GRIP deuterium excess reveals rapid and orbital-scale changes in Greenland moisture origin

The Northern Hemisphere hydrological cycle is a key factor coupling ice sheets, ocean circulation, and polar amplification of climate change. Here we present a Northern Hemisphere deuterium excess profile covering one climatic cycle, constructed with the use of delta18O and deltaD Greenland Ice Core Project (GRIP) records. Past changes in Greenland source and site temperatures are quantified with precipitation seasonality taken into account. The imprint of obliquity is evidenced in the site-to-source temperature gradient at orbital scale. At the millennial time scale, GRIP source temperature changes reflect southward shifts of the geographical locations of moisture sources during cold events, and these rapid shifts are associated with large-scale changes in atmospheric circulation.     

Effect of Different Manganese Concentrations during in vitro Maturation of Bovine Oocytes on DNA Integrity of Cumulus Cells and Subsequent Embryo Development

Manganese (Mn) is a trace element present in forages and cereals, and its concentration depends on soil status. Manganese deficiency in cattle, goats and ewes not only impairs oestrous cycle but reduces calf birth weight. The achievement of the first oestrus is delayed, and more attempts are necessary to obtain a successful conception. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the availability of supplemental Mn during IVM on DNA damage of cumulus cells and total glutathione (GSH) content in oocytes and cumulus cells. The effect of supplementary Mn during IVM on subsequent embryo development was also studied. The results reported here indicate (i) DNA damage in cumulus cells decreased with 0, 2, 5 and 6 ng/ml Mn supplementation during IVM (p < 0.05). (ii) Intracellular GSH‐GSSG content increased (p < 0.01) with different Mn concentrations in oocytes and cumulus cells. Also, cumulus cell number per cumulus oocyte‐complexes (COC) did not differ either before or after IVM. (iii) Addition of Mn to maturation medium resulted in similar cleavage rates (p > 0.05) at 0, 2, 5 and 6 ng/ml Mn. However, subsequent embryo development to blastocyst stage was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in oocytes matured with 5 and 6 ng/ml Mn. (iv) There was also an increase (p < 0.05) in mean cell number per blastocyst obtained from oocytes matured with 5 and 6 ng/ml respect to zero Mn (IVM alone) and 2 ng/ml Mn. This study provides evidence that optimal embryo development to the blastocyst stage was partially dependent on the presence of Mn during IVM. Moreover, the availability of Mn during oocyte maturation ensures ‘normal’ intracellular GSH content in COCs and protects DNA integrity of cumulus cells.     

Distribution of prion protein genotypes in breeds of sheep in New Zealand

AIM: To use an established high through-put genotyping procedure to gain an estimate of the frequency of alleles of the prion protein (PrP) gene in some common sheep breeds in New Zealand.

METHODS: Using a genotyping procedure based on matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation-time of flight (MALDI-TOF), DNA samples from 3,024 sheep from New Zealand, including breeds such as Romney, Texel, Coopworth, Merino and mixedbreed, were isolated, genotyped and the results analysed.

RESULTS: The 15 scrapie genotypes commonly reported, and derived from the five commonly reported allelic variants (ARR, ARQ, AHQ, ARH and VRQ), were all observed in the samples analysed. The estimates were indicative of the frequencies in the population of alleles present in breeds of sheep in New Zealand. There was a significant difference between the frequencies of alleles between breeds, but the ARQ, followed by the ARR allele, were, except in Carwell sheep, the most common alleles present.

CONCLUSION: This study gave an indication of the percentages of PrP gene alleles in sheep in New Zealand, including data previously unreported from breeds in this country. It is of interest because of the relatively large size of the sheep population in New Zealand compared with many countries, and it provides some useful information on the genetic susceptibility or resistance of the sheep population in New Zealand to scrapie. The frequencies of the alleles can be different for an individual breed compared between countries.     

Is fisheries governance possible?

Are there limits to the governability of a fishery? The establishment of a 200 nautical mile economic zone in Norway in 1977 made it possible to change from an open‐access regime to a more closed one. In this process, the former self‐regulating Norwegian fishing industry, to a large extent, accepted and adapted an explicit, hierarchical form of state‐run governance. However, the process of change did not stop there. Since the turn of the millennium, we have seen the creation of a cybernetically organized fishing industry, where control, regulation and governance have become re‐embedded in the industry. This article explores this radical new development and perspective on fisheries governance and governability based on lessons learned from technological and organizational changes in the Norwegian fishing industry.     

Application of sorbents in different soil types from small arms shooting ranges for immobilization of lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and antimony (Sb)

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Soil contamination of ammunition residues at shooting ranges for small arms may be followed by leaching of lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and antimony (Sb)....     

Effects of dietary vegetable oils and varying dietary EPA and DHA levels on intestinal lipid accumulations in Atlantic salmon

High dietary content of vegetable oil (VO) has been associated with increased intestinal lipid accumulations in fish. The extent of this in aquacultured Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) and its health effects are not certain. Samples were therefore collected from two separate feeding trials to investigate the effect of high dietary VO on intestinal lipid accumulations in Atlantic salmon. In the first trial, the fish were fed diets high in plant protein and with fish oil or ~80% of the fish oil replaced with either olive oil, rapeseed oil or soybean oil in a land‐based experimental set‐up. The second trial was performed in sea cages under commercial production conditions, and the fish were fed two dietary concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (9.7% or 5.5% EPA + DHA of total fatty acids). Neither dietary VO nor variations in EPA and DHA led to any significant effects on intestinal health or lipid accumulations. There were, however, indications of a delayed lipid transport in the rapeseed oil‐fed fish of the first trial, possibly caused by high dietary ≥18‐carbon fatty acids and low dietary 16:0 fatty acid and cholesterol.     

Reconstructing governability: How fisheries are made governable

Governability is an important concept in the political and environmental social sciences with increasing application to socio‐ecological systems such as fisheries. Indeed, governability analyses of fisheries and related systems such as marine‐protected areas have generated innovative ways to implement sustainability ideals. Yet, despite progress made, we argue that there remain limitations in current conceptions of governability that hinder further analytical development and use. By drawing on general systems theory—specifically cybernetics, control and feedback—we interrogate the conceptual foundations that underpin two key limitations: the need to incorporate the numerous variables that comprise a complex, holistic system into a singular assessment of governability, and the a priori separation of the governor and the governed that precludes analysis of a self‐governing situation. We argue that by highlighting the reciprocal nature of a governor–governed relationship and the co‐produced understanding of governing capacity and objects, a relational approach to governability is possible. This offers a clearer and more pragmatic understanding of how governors and fishers can make fisheries governable.     

A quick and sensitive method for the quantification of peroxidase activity of organic surface soil from forests

The purpose of the present study was to test the non-mutagenic compound 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) as a model substrate for peroxidase in forest topsoil, as an alternative to the conventional substrate l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA). TMB was highly sensitive; linear absorbance changes of 0.6 were achieved within 20 min for 1000-fold diluted soil. Brief heating (denaturation) of the soil suspension gave a 34-fold reduction of TMB oxidation, indicating that the reaction measured by TMB was indeed an enzymatic reaction. TMB oxidation showed a narrow peak at pH 4.4. A proportional decrease in peroxidase activity, when the soil suspension was diluted, demonstrated that TMB estimates of peroxidase activity are directly comparable when corrected for differences in sample size. Oxidation of TMB was slow in the absence of H₂O₂ suggesting that TMB is a poor substrate for phenol oxidases. TMB oxidation was tested in nine different forest topsoils. The peroxidase activity, when normalised to the amount of soil organic matter, ranged from 1.4±0.1 Δabs₄₅₀ h^?1 mg^?1 to 34.9±4.3 Δabs₄₅₀ h^?1 mg^?1. In comparison, l-DOPA oxidation by soil peroxidases and commercial peroxidases gave inconsistent results, suggesting that one should be cautious when using l-DOPA as a soil peroxidase substrate. The high sensitivity of TMB, compared to l-DOPA, and the low interference from phenol oxidase and humic substances suggest that TMB is a better substrate than l-DOPA for estimation of peroxidase activity of forest topsoil.