Genome-wide association study across European and African American ancestries identifies a SNP in DNMT3B contributing to nicotine dependence.

Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of preventable mortality worldwide. Nicotine dependence, which reduces the likelihood of quitting smoking, is a heritable trait with firmly established associations with sequence variants in nicotine acetylcholine receptor genes and at other loci. To search for additional loci, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis of nicotine dependence, totaling 38,602 smokers (28,677 Europeans/European Americans and 9925 African Americans) across 15 studies. In this largest-ever GWAS meta-analysis for nicotine dependence and the largest-ever cross-ancestry GWAS meta-analysis for any smoking phenotype, we reconfirmed the well-known CHRNA5-CHRNA3-CHRNB4 genes and further yielded a novel association in the DNA methyltransferase gene DNMT3B. The intronic DNMT3B rs910083-C allele (frequency=44-77%) was associated with increased risk of nicotine dependence at P=3.7 × 10-8 (odds ratio (OR)=1.06 and 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.04-1.07 for severe vs mild dependence). The association was independently confirmed in the UK Biobank (N=48,931) using heavy vs never smoking as a proxy phenotype (P=3.6 × 10-4, OR=1.05, and 95% CI=1.02-1.08). Rs910083-C is also associated with increased risk of squamous cell lung carcinoma in the International Lung Cancer Consortium (N=60,586, meta-analysis P=0.0095, OR=1.05, and 95% CI=1.01-1.09). Moreover, rs910083-C was implicated as a cis-methylation quantitative trait locus (QTL) variant associated with higher DNMT3B methylation in fetal brain (N=166, P=2.3 × 10-26) and a cis-expression QTL variant associated with higher DNMT3B expression in adult cerebellum from the Genotype-Tissue Expression project (N=103, P=3.0 × 10-6) and the independent Brain eQTL Almanac (N=134, P=0.028). This novel DNMT3B cis-acting QTL variant highlights the importance of genetically influenced regulation in brain on the risks of nicotine dependence, heavy smoking and consequent lung cancer.

The influence of birth date and place of development on youth sport participation.

Previous research highlights the critical role that contextual factors play in shaping athlete development. The purpose of the present study was to investigate two of these contextual factors: birth date (known as the relative age effect, RAE) and city of development as determinants of participation in a sample of youth ice hockey players. The sample included 146,424 athletes registered with Ontario youth ice hockey between the 2004 and 2010 seasons. Chi-square statistics determined a significant RAE in youth ice hockey. Findings also revealed a significant association between small cities of development and increased youth ice hockey participation. Finally, there was no evidence of an interaction between relative age and city of development. The characteristics of smaller communities that may facilitate sport participation across all youth are discussed, along with recommendations for future research.

Experimental models to investigate the function of dendritic cell subsets: challenges and implications.

The dendritic cell (DC) lineage is remarkably heterogeneous. It has been postulated that specialized DC subsets have evolved in order to select and support the multitude of possible T cell differentiation pathways. However, defining the function of individual DC subsets has proven remarkably difficult, and DC subset control of key T cell fates such as tolerance, T helper cell commitment and regulatory T cell induction is still not well understood. While the difficulty in assigning unique functions to particular DC subsets may be due to sharing of functions, it may also reflect a lack of appropriate physiological in-vivo models for studying DC function. In this paper we review the limitations associated with many of the current DC models and highlight some of the underlying difficulties involved in studying the function of murine DC subsets.

New species and records of Euphranta Loew and other Adramini (Diptera: Tephritidae: Trypetinae) from south and southeast Asia.

Seven new species of Euphranta Loew are described, viz., Euphranta dysoxyli David, sp. nov., E. hyalipennis David & Freidberg, sp. nov, E. diffusa David, sp. nov., E. haldwanica Hancock & Goodger, sp. nov. and E. thandikudi David, sp. nov. from India; E. neochrysopila David, Freidberg, Hancock & Goodger, sp. nov. from Sri Lanka and E. ridleyi Hancock & Goodger, sp. nov. from Singapore. Notes are provided on the identities of E. corticicola (Hering) and E. klugii (Wiedemann); E. signatifacies Hardy is synonymised with E. klugii; E. dissoluta (Bezzi) and E. burtoni Hardy are synonymised with E. crux (Fabricius) and Dimeringophrys parilis (Hardy) is reinstated as a valid species. Coelotrypes latilimbatus (Enderlein), Dimeringophrys pallidipennis Hardy, D. parilis (Hardy) and Hardyadrama excoecariae Lee are newly recorded from India, E. crux from Sri Lanka and E. klugii from Indonesia. An unnamed species of Coelopacidia Enderlein from India is illustrated. An illustrated key to species of Euphranta Loew from India is also provided.

The major plant-derived cannabinoid Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol promotes hypertrophy and macrophage infiltration in adipose tissue.

Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists activate lipoprotein lipase and the formation of lipid droplets in cultured adipocytes. Here we extend this work by examining whether Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a major plant-derived cannabinoid, increases adipocyte size in vivo. Further, possibly as a consequence of hypertrophy, we hypothesize that THC exposure promotes macrophage infiltration into adipose tissue, an inflammatory state observed in obese individuals. Rats repeatedly exposed to THC in vivo had reduced body weight, fat pad weight, and ingested less food over the drug injection period. However, THC promoted adipocyte hypertrophy that was accompanied by a significant increase in cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK-C) expression, an enzyme important in packaging triglycerides. We also showed that THC induced macrophage infiltration and increased expression of the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in adipose tissue but did not induce apoptosis as measured by TUNEL staining. That THC increased adipocyte cell size in the absence of greater food intake, body weight and fat provides a unique model to explore mechanisms underlying changes in adipocyte size associated with a mild inflammatory state in fat tissue.

Intramammary infections and teat canal colonization with coagulase-negative staphylococci after postmilking teat disinfection: species-specific responses.

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) are the most common pathogens associated with intramammary infections (IMI) in dairy cows. We hypothesized that postmilking teat disinfection would reduce microbial colonization of the teat canal and thus reduce the prevalence of IMI caused by certain CNS species. The efficacy of iodine postmilking teat dip was tested against CNS colonization of the teat canal, and incidence of IMI was measured. Using an udder-half model, 43 Holstein cows at the Washington State University Dairy were enrolled in the trial; postmilking teat dip was applied to one udder-half, treatment (TX), and the remaining half was an undipped control (CX). Teat canal swabbing and mammary quarter milk samples were taken in duplicate once a week for 16 wk for microbial culture. Isolates from agar cultures were presumptively identified as CNS and then speciated using PCR-RFLP and agarose gel electrophoresis. Colonization of the teat canal and IMI by CNS were assessed. Thirty CNS IMI were diagnosed and the number of new IMI in CX quarters (21) was significantly greater than that in TX mammary quarters (9). The majority of CNS IMI were caused by Staphylococcus chromogenes (30%) and Staphylococcus xylosus (40%), and the latter were appreciably reduced by teat dip. Except for S. xylosus, an association was observed between teat canal colonization and IMI by all CNS species in this study, in which the majority of IMI were preceded by teat canal colonization. The total number of CNS IMI was greater for CX group cows compared with TX group cows. However, the effect of disinfection on IMI did not appear to be the same for all CNS species.

Biogeography, Speciation and Taxonomy within the genus Bactrocera Macquart with application to the Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) complex of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae: Dacinae).

The genus Bactrocera Macquart comprises a large group of some 750 species distributed across the Asia-Pacific and Afrotropical regions. Most of these have been described and revised by Drew (1989), Drew & Hancock (1994) and Drew & Romig (2013, 2022). A taxonomic study of such a large and diverse group of species provides valuable information that can be used in the elucidation of concepts on biogeography and evolution that are presented in this paper. While a wider discussion of this genus and its many complexes of sibling species awaits a future publication, in this paper we discuss the Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) complex in light of current knowledge of biogeography and evolution in the Asia-Pacific region. Within the dorsalis complex, 70 species were recognized in South-East Asia by Drew & Romig (2013) and eight listed for Papua New Guinea and Australia by Drew (1989). Seventy-nine species are now included in this paper. Within this complex, two major groups occur, one with species responding to methyl eugenol and the other to cue lure. The 34 non-cue lure responding group of species are discussed, most of which respond to methyl eugenol and seven of which are recognized as having pest status, namely, B. carambolae Drew & Hancock, B. caryeae (Kapoor), B. dorsalis (Hendel), B. kandiensis Drew & Hancock, B. occipitalis (Bezzi), B. ochroma Drew & Romig and B. papayae Drew & Hancock. An eighth species, Bactrocera invadens Drew, Tsuruta & White is included in this discussion on the basis of its molecular similarity to B. dorsalis. The remaining group of 45 species, mostly cue lure-responding and including the pest species B. pyrifoliae Drew & Hancock and B. syzygii White & Tsuruta, are also discussed. Morphological and ecological data are presented for each pest species and their biosecurity risks assessed. In addition, new data based on further research on the male aedeagus have demonstrated that B. carambolae, B. occipitalis, B. papayae and B. invadens are markedly different from B. dorsalis in the dimensions and shape of the glans and preglans appendix. Based on this evidence, and that presented by Drew & Romig (2016), the withdrawal of B. papayae and B. invadens from synonymy with B. dorsalis by Drew & Romig (2016) remains valid, while the similarity in aedeagus characters between B. papayae and B. philippinensis further supports the synonymisation of these two species. The remainder of the 34 non-cue lure responding species are distributed from the Indian subcontinent, across South-East Asia, Papua New Guinea and north-eastern Australia, some with restricted geographic distributions and specific host plant species. Comments on the reliability of molecular phylogenies in the Dacini are included, with the published mitogenome of 'Dacus longicornis' regarded, on morphological evidence, as data based on a misidentification of Dacus (Mellesis) polistiformis (Senior-White), and the recent synonymy of B. albistrigata (de Meijere) with B. frauenfeldi (Schiner) considered to be based on insufficient evidence.

A new genus of fruit fly in subfamily Dacinae (Diptera: Tephritidae) from India.

A new genus and species of fruit fly, Dacimita curvifasciatus David & Hancock, gen. et sp. n. is described from Meghalaya, India. It morphologically resembles Ichneumonopsis Hardy and Monacrostichus Bezzi, the former of uncertain tribal placement and the latter included in tribe Dacini. Phylogenetic analysis based on morphological and molecular characters revealed Dacimita curvifasciatus to be best placed in tribe Gastrozonini in subfamily Dacinae.

Two new species of Platensina Enderlein (Diptera, Tephritidae, Tephritinae, Dithrycini) from India.

Two new species of Platensina Enderlein, P.rabbanii David & Hancock, sp. nov., and P.flavistigma David & Hancock, sp. nov., are described from Meghalaya and southern India, respectively. Platensinarabbanii can be differentiated from P.alboapicalis Hering by the presence of a single hyaline indentation in cell r1 and the apical hyaline band in cell r2+3 restricted to the apex; P.flavistigma differs from P.quadrula Hardy by the presence of a yellow/fulvous pterostigma and shape of the epandrium. DNA barcode sequences of P.acrostacta (Wiedemann), P.flavistigma and P.platyptera Hendel were obtained and reported. Postabdominal descriptions and illustrations of P.acrostacta, P.platyptera and P.zodiacalis (Bezzi) are also provided along with keys to all 23 species and the 7 known from India.

Effect of methionine and trace minerals (zinc, copper and manganese) supplementation on growth performance of broilers subjected to Eimeria challenge.

Coccidiosis is a major intestinal challenge that causes economic loss to the broiler industry. Two battery cage studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of trace minerals, source and dose of methionine on growth performance and gut health of broilers subjected to Eimeria challenge. Experiment #1 consisted of 9 treatments of 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design + 1 arrangement with main factors of methionine (Met) sources (DL-Met vs. 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)-butanoic acid (HMTBa)), total sulfur amino acid (TSAA) levels (high vs. low; ±5% of recommended level), and sources of trace minerals (TM) Zn:Cu:Mn in the form Inorganic trace minerals (ITM) in sulfates (80:20:100ppm) vs. mineral methionine hydroxy-analogue bis-chelate (MMHAC, 40:10:50ppm), each with 8 pens of 10 birds. Experiment #2 consisted of 2 treatments--ITM [ZnSO4:tribasic copper chloride (TBCC):MnSO4 110:125:120ppm] and MMHAC (Zn:Cu:Mn, 40:30:40ppm), each with 36 pens of 10 birds. All birds except for treatment 9 in experiment #1 were orally gavaged with 1x, 4x and 16x recommended dose of coccidiosis vaccine on d0, d7 and d14, respectively. Data were subjected to one-way and/or three-way ANOVA, and means were separated by Fisher's protected LSD test with significance at p ≤ 0.05. In experiment #1, factorial analysis revealed the main effects of TSAA level and TM, but not Met source. High TSAA level improved body weight and cumulative feed intake at 14, 20, and 27d. MMHAC improved body weight at 14, and 27d; feed intake at 14, 20, and 27d; and cumulative FCR at 27d vs. sulfates. One-way ANOVA analysis showed that birds fed MMHAC and high levels of TSAA regardless of Met source had similar body weight as unchallenged birds on d27. In experiment #2, MMHAC improved body weight and cumulative FCR, and reduced jejunal IL-17A gene expression on d28. In summary, in broilers subjected to Eimeria challenge, supplementation of the reduced levels of bis-chelated trace minerals MMHAC improved growth performance compared to high levels of ITM (sulfates or TBCC), which might partially result from better immune response, high levels of TSAA improved growth performance, Met source had no effect. Supplementation of both bis-chelated trace minerals MMHAC and high levels of TSAA could overcome the growth performance challenge issue due to coccidiosis.

A new species, new postabdominal descriptions and a new synonymy in Euphranta Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae: Trypetinae: Adramini).

A new species of Euphranta, E. flavothoracica David, Hancock Sachin, sp. n. is described from India and placed in the zeylanica group of species. Postabdominal structures of E. cassiae (Munro), E. crux (Fabricius) and E. klugii (Wiedemann) are described. A revised key to the 16 species of Euphranta known from India is provided. A new generic and specific synonymy is established: Euphranta Loew, 1862 = Ichneumonomacula Chen, 2020, syn. n. and Dacus figuratus Walker, 1856 (=Euphranta figurata (Walker, 1856))= Ichneumonomacula wangyongi Chen, 2020, syn. n.

Taxonomic notes on the genus Elaphromyia Bigot (Diptera: Tephritidae: Tephritinae: Pliomelaenini) in India, with description of a new species.

A new species of Elaphromyia, E. juncta David, Hancock Sachin, sp. n. is described from India. It can be differentiated from the morphologically similar E. siva Frey and E. pterocallaeformis (Bezzi) by the wing pattern, epandrial characters, morphology of spicules on the eversible membrane and spermathecal shape. Elaphromyia siva Frey and E. yunnanensis Wang are recorded for the first time from India. Records of E. pterocallaeformis (Bezzi) from southern India are regarded as misidentifications. A key to the 7 known non-African species is included.

Multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis and plasmid profiling to study the occurrence of blaCMY-2 within a pulsed-field gel electrophoresis-defined clade of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium circulating in food animal populations and carrying resistance to antimicrobial agents represents a human health risk. Recently, a new clade of S. Typhimurium, WA-TYP035/187, was reported in cattle and humans in the Pacific Northwest, United States of America. The objective of this study was to describe a possible mechanism of acquisition of expanded-spectrum cephalosporin resistance in this clade. Ceftazidime resistance increased steadily among WA-TYP035/187 isolates, from 0% (0/2) in 1999 to 77.8% (28/36) in 2006 (chi2 for linear trend, P value of <0.001). Among 112 bovine-source and 18 human-source isolates, 49 (43.8%) and 12 (66.7%) were resistant to ceftazidime, respectively. Multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) and plasmid profiling suggested that resistance was acquired by multiple independent genetic events within the WA-TYP035/187 clade. Given the lack of an obvious reservoir in species other than cattle and a parallel rise in ceftiofur resistance in the bovine-specific serovar Salmonella enterica serovar Dublin in the same time frame and region, selection pressure due to the use of the expanded-spectrum cephalosporin drug ceftiofur in cattle is a likely factor driving the increasing cephalosporin resistance of WA-TYP035/187.

The prevalence of multidrug resistance is higher among bovine than human Salmonella enterica serotype Newport, Typhimurium, and 4,5,12:i:- isolates in the United States but differs by serotype and geographic region.

Salmonella represents an important zoonotic pathogen worldwide, but the transmission dynamics between humans and animals as well as within animal populations are incompletely understood. We characterized Salmonella isolates from cattle and humans in two geographic regions of the United States, the Pacific Northwest and the Northeast, using three common subtyping methods (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis [PFGE], multilocus variable number of tandem repeat analysis [MLVA], and multilocus sequence typing [MLST]). In addition, we analyzed the distribution of antimicrobial resistance among human and cattle Salmonella isolates from the two study areas and characterized Salmonella persistence on individual dairy farms. For both Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotypes Newport and Typhimurium, we found multidrug resistance to be significantly associated with bovine origin of isolates, with the odds of multidrug resistance for Newport isolates from cattle approximately 18 times higher than for Newport isolates from humans. Isolates from the Northwest were significantly more likely to be multidrug resistant than those from the Northeast, and susceptible and resistant isolates appeared to represent distinct Salmonella subtypes. We detected evidence for strain diversification during Salmonella persistence on farms, which included changes in antimicrobial resistance as well as genetic changes manifested in PFGE and MLVA pattern shifts. While discriminatory power was serotype dependent, the combination of PFGE data with either MLVA or resistance typing data consistently allowed for improved subtype discrimination. Our results are consistent with the idea that cattle are an important reservoir of multidrug-resistant Salmonella infections in humans. In addition, the study provides evidence for the value of including antimicrobial resistance data in epidemiological investigations and highlights the benefits and potential problems of combining subtyping methods.

A new species of Acrotaeniostola Hendel and new records of Gastrozonini and Ceratitidini (Diptera: Tephritidae) from India.

A new species of Acrotaeniostola Hendel, A. connexa sp. n. of tribe Gastrozonini, is described from India. Acroceratitis incompleta Hardy of tribe Gastrozonini and Ceratitella sobrina (Zia) of tribe Ceratitidini have been recorded for the first time from India. The genus Ceratitella Malloch and tribe Ceratitidini are recorded for the first time from India.

TWO NEW SPECIES AND A NEW RECORD OF DACUS FABRICIUS (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE) FROM INDIA.

Two new species of the genus Dacus Fabricius, namely D. (Mellesis) jacobi David Sachin and D. (Mellesis) viraktamathi David Hancock of tribe Dacini are described from India. Dacus (Mellesis) maculipterus White is recorded for the first time from India. An updated key to species of genus Dacus from India, Bhutan and Sri Lanka is also provided.

A new species of Hemilea Loew and two new records of Trypetini (Diptera: Tephritidae: Trypetinae) from India.

A new species of Hemilea Loew, H. totu David, Hancock Sachin, sp. n., is described from India. Paratrypeta appendiculata (Hendel) and Vidalia thailandica Hancock Drew are recorded for the first time from India and a key to species of Hemilea from India and Myanmar is provided.

A new species of Euphranta Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae: Trypetinae: Adramini) from India.

A new species of Euphranta Loew, E. siruvani David, Hancock Sankararaman, sp. n. is described from India. Postabdominal structures of E. hyalipennis David Freidberg and E. haldwanica Hancock Goodger are illustrated and described. A revised key to Euphranta from India is also provided.

A Comparison of SIR-B Directional Ocean Wave Spectra with Aircraft Scanning Radar Spectra.

Directional ocean wave spectra derived from Shuttle Imaging Radar-B (SIR-B) L-band imagery collected off the coast of southern Chile on 11 and 12 October 1984 were compared with independent spectral estimates from two airborne scanning radars. In sea states with significant wave heights ranging from 3 to 5 meters, the SIR-B-derived spectra at 18 degrees and 25 degrees off nadir yielded reasonable estimates of wavelengths, directions, and spectral shapes for all wave systems encountered, including a purely azimuth-traveling system. A SIR-B image intensity variance spectrum containing predominantly range-traveling waves closely resembles an independent aircraft estimate of the slope variance spectrum. The prediction of a U.S. Navy global spectral ocean wave model on 11 October 1984 exhibited no significant bias in dominant wave number but contained a directional bias of about 30 degrees espect to the mean of the aircraft and spacecraft estimates.

Short communication: The effect of centrifugation and resuspension on the recovery of Mycoplasma species from milk.

Low sensitivity of a single bulk tank milk culture is a major limitation for detection of mycoplasma organisms. We hypothesized that sedimentation of Mycoplasma spp. in a milk sample by centrifugation followed by resuspension in a small volume of fluid before agar plating would increase the ability to detect Mycoplasma spp. compared with direct conventional culture. The experiment was conducted to determine recovery of Mycoplasma spp. from milk as affected by 1) treatment (centrifugation vs. conventional method); 2) 2 species (Mycoplasma bovis and Mycoplasma californicum and 4 strains for each species); and 3) 4 different concentrations of Mycoplasma spp. (1,000, 100, 10, and 1 cfu/mL). A 5-mL portion of mycoplasma suspension from each strain was inoculated into 45 mL of fresh bulk tank milk to achieve concentrations of 1,000, 100, 10, and 1 cfu/mL. Treatment samples were vigorously mixed and centrifuged at 5,000 x g for 30 min. Control samples were vigorously mixed. All samples were plated on modified Hayflick agar. Plates were incubated at 37 degrees C and 5% CO(2) for 5 d. Mean (+/-SE) log(10) mycoplasma counts (cfu/mL) in the treatment groups (1.91 +/- 0.15) were higher than those in the control groups (1.70 +/- 0.16). Recovery of at least 1 mycoplasma colony on agar culture was 100% in both treatment and control groups at high, medium, and low concentrations. At the lowest concentration, recovery of at least 1 mycoplasma colony on agar culture in treatment and control groups was 75% (n = 12/16) and 18.75% (n = 3/16), respectively. Centrifugation of milk followed by suspension in a smaller volume of saline before conventional culture increased the ability to detect mycoplasma microorganisms in the milk sample compared with controls. Recovery by centrifugation appeared best at the lowest concentration where detection of a positive sample was 4 times more likely than when conventional methods were used.