bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Loss of Function of WFS1 Causes ER Stress-Mediated Inflammation in Pancreatic Beta-Cells
Authors: Morikawa Shuntaro , Blacher Lindsey , Onwumere Chinyere , Urano Fumihiko
Published: March 2022

Wolfram syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus, optic nerve atrophy, hearing loss, diabetes insipidus, and progressive neurodegeneration. Pathogenic variants in the WFS1 gene are the main causes of Wolfram syndrome. WFS1 encodes a transmembrane protein localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and regulates the unfolded protein response (UPR). Loss of function of WFS1 leads to dysregulation of insulin production and secretion, ER calcium depletion, and cytosolic calpains activation, resulting in activation of apoptotic cascades. Although the terminal UPR has been shown to induce inflammation that accelerates pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and death in diabetes, the contribution of pancreatic β-cell inflammation to the development of diabetes in Wolfram syndrome has not been fully understood. Here we show that WFS1-deficiency enhances the gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, leading to cytokine-induced ER-stress and cell death in pancreatic β-cells. PERK and IRE1α pathways mediate high glucose-induced inflammation in a β-cell model of Wolfram syndrome. M1-macrophage infiltration and hypervascularization are seen in the pancreatic islets of Wfs1 whole-body knockout mice, demonstrating that WFS1 regulates anti-inflammatory responses in pancreatic β-cells. Our results indicate that inflammation plays an essential role in the progression of β-cell death and diabetes in Wolfram syndrome. The pathways involved in ER stress-mediated inflammation provide potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of Wolfram syndrome.
Beta-Cell Adaptation to Pregnancy – Role of Calcium Dynamics
Authors: Pretorius Marle , Huang Carol
Published: March 2022

During pregnancy, the mother develops insulin resistance to shunt nutrients to the growing fetus. As a result, the maternal islets of Langerhans undergo several changes to increase insulin secretion in order to maintain glucose homeostasis and prevent the development of gestational diabetes. These changes include an increase in β-cell proliferation and β-cell mass, upregulation of insulin synthesis and insulin content, enhanced cell-to-cell communication, and a lowering of the glucose threshold for insulin secretion, all of which resulting in an increase in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Emerging data suggests that a change in intracellular calcium dynamics occurs in the β-cell during pregnancy as part of the adaptive process. Influx of calcium into β-cells is crucial in the regulation of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Calcium fluxes into and out of the cytosol, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria are also important in controlling β-cell function and survival. Here, we review calcium dynamics in islets in response to pregnancy-induced changes in hormones and signaling molecules, and how these changes may enhance insulin secretion to stave off gestational diabetes.
Impact of Baseline and Trajectory of Triglyceride-Glucose Index on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Tai Shi , Fu Liyao , Zhang Ningjie , Zhou Ying , Xing Zhenhua , Wang Yongjun
Published: March 2022

Background and Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the association of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index with the cardiovascular incidence in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods and Results

Secondary analysis in patients with long-lasting T2DM from the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes study was performed. The primary outcome was the first occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). The association between the baseline and trajectories of the TyG index and MACEs was evaluated by Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. During a median follow-up period of 8.8 years, 1,815 (17.8%) patients developed MACEs. After traditional cardiovascular risk factor adjustments, each 1-standard deviation increase in the TyG index was associated with a 19.00% higher MACE risk, similar to that in the TyG index quartile characterization. Four distinct trajectories of TyG indexes were identified: low (16.17%), moderate (40.01%), high (34.60%), and very high (9.30%). In multivariate analysis, high and very high TyG index trajectories showed a greater risk of future MACE incidence than the low TyG index trajectory. A similar association was observed between the TyG index and the occurrence of coronary heart disease.

Conclusions

The baseline and trajectories of the TyG index were significantly associated with the occurrence of MACEs in patients with T2DM.

Clinical Trial Registration

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00000620.
Persistent Lower Limb Deformities Despite Amelioration of Rickets in X-Linked Hypophosphatemia (XLH) - A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Mindler Gabriel T. , Stauffer Alexandra , Kranzl Andreas , Penzkofer Stefan , Ganger Rudolf , Radler Christof , Haeusler Gabriele , Raimann Adalbert
Published: March 2022

Background

Gait deviations, lower limb pain and joint stiffness represent key symptoms in patients with X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH, OMIM 307800), a rare disorder of mineral homeostasis. While the pathomechanism for rickets is well understood, the direct role of PHEX (Phosphate-regulating neutral endopeptidase) deficiency in non-rachitic features including complex deformities, skull and dental affections remains unclear. FGF23-inhibiting antibody treatment can normalize serum phosphate levels and to improve rickets in XLH patients. However, linear growth remains impaired and effects on lower limb deformity and gait are insufficiently studied.

Aims

To characterize and evaluate the course of lower limb deformity in a case series of pediatric XLH patients receiving Burosumab therapy.

Methods

Comparative assessment of planar radiographs, gait analysis, biochemical and clinical features of pediatric patients before and ≥12 months after initiation of FGF23-inhibiting was performed prospectively. Lower limb maltorsion was quantified by torsional MRI and gait analysis. Standardized deformity analysis of lower limb anteroposterior radiographs was conducted.

Results

Seven patients (age 9.0 +/-3.6 years) were eligible for this study. All patients received conventional treatment before onset of antibody treatment. Maltorsion of the femur was observed in 8/14 legs using torsional MRI (mean antetorsion 8.79°). Maltorsion of the tibia was observed in 9/14 legs (mean external torsion 2.8°). Gait analysis confirmed MRI findings with femoral external malrotation prior to and one year after onset of Burosumab therapy. Internal foot progression (intoeing gait) remained pathological in all cases (mean 2.2°). Knee rotation was pathologically internal 10/14 legs. Mean mechanical axis deviation (MAD) of 16.1mm prior to Burosumab changed in average by 3.9mm. Three children underwent guided growth procedures within the observation period. Mild postprocedural rebound of frontal axis deviation was observed under Burosumab treatment in one patient.

Conclusions

This is the first study to investigate lower limb deformity parameters quantitatively in children with XLH receiving Burosumab. One year of Burosumab therapy was associated with persistent maltorsion and frontal axis deviation (varus/valgus) despite improved rickets in this small, prospective uncontrolled study.
FURIN Promoter Methylation Predicts the Risk of Incident Diabetes: A Prospective Analysis in the Gusu Cohort
Authors: He Yan , Li Yinan , Zhang Jianan , Chen Linan , Li Jing , Zhang Min , Zhang Qiu , Lu Ying , Jiang Jun , Zhang Xiaolong , Hu Jianwei , Ding Yi , Zhang Mingzhi , Peng Hao
Published: March 2022

Background

Furin has been associated with diabetes but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. As a mediator linking fixed genome and dynamic environment, DNA methylation of its coding gene FURIN may be involved. Here, we aimed to examine the prospective association between DNA methylation in FURIN promoter and incident diabetes during 4 years of follow-up in Chinese adults.

Methods

DNA methylation levels in FURIN promoter were quantified by target bisulfite sequencing using peripheral blood from 1836 participants in the Gusu cohort who were free of diabetes at baseline. To examine the association between DNA methylation levels in FURIN promoter and incident diabetes, we constructed a logistic regression model adjusting for the conventional factors. Multiple testing was controlled by adjusting for the total number of CpG sites assayed using the false-discovery rate approach.

Results

Among the 1836 participants free of diabetes at baseline, 109 (5.94%) participants developed diabetes during the average of 4 years of follow-up. Hypermethylation at two of the eight CpG sites assayed in the FURIN promoter was associated with an increased risk of diabetes, after multivariable adjustment and multiple testing correction. Every 5% increment in methylation levels at CpG1 and CpG2 were associated with a 22% (OR=1.22, 95%CI: 1.05-1.43, P=0.009, q=0.038) and 39% (OR=1.39, 95%CI: 1.08-1.77, P=0.009, q=0.038) higher risk of incident diabetes, respectively. The gene-based association analysis revealed that DNA methylation at multiple CpG loci was jointly associated with incident diabetes (P<0.001). Using the average methylation level of the 8 CpG loci in FURIN promoter revealed a similar association (OR=1.28, 95% CI: 1.02–1.62, P=0.037).

Conclusions

These results suggested that the hypermethylation levels in FURIN promoter were associated with an increased risk for incident diabetes in Chinese adults.
Numerical Simulation of Galloping Characteristics of Multi-Span Iced Eight-Bundle Conductors
Authors: Shunli Ding , Mengqi Cai , Bowen Tian , Junhao Liang , Linshu Zhou , Chuan Wu , Hanjie Huang , Jun Liu
Published: March 2022

In this article, the numerical model of the multi-span iced eight-bundle conductor is established using the nonlinear finite element method, the galloping of the line under different parameters is simulated, and the tension in the galloping process is analyzed. Based on the aerodynamic characteristics and galloping characteristics of conductors, the galloping modes, frequency characteristics, vibration amplitudes, and galloping orbits of multi-span lines under different wind velocities, span lengths, ice shape, and number of spans are analyzed, compared with those of single-span lines. It is demonstrated that there are differences in galloping characteristics between multi-span transmission lines and single-span lines. Each span of the transmission line is different, so it should be fully considered in the research of galloping prevention and control technology.
Directed Technical Change and Pollution Emission: Evidence From Fossil and Renewable Energy Technologies in China
Authors: Qu Fang , Xu Lei , Zheng Biao
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we provide a study of the effect of directed technical change in the energy sector on pollution emission. We make an empirical analysis under the framework of the extended stochastic impacts by regression on population, affluence, and technology model and the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis and employ the patent data onto fossil energy and renewable energy technologies from 2000 to 2015 to match the economic and environmental data of 30 provinces in China. We show that the prerequisite of restraining pollution emission is to transform the direction of energy technical change rather than only increase the magnitude of energy technical change. Furthermore, the direction of energy technical change will set up dissimilar purification effects on different pollutants, which indicates that the path of emission reduction of renewable energy technology is different. Moreover, promoting energy technology cooperation in adjacent provinces can further intensify the effect of directed energy technical change in restraining pollution emission according to the regional features of each area, and formulating targeted environmental policies to change the energy technology from dirty to clean can effectively curb environmental degradation, which is the mechanism to realize the rationalization and transformation of the energy structure.
Does Renewable Energy Matter to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals? The Impact of Renewable Energy Strategies on Sustainable Economic Growth
Authors: Chen Jie , Su Fan , Jain Vipin , Salman Asma , Tabash Mosab I. , Haddad Akram M. , Zabalawi Eman , Abdalla Alaa Amin , Shabbir Malik Shahzad
Published: March 2022

The influences of renewable and conventional energy consumption on ecological sustainability remain unclear because of the dynamic economic and innovative framework. This investigation gives a new perception by exploring the association between the production of various sources of renewable energies (e.g., hydroelectric, wind, solar PV, geothermal, and biomass power) and economic growth encapsulating capital, government spending, and trade openness. This research used a heterogeneous approach for panel data and second generational tools for econometrics, which allow for cross-sectional reliance and slope heterogeneity. This study has revealed the substantial reason to back up the feedback assumptions between renewable energy sources and economic growth, using the Dumitrescu and Hurlin analysis. In terms of policy, this empirical analysis suggests enacting impactful policies that encourage green power and economic reform in an attempt to lessen CO2 concentrations in the biosphere.
Day-Ahead Economic Dispatch of AC/DC Hybrid Distribution Network Based on Cell-Distributed Management Mode
Authors: Wei Wei , Hao Tonglin , Xu Tao
Published: March 2022

Current development trends suggest that future networks will be AC/DC hybrid distribution networks (AC/DC HDNs) operating under the Cell-distributed management mode (CDMM). Cross-Cell transaction in the economic dispatch of CDMM-based distribution networks is necessary to ensure Cell demand, improve the level of renewable energy generation outpower consumption, and enhance the economic efficiency of the whole system. To realize adjacent Cell and cross-Cell transactions in this management mode, this paper proposes a day-ahead economic dispatch model of AC/DC HDNs based on CDMM. The proposed model includes a power transaction stage and a security check stage. In the power transaction stage, a Cell-to-Cell transaction model based on the alternating direction method of multipliers is established. This model forms a consistent transaction plan between different Cells on the basis of information exchange between the Cell operator and the Cell system operator. In the security check phase, a security check model based on data-driven distributionally robust optimization is developed to reduce the transfer power according to various security considerations. Alternate iteration of these two stages enables the day-ahead economic dispatch of AC/DC HDNs based on CDMM for adjacent Cell and cross-Cell transactions. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed model is verified through a numerical example. The differences among four dispatch models are analyzed to illustrate the need for cross-Cell transactions, and the impact of the confidence level on the dispatch results is discussed.
Development and Application of an Aerosol Model Under a Severe Nuclear Accident
Authors: Yuan Xianbao , Wei Jingyu , Zhang Binhang , Guo Yuefeng , Shi Qiang , Guo Pan , Yang Senquan , Tan Chao
Published: March 2022

Radioactive aerosol will transport in the containment and also will leak into the environment under a severe nuclear accident. Thus, it is of great significance for predicting the behavior of aerosol under a severe nuclear accident. In order to analyze the aerosol behavior, an improved multi-component sectional model is developed, which improves section numbers and updates the aerosol particle density at each time step. The model’s dependability is confirmed to use benchmark and experimental values. An excellent agreement can be observed between simulation and benchmark. On this premise, the LBLOCA accident is chosen to explore the behavior of radioactive aerosol in the containment. The finding shows that the aerosol is mostly deposited on the structure’s surface due to gravity in the LBLOCA accident. According to a comparison of the influence of aerosol natural deposition mechanisms on the distribution of diameter particles, Brownian diffusion, thermophoresis, diffusiophoresis, and gravity all have an effect on aerosol in the range of 0.01 μm–0.03 μmparticles, and the deposition of 2 μm–20 μmparticles is mainly due to gravity. After comparing and evaluating the influence of aerosol density in the containment, it can be inferred that changed aerosol particle density leads aerosol particles coagulate into larger particles.
Research on Battery Energy Storage STATCOM Suppressing HVDC Commutation Failure
Authors: Xing Chao , Chen Junhao , Xu Zhi , Xi Xinze , He Xin , Chen Shilong
Published: March 2022

Due to the poor performance of traditional STATCOM in DC engineering, a compensation method using battery energy storage STATCOM (STATCOM/BESS) to suppress commutation failure of the weak receiving-end high voltage direct current transmission system is proposed, and its effect is better than traditional STATCOM. First, the mechanism and influencing factors of commutation failure are analyzed; the extinction angle of the converter valve is taken as the decision index of commutation failure; the relationship between various electrical parameters and extinction angle is studied under the condition of the single-phase grounding fault on the inverter side. Second, according to the differences between the positive and negative sequence reactive current output by STATCOM/BESS when a fault occurs in single-phase grounding, a compensation method is proposed to suppress commutation failure by STATCOM/BESS, which increases the proportion of positive sequence reactive current output by STATCOM/BESS under the condition of constant output so as to reduce the probability of commutation failure. At last, STATCOM/BESS is added into the standard model of LCC-HVDC for the simulation experiment and compared with conventional running characteristics of STATCOM in order to verify the effect of STATCOM/BESS in suppressing commutation failure.
A Positive Climatic Trend in the Global Offshore Wind Power
Authors: Zheng Chong-wei , Yi Cheng-tao , Shen Chong , Yu De-chuan , Wang Xiao-lu , Wang Yong , Zhang Wen-kai , Wei Yong , Chen Yun-ge , Li Wei , Jin Xin , Jia Shuai-dong , Wu Di , Wei Ding-jiang , Zhao Xiao-feng , Tian Yan-yan , Zhou Wen , Xiao Zi-niu
Published: March 2022

The climatic variation of offshore wind energy has a close relationship with the long-term plan of energy utilization. However, the work on this aspect is scarce and mainly focuses on the variation of wind power density (WPD). There is little research on the climatic trends of effective wind speed occurrence (EWSO) and occurrence of energy level greater than 200 W/m2 (rich level occurrence, RLO), which are directly related to the available rate and richness of wind energy. Based on the ERA-Interim wind product from the ECMWF, this study calculated the climatic trends of series of key factors of wind energy in the global oceans, including the WPD, EWSO, and RLO. The results show that the wind energy exhibits a positive trend globally for the past 36 years, with overall annual increasing trends in WPD, EWSO, and RLO, of 0.698 (W/m2)/yr, 0.076%/yr, and 0.090%/yr separately. The annual trend exhibits evident regional differences. The areas with significant increasing trends are mainly distributed in the mid- low-latitude waters of global oceans and part of the southern hemisphere westerlies. The annual increasing trend of WPD is strongest in the southern westerlies, especially in the extratropical South Pacific (ETSP), of about 1.64 (W/m2)/yr. The annual increasing trends of EWSO and RLO are strongest in the tropical waters, especially the tropical Pacific Ocean (TPO), of 0.17%/yr and 0.19%/yr separately. The annual and seasonal WPD, EWSO, and RLO in most global oceans have significant increasing trends or no significant variation, meaning that the wind energy trends are rich or stable, which is beneficial for energy development. The climatic trends of wind energy are dominated by different time periods. There is no evident abrupt change of wind energy in the extratropical waters globally and tropical Atlantic Ocean (TAO). The abrupt periods of wind energy in the TIO and TPO occurred in the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century. The wind energy of the South China Sea, Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal and nino3 index share a common period of approximately 5 years. The offshore wind energy was controlled by an oscillating phenomenon.
Characterizing the Chemical Contaminants Diversity and Toxic Potential of Untreated Wastewater From a Drug Rehabilitation Hospital: Understanding Impact on Downstream Environment
Authors: Baasher Fras , Wang Tian-Nyu , Zulhelmi Bin Yusnan Muhammad , Alkahtani Mohsen , Bashawri Yasir M. , Al Qarni Hamed , Hong Pei-Ying
Published: March 2022

This study characterizes a total of 21 wastewater samples collected from Al Amal hospital, and aims to determine if untreated hospital wastewater may impose a potentially detrimental impact on the downstream municipal biological wastewater treatment process. By means of solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), chemical contaminants in these wastewater samples were determined in a non-targeted manner. In-silico characterization for the mutagenicity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) producing capabilities was performed by checking against database and literature. However, majority of the chemical contaminants have no prior information available and remain uncharacterized for both traits. Instead, in-vitro mutagenicity tests by means of Ames test showed that majority of the samples were non-mutagenic except for 5 samples that imposed mutagenic effect at high concentrations of >×10. In-vitro tests to determine for intracellular ROS production further showed that one of the mutagenic samples collected on Jun-22 positively induce ROS production and subsequently increased horizontal gene transfer via natural transformation. The findings in this study suggest that a specialty hospital like Al Amal does not frequently contribute mutagenic compounds and ROS to the wastewater streams, and in instances where it contributed positively, would require a high concentration to do so. Hence in general, wastewater streams from a specialty hospital like Al Amal may be unlikely to significantly perturb the downstream environment.
Sensory Disturbance by Six Insecticides in the Range of μg/L in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Zhou Rong , Yu Yue , Zhang Weidong , Wang Dayong , Bai Yanan , Wang Yixuan , Bu Yuanqing
Published: March 2022

Using Caenorhabditis elegans as an animal model, the possible toxic effects of six insecticides (dinotefuran, thiamethoxam, thiacloprid, nitenpyram, acetamiprid, and sulfoxaflor) commonly used in agriculture on sensory perception were examined. The sensory behaviors of thermotaxis, avoidance of copper ion, chemotaxis to NaCl, and chemotaxis to diacetyl were measured to investigate the damage on sensory perceptions in nematodes exposed to the examined insecticides in the range of micrograms per liter (μg/L). Exposure to dinotefuran, thiamethoxam, thiacloprid, nitenpyram, acetamiprid, or sulfoxaflor at concentrations of 10–100 μg/L resulted in severe deficits in sensory perceptions to temperature, copper ion, NaCl, and diacetyl. The relative neurotoxicity of the six insecticides examined to C. elegans were shown as dinotefuran > thiamethoxam > thiacloprid > nitenpyram > acetamiprid > sulfoxaflor. Moreover, post-treatment with the antioxidant ascorbate effectively suppressed the production of reactive oxygen species and damages of sensory perceptions induced by the six insecticides, indicating that the activation of oxidative stress can act as an important cellular contributor to the observed damage of the examined insecticides in affecting sensory perceptions. Our data highlighted the potential toxicity of the six insecticides at low concentrations in inducing sensory disturbance to environmental organisms.
Can the Special Economic Zones Promote the Green Technology Innovation of Enterprises? An Evidence From China
Authors: Liu Xiao , Zhang Jun , Liu Tinghua , Zhang Xiangjian
Published: March 2022

Addressing global climate change is the responsibility of all mankind, and original green technology innovation is the key to achieving the goal of “carbon neutrality”. Under the target of “carbon neutrality”, it remains to be seen whether China’s special economic zones can promote the green technology innovation of enterprises, which is very important for achieving green and high-quality development. This study examines the impact of special economic zones (SEZs) on enterprises’ green technology innovation by constructing a quasi-natural experiment using data of Chinese listed companies (collected from 2000 to 2017) and green patent applications. The empirical results showed that the SEZ program significantly promoted the green technology innovation of enterprises. The number of green patent applications of enterprises in zones has increased by 17.02%. The promotion effect was more significant on enterprises in provincial development zones, those that are owned by the central state, and those in central and eastern regions. In the short term, the green innovation promotion effect is mainly derived from the effect of preferential policy subsidies, while in the long run, the role of the agglomeration effect gradually emerged. This study provides empirical evidence for green and high-quality development. This study also provides a new policy reference for achieving a win–win situation between industrial agglomeration and ecological environment.
Ecological Predictors and Functional Implications of Eye Size in Deep-Sea Shrimps
Authors: Schweikert Lorian E. , Thomas Kate N. , Moreno Vanessa M. , Casaubon Anchita , Golightly Charles , Bracken-Grissom Heather D.
Published: March 2022

Constraints on energy resources and available light in the deep sea should place strong selection pressure on eye size, a fundamental determinant of visual ability. By examining eye size among 16 species (454 individuals) of deep-sea sergestid shrimps, we show significant differences in intraspecific eye growth rates and species eye-size averages that are correlated to different aspects of ecology and result in variable sighting distance thresholds of bioluminescence, one measure of visual performance. We used linear regressions modeling the lowest and highest bounds of phylogenetic signal to test for ecological correlates of relative and absolute eye size, which indicate the allocation of energetic resources toward eyes and an optical basis of visual capability, respectively. Of the ecological variables tested [mean depth, diel vertical migration (DVM) distance, habitat type, and light organ type], light organ type was the only significant correlate of both relative and absolute eye size, suggesting that bioluminescence plays a particularly important role in the evolution of sergestid vision and that these animals may be reliant on bioluminescent signaling. Our findings also suggest that the DVM imposes visual demands distinct from the average depths occupied by a species. While DVM distance correlated with relative eye size, mean depth correlated with absolute eye size, revealing that eye size increases with depth before 1,000 m, then decreases in bathypelagic (aphotic) zone. By applying measured eye sizes to models of visual performance, we estimated that sergestids can detect a bioluminescent point source from ≤3.77 m away, and that these sighting distance thresholds vary between species by a factor of three. In relative terms, however, all sergestids under the test conditions had a common detection threshold at ∼63.5 body lengths, suggesting that bioluminescence sighting distance is proportional among species and may be related to shared behaviors of swarming and copulation. By considering the effects of evolutionary history, light and nutrient availability, and the constraints of body size, our study reveals new patterns of deep-sea eye size evolution and provides new insights into the visual ecology of this diverse and important deep-sea group.
Signs of Urban Evolution? Morpho-Functional Traits Co-variation Along a Nature-Urban Gradient in a Chagas Disease Vector
Authors: Montes de Oca-Aguilar Ana C. , González-Martínez Adriana , Chan-González Raúl , Ibarra-López Pilar , Smith-Ávila Selene , Córdoba-Aguilar Alex , Ibarra-Cerdeña Carlos N.
Published: March 2022

Environmental change (i.e., urbanization) impacts species in contrasting ways, with some species experiencing benefits given their way of life (i.e., blood-sucking insects). How these species respond to such change is not well understood and for species involved in human diseases, this “how” question is particularly important. Most Triatominae bug species inhabit tropical and subtropical forests where their vertebrate hosts’ temporal abundance depends on climate seasonality. However, in human encroached landscapes, triatomines can benefit from resource stability which may lead to adaptive phenotypic change to track novel hosts. We tested for an association between different landscapes and morpho-functional traits linked to sensory, motion, and feeding functions inTriatoma dimidiataand compared fecundity (i.e., number of eggs) in each landscape as a proxy of fitness. Using geometric and traditional morphometric tools, we predicted a morphological simplification in bugs inhabiting urbanized areas. While wing morphology or proboscis were not influenced by landscape class, the opposite occurred for thorax morphology and number of sensilla. Wing and thorax morphology did not covary under modified landscape scenarios, yet we detected a morpho-functional convergence for thorax size and antennal phenotype in both sexes, with a simplification trend, from nature to urban settings. Given no fecundity differences across landscapes, there is no potential reproductive costs. Moreover, the convergence of thorax size and antennal phenotype suggests differences in flight/locomotion performance and host/environment perception, as a possible adaptive response to relaxed selective pressures of the bug’s native habitat. These results imply thatT. dimidiatacould be adapting to urbanized areas.
Light Sandy Beaches Favour Hatching Success and Best Hatchling Phenotype of Loggerhead Turtles
Authors: Patino-Martinez Juan , Veiga Jairson , Afonso Inês O. , Yeoman Kate , Mangas-Viñuela José , Charles Gemma
Published: March 2022

We conducted a 5-year field (2017–2021) and laboratory study of the relationship between type of substrate and hatching success, embryonic development, and the quality of hatchlings in loggerhead turtle nests. Our study site, the island of Maio in the archipelago of Cabo Verde, one of the world’s largest loggerhead turtle nesting colonies, displays marked heterogeneity of sand colouration, with dark, mixed, and light sandy beaches. We experimentally incubated eggs, comparing different nesting substrates under standard temperature and humidity conditions. Females nest in all sand types without preference. However, both the field and experimental study revealed a significant difference in hatching success depending on the type of substrate. Substrate of volcanic origin, dark in colour, with a lower amount of calcium carbonate, had a lower hatching success (HS; 30.3 ± 20.2%) compared to substrates of mixed (HS = 46.1 ± 26.5%) or light (HS = 78.1 ± 18.2%) colour. Eggs experimentally incubated in substrate that was light-coloured, with a larger grain size and higher calcium carbonate concentration, produced significantly more and larger offspring. Incubation temperatures were significantly higher in dark substrate, which partially explains the lower hatching success in this type of sand. However, experimental incubation with controlled temperatures consistently showed lower hatching success in dark sand. Thus, we found that not only the temperature, but also the specific characteristics of each substrate determine hatching success. The main predator of eggs and hatchlings (the ghost crab Ocypode cursor) showed no significant differences in abundance or size between different substrate types. Our results indicate that nest site selection between beaches or even within the same beach with different substrate conditions affects hatching success, hatchling physical condition, and subsequently the reproductive success of each female. The results of this study can inform conservation programmes with nest management and controlled incubation in the field and optimise adaptive nest management under future scenarios of rising global temperatures.
Impact of the “Farming With Alternative Pollinators” Approach on Crop Pollinator Pollen Diet
Authors: Sentil Ahlam , Wood Thomas James , Lhomme Patrick , Hamroud Laila , El Abdouni Insafe , Ihsane Oumayma , Bencharki Youssef , Rasmont Pierre , Christmann Stefanie , Michez Denis
Published: March 2022

Pollinators are facing declines at a global level. One of the main factors driving this decline is insufficient access to floral resources due to habitat loss and degradation that can affect both diet generalist species as well as those with more restricted floral preferences. Here we evaluated the effect of a novel mitigation strategy in agricultural ecosystems, Farming with Alternative Pollinators (FAP) on the pollen diet of crop pollinators. The approach dedicates 25% of the cropped area to Marketable Habitat Enhancement Plants (MHEP) that attract pollinators, natural enemies of the crops, and provide farmers with income. We assessed the effect of the approach on pollen diet of faba bean (Vicia faba) and pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) flower visitors in four different regions in Morocco during 2018 and 2019 by comparing control fields (monoculture) and FAP fields in 13 trials and 101 sites. Results from 25 wild bee species show that almost two-thirds of the species carrying or collecting pollen when visiting pumpkin flowers and half of the species carrying or collecting pollen when visiting faba bean flowers gathered this pollen from two or more host plants (i.e., MHEP, main crop, and/or wild plants) and displayed a wide dietary breadth. Pollen grains from the main crops were poorly represented on the female scopae, indicating that crops were mainly visited for nectar. Hence, crop flower visitors may require alternative pollen sources to meet their nutritional needs. The number of pollen genera collected by flower visitors and the dietary breadth of crop flower visitors did not show a significant increase in response to FAP management. Among the selected MHEP, sunflower (Helianthus annuus) was the pollen resource for pumpkin flower visitors. In faba bean, flower visitors collected pollen from coriander (Coriandrum sativum) and canola (Brassica napus). Our study sheds light on the importance of characterizing the pollen diet and the foraging behavior of crop pollinators to identify appropriate plant species that complement their food, maintain and conserve their populations.
Topology-Based Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Delicate Skeletal Fossil Remains and the Quantification of Their Taphonomic Deformation
Authors: Demuth Oliver E. , Benito Juan , Tschopp Emanuel , Lautenschlager Stephan , Mallison Heinrich , Heeb Niklaus , Field Daniel J.
Published: March 2022

Taphonomic and diagenetic processes inevitably distort the original skeletal morphology of fossil vertebrate remains. Key aspects of palaeobiological datasets may be directly impacted by such morphological deformation, such as taxonomic diagnoses and phylogenetic hypotheses, interpretations of the shape and orientation of anatomical structures, and assessments of interspecific and intraspecific variation. In order to overcome these ubiquitous challenges we present a novel reconstruction workflow combining retopology and retrodeformation, allowing the original morphology of both symmetrically and asymmetrically damaged areas of fossils to be reconstructed. As case studies, we present idealised three-dimensional reconstructions of the sternum of the crownward stem-bird Ichthyornis dispar, and cervical vertebrae of the diplodocid sauropod Galeamopus pabsti. Multiple Ichthyornis sterna were combined into a single, idealised composite representation through superimposition and alignment of retopologised models, and this composite was subsequently retrodeformed. The Galeamopus vertebrae were individually retrodeformed and symmetrised. Our workflow enabled us to quantify deformation of individual specimens with respect to our reconstructions, and to characterise global and local taphonomic deformation. Our workflow can be integrated with geometric morphometric approaches to enable quantitative morphological comparisons among multiple specimens, as well as quantitative interpolation of “mediotypes” of serially homologous elements such as missing vertebrae, haemal arches, or ribs.
A Multilevel Assessment of Plasticity in Response to High-Altitude Environment for Agama Lizards
Authors: Qi Yin , Zhang Tao , Wu Yayong , Yao Zhongyi , Qiu Xia , Pu Peng , Tang Xiaolong , Fu Jinzhong , Yang Weizhao
Published: March 2022

Upslope range shifting has been documented in diverse species in response to global warming. Plasticity, which refers to the ability of organisms to alter their phenotypes in changing environments, is crucial for the survival of those that newly migrated to a high-altitude environment. The scope and mechanisms of plasticity across biological levels, however, have rarely been examined. We used two agama lizards (genus Phrynocephalus) as model systems and a transplant experiment to comprehensively assess their plasticity on multiple organization levels. Two low-altitude (934 m) agama species, Phrynocephalus axillaris (oviparous) and P. forsythii (viviparous), were transplanted to a high-altitude site (3,400 m). After acclimation for 6 weeks in seminatural enclosures, plasticity was measured from bite force, tail display behavior, gene expression, and metabolome. Both lizards were capable of acclimating to the high-altitude environment without sacrificing their performance in bite force, but they also showed high plasticity in tail display behavior by either decreasing the intensity of a specific display component (P. forsythii) or by the trade-off between display components (P. axillaris). Genes and metabolites associated with lipids, especially fatty acid metabolism, exhibited significant differentiation in expression, compared to individuals from their native habitats. Improved fatty acid storage and metabolism appeared to be a common response among animals at high altitudes. Despite distinct reproductive modes that may differ in response to physiological pressure, the two lizards demonstrated high concordance in plasticity when they faced a novel environment at high altitudes. Taken together, lizards likely acclimate to high-altitude environments by reducing behavioral activity and increasing energy efficiency after range shifting. Our results provide new insights into our understanding of phenotypic plasticity and its importance in today’s changing climate.
The Unseen Effects of Deforestation: Biophysical Effects on Climate
Authors: Lawrence Deborah , Coe Michael , Walker Wayne , Verchot Louis , Vandecar Karen
Published: March 2022

Climate policy has thus far focused solely on carbon stocks and sequestration to evaluate the potential of forests to mitigate global warming. These factors are used to assess the impacts of different drivers of deforestation and forest degradation as well as alternative forest management. However, when forest cover, structure and composition change, shifts in biophysical processes (the water and energy balances) may enhance or diminish the climate effects of carbon released from forest aboveground biomass. The net climate impact of carbon effects and biophysical effects determines outcomes for forest and agricultural species as well as the humans who depend on them. Evaluating the net impact is complicated by the disparate spatio-temporal scales at which they operate. Here we review the biophysical mechanisms by which forests influence climate and synthesize recent work on the biophysical climate forcing of forests across latitudes. We then combine published data on the biophysical effects of deforestation on climate by latitude with a new analysis of the climate impact of the CO2 in forest aboveground biomass by latitude to quantitatively assess how these processes combine to shape local and global climate. We find that tropical deforestation leads to strong net global warming as a result of both CO2 and biophysical effects. From the tropics to a point between 30°N and 40°N, biophysical cooling by standing forests is both local and global, adding to the global cooling effect of CO2 sequestered by forests. In the mid-latitudes up to 50°N, deforestation leads to modest net global warming as warming from released forest carbon outweighs a small opposing biophysical cooling. Beyond 50°N large scale deforestation leads to a net global cooling due to the dominance of biophysical processes (particularly increased albedo) over warming from CO2 released. Locally at all latitudes, forest biophysical impacts far outweigh CO2 effects, promoting local climate stability by reducing extreme temperatures in all seasons and times of day. The importance of forests for both global climate change mitigation and local adaptation by human and non-human species is not adequately captured by current carbon-centric metrics, particularly in the context of future climate warming.
Non-Lethal Blood Sampling of Fish in the lab and Field With Methods for Dried Blood Plasma Spot Omic Analyses
Authors: Pollard S , Anderson JC , Bah F , Mateus M , Sidhu M , Simmons DBD
Published: March 2022

There is global acknowledgment that humane methods in animal research are a priority, but few environmental effects monitoring programs use nonlethal methods for fish. The goal of the present study was to determine the impacts of sampling small volumes of blood in larger-bodied fish on survival and healing. In addition to evaluating survival following blood sampling, we evaluated the utility of dried blood spots as an alternative for sample processing and storage in the field. In our approach, we housed 80 rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in our flow-through aquatic facility. We then anaesthetized using MS-222 and sampled 1 μl/g bw of blood via puncture of the caudal vasculature. We tested four different post-blood sampling treatments on the puncture wound: 1. application of liquid bandage; 2. a swab of betadine; 3. a swab of fish mucous; and 4. compared survival outcomes to a group where no post-treatment was performed (negative control). Overall, we observed 90% survival among all treatments, with the most effective approach being the negative control (100% survival). Based upon these results, we repeated the blood sampling with no-post treatment by housing 20 rainbow trout (not previously tested upon) in cages at a nearby creek and monitored survival for 2 weeks post sampling. The survival rate was 95% with full healing of the puncture site in all subjects. In addition to this, we tested the efficacy of dry blood spotting on proteomic, lipidomic and amino acid analysis as an alternative method for blood sample processing and storage. It was found that dried plasma spotting using parafilm in conjunction with a modified Bligh-Dyer extraction offered the best balance for good recovery of protein, lipid and amino acids relative to wet plasma and Noviplex dried plasma spot cards. In this article, we will present the detailed results of these combined studies and describe what we have determined to be the safest non-lethal blood sampling protocol.
Outcome of Hydroxyurea Use in SCD and Evaluation of Patients’ Perception and Experience in Nigeria
Authors: Chianumba Reuben Ikechukwu , Ofakunrin Akinyemi O. D. , Morrice Jack , Olanrewaju Olaniyi , Oniyangi Oluseyi , Kuliya-Gwarzo Aisha , Nnebe-Agumadu Uche , Isa Hezekiah Alkali , Nnodu Obiageli Eunice
Published: March 2022

Introduction: Hydroxyurea (HU) has been shown to be beneficial in the management of sickle cell disease (SCD) as it improves treatment outcomes. However, despite the benefits of HU, its uptake among SCD patients in Nigeria remains low.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the perception and experience of patients with SCD in Nigeria who are using or had used HU, thereby informing and promoting its use.

Methodology: A multi-centre, cross-sectional study was conducted among 378 SCD patients aged 1–53 years who have enrolled on Sickle Pan African Research Consortium (SPARCO) registry as HU users. The SPARCO project was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish a sickle cell disease (SCD) registry, strengthen skills and plan research in three African countries. The Nigerian SPARCO registry had 6453 SCD patients at the time of this report with <15% of this population on HU. Data on sociodemographics, perception and experience about HU use were obtained and analysed using descriptive statistics.

Findings: Out of the 378 participants, 339 (89.7%) were using HU while 39 (10.3%) had stopped using HU at the time of the study. 281 (74.3%) found HU expensive, while 194 (51.3%) reported none to minimal side effects while using HU. Among patients that stopped HU, cost (59%) and availability (51.3%) were the commonest reasons for discontinuing the drug. Furthermore, 347 (92.5%) had fewer pain crises, 173 (84.8%) had a fewer need for blood transfusion, 145 (86.3%) had improved PCV and 318 (84.6%) had fewer hospital admissions. Finally, the study also showed that 322 (85.2%) respondents would recommend the drug to other patients, whereas 14 respondents (3.7%) would not. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels were not collected in this study and may have improved findings.

Conclusion: This study showed that the majority of the SCD patients had good perception and experience with the use of HU while a few had to stop the medication mostly on account of cost and availability. Patients’ based advocacy could be leveraged to improve HU uptake while more efforts are needed to ensure that it is readily available and affordable.
Case Report: Prenatal Diagnosis of a Novel Variant c.251dupT (p.N87Kfs*6) in BCOR Resulting in Oculofaciocardiodental Syndrome Using Whole-Exome Sequencing
Authors: Zhuang Jianlong , Chen Chunnuan , Chen Yu’e , Zeng Shuhong , Jiang Yuying , Wang Yuanbai , Chen Xinying , Xie Yingjun , Wang Gaoxiong
Published: March 2022

Background: Oculofaciocardiodental (OFCD) syndrome is an X-linked dominant syndrome caused by BCOR variants, which manifests only in females and presumed leading to male lethality. Herein, we aim to present a prenatal diagnosis for OFCD syndrome associated with a novel hemizygous variant in BCOR gene.

Case presentation: A 29-year-old pregnant woman from Quanzhou Fujian Province, China, with fetal ultrasound anomalies, was enrolled in this study. A normal 46, XY karyotype with no abnormalities was observed in the fetus detected on microarray. Furthermore, a whole-exome sequencing (WES) detection result demonstrated that a novel hemizygous variant of c.251dupT (p.N87Kfs*6) in the BCOR gene was identified in the fetus, which was a frameshift mutation and classified as a likely pathogenic variant, and may lead to OFCD syndrome according to the clinical feature of the fetus. In this case, male lethality had not occurred by the end of the second trimester, then termination of the pregnancy was conducted at a gestational age of 26 weeks. Sanger sequencing of parental samples revealed that the variant was maternally transmitted, which was consistent with the OFCD syndrome phenotypic features observed in her.

Conclusions: In the study, we first present the affected male with a novel variant in BCOR that leads to the OFCD syndrome. Additionally, our study broadened the spectrum of BCOR results in the OFCD syndrome and provided the valuable references for prenatal genetic consultation.