2,771 research outputs found
Seasonal Characteristics of Humpback Whales {Megaptera novaeangliae) in Southeastern Alaska
Humpback whales were studied in southeastern Alaska to assess seasonal distribution and numbers, migration patterns, length of stay, female reproductive histories, and calf survival. A mean annual estimate and 95% confidence interval of whales present in the study areas was 404 ± 54 individuals. The longest length of stay was nearly 7 months, and the shortest transit to the Hawaiian mating and calving grounds was 39 days. Generally, birth intervals did not vary from one calf every two or three years; individual variation ranged from one to five years. There were few resightings of whales first seen as calves. The recovery of North Pacific humpback whales will only occur through an increase in the survival of calves to become sexually mature and reproducing adults.The authors are grateful for the assistance and patience of many people who contributed to this study. These people
include J. Straley, F. Fay, A. Perry, T. Quinn II, S. Mizroch, K. Metcalf, J. Greenough, C. Greenough, C. Johnstone, D. Matkin, and L. Quakenbush. These data were collected under National Marine Fisheries Service scientific research permits issued to Glacier Bay National Park (#600) and J. Straley (#571).Ye
Investigating inbreeding in the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) genome
The detrimental effects of increased homozygosity due to inbreeding have prompted the development of methods to reduce inbreeding. The detection of runs of homozygosity (ROH), or contiguous stretches of homozygous marker genotypes, can be used to describe and quantify the level of inbreeding in an individual. The estimation of inbreeding coefficients can be calculated based on pedigree information, ROH, or the genomic relationship matrix. The aim of this study was to detect and describe ROH in the turkey genome and compare estimates of pedigree-based inbreeding coefficients (FPED) with genomic-based inbreeding coefficients estimated from ROH (FROH) and the genomic relationship matrix (FGRM). A total of 2,616,890 pedigree records were available. Of these records, 6,371 genotyped animals from three purebred turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) lines between 2013 and 2019 were available, and these were obtained using a dense single nucleotide polymorphism array (56,452 SNPs). The overall mean length of detected ROH was 2.87 ± 0.29 Mb with a mean number of 84.87 ± 8.79 ROH per animal. Short ROH with lengths of 1 to 2 Mb long were the most abundant throughout the genome. Mean ROH coverage differed greatly between chromosomes and lines. Considering inbreeding coefficient means across all lines, genomic derived inbreeding coefficients (FROH = 0.27; FGRM = 0.32) were higher than coefficients estimated from pedigree records (FPED = 0.14). Correlations between FROH and FPED, FROH and FGRM, and FPED and FGRM ranged between 0.19 to 0.31, 0.68 to 0.73, and 0.17 to 0.30, respectively. Additionally, correlations between FROH from different lengths and FPED substantially increased with ROH length from -0.06 to 0.33. Results of the current research, including the distribution of ROH throughout the genome and ROH-derived inbreeding estimates, can provide a more comprehensive description of inbreeding in the turkey genome. This knowledge can be used to evaluate genetic diversity, a requirement for genetic improvement, and develop methods to minimize inbreeding in turkey breeding programs
Hexamoll(R) DINCH and DPHP metabolites in urine of children and adolescents in Germany: Human biomonitoring results of the German Environmental Survey GerES V, 2014-2017
The production and use of the plasticisers Hexamoll(R) DINCH (di-(iso-nonyl)-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate) and DPHP (di-(2-propylheptyl) phthalate) have increased after both chemicals were introduced into the market in the early 2000s as substitutes for restricted high molecular weight phthalates. During the population representative German Environmental Survey (GerES) of Children and Adolescents (GerES V, 2014–2017), we collected urine samples and measured the concentrations of DINCH and DPHP metabolites in 2228 and in a subsample of 516 participants, respectively. We detected DINCH and DPHP metabolites in 100% and 62% of the 3-17 years old children and adolescents, respectively. Geometric means of DINCH metabolites were 2.27 μg/L for OH-MINCH, 0.93 μg/L for oxo-MINCH, 1.14 μg/L for cx-MINCH and 3.47 μg/L for DINCH (Σ of OH-MINCH + cx-MINCH). Geometric means of DPHP metabolites were 0.30 μg/L for OH-MPHP, 0.32 µg/L for oxo-MPHP and 0.64 μg/L for DPHP (Σ of OH-MPHP + oxo-MPHP). The 3-5 years old children had almost 3-fold higher DINCH biomarkers levels than adolescents (14-17 years). Higher concentrations of DPHP biomarkers among young children only became apparent after creatinine adjustment. Urinary levels of DINCH but not of DPHP biomarkers were associated with the levels of the respective plasticisers in house dust. When compared to HBM health-based guidance values, we observed no exceedance of the HBM-I value of 1 mg/L for DPHP (Σ of OH-MPHP + oxo-MPHP). However, 0.04% of the children exceeded the health based guidance value HBM-I of 3 mg/L for DINCH (Σ of OH-MINCH + cx-MINCH). This finding shows that even a less toxic replacement of restricted chemicals can reach exposures in some individuals, at which, according to current knowledge, health impacts cannot be excluded with sufficient certainty. In conclusion, we provide representative data on DINCH and DPHP exposure of children and adolescents in Germany. Further surveillance is warranted to assess the substitution process of plasticisers, and to advise exposure reduction measures, especially for highly exposed children and adolescents. Providing the results to the European HBM Initiative HBM4EU will support risk assessment and risk management not only in Germany but also in Europe
Cyclin D1 Restrains Oncogene-Induced Autophagy by Regulating the AMPK-LKB1 Signaling Axis.
Autophagy activated after DNA damage or other stresses mitigates cellular damage by removing damaged proteins, lipids, and organelles. Activation of the master metabolic kinase AMPK enhances autophagy. Here we report that cyclin D1 restrains autophagy by modulating the activation of AMPK. In cell models of human breast cancer or in a cyclin D1-deficient model, we observed a cyclin D1-mediated reduction in AMPK activation. Mechanistic investigations showed that cyclin D1 inhibited mitochondrial function, promoted glycolysis, and reduced activation of AMPK (pT172), possibly through a mechanism that involves cyclin D1-Cdk4/Cdk6 phosphorylation of LKB1. Our findings suggest how AMPK activation by cyclin D1 may couple cell proliferation to energy homeostasis
Web-Based Randomized Controlled Trial
Background: Patients often seek other patients’ experiences with the disease.
The Internet provides a wide range of opportunities to share and learn about
other people’s health and illness experiences via blogs or patient-initiated
online discussion groups. There also exists a range of medical information
devices that include experiential patient information. However, there are
serious concerns about the use of such experiential information because
narratives of others may be powerful and pervasive tools that may hinder
informed decision making. The international research network DIPEx (Database
of Individual Patients’ Experiences) aims to provide scientifically based
online information on people’s experiences with health and illness to fulfill
patients’ needs for experiential information, while ensuring that the
presented information includes a wide variety of possible experiences.
Objective: The aim is to evaluate the colorectal cancer module of the German
DIPEx website krankheitserfahrungen.de with regard to self-efficacy for coping
with cancer and patient competence. Methods: In 2015, a Web-based randomized
controlled trial was conducted using a two-group between-subjects design and
repeated measures. The study sample consisted of individuals who had been
diagnosed with colorectal cancer within the past 3 years or who had metastasis
or recurrent disease. Outcome measures included self-efficacy for coping with
cancer and patient competence. Participants were randomly assigned to either
an intervention group that had immediate access to the colorectal cancer
module for 2 weeks or to a waiting list control group. Outcome criteria were
measured at baseline before randomization and at 2 weeks and 6 weeks Results:
The study randomized 212 persons. On average, participants were 54 (SD 11.1)
years old, 58.8% (124/211) were female, and 73.6% (156/212) had read or heard
stories of other patients online before entering the study, thus excluding any
influence of the colorectal cancer module on krankheitserfahrungen.de. No
intervention effects were found at 2 and 6 weeks after baseline. Conclusions:
The results of this study do not support the hypothesis that the website
studied may increase self-efficacy for coping with cancer or patient
competencies such as self-regulation or managing emotional distress. Possible
explanations may involve characteristics of the website itself, its use by
participants, or methodological reasons. Future studies aimed at evaluating
potential effects of websites providing patient experiences on the basis of
methodological principles such as those of DIPEx might profit from extending
the range of outcome measures, from including additional measures of website
usage behavior and users’ motivation, and from expanding concepts, such as
patient competency to include items that more directly reflect patients’
perceived effects of using such a website. Trial Registration:
Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02157454;
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02157454 (Archived by WebCite at
http://www.webcitation.org/6syrvwXxi
Summary of Reported Whale-Vessel Collisions in Alaskan Waters
Here we summarize 108 reported whale-vessel collisions in Alaska from 1978–2011, of which 25 are known to have resulted in the whale's death. We found 89 definite and 19 possible/probable strikes based on standard criteria we created for this study. Most strikes involved humpback whales (86%) with six other species documented. Small vessel strikes were most common (<15 m, 60%), but medium (15–79 m, 27%) and large (≥80 m, 13%) vessels also struck whales. Among the 25 mortalities, vessel length was known in seven cases (190–294 m) and vessel speed was known in three cases (12–19 kn). In 36 cases, human injury or property damage resulted from the collision, and at least 15 people were thrown into the water. In 15 cases humpback whales struck anchored or drifting vessels, suggesting the whales did not detect the vessels. Documenting collisions in Alaska will remain challenging due to remoteness and resource limitations. For a better understanding of the factors contributing to lethal collisions, we recommend (1) systematic documentation of collisions, including vessel size and speed; (2) greater efforts to necropsy stranded whales; (3) using experienced teams focused on determining cause of death; (4) using standard criteria for validating collision reports, such as those presented in this paper.The authors gratefully acknowledge the many organizations and individuals who have reported and collected data on whale-vessel collisions over the years including members of the Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network; the US Coast Guard; NOAA Enforcement; the Alaska Department of Fish & Game; the Alaska State Troopers; tour operators; vessel captains, pilots, and crew; harbormasters; fishermen; recreational boaters; Charles Jurasz; and C. Scott Baker. They thank John Sease, Linda Shaw, and Kaja Brix for developing the Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network with limited resources; Mary Sternfeld, who shepherded the NOAA Alaska Region Stranding Database through its infancy; Doug DeMaster for initiating the first paper on this topic for the IWC in 2007 and for providing valuable comments on this paper. Special credit goes to Dr. Frances Gulland from The Marine Mammal Center for leading necropsies in Alaska, training local responders in ship strike necropsy methods, and contributing her expertise to this paper. They extend sincere thanks to the Alaskan marine mammal veterinarians (Dr. Kathy Burek, Dr. Rachel Dziuba, Dr. Carrie Goertz, Dr. Kate Savage, and Dr. Pam Tuomi) and volunteers who have conducted and participated in whale necropsies. They are indebted to Jen Cedarleaf (UAS) for her expert fluke matching skills which allowed them to identify several of the dead humpback whales in this study. They thank John Moran (NOAA), Fred Sharpe (Alaska Whale Foundation), and Erin Falcone (Cascadia Research Collective) for sharing photos of live whales with collision injuries. They are grateful to David Mattila (IWC), Ed Lyman (NOAA), and Jerry Dzugan (Alaska Marine Safety Education Association) for contributing to and supporting this study. They thank Whitney Rapp and Greg Ambrose for their help developing the hotspot map. They thank two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments on this paper. Necropsies on endangered whales were conducted under National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) permits 932-1489 and 932-1905.Ye
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Source levels of foraging humpback whale calls
Humpback whales produce a wide range of low-to mid-frequency vocalizations throughout their migratory range. Non-song "calls" dominate this species' vocal repertoire while on high-latitude foraging grounds. The source levels of 426 humpback whale calls in four vocal classes were estimated using a four-element planar array deployed in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Southeast Alaska. There was no significant difference in source levels between humpback whale vocal classes. The mean call source level was 137 dB(RMS) re 1 mu Pa @ 1m in the bandwidth of the call (range 113-157 dBRMS re 1 mu Pa @ 1m), where bandwidth is defined as the frequency range from the lowest to the highest frequency component of the call. These values represent a robust estimate of humpback whale source levels on foraging grounds and should append earlier estimates. (C) 2018 Acoustical Society of Americ
Humpback whales interfering when mammal-eating killer whales attack other species: mobbing behavior and interspecific altruism?
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are known to interfere with attacking killer whales (Orcinus orca). To investigate why, we reviewed accounts of 115 interactions between them. Humpbacks initiated the majority of interactions (57% vs. 43%; n=72), although the killer whales were almost exclusively mammal-eating forms (MEKWs, 95%) vs. fish-eaters (5%; n=108). When MEKWs approached humpbacks (n=27), they attacked 85% of the time and targeted only calves. When humpbacks approached killer whales (n=41), 93% were MEKWs, and >87% of them were attacking or feeding on prey at the time. When humpbacks interacted with attacking MEKWs, 11% of the prey were humpbacks and 89% comprised 10 other species, including 3 cetaceans, 6 pinnipeds, and 1 teleost fish. Approaching humpbacks often harassed attacking MEKWs (>55% of 56 interactions), regardless of the prey species, which we argue was mobbing behavior. Humpback mobbing sometimes allowed MEKW prey, including nonhumpbacks, to escape. We suggest that humpbacks initially responded to vocalizations of attacking MEKWs without knowing the prey species targeted. Although reciprocity or kin selection might explain communal defense of conspecific calves, there was no apparent benefit to humpbacks continuing to interfere when other species were being attacked. Interspecific altruism, even if unintentional, could not be ruled out
mtDNA heteroplasmy gives rise to a new maternal lineage in North Pacific humpback whales
Heteroplasmy in the mitochondrial genome offers a rare opportunity to track the evolution of
a newly arising maternal lineage in populations of non-model species. Here, we identified a
previously unreported mitochondrial DNA haplotype while assembling an integrated
database of DNA profiles and photo-identification records from humpback whales in
southeastern Alaska (SEAK). The haplotype, referred to as A8, was shared by only two
individuals, a mature female with her female calf, and differed by only a single base pair from
a common haplotype in the North Pacific, referred to as A-. To investigate the origins of the
A8 haplotype, we reviewed n = 1,089 electropherograms (including replicate samples) of n =
710 individuals with A- haplotypes from an existing collection. From this review, we found 20
individuals with clear evidence of heteroplasmy for A-/A8 (parental/derived) haplotypes. Of
these, 15 were encountered in SEAK, four were encountered on the Hawaiian breeding
ground (the primary migratory destination for whales in SEAK) and one was encountered in
the northern Gulf of Alaska. We used genotype exclusion and likelihood to identify one of the
heteroplasmic females as the likely mother of the A8 cow and grandmother of the A8 calf,
establishing the inheritance and germ-line fixation of the new haplotype from the parental
heteroplasmy. The mutation leading to this heteroplasmy and the fixation of the A8
haplotype provide an opportunity to document the population dynamics and regional fidelity
of a newly arising maternal lineage in a population recovering from exploitation.Funding
Support for this work was provided by a cooperative agreement between
Oregon State University and the National Park Service (Pacific West Region
Cooperative Ecosystems Study Unit Task Agreement #P12AC15004). Additional
funding was provided by the Mamie Markham Research Award, Joan Crebbin
Memorial Fellowship, Lylian Brucefield Reynolds Scholarship, Thomas G. Scott
Grant Scholarship and the Hatfield Marine Science Center Student Organization
Travel Grant.
Acknowledgements
We thank the SPLASH Steering Committee for access to haplotype information and
sighting records. A special thanks to Charles Jurasz for his insight and foresight in
documenting individual whales in southeastern Alaska. All research was conducted
under appropriate permits issued by the US National Marine Fisheries Service, in
accordance with the US Marine Mammal Protection Act and the US Endangered
Species Act, including no. 14122 issued to J.M.S., nos. 945-1499-02 and 473-1700-
00 issued to the Glacier Bay National Park, and no. 675 issued to C.S.B.Ye
Local recruitment of humpback whales in Glacier Bay and Icy Strait, Alaska, over 30 years
We provide new information on the scale at which fidelity and recruitment underlie observed increases in humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae populations.We provide new information on the scale at which fidelity and recruitment underlie observed increases in humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae populations. We used photoidentification records and DNA profiles from whales in Glacier Bay and Icy Strait (GBIS), southeastern Alaska (SEAK) to investigate 3 sources of population increase over 33 yr (1973−2005): local GBIS recruitment, recruitment from elsewhere in SEAK, and immigration from outside SEAK. We defined 2 temporal strata for these longitudinal records: ‘founder’ individuals identified from 1973 to 1985 (n = 74; n = 46 with DNA profiles) and ‘contemporary’ individuals identified from 2004 to 2005 (n = 171; n = 118 with DNA profiles). To distinguish between local recruitment
and recruitment from elsewhere in SEAK, we estimated the proportion of the contemporary stratum that was either a returning founder or descended from a founder female. After excluding 42 contemporary whales without a known mother or genotype to infer maternity, 73.6% of the contemporary stratum was confirmed or inferred through parentage analysis to be either a returning founder or a descendant of a founder mother. Of the 25 females with genotypes in the founder stratum, 24 (96%) were either represented in the contemporary stratum, had at least 1 descendant in the contemporary stratum, or both. We found no significant differences in microsatellite allele or mtDNA frequencies between the strata, suggesting little or no immigration from other feeding grounds. Our results highlight the importance of local habitat protection for a recovering species with culturally inherited migratory destinations.Ye
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