Shepherd\u27s Beaked Whale (\u3ci\u3eTasmacetus shepherdi\u3c/i\u3e): Information on Appearance and Biology Based on Strandings and At-Sea Observations

Shepherd’s beaked whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi), one of the least known cetaceans in the world (Mead 1989, 2002), is currently represented by approximately 42 stranding records and 5 unconfirmed live sightings. Most of the strandings have been from New Zealand (including the Chatham Islands—24 records), but also the Juan Fernandez Islands (2), Argentina (7), Tristan da Cunha (6), and Australia (3) (Fig. 1). A stranding reported from the South Sandwich Islands (Mead 2002) was actually a “probable” at-sea sighting near Shag Rocks (position of sighting: 53°45\u27S, 42°30\u27 W) reported by Laughlin (1996, see below), and purported strandings from South Africa (e.g., Rice 1998, Reeves et al. 2002) are in error and probably refer instead to records from Tristan da Cunha. Based on stranding records and the known habitat preferences of beaked whales in general, T. shepherdi is assumed to have a circumpolar distribution in deep, cold temperate waters of the Southern Ocean (Mead 1989, 2002)

Effets de forme et de dimension des cristallites sur les profils diffractés par des hématites de différentes origines

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First record of True's beaked whale <em>Mesoplodon mirus </em>in New Zealand

On 27 November 2011, a whale resembling a True’s beaked whale, Mesoplodon mirus, was found stranded on the South Island of New Zealand. Sequencing of two mitochondrial regions (cytochrome b and mtDNA control region) confirmed species identification as a True’s beaked whale that was genetically identified as female. Further examination of the carcass found that the whale was pregnant although decomposition excluded determination of the age of the foetus. This spe- cimen is confirmed as the first record of the species in New Zealand further supporting New Zealand as a whale stranding hotspot

DTA Study of thermal decomposition of Ruthenium III hydrate

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Criteria for assessing maturity of skulls in the common dolphin, Delphinus sp., from New Zealand waters

International audienceKnowledge about the maturity status of specimens included in evolutionary, tax-onomic or life history investigations is fundamentally important. This study investigated the use of the degree of cranial suture fusion, the developmental status of cranial bones, and the degree of tooth wear as indicators for cranial maturity status in Delphinus sp. from New Zealand waters. In total, 15 sutures, one joint and three nonmetric characters were assessed on 66 skulls obtained from stranded and by-caught individuals sampled between 1932 and 2011. A suture index (SI) was computed based on 10 sutures, in which degree of fusion was correlated with age and the three misclassification indices (MI), calculated for a given suture, were <50%. In addition to these, five premaxilla-maxilla fusion and seven tooth wear categories were assessed. Results suggest that New Zealand Delphinus sp. skulls should be regarded as cranially mature if at least two of the following criteria are met: (1) individuals assessed as sexually mature, (2) aged ≥ 11 yr, (3) SI ≥ 8, and (4) premaxilla-maxilla fusion ≥ 75% of the length of the dorsal side of the rostrum. Presence of any number of rostral teeth worn to the gum line provided further evidence for cranial maturity

The thermal and electrical yield of a PV-thermal collector

Four numerical models have been built for the simulation of the thermal yield of a combined PV-thermal collector: a 3D dynamical model and three steady state models that are 3D, 2D and 1D. The models are explained and the results are compared to experimental results. It is found that all models follow the experiments within 5% accuracy. In addition, for the calculation of the daily yield, the simple 1D steady state model performs almost as good as the much more time-consuming 3D dynamical model. On the other hand, the 2D and 3D models are more easily adapted to other configurations and provide more detailed information, as required for a further optimization of the collector. The time-dependent model is required for an accurate prediction of the collector yield if the collector temperature at the end of a measurement differs from its starting temperature

In Silico Identification of Putative Regulatory Sequence Elements in the 5′-Untranslated Region of Genes That Are Expressed during Male Gametogenesis

During pollen development, transcription of a large number of genes results in the appearance of distinct sets of transcripts. Similar mRNA sets are present in pollen of both mono- and dicotyledonous plant species, which indicates an evolutionary conservation of genetic programs that determine pollen gene expression. In pollen, regulation of gene expression occurs at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional level. The 5′-untranslated region (UTR) of several pollen transcripts has been shown to be important for regulation of pollen gene expression. The important regulatory role of 5′-UTR sequences and the evolutionary conservation of genetic programs in pollen led to the hypothesis that the 5′-UTRs of pollen-expressed genes share regulatory sequence elements. In an attempt to identify these pollen 5′-UTR elements, a statistical analysis was performed using 5′-UTR sequences of pollen- and sporophytic-expressed genes. The analysis revealed the presence of several pollen-specific 5′-UTR sequence elements. Assembly of the pollen 5′-UTR elements led to the identification of various consensus sequences, including those that previously have been demonstrated to play a role in the regulation of pollen gene expression. Several pollen 5′-UTR elements were found to be preferentially associated to genes from dicots, wet-type stigma plants, or plants containing bicellular pollen. Moreover, three sequence elements exhibited a preferential association to the 5′-UTR of pollen-expressed genes from Arabidopsis and Brassica napus. Functional implications of these observations are discussed

Vessel collisions with small cetaceans worldwide and with large whales in the Southern Hemisphere, an initial assessment

Collisions with vessels are a well-documented conservation problem for some populations of large whales (LW)in the Northern Hemisphere. Less attention has been given to incidents in the Southern Hemisphere or to small cetaceans (SC) worldwide, therefore an experimental database was compiled (N=256; 119 LW, 137 SC) to allow a rapid assessment.Confirmed collision records were identified for 25 species (7 LW, 18 SC) and unconfirmed but probable records for 10 other species (2 LW, 8 SC). Among LW, ship-caused mortality and traumatic injuries seem to affect primarily southern right (56reported cases), humpback (15) and Bryde’s whales (13), but also sperm (8), blue (5), sei (4) and fin whales (2) are involved,and probably Antarctic minke and dwarf minke whales. Southern right whale populations off South Africa and off eastern South America (Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina) suffer significant mortality. Incidence and potential population impact vary widely among the 26 small cetacean species for which collision records exist. Vessel strikes in at least two populations each of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Xiamen and Hong Kong/Pearl River, possibly western Taiwan), Irrawaddy dolphin(Mahakam River, Chilika Lagoon, possibly Laos) and finless porpoise (Yangtze River, Hong Kong) may directly compromise long-term survival. Annual vessel-caused mortality (min. 2.9% of population) for Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mahakam River may not be sustainable. The quasi-extinction of the baiji warns for a potential similar fate for the Yangtze River finless porpoise and Ganges river dolphin. Two calves of the endangered Hector’s dolphin are known killed by boats. All highly impacted species have a neritic, estuarine or fluviatile habitat, areas where vessel traffic is concentrated. Species that may receive a moderate impact from collisions but which may be sustainable at species level (because many strikes are nonlethal),include common bottlenose dolphins, killer whales, short-finned pilot whales and pygmy sperm whales. Almost 2%of common bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Guayaquil showed propeller-inflicted injuries and scars. Propeller guards should be made compulsory for all boat-based cetacean tourism, as habituation to boat traffic seems a contributing factor in accidents. Low impact occurs in 15 small cetacean species with only few reported vessel strikes. However, vast underreporting is thought to be the norm and there is a need for a global, standardised database.Las colisiones con barcos constituyen un problema de conservación bien documentado en el caso de ballenas grandes (BG) en el hemisferio norte. Menos atención se le ha brindado a los incidentes en el hemisferio sur y a los cetáceos menores (CM) alrededor del mundo. A fin de realizar una evaluación rápida de este problema se ha compilado una base de datos preliminar (N=256; 119 BG, 137 CM), la cual incluye registros confirmados de colisión para 25 especies (7 BG, 18 CM) y registros no confirmados pero probables para otras 10 (2 BG, 8 CM). Entre BG, la mortalidad causada por barcos e injurias traumáticas parecen afectar principalmente a las ballenas francas australes (56 casos reportados), ballenas jorobadas (15) y ballenas de Bryde (13), pero también se vieron involucrados cachalotes (8), ballenas azules (5), sei (4), de aleta (2), y probablemente ballenas minke antárticas y minke enanas. Ballenas francas australes costa afuera de Sudáfrica y de Sudamérica (Brasil, Uruguay y Argentina) sufren mortalidades significativas. La incidencia y el potencial impacto para las poblaciones varían ampliamente entre las 26 especies de cetáceos menores para las que existen registros de colisiones. En al menos dos poblaciones del delfín jorobado del Indo-Pacífico (río Mahakam, laguna Chilika, posiblemente Laos) y del delfín liso (río Yangtze, Hong Kong), las colisiones con barcos pueden directamente comprometer su sobrevivencia a largo plazo. La mortalidad anual causada por barcos para delfines del Rio Irrawaddy en el río Mahakam (min. 2.9% de la población) puede no ser sostenible. La cuasi extinción del baiji es una advertencia de un potencial destino similar para el delfín liso del río Yangtze y para el delfín del río Ganges. Se conoce de dos crías del amenazado delfín de Hector muertos por botes. Todas las especies altamente afectadas tienen un hábitat nerítico, estuarino o fluvial, áreas donde el tráfico marítimo se concentra. Especies que pueden recibir un moderado impacto por colisiones con barcos pero que pueden ser sostenibles a nivel de especies (pues muchas colisiones no son fatales) incluen a los delfines nariz de botella comunes, orcas, ballenas piloto de aleta corta y cachalotes pigmeos. Casi 2% de la población de delfines nariz de botella del golfo de Guayaquil mostraron heridas y cicatrices causadas por hélices. Se debería obligar el uso de dispositivos cubre hélice para todas las embarcaciones que realizan turismo de observación de cetáceos, pues la habituación al tráfico marítimo parece ser un factor que contribuye a los incidentes. Bajo impacto ocurre en 15 especies de cetáceos menores con solo unos pocos casos reportados de colisiones. Se estima que solo una fracción de las colisiones con cetáceos es reportada. Adicionalmente, se requiere una base de datos global estandarizada

Targeted multiomics in childhood-onset SLE reveal distinct biological phenotypes associated with disease activity: results from an explorative study

Objective To combine targeted transcriptomic and proteomic data in an unsupervised hierarchical clustering method to stratify patients with childhood-onset SLE (cSLE) into similar biological phenotypes, and study the immunological cellular landscape that characterises the clusters.Methods Targeted whole blood gene expression and serum cytokines were determined in patients with cSLE, preselected on disease activity state (at diagnosis, Low Lupus Disease Activity State (LLDAS), flare). Unsupervised hierarchical clustering, agnostic to disease characteristics, was used to identify clusters with distinct biological phenotypes. Disease activity was scored by clinical SELENA-SLEDAI (Safety of Estrogens in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment-Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index). High-dimensional 40-colour flow cytometry was used to identify immune cell subsets.Results Three unique clusters were identified, each characterised by a set of differentially expressed genes and cytokines, and by disease activity state: cluster 1 contained primarily patients in LLDAS, cluster 2 contained mainly treatment-naïve patients at diagnosis and cluster 3 contained a mixed group of patients, namely in LLDAS, at diagnosis and disease flare. The biological phenotypes did not reflect previous organ system involvement and over time, patients could move from one cluster to another. Healthy controls clustered together in cluster 1. Specific immune cell subsets, including CD11c+ B cells, conventional dendritic cells, plasmablasts and early effector CD4+ T cells, differed between the clusters.Conclusion Using a targeted multiomic approach, we clustered patients into distinct biological phenotypes that are related to disease activity state but not to organ system involvement. This supports a new concept where choice of treatment and tapering strategies are not solely based on clinical phenotype but includes measuring novel biological parameters