Spatial patterns of continental shelf faunal community structure along the Western Antarctic Peninsula

Knowledge of continental shelf faunal biodiversity of Antarctica is patchy and as such, the ecology of this unique ecosystem is not fully understood. To this end, we deployed baited cameras at 20 locations along ~ 500 km of the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) at depths from 90 to 797 m. We identified 111 unique taxa, with mud bottom accounting for 90% of the dominant (≥ 50% cover) habitat sampled. Amphipoda comprised 41% of the total maximum number of individuals per camera deployment (MaxN) and occurred on 75% of deployments. Excluding this taxon, the highest MaxN occurred around King George/25 de Mayo Island and was driven primarily by the abundance of krill (Euphausiidae), which accounted for 36% of total average MaxN among deployments around this island. In comparison, krill comprised 22% of total average MaxN at Deception Island and only 10% along the peninsula. Taxa richness, diversity, and evenness all increased with depth and depth explained 18.2% of the variation in community structure among locations, which may be explained by decreasing ice scour with depth. We identified a number of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem taxa, including habitat-forming species of cold-water corals and sponge fields. Channichthyidae was the most common fish family, occurring on 80% of all deployments. The Antarctic jonasfish (Notolepis coatsorum) was the most frequently encountered fish taxa, occurring on 70% of all deployments and comprising 25% of total MaxN among all deployments. Nototheniidae was the most numerically abundant fish family, accounting for 36% of total MaxN and was present on 70% of the deployments. The WAP is among the fastest warming regions on Earth and mitigating the impacts of warming, along with more direct impacts such as those from fishing, is critical in providing opportunities for species to adapt to environmental change and to preserve this unique ecosystem.Fil: Friedlander, Alan M.. National Geographic Society. Pristine Seas; Estados Unidos. University of Hawaii; Estados UnidosFil: Goodell, Whitney. University of Hawaii; Estados Unidos. National Geographic Society. Pristine Seas; Estados UnidosFil: Salinas-De-León, Pelayo. Charles Darwin Foundation Santa Cruz; Ecuador. National Geographic Society. Pristine Seas; Estados UnidosFil: Ballesteros, Enric. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Centre Destudis Avancats de Blanes; EspañaFil: Berkenpas, Eric. National Geographic Society. Pristine Seas; Estados UnidosFil: Capurro, Andrea Paula. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Interno y Culto. Dirección Nacional del Antártico. Instituto Antártico Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Cárdenas, César. Instituto Antártico Chileno; ChileFil: Hüne, Mathias. Fundación Ictiológica; Chile. Centro de Investigación Para la Conservación de Los Ecosistemas Australes; ChileFil: Lagger, Cristian Fabian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; ArgentinaFil: Landaeta, Mauricio F.. Universidad de Valparaiso; ChileFil: Muñoz, Alex. Pristine Seas, National Geographic Society; Estados UnidosFil: Santos, Mercedes. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Interno y Culto. Dirección Nacional del Antártico. Instituto Antártico Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Turchik, Alan. National Geographic Society. Pristine Seas; Estados UnidosFil: Werner, Rodolfo. The Pew Charitable Trusts & Antarctic And Southern Ocea; Estados UnidosFil: Sala, Enric. National Geographic Society. Pristine Seas; Estados Unido

Antimetastatic Potential of PAI-1 Specific RNA Aptamers

The serine protease inhibitor plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is increased in several cancers, including breast, where it is associated with a poor outcome. Metastatic breast cancer has a dismal prognosis, as evidenced by treatment goals that are no longer curative but are largely palliative in nature. PAI-1 competes with integrins and the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor on the surface of breast cancer cells for binding to vitronectin. This results in the detachment of tumor cells from the extracellular matrix, which is critical to the metastatic process. For this reason, we sought to isolate RNA aptamers that disrupt the interaction between PAI-1 and vitronectin. Through utilization of combinatorial chemistry techniques, aptamers have been selected that bind to PAI-1 with high affinity and specificity. We identified two aptamers, WT-15 and SM-20, that disrupt the interactions between PAI-1 and heparin, as well as PAI-1 and vitronectin, without affecting the antiprotease activity of PAI-1. Furthermore, SM-20 prevented the detachment of breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) from vitronectin in the presence of PAI-1, resulting in an increase in cellular adhesion. Therefore, the PAI-1 aptamer SM-20 demonstrates therapeutic potential as an antimetastatic agent and could possibly be used as an adjuvant to traditional chemotherapy for breast cancer.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78126/1/oli.2008.0177.pd

Modeling of Integrated Environmental Control Systems for Coal-Fired Power Plants Quarterly Report: Final Report

The Integrated Environmental Control Model (IECM) was designed to permit the systematic evaluation of environmental control options for pulverized coal-fired (PC) power plants. Of special interest was the ability to compare the performance and cost of advanced pollution control systems to conventional'' technologies for the control of particulate, SO{sub 2} and NO{sub x}. Of importance also was the ability to consider pre-combustion, combustion and post-combustion control methods employed alone or in combination to meet tough air pollution emission standards. Finally, the ability to conduct probabilistic analyses is a unique capability of the IECM. Key results are characterized as distribution functions rather than as single deterministic values. (VC

Modeling of Integrated Environmental Control Systems for Coal-Fired Power Plants. Final Report

The Integrated Environmental Control Model (IECM) was designed to permit the systematic evaluation of environmental control options for pulverized coal-fired (PC) power plants. Of special interest was the ability to compare the performance and cost of advanced pollution control systems to ``conventional`` technologies for the control of particulate, SO{sub 2} and NO{sub x}. Of importance also was the ability to consider pre-combustion, combustion and post-combustion control methods employed alone or in combination to meet tough air pollution emission standards. Finally, the ability to conduct probabilistic analyses is a unique capability of the IECM. Key results are characterized as distribution functions rather than as single deterministic values. (VC

Multi-Polluntant Emission Control of Electric Power Plants

In contrast to past regulations for power plant air pollutants, there is a growing interest in a multi-pollutant perspective that would simultaneously address criteria pollutants, air toxics, and greenhouse gases

Modeling of Integrated Environmental Control Systems for Coal-Fired Power Plants

An overview of the current IECM structure appears in Figure 1-1. Briefly, the IECM was designed to permit the systematic evaluation of environmental control options for pulverized coal-fired (PC) power plants. Of special interest was the ability to compare the performance and cost of advanced pollution control systems to “conventional” technologies for the control of particulate, SO2 and NOx. Of importance also was the ability to consider pre-combustion, combustion and post-combustion control methods employed alone or in combination to meet tough air pollution emission standards. Finally, the ability to conduct probabilistic analyses is a unique capability of the IECM. Key results are characterized as distribution functions rather than as single deterministic values. In this report we document the analytical basis for several model enhancements and also document updates to various process technology models described in Reference (1). Chapter 2 begins with a summary of refinements to the base power plant model representing conventional technology. Chapters 3 through 7 describe several improvements for advanced post-combustion control methods, including new models of byproduct recovery systems. Finally, Chapters 8 to 10 present several new models for pre-combustion control methods employing advanced coal beneficiation techniques. Illustrative examples of model applications are contained within the various chapters. An additional Case study illustrating the use of the IECM for probabilistic analyses and process evaluations appears in the Appendi