Evolving the narrative for protecting a rapidly changing ocean,post-COVID-19

1. The ocean is the linchpin supporting life on Earth, but it is in declining health due to an increasing footprint of human use and climate change. Despite notable successes in helping to protect the ocean, the scale of actions is simply not now meeting the overriding scale and nature of the ocean's problems that confront us.
2. Moving into a post-COVID-19 world, new policy decisions will need to be made. Some, especially those developed prior to the pandemic, will require changes to their trajectories; others will emerge as a response to this global event. Reconnecting with nature, and specifically with the ocean, will take more than good intent and wishful thinking. Words, and how we express our connection to the ocean, clearly matter now more than ever before.
3. The evolution of the ocean narrative, aimed at preserving and expanding options and opportunities for future generations and a healthier planet, is articulated around six themes: (1) all life is dependent on the ocean; (2) by harming the ocean, we harm ourselves; (3) by protecting the ocean, we protect ourselves; (4) humans, the ocean, biodiversity, and climate are inextricably linked; (5) ocean and climate action must be undertaken together; and (6) reversing ocean change needs action now.
4. This narrative adopts a ‘One Health’ approach to protecting the ocean, addressing the whole Earth ocean system for better and more equitable social, cultural, economic, and environmental outcomes at its core. Speaking with one voice through a narrative that captures the latest science, concerns, and linkages to humanity is a precondition to action, by elevating humankind's understanding of our relationship with ‘planet Ocean’ and why it needs to become a central theme to everyone's lives. We have only one ocean, we must protect it, now. There is no ‘Ocean B’.

     

Spatial patterns of whiting abundance in Scottish waters and relationships with environmental variables

This paper uses objective classification methods, a combination of principal components analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis, applied to long-term average data, to define areas of similar seasonal patterns of whiting abundance in Scottish waters, based on fishery data on landings and effort (by month and by ICES rectangle). A geographic information system (GIS) is used to qualitatively describe the relationships of these spatial patterns of whiting abundance with (a) trawl survey catch rates by age-class, and (b) environmental factors. The results show that the spatial patterns of whiting abundance are related to age, as well as to depth and to spatial patterns of sea surface temperature (SST) in winter. The area (within the North Sea) of highest whiting abundance, and the largest seasonal change in whiting abundance, corresponds to the area of highest survey catch rates for older (>2 years old) whiting in winter, a particular spatial pattern of SST in winter and water depths of 100–200 m. This spatial pattern of SST may indicate an effect of the inflow of the North Atlantic water. This study provides a guide for selecting study areas for future quantitative analysis and the methods proposed may also provide a useful management tool.     

Effects of synthetic and microbially produced chelates on the diffusion of iron and phosphorus to a simulated root in soil

Summary Hydroxamate siderophores (HS) are microbially produced, ferric-specific chelates, known to occur in soil, and to be capable of providing iron to higher plants. This study examined the potential for HS to influence the diffusion of both iron and phosphorus to plant roots in soil.The HS desferrioxamine-B (DFOB) and desferriferrichrome (ferrichrome) were compared with the synthetic chelates ethylenediamine [di(o-hydroxyphenylacetic)acid] (EDDHA) and ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA), and citrate, oxalate, and distilled water in their ability to increase diffusion of iron using a simulated root technique. Chelate solutions were pumped through porous fiber bundles imbedded in soil previously labeled with⁵⁵Fe. In a sandy loam of pH 7.5,⁵⁵Fe diffusion caused by 10^–4 M DFOB was twice that of water, but similar to that caused by 10^–4 M EDDHA. However, 10^–3 M EDDHA resulted in greater diffusion than 10^-3 M DFOB. The diffusions resulting from equimolar quantities of citrate, oxalate, and EDTA were similar to that with distilled water. In a clay soil of pH 5.2 previously labeled with⁵⁵Fe and³² P, the response in⁵⁵Fe diffusion to chelate treatments was: 10^–4 M EDDHA > 10^–4 M ferrichrome > 10^–3 M DFOB > 10^–4 M DFOB > water. Both ferrichrome and EDDHA caused² P diffusion to increase substantially over that of distilled water. These results suggest that hydroxamate siderophores present in the rhizosphere could effectively increase the level of soluble iron for root uptake and possibly increase phosphorus uptake by solubilization of phosphorus from iron phosphates at acid pH.     

Preliminary studies for the differentiation of apple juice samples by chemometric analysis of solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatographic data

A combination of gas chromatography (GC) and chemometrics was evaluated for its ability to differentiate between apple juice samples on the basis of apple variety and applied heat treatment. The heat treatment involved exposure of 15 mL juice samples for 30 s in a 900 W domestic microwave oven. The chromatographic results were subjected to two chemometric procedures: (1) partial least squares (PLS) regression and (2) linear discriminant analysis (LDA) applied to principal component (PC) scores. The percent correct classification of samples were obtained from PLS and LDA in terms of separation on the basis of apple variety and applied heat treatment. PLS gave the highest level of correct classification of the apple juice samples according to both variety and heat treatment, 92.5% correct classification in each case. When LDA was performed on the PC scores obtained from GC analysis, 87.5% and 80% of samples were correctly classified according to apple variety used and applied heat treatment, respectively.     

Diagnosis,management and prognosis of large colon impactions

The majority of large colon feed impactions occur in the left ventral colon at the pelvic flexure. Sand and enterolith impactions most commonly occur in the left ventral colon at the pelvic flexure or in the right dorsal colon; however, sand can accumulate anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract. Enteral fluid therapy can, in most cases, supplement or even replace i.v. administration of fluids and it appears effective and safe to soften large colon contents and resolve simple large colon impactions. Surgical intervention is indicated when a concurrent displacement is suspected, as lengthy medical treatment of large colon impaction secondary to large colon displacements would not be indicated and may increase the risk of colonic rupture. Other indications for surgical intervention include uncontrollable pain, when cardiovascular parameters deteriorate, or when there is evidence of intestinal devitalisation. The prognosis for horses undergoing large colon enterotomy is dependent on the extent and type of impaction, but is generally excellent.     

Oxalate and phytate concentrations in seeds of soybean cultivars [Glycine max (L.) Merr.

This study analyzed soybean seeds from 116 cultivars for total, insoluble, and soluble oxalate (Ox), phytate (InsP6), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) because of their potential beneficial or harmful effects on human nutrition. These cultivars were divided into four groups (A-D) on the basis of the year and geographic location where they were grown. Oxalate concentration ranged from about 82 to 285 mg/100 g of dry seed. The InsP6 concentration ranged from 0.22 to 2.22 g/100 g of dry seed. There was no correlation between Ox and InsP6 within or among the four groups of cultivars. There was a significant correlation between total Ox and Ca, but not Mg, in group D cultivars (r = 0.3705; p < 0.0005). No significant relationship was found in the group A-C cultivars. Eleven group D cultivars had InsP6 less than 500 mg/100 g, but all had total Ox of 130 mg/100 g or greater. Five cultivars from groups A-C had relatively low InsP6 (group B; < or =1.01 g/100 g) and low Ox (<140 mg/100 g). These cultivars could be useful for producing soy foods beneficial to populations at risk for kidney stones and for improved mineral bioavailability. The Ox and InsP6 concentrations of the cultivars indicate that choosing specific parents could generate seeds in succeeding generations with desirable Ox and InsP6 concentrations.     

Stimulation of growth,sporulation, and potential staining capability in Ceratocystiopsis falcata

A procedure is described for the rapid extraction from the hyphomycete Gliocladiumroseum of a compound that stimulates growth, perithecial formation, and pigmentation in the mycelium of the wood-inhabiting ascomycete Ceratocystiopsis falcata.     

GONG Observations of Solar Surface Flows

Doppler velocity observations obtained by the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) instruments directly measure the nearly steady flows in the solar photosphere. The sun's differential rotation is accurately determined from single observations. The rotation profile with respect to latitude agrees well with previous measures, but it also shows a slight north-south asymmetry. Rotation profiles averaged over 27-day rotations of the sun reveal the torsional oscillation signal-weak, jetlike features, with amplitudes of 5 meters per second, that are associated with the sunspot latitude activity belts. A meridional circulation with a poleward flow of about 20 meters per second is also evident. Several characteristics of the surface flows suggest the presence of large convection cells.