Seroepidemiological studies of herpesvirus-associated diseases of marine turtles: Fibropapillomatosis and lung-eye-trachea disease

We have developed immunological tests that can identify marine turtles in Florida (green and loggerhead) that have been exposed to the LETV herpesvirus. The seroepidemiological data collected provides critical evidence about the relationship between infection with the FP-associated herpesvirus and the LETV herpesvirus. The data supports the hypothesis that LETV and FPHV infections are independent infections of marine turtles. The data shows that wild green turtles in Florida are exposed to the LETD-associated herpesvirus, which is the first description ofLETV infection in free-ranging marine turtles. To our knowledge, the antigenic proteins identified in this study are not only the first proteins from a reptilian herpesvirus to be cloned and expressed, but they represent the first reptilian herpesvirus proteins to be identified as immunogenic in their host species. (16 page document

Further strategies for evaluating the etiological role of a tumor-associated herpesvirus in marine turtle fibropapillomatosis

In 1992, an interdisciplinary research team headquartered at the University of Florida began studies in key targeted areas of fibropapillomatosis (FP) etiology and pathogenesis. At that time, little was known about FP outside of field studies documenting its prevalence in different areas of the world and studies of tumor histopathology. Our primary objective was to develop a broad-based scientific understanding of FP by applying principles of tumor biology, immunology, pathology, virology, molecular biology, and epidemiology to FP in the green turtle, Chelonia mydas. Long-term goals included the development of assays for FP and study of any role of environmental co-factors in the disease. This report is a continuation of that effort and the results reported here bring us closer to understanding the role of a tumor-associated herpesvirus in marine turtle fibropapillomatosis. This research has demonstrated that marine turtle herpesviruses can persist for extended periods of time as infectious agents in the marine environment and that wild green turtles in Florida are exposed to the LETD-associated herpesvirus. This is the first description of LETV infection in free-ranging. marine turtles. In addition, data is presented that supports the hypothesis that LETV and FPHV infections are independent. These data reveal new levels of complexity that must be addressed before reliable serodiagnostic assays for herpesvirus infections of chelonians can be developed for widespread application. The results reported here also raise new concerns about the potential impact of infections by new herpesviruses on populations of wild marine turtles, an area which has previously been unexplored by turtle biologists. (8 page document

British urban trees: A social and cultural history, 1800-1914

Whether we consider the great London Planes which are now the largest trees in many British urban streets, the exotic ornamentals from across the globe flourishing in numerous private gardens, the stately trees of public parks and squares or the dense colourful foliage of suburbia, the impact of trees and arboriculture upon modern towns and their ecosystems is clear. From the formal walks and squares of the Georgian town to Victorian tree-lined boulevards and commemorative oaks, trees are the organic statuary of modern urban society, providing continuity yet constantly changing through the day and over the seasons. Interfacing between humans and nature, connecting the continents and reaching back and forward through time to past and future generations, they have come to define urbanity while simultaneously evoking nature and the countryside. This book is the first major study of British urban arboriculture between 1800 and 1914 and draws upon fresh approaches in geographical, urban and environmental history. It makes a major contribution to our understanding of where, how and why trees grew in British towns in the period, the social and cultural impact of these and the attitudes taken towards them. CONTENTS Chapter One. Private Urban Garden Trees Chapter Two. Trees in Public Parks and Gardens Chapter Three. Trees in the Victorian Cemetery Chapter Four. Trees in Victorian Nottingham c. 1840–1880 Chapter Five. Victorian and Edwardian Glasgow Chapter Six. Towards a National Capital: Cardiff Chapter Seven. Urban Trees and Smoke Pollution Chapter Eight. Trees for Heath and Pleasure: Spa and Resort TownsN/

Motivational Effects of Goal Orientation

According to achievement goal theory, individuals set mastery or performance goals to accomplish challenging tasks. In addition, they can either approach or avoid the goal they are achieving. Mastery goals show positive correlation to intrinsic motivation while performance goals are linked to extrinsic motivation. Goal setting also affects motivation for completing tasks and perception of self-efficacious behavior while performing tasks. Receiving feedback has been positively correlated with success in learning and intrinsic motivation. The present research manipulates goal orientation through the accomplishment of a word find in an online experimental setting to test the effect on feedback, intrinsic motivation, choice, and self-efficacy. Positive versus highly positive feedback conditions were used after the word find to test effects on perceived competence following a task. For the approach-mastery goal condition, we found main effects for intrinsic motivation, perceived choice, task choice, and views of task importance. Additionally, we found a main effect for perceived competence for our highly positive feedback condition versus giving just positive feedback. These results demonstrate support for accomplishing challenging tasks with mastery goals versus performance goals and the usage of more positive feedback in a feedback condition

Watch Me Give: Narcissism as a Moderator to Donating to a Nonprofit

With increased online connectivity in the current generation, more non-for-profit organizations are focusing their efforts on producing online marketing appeals. It has, therefore, become necessary to identify the effect some appeals have on different people. The present study seeks to determine whether an organization offering increased recognition will result in a greater willingness to give by people with narcissistic personalities. Additionally, it will determine if “willingness” to give or “amount” given are different between genders or employment status, as prior research suggests. Results indicated that whether the organization offered increased recognition or not, narcissism did not affect willingness to give or amount given. Women were more willing to give than men and employment status did not hold any bearing on the willingness to give or amount given. Limitations of the study are provided and implications for future research are discussed

The Short Dark Triad and Giving to Nonprofits

The present study examines whether “demonstrable utility,” the belief that giving provides immediate or future tangible benefits (Sargeant, Ford, & West, 2006) significantly correlates to the adverse personality traits Machiavellianism and narcissism as they are defined in the Short Dark Triad (Paulhus & Williams, 2002). Two-hundred and twelve participants were gathered from Kennesaw State University to participate in a 20-minute online survey. While other factors were tested, attention was placed on demonstrable utility. Simple linear regression models were used to determine the relationship between demonstrable utility, Machiavellianism, and narcissism. A post-hoc Sobel’s mediation test was used to establish the different relationships that the Short Dark Triad (SD3), a measure of the dark personality traits narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy, had with factors in the model of perceptual determinants of giving to a nonprofit. Demonstrable utility was found predictive of both narcissism and Machiavellianism, and the factors emotional utility, responsiveness, communication quality, and demonstrable utility were found related to the SD3. Studies in the future might take into account adverse personality traits such as Machiavellianism and narcissism when developing constructs of giving behavior, and more studies should focus on the effect of nonprofit marketing appeals centered on these personality traits

Aerial Surveys Do Not Reliably Survey Boreal-nesting Shorebirds

Aerial surveys have been used as a method for surveying boreal-nesting shorebirds, which breed in difficult-to-access terrain; however, the fraction of breeding birds observed from the air is unknown. We investigated rates of detection by conducting simultaneous air and ground surveys for shorebirds at three sites in the boreal forest of the Northwest Territories, Canada, in 2007. Helicopter surveys included both pond-based surveys where the helicopter flew around the perimeter of each wetland and transect-based surveys where observers recorded birds seen on line transects. Ground surveys involved intensive observation, territory mapping and nest searching in 5 km2 of plots over a period of 5-6 weeks. Shorebird densities observed from the helicopter were highest near large bodies of water. No shorebirds were observed over closed forest despite breeding densities on ground surveys being highest in closed forest. Detection rates were very low, varied among species and aerial survey types, and were inconsistent over time. Ground-based observations showed that the shorebirds often did not flush in response to the helicopter passing overhead. Owing to poor rates of detection, we conclude that helicopter surveys are not an appropriate method for surveying breeding shorebirds in boreal habitats, but may have some utility for monitoring birds' use of stop-over locations