The Australian National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas and the Marine Zoning System: A Model for the United States?

Marine Protected Areas ( MPAs ) are increasingly recognized as a critical component of marine conservation. MPAs are areas of the marine ecosystem set aside for special protection and management in order to conserve biological or cultural resources. MPAs manage the use of marine resources by limiting or controlling activities within the area. Marine reserves, the most restrictive type of MPA, severely limit or forbid all extractive activities. Scientific research has demonstrated that MPAs, especially marine reserves, can have rapid and long-term benefits for biological diversity, lead to recovery of specific species, and may have a spill over effect that benefits adjacent unprotected areas. As a result, MPAs are rapidly becoming a widely used tool for marine conservation. Australia has the largest number of MPAs of any country in the world. It has also developed a significant national representative system of MPAs, covering approximately seven percent of Australian waters as of 2002. Australia\u27s national representative system has been established through national legislation and cooperative agreements between the Commonwealth and the states. In addition, Australia has adopted a uniform zoning system so that all MPAs are designated and managed based on the same zones, to encourage consistency. In contrast, the current system of MPAs in the United States involves federal, state, and local areas and is inadequate, disorganized, and fractured. The United States has only recently begun to develop a national representative system of MPAs. The United States should model the structure of its national representative system of MPAs on the framework now used by Australia. The United States should also adopt a uniform zoning system to be applied universally to the federal MPA system, and to those MPAs implemented under the national representative system. A standardized zoning system would ease implementation and management of MPAs, particularly those in adjacent state and federal waters, and add consistency to the currently disorganized system of management

Yeast Two Hybrid Screen of a Putative Toxoplasma gondii Cyclin, TGME49_266900

In this current research, protein-protein interactions with a putative Toxoplasma gondii cyclin, TGME49_266900 or Cyc6, were discovered via a yeast two hybrid screen. Several putative interacting protein partners were isolated and described from a cDNA library of an asynchronous tachyzoite transcriptome. After false positives were weaned from the study, two proteins were identified as Cyc6 interacting partners. These two proteins are described from the toxodb.org bioinformatic database as a DJ-1 family protein (TGME49_214290) and a ThiF protein (TGME49_314890). Interestingly, the interacting DJ-1 protein has been shown in previous research to play a role in T. gondii microneme secretion. Additionally, ThiF proteins share distinct traits with E1 enzymes at the start of the ubiquitin pathway in eukaryotes. After no evidence of an interacting CDK partner for Cyc6 was obtained, a direct experiment was conducted testing for an interaction between Cyc6 and a putative CDK with expression levels notably higher in bradyzoites instead of tachyzoites. The outcome of this experiment showed no interaction between Cyc6 and the putative CDK. Although no interacting CDK partner was evident from this yeast two hybrid screen, two proteins were found to display a strong and biologically relevant interaction with the putative cyclin of interest. Future studies regarding Cyc6 should explore potential noncanonical roles for this putative cyclin in not only tachyzoites, but also bradyzoites and the purpose of Cyc6\u27s interaction with the two proteins discovered from this screen

The StarScan plate measuring machine: overview and calibrations

The StarScan machine at the U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) completed measuring photographic astrograph plates to allow determination of proper motions for the USNO CCD Astrograph Catalog (UCAC) program. All applicable 1940 AGK2 plates, about 2200 Hamburg Zone Astrograph plates, 900 Black Birch (USNO Twin Astrograph) plates, and 300 Lick Astrograph plates have been measured. StarScan comprises of a CCD camera, telecentric lens, air-bearing granite table, stepper motor screws, and Heidenhain scales to operate in a step-stare mode. The repeatability of StarScan measures is about 0.2 micrometer. The CCD mapping as well as the global table coordinate system has been calibrated using a special dot calibration plate and the overall accuracy of StarScan x,y data is derived to be 0.5 micrometer. Application to real photographic plate data shows that position information of at least 0.65 micrometer accuracy can be extracted from course grain 103a-type emulsion astrometric plates. Transformations between "direct" and "reverse" measures of fine grain emulsion plate measures are obtained on the 0.3 micrometer level per well exposed stellar image and coordinate, which is at the limit of the StarScan machine.Comment: 24 pages, 8 figures, accepted for PAS

Temperature dependent transient surface photovoltage spectroscopy of a Cu1.95Zn1.1Sn0.96Se4 kesterite single phase powder

An off-stoichiometric but single phase Cu1.95Zn1.1Sn0.96Se4 kesterite powder was investigated by temperature dependent transient surface photovoltage (SPV) spectroscopy. SPV signals excited at different wavelengths were transformed into SPV spectra that depended on the response time of measurement. Shallow electronic states and states with transition energies at 0.83 eV or 0.78… 0.9 eV were distinguished. The temperature dependence of the band gap of Cu1.95Zn1.1Sn0.96Se4 was obtained. Results were discussed on the basis of defects in Cu-poor and Zn-rich kesterite

Corrosion Control in Industry

The economic development of any region, state or country, depends not only on its natural reâ sources and productive activities, but also on the infrastructure that account for the exploitaâ tion, processing and marketing of goods. Irrigation systems, roads, bridges, airports, maritime, land and air transport, school buildings, offices and housing, industrial installations are affectâ ed by corrosion and therefore susceptible to deterioration and degradation processes

Movements and spatial use of odontocetes in the western main Hawaiian Islands: results from satellite-tagging and photo-identification off Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau in July/August 2011

Although considerable information is available on residency patterns and spatial use of odontocetes in the eastern half of the Hawai‘i Range Complex (HRC), much less is known about odontocetes in the western half of the HRC. In the second year of a three-year effort in the western main Hawaiian Islands we undertook surveys off Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau in July/August 2011, to examine spatial use and residency patterns using satellite tags, to provide visual verification of acoustically-detected odontocetes on the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), and to obtain individual identification photographs and biopsy samples for assessment of population identity and structure. During 18 days of field effort we covered 1,972 km of trackline and had 65 encounters with five species of odontocetes. Twenty-four of the encounters, of three species, were cued by acoustic detections from the Marine Mammal Monitoring on Navy Ranges (M3R) system, thus providing species verifications for future use of the M3R system on the PMRF range. During the 65 encounters we obtained 22,645 photos for individual and species identification, and collected 48 biopsy samples for genetic analyses. One encounter with a group of four killer whales was only the second encounter with this species in 12 years of directed field surveys in Hawaiian waters. Photos from that encounter were compared to our photo-identification catalog but no matches were found, further suggesting that there is no population of this species resident to the Hawaiian Islands. There were three encounters with a lone pantropical spotted dolphin, each time in association with a group of spinner dolphins. Photos of this individual matched to a spotted dolphin identified off Kaua‘i in 2004 and in 2005, both times with spinner dolphins, suggesting this individual may be part of a long-term association with spinner dolphins. Four satellite tags were deployed; three on rough-toothed dolphins and one on a bottlenose dolphin. These are the first tag deployments on either species in Hawaiian waters and the first deployments of satellite tags on free-ranging rough-toothed dolphins anywhere in the world. Rough-toothed dolphin tag data were obtained over periods from 7.6 to 18.5 days. Over these periods the three rough-toothed dolphins moved cumulative horizontal distances ranging from 573 to 1,295 km, yet remained an average distance from the tagging locations of from 10.4 to 13.9 km. Median depths used by the three rough-toothed dolphins ranged from 816 to 1,107 m, with median distance from shore ranging from 11.6 to 12.2 km. Two of the three individuals had been previously photo-identified off Kaua‘i (in 2007 or 2008), and all link by association with the resident population from Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau. Movement and habitat use data were obtained over a 34-day period for the satellite-tagged bottlenose dolphin. During this time the individual remained associated with the island of Kaua‘i using waters with a median depth of 82 m. Although this individual had not been previously photo-identified, others from the group it was in had been previously documented off Kaua‘i and/or Ni‘ihau in 2003-2005, suggesting it is part of the island-resident population. Overall these efforts provide the first unbiased movement and habitat use data for both species in Hawaiian waters.Grant No. N00244-10-1-004

A SURVEY FOR ODONTOCETE CETACEANS OFF KAUA‘I AND NI‘IHAU, HAWAI‘I, DURING OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 2005: EVIDENCE FOR POPULATION STRUCTURE AND SITE FIDELITY

Considerable uncertainty exists regarding population structure and population sizes of most species of odontocetes in the Hawaiian Islands. A small-boat based survey for odontocetes was undertaken off the islands of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau in October and November 2005 to photoidentify individuals and collect genetic samples for examining stock structure. Field effort on 24 days covered 2,194 km of trackline. Survey coverage was from shallow coastal waters out to over 3,000 m depth, though almost half (47%) was in waters less than 500 m in depth. There were 56 sightings of five species of odontocetes: spinner dolphins (30 sightings); bottlenose dolphins (14 sightings); short-finned pilot whales (6 sightings); rough-toothed dolphins (5 sightings); and pantropical spotted dolphins (1 sighting). One hundred and five biopsy samples were collected and 14,960 photographs were taken to document morphology and for individual photo-identification. Photographs of distinctive individuals of three species (bottlenose dolphins, 76 identifications; rough-toothed dolphins, 157 identifications; short-finned pilot whales, 68 identifications) were compared to catalogs of these species from a survey off Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau in 2003, as well as from efforts off O‘ahu, Maui/Lana‘i and the island of Hawai‘i. Within- and between-year matches were found for all three species with individuals previously identified off Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau, though no matches were found with individuals off any of the other islands. This suggests site fidelity to specific island areas, and population structure among island areas for all three species. Movements of photographically identified bottlenose dolphins were documented between deep water areas off the islands of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau, as well as between shallow (\u3c350 m) and deep (\u3e350 m) waters. A lack of sightings or reports of false killer whales off Kaua‘i or Ni‘ihau during our study, combined with documented movements among the other main Hawaiian Islands, suggest that there is no “resident” population of false killer whales that inhabits waters only off Kaua‘i or Ni‘iha

Aspiration therapy for the treatment of obesity: 4-year results of a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

BackgroundThe AspireAssist is the first Food and Drug Administration-approved endoluminal device indicated for treatment of class II and III obesity.ObjectivesWe earlier reported 1-year results of the PATHWAY study. Here, we report 4-year outcomes.SettingUnited States-based, 10-center, randomized controlled trial involving 171 participants with the treatment arm receiving Aspiration Therapy (AT) plus Lifestyle Therapy and the control arm receiving Lifestyle Therapy (2:1 randomization).MethodsAT participants were permitted to continue in the study for an additional year up to a maximum of 5 years providing they maintained at least 10% total weight loss (TWL) from baseline at each year end. For AT participants who continued the study, 5 medical monitoring visits were provided at weeks 60, 68, 76, 90, and 104 and thereafter once every 13 weeks up to week 260. Exclusion criteria were a history of eating disorder or evidence of eating disorder on a validated questionnaire. Follow-up weight, quality of life, and co-morbidities were compared with the baseline levels. In addition, rates of serious adverse event, persistent fistula, withdrawal, and A-tube replacement were reported. All analyses were performed using a per-protocol analysis.ResultsOf the 82 AT participants who completed 1 year, 58 continued to this phase of the trial. Mean baseline body mass index of these 58 patients was 41.6 ± 4.5 kg/m2. At the end of first year (at the beginning of the follow-up study), these 58 patients had a body mass index of 34.1 ± 5.4 kg/m2 and had achieved an 18.3 ± 8.0% TWL. On a per protocol basis, patients experienced 14.2%, 15.3%, 16.6%, and 18.7% TWL at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years, respectively (P < .01 for all). Forty of 58 patients (69%) achieved at least 10% TWL at 4 years or at time of study withdrawal. Improvements in quality of life scores and select cardiometabolic parameters were also maintained through 4 years. There were 2 serious adverse events reported in the second through fourth years, both of which resolved with removal or replacement of the A tube. Two persistent fistulas required surgical repair, representing approximately 2% of all tube removals. There were no clinically significant metabolic or electrolytes disorders observed, nor any evidence for development of any eating disorders.ConclusionsThe results of this midterm study have shown that AT is a safe, effective, and durable weight loss alternative for people with class II and III obesity and who are willing to commit to using the therapy and adhere to adjustments in eating behavior