Source analysis of the Crandall Canyon, Utah, mine collapse

Analysis of seismograms from a magnitude 3.9 seismic event on 6 August 2007 in central Utah reveals an anomalous radiation pattern that is contrary to that expected for a tectonic earthquake and which is dominated by an implosive component. The results show that the seismic event is best modeled as a shallow underground collapse. Interestingly, large transverse surface waves require a smaller additional noncollapse source component that might represent either faulting in the rocks above the mine workings or deformation of the medium surrounding the mine. Seismic moment tensor results for nuclear explosions, explosion and other mining cavity collapses, and tectonic earthquakes are compared, and the separation of the different populations indicates that the seismic moment tensor may be used for source-type discrimination.     

Distributions of microbial activities in deep subseafloor sediments

Diverse microbial communities and numerous energy-yielding activities occur in deeply buried sediments of the eastern Pacific Ocean. Distributions of metabolic activities often deviate from the standard model. Rates of activities, cell concentrations, and populations of cultured bacteria vary consistently from one subseafloor environment to another. Net rates of major activities principally rely on electron acceptors and electron donors from the photosynthetic surface world. At open-ocean sites, nitrate and oxygen are supplied to the deepest sedimentary communities through the underlying basaltic aquifer. In turn, these sedimentary communities may supply dissolved electron donors and nutrients to the underlying crustal biosphere.     

Declining wild salmon populations in relation to parasites from farm salmon

Rather than benefiting wild fish, industrial aquaculture may contribute to declines in ocean fisheries and ecosystems. Farm salmon are commonly infected with salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis), which are native ectoparasitic copepods. We show that recurrent louse infestations of wild juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), all associated with salmon farms, have depressed wild pink salmon populations and placed them on a trajectory toward rapid local extinction. The louse-induced mortality of pink salmon is commonly over 80% and exceeds previous fishing mortality. If outbreaks continue, then local extinction is certain, and a 99% collapse in pink salmon population abundance is expected in four salmon generations. These results suggest that salmon farms can cause parasite outbreaks that erode the capacity of a coastal ecosystem to support wild salmon populations.     

Kepler-16: a transiting circumbinary planet

We report the detection of a planet whose orbit surrounds a pair of low-mass stars. Data from the Kepler spacecraft reveal transits of the planet across both stars, in addition to the mutual eclipses of the stars, giving precise constraints on the absolute dimensions of all three bodies. The planet is comparable to Saturn in mass and size and is on a nearly circular 229-day orbit around its two parent stars. The eclipsing stars are 20 and 69% as massive as the Sun and have an eccentric 41-day orbit. The motions of all three bodies are confined to within 0.5° of a single plane, suggesting that the planet formed within a circumbinary disk.     

KOI-126: a triply eclipsing hierarchical triple with two low-mass stars

The Kepler spacecraft has been monitoring the light from 150,000 stars in its primary quest to detect transiting exoplanets. Here, we report on the detection of an eclipsing stellar hierarchical triple, identified in the Kepler photometry. KOI-126 [A, (B, C)], is composed of a low-mass binary [masses M(B) = 0.2413 ± 0.0030 solar mass (M(⊙)), M(C) = 0.2127 ± 0.0026 M(⊙); radii R(B) = 0.2543 ± 0.0014 solar radius (R(⊙)), R(C) = 0.2318 ± 0.0013 R(⊙); orbital period P(1) = 1.76713 ± 0.00019 days] on an eccentric orbit about a third star (mass M(A) = 1.347 ± 0.032 M(⊙); radius R(A) = 2.0254 ± 0.0098 R(⊙); period of orbit around the low-mass binary P(2) = 33.9214 ± 0.0013 days; eccentricity of that orbit e(2) = 0.3043 ± 0.0024). The low-mass pair probe the poorly sampled fully convective stellar domain offering a crucial benchmark for theoretical stellar models.     

Simultaneous binding of PtdIns(4,5)P2 and clathrin by AP180 in the nucleation of clathrin lattices on membranes

Adaptor protein 180 (AP180) and its homolog, clathrin assembly lymphoid myeloid leukemia protein (CALM), are closely related proteins that play important roles in clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Here, we present the structure of the NH2-terminal domain of CALM bound to phosphatidylinositol-4,5- bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] via a lysine-rich motif. This motif is found in other proteins predicted to have domains of similar structure (for example, Huntingtin interacting protein 1). The structure is in part similar to the epsin NH2-terminal (ENTH) domain, but epsin lacks the PtdIns(4,5)P2-binding site. Because AP180 could bind to PtdIns(4,5)P2 and clathrin simultaneously, it may serve to tether clathrin to the membrane. This was shown by using purified components and a budding assay on preformed lipid monolayers. In the presence of AP180, clathrin lattices formed on the monolayer. When AP2 was also present, coated pits were formed.     

Selective capture of blue cod Parapercis colias by potting: behavioural observations and effects of capture method on peri-mortem fatigue

Selective fishing is the successful capture of target species and size classes in a way that minimises bycatch, minimises damage to flesh, and maximises post-mortem (PM) value. We studied selective harvesting of blue cod Parapercis colias (Pinguipedidae) in central New Zealand, where it is captured mainly by commercial pot-fishing and recreational line-fishing. Potting with paua Haliotis iris (=abalone) guts selectively targeted large blue cod from localities that had six or more fish species and many small blue cod. Video observations of pot entries indicated that blue cod entered and left the pot throughout 30 min sets. Blue cod were observed by video to commence swimming when pot-hauling started. Observations of line-hooked fish indicated a characteristic spinning behaviour while hauling.

Fatigue during harvesting is a major factor in reducing the PM quality and shelf-life of fish muscle. Despite the relatively benign nature of capture via pot, it appears that burst exercise during hauling and a brief flurry of flapping as the pot leaves the water is sufficient to compromise flesh quality. Fish that were fatigued during harvesting had a poorer peri-mortem ‘ATP potential’ than fish that had been tank-rested for a year and then harvested using rested harvesting techniques. Modifying the potting method by providing a reservoir of water reduced peri-mortem fatigue during capture but by an insufficient amount to significantly improve PM flesh quality.

Blue cod flesh is compromised by pot capture, which is widely perceived as a benign harvesting method. In order to maximise value of blue cod, low-stress harvesting methods which take advantage of the behaviour of the fish are required.     

Cyclic hematopoiesis in a mixed-breed dog: case report and brief review

An 8-wk-old, male, mixed-breed puppy was adopted from a rescue organization. From the time of adoption, the puppy suffered episodes of illness affecting various organ systems, which resolved with supportive therapy but relapsed once medical therapy was discontinued. Review of the hematologic data revealed cyclic fluctuations in circulating blood cells. Cyclicity was most prominent in neutrophils, with recurrent severe neutropenia. Neutropenic episodes lasted 5–6 d, with regular cycles of 11–14 d between nadir neutrophil counts. Genetic testing determined that the patient was homozygous mutant for the frameshift mutation in the adaptor protein complex 3 β-subunit (AP3B1) gene, originally identified in gray collies with cyclic hematopoiesis (CH). Pedigree information was not available, but the patient’s features were phenotypically distinct from those of collies. We describe here a case of the AP3B1 mutation in a mixed-breed dog that did not resemble a collie, undescribed previously, to our knowledge. Our findings indicate that the AP3B1 mutation and CH are present within the general canine population and are not restricted to collies.