The inference of gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) historical population attributes from whole-genome sequences

Commercial whaling caused extensive demographic declines in many great whale species, including gray whales that were extirpated from the Atlantic Ocean and dramatically reduced in the Pacific Ocean. The Eastern Pacific gray whale has recovered since the 1982 ban on commercial whaling, but the Western Pacific gray whale-once considered possibly extinct-consists of only about 200 individuals and is considered critically endangered by some international authorities. Herein, we use whole-genome sequencing to investigate the demographic history of gray whales from the Pacific and use environmental niche modelling to make predictions about future gene flow.Our sequencing efforts and habitat niche modelling indicate that: i) western gray whale effective population sizes have declined since the last glacial maximum; ii) contemporary gray whale genomes, both eastern and western, harbor less autosomal nucleotide diversity than most other marine mammals and megafauna; iii) the extent of inbreeding, as measured by autozygosity, is greater in the Western Pacific than in the Eastern Pacific populations; and iv) future climate change is expected to open new migratory routes for gray whales.Our results indicate that gray whale genomes contain low nucleotide diversity and have been subject to both historical and recent inbreeding. Population sizes over the last million years likely peaked about 25,000 years before present and have declined since then. Our niche modelling suggests that novel migratory routes may develop within the next century and if so this could help retain overall genetic diversity, which is essential for adaption and successful recovery in light of global environmental change and past exploitation

Selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors: a promising target for cognition enhancement

# The Author(s) 2008. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Rationale One of the major complaints most people face during aging is an impairment in cognitive functioning. This has a negative impact on the quality of daily life and is even more prominent in patients suffering from neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and depression. So far, the majority of cognition enhancers are generally targeting one particular neurotransmitter system. However, recently phosphodiesterases (PDEs) have gained increased attention as a potential new target for cognition enhancement. Inhibition of PDEs increases the intracellular availability of the second messengers cGMP and/or cAMP. Objective The aim of this review was to provide an overvie

A genealogy of the citrus family

Clarification of the genetic relationships among species opens new possibilities for enhancing citrus diversity and disease resistanc

Maintenance of graft compression in the adult cervical spine

It is generally advised that the graft inserted in adult cervical spine should be pre-loaded with a compressive force or that the screws are inserted in a divergent orientation, in order to maximise compression and the chance of graft incorporation (Truumees et al. in Spine 28:1097–1102, 2003). However, there is little evidence that a compressive force is maintained once the force applicator has been removed, or that the divergent screws enhance compression. This study compared the maintenance of applied pre-load force, across cervical spine graft, between standard anterior plating technique with pre-load and divergent screws and a novel plate technique, which allows its application prior to removal of the force applicator. Six intact adult cadaveric human cervical spines were exposed by standard surgical technique. A Casper type distracter was inserted across the disc space of interest, the disc was removed. In 14 experiments, following the disc removal, an autologous iliac crest bone graft was inserted under distraction, together with a strain gauge pressure transducer. A resting output from the transducer was recorded. The voltage output has a linear relationship with compressive force. A standardised compressive force was applied across the graft through the “Casper type” distracter/compressor (7.5 kg, torque). The pre-load compressive force was measured using a torque drill. Then two different procedures were used in order to compare the final applied strain on the bone graft. In eight experiments (procedure 1), the “Casper type” distracter/compressor was removed and a standard anterior cervical plate with four divergent screws was inserted. In six experiments (procedure 2), a novel plate design was inserted prior to removal of the distracter/compressor, which is not possible with the standard plate design. A final compressive force across the graft was measured. For the standard plate construct (procedure 1), the applied compression force is significantly greater than resting (SO/SC)—P=0.01, but the compression force is not maintained once the compressor is removed (SO/SR)—P=0.27. Final bone graft compression after plate insertion is not significantly different to the resting state (SO/SF)—P=0.16 (Wilcoxon’s sign test for paired observation). Application of the plate tended to offload the graft; the final compressive force is 170±100% less than the resting force. None of the applied force was maintained (mean 9.5±8.8%). For the new plate (procedure 2), the end compressive force (SF) measured across the graft was greater than the resting force (SO) (P<0.001). Further, the novel plate application increased the compressive force on the graft by 712±484%. The final bone graft compression using a novel plate, which allows its application prior to removal of the force applicator, is significant (SO/SF)—P=0.01. Here, 77±10% of the applied pre-load was maintained. The difference between the plates is significant (P<0.001). Conclusions are as follows: (1) Applied pre-load is not maintained across a graft once the force applicator is removed. (2) Divergent screws with a plate do not compress graft and rather tend to offload it. (3) Compressive force may be maintained if the plate is applied prior to the force applicator removal

Ammattiosaamisen näytöt yrityksen ja ammattiopiston yhteistyössä

Opinnäytetyön aiheena oli selvittää, miten ammattiosaamisen näytöt toimivat paikallisen osuuskaupan ja ammattiopiston yhteistyössä koskien ravintolan salipuolen tarjoilijoita. Ammattiosaamisen näytöt ovat olleet käytössä työssäoppijoiden arvioinnissa viisi vuotta. Tavoitteena oli saada tietoa näyttöjen hyödyistä työantajanäkökulmasta katsottuna sekä löytää mahdollisia kehittämiskohteita. Opinnäytetyön teoreettisessa osassa selvennettiin työssäoppimisen ja ammattiosaamisen näytön käsitteitä, mikä on niiden merkitys ammattikoulutuksessa ja toisaalta niiden merkitys työelämälle. Lisäksi selvitettiin yritysten rekrytointikäytäntöjä ja sitä, mitä on työelämän ja oppilaitosten yhteistyö. Tutkimuksen empiirisessä osassa käytettiin puolistrukturoitua teemahaastattelua. Haastateltavat olivat paikallisen osuuskaupan ravintoloiden esimiehiä, ja haastattelut tehtiin kuudelle henkilölle. Haastattelut nauhoitettiin ja litteroitiin sanasta sanaan tietokoneelle jatkoanalyysia varten. Tutkimuksen tuloksena vahvistui se, että ammattiosaamisen näytöt ovat kaikille selkeä asia ja niistä on hyötyä sekä työnantajalle että opiskelijalle. Yhteistyö osuuskaupan ja ammattiopiton kanssa toimii hyvin, eivätkä näyttötilanteet ole aiheuttaneet suurempia ongelmia. Ainoastaan työssäoppijan osaamisen arviointi koetaan hankalana nykyisellä asteikolla. Alan ammattiopistotasoista koulutusta tarvitaan edelleen Joensuun alueella, ja tutkimuksen mukaan sitä pitäisi jopa lisätä. Koulutetun työvoiman puute ei vielä ole maakunnassa suuri ongelma verrattuna pääkaupunkiseutuun, mutta uhkakuvia on jo nyt havaittavissa. Tähän tulisi yhteistyökumppaneiden kiinnittää huomiota, jotta jatkossa Joensuun alueella koulutetaan riittävästi työvoimaa alalle.The purpose of the thesis was to find out how the collaboration between a company and vocational college works concerning vocational skills demonstrations of restaurant waiters. In addition, the task was to examine if there is any benefit of skills demonstrations for the company, and how to develop co-operation. Partners for the study are a local hotel and restaurant company and a local vocational college. The information was gathered from literature, journals, the Internet and by interviewing. In the theoretical part of the study the main issue was to explain what on-the-job learning is and what vocational skills demonstrations are, and what their consequence is for vocational education and for work life. Also how companies carry out their recruitment was clarified. Data for this study were collected by interviewing six supervisors in partner restaurants. The results of the study show that vocational skills demonstrations are perceived well without any complexities. Rather the results indicate more utilities for students, for the company and for the vocational school. The final result of this thesis was that it is important to keep on vocational education in Joensuu and even to enhance it. Now the lack of trained waiters is a fact in southern Finland. A vision is that it will be a threat also in eastern Finland in the future. To ensure professional labour for hotel and restaurant business, companies support for vocational education is essential