Seabird affinities for Gulf Stream frontal eddies: Responses of mobile marine consumers to episodic upwelling

This study combined ship-board counts of seabirds with satellite hydrography to determine whether Gulf Stream frontal eddies influenced spatial and seasonal patterns of apex consumers on the southeastern United States continental shelf and slope. Stratified sampling indicated seabird densities at eddies were 7–15 × higher than in resident shelf and Gulf Stream water, ranging from 2.31–10.91 birds km−2 compared to 0.15–1.51 birds km−2 in noneddy regions. At any given time eddies covered 3–17% of the outer shelf and upper slope, yet 28–59% of total seabird numbers in this domain aggregated within areas influenced by eddies.Gulf stream eddies consist of an upwelled, nutrient- and phytoplankton-rich cold-core and an oligotrophic warm filament entrained from the Gulf Stream. Seabird densities within eddy cold-cores were 4–21 × higher, ranging from 2.91–16.35 birds km−2 compared to 0.16–3.70 birds km−2 in the warm filament. Seabird abundances within eddy cold-cores were higher (a) near the frontal boundaries between water masses, and (b) within older upwelled (upstream) cold-core water as opposed to recently upwelled (downstream) cold-core water.Eddy size accounted for 99%, 94%, and 98%, respectively, of the between-eddy variation in seabird abundance, biomass, and minimum daily food requirements per unit area. Between-eddy differences in seabird density, biomass, and food requirements showed no relationship to eddy age.The frequency and the extent of satellite-detected, near-surface upwelling originating from eddies on the outer shelf and upper slope decreased during late summer and early fall. Total seabird density (pooled species\u27 abundances) showed no relationship to this seasonality. However, taxa that are particularly dependent on upwelling (Family Hydrobatidae: Oceanites and Oceanodroma) exhibited declines in abundance that correlated with seasonal decreases in near-surface upwelling. Seabird patchiness within the outer shelf and upper slope was greatest during months of frequent eddy upwelling, indicating that small-scale seabird distribution within domains may be affected by upwelling seasonality.Eddies influence seabird distribution and abundance at space scales of 10–50 and 50–150 km, and at time scales of 2–14 and 30–180 days. Seabird responses to environmental heterogeneity caused by eddies give strong circumstantial evidence for energy transfer beyond primary producers at these episodic upwelling features

Symmetrically H-Bridged Dimer of 2-Carboxylatobenzenediazonium. The 1:1 Complex between 2-Carboxybenzenediazonium Chloride and Benzenediazonium-2-carboxylate

The two zwitterions in the H-bridged dimer of 2-carboxylatobenzenediazonim (1) are linked by a crystallographically symmetric O⋯Hctdot;O hydrogen bond with an O⋯O distance of 2.436 (3) Å. Comparison of the (1) with the other benzenediazonium salts shows that the phenyl ring distortions in (1) are determined primarily by the diazonium substituent with only modest additional effects by the carboxylato group. Intramolecular neighboring goup interactions between the N2 group and the orthoCOO(H) group are indicated and are discussed. The terminal N atom of the diazonium group is bent away from the neighboring carboxylato group. The N2 and the carboxylato group are on the opposite sides of the best plane of the aromatic ring. Importantly, the carboxylato group is not fully conjugated with the aromatic ring but instead is rotated 6.5 (2)° around the C-CO2 axis in a fashion that suggest minimization of intramolecular repulsion between Nα and the proximate O atom and optimization of the inter-molecular hydrogen bonding

Hurricane impacts on the Caribbean coastal/marine environment : using scientific assessment to plan for the future

The passage of Hurricane Hugo through the eastern Caribbean provided a unique opportunity for multidisciplinary study of (1) the effects of severe storms on tropical coastal and marine ecosystems, and (2) the physical and biological responses of those ecosystems to intense storm-induced changes. In addition to its direct value as basic science, this study can be used to facilitate development of improved coastal and marine resource management capabilities.Funding was provided by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to the Coastal Research Center of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the NOAA National Sea Grant College Program Offce, Department of Commerce, under Grant No. NA86-AA-D-90

Anomalously High Recruitment of the 2010 Gulf Menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) Year Class: Evidence of Indirect Effects from the Deepwater Horizon Blowout in the Gulf of Mexico

Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) exhibited unprecedented juvenile recruitment in 2010 during the year of the Deepwater Horizon well blowout, exceeding the prior 39-year mean by more than four standard deviations near the Mississippi River. Abundance of that cohort remained exceptionally high for two subsequent years as recruits moved into older age classes. Such changes in this dominant forage fish population can be most parsimoniously explained as consequences of release from predation. Contact with crude oil induced high mortality of piscivorous seabirds, bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), waders, and other fish-eating marsh birds, all of which are substantial consumers of Gulf menhaden. Diversions of fresh water from the Mississippi River to protect coastal marshes from oiling depressed salinities, impairing access to juvenile Gulf menhaden by aquatic predators that avoid low-salinity estuarine waters. These releases from predation led to an increase of Gulf menhaden biomass in 2011 to 2.4 million t, or more than twice the average biomass of 1.1 million t for the decade prior to 2010. Biomass increases of this magnitude in a major forage fish species suggest additional trophically linked effects at the population-, trophic-level and ecosystem scales, reflecting an heretofore little appreciated indirect effect that may be associated with major oil spills in highly productive marine waters

Insights into the mode of action of a putative zinc transporter CzrB in thermus thermophilus

peer-reviewedThis paper was obtained through PEER (Publishing and the Ecology of European Research) http://www.peerproject.euThe crystal structures of the cytoplasmic domain of the putative zinc transporter CzrB in the apoand zinc-bound forms reported herein are consistent with the protein functioning in vivo as a homodimer. NMR, X-ray scattering and size exclusion chromatography provide support for dimer formation. Full-length variants of CzrB in the apo and zinc-loaded states were generated by homology modelling with the Zn2+ / H+ antiporter YiiP. The model suggests a way in which zinc binding to the cytoplasmic fragment creates a docking site to which a metallochaperone can bind for delivery and transport of its zinc cargo. Since the cytoplasmic domain may exist in the cell as an independent, soluble protein a proposal is advanced that it functions as a metallochaperone and that it regulates the zinc-transporting activity of the full-length protein. The latter requires that zinc binding becomes uncoupled from the creation of a metallochaperone-docking site on CzrB

The Inner-Shelf Dynamics Experiment

17 USC 105 interim-entered record; under review.The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-19-0281.1The inner shelf, the transition zone between the surfzone and the midshelf, is a dynamically complex region with the evolution of circulation and stratification driven by multiple physical processes. Cross-shelf exchange through the inner shelf has important implications for coastal water quality, ecological connectivity, and lateral movement of sediment and heat. The Inner-Shelf Dynamics Experiment (ISDE) was an intensive, coordinated, multi-institution field experiment from September–October 2017, conducted from the midshelf, through the inner shelf, and into the surfzone near Point Sal, California. Satellite, airborne, shore- and ship-based remote sensing, in-water moorings and ship-based sampling, and numerical ocean circulation models forced by winds, waves, and tides were used to investigate the dynamics governing the circulation and transport in the inner shelf and the role of coastline variability on regional circulation dynamics. Here, the following physical processes are highlighted: internal wave dynamics from the midshelf to the inner shelf; flow separation and eddy shedding off Point Sal; offshore ejection of surfzone waters from rip currents; and wind-driven subtidal circulation dynamics. The extensive dataset from ISDE allows for unprecedented investigations into the role of physical processes in creating spatial heterogeneity, and nonlinear interactions between various inner-shelf physical processes. Overall, the highly spatially and temporally resolved oceanographic measurements and numerical simulations of ISDE provide a central framework for studies exploring this complex and fascinating region of the ocean.U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR)ONR Departmental Research Initiative (DRI)Inner-Shelf Dynamics Experiment (ISDE

Epidural Interventions in the Management of Chronic Spinal Pain: American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) Comprehensive Evidence-Based Guidelines.

BACKGROUND: Chronic spinal pain is the most prevalent chronic disease with employment of multiple modes of interventional techniques including epidural interventions. Multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs), observational studies, systematic reviews, and guidelines have been published. The recent review of the utilization patterns and expenditures show that there has been a decline in utilization of epidural injections with decrease in inflation adjusted costs from 2009 to 2018. The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) published guidelines for interventional techniques in 2013, and guidelines for facet joint interventions in 2020. Consequently, these guidelines have been prepared to update previously existing guidelines. OBJECTIVE: To provide evidence-based guidance in performing therapeutic epidural procedures, including caudal, interlaminar in lumbar, cervical, and thoracic spinal regions, transforaminal in lumbar spine, and percutaneous adhesiolysis in the lumbar spine. METHODS: The methodology utilized included the development of objective and key questions with utilization of trustworthy standards. The literature pertaining to all aspects of epidural interventions was viewed with best evidence synthesis of available literature and recommendations were provided. RESULTS: In preparation of the guidelines, extensive literature review was performed. In addition to review of multiple manuscripts in reference to utilization, expenditures, anatomical and pathophysiological considerations, pharmacological and harmful effects of drugs and procedures, for evidence synthesis we have included 47 systematic reviews and 43 RCTs covering all epidural interventions to meet the objectives.The evidence recommendations are as follows: Disc herniation: Based on relevant, high-quality fluoroscopically guided epidural injections, with or without steroids, and results of previous systematic reviews, the evidence is Level I for caudal epidural injections, lumbar interlaminar epidural injections, lumbar transforaminal epidural injections, and cervical interlaminar epidural injections with strong recommendation for long-term effectiveness.The evidence for percutaneous adhesiolysis in managing disc herniation based on one high-quality, placebo-controlled RCT is Level II with moderate to strong recommendation for long-term improvement in patients nonresponsive to conservative management and fluoroscopically guided epidural injections. For thoracic disc herniation, based on one relevant, high-quality RCT of thoracic epidural with fluoroscopic guidance, with or without steroids, the evidence is Level II with moderate to strong recommendation for long-term effectiveness.Spinal stenosis: The evidence based on one high-quality RCT in each category the evidence is Level III to II for fluoroscopically guided caudal epidural injections with moderate to strong recommendation and Level II for fluoroscopically guided lumbar and cervical interlaminar epidural injections with moderate to strong recommendation for long-term effectiveness.The evidence for lumbar transforaminal epidural injections is Level IV to III with moderate recommendation with fluoroscopically guided lumbar transforaminal epidural injections for long-term improvement. The evidence for percutaneous adhesiolysis in lumbar stenosis based on relevant, moderate to high quality RCTs, observational studies, and systematic reviews is Level II with moderate to strong recommendation for long-term improvement after failure of conservative management and fluoroscopically guided epidural injections. Axial discogenic pain: The evidence for axial discogenic pain without facet joint pain or sacroiliac joint pain in the lumbar and cervical spine with fluoroscopically guided caudal, lumbar and cervical interlaminar epidural injections, based on one relevant high quality RCT in each category is Level II with moderate to strong recommendation for long-term improvement, with or without steroids. Post-surgery syndrome: The evidence for lumbar and cervical post-surgery syndrome based on one relevant, high-quality RCT with fluoroscopic guidance for caudal and cervical interlaminar epidural injections, with or without steroids, is Level II with moderate to strong recommendation for long-term improvement. For percutaneous adhesiolysis, based on multiple moderate to high-quality RCTs and systematic reviews, the evidence is Level I with strong recommendation for long-term improvement after failure of conservative management and fluoroscopically guided epidural injections. LIMITATIONS: The limitations of these guidelines include a continued paucity of high-quality studies for some techniques and various conditions including spinal stenosis, post-surgery syndrome, and discogenic pain. CONCLUSIONS: These epidural intervention guidelines including percutaneous adhesiolysis were prepared with a comprehensive review of the literature with methodologic quality assessment and determination of level of evidence with strength of recommendations

Corticotropin Releasing Factor-Induced CREB Activation in Striatal Neurons Occurs via a Novel Gβγ Signaling Pathway

The peptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) was initially identified as a critical component of the stress response. CRF exerts its cellular effects by binding to one of two cognate G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), CRF receptor 1 (CRFR1) or 2 (CRFR2). While these GPCRs were originally characterized as being coupled to Gαs, leading to downstream activation of adenylyl cyclase (AC) and subsequent increases in cAMP, it has since become clear that CRFRs couple to and activate numerous other downstream signaling cascades. In addition, CRF signaling influences the activity of many diverse brain regions, affecting a variety of behaviors. One of these regions is the striatum, including the nucleus accumbens (NAc). CRF exerts profound effects on striatal-dependent behaviors such as drug addiction, pair-bonding, and natural reward. Recent data indicate that at least some of these behaviors regulated by CRF are mediated through CRF activation of the transcription factor CREB. Thus, we aimed to elucidate the signaling pathway by which CRF activates CREB in striatal neurons. Here we describe a novel neuronal signaling pathway whereby CRF leads to a rapid Gβγ- and MEK-dependent increase in CREB phosphorylation. These data are the first descriptions of CRF leading to activation of a Gβγ-dependent signaling pathway in neurons, as well as the first description of Gβγ activation leading to downstream CREB phosphorylation in any cellular system. Additionally, these data provide additional insight into the mechanisms by which CRF can regulate neuronal function