The trans-ancestral genomic architecture of glycemic traits

Glycemic traits are used to diagnose and monitor type 2 diabetes and cardiometabolic health. To date, most genetic studies of glycemic traits have focused on individuals of European ancestry. Here we aggregated genome-wide association studies comprising up to 281,416 individuals without diabetes (30% non-European ancestry) for whom fasting glucose, 2-h glucose after an oral glucose challenge, glycated hemoglobin and fasting insulin data were available. Trans-ancestry and single-ancestry meta-analyses identified 242 loci (99 novel; P < 5 x 10(-8)), 80% of which had no significant evidence of between-ancestry heterogeneity. Analyses restricted to individuals of European ancestry with equivalent sample size would have led to 24 fewer new loci. Compared with single-ancestry analyses, equivalent-sized trans-ancestry fine-mapping reduced the number of estimated variants in 99% credible sets by a median of 37.5%. Genomic-feature, gene-expression and gene-set analyses revealed distinct biological signatures for each trait, highlighting different underlying biological pathways. Our results increase our understanding of diabetes pathophysiology by using trans-ancestry studies for improved power and resolution.A trans-ancestry meta-analysis of GWAS of glycemic traits in up to 281,416 individuals identifies 99 novel loci, of which one quarter was found due to the multi-ancestry approach, which also improves fine-mapping of credible variant sets.Diabetes mellitus: pathophysiological changes and therap

TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL REPRODUCTIVE PATTERNS OF SUBTIDAL BRACHYURAN CRABS IN COASTAL WATERS OF TAIWAN

The reproductive dynamics of subtidal brachyuran crabs in the coastal waters of Taiwan were studied. A total of 41 species of crabs was examined, each with at least one ovigerous individual, from seven sampling sites throughout the island. Differences in distribution range between the brooding and non-brooding populations of Charybdis bimaculata, Portunus argentatus, P. haanii, P. hastatoides, and P. pelagicus suggest that they use different types of habitat. The greater number of species recorded at the southern sampling locations indicates that most subtidal brachyuran crabs observed in the coastal waters of Taiwan favour warmer waters and fine sediment substrates as their breeding grounds. However, the brooding populations of several species ( e. g., C. bimaculata, C. natator, Heikea japonicus, Phalangipus hystrix, Portunus gracillimus, and Thalamita sima) were found both at deep and shallow sampling locations, suggesting these species may have a wider range of preferences with regard to water temperature and types of sediment. Four reproductive patterns were recognized: (1) limited to a single season, (2) stretching two or three consecutive seasons, (3) biannual, and (4) year-round. Differences in peak reproductive times of C. bimaculata, P. argentatus, and P. haanii between deep and shallow sampling locations suggest the presence of reproductive plasticity under the influence of differences in environment

TAKU SPINOSOCARINATUS (FUKUDA, 1909): FIRST RECORD OF A TAKUID STOMATOPOD FROM TAIWAN

Four specimens of a small-sized stomatopod, Taku spinosocarinatus (Fukuda, 1909), belonging to the family Takuidae Manning, 1995, were collected from intertidal dead coral rocks in southern Taiwan. This is the first record of this interesting cryptic stomatopod from Taiwan, and it is also the first record of the family from the island

TWO UNRECORDED GENERA AND SPECIES OF BRACHYURAN CRABS (DECAPODA: CAMPTANDRIIDAE, PILUMNIDAE) FROM TAIWAN, WITH A NOTE ON CANCER SEMICYLINDRUS FABRICIUS, 1798

Two genera and species of coastal crabs, the camptandrid. Moguai elongation (Rathbun, 1931) and the pilumnid, Xenophthalmodes dolicophallus Tesch, 1918, are reported for the first time from Taiwan. The present record of X. dolicophallus is not only the first from Taiwan but also the first report of it from the northern hemisphere of the Pacific

Responses of the pea crab Pinnotheres taichungae to the life history patterns of its primary bivalve host Laternula marilina

At the Kaomei tidal flat in Taiwan, the population dynamics and growth of the bivalve Laternula marilina (Reeve, 1860) and responses of the symbiont pea crab Pinnotheres taichungae Sakai, 2000 to the life history patterns of its primary host were studied. The population cycle of the bivalve appears to be initiated by larval settlement occurring as early as late March culminated by die off at the beginning of December of the same year. The maximum host life span is estimated at nine months. Pea crabs, regardless of size, preferred utilizing bivalves with a shell length exceeding 28 mm. This suggests they only spend about three months as a commensal with the primary host because the latter may take five months from the time of settlement to grow to an average size of 32 mm. In response to the brief presence of large primary hosts, the pea crab may: (1) synchronize megalopal recruitment shortly prior to the presence of large primary hosts; (2) evolve a dual infestation mode, invading the bivalve during both invasive and hard stages; and (3) have a fast growth rate while commensal with the primary host

Larval release rhythms of four species (family Grapsidae and Ocypodidae) of intertidal crabs on a coastal flat in western central Taiwan

Larval release rhythms of four crab species, Parasesarma tripectinis (Shen, 1940), Perisesarma bidens (De Haan, 1835), Hemigrapsus penicillatus (De Haan, 1835) and Baruna sinensis Tan and Huang, 1995, were studied in two different intertidal zones on a coastal flat. Of these, P. bidens is the only species that migrates between high and lower intertidal zones. In general, larval release patterns of these intertidal crabs are not too different from those of intertidal crabs living in other geographical regions, which often release larvae around new or full moons and nocturnal high tides. However, differences were apparent when compared with previous studies in that: (1) peak larval release periods of P. bidens occurred during submaximum tidal amplitudes, (2) a good portion of B. sinensis released their larvae during neap tides, (3) all four species released their larvae during both daytime and nighttime high tides although the percentage varied among these species, (4) three species released their larvae within 1 h after the time of high slack tide, but larval release of B. sinensis peaked between 1 and 2 h after the time of maximum tidal height. Larval release pattern of Perisesarma bidens suggests that locomotory behaviour of high intertidal crabs may influence their larval release rhythms. Antipredatory adaptation may explain larval release rhythms of the four species examined in the present study. Larvae of Parasesarma tripectinis, P. bidens and Hemigrapsus penicillatus are more vulnerable to planktivorous fish predation and tend to release their larvae at nocturnal high tides during maximum tidal amplitudes. On the other hand, larvae of Baruna sinensis may be better adapted against planktivorous fish predation by having yellow-green colour. The timing of larval release of this species occurred throughout the lunar cycle and often at daytime 1-2 h after the time of high slack tide

OREOTLOS LATUS (BORRADAILE, 1903), A NEW RECORD FOR TAIWAN, WITH THE FIRST DESCRIPTION OF A MALE AND A REVISED KEY TO THE GENUS (BRACHYURA, LEUCOSIIDAE)

The poorly known leucosiid crab, Oreotlos latus (Borradaile, 1903) is reported for the first time from Taiwan. Only three female specimens, including the holotype, were previously known, i.e., from the Maldives, Eniwetok, and Japan. The present specimen is the first male known and its characters are described and figured. A revised key to Oreotlos Ihle, 1918, is also provided

Polydectus cupulifer (Latreille, 1812) (decapoda, xanthidae): First record from Taiwan

The unusual xanthid reef crab, Polydectus cupulifer (Latreille, 1812), is characterized by possessing a very thick covering of setae all over its external surfaces and its habit of carrying a large sea anemone on each of its chelae. It is here recorded for the first time from Taiwan as well as from the Chinese seas in general

New records of two interesting deep water crabs, Homolochunia gadaletae Guinot and Richer de Forges, 1995 (Homolidae) and Rochinia sagamiensis (Gordon, 1931) (Majidae) (Crustacea : Decapoda : Brachyura), from Taiwan

The present note records the presence of 2 interesting species of deep water brachyuran crabs from Taiwan. Homolochunia gadaletae Guinot and Richer de Forges, 1995 (Homolidae) and Rochinia sagamiensis (Gordon, 1931) (Majidae) were both previously regarded as Japanese endemics, and their presence in Taiwan is of biogeographical interest. Notes on the egg size and fecundity of R. sagamiensis are also presented

New records of sipunculan worms from Taiwan

Sipunculan worms occurring in Taiwanese waters were studied, and 11 species are recorded for the first time. They are: Sipunculidae - Sipunculus (Sipunculus) robustus Keferstein, Siphonosoma funafuti (Shipley), S. vastum (Selenka and Bulow); Golfingiidae - Golfingia (Golfingia) margaritacea margaritacea (Sars), G. muricaudata (Southern), Thysanocardia nigra (Ikeda); Themistidae - Themiste (Lagenopsis) minor minor (Ikeda); Phascolosomatidae - Phascolosoma arcuatum (Gray), P. glabrum glabrum (Sluiter); Aspidosiphonidae - Aspidosiphon (Aspidosiphon) muelleri Diesing, and Aspidosiphon (Paraspidosiphon) coyi de Quatrefages. This makes a total number of 29 species now known from this geographic region