Rising Temperatures, Molting Phenology, and Epizootic Shell Disease in the American Lobster

Phenological mismatchmaladaptive changes in phenology resulting from altered timing of environmental cuesis an increasing concern in many ecological systems, yet its effects on disease are poorly characterized. American lobster (Homarus americanus) is declining at its southern geographic limit. Rising seawater temperatures are associated with seasonal outbreaks of epizootic shell disease (ESD), which peaks in prevalence in the fall. We used a 34-year mark-recapture data set to investigate relationships between temperature, molting phenology, and ESD in Long Island Sound, where temperatures are increasing at 0.4 degrees C per decade. Our analyses support the hypothesis that phenological mismatch is linked to the epidemiology of ESD. Warming spring temperatures are correlated with earlier spring molting. Lobsters lose diseased cuticle by molting, and early molting increases the intermolt period in the summer, when disease prevalence is increasing to a fall peak. In juvenile and adult male lobsters, September ESD prevalence was correlated with early molting, while October ESD prevalence was correlated with summer seawater temperature. This suggests that temperature-induced molting phenology affects the timing of the onset of ESD, but later in the summer this signal is swamped by the stronger signal of summer temperatures, which we hypothesize are associated with an increased rate of new infections. October ESD prevalence was approximate to 80% in years with hot summers and approximate to 30% in years with cooler summers. Yearly survival of diseased lobsters i

Housing theory, housing research and housing policy

Jim Kemeny in 1992 criticised existing housing research for neglecting social theory and being overly positivist and policy focused. The result has been a strengthening of the conceptual basis of housing research in general, but also a growing schism between researchers who focus on policy relevancy and those that pursue more theoretical work. This paper challenges this schism and argues for theoretically based and policy relevant research. First the paper argues that the policy-making process is complex and can vary between different countries, situations and over time. Therefore, it is argued that many styles of research can influence policy in the right circumstances. Second, the paper challenges the idea that there can be theoretically-free housing research arguing that all research has a theoretical foundation even though in many studies it is not explicit. Finally, the paper engages with the debate about where theory for housing research should come from and what it would look like

Scanning Electron Microscopy of Vertebrate Cerebellar Cortex

In this study, the Golgi method for light microscopy, transmission and conventional scanning electron microscopy, the ethanol-cryofracturing technique, the freeze-fracture method for SEM, and the freeze-etching method have been used in conjunction to analyze the three-dimensional cytoarchitectonic arrangement and intracortical circuits of vertebrate cerebellar cortex. Approximately more than 100 specimens of mice, rat, teleost fishes and human cerebelli were processed by the above mentioned techniques. A chronological review of other methods for studying hidden surfaces of cerebellar nerve cell has been also described. The three-dimensional morphology, outer and inner surfaces of granule, Golgi, Purkinje and stellate cells were reviewed by means of a correlative and comparative study. The cerebellar circuits formed by mossy and climbing fibers with granule cell dendrites and Purkinje cell-granule cell synapses have been traced by ethanol-cryofracturing technique, freeze-fracture method for SEM and freeze-etching technique. These findings have been correlated with previous light and electron microscope findings published in the last century. Some advantages and limitations of each method are pointed out. The review emphasizes the paramount importance of correlating light microscope Golgi method with ethanol-cryofracturing and slicing techniques for SEM. The correlation between freeze-fracture method for SEM and freeze-etching technique provides a new approach for studying three-dimensional morphology of nerve cells at cellular and macromolecular levels. This modern methodology of three-dimensional analysis offers new potential areas for future experimental investigation in embryology and pathology of the central nervous system