Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HOST DISCRIMINATION BY THE APHID PARASITOID APHELINUS ASYCHIS (HYMENOPTERA: APHELINIDAE): WHEN SUPERPARASITISM IS NOT ADAPTIVE

Abstract Females of the solitary parasitoid Aphelinus asychis Walker discriminated between unparasitized and parasitized second-instar nymphs of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris). Wasps normally avoided superparasitism, except when they were confined with few hosts for a long time. Parasitoid females did not need previous experience with unparasitized aphids (learning) in order to discriminate. They probed with the ovipositor any aphids encountered, a behaviour suggesting that host acceptance and rejection were determined by internal cues. Prolonged ovipositor insertion (>80 s) was correlated with host acceptance and egg deposition, but short insertion times (≤80 s) generally indicated host rejection. Females tended to reject both self- and conspecific-parasitized aphids when provided with two of each kind. We consider hypotheses mat conspecific superparasitism may be adaptive and give examples to show exceptions. We propose that, in egg-limited parasitoid species such as A. asychis, a reproductive strategy based on the regulation of egg production and on oosorption can explain the equal avoidance of self and conspecific superparasitism. Résumé Les femelles du parasitoïde solitaire Aphelinus asychis Walker discriminent entre des larves de deuxième stade parasitées et non-parasitées du puceron du pois, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris). Les guêpes ont généralement évité le superparasitisme, sauf lorsque limitées à un petit nombre d’hôtes pour une longue période. Le pouvoir de discrimination des femelles parasitoïdes n’a pas requis d’expérience antécédente avec des pucerons non-parasités (apprentissage). A l’aide de leur ovipositeur, elles ont sondé tous les pucerons rencontrés, un comportement qui suggère que l’acceptation ou le rejet d’un hôte était déterminé par des indices internes. Les longues insertions d’ovipositeur (>80 s) étaient corrélées avec l’acceptation de l’hôte et la ponte d’oeufs, mais les courtes insertions (≤80 s) indiquaient généralement le rejet de l’hôte. Les femelles ont eu tendance à rejeter des pucerons parasités par elles-même ou par des femelles con-spécifiques lorsqu’on leur en a offert deux de chaque type. Nous considérons des hypothèses selon lesquelles le superparasitisme con-spécifique peut être adaptif et donnons des exemples d’exceptions. Nous proposons que chez les espèces de parasitoïdes dont le nombre d’oeufs est limité, comme c’est le cas chez A. asychis, une stratégie reproductrice basée sur la régulation de la production d’oeufs et sur l’oösorption peut expliquer la tendance égale à éviter le superparasitisme con-spécifique et personnel.
Phosphate Solubilizing Rhizobacteria Could Have a Stronger Influence on Wheat Root Traits and Aboveground Physiology Than Rhizosphere P Solubilization

Limited P availability in several agricultural areas is one of the key challenges facing current agriculture. Exploiting P-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) has been an emerging bio-solution for a higher rhizosphere P-availability, meanwhile the above- and below-ground interactions that PSB would trigger remain unclear over plant growing stages. We hypothesized that PSB effects on plant growth may be greater on root traits that positively links with aboveground physiology more than the commonly believed rhizosphere P bio-solubilization. In this study, five contrasting PSB (Pseudomonas spp.) isolates (low “PSB1”, moderate “PSB2 and PSB4” and high “PSB3 and PSB5” P-solubilizing capacity “PSC”) were used to investigate above- and below-ground responses in wheat fertilized with rock P (RP) under controlled conditions. Our findings show that all PSB isolates increased wheat root traits, particularly PSB5 which increased root biomass and PSB3 that had greater effect on root diameter in 7-, 15- and 42-day old plants. The length, surface and volume of roots significantly increased along with higher rhizosphere available P in 15- and 42-day old plants inoculated with PSB4 and PSB2. Shoot biomass significantly increased with both PSB2 and PSB5. Root and shoot physiology significantly improved with PSB1 (lowest PSC) and PSB4 (moderate PSC), notably shoot total P (78.38%) and root phosphatase activity (390%). Moreover, nutrients acquisition and chlorophyll content increased in inoculated plants and was stimulated (PSB2, PSB4) more than rhizosphere P-solubilization, which was also revealed by the significant above- and below-ground inter-correlations, mainly chlorophyll and both total (R = 0.75, p = 0.001**) and intracellular (R = 0.7, p = 0.000114*) P contents. These findings demonstrate the necessity to timely monitor the plant-rhizosphere continuum responses, which may be a relevant approach to accurately evaluate PSB through considering below- and above-ground relationships; thus enabling unbiased interpretations prior to field applications.
Investigation of Isoform Specific Functions of the V-ATPase a Subunit During Drosophila Wing Development

The vacuolar ATPases (V-ATPases) are ATP-dependent proton pumps that play vital roles in eukaryotic cells. Insect V-ATPases are required in nearly all epithelial tissues to regulate a multiplicity of processes including receptor-mediated endocytosis, protein degradation, fluid secretion, and neurotransmission. Composed of fourteen different subunits, several V-ATPase subunits exist in distinct isoforms to perform cell type specific functions. The 100 kD a subunit (Vha100) of V-ATPases are encoded by a family of five genes in Drosophila, but their assignments are not fully understood. Here we report an experimental survey of the Vha100 gene family during Drosophila wing development. A combination of CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis, somatic clonal analysis and in vivo RNAi assays is used to characterize the requirement of Vha100 isoforms, and mutants of Vha100-2, Vha100-3, Vha100-4, and Vha100-5 genes were generated. We show that Vha100-3 and Vha100-5 are dispensable for fly development, while Vha100-1 is not critically required in the wing. As for the other two isoforms, we find that Vha100-2 regulates wing cuticle maturation, while Vha100-4 is the single isoform involved in developmental patterning. More specifically, Vha100-4 is required for proper activation of the Wingless signaling pathway during fly wing development. Interestingly, we also find a specific genetic interaction between Vha100-1 and Vha100-4 during wing development. Our results revealed the distinct roles of Vha100 isoforms during insect wing development, providing a rationale for understanding the diverse roles of V-ATPases.
Mating to Intact, but Not Vasectomized, Males Elicits Changes in the Endometrial Transcriptome: Insights From the Bovine Model

An appropriate female reproductive environment is essential for pregnancy success. In several species, including mice, pigs and horses, seminal plasma (SP) components have been shown to modulate this environment, leading to increased embryo viability and implantation. Due to the characteristics of mating in the aforementioned species, SP comes into direct contact with the uterus. However, it is questionable whether any SP reaches the uterus in species that ejaculate inside the vagina, such as humans and cattle. Hence, we hypothesized that sperm, perhaps acting as a vehicle for SP factors, play a more important role in the modulation of the maternal uterine environment in these species. In addition, changes elicited by SP and/or sperm may originate in the vagina and propagate to more distal regions of the female reproductive tract. To test these hypotheses, a bovine model in which heifers were mated to intact or vasectomized bulls or were left unmated was used. RNA-sequencing of endometrial samples collected 24 h after mating with a vasectomized bull did not reveal any differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in comparison with control samples. However, the endometrium of heifers mated with intact bulls exhibited 24 DEGs when compared to heifers mated with vasectomized bulls, and 22 DEGs when compared to unmated control heifers. The expression of a set of cytokines (IL6, IL1A, IL8, and TNFA) and candidate genes identified in the endometrial RNA-sequencing (PLA2G10, CX3CL1, C4BPA, PRSS2, BLA-DQB, and CEBPD) were assessed by RT-qPCR in the vagina and oviductal ampulla. No differences in expression of these genes were observed between treatments in any region. However, mating to both intact and vasectomized bulls induced an increase in IL1A and TNFA expression in the vagina compared to the oviduct. These data indicate that sperm, but not secretions from the accessory glands alone, induce modest changes in endometrial gene expression after natural mating in cattle. However, it is not clear whether this effect is triggered by inherent sperm proteins or SP proteins bound to sperm surface at the time of ejaculation.
Wolbachia Inter-Strain Competition and Inhibition of Expression of Cytoplasmic Incompatibility in Mosquito

Successful field trials have been reported as part of the effort to develop the maternally transmitted endosymbiontic bacteria Wolbachia as an intervention agent for controlling mosquito vectors and their transmitted diseases. In order to further improve this novel intervention, artificially transinfected mosquitoes must be optimized to display maximum pathogen blocking, the desired cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) pattern, and the lowest possible fitness cost. Achieving such optimization, however, requires a better understanding of the interactions between the host and various Wolbabachia strains and their combinations. Here, we transferred the Wolbachia wMel strain by embryonic microinjection into Aedes albopictus, resulting in the successful establishment of a transinfected line, HM (wAlbAwAlbBwMel), with a triple-strain infection comprising wMel, wAlbA, and wAlbB. Surprisingly, no CI was induced when the triply infected males were crossed with the wild-type GUA females or with another triply infected HC females carrying wPip, wAlbA, and wAlbB, but specific removal of wAlbA from the HM (wAlbAwAlbBwMel) line resulted in the expression of CI after crosses with lines infected by either one, two, or three strains of Wolbachia. The transinfected line showed perfect maternal transmission of the triple infection, with fluctuating egg hatch rates that improved to normal levels after repeated outcrosses with GUA line. Strain-specific qPCR assays showed that wMel and wAlbB were present at the highest densities in the ovaries and midguts, respectively, of the HM (wAlbAwAlbBwMel) mosquitoes. These finding suggest that introducing a novel strain of Wolbachia into a Wolbachia-infected host may result in complicated interactions between Wolbachia and the host and between the various Wolbachia strains, with competition likely to occur between strains in the same supergroup.
Rhizoglomus intraradices Improves Plant Growth, Root Morphology and Phytohormone Balance of Robinia pseudoacacia in Arsenic-Contaminated Soils

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known to improve the resistance of host plants against various heavy metal stresses. However, the arsenic (As) resistance mechanism of AMF-inoculated woody legumes remains unclear. In this study, black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) seedlings were cultivated in potted soils inoculated with or without AMF Rhizoglomus intraradices under three different levels of As stress (0, 100, and 200 mg As kg–1 soil) over 4 months. The objective of this paper was to investigate the effects of AMF on plant growth, root morphology, and the content and ratio of endogenous phytohormones and soil glomalin under As stress condition. As stress toxicity suppressed the AM spore germination and colonization, plant growth, and the content of soil glomalin and changed the morphological characteristics of the roots and the balance of endogenous hormone levels in plants. However, R. intraradices inoculation improved the shoot and root dry weights, total root length, root surface area, root volume, and the number of root forks and tips across all As treatments. R. intraradices inoculation obviously decreased the percentage of root length in the 0- to 0.2-mm diameter class and increased those in the 0.5- to 1.0-mm and >1.0-mm diameter classes; the percentages in the 0.2- to 0.5-mm diameter class were less affected by R. intraradices inoculation. The concentrations of the easily extractable glomalin-related (EE-GRSP) and total glomalin-related soil protein (T-GRSP) were higher in the of R. intraradices-inoculated seedlings than those in the non-inoculated seedlings. Furthermore, R. intraradices inoculation increased the concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA), but decreased the concentrations of gibberellic acid (GA) and zeatin riboside (ZR). The phytohormone ratios of IAA/ABA, GA/ABA, ZR/ABA, and (IAA + GA + ZR)/IAA in the R. intraradices-inoculated seedlings were lower than those in the non-inoculated seedlings. These results indicated that R. intraradices alleviated As toxicity in R. pseudoacacia seedlings by improving their plant growth, altering root morphology, regulating the concentrations and ratios of phytohormones, and increasing the concentration of soil glomalin. The results suggested that AMF-inoculated R. pseudoacacia seedlings would be a critical factor in successful vegetation restoration and soil development in As-contaminated soils.
Limited Coping Skills, Young Age, and High BMI Are Risk Factors for Injuries in Contemporary Dance: A 1-Year Prospective Study

This study investigated potential risk factors (coping, perfectionism, and self-regulation) for substantial injuries in contemporary dance students using a prospective cohort design, as high-quality studies focusing on mental risk factors for dance injuries are lacking. Student characteristics (age, sex, BMI, educational program, and history of injury) and psychological constructs (coping, perfectionism, and self-regulation) were assessed using the Performing artist and Athlete Health Monitor (PAHM), a web-based system. Substantial injuries were measured with the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center (OSTRC) Questionnaire on Health Problems and recorded on a monthly basis as part of the PAHM system. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to test the associations between potential risk factors (i.e., student characteristics and psychological constructs) and substantial injuries. Ninety-nine students were included in the analyses. During the academic year 2016/2017, 48 students (48.5%) reported at least one substantial injury. Of all factors included, coping skills (OR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.84–0.98), age (OR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.46–0.98), and BMI (OR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.05–1.80) were identified as significant risk factors in the multivariate analysis. The model explained 24% of the variance in the substantial injury group. Further prospective research into mental risk factors for dance injuries with larger sample sizes is needed to develop preventive strategies. Yet, dance schools could consider including coping skills training as part of injury prevention programs and, perhaps, providing special attention to younger dancers and those with a higher BMI through transitional programs to assist them in managing the stress they experience throughout their (academic) career.
Hypervalent Iodine-Mediated Diastereoselective α-Acetoxylation of Cyclic Ketones

A binary hybrid system comprising a hypervalent iodine(III) reagent and BF3•OEt2 Lewis acid was found to be effective for the diastereoselective α-acetoxylation of cyclic ketones. In this hybrid system, BF3•OEt2 Lewis acid allowed the activation of the hypervalent iodine(III) reagent and cyclic ketones for smooth α-acetoxylation reaction, achieving high diastereoselectivity. This hypervalent iodine-mediated α-acetoxylation of the cyclic ketone reaction plausibly undergoes an SN2 substitution mechanism via an α-C-bound hypervalent iodine intermediate. The diastereoselectivity of the reaction mainly originates from thermodynamic control.
Contention Resolution with Message Deadlines

In the contention-resolution problem, multiple players contend for access to a shared resource. Contention resolution is used in wireless networks, where messages must be transmitted on a shared communication channel. When two or more messages are transmitted at the same time, a collision occurs, and none of the transmissions succeed. Much of the theoretical work on contention resolution has focused on efficiently resolving collisions in order to obtain throughput guarantees. However, in modern-day networks, not all traffic is treated equally. Instead, messages are often handled according to a notion of priority. While throughput remains an important metric, it fails to capture this increasingly-common scenario of traffic prioritization. Motivated by this concern, we design a contention-resolution algorithm where messages have delivery deadlines. Unit-length messages dynamically arrive over time, each with a corresponding delivery deadline that demarcates a window of time wherein the message must be transmitted successfully. We consider inputs that have a feasible schedule, even if message sizes increase by a constant factor. In this setting, we provide an algorithm which guarantees that each message succeeds by its deadline with high probability in its window size.
Upstream migration of amphidromous shrimps in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico: temporal patterns and environmental cues

Abstract Several species of amphidromous shrimp play important roles in the food webs of Neotropical freshwater stream ecosystems. We quantified the timing and magnitude of the upstream migration of 3 genera of amphidromous shrimp on the Rio Espiritu Santo in northeastern Puerto Rico. We then used multiple regression analyses to identify potential environmental factors that affected our observed migration rates. We also conducted artificial stream experiments to assess which potential physical and chemical factors affect migratory behavior. Shrimp post-larvae migration patterns and the environmental factors affecting those patterns were species specific. The migration rates of Xiphocaris elongata and Macrobrachium spp. were more affected by environmental conditions than were those of Atya spp. The migration rates of X. elongata and Macrobrachium spp. were negatively affected by high stream discharge. Atya spp. made up most of the total post-larvae migration; however, Macrobrachium spp. migration was highly seasonal and made up a large proportion of the total shrimp migration in late summer. Migration rates of all post-larvae were uniformly distributed throughout the night. Experimental increases in turbidity had a negative effect on the migratory behavior of Atya spp. and X. elongata post-larvae, as did the presence of fish predators. Our results confirm evolutionary hypotheses regarding migration cues and dynamics of diadromous species. Flow variables provide reliable cues for upstream migration pathways and allow colonization of island habitats, whereas predator-related cues (fish and light) are recognized and avoided, a pattern that suggests adaptation to predation.
Evidence That Higher Temperatures Are Associated With a Marginally Lower Incidence of COVID-19 Cases

Seasonal variations in COVID-19 incidence have been suggested as a potentially important factor in the future trajectory of the pandemic. Using global line-list data on COVID-19 cases reported until 17th of March 2020 and global gridded weather data, we assessed the effects of air temperature and relative humidity on the daily incidence of confirmed COVID-19 local cases at the subnational level (first-level administrative divisions). After adjusting for surveillance capacity and time since first imported case, average temperature had a statistically significant, negative association with COVID-19 incidence for temperatures of −15°C and above. However, temperature only explained a relatively modest amount of the total variation in COVID-19 cases. The effect of relative humidity was not statistically significant. These results suggest that warmer weather may modestly reduce the rate of spread of COVID-19, but anticipation of a substantial decline in transmission due to temperature alone with onset of summer in the northern hemisphere, or in tropical regions, is not warranted by these findings.
HIV-2-Infected Macrophages Produce and Accumulate Poorly Infectious Viral Particles

A significant proportion of HIV-2-infected patients exhibit natural virological control that is generally absent from HIV-1-infected patients. Along with CD4+ T cells, HIV-1 targets macrophages which may contribute to viral spreading and the latent reservoir. We have studied the relationship between macrophages and HIV-2, focusing on post-entry steps. HIV-2-infected monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) produced substantial amounts of viral particles that were largely harbored intracellularly. New viruses assembled at the limiting membrane of internal compartments similar to virus-containing compartments (VCCs) described for HIV-1. VCCs from MDMs infected with either virus shared protein composition and morphology. Strikingly, HIV-2 Gag was mostly absent from the cytosol and almost exclusively localized to the VCCs, whereas HIV-1 Gag was distributed in both locations. Ultrastructural analyses of HIV-2-infected MDMs revealed the presence of numerous VCCs containing both immature and mature particles in the lumen. HIV-2 particles produced de novo by MDMs were poorly infectious in reporter cells and in transmission to activated T cells through a process that appeared independent of BST2 restriction. Rather than being involved in viral spreading, HIV-2-infected macrophages may represent a cell-associated source of viral antigens that can participate in the immune control of HIV-2 infection.
Recent Advancements in the Diagnosis, Prevention, and Prospective Drug Therapy of COVID-19

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (CoV)-2 (SARS-CoV-2), previously called 2019 novel CoV, emerged from China in late December 2019. This virus causes CoV disease-19 (COVID-19), which has been proven a global pandemic leading to a major outbreak. As of June 19, 2020, the data from the World Health Organization (WHO) showed more than 8.7 million confirmed cases in over 200 countries/regions. The WHO has declared COVID-19 as the sixth public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020. CoVs cause illnesses that range in severity from the common cold to severe respiratory illnesses and death. Nevertheless, with technological advances and imperative lessons gained from prior outbreaks, humankind is better outfitted to deal with the latest emerging group of CoVs. Studies on the development of in vitro diagnostic tests, vaccines, and drug re-purposing are being carried out in this field. Currently, no approved treatment is available for SARS-CoV-2 given the lack of evidence. The results from preliminary clinical trials have been mixed as far as improvement in the clinical condition and reduction in the duration of treatment are concerned. A number of new clinical trials are currently in progress to test the efficacy and safety of various approved drugs. This review focuses on recent advancements in the field of development of diagnostic tests, vaccines, and treatment approaches for COVID-19.