Multiple ethnic origins of mitochondrial DNA lineages for the population of Mauritius

This article reports on the first genetic assessment of the contemporary Mauritian population. Small island nodes such as Mauritius played a critical role in historic globalization processes and revealing high-resolution details of labour sourcing is crucial in order to better understand early-modern diaspora events. Mauritius is a particularly interesting case given detailed historic accounts attesting to European (Dutch, French and British), African and Asian points of origin. Ninety-seven samples were analysed for mitochondrial DNA to begin unravelling the complex dynamics of the island’s modern population. In corroboration with general demographic information, the majority of maternal lineages were derived from South Asia (58.76%), with Malagasy (16.60%), East/Southeast Asian (11.34%) and Sub-Saharan African (10.21%) also making significant contributions. This study pinpoints specific regional origins for the South Asian genetic contribution, showing a greater influence on the contemporary population from northern and southeast India. Moreover, the analysis of lineages related to the slave trade demonstrated that Madagascar and East Asia were the main centres of origin, with less influence from West Africa

Some observations of magnetic clouds and simulations of a normal fast shock interaction with an idealized magnetic cloud

We looked at three magnetic clouds observed by the WIND satellite and find that though they are temporally the same, their effects on the Earth were different. The magnetopause is slightly expanded for all the three clouds from its average position during the Bz\u3c0 phase of the clouds and in the Bz\u3c0 phase there was a compression of the magnetopause taking place. During the Bz\u3c0 phase of the October 1995 cloud the bow shock expanded from its average position much more then the January 1997 but the May 1996 cloud hardly affected the Earth\u27s bow shock position during this phase. For the later Bz\u3c0 phase, we find that all three clouds compressed the bow shock closer to the Earth from its average position. We studied a number of discontinuities in the field and plasma observations for the October 18--19, 1995 magnetic cloud. Except for the front cloud boundary, which was a tangential discontinuity, all other discontinuities were rotational. We also could identify 3 different coherent structures within the October 18--19, 1995 cloud. We also found regions for which no coherent structure existed. From our simulations of a shock with a static force-free Lundquist flux tube, we find that the width of the tube will decrease but the boundaries of the tube were still clearly defined. The magnetic field components retain their original orientation but with an increased amplitude. Depending on the density ratio\u27s between the tube and surrounding plasma, the possible waves generated by the shock interaction at the tube boundary are: (1) transmitted and reflected shock; (2) reflected expansion wave and transmitted shock; and (3) only a transmitted shock. We also find that the shock speed in the tube was increased, decreased or remain unchanged. Some numerical results are supported by GEOTAIL observation\u27s of the October 18--19, 1995 magnetic cloud crossing the bow shock of the Earth

An Ancient Yeast for Young Geneticists: A Primer on the Schizosaccharomyces pombe Model System.

The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is an important model organism for the study of eukaryotic molecular and cellular biology. Studies of S. pombe, together with studies of its distant cousin, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, have led to the discovery of genes involved in fundamental mechanisms of transcription, translation, DNA replication, cell cycle control, and signal transduction, to name but a few processes. However, since the divergence of the two species approximately 350 million years ago, S. pombe appears to have evolved less rapidly than S. cerevisiae so that it retains more characteristics of the common ancient yeast ancestor, causing it to share more features with metazoan cells. This Primer introduces S. pombe by describing the yeast itself, providing a brief description of the origins of fission yeast research, and illustrating some genetic and bioinformatics tools used to study protein function in fission yeast. In addition, a section on some key differences between S. pombe and S. cerevisiae is included for readers with some familiarity with budding yeast research but who may have an interest in developing research projects using S. pombe.This is the final version of the article. It was first available from the Genetics Society of America via http://dx.doi.org/10.1534/genetics.115.18150

LOW-ALTITUDE OBSERVATIONS AND MODELING OF QUASI-STEADY MAGNETOPAUSE RECONNECTION

Data from two near-conjugate passes of DE 1 and DE 2 through the cusp/cleft region of the Earth's magnetosphere are presented and compared with model calculations of particle transport from the solar wind to spacecraft locations in the magnetosphere. Comparison of the observed and calculated particle spectra shows that the model can successfully match the spectra at both spacecraft using the same model parameters. This demonstrates that the modeling technique is applicable at both high and low altitudes. We are also able to conclude that the particles originate from a fairly narrow spatial region on the magnetopause even though magnetosheath plasma has access to the magnetosphere over the entire magnetopause in the model. The success of the model in reproducing key features of the observed spectra and the fact that the two satellites in near magnetic conjunction but at different altitudes observed similar, distinctive features at times separated by 10 - 20 min demonstrates that there are quasi-stationary, spatial features in the cusp/cleft region of the Earth's magnetosphere.PublishedYe

The Transcriptional Repressor TupA in Aspergillus niger Is Involved in Controlling Gene Expression Related to Cell Wall Biosynthesis, Development, and Nitrogen Source Availability.

The Tup1-Cyc8 (Ssn6) complex is a well characterized and conserved general transcriptional repressor complex in eukaryotic cells. Here, we report the identification of the Tup1 (TupA) homolog in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger in a genetic screen for mutants with a constitutive expression of the agsA gene. The agsA gene encodes a putative alpha-glucan synthase, which is induced in response to cell wall stress in A. niger. Apart from the constitutive expression of agsA, the selected mutant was also found to produce an unknown pigment at high temperatures. Complementation analysis with a genomic library showed that the tupA gene could complement the phenotypes of the mutant. Screening of a collection of 240 mutants with constitutive expression of agsA identified sixteen additional pigment-secreting mutants, which were all mutated in the tupA gene. The phenotypes of the tupA mutants were very similar to the phenotypes of a tupA deletion strain. Further analysis of the tupA-17 mutant and the DeltatupA mutant revealed that TupA is also required for normal growth and morphogenesis. The production of the pigment at 37 degrees C is nitrogen source-dependent and repressed by ammonium. Genome-wide expression analysis of the tupA mutant during exponential growth revealed derepression of a large group of diverse genes, including genes related to development and cell wall biosynthesis, and also protease-encoding genes that are normally repressed by ammonium. Comparison of the transcriptome of up-regulated genes in the tupA mutant showed limited overlap with the transcriptome of caspofungin-induced cell wall stress-related genes, suggesting that TupA is not a general suppressor of cell wall stress-induced genes. We propose that TupA is an important repressor of genes related to development and nitrogen metabolism

Community-led turtle conservation in the Rivers Ganga and Ramganga, Uttar Pradesh, India

The Gangetic River System in Uttar Pradesh, India, supports 14 species of turtles. Excessive riverbedfarming has encroached on turtle habitat used for nesting and basking. To conserve threatened turtles in the UpperGanga, an in-situ turtle conservation program was initiated jointly by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department andWWF-India in 2012 to engage the community in turtle conservation. The local riparian community was sensitizedand mobilized to participate in conservation efforts. Turtles and the Ganga River have religious significance and arehonored by the local riparian community, which encourages active participation in conservation efforts. During thestudy, 226 riparian community members have registered as Ganga Mitras (Friends of the River) and are involved inmonitoring and other conservation efforts. A total of 828 turtle nests were rescued from riverbed agriculture with thehelp of 520 riverbed farmers in the Upper Ganga and Ramganga Rivers between 2012 and 2021. These nests contained5,828 eggs, from which 4,529 turtles were hatched and survived (77.7% hatching success). These hatchlings were thenreared in specially designed nursery ponds during the flood season and released into their respective rivers in winter.As poikilotherms, the food requirements of turtles are reduced during the winter season, making it easier for them toacclimatize to the new environment. Released turtle hatchlings were 1,945 Critically Endangered Three-striped RoofedTurtles (Batagur dhongoka), 1,292 Near-Threatened Brown Roofed Turtles (Pangshura smithii), and 1,480 Indian TentTurtles (Pangshura tentoria), which are listed as being of Least Concern

Adverse clinical outcomes associated with a low dose and a high dose of aspirin following percutaneous coronary intervention: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Guidelines from the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology recommend a higher dosage of aspirin daily following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), whereas guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology recommend a lower dosage. This study aimed to compare the adverse clinical outcomes associated with a low dose and a high dose of aspirin following PCI. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched for studies comparing a low dose with a high dose aspirin following PCI. Adverse clinical outcomes were considered as the endpoints in this study. We calculated Odds Ratios (OR) with 95 % Confidence Intervals (CIs) for categorical variables. The pooled analyses were performed with RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS: A total number of 25,083 patients were included. Results from this analysis showed that the combination of Cardiovascular (CV) death/Myocardial Infarction (MI) or stroke was not significantly different between a low and high dose of aspirin with OR: 1.08, 95 % CI: 0.98–1.18; P = 0.11. Mortality and MI were also not significantly different between these two treatment regimens following PCI with OR: 0.95, 95 % CI: 0.74–1.23; P = 0.71 and OR: 1.17, 95 % CI: 0.97–1.41; P = 0.09 respectively. However, a high dose of aspirin was associated with a significantly higher rate of Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACEs) with OR: 1.20, 95 % CI: 1.02–1.41; P = 0.03. Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) defined minor bleeding was also significantly higher with a high dose aspirin with OR: 1.22, 95 % CI: 1.02–1.47; P = 0.03. When Stent thrombosis (ST) was compared, no significant difference was found with OR: 1.28, 95 % CI: 0.59–2.58; P = 0.53. Even if TIMI defined major bleeding favored a low dose of aspirin, with OR: 1.42, 95 % CI: 0.95–2.13; P = 0.09, or even if major bleeding was insignificantly higher with a high dose aspirin, with OR: 1.78, 95 % CI: 1.01–3.13; P = 0.05; I(2) = 94 %, higher levels of heterogeneity observed in these subgroups could not be considered significant to any extent. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this analysis, a high dose of aspirin following PCI was not associated with any significantly higher rate of CV death/MI/stroke, mortality or MI. However, MACEs significantly favored a low dose of aspirin. In addition, TIMI defined minor bleeding was significantly higher with a high dose of aspirin whereas the results for the major bleeding outcomes were not statistically significant. However, due to limited data availability and since the subgroups analyzing major bleeding were highly heterogeneous, further studies are recommended to completely solve this issue

A review of the dodo and its ecosystem: insights from a vertebrate concentration Lagerstätte in Mauritius

The dodo Raphus cucullatus Linnaeus,1758, an extinct and flightless, giant pigeon endemic to Mauritius, has fascinated people since its discovery, yet has remained surprisingly poorly known. Until the mid-19th century, almost all that was known about the dodo was based on illustrations and written accounts by 17th century mariners, often of questionable accuracy. Furthermore, only a few fragmentary remains of dodos collected prior to the bird's extinction exist. Our understanding of the dodo's anatomy was substantially enhanced by the discovery in 1865 of subfossil bones in a marsh called the Mare aux Songes, situated in southeastern Mauritius. However, no contextual information was recorded during early excavation efforts, and the majority of excavated material comprised larger dodo bones, almost all of which were unassociated. Here we present a modern interdisciplinary analysis of the Mare aux Songes, a 4200-year-old multitaxic vertebrate concentration Lagerstätte. Our analysis of the deposits at this site provides the first detailed overview of the ecosystem inhabited by the dodo. The interplay of climatic and geological conditions led to the exceptional preservation of the animal and associated plant remains at the Mare aux Songes and provides a window into the past ecosystem of Mauritius. This interdisciplinary research approach provides an ecological framework for the dodo, complementing insights on its anatomy derived from the only associated dodo skeletons known, both of which were collected by Etienne Thirioux and are the primary subject of this memoir.Additional co-authors: Anneke H. Van Heteren, Vikash Rupear, Gorah Beebeejaun, Alan Grihault, J. (Hans) Van Der Plicht, Marijke Besselink, Juliën K. Lubeek, Max Jansen, Hege Hollund, Beth Shapiro, Matthew Collins, Mike Buckley, Ranjith M. Jayasena, Nicolas Porch, Rene Floore, Frans Bunnik, Andrew Biedlingmaier, Jennifer Leavitt, Gregory Monfette, Anna Kimelblatt, Adrienne Randall, Pieter Floore & Leon P. A. M. Claessen

Soil sedimentology at Gusev Crater from Columbia Memorial Station to Winter Haven

A total of 3140 individual particles were examined in 31 soils along Spirit’s traverse. Their size, shape, and texture were quantified and classified. They represent a unique record of 3 years of sedimentologic exploration from landing to sol 1085 covering the Plains Unit to Winter Haven where Spirit spent the Martian winter of 2006. Samples in the Plains Unit and Columbia Hills appear as reflecting contrasting textural domains. One is heterogeneous, with a continuum of angular-to-round particles of fine sand to pebble sizes that are generally dust covered and locally cemented in place. The second shows the effect of a dominant and ongoing dynamic aeolian process that redistributes a uniform population of medium-size sand. The texture of particles observed in the samples at Gusev Crater results from volcanic, aeolian, impact, and water-related processes