The International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean Version 5.0.

Knowledge about seafloor depth, or bathymetry, is crucial for various marine activities, including scientific research, offshore industry, safety of navigation, and ocean exploration. Mapping the central Arctic Ocean is challenging due to the presence of perennial sea ice, which limits data collection to icebreakers, submarines, and drifting ice stations. The International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean (IBCAO) was initiated in 1997 with the goal of updating the Arctic Ocean bathymetric portrayal.

First confirmed reports of the isolation of Brucella ceti from a Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus and a killer whale Orcinus orca.

Brucella ceti has been recovered from a number species of cetaceans worldwide over the last 25 yr. Here we report, for the first time, the recovery of B. ceti from a Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus and a killer whale Orcinus orca.

Meningoencephalitis in a common minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata associated with Brucella pinnipedialis and gamma-herpesvirus infection.

Fatal marine Brucella infections with histologic lesions specific to the central nervous system (CNS), known as neurobrucellosis, have been described in 5 species of odontocete cetaceans in the UK: striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba, Atlantic white-sided dolphins Lagenorhynchus acutus, short-beaked common dolphins Delphinus delphis, long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas and Sowerby's beaked whale Mesoplodon bidens. To date, these CNS lesions have only been associated with Brucella ceti ST26 and not with B. pinnipedialis, which is rarely isolated from cetaceans and, although commonly found in various seal species, has never been associated with any pathology.

Neurobrucellosis due to Brucella ceti ST26 in Three Sowerby's Beaked Whales (Mesoplodon bidens).

Fatal meningoencephalitis due to Brucella ceti infection has been described in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), Atlantic white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus acutus), short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas), which are all within the family Delphinidae. We report B. ceti-associated neurobrucellosis in three juvenile male Sowerby's beaked whales (Mesoplodon bidens) that all had typical lesions of lymphocytic meningoencephalitis, which increased in severity from rostral to caudal regions of the brain.

Application of Whole Genome Sequencing and Pan-Family Multi-Locus Sequence Analysis to Characterize Relationships Within the Family .

The bacterial family is currently composed of seven genera, including species of the genus , a number of which are significant veterinary and zoonotic pathogens. The bacteriological identification of pathogenic spp. may be hindered by their close phenotypic similarity to other members of the , particularly of the genus .

sp. nov., isolated from sheep.

Five strains of an unidentified Gram-positive, catalase-negative, chain-forming coccus-shaped organism recovered from sheep in Scotland were characterized using phenotypic and molecular taxonomic methods. Based on morphological and biochemical criteria, the strains were tentatively identified as streptococci but they did not appear to correspond to any recognised species of the genus. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed the strains were highly related to each other and confirmed their placement in the genus , with a maximum nucleotide identity of around 97 % to extant species.

Forensic microbiology reveals that Neisseria animaloris infections in harbour porpoises follow traumatic injuries by grey seals.

Neisseria animaloris is considered to be a commensal of the canine and feline oral cavities. It is able to cause systemic infections in animals as well as humans, usually after a biting trauma has occurred. We recovered N.

sp. nov., isolated from alpaca ().

Ten strains of an -like organism were isolated from alpaca () in the UK over a period of 5 years, with no known epidemiological linkages. The isolates are distinct, based on both phenotype and genotype, from any previously described species. Molecular analysis, based on 16S rRNA, and gene sequences, placed the isolates as a novel, early branching, lineage within the currently recognised .

First isolation of Brucella pinnipedialis and detection of Brucella antibodies from bearded seals Erignathus barbatus.

Brucella species infecting marine mammals was first reported in 1994 and in the years since has been documented in various species of pinnipeds and cetaceans. While these reports have included species that inhabit Arctic waters, the few available studies on bearded seals Erignathus barbatus have failed to detect Brucella infection to date. We report the first isolation of Brucella pinnipedialis from a bearded seal.

Cell Surface Deformation during an Action Potential.

The excitation of many cells and tissues is associated with cell mechanical changes. The evidence presented herein corroborates that single cells deform during an action potential. It is demonstrated that excitation of plant cells (Chara braunii internodes) is accompanied by out-of-plane displacements of the cell surface in the micrometer range (∼1-10 μm).

Characterisation of North American Brucella isolates from marine mammals.

Extension of known ecological niches of Brucella has included the description of two novel species from marine mammals. Brucella pinnipedialis is associated predominantly with seals, while two major Brucella ceti clades, most commonly associated with porpoises or dolphins respectively, have been identified. To date there has been limited characterisation of Brucella isolates obtained from marine mammals outside Northern European waters, including North American waters.

Brucella ceti Infection in a Common Minke Whale ( Balaenoptera acutorostrata ) with Associated Pathology.

There are three major lineages of marine mammal strains of Brucella spp.: Brucella ceti ST23, found predominantly in porpoises; B. ceti ST26, in pelagic delphinids and ziphiids; and Brucella pinnipedialis ST24/25, predominantly in seals.

Extended Multilocus Sequence Analysis to Describe the Global Population Structure of the Genus : Phylogeography and Relationship to Biovars.

An extended multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) scheme applicable to the , an expanding genus that includes zoonotic pathogens that severely impact animal and human health across large parts of the globe, was developed. The scheme, which extends a previously described nine locus scheme by examining sequences at 21 independent genetic loci in order to increase discriminatory power, was applied to a globally and temporally diverse collection of over 500 isolates representing all 12 known species providing an expanded and detailed understanding of the population genetic structure of the group. Over 100 sequence types (STs) were identified and analysis of data provided insights into both the global evolutionary history of the genus, suggesting that early emerging lineages might be confined to Africa while some later lineages have spread worldwide, and further evidence of the existence of lineages with restricted host or geographical ranges.

Evaluation of MALDI-ToF as a method for the identification of bacteria in the veterinary diagnostic laboratory.

Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation-Time of Flight (MALDI-ToF) Mass Spectrometry with Bruker MALDI Biotyper software was evaluated as a method for identifying veterinary bacteria. For 620 isolates (~100 bacterial species), identification by MALDI-ToF and non-16S rDNA methods (mainly phenotypic/biochemical) agreed to species-level (95.3%) and to species/genus-level (100%), but in the absence of 16S rDNA as a gold standard.

Using molecular tools to identify the geographical origin of a case of human brucellosis.

Although Malta is historically linked with the zoonosis brucellosis, there had not been a case of the disease in either the human or livestock population for several years. However, in July 2013 a case of human brucellosis was identified on the island. To determine whether this recent case originated in Malta, four isolates from this case were subjected to molecular analysis.

Kynurenine 3-monooxygenase inhibition in blood ameliorates neurodegeneration.

Metabolites in the kynurenine pathway, generated by tryptophan degradation, are thought to play an important role in neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases. In these disorders, glutamate receptor-mediated excitotoxicity and free radical formation have been correlated with decreased levels of the neuroprotective metabolite kynurenic acid. Here, we describe the synthesis and characterization of JM6, a small-molecule prodrug inhibitor of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO).

Efficient, "tin-free" radical cyclization to aromatic systems. synthesis of 5,6,8,9,10,11-hexahydroindolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines.

Efficient radical cyclization of alkyl iodides to various aromatic systems including pyrrole, indole, isoquinolone, pyridone, and benzene, mediated by dicumyl peroxide, is described. The methodology was used to provide access to 5,6,8,9,10,11-hexahydroindolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline derivatives.

Synthesis and antiinflammatory and analgesic activity of 5-aroyl-6-(methylthio)-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrrole-1-ca rboxyl ic acids and 1-methyl-4-(methylthio)-5-aroylpyrrole-2-acetic acids.

5-Aroyl-6-(methylthio)-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrrole-1-carb oxylic acids and 1-methyl-4-(methylthio)-5-aroylpyrrole-2-acetic acids were synthesized and assayed as antiinflammatory and analgesic agents. The majority of these compounds exhibit a surprisingly low level of antiinflammatory activity (rat carrageenan paw) but have considerable potency as analgesics (mouse phenylquinone writing). For example, the p-tolyl-substituted bicyclic and monocyclic compounds 44 and 58 are 301 and 66 times more potent than aspirin (mouse writhing) but only 3.

Synthesis and antiinflammatory and analgesic activity of 5-aroyl-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrrole-1-carboxylic acids. The 6-substituted compounds.

5-Aroyl-6-substituted-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrrole-1-carbo xylic acids were synthesized and assayed for analgesic and antiinflammatory activity. Several of these compounds, notably the 5-(4-fluoro- and 4-chlorobenzoyl)-6-methyl derivatives 25 and 26 and the 5-(4-methyl-, 4-fluoro-, 4-chloro-, and 4-methoxybenzoyl)-6-chloro congeners 31-34 were of equal or greater potency than indomethacin as antiinflammatory and analgesic agents both in acute and chronic animal models.

Synthesis and gastric antisecretory properties of allenic 16-phenoxy-omega-tetranor prostaglandin E analogs.

In order to improve the modest oral activity of PGE2 as an inhibitor of gastric acid secretion, analogs were prepared and tested orally in histamine-challenged rats. Insertion of a double bond at C-4, resulting in the 4,5-allene analog of PGE1, gave a small increase in activity. Introduction of the omega-tetranor-16-phenoxy lower sidechain, a modification known to enhance activity in the PGF series, gave an eight-fold increase in activity.

Absolute configuration of (-)-5-benzoyl-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[1,2-alpha]pyrrole-1-carboxylic acid, the active enantiomer of ketorolac.

The (-)-S isomer of 5-benzoyl-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[1,2-alpha]pyrrole-1-carboxylic acid is about 60 times more potent than the (+)-R isomer in the carrageenan edema test and ca. 230 times more active than the (+)-R isomer in the mouse phenylquinone writhing assay.

11-Deoxy-11 alpha,12 alpha-methanoprostaglandin E2, a potent, short-acting bronchodilator.

11-Deoxy-11 alpha,12 alpha-methanoprostaglandin E2 (1b) and the corresponding methyl ester 7a were highly potent, but short acting, bronchodilators both by the intravenous (80 and 10 times PGE2, respectively) and aerosol (2 and approximately 1 times PGE2) routes, as measured by the Konzett-Rössler assay. The 11 beta,12 beta-methano compound 15a was two orders of magnitude less active than 7a. In rhesus monkeys anesthetized by aerosol administration, 1b was 10-50% as potent as, and had a duration of action similar to, PGE1 in the inhibition of methacholine-induced increases in airway resistance.