The use of a nonradioactive probe in RFLP analysis of Neurospora crassa DNA

Our laboratory is investigating the use of nonradioactive alternatives for the synthesis of DNA probes used in hybridization experiments

Exploring the components, asymmetry and distribution of relationship quality in wild Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus)

Social relationships between group members are a key feature of many animal societies. The quality of social relationships has been described by three main components: value, compatibility and security, based on the benefits, tenure and stability of social exchanges. We aimed to analyse whether this three component structure could be used to describe the quality of social relationships in wild Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus). Moreover, we examined whether relationship quality was affected by the sex, age and rank differences between social partners, and investigated the asymmetric nature of social relationships. We collected over 1,900 hours of focal data on seven behavioural variables measuring relationship quality, and used principal component analysis to investigate how these variables clustered together. We found that relationship quality in wild Barbary macaques can be described by a three component structure that represents the value, compatibility and security of a relationship. Female-female dyads had more valuable relationships and same-age dyads more compatible relationships than any other dyad. Rank difference had no effect on the quality of a social relationship. Finally, we found a high degree of asymmetry in how members of a dyad exchange social behaviour. We argue that the asymmetry of social relationships should be taken into account when exploring the pattern and function of social behaviour in animal societies

K0(K0ˉ)K^0(\bar{K^0}) Production in Two-Photon Processes at TRISTAN

We have carried out an inclusive measurement of $K^0(\bar{K^0})$ production in two-photon processes at TRISTAN. The mean $\sqrt{s}$ was 58 GeV and the integrated luminosity was 199 pb$^{-1}$. High-statistics $K_s$ samples were obtained under such conditions as no-, anti-electron, and remnant-jet tags. The remnant-jet tag, in particular, allowed us, for the first time, to measure the cross sections separately for the resolved-photon and direct processes.Comment: 20 pages, Latex format, 4 figures and KEK-mark included. Table 1 revised. To be published in Phys. Lett.

Versatility in a loud call: dual affiliative and agonistic functions in the blue monkey boom

To investigate the selective agents that shape signals, we examined function (adaptive benefit to signaler) in the boom loud call by male blue monkeys. Using natural observation and playbacks in a wild population in Kenya, we characterized boom function from conspecifics' behavioral responses and also variation in call usage relating to context and reproductive season. Booms occurred in several contexts and after varied stimuli, including falling branches, yet were strongly associated with intragroup activity and, in particular, affiliative interactions between callers and females. Males produced more booms during the mating season and, congruently, when more females in their groups were sexually active. After hearing booms, compared to no call, females spent more time near groupmates and the caller and were more likely to approach and have mating interactions with him. Males tended to move away after hearing a boom. In the aggregate, results indicate that booms achieve multiple functions relating to facilitating group cohesion, affiliative interactions, and mating opportunities, while also repelling rival males. An observed association with falling branches is puzzlingly distinct from these social functions. We explore the hypothesis that booms enable affiliative encounters by acting as signals of benign intent, and discuss the functional versatility of signals perceived by multiple receivers that vary in age, sex, and relationship to signalers

Photoproduction of phi(1020) mesons on the proton at large momentum transfer

The cross section for $\phi$ meson photoproduction on the proton has been measured for the first time up to a four-momentum transfer -t = 4 GeV^2, using the CLAS detector at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. At low four-momentum transfer, the differential cross section is well described by Pomeron exchange. At large four-momentum transfer, above -t = 1.8 GeV^2, the data support a model where the Pomeron is resolved into its simplest component, two gluons, which may couple to any quark in the proton and in the $\phi$.Comment: 5 pages; 7 figure

The e p -> e' p eta reaction at and above the S11(1535) baryon resonance

New cross sections for the reaction e p -> ep eta are reported for total center of mass energy W = 1.5--1.86 GeV and invariant momentum transfer Q^2 = 0.25--1.5 GeV^2. This large kinematic range allows extraction of important new information about response functions, photocouplings, and eta N coupling strengths of baryon resonances. Expanded W coverage shows sharp structure at W \~ 1.7 GeV; this is shown to come from interference between S and P waves and can be interpreted in terms of known resonances. Improved values are derived for the photon coupling amplitude for the S11(1535) resonance.Comment: 11 pages, RevTeX, 5 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Rates of agonism among female primates: a cross-taxon perspective

Agonism is common in group-living animals, shaping dominance relationships and ultimately impacting individual tness. Rates of agonism vary considerably among taxa, however, and explaining this variation has been central in ecological models of female social relationships in primates. Early iterations of these models posited a link to diet, with more frequent agonism predicted in frugivorous species due to the presumed greater contestability of fruits relative to other food types. Although some more recent studies have suggested that dietary categories may be poor predictors of contest competition among primates, to date there have been no broad, cross-taxa comparisons of rates of female–female agonism in relation to diet. This study tests whether dietary variables do indeed pre- dict rates of female agonism and further investigates the role of group size (i.e., number of competitors) and substrate use (i.e., degree of arboreality) on the frequency of agonism. Data from 44 wild, unprovisioned groups, including 3 strepsirhine species, 3 platyrrhines, 5 colobines, 10 cercopithecines, and 2 hominoids were analyzed using phylogenetically controlled and uncontrolled methods. Results indicate that diet does not predict agonistic rates, with trends actually being in the opposite direction than predicted for all taxa except cercopithecines. In contrast, agonistic rates are positively associated with group size and possibly degree of terrestriality. Competitor density and perhaps the risk of ghting, thus, appear more important than general diet in predicting agonism among female primates. We discuss the implications of these results for socio-ecological hypotheses

Measurement of Inclusive Spin Structure Functions of the Deuteron

We report the results of a new measurement of spin structure functions of the deuteron in the region of moderate momentum transfer ($Q^2$ = 0.27 -- 1.3 (GeV/c)$^2$) and final hadronic state mass in the nucleon resonance region ($W$ = 1.08 -- 2.0 GeV). We scattered a 2.5 GeV polarized continuous electron beam at Jefferson Lab off a dynamically polarized cryogenic solid state target ($^{15}$ND$_3$) and detected the scattered electrons with the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS). From our data, we extract the longitudinal double spin asymmetry $A_{||}$ and the spin structure function $g_1^d$. Our data are generally in reasonable agreement with existing data from SLAC where they overlap, and they represent a substantial improvement in statistical precision. We compare our results with expectations for resonance asymmetries and extrapolated deep inelastic scaling results. Finally, we evaluate the first moment of the structure function $g_1^d$ and study its approach to both the deep inelastic limit at large $Q^2$ and to the Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn sum rule at the real photon limit ($Q^2 \to 0$). We find that the first moment varies rapidly in the $Q^2$ range of our experiment and crosses zero at $Q^2$ between 0.5 and 0.8 (GeV/c)$^2$, indicating the importance of the $\Delta$ resonance at these momentum transfers.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, ReVTeX 4, final version as accepted by Phys. Rev.

Q2Q^2 Dependence of Quadrupole Strength in the γ∗p→Δ+(1232)→pπ0\gamma^*p\to\Delta^+(1232)\to p \pi^0 Transition

Models of baryon structure predict a small quadrupole deformation of the nucleon due to residual tensor forces between quarks or distortions from the pion cloud. Sensitivity to quark versus pion degrees of freedom occurs through the $Q^2$ dependence of the magnetic ($M_{1+}$), electric ($E_{1+}$), and scalar ($S_{1+}$) multipoles in the $\gamma^* p \to \Delta^+ \to p \pi^0$ transition. We report new experimental values for the ratios $E_{1+}/M_{1+}$ and $S_{1+}/M_{1+}$ over the range $Q^2$= 0.4-1.8 GeV$^2$, extracted from precision $p(e,e 'p)\pi^{\circ}$ data using a truncated multipole expansion. Results are best described by recent unitary models in which the pion cloud plays a dominant role.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, 1 table. To be published in Phys. Rev. Lett. (References, figures and table updated, minor changes.