Athletes and rape: is there a connection?

The present study builds upon previous research examining variables related to sexual assault. Previous studies have linked sexual aggression with attitudes toward rape as well as hostility toward women. Recent high-profile cases involving athletes and sexual assault have raised questions about the link with athletes. In fact, recent research has suggested that athletes may be more prone to commit rape; however, no study has examined competitiveness. This characteristic, associated with athletes, may predict sexual aggression and help assess why rape is reportedly perpetrated by athletes significantly more frequently than by nonathletes. It may be that individuals with high competitiveness may be more likely to be involved in sexual assaults. Scores on Competitiveness in 104 college men were significantly correlated with reported sexual aggression and athletic participation; however, there was no significant difference between athletes and nonathletes on aggressive sexual behavior. These findings suggest that characteristics of athletes rather than athletic participation alone must be considered further in examining the presumed link between athletes and sexual assault.

Canopy dynamics and the morphological development of Abies balsamea: effects of foliage age on specific leaf area and secondary vascular development.

Data were collected from two branches from each whorl of nine open-grown Abies balsamea (L.) Miller trees to test the hypothesis that specific leaf area (SLA, m(2) projected fresh leaf area kg(-1) oven-dry foliage) is constant among five foliage age classes (current-year, 1-year-old, 2-year-old, 3-year-old and 4-year-old-plus). Between-tree variation in SLA was greater than within-tree variation. Differences in SLA among the foliage age classes were small, but statistically significant, showing a trend of decreasing SLA with increasing foliage age. Using data from two previous biomass studies, we found that three different methods of calculating SLA of individual trees produced the same projected leaf area estimates. To test the hypothesis that foliage mass increases with foliage age as a result of secondary xylem or phloem development, we examined the secondary vascular development of foliage collected from five age classes and three crown sections in an open-grown A. balsamea. The number of rows of xylem cells was not constant among foliage age classes, but the differences were small and showed no consistent pattern of change with foliage age. Total number of rows of phloem cells increased, number of living rows of phloem cells decreased, and the number of rows of nonliving crushed phloem cells increased with foliage age.

Effects of early maturation of brown egg-type pullets, flock uniformity, layer protein level, and cage design on egg production, egg size, and egg quality.

Eight-week-old Harco Sex-Link pullets were assigned to four growing regimens. Feed was restricted to Group 1. The birds reached an average weight of 1.52 kg at 20 weeks of age and were then light stimulated. Group 2 received the same ration ad lib and reached an average weight of 1.64 kg at 16 weeks. At this age they were light stimulated. Birds in Groups 3 and 4 were separated into two weight classes at 8 weeks of age. Those below the median weight received an 18% protein grower ration and those above the median weight a 16% ration. Group 3 birds were grown similarly to Group 1; Group 4 birds were grown similarly to Group 2. At housing, each group was equally divided and given either a 17 or 19% protein layer ration. Two cage designs (standard and reverse) were used and each treatment combination was equally represented. Ad lib-fed, early-housed pullets reached 1.64 kg at 16 weeks of age, but they did not come into production until 19.4 weeks of age. Hen-day percent production (HDP) was significantly less than for the late-housed pullets. Feed per dozen eggs was not affected by the early housing, but early-housed pullets laid significantly smaller eggs and feed per gram egg was significantly increased. Hens in reverse cages on a 19% protein layer ration laid the largest eggs in weight and size. Although early housing had a detrimental effect on average egg weight, it appeared possible to manipulate egg weight and size distribution through a combination of cage design and layer protein. Birds grouped by body weight at 8 weeks had higher uniformity, but this trait was not correlated with egg numbers or size. Moreover, housing body weights were not significantly correlated with egg size, suggesting factors other than body weight were responsible for the smaller eggs from early-housed pullets.

Rumen liquid dilution rate in dairy cows fed once daily: effects of diet and sodium bicarbonate supplementation.

Three ruminally cannulated Holstein cows fed total mixed diets of hay crop silage and concentrate (30:70, 50:50, 70:30, 100:0) were used to determine liquid volume ruminal and dilution rate with polyethylene glycol as a marker. Dosing 5 h prefeeding produced nonlinear marker dilution curves that were divided into prefeeding, eating, and resting phases, whereas dosing 2 h postfeeding produced linear dilution curves. Ruminal liquid volume calculated from either dosing method overestimated liquid volume compared to manual estimates. Mean liquid dilution rates did not differ between methods of dosing, and differences between diets were closely related to dry matter intake. Supplementation with 0, 68, or 114 g/day sodium bicarbonate did not affect ruminal liquid volume or dilution rates. Across diet and buffer treatments, liquid dilution rate during eating (23 to 32%/h) was greater than mean, prefeeding, or resting dilution rates (10 to 21%/h). Correct interpretation of ruminal volume and dilution data requires full details of dosing method, dosing time in relation to feeding, and sampling times.