $n\\geq 2$. We then prove strong global solvability when $\\alpha\\geq \\alpha_L(n)$, given smooth initial data. If the corresponding Euler equations for $n>2$ were to allow uncontrolled growth of the enstrophy ${1\\over 2} \\|\

5.2 Instrumentation for Densitometry and Dosimetry . . . 5-19. 6. PRESENT STATE OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS . 6-1. 6.1 Epidemiology .....................6-. 6.2 Genetic and Cytogenetic Effects and Cancer. Induction . ...... Lions of molecular orientations and configurations that do not change the basic ...

The present work is based on a set of bottom trawl surveys performed in the Gulf of Lions between 1983 and 1992. A new method which couples the STATIS multitable approach with the logic of correspondence analysis (CoA) is proposed to study the stability of spatial organization of demersal assemblage...

We develop and implement a new method to take into account the impact of waves into the 3-D circulation model SYMPHONIE (Marsaleix et al., 2008, 2009a) following the simplified equations of Bennis et al. (2011) which use glm2z-RANS theory (Ardhuin et al., 2008c). These adiabatic equations are completed by additional parameterizations of wave breaking, bottom friction and wave-enhanced vertical mixing, making the forcing valid from the surf zone through to the open ocean. The wave forcing is performed by wave generation and propagation models WAVEWATCH III® (Tolman, 2008, 2009; Ardhuin et al., 2010) and SWAN (Booij et al., 1999). The model is tested and compared with other models for a plane beach test case, previously tested by Haas and Warner (2009)and Uchiyama et al. (2010). A comparison is also made with the laboratory measurements of Haller et al. (2002) of a barred beach with channels. Results fit with previous simulations performed by other models and with available observational data. Finally, a realistic case is simulated with energetic waves travelling over a coast of the Gulf of Lion (in the northwest of the Mediterranean Sea) for which currents are available at different depths as well as an accurate bathymetric database of the 0-10 m depth range. A grid nesting approach is used to account for the different forcings acting at different spatial scales. The simulation coupling the effects of waves and currents is successful to reproduce the powerful northward littoral drift in the 0-15 m depth zone. More precisely, two distinct cases are identified: When waves have a normal angle of incidence with the coast, they are responsible for complex circulation cells and rip currents in the surf zone, and when they travel obliquely, they generate a northward littoral drift. These features are more complicated than in the test cases, due to the complex bathymetry and the consideration of wind and non-stationary processes. Wave impacts in the inner shelf are less visible since wind and regional circulation seem to be the predominant forcings. Besides, a discrepancy between model and observations is noted at that scale, possibly linked to an underestimation of the wind stress. This three-dimensional method allows a good representation of vertical current profiles and permits the calculation of the shear stress associated with waves and currents. Future work will focus on the combination with a sediment transport model.

Large predators have been reintroduced to an increasing number of protected areas in South Africa. However, the conditions allowing both prey and predator populations to be sustained in enclosed areas are still unclear as there is a lack of understanding of the consequences of such reintroductions for ungulate population dynamics. Variation in lion numbers, two decades after their first release, offered a special opportunity to test the effects of predation pressure on the population dynamics of seven ungulate species in the 960 km2 Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP), South Africa. We used two different approaches to examine predator-prey relationships: the population response of ungulates to predation pressure after accounting for possible confounding factors, and the pattern of ungulate adult mortality observed from carcass records. Rainfall patterns affected observed mortalities of several ungulate species in HiP. Although lion predation accounted for most ungulate mortality, it still had no detectable influence on ungulate population trends and mortality patterns, with one possible exception. This evidence suggests that the lion population had not yet attained the maximum abundance potentially supported by their ungulate prey; but following recent increases in lion numbers it will probably occur soon. It remains uncertain whether a quasi-stable balance will be reached between prey and predator populations, or whether favoured prey species will be depressed towards levels potentially generating oscillatory dynamics in this complex large mammal assemblage. We specifically recommend a continuous monitoring of predator and prey populations in HiP since lions are likely to show more impacts on their prey species in the next years.

Lion tamarins (Callitrichidae: Leontopithecus) are small frugi-faunivores that defend large home ranges. We describe results from the first long-term investigation of wild golden-headed lion tamarins (L. chrysomelas; GHLTs). We present data about activity budgets, daily activity cycles, diet, daily path length, home range size, home range overlap, and territorial encounters for three groups of GHLTs that were studied for 1.5-2.5 years in Una Biological Reserve, Bahia State, Brazil, an area characterized by aseasonal rainfall. We compare our results to those from other studies of lion tamarins to identify factors that may influence foraging and ranging patterns in this genus. Ripe fruit, nectar, insects, and small vertebrates were the primary components of the GHLT diet, and gums were rarely eaten. Fruit comprised the majority of plant feeding bouts, and the GHLTs ate at least 79 different species of plants from 32 families. The most common foraging sites for animal prey were epiphytic bromeliads. The GHLTs defended large home ranges averaging 123 ha, but showed strong affinities for core areas, spending 50% of their time in approximately 11% of their home range. Encounters with neighboring groups averaged two encounters every 9 days, and they were always aggressive. Data about time budgets and daily activity cycles reveal that the GHLTs spent most of their time foraging for resources or traveling between foraging sites distributed throughout their home ranges. The GHLTs spent much less time consuming exudates compared to lion tamarins in more seasonal environments. Additionally, the GHLTs had much larger home ranges than golden lion tamarins (L. rosalia), and did not engage in territorial encounters as frequently as L. rosalia. GHLT ranging patterns appear to be strongly influenced by resource acquisition and, to a lesser extent, by resource defense. PMID:15152369

The North Aleutian Basin Planning Area of the Minerals Management Service (MMS) is a large geographic area with significant natural resources. The Basin includes most of the southeastern part of the Bering Sea Outer Continental Shelf, including all of Bristol Bay. The area supports important habitat for a wide variety of species and globally significant habitat for birds and marine mammals, including several federally listed species. Villages and communities of the Alaska Peninsula and other areas bordering or near the Basin rely on its natural resources (especially commercial and subsistence fishing) for much of their sustenance and livelihood. The offshore area of the North Aleutian Basin is considered to have important hydrocarbon reserves, especially natural gas. In 2006, the MMS released a draft proposed program, 'Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, 2007-2012' and an accompanying draft programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS). The draft proposed program identified two lease sales proposed in the North Aleutian Basin in 2010 and 2012, subject to restrictions. The area proposed for leasing in the Basin was restricted to the Sale 92 Area in the southwestern portion. Additional EISs will be needed to evaluate the potential effects of specific lease actions, exploration activities, and development and production plans in the Basin. A full range of updated multidisciplinary scientific information will be needed to address oceanography, fate and effects of oil spills, marine ecosystems, fish, fisheries, birds, marine mammals, socioeconomics, and subsistence in the Basin. Scientific staff at Argonne National Laboratory were contracted to assist MMS with identifying and prioritizing information needs related to potential future oil and gas leasing and development activities in the North Aleutian Basin. Argonne focused on three related tasks: (1) identify and gather relevant literature published since 1996, (2) synthesize and summarize the literature, and (3) identify and prioritize remaining information needs. To assist in the latter task, MMS convened the North Aleutian Basin Information Status and Research Planning Meeting (the Planning Meeting) in Anchorage, Alaska, from November 28 through December 1, 2006. That meeting and its results are described in 'Proceedings of the North Aleutian Basin Information Status and Research Planning Meeting' (the Planning Meeting report)1. Citations for recent literature (1996-2006) to support an assessment of the impacts of oil and gas development on natural, cultural, and socioeconomic resources in the North Aleutian Basin were entered in a database. The database, a series of Microsoft Excel spreadsheets with links to many of the reference materials, was provided to MMS prior to the Planning Meeting and was made available for participants to use during the meeting. Many types of references were identified and collected from the literature, such as workshop and symposium proceedings, personal web pages, web pages of government and nongovernmental organizations, EISs, books and articles reporting research results, regulatory documents, technical reports, newspaper and newsletter articles, and theses and dissertations. The current report provides (1) a brief overview of the literature; (2) descriptions (in tabular form) of the databased references, including geographic area covered, topic, and species (where relevant); (3) synopses of the contents of the referenced documents and web pages; and (4) a full citation for each reference. At the Planning Meeting, subject matter experts with research experience in the North Aleutian Basin presented overviews of the area's resources, including oceanography, fish and shellfish populations, federal fisheries, commercial fishery economics, community socioeconomics, subsistence, seabirds and shorebirds, waterfowl, seals and sea lions, cetaceans, sea otters, and walruses. These presentations characterized the status of the resource, the current state of knowledge on the topic, and information needs related to an assessment of the effects of oil and gas development. An overview of each presentation and the presentation materials used at the meeting are provided in the Planning Meeting report. The reader should refer to that report as well as to the information presented in the current report for a more complete understanding of each resource.

After the terrorism attack on the World Trade Center, a record number ( two thirds) of US citizens favour the use of nuclear energy and consider nuclear plants to be safe. At the same time 59% definitely support building more nuclear plants, less than in March during the Californian crisis, but more than earlier., Most american citizens ( 84%) continue to support licence renewal for nuclear plants and 72 % agree with keeping the option open to build new nuclear plants in the future. The strongest supporters are those who have visited a nuclear plant or information centre. (N.C.)

Paragonimiasis is a parasitic infection endemic in Asia but uncommon in the United States. It presents most frequently with cough and hemoptysis. Pleural effusions are common and can manifest occasionally as a pseudochylothorax, but a true chylothorax has, to our knowledge, never been reported. We report a case of a chylothorax from infection with Paragonimus westermani. The case is also unique because it occurred in a native Californian who had not traveled to Asia and was infected by eating raw crabs at a local sushi restaurant. The freshwater crabs had been imported from Asia. PMID:21972385

...B. borealis), sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii),...

Sequence data from a portion of the external transcribed spacer (ETS) and internal transcribed spacers (ITS-1 and ITS-2) of 18S-26S nuclear ribosomal DNA were used to resolve historical biogeography and ecology of true thistles (Cirsium, Cardueae, Compositae) in the New World. The 650 base-pair, 3' portion of the ETS examined here showed a level of variation across taxa similar to that of the ITS sequences included. A maximum-likelihood tree based on combined ETS and ITS sequences leads us to suggest that the New World species of true thistles constitute a major lineage, which in turn comprises several smaller lineages. A western North American lineage shows weak quartet-puzzling support, but includes a well-supported lineage of species endemic to the California Floristic Province. Comparisons of this Californian lineage with other neoendemic angiosperm groups of the region show that the Californian Cirsium lineage exhibits unusually high ecological diversity for a group displaying such low levels of rDNA sequence divergence across taxa. Similarly low levels of sequence divergence were found throughout the New World Cirsium lineage. These results indicate either that Cirsium underwent a rapid ecological radiation in North America, or that rDNA evolution in North American Cirsium has been highly conservative. PMID:12492884

The Maguelone shore extends along the northern coast of the Gulf of Lions, west of the Rh?ne Delta and east of high-gradient coastal streams that have provided most of the clastic sediments to the Gulf of Lions margin since the early Miocene. This 10km-wide area is constituted by a small coastal watershed (15km long) in low-lying carbonate hills, a kilometre-wide marsh, a sandy beach barrier and a shoreface experiencing local low sedimentation rates. This onshore?offshore transition zone is a key area to understand the relationships between erosion, by-pass, deposition and preservation processes. Unlike the neighbouring Rh?ne deposits that display numerous thick deltaic sequences related to a continuous sediment flux, the Maguelone shore exhibits peculiar sedimentary bodies. The analysis o...

The city of lions. Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne. The war starts. Drole de guerre. Going to work. Going to school. Fleeing from village to village. Playing cat and mouse. The second landing. Return to Beaulieu. Return to Paris. Joining the boyscouts. Learning languages. Israel becomes independent. Arrival in Haifa. Kalay high school. Military training. The Hebrew Technion in Haifa. Relativity. Asher Peres. Metallurgy. Return to France. Escape from jail. Aviva.

The aim of this paper is to show an existence theorem for a kinetic model of coagulation-fragmentation with initial data satisfying the natural physical bounds, and assumptions of finite number of particles and finite $L^p$-norm. We use the notion of renormalized solutions introduced dy DiPerna and Lions, because of the lack of \\textit{a priori} estimates. The proof is based on weak-compactness methods in $L^1$, allowed by $L^p$-norms propagation.

The main aim of this project was to devise an alternative method for ethanol assay, employing an electrochemical fuel cell sensor. Thus, the early part of this thesis describes the work carried out in the development of a new analytical technique for this purpose. This work resulted in the production of a successful prototype unit which has led to the development of a commercial instrument, vis., the Lion Drinks Alcolmeter (DA-1) available from Lion Laboratories Ltd. The problem of determining the ethanol content of a fermenting liquor at any point during a fermentation process was also broached and a novel technique combining a flow dilution system, dynamic headspace analysis and a fuel cell sensor was developed. This procedure, suitably automated, will enable the ethanolic content of a fermenting beverage to be determined at any stage during a fermentation, the results obtained in this manner being in excellent agreement with those obtained gas chromatographically. Methods of extending the linear working range of a fuel cell-based sampling system are reported in the hope that the encouraging results obtained may initiate further progress in this field. Finally, the sensing system used in this work has also been utilized with an alternative sampling procedure for the determination of ethanol in biological fluids, mainly for clinical and forensic applications. This work has also led to the production of a commercial instrument, viz. the Lion AE-D3 Alcolmeter.

...adult and juvenile sea turtles associated with otherwise...Permit application: Loggerhead (Caretta caretta), green (Chelonia...Lepidochelys kempii) sea turtles. Background NMFS issued...threatened green and loggerhead sea turtles....

While it is possible to synthesize transuranium elements up to proton number of Z = 105, only a small success can be reported on naturally occurring transuranium nuclides. Only extremely small quantities of primordial plutonium- 244, the longest-llved transuranium nuclide, have been detected in the cerium- rich Californian mineral bastnaesite, which means that plutonium must be considered as a naturally occurring and not as an artificial element. Promethium- 147, plutonium-239, and neptunium-237, detected in several minerals and identified by ucts. No other transuranium nuclides and no superheavy elements could be found in terrestrial, lunar, and meteoritic probes. Investigations on the anomalous isotopic composition of uranium in ores from Oklo./Gabon led to a scientific sensation: a prehistoric natural nuclear reactor, working about 10/sup 9/ years ago, which showed much similarity in comparison with modern nuclear power reactors. (GE)

Spring-fed wetlands are embedded within Californian oak savannas whose understory is dominated by annual grasslands that are grazed by livestock. Because there is mounting pressure to remove livestock from riparian areas in the western U.S., we excluded livestock from one-half of three spring-fed wetlands and monitored greenhouse gas (CH4 and N2O) fluxes in 2000 and 2002. In 2003, we also measured several ecosystem characteristics to help understand treatment differences in gas fluxes. Bootstrapped estimates of mean CH4 and N2O fluxes over the study period showed that these wetlands were sources of CH4 and N2O to the atmosphere; we compare the magnitude of these fluxes to estimates from other wetland studies. Grazing removal decreased the magnitude of CH4 emissions and their variability du...

Abstract A five-year experiment tested the response of above-ground net primary production (ANPP) and plant functional groups to manipulations in residual dry matter (RDM), reflecting typical grazing practices in Californian annual grasslands. The RDM treatments were 225, 560, 900 and 5000 kg ha-1 with the latter treatment representing no grazing by livestock. ANPP in autumn, winter and spring showed a strong year x RDM interaction indicating that, in periods with higher herbage mass, the highest RDM treatment, representative of no grazing, was usually more productive. However, the opposite pattern was observed for the autumn period when ANPP was lowest. Random effects models indicated that at most 020 of the variation in ANPP for any of the three seasons stemmed from RDM treatments, with ...

This third issue of the international DERBI conference has permitted to decipher the international actuality of renewable energies, to position the French national projects in this thriving context, and to discover the recent technological innovations. Californian companies were invited to this conference for a comparison of the policies in favor of renewable energy sources on both sides of the Atlantic ocean. This document gathers the transparencies presented at this conference and dealing with technologies, products, projects and realization in the following domains: solar cooling, biomass power plants, photovoltaic power plants and advances in photovoltaic engineering, solar thermal energy, thermodynamic solar power plants, architecture, renewable energies and the Eco-Building European project, biofuels, wood fuels, wind power and small wind power, geothermal energy. Presentations deal also with the financing of renewable energy projects, the competencies, employment and training, the numerical dimension, and the automation in the renewable energies domain. (J.S.)

Abstract in spanish En este trabajo se analizan algunos factores significativos que han modelado la arquitectura y el diseño desde fines del siglo dieciocho y hasta el presente en la región que conforman los ámbitos fronterizos de Baja California y California. Se enfoca la atención en los estilos arquitectónicos victoriano y misional californiano con el señalamiento de la manera en que han sido compartidos por ambas entidades. Abstract in english This article discusses some significant factors that have shaped the architecture and design from the late 18th century until the present in the region of Baja California and California border areas. Focuses attention on architectural styles Victorian and Missional Californian pointing the way in which have been shared by these two entities.

BACKGROUND. The authors compared the types of treatments prostate cancer patients received from county hospitals and private providers as part of a statewide public assistance program. METHODS. This was a cohort study of 559 men enrolled in a state-funded program for low-income patients known as Improving Access, Counseling, and Treatment for Californians With Prostate Cancer (IMPACT). Multinomial regression was used to compare types of treatments patients received from different providers. RESULTS. Between 2001 and 2006, 315 (56%) participants received treatment from county hospitals and 244 (44%) from private providers. There were no significant between-group differences with respect to age (P = .22), enrollment year (P = .49), Charlson comorbidity index (P = .47), Gleason sum (P = .33),...

The addition of storage technologies such as lead-acid batteries, flow batteries, or heat storage can potentially improve the economic and environmental attractiveness of on-site generation such as PV, fuel cells, reciprocating engines or microturbines (with or without CHP), and can contribute to enhanced demand response. Preliminary analyses for a Californian nursing home indicate that storage technologies respond effectively to time-varying electricity prices, i.e., by charging batteries during periods of low electricity prices and discharging them during peak hours. While economic results do not make a compelling case for storage, they indicate that storage technologies significantly alter the residual load profile, which may lower carbon emissions as well as energy costs depending on the test site, its load profile, and DER technology adoption.

There has been a remarkable scientific output on the topic of how climate change is likely to affect plant diseases. This overview addresses the need for review of this burgeoning literature by summarizing opinions of previous reviews and trends in recent studies on the impacts of climate change on plant health. Sudden Oak Death is used as an introductory case study: Californian forests could become even more susceptible to this emerging plant disease, if spring precipitations will be accompanied by warmer temperatures, although climate shifts may also affect the current synchronicity between host cambium activity and pathogen colonization rate. A summary of observed and predicted climate changes, as well as of direct effects of climate change on pathosystems, is provided. Prediction and m...

The Latest Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Marca Shale Member, California, displays a well-preserved record of alternating terrigenous and diatomaceous laminae couplets, remarkably similar in lithology to recent laminated sediments from the Gulf of California and Santa Barbara Basin. This similarity, together with the recognition of intra- and inter-annual variability in the diatom flora, implies an annual origin for these couplets. High-resolution backscattered electron imagery has identified two sublaminae types within the varved succession; near monospecific lamina of Chaetoceros-type resting spore and of large Azpeitiopsis morenoensis. The composition and occurrence of these laminae is similar to ENSO forced intra-annual variability of diatom flora along the modern Californian margin. Relative thickness variations in terrigenous and biogenic laminae (proxies for precipitation and productivity respectively) also exhibit similar characteristics to variability in Quaternary varves from the Santa Barbara Basin, shown to be imparted by ENSO forcing. In order to track changes in the levels of bottom water oxygenation within the basin, a bioturbation index was established. Periods when bioturbation was minimal (enhanced benthic anoxia) coincide with times of greatest diatomaceous export flux and also lowest flux of detrital material. Conversely, periods of enhanced bioturbation correspond with reduced diatomaceous export flux and an increased flux of detrital material, comparable with ENSO forced variations in diatomaceous and terrigenous export flux and associated benthic oxygenation levels in Pleistocene varves off the Californian margin. Power spectra obtained from time-series analysis of the bioturbation index and laminae thickness variations exhibit strong signals within the ENSO band. This research implies that high-frequency climate perturbations are inherent components of the climate system and that ENSO-type variability was not confined to the dynamic climate system of the Quaternary, but occurred as far back as the Cretaceous. These results also add to the growing body of evidence which indicate that warm end-member climate states are not characterised by a permanent El Nino state.

...hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii), leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), and loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service...

listed endangered green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and leatherback sea turtle ( ... adversely affect” piping plover, green sea turtle, leatherback sea turtle, and ...... south to Dewees Island in South Carolina; a few reintroduction efforts south ...

{sup 210} Po and {sup 210} Pb activities and fluxes were measured on seawater, sediment-trapped material collected during one year and sediment. Focalization of {sup 210} Pb is clearly noticed on the Cap-Ferret canyon (Gulf of Biscary) and the Lacaze-Duthiers canyon (western part of the Gulf of Lion). In both sites, {sup 210} Pb fluxes in traps and sediment are always higher than {sup 210} Pb flux available from atmospheric and in situ production. On the contrary, Grand-Rhone canyon and its adjacent open slope exhibit a {sup 210} Pb budget near equilibrium in the near-bottom sediment traps, but focalization is important in the sediment. For the entire Gulf of Lion margin, focalization of {sup 210} Pb in the sediment occurred principally between 500 and 1500 m water depth on the slope, and on the middle shelf mud-patch. {sup 210} Po and {sup 210} Pb have been used in the Cap Ferret and Grand-Rhone canyons to characterize the origin of the particulate trapped material. Two main sources feed the water column. The first source, localized in surface waters, is constituted by biogenic particles from primary production and lithogenic material. The second source, deeper, is due to resuspension at the shelf break and/or on the open slope. In each site, {sup 210} Po and {sup 210} Pb activities of the trapped particles did not show any relations with the major constituents. Quantity of particles appeared to be the main factor regulating adsorption processes of these nuclides. Sedimentation rates based on {sup 210} Po profiles decreased with increasing water depth, from 0.4 ti 0.06 cm y-1 on the Cap Ferret canyon (400 to 3000 m water depth) and from 0.5 to 0.05 cm y-1 for the entire Gulf of Lion margin (50 to 2000 m water depth). (author). 243 refs.

Books reviewed in this issue. Last Chance: The Middle East in the Balance, by David Gardner. Foreign Policy, Inc.: Privatizing America's National Interest, by Lawrence Davidson. Lion of Jordan: The Life of King Hussein in War and Peace, by Avi Shlaim. King Hussein of Jordan: A Political Life, by Nigel Ashton. The Nuclear Sphinx of Tehran: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the State of Iran, by Yossi Melman and Meir Javedanfar. The Crisis of Islamic Civilization, by Ali A. Allawi. Secularism and Muslim Democracy in Turkey, by M. Hakan Yavuz. Secularism and State Policies toward Religion: The United States, France and Turkey, by Ahmet T. Kuru.

Step-by-step lessons that visually show you how to get the most from your iMac Apple's newest generation of iMacs boasts the critically acclaimed Thunderbolt ports as well as the new OS X Lion operating system. With this full-color, step-by-step guide, experienced author Guy Hart-Davis guides you through everything you need to know about the capabilities and features of the iMac. Rich screenshots and illustrations walk you through the multi-media features offered by the iMac line, including how to surf the web with Safari, using iCal to track appointments, and sync and control your iOS devices

How might Hercules, the most famous of the Greek heroes, have used mathematics to complete his astonishing Twelve Labors? From conquering the Nemean Lion and cleaning out the Augean Stables, to capturing the Erymanthean Boar and entering the Underworld to defeat the three-headed dog Cerberus, Hercules and his legend are the inspiration for this book of fun and original math puzzles. While Hercules relied on superhuman strength to accomplish the Twelve Labors, Mythematics shows how math could have helped during his quest. How does Hercules defeat the Lernean Hydra and stop its heads from multip

Lions, tigers, and bears, oh my! Digital cameras, young inquisitive scientists, give it a try! In this project, students create an open-ended question for investigation, capture and record their observations--data--with digital cameras, and create a digital story to share their findings. The project follows a 5E learning cycle--Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate/Extend, and Evaluate--and meets science learning standards as students model inquiry behaviors such as making careful observations and using simple tools (i.e., the digital camera) to gather information and extend their senses, while learning about animal diversity and animals in their environments in a meaningful way. (Contains 3 figures.)

Abstract: Habitat corridors can be essential for persistence of wildlife populations in fragmented landscapes. Although much research has focused on identifying species and places critical for conservation action, the conservation literature contains surprisingly few examples of corridors that actually have been protected and so provides little guidance for moving from planning through implementation. We examined a case study from southern California that combines monitoring of radio-collared mountain lions (Puma concolor) with an assessment of land-protection efforts to illustrate lessons learned while attempting to maintain ecological connectivity in a rapidly urbanizing landscape. As in many places, conservation scientists have provided science-based maps of where conservation efforts s...

A global existence theorem with large initial data in L{sup 1} is given for the modified Enskog equation in R{sup 3}. The method, which is based on the existence of a Liapunov functional (analog of the H-Boltzmann theorem), utilizes a weak compactness argument in L{sup 1} in a similar way to the DiPerna-Lions proof for the Boltzmann equation. The existence theorem is obtained under certain condition on the behavior of the geometric factor Y. The condition on Y amounts to the fact that the L{sup 1} norm of the collision term grows linearly when the local density tends to infinity.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were investigated in surface sediments from the river-impacted Gulf of Lions shelf and slope (NW Mediterranean), with the aim to comprehensively assess their occurrence, sources and dispersion pathways and to provide reliable estimates on their accumulation fluxes and budget. Elevated concentrations were found in the prodeltaic zone, albeit less important than in other coastal systems worldwide under enhanced human-made pressure. Mixed sources, pyrolytic and petrogenic, occur at varying contributions, depending on point-sources and transport mechanisms. Predominant pyrolytic PAH accumulate in the deltaic area, via fast settling of organic-rich riverine clays. Both preferential particle associations and sediment dynamics were found to control their dis...

During the last century sea level rise strongly increased compared to sea level change in the last 2000 years. The present study investigates global and regional sea level change, simulated with the finite element sea-ice ocean model (FESOM). The major goal is to separate sea level change into steri...

For the first time the differences in free energies have been experimentally determined for the solvation of two enantiomeric ions in two enantiomeric solvents. Three-phase electrodes consisting of a droplet of a solution of decamethylferrocene in a chiral solvent (D- and L-2-octanol) attached to a graphite electrode and immersed in an aqueous solution containing chiral anions, allow the measurement of these data for the transfer of the enantiomeric ions across the water/chiral solvent interface. In all studied combinations the Gibbs energy to transfer an L-ion from water to the L-solvent was equal to the Gibbs energy of transfer of the D-ion from water to the D-solvent, and the same was found for the transfer of a L-ion from water to the D-solvent and for the D-ion from water to the L-solvent. In all cases, the combinations D-anion/D-solvent and L-anion/L-solvent have smaller standard Gibbs energies than the combinations D-anion/L-solvent and L-anion/ D-solvent. This can be explained by less favourable interactions between an anion and a solvent molecule in the latter cases. PMID:15715306

Urban development can have multiple effects on mammalian carnivore communities. We conducted a meta-analysis of 7,929 photographs from 217 localities in 11 camera-trap studies across coastal southern California to describe habitat use and determine the effects of urban proximity (distance to urban edge) and intensity (percentage of area urbanized) on carnivore occurrence and species richness in natural habitats close to the urban boundary. Coyotes (Canis latrans) and bobcats (Lynx rufus) were distributed widely across the region. Domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), raccoons (Procyon lotor), gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), mountain lions (Puma concolor), and Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) were detected less frequently, and long-tailed weasels (Mustela frenata), American badgers (Taxidea taxus), western spotted skunks (Spilogale gracilis), and domestic cats (Felis catus) were detected rarely. Habitat use generally reflected availability for most species. Coyote and raccoon occurrence increased with both proximity to and intensity of urbanization, whereas bobcat, gray fox, and mountain lion occurrence decreased with urban proximity and intensity. Domestic dogs and Virginia opossums exhibited positive and weak negative relationships, respectively, with urban intensity but were unaffected by urban proximity. Striped skunk occurrence increased with urban proximity but decreased with urban intensity. Native species richness was negatively associated with urban intensity but not urban proximity, probably because of the stronger negative response of individual species to urban intensity.

Chilled water plants are often viewed as energy consumers, actually they are only energy movers. In just the simple process of chilling water, there are four discrete energy moving functions. The chilled water pumps, condenser water pumps, and cooling tower fans are all forms of transport energy. The chiller is a heat pump where energy is consumed to raise the temperature of the heat stream. Insight into improved chiller plant performance can be obtained by tracking the power consumption of these four functions. The performance of centrifugal chillers has improved dramatically in the past 25 years. Certainly some of this improvement is due to technology improvements in heat transfer and compressor efficiency. However, the lion`s share of gain in chiller efficiency is a result of chiller owners budgeting more funds to energy conservation and purchasing more efficient chillers. Since 1970, the efficiency of electric water chillers has improved by nearly 4 percent! The intent of this presentation is to review the energy cost associated with central chilled water plants and identify opportunities in design that may reduce energy costs.

Recurring electricity shortages and rolling blackouts were widely forecasted for summer 2001 in California. Despite these predictions, blackouts were never ordered - in large part, due to the dramatic reductions in electricity use throughout the state. Compared to summer 2000, Californians reduced electricity usage by 6 percent and average monthly peak demand by 8 percent. Our analysis suggests that these reductions were not caused by either the weather or the downturn in the state's economy; rather, they were the result of extraordinary efforts by Californians to reduce electricity consumption. Based on the California Independent System Operator's (CAISO) available operating reserve margin during summer 2001, we estimate that the peak load reductions, which ranged between 3,200 and 5,600 MW in the four summer months, potentially avoided between 50 and 160 hours of rolling blackouts. This extraordinary response by Californians can be attributed to several factors including media coverage and informational campaigns that affected public awareness and understanding, real and/or perceived increases in electricity rates, and various policies and programs deployed by state policymakers and regulators to facilitate customer load reductions. Among these programs, we review the state's 20/20 rebate program, the utilities' energy efficiency programs, programs or initiatives implemented by the California Energy Commission and other state agencies, and load management and demand response programs offered by the state's investor-owned electric utilities and the CAISO. We estimate that energy efficiency and onsite generation projects that were initiated in 2001 will account for about 1,100 MW of customer load reductions, once all projects are installed. These savings represent about 25-30 percent of the observed load reductions and are likely to persist for many years. The persistence of the remaining savings, which were due to changes that customers made in their conservation behavior and energy management operations, will be heavily influenced by customers' perception of continuing electricity crises or significant energy problems and price sensitivity to retail rate trends. The State's current demand response (DR) capability enrolled in utility or CAISO programs is somewhat lower than prior to the crisis. However, in the long run, enabling technologies for demand response deployed through the CEC's Demand Responsive Buildings and Real-time Metering programs have the potential to significantly increase demand response capability. While unique factors led to the electricity crisis in California, we believe the lessons learned from electricity customers' response may be useful for other regions faced with the prospect of electricity shortages. During a short-term crisis, a comprehensive set of load reduction programs and policies can make a significant contribution towards maintaining electric system reliability and can be an effective alternative to strategies that rely solely on rationing demand (e.g. rolling blackouts) or dramatic price increases. Information from various media sources contributed to very high customer awareness of the electricity crisis and helped spur customers to take actions to reduce their electricity usage. Customers viewed the media as an important, and in many cases, trusted information source, which appears to have increased their receptivity to participating in various State and utility initiatives. A commitment to ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs and energy efficiency standards for appliances and buildings are critical elements of a long-term strategy to dampen growth in electricity demand. California's energy efficiency services delivery infrastructure, which was strengthened by years of ratepayer and State-funded programs, represents a significant resource that was ramped up quickly to respond to a short-term energy emergency.

...53330-1335-0000-J3] Lake Champlain Sea Lamprey Control Alternatives Workgroup AGENCY...announce a meeting of the Lake Champlain Sea Lamprey Control Alternatives Workgroup (Workgroup...on research and implementation of sea lamprey control techniques alternative to...

The capture of a single specimen of the dog snapper Lutjanus jocu from the Ligurian Sea (north-west Mediterranean Sea) in November 2005 is reported. This finding constitutes the first record of this species from the Mediterranean Sea. PMID:20666909

...North Pacific loggerhead sea turtles and vessels registered for use...annual limit for leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) is...annual limit for North Pacific loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) is 34. (2)...

...longline fishing gear and sea turtles. These limits apply to physical...interactions, one for leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) set at 16, and one for loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) set at 17....

Jun 5, 2012 ... An algorithm for mapping sea ice extent and generalized ... The MAS was built to support development of MODIS remote-sensing algorithms. ... The primary purpose of the MODIS sea ice algorithm is to map sea ice extent.

...scup, and black sea bass fisheries are managed...with the New England and South Atlantic Fishery Management...and I (black sea bass), describe the process...22-September 30. Rhode Island...Federal waters. Black Sea Bass Recreational...

...three species of sea turtles: Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys...Chelonia mydas), and loggerhead (Caretta caretta). Applicant...coriacea), green, loggerhead, and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtles for scientific...

...coral II. Sea grassesâPhylum Angiospermae Halodule wrightii , Shoal grass Halophila spp., Sea vines Ruppia maritima , Widgeon grass Syringodium filiforme , Manatee grass Thalassia testudium , Turtle grass Aquarium...

SLOTTED WAVEGUIDE PLANAR ARRAY DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 ... Polarized Waveguide Radiating Elements, Front View, (Goodyear ... remote sensing functions such as sea ice monitoring, sea wave spectra measure-. ' ments ...

We implement the new set of equations of Bennis et al. (2011) which use the glm2z-RANS theory (Ardhuin et al., 2008) to take into account the impact of waves into the 3D circulation model SYMPHONIE (Marsaleix et al., 2008, 2009). These adiabatic equations are completed by additional parameterizations of wave breaking, bottom friction and wave-enhanced vertical mixing, making the forcing valid from the surf zone through to the open ocean. The wave forcing is performed by WAVEWATCH III® (Tolman 2008; Ardhuin et al., 2010) for the realistic cases and SWAN (Booij et al., 1999) for the academic cases. Firstly, the model is tested in two academic cases. In the first case, it is compared with other models for a plane beach test case, previously tested by Haas and Warner (2009) and Uchiyama et al. (2010). Then, a comparison is made with the laboratory measurements of Haller et al. (2002) of a barred beach with channels. Results fit with previous simulations performed by other models or with available observational data: the littoral drift and the vertical profiles of current or in the second case, the rip current are well reproduced. Finally, a realistic case of a winter storm over a coast of the Gulf of Lion (NW of the Mediterranean Sea) for which currents are available at different depths as well as an accurate bathymetric database of the 0-10m depth range, is simulated. A grid nesting approach is used to account for the different forcing acting at the different spatial scales. We use at the smaller scale a grid with a variable resolution. The model is successful to reproduce the powerful northward littoral drift in the 0-15m depth zone. More precisely, two distinct cases are identified: when waves have a normal angle of incidence with the coast, they are responsible for complex circulation cells and rip currents in the surf zone, and when they travel obliquely, they generate a northward littoral drift. These features are more complicated than in the test cases, due to the complex bathymetry and the consideration of wind and non-stationary processes. In the inner shelf, wave impacts are less visible since wind and regional circulation seem to be the predominant forcing. Besides, a discrepancy between model and observations is noted at that scale, possibly linked to an underestimation of the wind stress. Lastly, this three-dimensional method allows a good representation of vertical current profiles and permits to calculate the shear stress associated with wave and current. Future work will focus on the combination with a sediment transport model. Ardhuin, F., Rascle, N. & Belibassakis, K.A., Explicit wave-averaged primitive equations using a generalized Lagrangian mean. Ocean Modelling 20, 35-60, 2008. Ardhuin, F. et al., Semiempirical Dissipation Source Functions for Ocean Waves. Part I: Definition, Calibration, and Validation. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 40, 1917-194, 2010. Bennis, A.-C., Ardhuin, F. & Dumas, F., On the coupling of wave and three-dimensional circulation models: Choice of theoretical framework, practical implementation and adiabatic tests. Ocean Modelling 40, 260-272, 2011. Booij, N., R. C. Ris, and L. H. Holthuijsen, A third generation wave model for coastal regions, part I, model description and validation, Journal of Geophysical Research, 104 , 7649-7666, 1999. Haas, K. A., and J. C. Warner, Comparing a quasi-3d to a full 3d nearshore circulation model: Shorecirc and roms, Ocean Modelling, 26 , 91-103, 2009. Haller, M. C., R. A. Dalrymple, and I. A. Svendsen, Experimental study of nearshore dynamics on a barred beach with rip channels, Journal of Geophysical Research, 107 (C6-3061), 2002. Marsaleix, P. et al., Energy conservation issues in sigma-coordinate free-surface ocean models. Ocean Modelling 20, 61-89, 2008. Marsaleix, P., Auclair, F. & Estournel, C., Low-order pressure gradient schemes in sigma coordinate models: The seamount test revisited. Ocean Modelling 30, 169-177, 2009. Tolman, H., A mosaic approach to wind wave modeling. Ocean Modelling 25, 35-47, 2008. Uchiyama, Y., J. McWilliams, and A.

Cet ouvrage porte sur l'etude experimentale et theorique du laser a fibre de ZBLAN dopee au thulium pompe a 1112 nm par un laser Nd:YAG et emettant a 480 nm, ainsi que du phenomene de coloration causant la photodegradation du laser a fibre. Le rendement du laser a fibre depend de l'efficacite de la conversion de photons infrarouges en photons visibles par un mecanisme d'excitation en palier des ions trivalent thulium (Tm3+). Toutefois, cette efficacite est reduite par les transferts d'energie entre les ions Tm3+. De plus, le gain net est limite par l'absorption induite a la longueur d'onde laser pendant le pompage de la fibre a 1112 nm. Cette absorption induite s'avere etre le probleme le plus important a surmonter pour le developpement d'un laser a fibre a 480 nm qui soit stable et de haute puissance. La spectroscopie de l'ion Tm3+ dans la fibre de ZBLAN a ete realisee afin de determiner experimentalement les parametres essentiels a la modelisation theorique du laser a fibre. Les sections efficaces d'absorption et d'emission de l'ion Tm3+ ont ete calculees a partir des equations de Fuchtbauer-Ladenburg et des spectres d'intensite d'absorption et d'emission spontanee mesures experimentalement par excitation selective. Cette methode d'excitation a permis de resoudre spectralement certaines des transitions d'absorption mal connues dues a la difficulte de mesurer celles-ci de facon directe. L'identification des transferts d'energie (relaxation croisee et excitation cooperative en palier) dominants entre ions Tm 3+ a ete faite en comparant la probabilite d'interaction dipole-dipole electriques entre une paire d'ion Tm 3+. Les taux de transferts d'energie, quant a eux, ont ete mesures par excitation selective et la mesure du temps de vie des niveaux d'energie de l'ion Tm3+. La sensibilite de la fibre de ZBLAN a la lumiere et a la chaleur est decrite habituellement par leurs effets sur la transparence de la fibre, par exemple, photonoircissement, photoblanchiment et thermoblanchiment. Une serie d'experiences por tant sur le caractere spectral de l'absorption induite par le pompage de fibres a temperature constante et le recuit isochrone de celles-ci a mis en evidence plusieurs bandes d'absorption pouvant etre associees a des centres colores de types Zr3+ , Pb+ et Pb3+. Une autre serie d'experiences pompe-sonde a ete faite afin de mesurer le taux de variation de l'absorption induite sous differentes conditions de pompage et de temperature. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Many critics hailed the new film, "Four Lions," by director Chris Morris as "provocative, incendiary, audacious, and shocking" and "one of the funniest and boldest comedies of the year." As a satirist, Morris already established his wit signature with the production of the mockumentary series, "Brass Eye." Using the same absurdist approach, he presents a creative political comedy which escapes the conventional constraints of comedic productions by addressing the complex, sinister, frightening, and highly sensitive phenomenon of terrorism usually reserved to the genres of action and drama. This time, he carries this absurdist approach to the next level, insulating his characters with dark humor while making them appear simultaneously as villainous village idiots and unwitting denizens symbolically charged with multiple layers of meaning. This critique of "Four Lions" looks at hegemonic masculinity as a source of fear and lifelong indoctrination, which will provide insights into the radicalization of the many "Joes" turned jihadists. The author's thesis is grounded in the theories that consider masculinity a social, historical, and political concept performed by men and which has incorporated and normalized violence and sexual domination as core components of its "natural" essence. Hegemonic and dominant, in this sense, masculinity's power lies in its ability to operate in disguise. While seemingly invisible, its presence is constantly renewed through its capability to set itself up against women and other alternative masculinities (minorities, underclass males, homosexuals, foreigners, others). Since fear represents its central catalyst, its victims are not only women and non whites. They are also those who represent masculinity but cannot abide by all its demands. The failure to perform, the author further argues, can lead to a serious condition of alienation, violent behavior, and radicalization. For this purpose, the author mostly focuses on Barry, "the most bizarre of all the "lions"--a Caucasian Convert to Islam with a streak of ferocious invective and penchant for little hats." A self-centered narcissist, Barry fails to possess and perform the scripts of white masculinity. Beyond simple character analysis, the author's goal is to negotiate possible interpretations of his radicalism, violent personality, and identity crisis through the examination of masculine exigencies as seen deployed in Western society. Recognizing that cinematic story lines are reflections of reality, expressions of popular sentiments, and a site for contesting cultural conventions and shifting power dynamics, the author intends to connect his analysis of Barry's behavior to real life conflicts, policy practices, collisions of competing masculinities, and struggle over meaning between subordinates and those who dominate. (Contains 4 footnotes.)

This paper focuses on three areas of change which are aimed at recognizing and taking advantage of the benefits offered by the tremendous body of information and knowledge now available in the realm of environmental protection and regulation: Comprehensive re-evaluation and reform of California`s hazardous waste management regulatory program through the Department of Toxic Substances Control`s (DTSC) Regulatory Structure Update (RSU), which is designed to eliminate unnecessary regulatory burden while retaining requirements needed to protect the citizens and environment of California; Consolidation of governmental oversight functions in the areas of hazardous materials and hazardous waste at the local level through certified unified program agencies (CUPAs), providing for more effective and efficient utilization of limited governmental resources; Development of environmental management standards and systems and compliance assurance plans and programs to shift regulatory emphasis away from pre-operational regulatory agency command and control review and approval towards self-responsibility and self-evaluation on the part of California businesses with regulatory agencies emphasizing compliance assistance and enforcement targeted at bad actors. Together, these program reforms and redirections, when fully implemented, will substantially alter and improve the environmental regulatory climate for California business, while effectively protecting the environment and health of all Californians.

This study investigated whether significant differences in ultrasound findings exist between trisomy 18 affected and unaffected pregnancies positive by serum screening. Ultrasound reports were reviewed for 335 screen-positive women. This represented 65% of all trisomy 18 screen-positive patients who had follow-up services at any of 117 Californian state-approved Prenatal Diagnosis Centers during a six-month period from November 1, 1995 to April 30, 1996. Ultrasound reports were available for 100% of trisomy 18 fetuses diagnosed during the six month period (n=23). Ultrasound findings were reported as normal in 35% of the fetuses affected with trisomy 18. The number and type of abnormalities observed in the affected and unaffected groups are described. When compared to unaffected cases, the trisomy 18 affected fetuses had a greater re-dating discrepancy on follow-up ultrasound evaluation and significantly lower femur length to biparietal diameter (FL/BPD) ratio measurements. We recommend that all women who are screen positive for trisomy 18 be encouraged to have amniocentesis, regardless of ultrasound findings, since affected fetuses may not be detected otherwise. PMID:10740201

The most used and accepted models for daily forecasts are based on short-term space and time earthquake clustering for occurrence rates and on the Gutenberg-Richter law for the frequency-magnitude. These models have been demonstrated to produce reliable prospective space-time-magnitude forecasts during an aftershock sequence, but their skill in forecasting mainshocks is still under discussion. This paper studies the foreshock statistics of the Italian and Californian seismicity in two ways: i) we compare the foreshock activity observed in real seismic catalogs and in synthetic catalogs derived from a pure Epidemic-Type Aftershock Sequence (ETAS) model; ii) we analyze the triggering capability of earthquakes using different ETAS parameterizations, in order to check whether large events are triggered in the same way as regular earthquakes. The results indicate that the foreshock activity observed in the real catalogs is compatible with what is expected by the ETAS model. Moreover, we find that the empirical foreshock rates have an intrinsic variability due to limited sampling that may explain most of the differences found so far in different seismic catalogs.

Groundwater pumping has caused excessive groundwater depletion around the world, yet regulating pumping remains a profound challenge. California uses more groundwater than any other U.S. state, and serves as a microcosm of the adverse effects of pumping felt worldwide—land subsidence, impaired water quality, and damaged ecosystems, all against the looming threat of climate change. The state largely entrusts the control of depletion to the local level. This study uses internationally accepted water resources planning theories systematically to investigate three key aspects of controlling groundwater depletion in California, with an emphasis on local-level action: (a) making decisions and engaging stakeholders; (b) monitoring groundwater; and (c) using mandatory, fee-based and voluntary approaches to control groundwater depletion (e.g., pumping restrictions, pumping fees, and education about water conservation, respectively). The methodology used is the social science-derived technique of content analysis, which involves using a coding scheme to record these three elements in local rules and plans, and State legislation, then analyzing patterns and trends. The study finds that Californian local groundwater managers rarely use, or plan to use, mandatory and fee-based measures to control groundwater depletion. Most use only voluntary approaches or infrastructure to attempt to reduce depletion, regardless of whether they have more severe groundwater problems, or problems which are more likely to have irreversible adverse effects. The study suggests legal reforms to the local groundwater planning system, drawing upon its empirical findings. Considering the content of these recommendations may also benefit other jurisdictions that use a local groundwater management planning paradigm.

We use eight different observational datasets to estimate California-average temperature trends over 1950-1999. Observed results are compared to trends from a suite of control simulations of natural internal climate variability. Observed increases in annual-mean surface temperature are distinguishable from climate noise in some but not all observational datasets. The most robust results are large positive trends in mean and maximum daily temperatures in late winter/early spring, as well as increases in minimum daily temperatures from January to September. These trends are inconsistent with model-based estimates of natural internal climate variability, and thus require one or more external forcing agents to be explained. Our results suggest that the warming of Californian winters over the second half of the twentieth century is associated with human-induced changes in large-scale atmospheric circulation. We also hypothesize that the lack of a detectable increase in summertime maximum temperature arises from a cooling associated with large-scale irrigation. This cooling may have, until now, counteracted the warming induced by increasing greenhouse gases and urbanization effects.

The California Climate Action Registry, which will begin operation in Fall 2002, is a voluntary registry for California businesses and organizations to record annual greenhouse gas emissions. Reporting of emissions in the Registry by a participant involves documentation of both ''direct'' emissions from sources that are under the entity's control and ''indirect'' emissions controlled by others. Electricity generated by an off-site power source is considered to be an indirect emission and must be included in the entity's report. Published electricity emissions factors for the State of California vary considerably due to differences in whether utility-owned out-of-state generation, non-utility generation, and electricity imports from other states are included. This paper describes the development of three methods for estimating electricity emissions factors for calculating the combined net carbon dioxide emissions from all generating facilities that provide electricity to Californians. We find that use of a statewide average electricity emissions factor could drastically under- or over-estimate an entity's emissions due to the differences in generating resources among the utility service areas and seasonal variations. In addition, differentiating between marginal and average emissions is essential to accurately estimate the carbon dioxide savings from reducing electricity use. Results of this work will be taken into consideration by the Registry when finalizing its guidance for use of electricity emissions factors in calculating an entity's greenhouse gas emissions.

Developed herein is a new peak ground acceleration (PGA)-based predictive model for 5% damped pseudospectral acceleration (SA) ordinates of free-field horizontal component of ground motion from shallow-crustal earthquakes. The predictive model of ground motion spectral shape (i.e., normalized spectrum) is generated as a continuous function of few parameters. The proposed model eliminates the classical exhausted matrix of estimator coefficients, and provides significant ease in its implementation. It is structured on the Next Generation Attenuation (NGA) database with a number of additions from recent Californian events including 2003 San Simeon and 2004 Parkfield earthquakes. A unique feature of the model is its new functional form explicitly integrating PGA as a scaling factor. The spectral shape model is parameterized within an approximation function using moment magnitude, closest distance to the fault (fault distance) and VS30 (average shear-wave velocity in the upper 30 m) as independent variables. Mean values of its estimator coefficients were computed by fitting an approximation function to spectral shape of each record using robust nonlinear optimization. Proposed spectral shape model is independent of the PGA attenuation, allowing utilization of various PGA attenuation relations to estimate the response spectrum of earthquake recordings. ?? 2009, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute.

We evaluated the nutritional value of sporocarps of Rhizopogon vinicolor, a common hypogeous fungus in the coniferous forests of North America, for two small mammal species: the Californian red-backed vole (Clethrionomys californicus) and the northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus). Although the nitrogen concentration of sporocarps was high, much of it was in non-protein form or associated with cell walls, suggesting that it may be of low nutritional value or protected from mammalian digestive enzymes. Sporocarps also had high concentrations of cell wall constituents, indicating low availability of digestible energy. When fed a diet of this fungus alone in a controlled feeding experiment both mammal species lost a small amount of body mass. Digestibilities of dry matter, nitrogen, cell wall constituents and energy from sporocarps by both species were lower than the digestibilities of other food types by other similarly sized small mammals. Red-backed voles digested the various components of sporocarps at least as well as the flying squirrels, even though they were almost six-fold smaller in body mass. This observation supports the notion that red-backed voles, like other microtine rodents, have morphological and physiological adaptations of the digestive system that are postulated to permit greater digestion of fibrous diets than predicted on the basis of body size. Despite this, our results re-affirm previous conclusions that hypogeous fungi are only of moderate nutritional value for most small, hindgut-fermenting mammals. Future studies should focus on the importance of mixed-species of fungi in the diet of small mammalian mycophagists. PMID:10335615

As in all the other areas of science, the nuclear method of analysis was brought about at the end of the 1940s new tools of research in the studies of man and his environment. If the applications of these methods are well-known in the field of archeology and of numismatics, it is an area where their use are more surprising, it is this that of economic history. The authors would like to illustrate this type of application using two examples: the diffusion in Europe of Potosian silver during the 16th and 17th centuries and also of Brazilian gold in 18th century. Until the 19th century most money was in the form of coinage and monetary history was mainly determined by the inflow of precious metals and the discoveries of new sources, especially in the Americas. Californian gold in the mid 19th century, Brazilian gold in the 18th and silver from Potosi or Mexico in the 16th and 18th centuries all strongly influenced the movement of price levels and European economic development. In these two cases the use of the activation methods developed around a cyclotron proved determinate.

The aim of this study was to determine whether Californian farmers changed respiratory protective behaviors over time and the personal characteristics associated with protective behaviors. We surveyed 588 farmers longitudinally from 1993 to 2004. Questions included frequency of protective mask or respirator use in dusty conditions and the percentage of time the farmers drove a tractor with a closed cab. To assess longitudinal associations between protective behaviors and potential covariates, general estimating equation modeling was used with adjustment for subject age, study date, and other covariates. Only 25% of the farmers were "very" concerned about respiratory risks. Over time, any use of a dust mask or respirator decreased significantly, from 54% in 1993 to 37% in 2004 (p-value Farmers who were ex-smokers and those concerned about respiratory risk were more likely to consistently use a dust mask or respirator. However, the more acreage or time spent in dust, the less likely farmers were to use protection. Closed-cab tractor use was associated with higher salary, more time driving tractors, and larger acreage farmed. Emission reduction remains a priority. Exposure reduction by closed-cab tractor use was not associated with perception of respiratory risk. As mask or respirator use was most positively associated with respiratory concern, more effort needs to be concentrated on educating farmers about long-term respiratory health risks, and providing more user-friendly personal protective equipment. PMID:18524284

Sea ice concentrations in the Weddell Sea are subject to regional climate variability. The magnitude and origin of local trends in the sea ice coverage were studied using the bootstrap algorithm sea ice concentration data from the NSIDC for 1979-2006. The impact of atmospheric forcing such as air te...

...USCG-2012-0874] RIN 1625-AA00 Safety Zone; Sea World San Diego Fireworks, Mission Bay; San...waters of Mission Bay in support of the Sea World San Diego Fireworks. This safety zone...zones (33 U.S.C 1221 et seq.). Sea World is sponsoring the Sea World...

The effect of sea-ice on various aspects of the Southern Hemisphere (SH) extratropical climate is examined. Two simulations using the LMD GCM are performed: a control run with the observed sea-ice distribution and an anomaly run in which all SH sea-ice is replaced by open ocean. When sea-ice is remo...

The spatial distribution of 15 polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) in surface water was investigated in the North Sea, Baltic Sea and Norwegian Sea. In addition, an interlaboratory comparison of the sampling techniques and analysis was conducted. Highest concentration in the North Sea was found near the coast, whereas the summation operatorPFC concentration decreased rapidly from 18.4 to 0.07 ng l(-1) towards the open North Sea. The river Elbe could identify as a local input source for PFCs into the North Sea, whereas perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) was transported into the sampling area with the easterly current. In contrast to the North Sea, the distribution of PFCs in the Baltic Sea was relatively homogenous, where diffuse sources dominated. In general, the composition profile was influenced from local sources caused by human activities, whereas atmospheric depositions of here analysed PFCs were negligible, but it could have possibly an influence on low contaminated sites like the open North Sea or Norwegian Sea. PMID:19818459

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is now recognized as an important pathway for water and chemical species fluxes to the coastal ocean. In order to determinate SGD to the Gulf of Lion (France), we measured the activities of 226Ra and 228Ra by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) in coastal waters and in the deep aquifer waters of the Rhone deltaic plain after pre-concentration of radium by MnO2. Compared to conventional counting techniques, TIMS requires lower quantities of water for the analyses, and leads to higher analytical precision. Radium isotopes were thus measured on 0.25?2?L water samples containing as little as 20?fg of 226Ra and 0.2?0.4?fg of 228Ra with precision equal to 2%. We demonstrate that coastal surface waters samples are enriched in 226Ra and 228Ra compared ...

Infections with feline hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) have been documented in domestic cats and free-ranging feline species with high prevalences in Iberian lynxes (Lynx pardinus), Eurasian lynxes (Lynx lynx), European wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris), African lions (Panthera leo) in Tanzania and domestic cats in South Africa. The prevalence of hemoplasmas has not yet been investigated in free-ranging felids in southern Africa. In this study we screened 73 blood samples from 61 cheetahs in central Namibia for the presence of hemoplasmas using quantitative real-time PCR. One of the cheetahs tested PCR-positive. Phylogenetic analysis based on partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA and RNAse P genes revealed that the isolate belongs to the Mycoplasma haemofelis/haemocanis group. This is the first molecular evidence of a hemoplasma infection in a free-ranging cheetah. PMID:23123173

Along the coast, anticipating the different morphological responses induced by storm events is crucial for managers to evaluate coastal risks and to develop the best measures to mitigate them. In this paper, a methodology is developed to determine the best storm intensity parameter to derive storm thresholds for different morphological responses. The methodology is applied to the northern part of the Gulf of Lions coastline where storm events can induce important morphological changes. These include shoreline retreat, beach and dune erosion, significant migration of nearshore bars, overwashes and even breaches of coastal barriers, as well as damage to coastal defences and coastal infrastructure. In order to evaluate historical storm characteristics and impact, an extensive review was under...

Purpose To compare the quality of corneal tissue after 2 different procurement techniques, whole-globe enucleation and in situ excision. Design Cross-sectional study. Methods Data in the interval 2005 to 2008 were collected from the Lions Eye Bank of Oregon. A total of 3618 eyes underwent whole-globe enucleation (enucleation group) and 2048 eyes were subject to in situ excision (in situ group). Endothelial cell density (ECD) and death-to-preservation time (D-to-P) were analyzed. Grading scores ranging from 0 (excellent) to 4 (unacceptable for transplantation) were used to evaluate the epithelium, stroma, Descemet fold, and overall endothelium. The incidences of ECD less than 2000 cells/mm2 (ECD <2000), primary graft failure (PGF), and postoperative infection were investigated. Resul...

You're never too old to fall in love—with your Mac! You took a while, but you are now the proud owner of your first Mac computer. Macs For Seniors For Dummies is just for you. This friendly, accessible guide walks you through choosing a Mac and learning how to use it. You'll find yourself falling head over heels for your Mac in no time. Macs For Seniors For Dummies introduces you to all the basics that you need to know: turning the Mac on and getting connected; using the keyboard and mouse; working with files and folders; navigate around the Mac desktop and OS X Lion; setting up an Inter

This work shows that the binding and the release of Cs^+, Ba2+, La3+ and Th4+ cations can be controlled by the application of a potential to a polypyrrole doped with polystyrene sulfonate exchange-resin. Radiometric and nuclear techniques were carried out to characterize the reversibility of the process in relation with the exchanged-cation charge. Ces travaux montrent que la fixation et le relargage des cations Cs^+, Ba2+, La3+ et Th4+ peuvent être contrôlés par l'application d'un potentiel à une résine de polypyrrole dopée au polystyrène sulfonate. Des mesures radiométriques (comptage ?) et nucléaires (rétrodiffusion de Rutherford) ont permis de caractériser la réversibilité du procédé, notamment en fonction de la charge de l'ion échangé.

We assessed spatial patterns in 37 PCB congeners, eight pesticides, and the heavy metals mercury and cadmium in the flatfish Solea solea at four sites in the Gulf of Lions (NW Mediterranean). Overall contaminant concentrations generally exceeded those reported for S. solea elsewhere, but fell into the range of other Gulf fishes, testifying of a relatively high contaminant load of this area. Spatial patterns in all three contaminant classes were highly significant, but differed among classes. PCB congener and chlorination class profiles also differed among sites. The observed patterns would be consistent with (1) PCB point-sources in the Eastern Gulf (Marseille, Rhone River) versus dominance of atmospheric input in the West, (2) pesticide input by the Rhone and from agricultural fields in t...

Insects comprise the largest group of animals in the world and newly discovered ones are being added to the list every year. The habits of even the most common insects are interesting to observe. This book introduces insects that many children will be able to observe in their environments. Interesting information is presented to help children learn about each species. A reading skills sheet accompanies each selection with attention to comprehension, vocabulary, and dictionary skills. An activity page is included with each selection which may be used for fun or to provide for individual differences within the classroom. Topics include: insect anatomy; ant lions; bumblebees; cicada killers; click beetles; dragonflies; crickets; froghoppers; honey ants; hover flies; oil beetles; moths; butterflies; termites; larvae; tiger beetles; walking sticks; and whirligigs. An answer key to activities is provided. (CW)

Public relations are a new profession in Romania, an Eastern European former communist country which changed to a democratic regime in December 1989. It is generally considered to have emerged after 1990, although publicity and political propaganda preceded it (Rogojinaru in Sriramesh and Vercic, 2009, p. 553). Although the Romanian practice of public relations evolved and developed quickly aligning with the international practice, several campaigns and programs receiving awards during the last editions of IPRA Golden World Awards, SABRE Awards, Cannes Lions Awards or European Excellence Awards, there is still very little focus on research and theory. Thus, there is no major study on the history of public relations in Romania prior to 1989 to either confirm or challenge the conclusion of G...

Pacific lion-paw scallops were collected from natural aggregations in Laguna Ojo de Liebre (Pacific Ocean), the Gulf of California, and from aquaculture facilities for genetic diversity analyses. Mitochondrial DNA sequencing uncovered two highly supported clades separated by 2.5% divergence. Data from ten microsatellite markers suggest individuals from these mitogroups are introgressed, raising questions about the mitotype origin. Some evidence suggests gene flow between La Paz and Ojo de Liebre; otherwise the Gulf of California and Ojo de Liebre are acting as two distinct populations. It is unclear whether translocations between sites have influenced the observed genetic structure or whether gene flow has been facilitated by past geologic events. Finally, scallops spawned for aquaculture ...

BEAR, LION and LIONESS are block ciphers presented by Biham and Anderson (1996), inspired by the famous Luby-Rackoff constructions of block ciphers from other cryptographic primitives (1988). The ciphers proposed by Biham and Anderson are based on one stream cipher and one hash function. Good properties of the primitives ensure good properties of the block cipher. In particular, they are able to prove that their ciphers are immune to any efficient known-plaintext key-recovery attack that can use as input only one plaintext-ciphertext pair. Our contribution is showing that these ciphers are actually immune to any efficient known-plaintext key-recovery attack that can use as input any number of plaintext-ciphertext pairs. We are able to get this improvement by using slightly weaker hypotheses on the primitives. We also discuss the attack by Morin (1996).

The Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) drastically affected the physiography, morphology and sedimentation all along the Mediterranean area at the end of the Miocene. This paper presents an analysis of the effects of the MSC on the Catalan continental margin, based on a broad database of seismic reflection profiles from the oil industry and academy. We study the sedimentary processes and their controlling factors and the correlation with the nearby and well-known Gulf of Lions. Because of the complexity of the MSC, we define the Margin Erosion Surface/Top Erosion Surface (MES/TES) as the surface marking the end of the Messinian event, which allows differentiating three domains along the Catalan margin: the Creus, Girona and Barcelona domains, separated by the Palamos and Blanes canyons. The C...

FreeFem++ is an open source platform to solve partial differential equations numerically, based on finite element methods. It was developed at the Laboratoire Jacques-Louis Lions, Universit\\'e Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris by Fr\\'ed\\'eric Hecht in collaboration with Olivier Pironneau, Jacques Morice, Antoine Le Hyaric and Kohji Ohtsuka. The FreeFem++ platform has been developed to facilitate teaching and basic research through prototyping. FreeFem++ has an advanced automatic mesh generator, capable of a posteriori mesh adaptation; it has a general purpose elliptic solver interfaced with fast algorithms such as the multi-frontal method UMFPACK, SuperLU . Hyperbolic and parabolic problems are solved by iterative algorithms prescribed by the user with the high level language of FreeFem++. It has several triangular finite elements, including discontinuous elements. For the moment this platform is restricted to the numerical simulations of problems which admit a variational formulation. We will give in the sequel a...

Abstract The critically endangered black-faced lion tamarin, Leontopithecus caissara, has a restricted geographical distribution consisting of small mainland and island populations, each with distinct habitats in coastal southeastern Brazil. Necessary conservation management actions require an assessment of whether differences in habitats are reflected in use of space by the species. We studied two tamarin groups on the mainland at So Paulo state between August 2005 and March 2007, and compared the results with data from Superagui Island. Three home range estimators were used: minimum convex polygon (MCP), Kernel, and the new technique presented dissolved monthly polygons (DMP). These resulted, respectively, in home ranges of 345, 297, and 282ha for the 12-month duration of the study. Spat...

Abstract in english A contribution to the knowledge of the social organization of a population of Golden-rumped or Black-lion tamarin (L. chrysopygus) living in a stripe of natural vegetation in the State Park along the banks of the lower Paranapanema River, in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Its composition and analysis based on captured groups, number of individuals and their distribuition in the area with concentrations; exchange of adults males, migration of individuals from groups and (more) females home range establishment, indicate an organization which is likely to be matrilinear. The average number of individuals per group or expanded families, in the seven (7) captured groups was 3,57 specimens with a mean body weight in adults of 572,5 grams. In each group there is normally one reproducing couple with a double twin pregnancy in 2/3 (65 to 80%) of the occasions, and the twins are dizygotic. This tends to repetition in multiparous females.

Abstract in english We used four microsatellite loci (Fca08, Fca45, Fca77 and Fca96) from the domestic cat, Felis catus, to investigate genetic variability in specimens of Herpailurus yagouaroundi (jaguarundi, otter cat, eyra), Puma concolor (cougar, mountain lion, puma) and Panthera onca (jaguar) held in various Brazilian zoos. Samples of DNA from the cats were PCR amplified and then sequenced before being analyzed using the CERVUS program. Our results show a mean polymorphic information co (more) ntent (PIC) of 0.83 for H. yagouaroundi, 0.66 for P. concolor and 0.69 for P. onca and a mean of 10.3 alleles for the Fca08 locus, 5.3 for Fca 45, 9 for Fca 77 and 14 for Fca 96. These results indicate a relatively high level of genetic diversity for the specimens studied.

A literature search revealed that successful thermophilic digestion operation was achieved at several Sewage Treatment Plant: Hyperon Treatment Plant of the city of Los Angeles, operations at 49 degree centigree resulted in significant improvements in sludge handling characteristics; West-Southwest Sewage Treatment Works, Chicago, Illinois a stable thermophilic digester was established at a 8 day detention time; Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant of Vancouver pathogen destruction was the primary goal of this evaluation. Several other investigators have also conducted laboratory as well as pilot scale studied and reported several potential advantages of operating anaerobic digesters in the thermophilic range, rather than the conventional mesophilic range. Increased destruction of pathogenic organisms, increased rate of volatile solids destruction and improved destruction of organics are some advantages reported by all authors. (Author) 16 refs.

We propose a mixed finite element method for the motion of a strongly viscous, ideal, and isentropic gas. At the boundary we impose a Navier-slip condition such that the velocity equation can be posed in mixed form with the vorticity as an auxiliary variable. In this formulation we design a finite element method, where the velocity and vorticity is approximated with the div- and curl- conforming Nedelec elements, respectively, of the first order and first kind. The mixed scheme is coupled to a standard piecewise constant upwind discontinuous Galerkin discretization of the continuity equation. For the time discretization, implicit Euler time stepping is used. Our main result is that the numerical solution converges to a weak solution as the discretization parameters go to zero. The convergence analysis is inspired by the continuous analysis of Feireisl and Lions for the compressible Navier-Stokes equations. Tools used in the analysis include an equation for the effective viscous flux and various renormalizatio...

Tips, tools, and shortcuts on the latest features of the iMac Completely updated to cover the latest features and capabilities of the iMac, this handy guide is packed with useful tips, full-color screenshots, and savvy advice to show you how to get the most out of your iMac. You'll find cool information on iMacs as well as the new iLife '11 suite (Garageband, iMovie, and iPhoto) and the exciting OS X Lion operating system. Veteran author Guy Hart-Davis shows you how to set up and customize your iMac so that it will work best for you, plus he shows you how to get more from your iMac, whether yo

Coastal lagoons are important marine environments for fisheries resources, wild life sanctuaries as well as many other economic activities. The Thau lagoon (at Sette, south coast of france) a major shell fisheries development in the region, receives inputs from a variety of sources namely seasonal run-off, river discharge, manmade waterways, karstic and thermal underground waters. A wide variety of material is thus added to the lagoon particularly trace metals such as Cu, Zn, Pb, Fe, Mn etc. . Metals added through karstic and thermal waters are particularly significant. Althought the lagoon covers some 75 km2, it is shallow with a maximum depth of only 9 m and with exchange with the Mediterranean being restricted along the narrow canal de Sette. Consequently, metal level can build up to quite high concentration upto x30 of that for normal seawater par- ticularly for metals such as Pb and Cu. While water exchange is severely limited, ma- jor water replacement do occur particularly during prolonged turbulent weather con- ditions with sustained onshore/offshore winds. Such episode occurred during March 2000 when it was observed that a significant proportion of the Thau lagoon was re- place by Mediterranean water. This water was characterized by it lower metal content and REE distribution. Such episodes are known to occur several times annually caus- ing significant amounts of metal-rich Thau water to discharge into the Gulf of Lion. It is concluded that such episodic exchanges constitute an important source of metals to the coastal zone and the Gulf of Lion which has been previously reported to have elevated metal levels.

Background Pastoralists in low-income countries usually live in close proximity to their animals and thus represent an important repository of information about livestock disease. Since wild and domestic animals often mix freely whilst grazing, pastoralists are also able to observe first-hand the diseases that are present in wildlife and as such are key informants in disease outbreaks in sylvatic animals. We report here the findings of the first study of the knowledge and role of Masai pastoralists in mange in wildlife and livestock in Masai Mara, Kenya. Methodology/Principal Findings In this paper we describe the knowledge of mange accrued by 56 Masai pastoralists in Kenya and how they respond to it in both wildlife and livestock. In total, 52 (93%) pastoralists had a clear idea of the clinical appearance of mange, 13 (23%) understood its aetiology and 37 (66%) knew that mites were the causal agent. Thirty-nine (69%) believed that mange cross-infection between domestic and wild animals occurs, while 48 (85%) had observed mange in domestic animals including sheep (77%), goats (57%), dogs (24%) and cattle (14%). The pastoralists had also observed wild animals infected with mange, above all lions (19%), gazelles (14%), cheetahs (12%) and wildebeests (2%). In 68% of cases Masai pastoralists treat mange infection or apply control measures, most commonly via the topical use of acaricides (29%) and/or the reporting of the outbreak to the veterinary authorities (21%). In the period 2007–2011, Kenya Wildlife Service received 24 warnings of 59 wild animals with mange-like lesions from the Masai Mara pastoralist community. The reported species were cheetah, lion, wild dog, Thomson’s gazelle and wildebeest. Conclusion Masai pastoralists have good knowledge of mange epidemiology and treatment. Their observations and the treatments they apply are valuable in the control of this disease in both wild and domestic animals. PMID:18244993

Interactions between sea otters Enhydra lutris, sea urchins Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, and kelp were investigated following the reduction in sea otter density in Prince William Sound, Alaska, after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. At northern Knight Island, a heavily oiled portion of the sound, sea otter abundance was reduced by a minimum of 50% by the oil spill, and from 1995 through 1998 remained at an estimated 66% lower than in 1973. Where sea otter densities were reduced, there were proportionally more large sea urchins. However, except in some widely scattered aggregations, both density and biomass of sea urchins were similar in an area of reduced sea otter density compared with an area where sea otters remained about 10 times more abundant. Furthermore, there was no change in kelp abundance in the area of reduced sea otter density. This is in contrast to greatly increased biomass of sea urchins and greatly reduced kelp density observed following an approximate 90% decline in sea otter abundance in the western Aleutian Islands. The variation in community response to a reduction in sea otters may be related to the magnitude of the reduction and the non-linear response by sea urchins to changes in predator abundance. The number of surviving sea otters may have been high enough to suppress sea urchin populations in Prince William Sound, but not in the Aleutians. Alternatively, differences in response may have been due to differences in the frequency or magnitude of sea urchin recruitment. Densities of small sea urchins were much higher in the Aleutian system even prior to the reduction in sea otters, suggesting a higher rate of recruitment.

We use all available tide gauge records since 1807 to compose a global sea level reconstruction and analyse the evolution of global and regional sea level trends and their acceleration. Regional linear trends for 14 ocean basins since 1960 suggest the fastest sea level rise near the coast of Antarctica (3.6 mm/yr) and North West Pacific region (3.4 mm/yr). Arctic and Antarctic regions show the highest acceleration in sea level, however, in several regions (for example, North East Pacific) there is no acceleration in sea levels. We have selected 16 years of the fastest global sea level rise during the 20th century (1930-46) to compare with sea level rise for the period 1993-2009. We suggest that distinct physical processes caused fast sea level rise during the periods 1930-46 and 1993-2009 in which similar total sea level rise of 5-6cm has been observed.

Present systems simulate sea surfaces either in the visible or in the IR band. A physics based 3D simulation of sea surfaces for the calculation of images for multiband cameras is presented here. Dynamic sea surfaces, composed of smooth wind-driven gravity waves, are generated by means of time dependent statistical models. In addition, choppy waves are modeled to improve the realism of the rough sea. The appearance of the sea in the visible and thermal bands is modeled. Sea surface radiance in the IR band is calculated with respect to the reflected sky radiance and the emitted sea surface radiance. Sun glint simulations in the visible and IR are presented. Polarization effects were incorporated to enhance the physical realism. As an example for an application a real-time animation of a sea surface with floating foreground objects is shown. The simulated images of the sea surface are in good accordance with real images.

The vertical distributions of the unicellular cyanobacteria Synechococcus were studied in several highly contrasting seas: the Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, and Mediterranean Sea. Cell abundances varied significantly on both vertical and horizontal scales in all physically and spatially discrete water masses. Epifluorescence microscope cell counts from all seas clearly showed that majority of the population remains suspended in the surface-mixed layer and decreases gradually towards the base of the euphotic zone. Surface spatial distributions in the Black Sea were heterogeneous. Salinity, rather than temperature, seemed to have the greatest impact on the surface distribution of cells in this highly eutrophic sea. Changes in abundance in the mixed layer were small compared to the abrupt changes below the halocline, especially in the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. In contrast to the Black Sea, the major population remains suspended above the depth of fluorescence maximum in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean seas. Significant correlations (r>P0.01) were observed between cell counts and physical and chemical parameters with depth in the Black Sea. In all seas, cells at subsurface chlorophyll-a maximum layer (SCML) reflected brighter and longer fluorescence than those present at the surface and below. Cell size derived from flow cytometry indicated the presence of larger cells at the surface mixed layer compared to those at depth.

The sensitivity of the Baltic Sea mean salinity to climatic changes of the freshwater supply is analyzed. The average salinity of the Baltic Sea is about 0.6%. The low salinity is an effect of a large net freshwater supply and narrow and shallow connections with the North Sea. As a result of mixing in the entrance area, a large portion of the outflowing Baltic Sea water returns with the inflowing salty water and thus lowers the salinity of the Baltic Sea deep-water considerably. This recycling of the Baltic Sea water is a key process determining the salinity of today's Baltic Sea. The sensitivity of this recycling, and thus of the Baltic Sea salinity, to climatic changes in the freshwater supply is analyzed. A simple model is formulated for the variations of the Baltic Sea freshwater content. Historical data of the freshwater supply and the salinity in the Baltic Sea are used in the model to achieve an empirical expression relating variations of the recycling of Baltic Sea water to the variations of the freshwater supply. The recycling is found to be very sensitive to the freshwater supply. We find that an increase of freshwater supply of 30% is the level above which the Baltic Sea would turn into a lake. Recent climate modeling results suggest that river runoff to the Baltic Sea may increase dramatically in the future and thus possibly put the Baltic Sea into a new state.

Experimental works are done to assess the seismic behavior of concrete beams reinforced with superelastic alloy (SEA) bars. Applicability of newly developed Cu-Al-Mn SEA bars, characterized by large recovery strain, low material cost, and high machinability, have been proposed as partial replacements for conventional steel bars in order to reduce residual deformations in structures during and after intense earthquakes. Four-point reverse-cyclic bending tests were done on 1/3 scale concrete beams comprising three different types of specimens - conventional steel reinforced concrete (ST-RC), SEA reinforced concrete (SEA-RC), and SEA reinforced concrete with pre-tensioning (SEA-PC). The results showed that SEA reinforced concrete beams demonstrated significant enhancement in crack recovery capacity in comparison to steel reinforced beam. Average recovery of cracks for each of the specimens was 21% for ST-RC, 84% for SEA-RC, and 86% for SEA-PC. In addition, SEA-RC and SEA-PC beams demonstrated strong capability of recentering with comparable normalized strength and ductility relative to conventional ST-RC beam specimen. ST-RC beam, on the other hand, showed large residual cracks due to progressive reduction in its re-centering capability with each cycle. Both the SEA-RC and SEA-PC specimens demonstrated superiority of Cu-Al-Mn SEA bars to conventional steel reinforcing bars as reinforcement elements.