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The New York Bight is undergoing rapid anthropogenic change amidst an apparent increase in baleen whale sightings. Though survey efforts have increased in recent years, the lack of published knowledge on baleen whale occurrence prior to these efforts impedes effective assessments of distributional or behavioural shifts due to increasing human activities. Here we synthesize opportunistic sightings of baleen whales from 1998–2017, which represent the majority of sightings data prior to recent survey efforts, and which are largely unpublished. Humpback and fin whales were the most commonly sighted species, followed by North Atlantic right whales and North Atlantic minke whales. Important behaviours such as feeding and nursing were observed, and most species (including North Atlantic right whales) were seen during all seasons. Baleen whales overlapped with multiple anthropogenic use areas, and all species, but of particular importance North Atlantic right whales, were sighted outside the spatial and temporal bounds of the Seasonal Management Areas for North Atlantic right whales. These opportunistic data are vital for providing a baseline and context of baleen whales in the New York Bight prior to broad-scale efforts and facilitate interpretation of current and future observations and trends, which can more accurately inform effective management and mitigation efforts.

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) exhibit maternally driven fidelity to feeding grounds, and yet occasionally occupy new areas. Humpback whale sightings and mortalities in the New York Bight apex (NYBA) have been increasing over the last decade, providing an opportunity to study this phenomenon in an urban habitat. Whales in this area overlap with human activities, including busy shipping traffic leading into the Port of New York and New Jersey. The site fidelity, population composition and demographics of individual whales were analysed to better inform management in this high-risk area. Whale watching and other opportunistic data collections were used to identify 101 individual humpback whales in the NYBA from spring through autumn, 2012–2018. Although mean occurrence was low (2.5 days), mean occupancy was 37.6 days, and 31.3% of whales returned from one year to the next. Individuals compared with other regional and ocean-basin-wide photo-identification catalogues (N = 52) were primarily resighted at other sites along the US East Coast, including the Gulf of Maine feeding ground. Sightings of mother-calf pairs were rare in the NYBA, suggesting that maternally directed fidelity may not be responsible for the presence of young whales in this area. Other factors including shifts in prey species distribution or changes in population structure more broadly should be investigated.

Fertilization of eggs from the African clawed frogXenopus laevisis characterized by an increase in cytosolic calcium, a phenomenon that is also observed in other vertebrates such as mammals and birds. During fertilization in mammals and birds, the transfer of the soluble PLCζ from sperm into the egg is thought to trigger the release of calcium from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Injecting sperm extracts into eggs reproduces this effect, reinforcing the hypothesis that a sperm factor is responsible for calcium release and egg activation. Remarkably, this occurs even when sperm extracts fromX. laevisare injected into mouse eggs, suggesting that mammals andX. laevisshare a sperm factor. However,X. laevislacks an annotatedPLCZ1gene, which encodes the PLCζ enzyme. In this study, we attempted to determine whether sperm fromX. laevisexpress an unannotatedPLCZ1ortholog. We identifiedPLCZ1orthologs in 11 amphibian species, including 5 that had not been previously characterized, but did not find any in eitherX. laevisor the closely relatedXenopus tropicalis. Additionally, we performed RNA sequencing on testes obtained from adultX. laevismales and did not identify potential PLCZ1 orthologs in our dataset or in previously collected ones. These findings suggest that PLCZ1 may have been lost in theXenopuslineage and raise the question of how fertilization triggers calcium release and egg activation in these species.

Rapid changes in the Arctic from shifting climate and human use patterns are affecting previously reported distributions and movements of marine mammals. The underwater soundscape, a key component of marine mammal habitats, is also changing. This study integrates acoustic data, collected at a site in the northern Bering Sea, with information on sound sources to quantify their occurrence throughout the year and identify deviations in conditions and dominant soundscape components. Predictive models are applied to explain variation in sound levels and to compare the relative contributions of various soundscape components. Levels across all octave bands were influenced most strongly by the variation in abiotic environment across seasons. The presence of commercial ships did not have a discernible effect on sound levels at this location and period of time. The occurrence of sources was compared to a second site, where we documented how higher levels of shipping changed that soundscape. This study demonstrated the value of acoustic monitoring to characterize the dominant acoustic features in a soundscape and the importance of preserving soundscapes based on dominant features rather than level of sound. Using a soundscape approach has relevance for protecting marine mammals and for the food security of Alaska Native communities that depend upon them.

Metals are widespread environmental toxins that disrupt normal cellular processes through their interactions with proteins and other macromolecules. In this study, we developed the metalsensitive fluorescent protein mseGFP as a ratiometric reporter capable of binding heavy metals. We found that mseGFP bound mercury and lead tightly but had substantially lower sensitivity to other metals. By comparison, the redox sensor roGFP2 functioned as a ratiometric indicator for transition metals, with the highest sensitivity for copper, followed by nickel and cobalt. mseGFP and roGFP2 could also report metal binding through fluorescence quenching, and we used this effect to measure high affinity interactions for both proteins with copper and iron. Crystal structure analysis of mseGFP complexed with phenylarsine oxide revealed an unexpected mode of heavy metal interaction, with mseGFP binding PAO with 2:2 stoichiometry. Glutathione strongly inhibited most metal interactions with the fluorescent protein reporters, but increased the affinity of arsenic and cadmium for mseGFP. When expressed in HEK293T cells, mseGFP reported uptake of mercury and phenylarsine oxide from surrounding media. Glutathione depletion enhanced binding of phenylarsine oxide to mseGFP in cells, validating the importance of glutathione in modulating metal-protein interactions.

After fertilization, maternally contributed factors to the egg initiate the transition to pluripotency to give rise to embryonic stem cells, in large part by activating de novo transcription from the embryonic genome. Diverse mechanisms coordinate this transition across animals, suggesting that pervasive regulatory remodeling has shaped the earliest stages of development. Here, we show that maternal homologs of mammalian pluripotency reprogramming factors OCT4 and SOX2 divergently activate the two subgenomes of Xenopus laevis, an allotetraploid that arose from hybridization of two diploid species ~18 million years ago. Although most genes have been retained as two homeologous copies, we find that a majority of them undergo asymmetric activation in the early embryo. Chromatin accessibility profiling and CUT&RUN for modified histones and transcription factor binding reveal extensive differences in enhancer architecture between the subgenomes, which likely arose through genomic disruptions as a consequence of allotetraploidy. However, comparison with diploid X. tropicalis and zebrafish shows broad conservation of embryonic gene expression levels when divergent homeolog contributions are combined, implying strong selection to maintain dosage in the core vertebrate pluripotency transcriptional program, amid genomic instability following hybridization.

The Ca2+ activated Cl− channel formed by transmembrane member 16A (TMEM16A) is broadly expressed and regulates diverse processes. In addition to Ca2+, TMEM16A channels require the acidic phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) to open. Like other channels regulated by PI(4,5)P2, TMEM16A-conducted currents recorded in excised patches slowly decay overtime. Here we assessed how intracellular Ca2+ alters the rate of this current rundown, using the channels endogenously expressed in oocytes from the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. We found that in excised, inside-out patches, the concentration of applied Ca2+ alters the rate of rundown, with high Ca2+ concentrations speeding rundown by activating membrane associated phospholipase C (PLC). Together, these results clarify our understanding of how Ca2+ regulates both TMEM16A directly, and targets PLC to regulate the membrane PI(4,5)P2 content.

Fertilization of an egg by more than one sperm, a condition known as polyspermy, leads to gross chromosomal abnormalities and is embryonic lethal for most animals. Consequently, eggs have evolved multiple processes to stop supernumerary sperm from entering the nascent zygote. For external fertilizers, such as frogs and sea urchins, fertilization signals a depolarization of the egg membrane, which serves as the fast block to polyspermy. Sperm can bind to, but will not enter, depolarized eggs. In eggs from the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, the fast block depolarization is mediated by the Ca2+ activated Cl− channel TMEM16A. To do so, fertilization activates a phospholipase C, which generates IP3 to signal a Ca2+ release from the ER. Currently, the signaling pathway by which fertilization activates PLC remains unknown. Here, we sought to uncover this pathway by targeting the canonical activation of the PLC isoforms present in the X. laevis egg: PLCγ and PLCβ. We observed no changes to the fast block in X. laevis eggs inseminated in inhibitors of tyrosine phosphorylation, used to stop activation of PLCγ, or inhibitors of Gαq/11 pathways, used to stop activation of PLCβ. These data suggest that the PLC that signals the fast block depolarization in X. laevis is activated by a novel mechanism.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) has become the gold standard for the treatment of large kidney stones 2 cm and stones in the lower calyces 1.5 cm. Despite the miniaturization of instruments and the greater expertise of urologists, serious complications can still occur. One of the most dangerous complications is intestinal perforation. Current database analyses report colonic injury in 0.3-0.8% of all cases. These injuries can be treated with either conservative management with long-term drainage and parenteral nutrition, or an exploratory laparotomy with primary closure or creation of a colostomy becomes necessary. We present the case of a 53-year-old woman who underwent left-sided PCNL for a single kidney stone. After removal of the nephrostomy, feces leaked from the puncture channel. After literature research and an interdisciplinary case presentation, the decision was made in favor of an undescribed therapy concept for colon injury after PCNL. After taking laxatives, a colonoscopy was performed. The entry and exit points of the puncture were identified and were both treated with an OTSC® clip (InMedi, Langenhagen, Germany). Immediately after the intervention stool leakage via the puncture channel stopped and the patient was allowed to eat normally. A control sonography on the third day revealed minimal fluid retention in the retroperitoneum which did not require treatment. The patient was then discharged symptom-free.Die perkutane Nephrolitholapaxie (PCNL) hat sich zum Goldstandard für die Therapie bei großen Nierensteinen 2 cm sowie bei Steinen in der unteren Kelchgruppe ab 1,5 cm entwickelt. Trotz Miniaturisierung der Instrumente und höherer Expertise der Urologen können noch immer schwerwiegende Komplikationen auftreten. Eine der gefährlichsten Komplikationen ist die Darmperforation. Aktuelle Datenbankanalysen berichten in 0,3–0,8 % aller Fälle über eine Kolonverletzung. Entweder können diese Verletzungen mit einem konservativen Management mit langer Liegedauer von Drainagen und parenteraler Ernährung behandelt werden oder eine explorative Laparotomie mit Primärverschluss bzw. Anlage einer Kolostomie wird notwendig. Wir stellen den Fall einer 53-jährigen Frau vor, die sich einer linksseitigen PCNL bei singulärem Nierenstein unterzog. Nach Entfernung der Nierenfistel kam es zu einer Entleerung von Stuhl aus dem Punktionskanal. Nach Literaturrecherche und interdisziplinärer Fallvorstellung fiel die Entscheidung auf ein neuartiges und bislang noch nicht beschriebenes Therapiekonzept einer Kolonverletzung nach PCNL. Nach abführenden Maßnahmen erfolgte eine Koloskopie. Der Ein- und Ausstich wurde identifiziert und mittels OTSC®-Clip (InMedi, Langenhagen, Deutschland) versorgt. Unmittelbar postinterventionell kam es zu einer Sistierung der Stuhlentleerung über den Punktionskanal und die Patientin durfte sich normal ernähren. Eine Kontrollsonographie am dritten Tag ergab noch einen minimalen Flüssigkeitsverhalt im Retroperitoneum, welcher nicht behandlungsbedürftig war. Anschließend konnte die Patientin beschwerdefrei entlassen werden.

The New York Bight (NYB) is one of the busiest waterways along the US East Coast, and has recently seen an apparent increase in baleen whale presence. With growing anthropogenic pressures, a better...

There have been few recent estimates of abundance for humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the eastern South Atlantic Ocean. The firstdistance sampling survey of the coastal waters of Gabon was conducted in 2002. The difficult logistics of covering a large survey region withlimited time, effort and refuelling opportunities required a line transect survey design that carefully balanced the theoretical demands of distancesampling with these constraints. Inshore/offshore zigzag transects were conducted to a distance of up to approximately 50 n.miles from the coastof Gabon corresponding to the 1,000m depth contour, from the border with Equatorial Guinea to a point south of Mayumba, near the Congo borderrepresenting 1,488 n.miles of survey effort. Seventy-nine different groups of humpback whales were observed throughout the survey area comprisinga northern (Equatorial Guinea to Cap Lopez) and southern (Cap Lopez to Gamba) survey stratum. Relatively large numbers of whales wereencountered throughout the southern stratum; encounter rates and densities were considerably lower in the northern stratum. The initial abundanceestimate from a distance sampling analysis suggests that more than 1,200 humpback whales were present in Gabon’s coastal waters during thesurvey period. This estimate does not account for either availability or perception bias. In addition, this instantaneous snapshot of the number ofwhales occupying Gabon’s coastal waters is likely to correspond to only a portion of the population that uses these waters over time. However, theabundance estimate derived from the aerial survey are consistent with those based on photographic and genetic capture-recapture techniques. Acontinuing research programme in this area will help refine estimates of humpback whale abundance and using genetic and photographic data alsoestablish the relationships between this and other populations. This is important given the potential overlap of humpback whales in large numbersthroughout this region and the current extent and continued expansion of hydrocarbon exploration and extraction activities throughout the Gulf ofGuinea.

Previously published data on the occurrence of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Arabian Sea suggests that the region hosts a non-migratory population that adheres to a Northern Hemisphere breeding cycle. In order to investigate the distribution and abundance of this population, twelve small boat surveys were conducted in three main locations off the coast of Oman between February 2000 and November 2004. Humpback whales were observed during surveys in Dhofar and Gulf of Masirah on Oman’s Arabian Sea coast, but not during surveys in the Muscat region in the Gulf of Oman. An even ratio of males to females was observed and sampled during surveys in the Gulf of Masirah, which was surveyed in October and November (n = 38), while almost all whales sampled in Dhofar in February/March were male (n = 28). Song was detected frequently in the bay surrounding the Halaniyat Islands (formerly known as the Kuria Muria Bay) in February/March, but observations of mother-calf pairs were sparse, and competitive groups were absent. Feeding was observed in both October/November and February/March, but behavioural and environmental observations indicate that the Gulf of Masirah is primarily an important feeding ground, while the Dhofar region, particularly the Halaniyat Bay, may be a breeding area. However, limited survey effort and a lack of recent observations of mother-calf pairs or competitive groups raises the possibility that the primary mating, calving and nursing areas are yet to be identified. Sixty-four individual whales were identified using photographs of dorsal fins or tail flukes. A high rate of re-sightings between years and between survey areas at different times of the year indicates year-round residence off the coast of Oman. A Chapman’s modified Petersen estimator was applied to various data pairings to calculate abundance. All pairings yielded estimates of less than 100 individuals, but sample sizes were small and there were various sources of possible bias. Analysis of scarring on the caudal peduncle region of identified individuals in Oman indicates that between 30 and 40% are likely to have been involved in entanglements with fishing gear. Comparison of the Oman photo-identification catalogue with those from Zanzibar, Antongil Bay (Madagascar) and Mayotte and the Geyser Atoll (Comoros Archipelago), yielded no photographic matches. These data are consistent with the hypothesis of a discrete population. The distribution of fluke pigmentation rankings from the Oman catalogue, which varied significantly from those of Madagascar and Mayotte, provides further evidence for this theory. The evidence presented here provides a strong underpinning for the recent IUCN Red List classification of the Arabian Sea sub-population of humpback whales as Endangered. In light of ongoing coastal development and other threats to this population’s habitat and future survival, urgent research and conservation measures are recommended.

The Comoros Archipelago is an assemblage of oceanic islands, banks and offshore reef systems that longitudinally span the northern MozambiqueChannel. The greater Comoros Archipelago has been designated by the IWC as Wintering sub-Region C2 for humpback whales and is currentlyconsidered data deficient. Since 1997, annual marine mammal surveys of varying length and objective have been carried out in the waters surroundingMayotte, the eastern most island in the Comoros Archipelago. The humpback whales component of these surveys focused effort in and around thelagoon surrounding Mayotte. While it is expected that humpback whales can found throughout Comoros Archipelago it still remains unknown asto what degree humpback whales utilise specific banks and offshore reef systems within this area. Surveys conducted in 2002 and 2003 includedpassing mode and closing mode components intended to examine the density, group composition and encounter rates of humpback whales in anoffshore reef complex and a bank adjacent to the lagoon surround Mayotte. The densities of humpback whales, out to one nautical mile from thesurveyed transects, ranged from 0.027 to 0.618 whales/n.mile2 across three study sites. Females with calves were the most frequently encounteredgroup type. Encounter rates ranged from 0.98 to 2.36 groups per hour of search effort. These results, while exploratory in nature, indicate that theeastern region of the Comoros may be an important area for humpback whales during the late austral winter months and that additional, moreintensive systematic research is warranted.

Temporally harmonized elimination of damaged or unnecessary organelles and cells is a prerequisite of health. Under Type 2 inflammatory conditions, human airway epithelial cells (HAECs) generate proferroptotic hydroperoxy-arachidonoyl-phosphatidylethanolamines (HpETE-PEs) as proximate death signals. Production of 15-HpETE-PE depends on activation of 15-lipoxygenase-1 (15LO1) in complex with PE-binding protein-1 (PEBP1). We hypothesized that cellular membrane damage induced by these proferroptotic phospholipids triggers compensatory prosurvival pathways, and in particular autophagic pathways, to prevent cell elimination through programmed death. We discovered that PEBP1 is pivotal to driving dynamic interactions with both proferroptotic 15LO1 and the autophagic protein microtubule-associated light chain-3 (LC3). Further, the 15LO1–PEBP1-generated ferroptotic phospholipid, 15-HpETE-PE, promoted LC3-I lipidation to stimulate autophagy. This concurrent activation of autophagy protects cells from ferroptotic death and release of mitochondrial DNA. Similar findings are observed in Type 2 Hi asthma, where high levels of both 15LO1–PEBP1 and LC3-II are seen in HAECs, in association with low bronchoalveolar lavage fluid mitochondrial DNA and more severe disease. The concomitant activation of ferroptosis and autophagy by 15LO1–PEBP1 complexes and their hydroperoxy-phospholipids reveals a pathobiologic pathway relevant to asthma and amenable to therapeutic targeting.

AIM: Species distribution modelling is a useful tool for determining important habitats. By accounting for specific animal behaviour in the model, it is possible to identify finer‐scale patterns of habitat use. Together with spatially explicit data on anthropogenic activities, models can be used to assess human impacts and inform conservation management. This study used observations of breeding behaviour to identify fine‐scale breeding habitats of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), as well as potential overlap of these habitats with cumulative anthropogenic impacts. LOCATION: Eastern Tropical Atlantic, West Africa. METHODS: Maxent was used to model humpback distribution using pertinent environmental predictors and an integrated dataset of humpback whale occurrences filtered for breeding‐specific behaviours. In conjunction with multiple anthropogenic activities, a subsequent cumulative utilization and impact analysis assessed the degree of overlap between predicted breeding habitat and potential anthropogenic impacts. RESULTS: Greatest habitat suitability occurred in warm coastal waters of Gabon, and other highly suitable areas occurred off Equatorial Guinea (Bioko Island), Cameroon and Angola. Sea surface temperature and height contributed most to the model. Highest overlap between humpback whales and potential impacts from anthropogenic activities occurred off Gabon, Equatorial Guinea (Bioko Island), Cameroon and Angola. Impacts associated with oil and gas development (where oil and gas platforms serve as an indicator for industry activity) appeared to contribute most to potential cumulative impact. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: Depth and sea surface temperature of predicted breeding habitats were consistent with previous studies. However, lesser known characteristics such as sea surface height and wind speed, resulting in potentially more sheltered areas for breeding whales, may also be important in delineating finer‐scale habitat suitability. Identified areas of high potential cumulative impact occurred within exclusive economic zones of multiple countries and likely represent the minimum level of impact to humpback whales in the region, highlighting the need for additional research and effective management throughout the area.

TransMEMbrane 16A (TMEM16A) is a Ca

Transurethral resection of the prostate and open prostatectomy have been the standard of care for the surgical treatment of benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) over decades. New emerging techniques for the surgical management of BPO have been currently introduced, but might be associated with new, unusual complications.We herewith report on two patients with a rectal perforation after aquablation treatment of BPO.In the first case, the diagnosis was made 2 days after the aquablation procedure due to unspecific postoperative symptoms. A complex combined open/endoscopic repair of the defect was carried out thereafter. As a consequence, a rectoscopy was routinely performed since then following each aquablation procedure. In the second case, intraoperative rectoscopy after uneventful aquablation revealed the rectal perforation. The perforation was clipped immediately with an over the scope-clip by colonoscopy.These two cases of a rectal perforation after aquablation of the prostate demonstrate an unusual complication and its complex management. Diagnostic delay complicates its treatment. Therefore, immediate rectoscopy should be performed routinely after the aquablation procedure.

Recent years have seen rapid development of tools and approaches to model population consequences of disturbance in several marine mammal populations from high-amplitude, acute sound sources. Ocean noise from shipping and other maritime activities is now recognized as a chronic, habitat-level stressor. In order to understand population consequences of chronic ocean noise to whales and their populations, advances are needed in several key areas, which are explored in this review. One tractable way to predict population-level consequences of noise-mediated disruption of feeding, which can include both behavioural responses and foraging opportunities lost due to acoustic masking. Masking may be defined as both the process and the amount by which the threshold of hearing of one sound is raised by the presence of another. Parameterising any such model requires information on sensitivity and vulnerability of large whales to ocean noise, in which sensitivity is the degree to which marine features respond to a stressor (e.g., behavioural responses to noise or proportional reduction in foraging efficiency due to masking), and vulnerability is the probability that whales are exposed noise to which they are sensitive. Efforts are underway to provide much-needed information on hearing sensitivity in baleen whales, the role of acoustic cues in foraging, and deriving links between long-term variability in prey availability and whale demography. As this information becomes available, we expect rapid advancement on modelling population consequences of acoustic masking in baleen whales, because those efforts can leverage substantial investments in statistical methodological approaches to model population consequences of disturbance. Pathways of effects other than via foraging disruption (e.g., stress hormones affecting reproduction or disease) are possible, but we illustrate potential ways to proceed based on this tractable approach, namely noise-mediated impacts on foraging. This report highlights case studies of local, national, international, and inter-governmental efforts to monitor and reduce the contribution of global shipping to ocean ambient noise. The following outlines approaches that can be used to assess the risk to baleen whale recovery of existing levels of ocean noise, and consequently, predict the benefits likely to arise from reducing chronic ocean noise.

The description of genetic population structure over a species' geographic range can provide insights into its evolutionary history and also support effective management efforts. Assessments for globally distributed species are rare, however, requiring significant international coordination and collaboration. The global distribution of demographically discrete populations for the humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae is not fully known, hampering the definition of appropriate management units. Here, we present the first circumglobal assessment of mitochondrial genetic population structure across the species' range in the Southern Hemisphere and Arabian Sea. We combine new and existing data from the mitochondrial (mt)DNA control region that resulted in a 311 bp consensus sequence of the mtDNA control region for 3009 individuals sampled across 14 breeding stocks and subpopulations currently recognized by the International Whaling Commission. We assess genetic diversity and test for genetic differentiation and also estimate the magnitude and directionality of historic matrilineal gene flow between putative populations. Our results indicate that maternally directed site fidelity drives significant genetic population structure between breeding stocks within ocean basins. However, patterns of connectivity differ across the circumpolar range, possibly as a result of differences in the extent of longitudinal movements on feeding areas. The number of population comparisons observed to be significantly differentiated were found to diminish at the subpopulation scale when nucleotide differences were examined, indicating that more complex processes underlie genetic structure at this scale. It is crucial that these complexities and uncertainties are afforded greater consideration in management and regulatory efforts.

Elucidating patterns of population structure for species with complex life histories, and disentangling the processes driving such patterns, remains a significant analytical challenge. Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) populations display complex genetic structures that have not been fully resolved at all spatial scales. We generated a data set of nuclear markers for 3575 samples spanning the seven breeding stocks and substocks found in the South Atlantic and western and northern Indian Oceans. For the total sample, and males and females separately, we assessed genetic diversity, tested for genetic differentiation between putative populations and isolation by distance, estimated the number of genetic clusters without a priori population information and estimated rates of gene flow using maximum-likelihood and Bayesian approaches. At the ocean basin scale, structure is governed by geographical distance (IBD P

Accurate DNA replication is essential for genomic stability and cancer prevention. Homologous recombination is important for high-fidelity DNA damage tolerance during replication. How the homologous recombination machinery is recruited to replication intermediates is unknown. Here, we provide evidence that a Rad51 paralog-containing complex, the budding yeast Shu complex, directly recognizes and enables tolerance of predominantly lagging strand abasic sites. We show that the Shu complex becomes chromatin associated when cells accumulate abasic sites during S phase. We also demonstrate that purified recombinant Shu complex recognizes an abasic analog on a double-flap substrate, which prevents AP endonuclease activity and endonuclease-induced double-strand break formation. Shu complex DNA binding mutants are sensitive to methyl methanesulfonate, are not chromatin enriched, and exhibit increased mutation rates. We propose a role for the Shu complex in recognizing abasic sites at replication intermediates, where it recruits the homologous recombination machinery to mediate strand specific damage tolerance., The homologous recombination machinery needs to be recruited at replication intermediates for accurate functioning. Here, the authors reveal that a Rad51 paralog-containing complex, called the Shu complex, recognizes and enables tolerance of predominantly lagging strand abasic sites.

We measured spatial and temporal patterns of ambient noise in dynamic, relatively pristine Arctic marine habitats and evaluate the contributions of environmental and human noise sources. Long-term acoustic recorders were deployed around St. Lawrence Island and the Bering Strait region within key feeding and migratory corridors for protected species that are inherently important to Native Alaskan cultures. Over 3000 h of data from 14 recorders at nine sites were obtained from October 2014 to June 2017. Spatial and temporal ambient noise patterns were quantified with percentile statistics in 1/3rd-octave bands (0.02–8 kHz). Ice presence strongly influenced ambient noise by influencing the physical environment and presence of marine mammals. High variability in noise was observed within and between sites, largely as a function of ice presence and associated factors. Acute contributions of biological and anthropogenic sources to local ambient noise are compared to monthly averages, demonstrating how they influence Arctic soundscapes.

The $\overline{{\rm{P}}}\mathrm{ANDA}$ (anti-Proton ANnihiliation at DArmstadt) experiment will be one of the four flagship experiments at the new international accelerator complex FAIR (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research) in Darmstadt, Germany. $\overline{{\rm{P}}}\mathrm{ANDA}$ will address fundamental questions of hadron physics and quantum chromodynamics using high-intensity cooled antiproton beams with momenta between 1.5 and 15 GeV/c and a design luminosity of up to 2 × 1032 cm−2 s−1. Excellent particle identification (PID) is crucial to the success of the $\overline{{\rm{P}}}\mathrm{ANDA}$ physics program. Hadronic PID in the barrel region of the target spectrometer will be performed by a fast and compact Cherenkov counter using the detection of internally reflected Cherenkov light (DIRC) technology. It is designed to cover the polar angle range from 22° to 140° and will provide at least 3 standard deviations (s.d.) π/K separation up to 3.5 GeV/c, matching the expected upper limit of the final state kaon momentum distribution from simulation. This documents describes the technical design and the expected performance of the $\overline{{\rm{P}}}\mathrm{ANDA}$ Barrel DIRC detector. The design is based on the successful BaBar DIRC with several key improvements. The performance and system cost were optimized in detailed detector simulations and validated with full system prototypes using particle beams at GSI and CERN. The final design meets or exceeds the PID goal of clean π/K separation with at least 3 s.d. over the entire phase space of charged kaons in the Barrel DIRC.

sn2-15-Hydroperoxy-eicasotetraenoyl-phosphatidylethanolamines (sn2-15-HpETE-PE) generated by mammalian 15-lipoxygenase/phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein-1 (15-LO/PEBP1) complex is a death signal in a recently identified type of programmed cell demise, ferroptosis. How the enzymatic complex selects sn2-ETE-PE as the substrate among 1 of similar to 100 total oxidizable membrane PUFA phospholipids is a central, yet unresolved question. To unearth the highly selective and specific mechanisms of catalytic competence, we used a combination of redox lipidomics, mutational and computational structural analysis to show they stem from (i) reactivity toward readily accessible hexagonally organized membrane sn2-ETE-PEs, (ii) relative preponderance of sn2-ETE-PE species vs other sn2-ETE-PLs, and (iii) allosteric modification of the enzyme in the complex with PEBP1. This emphasizes the role of enzymatic vs random stochastic free radical reactions in ferroptotic death signaling.

Machine learning algorithms are often used to model and predict animal habitat selection—the relationships between animal occurrences and habitat characteristics. For broadly distributed species, habitat selection often varies among populations and regions; thus, it would seem preferable to fit region- or population-specific models of habitat selection for more accurate inference and prediction, rather than fitting large-scale models using pooled data. However, where the aim is to make range-wide predictions, including areas for which there are no existing data or models of habitat selection, how can regional models best be combined? We propose that ensemble approaches commonly used to combine different algorithms for a single region can be reframed, treating regional habitat selection models as the candidate models. By doing so, we can incorporate regional variation when fitting predictive models of animal habitat selection across large ranges. We test this approach using satellite telemetry data from 168 humpback whales across five geographic regions in the Southern Ocean. Using random forests, we fitted a large-scale model relating humpback whale locations, versus background locations, to 10 environmental covariates, and made a circumpolar prediction of humpback whale habitat selection. We also fitted five regional models, the predictions of which we used as input features for four ensemble approaches: an unweighted ensemble, an ensemble weighted by environmental similarity in each cell, stacked generalization, and a hybrid approach wherein the environmental covariates and regional predictions were used as input features in a new model. We tested the predictive performance of these approaches on an independent validation dataset of humpback whale sightings and whaling catches. These multiregional ensemble approaches resulted in models with higher predictive performance than the circumpolar naive model. These approaches can be used to incorporate regional variation in animal habitat selection when fitting range-wide predictive models using machine learning algorithms. This can yield more accurate predictions across regions or populations of animals that may show variation in habitat selection.

Anthropogenic underwater noise levels have generally increased as industrial activities in the ocean have become more prevalent. Because of the central nature of sound in the lives of many marine animals, and the known and potential adverse impacts of noise, it is also gaining increased international recognition as an important global conservation issue. Here, a current compilation and synthesis of official documents, reports, and strategic plans from various intergovernmental, governmental, and international organizations, and noise-related projects and programs, demonstrate increasing efforts to understand anthropogenic underwater noise, and the mitigation and management measures that are being considered to reduce noise. While some entities aim to better understand and quantify underwater noise and its impacts, others have recommended explicit mitigation measures including spatio-temporal approaches to managing noise sources, and vessel quieting technologies. New approaches also include the development of certification or voluntary noise-reduction programs and agreements. We highlight four considerations that will better link the potential impacts of noise with corresponding mitigation and noise reducing efforts: 1) collaboration to address the transboundary and cumulative nature of underwater noise; 2) differing countries’ implementation capabilities for addressing noise; 3) time and intensity tradeoffs (e.g., louder noise for a shorter time period versus quieter but for longer); and 4) variable noise impacts depending on specific life history stages and life functions. Our review affirms the international consensus that anthropogenic underwater noise is a currently pervasive yet relatively transient form of pollution, the effects of which can be significantly reduced through effective mitigation and regulatory action.

Bound nuclear systems with two units of strangeness are still poorly known despite their importance for many strong interaction phenomena. Stored antiprotons beams in the GeV range represent an unparalleled factory for various hyperon-antihyperon pairs. Their outstanding large production probability in antiproton collisions will open the floodgates for a series of new studies of systems which contain two or even more units of strangeness at the PANDA experiment at FAIR. For the first time, high resolution gamma-spectroscopy of doubly strange Lambda Lambda-hypernuclei will be performed, thus complementing measurements of ground state decays of Lambda Lambda-hypernuclei at J-PARC or possible decays of particle unstable hypernuclei in heavy ion reactions. High resolution spectroscopy of multistrange Xi(-) -atoms will be feasible and even the production of Omega(-) -atoms will be within reach. The latter might open the door to the vertical bar S vertical bar = 3 world in strangeness nuclear physics, by the study of the hadronic Omega(-) -nucleus interaction. For the first time it will be possible to study the behavior of Xi(+) in nuclear systems under well controlled conditions. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.