Effect of Climatic Warming on the Pacific Walrus, and Potential Modification of Its Helminth Fauna [Critical Comment]

The decreasing extent of sea-ice in the arctic basin as a consequence of climatic warming is modifying the behavior and diets of pagophilic pinnipeds, including the Pacific walrus, Odobenus rosmarus divergens Illiger, the species emphasized here. Mammals such as the walrus and bearded seal, Erignathus barbatus (Erxleben), cannot remain associated with the sea-ice, and continue to feed on their usual diet of benthic invertebrates inhabiting coastal waters to a depth of approximately 100 m, when the northwestward retreating ice reaches deep waters beyond the margins of the continental shelf. With reduction of their customary substrate (ice), the walrus has become more pelagic and preys more often on ringed seals, Phoca hispida Schreber. Dietary changes, with modifications of helminth faunas, may be induced by various factors. Increased consumption of mammals or their remains by walruses may lead to a higher prevalence of trichinellosis in them and to more frequent occurrence in indigenous peoples inhabiting the arctic coasts. To assess predicted effects on the composition of helminth fauna of the walrus, we recommend systematic surveys of their helminths as part of research on effects of climatic warming

Sport and race relations in American society

This paper examines contemporary patterns of American race relations as they are mirrored in the social institution of sport. Specifically, the National Football League is used as a case example to illustrate how subtle, systemic, and institutional barriers continue to block equal employment opportunities for Blacks, even in sectors of society which are putatively free of racial discrimination. This paper is comprised of three parts. Part one reviews the accumulated evidence on racial discrimination in sports and reveals that although Black players' performances have in the last two decades become increasingly pre-eminent in baseball, basketball and football, they have made few inroads into professional sports management either on or off the playing fields. Part two uses multiple regression and path analysis to compute estimates of (1) the relative influence of race versus other relevant characteristics-education, leadership ability, professional accomplishments-on the player to coach transition; and (2) the proportion of Black players which, all else being equal (at least in terms of the present model of managerial recruitment), might have been selected as either head or assistant coaches in the National Football League, if race were not a factor in the selection process. Part three discusses the implications of this study for public policy regarding equal employment opportunities and for research on inequality and race relations in American society

Differentiation and gene flow among island and mainland populations of the true armyworm, Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haworth) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Copyright © 2003, NRC Canada. Reproduced by permission.The genetic structure of populations of the true armyworm, Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haworth) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in the Azores archipelago was studied using polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Four enzyme systems (aldehyde oxidase, esterase, phosphoglucomutase, and phosphoglucose isomerase) were examined in six populations from islands in the Azores (Santa Maria, São Miguel, Terceira, Pico, Faial, Flores) and compared with those from populations from mainland Portugal and Canada. The North American and European populations are not clearly separated from the Azorean ones. Similarly, studies of different enzyme systems (aldehyde oxidase, esterase, malic enzyme, sorbitol dehydrogenase, manose-6-phosphate isomerase, and phosphoglucomutase) over 2 years (1997 and 1998) at different times of the year (spring, summer, and autumn) and at three different altitudes (0, 250, and 500 m above sea level) on three different islands (Santa Maria, São Miguel, and Faial) uncovered no distinct differences. These results, obtained from classically used loci, suggest that there is still some gene flow between sites or that island populations have not been isolated for sufficient time to have diverged from founder populations.RÉSUMÉ: La structure génétique des populations açoriennes de la légionnaire uniponctuée Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haworth) (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae), a été étudiée à l'aide d'enzymes séparées par électrophorèse sur gel de polyacrylamide. Quatre systèmes enzymatiques (aldéhyde oxydase, estérase, phosphoglucomutase et phosphoglucose isomerase) ont été analyses chez six populations des Açores (îles de Santa Maria, São Miguel, Terceira, Pico, Faial et Flores) et chez des populations portugaise et canadienne. Les populations européenne et américaine ne sont pas nettement séparées des populations açoriennes. De la même manière, l'étude de six systèmes enzymatiques (aldéhyde oxydases, estérase, enzymes maliques, sorbitol déshydrogénases, manose-6-phosphate isomérases et phosphoglucomutases) durant deux années (1997 et 1998), à différentes périodes de l'année (printemps, été et automne) et à trois altitudes différentes (0, 250 et 500 m) sur trois lies (Santa Maria, São Miguel et Faial) n'a pas dévoilé de divergences évidentes, Ces résultats obtenu à partir de locus classiquement utilisés et en nombre suffisant, suggèrent qu' il subsiste un certain flux génique entre les populations étudiées, et (ou) que les populations insulaires sont isolées depuis trop peu de temps pour avoir pu diverger des populations fondatrices

Evidence for exclusive B decays to final states containing a charmed baryon

Using data collected in the region of the γ(4S) resonance with the CLEO-II detector, we report on the first observation of exclusive decays of the B meson to final states with a charmed baryon. We have made a preliminary measurement of the branching fraction B(B 0 → Γc + p π+π−) = (0.187 ± .059 ± 0.056 ± 0.045)%. In addition, we report upper limits for final states of the form B → Σ c + p (nπ) where (nπ) denotes up to four charged pions

Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium (PIDTC) report

The Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium (PIDTC) is a network of 33 centers in North America that study the treatment of rare and severe primary immunodeficiency diseases. Current protocols address the natural history of patients treated for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, and chronic granulomatous disease through retrospective, prospective, and cross-sectional studies. The PIDTC additionally seeks to encourage training of junior investigators, establish partnerships with European and other International colleagues, work with patient advocacy groups to promote community awareness, and conduct pilot demonstration projects. Future goals include the conduct of prospective treatment studies to determine optimal therapies for primary immunodeficiency diseases. To date, the PIDTC has funded 2 pilot projects: newborn screening for SCID in Navajo Native Americans and B-cell reconstitution in patients with SCID after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Ten junior investigators have received grant awards. The PIDTC Annual Scientific Workshop has brought together consortium members, outside speakers, patient advocacy groups, and young investigators and trainees to report progress of the protocols and discuss common interests and goals, including new scientific developments and future directions of clinical research. Here we report the progress of the PIDTC to date, highlights of the first 2 PIDTC workshops, and consideration of future consortium objectives