Biomechanical and physiological comparison of conventional webbing and the M83 assault vest

This study compared the effect of load distribution using two different webbing designs on oxygen consumption and running kinematics of soldiers. It was hypothesised that running with webbing that distributes the load closer to the body (M83 Assault Vest) would expend less energy compared to running with conventional webbing (CON). Seven soldiers randomly completed three treadmill trials; an unloaded VO(2)max test, and two loaded (8 kg) efficiency tests using either the M83 or CON webbing. The VO(2)max test and the loaded efficiency tests had 4-min stages at 5, 8, 10 and 12km h(-1). Energy expenditure was measured via indirect calorimetry and video analysis was used to determine stride frequency (SF) and stride length (SL) during each trial. Participants using the M83 webbing expended significantly (p < 0.05) less energy at all four running velocities compared to the CON trials. The M83 webbing resulted in smaller changes to SL and SF from the unloaded trial when compared to the CON trial. These results indicate that the M83 vest that is designed to distribute the load closer to the body may have an energy efficiency advantage over conventional webbing when soldiers are running. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

A new deuterogynous eriophyid mite (Acari : Eriophyidae) with dimorphic males from Caesalpinia echinata (Caesalpiniaceae) from Brazil: Description and biological observations

Aceria inusitata Britto and Navia n. sp. (Acari: Eriophyidae) is described from protogynes, deutogynes and two forms of males occurring under a ""patches of webbing"" from ""pau-brasil,"" Caesalpinia echinata L. (Caesalpiniaceae), leaves. This is the first example of a deuterogynous eriophyid mite in tropical regions with two forms of males, one resembling the protogyne and the other the deutogyne. In addition, biological observations are presented. Aberoptus cerostructor Flechtmann, is given a new generic assignment, Aceria cerostructor n. comb.

Redescription and reevaluation of the generic status of Leptodactylus dantasi (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae) and description of its unusual advertisement call

Leptodactylus dantasi Bokermann is redescribed from adult specimens collected in Parque Nacional da Serra do Divisor, State of Acre, Brazil, near the border between the Brazilian state of Acre and Peru. We propose the inclusion of this species in the genus Hydrolaetare. A new diagnostic character observed for the genus is the presence of fringes of fingers, and fringes and webbing of toes, finely serrate; the serrate edge of the fringe and webbing can be keratinized in males, females, and subadults. Hydrolaetare dantasi (Bokermann) is characterized by robust body and limbs, a broad and depressed head, slightly shorter than wide, and long, pointed and basally webbed toes. Hydrolaetare dantasi differs from the only other species in this genus, Hydrolaetare schmidti (Cochran and Goin), mainly by having toes webbed basally (fully webbed in H. schmidti). The advertisement call of H. dantasi is composed of two components; an initial note produced by the impact of the vocal sac against the ground and a second note corresponding to a long whistle of ascending frequency. The initial note is a percussive sound and represents an unusual form of sound emission in anurans; the second note is a vocalization.

Description and phylogenetic relationships of a new species of treefrog of the Dendropsophus leucophyllatus group (Anura: Hylidae) from the Amazon basin of Colombia and with an exceptional color pattern

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Implantation of Subcutaneous Radio Transmitters in the Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

Radio telemetry has become a standard tool for studying the behavior, physiology, life history traits, and population dynamics of marine mammals. Radio transmitters typically are attached to the hind flippers of pinnipeds or glued to the fur using marine epoxy or other cyanocrylare adhesives (Fedak et al. 1983, Bengtson 1993, Jeffries et al. 1993). Longterm data acquisition is difficult, however, because radio-flipper transmitters commonly tear from the webbing of the flipper and instruments that are glued to the fur are shed during the seasonal molt.

Evolution of the Morphology of Bottom Walking Turtles

Ecomorphology and functional morphology are two distinct disciplines within biology that are often conflated and erroneously used interchangeably. By investigating the morphological distinctiveness of bottom-walking turtles relative to aquatic swimmers and terrestrial walkers, we can disentangle the effects of ecology and performance. Shell morphology, tail length, digit length, webbing length, and integumental differences were examined using dry and wet preserved specimens. Bottom-walkers were hypothesized to be distinct in all measurements. Instead, bottom-walkers were typically distinct from terrestrial taxa but not aquatic taxa, although for integumentary structures, only bottom-walkers were found to have significantly more integumentary structures than terrestrial turtles. This demonstrates that, despite sometimes highly differential locomotor modes, ecology, defined as habitat type, can show a stronger morphological signal than function.

Child restraint systems testing. Appendix. Final report.

Mode of access: Internet.

Child restraint systems testing. Final report.

Mode of access: Internet.

Sublethal injury patterns in the baboon restrained with a three-point harness (-Gx impact). Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.