Bears evoke many responses in humans, both to their social/cultural presence and to their physical/ecological reality. This study examines attitudes towards bears in two cities in British Columbia, Canada. Focusing largely upon black bears ( Ursus americanus ), open-ended survey responses are analyzed to identify the key values that participants identified for the bears with whom they share space (both cities have large populations of urban bears). The largely positive nature of the values articulated suggests that there is hope for the long-term survival of these charismatic creatures even in largely urbanized settings.

The management of black bears (Ursus americanus) in urban and/or exurban settings is of growing concern as these mammals, along with coyotes, cougars and others, begin to re-colonize areas from which they had been extirpated. Urban and exurban landscapes can offer much needed habitat to these space-demanding creatures, thereby buffering habitat losses in other areas and protecting populations of these species, but only if conflicts between these animals and humans can be managed and minimized. In the case of urban black bears, they can become quickly labled as a “problem” bear if they become too reliant on human garbage or other food sources such as fruit trees. A “problem” bear usually becomes a dead bear. In collaboration with the Northern Bear Awareness Society in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada, UNBC researchers undertook two surveys of Prince George over a 3 year period and a companion survey in the city of Coquitlam, BC to examine attitudes towards urban bears. The research found that residents of both cities, in spite of regular and close encounters with black bears, strongly supported the presence and preservation of bears within an urban setting, largely due to conservation concerns. Both communities were supportive of non-lethal control of “problem bears” and supported the use of warnings and fines to discourage human behaviors that created human-bear conflicts over lethal controls. These findings offer support for municipal governments to reconsider approaches to urban bear management.

Management of black bears (Ursus americanus) in urban settings is of growing concern because they often recolonize areas from which they had been extirpated. Urban landscapes offer much needed bear habitat, buffer habitat losses in other areas, and offer protection for bear populations, but only if conflicts between bears and humans are managed. In collaboration with the Northern Bear Awareness Society in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada, a survey of a sample of Prince George residents was conducted to determine their attitudes toward black bears and bear management, including euthanasia (N = 71). These residents tended to feel positively toward black bears, but were split on the issue of euthanasia, with half being firmly opposed and half recognizing the need under certain conditions. There was a significant preference for non-lethal management tools, suggesting an opportunity for governments to explore options for managing human activities that created bear attractants.

Deadwood (dead standing tree (snag), woody debris (WD; downed deadwood), buried wood and stump abundance) was estimated in northern hardwood forests of Nova Scotia dominated by Acer saccharum, Betula alleghaniensis, Fagus grandifolia, Betula papyrifera and Acer rubum. Three strata were examined (1) old forests, (2) forests clearcut 1-2 years before measurement and (3) forests clearcut 8 years before measurement. Deadwood stocks in old and clearcut Nova Scotia hardwood forests were low compared with deadwood stocks reported for similar southern and inland forests. Deadwood was 62-88 per cent WD, amounting to 11-37 Mg ha(-1). No snags > 30-cm diameter at breast height were encountered, with snags containing just 23 per cent of total deadwood biomass in old forests. Harvesting left no snags standing, but immediately generated a flush of WD. Small pieces (< 20-cm diameter) dominated WD abundance at all sites, with a large proportion < 10-cm diameter WD 1-2 years after harvest. Although sites harvested 1-2 years before measurement contained twice as much WD as old forests, sites harvested 8 years before measurement contained equivalent amounts of WD to old forests, indicative of rapid hardwood decay rates. Stumps and buried wood were minor biomass pools.

Summary Fresh strawberries were evaluated through a commercial supply chain, from harvest to immediately prior to retail display. These samples were compared with controls that were refrigerated immediately after harvest and kept at a constant temperature for the same period of time. Temperature data were collected throughout all stages of the supply chain. Moisture and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) contents were determined at selected points of the supply chain using recognised methodology. Significant differences were found in the vitamin C concentrations of fresh strawberries at various stages of the supply chain but not in their moisture content. The ascorbic acid concentration decreased with time spent in the supply chain in all trials but the absolute vitamin C content differed from trial to trial. This result indicates that both pre‐ and post‐harvest factors influence the vitamin C content of fresh strawberries available to consumers on the retail market.

Habitual physical activity is an important determinant of health, yet many people are considered to be inactive. Identification of the obstacles to greater participation is necessary for the development of strategies to overcome those obstacles. The weather has been identified as a perceived barrier to participation in physical activity, but exactly which adverse weather conditions are most important, and the extent to which they contribute to decreases in physical activity have rarely been quantified in populations. In the past decade, a small number of studies have used publicly available databases to examine the quantitative effects of weather (e.g., temperature, precipitation, wind) on physical activity in children, adolescents and adults. This review examines our historical, qualitative versus emerging, quantitative understanding of how specific weather conditions affect a population's activity.

The effect of harvesting and slash piling on soil respiration, temperature and moisture was examined in a balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and a black spruce (Picea marinara) forest located in western Newfoundland, Canada, 2 mo to 2.5 yr following harvesting. Within 4 mo of harvesting, soil temperature, moisture, and soil respiration rates were affected by harvesting and slash piling. Clearcut areas without slash (CC-S) had significantly lower soil respiration rates than uncut forests (F). However, clearcut areas with slash cover (CC+S) had significantly higher soil respiration rates than CC-S. When harvested areas with and without slash were combined, harvesting decreased soil respiration in the black spruce forest but had no effect on soil respiration in the balsam fir forest. Harvesting increased soil temperatures at 10 cm, however CC+S temperatures were cooler than CC-S temperatures. Harvested areas tended to dry faster than F, although soil moisture levels at >3.5 cm were not significantly depleted. However, there was evidence of soil drying at <3.5 cm. Soil temperature (at 10 cm) at the time of measurement was most strongly correlated to rates of soil respiration. Temporal variability and treatment effects (harvesting and slash piling) played a minor role in explaining soil respiration rates when variations in soil respiration were adjusted for 10-cm soil temperature,. Soil moisture levels (3.5-9.5 cm depth), which did not vary widely, also played a minor role in explaining soil respiration rates.Key words: Clearcut, Abies balsamea, Picea marinara, carbon dioxide, greenhouse gas

OBJECTIVE:To determine the feasibility of the use of Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy within the midinfrared range to differentiate synovial fluid samples of joints with osteochondrosis from those of control samples.ANIMALS:33 horses with osteochondrosis of the tarsocrural joint and 31 horses free of tarsocrural joint disease.PROCEDURES:FTIR spectroscopy of synovial fluid was used. Sixty-four synovial fluid samples from the tarsocrural joint were collected. Of these, 33 samples were from horses with radiographic evidence of osteochondrosis of the tarsocrural joint and 31 from control joints. Disease-associated features within infrared spectra of synovial fluid were statistically selected for spectral classification, and the variables identified were used in a classification model. Linear discriminant analysis and leave-one-out cross-validation were used to develop a classifier to identify joints with osteochondrosis.RESULTS:12 significant subregions were identified that met the selection criteria. The stepwise discriminant procedure resulted in the final selection of 6 optimal regions that most contributed to the discriminatory power of the classification algorithm. Infrared spectra derived from synovial fluid of joints with osteochondrosis were differentiated from the control samples with accuracy of 77% (81% specificity and 73% sensitivity).CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:The disease-associated characteristics of infrared spectra of synovial fluid from joints with osteochondrosis may be exploited via appropriate feature selection and classification algorithms to differentiate joints with osteochondrosis from those of control joints. Further study with larger sample size including age-, breed-, and sex-matched control horses would further validate the clinical value of infrared spectroscopy for the diagnosis of osteochondrosis in horses.

The beta-binomial distribution is used to provide estimates of the probability of detecting a rare species, the smallest proportion cover detectable with a stated confidence for a survey, and is a method for estimating the sample size required to detect a species with a stated presence at a stated level of confidence for independent clusters of binary data. The equations, while general, were derived in the context of marine benthic video transects and are useful for evaluating a wide range of existing surveys or designing new surveys. Application of the equations is demonstrated for a data set collected from three marine surveys on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Bone cell cultures were evaluated to determine if osteogenic cell populations at different skeletal sites in the horse are heterogeneous. Osteogenic cells were isolated from cortical and cancellous bone in vitro by an explant culture method. Subcultured cells were induced to differentiate into bone-forming osteoblasts. The osteoblast phenotype was confirmed by immunohistochemical testing for osteocalcin and substantiated by positive staining of cells for alkaline phosphatase and the matrix materials collagen and glycosaminoglycans. Bone nodules were stained by the von Kossa method and counted. The numbers of nodules produced from osteogenic cells harvested from different skeletal sites were compared with the use of a mixed linear model. On average, cortical bone sites yielded significantly greater numbers of nodules than did cancellous bone sites. Between cortical bone sites, there was no significant difference in nodule numbers. Among cancellous sites, the radial cancellous bone yielded significantly more nodules than did the tibial cancellous bone. Among appendicular skeletal sites, tibial metaphyseal bone yielded significantly fewer nodules than did all other long bone sites. This study detected evidence of heterogeneity of equine osteogenic cell populations at various skeletal sites. Further characterization of the dissimilarities is warranted to determine the potential role heterogeneity plays in differential rates of fracture healing between skeletal sites.

Education research over the last few decades has focused on the debate over which classroom pedagogies best encourage learning: teacher-centred or student-centred. Although research appears to support the philosophy that student-centred teaching provides for better learning, the supporting research is frequently limited to observational studies or limited in experimental design. Despite this, the trend has been to encourage teachers to adopt a more student-centred approach both in the teaching of the course material and as a model for future teachers. A pilot study was conducted in an introductory university statistics course using a Latin Square Design to experimentally collect both quantitative and qualitative data pertaining to student performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of teaching style on learning, assess these approaches in quantitative courses, and establish protocols for such studies using a statistically controlled design.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate use of infrared spectroscopy for diagnosis of traumatic arthritis in horses.ANIMALS:48 horses with traumatic arthritis and 5 clinically and radiographically normal horses.PROCEDURES:Synovial fluid samples were collected from 77 joints in 48 horses with traumatic arthritis. Paired samples (affected and control joints) from 29 horses and independent samples from an affected (n = 12) or control (7) joint from 19 horses were collected for model calibration. A second set of 20 normal validation samples was collected from 5 clinically and radiographically normal horses. Fourier transform infrared spectra of synovial fluids were acquired and manipulated, and data from affected joints were compared with controls to identify spectroscopic features that differed significantly between groups. A classification model that used linear discriminant analysis was developed. Performance of the model was determined by use of the 2 validation datasets.RESULTS:A classification model based on 3 infrared regions classified spectra from the calibration dataset with overall accuracy of 97% (sensitivity, 93%; specificity, 100%). The model, with cost-adjusted prior probabilities of 0.60:0.40, yielded overall accuracy of 89% (sensitivity, 83%; specificity, 100%) for the first validation sample dataset and 100% correct classification of the second set of independent normal control joints.CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:The infrared spectroscopic patterns of fluid from joints with traumatic arthritis differed significantly from the corresponding patterns for controls. These alterations in absorption patterns may be used via an appropriate classification algorithm to differentiate the spectra of affected joints from those of controls.

Background The weather may be a barrier to physical activity but objective assessment of this hypothesis is lacking. Therefore we evaluated the effect of temperature, rain or snow, and wind speed on the daily physical activity of adults. Methods This report contains data from 25 males (BMI (mean ± SD): 28.7 ± 3.83 kg/m2) and 177 females (BMI: 29.2 ± 5.92 kg/m2) enrolled in an intervention to increase physical activity. Steps/day of the participants was measured by pedometer. Weather data were obtained from Environment Canada. A total of 8,125 observations were included in a mixed linear model analysis. Results Significant weather related variables (at the 5% level) impacting steps/day included: seasonal effects related to the interaction between weekday and month; mean temperature, total rainfall, interactions between gender, BMI and total snow, interactions between maximum wind speed and BMI, and the amount of snow on the ground. The estimated magnitudes for the various effects were modest, ranging from ~1% to ~20%. Thus for an average individual taking ~10,000 steps/day, weather-dependent changes in physical activity could reach 2,000 steps/day. Conclusion We conclude that weather had modest effects on physical activity of participants in an intervention to increase their activity. It should be stressed that these effects may be different for less or more motivated people. With this in mind, we suggest that the effect of weather on physical activity in the general population needs to be objectively assessed to better understand the barrier it poses, especially as it relates to outdoor recreation or work activities.

The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) conducted a pilot study around the Harriet A oil production platform on the Northwest Shelf of Australia. We evaluated hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, fluorescent aromatic compounds (FACs) in bile and immunodetection of CYP1A-like proteins in two Australian tropical fish species, Gold-Spotted Trevally (Carangoides fulvoguttatus) and Bar-Cheeked Coral Trout (Plectropomus maculatus) to assess exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons associated with produced formation water (PFW). Additionally, the incidence of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria isolated from the liver and bile of all fish captured was examined. Low EROD activity was found in both species, with EROD activity in C. fulvoguttatus showing significant site differences. FACs and CYP1A protein levels in C. fulvoguttatus showed a clear trend in hydrocarbon exposure consistent with hydrocarbon chemistry data: Harriet A>Harriet C>reference site. P. maculatus showed elevated levels of FACs at Harriet A as compared to the reference site and demonstrated detectable levels of CYP1A-like proteins at these two sites. Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria were found in the liver and bile of both species, yet there was no correlation by sites. Our results demonstrate that C. fulvoguttatus and P. maculatus have potential as indicator species for assessing the effects from exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons. Both FACs and CYP1A are providing warning signs that there is potential for biological effects on fish populations exposed to PFW around the Harriet A production platform.

Recognition of the complex spatial and temporal variability of abundance and diversity found in many populations has led to a greater focus on the roles of heterogeneity, stochasticity, and disturbance in the structure and persistence of communities. This focus is directly relevant to coral reef communities that are characterized by very high species diversity in a spatially heterogeneous environment, display stochastic variability in community structure at small spatial and temporal scales, and are subject to major disturbances. We monitored coral and fish assemblages over 14 years on fixed sites spread over 80 km of the southern Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia, and found evidence of large-scale resilience and predictable recovery of these assemblages. Sometime between November 1987 and October 1989, live coral cover on the shallow northeast flanks of some reefs in the southern GBR decreased from >80% to <10%, probably as a result of storm damage. We compared the fish and benthic communities present in these areas prior to the disturbance (1983-1984) with those present in 1992 and the subsequent changes through to 1998. Hard coral cover increased slowly from 1992 to 1994, then accelerated to be indistinguishable from pre-impact levels by 1998. The response of the coral assemblages was largely due to the predominance of tabulate Acropora species and their characteristics of rapid growth and competitive dominance. Patterns of species richness of the fish families Acanthuridae, Chaetodontidae, Scaridae, and Pomacentridae mirrored that of hard coral, except the Pomacentridae had not recovered to pre-impact levels by 1998. Of the 26 fish species analyzed for changes in abundance, 88% decreased after the disturbance, then subsequently increased, with all but two recovering to pre-impact levels by 1998. Although processes such as settlement and immigration are ultimately responsible for replenishment of local populations, our data suggested that habitat plays a strong role in modifying fish assemblages. Thus, both coral and fish assemblages demonstrated resilience to large-scale natural disturbance and predictability in the structure of the assemblages, with most taxa approaching the asymptote of abundance and species richness that existed prior to the disturbance.

The value of ammonium sulphate (+SO4) fertilizer as a method of controlling potato common scab varies from field to field and from year to year. We examined the influence of two fertilizer regimes on the biodiversity and antibiosis activity (in vitro) of culturable rhizobacterial populations recovered from fields with a similar history of potato common scab. Root zone soils treated with +SO4 fertilizers were colonized by significantly (P=0.05) more species-diverse communities of bacteria than those managed with ammonium nitrate fertilizers (+NO3). In bioassays conducted on artificial media adjusted to pH 4.9 (acid) or pH 6.8 (base), in vitro antibiosis in bacterial strains against Streptomyces scabies was found to be dependent on fertilizer regime (P=0.023), with more isolates with antibiosis ability being recovered from +SO4 compared to +NO3 treated soils. Overall, bacterial species from the genera Bacillus (18–35%) and Pseudomonas (15–18%) were major components of those rhizoflora communities antagonistic to S. scabies. Under our field conditions, soil acidification with +SO4 treatments stimulated the development of rhizobacterial communities that generated secondary metabolites with (in vitro) antibiosis ability, against S. scabies. This occurred both in the liquid and vapour phase (volatile gases); the latter most notably by Bacillus cereus, Bacillus pumilus and Pseudomonas chlororaphis. We postulate that in hot, dry seasons, antibiosis against S. scabies mediated by +SO4 treatments, and the competitive bacterial communities they engender, would be less effective in controlling potato common scab, as the active moieties would be rapidly volatilized into the atmosphere. In contrast, biocontrol would be more effective in wetter seasons, the active moieties being retained, in and around the potato root zone for greater biologically significant periods of time.

The antioxidant properties of blueberries have been examined only in ripe fruit, although fruit of different maturities are used in processed food products. In this study, highbush blueberry cultivars Bergitta, Bluegold, and Nelson highbush blueberry fruit at different stages of ripeness were examined to characterize differences in oxygen radical absorbing capacity (ORAC) and the phenolic components responsible for ORAC. Underripe fruit at different stages of maturity were also stored at 20 °C for up to 8 days to assess changes in ORAC and phenolic content. Anthocyanin content was substantially higher in fruit of more advanced stages of ripeness. In contrast, the phenolic content and ORAC were lower in the riper fruit. Anthocyanins continued to form during storage, although rate of pigment formation declined after about 4 days. Less anthocyanin pigment was formed in the less ripe fruit. After 8 days of storage, the anthocyanin content of fruit harvested 5% to 50% or 50% to 95% blue exceeded that of ripe fruit. Up to 60% of the total phenolic content could be accounted for by anthocyanins. ORAC was positively correlated with total phenolic content ( R 2 = 0.78), but not with anthocyanin content.

Highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) are highly perishable and marketed soon after harvest. To extend the marketing season, CA storage is used to slow deterioration and maintain quality. Ozone (O-3) is a strong antimicrobial agent and may be an alternative antifungal agent for the fruit industry. Ozone may also induce antioxidants in treated fruits or vegetables. The combination of CA storage and ozone may create new opportunities for the blueberry industry. 'Coville' blueberries were treated with ozone at concentrations of 0, 200, or 700 ppb for 1, 2, or 4 days. Samples were evaluated immediately, or after storage at 10 degreesC for 7 days in air, or at 0 degreesC for 4 weeks in CA (10 kPa CO2/15 kPa O-2). The percent marketable fruit was 4 to 7% greater with treatments of ozone for 2 or 4 days in combination with CA than in controls. Respiration was stimulated immediately after treatment with 200 ppb O-3 for 1 or 2 days but no differences were found in RQ and ethylene production. Volatile profiles were affected by ozone. Antioxidant capacity, phytochemicals such as anthocyanins and phenolic compounds were not induced by treatments with ozone.

To determine if postharvest treatments of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) retard the senescence of highbush blueberries ( Vaccinium corymbosum L.) removed from storage, `Burlington' (early) and `Coville' (late) fruit were harvested from four experimental sites and treated for 24 hours at 20 °C with 0 (control), 25 (low), 100 (medium), or 400 (high) nL·L -1 of 1-MCP. All fruit were then stored in a controlled atmosphere of 10-15 kPa O 2 and 10 kPa CO 2 at -1 to 1 °C for 4, 8, and 12 weeks, followed by a 20 °C shelf-life of up to 20 days. During the shelf-life period immediately after harvest and those following each storage removal, percent marketable fruit (PMF) were calculated daily as: [fruit in good condition]/[total berry number] × 100. Changes in PMF were not affected by 1-MCP treatment; hence, we conclude that 1-MCP at rates up to 400 nL·L -1 does not alter the shelf-life quality of the highbush blueberry cultivars tested.