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"Graham, K"
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Climate variation explains a third of global crop yield variability
Many studies have examined the role of mean climate change in agriculture, but an understanding of the influence of inter-annual climate variations on crop yields in different regions remains elusive. We use detailed crop statistics time series for ~13,500 political units to examine how recent climate variability led to variations in maize, rice, wheat and soybean crop yields worldwide. While some areas show no significant influence of climate variability, in substantial areas of the global breadbaskets, >60% of the yield variability can be explained by climate variability. Globally, climate variability accounts for roughly a third (~32–39%) of the observed yield variability. Our study uniquely illustrates spatial patterns in the relationship between climate variability and crop yield variability, highlighting where variations in temperature, precipitation or their interaction explain yield variability. We discuss key drivers for the observed variations to target further research and policy interventions geared towards buffering future crop production from climate variability.
Agricultural crops are closely linked to the climate in which they grow, but the extent to which variability in weather influences yield is not well characterized. Here, Ray
et al
. find that climatic variation explains around a third of the variation in global crop yields, with important regional variations.
Journal Article
The persistent threat of emerging plant disease pandemics to global food security
Plant disease outbreaks are increasing and threaten food security for the vulnerable in many areas of the world. Now a global human pandemic is threatening the health of millions on our planet. A stable, nutritious food supply will be needed to lift people out of poverty and improve health outcomes. Plant diseases, both endemic and recently emerging, are spreading and exacerbated by climate change, transmission with global food trade networks, pathogen spillover, and evolution of new pathogen lineages. In order to tackle these grand challenges, a new set of tools that include disease surveillance and improved detection technologies including pathogen sensors and predictive modeling and data analytics are needed to prevent future outbreaks. Herein, we describe an integrated research agenda that could help mitigate future plant disease pandemics.
Journal Article
Batman : gates of Gotham
\"At the turn of the century, three prominent families shaped the construction of modern-day Gotham City. Now a madman with 300 pounds of explosives and a century-old grudge is threatening to bring it all crashing down. Beginning with the simultaneous destruction of some of Gotham's oldest bridges, the mysterious villain is targeting the holdings and legacies of Gotham's most notable families--including the Waynes. To uncover the truth behind the villainous Architect and his link to the city's violent past, Batman unites with Robin, Red Robin and Batman Inc.'s Hong Kong operative, the Black Bat. But can they stop their new foe's plans before it's too late? The future of Gotham started with an explosion, and it could end the very same way.\"-- Provided by publisher.
Book
Mechanosensing is critical for axon growth in the developing brain
Much of what is known about nervous system development is based on chemical signaling. In this study, Koser
et al.
demonstrate that developing neurons also respond to mechanical signals and that local tissue stiffness is a regulator of neuronal growth
in vivo
.
During nervous system development, neurons extend axons along well-defined pathways. The current understanding of axon pathfinding is based mainly on chemical signaling. However, growing neurons interact not only chemically but also mechanically with their environment. Here we identify mechanical signals as important regulators of axon pathfinding.
In vitro
, substrate stiffness determined growth patterns of
Xenopus
retinal ganglion cell axons.
In vivo
atomic force microscopy revealed a noticeable pattern of stiffness gradients in the embryonic brain. Retinal ganglion cell axons grew toward softer tissue, which was reproduced
in vitro
in the absence of chemical gradients. To test the importance of mechanical signals for axon growth
in vivo
, we altered brain stiffness, blocked mechanotransduction pharmacologically and knocked down the mechanosensitive ion channel piezo1. All treatments resulted in aberrant axonal growth and pathfinding errors, suggesting that local tissue stiffness, read out by mechanosensitive ion channels, is critically involved in instructing neuronal growth
in vivo
.
Journal Article
GWAS of peptic ulcer disease implicates Helicobacter pylori infection, other gastrointestinal disorders and depression
Genetic factors are recognized to contribute to peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and other gastrointestinal diseases, such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Here, genome-wide association study (GWAS) analyses based on 456,327 UK Biobank (UKB) individuals identify 8 independent and significant loci for PUD at, or near, genes
MUC1
,
MUC6, FUT2
,
PSCA
,
ABO
,
CDX2, GAST
and
CCKBR
. There are previously established roles in susceptibility to
Helicobacter pylori
infection, response to counteract infection-related damage, gastric acid secretion or gastrointestinal motility for these genes. Only two associations have been previously reported for duodenal ulcer, here replicated trans-ancestrally. The results highlight the role of host genetic susceptibility to infection. Post-GWAS analyses for PUD, GORD, IBS and IBD add insights into relationships between these gastrointestinal diseases and their relationships with depression, a commonly comorbid disorder.
Genetic factors contribute to peptic ulcer disease (PUD). Here, the authors perform a genome-wide association analysis on PUD in the UK Biobank, highlighting shared architecture with other gastrointestinal disorders and possible causal links with depression.
Journal Article
An overview of and recommendations for more accessible digital mental health services
Mental health concerns are common, and various evidence-based interventions for mental health conditions have been developed. However, many people have difficulty accessing appropriate mental health care and this has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital mental health services, such as those delivered by mobile phone or web-based platforms, offer the possibility of expanding the reach and accessibility of mental health care. To achieve this goal, digital mental health interventions and plans for their implementation must be designed with the end users in mind. In this Review, we describe the evidence base for digital mental health interventions across various diagnoses and treatment targets. Then, we explain the different formats for digital mental health intervention delivery, and offer considerations for their use across key age groups. We discuss the role that the COVID-19 pandemic has played in emphasizing the value of these interventions, and offer considerations for ensuring equity in access to digital mental health interventions among diverse populations. As healthcare providers continue to embrace the role that technology can play in broadening access to care, the design and implementation of digital mental healthcare solutions must be carefully considered to maximize their effectiveness and accessibility.
Journal Article
Hawks steer attacks using a guidance system tuned for close pursuit of erratically manoeuvring targets
Aerial predators adopt a variety of different hunting styles, with divergent flight morphologies typically adapted either to high-speed interception or manoeuvring through clutter, but how are their sensorimotor systems tuned in relation to habitat structure and prey behavior? Falcons intercept prey at high-speed using the same proportional navigation guidance law as homing missiles. This classical guidance law works well in the open, but performs sub-optimally against highly-manoeuvrable targets, and may not produce a feasible path through the cluttered environments frequented by hawks and other raptors. Here we identify the guidance law of
n
= 5 Harris’ Hawks
Parabuteo unicinctus
chasing erratically manoeuvring artificial targets. Harris’ Hawks use a mixed guidance law, coupling low-gain proportional navigation with a low-gain proportional pursuit element. This guidance law promotes tail-chasing and is not thrown off by erratic manoeuvres, making it well suited to the hawks’ natural hunting style, involving close pursuit of agile prey through clutter.
Hunting styles and flight morphologies of aerial predators are adapted to their habitat structure and prey behaviour. Here, the authors reconstruct flight trajectories of Harris’ Hawks
Parabuteo unicinctus
and find that these follow a mixed guidance law that is not thrown off by erratic manoeuvres of prey.
Journal Article