Abstract Despite intense interest in conservation of marine turtles, spatial ecology during the oceanic juvenile phase remains relatively unknown. Here, we used mixed stock analysis and examination of oceanic drift to elucidate movements of hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) and address management implications within the Caribbean. Among samples collected from 92 neritic juvenile hawksbills in the Cayman Islands we detected 11 mtDNA control region haplotypes. To estimate contributions to the aggregation, we performed 'many-to-many' mixed stock analysis, incorporating published hawksbill genetic and population data. The Cayman Islands aggregation represents a diverse mixed stock: potentially contributing source rookeries spanned the Caribbean basin, delineating a scale of recruitment of 200-2500 km. As hawksbills undergo an extended phase of oceanic dispersal, ocean currents may drive patterns of genetic diversity observed on foraging aggregations. Therefore, using high-resolution Aviso ocean current data, we modelled movement of particles representing passively drifting oceanic juvenile hawksbills. Putative distribution patterns varied markedly by origin: particles from many rookeries were broadly distributed across the region, while others would appear to become entrained in local gyres. Overall, we detected a significant correlation between genetic profiles of foraging aggregations and patterns of particle distribution produced by a hatchling drift model (Mantel test, r = 0.77, P < 0.001; linear regression, r = 0.83, P < 0.001). Our results indicate that although there is a high degree of mixing across the Caribbean (a 'turtle soup'), current patterns play a substantial role in determining genetic structure of foraging aggregations (forming turtle groups). Thus, for marine turtles and other widely distributed marine species, integration of genetic and oceanographic data may enhance understanding of population connectivity and management requirements.

Where mechanisms inherent within the biology of a species affect individual fitness at low density, demographic-scale depensation may occur, hastening further decline and leading ultimately to population extirpation and species extinction. Reduction in fertility at low population densities has been identified in marine and terrestrial species. Using data on hatch success and hatchling-emergence success as proxies for fertilization success, we conducted a global meta-analysis of data from breeding aggregations of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). We found that there has been no reduction in fertility in small nesting aggregations in either of these species worldwide. We considered mechanisms within the mating strategies and reproductive biology of marine turtles that may allow for novel genetic input and facilitate enhanced gene flow among rookeries. Behavioral reproductive mechanisms, such as natal philopatry and polyandry, may mitigate potential impacts of depensation and contribute to the resilience of these species. Investigando el Potencial de Anticompensación en Tortugas Marinas: ¿Qué Tan Bajo Se Puede Llegar?Resumen: Cuando los mecanismos inherentes a la biología de una especie afectan la eficacia individual a baja densidad, puede ocurrir la anticompensación, que acelera la declinación y en última instancia conduce a la extirpación de la población y a la extinción de la especie. La reducción de fertilidad en poblaciones con baja densidad se ha identificado en especies marinas y terrestres. Utilizando datos de éxito de eclosión y emergencia de crías como indicadores del éxito de fertilización, realizamos un meta-análisis global de datos de agregaciones de tortugas verdes (Chelonia mydas) y tortugas caguama (Caretta caretta). Encontramos que no ha habido reducción en la fertilidad en agregaciones pequeñas de estas dos especies. Consideramos los mecanismos en las estrategias de apareamiento y de la biología reproductiva de tortugas marinas que pueden permitir el ingreso de material genético nuevo y facilitar el flujo de genes entre colonias. Mecanismos de la conducta reproductiva, como la filopatría natal y la poliandria, pueden mitigar impactos potenciales de la anticompensación y contribuir a la resiliencia de estas especies.

This article draws on the traditions of critical discourse analysis (N. Fairclough, 1995, 2001; M. Foucault, 1972, 1980; J. P. Gee, 1999) in critically examining the discursive formation of "recovery" from autism in applied behavioral analysis (ABA) discourse and its relationship to constructs of hope. Constituted principally in the work of O. I. Lovaas (1987) and C. Maurice (1993), and central to ABA discourse on recovery, has been the construction of a particular vision of hope that has at least 2 integral conceptual elements:(a) Hope for recovery within ABA discourse is constructed in binary opposition to hopelessness, and (b) recovery within ABA discourse is discursively constructed as "recovery (to normalcy)." The author analyzes these 2 pivotal ABA texts within the context of an analysis of other uses of the term recovery in broader bodies of literature:(a) within prior autism-related literature, particularly autobiography, and (b) within literature emanating from the psychiatric survivors' movement. If, indeed, visions of hope inform educational policy and decision making, this analysis addresses S. Danforth's (1997) cogent query,"On what basis hope?", and asserts that moral and political commitments should be central sources of visions of hope and, therefore, inform educational policy and decision making for young children with labels of autism.

Approaches to the fabrication of surfaces that combine methods for the topographic patterning of soft materials with opportunities for facile, post-fabrication chemical functionalization could contribute significantly to advances in biotechnology and a broad range of other areas. Here, we report methods that can be used to introduce well-defined nano- and microscale topographic features to thin films of reactive polymers containing azlactone functionality using nanoimprint lithography (NIL). We demonstrate that NIL can be used to imprint topographic patterns into thin films of poly(2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone) and a copolymer of methyl methacrylate and 2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone using silicon masters having patterns of grooves and ridges ranging in width from 400 nm to 2 mum, demonstrating the potential of this method to transfer patterns to films of these reactive polymers over a range of feature sizes and densities. We demonstrate further that the azlactone functionality of these polymers survives temperatures and pressures associated with NIL, and that topographically patterned films can be readily functionalized post-fabrication by treatment of surface-accessible azlactone functionality with small molecules and polymers containing primary amines. The results of experiments in which NIH-3T3 cells were seeded onto films imprinted with lined patterns having a pitch of 4 mum demonstrated that cells attach and proliferate on these azlactone-containing films and that they align in the direction of the imprinted pattern. Finally, we demonstrate that the treatment of these materials with amine-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) can be used to create regions of topographically patterned films that prevent cell adhesion. The results of this study suggest approaches to the functionalization of topographically patterned surfaces with a broad range of chemical functionality (e.g., peptides, proteins, carbohydrates, etc.) of biotechnological interest. The ability to manipulate and define both the physical topography and chemical functionality of these reactive materials could provide opportunities to investigate the combined effects of substrate topography and chemical functionality on cell behavior and may also be useful in a broad range of other applications.

Presented is a physiological study of the plantar venous plexus in the context of venous return. It is accepted that the plantar venous plexus acts as a peripheral venous pump, capable of emptying blood from the foot into the posterior tibial veins. Controversy still exists, however, over the precise physiological mechanism which is responsible for completely emptying the deep plantar veins of the foot. This study was designed to investigate whether weight bearing or muscular contraction was the dominant mechanism involved. This was achieved by comparing blood flow measurements taken from the posterior tibial and popliteal veins while performing specific foot exercises. Measurements were taken using Doppler ultrasound. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation was also used to study the blood flow obtained by artificially inducing contraction of the plantar venous plexus.

Approximately 8 months of C(2)-C(8) online-sampling of hydrocarbons was carried out in the vicinity of a sub-urban Motorway in Ireland. A comprehensive description of air quality monitoring adjacent to the M4 at Leixlip in Ireland is presented where the primary objective was to ascertain the local and regional C(2)-C(8) hydrocarbon emissions in the vicinity of a sub-urban Motorway (M4). Nineteen HC compounds were monitored where different analysis techniques were employed in an attempt to isolate the Motorway source effect. Included in these were analyses into various hydrocarbon ratios, including 1,3 butadiene/propene, m + p xylene/ethylbenzene and ethene/acetylene. In addition, the local source effect was quantitatively assessed using COPERTIII and CALINE4 modelling, and the regional effects and source contributions were analysed using 2-D back trajectory analysis. Our results show that conditions associated with high regional contributions are associated with conditions also conducive to high local contributions, particularly evident at the M4 site due to the road orientation, as air masses from continental Europe and the UK are likely to be associated with near parallel, slow moving local winds relative to the M4, yielding higher local contributions.