Conducting surveys on forestry attitudes and practices in Leyte communities,Philippines: Experiences and lessons learnt

A survey of forestry practices and attitudes was undertaken in four communities in Leyte, the Philippines, to improve understanding of the social and economic factors affecting small-scale forestry development. The survey had three main data collection activities — initial focus group discussions (FGDs), household interviews, and reporting and validation FGDs. A team of enumerators was selected for household interviews which consisted of both males and females, to avoid potential problems of unwillingness of people to talk with those of the opposite gender. The interviewers were also required to be able to speak local dialects (Cebuano and Waray Waray), the survey questionnaires being administered in these dialects. Various methods were used to gain the support and assistance of local government units and barangay captains. Some difficulty was experienced by the survey team in the first community due to barangay elections at the time of the survey, and the requirement by the University of Queensland Ethics Committee that respondents sign a consent form. This requirement was found to be not culturally appropriate for the Leyte smallholder communities. Offering goods at the end of the interview was found to be of limited value for encouraging participation in the survey. Provision of food and drinks were found to encourage FGD participants to express their views, but too much alcohol had a negative effect. The importance of providing comprehensive feedback to respondents and involving them and other stakeholders in development of policy recommendations was apparent. These survey experiences provide valuable insights which are not generally available in textbooks on sample surveys, and provide lessons for planning and conducting smallholder community survey into natural resource management issues.     

The performance of community organisers in promotion of community forestry in Leyte Province,Philippines

A study was conducted to assess the role and effectiveness of community organisers in supporting the development of people’s organisations in achieving community-based forest management objectives in Leyte Province Philippines. Community organisers were found to be effective in forming people’s organisations (POs), motivating people to participate in voluntary activities organised by POs and encouraging cohesiveness among PO members. Community organisers manage to raise the level of environmental awareness and knowledge of members of people’s organisations, develop leadership interest and skills, create various livelihood opportunities and provide direction and facilitate the establishment of large tree plantations. However, the short duration of community organisers’ contracts (typically two years) is insufficient to establish mature and cohesive POs prepared to assume management on their own, including the management of tree plantations. Further, lack of training and funding support, low wages, delayed payment of salaries and limited time to work with people’s organisations, as well as the pressure to produce tangible outputs such the establishment of large tree plantations, prevents them from placing greater emphasis on the development and empowerment of the people.     

供磷水平对‘热研5号'柱花草-根瘤菌共生体系的影响

为研究不同供磷水平对热研5号柱花草(Stylosanthes guianensis‘Reyan No.5')-根瘤菌共生体系的影响,利用水培试验对接种7株不同根瘤菌的柱花草进行3个磷浓度的处理,通过对柱花草干重、植株含氮量、根瘤数、固氮酶活性的测定及分析确定磷对共生体系的影响。结果表明:低磷不利于柱花草及根瘤菌共生体系的生长;菌株YM11-1,FS3-1-1在高磷时固氮促生效果最佳,菌株LZ3 2,RJS9-2,BS1-1,CJ1则在中等磷条件下固氮促生效果最佳,磷对菌株PN13-3的影响不大。     

‘热引19号’坚尼草选育研究报告

1998年从澳大利亚引入坚尼草TD58(Panicum maximum‘TD58')后,相继完成适应性评价、品种比较试验、区域试验和生产试验,2007年选育而成‘热引19号'坚尼草(P.maximum'Reyin NO.19')。结果表明:该品种年均干草产量达21753.02 kg·hm~(-2),种子年均产量为800.05 kg·hm~(-2),营养价值适中,且耐低温、耐荫、耐旱、花期晚,综合性状均优于对照品种,是适合于我国南方热带亚热带地区推广种植的牧草新品种。     

Cortisol Concentrations in Well‐Regulated Dogs with Hyperadrenocorticism Treated with Trilostane

Background

There are no clear treatment guidelines for dogs with clinically well‐regulated hyperadrenocorticism in which serum cortisol concentrations before and after an ACTH stimulation test performed 3–6 hours after trilostane administration are < 2.0 μg/dL.

Objective

To determine if serum cortisol concentrations measured before (Pre1) and after (Post1) ACTH stimulation at 3–6 hours after trilostane administration are significantly lower than cortisol concentrations measured before (Pre2) and after (Post2) ACTH stimulation 9–12 hours after trilostane administration, in a specific population of dogs with clinically well‐regulated hyperadrenocorticism and Pre1 and Post1 <2 μg/dL.

Animals

Thirteen client‐owned dogs with clinically well‐regulated hyperadrenocorticism and Pre1 and Post1 serum cortisol concentrations <2.0 μg/dL 3–6 hours after trilostane administration.

Methods

Prospective study. Dogs had a second ACTH stimulation test performed 9–12 hours after trilostane administration, on the same day of the first ACTH stimulation test. Cortisol concentrations before and after ACTH stimulation were compared using a paired t‐test.

Results

Cortisol concentrations before (1.4 ± 0.3 μg/dL) and after the first stimulation (1.5 ± 0.3 μg/dL, mean ± SD) were significantly lower than cortisol concentration before the second stimulation (3.3 ± 1.6 μg/dL, P = .0012 each). Cortisol concentration before the first stimulation was also significantly lower than cortisol concentration after the second stimulation (5.3 ± 2.4 μg/dL, P = .0001).

Conclusions and clinical importance

In dogs with clinically well‐regulated, trilostane‐treated, hyperadrenocorticism, and cortisol concentrations <2 μg/dL before and after the first stimulation, a second ACTH stimulation test performed 9–12 hours after treatment can result in higher cortisol concentrations that could support continued trilostane treatment.     

Pathological findings and probable causes of the death of Stejneger’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon stejnegeri) stranded in Japan from 1999 and 2011

One hundred and twenty stranding events of Stejneger’s beaked whales were reported in Japan between 1999 and 2011. The purpose of this study is to introduce pathological data and to discuss probable causes of death for 44 Stejneger’s beaked whales among them. The significant pathological findings were the pulmonary edema, parasitic granulomatous nephritis, emaciation, amyloidosis, suppurative bronchopneumonia and so on. The probable causes of death were categorized as noninfectious in 43 of the cases, which included drowning, starvation and secondary amyloidosis. One individual was diagnosed with septicemia, which was the only example of an infectious disease. Because we could not always perform advanced analyses, such as microbiology tests, biotoxin examinations or contaminant analyses, the finality of our findings may be impaired. However, the present study has broad implications on the causes of death of Stejneger’s beaked whales of the seas around Japan, which are valuable for the future studies and for the detection of emerging diseases.     

热激处理对甜柿外植体总酚含量和PAL、PPO、POD活性的影响

甜柿在组织培养过程中极易褐化,为了防止褐变,在培养之前应对外植体进行热激处理。文中研究了热激处理后的宝华甜柿叶片在培养过程中其酚类物质含量和苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)、多酚氧化酶(PPO)、过氧化物酶(POD)活性的变化情况,并对热激处理抑制组培褐变的生理机制进行了初步探讨。结果表明:热激处理后,宝华甜柿叶片的褐变程度比没有处理的明显减轻,其总酚含量与苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)及多酚氧化酶(PPO)活性均有所降低,但热激处理对其过氧化物酶(POD)活性的抑制效果并不明显,说明热激处理通过降低外植体的PAL及PPO活性,抑制酚类物质的合成及氧化,减少了褐变产物——醌类物质的形成,从而有效抑制了褐变现象的发生。