Molecular Genetic Consequences of a Population Bottleneck Associated with Reintroduction of the Mauna Kea Silversword (Arg yroxiphium sandwicense ssp. sandwicense [Asteraceae])

The endangered Mauna Kea silversword (Argyroxiphium sandwicense ssp. sandwicense) has experienced a severe decline in distribution and abundance because of predation by alien ungulates. By the late 1970s only a small remnant natural population persisted on the Mauna Kea volcano on the Island of Hawaii. The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, initiated an outplanting program in the 1970s to promote recovery of A. sandwicense ssp. sandwicense. Intermittent outplanting since 1973 has generated an outplanted population of over 450 plants on Mauna Kea, but the program has unintentionally resulted in a major population bottleneck. All plants in the outplanted population appear to be first- or subsequent-generation offspring of only two maternal founders from the natural population. Genetic variation in the natural and outplanted populations was assessed for 90 random amplified polymorphic DNA loci. Eleven loci were detectably polymorphic in the natural population, whereas only three loci were detectably polymorphic in the outplanted population. Thus, the population bottleneck has been accompanied by a 73% reduction in the level of detectable polymorphism. In addition, for eight loci, the population bottleneck has resulted in the loss of the marker allele in the outplanted population. A management strategy involving manual pollen transfer has recently been implemented to incorporate additional founders from the natural population into the outplanting program. As a supplement to the outplanting program, the strategy also includes a program promoting direct seedling establishment following manual pollen transfer. Incorporating additional founders may serve to overcome the legacy of the population bottleneck, especially if founder representation can be equalized.     

The legal frameworks that govern fetal surgery in the United Kingdom,European Union,and the United States

The specialty of fetal surgery or fetal intervention is one of the most exciting emerging fields of modern medicine. It is made possible by decades of major developments in antenatal imaging, obstetric anaesthesia, fetal medicine, paediatric surgery, and of course by the bold and novel practitioners willing to take new steps to advance the field. Beginning in the 1970s, it has now reached a stage of maturity where there are several established in utero procedures and countless clinical trials and studies to develop more. But what is the legal situation that fetal surgeons find themselves in? What are the rights and legal protections for the fetus and the mother, both of which are arguably the patient? This article will address this question, discussing and summarising the current legal frameworks governing fetal surgery in the jurisdictions of the United Kingdom, European Court of Human Rights, and the United States of America as well as discuss what the future may hold and how researchers and physicians in the specialty can best navigate the legal environment.     

THE DEFINITION AND MEASUREMENT OF MINERAL CONSUMPTION

The concept of mineral consumption is considered in the context of a (metallic) commodity's progression from mine to manufacture and reasons are advanced as to why consumption is best measured at the point referred to as the “first processing stage.” Two methods for measuring consumption at this stage, one direct (“reported consumption”) and one deductive (“apparent consumption”), are described and the merits and drawbacks of the methods discussed. The article concludes with a brief review of the existing statistics on worldwide mineral consumption and suggests that there is the scope, and the need, for improvement. Dans cet article, la notion de la consommation minérale est envisagée dans le cadre de l'acheminement du minerai (métallique) de la mine à l'usine de transformation. II donne les raisons pour lesquelles la consommation peut se mesurer le mieux au niveau de la “phase de première transformation.” A ce stade, l'article décrit deux méthodes permettant de mesurer cette consommation: l'une directe (la consommation déclarée) et l'autre supposée (la consommation apparente). Les avantages et les inconvénients des méthodes y sont aussi discutés. En conclusion, l'article passe brièvement en revue les statistiques existantes sur la consommation minérale mondiale et suggère que la possibilité ainsi que le besoin d'amélioration se font sentir dans ce domaine. El concepto de consumo de minerales se examina dentro del contexto de la progresión del producto desde la mina a la manufactura y se sostiene que dicho consumo se mide mejor en la “etapa de primer procesamiento.” Se describen dos métodos para medir el consumo en esta etapa, el método directo (consumo reportado) y deductivo (consumo aparente). Se discuten las ventajas y desventajas de estos métodos. El artículo concluye con una revisión breve de las estadísticas existentes del consumo de minerales a nivel mundial y sugiere que existe la necesidad y la posibilidad para mejorarlas.