Afternoon shedding of a new species of Isospora

The Regent Honeyeater (Xanthomyza phyrigia) is an endangered Australian bird species. Breeding populations have been established at Australian zoos in support of re-introduction programs. This species is the host of a new species of Isospora (Apicomplexa). Oocysts are spherical, 25.8 (22.5- 28.75) by 23.8 (20-26.25) µm with a colourless to pale yellow smooth wall undergoing rapid exogenous sporulation, 90% sporulated oocysts in 8 hours at 20 C. Each oocyst contains one polar granule. Sporocysts are ovoid, 18.67 (17-19) by 9.49 (9-10) µm with a flat Stieda body and spherical substieda body devoid of a hyaline body. The asexual stages and sexual phase is within the enterocytes of the duodenum and jejunum. Faeces collected in the morning (AM, n=84) and in the afternoon (PM, n=90) revealed significant diurnal periodicity in oocyst shedding; 21% (18 of 84) of the AM were positive with the mean of 499 oocysts.g-1 compared to the PM with 91% (82 of 90) bird faeces positive with the mean of 129,723 oocysts.g-1. Therefore, parasite checks for these birds should be carried out in the afternoon to obtain an accurate result. In conclusion, it is plausible that captive birds with high parasite burdens could be less likely selected by females for reproduction after release due to their duller plumage than their wild counterparts. Keywords: coccidia, Isospora, Regent Honeyeater, honeyeater, diurnal shedding, oocysts, recovery program

Psychosocial predictors of current drug use, drug problems, and physical drug dependence in homeless women

We examined risk and protective factors associated with three qualitatively different drug use constructs describing a continuum of drug use among a sample of 1,179 homeless women. Relationships among positive and negative sources of social support, positive and negative coping strategies, depression, and the drug constructs of current drug use, drug problems, and physical drug dependence were assessed using structural equation models with latent variables. Current drug use was predicted by more negative social support (from drug-using family/friends), depression, and less positive coping. Drug Problems were predicted by more negative coping, depression, and less positive coping. Physical Drug Dependence was predicted by more negative social support and depression, and less positive social support. Results highlighted the importance of investigating both the positive and negative dimensions of psychosocial functioning, while suggesting that empowering homeless women and offering tangible resources for coping with the stress of being homeless may be beneficial to them

Environmentalism, pre-environmentalism, and public policy

In the last decade, thousands of new grassroots groups have formed to oppose environmental pollution on the basis that it endangers their health. These groups have revitalized the environmental movement and enlarged its membership well beyond the middle class. Scientists, however, have been unable to corroborate these groups' claims that exposure to pollutants has caused their diseases. For policy analysts this situation appears to pose a choice between democracy and science. It needn't. Instead of evaluating the grassroots groups from the perspective of science, it is possible to evaluate science from the perspective of environmentalism. This paper argues that environmental epidemiology reflects ‘pre-environmentalist’ assumptions about nature and that new ideas about nature advanced by the environmental movement could change the way scientists collect and interpret data.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45449/1/11077_2005_Article_BF01006494.pd