Future Investigations of the Flavor Dependence of Sea Quark Helicities at STAR

The flavor dependence of polarized and unpolarized quark distributions in the nucleon can lead to insights into the formation of the sea. Drell-Yan measurements have pointed to flavor asymmetries in the unpolarized distributions. Collisions at sqrt{s}=500 GeV with polarized protons at RHIC will soon allow investigations of the flavor separated polarized quark distributions via W production to complement measurements from semi-inclusive DIS. We report on STAR's current plans, tracking upgrade, and expected sensitivities.Comment: 4 pages, to appear in the proceedings of the 18th International Spin Physics Symposium (Spin08), Charlottesville, Virginia, USA, October 6 - 11, 200

Good vibrations: A novel method for sexing turtles

The ability to accurately determine the sex of individuals is important for research and conservation efforts. While most species of turtle exhibit secondary sexual dimorphisms that can be used to reliably infer sex, there are some species that are very difficult to sex, and even within many dimorphic species, it is not uncommon to encounter individuals that appear to exhibit both male and female secondary sex characteristics. Therefore, we tested the novel method of using a vibrator to sex turtles by stimulating male turtles to evert their penises. We tested this method on males of four species (three families) with known sexual dimorphisms: spiny softshell turtles (Apalone spinifera; n = 14), western chicken turtles (Deirochelys reticularia miaria; n = 17), Mississippi mud turtles (Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis; n = 10), and common musk turtles (Sternotherus odoratus; n = 9). The method accurately sexed 100% of A. spinifera, 64.7% of D. r. miaria, 80.0% of K. s. hippocrepis, and 55.6% of S. odoratus. Despite the low success rates in some species, there are situations in which this method will be useful for researchers working with species that are difficult to sex using external morphological characteristics

Good vibrations: a novel method for sexing turtles

The ability to accurately determine the sex of individuals is important for research and conservation efforts. While most species of turtle exhibit secondary sexual dimorphisms that can be used to reliably infer sex, there are some species that are very difficult to sex, and even within many dimorphic species, it is not uncommon to encounter individuals that appear to exhibit both male and female secondary sex characteristics. Therefore, we tested the novel method of using a vibrator to sex turtles by stimulating male turtles to evert their penises. We tested this method on males of four species (three families) with known sexual dimorphisms: spiny softshell turtles (Apalone spinifera; n = 14), western chicken turtles (Deirochelys reticularia miaria; n = 17), Mississippi mud turtles (Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis; n = 10), and common musk turtles (Sternotherus odoratus; n = 9). The method accurately sexed 100% of A. spinifera, 64.7% of D. r. miaria, 80.0% of K. s. hippocrepis, and 55.6% of S.odoratus. Despite the low success rates in some species, there are situations in which this method will be useful for researchers working with species that are difficult to sex using external morphological characteristics

MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY FACTORS IN PRE-FLEDGED FLORIDA SANDHILL CRANE (GRUS CANADENSIS PRATENSIS) CHICKS

One hundred and fifteen Florida sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pratensis) chicks were captured in Osceola and Lake Counties, Florida in 1998 - 2000 and examined for evidence of disease. Evidence of Eimeria gruis and/or E. reichenowi infection was found in 52% of chicks examined. Ten chicks were positive for antibodies to St. Louis encephalitis virus and 1 of these chicks was also positive for antibodies to eastern equine encephalitis virus. Predation was the most commonly identified cause of mortality. An unidentified microfilaria, and an unknown protozoan were detected in blood smears from crane chicks. A number of other disease conditions were also encountered, including: ant bites, chigger infestations, helminth infections, bacterial infections, leg problems associated with capture, and a bill deformity

Electronic Structures of Nitridomanganese(V) Complexes

The single-crystal polarized absorption and circular dichroism spectra of the nitridomanganese(V) complexes (salen)Mn⋮N (1), (1S,2S-(−)-saldpen)Mn⋮N (2), and (1R,2R-(+)-saldpen)Mn⋮N (3) have been measured [salen = N,N‘-ethylenebis(salicylideneaminato) dianion, 1S,2S-(−)-saldpen = N,N‘-(1S,2S-(−)-diphenyl)ethylenebis(salicylideneaminato) dianion, and 1R,2R-(+)-saldpen = N,N‘-(1R,2R-(+)-diphenyl)ethylenebis(salicylideneaminato) dianion]. As revealed by X-ray crystal structure analyses, these molecules have a distorted square-pyramidal geometry with a short Mn⋮N bond distance (1.52(3) Å for 2). The Cs compounds have a low-spin^ 1A‘[a‘(x^2 − y^2)]^2 ground state. The lowest absorption system (∼600 nm) consists of two components that are separated by approximately 4000 cm^(-1); these are assigned to ^1A‘ → ^1A‘[a‘(x^2 − y^2)a‘(yz)] (14 900 cm^(-1)) and ^1A‘ → ^1A‘‘[a‘(x^2 − y^2)a‘‘(xz)] (18 900 cm^(-1)) transitions

Spin beyond Standard Model: Theory

I use spin as a guide through the labyrinth of possibilities and ideas that go beyond the established understanding of the fundamental interactions.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, plenary talk presented at the 18th International Symposium on Spin Physics (SPIN 2008), Charlottesville, VA, October 6-11, 2008; one inequality correcte

Egg and clutch sizes of western chicken turtles (Deirochelys reticularia miaria)

Chicken turtles (Deirochelys reticularia) are generally characterized as having atypical reproductive characteristics relative to other sympatric emydids. However, the comparatively understudied western chicken turtle (D. r. miaria) has been shown to exhibit some reproductive characteristics that differ from the other subspecies. Therefore, we examined clutch and egg sizes from six D. r. miaria (13 clutches) in Oklahoma and compared the results to values that have been reported for the other two subspecies. Females nested up to three times per year, with clutches ranging from 8-13 eggs per clutch (mean = 10.9). The eggs were 19.4-25.3 mm wide (mean = 22.2 mm). These values are greater than the means reported for the other subspecies, but the differences were not statistically significant

Good vibrations: a novel method for sexing turtles

The ability to accurately determine the sex of individuals is important for research and conservation efforts. While most species of turtle exhibit secondary sexual dimorphisms that can be used to reliably infer sex, there are some species that are very difficult to sex, and even within many dimorphic species, it is not uncommon to encounter individuals that appear to exhibit both male and female secondary sex characteristics. Therefore, we tested the novel method of using a vibrator to sex turtles by stimulating male turtles to evert their penises. We tested this method on males of four species (three families) with known sexual dimorphisms: spiny softshell turtles (Apalone spinifera; n = 14), western chicken turtles (Deirochelys reticularia miaria; n = 17), Mississippi mud turtles (Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis; n = 10), and common musk turtles (Sternotherus odoratus; n = 9). The method accurately sexed 100% of A. spinifera, 64.7% of D. r. miaria, 80.0% of K. s. hippocrepis, and 55.6% of S. odoratus. Despite the low success rates in some species, there are situations in which this method will be useful for researchers working with species that are difficult to sex using external morphological characteristics