Earthworm ecological groupings based on C analysis

We report the first use of ¹⁴C isotope analysis to investigate the ecological grouping of earthworms. Mature endogeic (Allolobophora caliginosa), mature epigeic (Lumbricus rubellus), and semimature anecic worms (A. longa) were collected in September 2002 from a woodland site at Lancaster, UK. Because anecic worms are known to have a variable feeding behaviour and can show dietary changes during ontogeny, additional immature and mature specimens of A. longa were also collected from the same site in January 2004. Epigeic earthworms showed the lowest radiocarbon concentration (0-3-years old), implying that they assimilated more recently fixed carbon than the anecic or endogeic earthworms. The age of carbon assimilated in mature anecic species (5-7-years old) was closer to that of endogeic species (5-8-years old) than to epigeics, suggesting that a greater proportion of older, more mineralised organic matter may form part of the diet of the anecic earthworms than previously thought. These results suggest that ¹⁴C approaches are useful in the study of the feeding behaviour of detritivorous animals by providing in situ information on the age of the carbon assimilated by the worms. This can then be related to their role in ecosystem functioning, particularly in carbon cycling.     

Production of a macrophage chemotactic factor by cultured jaagsiekte tumour cells

The increase of alveolar macrophages in jaagsiekte sheep lungs is not caused by excessive surfactant production but is due to a chemotactic factor secreted by the tumor cells. This factor has a molecular mass in the region of 13 kilodaltons, is stable at 56 degrees C but labile at 100 degrees C and, being sensitive to proteases, indicates that it is a small protein molecule.     

The morphology and morphogenesis of jaagsiekte retrovirus (JSRV)

Jaagsiekte retrovirus ( JSRV ) was recently shown to be the aetiological agent of jaasiekte (ovine pulmonary adenomatosis). The morphogenesis of JSRV was studied in jaagsiekte tumour tissue. Intracytoplasmic particles, often associated with centrioles, were found in tumour cells. JSRV budded from tumour cells with a complete core which appeared to mature during the budding process. Extracellular particles were found in the alveolar lumen. Immature extracellular particles were rare. Mature extracellular JSRV was membrane-bound and had a slightly eccentric nucleoid with an electron-dense perinucleoidal space. In negatively stained preparations of JSRV the envelope was covered with spikes. JSRV is morphologically distinct from all known retroviruses.     

The global impact of scaling up HIV/AIDS prevention programs in low- and middle-income countries

A strong, global commitment to expanded prevention programs targeted at sexual transmission and transmission among injecting drug users, started now, could avert 28 million new HIV infections between 2005 and 2015. This figure is more than half of the new infections that might otherwise occur during that period in 125 low- and middle-income countries. Although preventing these new infections would require investing about U.S.$122 billion over this period, it would reduce future needs for treatment and care. Our analysis suggests that it will cost about U.S.$3900 to prevent each new infection, but that this will produce a savings of U.S.$4700 in forgone treatment and care costs. Thus, greater spending on prevention now would not only prevent more than half the new infections that would occur from 2005 to 2015 but would actually produce a net financial saving as future costs for treatment and care are averted.     

Novel Fertilizer as an Alternative for Supplying Manganese and Boron to Soybeans

Soybean (Glycine max) commonly experience Mn deficiencies in the coarse-textured soils of Coastal Plain Virginia, especially under high pH conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of a novel coated fertilizer to provide Mn and B to soybeans in soils where Mn deficiency is common and B deficiency, although far less common than with Mn, is possible. A 60-d greenhouse experiment was conducted with three treatments: control, uncoated KCl, and Mn +B coated KCl applied to Bojac and Dragston sandy loams. Soil and whole plant tissue samples were collected throughout the experiment. Bojac and Dragston soils treated with the coated KCl contained 12.0 mg kg^?1 and 15.8 mg kg^?1 more Mehlich 1 – Mn, 21.7 mg kg^?1 and 23.0 mg kg^?1 more Mehlich 3 Mn, and 4.5 mg kg^?1 and 4.6 mg kg^?1 CaCl₂ – Mn than the control and uncoated KCl, respectively. Coated KCl increased above ground tissue Mn by 42.9 mg kg^?1 compared to the control and the uncoated KCl treatments in the Bojac soil, while the Dragston soil showed no significant differences in Mn tissue concentration between treatments. Above ground tissue, Mn was much lower in the Dragston soil than the Bojac, probably due to greater organic matter which chelates Mn keeping it less plant available. Boron concentrations did not differ in plant tissue or soil, regardless of the extraction method. Results indicate that the coated KCl product could consistently provide increased Mn concentration in acidic sandy soils despite varying levels of organic matter, but is not effective for B.     

The localization of a Mason-Pfizer monkey virus-related antigen in jaagsiekte tumour tissue and cell lines

Mason-Pfizer monkey virus-related antigen was detected in 3 out of 5 jaagsiekte lungs examined using a direct immunoperoxidase staining technique with anti-MPMV p27 serum. Most of the antigen was localized in the alveolar lumina of the lesions. The reaction was further characterised on immune blots and found to involve a protein with a molecular mass of 29 000 daltons (JSRV p29). JSRV p29 antigen was also detected in 2 jaagsiekte cell lines.     

A collaborative design to adaptively manage for landscape sustainability in north Australia: lessons from a decade of cooperative research

Approaches to manage for the sustainable use of natural and cultural resources in a landscape can have many different designs. One design is adaptive collaborative landscape management (ACLM) where research providers and users work closely together on projects to develop resources while adaptively managing to sustain or maintain landscapes in the long term. We propose that collaborative projects are more useful for achieving outcomes than integrative projects where participants merely join their separate contributions. To foster collaborative research projects to adaptively manage landscapes in northern Australia, a Tropical Savannas Cooperative Research Centre (TSCRC) was established in 1995. The TSCRC is a joint venture of major organizations involved in research and land management. This paper is our perspective on the four most important ‘lessons learned’ after using a ACLM-type approach for over 10 y. We learnt that collaboration (working in combination) not necessarily integration (combining parts into a whole) achieved sustainable outcomes. We found that integration across culturally diverse perspectives seldom achieved sustainable solutions because it devalued the position of the less empowered participants. In addition, positive outcomes were achieved when participants developed trust and respect for each other by embracing and respecting their differences and by sharing unifying concepts such as savanna health. Another lesson learned was that a collaborative organization must act as an honest broker by resisting advocacy of one view point over another. Finally, we recognized the importance of strongly investing in communication and networking so that people could adaptively learn from one another’s experiences, understand each other’s challenges and respect each other’s choices. Our experience confirms the usefulness of the ACLM approach and highlights its role in the process of sustaining healthy landscapes.     

Tolerance of Juvenile Red Drum Sciaenops ocellatus to Rapidly Decreasing Water Temperatures

This study assessed the potential mortality of pond-reared juvenile red drum Sciaenops ocellatus subjected to rapid declines in water temperature simulating cold front activity. Fish acclimated in an earthen pond at ambient temperature and photoperiod were introduced into a recirculating aquarium and biofiltration system when pond water temperatures decreased to 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, and 10 C. Fish were stocked according to size group into 10 aquaria containing filtered pond water at 9 ± 1‰ salinity and temperature matching the acclimation temperature. Fish were acclimated to the aquaria for 3 d, subjected to a 6 C decrease over 24 h, and then held for 72 h. No mortalities were observed in any trial. The results suggest that if juvenile red drum are maintained in water with salinity around 9‰, they should survive the passage of most cold fronts.