Science,politics, and the sea grant college program

Abstract

During its eighteen‐year history of research, education, and advisory activities, the National Sea Grant College Program has played a distinctive role in the nation's efforts to develop, use, and manage its marine resources. The partnership between Sea Grant universities, marine industries, and government agencies has resulted in demonstrable scientific and economic contributions. Despite these successes, the Reagan Administration has proposed termination of the program and embroiled it in a lengthy political struggle for survival. Should Sea Grant survive, its future success will depend increasingly on its ability to support an expanded basic research program.     

Haptoglobin,transferrin and serum albumin variants in the Dayaks of Sarawak

Summary The Land Dayaks and the Sea Dayaks of Sarawak were surveyed for haptoglobin, transferrin and serum albumin variants. The Hp¹ gene frequency was 0.385 in 283 Land Dayaks as well as in 205 Sea Dayaks. The TfD_Chi gene frequency in 283 Land Dayaks was 0.030 and in 188 Sea Dayaks it was 0.040. Serum albumin Medan was found in one of the 188 Sea Dayaks.This work was supported in part by the University of California International Center for Medical Research (UC ICMR) through research grant AI 10051, and in part by research grant HL 10486, both from the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Public Health Service.     

Effective communication in technology sharing

Abstract

The paper emphasizes the importance of communication for the success of technology sharing and information dissemination programs. The concept of the “gatekeeper”; is discussed and placed in the organizational perspective. Several characteristics by which this vital individual can be identified are delineated.

The flow of information across and within organizations, communities and regions of interest is studied in the context of the gatekeeper, the liasion and the communication isolate—three groups of people identifiable within an organization. Information channels are next explored and a method of evaluating their effectiveness presented.

The authors suggest that a technology sharing program needs to deal with certain distinct audiences termed politicians, managers, scientists, technologists and workers. Patterns of communication among these audiences together with a system of communicating with outside expertise needs to be analyzed at the outset of any extension or cooperative endeavor.

This basic structure is then applied to a model indicating the role of a hypothetical International Sea Grant effort. The authors suggest that such an international program could best succeed when integrated with existing extension networks. Evaluation, feedback and follow‐up are mentioned as areas vital to the success of an extension or sharing program.

The paper then proceeds to present some perspectives on communication and change agents and warns against the possible dangers which could plague an extension system.

The authors conclude with some thoughts on an extension strategy.     

An apparent population decrease,or change in distribution,of Weddell seals along the Victoria Land coast

Ground counts during 1959–1968 compared with counts using high resolution (0.6 m²) satellite imagery during 2008–2012 indicated many fewer Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) at two major molting areas in the western Ross Sea: Edisto Inlet‐Moubray Bay, northern Victoria Land, and McMurdo Sound, southern Victoria Land. Breeding seals have largely disappeared from Edisto‐Moubray, though the breeding population in McMurdo Sound appears to have recovered from harvest in the 1960s. The timing of decline, or perhaps spreading (lower numbers of seals in more places), is unknown but appears unrelated to changes in sea ice conditions. We analyzed both historic and satellite‐derived ice data confirming a large expansion of pack ice mostly offshore of the Ross Sea, and not over the continental shelf (main Weddell seal habitat), and a thinning of fast ice along Victoria Land (conceivably beneficial to seals). Timing of fast ice presence and extent in coves and bays along Victoria Land, remains the same. The reduction in numbers is consistent with an altered food web, the reasons for which are complex. In the context of a recent industrial fishery targeting a seal prey species, a large‐scale seal monitoring program is required to increase understanding of seal population changes.     

Haptoglobin, transferrin and serum albumin variants in the Dayaks of Sarawak.

The Land Dayaks and the Sea Kayaks of Sarawak were surveyed for haptoglobin, transferrin and serum albumin variants. The Hp1 gene frequency was 0.385 in 283 Land Dayaks as well as in 205 Sea Kayaks. The TfDChi gene frequency in 283 Land Dayaks was 0.030 and in 188 Sea Kayaks it was 0.040. Serum albumin Medan was found in one of the 188 Sea Kayaks.     

泉古菌醇与绿素在东海陆架区的分布及关系研究

【目的】研究东海陆架地区的沉积物中的泉古菌醇、绿素的分布及其相关关系。【方法】通过有机化学的方法将泉古菌醇和绿素从沉积物中萃取出来之后,利用高效液相色谱质谱连用对泉古菌醇进行定量检测,利用高效液相色谱对绿素进行定量检测。【结果】泉古菌醇和绿素在长江河口绝对量的分布在空间上呈现类似关系,并且受到陆源输入的影响较小。【结论】东海陆架区的泉古菌醇和绿素均为海洋产生,而非陆源输入,且两者呈现明显的相关关系,提示泉古菌醇具有指示历史时期东海表层初级生产力变化的潜在应用。     

General index

Abstract

Phytobenthos from Eastern Mediterranean Sea. — The A. states the results of an exploration, by diving techniques, in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, along 13 stations located in the midle-western and southern region of the Aegean Sea. Besides to the values of various ecology elements (saltness, brightness, nutrition salts), informations about reologic regime in the Aegean Sea are reported. It has been collected 175 floral entities, with the following per cent composition: Chlorophyceae 14,5%, Phoeophyceae 17,0%, Rhodophyceae 68,3%. Eastern Mediterranean Sea underwater flora presents in the explored stations a R/P index equal to 4, which characterizes it as a subtropical one.     

The Hygia Project and Hygia Chronotherapy Trial: insights of we clinical investigators on the impact of the embedded continuing medical education on primary-care practice and improved patient cardiovascular health

ABSTRACT

The participating doctors of the Hygia Chronotherapy Trial (HCT) are aware of the criticisms of its published findings, which have been unjustifiably misrepresented in letters to the editors and commentaries, perhaps because of lack of understanding of the foundations of the Hygia Project, in which the HCT is nested. Thus, our purpose through this communication is to highlight the unique features of the Hygia Project and HCT in terms of: (i) organization, management, and quality control, (ii) physician training/continuing medical education, and (iii) impact on every-day primary-care clinical practice specifically improved patient care through 48 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to diagnose and optimally manage by bedtime hypertension chronotherapy true arterial hypertension to markedly improve the cardiovascular health of our patients.     

Avian peptidase isozymes: Tissue distributions,substrate affinities,and assignment of homology

Peptidase (EC 3.4.13.9 and EC 3.4.13.11) isozymes were examined from 14 tissues of 19 species of birds, representing 8 families and 6 orders, via horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. Peptidases were detected by employing histochemical staining techniques utilizing 13 di-, tri-, and tetrapeptides as substrates. It was determined that there is a minimum of six presumptive structural gene loci encoding peptidases in birds (excluding those encoding cytosol aminopeptidase; EC 3.4.11.1). The products of the peptidase loci were widely expressed in most tissues with the exception of Pep-F, which was restricted to pancreas. Products of most loci have multiple, overlapping substrate affinities (except for the products of Pep-D, which react only with a peptide containing a carboxyterminal proline). By using a combination of differential electrophoretic mobility and substrate preferences, the products of the various peptidase loci can be distinguished from one another. The homologies of the avian peptidases with those in other vertebrates were tentatively established and it is suggested that the nomenclature proposed by Rapleyet al. (Ann. Hum. Genet. 34:307, 1971) be applied to avian peptidases. Financial support for this research was provided by several Organismal Biology Grants provided through the Department of Biology, UCLA; UCLA Travel and Research Grants; and a NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant (BSR 85-01245) to RHM; and the UCLA Biomedical Support Grant and UCLA Committee on Research Grant (U.R. 3674) to D. G. Buth.     

Abnormal hemoglobins, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and hereditary ovalocytosis in the Dayaks of Sarawak.

A survey of abnormal hemoglobins, G6PD deficiency and hereditary ovalocytosis was carried out among the Dayaks of Sarawak. The only abnormal hemoglobin found was Hb Co Sp, which occurred in 0.35% of the Land Dayaks and 0.83% of the Sea Dayaks. G6PD deficiency occurred in 5.3% of the male Land Dayaks and 5.0% of the male Sea Dayaks; no electrophoretic variant of G6PD was found in any of the 285 Land Dayaks and 240 Sea Dayaks examined. Hereditary ovalocytosis was found in 12.7% of the Land Dayaks and 9.0% of the Sea Dayaks.     

胶州湾污染海域半知菌群体结构多样性时空动态变化及与生境的关系（英文）北大核心CSCD

【目的】揭示胶州湾典型污染海域半知菌群体结构多样性动态变化与生境的关系。【方法】根据以往对近岸污染调查记录,分别确定胶州湾海泊河、李村河入海口为中度、重度污染采样站位,石老人潮间为轻度污染对照站位,利用PCR-DGGE指纹图谱方法,研究该生境半知菌群体结构多样性季节动态变化与污染的关系。【结果】结果证明,污染指标除总氮含量外,其他各项指标含量在三站位的变化趋势为石老人潮间带最低,海泊河居中,李村河含量最高;与石老人站位相比,海泊河、李村河站位污染指标在四季变化较显著。首次证明在重金属和氮磷严重超标的海域,仍存在数量和种类较多的半知菌。PCR-DGGE指纹图谱结果显示,同一站位相似污染程度采样点之间DGGE指纹图谱比较一致,不同站位、不同季节之间指纹图谱存在明显的差异。优势条带割胶测序分析显示,3个站位存在大量的不可培养真菌,青霉属为半知菌优势种,重度污染的李村河入海口除半知菌外,存在较大量的阿米巴虫、腐霉等动物病原菌。【结论】污染海域的半知菌群体结构与生境污染程度及季节具有较密切的联系。     

Planktonic larval stages of Brachyura in the Gulf of Tigullio (Ligurian Sea,Italy)

Summary

Horizontal planktonic catches made in the Gulf of Tigullio (Genoa, Ligurian Sea) have been analyzed with the aim of identifying the zoeae of Brachyura, whose knowledge is poor in all the northern Mediterranean Sea. Forty-four taxa (42 species plus Liocarcinus spp. and Brachynotus spp.) have been identified, 12 of which were present with all the larval stages. The seasonal distribution of the taxa has been analyzed, and it was possible to recognize species present throughout the year as well as spring/summer, summer/autumn, and winter/summer species. Problems regarding zoeae of dubious identification are discussed.     

Parhyale plumicornis (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Hyalidae): is this an anti-lessepsian Mediterranean species? Morphological remarks,molecular markers and ecological notes as tools for future records

Hyalid amphipods living in coastal marine habitats are frequently included in ecological studies. The systematics of this taxon has been subject to profound changes, with an emphasis on the North Pacific fauna. Since a proper species delimitation is a prerequisite in taxonomic and ecological studies, Parhyale plumicornis (Heller, 1866) has been herein re-described, showing the criticisms and mismatches of various characters, which were previously used in dichotomous keys. This species was collected for the first time off the western coast of Sicily Island (Italy: central Mediterranean Sea). The male is peculiar, due to the second antennae heavily setose posteriorly and bearing long tufts of plumose ventral setae. In this paper, the species will be illustrated, and morphological polymorphism, molecular tags and ecological features will be reported. The species does not appear to be frequent in the Mediterranean Sea but it is important that marine biologists identify it accurately. A recent record, possibly ascribable to Parhyale plumicornis in the Red Sea, could indicate that this species is the first anti-lessepsian amphipod, which has migrated from the Mediterranean Sea towards the Red Sea.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:770BEDA1-3E06-464F-9D34-8AFE43592FCA     

北黄海沉积物可培养产蛋白酶细菌分离鉴定

【目的】揭示北黄海沉积物中可培养产胞外蛋白酶细菌及蛋白酶多样性,增加人们对北黄海生态系统中产蛋白酶菌多样性的认识,为海洋产蛋白酶微生物的挖掘提供菌群资源。【方法】分别将5个北黄海沉积物样品梯度稀释涂布至酪蛋白明胶筛选平板,选择性分离产蛋白酶细菌;并通过分析基于16S rRNA基因序列的系统发育关系,揭示这些细菌的分类地位和遗传多样性;分别测定胞外蛋白酶活性并对酶活较高的39株菌进行基于苯甲基磺酰氟(PMSF,丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂)、邻菲罗啉(o-phenanthroline,O-P,金属蛋白酶抑制剂)、E-64(半胱氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂)和pepstatin A(天冬氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂)4种抑制剂的酶活抑制实验以及所有菌株对3种底物(酪蛋白、明胶、弹性蛋白)的水解能力;分析这些细菌所产胞外蛋白酶的特性及多样性。【结果】从5个北黄海沉积物样品中分离获得66株产蛋白酶细菌,这些菌株隶属于Bacteroidetes、Proteobacteria、Actinobacteria和Firmicutes 4个门的7个属,其中Pseudoalteromonas(69.9%)、Sulfitobacter(12.1%)和Salegentibacter(10.6%)是优势菌群;沉积物中可培养的产蛋白酶细菌的丰度为104 CFU/g;蛋白酶酶活抑制实验表明所有测定菌株产生的胞外蛋白酶属于丝氨酸蛋白酶和/或金属蛋白酶,仅有少数菌株所产蛋白酶具有半胱氨酸蛋白酶或天冬氨酸蛋白酶活性。【结论】北黄海沉积物中可培养产蛋白酶细菌类群较为丰富,Pseudoalteromonas、Sulfitobacter和Salegentibacter菌株是优势菌群,测定菌株所产胞外蛋白酶主要是丝氨酸蛋白酶和/或金属蛋白酶。     

Municipal legislation for exploitation of the deep seabed

Abstract

This study traces the evolution of municipal legislation for the deep seabed in the United States of America and the Federal Republic of Germany, and considers what the United States seeks to gain and what it may possibly lose through its recent enactment of the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act. The study concludes that the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral‐Resources Act will ensure for the United States that the minerals of the deep seabed are (if they can be) available when needed, and will strengthen the negotiating position of the United States in UNCLOS III vis‐à‐vis a proposed seabed regime which it perceives as inefficient toward the development of manganese nodules, and unacceptable in the system of governance it promotes. Passage of the Act, it is concluded, will probably not result in a breakdown of the Law of the Sea negotiations. It is thought it will give rise to a legal challenge, the outcome of which is difficult to predict. Finally, it is asserted that political/economic opposition to the Act will be mitigated by the reasonableness of the Act, its provision for delayed implementation, and the desire of many nations to conclude a successful Law of the Sea Treaty.     

Russia’s Annexation of Crimea and the Passage of Ships Through Kerch Strait: A Law of the Sea Perspective

?

This article discusses potential Ukrainian rights of passage through Kerch Strait against the background of restrictions on passage imposed by Russia since the annexation of Crimea, taking into account the ongoing arbitral proceedings under Annex VII of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The article addresses first the question of the status of Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov under the international law of the sea. In a second step, the article deals with the issue of potential Ukrainian passage rights through Kerch Strait based on the legal status discussed in the first section as well as relevant bilateral treaties between Ukraine and Russia.     

Euphausia superba dominates in the diet of Adélie penguins feeding under fast sea-ice in the shelf areas of Enderby Land in summer

Adélie penguins Pygoscelis adeliae in Enderby Land, Antarctica feed mainly on Euphausia superba during the chick rearing season in shelf areas where fast sea-ice remains: indicating that E. superba is abundant under the fast sea-ice in these areas. The shelf areas in Enderby Land, therefore, are unique since the previous studies of Adélie penguin diet in Ross Sea, Adélie Land and Prydz Bay show that E. crystallorophias is the most abundant krill species in shelf areas in general.     

A neural net model for escape learning

An escape learning situation is discussed in terms of a neural model in which a stimulus can result in a conditioned excitement and a specific conditioned response. By using the simplest relations between the strengths of conditioning and the number of reinforcements and by introducing a distribution of fluctuations occurring regularly in time, one can calculate the probabilities of various responses, as well as the various latencies, in successive trials. The results are in moderately satisfactory agreement with the data of R. L. Solomon and L. C. Wynne (Psychol. Monogr.,67, No. 4, 1953). Consequences of the model for various experimental situations are discussed. This research was supported in part by the United States Public Health Service Grant RCA GM K6 18,420 and in part by the United States Air Force through the Air Force Office of Scientific Research of the Air Research Development Command under Grant No. AF AFOSR 370-64.     

Spatial and temporal variations in the White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla breeding diet revealed by prey remains

ABSTRACT

Capsule: Despite its population increase, the White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla has not become food-limited, and does not pose a serious threat to birds of conservation concern in the region east of the Baltic Sea.

Aims: We aimed to test variations in the main prey groups and dietary niche breadth of White-tailed Eagles through the years and along an environmental gradient as well as to evaluate the extent of predation on bird species of conservation concern.

Methods: Prey remains were collected during nestling ringing from successful nests located in Lithuania.

Results: The frequency of the prey groups varied along an environmental gradient, with a general pattern of increasing avian prey consumed by pairs breeding in areas with less abundant aquatic habitats. The frequency of alternative prey (i.e. terrestrial birds, mammals) and dietary niche breadth did not increase between 2005 and 2018 and during which time the White-tailed Eagle population nearly doubled. Instead, the occurrence of Northern Pike Esox lucius remains, which was the most frequent single prey species, increased throughout the study period. Bird species of conservation concern constituted only a small fraction of all the prey identified.

Conclusions: The White-tailed Eagle has not become more dependent on alternative prey despite its population increase.