SUMMARY We have developed a new staining procedure that combines the traditional Gram staining for bacteria and the Weber's chromotrope staining method, the standard technique for the detection of microsporidia spores in clinical Specimens. This “Gram‐chromotrope” staining technique enhances the staining characteristics of microsporidia spores and facilitates the easy detection and differentiation of spores from other microorganisms that are found in clinical specimens, especially stool samples. This new technique is fast, reliable, and simple to perform, and can be easily adapted for use in clinical laboratories.

Nonmarket valuation research has produced economic value estimates for a variety of threatened, endangered, and rare species around the world. Although over 40 value estimates exist, it is often difficult to compare values from different studies due to variations in study design, implementation, and modeling specifications. We conducted a stated-preference choice experiment to estimate the value of recovering or downlisting 8 threatened and endangered marine species in the United States: loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica), upper Willamette River Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Puget Sound Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi), and smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata). In May 2009, we surveyed a random sample of U.S. households. We collected data from 8476 households and estimated willingness to pay for recovering and downlisting the 8 species from these data. Respondents were willing to pay for recovering and downlisting threatened and endangered marine taxa. Willingness-to-pay values ranged from $40/household for recovering Puget Sound Chinook salmon to $73/household for recovering the North Pacific right whale. Statistical comparisons among willingness-to-pay values suggest that some taxa are more economically valuable than others, which suggests that the U.S. public's willingness to pay for recovery may vary by species.

A significant factor contributing to deforestation is the expanding human populations' increasing demands on forests and forest products. In many areas, rural households rely solely on fuelwood collected from the forest for their domestic energy supply. Fuel-saving stoves, or improved cook-stoves, have been introduced to reduce fuelwood consumption and thus alleviate deforestation, but there is frequently little or no formal monitoring and evaluation of programmes; their success as both a development and a resource-conservation tool is therefore undetermined. A programme was implemented in communities surrounding two national parks in western Uganda to compare domestic fuelwood consumption of an improved cook-stove and the traditional cooking fire, and assess the attitudes of stove users and non-users towards the improved stove and resource conservation. A kitchen performance test conducted in 100 households in Kiziba, Kahangi and Matayisa/Bundinyama parishes showed that fuelwood consumption did not differ significantly between improved and traditional stoves under actual field conditions. Household surveys showed that respondents in all three parishes had positive perceptions of the improved cook-stove. Perceived advantages of the improved stove included the ability to cook more than one item at once, fuelwood savings, quick cooking, and smoke/accident reduction. Many problems cited with the stove were technical, such as chimney malfunctions and pot-holes being too large or small to accommodate cooking pots. Cost of the stove was the primary reason for non-adoption. Improved-stove users were more concerned with forest conservation than were non-users. The need for monitoring and evaluation of improved-stove programmes is strongly indicated if they are to continue to be implemented as tools for resource conservation.

a b s t r a c tThe success of biological conservation initiatives is not solely reliant on the collection of ecological information, but equally on public adherence to protection programs. Awareness and perception of target species condition the intensity and orientation of public involvement in conservation initiatives. Their evaluation is critical in the case of elusive animals, for which incertitude surrounding public attitude is maximized. This study featured the first assessment of public awareness and perceptual factors of a megabat (Pteropodidae). We investigated inhabitants' feelings, knowledge, and frequency of sightings related to the solitary Ryukyu flying fox (Pteropus dasymallus) on Ishigaki island, Japan. The willingness to protect this species and mitigate its impact on agriculture was evaluated through contingent valuation. This fruit bat was not credited with aesthetic or scientific values, yet atypically did not trigger negativistic attitude. While respondents were reasonably aware of its existence, they were largely ignorant of its ecological importance. An overall lack of interest for this species was revealed by a low willingness-to-pay for its protection. The rejection of lethal control as means to protect orchards was, however, unequivocal. The success of P. dasymallus preservation may depend on the prior implementation of education programs focusing on aesthetic, ecological and utilitarian values.

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