The size, structure and efficiency of Mongolian flocks and herds on degraded grasslands

Since 1990, the number of livestock in Mongolia has more than doubled. In large areas of Mongolia, grassland degradation is now a problem of national concern. A survey was done of 10 herders in two Soums (Altanbulag and Khashaat; heavily and moderately degraded, respectively) to measure the animals (sheep, goats, cattle and horse numbers, sex and weights) and grasslands (species and biomass) every 3 months from April 2017 to December 2018. Rainfall is mostly in summer and mean monthly temperatures vary from –20 to 20°C. Throughout the study, the grassland herbage mass in summer was less than 0.5 t dry matter/ha, below that considered sustainable for the steppe. Herders had 200–1000 sheep equivalents (SE, 50 kg base weight), moved camps 2–4 times each year and stocking rates varied from 0.5–1 SE/ha. Female animals reached their mature weights by 4 years of age (sheep 50 kg, goats 40 kg, cattle 350 kg, horses 300 kg). Animals only grew over summer, but a significant part of that was compensatory gain in animals >1 year old. Over winter, sheep and goats lost 21–29% of their liveweight, cattle and horses 15–30%. The weaning rate was 43–48% across species. The male:female ratio (>2 years old) was sheep 63%, goats 72%, cattle 27% and horses 106%. All animals are managed in common mobs with no particular control of breeding. Areas where the efficiency of livestock production and grassland productivity could be improved are discussed

Prevalence and Determinants of QuantiFERON-Diagnosed Tuberculosis Infection in 9810 Mongolian Schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: There is controversy regarding the potential influence of vitamin D deficiency, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, BCG vaccination, season, and body habitus on susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis to identify determinants of a positive QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT) assay result in children aged 6-13 years attending 18 schools in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Data relating to potential risk factors for MTB infection were collected by questionnaire, physical examination, and determination of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations. Risk ratios (RRs) were calculated with adjustment for potential confounders, and population attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated for modifiable risk factors identified. RESULTS: Nine hundred forty-six of 9810 (9.6%) participants had a positive QFT result. QFT positivity was independently associated with household exposure to pulmonary tuberculosis (adjusted RR [aRR], 4.75 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 4.13-5.46, P < .001]; PAF, 13.1% [95% CI, 11.1%-15.0%]), vitamin D deficiency (aRR, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.08-1.40], P = .002; PAF, 5.7% [95% CI, 1.9%-9.3%]), exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (1 indoor smoker, aRR, 1.19 [95% CI, 1.04-1.35]; ≥2 indoor smokers, aRR, 1.30 [95% CI, 1.02-1.64]; P for trend = .006; PAF, 7.2% [95% CI, 2.2%-12.0%]), and increasing age (aRR per additional year, 1.14 [95% CI, 1.10-1.19], P < .001). No statistically significant independent association was seen for presence of a BCG scar, season of sampling, or body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke are potentially modifiable risk factors for MTB infection

Single-cell RNA-sequencing resolves self-antigen expression during mTEC development

The crucial capability of T cells for discrimination between self and non-self peptides is based on negative selection of developing thymocytes by medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs). The mTECs purge autoreactive T cells by expression of cell-type specific genes referred to as tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs). Although the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) protein is known to promote the expression of a subset of TRAs, its mechanism of action is still not fully understood. The expression of TRAs that are not under the control of AIRE also needs further characterization. Furthermore, expression patterns of TRA genes have been suggested to change over the course of mTEC development. Herein we have used single-cell RNA-sequencing to resolve patterns of TRA expression during mTEC development. Our data indicated that mTEC development consists of three distinct stages, correlating with previously described jTEC, mTEChi and mTEClo phenotypes. For each subpopulation, we have identified marker genes useful in future studies. Aire-induced TRAs were switched on during jTEC-mTEC transition and were expressed in genomic clusters, while otherwise the subsets expressed largely overlapping sets of TRAs. Moreover, population-level analysis of TRA expression frequencies suggested that such differences might not be necessary to achieve efficient thymocyte selection.RM is supported by a PhD Fellowship from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal (SFRH/ BD/51950/2012). XZ is supported by an Advanced Postdoc Mobility Fellowship from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF, grant number P300P2_151352). Part of the work was performed during XZ’s visit to the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing. TL is supported by the Academy of Finland (Decision 311081). The authors would like to thank Bee Ling Ng and the staff of the Cytometry Core Facility, and Stephan Lorenz and the staff of the Single Cell Genomics Core Facility for their contribution. Mark Lynch is acknowledged for technical assistance with the Fluidigm C1 platform. Mike Stubbington and Kylie James are acknowledged for revising the language of the manuscript. We thank Sarah Teichmann for help and discussions regarding the manuscript.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Body size and digestive system shape resource selection by ungulates : a cross-taxa test of the forage maturation hypothesis

The forage maturation hypothesis (FMH) states that energy intake for ungulates is maximised when forage biomass is at intermediate levels. Nevertheless, metabolic allometry and different digestive systems suggest that resource selection should vary across ungulate species. By combining GPS relocations with remotely sensed data on forage characteristics and surface water, we quantified the effect of body size and digestive system in determining movements of 30 populations of hindgut fermenters (equids) and ruminants across biomes. Selection for intermediate forage biomass was negatively related to body size, regardless of digestive system. Selection for proximity to surface water was stronger for equids relative to ruminants, regardless of body size. To be more generalisable, we suggest that the FMH explicitly incorporate contingencies in body size and digestive system, with small-bodied ruminants selecting more strongly for potential energy intake, and hindgut fermenters selecting more strongly for surface water.DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : The dataset used in our analyses is available via Dryad repository (https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.jsxksn09f) following a year-long embargo from publication of the manuscript. The coordinates associated with mountain zebra data are not provided in an effort to protect critically endangered black rhino (Diceros bicornis) locations. Interested researchers can contact the data owner (Minnesota Zoo) directly for inquiries.https://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/elehj2022Mammal Research InstituteZoology and Entomolog

A new class of glycomimetic drugs to prevent free fatty acid-induced endothelial dysfunction

Background: Carbohydrates play a major role in cell signaling in many biological processes. We have developed a set of glycomimetic drugs that mimic the structure of carbohydrates and represent a novel source of therapeutics for endothelial dysfunction, a key initiating factor in cardiovascular complications. Purpose: Our objective was to determine the protective effects of small molecule glycomimetics against free fatty acid­induced endothelial dysfunction, focusing on nitric oxide (NO) and oxidative stress pathways. Methods: Four glycomimetics were synthesized by the stepwise transformation of 2,5­dihydroxybenzoic acid to a range of 2,5­substituted benzoic acid derivatives, incorporating the key sulfate groups to mimic the interactions of heparan sulfate. Endothelial function was assessed using acetylcholine­induced, endotheliumdependent relaxation in mouse thoracic aortic rings using wire myography. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) behavior was evaluated in the presence or absence of the free fatty acid, palmitate, with or without glycomimetics (1µM). DAF­2 and H2DCF­DA assays were used to determine nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, respectively. Lipid peroxidation colorimetric and antioxidant enzyme activity assays were also carried out. RT­PCR and western blotting were utilized to measure Akt, eNOS, Nrf­2, NQO­1 and HO­1 expression. Results: Ex vivo endothelium­dependent relaxation was significantly improved by the glycomimetics under palmitate­induced oxidative stress. In vitro studies showed that the glycomimetics protected HUVECs against the palmitate­induced oxidative stress and enhanced NO production. We demonstrate that the protective effects of pre­incubation with glycomimetics occurred via upregulation of Akt/eNOS signaling, activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway, and suppression of ROS­induced lipid peroxidation. Conclusion: We have developed a novel set of small molecule glycomimetics that protect against free fatty acidinduced endothelial dysfunction and thus, represent a new category of therapeutic drugs to target endothelial damage, the first line of defense against cardiovascular disease

Data for: Education, mobility and the college wage premium

Abstract of associated article: Motivated by large educational differences in geographic mobility, this paper considers a simple dynamic extension of Roy׳s (1951) model and analyzes it using new evidence on net versus excess mobility and the individual-level relationship between mobility and wages. According to the model, the dispersion of a labor income shock specific to a worker-location match is greater for more educated workers and accounts for large educational differences in mobility. In the model, labor mobility raises both the average wage and the college wage premium, a prediction consistent with differences between Europe and the U.S