The Role of Recreational Motivation in the Birding Participation–Environmental Concern Relationship

Previous research has generally not found a strong relationship between participation in outdoor recreation and environmental concern. Research has suggested, however, that the motivation underlying recreation can mediate this relationship for some nature-based recreation groups. We hypothesized that the motivation underlying participation in birding mediates the participation–environmental concern relationship. We collected data via mail-back surveys from 529 American Birding Association members. Using structural modeling, we compared a direct effects model with partial and full mediation models with motivation variables as the mediators. The partial mediation model was weakly supported for two out of three motivation variables. Fit indices showed all models to have less than adequate fit. The results suggested that participation may not lead to environmental concern and that other variables, including motivation, may be more influential.     

The effect of temperature on the clearance of intraperitoneally-injected gonadotropin in the goldfish Carassius auratus

The serum half-disappearance time ($\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$), metabolic clearance rate and volume of distribution of intraperitoneally administered carp gonadotropin (cGtH) and endogenous GtH levels were determined in sexually mature male and female goldfish, Carassius auratus maintained at 12 ± 1°C or 20 ± 1°C. The results indicated that the rate of serum uptake of the injected cGtH from the peritoneal cavity was greater at 20°C than at 12°C in sexually mature male goldfish. Although increased endogenous serum GtH levels and decreased values of serum $\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ were associated with the elevated temperature, there was no difference in any of the parameters between sexually mature male and female goldfish acclimated to 12°C.     

Comparative performance of juvenile rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, fed to satiation with simulated 'standard' and 'high energy' diet formulations

Abstract. Four experimental diets were formulated to resemble practical rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, grower feeds based on medium and moderate lipid inclusions of 10 and 14% (standard energy levels) to relatively 'high energy' diets containing 18 and 22% lipid respectively. Each of these diets was isonitrogenous with a defined protein content of 42%. During a 10-week growth trial period, juvenile rainbow trout of initial mean weight of 10g were fed each ration to satiation. At the end of the study, there was a significant gain (P> 0.05) in the mean live weights of fish receiving the higher energy diets associated with improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) and net protein utilization (NPU). Although there was a declining trend in voluntary food intake relative to body weight with increasing dietary lipid content, this was insufficient to prevent greater deposition of body fat.
The results are discussed in relation to practical trout feeds in order to achieve a desired growth performance and acceptable body composition with intensive feeding regimes.     

Willingness to travel to avoid recreation conflicts in Danish forests

Conflicts among forest visitors have direct effects on the quality of a recreational experience. As the number of visitors to forests close to residential areas increases, as well as the number of different activities, so does the potential for perceived conflicts. According to the literature, expanding knowledge of conflict characteristics and their causes is important for recreation planners and managers who aim to reduce conflicts.In the present study, different forest user groups were identified and categorised according to their pursued activities, and for each group, causes of conflict were identified. Furthermore, a choice experiment was constructed to estimate the distance visitors are willing to travel to encounter few visitors as opposed to many visitors, and thereby potentially experience fewer conflicts. Comparing the marginal willingness to travel (WTT) of different user groups suggests that some groups have a WTT further than the average to reach a forest with ‘Few’ visitors. The average WTT to reach a forest area with ‘Few’ visitors. ‘Mountain bikers,’ ‘Peace and nature lovers’ and ‘Horse riders’ are willing to travel 4 km more than the average per visit to reach a less crowded forest. At the other end of the scale, we find that people who are doing physical exercise are willing to travel 2 km less than the average to reach a less crowded forest.     

Rheological properties of pasta dough during pasta extrusion: Effect of moisture and dough formulation

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of dough formulation and hydration level on the rheological properties of pasta dough during pasta extrusion. Semolina 100%, whole wheat 100%, and the following mixtures semolina-whole wheat (49:51), semolina-flaxseed flour (90:10), whole wheat-flaxseed flour (90:10), and semolina-whole wheat-flaxseed flour (39:51:10) were the formulations used for the experiments. Dough was hydrated at 30, 32, and 34% moisture content. Pasta was extruded with a capillary and a semi-commercial pasta extruder to determine the apparent viscosity of the dough during extrusion conditions and its relationship to the behavior of the dough during pasta processing. Results showed that non-traditional pasta dough behaved like a shear thinning fluid that can be described by the Power Law model. Increased hydration levels and/or presence of flaxseed flour on the dough formulation decreased the apparent viscosity of the dough, which correlated with extrusion pressure, mechanical energy, and specific mechanical energy that were required to extrude the dough in the pasta extruder. The strong correlations found between the apparent viscosity of the dough and the pasta extrusion parameters indicates the possibility of using a capillary rheometer to determine the appropriate hydration level of ingredient formulations before extruding with a pasta press.     

Joint Acaricidal Action of Diafenthiuron and Fenbutatin-oxide Against Tetranychus cinnabarinus （Boisduval） （Acari： Tetranychidae）

[Objective]This study was conducted to obtain a new high-efficiency acaricide mixture.[Method]The synergism acaricidal of diafenthiuron and fenbutatin-oxide against carmine spider mite was investigated,and the optimal ratio of both acaricides were determined by means of co-toxicity factors and co-toxicity coefficients（CTC）.[Result]At 24 h post-treatment,the LC50values of diafenthiuron and fenbutatin-oxide against T.cinnabarinus female adults were 154.67 and 93.26 mg/L,respectively,and the synergistic mass ratios of diafenthiuron and fenbutatin-oxide ranged from 1：0.06 to 1：0.87,and the optimal diafenthiuron-to-fenbutatin-oxide ratio was 1：0.39 with the LC50and CTC of 67.87 mg/L and 188.93（CTC significantly above 100 strongly indicated synergism）,respectively,and the toxicity relative to diafenthiuron and fenbutatin-oxide was 2.28 and 1.37 times,respectively.[Conclusion]The joint acaricidal action of diafenthiuron and fenbutatin-oxide strongly indicates synergism.These findings proved scientific theoretical basis for mixing diafenthiuron and fenbutatin-oxide to control spider mites and developing a new synergisic acaricide.     

Microbial diseases of cultured lobsters: A review

Six microbial diseases of cultured American lobsters (Homarus americanus) determined to be of significant concern to commercial aquaculture are discussed in relation to present knowledge of characteristics of the causative microorganisms, lobster susceptibility, environmental influence, severity, gross and microscopic recognition, physiological changes, contagion and control. The diseases reviewed here include shell disease, Gaffkemia, microbial epibiont disease, Lagenidium disease, Haliphthoros disease, and Fusarium disease.