Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Feeding behaviour of the greenbug Schizaphis graminum on wheat plants treated with imidacloprid and/or silicon

The greenbug Schizaphis graminum (Rond.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is one of the principal pests of Triticum aestivum L. and may be responsible for the injection of toxins, the transmission of viral infections and, ultimately, plant death. The aphid can be controlled by the use of selective insecticides or with the application of silicon. The objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of imidacloprid and silicon on the feeding behaviour of S. graminum on wheat plants. Aphids collected from and reared on sorghum plants were maintained in a growth room at 25 ± 2°C; 12 h photoperiod. Seeds of the wheat cultivar EMBRAPA 22 were planted in plastic pots containing a commercially available soil substrate and thinned out 8 days after sowing to leave two vigorously growing seedlings in each pot. Four treatments (each replicated 25 times) were applied: (i) seeds were treated with imidacloprid (36 g/100 kg) 1 day prior to sowing; (ii) silicon (50 ml of 1% silicic acid; equivalent to a dose of 1000 kg of silicon/ha) was applied directly to the substrate 10 days after plant emergence; (iii) the described treatments with imidacloprid and silicon were applied jointly; and (iv) neither seeds nor substrate were treated (untreated controls). Electrical penetration graph assays were performed 15, 30 and 45 days after plant emergence. The results showed that wheat seed treatment with imidacloprid and/or the application of silicon to the substrate reduced both the feeding time of S. graminum and the percentage of insects that fed on phloem sap. Moreover, this study provides further support that the action of silicon may not be restricted to physical resistance (constitutive or induced) but may also involve induced plant chemical defence.
Predicted Sex Ratio of Juvenile Hawksbill Seaturtles Inhabiting Buck Island Reef National Monument, U.S. Virgin Islands

Abstract Hawksbill Seaturtles have temperature-dependent sex determination. As such, the resulting sex ratios are of conservational and ecological significance. Buck Island Reef is an interesting location for sex ratio studies since it represents a natural and unexploited foraging ground for hawksbills in the Caribbean. To examine sex ratios, blood samples were obtained from juvenile Hawksbill Seaturtles captured on Buck Island Reef over a four-year period. We used a radioimmunoassay to determine testosterone levels in those samples and compared those values to testosterone levels of juvenile hawksbills from the Caribbean whose sex has been verified by laparoscopy. The results of this study reveal a significantly female-biased sex ratio (approximately 80% female) occurs in this juvenile aggregation inhabiting Buck Island Reef.
Evidence supporting the use of peptides and peptidomimetics as potential SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) therapeutics

During a disease outbreak/pandemic situation such as COVID-19, researchers are in a prime position to identify and develop peptide-based therapies, which could be more rapidly and cost-effectively advanced into a clinical setting. One drawback of natural peptide drugs, however, is their proteolytic instability; peptidomimetics can help to overcome this caveat. In this review, we summarize peptide and peptide-based therapeutics that target one main entry pathway of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which involves the host angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor and viral spike (S) protein interaction. Furthermore, we discuss the advantages of peptidomimetics and other potential targets that have been studied using peptide-based therapeutics for COVID-19.
Shear Stress Dependent Regulation of Vascular Resistance in Health and Disease: Role of Endothelium

For a long time, locally released metabolic factors from parenchymal cells and the myo-genic response of vascular smooth muscle were considered to be the two main peripheral regulatory mechanisms to control vascular resistance and thereby determining the distribution of blood flow and pressure within vascular networks of various organs of the body. However, not every change in blood flow could be satisfactorily explained by these two mechanisms. The “flow-dependent” responses of blood vessels, namely, an increase in blood flow in arteries followed by their dilation had already been observed at the beginning of this century, and perhaps even earlier, yet the nature and importance of this phenomenon in blood flow regulation was not delineated until recently. In the last two decades, especially following the recognition of the role of endothelium in the production of vasoactive factors, much new experimental evidence was gathered that suggests the general presence and importance of flow (shear stress)-depend.
Factors Associated with the Nutritional Status among Male Workers of Iron and Steel Industries in Bara District, Nepal

Background Overweight and obesity are major serious public health problems, since their prevalence is accelerating rapidly not only in developed but also in developing countries. The aim of this study was to find out the factors associated with the nutritional status of the industrial workers in Bara District of Nepal. Methods An industry-based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among the 271 male workers using pretested semistructured questionnaires, food frequency questionnaire, 24-hour recall method, and anthropometric measurement after obtaining informed consent from the workers. For the categorical independent variables, bivariate and multivariate regression tests were used for the analysis, and for numerical independent variables, Student's t-test was used. A P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Ethical approval was taken from the Research Committee of the College of Applied Food and Diary Technology (CAFODAT). Results Overweight /obesity was observed among 27.3% of the participants of which 22.1% were overweight and 5.2% were obese. Age (OR: 2.54; 95% CI: 1.346–4.823); ethnicity, Brahmin/Chhetri (OR: 6.14; 95% CI: 1.971–19.123) and Madhesi (OR: 4.641; 95% CI: 1.534–14.04); and smoking (OR: 4.165; 95% CI: 1.972–8.80) were associated with nutritional status of industrial workers. Additionally, food frequency (OR: 2.232; 95% CI: 1.101–4.522), dietary diversity, and total calorie intake were also significantly associated with nutritional status of industrial workers. Conclusions The study has indicated that more than one-fourth of workers of iron and steel industries in Bara District of Nepal are overweight or obese. Different sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors and lifestyle-related factors were associated with overweight and obesity. There is need for programs for industrial workers focused on nutrition education to raise awareness about nutrition-related problems and risk factors.
The Effects of Dietary Nutrition on Sleep and Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorder significantly affects the life quality of a large number of people but is still an underrecognized disease. Dietary nutrition is believed to play a significant impact on sleeping wellness. Many nutritional supplements have been used trying to benefit sleep wellness. However, the relationship between nutritional components and sleep is complicated. Nutritional factors vary dramatically with different diet patterns and depend significantly on the digestive and metabiotic functions of each individual. Moreover, nutrition can profoundly affect the hormones and inflammation status which directly or indirectly contribute to insomnia. In this review, we summarized the role of major nutritional factors, carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, and vitamins on sleep and sleep disorders and discussed the potential mechanisms.
Genetic relationships among Prunus rootstocks for sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars

Sweet cherries can be grafted on a wide range of rootstocks belonging to Prunus avium, Prunus cerasus, Prunus mahaleb, Prunus angustifolia or hybrids of different Prunus species. Identification of Prunus rootstocks using morphological traits is almost impossible particularly during the dormant season. However, molecular analysis carried out on actively growing shoot tips, leaves or dormant buds provides good opportunity to reliably distinguish rootstocks. In this study, DNA was extracted from the leaves of a total of 184 sweet cherry rootstock candidates belonging to P. avium L. , P. cerasus L. , P. mahaleb L. and P. angustifolia L. previously selected from the north-western part of Turkey. The rootstock candidates were tested with ten simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers, developed for the Prunus genus. The primers successfully identified all rootstock candidates. The results showed that the number of alleles per locus ranged from 10 (UDAp-401, UCD-CH21 and CPSCT010) to 20 (UCD-CH31) with an average of 13.3 alleles per locus, indicating that the SSRs were highly informative. Unweighted Pair-Group Method with Arithmetic mean analysis demonstrated that P. avium accessions are closely related to P. cerasus. The reference rootstocks were clustered with their associated botanical species.
Guidelines on multidisciplinary approaches for the prevention and management of diabetic foot disease (2020 edition)

Abstract In recent years, as living standards have continued to improve, the number of diabetes patients in China, along with the incidence of complications associated with the disease, has been increasing. Among these complications, diabetic foot disease is one of the main causes of disability and death in diabetic patients. Due to the differences in economy, culture, religion and level of medical care available across different regions, preventive and treatment methods and curative results for diabetic foot vary greatly. In multidisciplinary models built around diabetic foot, the timely assessment and diagnosis of wounds and appropriate methods of prevention and treatment with internal and external surgery are key to clinical practice for this pathology. In 2019, under the leadership of the Jiangsu Medical Association and Chinese Diabetes Society, the writing group for the Guidelines on multidisciplinary approaches for the prevention and management of diabetic foot disease (2020 edition) was established with the participation of scholars from the specialist areas of endocrinology, burn injury, vascular surgery, orthopedics, foot and ankle surgery and cardiology. Drawing lessons from diabetic foot guidelines from other countries, this guide analyses clinical practices for diabetic foot, queries the theoretical basis and grades and gives recommendations based on the characteristics of the pathology in China. This paper begins with assessments and diagnoses of diabetic foot, then describes treatments for diabetic foot in detail, and ends with protections for high-risk feet and the prevention of ulcers. This manuscript covers the disciplines of internal medicine, surgical, nursing and rehabilitation and describes a total of 50 recommendations that we hope will provide procedures and protocols for clinicians dealing with diabetic foot. Registry number: IPGRP-2020cn124
Polymorphic growth in larvae of the butterfly Maculinea rebeli, a social parasite of Myrmica ant colonies

Caterpillars of Maculinea rebeli have two growth strategies for living underground as social parasites of Myrmica ant colonies. Laboratory experiments and field data show that 25% of caterpillars live ten months with ants before pupating, whereas 75% grow slowly, parasitizing their hosts for 22 months. Both types of caterpillar form apparently identical similar–sized pupae. This may be the first description in the animal kingdom of polymorphic growth rates spanning different years within the same population, yet without resulting (as in salmonid fish) in two morphologically distinct adult types with obvious differences in behaviour. We suggest that a balanced polymorphism has evolved in M. rebeli growth rates, representing the most efficient way of exploiting the limited, yet steady, daily supply of food available to cuckoo–feeding parasites of long–lived ant societies. Bet–hedging benefits would also accrue to adult butterflies producing a mixture of annual and biennial offspring. Despite ergonomic and other benefits, partial biennialism is unlikely to evolve unless slow–growing individuals have enhanced survival and can remain attached to their mobile hosts. We show that caterpillars become so closely protected by, and integrated with, their host colonies that slow growers experience no greater mortality over two years than fast growers over one, and are transported in preference to the ants' own larvae when the host colony moves nest site.
Selected functional properties of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) flour and two protein isolates

Functional properties of sesame flour and protein isolates have been compared with those of some commercial soya products. The sesame products showed better fat absorption, poorer water absorption and overall lower bulk densities than soya products. Emulsifying activities and stabilities were generally lower than soya products. Destabilisation of the emulsion in the presence of NaCl was noted. Sesame products showed better foam expansion, and comparable foam stability and strength to corresponding soya products. Addition of sugar to sesame whips reduced foam expansion and increased foam stability. Acid, neutral and alkaline sesame whips showed distinct whipping properties depending on the product used. Sesame whips resembling those of egg-white could be obtained. The sesame isolate prepared by alkaline extraction was superior to that prepared by salt extraction in terms of their pH-solubility profiles.
Quantificação das perdas no desenvolvimento de Pinus taeda após o ataque de formigas cortadeiras.

In this study, the main purpose was to quantify the diameter, height and productivity index losses in initial development in Pinus taeda seedlings in stands in Argentine, after leaf cutting ants attack. The treatments were: T1 = control without attack; T2 = attacked by ants; and T3 = sequential artificial deneedling. The three development stages of the plants in two distinct slopes were also evaluated. The results allow concluding that there is a significant reduction in Pinus taeda development when attacked by leaf cutting ants during the first 24 months. In the artificially deneedled plants, there was a significant reduction related to the ones deneedled by the ants, for all the analyzed variables.
Effect of Aqueous and Ethyl Acetate Fractions of Ziziphus jujuba Mill Extract on Cardiovascular Responses in Hypertensive Rats

Background Ziziphus jujuba Mill (ZJ) is a plant with anti-hypertensive property. In this regard, the present study investigated the effect of aqueous and ethyl acetate fractions of ZJ extract on acute hypertension (HTN) induced by nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Methods The current study was carried on 49 hypertensive rats divided into seven groups, including i) control; ii) L-NAME (10 mg/kg); iii) sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (50 μg/kg) plus L-NAME; iv and v) aqueous fraction of ZJ (150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) plus L-NAME; vi) and vii) ethyl acetate fractions of ZJ (150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) plus L-NAME. The rats were orally treated with both fractions for four weeks and received intravenous L-NAME on the 28th day. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) of the rats were recorded then maximal changes (Δ) of MAP, SBP and HR were calculated and compared with changes of control and L-NAME. Results According to the obtained results of the present study, it was shown that the administration of L-NAME significantly increased ΔMAP, ΔSBP and ΔHR, and these effects were significantly attenuated by administration of SNP. The pre-treatment with both doses (150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) of aqueous and ethyl acetate fractions could significantly reduce cardiovascular responses induced by L-NAME that comparable with SNP. However, a lower dose of aqueous fractions and higher dose of ethyl acetate fractions were reported with stronger effects. Conclusion The results of the current study showed that both the aqueous and ethyl acetate fractions of ZJ through the effect on nitric oxide system can prevent the development of HTN induced by L-NAME.
Características agronômicas de genótipos de feijoeiro cultivados nas épocas da seca e das águas

The common bean is one of foods produced in bigger amount in all national territory, being intense the search for yield cultivars, adaptability and desirable technological characteristics. The research was carried in Botucatu (SP), with objective of evaluating the behavior of common bean genotypes, how the agronomic aiming at to select those that better yield performance. The experiment was developed in three harvests, having corresponded the dry growing season 2005, summer 2005 and dry 2006. The experimental design used was randomized blocks, with 24 treatments, represented for the common bean genotypes, with four replications. All the common bean genotypes had presented satisfactory agronomic performance, being distinguished the genotypes Gen 96A28-P7-1-1-1-1, Perola, OP-S-16, OP-NS-331, Gen 96A28-P4-1-1-1-1 e CNFC 8065 how the number of pods for plant, 100 grains mass, rend and yield.
Similarities and Differences in Smooth Muscle α-Actin Induction by TGF-β in Smooth Muscle Versus Non–Smooth Muscle Cells

Abstract —Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) has been shown to stimulate smooth muscle (SM) α-actin expression in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and non-SMCs. We previously demonstrated that the 2 CArG boxes A and B and a novel TGF-β control element (TCE) located within the first 125 bp of the SM α-actin promoter were required for TGF-β inducibility of SM α-actin in SMCs. The aims of the present study were (1) to determine whether the TCE exhibits SMC specificity or contributes to TGF-β induction of SM α-actin expression in non-SMCs (ie, endothelial cells and fibroblasts) and (2) to determine whether TGF-β can induce expression of multiple TCE-containing SMC differentiation marker genes, such as SM22α, h 1 calponin, and SM myosin heavy chain (SM MHC) in non-SMCs. Results of transient transfection assays demonstrated that mutation of CArG A, CArG B, or the TCE within a 125-bp promoter context completely abolished TGF-β inducibility of SM α-actin in endothelial cells and fibroblasts. However, in contrast to observations in SMCs, inclusion of regions upstream from −155 completely repressed TGF-β responsiveness in non-SMCs. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that TGF-β enhanced binding of a serum response factor to the CArG elements and the binding of an as-yet-unidentified factor to the TCE in endothelial cells and fibroblasts, but to a much lesser extent compared with SMCs. TGF-β also stimulated expression of the SMC differentiation marker SM22α in non-SMCs. However, in contrast to SMCs, TGF-β did not induce expression of h 1 calponin and SM MHC in non-SMCs. In summary, these results suggest a conserved role for CArG A, CArG B, and the TCE in TGF-β–induced expression of SM α-actin in SMCs and non-SMCs that is modified by a complex interplay of positive- and negative-acting cis elements in a cell-specific manner. Furthermore, observations that TGF-β stimulated expression of several early but not late differentiation markers in non-SMCs indicate that TGF-β alone is not sufficient to induce transdifferentiation of non-SMCs into SMCs.
RHODOLITHS: BETWEEN ROCKS AND SOFT PLACES

Rhodoliths (maërl) are widely distributed in the worlds' oceans and have an excellent fossil record. Individuals are slow growing, may be long lived (>100 years), and are resilient to a variety of environmental disturbances. Their external morphology and internal growth bands are potential archives of environmental variation at scales of within years to tens of years. At high densities, these free‐living non‐geniculate coralline algae form rhodolith beds, communities of high diversity that can be severely impacted by resource extraction.
Moths of the Neotropical genera Ischnopteris, Stegotheca and Rucana (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae)

Abstract Three closely related Neotropical genera of ennomine moths of the tribe Nacophorini are revised: Ischnopteris, Stegotheca and Rucana. These genera are all redefined, and the concepts of Stegotheca and Rucana are extended; the previously monobasic Stegotheca is markedly expanded by the inclusion of two other genera as junior synonyms: Salasaca and Canelo. In Ischnopteris 37 species are recognized, 17 of which are newly described; six species, including one newly described, are recognized in Stegotheca, and nine species, including two newly described, are recognized in Rucana. All species of these genera are described fully, and several new synonyms and other taxonomic changes are published. A vital aspect of the work is to serve as an identification guide. To this end keys to the species are provided as are illustrations of all species: the moths are illustrated in colour; genitalia and other structures are in half‐tone. Information on the larvae and hostplants is given for several species of Ischnopteris, and some larvae are figured, including the larva of a new species. This study also describes highly unusual morphological modifications of some moths in these genera, which have not been previously recorded in the Geometridae.
High‐fibre sunflower meal as a replacement for soyabean meal in layer diets

1. Dietary fibre content of a layer diet was increased by substituting a high‐fibre sunflower meal for soyabean meal. 2. Gizzard weight and intestine length were significantly increased by increased dietary fibre. 3. Efficiency of food conversion decreased but egg production, egg weight, shell breaking strength and mortality were not affected by dietary sunflower meal.
Cancer cells deploy lipocalin-2 to collect limiting iron in leptomeningeal metastasis

Ironing out a survival strategy Metastatic cells display a notable ability to adapt to—and even thrive in—harsh microenvironments. One extreme example is leptomeningeal metastases (LM), cancer cells that enter a region of the central nervous system called the subarachnoid space, which is filled with cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). This anatomic site has a limited supply of micronutrients such as iron, and it harbors immune cells. Chi et al. used single-cell RNA sequencing to study CSF samples from cancer patients with LM (see the Perspective by Garzia and Taylor). They found that LM cells express and use components of a high-affinity iron-capturing system. Through this mechanism, the LM cells avoid the adverse effects of iron deprivation and potentially escape immune attack by limiting the supply of iron to macrophages. Science this issue p. 276; see also p. 250 Metastatic cells survive within an inhospitable part of the central nervous system by expressing iron-capturing proteins. The tumor microenvironment plays a critical regulatory role in cancer progression, especially in central nervous system metastases. Cancer cells within the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)–filled leptomeninges face substantial microenvironmental challenges, including inflammation and sparse micronutrients. To investigate the mechanism by which cancer cells in these leptomeningeal metastases (LM) overcome these constraints, we subjected CSF from five patients with LM to single-cell RNA sequencing. We found that cancer cells, but not macrophages, within the CSF express the iron-binding protein lipocalin-2 (LCN2) and its receptor SCL22A17. These macrophages generate inflammatory cytokines that induce cancer cell LCN2 expression but do not generate LCN2 themselves. In mouse models of LM, cancer cell growth is supported by the LCN2/SLC22A17 system and is inhibited by iron chelation therapy. Thus, cancer cells appear to survive in the CSF by outcompeting macrophages for iron.