Timing and duration of moult in three populations of Purple Sandpipers Calidris maritima with different moult/migration patterns

Timing and duration of primary moult in three populations of Purple Sandpipers Calidris maritima were described and discussed in relation to the birds’ need to complete moult before the onset of winter, when resources are required for survival. We predicted that moult would be completed earlier by birds wintering at higher latitudes. The south Norwegian breeding population, which moults and winters along the coast of east Britain (54–57°N) had a mean starting date of 21 July for primary moult (16 July for females and 24 July for males), a mean duration of 61 days, and completed on 20 September. Resident Icelandic (64–65°N) birds had a mean starting date of 22 July for primary moult (17 July for females and 25 July for males), a mean duration of 51 days, and completed on 11 September. Birds moulting in north Norway (70°N) arrived in north Norway in suspended primary moult or without having started moult, and completed it there. They had a mean completion date of 2 November for primary moult (31 October for females and 3 November for males). Starting date and duration could not be estimated because some suspended moult for an undetermined period, but it was thought that they started in late August. It is likely that most originated from Russia. The onset of moult appears to be set by the end of breeding and there is little overlap in these two events. The earlier start of moult by females in all three populations may be because they abandon the males when the chicks hatch, leaving the males to attend the chicks. Although the duration of primary moult followed the expected trend, being fastest in north Norway and slowest in Britain, the onset of moult was so late in north Norway that they had an unexpectedly late completion date, despite their rapid moult. The late completion of primary moult in north Norway suggests that wintering in the far north may not pose the energetic constraints on Purple Sandpipers that had previously been supposed.     

On the effect of transient expression of mutated elF2α and elF4E eukaryotic translation initiation factors on reporter gene expression in mammalian cells upon cold-shock

There are a growing number of reports on the beneficial effects of subphysiological temperature in vitro culturing (27–35°C) of mammalian cells on recombinant protein yield. However, this effect is not conserved across cell lines and target products, and our understanding of the molecular mechanism(s) responsible for increased recombinant protein yield upon reduced temperature culturing of mammalian cells is poor. What is known is that mammalian cells respond to cold-shock by attenuating global cap-dependent translation. Here, we have investigated the hypothesis that the cap-dependent attenuation of mRNA translation upon cold-stress of in vitro-cultured mammalian cells can be prevented, or at least alleviated, by overexpressing mutant translation initiation factors in Chinese hamster ovary and HeLa cells. We have shown that the transient coexpression of either an eIF2αSer⁵¹→Ala⁵¹ mutant or an eIF4ESer²⁰⁹→Glu²⁰⁹ mutant with firefly luciferase affects luciferase expression levels in a cell line and temperature dependent manner. Further, regardless of the coexpression of initiation factors, transient reporter gene expression was enhanced at subphysiological temperatures (<37°C), suggesting that reduced temperature cultivation can be used to improve the yield of recombinant protein during transient expression. The implications of these results upon cell engineering strategies involving manipulation of the translational apparatus for the enhancement of recombinant protein synthesis upon cold-shock are discussed. Joint first authors who contributed equally to this work     

WADERS (CHARADRII) AND OTHER SHOREBIRDS AT CAPE RECIFE,ALGOA BAY,SOUTH AFRICA: SEASONALITY,TRENDS, CONSERVATION,AND RELIABILITY OF SURVEYS

Spearpoint, J. A., Every, B. & Underhill, L. G. 1988. Waders (Charadrii) and other shorebirds at Cape Recife, Algoa Bay, South Africa: seasonality, trends, conservation, and reliability of surveys. Ostrich 59: 166–177.

A total of 126 surveys of waders (Charadrii) and other shorebirds were made along 4 km of shore northwest of Cape Recife. The surveys were conducted bv two observers who counted independently of each other. The variability between observers was least for conspicuous species such as Whitefronted Plover, Blacksmith Plover, African Black Oystercatcher, Whimbrel and Grey Plover, but greatest for cryptic species such as Ringed Plover and for species which formed a minority in mixed flocks such as Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint. Variability of surveys within years and between years is also considered. Turnstones and Sanderlings were the most abundant waders in summer. Of the Palaearctic waders, Turnstones, Grey Plovers, Sanderlings, Greenshanks and Whimbrels overwintered. In contrast, Ringed Plovers, Curlew Sandpipers, and Little Stints rarely overwintered. Little Egrets, Threebanded Plovers and Water Dikkops occurred mainly in winter. It is recommended that surveys to estimate numbers of Palaearctic waders in summer and winter should be conducted in December, January or February and June or July, respectively. Because of three-year cycles in breeding productivity of certain waders, surveys should be extended over at least three years. There was evidence that waders associated with rocky shores increased in numbers during the study period: this coincided with the erosion of sandy beaches near Cape Recife. Density, biomass and daily field metabolic rates, expressed on an area basis, were similar to those in eastern Scotland. Nine species of tern utilized Cape Recife. It is recommended that the bait-collecting regulations be enforced, that vehicles be prohibited on the beach, and that the tern roost and breeding site be fenced off to create a sanctuary.     

Origins and Divergence of the Roma (Gypsies)

The identification of a growing number of novel Mendelian disorders and private mutations in the Roma (Gypsies) points to their unique genetic heritage. Linguistic evidence suggests that they are of diverse Indian origins. Their social structure within Europe resembles that of the jatis of India, where the endogamous group, often defined by profession, is the primary unit. Genetic studies have reported dramatic differences in the frequencies of mutations and neutral polymorphisms in different Romani populations. However, these studies have not resolved ambiguities regarding the origins and relatedness of Romani populations. In this study, we examine the genetic structure of 14 well-defined Romani populations. Y-chromosome and mtDNA markers of different mutability were analyzed in a total of 275 individuals. Asian Y-chromosome haplogroup VI-68, defined by a mutation at the M82 locus, was present in all 14 populations and accounted for 44.8% of Romani Y chromosomes. Asian mtDNA-haplogroup M was also identified in all Romani populations and accounted for 26.5% of female lineages in the sample. Limited diversity within these two haplogroups, measured by the variation at eight short-tandem-repeat loci for the Y chromosome, and sequencing of the HVS1 for the mtDNA are consistent with a small group of founders splitting from a single ethnic population in the Indian subcontinent. Principal-components analysis and analysis of molecular variance indicate that genetic structure in extant endogamous Romani populations has been shaped by genetic drift and differential admixture and correlates with the migrational history of the Roma in Europe. By contrast, social organization and professional group divisions appear to be the product of a more recent restitution of the caste system of India.     

Y-Chromosome evidence for a northward migration of modern humans into Eastern Asia during the last Ice Age

The timing and nature of the arrival and the subsequent expansion of modern humans into eastern Asia remains controversial. Using Y-chromosome biallelic markers, we investigated the ancient human-migration patterns in eastern Asia. Our data indicate that southern populations in eastern Asia are much more polymorphic than northern populations, which have only a subset of the southern haplotypes. This pattern indicates that the first settlement of modern humans in eastern Asia occurred in mainland Southeast Asia during the last Ice Age, coinciding with the absence of human fossils in eastern Asia, 50,000-100,000 years ago. After the initial peopling, a great northward migration extended into northern China and Siberia.     

The Chinese Neolithic: Recent Trends in Research

Early food production, featuring at least two and probably three separate suites of plants, occurred in at least six different regions in China. Gradually, the earliest stages of village life and plant-animal domestication are becoming clearer, and Chinese archeologists are attempting to reconstruct the societal context of these developments. Late Neolithic sites, shedding light on the indigenous evolution to state-level societies, are now being published, and the ethnohistoric links between archeological cultures and major ethnic groups are being considered. The volume of excavation and publication makes China one of the most exciting areas of Neolithic research at the present time. A discussion of major contributions and topics of debate follows.     

A simple enzymatic method for the preparation of radiolabeled erucoyl-CoA and other long-chain fatty acyl-CoAs and their characterization by mass spectrometry

A simple two-step method for the biosynthesis of radiolabeled erucoyl-coenzyme A of high specific activity and other long-chain fatty acyl-coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) thioesters is reported. 1-14C-labeled erucic and oleic acids, as well as unlabeled ricinoleic and nervonic acids, were incubated at 35 degrees C with coenzyme A in the presence of ATP, MgCl2, and acyl-CoA synthetase (EC 6.2.1.3) from Pseudomonas spp. to yield the corresponding CoA thioesters. Following incubation, each thioester was purified by rapid passage through a disposable reverse-phase C18 extraction column. The overall yields were greater than 90% and the purities greater than 95%, based on the distribution of radioactivity, and chromatographic and spectral properties. Fast ion bombardment-mass spectrometry was employed to confirm the structures of the various acyl-CoAs.