Tracing the Genetic Legacy of the Tibetan Empire in the Balti

Abstract The rise and expansion of Tibetan Empire in the 7th to 9th centuries AD affected the course of history across East Eurasia, but the genetic impact of Tibetans on surrounding populations remains undefined. We sequenced 60 genomes for four populations from Pakistan and Tajikistan to explore their demographic history. We showed that the genomes of Balti people from Baltistan comprised 22.6–26% Tibetan ancestry. We inferred a single admixture event and dated it to about 39–21 generations ago, a period that postdated the conquest of Baltistan by the ancient Tibetan Empire. The analyses of mitochondrial DNA, Y, and X chromosome data indicated that both ancient Tibetan males and females were involved in the male-biased dispersal. Given the fact that the Balti people adopted Tibetan language and culture in history, our study suggested the impact of Tibetan Empire on Baltistan involved dominant cultural and minor demic diffusion.

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The Impact of X-Chromosome Inactivation on Phenotypic Expression of X-Linked Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci11070904 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 904

Author(s):

Boudewien A Brand ◽

Alyssa E Blesson ◽

Constance L. Smith-Hicks

Keyword(s):

X Chromosome ◽

Neurodevelopmental Disorders ◽

Phenotypic Expression ◽

X Chromosome Inactivation ◽

Chromosome Inactivation ◽

Brain Functioning ◽

General Review ◽

Males And Females ◽

The Impact

Nearly 20% of genes located on the X chromosome are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) due to their expression and role in brain functioning. Given their location, several of these genes are either subject to or can escape X-chromosome inactivation (XCI). The degree to which genes are subject to XCI can influence the NDD phenotype between males and females. We provide a general review of X-linked NDD genes in the context of XCI and detailed discussion of the sex-based differences related to MECP2 and FMR1, two common X-linked causes of NDD that are subject to XCI. Understanding the effects of XCI on phenotypic expression of NDD genes may guide the development of stratification biomarkers in X-linked disorders.

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Cultural Innovations Influence Patterns of Genetic Diversity in Northwestern Amazonia

10.1101/347336 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Leonardo Arias ◽

Roland Schröder ◽

Alexander Hübner ◽

Guillermo Barreto ◽

Mark Stoneking ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Native American ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

Demographic History ◽

Population History ◽

Human Populations ◽

Effective Population ◽

Trade Networks ◽

Males And Females ◽

The Impact

ABSTRACTHuman populations often exhibit contrasting patterns of genetic diversity in the mtDNA and the non-recombining portion of the Y-chromosome (NRY), which reflect sex-specific cultural behaviors and population histories. Here, we sequenced 2.3 Mb of the NRY from 284 individuals representing more than 30 Native-American groups from Northwestern Amazonia (NWA) and compared these data to previously generated mtDNA genomes from the same groups, to investigate the impact of cultural practices on genetic diversity and gain new insights about NWA population history. Relevant cultural practices in NWA include postmarital residential rules and linguistic-exogamy, a marital practice in which men are required to marry women speaking a different language.We identified 2,969 SNPs in the NRY sequences; only 925 SNPs were previously described. The NRY and mtDNA data showed that males and females experienced different demographic histories: the female effective population size has been larger than that of males through time, and both markers show an increase in lineage diversification beginning ~5,000 years ago, with a male-specific expansion occurring ~3,500 years ago. These dates are too recent to be associated with agriculture, therefore we propose that they reflect technological innovations and the expansion of regional trade networks documented in the archaeological evidence. Furthermore, our study provides evidence of the impact of postmarital residence rules and linguistic exogamy on genetic diversity patterns. Finally, we highlight the importance of analyzing high-resolution mtDNA and NRY sequences to reconstruct demographic history, since this can differ considerably between males and females.

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Klára Buzássyová V Kontexte Sémantizácie Slovenskej Lexiky Cudzincom

Journal of Linguistics/Jazykovedný casopis ◽

10.2478/jazcas-2019-0037 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 69 (3) ◽

pp. 616-625

Author(s):

Jana Pekarovičová

Keyword(s):

Foreign Language ◽

Foreign Students ◽

Summer School ◽

European Language ◽

Dynamic Changes ◽

Language And Culture ◽

Current Trends ◽

Communication Needs ◽

The Impact ◽

Slovak Language

Abstract This paper deals with the characteristics of the scientific research of the renowned Slovak linguist Klára Buzássyová who – as a lecturer at the Studia Academica Slovaca summer school of Slovak language and culture – presented to foreign students the specifics of Slovak lexis and their function in speech within the context of intraand interlingual relationships. In her lectures, she helped students to see Slovak as a developped and modern Central European language which has its own genetic and typological properties and as a language capable of reacting to dynamic changes emerging from the communication needs of language users while respecting current trends in European language policy. Klára Buzássyová presented students with the latest results of her linguistic research and discussed the issues regarding the dynamics of vocabulary with an emphasis on the methods of wordformation, motivation, and the impact on the semantic and stylistic value of lexical units. Her papers, published in the Studia Academica Slovaca proceedings from 1980 to 2001 presented her scientific orientation and became an inspiration for the linguistic and didactic conception of Slovak as a foreign language in the context of the development of Slovak studies in Slovakia as well as abroad.

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The Impact of Work Hours on Depressive Symptoms among Koreans Aged 45 and Over

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18030853 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 853

Author(s):

Juyeong Kim ◽

Eun-Cheol Park

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Social Services ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Work Hours ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Health Studies ◽

Males And Females ◽

The Impact

Background: Given the documented importance of employment for middle-aged and older adults’ mental health, studies of the association between their number of work hours and depressive symptoms are needed. Objectives: To examine the association between the number of work hours and depressive symptoms in Korean aged 45 and over. Methods: We used data from the first wave to fourth wave of the Korea Longitudinal Study of Aging. Using the first wave at baseline, data included 9845 individuals. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. We performed a longitudinal analysis to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms by work hours. Results: Both unemployed males and females aged 45–65 years were associated with higher depressive symptoms (β = 0.59, p < 0.001; β = 0.32, p < 0.001). Females working ≥ 69 h were associated with higher depressive symptoms compared to those working 41–68 h (β = 0.25, p = 0.013). Among those both middle-aged and older adults, both males and females unemployed were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Those middle-aged female working ≥69 h were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Conclusions: An increase in depressive symptoms was associated with unemployed males and females working ≥69 h compared to those working 41–68 h. Although this association was found among middle-aged individuals, a decrease in depressive symptoms in both sexes was associated with working 1–40 h. Depressive symptoms should decrease by implementing employment policies and social services to encourage employers to support middle-aged and older adults in the workforce considering their sex and age differences.

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The Role of Mitochondria in Carcinogenesis

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22105100 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (10) ◽

pp. 5100

Author(s):

Paulina Kozakiewicz ◽

Ludmiła Grzybowska-Szatkowska ◽

Marzanna Ciesielka ◽

Jolanta Rzymowska

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

Mitochondrial Dna ◽

Nuclear Dna ◽

Dna Polymorphisms ◽

Gene Encoding ◽

Dna Mutations ◽

Nadh Ubiquinone Oxidoreductase ◽

Gene Coi ◽

The Impact

The mitochondria are essential for normal cell functioning. Changes in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) may affect the occurrence of some chronic diseases and cancer. This process is complex and not entirely understood. The assignment to a particular mitochondrial haplogroup may be a factor that either contributes to cancer development or reduces its likelihood. Mutations in mtDNA occurring via an increase in reactive oxygen species may favour the occurrence of further changes both in mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. Mitochondrial DNA mutations in postmitotic cells are not inherited, but may play a role both in initiation and progression of cancer. One of the first discovered polymorphisms associated with cancer was in the gene NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase chain 3 (mt-ND3) and it was typical of haplogroup N. In prostate cancer, these mutations and polymorphisms involve a gene encoding subunit I of respiratory complex IV cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (COI). At present, a growing number of studies also address the impact of mtDNA polymorphisms on prognosis in cancer patients. Some of the mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms occur in both chronic disease and cancer, for instance polymorphism G5913A characteristic of prostate cancer and hypertension.

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Profile of a short-acting κ-antagonist, LY2795050, on self-grooming behaviors, forced swim test and locomotor activity: sex comparison in mice

Journal of Psychopharmacology ◽

10.1177/0269881121996883 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 026988112199688

Author(s):

Eduardo R Butelman ◽

Caroline Baynard ◽

Bryan D McElroy ◽

Thomas E Prisinzano ◽

Mary Jeanne Kreek

Keyword(s):

Locomotor Activity ◽

Forced Swim Test ◽

Male And Female ◽

Short Acting ◽

Swim Test ◽

Central Nervous System Dysfunction ◽

Forced Swim ◽

Males And Females ◽

The Impact ◽

Κ Receptor

Background: Novel short-acting κ(kappa)-opioid receptor selective antagonists are translational tools to examine the impact of the κ-receptor/dynorphin system in assays related to central nervous system dysfunction (e.g., substance use disorders, anhedonia and depression). The effects of such compounds have been compared in males and females under very limited conditions. Aims: The goal of this study was to examine potential sex differences in the effects of a κ-agonist and a short-acting κ-antagonist in an ethologically relevant test of anhedonia, the “splash test” of self-grooming, and also in the forced swim test and in locomotor activity. Methods: We examined the dose-dependence of grooming deficits caused by the κ-agonist U50,488 (0.1–3.2 mg/kg intraperitoneal (i.p.)) in gonadally intact adult male and female C57BL/6J mice. We then compared the effects of the short-acting κ-antagonist LY2795050 ((3-chloro-4-(4-(((2S)-2-pyridin-3-ylpyrrolidin-1-yl)methyl) phenoxy)benzamide)); 0.032–0.1 mg/kg i.p.) in blocking grooming deficits caused by U50,488 (3.2 mg/kg). The effects of LY2795050 were also studied in the forced swim test (FST). The effects of LY2795050 in blocking the locomotor depressant effects of U50,488 (10 mg/kg) were also studied. Results: U50,488 produced dose-dependent grooming deficits in male and female mice, and LY2795050 prevented these effects. In contrast, LY2795050 decreased immobility in the FST in males at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg, but not in females, up to a dose of 0.32 mg/kg. Also, LY2795050 (0.32 mg/kg) prevented and also reversed the locomotor-depressant effects of U50,488 (10 mg/kg), in males and females. Conclusions: This study further implicates the κ-receptor system in ethologically relevant aspects of anhedonia, and confirms sexual dimorphism in some behavioral effects of novel κ-antagonists.

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129 Effects of a multi-strain Bacillus subtilis-based direct-fed microbial on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and colonic pH in diets fed to weanling pigs

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa278.185 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽

pp. 101-102

Author(s):

Jaron R Lewton ◽

Adrienne Woodward ◽

Ronny Moser ◽

Kyan M Thelen ◽

Adam J Moeser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Bacillus Subtilis ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Distal Colon ◽

Nutrient Digestibility ◽

Nursery Pigs ◽

Fiber Digestion ◽

Males And Females ◽

Dietary Treatments ◽

The Impact

Abstract A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a multi-strain Bacillus subtilis-based direct-fed microbial (DFM) on apparent digestibility and colonic pH of nursery pigs. Eighty pigs, of equal number of barrows and gilts (initial BW: 6.99 ± 1.67 kg), were weaned at 21 ± 1 d and randomly allotted to sixteen pens, with five pigs per pen. Two dietary treatments were implemented, a basal control (CON) and a control plus DFM (DFM). Both diets were corn, soybean meal, and distillers dried grains based, formulated to meet all or exceed all nutritional requirements, and manufactured on site. Diets were fed for 42 days. Performance measures were recorded weekly. On d 21 and 42 of the experiment, one pig per pen was randomly selected and euthanized, with equal number of males and females represented. Digestibility of specific nutrients was evaluated within the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, ascending and distal colon. There were no overall differences in growth performance. Overall means ± SD were 0.51 ± 0.05 kg/d, 0.79 ± 0.05 kg/d and 0.66 ± 0.05 for ADG, ADFI, and G:F, respectively. Digestibility of tryptophan within the jejunum tended (P = 0.06) to increase with addition of DFM, as did cysteine (P = 0.12) and methionine (P = 0.10). The analysis also suggested that the impact of the DFM on the digestibility of amino acids may be early in the nursery phase. The pH of contents in ascending colon, a possible indicator of varied fiber digestion, did not differ. Likewise, no differences were observed between treatment in apparent total tract nitrogen and energy digestibility (analysis of distal colon contents). The addition of a multi-strain Bacillus subtilis-based DFM appears to impact digestibility of select amino acids depending upon location in the gastrointestinal tract.

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Summer Movements and Impact of Individual Striped Skunks, Mephitis mephitis, on Duck Nests in Saskatchewan

The Canadian Field-Naturalist ◽

10.22621/cfn.v120i3.326 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 120 (3) ◽

pp. 342

Author(s):

Serge Larivière ◽

Lyle R. Walton ◽

François Messier

Keyword(s):

Mephitis Mephitis ◽

Direct Function ◽

Canadian Prairies ◽

Striped Skunk ◽

Intensive Observations ◽

Males And Females ◽

Foraging Movements ◽

The Impact ◽

Striped Skunks ◽

Nesting Season

Striped Skunks (Mephitis mephitis) are important predators of duck eggs in the Canadian prairies. We estimated the impact of individual Striped Skunks on duck nests by intensive observations of foraging movements and depredation of duck nests in southern Saskatchewan, 1993-1994. Nightly, skunk movements were variable (range 0-20 km per night), and did not differ among seasons for females, or between males and females during the parturition/rearing season. Overall, nightly movement of Striped Skunks averaged 7.4 km for females (SD = 5.9 km, n = 20 females) and 6.7 km for males (SD = 3.2 km, n = 5 males). During 1,873 h of radio-tracking, we observed depredation of 10 duck nests by 8 skunks (7 F, 1 M). Using our observed estimate of one depredation for every 187 h, and averaged nightly activity of 8-10 h per night, we estimated that individual skunks find one duck nest every 19-23 nights. Thus, during the 60-day nesting season for ducks (mid-May to mid-July), individual skunks probably find 2-3 duck nests. These observations reinforce the growing evidence that, at normal duck nest densities (<2.5 nests/ha), depredation of eggs by Striped Skunks is opportunistic, and the impact of Striped Skunks on duck nests is a direct function of Striped Skunk abundance.

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