SUCCESSFUL ARTIFICIAL DIETS FOR THE CULTURE OF JUVENILE LOBSTERS

Purified and semipurified diets yielding good growth and survival of lobsters (Homarus americanus) have been developed. Growth of animals fed the semipurified diet for 18 months at 20±1°C indicates that market size (.5 kg) could be attained within 2.5 years. The semipurified diet contains 53% (dry weight) protein using casein, shrimp meal, gluten, and egg white as different protein sources. Substitution of these particular sources of protein with soy protein, shrimp protein, a soy protein-shrimp meal combination, or bacterial cell protein caused significant reductions in growth. Similar growth can be achieved when the protein level of the semipurified diet is reduced to 30.5%. It appears that if specific protein and energy requirements are met, diets containing low protein levels can be nutritionally adequate for optimal growth, thereby increasing the possibility of cost-effective diets for intensive lobster culture.     

The incidence of posterior capsule disruption during phacoemulsification and associated postoperative complication rates in dogs: 244 eyes (1995-2002)

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this retrospective study was to report the incidence of posterior capsule disruption during routine phacoemulsification and to document the postoperative outcomes and complications in eyes with posterior capsule disruption compared with eyes with intact posterior capsules. PROCEDURES: Records of 143 dogs (244 eyes) were reviewed. Data collected included whether the posterior capsule was disrupted, whether the disruption was planned or accidental, whether an intraocular lens was implanted, and visual outcome. Records were reviewed for postoperative complications. Intraocular lens implantation rates, complication rates, and visual outcomes were compared between intact and disrupted posterior capsule groups using Chi-square analyses. RESULTS: The posterior capsule was disrupted in 33/244 eyes (14%). Planned capsulotomies accounted for 36% of the disruptions. Intraocular lenses were implanted in 76% of eyes without a disruption of the posterior capsule and in 31% of eyes with a posterior capsule disruption. Intraocular lenses were more likely to be implanted in eyes with a planned disruption of the posterior capsule (7/12; 58%) than in eyes with an accidental disruption (3/20; 15%). There were no significant differences in postoperative complications or visual outcome between eyes with posterior capsule disruption and those without. CONCLUSIONS: The most significant complication of posterior capsule disruption during phacoemulsification is the inability to implant an intraocular lens. Intraocular lenses are more likely to be placed in eyes with intentional disruptions of the posterior capsule than those with accidental ruptures.     

Fine Grinding and Air Classification of Field Pea

Field pea has ≈23% protein, 48% starch, 8% sugars, 4% lipids, 7% crude fiber, and 3% ash. Pin milling at 1 × 14,000, 3 × 14,000, 9 × 14,000, and 12 × 14,000 rpm followed by air classification according to particle size resulted in fine fractions (<18 μm) with high protein content and coarser fractions (>18 μm) with high starch content. The yield of the high protein fraction increased with the intensity of grinding before air classification. The starch content of the high starch fraction increased with the intensity of grinding and subsequent air classification. Both whole pea and dehulled pea responded well to fine grinding and air classification, and the dehulled pea gave higher protein content and higher starch content than the corresponding fraction from whole pea. The protein fraction had high lysine content and met all the amino acid requirements of the World Health Organization for children older than two years and adults.     

Collaborative Management and Public Trust Responsibilities: A Help or a Hindrance?

We consider the implications of public trust administration principles for collaborative fish and wildlife management. Collaboration can increase the capacity of agencies to provide fish- and wildlife-related benefits but increases the ties of agencies to some stakeholders—potentially privileging those stakeholders’ needs. We conducted two case studies of collaborative management in which we identified ways that collaboration enhanced and detracted from agencies’ capacities. We found that collaboration led to benefits for agencies, but that agencies had to make tradeoffs in the goals and objectives they pursued. With regard to meeting public trust responsibilities, we hypothesized that: (a) agencies gain from collaboration when they do not have the capacity to provide a certain type of fish- or wildlife-related benefit on their own; but (b) it is more challenging for agencies to provide benefits through collaborative efforts when they work with organizations that have goals that differ considerably from their own.     

Phyllosilicate diversity and past aqueous activity revealed at Mawrth Vallis, Mars

Observations by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter/Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars in the Mawrth Vallis region show several phyllosilicate species, indicating a wide range of past aqueous activity. Iron/magnesium (Fe/Mg)-smectite is observed in light-toned outcrops that probably formed via aqueous alteration of basalt of the ancient cratered terrain. This unit is overlain by rocks rich in hydrated silica, montmorillonite, and kaolinite that may have formed via subsequent leaching of Fe and Mg through extended aqueous events or a change in aqueous chemistry. A spectral feature attributed to an Fe2+ phase is present in many locations in the Mawrth Vallis region at the transition from Fe/Mg-smectite to aluminum/silicon (Al/Si)-rich units. Fe2+-bearing materials in terrestrial sediments are typically associated with microorganisms or changes in pH or cations and could be explained here by hydrothermal activity. The stratigraphy of Fe/Mg-smectite overlain by a ferrous phase, hydrated silica, and then Al-phyllosilicates implies a complex aqueous history.     

Focused evolution of HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies revealed by structures and deep sequencing

Antibody VRC01 is a human immunoglobulin that neutralizes about 90% of HIV-1 isolates. To understand how such broadly neutralizing antibodies develop, we used x-ray crystallography and 454 pyrosequencing to characterize additional VRC01-like antibodies from HIV-1-infected individuals. Crystal structures revealed a convergent mode of binding for diverse antibodies to the same CD4-binding-site epitope. A functional genomics analysis of expressed heavy and light chains revealed common pathways of antibody-heavy chain maturation, confined to the IGHV1-2*02 lineage, involving dozens of somatic changes, and capable of pairing with different light chains. Broadly neutralizing HIV-1 immunity associated with VRC01-like antibodies thus involves the evolution of antibodies to a highly affinity-matured state required to recognize an invariant viral structure, with lineages defined from thousands of sequences providing a genetic roadmap of their development.     

Flood volcanism in the northern high latitudes of Mercury revealed by MESSENGER

MESSENGER observations from Mercury orbit reveal that a large contiguous expanse of smooth plains covers much of Mercury's high northern latitudes and occupies more than 6% of the planet's surface area. These plains are smooth, embay other landforms, are distinct in color, show several flow features, and partially or completely bury impact craters, the sizes of which indicate plains thicknesses of more than 1 kilometer and multiple phases of emplacement. These characteristics, as well as associated features, interpreted to have formed by thermal erosion, indicate emplacement in a flood-basalt style, consistent with x-ray spectrometric data indicating surface compositions intermediate between those of basalts and komatiites. The plains formed after the Caloris impact basin, confirming that volcanism was a globally extensive process in Mercury's post-heavy bombardment era.     

Transmission of equine influenza virus to dogs

Molecular and antigenic analyses of three influenza viruses isolated from outbreaks of severe respiratory disease in racing greyhounds revealed that they are closely related to H3N8 equine influenza virus. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the canine influenza virus genomes form a monophyletic group, consistent with a single interspecies virus transfer. Molecular changes in the hemagglutinin suggested adaptive evolution in the new host. The etiologic role of this virus in respiratory disease was supported by the temporal association of rising antibody titers with disease and by experimental inoculation studies. The geographic expansion of the infection and its persistence for several years indicate efficient transmission of canine influenza virus among greyhounds. Evidence of infection in pet dogs suggests that this infection may also become enzootic in this population.     

A metagenomic survey of microbes in honey bee colony collapse disorder

In colony collapse disorder (CCD), honey bee colonies inexplicably lose their workers. CCD has resulted in a loss of 50 to 90% of colonies in beekeeping operations across the United States. The observation that irradiated combs from affected colonies can be repopulated with naive bees suggests that infection may contribute to CCD. We used an unbiased metagenomic approach to survey microflora in CCD hives, normal hives, and imported royal jelly. Candidate pathogens were screened for significance of association with CCD by the examination of samples collected from several sites over a period of 3 years. One organism, Israeli acute paralysis virus of bees, was strongly correlated with CCD.