Health or Agricultural Development: Boundary Objects and Organizations in a Soya Project in Western Kenya

Improving global health and agricultural development have been identified as two of the most important objectives in fighting global poverty. However, the two approaches come at development from different perspectives and can actually undermine each other in practice. Successful management of the competing demands of health and agriculture through organizations and technologies is crucial to advancing sustainable development. The turn toward local procurement of agricultural products in the administration of global food aid is evidence of attempts to bring these approaches together at the global scale, but has not delivered the promised benefits at the local level. This article presents a case study of a small Kenyan community based organization (CBO), Community Action for Rural Development (CARD), as it has attempted to negotiate between nutrition and agricultural development in global and local networks. Specifically, the case study addresses CARD’s experience with a small scale soya beans project as a part of a World Food Program (WFP) local procurement program and a transition toward developing a local soya bean project

Ecology and Genetics of Lungless Salamanders (Family Plethodontidae) in the Gulf Coastal Plain

During the last half century, lungless salamanders (Family Plethodontidae) have been the subject of numerous studies in the fields of ecology and genetics. While most works have focused on the species-rich Eastern Highlands region, there has been a recent shift towards plethodontid assemblages within the Coastal Plain. The research presented herein applies hierarchical occupancy models and both mitochondrial and nuclear genes to address questions pertinent to the biology and conservation of plethodontids within the Gulf Coastal Plain. The results of a multi-species Bayesian single-season occupancy model indicated that two environmental gradients, upstream drainage area and stream drying, influenced the probability of occurrence for multiple species of stream-breeding plethodontids. Further, species varied in their responses to these gradients. A second model was used to ask whether asymmetric interactions also influenced occurrence for three species of brook salamanders (Genus Eurycea). More specifically, the model tested whether the southern two-lined salamander (E. cirrigera) might act as the dominant predator and or competitor to either the three-lined (E. guttolineata) or dwarf (E. quadridigitata) salamanders. The results of this second model suggested that environmental gradients likely work in tandem with negative interactions to shape the distribution of E. guttolienata within the Gulf Coastal Plain. Like hierarchical occupancy models, genetic tools are also shedding light on complex relationships among and within species of lungless salamanders. This research investigated phylogeographic patterns within a wide-ranging species of plethodontid, the spotted dusky salamander (Desmognathus conanti). Sequence data revealed that there were geographically discrete, deeply divergent mitochondrial lineages within D. conanti which may be the result of isolation brought about by fluctuating sea levels during the late Miocene through the Pleistocene. Data from six rapidly mutating microsatellite markers indicated that there had been recent gene flow across some of these lineages in the southern Gulf Coastal Plain. However, these data also suggest that a northern lineage may have remained distinct. The relationships described and occurrence probabilities estimated by the aforementioned models, in combination with conclusions from analyses of genetic data, improve our ability to conserve regional plethodontid biodiversity within this unique physiographic province

Sexual Isolation between Two Sympatric Desmognathus in the Gulf Coastal Plain

A substantial body of work exists examining courtship in lungless salamanders (family Plethodontidae), but there are many species and population pairs that have not been tested for sexual isolation. Spotted (Desmognathus conanti sensu lato [SL]) and Southern Dusky Salamanders (D. aff. auriculatus) occur sympatrically within drainages in South Mississippi. I crossed individuals from three populations of D. aff. auriculatus (n = 6 individuals) and seven populations of D. conanti (SL) (n = 10) occurring in the Pascagoula and Pearl River basins. I alternated homospecific (n = 23) and heterospecific (n = 23) trials across nights in the spring and summer of 2014 and 2015, and I used GoPro™ HERO3 cameras and time-lapse photography to record the behaviors of a random subset of these pairs, as well as to determine the stage of courtship reached. Seventeen of the 23 homospecific trials resulted in spermatophore deposition and 14 in insemination. None of the 23 heterospecific trials (D. aff. auriculatus ♂ x D. conanti [SL]♀; or D. conanti [SL]♂ x D. aff. auriculatus ♀) reached this stage of courtship, but ten of the 14 photographed, heterospecific pairs exhibited pursuit and/or persuasive behaviors (i.e., pheromone transfer). These results suggest that D. aff. auriculatus and D. conanti (SL) are completely sexually isolated and that isolation is likely chemically mediated. I used a total of eight polymorphic microsatellite loci to genotype offspring from two clutches oviposited by a single female D. aff. auriculatus and one clutch oviposited by a female D. conanti (SL). Strict exclusion suggested that each clutch was sired by a single male, and that female D. aff. auriculatus and female D. conanti (SL) were capable of storing sperm for at least 4 mo 5 days and 3 mo 3 days, respectively. The data presented here further our understanding of the reproductive ecologies of Desmognathus in the historically understudied Gulf Coastal Plain

Cross-genus amplification and characterisation of microsatellite loci in the large-eared free tailed bat, Otomops (Chiroptera: Molossidae) from Africa and Madagascar

Primers developed for the Brazilian free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis, were successfully used to cross-amplify microsatellite loci in two Afro-tropical Otomops species. Seventy one (71) bats from two species were genotyped for two dinucleotide and four tetranucleotide loci, yielding 1 to 15 alleles per locus. For the combined sample, the observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.125 to 1.000 and 0.125 to 0.919, respectively. The polymorphism information content (PIC) values were 0.295 to 0.905 (mean 0.687) for Otomops martiensseni and 0.110 to 0.797 (mean 0.442) for Otomops madagascariensis. Five O. martiensseni loci deviated significantly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. These six loci provide genetic markers that will be useful in investigating the population genetic structure of Afro-Arabian O. martiensseni and Malagasy O. madagascariensis, with potential application to Asian species of Otomops and possibly other genera within the Molossidae.Keywords: Bats, Otomops, Chiroptera, microsatellites, Molossidae, cross-genus amplificationAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(27), pp. 4233-423

Cross-genus amplification and characterisation of microsatellite loci in the little free tailed bat, Chaerephon pumilus s. l. (Molossidae) from South Eastern Africa

Microsatellite loci for Chaerephon pumilus sensu lato from south eastern Africa were cross-amplified using primers developed for the Mexican free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis. Two dinucleotide and four tetranucleotide loci were recovered and genotyped for 74 bats, yielding 9 to 15 alleles per locus. The observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.06 to 0.84 and 0.54 to 0.81 respectively, and the PIC values ranged from 0.51 to 0.80, indicative of considerable variability within the sample. There was no evidence of linkage disequilibrium among pairs of loci, or of deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. These six loci were informative in studies of population genetic structure of C. pumilus sensu lato.Keywords: Bats, Chaerephon pumilus, Chiroptera, microsatellites, Molossidae, cross-genus amplificationAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(21), pp. 3143-314

Real bad grammar: realistic grammatical description with grammaticality

Sampson (this issue) argues for a concept of “realistic grammatical description” in which the distinction between grammatical and ungrammatical sentences is irrelevant. In this article I also argue for a concept of “realistic grammatical description” but one in which a binary distinction between grammatical and ungrammatical sentences is maintained. In distinguishing between the grammatical and ungrammatical, this kind of grammar differs from that proposed by Sampson, but it does share the important property that invented sentences have no role to play, either as positive or negative evidence

Mitigate Microgravity Deconditioning Syndrome using Resistive Exercise as a Countermeasure

.We propose to design an optimized lower extremity force acquisition system (LEFAS) that integrates with a lower body negative pressure (LBNP) box and subject-specific protocols for improved fitness results by taking a computationally simulated optimization approach. Current countermeasures to date on the International Space Station lack sufficient mechanical and physiological loads to maintain preflight musculoskeletal (MSK) mass, strength, and aerobic capacity. Our approach combines LEFAS, LBNP and personalized controls to combat microgravity deconditioning syndrome including induced muscle atrophy, bone decalcification and poor cardiovascular health minimizing the gap between pre-flight and post-flight syndrome, allowing astronauts to respond to emergencies, and remain healthy during and after extended space travel. The LEFAS/LBNP countermeasure combines two forms of resistance achieving required loads and allowing for exploration at greater distances from Earth and extended stays in space. In parallel, we will educate students, teachers, and community about solving the challenges of human space travel using advanced modeling techniques and ground-based experiments

Suppression of interdiffusion in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum-well structure capped with dielectric films by deposition of gallium oxide

In this work, different dielectric caps were deposited on the GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well(QW) structures followed by rapid thermal annealing to generate different degrees of interdiffusion. Deposition of a layer of GaxOy on top of these dielectric caps resulted in significant suppression of interdiffusion. In these samples, it was found that although the deposition of GaxOy and subsequent annealing caused additional injection of Ga into the SiO₂ layer, Ga atoms were still able to outdiffuse from the GaAsQW structure during annealing, to generate excess Ga vacancies. The suppression of interdiffusion with the presence of Ga vacancies was explained by the thermal stress effect which suppressed Ga vacancydiffusion during annealing. It suggests that GaxOy may therefore be used as a mask material in conjunction with other dielectric capping layers in order to control and selectively achieve impurity-free vacancy disordering.J. Wong-Leung, P. N. K. Deenapanray, and H. H. Tan acknowledge the fellowships awarded by the Australian Research Council

Genetic monitoring detects an overlooked cryptic species and reveals the diversity and distribution of three invasive Rattus congeners in South Africa

Background: South Africa's long and extensive trade activity has ensured ample opportunities for exotic species introduction. Whereas the rich biodiversity of endemic southern African fauna has been the focus of many studies, invasive vertebrates are generally overlooked despite potential impacts on biodiversity, health and agriculture. Genetic monitoring of commensal rodents in South Africa which uncovered the presence of Rattus tanezumi, a South-East Asian endemic not previously known to occur in Africa, provided the impetus for expanded studies on all invasive Rattus species present. Results: To this end, intensified sampling at 28 South African localities and at one site in Swaziland, identified 149 Rattus specimens. Cytochrome b gene sequencing revealed the presence of two R. tanezumi, seven R. rattus and five R. norvegicus haplotypes in south Africa. Phylogenetic results were consistent with a single, recent R. tanezumi introduction and indicated that R. norvegicus and R. rattus probably became established following at least two and three independent introductions, respectively. Intra- and inter-specific diversity was highest in informal human settlements, with all three species occurring at a single metropolitan township site. Rattus norvegicus and R. rattus each occurred sympatrically with R. tanezumi at one and five sites, respectively. Karyotyping of selected R. rattus and R. tanezumi individuals identified diploid numbers consistent with those reported previously for these cryptic species. Ordination of bioclimatic variables and MaxEnt ecological niche modelling confirmed that the bioclimatic niche occupied by R. tanezumi in south Africa was distinct from that occupied in its naturalised range in south-east Asia suggesting that factors other than climate may influence the distribution of this species. Conclusions: This study has highlighted the value of genetic typing for detecting cryptic invasive species, providing historical insights into introductions and for directing future sampling. The apparent ease with which a cryptic species can become established signals the need for broader implementation of genetic monitoring programmes. In addition to providing baseline data and potentially identifying high-risk introduction routes, the predictive power of ecological niche modelling is enhanced when species records are genetically verified