Movement and habitat use of two aquatic turtles (\u3cem\u3eGraptemys geographic\u3c/em\u3e and \u3cem\u3eTrachemys scripta\u3c/em\u3e) in an urban landscape

Our study focuses on the spatial ecology and seasonal habitat use of two aquatic turtles in order to understand the manner in which upland habitat use by humans shapes the aquatic activity, movement, and habitat selection of these species in an urban setting. We used radiotelemetry to follow 15 female Graptemys geographica (common map turtle) and each of ten male and female Trachemys scripta (red-eared slider) living in a man-made canal within a highly urbanized region of Indianapolis, IN, USA. During the active season (between May and September) of 2002, we located 33 of the 35 individuals a total of 934 times and determined the total range of activity, mean movement, and daily movement for each individuals. We also analyzed turtle locations relative to the upland habitat types (commercial, residential, river, road, woodlot, and open) surrounding the canal and determined that the turtles spent a disproportionate amount of time in woodland and commercial habitats and avoided the road-associated portions of the canal. We also located 21 of the turtles during hibernation (February 2003), and determined that an even greater proportion of individuals hibernated in woodland-bordered portions of the canal. Our results clearly indicate that turtle habitat selection is influenced by human activities; sound conservation and management of turtle populations in urban habitats will require the incorporation of spatial ecology and habitat use data

Simulation support for internet-based energy services

The rapidly developing Internet broadband network offers new opportunities for deploying a range of energy, environment and health-related services for people in their homes and workplaces. Several of these services can be enabled or enhanced through the application of building simulation. This paper describes the infrastructure for e-services under test within a European research project and shows the potential for simulation support for these services

Descriptive ecology of a turtle assemblage in an urban landscape

We studied turtle populations inhabiting a canal and a lake (both man-made) within a heavily disturbed, urban setting. Six aquatic and semi-aquatic turtle species were collected in both habitats: spiny softshell turtle (Apolone spinifera), painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), common map turtle (Graptemys geographica), common musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) and red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta). While G. geographica was the most common species in the canal habitat, T. scripta was most common in the lake habitat. We describe patterns of sexual size dimorphism and sex ratios for the three most abundant species (G. geographica, T. scripta and S. odoralus). We discuss our data in light of problems facing turtle assemblages in urban settings

The role of ECL2 in CGRP receptor activation: a combined modelling and experimental approach

The calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor is a complex of a calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR), which is a family B G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and receptor activity modifying protein 1. The role of the second extracellular loop (ECL2) of CLR in binding CGRP and coupling to Gs was investigated using a combination of mutagenesis and modelling. An alanine scan of residues 271–294 of CLR showed that the ability of CGRP to produce cAMP was impaired by point mutations at 13 residues; most of these also impaired the response to adrenomedullin (AM). These data were used to select probable ECL2-modelled conformations that are involved in agonist binding, allowing the identification of the likely contacts between the peptide and receptor. The implications of the most likely structures for receptor activation are discussed.</jats:p

Growth and Characterization of Ce- Substituted Nd2Fe14B Single Crystals

Single crystals of (Nd1-xCex)2Fe14B are grown out of Fe-(Nd,Ce) flux. Chemical and structural analysis of the crystals indicates that (Nd1-xCex)2Fe14B forms a solid solution until at least x = 0.38 with a Vegard-like variation of the lattice constants with x. Refinements of single crystal neutron diffraction data indicate that Ce has a slight site preference (7:3) for the 4g rare earth site over the 4f site. Magnetization measurements show that for x = 0.38 the saturation magnetization at 400 K, a temperature important to applications, falls from 29.8 for the parent Nd2Fe14B to 27.6 (mu)B/f.u., the anisotropy field decreases from 5.5 T to 4.7 T, and the Curie temperature decreases from 586 to 543 K. First principles calculations carried out within density functional theory are used to explain the decrease in magnetic properties due to Ce substitution. Though the presence of the lower-cost and more abundant Ce slightly affects these important magnetic characteristics, this decrease is not large enough to affect a multitude of applications. Ce-substituted Nd2Fe14B is therefore a potential high-performance permanent magnet material with substantially reduced Nd content.Comment: 11 Pages, 8 figures, 5 table

Mt. Apo Natural Park in the Southern Philippines Using Terrestrial LiDAR System

Extraction of plot-level field measurements entails a rigid and time-consuming task. Fine resolution remote sensing technology offers an objective and consistent method for estimation of forest vertical structures. We explored the development of algorithms for estimating above ground biomass (AGB) at the plot level using terrestrial LiDAR system (TLS). This research follows IPCC Tier 2 approach, by combining field and remote sensing data, in estimating forest carbon stocks. Permanent plots (30 × 30 m diameter) were established inside Mt. Apo Natural Park. Forest inventory was conducted in July 2013, recording tree heights and stem diameters for all hardwood species with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 5 cm in three management zones: multiple use, strict protection, and restoration. Quadratic mean stem diameter was employed for large DBH intervals for deriving midpoint biomass. Three tropical allometric equations were used to derive referenced biomass values. Regressions results showed satisfactory modeling fit in relating plot-level AGB to DBH class size: 80%–89%. Mean tree heights from field and TLS data were related showing R2 = 88%. TLS variables derived include percentile heights and normalized height bins at 5-m intervals. The generalized linear model is a more robust model for percentile heights, while stepwise regression showed a better regression performance for normalized height bins. Strict protection zone contained the highest carbon storage. This study demonstrated the significant TLS-derived metrics to assess plot-level biomass. TLS scanning is also the first work to be done in this ASEAN Natural Heritage Park, which is constrained with local insurgency problems. Biomass in plot-level can be used to extrapolate to landscape-level using available multispectral or radar imagery

Recognizing and Overcoming Difficult Site Conditions for Afforestation of Bottomland Hardwoods

In the last decade, about 370,000 acres (150,000 ha) of economically marginalfarmland in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV) have been restored tobottomland hardwood forests (Stanturf and others 1998, King and Keeland 1999,Schoenholtz and others 2001). Planting of this considerable acreage is due to several federal programs, such as the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), that assist landowners by financing afforestation (Figure 1). Unfortunately, these operational plantings have not performed as well as smaller plantings or research plots (Stanturf and others 2001a). For example, a recent survey of WRP plantings in westcentral Mississippi revealed that more than 90 percent of the sites failed to meet the criteria of 100 woody stems per acre (247 stems per ha) three years after planting or direct seeding. While planting 1-0 bareroot seedlings of oak was more successful than direct-seeding acorns, only 23percent of the land planted with seedlings met the criteria (C.J. Schweitzer unpublished data). Planting and direct seeding oak (Quercus spp.) on public land in the same area has been more successful. Meanwhile, Allen (1990) found 70 percent of the planted bottomland hardwood stands on the national wildlife refuges he evaluated had more than 200 trees per acre (494 stems per ha).We believe that the recurring problems in operational plantings on privatelands are due in part to the failure of planters to recognize adverse site conditions and their failure to use appropriate methods for overcoming site limitations. Our objectives in this paper are to synthesize research and experience into guidelines for recognizing adverse site conditions due to hydroperiod, soil, competing vegetation, and herbivory. We describe techniques for overcoming these conditions and suggest promising research areas