The association of obesity with the likelihood of arrest for young adults

This paper examines whether obesity is associated with the likelihood of arrest. We hypothesize that obese individuals are less likely to commit crime and be arrested because their body weights may prevent them from successfully engaging in certain criminal activities, particularly those that are physically intensive. To test this hypothesis, we use the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 and panel data techniques and find that obesity is negatively related to arrest. In one specification, for example, we found that the odds of an obese man being arrested are 64% of those of a healthy weight man. The social costs of obesity may be overstated if obesity reduces the likelihood of arrest because the obese are less criminally active.     

Présence de Chitinozoaires dans le passage Siluro-Dévonien de la Montagne Noire sud-orientale (Hérault,France)

The Silurian-Devonian boundary beds of the southeastern Montagne Noire contain few but well-preserved Chitinozoans. A total of 20 species have been recognized. We distinguish 4 assemblages which characterize the Upper Ludlovian, the Pridolian and the Lochkovian sediments.     

Helicobacter equorum: prevalence and significance for horses and humans

Helicobacter equorum colonizes the caecum, colon and rectum of horses. The agent is highly prevalent in <6-month-old foals. In adult horses, the prevalence of H. equorum seems to be rather low, but these animals may harbour low, subdetectable numbers of this microorganism in their intestines. So far, no association could be made between the presence of H. equorum and clinical disease or intestinal lesions in adult horses. Further research is necessary to elucidate the pathogenic potential of this bacterial species towards young foals. Helicobacter equorum DNA was not detected in human faeces, indicating that this microorganism does not commonly spread from horses towards humans.     

Bahiaxenidae, a "living fossil" and a new family of Strepsiptera (Hexapoda) discovered in Brazil

An adult male of a newly discovered strepsipteran species from Brazil— Bahiaxenos relictus— is described. A new family Bahiaxenidae is suggested based on cladistic analyses of comprehensive morphological data sets with a broad taxon sampling including the stem group. It is unambiguously placed as the sister group of all other extant families of Strepsiptera. Bahiaxenos relictus is the only species of basal, i.e. non-stylopidian, Strepsiptera occurring in the New World. It appears to be a relict taxon that has survived in the fossil sand dunes of the São Francisco River (Bahia State). The loss of the 8th antennomere and the greatly reduced labrum are autapomorphies of Strepsiptera s.s . excluding Bahiaxenidae. The sister group relationship between†Protoxenidae and the remaining Strepsiptera, and between † Cretostylops and a clade comprising † Mengea and Strepsiptera s.s. , is confirmed, as is the monophyly of Stylopidia and Stylopiformia.