Chimpanzee ecology and interactions with people in an unprotected human-dominated landscape at Bulindi, Western Uganda

As humans continue to modify natural habitats in Africa, particularly outside of protected areas, the survival of many chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) populations is dependant on their ability to adapt to human-dominated landscapes, and the willingness of local people to share their environment and resources with these large mammals. Unless hunted, chimpanzees may persist in anthropogenically-modified habitats including forest–farm mosaics, but competition and conflict can characterise their relationship with people. Conservation strategies are needed to facilitate successful coexistence. However, few studies have examined human–ape sympatry in detail. This thesis explores the ecological and behavioural adaptation of a previously unstudied chimpanzee community to an increasingly ‘agriculturalised’ landscape at Bulindi, Uganda. These chimpanzees live in exceptionally close proximity to farmers that exert unsustainable pressure on small unprotected forests. Research was conducted during 21 months between February 2006 and January 2008. Quantitative ecological methods were used to characterise the apes’ habitat and measure seasonal food availability. Indirect methods (e.g. faecal analysis and nest mapping) were employed to investigate chimpanzee diet and range use, supplemented by opportunistic behavioural observations. Riverine forests at Bulindi are rich in chimpanzee foods, but are rapidly being destroyed by people. Important foods in the apes’ diet include both wild and cultivated items; chimpanzees increased consumption of cultivars during the low forest fruiting season. Unique among studied populations in Uganda, Bulindi chimpanzees use tools to dig up subterranean bee nests for honey. Interviews were conducted to survey residents’ attitudes towards chimpanzees and forests. Chimpanzee behaviour is widely perceived by residents to have undergone recent negative changes, including increased crop-raiding and ranging into village areas, which correspond to major land-use changes (i.e. commercial logging and agricultural intensification). Further, adult males exhibit frequent human-directed aggression, apparently in response to harassment and intensifying competition with humans. Most residents fear chimpanzees. Because of poverty, insecure land tenure, inadequate law and policy enforcement, and corruption, local people currently have little incentive to maintain forest on their land. The study concludes that, under present conditions, chimpanzees will not survive at Bulindi or in similar unprotected forest–farm landscapes regionally without immediate, effective intervention. Recommendations for the conservation and management of chimpanzees in human-dominated landscapes are provided

Midwifery in a North East of Scotland Practice, 1949 to 1958

This thesis shows the work done during the first ten years of the National Health Service in a small semi-rural practice. It illustrates the type and number of the cases which are met with in such a practice. The geography of the district, the social history of the people, and the organisation of the practice are described, as well as the system of antenatal care. The yearly case notes are given, followed by a discussion on the initial examination, incidence of hypertension, home confinement, and the type of feeding at six weeks, as these are applicable to the practice, The final chapter is devoted to discussion of, and some minor suggestions for the improvement of, midwifery by the family doctor

Physicochemical properties of concentrated Martian surface waters

Understanding the processes controlling chemical sedimentation is an important step in deciphering paleoclimatic conditions from the rock records preserved on both Earth and Mars. Clear evidence for subaqueous sedimentation at Meridiani Planum, widespread saline mineral deposits in the Valles Marineris region, and the possible role of saline waters in forming recent geomorphologic features all underscore the need to understand the physical properties of highly concentrated solutions on Mars in addition to, and as a function of, their distinct chemistry. Using thermodynamic models predicting saline mineral solubility, we generate likely brine compositions ranging from bicarbonate-dominated to sulfate-dominated and predict their saline mineralogy. For each brine composition, we then estimate a number of thermal, transport, and colligative properties using established models that have been developed for highly concentrated multicomponent electrolyte solutions. The available experimental data and theoretical models that allow estimation of these physicochemical properties encompass, for the most part, much of the anticipated variation in chemistry for likely Martian brines. These estimates allow significant progress in building a detailed analysis of physical sedimentation at the ancient Martian surface and allow more accurate predictions of thermal behavior and the diffusive transport of matter through chemically distinct solutions under comparatively nonstandard conditions

The Steady State Distribution of the Master Equation

The steady states of the master equation are investigated. We give two expressions for the steady state distribution of the master equation a la the Zubarev-McLennan steady state distribution, i.e., the exact expression and an expression near equilibrium. The latter expression obtained is consistent with recent attempt of constructing steady state theormodynamics.Comment: 6 pages, No figures. A mistake was correcte

In vivo analysis reveals a critical role for neuropilin-1 in cranial neural crest cell migration in chick

AbstractThe neural crest provides an excellent model system to study invasive cell migration, however it is still unclear how molecular mechanisms direct cells to precise targets in a programmed manner. We investigate the role of a potential guidance factor, neuropilin-1, and use functional knockdown assays, tissue transplantation and in vivo confocal time-lapse imaging to analyze changes in chick cranial neural crest cell migratory patterns. When neuropilin-1 function is knocked down in ovo, neural crest cells fail to fully invade the branchial arches, especially the 2nd branchial arch. Time-lapse imaging shows that neuropilin-1 siRNA transfected neural crest cells stop and collapse filopodia at the 2nd branchial arch entrances, but do not die. This phenotype is cell autonomous. To test the influence of population pressure and local environmental cues in driving neural crest cells to the branchial arches, we isochronically transplanted small subpopulations of DiI-labeled neural crest cells into host embryos ablated of neighboring, premigratory neural crest cells. Time-lapse confocal analysis reveals that the transplanted cells migrate in narrow, directed streams. Interestingly, with the reduction of neuropilin-1 function, neural crest cells still form segmental migratory streams, suggesting that initial neural crest cell migration and invasion of the branchial arches are separable processes

SEQUAL 2.1 User’s Manual

SEQUAL is a device simulation program which performs a quantum mechanical analysis of electron transport. The user need not be an expert in quantum mechanics to obtain useful results from this program, although an understanding of the subject is an invaluable aid in the interpretation of output. For this reason,, the theoretical formulation of the analysis is presented in some detail, following a brief introduction. The knowledgeable (or anxious) user may turn directly to the discussions of input and output in Chapters 3 and 4. The reader is cautioned, however, not to skip Chaper 2 entirely. At the heart of many a program error\u27 lies a misinterpretation of output

Understanding the role of obsolescence in PPP/PFI

In 2013 the Guardian newspaper reported that the UK Government had acquired £300 billion worth of capital costs and unitary payments within the formally known Private Finance Initiatives – now Public Private Partnerships. This paper is not about the economics or moral debate upon the success and failures of PPP’s within the UK, but rather the untold story of the impact of obsolescence upon the integral asset systems which support the service delivery. Prisons require supportable and maintainable security systems, the same can be said for government/defence buildings, not to the mention the life critical systems within hospitals and clinics across the country. However, there is an untold story, which is impacting the through life or lifecycle costs to support and maintain key asset systems, driving additional lifecycle expenditures that may be unforeseen. This paper contains evidence of the scale of the financial impact of obsolescence through obsolescence driven investments, not least to mention the potential operational impacts if systems become unsupportable. This paper begins to create a foundation for future research focusing on obsolescence and how best to monitor and mitigate its effects