Morchella australiana sp. nov., an apparent Australian endemic from New South Wales and Victoria.

An abundant fruiting of a black morel was encountered in temperate northwestern New South Wales (NSW), Australia, during a mycological survey in Sep 2010. The site was west of the Great Dividing Range in a young, dry sclerophyll forest dominated by Eucalyptus and Callitris north of Coonabarabran in an area known as the Pilliga Scrub. Although the Pilliga Scrub is characterized by frequent and often large, intense wildfires, the site showed no sign of recent fire, which suggests this species is not a postfire morel.

A phenomenology of meditation-induced light experiences: traditional buddhist and neurobiological perspectives.

The scientific study of Buddhist meditation has proceeded without much attention to Buddhist literature that details the range of psychological and physiological changes thought to occur during meditation. This paper presents reports of various meditation-induced light experiences derived from American Buddhist practitioners. The reports of light experiences are classified into two main types: discrete lightforms and patterned or diffuse lights.

Awakening is not a metaphor: the effects of Buddhist meditation practices on basic wakefulness.

Buddhist meditation practices have become a topic of widespread interest in both science and medicine. Traditional Buddhist formulations describe meditation as a state of relaxed alertness that must guard against both excessive hyperarousal (restlessness) and excessive hypoarousal (drowsiness, sleep). Modern applications of meditation have emphasized the hypoarousing and relaxing effects without as much emphasis on the arousing or alertness-promoting effects.

Pollen Performance in Clarkia Taxa with Contrasting Mating Systems: Implications for Male Gametophytic Evolution in Selfers and Outcrossers.

We tested three predictions regarding the joint evolution of pollen performance and mating system. First, due to the potential for intense intrasexual competition in outcrossing populations, we predicted that outcrossers would produce faster-growing pollen than their selfing relatives. Second, if elevated competition promotes stronger selection on traits that improve pollen performance, then, among-plant variation in pollen performance would be lower in outcrossers than in selfers.

Breeding system of Macromeria viridiflora (Boraginaceae) and geographic variation in pollinator assemblages.

This study explores the association between variation in pollinator type and flower size in Macromeria viridiflora (Boraginaceae) by studying the breeding system of the plant and the pollinator effectiveness of floral visitors. Studies were conducted at two sites where plants differ in flower size and floral visitors. Breeding system studies showed that while plants are self-compatible and occasionally produce seed autogamously, pollinators are important for reproductive success in the plants.

Building the capacity of grassroots conservation organizations to conduct participatory evaluation.

Stakeholder participation has become a key factor in the success of grassroots conservation and natural resource management programs. Yet the majority of program evaluations are conducted by external consultants for the purposes of accountability, rather than program improvement. Too often, systematic evaluations of conservation programs are not conducted at all.

Coming-out issues for adult lesbians: a group intervention.

This study investigated the effects of a 10-week, educational-experiential group intervention--the Coming Out Issues Group--designed to address issues pertinent to adult lesbians, including lesbian identity development, homophobia and heterosexism, religious concerns, career concerns, family issues, sexism and racism, and assertiveness skills development. The impact of the intervention was assessed using various instruments in four areas: (1) ego development, (2) lesbian identity development, (3) empowerment, and (4) disclosure. The results indicated modest gains in ego development and lesbian identity development and major gains in empowerment and disclosure.

Homophobia? No, homoprejudice.

The ubiquitous expression of anti-homosexual responses and the lack of consensus regarding the characterization of such responses served as the impetus for this study. The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature of anti-homosexual responses as reported by male and female undergraduates. Participants in the study were asked to respond to both a lesbian and a gay target questionnaire.

Social work with gay and lesbian adolescents.

Gay and lesbian adolescents are a socially oppressed group discriminated against by a heterosexist and homophobic society. Because of the negative stigma society places on lesbian and gay adolescents, they face numerous difficulties that require social support and intervention. Issues pertinent to social work with lesbian and gay adolescents are examined in the context of three main social institutions: the family, the social culture, and the educational setting.

Growth and phenology of seedlings of four contrasting slash pine families in ten nitrogen regimes.

Seedlings of two fast- and two slow-growing families of slash pine, Pinus elliottii Englm. var. elliottii, were grown in a greenhouse for one growing season in one of 10 nitrogen (N) regimes.