Maternal genetic history of southern East Asians over the past 12,000 years

Southern East Asia, including Guangxi and Fujian provinces in China, is home to diverse ethnic groups, languages, and cultures. Previous studies suggest a high complexity regarding population dynamics and the history of southern East Asians. However, large-scale genetic studies on ancient populations in this region are hindered by limited sample preservation. Here, using highly efficient DNA capture techniques, we obtain 48 complete mitochondrial genomes of individuals from Guangxi and Fujian in China and reconstruct their maternal genetic history over the past 12,000 years. We find a strong connection between southern East Asians dating to ~12,000–6000 years ago and present-day Southeast Asians. In addition, stronger genetic affinities to northern East Asians are observed in historical southern East Asians than Neolithic southern East Asians, suggesting increased interactions between northern and southern East Asians over time. Overall, we reveal dynamic connections between ancient southern East Asians and populations located in surrounding regions, as well as a shift in maternal genetic structure within the populations over time.     

Psychological processes mediating the association between developmental trauma and specific psychotic symptoms in adults: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Experiencing psychological trauma during childhood and/or adolescence is associated with an increased risk of psychosis in adulthood. However, we lack a clear knowledge of how developmental trauma induces vulnerability to psychotic symptoms. Understanding the psychological processes involved in this association is crucial to the development of preventive interventions and improved treatments. We sought to systematically review the literature and combine findings using meta‐analytic techniques to establish the potential roles of psychological processes in the associations between developmental trauma and specific psychotic experiences (i.e., hallucinations, delusions and paranoia). Twenty‐two studies met our inclusion criteria. We found mediating roles of dissociation, emotional dysregulation and post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (avoidance, numbing and hyperarousal) between developmental trauma and hallucinations. There was also evidence of a mediating role of negative schemata, i.e. mental constructs of meanings, between developmental trauma and delusions as well as paranoia. Many studies to date have been of poor quality, and the field is limited by mostly cross‐sectional research. Our findings suggest that there may be distinct psy­chological pathways from developmental trauma to psychotic phenomena in adulthood. Clinicians should carefully ask people with psychosis about their history of developmental trauma, and screen patients with such a history for dissociation, emotional dysregulation and PTSD symptoms. Well conducted research with prospective designs, including neurocognitive assessment, is required in order to fully understand the biopsychosocial mechanisms underlying the association between developmental trauma and psychosis.     

Sex-specific costs of reproduction on survival in a long-lived seabird

Costs of reproduction on survival have captured the attention of researchers since life history theory was formulated. Adults of long-lived species may increase survival by reducing their breeding effort or even skipping reproduction. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the costs of current reproduction on survival and whether skipping reproduction increases adult survival in a long-lived seabird. We used capture–mark–recapture data (1450 encounters) from two populations of Bulwer''s petrel (Bulweria bulwerii), breeding in the Azores and Canary Islands, North Atlantic Ocean. Using a multi-event model with two different breeding statuses (breeders versus non-breeders), we calculated probabilities of survival and of transitions between breeding statuses, evaluating potential differences between sexes. Females had lower survival probabilities than males, independent of their breeding status. When considering breeding status, breeding females had lower survival probabilities than non-breeding females, suggesting costs of reproduction on survival. Breeding males had higher survival probabilities than non-breeding males, suggesting that males do not incur costs of reproduction on survival and that only the highest quality males have access to breeding. The highest and the lowest probabilities of skipping reproduction were found in breeding males from the Azores and in breeding males from the Canary Islands, respectively. Intermediate values were observed in the females from both populations. This result is probably due to differences in the external factors affecting both populations, essentially predation pressure and competition. The existence of sex-specific costs of reproduction on survival in several populations of this long-lived species may have important implications for species population dynamics.     

Plant ontogenetic changes in vein and stomatal traits and their relationship with economic traits in leaves of three Mediterranean oaks

3种地中海橡树在叶脉和气孔性状上的个体发育性变化及其与叶片经济性状的关系 我们比较了3个地中海栎属(Quercus)树种幼苗和成龄树的叶脉和气孔性状。之前的研究表明,幼苗的气体交换率往往比成龄树的要高。我们的研究目标是确认叶脉和气孔的性状在整个植物个体发育过程中是否会随着气体交换率的变化而同步改变。我们提出了以下两个备选假设：幼苗比成龄树有着更高的叶脉和气孔密度(假设1);幼苗在维管组织上的投资更少,从而降低了建设成本(假设2)。本研究是在西班牙中西部进行的,我们对每个树种不同生长阶段的植株随机采集了10个样本。我们测量了气孔和叶脉的平均性状(单位叶面积里的气孔大小和数量、叶脉密度、叶脉体积、叶脉到表皮的距离),比叶质量和叶片厚度。研究结果表明,细脉密度和单位面积叶脉体积随着树龄的增加而增加,这似乎与气体交换率方面的个体发育趋势不一致。这种差异支持了我们的假设2,说明植株在幼苗阶段减少对维管组织的投资以最大限度地提高生长速度是其当务之急。幼苗叶片中较大的叶脉间距可以由叶脉到表皮的较短距离所补偿。因此,薄叶片可能是幼苗的一个必要性状,它可以让水分沿较短路径输送到蒸发点,而无需对高成本的维管组织进行大量投资。     

Base editing with high efficiency in allotetraploid oilseed rape by A3A‐PBE system

CRISPR/Cas‐base editing is an emerging technology that could convert a nucleotide to another type at the target site. In this study, A3A‐PBE system consisting of human A3A cytidine deaminase fused with a Cas9 nickase and uracil glycosylase inhibitor was established and developed in allotetraploid Brassica napus. We designed three sgRNAs to target ALS, RGA and IAA7 genes, respectively. Base‐editing efficiency was demonstrated to be more than 20% for all the three target genes. Target sequencing results revealed that the editing window ranged from C1 to C10 of the PAM sequence. Base‐edited plants of ALS conferred high herbicide resistance, while base‐edited plants of RGA or IAA7 exhibited decreased plant height. All the base editing could be genetically inherited from T₀ to T₁ generation. Several Indel mutations were confirmed at the target sites for all the three sgRNAs. Furthermore, though no C to T substitution was detected at the most potential off‐target sites, large‐scale SNP variations were determined through whole‐genome sequencing between some base‐edited and wild‐type plants. These results revealed that A3A‐PBE base‐editing system could effectively convert C to T substitution with high‐editing efficiency and broadened editing window in oilseed rape. Mutants for ALS, IAA7 and RGA genes could be potentially applied to confer herbicide resistance for weed control or with better plant architecture suitable for mechanic harvesting.     

Allocation of scarce resources in Africa during COVID‐19: Utility and justice for the bottom of the pyramid?

The COVID‐19 pandemic has raised important universal public health challenges. Conceiving ethical responses to these challenges is a public health imperative but must take context into account. This is particularly important in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). In this paper, we examine how some of the ethical recommendations offered so far in high‐income countries might appear from a SSA perspective. We also reflect on some of the key ethical challenges raised by the COVID‐19 pandemic in low‐income countries suffering from chronic shortages in health care resources, and chronic high morbidity and mortality from non‐COVID‐19 causes. A parallel is drawn between the distribution of severity of COVID‐19 disease and the classic “Fortune at the bottom of the pyramid” model that is relevant in SSA. Focusing allocation of resources during COVID‐19 on the ‘thick’ part of the pyramid in Low‐to‐Middle Income Countries (LMICs) could be ethically justified on utilitarian and social justice grounds, since it prioritizes a large number of persons who have been economically and socially marginalized. During the pandemic, importing allocation frameworks focused on the apex of the pyramid from the global north may therefore not always be appropriate. In a post‐COVID‐19 world, we need to think strategically about how health care systems can be financed and structured to ensure broad access to adequate health care for all who need it. The root problems underlying health inequity, exposed by COVID‐19, must be addressed, not just to prepare for the next pandemic, but to care for people in resource poor settings in non‐pandemic times.