Little is known about the genetic mating system of the Kemp's ridley sea turtle, Lepidochelys kempii. Jensen et al. (2006) found a positive relationship between the incidence of multiple paternity (MP) and the estimated population size of rookeries. In the high density Kemp's ridley Rancho Nuevo rookery, Kichler et al. (1999) estimated 81% of nests were multiply sired (Wang 2004). If MP is positively related to nesting female density, then MP in Kemp's ridley should be lower on a low-density nesting beach on South Padre Island, Texas (SPI) than in a Mexico's much larger nesting population. We genotyped 154 hatchling tissue samples from nests on SPI at 14 microsatellite loci. Results using full sibship reconstruction as implemented in COLONY indicated that 52% of nests with two or more samples (11 of 21) exhibited MP. This suggests that this species does not follow the female density trend proposed by Jensen et al. (2006) and maintains high levels of MP and genetic variation across its nesting range.

We examined the relationship between pitcher characteristics and prey capture in three populations of the carnivorous plant <em>Sarracenia alata</em> Wood. The pitcher characteristics measured were nectar, coloration, and three indices of size. The indices of size (height, funnel diameter, and hood area) were highly correlated in all three populations. Pitcher size and mass of prey captured per day differed significantly among populations. Pitcher size was significantly positively related to total mass of prey capture per day, explaining 37-76% of the variation depending on the population. In one of the populations, nectar was also significantly related to prey capture per day. Further research is needed to determine whether the direct relationship between pitcher size and prey capture is due simply to a larger capture area in larger plants, a larger surface area of attractants such as nectar in larger plants, or both.

The purpose of this study was to identify actin-associated proteins in Chlamydomonas and determine their possible role in the fertilization process. We hypothesized that microvillus associated proteins in other systems would localize to the Chlamydomonas fertilization tubule. We identified three previously unknown hypothetical Chlamydomonas genes: hcVillin, hcFimbrin, and hcMyosin-I. Extensive database analysis revealed sequence similarities between these Chlamydomonas genes and villin, fimbrin, and myosin-like proteins in other systems. Sequence homology for all three genes was high especially in the highly conserved regions of these protein families that are critical for the protein function. We documented that these Chlamydomonas genes are expressed in both vegetative and gametic cells of both mating types using RT-PCR of mRNA. Absence of localization to the fertilization tubule suggests that either the commercial antibodies do not cross react with the Chlamydomonas proteins or that the Chlamydomonas fertilization tubule is not constructed like other microvilli.

Pigeons ability to track changes of reinforcement duration (RD) and spacing of changes within a session, such as close (consecutive intervals) and far (each change in reinforcer duration was separated by two intervals of four seconds RD), was the focus of the study. Pigeons were exposed to two baseline conditions, one before and after experimental conditions. The four experimental conditions consisted of changes of RD and sequence (consecutive and separated) and each pigeon experienced each condition. The results indicated that tracking was directional. Specifically, when there was a decrease in reinforcer duration (i.e., four to two seconds). Pigeons readily tracked changes of reinforcer duration in the following interval, indicating one-back tracking. The implication of our study suggests that changes of RD within a session were used as a time marker for when to respond in the next interval for reinforcement.

This study describes the vegetation and soils of one Muhly seep toposequence and compares species compositions between three study sites in North Central Texas. <italic>Muhlenbergia reverchonii</italic>, <italic>Carex microdonta</italic>, and either <italic>Eleocharis montevidensis</italic> or <italic>Eleocharis occulta</italic> are species found on every Muhly seep, particularly in depression areas. <italic>Muhlenbergia reverchonii</italic> is present but not always dominant species in the barrens. Bands of <italic>Schizachyrium scoparium</italic> and <italic>Andropogon gerardii</italic> are found in areas with deep, well-drained soils that are topographically higher and lower than hillslope seeps. Muhly seeps meet the hydrologic criterion for wetlands delineation but only certain sections meet the hydrophytic criterion. Hydric soils were not present, although ephemerally hydric soils may exist. As such, Muhly hillslope seeps are not protected under by the USACE, although they may be classified as a new type of wetland: a hyperseasonal wetland. Further research is required to determine the impact of Muhly seeps on prairie ecosystems.

It is estimated that approximately over two hundred million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), far more than HIV/AIDS, and that number grows by three to four million each year. It is a leading cause of cirrhosis, replacement of the liver tissue by fibrosis, or scar tissue, and is consequently the primary reason for liver transplantation in the United States. It is an enveloped, positive single stranded RNA virus and is the most common chronic blood-borne infection in the United States. The stages of hepatitis C virus infection are divided into acute and chronic. While infection clearance rates vary from patient to patient, approximately eighty-five percent of patients will go on to develop chronic hepatitis C infection. Liver inflammation results in death of the tissue (necrosis) and replacement by scar tissue (fibrosis). Death of hepatocytes leads to regeneration of the liver by activating the cell cycle in quiescent liver cells. This can increase the chances of errors during DNA replication. In addition, the liver processes many toxins present in the body including possible mutagens. Both of these factors increase the chance of cellular mutation, which can lead to various forms of cancer (including hepatocellular carcinomas) should this occur in the coding or regulatory regions of a cell cycle regulatory protein. Currently, no vaccine is available for the virus. The only treatment is a combination of IFN-<em>f</em>Ñ and ribavirin. However, the treatment lasts for extended periods, has serious side effects, and because the virus is constantly mutating during viral genome replication, resistant strains are predominant. Because of these combined factors, treatment has a very low success rate. The viral genome consists of three structural proteins and seven nonstructural ones. One of the nonstructural proteins, NS5A, has been attributed to the blocking of the cellular antiviral response including the apoptotic pathway. It is known to inhibit RNA-activated protein kinase R (PKR). The objective of this project was to understand the role played by NS5A in inhibiting two aspects of the host antiviral response ¡V gene expression and apoptosis. In this study we show that NS5A affects gene expression by inhibiting production of the antiviral protein IFN-<em>f</em>Ò. Additionally, NS5A inhibits degradation of procaspase 3, a protein in the caspase pathway for apoptosis, whose degradation is required for the pathway to continue. NS5A may do the above by inhibiting PKR, which is known to be involved in both apoptosis and the regulation of gene expression.

The current study explored how children's post-adoption attachment related behaviors might be improved through a therapeutic day camp. Children who have been adopted, domestically or internationally, often times have developmental difficulties due to abuse, neglect, and/or trauma. Frequently, these children experience difficulty with attachment related behaviors. In the current study, these behaviors were assessed in a variety of methods including observing and rating the parent-child relationship (Marschack Interaction Method-Rating Scale; MIM-RS), child report measures (Family Drawings), and parent report measures (Beech Brook Attachment Disorder Checklist - Revised; BBADC-R). The authors compared these measures before and after 5-week and 2-week therapeutic day camps (The Hope Connection Camp<super>&copy</super>). During the camp, Trust-Based Relational Intervention<super>&reg</super> (TBRI<super>&reg</super>) was implemented. Post-intervention scores on the BBADC-R indicated a significant change on the Machiavellianism subscale. In addition, movement in the desired direction on the MIM-RS and Family Drawings, suggest improved parent-child relationships in general.

The long and complex geologic history of the Trans-Pecos region in west Texas is highlighted by Cretaceous and Tertiary tectonism and magmatism. Upper Cretaceous sedimentary deposits in the Rosillos Mountains were deformed during the Late Cretaceous to Oligocene Laramide orogeny. Intrusion of an Oligocene quartz syenitie laccolith was followed by Basin and Range extension starting ~32 Ma. Geologic mapping was completed using a revised stratigraphic column (Lehman, 1985a), which allowed for reinterpretation of the geology of the field area. The Upper Cretaceous Boquillos, Pen, and Aguja Formations are identified in the field area and are intruded by the Rosillos Mounatins laccolith. Several contacts previously mapped as faults are now identified as sedimentary contacts. A detailed fracture analysis revealed fractures associated with Laramide and Basin and Range deformation. The maximum stress direction during the Laramide orogeny was oriented southwest-northeast, resulting in low-angle northwest-southeast-oriented fractures. During Basin and Range extension, the maximum stress direction was vertical, resulting in lateral failure and fundamentally different structures. The intermediate and minimum stress directions rotated approximately 90° around 17 Ma. The dynamic stress regime can be traced through high-angle normal faults and shear fractures trending northwest to southeast and northeast-southwest.

A nearly circular subsurface structure 2 km in diameter has been identified in north-central Oklahoma near the town of Ingalls in Payne County. The structure lies beneath ~1100 m of sedimentary rock, and stratigraphic information from well logs suggests that the structure developed from the Ordovician through the Devonian. Sedimentary units within the structure have widely varying thicknesses and abnormal characteristics. Rocks in the center of the structure have been uplifted nearly 100 m. The best explanation for these stratigraphic relationships is a meteorite impact, and the purpose of this study is to seek evidence supporting an impact origin for the Ingalls structure. Cuttings from wells drilled into the structure were investigated for evidence of shock metamorphism, the rock deformation caused by intense pressures generated only by meteorite impacts. Results indicate that the hypothesis of an impact at Ingalls is likely, but definitive evidence has not yet been found.

Although many previous studies have primed a specific person who is liked or disliked and measured the effects on attitudes and behavior, no previous study has examined the effects on attitudes and behavior of priming a person who is known to have a positive or negative opinion toward the attitude object. In two studies, participants were unobtrusively primed with a significant other (parent in Study 1, best friend in Study 2) who wanted them to treat gay men either more positively or more negatively than their own attitudes would imply. In both studies, controlling for their own attitudes, participants who were primed with a relatively positive other person behaved more positively toward a gay job applicant than toward other applicants, but those primed with a relatively negative other person (and those primed with a stranger in Study 1) did not. The results are discussed in terms of priming-to-behavior links and the possible asymmetry of positive versus negative social contexts.