Enforcement Co-operation between Norway and Russia in the Barents Sea Fisheries

This article measures the Indonesian legal framework governing fishing vessel registration and fishing vessel licensing against the relevant international fisheries instruments. It is argued that the current Indonesian regulatory framework for vessel registration and licensing is not adequate to implement Indonesia's obligations under international fisheries instruments to combat illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing.     

Haste makes waste: shorter time for nest-site assessment leads to higher nest predation in a cavity nester

Evolutionary Ecology - A fundamental problem for any animal is how to weigh the benefits of making a rapid decision against the costs of making a poor decision, because time for detecting and...     

Effect of snow cover on seasonal changes in diet, habitat, and regional distribution of raptors that prey on small mammals in boreal zones of Fennoscandia

Seasonal changes in spatial distribution of search effort of birds that prey on small mammals were studied in two structurally different coniferous forest habitats in the northern boreal zone in SE Norway. During the season with snow cover both the proportion of Microtus relative to that of Clethrionomys in the predators' diet, and their use of a clear-cut relative to that of older forest were lower than during the snow-free season. This was related to a lower relative availability of prey ( Microtus agrestis and M. oeconomus ) in the clear-cut when the ground was snow-covered than when it was snow-free. Based on this local pattern I suggest the following explanation for differences in migratory strategy between raptors that prey on small mammals in Fennoscandian boreal zones: species that migrate to snow-free areas in winter are either adapted to hunt by the energetically expensive method of quartering in open grassland habitats, where prey ( Microtus ) availability is relatively low during periods with snow cover (hen harrier Circus cyaneus , short-eared owl Asio flammeus , and longeared owl A. otus ), or by sit-and-wait in open grassland and forest habitats, the latter with relatively high prey availability during periods with snow cover, but unable to locate concealed prey (kestrel Falco tinnuculus , common buzzard Buteo huteo , and roughlegged buzzard B. lagopus ). In contrast, species that remain in areas with permanent snow cover during winter use the energetically cheap sit-and-wait tactic, and are able to hunt in closed forest habitat and localize concealed prey (the remaining owl species). Interspecific differences in prey availability as determined by hunting habitat and hunting mode is probably more important in shaping the migration patterns of Fennoscandian owls than is nest site availability.     

The Ca2+-sensing receptor gene (PCAR1) mutation T151M in isolated autosomal dominant hypoparathyroidism

Isolated autosomal dominant hypoparathyroidism is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by parathyroid hormone (PTH) deficiency, hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia. The candidate gene approach was used to study a large Norwegian family. The loci for the PTH gene, PTH receptor gene and RET protooncogene were excluded using dinucleotide markers and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Complete cosegregation of this trait was found with the chromosomal region 3q13, using the short tandem repeat markers D3S1267, D3S1269, D3S1303, D3S1518, and RHO. This region contains the candidate locus for the Ca²⁺-sensing receptor (PCAR1). By single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of all PCAR1 exons followed by automated sequencing, we identified a C to T transition in exon 2 (cDNA position 452) on the mutant allele in the family. The mutation predicts a substitution of Thr to Met in amino acid position 151 (T151M). A StyI restriction site created by the nucleotide substitution was used to confirm the mutation on all alleles, as well as to exclude it among 100 normal alleles (blood donors). SSCP analysis also identified a novel polymorphism of PCAR1 intron 4 (1609–88t→c) on normal alleles.The T151M mutation is located in the extracellular N-terminal domain of PCAR1, which belongs to the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors. We suggest that this is a gain-of-function mutation that increases the sensitivity of the receptor to [Ca²⁺], thereby decreasing the calcium set point. Received: 29 September 1995 / Revised: 19 January 1996     

A compact vocabulary of paratope-epitope interactions enables predictability of antibody-antigen binding

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Spawning stock and recruitment in North Sea cod shaped by food and climate

In order to provide better fisheries management and conservation decisions, there is a need to discern the underlying relationship between the spawning stock and recruitment of marine fishes, a relationship which is influenced by the environmental conditions. Here, we demonstrate how the environmental conditions (temperature and the food availability for fish larvae) influence the stock–recruitment relationship and indeed what kind of stock–recruitment relationship we might see under different environmental conditions. Using unique zooplankton data from the Continuous Plankton Recorder, we find that food availability (i.e. zooplankton) in essence determines which model applies for the once large North Sea cod (Gadus morhua) stock. Further, we show that recruitment is strengthened during cold years and weakened during warm years. Our combined model explained 45 per cent of the total variance in cod recruitment, while the traditional Ricker and Beverton–Holt models only explained about 10 per cent. Specifically, our approach predicts that a full recovery of the North Sea cod stock might not be expected until the environment becomes more favourable.     

Therapeutic effects of maximal strength training on walking efficiency in patients with schizophrenia - a pilot study

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Patients with schizophrenia frequently have disabling gait deficits. The net mechanical efficiency of walking (epsilonnet) is an accurate measure often used to evaluate walking performance. Patients with gait deficits have a reduced epsilonnet with excessive energy expenditure during sub-maximal walking. Maximal strength training (MST) improves epsilonnet in healthy individuals and is associated with reduced risk of mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate whether MST improves epsilonnet in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Patients (ICD-10 schizophrenia, schizotypal or delusional disorders (F20-F29)) were included in a non-randomized trial. Patients were assigned to one of two groups: 1) MST consisting of 4x4 repetitions at 85-90% one repetition maximum (1RM) performed in a leg press apparatus or 2) playing computer games (CG). Both groups carried out their activity three days per week for eight weeks. 1RM, epsilonnet at 60 watt walking, peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the 36-items short form (SF-36) were measured pre and post intervention. RESULTS: The baseline epsilonnet was 17.3 +/- 1.2% and 19.4 +/- 3.0% in the MST (n = 6) and CG groups (n = 7), respectively, which is categorized as mechanical inefficiency. The MST group improved 1RM by 79 kg (p = 0.006) and epsilonnet by 3.4% (p = 0.046) more than the CG group. The MST group improved 1RM and epsilonnet, by a mean of 83 kg (p = 0.028) and 3.4% (p = 0.028), respectively. VO2peak at baseline was 34.2 +/- 10.2 and 38.3 +/- 9.8 ml * kg-1 * min-1 in the MST and CG groups, respectively, and did not change (p > 0.05). No change was observed in PANSS or SF-36 (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MST improves 1RM and epsilonnet in patients with schizophrenia. MST could be used as a therapeutic intervention for patients with schizophrenia to normalize their reduced epsilonnet.