Article
Economics
Daowei Zhang
Summary: This paper investigates the origins, trend, and drivers of institutional timberland investment in South and Central America. It notes that domestic institutions in South America have been a distinctive source of, and a significant contributor to, the rise of institutional timberland investment globally in the past six-plus decades. The paper further shows that foreign institutions have increased their timberland investment in the region since the 1990s, motivated by seeking high risk-adjusted returns.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Luis Miguel GutieRrez Robledo, Carlos Cano-GutieRrez, Enrique Vega Garcia
Summary: Latin American countries face challenges in defining and understanding their culturally diverse region. The fragmented health systems, combined with a rapidly ageing population and increasing demands for care, contribute to the unpreparedness of health systems and the burden of disease. This article analyzes the burden of disease and identifies priorities to improve care and quality of life in the region.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Diego Navarro-Drazich, Lucas G. Christel, Andres Gerique, Isabel Grimm, Maria-Luisa Rendon, Liliane Schlemer Alcantara, Yasmin Abraham, Maria del Rosario Conde, Cecilia De Simon
Summary: This paper assesses the state of knowledge of climate change and tourism in South and Central America, focusing on the characteristics of the tourism sector, climate risks, and GHG contribution. The authors conducted a literature review and searched for institutional publications, programs, and strategies. The analysis identified the main challenges and potentialities between tourism and climate change, including the limited number of studies and lack of primary data, as well as scarce tourism-specific policies and recent development of multisectoral climate plans.
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Elizabeth DiGangi, Jeff Lapierre, Michael Stock, Mark Hoekzema, Bruno Cunha
Summary: This study analyzes the geographic variation of lightning characteristics using data from the Earth Networks Total Lightning Network. The results show significant differences in lightning characteristics in different regions, such as higher average peak current in Northern Argentina and a localized minimum in a specific region North of S??o Paulo, Brazil. The study also observes a higher proportion of positive cloud-to-ground lightning in Central and Northern Argentina compared to conventional thunderstorms.
ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEMS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Viviana Zalles, Matthew C. Hansen, Peter Potapov, Diana Parker, Stephen Stehman, Amy H. Pickens, Leandro Leal Parente, Laerte G. Ferreira, Xiao-Peng Song, Andres Hernandez-Serna, Indrani Kommareddy
Summary: The study reveals that since 1985, South America's land surface has been significantly impacted by human activities, with a decrease in natural tree cover, an increase in pasture, cropland, and plantation land uses, and a substantial area of disturbed natural land cover without discernable land use, intensifying threats to ecosystem-scale functions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sebastian Kraft, MJose Perez-Alvarez, Carlos Olavarria, Rodrigo Moraga, C. Scott Baker, Debbie Steel, Paul Tixier, Christophe Guinet, Amelia Viricel, Paul Brickle, Marina Costa, Enrique Crespo, Cristian Durante, Rocio Loizaga, Elie Poulin
Summary: Commerson's dolphins are divided into two subspecies, with the Kerguelen Islands subspecies thought to have originated from South America. Genetic differences exist between the two subspecies, supporting the model of post-glacial colonization of the Kerguelen Islands by South American Commerson's dolphins.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lucas Rieger de Oliveira, Gustavo Brito, Mafalda Gama, Ximena Maria Constanza Ovando, Pedro Anastacio, Simone Jaqueline Cardoso
Summary: This study used ecological niche modeling to assess the ecological niche of five potentially invasive freshwater decapods in South America and evaluate the remaining suitable habitat areas for their occurrence. Results showed that approximately 11% of South America is suitable for the survival of these species. The information generated can help identify areas susceptible to decapod invasion in South America and support local management and decisions.
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Jose A. Marengo, Tercio Ambrizzi, Naurinete Barreto, Ana Paula Cunha, Andrea M. Ramos, Milagros Skansi, Jorge Molina Carpio, Roberto Salinas
Summary: The study highlights the increasing trend in heat wave frequency, intensity, and duration in central South America since the 1980s. Based on data from September to November 2020, an intense heat wave resulted in record-breaking high temperatures in several locations in central South America, with temperatures rising about 10 degrees Celsius above normal and exacerbating severe drought and wildfires.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Yan Lu, Juan Li, Yuhui He, Lian-Feng Zhao, Jinhai Zhang
Summary: This study constructed the first Pn velocity and anisotropy model of the uppermost mantle in Central and Northwestern South America. The results showed significantly low Pn velocities and arc-parallel anisotropic structures beneath the volcanic arc in Central America. Furthermore, a separate, low Pn velocity was observed beneath a back-arc volcano in Nicaragua, indicating the separation of hot material upwelling in the uppermost mantle beneath this volcano from the main volcanic arc. Additionally, the stable Caribbean Plate exhibited high Pn velocities.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Jacob Bethin, Rayda K. Krell, C. Thomas Philbrick
Summary: Podostemaceae are a widespread family of aquatic angiosperms, and their associations with arthropods have been understudied. This study examined Podostemaceae samples from Brazil, Costa Rica, Suriname, and Venezuela and found over 9000 arthropods representing 12 different orders. The findings contribute to the understanding of the arthropod-Podostemaceae associations.
Article
Plant Sciences
Raissa Schwalbert, Gabriela Descovi Milanesi, Lincon Stefanello, Jean Michel Moura-Bueno, Gerson Laerson Drescher, Anderson Cesar Ramos Marques, Matheus Severo de Souza Kulmann, Alvaro Pasquetti Berghetti, Camila Peligrinotti Tarouco, Liliane Correa Machado, Stefano Cesco, Gustavo Brunetto, Fernando Teixeira Nicoloso
Summary: This study evaluated the physiological and biochemical responses of native grasses of South America to high zinc concentrations in the soil. The results showed that Axonopus affinis has the characteristics to withstand zinc toxicity and can be an effective choice for controlling the zinc toxicity problem in agronomical strategies.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Guillermo Figueroa-Munoz, J. Andres Olivos, Ivan Arismendi, Graciela Fabiano, Martin Laporta, Santiago Silveira, Ivan Gonzalez-Bergonzoni, Guido Pavez, Billy Ernst, Javier E. Ciancio, Chris Harrod, Cecilia Y. Di Prinzio, Tomas Chalde, Christina A. Murphy, Daniel Gomez-Uchida
Summary: Chinook salmon have successfully established naturalized populations in South America, particularly in Patagonia. This study presents updated information on the regional distribution of Chinook salmon, revealing a significant expansion of their range both to the north and south of the previously known colonized areas. This expansion includes major basins draining to both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts and highlights the ongoing invasion of Chinook salmon in South America.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Marta Giovanetti, Cynthia Vazquez, Mauricio Lima, Emerson Castro, Analia Rojas, Andrea Gomez de la Fuente, Carolina Aquino, Cesar Cantero, Fatima Fleitas, Juan Torales, Julio Barrios, Maria J. Ortega, Maria L. Gamarra, Shirley Villalba, Tania Alfonzo, Joilson Xavier, Talita Adelino, Hegger Fritsch, Felipe C. M. Iani, Glauco C. Pereira, Carla de Oliveira, Gabriel Schuab, Evandra S. Rodrigues, Simone Kashima, Juliana Leite, Lionel Gresh, Leticia Franco, Houriiyah Tegally, Wesley C. Van Voorhis, Richard Lessels, Ana Maria Bispo de Filippis, Andrea Ojeda, Guillermo Sequera, Romeo Montoya, Edward C. Holmes, Tulio de Oliveira, Jairo M. Rico, Jose Lourenco, Vagner Fonseca, Luiz C. J. Alcantara
Summary: This article describes the ongoing large chikungunya epidemic in Paraguay, characterized using a suite of genomic, phylodynamic, and epidemiologic techniques.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Plinio Jaqueto, Ricardo I. F. Trindade, Filipe Terra-Nova, Joshua M. Feinberg, Valdir F. Novello, Nicolas M. Strikis, Peter Schroedl, Vitor Azevedo, Beck E. Strauss, Francisco W. Cruz, Hai Cheng, R. Lawrence Edwards
Summary: Speleothems can provide continuous and high-quality records of the geomagnetic field. The paleomagnetic records of a mid-to-late Holocene stalagmite from Brazil show small angular variations and relatively steady paleointensity, contrasting with the fast variations observed in younger speleothems from the same region.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Laura Nunez, Andres Hirigoyen, Martin Durante, Jose Maria Arroyo, Fiorella Cazzuli, Carolina Bremm, Martin Jaurena
Summary: This study constructed a structural model based on a long-term fertilisation experiment to identify the main factors influencing forage crude protein content in native grasslands. The results revealed that both fertilisation and increased soil water availability are the main pathways by which forage crude protein content increases. This new approach could be used to improve grazing livestock nutrition by predicting forage protein content in Campos native grasslands.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Chunyu Liu, Ying Shen, Shuyan Tang, Jiaxiong Wang, Yiling Zhou, Shixiong Tian, Huan Wu, Jiangshan Cong, Xiaojin He, Li Jin, Yunxia Cao, Yihong Yang, Feng Zhang
Summary: In this study, we investigated a group of Han Chinese men with asthenoteratozoospermia, a common type of male infertility. Through whole-exome sequencing, we identified AKAP3 as a novel gene associated with multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF). Two different deleterious variants of AKAP3 were found in unrelated MMAF-affected men, and subsequent experiments confirmed the impact of these variants on AKAP3 expression in spermatozoa. Interestingly, the clinical outcomes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were different between these two cases, suggesting that AKAP3 dosage may influence the prognosis of ICSI treatment.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Yingzhe Wang, Yanfeng Jiang, Wanqing Wu, Kelin Xu, Qianhua Zhao, Ziyi Tan, Xiaoniu Liang, Min Fan, Zhenxu Xiao, Li Zheng, Saineng Ding, Qiang Dong, Zhen Hong, Li Jin, Xingdong Chen, Ding Ding, Mei Cui
Summary: The study found that older adults with higher educational attainment showed slower cognitive decline. Education is especially important for maintaining cognitive health in disadvantaged living environments.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yimin Wang, Yunchao Ling, Jiao Gong, Xiaohan Zhao, Hanwen Zhou, Bo Xie, Haiyi Lou, Xinhao Zhuang, Li Jin, Shaohua Fan, Guoqing Zhang, Shuhua Xu
Summary: PGG.SV is a practical platform that provides large-scale structural variation data, including 1030 long-read sequencing genomes representing 177 global populations. The database offers high-quality SVs with precise genomic locations, estimates of SV prevalence in different geographical populations, informative annotations of related genes, and an analysis platform and visualization tools for association studies.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Fangyi Wu, Xuling Han, Jing Liu, Zhenghua Zhang, Kexiang Yan, Beilan Wang, Lin Yang, Hejian Zou, Chengde Yang, Wei Huang, Li Jin, Jiucun Wang, Feng Qian, Zhenmin Niu
Summary: This study explores the association between variants in non MHC proteasome gene and AS, and finds that the rs12717 SNP in PSMB1 gene is significantly associated with AS. The study also discovers that PSMB1 regulates the RANK/RANKL signaling pathway and affects bone formation by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation.
Letter
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shixiong Tian, Ziqi Wang, Liting Liu, Yiling Zhou, Yue Lv, Dongdong Tang, Jiaxiong Wang, Jing Jiang, Huan Wu, Shuyan Tang, Guanxiong Wang, Hao Geng, Fangbiao Tao, Hongbin Liu, Xiaojin He, Feng Zhang, Jinsong Li, Li Jin, Tao Huang, Chunyu Liu, Yunxia Cao
JOURNAL OF GENETICS AND GENOMICS
(2023)
Article
Dermatology
Qianqian Peng, Yu Liu, Anke Huels, Canfeng Zhang, Yao Yu, Wenqing Qiu, Xiyang Cai, Yuepu Zhao, Tamara Schikowski, Katja Merches, Yun Liu, Yajun Yang, Jiucun Wang, Yong Zhao, Li Jin, Liang Zhang, Jean Krutmann, Sijia Wang
Summary: Solar lentigines (SLs) are a common sign of aging skin caused by chronic exposure to sunlight and environmental stressors. Recent studies have suggested a possible genetic component, but the findings are inconsistent. Through a multi-trait analysis, researchers discovered that genetic variants in the telomerase reverse transcriptase gene are significantly associated with non-facial SLs in East Asian and Caucasian populations. These variants are also related to facial SLs but not other skin aging or pigmentation traits, highlighting a previously unrecognized role of telomerase reverse transcriptase in lentigines formation.
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Shixiong Tian, Chaofeng Tu, Xiaojin He, Lanlan Meng, Jiaxiong Wang, Shuyan Tang, Yang Gao, Chunyu Liu, Huan Wu, Yiling Zhou, Mingrong Lv, Ge Lin, Li Jin, Yunxia Cao, Dongdong Tang, Feng Zhang, Yue-Qiu Tan
Summary: This study identified biallelic deleterious mutations of CFAP54 in three unrelated men with severe MMAF or NOA. These mutations were associated with abnormal sperm morphology, reduced sperm concentration and motility. Immunofluorescence assays showed reduced staining of four flagellar assembly-associated proteins in the spermatozoa of CFAP54-deficient men.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Huangbo Yuan, Tao Qing, Sibo Zhu, Xiaorong Yang, Weicheng Wu, Kelin Xu, Hui Chen, Yanfeng Jiang, Chengkai Zhu, Ziyu Yuan, Tiejun Zhang, Li Jin, Chen Suo, Ming Lu, Xingdong Chen, Weimin Ye
Summary: Defects in DNA damage repair pathways can lead to genomic instability and oncogenesis. DDR alterations in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) affect mutational processes and tumor immune microenvironment.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Chunyu Liu, Wei Si, Chaofeng Tu, Shixiong Tian, Xiaojin He, Shengnan Wang, Xiaoyu Yang, Chencheng Yao, Cong Li, Zine-Eddine Kherraf, Maosen Ye, Zixue Zhou, Yuhua Ma, Yang Gao, Yu Li, Qiwei Liu, Shuyan Tang, Jiaxiong Wang, Hexige Saiyin, Liangyu Zhao, Liqun Yang, Lanlan Meng, Bingbing Chen, Dongdong Tang, Yiling Zhou, Huan Wu, Mingrong Lv, Chen Tan, Ge Lin, Qingpeng Kong, Hong Shi, Zhixi Su, Zheng Li, Yong-Gang Yao, Li Jin, Ping Zheng, Pierre F. Ray, Yue-Qiu Tan, Yunxia Cao, Feng Zhang
Summary: Primate-specific genes (PSGs) expressed in the brain and testis are consistent with brain evolution in primates. The identification of deleterious variants of the X-linked SSX1 gene in men with asthenoteratozoospermia highlights its crucial role in spermatogenesis. Knocking down Ssx1 expression in non-human primate and tree shrew models resulted in reduced sperm motility and abnormal sperm morphology, reflecting the phenotype observed in humans. This study has important implications for genetic counseling and clinical diagnosis, and provides insights into the functions of testis-enriched PSGs in spermatogenesis.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tongchao Zhang, Xiaolin Yin, Xiaorong Yang, Ziyu Yuan, Qiyun Wu, Li Jin, Xingdong Chen, Ming Lu, Weimin Ye
Summary: This study investigated the association between 12 trace elements and gastroesophageal cancers (GOC) using hair and fingernail samples collected from GOC cases and controls in Taixing, China. The results showed that higher levels of Ca, Zn, Fe, Al, Cr, Pb, Se, and V were positively associated with increased GOC, while higher levels of Mg, Mn, Sr, and As were inversely associated with GOC. Interaction effects between hair level of Cr and smoking or alcohol drinking were also observed.
JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yang Gao, Xiaofei Yang, Hao Chen, Xinjiang Tan, Zhaoqing Yang, Lian Deng, Baonan Wang, Shuang Kong, Songyang Li, Yuhang Cui, Chang Lei, Yimin Wang, Yuwen Pan, Sen Ma, Hao Sun, Xiaohan Zhao, Yingbing Shi, Ziyi Yang, Dongdong Wu, Shaoyuan Wu, Xingming Zhao, Binyin Shi, Li Jin, Zhibin Hu, Yan Lu, Jiayou Chu, Kai Ye, Shuhua Xu
Summary: The data from the Chinese Pangenome Consortium's first phase reveals a substantial increase in the discovery of novel and missing sequences when individuals from underrepresented minority ethnic groups are included. The missing reference sequences contain archaic-derived alleles and genes related to keratinization, response to ultraviolet radiation, DNA repair, immunological responses, and lifespan, suggesting great potential for understanding human evolution and filling in missing heritability in complex diseases.
Article
Neurosciences
Jincheng Li, Sibo Zhu, Yingzhe Wang, Min Fan, Jiacheng Dai, Chengkai Zhu, Kelin Xu, Mei Cui, Chen Suo, Li Jin, Yanfeng Jiang, Xingdong Chen
Summary: By comparing the gut microbiota in a community-based cohort, it was found that bacteria capable of producing SCFAs were positively associated with better cognitive performance. In addition, specific bacterial strains were more abundant in individuals with MCI or CN groups and were correlated with cognitive performance.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yi Li, Meng Hao, Zixin Hu, Yanyun Ma, Kun Wang, Xiaoyu Liu, Xianhong Yin, Menghan Zhang, Yi Wang, Meng Liang, Yuan Guo, Lei Bao, Shixuan Zhang, Shiguan Le, Chenyuan Wu, Dayan Sun, Yang Wei, Fei Wu, Rui Zhang, Lingxian Zhu, Hui Zhang, Shuai Jiang, Xingdong Chen, Xiaofeng Wang, Yao Zhang, Longli Kang, Wenyuan Duan, Bin Qiao, Jiucun Wang, Li Jin
NATIONAL SCIENCE REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Wenjing Wang, Yoichi Miyamoto, Biaobang Chen, Juanzi Shi, Feiyang Diao, Wei Zheng, Qun Li, Lan Yu, Lin Li, Yao Xu, Ling Wu, Xiaoyan Mao, Jing Fu, Bin Li, Zheng Yan, Rong Shi, Xia Xue, Jian Mu, Zhihua Zhang, Tianyu Wu, Lin Zhao, Weijie Wang, Zhou Zhou, Jie Dong, Qiaoli Li, Li Jin, Lin He, Xiaoxi Sun, Ge Lin, Yanping Kuang, Lei Wang, Qing Sang
Summary: By analyzing whole-exome sequencing data of 606 women with PREMBA, researchers have identified a candidate gene KPNA7, which may contribute to the development of PREMBA. The study further revealed that KPNA7 mutations reduce protein levels, impair its binding capacity to substrate RSL1D1, and affect nuclear transport activity. Furthermore, the study found that mouse KPNA2 plays a critical role in embryonic development and its deficiency leads to embryo arrest, similar to human PREMBA cases. These findings provide a mechanistic understanding of PREMBA and a diagnostic marker for PREMBA patients.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jialin Li, Qingxia Huang, Yingzhe Wang, Mei Cui, Kelin Xu, Chen Suo, Zhenqiu Liu, Yanpeng An, Li Jin, Huiru Tang, Xingdong Chen, Yanfeng Jiang
Summary: Cardiovascular health is linked to a lower risk of cognitive decline, and this association may be mediated by metabolic perturbations. The study found that better cardiovascular health was associated with a lower risk of concentration and orientation decline. Certain blood components, such as apolipoprotein-A1 and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, were also associated with a lower risk of memory and orientation decline. Mediation analysis suggested that cholesterol ester and total lipids in medium-size HDL may partially mediate the negative association between health status and the risk of orientation decline. These findings highlight the potential of using lipoproteins as targets for early stage dementia screening and intervention.