Uterine Transplantation: Ethical Considerations within Middle Eastern Perspectives

The field of reproductive medicine witnessed a breakthrough in September 2014 with the first successful live birth post uterine transplantation. This success represents the culmination of decades' worth of research on infertility and reproductive medicine. This subject of infertility gathers special attention in the Middle East, as childbearing is given paramount importance in the family unit. And as with any new medical advancement, Middle Eastern people look to their religious authorities for guidance. This paper describes the various ethical quandaries related to uterine transplantation, from a perspective of the religious and societal factors that are unique to the Middle East, and embeds them within the conversation of its alternative solutions.     

Distribution of Karlodinium veneficum in the coastal region of Xiangshan Bay in the East China Sea,as detected by a real-time quantitative PCR assay of ribosomal ITS sequence

Athecate dinoflagellate Karlodinium veneficum is a universal toxic species possessing karlotoxins recognized especially as ichthyotoxic as well as cytotoxic and hemolytic. Blooms of K. veneficum, both single-species or accompanied with other species, occurred more frequently worldwide in recent years, including the coastal region of China. Normally, K. veneficum present in relatively low abundance in phytoplankton communities in estuary regions. Being small and difficult to identify with light microscopy, it has been ignored for a long time till its blooming and toxins being confirmed. How it presents in background level and what is its relationship with critical geological and hydrological environment factors are basically not clear. In this study, the paper reports the application of a real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) method to investigate the abundance and distribution of K. veneficum in the coastal waters of Xiangshan Bay in the East China Sea (ECS), a typical bay area of harmful algae blooms and heavily affected by anthropogenic activities. The real-time qPCR assay came out being an efficient method at detecting even low cell densities of K. veneficum of different genotypes. A total of 38 field samples of surface (0.5 m) and bottom water (9–100 m in depth) were analyzed and 12 samples were found positive for K. veneficum. At least 3 genotypes of K. veneficum present in this region. Temperatures in sites of K. veneficum positive ranged from 21.7 to 23.4 °C, and salinity levels were between 21.1 and 26.3. The K. veneficum distributed quite extensively in the waters of Xiangshan Bay, cell abundance varied from a low of 4 cells/L to a maximum of 170 cells/L. Most of the samples containing K. veneficum were collected from bottom water in different sites. At three of the 19 sampling sites, K. veneficum was detected in both surface and bottom water samples. Especially at sampling site near Beilun port, where the water is typically muddy with low transparency, relative high cell numbers of K. veneficum were found in both surface and bottom waters. Mixotrophy and vertical migration of K. veneficum could be important eco-physiological factors to consider in terms of understanding these distribution characteristics. The ideal conditions for K. veneficum growth and aggregation in this area still needs further study.     

Chloroplast phylogenomic data support Eocene amphi‐Pacific early radiation for the Asian Palmate core Araliaceae

Traditional phylogenies based on analysis of multiple genes have failed to obtain a well‐resolved evolutionary history for the backbone of the Asian Palmate group of Araliaceae, the largest clade of the family. In this study, we applied the genome skimming approach of next‐generation sequencing to address whether the lack of resolution at the base of the Asian Palmate tree is due to molecular sampling error or the footprint of ancient radiation. Twenty‐nine complete plastid genomes of Araliaceae (17 newly sequenced) were analyzed (RAxML, Beast, Lagrange, and BioGeoBears) to provide the first phylogenomic reconstruction of the group (95% of genera included). As a result, the early divergences of the Asian Palmate group have been clarified but the backbone of its core is not totally resolved, with short internal branches pointing to an ancient radiation scenario. East Asia is inferred as the most likely ancestral area for the Asian Palmate group (from late Paleocene to Eocene) from which early colonization of the Neotropics is inferred during the Eocene. The radiation of the core Palmate group took place during the late Eocene, most likely in the context of the Boreotropical hypothesis. Recurrent episodes of southward migration (to the tropics) coupled with northern latitude local extinctions (promoting geographic isolation of lineages) followed by northward expansion (promoting contact of lineages that erased the trace of preceding geographic isolation) are hypothesized to have linked to the alternation of the cold and warm periods of the Eocene.     

Family Ismaridae Thomson (Hymenoptera,Diaprioidea), new to fauna of Iran

Occurrence of the family Ismaridae Thomson is recorded for the first time from Iran, represented by a single species, Ismarus rugulosus Förster, 1850. A series of diagnostic characters and morphometric ratios for this species is presented, as well as a distribution map throughout the Holarctic region.     

Delayed herbivory by migratory geese increases summer‐long CO2 uptake in coastal western Alaska

The advancement of spring and the differential ability of organisms to respond to changes in plant phenology may lead to “phenological mismatches” as a result of climate change. One potential for considerable mismatch is between migratory birds and food availability in northern breeding ranges, and these mismatches may have consequences for ecosystem function. We conducted a three‐year experiment to examine the consequences for CO₂ exchange of advanced spring green‐up and altered timing of grazing by migratory Pacific black brant in a coastal wetland in western Alaska. Experimental treatments represent the variation in green‐up and timing of peak grazing intensity that currently exists in the system. Delayed grazing resulted in greater net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and gross primary productivity (GPP), while early grazing reduced CO₂ uptake with the potential of causing net ecosystem carbon (C) loss in late spring and early summer. Conversely, advancing the growing season only influenced ecosystem respiration (ER), resulting in a small increase in ER with no concomitant impact on GPP or NEE. The experimental treatment that represents the most likely future, with green‐up advancing more rapidly than arrival of migratory geese, results in NEE changing by 1.2 µmol m^?2 s^?1 toward a greater CO₂ sink in spring and summer. Increased sink strength, however, may be mitigated by early arrival of migratory geese, which would reduce CO₂ uptake. Importantly, while the direct effect of climate warming on phenology of green‐up has a minimal influence on NEE, the indirect effect of climate warming manifest through changes in the timing of peak grazing can have a significant impact on C balance in northern coastal wetlands. Furthermore, processes influencing the timing of goose migration in the winter range can significantly influence ecosystem function in summer habitats.     

Successful sexual reproduction of the scleractinian coral Porites panamensis: Evidence of planktonic larvae and recruitment

Porites panamensis is a hermatypic brooder coral endemic to, and distributed along, the Eastern Tropical Pacific, and is considered a species vulnerable to local effects because it has limited capacity for long‐distance dispersal (and low genetic diversity). Although larvae of P. panamensis have been previously shown to recruit to artificial settlement platforms, they have never been observed in the water column. The present study describes the reproductive behavior of P. panamensis, with a focus on using molecular tools to document evidence for a larval planktonic stage and for successful recruitment. Larvae collected from the water column, and recruitment on natural and artificial substrata were documented. Phylogenetic analysis of two ribosomal markers, 18s rRNA and ITS (ITS1‐5.8‐ITS2), and one mitochondrial marker, cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), confirmed the taxonomic identity of larvae, and showed that larvae and recruits have genotypes similar to adults of P. panamensis. Lipid vacuoles and Symbiodinium sp. were present in the gastrodermis of all larvae. A total of 12 and 371 recruits settled on artificial and natural substrates, respectively, and the recruitment rate differed significantly over time. By documenting the reproductive success of the species, we show the potential for existing individuals both to maintain the population in the study area and to contribute to maintenance of the coral reef community in the coming decades.     

Phytoplankton decline in the eastern North Pacific transition zone associated with atmospheric blocking

Global climate change can significantly influence oceanic phytoplankton dynamics, and thus biogeochemical cycles and marine food webs. However, associative explanations based on the correlation between chlorophyll‐a concentration (Chl‐a) and climatic indices is inadequate to describe the mechanism of the connection between climate change, large‐scale atmospheric dynamics, and phytoplankton variability. Here, by analyzing multiple satellite observations of Chl‐a and atmospheric conditions from National Center for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis datasets, we show that high‐latitude atmospheric blocking events over Alaska are the primary drivers of the recent decline of Chl‐a in the eastern North Pacific transition zone. These blocking events were associated with the persistence of large‐scale atmosphere pressure fields that decreased westerly winds and southward Ekman transport over the subarctic ocean gyre. Reduced southward Ekman transport leads to reductions in nutrient availability to phytoplankton in the transition zone. The findings describe a previously unidentified climatic factor that contributed to the recent decline of phytoplankton in this region and propose a mechanism of the top‐down teleconnection between the high‐latitude atmospheric circulation anomalies and the subtropical oceanic primary productivity. The results also highlight the importance of understanding teleconnection among atmosphere–ocean interactions as a means to anticipate future climate change impacts on oceanic primary production.     

PCR‐RFLP markers detect 29 mitochondrial haplotypes in Pacific lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus)

We developed five polymerase chain reaction‐based markers that detect variation in the mitochondrial genome of the Pacific lamprey, Entosphenus tridentatus, across most of its range. Two gene fragments (ND2 and ND5) were amplified and digested with three and two restriction enzymes, respectively, detecting sequence variation at 18 sites (ND2 = 13; ND5 = 5) and yielding 29 composite haplotypes among 1246 lampreys. These sequence‐based markers will be useful in a range of phylogeographical and population genetic studies.     

Genetic structure and domestication footprints of the tusk,coat color,and ear morphology in East Chinese pigs

The domestication and artificial selection of wild boars have led to dramatic morphological and behavioral changes, especially in East Chinese (ECN) pigs. Here, we provide insights into the population structure and current genetic diversity of representative ECN pig breeds. We identify a 500-kb region containing six tooth development-relevant genes with almost completely different haplotypes between ECN pigs and Chinese wild boars or European domestic pigs. Notably, the c.195A>G missense mutation in exon 2 of AMBN may cause alterations in its protein structure associated with tusk degradation in ECN pigs. In addition, ESR1 may play an important role in the reproductive performance of ECN pigs. A major haplotype of the large lop ear-related MSRB3 gene and eight alleles in the deafness-related GRM7 gene may affect ear morphology and hearing in ECN pigs. Interestingly, we find that the two-end black (TEB) coat color in Jinhua pigs is most likely caused by EDNRB with genetic mechanisms different from other Chinese TEB pigs. This study identifies key loci that may be artificially selected in Chinese native pigs related to the tusk, coat color, and ear morphology, thus providing new insights into the genetic mechanisms of domesticated pigs.     

Prevalence and species richness of trematode parasites only partially recovers after the 2011 Tohoku,Japan, earthquake tsunami

Trematode parasites have complex life cycles and use a variety of host species across different trophic levels. Thus, they can be used as indicators of disturbance and recovery of coastal ecosystems. Estuaries on the Pacific coast of northeastern Japan were heavily affected by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake tsunami. To evaluate the effect of the tsunami on the trematode community, we examined trematodes in the mud snail, Batillaria attramentaria, at five study sites (three sites severely exposed to the tsunami and two sites sheltered from the tsunami) in Sendai Bay for 2 years prior to and 8 years after the tsunami. While the trematode prevalence decreased at all study sites, the species richness decreased only at the sites exposed to the tsunami. Although parasitism increased over the study period post-tsunami, the community had not fully recovered 8 years after the event. Trematode community structure has changed every year since the tsunami and has not stabilised. This could be explained by the alteration of first and second intermediate host communities. Our study suggests that it will take more time for the recovery of the trematode community and the associated coastal ecosystem in the Tohoku region.