The Crappies

The names: bachelor, campbellite, white bass, camp lighter, sac-a-lait, silver crappie, speckled bass, tinmouth, bar fish, Oswego bass, razorback, grassback, shiner, john demon, calico bass, strawberry bass and "crap'pee," along with 10-20 others, all refer to two rather than one species of fish. Most Maryland fishermen when applying these time honored names do not realize they are referring to two distinct species of fish. These species are the black crappie, Pornoxis nigromaculatus, and the white crappie, Pornoxis annulars. Contrary to common belief, the white crappie does not change into a black crappie during parts of the year nor are these two fish just color phases of one species. Crappies are members of the freshwater sunfish family of fishes, Centrarchidae. (PDF contains 4 pages

Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxes and Public Health

Outlines research linking consumption of sodas and other sugar-sweetened drinks with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Explores the effectiveness of taxing such beverages to generate revenue, reduce consumption among at-risk groups, and promote public health

Bidirectional control system for energy flow in solar powered flywheel

An energy storage system for a spacecraft is provided which employs a solar powered flywheel arrangement including a motor/generator which, in different operating modes, drives the flywheel and is driven thereby. A control circuit, including a threshold comparator, senses the output of a solar energy converter, and when a threshold voltage is exceeded thereby indicating the availability of solar power for the spacecraft loads, activates a speed control loop including the motor/generator so as to accelerate the flywheel to a constant speed and thereby store mechanical energy, while also supplying energy from the solar converter to the loads. Under circumstances where solar energy is not available and thus the threshold voltage is not exceeded, the control circuit deactivates the speed control loop and activates a voltage control loop that provides for operation of the motor as a generator so that mechanical energy from the flywheel is converted into electrical energy for supply to the spacecraft loads

Maryland Turtles

Since McCauley's 1945 publication, now out of print, on the "Turtles of Maryland," little has appeared on this interesting component of Maryland's vertebrate fauna. This work is thus an attempt to bring up to date the information that has accumulated during the interval. Each species has been treated in a similar vein regarding name, drawing, distribution, life history and biology. Additional information not usually found in texts or manuals has been added, especially that on folklore, uses and commercial value. Comments on environs, identification, species which should not be considered part of the turtle fauna, and the five known introduced species are included. A key to all the material and introduced species and subspecies is presented for the first time. The distribution maps have been made following the present limits of a species' known range. Dots were not used to illustrate ranges since so many species can and do move about readily. Those species whose ranges are expected to be larger than presently known are so indicated. These species and specimens thereof from the latter areas should be kept arid called to the attention of qualified personnel. All levels from the high school to scientist will find material of interest herein. (PDF contains 43 pages