Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The ecology of Aphis craccivora Koch and Subterranean Clover Stunt Virus in south-east Australia. III. A regional perspective of the phenology and migration of the cowpea aphid.

Many workers have studied the migration of insects (see Johnson 1969), but few have attempted to place their observations into a regional and climatic perspective. In Australia, the cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch) is the most important vector of Subterranean Clover Stunt Virus (SCSV) to crop and pasture legumes. Its long-range migratory behaviour in Australia was first reported by Johnson (1957) who observed that large populations developed during the spring of certain years on medic (Medicago spp.) on the inland plains of north-central New South Wales (N.S.W.) and were blown eastward toward the coast on north-westerly winds. The reasons for the build-up of the cowpea aphid during certain years in that area are unknown. Hughes et al. (1964, 1965) and O'Loughlin (1963) conducted aphid trapping experiments over a wide area of southeast Australia, but derived few useful generalities. This paper examines the climatic limits for the development of cowpea aphid populations in south-east Australia, relating its migration and colonization to climate. Gutierrez, Morgan & Havenstein (1971) studied the ecology of the cowpea aphid in the temperate pasture regions of south-east Australia and found that aphid populations developed only in those areas where suitable conditions occurred for both the plant and the aphid. Pastures in this area are influenced by availability of moisture, while aphids do not survive during periods of ground-frost. By using a model of the aphid's population biology, Gutierrez et al. (1974) showed that the southern pasture areas were marginal for the aphid because the season was too short for the development of large populations. When, however, the attributes of a subtropical climate and host plant were incorporated into the model, the output suggested that the cowpea aphid could be an efficient migratory species. The results conformed to the hypotheses of Dingle (1972), who used static life-table parameters to demonstrate the biological attributes required by successful migrants.
Recent advances in the discovery and synthesis of neuraminidase inhibitors

The influenza virus neuraminidase (NA) is important in the pathogenesis of infection and, thus, is an attractive target for agents used in the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza. Two drugs discovered from the structure-based drug design of neuraminidase inhibitors, zanamivir and oseltamivir phosphate, were approved by the FDA in 1999. Both drugs are effective in the control of influenza infections in humans. As pandemic is a worldwide outbreak, there is still continuous interest in this disease, and 15 patents on neuraminidase inhibitors have appeared in the literature since the last review in November 2001. This article updates the patent literature since then. As syntheses were not given in the previous review article, the details of the synthesis of both drugs, zanamivir and oseltamivir phosphate, and of other potent inhibitors, (-)-(1S,2S,3R,4R)-3-[(1S)-1-(acetylamino)-2-ethylbutyl]-4-{[amino(imino)methyl]amino}-2-hydroxycyclopentanecarboxylic acid (peramivir, BCX-1812 or RWJ-270201), (-)-(2R,4S,5R)-5-[(1R,2S)-1-(acetylamino)-2-methoxy-2-methylpentyl]-4-[(1Z)-prop-1-enyl]pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (ABT-675) and Biota’s polymeric compounds, are also revealed in this article.
Predicting obesity reduction after implementing warning labels in Mexico: A modeling study

Background In October 2019, Mexico approved a law to establish that nonalcoholic beverages and packaged foods that exceed a threshold for added calories, sugars, fats, trans fat, or sodium should have an “excess of” warning label. We aimed to estimate the expected reduction in the obesity prevalence and obesity costs in Mexico by introducing warning labels, over 5 years, among adults under 60 years of age. Methods and findings Baseline intakes of beverages and snacks were obtained from the 2016 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey. The expected impact of labels on caloric intake was obtained from an experimental study, with a 10.5% caloric reduction for beverages and 3.0% caloric reduction for snacks. The caloric reduction was introduced into a dynamic model to estimate weight change. The model output was then used to estimate the expected changes in the prevalence of obesity and overweight. To predict obesity costs, we used the Health Ministry report of the impact of overweight and obesity in Mexico 1999–2023. We estimated a mean caloric reduction of 36.8 kcal/day/person (23.2 kcal/day from beverages and 13.6 kcal/day from snacks). Five years after implementation, this caloric reduction could reduce 1.68 kg and 4.98 percentage points (pp) in obesity (14.7%, with respect to baseline), which translates into a reduction of 1.3 million cases of obesity and a reduction of US$1.8 billion in direct and indirect costs. Our estimate is based on experimental evidence derived from warning labels as proposed in Canada, which include a single label and less restrictive limits to sugar, sodium, and saturated fats. Our estimates depend on various assumptions, such as the transportability of effect estimates from the experimental study to the Mexican population and that other factors that could influence weight and food and beverage consumption remain unchanged. Our results will need to be corroborated by future observational studies through the analysis of changes in sales, consumption, and body weight. Conclusions In this study, we estimated that warning labels may effectively reduce obesity and obesity-related costs. Mexico is following Chile, Peru, and Uruguay in implementing warning labels to processed foods, but other countries could benefit from this intervention.
Self-Reported Oral Health, Oral Hygiene and Associated Factors in Lithuanian Adult Population, 1994–2014

This study aimed to examine 20-year trends (1994–2014) in self-reported oral health and oral hygiene and to assess the associated factors in a Lithuanian population aged 20–64 years. Nationally representative cross-sectional data on 8612 men and 11,719 women were obtained from 11 biennial postal surveys of Lithuanian health behavior monitoring. Dentate status was assessed by asking about the number of missing teeth. Over the study period, the proportion of men with all teeth increased from 17.5% to 23.0% and the same proportion increased in women—from 12.5% to 19.6%. The prevalence of edentulousness was 2.8% in 2014. The proportion of individuals brushing teeth at least twice a day increased from 14.6% to 31.9% in men and from 33.0% to 58.8% in women. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that older age, lower education, living in rural areas, daily smoking, confectionary consumption (only in women), obesity, no visits to a dentist during the past year, toothache and brushing teeth less than twice a day increased the odds of missing six or more teeth. Efforts should be made to promote good oral hygiene habits, prevent and control behavioral risk factors and increase access to dental care among risk groups.
FACTORS HAMPERING DATE PALM PRODUCTION IN THE PUNJAB: A CASE STUDY OF D.G. KHAN DISTRICT

This study was conducted to assess some of the factors hindering the production of dates in one of the major date-palm growing regions of the Punjab, Pakistan. Dera Ghazi Khan district was selected as case study area and a structured interview schedule was used to collect quantitative data from 120 date growers. The qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews with the key informants. This paper also assesses the awareness of farmers about date palm production technology and, consequently, identifies training needs of date palm growers of Dera Ghazi Khan district regarding production technology of date palm. Awareness about variety, irrigation practices, fertilizer application, sucker transplantation and insect/pest of date-palm were selected as variables of production technology. The results revealed that farmers had very low level of knowledge about the production technology of date palm. The unawareness about production technology of the date palm was found as one of the major factors hindering the yield and ultimately profit for the date growers. The agricultural extension staff was found to be ineffective in dissemination of date palm technology and most of the respondents reported that they had received no information from agricultural extension staff regarding date palm production technology. There is an urgent need to train farmers about irrigation and fertilizer application, disease and pest management, sucker transplanting
Antihyperglycemic Effects of Annona diversifolia Safford and Its Acyclic Terpenoids: α-Glucosidase and Selective SGLT1 Inhibitiors

Annona diversifolia Safford and two acyclic terpenoids were evaluated to determine their antihyperglycemic activity as potential α-glucosidase and selective SGLT-1 inhibitiors. Ethanolic extract (EEAd), chloroformic (CHCl3Fr), ethyl acetate (EtOAcFr), aqueous residual (AcRFr), secondary 5 (Fr5) fractions, farnesal (1), and farnesol (2) were evaluated on normoglycemic and streptozocin-induced diabetic mice. EEAd, CHCl3Fr, Fr5, (1) and (2) showed antihyperglycemic activity. The potential as α-glucosidase inhibitors of products was evaluated with oral sucrose and lactose tolerance (OSTT and OLTT, respectively) and intestinal sucrose hydrolysis (ISH) tests; the potential as SGLT-1 inhibitors was evaluated using oral glucose tolerance (OGTT), intestinal glucose absorption (IGA), and urinary glucose excretion (UGE) tests. In OSTT and OLTT, all treatments showed significant activity at two and four hours. In ISH, half maximal effective concentrations (CE50) of 565, 662 and 590 μg/mL, 682 and 802 μM were calculated, respectively. In OGTT, all treatments showed significant activity at two hours. In IGA, CE50 values of 1059, 783 and 539 μg/mL, 1211 and 327 μM were calculated, respectively. In UGE Fr5, (1) and (2) showed significant reduction of the glucose excreted compared with canagliflozin. These results suggest that the antihyperglycemic activity is mediated by α-glucosidase and selective SGLT-1 inhibition.
Interactions between ants and non-myrmecochorous diaspores in a tropical wet forest in southern Bahia, Brazil

Abstract: Interactions between ants and non-myrmecochorous diaspores occur frequently on the forest floor and the results of these interactions (e.g. diaspore cleaning or removal) will often depend on the morpho-chemical characteristics of the diaspores. We conducted two different experiments with seven plant species in the north-eastern Atlantic forest, Brazil. To evaluate whether ant interactions decrease diaspore persistence time on the forest floor, we established sample stations by placing five diaspores of each species spaced every 10 m along a transect and monitored ant interactions over a 24-h period. We also compared diaspore removal by ants and vertebrates through a paired experiment. We monitored removal of the seven plant species in treatments where ants were excluded and treatments where vertebrates were excluded. We recorded 332 ant–diaspore interactions, most resulting in ants cleaning diaspores in situ. Persistence of diaspores on the forest floor varied greatly among studied species and was less than 50% for three species. Ants also removed more diaspores than did vertebrates. Number of diaspores removed by ants was greater for small diaspores and with high lipid concentration. Ant–diaspore interactions may not always exert a positive influence on plant recruitment for diaspores with poor nutrient concentration. Consequently, ants may play a disproportionately important role as secondary dispersers in tropical forests.
Inbreeding effects on pair fecundity and population persistence

Despite strong empirical evidence of the harmful effects of inbreeding on fecundity, spontaneous recessive deleterious mutations are generally considered as acting on survival only in evolutionary models and population viability analyses. In this study, we modelled a species with separate sexes to assess the effect of selection on fecundity in small populations on the risk of extinction. We showed that the impact of inbreeding on short-term fitness changes and that population dynamics are strongly influenced by phenotypic interactions among males and females during reproduction. In particular, population persistence was found to be highly sensitive to the level at which selection acts (i.e. individual vs. pair) and to asymmetry among sexes (in terms of mutation rates and mutational effects). © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2005, 86, 467–476.
Allelopathy of leaf extracts of jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) in the initial development of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

espanolEl objetivo de la investigacion fue evaluar el efecto de los extractos obtenidos a partir de hojas de Jatropha curcas L. sobre la germinacion y el crecimiento inicial del trigo. Las acuosas y alcohol (etanol y metanol) extractos de hojas secas se prepararon de la concentracion de 50 mg/ml. A partir del extracto crudo se hicieron diluciones, obteniendo diferentes concentraciones. Algunos de los extractos acuosos ensayados se trataron en autoclave. Durante siete dias, las caracteristicas de germinacion y crecimiento de plantulas de trigo fueron evaluados con los diferentes tratamientos. No hubo efecto de extractos acuosos en el porcentaje de germinacion de las semillas; sin embargo, los extractos metanolicos y etanolicos 5% afectaba la germinacion de un cultivar en estudio. Hubo una disminucion en el indice de velocidad de germinacion cuando las semillas se incubaron con extracto crudo acuoso y extracto de metanol. Los extractos afectaron el crecimiento de las plantulas y el mas fitotoxico era el extracto en etanol 5%. Los extractos autoclave promovieron una reduccion en todos los parametros evaluados. Los resultados aqui presentados muestran los extractos de hojas secas de Jatropha que promueven efectos alelopaticos sobre el trigo. EnglishThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of extracts obtained from leaves of Jatropha curcas L. on germination and initial growth of wheat. The aqueous and alcohol (ethanol and methanol) extracts of dried leaves were prepared in the concentration of 50 mg/mL. From the crude extract were made dilutions and obtained different concentrations. Some of the aqueous extracts tested were autoclaved. Over seven days, the germination characteristics and growth of wheat seedlings were evaluated with the different treatments. There was no effect of aqueous extracts on percentage of seed germination, however the methanolic and ethanolic extracts 5% affected the germination of a cultivar in study. There was a decrease in the germination speed index when the seeds were incubated with crude aqueous extract and methanol extract. The extracts affected the growth of seedlings and the most phytotoxic was the ethanol extract 5%. The autoclaved extracts promoted a reduction in all parameters evaluated. The results presented here show the extracts of dried leaves of jatropha promoted allelopathic effects on wheat.
Assessing the Effect of Mating Ratio on Broiler Breeder Performance by Quantifying Sperm:Egg Interaction

Abstract Trials to compare mating ratios are important for optimizing the breeding efficiency of broiler breeder flocks. However, the parameter that is normally used for such comparisons—‘fertility’ of all eggs or a sample of eggs from the flock—is a rather coarse tool for discriminating the interplay of mate choice and mating frequency, which results from different male:female ratios. In this pilot study, we have shown that the number of holes hydrolyzed by spermatozoa in the inner perivitelline layer over the germinal disc in samples of 40 eggs is better than measures of flock or sample fertility for discriminating between pairs of flocks with different proportions of males. For example, the median number of holes made by spermatozoa in the perivitelline layer of samples of eggs can be doubled in flocks with 9.5 versus 9.0 males per 100 females, which shows that flock fertility increases less than 1%. The perivitelline hole assay also provides an indication of the distribution of spermatozoa among hens, which is the fundamental parameter for assessing the dynamics of mating efficiency under different male:female ratios. The number of spermatozoa transferred to, and their distribution among, hens then defines flock ‘fertility. ’
The decline in hay yields: A Saskatchewan perspective

Yield data collected by Statistics Canada show that annual hay yields have been declining in several Canadian provinces including Saskatchewan for the past 31 yr. Data from Saskatchewan provincial statistics on Beef Cow number, Area Harvested for Hay, Value of Land and Buildings, and Fertilizer Price Index were used to examine the relationships between hay yield and these variables. Weather from 16 sites across Saskatchewan’s agricultural region for the April, May, and June (AMJ) period was also examined from 1973 to 2003. Precipitation during AMJ was positively correlated to hay yield, but the difference between maximum and minimum temperatures (Δtemperature) was negatively correlated. Fertilizer Price Index was negatively correlated to hay yield, suggesting that producers are reducing fertilizer input to this crop resulting in lower yields. Step-wise regression analysis suggested that fertilizer cost was the most important variable, which explained 38% of the variation in hay yield. When fertilizer pric.
Hypercholesterolemia Effect on Potassium Channels

Cholesterol is a major lipid component of the plasma membrane in mammalian cells consti‐ tuting up to 45 mol % with respect to other lipids [1, 2]. Yet, even a limited increase in blood and/or tissue cholesterol of up to 2-3 fold above the physiological level is cytotoxic [1-3] and is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease [4-6]. The underlying source for the effect of cholesterol on cellular functions is its ability to alter the function of multiple membrane proteins including ion channels (see, for example, reviews [7-9]).
Enterococci, from Harmless Bacteria to a Pathogen

Enterococci are gastrointestinal commensals whose hardiness allowed them to colonize very diverse environments, including soils, water, food, and feed. This ability to overcome adverse conditions makes enterococci problematic once they colonize hospital niches. Together with the malleability of their genomes, the capacity to acquire and disseminate determinants of antibiotic resistance has contributed to converting what was once just another opportunistic pathogen into a first-class clinical problem. This review discusses the dimension of the emergence of enterococcal resistance to key antimicrobial agents, the dissemination of this resistance, and its significance in terms of public health, with the aim of raising awareness of the need to devise and implement surveillance programs and more effective antibiotic stewardship.
Population-Based Registry Analysis of Antidiabetics Dispensations: Trend Use in Spain between 2015 and 2018 with Reference to Driving

Insulins and some oral antidiabetics are considered to be driving-impairing medicines (DIM) and they belong to the Driving under the Influence of Drugs, alcohol, and medicines (DRUID) category I (minor influence on fitness to drive). The trend of antidiabetics use in Castilla y León from 2015 to 2018 is presented through a population-based registry study. Treatment duration with these medicines and the concomitant use of other DIMs were observed. An adjustment method was used with information from the drivers’ license census. For all calculations, age and gender were taken into account. 3.98% of the general population used at least one antidiabetic, as well as 2.92% of drivers. The consumption of antidiabetics in men was higher than in women (4.35% vs. 3.61%, p = 0.001), and the use increases with age, especially from 35–39 years to 75–79 years in men and 85–89 years in women. Antidiabetics were consumed chronically, specifically 100% in the case of insulins and 95% in the case of oral antidiabetics. In addition to antidiabetics, 2.5 ± 1.86 DIMs were consumed, mainly anxiolytics (25.53%), opioids (23.03%), other analgesics and antipiretics (19.13%), and antidepressants (17.73%). Collaboration between pharmacists and physicians is a priority to clearly transmitting risks to patients. It is necessary that the health authorities include information on DIMs, such as the DRUID classification, in the prescription and dispensing software.
Insect perception of ambient ultraviolet-B radiation

Solar ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B, 290–315 nm) has a strong influence on the interactions between plants and animal consumers. Field studies in various ecosystems have shown that the intensity of insect herbivory increases when the UV-B spectral band of solar radiation is experimentally attenuated using filters. This effect of UV-B on insect herbivory has been attributed to UV-B-induced changes in the characteristics of plant tissues, and to direct damaging effects of UV-B photons on the animals. We tested for effects of UV-B radiation on insect behaviour using field experiments with the thrips Caliothrips phaseoli. When placed in a ‘choice’ tunnel under natural daylight, these insects showed a clear preference for low-UV-B environments, and this preference could not be accounted for by differences between environments in total irradiance. These results provide the first evidence of ambient UV-B photoperception in an insect, challenging the idea that animals are unable to detect variations in the narrow UV-B component of solar radiation.
Cytochemical investigation at different microsporogenesis phases of male sterility in wheat, as induced by the chemical hybridising agent SQ-1

Abstract. This study used semi-thin sectioning and cytochemistry to investigate the relationship between pollen nutrient metabolism and pollen abortion in male sterile lines of wheat induced by SQ-1 (a chemical hybridising agent). Anthers were collected from the tetrad to trinucleate stages, and 4′ ,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining was used to visualise nuclei and confirm the development stage. Sudan Black B, periodic acid–Schiff, Coomassie Brilliant Blue, and toluidine blue were used to detect lipids, starch, proteins, and acidic polyanions, respectively. Semi-thin sectioning indicated that nutrient accumulation was much higher in the fertile line 1376 than in the sterile line 1376-PHYMS. Further, no lipids were found in the free microspore stage in the sterile line; however, at the late microspore stage, more proteins and acidic polyanions were found in the sterile line 1376-PHYMS pollen than in the fertile line 1376 pollen. From the binucleate to trinucleate pollen stages, the starch content was low and the intine considerably thinner in the pollen of the 1376-PHYMS line. SQ-1 probably hampered nutrient metabolism in the anthers, leading to decreased nutrient supply and abnormal intine formation, ultimately resulting in pollen abortion. A new mechanism for nutrient absorption, i.e. endocytosis of Ubisch bodies or orbicules by the intine through the germinal aperture, was revealed.