Explicit versus implicit motivations: Clarifying how experiences affect turkey hunter satisfaction using revised importance-performance,importance grid,and penalty-reward-contrast analyses

Although research has advanced methods for clarifying factors that relate to customer satisfaction, they have not been embraced by leisure researchers. Using results from a survey of wild turkey hunters, we applied traditional and revised importance-performance (IPA/RIPA), importance-grid analysis (IGA), and penalty-reward-contrast analysis (PRCA) to examine how activity-specific factors influenced satisfaction. Results suggested differences between the explicit and implicit importance of factors related to turkey hunting. Opportunities to kill turkeys were explicitly rated as less important than seeing, hearing, or calling in turkeys, but opportunities for harvest had relatively higher levels of implicit importance. PRCA identified “calling turkeys in” and “hearing gobbling” as minimum requirements that cause dissatisfaction if not fulfilled, but do not provide satisfaction, whereas “seeing turkeys” and an “opportunity to kill a turkey” related to both satisfaction and dissatisfaction. RIPA, IGA, and PRCA could provide valuable insights about factors that may improve satisfaction for leisure participants.     

Carbon storage benefits of agroforestry systems

The process of land degradation is a local phenomenon that occurs field by field. Because of the extent at which it is occurring, however, it also has a global dimension. Agroforestry represents a link between the local and global scales. From the farmer's perspective, agroforestry can be a way to increase crop yields and the diversity of products grown. An additional benefit is the creation of a carbon sink that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Successful agroforestry systems will also reduce land clearing and maintain carbon in existing vegetation. An extensive literature survey was conducted to evaluate the carbon dynamics of agroforestry practices and to assess their potential to store carbon. Data on tree growth and wood production were converted to estimates of carbon storage. Surveyed literature showed that median carbon storage by agroforestry practices was 9 tC/ha in semi-arid, 21 tC/ha in sub-humid, 50 tC/ha in humid, and 63 tC/ha in temperate ecozones. The limited survey information available substantiated the concept that implementing agroforestry practices can help reduce deforestation.The research described in this article has been funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency. This document has been prepared at the EPA Environmental Research Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon, through contract number 68-C8-0006 to ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc. It has been subjected to the Agency's peer and administrative review and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.     

Application of for the identification and management of hybrid poplar accessions

Molecular markers are a powerful tool with many potential applications in agriculture and forestry. In particular, can provide information on the relatedness of various clones or varieties that are difficult to distinguish morphologically, thus helping in the management of plant accessions and in breeding programs. The goal of this study is to genotype 15 clones used in the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) breeding programs. Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR, or microsatellite markers) were selected for genotyping using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This type of marker is considered the method of choice due to their abundance, polymorphism and reliability compared to other types of . Sixteen previously isolated and characterized in aspen (Populus tremuloides) and other poplar species (Populus spp.) were initially tested. Nine markers were selected based on the “informativeness” and the quality of the amplification products. The nine markers were combined in groups of three to improve the efficiency of the genotyping technique. Using the nine markers, the average number of alleles per locus was 5.1. The expected and observed heterozygosity ranges were 0.32 to 0.80 and 0.13 to 0.92 respectively. The results also show that it is possible to produce a unique “DNA fingerprint” specific to each of the 15 hybrid poplar clones with the nine . In this study it was possible to show that two clones, P. ‘Melville’ and P. x ‘Walker’ used in Saskatchewan have similar DNA profiles with nine markers and a combined probability of identity of 2.23×10⁻⁶ suggesting that these clones are identical. This observation will prevent unnecessary duplication of the two accessions in breeding programs. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

First record of aBursaphelenchus-species (Nematoda) inMonochamus beetles in Scandinavia

A national research program was initiated in 1988 in Sweden to provide more information on the distribution and bionomics ofBursaphelenchus species. As a result of the intimate association known to occur between the pinewood nematodeB. xylophilus (Steiner andBuhrer) Nickle and its insect vectors a survey was directed to Scots pine wood (Pinus sylvestris L.) in whichMonochamus species were breeding. A total of 59M. sutor L. and twoM. galloprovincialis Ol. emerged from the collected material. Fourteen specimens of theM. sutor and bothM. galloprovincialis specimens containedBursaphelenchus nematodes which resembled the speciesB. mucronatus Mamiya andEnda. To our knowledge this is the first record of theB. mucronatus-type nematodes inM. galloprovincialis and the first finding of such nematodes inM. sutor in Europe.     

Effect of orally administered probiotic E. coli strain Nissle 1917 on intestinal mucosal immune cells of healthy young pigs

Several beneficial effects of probiotics have been described in studies using rodent disease models and in human patients; however, the underlying mechanisms remained mostly unclear. Only a few studies focused on the effects of probiotics on the intestinal mucosal immune system. Here, we studied the effect of the probiotic strain E. coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) administered orally to young pigs at two concentrations (10(9) and 10(11)CFU/d for 21 days) on the gut-associated lymphatic tissue. This probiotic strain was shown recently to reduce recurrence of inflammation in ulcerative colitis patients. We quantified the number and distribution of intestinal immune cells (granulocytes, mast cells, CD4+, CD8+, CD25+, IgA+ lymphocytes) and the mucosal mRNA expression of cytokines (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta, IL-10) and antimicrobial peptides (PR-39, NK-lysin, prepro-defensin-beta 1, protegrins). The number and distribution of cells were highly different between small intestinal and colon segments in all groups, but were not influenced by EcN, except high dose EcN fed pigs (10(11) CFU/d) showing an increase in mucosal CD8+ cells in the ascending colon. The mRNA analysis revealed no changes associated with EcN feeding. In conclusion, according to our analyses EcN has only minor effects on the distribution of mucosal immune cells in the gut of healthy individuals. The well-established preventive effects of EcN might therefore be relate to other mechanisms than simple modulation of immune cell distribution.     

Protein electrophoresis in cranes with presumed insect bite

BACKGROUND: Serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) has emerged as a potentially valuable diagnostic tool in avian medicine; yet, there is limited information regarding SPE in cranes. Since 2000, 20 cases of unilateral periocular or facial soft tissue swelling, blepharitis, feather loss, and ocular or nasal discharge attributed to insect bite hypersensitivity were observed in cranes from a captive breeding center. SPE may be useful for evaluating these lesions. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to characterize the inflammatory response in cranes with hypersensitivity reactions using SPE. METHODS: Serum samples from 7 cranes diagnosed with hypersensitivity reactions were submitted to a diagnostic laboratory for agarose gel electrophoresis. Results were compared to those in control serum samples obtained from the same cranes during routine physical examination, when they were clinically healthy. RESULTS: Total protein and a- and g-globulin concentrations were significantly increased and albumin/globulin ratios were significantly decreased in serum samples from cranes with hypersensitivity lesions compared with control samples. CONCLUSIONS: Using SPE, we documented changes in protein fraction concentrations in cranes with clinical signs of hypersensitivity. The increase in alpha- and gamma-globulin concentrations suggested inflammation and antigenic stimulation, consistent with a Type I hypersensitivity reaction.     

Third‐compartment cannulation in alpacas using a polyurethane gastrostomy tube

Objective To develop a simple and effective surgical technique for third‐compartment cannulation in alpacas. Design Prospective study using six adult male alpacas. Methods General anaesthesia was induced and a polyurethane gastrostomy tube was surgically implanted into the distal portion of the third compartment. Results Three of the alpacas retained their cannulas for a 100‐day period; however, three cannulas were dislodged during the study. Two of the three dislodged cannulas were replaced during a second surgical procedure. Cannulas were well tolerated by the alpacas and all animals remained clinically healthy during the study period. Third compartment contents did not leak from the cannulation site. The tubes were manually removed following the completion of the study and the small defect in the body wall quickly healed over in all animals. Conclusion Surgical placement of polyurethane tubes designed for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is a useful method of cannulating the third compartment in camelids. This technique can be used for experimental studies and possibly could be used for nutritional support and fluid therapy in sick camelids that might need long‐term care.     

Comparison of acetate tape impression with squeezing versus skin scraping for the diagnosis of canine demodicosis

This study compared the sensitivity of acetate tape impression and skin squeezing with that of deep skin scraping for the diagnosis of demodicosis in dogs. Demodex canis was detected in 100% of acetate tape impressions obtained after skin squeezing and in 90% of deep skin scrapings. There was a significant difference (P < 0.001) between the techniques in the total number of mites detected. Acetate tape impression with skin squeezing was found to be more sensitive than deep skin scraping and is an alternative diagnostic method for canine demodicosis.