Variation in abundance and harvest of sooty shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) by Rakiura Maori on Putauhinu Island,New Zealand

Abstract

Sooty shearwater (Puffinus griesus, titi) abundance, harvest levels and chick mass were monitored repeatedly on Putauhinu Island, south‐west of Rakiura (Stewart Island) between 1997 and 2005. Putauhinu is the second largest of the Titi Islands and has a relatively high density of chicks distributed over most of the island, so it supports what is likely the second‐largest population of sooty shearwaters in the Rakiura region (after Taukihepa, Big South Cape Island). Rakiura Maori harvested chicks from five “manu” (family birding areas) that covered 56% of the 128.4 ha of breeding colony of the island. Chick density was lower on the unharvested area in the interior of the island than on harvested areas. Burrow entrance density was higher where there was more ground cover (mainly fern) vegetation, but these areas had lower burrow occupancy, so overall chick density was similar at different levels of ground cover. Twenty‐six harvesters present on Putauhinu in 2005 took 31 280 chicks in total, equivalent to 8.4% (95% CI = 6.6–12%) of the available chicks on the entire island. Seasonal variation in total chicks harvested (CV 15–22%) was not related to chick abundance or mass. Refuges, including impenetrable patches of vegetated ground within manu, the unharvested centre of the island, and even nearby unharvested islands, will ameliorate localised impacts of harvest if density‐dependent immigration is operating.     

“I Hate White People!”—Subverting the Televisual Gaze

I have previously argued that the other viewing the Self highlights the ramifications of the question “Who are they?” vis-à-vis notions of “Who are we?” and that the answer to the former directly shapes and informs the latter, as Fourth World people are forced to negotiate their identity upon exposure to First World television. In this article, I examine a particular group of subaltern viewers who reassign the roles of self and Other in order to preserve, defend, and construct their own selfhood. Because they look and act differently from those in the mediated mainstream, Navajo television viewers create oppositional identities by understanding themselves first in relation to and then opposed to standardized models. Subverting the televisual gaze is their way of articulating experiences of powerlessness in a white-dominated society as well as a means of communicating a discourse of resistance to the dominant ideology.     

Establishment of a Captive All‐male Group of Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus) at the Singapore Zoo

Surplus male proboscis monkeys at the Singapore Zoo pose a considerable problem for maintenance and maximizing of exhibition potential. In 2008, a new exhibit was constructed to house and display a group of six proboscis monkey males born in Singapore Zoo. To document and monitor the all‐male group establishment in the new exhibit, we conducted observations on intragroup interactions between the monkeys, spatial use of their new exhibit, and visitor effects on their behavior. We found contact aggressive interactions between the monkeys to be consistently lower than noncontact aggressive interactions and by week six of introduction to the new exhibit, contact aggression was almost nonevident. Affiliative interactions also developed between individuals in the group, with an interface of aggressive and socioreconcilatory behavior influenced by food competition and a dominance hierarchy. This was evident from significantly higher overall aggression and affiliation during feeding times compared to nonfeeding times, and this was reduced when food competition was mitigated by modifying the feeding regime. We measured the groups’ spatial use of the exhibit and the relation to behavior, crowd size, and density. Our results showed that the proboscis monkeys utilized the available exhibit space, were largely unaffected by visitor crowd size and density, and were able to exhibit a variety of natural behaviors, including swimming. Our accomplishment in maintaining and displaying an all‐male group of proboscis monkeys in captivity provides viable options for more comprehensive captive management and breeding programs for this endangered species. Zoo Biol. 32:281‐290, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Characterization of the Staphylococcus aureus rRNA Methyltransferase Encoded by orfX,the Gene Containing the Staphylococcal Chromosome Cassette mec (SCCmec) Insertion Site

The gene orfX is conserved among all staphylococci, and its complete sequence is maintained upon insertion of the staphylococcal chromosome cassette mec (SCCmec) genomic island, containing the gene encoding resistance to β-lactam antibiotics (mecA), into its C terminus. The function of OrfX has not been determined. We show that OrfX was constitutively produced during growth, that orfX could be inactivated without altering bacterial growth, and that insertion of SCCmec did not alter gene expression. We solved the crystal structure of OrfX at 1.7 Å and found that it belongs to the S-adenosyl-l-methionine (AdoMet)-dependent α/β-knot superfamily of SPOUT methyltransferases (MTases), with a high structural homology to YbeA, the gene product of the Escherichia coli 70 S ribosomal MTase RlmH. MTase activity was confirmed by demonstrating the OrfX-dependent methylation of the Staphylococcus aureus 70 S ribosome. When OrfX was crystallized in the presence of its AdoMet substrate, we found that each monomer of the homodimeric structure bound AdoMet in its active site. Solution studies using isothermal titration calorimetry confirmed that each monomer bound AdoMet but with different binding affinities (K_d = 52 ± 0.4 and 606 ± 2 μm). In addition, the structure shows that the AdoMet-binding pocket, formed by a deep trefoil knot, contains a bound phosphate molecule, which is the likely nucleotide methylation site. This study represents the first characterization of a staphylococcal ribosomal MTase and provides the first crystal structure of a member of the α/β-knot superfamily of SPOUT MTases in the RlmH or COG1576 family with bound AdoMet.     

Development of an in vivo active,dual EP1 and EP3 selective antagonist based on a novel acyl sulfonamide bioisostere

Recent preclinical studies demonstrate a role for the prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) subtype 1 (EP1) receptor in mediating, at least in part, the pathophysiology of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. A series of amide and N-acylsulfonamide analogs of a previously described picolinic acid-based human EP1 receptor antagonist (7) were prepared. Each analog had improved selectivity at the mouse EP1 receptor over the mouse thromboxane receptor (TP). A subset of analogs gained affinity for the mouse PGE₂ subtype 3 (EP3) receptor, another potential therapeutic target. One analog (17) possessed equal selectivity for EP1 and EP3, displayed a sufficient in vivo residence time in mice, and lacked the potential for acyl glucuronide formation common to compound 7. Treatment of mice with 17 significantly attenuated the vasopressor activity resulting from an acute infusion of EP1 and EP3 receptor agonists. Compound 17 represents a potentially novel therapeutic in the treatment of hypertension and diabetes mellitus.     

Conformational restriction in a series of GPR119 agonists: Differences in pharmacology between mouse and human

A series of conformationally restricted GPR119 agonists were prepared based around a 3,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.1]octane scaffold. Examples were found to have markedly different pharmacology in mouse and human despite similar levels of binding to the receptor. This highlights the large effects on GPCR phamacology that can result from small structural changes in the ligand, together with inter-species differences between receptors.     

Synthesis and bioevaluation of [18F]4-fluoro-m-hydroxyphenethylguanidine ([18F]4F-MHPG): A novel radiotracer for quantitative PET studies of cardiac sympathetic innervation

A new cardiac sympathetic nerve imaging agent, [¹⁸F]4-fluoro-m-hydroxyphenethylguanidine ([¹⁸F]4F-MHPG), was synthesized and evaluated. The radiosynthetic intermediate [¹⁸F]4-fluoro-m-tyramine ([¹⁸F]4F-MTA) was prepared and then sequentially reacted with cyanogen bromide and NH₄Br/NH₄OH to afford [¹⁸F]4F-MHPG. Initial bioevaluations of [¹⁸F]4F-MHPG (biodistribution studies in rats and kinetic studies in the isolated rat heart) were similar to results previously reported for the carbon-11 labeled analog [¹¹C]4F-MHPG. The neuronal uptake rate of [¹⁸F]4F-MHPG into the isolated rat heart was 0.68 ml/min/g wet and its retention time in sympathetic neurons was very long (T_1/2 >13 h). A PET imaging study in a nonhuman primate with [¹⁸F]4F-MHPG provided high quality images of the heart, with heart-to-blood ratios at 80–90 min after injection of 5-to-1. These initial kinetic and imaging studies of [¹⁸F]4F-MHPG suggest that this radiotracer may allow for more accurate quantification of regional cardiac sympathetic nerve density than is currently possible with existing neuronal imaging agents.     

HIV coreceptors,cell tropism and inhibition by chemokine receptor ligands

HIV is a persistent virus that survives and replicates despite an onslaught by the host's immune system. A strategy for cell entry, requiring the use of two receptors, has evolved that may help evade neutralizing antibodies. HIV and SIV usually require both CD4 and a seven transmembrane (7TM) coreceptor for infection. At least eleven different 7TM coreceptors have been identified that confer HIV and/ or SIV entry. For HIV-1, the major coreceptors are CCR5 and CXCR4, while the role of other coreceptors for replication and cell tropism in vivo is currently unclear. Polymorphisms in the CCR5 gene that reduce CCR5 expression levels, protect against disease progression, suggesting that drugs targeted to CCR5 could be effective. Such therapies however will not work if HIV simply adapts to use alternative coreceptors. In the light of these themes, this review will discuss the following topics: (i) the coreceptors used by primary HIV-1 and HIV-2 viruses, (ii) the properties and coreceptors of HIV-2 strains that infect cells without CD4, (iii) the role of coreceptors in HIV cell tropism and particularly macrophage infection and (iv) the properties of chemokine receptor ligands that block HIV infection.