The role of Gammaproteobacteria in aerobic alkane degradation in oilfield production water from the Barnett Shale

Despite nearly a century’s worth of research focused on investigating the activities of microorganisms in petroleum production systems, a large gap in the literature exists on the role of heterotrophic microorganisms in petroleum-impacted systems. This study aimed to review the current literature examining the major topics in petroleum microbiology while also contributing new findings towards understanding how heterotrophic bacteria, especially members of the Gammaproteobacteria, function in instigating hydrocarbon degradation and downstream biocorrosion in petroleum production water. Several isolates were obtained from the petroleum production water, examined for hydrocarbon degradation ability, and identified via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. One isolate, Halomonas (Gammaproteobacteria) A11A completely oxidized C5 n-pentane and C10 n-decane and partially oxidized C16 n-hexadecane and toluene as estimated through oxygen respirometry. Whole genome sequencing of A11A revealed it possesses an alkane monooxygenase (alkB) and also contains pathways for complete oxidation of n-alkanes and incomplete oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons (BTEX). Fifteen additional heterotrophic isolates were identified via 16S rRNA ribosomal gene sequencing as Arcobacter (7 isolates, Epsilonproteobacteria), Thalassospira (5 isolates, Gammaproteobacteria), Marinobacterium (2 isolates, Gammaproteobacteria) and Salinicola (1 isolate, Gammaproteobacteria). One strain each of Arcobacter and Marinobacterium were tested for growth on hydrocarbons. The Marinobacterium strain showed moderate growth, but the Arcobacter strain was unable to grow on any of the hydrocarbon substrates. However, Arcobacter species contribute to biocorrosion by the oxidation of sulfide. Other studies have found that Thalassospira and Salinicola strains can degrade polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Collectively, these findings suggest that aerobic heterotrophs, such as Gammaproteobacteria, could contribute to biocorrosion by providing substrates, fully and partially degraded hydrocarbons, which foster the activities of sulfidogenic and fermentative microorganisms. Here, we propose that the underappreciated, seemingly innocuous, and often ignored general heterotrophs be considered as problematic and be monitored more closely since they can indirectly threaten the integrity of production water systems

A Performance Versus Cost Analysis of Prepreg Carbon Fibre Epoxy Energy Absorption Structures

Carbon fibre epoxy composites are sought after for their excellent specific energy absorption (SEA) but are costly. A range of prepreg carbon fibre epoxy layups were subjected to a 10 m/s impact with 4 kJ of energy. Fibre volume fraction and voidage were determined for each sample and the fracture analysed in detail. SEA ranged from 35.27 J/g to 60.25 J/g with the highest performance from 8 plies of 200gsm 2x2 twill all laid at 0 degrees. Vacuum assisted oven cure resulted in higher voidage than autoclave cure (2.52% versus 0.17%) but did not affect SEA. According to a ratio of performance to cost the highest rated samples were an 8 ply oven cure and a 3 ply autoclave cure specimen and there was little difference between them. This work has highlighted that there is enormous potential for cost reduction of prepreg carbon fibre epoxy energy absorption structures through the use of heavier areal weight fabrics and fewer plies as well as through the use of oven cured prepreg

First African Marine Mammal Colloquium, South Africa, May 2010

The African Marine Mammal Colloquium (AMMC) was initiated to provide a platform for increased collaboration and communication between researchers working on marine mammals in and around Africa. The first meeting of the AMMC was held at Kleinbaai, South Africa, in May 2010. Talks were presented by each of the 48 participants and a number of discussion groups were held. Several countries were represented but most presentations and discussions were centred on research within the host country. In all, 13 papers that were based on presentations at the AMMC were selected after peer-review to appear in a special issue of the African Journal of Marine Science. Its theme, ‘Conservation biology of marine mammals in the southern African subregion’, reflects both the geographical area represented in these papers and their common subject.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tams2

Confirmation of the occurrence of a second killer whale morphotype in South African waters

Killer whales Orcinus orca occur worldwide in a number of morphotypes that differ in size, pigmentation, acoustic behaviour, food type and genetics – some may indeed warrant subspecific or even specific status. Until recently, all killer whales in South African waters were referred to a single morphotype, Type A, but three individuals (two males and one female) that have stranded since 1969 differ in several respects from other killer whales examined from the region. Adult length is some 1–1.5 m smaller, appendages such as dorsal fin and flippers tend to be relatively larger, and tooth wear is excessive. Although dietary information is scant, one stomach contained the remains of several elasmobranchs, identified from a DNA subsample as blue sharks Prionace glauca, a dietary item that, if habitual, might account for the tooth wear. This morphotype, referred to here as ‘flat-toothed’ and which in several respects resembles the offshore form in the North Pacific and the Type 1 form in the North Atlantic, does not seem to have been recorded previously from the Southern Hemisphere.National Research Foundation, South Africahttp://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tams20hb201

Transit station or destination? Attendance patterns, movements, and abundance estimate of humpback whales off west South Africa from photographic and genotypic matching

Humpback whales found off west South Africa (WSA) are known to display an atypical migration that may include temporary residency and feeding during spring and summer. At a regional scale there is uncertainty about how these whales relate to the greater West African Breeding Stock B as a whole, with evidence both for and against its division into two sub-stocks. A database containing sighting information of humpback whales intercepted by boat in the WSA region from 1983 to 2008 was compiled. It included a total of 1,820 identification images of ventral tail flukes and lateral views of dorsal fins. After systematic within- and between-year matching of images of usable quality, it yielded 154 different individuals identified by tail flukes (TF), 230 by left dorsal fins (LDF), and 237 by right dorsal fins (RDF). Microsatellite (MS) matching of 216 skin biopsies yielded 156 individuals. By linking all possible sightings of the same individuals using all available identification features, the periodicity and seasonality of 281 individual whales were examined. Sixty whales were resighted on different days of which 44 were between different calendar years. The most resightings for one individual was 11 times, seen in six different years, while the longest interval between first and last sightings was about 18 years. A resighting rate of 15.6% of whales at intervals of a year or more indicates long-term fidelity to the region. Shorter intervals of 1 – 6 months between sequential sightings in the same year may suggest temporary residency. The TF image collection from WSA was compared to TF collections from four other regions, namely Gabon, Cabinda (Angola), Namibia and the Antarctic Humpback Whale Catalogue (AHWC). Three matches were detected were between WSA (in late spring or summer) and Gabon (in winter), confirming direct movement between these regions. The capture-recapture data of four different identification features (TF, RDF, LDF and MS) from six successive subsets of data from periods with the highest collection effort (2001 – 2007), were used to calculate the number of whales that utilise the region, using both closed and open-population models. Since dorsal fins have never been used to estimate abundance for humpback whales, the different identification features were evaluated for potential biases. This revealed 9 – 14% incidence of missed matches (false negatives) when using dorsal fins that will result in an overestimate, while variation in individual fluke-up behaviour may lower estimates due to heterogeneity of individual capture probability, by as much as 57-69%. Taking into consideration the small dataset and low number of recaptures, the most consistent and precise results were obtained from a fully time-dependent version of the Jolly-Seber open-population model, with annual survival fixed at 0.96, using the MS dataset. This suggests that the WSA feeding assemblage during the months of spring and summer of the study period numbered about 500. The relationship of these whales to those (perhaps strictly migratory) that may occur here in other seasons of the year, and their links to possible migratory routes and other feeding or breeding areas remain uncertain.National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa, under Grant Number 2047517. Earthwatch Institute (funding), The Mazda Wildlife Fund (through the provision of a field vehicle), SASOL (through the donation of two four-stroke engines), PADI Project AWARE (UK) (funding), the South African Navy (access to the shore-based look-out), the Military Academy, University of Stellenbosch (accommodation) and Iziko South African Museum (office space and support). JB gratefully received financial support in the form of bursaries from the NRF, the Society for Marine Mammalogy, University of Pretoria, and the Wildlife Society of South Africa (Charles Astley Maberley Memorial bursary). The Namibian Dolphin Project is supported by NACOMA (Namibian Coastal Conservation and Management Project), the Nedbank Go Green Fund, Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, the British Ecological Society, the Rufford Small Grants Foundation and the Namibia Nature Foundation. JB and TJQC received funding from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to conduct between-region matching.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tams20nf201

Mortalities of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) and related anthropogenic factors in South African waters, 1999–2019

The southern right whale (Eubalaena australis; SRW) population in South Africa’s coastal waters has experienced marked changes since 2009, including altered feeding and migration behaviour, and decreased calving success. At the same time, anthropogenic activities in the area have increased. Based on this, an update on SRW mortalities and related anthropogenic factors is warranted. Building on the published information of Best et al. (2001a), data were collated on all SRW mortalities as well as non‐fatal ship‐strikes and entanglements along the South African coast between 1999 and 2019. A total of 97 SRW mortalities were recorded, including three that did not result in a stranding, of which the majority were classified as calves of the year. Most of these occurred on the Western Cape coast between the months of July to November, coinciding with the seasonal presence of the species in South African coastal waters. Eleven of these mortalities could be attributed to ship‐strikes whereas three mortalities related to entanglements. A total of 98 non‐fatal incidents, including 16 ship‐strikes and 82 entanglements with SRWs, were recorded in South Africa between 1999 and 2019. Ship‐strikes occurred mainly around the area of Cape Town harbour. Entanglements occurred mainly in rock‐lobster gear and bather‐protection nets in the Western Cape and KwaZulu‐Natal provinces respectively, although the latter did not occur between 2015–2019 attributable to the replacement of over 70% of the nets by drumlines, and the removal of the remaining nets during whale season. In general, the incidence of SRW mortalities and entanglements decreased post‐2007, coinciding with the decreased presence of SRWs along the South African coast. Available data show a relatively low rate of fatal entanglements and ship‐strikes, although this may be underestimated due to the opportunistic nature of the collated data. In view of the population growth rate and the increased anthropogenic activities in South African coastal waters, continued and improved monitoring (e.g. through a more systematic reporting system) of these incidents is crucial to ensure accurate knowledge‐based management decisions in the future. Possible mitigation measures aimed at reducing anthropogenic interactions are mooted.https://journal.iwc.int/index.php/jcrmam2023Mammal Research InstituteZoology and Entomolog

Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) movement patterns along the South African coast

1. The Indian Ocean humpback dolphin was recently uplisted to ‘Endangered’ in the recent South African National Red List assessment. Abundance estimates are available from a number of localized study sites, but knowledge of movement patterns and population linkage between these sites is poor. A national research collaboration, the SouSA project, was established in 2016 to address this key knowledge gap. Twenty identification catalogues collected between 2000 and 2016 in 13 different locations were collated and compared. 2. Photographs of 526 humpback dolphins (all catalogues and photos) were reduced to 337 individuals from 12 locations after data selection. Of these, 90 matches were found for 61 individuals over multiple sites, resulting in 247 uniquely, well‐marked humpback dolphins identified in South Africa. 3. Movements were observed along most of the coastline studied. Ranging distances had a median value of 120 km and varied from 30 km up to 500 km. Long‐term site fidelity was also evident in the data. Dolphins ranging along the south coast of South Africa seem to form one single population at the western end of the species' global range. 4. Current available photo‐identification data suggested national abundance may be well below previous estimates of 1000 individuals, with numbers possibly closer to 500. Bearing in mind the poor conservation status of the species in the country, the development of a national Biodiversity Management Plan aimed at ensuring the long‐term survival of the species in South Africa is strongly recommended. At the same time, increased research efforts are essential, particularly to allow for an in‐depth assessment of population numbers and drivers of changes therein. 5. The present study clearly indicates the importance of scientific collaboration when investigating highly mobile and endangered species.This collaborative research project was funded by the South African Network for Coastal and Oceanic Research (SANCOR), the National Research Foundation (NRF), and the University of Pretoria.http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/aqc2019-02-01hj2018Mammal Research Institut

The Glasgow Coma Scale and Evidence-Informed Practice: a critical review of where we are and where we need to be

Aims and Objectives This critical review considers the evidence since the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was first launched, reflecting on how that evidence has shaped practice. It illustrates the lack of clarity and consensus about the use of the tool in practice and draws upon existing evidence in order to determine the route to clarity for an evidence-informed approach to practice. Background The GCS has permeated and influenced practice for over 40 years, being well-established worldwide as the key tool for assessing level of consciousness. During this time, the tool has been scrutinised, evaluated, challenged and relaunched in a plethora of publications. This has led to an insight into the challenges, and to some extent the opportunities, in using the GCS in practice but has also resulted in a lack of clarity. Design This is a discursive paper that invites readers to explore and arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of the GCS in practice and is based on searches of Scopus, Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Science Direct and CINAHL databases. Results While the GCS has been rivalled by other tools in an attempt to improve upon it, a shift in practice to those tools has not occurred. The tool has withstood the test of time in this respect, indicating the need for further research into its use and a clear education strategy to standardise implementation in practice. Conclusion Further exploration is needed into the application of painful stimuli in using the GCS to assess level of consciousness. Additionally, a robust educational strategy is necessary to maximise consistency in its use in practice

Yoga jam: remixing Kirtan in the Art of Living

Yoga Jam are a group of musicians in the United Kingdom who are active members of the Art of Living, a transnational Hindu-derived meditation group. Yoga Jam organize events—also referred to as yoga raves and yoga remixes—that combine Hindu devotional songs (bhajans) and chants (mantras) with modern Western popular musical genres, such as soul, rock, and particularly electronic dance music. This hybrid music is often played in a clublike setting, and dancing is interspersed with yoga and meditation. Yoga jams are creative fusions of what at first sight seem to be two incompatible phenomena—modern electronic dance music culture and ancient yogic traditions. However, yoga jams make sense if the Durkheimian distinction between the sacred and the profane is challenged, and if tradition and modernity are not understood as existing in a sort of inverse relationship. This paper argues that yoga raves are authenticated through the somatic experience of the modern popular cultural phenomenon of clubbing combined with therapeutic yoga practices and validated by identifying this experience with a reimagined Vedic tradition