Multiethnic meta-analysis identifies ancestry-specific and cross-ancestry loci for pulmonary function

Nearly 100 loci have been identified for pulmonary function, almost exclusively in studies of European ancestry populations. We extend previous research by meta-analyzing genome-wide association studies of 1000 Genomes imputed variants in relation to pulmonary function in a multiethnic population of 90,715 individuals of European (N = 60,552), African (N = 8429), Asian (N = 9959), and Hispanic/Latino (N = 11,775) ethnicities. We identify over 50 additional loci at genome-wide significance in ancestry-specific or multiethnic meta-analyses. Using recent fine-mapping methods incorporating functional annotation, gene expression, and differences in linkage disequilibrium between ethnicities, we further shed light on potential causal variants and genes at known and newly identified loci. Several of the novel genes encode proteins with predicted or established drug targets, including KCNK2 and CDK12. Our study highlights the utility of multiethnic and integrative genomics approaches to extend existing knowledge of the genetics of l

7th Drug hypersensitivity meeting: part two

No abstract availabl

Social–environmental drivers inform strategic management of coral reefs in the Anthropocene

Without drastic efforts to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate globalized stressors, tropical coral reefs are in jeopardy. Strategic conservation and management requires identification of the environmental and socioeconomic factors driving the persistence of scleractinian coral assemblages—the foundation species of coral reef ecosystems. Here, we compiled coral abundance data from 2,584 Indo-Pacific reefs to evaluate the influence of 21 climate, social and environmental drivers on the ecology of reef coral assemblages. Higher abundances of framework-building corals were typically associated with: weaker thermal disturbances and longer intervals for potential recovery; slower human population growth; reduced access by human settlements and markets; and less nearby agriculture. We therefore propose a framework of three management strategies (protect, recover or transform) by considering: (1) if reefs were above or below a proposed threshold of >10% cover of the coral taxa important for structural complexity and carbonate production; and (2) reef exposure to severe thermal stress during the 2014–2017 global coral bleaching event. Our findings can guide urgent management efforts for coral reefs, by identifying key threats across multiple scales and strategic policy priorities that might sustain a network of functioning reefs in the Indo-Pacific to avoid ecosystem collapse

Optimization of a semi-analytical algorithm for multi-temporal water quality monitoring in inland waters withwide natural variability

10.3390/rs71215845Remote Sensing71216623-1664

Host specialisation in trapeziid crabs: consequences for rarity at local scales

At local scales, the distribution and abundance of strongly habitat associated organisms should be positively related to the amount of habitat available, but this relationship is highly dependent on the extent of specialisation for particular habitats. We examined habitat specialisation in seven species of crabs in the genus Trapezia from seven reefs in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea to test predictions that species with wider host breadths would a) be more abundant and b) have wider local distributions. The results indicate that habitat specialisation is consequential in determining patterns of local abundance. The Trapezia species using wider ranges of pocilloporid coral species were also the most abundant. This pattern was disrupted when crab species specialised on highly abundant corals. Similarly, crabs that were habitat generalists were found on more reefs than crabs that used only one or two coral species. These results suggest that species that are extreme habitat specialists may naturally exist in low numbers in reef communities. Furthermore, the Joss of such organisms may not be detected by sampling methods using coarse taxonomic groupings. The relationship between habitat specialisation and rarity should therefore be an important consideration in designing reef monitoring studies

Trapezia septata dana, 1852 (Brachyura, Trapeziidae): A new record for singapore with notes on its relationship with the host coral, pocillopora verrucosa

10.1163/156854009X463838Crustaceana82121603-1608CRUS

Multispectral derivation of bathymetry in Singapore's shallow, turbid waters

10.1080/01431161.2012.734934International Journal of Remote Sensing3462070-2088IJSE

Morphological changes in carp epithelial cells infected with Aeromonas hydrophila

Journal of Fish Diseases192167-174JFID

Diel variations and diversity of fish communities along the unreclaimed shallow coastal habitats of Changi Point Beach, Singapore

Raffles Bulletin of Zoology581125-13

Corals like it waxed: Paraffin-based antifouling technology enhances coral spat survival

10.1371/journal.pone.0087545PLoS ONE91-POLN