Tracking the origins of Yakutian horses and the genetic basis for their fast adaptation to subarctic environments

Yakutia, Sakha Republic, in the Siberian Far East, represents one of the coldest places on Earth, with winter record temperatures dropping below -70 °C. Nevertheless, Yakutian horses survive all year round in the open air due to striking phenotypic adaptations, including compact body conformations, extremely hairy winter coats, and acute seasonal differences in metabolic activities. The evolutionary origins of Yakutian horses and the genetic basis of their adaptations remain, however, contentious. Here, we present the complete genomes of nine present-day Yakutian horses and two ancient specimens dating from the early 19th century and ∼5,200 y ago. By comparing these genomes with the genomes of two Late Pleistocene, 27 domesticated, and three wild Przewalski's horses, we find that contemporary Yakutian horses do not descend from the native horses that populated the region until the mid-Holocene, but were most likely introduced following the migration of the Yakut people a few centuries ago. Thus, they represent one of the fastest cases of adaptation to the extreme temperatures of the Arctic. We find cis-regulatory mutations to have contributed more than nonsynonymous changes to their adaptation, likely due to the comparatively limited standing variation within gene bodies at the time the population was founded. Genes involved in hair development, body size, and metabolic and hormone signaling pathways represent an essential part of the Yakutian horse adaptive genetic toolkit. Finally, we find evidence for convergent evolution with native human populations and woolly mammoths, suggesting that only a few evolutionary strategies are compatible with survival in extremely cold environments.

'Reform' of the British national health service after the election of a labour government: Understanding the policy development process

The policy development process leading to the Labour government's white paper of December 1997—The new NHS: Modern, Dependable—is the focus of this project and the public policy development literature is used to aid in the understanding of this process. Policy makers who had been involved in the development of the white paper were interviewed in order to acquire a thorough understanding of who was involved in this process and how they produced the white paper. A theoretical framework is used that sorts policy development models into those that focus on knowledge and experience, and those which focus on politics and influence. This framework is central to understanding the evidence gathered from the individuals and associations that participated in this policy development process. The main research question to be asked in this project is to what extent do either of these sets of policy development models aid in understanding and explicating the process by which the Labour government's policies were developed. The interview evidence, along with published evidence, show that a clear pattern of policy change emerged from this policy development process, and the Knowledge-Experience and Politics-Influence policy making models both assist in understanding this process. The early stages of the policy development process were characterized as hierarchical and iterative, yet also very collaborative among those participating, with knowledge and experience being quite prevalent. At every point in the process, however, informal networks of political influence were used and noted to be quite prevalent by all of the individuals interviewed. The later stages of the process then became increasingly noninclusive, with decisions made by a select group of internal and external policy makers. These policy making models became an important tool with which to understand the policy development process. This Knowledge-Experience and Politics-Influence dichotomy of policy development models could therefore be useful in analyzing other types of policy development. ^

Cloning, characterization and regulation of the soluble guanylyl cyclase alpha1 and beta1 genes

Cell signaling by nitric oxide (NO) through soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) and cGMP production regulates physiological responses such as smooth muscle relaxation, neurotransmission, and cell growth and differentiation. Although the NO receptor, sGC, has been studied extensively at the protein level, information on regulation of the sGC genes remains elusive. In order to understand the molecular mechanisms involved at the level of gene expression, cDNA and genomic fragments of the murine sGCα1 subunit gene were obtained through library screenings. Using the acquired clones, the sGCα 1 gene structure was determined following primer extension, 3 ′RACE and intron/exon boundary analyses. The basal activity of several 5′-flanking regions (putative promoter regions) for both the α1 and β1 sGC subunits were determined following their transfection into mouse N1E-115 neuroblastoma and rat RENE1Δ14 uterine epithelial cells using a luciferase reporter plasmid. Using the sGC sequences, real-time RT-PCR assays were designed to measure mRNA levels of the sGC α1 and β1 genes in rat, mouse and human. Subsequent studies found that uterine sGC mRNA and protein levels decreased rapidly in response to 17β-estradiol (estrogen) in an in vivo rat model. As early as 1 hour following treatment, mRNA levels of both sGC mRNAs decreased, and reached their lowest level of expression after 3 hours. This in vivo response was completely blocked by the pure estrogen receptor antagonist, ICI 182,780, was not seen in several other tissues examined, did not occur in response to other steroid hormones, and was due to a post-transcriptional mechanism. Additional studies ex vivo and in various cell culture models suggested that the estrogen-mediated decreased sGC mRNA expression did not require signals from other tissues, but may require cell communication or paracrine factors between different cell types within the uterus. Using chemical inhibitors and molecular targeting in other related studies, it was revealed that c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling was responsible for decreased sGC mRNA expression in rat PC12 and RFL-6 cells, two models previously determined to exhibit rapid decreased sGC mRNA expression in response to different stimuli. To further investigate the post-transcriptional gene regulation, the full length sGCα1 3′-untranslated region (3′UTR) was cloned from rat uterine tissue and ligated downstream of the rabbit β-globin gene and expressed as a chimeric mRNA in the rat PC12 and RFL-6 cell models. Expression studies with the chimeric mRNA showed that the sGCα 1 3′UTR was not sufficient to mediate the post-transcriptional regulation of its mRNA by JNK or cAMP signaling in PC12 and RFL-6 cells. This study has provided numerous valuable tools for future studies involving the molecular regulation of the sGC genes. Importantly, the present results identified a novel paradigm and a previously unknown signaling pathway for sGC mRNA regulation that could potentially be exploited to treat diseases such as uterine cancers, neuronal disorders, hypertension or various inflammatory conditions. ^

An evaluation of the Cypress Creek watershed for inorganic chemical load as it flows into Lake Houston

Background. The Cypress Creek is one of the main tributaries of Lake Houston, which provides drinking water to 21.4 million customers. Furthermore, the watershed is being utilized for contact and non-contact recreation, such as canoeing, swimming, hiking trail, and picnics. Water along the creek is impacted by numerous wastewater outfalls from both point and non-point sources. As the creek flows into Lake Houston, it carries both organic and inorganic contaminants that may affect the drinking water quality of this important water source reservoir. Objective. This study was carried out to evaluate the inorganic chemical load of the water in Cypress Creek along its entire length, from the headwaters in Waller County and up to the drainage into Lake Houston. The purpose was to determine whether there are hazardous concentrations of metals in the water and what would be the likely sources. Method. Samples were collected at 29 sites along the creek and analyzed for 29 metals, 17 of which were on the Environmental Protection Agency priority pollution list. Public access sites primarily at bridges were used for sample collection. Samples were transported on ice to the University Of Texas School Of Public Health laboratory, spiked with 2 ml HNO3 kept overnight in the refrigerator, and the following day transported to the EPA laboratory for analysis. Analysis was done by EPA Method 200.7-ICP, Method 200.8ICP/MS and Method 245.1-CVAAS. Results. Metals were present above the detection limits at 65% of sites. Concentrations of aluminum, iron, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, were particularly high at all sites. Aluminum, sodium, and iron concentrations greatly exceeded the EPA secondary drinking water standards at all sites. ^ Conclusion. The recreational water along Cypress Creek is impacted by wastewater from both permitted and non-permitted outfalls, which deposit inorganic substances into the water. Although a number of inorganic contaminants were present in the water, toxic metals regulated by the EPA were mostly below the recommended limits. However, high concentrations of aluminum, sodium, and iron in the Cypress Creek bring forward the issue of unauthorized discharges of salt water from mining, as well as industrial and domestic wastewater.^

U-Pb (zircon) geochronologic analyses for rocks of the Transantarctic Mountains (Table 4.3-1)

The Byrd Glacier discontinuity us a major boundary crossing the Ross Orogen, with crystalline rocks to the north and primarily sedimentary rocks to the south. Most models for the tectonic development of the Ross Orogen in the central Transantarctic Mountains consits of two-dimensional transects across the belt, but do not adress the major longitudinal contrast at Byrd Glacier. This paper presents a tectonic model centering on the Byrd Glacier discontinuity. Rifting in the Neoproterozoic producede a crustal promontory in the craton margin to the north of Byrd Glacier. Oblique convergence of the terrane (Beardmore microcontinent) during the latest Neroproterozoic and Early Cambrian was accompanied by subduction along the craton margin of East Antarctica. New data presented herein in the support of this hypothesis are U-Pb dates of 545.7 ± 6.8 Ma and 531.0 ± 7.5 Ma on plutonic rocks from the Britannia Range, subduction stepped out, and Byrd Glacier. After docking of the terrane, subduction stepped out, and Byrd Group was deposited during the Atdabanian-Botomian across the inner margin of the terrane. Beginning in the upper Botomian, reactivation of the sutured boundaries of the terrane resulted in an outpouring of clastic sediment and folding and faulting of the Byrd Group.

Lower Cretaceous nannofossils of the northwestern Australian margin

Moderately to sparsely nannofossiliferous Neocomian siliciclastics and rich Aptian-Albian nannofossil chalks were cored at two Leg 123 sites on the abyssal plains off northwestern Australia. At Site 765, the basal 70 m of cored section yields questionable Tithonian and Berriasian to early Hauterivian assemblages of moderate diversity containing Cruelellipsis cuvillieri, Tegumentum striatum, Speetonia colligata, and Crucibiscutum salebrosum. The overlying Hauterivianlower Aptian is represented by 140 m of sediments barren of nannofossils. Above this, the remaining 80 m of the Lower Cretaceous section has been assigned to the Rhagodiscus angustus Zone (late Aptian-early Albian in age) and the Prediscosphaera columnata Zone (middle-late Albian in age). Common species include Rhagodiscus angustus, Prediscosphaera columnata, Eprolithus floralis, Eprolithus sp., Chiastozygus litterarius, Rucinolithus irregularis, and Flabellites biforaminis. At Site 766, the Neocomian, represented by 200 m of sediment, yields C. cuvillieri, T. striatum, S. colligata, and C. salebrosum. Within the overlying Aptian-Albian sequence of 80 m, the Rhagodiscus angustus, and P. columnata zones were recognized. The paleobiogeographic patterns and implications are discussed, with special emphasis paid to the bipolar high-latitude distribution pattern of C. salebrosum in the Valanginian-Hauterivian. Biostratigraphically important species are discussed and their occurrence in the Indian Ocean is compared with one from the Tethys and Boreal realms. Two new species, Serbiscutum gaultensis and Eprolithus bettenstaedtii, are described.

Jueces de paz, masones y conservadores en la campaña bonaerense : Una aproximación a las redes vinculares en el sur de la provincia de Buenos Aires (Tres Arroyos, 1865-1910)

Este artículo se propone analizar la forma en que se implantó la Justicia de Paz en el interior de la provincia de Buenos Aires entre 1865 y 1910, a través del estudio de los sujetos que desempeñaron esa función y los entramados políticos en los que participaron. El mismo se ha realizado a partir del estudio de un Juzgado en particular, como fue el del partido de Tres Arroyos. Por un lado, se reconstruye el perfil de los sujetos que ejercieron el cargo de Jueces de Paz, con la intención de entender las lógicas que guiaron su designación. Para ello, se indaga en la reconstrucción de sus biografías asociadas a los diversos momentos de ocupación e institucionalización local. Posteriormente se identifican dos modos de nucleamiento que sirvieron de base relacional a los individuos del lugar y que permiten completar la explicación generada desde las biografías individuales: una red de tipo iniciática, como fue la masonería; y una red del conservadurismo local, dirigida por poderosos estancieros del lugar. Por último, se observa si esas redes influyeron en la administración de justicia local. Las fuentes utilizadas son diversos álbumes conmemorativos locales, datos censales, periódicos locales, expedientes correccionales tramitados en la Justicia de Paz de Tres Arroyos, el Libro Copiador de Notas del Juzgado y el Libro de Actas de la Logia Hiram de Tres Arroyos.

Jueces de paz, masones y conservadores en la campaña bonaerense : Una aproximación a las redes vinculares en el sur de la provincia de Buenos Aires (Tres Arroyos, 1865-1910)

Este artículo se propone analizar la forma en que se implantó la Justicia de Paz en el interior de la provincia de Buenos Aires entre 1865 y 1910, a través del estudio de los sujetos que desempeñaron esa función y los entramados políticos en los que participaron. El mismo se ha realizado a partir del estudio de un Juzgado en particular, como fue el del partido de Tres Arroyos. Por un lado, se reconstruye el perfil de los sujetos que ejercieron el cargo de Jueces de Paz, con la intención de entender las lógicas que guiaron su designación. Para ello, se indaga en la reconstrucción de sus biografías asociadas a los diversos momentos de ocupación e institucionalización local. Posteriormente se identifican dos modos de nucleamiento que sirvieron de base relacional a los individuos del lugar y que permiten completar la explicación generada desde las biografías individuales: una red de tipo iniciática, como fue la masonería; y una red del conservadurismo local, dirigida por poderosos estancieros del lugar. Por último, se observa si esas redes influyeron en la administración de justicia local. Las fuentes utilizadas son diversos álbumes conmemorativos locales, datos censales, periódicos locales, expedientes correccionales tramitados en la Justicia de Paz de Tres Arroyos, el Libro Copiador de Notas del Juzgado y el Libro de Actas de la Logia Hiram de Tres Arroyos.

Jueces de paz, masones y conservadores en la campaña bonaerense : Una aproximación a las redes vinculares en el sur de la provincia de Buenos Aires (Tres Arroyos, 1865-1910)

Este artículo se propone analizar la forma en que se implantó la Justicia de Paz en el interior de la provincia de Buenos Aires entre 1865 y 1910, a través del estudio de los sujetos que desempeñaron esa función y los entramados políticos en los que participaron. El mismo se ha realizado a partir del estudio de un Juzgado en particular, como fue el del partido de Tres Arroyos. Por un lado, se reconstruye el perfil de los sujetos que ejercieron el cargo de Jueces de Paz, con la intención de entender las lógicas que guiaron su designación. Para ello, se indaga en la reconstrucción de sus biografías asociadas a los diversos momentos de ocupación e institucionalización local. Posteriormente se identifican dos modos de nucleamiento que sirvieron de base relacional a los individuos del lugar y que permiten completar la explicación generada desde las biografías individuales: una red de tipo iniciática, como fue la masonería; y una red del conservadurismo local, dirigida por poderosos estancieros del lugar. Por último, se observa si esas redes influyeron en la administración de justicia local. Las fuentes utilizadas son diversos álbumes conmemorativos locales, datos censales, periódicos locales, expedientes correccionales tramitados en la Justicia de Paz de Tres Arroyos, el Libro Copiador de Notas del Juzgado y el Libro de Actas de la Logia Hiram de Tres Arroyos.

(Table 1) Chemical composition of volcanic rocks from the Mariisky sequence and extrusive vent rocks of the Mary Cape, Schmidt Peninsula (North Sakhalin)

Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks of the Mariisky sequence and Early Cenozoic extrusive-vent rocks of the Mary Cape are exposed at the most northwest of the Schmidt Peninsula, North Sakhalin. In chemical composition, all the rocks are subdivided into four groups. Three groups include volcanic rocks of the Mariisky sequence, which consists, from bottom to top, of calc-alkaline rocks, transitional calc-alkaline-tholeiite rocks, and incompatible element-depleted tholeiites. These rocks show subduction geochemical signatures and are considered as a fragment of the Moneron-Samarga island arc system. Trace-element modeling indicates their derivation through successive melting of a garnet-bearing mantle and garnet-free shallower mantle sources containing amphibole; pyroxene; and, possibly, spinel. The mixed subduction and intra-plate characteristics of the extrusive vent rocks of the Mary Cape attest to their formation in a transform continental margin setting.

Age determination of sediment cores of the California Current System

Alkenone sea surface temperature (SST) records were generated from the Ocean Drilling Program's (ODP) Sites 1014 and 1016 to examine the response of the California Current System to global climate change during the last 136 ka. The temperature differences between these sites (Delta SST(NEP)=SST(ODP1014)-SST(ODP1016)) reflected the intensity of the California Current and varied between 0.4 and 6.1 °C. A high Delta SST(NEP) (weaker California Current) was found for late marine isotope stage (MIS) 2 and early MIS 5e, while a low Delta SST(NEP) (stronger California Current) was detected for mid-MIS 5e and MIS 1. Spectral analysis indicated that this variation pattern dominated 23- (precession) and 30-ka periods. Comparison of the Delta SST(NEP) and SST based on data from core MD01-2421 at the Japan margin revealed anti-phase variation; the high Delta SST(NEP) (weakening of the California Current) corresponded to the low SST at the Japan margin (the southward displacement of the NW Pacific subarctic boundary), and vice versa. This variation was synchronous with a model prediction of the tropical El Niño-Southern Oscillation behavior. These findings suggest that the intensity of the North Pacific High varied in response to precessional forcing, and also that the response has been linked with the changes of tropical ocean-atmosphere interactions.

Organic carbon and nitrogen concentrations in surface waters of the North Atlantic along 20°E in July-August 1996

Redfield stoichiometry has proved a robust paradigm for the understanding of biological production and export in the ocean on a long-term and a large-scale basis. However, deviations of carbon and nitrogen uptake ratios from the Redfield ratio have been reported. A comprehensive data set including all carbon and nitrogen pools relevant to biological production in the surface ocean (DIC, DIN, DOC, DON, POC, PON) was used to calculate seasonal new production based on carbon and nitrogen uptake in summer along 20°W in the northeast Atlantic Ocean. The 20°W transect between 30 and 60°N covers different trophic states and seasonal stages of the productive surface layer, including early bloom, bloom, post-bloom and non-bloom situations. The spatial pattern has elements of a seasonal progression. We also calculated exported production, i.e., that part of seasonal new production not accumulated in particulate and dissolved pools, again separately for carbon and nitrogen. The pairs of estimates of 'seasonal new production' and 'exported production' allowed us to calculate the C : N ratios of these quantities. While suspended particulate matter in the mixed layer largely conforms to Redfield stoichiometry, marked deviations were observed in carbon and nitrogen uptake and export with progressing season or nutrient depletion. The spring system was characterized by nitrogen overconsumption and the oligotrophic summer system by a marked carbon overconsumption. The C : N ratios of seasonal new as well as exported production increase from early bloom values of 5-6 to values of 10-16 in the post-bloom/oligotrophic system. The summertime accumulation of nitrogen-poor dissolved organic matter can explain only part of this shift.

Impacts of ocean warming and acidification on the larval development of the barnacle Amphibalanus improvisus

The world's oceans are warming and becoming more acidic. Both stressors, singly or in combination, impact marine species, and ensuing effects might be particularly serious for early life stages. To date most studies have focused on ocean acidification (OA) effects in fully marine environments, while little attention has been devoted to more variable coastal ecosystems, such as the Western Baltic Sea. Since natural spatial and temporal variability of environmental conditions such as salinity, temperature or pCO2 impose more complex stresses upon organisms inhabiting these habitats, species can be expected to be more tolerant to OA (or warming) than fully marine taxa. We present data on the variability of salinity, temperature and pH within the Kiel Fjord and on the responses of the barnacle Amphibalanus improvisus from this habitat to simulated warming and OA during its early development. Nauplii and cyprids were exposed to different temperature (12, 20 and 27°C) and pCO2 (nominally 400, 1250 and 3250 µatm) treatments for 8 and 4 weeks, respectively. Survival, larval duration and settlement success were monitored. Warming affected larval responses more strongly than OA. Increased temperatures favored survival and development of nauplii but decreased survival of cyprids. OA had no effect upon survival of nauplii but enhanced their development at low (12°C) and high (27°C) temperatures. In contrast, at the intermediate temperature (20°C), nauplii were not affected even by 3250 µatm pCO2. None of the treatments significantly affected settlement success of cyprids. These experiments show a remarkable tolerance of A. improvisus larvae to 1250 µatm pCO2, the level of OA predicted for the end of the century.

Geochemistry of the Kimmeridge Clay Formation, Dorset Coast

The Kimmeridge Clay Formation (KCF) and its equivalents worldwide represent one of the most prolonged periods of organic carbon accumulation of the Mesozoic. In this study, we use the molybdenum (Mo) stable isotope system in conjunction with a range of trace metal paleoredox proxies to assess how seawater redox varied both locally and globally during the deposition of the KCF. Facies with lower organic carbon contents (TOC 1-7 wt %) were deposited under mildly reducing (suboxic) conditions, while organic-rich facies (TOC >7 wt %) accumulated under more strongly reducing (anoxic or euxinic) local conditions. Trace metal abundances are closely linked to TOC content, suggesting that the intensity of reducing conditions varied repeatedly during the deposition of the KCF and may have been related to orbitally controlled climate changes. Long-term variations in d98/95Mo are associated with the formation of organic-rich intervals and are related to third-order fluctuations in relative sea level. Differences in the mean d98/95Mo composition of the organic-rich intervals suggest that the global distribution of reducing conditions was more extensive during the deposition of the Pectinatites wheatleyensis and lower Pectinatites hudlestoni zones than during the deposition of the upper Pectinatites hudlestoni and Pectinatites pectinatus zones. The global extent of reducing conditions during the Kimmerigidan was greater than today but was less widespread than during the Toarcian (Early Jurassic) oceanic anoxic event. This study also demonstrates that the Mo isotope system in Jurassic seawater responded to changes in redox conditions in a manner consistent with its behavior in present-day sedimentary environments.