A computational screen for methylation guide snoRNAs in yeast

Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are required for ribose 2'-O-methylation of eukaryotic ribosomal RNA. Many of the genes for this snoRNA family have remained unidentified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, despite the availability of a complete genome sequence. Probabilistic modeling methods akin to those used in speech recognition and computational linguistics were used to computationally screen the yeast genome and identify 22 methylation guide snoRNAs, snR50 to snR71. Gene disruptions and other experimental characterization confirmed their methylation guide function. In total, 51 of the 55 ribose methylated sites in yeast ribosomal RNA were assigned to 41 different guide snoRNAs.     

Geological and geochemical record of 3400-million-year-old terrestrial meteorite impacts

Beds of sand-sized spherules in the 3400-million-year-old Fig Tree Group, Barberton Greenstone belt, South Africa, formed by the fall of quenched liquid silicate droplets into a range of shallow-to deep-water depositional environments. The regional extent of the layers, their compositional complexity, and lack of included volcanic debris suggest that they are not products of volcanic activity. The layers are greatly enriched in iridium and other platinum group elements in roughly chondritic proportions. Geochemical modeling based on immobile element abundances suggests that the original average spherule composition can be approximated by a mixture of fractionated tholeiitic basalt, komatiite, and CI carbonaceous chondrite. The spherules are thought to be the products of large meteorite impacts on the Archean earth.     

The neglected role of religion in fisheries management

Religion and spirituality have long played important roles in fishery systems around the world, and yet are often neglected in modern fisheries management and research. We review current literature and analyse the major small‐scale fishery on Lake Tanganyika, Africa, to highlight how religion may mediate fishing behaviours. Our study surveyed 154 fishers across 11 landing sites in Tanzania, followed by 15 semi‐structured interviews with key informants including fishery officers and local religious leaders. We identified key connections between religious beliefs/practices and fisher perceptions, behaviour and compliance with harvest restrictions and regulations. We demonstrate that better understanding and accounting for religious dimensions is critical for engaging with fishery stakeholders more effectively and managing global fisheries more sustainably.     

Space use and inferred spawning activity of three exploited gamefish species on a large artificial reef

Intense fishing pressure has led to changes in species composition, demography and the over‐exploitation of many coastal fishes. To restore populations, artificial reefs (ARs) are used with the assumption that new habitat will increase fish productivity. Kelp bass (Paralabrax clathratus), barred sand bass (P. nebulifer) and California sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher) are three important recreational gamefish species in southern California. Home ranging behaviour, space use and spawning‐related activity of these three species were quantified on a large AR. Kelp bass used the largest amount of area, but space use was similar among species. While no spawning behaviour could be determined for sheephead, kelp bass exhibited two different activity patterns during spawning months and barred sand bass migrated (indicative of spawning). Results of this study indicate that this large AR is providing suitable habitat for these species, and spawning‐related activity could be a sign that this AR is meeting essential life history demands.     

A comparison of catecholamine and cortisol responses of young lambs and calves to painful husbandry procedures

AIM: To compare the changes in plasma concentrations of noradrenaline, adrenaline and cortisol in lambs after ring castration plus tailing and in calves after dehorning with or without prior local anaesthesia. METHODS: Male lambs were castrated and tailed with rings and calves were dehorned by amputation using a scoop with or without prior local anaesthesia. Blood samples were taken before and after treatment and plasma concentrations of noradrenaline, adrenaline and cortisol were determined. RESULTS: Castration plus tailing of lambs resulted in a rapid increase in noradrenaline concentrations, a lack of an adrenaline response and a marked increase in cortisol concentration. There were similar changes in catecholamine concentrations in calves that were dehorned both with and without local anaesthetic, with adrenaline being elevated within 5 min of treatment and noradrenaline exhibiting a more protracted response. Dehorning caused a marked cortisol increase which was reduced to control concentrations by local anaesthesia for as long as the associated nerve blockade lasted. CONCLUSIONS: The very short-lived adrenaline responses in calves were attributed to dehorning-induced nociceptor input leading to sympathetic stimulation of the adrenal medulla. The longer lasting noradrenaline responses in lambs and calves were thought be due to 'wash-out' of noradrenaline from damaged tissue associated with rings and amputation wounds, respectively.     

Residues of zeta‐cypermethrin in bovine tissues and milk following pour‐on and spray application

The depletion of zeta‐cypermethrin residues in bovine tissues and milk was studied. Beef cattle were treated three times at 3‐week intervals with 1 ml 10 kg^?1 body weight of a 25 g litre^?1 or 50 g litre^?1 pour‐on formulation (2.5 and 5.0 mg zeta‐cypermethrin kg^?1 body weight) or 100 mg kg^?1 spray to simulate a likely worst‐case treatment regime. Friesian and Jersey dairy cows were treated once with 2.5 mg zeta‐cypermethrin kg^?1 in a pour‐on formulation. Muscle, liver and kidney residue concentrations were generally less than the limit of detection (LOD = 0.01 mg kg^?1). Residues in renal‐fat and back‐fat samples from animals treated with 2.5 mg kg^?1 all exceeded the limit of quantitation (LOQ = 0.05 mg kg^?1), peaking at 10 days after treatment. Only two of five kidney fat samples were above the LOQ after 34 days, but none of the back‐fat samples exceeded the LOQ at 28 days after treatment. Following spray treatments, fat residues were detectable in some animals but were below the LOQ at all sampling intervals. Zeta‐cypermethrin was quantifiable (LOQ = 0.01 mg kg^?1) in only one whole‐milk sample from the Friesian cows (0.015 mg kg^?1, 2 days after treatment). In whole milk from Jersey cows, the mean concentration of zeta‐cypermethrin peaked 1 day after treatment, at 0.015 mg kg^?1, and the highest individual sample concentration was 0.025 mg kg^?1 at 3 days after treatment. Residues in milk were not quantifiable beginning 4 days after treatment. The mean concentrations of zeta‐cypermethrin in milk fat from Friesian and Jersey cows peaked two days after treatment at 0.197 mg kg^?1 and 0.377 mg kg^?1, respectively, and the highest individual sample concentrations were 2 days after treatment at 0.47 mg kg^?1 and 0.98 mg kg^?1, respectively. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry