A novel approach to seabird posture estimation: finding roll and yaw angles of dynamic soaring albatrosses using tri-axial magnetometers.

With advances in bio-logging technology, the posture of animals is now commonly described by inertial measurement units, which include tri-axial accelerometers to estimate pitch and roll angles. Many large seabirds use dynamic soaring flight to travel long distances, but this low-cost flight mode results in high centripetal acceleration, which obscures posture derived from accelerometers. Tri-axial magnetometers are not influenced by acceleration and might provide a way to estimate the posture of animals that experience high centripetal acceleration. We propose a new method to estimate the posture of dynamic soaring seabirds using tri-axial magnetometer data, with the assumption that they do not have large pitch angles during routine flight. This method was field-tested by deploying a combination of bio-logging devices on three albatross species breeding on Marion Island, using bird-borne video loggers to validate the roll angles. Validated data showed that the method worked well in most instances, but accuracy decreased when the heading was close to magnetic north or south. Accurate, fine-scale posture estimates may provide insight into dynamic soaring flight and allow estimates of fine-scale tracks using dead-reckoning, not only for seabirds, but potentially for other species where centripetal acceleration limits the use of accelerometers to estimate posture.

Fungal Planet description sheets: 128-153.

Novel species of microfungi described in the present study include the following from Australia: Catenulostroma corymbiae from Corymbia, Devriesia stirlingiae from Stirlingia, Penidiella carpentariae from Carpentaria, Phaeococcomyces eucalypti from Eucalyptus, Phialophora livistonae from Livistona, Phyllosticta aristolochiicola from Aristolochia, Clitopilus austroprunulus on sclerophyll forest litter of Eucalyptus regnans and Toxicocladosporium posoqueriae from Posoqueria. Several species are also described from South Africa, namely: Ceramothyrium podocarpi from Podocarpus, Cercospora chrysanthemoides from Chrysanthemoides, Devriesia shakazului from Aloe, Penidiella drakensbergensis from Protea, Strelitziana cliviae from Clivia and Zasmidium syzygii from Syzygium. Other species include Bipolaris microstegii from Microstegium and Synchaetomella acerina from Acer (USA), Brunneiapiospora austropalmicola from Rhopalostylis (New Zealand), Calonectria pentaseptata from Eucalyptus and Macadamia (Vietnam), Ceramothyrium melastoma from Melastoma (Indonesia), Collembolispora aristata from stream foam (Czech Republic), Devriesia imbrexigena from glazed decorative tiles (Portugal), Microcyclospora rhoicola from Rhus (Canada), Seiridium phylicae from Phylica (Tristan de Cunha, Inaccessible Island), Passalora lobeliae-fistulosis from Lobelia (Brazil) and Zymoseptoria verkleyi from Poa (The Netherlands). Valsalnicola represents a new ascomycete genus from Alnus (Austria) and Parapenidiella a new hyphomycete genus from Eucalyptus (Australia). Morphological and culture characteristics along with ITS DNA barcodes are also provided.

Speciation and phylogeography of giant petrels Macronectes.

We examine global phylogeography of the two forms of giant petrel Macronectes spp. Although previously considered to be a single taxon, and despite debate over the status of some populations and the existence of minimal genetic data (one mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence per form), the current consensus based on morphology is that there are two species, Northern Giant Petrel M. halli and Southern Giant Petrel M. giganteus. This study examined genetic variation at cytochrome b as well as six microsatellite loci in giant petrels from 22 islands, representing most island groups at which the two species breed. Both markers support separate species status, although sequence divergence in cytochrome b was only 0.42% (corrected). Divergence was estimated to have occurred approximately 0.2mya, but with some colonies apparently separated for longer (up to 0.5 my). Three clades were found within giant petrels, which separated approximately 0.7mya, with the Southern Giant Petrel paraphyletic to a monophyletic Northern Giant Petrel. There was evidence of past fragmentation during the Pleistocene, with subsequent secondary contact within Southern Giant Petrels. The analysis also suggested a period of past population expansion that corresponded roughly to the timing of speciation and the separation of an ancestral giant petrel population from the fulmar Fulmarus clade.

Marine no-take zone rapidly benefits endangered penguin.

No-take zones may protect populations of targeted marine species and restore the integrity of marine ecosystems, but it is unclear whether they benefit top predators that rely on mobile pelagic fishes. In South Africa, foraging effort of breeding African penguins decreased by 30 per cent within three months of closing a 20 km zone to the competing purse-seine fisheries around their largest colony. After the fishing ban, most of the penguins from this island had shifted their feeding effort inside the closed area. Birds breeding at another colony situated 50 km away, whose fishing grounds remained open to fishing, increased their foraging effort during the same period. This demonstrates the immediate benefit of a relatively small no-take zone for a marine top predator relying on pelagic prey. Selecting such small protected areas may be an important first conservation step, minimizing stakeholder conflicts and easing compliance, while ensuring benefit for the ecosystems within these habitats.

A Horizon Scan of research priorities to inform policies aimed at reducing the harm of plastic pollution to biota.

Plastic pollution in the oceans is a priority environmental issue. The recent increase in research on the topic, coupled with growing public awareness, has catalyzed policymakers around the world to identify and implement solutions that minimize the harm caused by plastic pollution. To aid and coordinate these efforts, we surveyed experts with scientific experience identified through their peer-reviewed publications. We asked experts about the most pressing research questions relating to how biota interact with plastic pollution that in turn can inform policy decisions and research agendas to best contribute to understanding and reducing the harm of plastic pollution to biota. We used a modified Horizon Scan method that first used a subgroup of experts to generate 46 research questions on aquatic biota and plastics, and then conducted an online survey of researchers globally to prioritize questions in terms of their importance to inform policy development. One hundred and fifteen experts from 29 countries ranked research questions in six themes. The questions were ranked by urgency, indicating which research should be addressed immediately, which can be addressed later, and which are of limited relevance to inform action on plastics as an environmental pollutant. We found that questions relating to the following four themes were the most commonly top-ranked research priorities: (i) sources, circulation and distribution of plastics, (ii) type of harm from plastics, (iii) detection of ingested plastics and the associated problems, and (iv) related economies and policy to ingested plastics. While there are many research questions on the topic of impacts of plastic pollution on biota that could be funded and investigated, our results focus collective priorities in terms of research that experts believe will inform effective policy and on-the-ground conservation.

Clinical Pathology of the Critically Endangered Gough Bunting (Rowettia goughensis).

The Gough bunting (Rowettia goughensis) is indigenous to Gough Island and critically endangered due to predation by invasive house mice (Mus musculus). A planned ecosystem restoration by eradication of house mice via aerially delivered rodenticide requires a reproductively balanced population of Gough buntings being held in captivity to avoid primary and secondary poisoning. To aid disease detection during the period of captivity, Gough buntings (n = 25; five adult females, 15 adult males and five juveniles) were captured, measured and sampled to determine reference ranges for routine haematological and biochemical parameters and to identify any faecal bacterial species and intestinal and haemoparasites. Adult females had significantly higher blood glucose (P = 0.02 and 0.05 for different analyzers) and globulins (P = 0.02) than adult males or juveniles, and juveniles had consistently higher, although not significant, concentrations of creatine kinase. Juveniles had significantly (P = 0.007) more heterophils than adults; eosinophils were rare in adults and absent in juveniles and azurophils were absent from all individuals sampled. No parasite eggs were found in the faeces and no haemoparasites were found in blood smears. Several faecal bacterial species were recorded including Enterococcus spp. (n = 12), Klebsiella spp. (n = 7), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 6), Staphylococcus intermedius (n = 1), Escherichia coli (n = 1) and Pseudomonas spp. (n = 1). No overt clinical or subclinical disease was found in any of the birds examined, which suggests they are suitable for short-term captivity during ecosystem restoration and the data will provide key haematological and biochemical reference ranges for monitoring their health. However, the capture of a reproductively balanced population may require significant effort due to the relative difficulty with which females were caught.

Clinical Pathology of the Vulnerable Gough Moorhen (Gallinula comeri).

The Gough moorhen (Gallinula comeri) is native to Gough Island, Tristan da Cunha, and listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to its restricted range and susceptibility to introduced predators. A planned ecosystem restoration by eradication of introduced house mice (Mus musculus) via aerially delivered rodenticide requires a reproductively balanced population of Gough moorhens to be held in captivity to avoid primary and secondary poisoning. To aid disease detection during the period of captivity, Gough moorhens (n = 43; 25 adult females and 18 adult males) were captured, measured and sampled to determine ease of sexing by morphometrics, to establish reference ranges for routine haematological and biochemical parameters and to identify any intestinal and haemoparasites as well as determine which faecal bacteria were present. Male Gough moorhens had significantly greater mean body mass (P = 0.019) and head and bill length (P = 0.001) compared with females, but the overlapping ranges showed genetic identification of sex was required for accurate determination. Plasma globulin and total protein concentrations were significantly greater in female compared with male birds (P = 0.032 and P = 0.012, respectively) and probably related to egg yolk production. No haemoparasites or gastrointestinal parasites were found in any bird and there were no sex-related differences in the haematology. Multiple bacterial taxa were isolated from the faeces of all birds including Enterococcus spp. (n = 42), Klebsiella spp. (n = 40), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 33), Staphylococcus intermedius (n = 16), Escherichia coli (n = 41) and Pseudomonas spp. (n = 7). No clinical or subclinical disease was found in any of the birds examined, suggesting they are suitable for short-term captivity but rapid on-island genetic-based sex determination will be essential to ensure a reproductively balanced population.

African endemics span the tree of songbirds (Passeri): molecular systematics of several evolutionary 'enigmas'.

The deep divergence between the African endemic passerines Picathartidae (rockfowl Picathartes and rockjumpers Chaetops, four species) and the Passerida (ca. 3500 species) suggests an older history of oscines on the African continent than has previously been assumed. In order to determine whether any additional, unexpectedly deep lineages occur in African endemic songbirds, 29 species--including 10 enigmatic focal taxa endemic to southern Africa--were added to a large nuclear sequence dataset gathered from oscine songbirds (Passeri). Phylogenetic analyses of these data resolve many long-standing questions about the affinities of these birds, not all of which were predicted by traditional approaches. The application of a molecular clock indicates that most basal divergences in Passerida occurred in the middle to late Eocene, with divergences between African and Australasian core corvoids occurring somewhat later in the early Miocene. Consistent with inferences for mammals, divergences between Malagasy endemic passerines and their mainland relatives suggests an asynchronous colonization history. This emerging phylogenetic picture reveals that relationships within Old World families are highly informative regarding the early dispersal and radiation of songbirds out of Gondwana. Future analyses will depend on improving resolution of higher-level phylogenetic relationships among these groups, and increasing the density of taxon sampling within them.

Stump embolization from an occluded internal carotid artery. Case report.

A patient with known internal carotid artery occlusion developed transient ischemic attacks in the distribution of the occluded vessel. Arteriography demonstrated a thrombus clearly originating from the internal carotid artery stump, which was unassociated with significantly stenotic atherosclerotic disease of the ipsilateral common or external carotid arteries. Stump angioplasty and endarterectomy led to complete and sustained cessation of further symptoms.

U.K. trials of treatment for M1 prostatic cancer. The LH-RH analogue Zoladex vs. orchidectomy.

A randomized, controlled trial of the treatment of metastatic prostatic cancer using either the LH-RH analogue Zoladex or orchidectomy is reported. The trial was conducted in the U.K. and Ireland and involved participants in 17 centers. The design of the trial is outlined and the response criteria discussed. The results show that the patient characteristics in the two treatment groups were comparable upon entry. Repeated administration of Zoladex every 28 days has been shown to be as effective as orchidectomy in lowering serum testosterone to castrate levels. The subjective and objective response rates were similar, as were the duration of response, time to treatment failure, and survival rates. The withdrawals from the trial and adverse reactions are discussed. These results, 10 months after the closure of recruitment to the trial, seem to indicate that Zoladex and orchidectomy are equivalent treatments and that Zoladex seems to be a truly medical alternative to surgical castration. Finally, other ongoing U.K. trials of the treatment of advanced prostate cancer are outlined.

The effects of ingested plastic on seabirds: correlations between plastic load and body condition.

Multivariate analyses were used to assess the independent influences of body size, ingested plastic load and parasite load on bird mass and on an index of fat reserves in great shearwaters and blue petrels. PLastic load was negatively correlated with body condition in the sample of blue petrels collected after the post-nuptial moult, but differences in reproductive status may account for this negative correlation. Ingested plastic loads had no apparent effect on blue petrels and great shearwaters collected at the same stage of reproduction, despite high plastic loads in some individuals. The limitations of using correlations to demonstrate the effects of plastic ingestion are discussed.

Therapeutic progress--Review XXXVI. Are we making progress in the drug treatment of disorders of the bladder, prostate, and penis?

This paper discusses the novel application of drugs, many of which were first developed for, or have an established role in other indications, in the treatment of disorders of the bladder, prostate and penis. These novel applications have often followed on from an increase in the understanding of the pathophysiological processes involved in the urological condition. Urology also lends itself to novel routes of administration, such as intravesical and intracorporeal routes as well as the more conventional oral, parenteral, and intra-nasal routes.

Perineal prostatic tumour seedling after 'Tru-Cut' needle biopsy: case report and review of the literature.

The prostate gland is being biopsied increasingly frequently, especially as a result of the visualisation of suspect areas on transrectal ultrasonography, using a variety of different needle types. We report only the third case of tumour seedling in the tract following a transperineal biopsy of a prostatic cancer with a 'Tru-Cut' needle. The literature is reviewed with regard to the characteristics and the incidence of seedling and the importance of including the perineum in any treatment option is emphasized.

Clinical aspects of diagnosis and monitoring of prostatic cancer.

This paper discusses the impact of new imaging technologies on our traditional confidence in digital rectal examination for help in diagnosis, biopsy staging and follow-up of patients with prostatic cancer. Ultrasound, particularly per-rectal ultrasound examination, has an important role in the differential diagnosis of smaller palpable abnormalities in the prostate and is especially useful for staging. It is also of value to measure prostatic response to treatment.

Sharing food in the stomachs of seabirds between adults and chicks--a case for delayed gastric emptying.

1. Retention times of food in stomachs of breeding and non-breeding African pengiuns (Spheniscus demersus) were examined. 2. Rates of gastric emptying in non-breeding birds were linearly related to the mass of food in the stomach. 3. Breeding birds returned to the nest with more food in their stomachs when chicks were larger. The rate of regurgitation of food was linearly related to chick mass. 4. Retention times of food in the stomachs of breeding penguins can only be explain by cognisance of observed regurgitation rates and by assuming that there is no gastric emptying through the pyloric sphincter.

Cystic renal cell carcinoma: radiological features and clinico-pathological correlation.

The radiological appearances of 11 cystic renal cell carcinomas (RCC) presenting over a 13-year-period are reviewed and correlated with their clinicopathological features. The tumours occurred in seven males and four females with a mean age of 59.1 years (range 27-87 years). Their ultrasound features were categorized according to Bosniak [5]. There were six category 3 or 4 cysts (indeterminate or malignant); three category 2 cysts and two category 1 cysts. Computed tomography scans (CT) demonstrated malignant features in all seven patients scanned. Cyst aspiration, intravenous urograms and arteriograms were generally unhelpful. Histological growth patterns of nine tumours were determined and all were staged by Robson's classification: eight were Stage 1, one was Stage 3 and two were Stage 4. Three of four deaths were related to tumour bulk, and the fourth patient died from an unrelated cause. All seven survivors had Stage 1 disease. No correlation existed between different histological subtypes and tumour aggression. Overall, the behaviour of cystic RCCs was similar to those of solid RCCs apart from the high percentage (72.2%) of Stage 1 disease. We conclude that any deviation from a simple cyst on ultrasound should be assessed by CT and/or surgery. Indeterminate lesions on CT including multilocular lesions should be surgically explored.

Experience with ultrasound guided transperineal prostatic needle biopsy 1985-1988.

A consecutive series of 143 ultrasound guided biopsies of the prostate have been analysed. In 84 patients, in whom carcinoma was suspected by both digital examination and ultrasound, 49 cancers were confirmed histologically. In 29 patients in whom digital examination suggested cancer but ultrasound was normal, 2 cancers were confirmed. In 20 patients with a normal digital examination but a suspicious ultrasound appearance, no cancers were proven.