High Posterior Probability Research Articles

Morphological and Molecular Data Reveal Two New Species of Viannaia (Nematoda: Viannaiidae), Parasitizing Opossums (Mammalia: Didelphidae) in Mexico.

Two new species of Viannaia from the intestine of the North American opossums, Didelphis virginiana (Virginia opossum), and Philander opossum (gray four-eyed opossum), are described based on morphological and molecular data, through an integrative taxonomic approach. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses for each dataset and the concatenated dataset were performed using a mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene, and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2). The phylogenetic analyses revealed 2 new species that occur in Mexico, one from the western state of Colima and another from the southern state of Chiapas. Our phylogenetic trees for both molecular markers and concatenated datasets yielded similar topologies with high bootstrap values and posterior probabilities. Viannaia is recovered as a monophyletic group, but the family Viannaiidae appears as non-monophyletic, due to the position of Travassostrongylus scheibelorum, similar to previous studies. Finally, the morphology of Viannaia and Hoineffia is discussed.

Dalek: A Deep Learning Emulator for TARDIS

Abstract Supernova spectral time series contain a wealth of information about the progenitor and explosion process of these energetic events. The modeling of these data requires the exploration of very high dimensional posterior probabilities with expensive radiative transfer codes. Even modest parameterizations of supernovae contain more than 10 parameters and a detailed exploration demands at least several million function evaluations. Physically realistic models require at least tens of CPU minutes per evaluation putting a detailed reconstruction of the explosion out of reach of traditional methodology. The advent of widely available libraries for the training of neural networks combined with their ability to approximate almost arbitrary functions with high precision allows for a new approach to this problem. Instead of evaluating the radiative transfer model itself, one can build a neural network proxy trained on the simulations but evaluating orders of magnitude faster. Such a framework is called an emulator or surrogate model. In this work, we present an emulator for the tardis supernova radiative transfer code applied to Type Ia supernova spectra. We show that we can train an emulator for this problem given a modest training set of 100,000 spectra (easily calculable on modern supercomputers). The results show an accuracy on the percent level (that are dominated by the Monte Carlo nature of tardis and not the emulator) with a speedup of several orders of magnitude. This method has a much broader set of applications and is not limited to the presented problem.

Contaminant source identification in water distribution networks: A Bayesian framework

This work presents a Bayesian model updating approach for handling contaminant source characterization problems in the context of water distribution networks. The problem is formulated in a Bayesian model class selection framework where each model class represents a possible contaminant event. The parameters of each model class characterize the contaminant mass inflow over time in terms of its intensity and starting time. The class with the highest posterior probability is interpreted as the most plausible location for the contaminant injection. The evidences of the model classes are estimated using the transitional Markov chain Monte Carlo (TMCMC) method. The approach provides additional insight into the current network state in terms of posterior samples of the parameters that describe the contaminant event. The effectiveness of the proposed identification framework is illustrated by applying the contaminant source detection approach to a couple of water distribution systems.

Determinants of renewable energy production in WAEMU countries: New empirical insights and policy implications

ABSTRACT This paper introduces model uncertainty into the empirical study of the determinants of renewable energy generation at the regional level. The Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) approach applied to the panel data of West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) countries, spanning the period of 1990–2017. The results suggest that, among the considered regressors, those reflecting countries’ socioeconomic and financial conditions as well as internal environmental prospects tend to receive high posterior inclusion probabilities. Then, the study explores the relationship between these regressors and renewable energy production by employing the Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) long-run estimators. The findings reveal that renewable energy consumption, real GDP per capita, investment in energy, urbanization, and unemployment spur renewable energy production, whereas CO2 emissions and energy imports inhibit renewable energy production. Findings from this study have important policy implications for WAEMU countries with regard to achieving the 7th objective of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which advocates the access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

Molecular evidence for naturally occurring intra- and inter-generic hybridization in the genus Ecklonia (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae)

ABSTRACT Reports of naturally occurring hybridization between species and genera in Laminariales are limited. Hybrids are mostly identified based on morphological evidence, which is often inadequate to distinguish hybrids from other unusual kelp morphological variants. In the present study, we found morphologically atypical Ecklonia (Ec.), which were suspected of being hybrids between Ec. radicosa (Ecr) and Ec. cava subsp. stolonifera (Eccs) (IKI 09–23) or between Ecr and Eisenia (Ei.) nipponica (Ein) (OWS 07–13), in two localities in Japan. To verify the existence of naturally occurring hybrids in Ec., we determined their maternal ancestry by mtDNA genotyping and assigned the putative hybrids to four categories (F1, F2 and backcross to parental species) based on microsatellite markers. The morphologically atypical specimens were defined as: F1 generation of Ecr ♂ × Eccs ♀ (IKI 12, IKI 15–17 and IKI 19–22), Ecr ♀ × Eccs ♂ (IKI 11), or Ecr ♂ × Ein ♀ (OWS 07 and OWS 10–13), with relatively high posterior probabilities (>0.700). The remaining specimens were non-hybrids (Eccs: IKI 09, IKI 10 and IKI 13; Ecr: IKI 18), F1 or backcrosses to Ecr (IKI 14, IKI 23 and OWS 08) and F1, F2 or backcrosses to Ecr (OWS 09). Our results provide strong genetic evidence for the existence of intra- and inter-generic hybrids of Ecklonia in the field.

Low-Complexity EP Receiver Based on Location-Aware and Reliability-Aware Strategy

The expectation propagation (EP) algorithm has received significant attention recently due to its good performance and manageable computational complexity for large-scale inference problems, such as detection for massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. Its computational complexity depends mainly on how messages are represented for computation and passing. In this letter, we propose a low-complexity EP algorithm based on location-aware and reliability-aware strategy, shortened as LR-EP, to efficiently implement the message computation and passing. At each iteration, only the most probable symbol candidates are selected to perform message computation based on a low-complexity quadrant detection and predetermined lookup table. In the iterative process, reliable variable nodes with sufficiently high posterior probabilities are kept intact, thus reducing the less efficient message passing. Numerical results illustrate that the proposed LR-EP receiver reduces computational complexity significantly compared to the conventional EP receiver with negligible performance degradation.

On Determinants of Exchange Market Pressure in Turkey: The Role of Model Uncertainty

Macroeconomic and financial indicators have a significant impact on the exchange market pressure (EMP) in Turkey. Despite the huge amount of literature on the subject, there is no study focusing on Turkey that takes into account the role of model uncertainty on exchange market pressure. The role of model uncertainty should be taken into consideration, given the lack of a unique theoretical framework on the exchange markets pressure and a set of numerous explanatory variables. The Bayesian model averaging (BMA) technique is capable of determining as to whether any explanatory variable should be included in the analysis, i.e. the models with high posterior probability. To this end, the determinants of the exchange market pressure index (EMPI) in Turkey for the period of 2010M1-2020M3 are identified using the Bayesian model averaging which takes into account the role of model uncertainty. Model results indicate that the slope of the yield curve, domestic credit growth, the long term yield differentials, and short-term portfolio flows play a significant role as determinants of the exchange rate pressures of Turkey.

Morphological and molecular evidence for a new rhabdochonid species, Rhabdochona (Nematoda: Rhabdochonidae), parasitizing Eugerres mexicanus (Perciformes: Gerreidae), from the Lacantún River in the Biosphere Reserve of Montes Azules, Chiapas, Mexico

A new nematode species, Rhabdochona juliacarabiasae sp. n. is described from specimens recovered from the intestine of the freshwater Mexican mojarra, Eugerres mexicanus (Steindachner) (Gerreidae) captured in the Lacantun River, Chiapas, Mexico. Rhabdochona juliacarabiasae sp. n. is characterized by possessing a prostom armed with 12 anterior teeth (excepcionally 11), small bifurcated deirids with a markedly long base, an unusual tetrafurcate tip of the larger (left) spicule, a smaller (right) spicule without dorsal barb on its distal tip, and eggs with 1 short filament on each pole. In addition, in order to assess the phylogenetic relationships of the new species, and further demonstrate its distinctiveness against close related congeners, specimens of R. juliacarabiasae sp. n, R. xiphophori, R. salgadoi, R. kidderi, R. canadensis, and R. mexicana were sequenced for the cox1 gene, and the sequences were aligned with other nematode sequences available in GenBank ( R. adentata, R. ahuhuellensis, R. ictaluri, and R. osorioi ). Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses indicated that this new nested in a well-supported clade with high posterior probability. The molecular analyses support the validity of the new species. R. juliacarabiasae sp. n. was recovered as sister to the clade formed by R. kidderi and R. ictaluri , and shows genetic divergence that range between 11.18 and 14.89% (P- distances) compared with other congeners.

Identifying oil sources in the wen'an slope of the baxian depression, the bohai bay basin, north China

With acquisition of geochemical data of oils and source rocks in mature basins, oil source re-identification is important for petroleum system analysis and subsequent exploration. In the Baxian Depression of the Bohai Bay Basin, the main source rocks are in the Sha-3 (Es3) and Sha-1 (Es1) Members of the Paleogene Shahejie Formation. These cannot be differentiated using the standard mass chromatograms and bivariate cross-plots of biomarker parameters obtained from the representative samples of the source rocks. In this paper, discriminant analysis (DA) was employed to highlight the difference between these two sets of the source rocks samples and to identify the sources of the oils in the multivariate space. Based on a comprehensive literature review, we selected twenty three candidate parameters that may reflect the oil sources, and excluded ones which are affected by the thermal maturity and biodegradation in the study area. Eight informative parameters were chosen with stepwise DA from these candidate parameters to establish a discriminant model for the oil-source correlation. The model achieved a high correct discrimination rate using leave-one-out cross-validation (90.7%) and original validation (94.4%). We found that these 8 parameters can describe the characteristics of the main sources and can effectively differentiate these sources. The high posterior probabilities in the oil-source correlation results indicate that the oils in the Wen'an Slope were mainly sourced from the source rock in Es3. These results, together with geological mapping of reservoir sand-bodies, suggest that more oil derived from the Es3 source rocks may exist below the thick shale and/or mudstone sequence in the Es1 than previously thought.

Prospectivity Mapping for Magmatic-Related Seafloor Massive Sulfide on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge Applying Weights-of-Evidence Method Based on GIS

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge belongs to slow-spreading ridges. Hannington predicted that there were a large number of mineral resources on slow-spreading ridges; however, seafloor massive sulfide deposits usually develop thousands of meters below the seafloor, which make them extremely difficult to explore. Therefore, it is necessary to use mineral prospectivity mapping to narrow the exploration scope and improve exploration efficiency. Recently, Fang and Shao conducted mineral prospectivity mapping of seafloor massive sulfide on the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, but the mineral prospectivity mapping of magmatic-related seafloor massive sulfide on the whole Mid-Atlantic Ridge scale has not yet been carried out. In this study, 11 types of data on magmatic-related seafloor massive sulfide mineralization were collected on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, namely water depth, slope, oceanic crust thickness, large faults, small faults, ridge, bedrock age, spreading rate, Bouguer gravity, and magnetic and seismic point density. Then, the favorable information was extracted from these data to establish 11 predictive maps and to create a mineral potential model. Finally, the weights-of-evidence method was applied to conduct mineral prospectivity mapping. Weight values indicate that oceanic crust thickness, large faults, and spreading rate are the most important prospecting criteria in the study area, which correspond with important ore-controlling factors of magmatic-related seafloor massive sulfide on slow-spreading ridges. This illustrates that the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a typical slow-spreading ridge, and the mineral potential model presented in this study can also be used on other typical slow-spreading ridges. Seven zones with high posterior probabilities but without known hydrothermal fields were delineated as prospecting targets. The results are helpful for narrowing the exploration scope on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and can guide the investigation of seafloor massive sulfide resources efficiently.

Phylogenetic analysis and evolutionary dynamics of H3N2 canine and feline influenza virus strains from 2006 to 2019.

H3N2 feline influenza virus (FIV) and canine influenza virus (CIV) are very common in cats and dogs. Due to the ability of the influenza virus to spread across hosts and frequent contact between pets and people, there exist huge public health problems. In this study, we collected H3N2 CIV and FIV genomes from 2006 to 2019 from NCBI and analyzed the evolutionary dynamics and molecular variation using a series of phylogenetic analysis methods. Results indicated that H3N2 FIVs were closely related to CIVs with high posterior probability and CIVs and FIVs have certain regional characteristics. However, compared with previous studies, the significance of geographical structure correlation decreased. Furthermore, we also found that the intrasubtypic reassortment between FIVs and CIVs were common during epidemics. The integrated analysis was also performed for different selection pressure acting on HA (566 codons), NA (469 codons), M1 (252 codons), and M2 (97 codons) proteins. One HA, two NA, three M1, and two M2 sites were found under positive selection. We subsequently performed the evolutionary dynamics of H3N2 CIV. The results indicated that the time of the most recent common ancestor of CIV H3N2 may have occurred earlier than indicated in a previous study. The Bayesian skyline plot analysis in this study showed the period of divergence of major H3N2 CIVs segments occurred between 2008 and 2010. Notably, according to our research, the PB1 has experienced two divergence periods (2006-2008 and 2009-2011).

Investigating Shared Genetic Basis Across Tourette Syndrome and Comorbid Neurodevelopmental Disorders Along the Impulsivity-Compulsivity Spectrum

BackgroundTourette syndrome (TS) is often found comorbid with other neurodevelopmental disorders across the impulsivity-compulsivity spectrum, with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as most prevalent. This points to the possibility of a common etiological thread along an impulsivity-compulsivity continuum. MethodsInvestigating the shared genetic basis across TS, ADHD, ASD, and OCD, we undertook an evaluation of cross-disorder genetic architecture and systematic meta-analysis, integrating summary statistics from the latest genome-wide association studies (93,294 individuals, 6,788,510 markers). ResultsAs previously identified, a common unifying factor connects TS, ADHD, and ASD, while TS and OCD show the highest genetic correlation in pairwise testing among these disorders. Thanks to a more homogeneous set of disorders and a targeted approach that is guided by genetic correlations, we were able to identify multiple novel hits and regions that seem to play a pleiotropic role for the specific disorders analyzed here and could not be identified through previous studies. In the TS-ADHD-ASD genome-wide association study single nucleotide polymorphism–based and gene-based meta-analysis, we uncovered 13 genome-wide significant regions that host single nucleotide polymorphisms with a high posterior probability for association with all three studied disorders (m-value > 0.9), 11 of which were not identified in previous cross-disorder analysis. In contrast, we also identified two additional pleiotropic regions in the TS-OCD meta-analysis. Through conditional analysis, we highlighted genes and genetic regions that play a specific role in a TS-ADHD-ASD genetic factor versus TS-OCD. Cross-disorder tissue specificity analysis implicated the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal gland axis in TS-ADHD-ASD. ConclusionsOur work underlines the value of redefining the framework for research across traditional diagnostic categories.

Monte Carlo approaches to frequentist multiplicity-adjusted benefiting subgroup identification.

One common goal of subgroup analyses is to determine the subgroup of the population for which a given treatment is effective. Like most problems in subgroup analyses, this benefiting subgroup identification requires careful attention to multiple testing considerations, especially Type I error inflation. To partially address these concerns, the credible subgroups approach provides a pair of bounding subgroups for the benefiting subgroup, constructed so that with high posterior probability one is contained by the benefiting subgroup while the other contains the benefiting subgroup. To date, this approach has been presented within the Bayesian paradigm only, and requires sampling from the posterior of a Bayesian model. Additionally, in many cases, such as regulatory submission, guarantees of frequentist operating characteristics are helpful or necessary. We present Monte Carlo approaches to constructing confidence subgroups, frequentist analogues to credible subgroups that replace the posterior distribution with an estimate of the joint distribution of personalized treatment effect estimates, and yield frequentist interpretations and coverage guarantees. The estimated joint distribution is produced using either draws from asymptotic sampling distributions of estimated model parameters, or bootstrap resampling schemes. The approach is applied to a publicly available dataset from randomized trials of Alzheimer's disease treatments.

The complete mitochondrial genome of a cold seep gastropod Phymorhynchus buccinoides (Neogastropoda: Conoidea: Raphitomidae).

Phymorhynchus is a genus of deep-sea snails that are most distributed in hydrothermal vent or cold seep environments. In this study, we presented the complete mitochondrial genome of P. buccinoides, a cold seep snail from the South China Sea. It is the first mitochondrial genome of a cold seep member of the superfamily Conoidea. The mitochondrial genome is 15,764 bp in length, and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes. These genes are encoded on the positive strand, except for 8 tRNA genes that are encoded on the negative strand. The start codon ATG and 3 types of stop codons, TAA, TAG and the truncated termination codon T, are used in the 13 PCGs. All 13 PCGs in the 26 species of Conoidea share the same gene order, while several tRNA genes have been translocated. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that P. buccinoides clustered with Typhlosyrinx sp., Eubela sp., and Phymorhynchus sp., forming the Raphitomidae clade, with high support values. Positive selection analysis showed that a residue located in atp6 (18 S) was identified as the positively selected site with high posterior probabilities, suggesting potential adaption to the cold seep environment. Overall, our data will provide a useful resource on the evolutionary adaptation of cold seep snails for future studies.

Unexpected morphological and molecular diversity of trematode (Haploporidae: Forticulcitinae) parasites of mullets from the ocean Pacific coasts in Middle America.

Two new genera and four new species from subfamily Forticulcitinae are described from the intestines of white mullet (Mugil curema) and flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) collected in 27 localities across a wide geographical range on Pacific Ocean slopes comprising three countries in Middle America: Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica. The new genera Ekuarhuni n. gen. and Overstreetoides n. gen. had to be erected to accommodate two new species, Ekuarhuni papillatum n. sp. and Overstreetoides pacificus n. sp., with unique morphological traits that differentiate them from the two genera described previously. In addition, two new species, Forticulcita minuta n. sp. and Forticulcita isabelae n. sp., were described, which were characterized as exhibiting a small body size (< 1100μm long). These new species were classified as the diminutive morphotype, together with three other congeneric species of Forticulcita. Forticulcita minuta n. sp. is distinguished by being the smallest species within the genus (< 305μm). Meanwhile, Forticulcita isabelae n. sp. is distinguished by its body size and testis length. In specimens of the four new species, sequencing was performed with two molecular markers, the large subunit (LSU) and the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) of nuclear rDNA, and the results were compared with other sequences available in GenBank. Phylogenetic analyses performed with the combined dataset of the two nuclear molecular markers (LSU + ITS2) placed all the analysed species within the clade of Forticulcitinae with strong bootstrap support (100%) and a high Bayesian posterior probability (1.0). The four new species showed differences in abundance in their definitive hosts and were widely distributed along the Pacific Ocean coasts of Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica, in Middle America.

Estimating misclassification error in a binary performance indicator: case study of low value care in Australian hospitals

ObjectiveIndicators based on hospital administrative data have potential for misclassification error, especially if they rely on clinical detail that may not be well recorded in the data. We applied an...

First Report of Anthracnose Fruit Rot Caused by Colletotrichum fioriniae on Litchi in China.

Anthracnose fruit rot of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.), caused by Colletotrichum spp., has been mainly associated with the C. acutatum species complex and C. gloeosporioides species complex (Farr and Rossman 2020). In June 2010, isolates of the C. acutatum species complex were isolated together with the C. gloeosporioides species complex from anthracnose lesions on litchi fruits (cv. Nuomici) obtained from a litchi orchard in Shenzhen (N 22.36°, E 113.58°), China. The symptoms typically appeared as brown lesions up to 25 mm in diameter, causing total fruit rot and sometimes fruit cracking. Based on the number of isolates we collected, the C. acutatum species complex appears less frequently on infected fruit compared to the C. gloeosporioides species complex. Since only the C. gloeosporioides species complex has been reported in China (Qi 2000; Ann et al. 2004), we focused on the C. acutatum species complex in this study. Pure cultures of fungal isolates were obtained by single-spore isolation. The isolate GBLZ10CO-001 was used for morphological characterization, molecular and phylogenetic analysis, and pathogenicity testing. Colonies were cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 25 ℃ for 7 days, circular, raised, cottony, gray or pale orange, with reverse carmine, and 39.6 to 44.7 mm in diameter. Conidia were 13.5 to 19 × 4 to 6 µm (mean ± SD = 15.9 ± 1.1 × 5.2 ± 0.3 µm, n = 50) in size, hyaline, smooth-walled, aseptate, straight, fusiform to cylindrical with both ends acute. Appressoria were 5.5 to 13.5 × 4.5 to 7.5 µm (mean ± SD = 7.6 ± 1.6 × 6.0 ± 0.7 µm, n = 50) in size, subglobose to elliptical, sometimes clavate or irregular, smooth-walled, with entire edge, sometimes undulate, pale to medium brown. These morphological characteristics were consistent with the descriptions of several Colletotrichum species belonging to the C. acutatum species complex, including C. fioriniae (Shivas and Tan 2009; Damm et al. 2012). For molecular identification, genomic DNA was extracted and the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), partial sequences of the β-tubulin (TUB2), actin (ACT), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), chitin synthase 1 (CHS-1), and histone3 (HIS3) genes were amplified and sequenced using the primer pairs ITS4/ITS5, T1/Bt2b, ACT512F/ACT783R, GDF1/GDR1, CHS-79F/CHS-354R, and CYLH3F/CYLH3R, respectively (White et al. 1990; Damm et al. 2012). The resulting sequences were submitted to GenBank (ITS: MN527186, TUB2: MT740310, ACT: MN532321, GAPDH: MN532427, CHS-1: MT740311, HIS3: MT740312). BLAST searches showed 98.70%-100% identity to the sequences of the C. fioriniae ex-holotype culture CBS 128517. The phylogram reconstructed from the combined dataset using MrBayes 3.2.6 (Ronquist et al. 2012) showed that isolate GBLZ10CO-001 clustered with C. fioriniae with high posterior probability. Koch's postulates were performed in the field to confirm pathogenicity. Isolate GBLZ10CO-001 was grown on PDA (25 ℃ for 7 days) to produce conidia. In June 2014, litchi fruits (cv. Nuomici) were sprayed with conidial suspensions (106 conidia/ml), with sterile water as blank controls, and each treatment inoculated at least 15 fruits. Inoculated fruits were covered by an adhesive-bonded fabric bag until the trial ended. After 31 days, typical symptoms were observed, while control fruits remained asymptomatic. The fungus was re-isolated from diseased fruits and identified as C. fioriniae according to the methods described above. To our knowledge, this is the first report of anthracnose fruit rot on litchi caused by C. fioriniae, one species of the C. acutatum species complex, in China. For the difficulty in distinguishing anthracnose caused by C. fioriniae from the C. gloeosporioides species complex just by the symptoms, and mixed infection usually occurring in the field, further investigations are required to reliably assess the potential threat posed by C. fioriniae for litchi production in China.

Molecular identification and functional analysis of Niemann-Pick type C2 protein in Macrocentrus cingulum Brischke (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

• Niemann-Pick type C2 gene (McinNPC2) was cloned from Macrocentrus cingulum . • McinNPC2 is likely to be OBPs and the nearest evolutionary relation genes as OBPs were clustered. • McinNPC2 may be related protein as a new carrier of aroma compounds. • McinNPC2 may play roles in perception of plant volatiles. Niemann-Pick type C2 (NPC2) proteins in arthropods have been extensively differentiated and possibly duplicated according to environmental conditions and are probable to have different functions. The participation of NPC2 proteins in chemical communication in arthropods brings new objectives in environmental-friendly strategies for pest population control. In this study, NPC2 gene in Macrocentrus cingulum (McinNPC2) was newly identified by rapid amplification cDNA ends (RACE) technology. McinNPC2 amino acid sequence alignment with other representative NPC2 annotates to evaluate the highly conserved consensus amino acids, but with odorant binding proteins in M. cingulum show that only one consensus amino acid. Primary six-cysteine structures that are same to odorant binding proteins in M. cingulum were observed in McinNPC2. Phylogenetic analysis of McinNPC2 indicated that the nearest monophyletic group forming one clade with high posterior probability values clusters as Cyphomyrmex costatus (CcosNPC2) whereas the nearest evolutionary relation group as some odorant binding proteins. Moreover, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) measurements show that the McinNPC2 gene expression level in various tissues of the female is significantly and ubiquitously higher than in male, whereas the highest expression level in female antennae. We further explore the binding characterization of recombinant McinNPC2 to candidate odor molecules and did the modeling and docking simulations. The results showed ligands binding specificity and docking tests results indicate that β-ionone, an aroma compound commonly found in essential oils, can strongly bind with McinNPC2 . In conclusion, we proposed that McinNPC2 may be involved in chemical communication and play roles in perception of plant volatiles.

Prenatal and postnatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and cardiometabolic profile in children from six European cohorts.

Developmental low-dose exposures to PFASs have been linked to reduced birth weight and impaired immune function, while there is less consistent evidence on obesogenic effects, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and the composite metabolic syndrome in children. In 1089 mother-child pairs from six European birth cohorts, we examined the association between prenatal and postnatal exposure to PFAS and a composite metabolic syndrome score (MetS score) and its components: waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides and insulin. Maternal concentrations of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were measured in blood collected during pregnancy and child PFOA, PFNA, perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnDA), PFHxS and PFOS in samples collected at the 8-years follow-up (age range: 6-12 years). All PFAS concentrations were log-transformed and the outcomes were gender and age standardized z-scores. We applied Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) to examine exposure-outcomes associations. Pre- and post-natal exposure to a mixture of PFASs was negatively associated with the MetS score, insulin and waist circumference and positively associated with HDL-C and systolic BP. When exposure of the PFAS mixture was at the 75th percentile vs 25th percentile, the reduction in MetS score was -0.39 (95%CI=-0.67,-0.12), in insulin z-score -0.12 (95%CI=-0.23,-0-01), in waist circumference z-score -0.20 (95% CI=-0.39, -0.07). Postnatal PFOA and PFNA were the main contributors in the derived PFAS mixture, as shown by the high posterior inclusion probabilities (PIPs&gt;0.50). The corresponding increase in HDL-C and systolic BP z-scores when comparing the PFAS exposure at the 75th percentile vs. 25th percentile was 0.20 (95% CI=0.00,0.40) and 0.35 (95% CI=0.04, 0.67), respectively. Our results indicate that developmental exposure to PFASs is associated with lower cardiometabolic risk. The underlying role of inflammatory and lipid regulation pathways will also be studied.

Genomic Targets of Positive Selection in Giant Mice from Gough Island.

A key challenge in understanding how organisms adapt to their environments is to identify the mutations and genes that make it possible. By comparing patterns of sequence variation to neutral predictions across genomes, the targets of positive selection can be located. We applied this logic to house mice that invaded Gough Island (GI), an unusual population that shows phenotypic and ecological hallmarks of selection. We used massively parallel short-read sequencing to survey the genomes of 14 GI mice. We computed a set of summary statistics to capture diverse aspects of variation across these genome sequences, used approximate Bayesian computation to reconstruct a null demographic model, and then applied machine learning to estimate the posterior probability of positive selection in each region of the genome. Using a conservative threshold, 1,463 5-kb windows show strong evidence for positive selection in GI mice but not in a mainland reference population of German mice. Disproportionate shares of these selection windows contain genes that harbor derived nonsynonymous mutations with large frequency differences. Over-represented gene ontologies in selection windows emphasize neurological themes. Inspection of genomic regions harboring many selection windows with high posterior probabilities pointed to genes with known effects on exploratory behavior and body size as potential targets. Some genes in these regions contain candidate adaptive variants, including missense mutations and/or putative regulatory mutations. Our results provide a genomic portrait of adaptation to island conditions and position GI mice as a powerful system for understanding the genetic component of natural selection.