of currency rate fluctuations, total services expenses decreased during fiscal 2013 primarily due to expense decreases across all of our services segments, which consisted primarily of decreases in external contractor costs, lower variable compensation expenses, and lower intangible asset amortization.

In constant currency, total services margin and total margin as a percentage of total services revenues decreased during fiscal 2013 as our total services revenues declined at a faster rate than our total services expenses.

Research and Development Expenses:     Research and development expenses consist primarily of personnel related expenditures. We intend to continue to invest significantly in our research and development efforts because, in our judgment, they are essential to maintaining our competitive position.

On a constant currency basis, total research and development expenses increased during fiscal 2014 and 2013, each relative to the respective prior year period, primarily due to increases in employee related expenses from increased headcount, partially offset by lower variable compensation expenses.

General and Administrative Expenses:     General and administrative expenses primarily consist of personnel related expenditures for information technology, finance, legal and human resources support functions.

On a constant currency basis, total general and administrative expenses decreased during fiscal 2014 and 2013, each relative to the respective prior year period, primarily due to lower professional fees, variable compensation expenses and certain other operating expenses, net, partially offset by slightly higher salaries and benefits expenses due to an increase in headcount.

Amortization of Intangible Assets:

Fiscal 2014 Compared to Fiscal 2013:     Amortization of intangible assets decreased during fiscal 2014 as certain of our intangible assets pertaining to our legacy acquisitions became fully amortized. These decreases were partially offset by additional amortization from intangible assets that we acquired in connection with our recent acquisitions, including our acquisitions of Responsys and Tekelec in fiscal 2014 and Acme Packet in fiscal 2013, among others. Note 7 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report has additional information regarding our intangible assets and related amortization.

Fiscal 2013 Compared to Fiscal 2012:     Amortization of intangible assets decreased during fiscal 2013 as certain of our intangible assets pertaining to our legacy acquisitions became fully amortized. These decreases were partially offset by additional amortization from intangible assets that we acquired in connection with our recent acquisitions, including our acquisitions of Acme Packet in fiscal 2013, and RightNow and Taleo in fiscal 2012, among others.

Acquisition Related and Other Expenses:     Acquisition related and other expenses consist of personnel related costs for transitional and certain other employees, stock-based compensation expenses, integration related professional services, certain business combination adjustments including certain adjustments after the measurement