Crude oils and source rocks from the Northern and offshore depobelts of the Niger Delta basin, Nigeria have been characterized based on the distribution of pyrene and its derivatives by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Moreover, the crude oils have been characterized by the dominance of pyrene over fluoranthene while fluoranthene generally predominated over pyrene in the rock samples. Also...

Thresholds to sexual maturity—either age or size—are critical life history parameters. Usually investigated in short-lived organisms, these thresholds and interactions among age, size, and growth are poorly known for long-lived species. A 34-year study of captive green turtles (Chelonia mydas) that followed individuals from hatching to beyond maturity provided an opportunity to evaluate these p...

We used long-term data on movements, survival, and reproduction of female red deer (Cervus elaphus Linnaeus) of the Isle of Rum, Scotland (1970-2001), to explain variation in life history (age at maturity) from a hind's access to habitat resources and exposure to local density, and cross-generational (maternal) effects on observed relationships. We described each hind's use of resources relativ...

This study evaluated the plasma membrane integrity, acrosomal membrane integrity, and mitochondrial membrane potential of Nelore bull sperm from early puberty to early sexual maturity and their associations with sperm motility and vigor, the mass motility of the spermatozoa (wave motion), scrotal circumference, and testosterone. Sixty Nelore bulls aged 18 to 19 months were divided into four lot...

The management of IT carve-out projects is very challenging due to the strict time frame, the severe contractual penalties, the huge number of stakeholders and the various as well as unique IT tasks that have to be conducted. Up to now, there is no instrument for evaluating the readiness of the IT for a carve-out and also not for managing such a project. In order to address this, we develop a m...

This study examined concurrent and prospective associations between objective measures of biological maturation, body composition and physical activity (PA) in adolescent males (n = 671) and females (n = 680). Participants born to women recruited to the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children birth cohort study were assessed at 11 and 13 years. Percentage of predicted adult stature was ...

UV-B radiation effects on nutrient concentrations in above-ground organs of maize were investigated at silking and maturity at different levels of applied nitrogen under field conditions. The experiment simulated a 20% stratospheric ozone depletion over Portugal. At silking, UV-B increased N, K, Ca, and Zn concentrations, whereas at maturity Ca, Mg, Zn, and Cu increased and N, P and Mn decrease...