Gettysburg College

About: Gettysburg College is a education organization based out in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Politics. The organization has 1223 authors who have published 2348 publications receiving 52162 citations. The organization is also known as: Pennsylvania College.

Home range and territoriality in the least blossom bat, macroglossus minimus, in papua new guinea

Abstract: Least blossom bats, Macroglossus minimus (Pteropodidae), were monitored by radiotelemetry in lowland rainforest for up to 22 days in Kau Wildlife Area, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. Based on 1,502 radiotelemetry positions, mean home range for 18 individuals was 5.8 ha ± 4.6 SD, and mean core-use area was 1.5 ± 1.3 ha. The mean long axis of the home ranges was 495 ± 258 m. Activity hotspots were associated with flowering bananas, the primary food resource of least blossom bats at Kau. During the day, M. minimus roosted singly in subcanopy or canopy foliage and showed fidelity to a day-roost area. Mean day-roost area was 0.5 ± 0.4 ha. Adult males appeared to exclude conspecifics from rich, compact feeding territories in primary forest. Overlap in home range occurred primarily in gardens and between subadults and other bats.

Fractal characterization of Mytilus edulis L. spatial structure in intertidal landscapes using GIS methods

Abstract: The blue mussel, Mytilus edulis L., forms dense and variable patch mosaics composed of aggregates of mussel individuals. Knowledge of mussel bed spatial pattern at multiple scales is important for understanding the form and function of intertidal systems where mussels are prominent features. This study extends prior work demonstrating fractal patterns of mussel boundaries in soft-bottom systems at the quadrat-scale by investigating fractal structure using GIS methods at both the quadrat- and bed-scales. The study pursues three goals for mussel beds in eastern Maine: (1) to compare quadrat-scale fractal dimensions obtained using manual methods with those obtained using digital imagery and techniques, (2) to determine if fractal patterns identified at the quadrat-scale are also present at the bed-scale, (3) and to evaluate the effectiveness of aerial photography and image analysis techniques. Photographs of randomly located quadrats (2500 cm2 each) were scan digitized and classified into mussel presence/absence classes. Fractal dimensions of mussel/non-mussel boundaries were calculated using the box-counting method and compared with results obtained using analog photographs and methods. Digital aerial photographs at low tide were acquired for beds at two sites and classified using image processing techniques, and bed-scale fractal dimensions were calculated. At the quadrat-scale, fractal dimensions and their relationship with percent cover differed consistently in absolute value from results using manual methods but agreed in demonstrating fractal patterns for all quadrats and a parabolic trend with percent cover very similar to the one revealed manually. At the bed-scale, both sites were shown to be fractal, with higher dimension value for the bed that subjectively appeared more fragmented and highly dissected. Because mussels are important soft-bottom ecosystem engineers, i.e., foundation species that regulate species composition and abundances, the fractal spatial distribution identified in this study suggests that the species affected by them also exhibit fractal patterns. These results indicate the effectiveness of archive imagery and GIS methods for characterizing intertidal systems and point to the feasibility of future image acquisition.

The reliability of a simulated uphill time trial using the Velotron electronic bicycle ergometer.

Abstract: This study was conducted to measure the reliability of an indoor uphill time trial (TT) using the Velotron electronic bicycle ergometer with a computer-generated pacer that represented a subject's prior TT performance. A total of 12 trained cyclists (42 ± 7.79 years, 63.0 ± 6.12 ml/kg/min) completed three 8-mile uphill TT with 2-7 days between subsequent tests. A repeated measure ANOVA found no difference between finishing times for TT1 (2,154 ± 246 s) and TT2 (2,078 ± 185 s, p = 0.055) or TT2 and TT3 (2,047 ± 167 s, p = 0.075). All measures of reliability showed an increased reliability for finishing times in TT2-TT3 [95% CI for: coefficient of variation (CV) = 1.0-2.3%, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.953-0.996, standard error of measurement (SEM) = 2.1-4.9 s] versus TT1-TT2 (95% CI for: CV = 2.0-4.9%, ICC = 0.827-0.986, SEM = 9.8-23 s). An uphill TT using the Velotron bicycle ergometer with a prior performance as a pacer is a reliable assessment for indoor TT performance testing, but a familiarization trial improves reliability. Although there were no significant differences found for completion times between TT1-TT2 or TT2-TT3, the absolute mean differences, small sample size and low p values may be suggestive of a Type II error.

Economic Costs and Benefits of a Community-Based Lymphedema Management Program for Lymphatic Filariasis in Odisha State, India

Abstract: Lymphatic filariasis afflicts 68 million people in 73 countries, including 17 million persons living with chronic lymphedema. The Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis aims to stop new infections and to provide care for persons already affected, but morbidity management programs have been initiated in only 24 endemic countries. We examine the economic costs and benefits of alleviating chronic lymphedema and its effects through a simple limb-care program. For Khurda District, Odisha State, India, we estimated lifetime medical costs and earnings losses due to chronic lymphedema and acute dermatolymphangioadenitis (ADLA) with and without a community-based limb-care program. The program would reduce economic costs of lymphedema and ADLA over 60 years by 55%. Savings of US$1,648 for each affected person in the workforce are equivalent to 1,258 days of labor. Per-person savings are more than 130 times the per-person cost of the program. Chronic lymphedema and ADLA impose a substantial physical and economic burden on the population in filariasis-endemic areas. Low-cost programs for lymphedema management based on limb washing and topical medication for infection are effective in reducing the number of ADLA episodes and stopping progression of disabling and disfiguring lymphedema. With reduced disability, people are able to work longer hours, more days per year, and in more strenuous, higher-paying jobs, resulting in an important economic benefit to themselves, their families, and their communities. Mitigating the severity of lymphedema and ADLA also reduces out-of-pocket medical expense.

Differential relationships of objective and projective dependency scores to self-reports of interpersonal life events in college student subjects.

Abstract: Eighty-three undergraduate subjects (58 women and 25 men) participated in a prospective study in which they (a) completed widely used objective and projective measures of dependency, and then (b) provided monthly reports of the frequency and impact of various types of life events during a 1-semester (3-month) period. As expected, subjects' projective dependency scores predicted their frequency estimates and impact ratings of interpersonal life events but were unrelated to frequency estimates and impact ratings of other types of life events (e.g., achievement-related, legal). Objective dependency scores were unrelated to all life event frequency estimates and impact ratings. Findings are discussed in the context of recent theoretical frameworks that distinguish implicit dependency needs (which are assessed via projective measures) from self-attributed dependency needs (which are assessed via self-report tests). The importance of the type of dependency measure used in studies of the dependency-life events relationship is emphasized.