Farmer\u27s intended and actual adoption of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies

A growing body of work aims to understand the impacts of climate change on agriculture as well as farmer’s perceptions of climate change and their likeliness to adopt adapting and mitigating behaviors. Despite this, little work has considered how intention to adopt differs from actual adoption of climate change practices in agriculture. Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior we aim to assess whether different factors affect intended versus actual adoption of climate behaviors among farmers in New Zealand. Data were collected through mixed methods (37 interviews and a telephone survey of 490 farmers) in two regions of New Zealand 2010–2012. Through multiple regression models we test hypotheses related to the Theory of Planned Behavior around the role of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived capacity in affecting intended and actual adoption. Results suggest that there are different drivers of intended and actual adoption of climate change practices. Climate change attitudes and belief is only associated with intended not actual adoption. We find no evidence that subjective norms (climate change policy support) significantly influence either intention or actual adoption. Only perceived capacity and self-efficacy were important predictors of both intended and actual adoption. These results suggest a disconnect between intended and actual behavior change and that using data about intention as a guiding factor for program and policy design may not be prudent. Furthermore, fostering perceived capacity and self-efficacy for individuals may be crucial for encouraging both intended and actual adoption of climate adapting and mitigating behaviors

An Investigation of the Interactions of the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Immediate-Early Protein Vmw110 With Cellular Proteins

HSV-1 is a human pathogen which initially infects epithelial cells (usually causing 'cold sores' around the mouth) and then establishes life-long latent infection in sensory neurons. A knowledge of the mechanisms by which latent infection is established and by which reactivation occurs is likely to be a key factor in understanding the biology of the virus. The HSV-1 virion contains a double stranded linear genome of 152kD which encodes at least 77 genes. These genes are expressed in a temporally regulated cascade during lytic infection in tissue culture. The five immediate-early genes are transactivated by a component of the virion tegument (Vmw65) in a complex with cellular proteins. The expression of at least three,Vmw175, Vmw63 and Vmw110, is necessary for the efficient transactivation of early and late genes. Vmw175 is the major viral transactivator and Vmw63 is thought to act at the post-transcriptional level. The mechanism of action of Vmw110 is unclear. Vmw110 is a 775aa phosphoprotein which is localised to discrete domains in the nucleus, called ND10, at early times of infection. The protein is encoded by gene IE1 which yields one of the five HSV-1 transcripts that are spliced. Vmw110 is non- essential in tissue culture but deletion mutant viruses exhibit a cell type and multiplicity dependent defect in plaque formation as a result of inefficient induction of early and late gene expression. Whilst Vmw110 is also non-essential for infection in mouse model systems, deletion mutant viruses reactivate inefficiently from latency. In an in vitro latency system, Vmw110 is both necessary and sufficient to reactivate quiescent viral genomes. In transfection assays, Vmw110 has been shown to be a potent and promiscuous transactivator of gene expression, particularly in synergy with Vmw175, and five functional regions have been identified on the basis of mutational analysis; one of these encompasses the RING finger and another the C-terminal end of Vmw110. The C-terminal end is important for the initial interaction of Vmwll0 with ND10; this provided circumstantial evidence for Vmw110 interacting with cellular proteins via C- terminal residues. Given the potential involvement of Vmw110 in the switch between lytic and latent infection, it was considered important to pursue any potential interactions between Vmw110 and cellular proteins. To investigate the interactions of the C-terminal end of Vmw110 with cellular proteins, a series of Vmw110 C-terminal GST fusion proteins were made and used in 'pull-down' experiments with radiolabelled whole cell extracts. Vmw110 residues 594- 775 (GEXE52) were found to bind strongly and specifically to a 135kD protein from all cell types tested and to a 150kD protein from some cell types. A shorter fusion protein containing Vmw110 residues 633-775 (GEXE58) did not interact with the 135kD protein indicating that residues 594-633 of Vmwl 10 are necessary for the interaction in this system. GEXE58 bound the 150kD cellular protein whilst a fusion protein containing Vmw110 residues 680-775 (GEXR5) did not, showing that Vmw110 residues between 633 and 680 are necessary for this interaction. Immune precipitation experiments carried out by other members of the group showed that purified, intact Vmw110 bound a 135kD protein and a collaborative reciprocal depletion experiment indicated that the 135kD proteins in the two systems were likely to be the same. In order to further understand the mechanism by which Vmw110 acts during infection, it was considered important to purify the 135kD protein and attempt the cloning of a cDNA. The 135kD protein was purified in a large scale GST 'pull-down' experiment and the fusion protein bound samples containing the 135kD protein were blotted onto a PVDF membrane. The 135kD protein band was isolated and submitted for microsequence analysis by Dr. P. Matsudaira (MIT). Six peptide sequences were obtained and the information employed in the design of redundant PCR primers for use in cloning a cDNA. This approach was unsuccessful and a long probe (53 bases) was designed based on one of the longer peptides, taking into account the optimum codon usage in the human genome (Lathe rules), for use in screening a cDNA library. This approach was also unsuccessful during the course of these studies but another member of the group was successful with this method later on. Indirect evidence from another laboratory indicated that C-terminal residues of Vmw110 contain a multimerisation domain; it was possible that such a domain could include or overlap with the residues required for 135kD protein binding, so the multimeric nature of Vmwl 10 was examined more closely. The Vmw110 E52 and E58 sequences were cloned into a T7 expression system and following expression, the Vmw110 peptides (T7E52 and T7E58) were purified by ion exchange chromatography. Analysis of the purified peptides by gel filtration chromatography, glycerol gradient centrifugation and glutaraldehyde cross-linking showed that both formed multimers of higher order than dimers although their precise nature could not be resolved. These experiments clearly separated the Vmw110 residues required for 135kD binding (594- 633) from those containing an independent multimerisation domain. The significance of the Vmw110:135kD protein:protein interaction and the function of Vmw110 multimerisation during the life cycle of the virus are unknown,as yet, but undoubtably, this work has opened a new door for studying the mechanism of action of Vmw110 during HSV-1 infection

Quantifying spatial variability in shell midden formation in the Farasan Islands, Saudi Arabia

During the past decade, over 3000 shell middens or shell matrix deposits have been discovered on the Farasan Islands in the southern Red Sea, dating to the period c. 7,360 to 4,700 years ago. Many of the sites are distributed along a palaeoshoreline which is now 2–3 m above present sea level. Others form clusters with some sites on the shoreline and others located inland over distances of c. 30 m to 1 km. We refer to these inland sites as ‘post-shore’ sites. Following Meehan, who observed a similar spatial separation in shell deposition in her ethnographic study of Anbarra shellgathering in the Northern Territory of Australia, we hypothesise that the shoreline sites are specialised sites for the processing or immediate consumption of shell food, and the post-shore sites are habitation sites used for a variety of activities. We test this proposition through a systematic analysis of 55 radiocarbon dates and measurement of shell quantities from the excavation of 15 shell matrix sites in a variety of locations including shoreline and post-shore sites. Our results demonstrate large differences in rates of shell accumulation between these two types of sites and selective removal of shoreline sites by changes in sea level. We also discuss the wider implications for understanding the differential preservation and visibility of shell-matrix deposits in coastal settings in other parts of the world extending back into the later Pleistocene in association with periods of lower sea level. Our results highlight the importance of taphonomic factors of post-depositional degradation and destruction, rates of shell accumulation, the influence on site location of factors other than shell food supply, and the relative distance of deposits from their nearest palaeoshorelines as key variables in the interpretation of shell quantities. Failure to take these variables into account when investigating shells and shell-matrix deposits in late Pleistocene and early Holocene contexts is likely to compromise interpretations of the role and significance of shell food in human evolutionary and socio-cultural development

Multiple doublesex-Related Genes Specify Critical Cell Fates in a C. elegans Male Neural Circuit

In most animal species, males and females exhibit differences in behavior and morphology that relate to their respective roles in reproduction. DM (Doublesex/MAB-3) domain transcription factors are phylogenetically conserved regulators of sexual development. They are thought to establish sexual traits by sex-specifically modifying the activity of general developmental programs. However, there are few examples where the details of these interactions are known, particularly in the nervous system.In this study, we show that two C. elegans DM domain genes, dmd-3 and mab-23, regulate sensory and muscle cell development in a male neural circuit required for mating. Using genetic approaches, we show that in the circuit sensory neurons, dmd-3 and mab-23 establish the correct pattern of dopaminergic (DA) and cholinergic (ACh) fate. We find that the ETS-domain transcription factor gene ast-1, a non-sex-specific, phylogenetically conserved activator of dopamine biosynthesis gene transcription, is broadly expressed in the circuit sensory neuron population. However, dmd-3 and mab-23 repress its activity in most cells, promoting ACh fate instead. A subset of neurons, preferentially exposed to a TGF-beta ligand, escape this repression because signal transduction pathway activity in these cells blocks dmd-3/mab-23 function, allowing DA fate to be established. Through optogenetic and pharmacological approaches, we show that the sensory and muscle cell characteristics controlled by dmd-3 and mab-23 are crucial for circuit function.In the C. elegans male, DM domain genes dmd-3 and mab-23 regulate expression of cell sub-type characteristics that are critical for mating success. In particular, these factors limit the number of DA neurons in the male nervous system by sex-specifically regulating a phylogenetically conserved dopamine biosynthesis gene transcription factor. Homologous interactions between vertebrate counterparts could regulate sex differences in neuron sub-type populations in the brain

Blue Arabia : Palaeolithic and Underwater Survey in SW Saudi Arabia and the Role of Coasts in Pleistocene Dispersal

The role of coastal regions and coastlines in the dispersal of human populations from Africa and across the globe has been highlighted by the recent polarisation between coastal and interior models. The debate has been clouded by the use of the single term ‘coastal dispersal’ to embrace what is in fact a wide spectrum of possibilities, ranging from seafaring populations who spend most of their time at sea living off marine resources, to land-based populations in coastal regions with little or no reliance on marine foods. An additional complicating factor is the fact of Pleistocene and early Holocene sea-level change, which exposed an extensive coastal region that is now submerged, and may have afforded very different conditions from the modern coastal environment. We examine these factors in the Arabian context and use the term ‘Blue’ to draw attention to the fertile coastal rim of the Arabian Peninsula, and to the now submerged offshore landscape, which is especially extensive in some regions. We further emphasise that the attractions of the coastal rim are a product of two quite different factors, ecological diversity and abundant water on land, which have created persistently ‘Green’ conditions throughout the vagaries of Pleistocene climate change in some coastal regions, especially along parts of the western Arabian escarpment, and potentially productive marine environments around its coastline, which include some of the most fertile in the world. We examine the interplay of these factors in the Southwest region of Saudi Arabia and the southern Red Sea, and summarise some of the results of recent DISPERSE field investigations, including survey for Palaeolithic sites on the mainland, and underwater survey of the continental shelf in the vicinity of the Farasan Islands. We conclude that coastlines are neither uniformly attractive nor uniformly marginal to human dispersal, that they offer diverse opportunities that were spatially and temporally variable at scales from the local to the continental, and that investigating Blue Arabia in relation to its episodically Green interior is a key factor in the fuller understanding of long-term human population dynamics within Arabia and their global implications

Research priorities for Inherited Retinal Diseases in Australia: A James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership

We undertook Australia’s first James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership to identify research priorities for inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). Adhering to the James Lind Alliance process, our Priority Setting Partnership was guided by our multidisciplinary steering group, involving individuals who have an IRD, caregivers of a child who have an IRD, representatives from relevant community organisations, health professionals, and researchers from across Australia. This report provides a detailed summary of how we undertook our Priority Setting Partnership, followed by commentary on each of the top 10 priorities. Each commentary provides context into the current state of knowledge and highlights opportunities that will drive a meaningful impact for individuals who have an IRD, their caregivers and family, and health professionals across Australia. We conclude with the impact of our Priority Setting Partnership and our next steps

Investigating the Palaeolithic Landscapes and Archaeology of the Jizan and Asir Regions, Southwestern Saudi Arabia

The archaeology of the Arabian Peninsula is pivotal to understanding the timing and mode of dispersals of hominin populations from Africa, with growing evidence supporting a Southern Route across the Hanish Sill in the Southern Red Sea. Yet, despite recent key discoveries, our understanding of the hominin occupation of the peninsula remains patchy. This situation is particularly marked in coastal Southwestern Saudi Arabia, a region key in dispersal debates given its proximity to the proposed Southern Route. Identification of the routes and conditions of hominin dispersals from Africa has focussed on reconstructing broad-scale climatic and vegetation zones. Yet physical landscapes are also critical to palaeoenvironmental reconstruction at the local scale. They can moderate or amplify climatic influence, and modify the distribution of plant and animal resources. The DISPERSE project aims to develop systematic methods for reconstructing Palaeolithic landscapes at a variety of geographical scales, and their impact on patterns of human evolution and dispersal. This paper reports the preliminary results of archaeological and geomorphological survey carried out in February-March 2013 in the Jizan and Asir regions, Southwestern Saudi Arabia. Satellite imagery was used to identify areas of potential preservation and visibility of Palaeolithic sites, as well as key geomorphological features to inform landscape reconstruction. ESA, MSA and potentially later artefacts were recorded at a number of locations and geographical settings in the region. These sites are placed within the developing model of landscape evolution, and preliminary hypotheses of hominin landscape use and technological aspects are outlined. These hypotheses will be tested through future survey seasons, ultimately allowing assessment of the factors controlling human occupation and dispersal