Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phenotypic plasticity in reproductive behaviour of waterstriders : trade-offs between reproduction and longevity during food stress

This paper addresses the question of how plasticity of reproductive behaviour varies between and within waterstrider species. I focus especially on how females differ in trade-offs between longevity and reproductive investment as the food availability changes. I reared long-winged waterstriders in high and low food levels. The trade-off between reproductive investment and longevity was measured as changes in life-span and fecundity at a low food level compared to that at an abundant food level. The direction of trade-off was compared (1) between morphs that differ in flight ability, (2) between Finnish and Hungarian populations of Gerris thoracicus Schummel, and (3) among Finnish G. thoracicus, G. odontogaster (Zett.) and G. lacustris (L.) populations. Results show differences in phenotypic plasticity at all levels. When the environment was relatively permanent or as the number of generations increased, females maintained relatively high reproductive investment when food was scarce even at the cost of reduced life-span. In unpredictable environments, females reduced reproduction during food stress so that they maintained long reproductive life-spans. The cost of being able to fly differed between populations of G. thoracicus. In the Finnish population females that could fly had shorter life-spans during food stress than flightless females. In the Hungarian population flightless females had higher fecundity than flyers. Hence phenotypic plasticity in reproductive behaviour is an important life-history trait. The direction of trade-off between reproduction and longevity may vary between two females that have * Present address: A. Kaitala, University of Stockholm, Department of Zoology, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden. the same reproductive potential in optimal food conditions. Hence the two females have totally different reproductive tactics in response to variation in resources. Key-words: Flight-muscle histolysis, food stress, longevity, phenotypic plasticity, reproduction, trade-off, waterstriders
Using a structured decision analysis to evaluate bald eagle vital signs monitoring in Southwest Alaska National Parks

Abstract Monitoring programs can benefit from an adaptive monitoring approach, where key decisions about why, where, what, and how to monitor are revisited periodically in order to ensure programmatic relevancy. The National Park Service (NPS) monitors status and trends of vital signs to evaluate compliance with the NPS mission. Although abundant, The Southwest Alaska Network (SWAN) monitors bald eagles because of their inherent importance to park visitors and role as an important ecological indicator. Our goal is to identify an optimal monitoring program that may be standardized among participating parks. We gathered an expert panel of scientists and managers, and implemented a Delphi Process to gather information about the bald eagle monitoring program. Panelists generated a list of means objectives for the monitoring program: minimizing cost, minimizing effort, maximizing the ability to detect change in bald eagle populations, and maximizing the amount of accurate information collected about bald eagles. We used a swing‐weighting technique to assign importance to each objective. Collecting accurate information about bald eagles was considered the most important means objective. Combining panelist‐generated information with objective importance, we analyzed the scenarios and defined the optimal decision using linear value modeling. Through our analysis, we found that a “Comprehensive” monitoring scenario, comprised of all feasible monitoring metrics, is the optimal monitoring scenario. Even with greatly increased cost, the Comprehensive monitoring scenario remains the best solution. We suggest further exploration of the cost and effort required for the Comprehensive scenario, to determine whether it is in the parks’ best interest to begin monitoring additional metrics.
Acaricidal Tests of Nine Pesticides Against the Two-Spotted Spider Mite, a Serious Pest of Brinjal (Eggplant) in West Bengal

Tests were performed with 9 acaricides in different dosages against the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, a serious pest of brinjal in West Bengal. In general all the pesticides gave good results in knockdown and residual persistence for the test period. Tetradown (Tedion®) was somewhat slow in action but showed good residual effect. The acaricides from tile viewpoint of economics, can he arranged serially as follows: wettable sulfur, carbophenothion (Trithion®), elmental sulphur in colloidal form (Sulkol®), phosphamidon (Dimecron®), tetradifon, dimethoate (Rogor®), dicofol (Kelthanc®), lime sulfur, and chlorobenzilate (Akar®). Though wettable sulfur is the cheapest material for the control of mites alone, carbophenothion appears to be most economical, as it is effective against a wide range of pests associated with the mite.
Ecology of Blue-winged Warblers, Golden-winged Warblers and Some Other Vermivora

Blue-winged Warblers (Vermivora pinus) and Goldenwinged Warblers (V. chrysoptera) have become extensively sympatric in the last 100 years and hybridize where they meet. The two species bred in the same habitats in a study area in central New York, although Bluewings occupied wetter areas to a greater extent than Golden-wings over a three-year period. However, in 1966, when Golden-wings were no longer present, Blue-wings occupied drier areas as well. The two species fed in the same manner and in the same locations. Blue-wings foraged faster and probably slightly more effectively than Golden-wings and hybrids. It is concluded that the two species have very similar ecological requirements, that they are in competition, and cannot coexist indefinitely. Th2 foraging patterns of other members of the genus for which there is information are similar to V. pinus and V. chrysoptera. The bills of Vermivora are very straight and acute at the tip, adaptations for probing buds and leaf clusters and for feeding in flowers. The North American species show some degree of habitat exclusion. Ecological implications for the evolution of the genus are discussed. INTRODUCTION Ecological studies of closely related sympatric species have been of value in testing the hypothesis that two species cannot coexist indefinitely if they have the same ecological requirements (Gause, 1934; Lack, 1944). Closely related sympatric avian species usually differ in habitat (Lack, 1944), method of feeding (MacArthur, 1958; Dixon, 1961), location of feeding (Dixon, 1961; Dilger, 1956; MacArthur, 1958), nature and size of food (Betts, 1955), or are interspecifically territorial (Grant, 1966). Although members of the large warbler genus Dendroica have been the subject of ecological studies (MacArthur, 1958; Ficken, Ficken and Morse, in press), there is little published information on the closely related genus Vermivora, an assemblage of eight North American species and three primarily Central American ones. The purpose of this paper is to describe the ecological relationships of two hybridizing species, the Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora pinus) and the Goldenwinged Warbler (V. chrysoptera), and to discuss their ecology in relation to their reproductive relationships. The feeding ecology of some other members of the genus is described and related to their evolution. METHODS We observed Blue-winged Warblers, Golden-winged Warblers, and "Brewster's" hybrids at Varna (Tompkins Co.), New York, in May and June 1961, May through August 1962, and May 1963 and 1966. By 1 Present address: Department of Zoology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211.
Bacteria-triggered tumor-specific thrombosis to enable potent photothermal immunotherapy of cancer

Intravenous injection of bacteria into mice is able to trigger tumor-specific thrombosis and photothermal immunotherapy of cancer. We discovered that attenuated Salmonella after intravenous injection would proliferate within various types of solid tumors but show rapid clearance in normal organs, without rendering notable toxicity. Bacteria-induced inflammation would trigger thrombosis in the infected tumors by destroying tumor blood vessels. Six types of tested tumors would all turn into darkened color with strong near-infrared absorbance, as observed by photoacoustic imaging. Under laser irradiation, those bacterial-infected tumors would be effectively ablated. Because of the immune-stimulation function, such bacteria-based photothermal therapy (PTT) would subsequently trigger antitumor immune responses, which could be further enhanced by immune checkpoint blockade to effectively suppress the growth of abscopal tumors. A robust immune memory effect to reject rechallenged tumors is also observed after bacteria-based PTT. Our work demonstrates that bacteria by themselves could act as a tumor-specific PTT agent to enable photoimmunotherapy cancer therapy to inhibit tumor metastasis and recurrence.
Floral Biology and Floral Rewards of Lysimachia (Primulaceae)

Field and chemical studies have shown that female bees of the genus Macropis (Melittidae) visit flowers of Lysimachia (Primulaceae) in the New World in order to collect liquids secreted by trichome elaiophores at the bases of the petals and/or anther filaments. The association between the genera is not obligatory on the part of the plants. Several New World species are restricted to areas without Macropis. All New World taxa appear to reproduce vegetatively via rhizomes and can apparently be pollinated by other bees. While reports are few, they indicate dependency of Macropis on Lysimachia and suggest a predominant association with L. ciliata.
Evidence that the ProPerDP method is inadequate for protein persulfidation detection due to lack of specificity

The specificity of ProPerDP method is too low for analysis of protein persulfidation. Protein persulfidation (protein-SSH) is a previously unidentified type of modification found in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells in recent years. Although a few persulfidated proteins have been identified, analyzing protein persulfidation from a proteomic level is still a big challenge. ProPerDP is a persulfidation detection method recently reported in Science Advances. The authors claimed that this method could specifically detect persulfidated proteins of cell lysate with minor false-positive hits; hence, it could be used for proteomic-level analysis of protein persulfidation. However, when using this method for Escherichia coli cell lysate analysis, we found that the percentage of false-positive hit was >90%. We performed a systematic study on this method and discovered that iodoacetyl-PEG2-biotin tag mislabeling is the reason causing this low specificity. We concluded that the ProPerDP method is completely inadequate for persulfidation analysis. The previous findings based on the ProPerDP method need to be reinvestigated.
Decades-old model of slow adaptation in sensory hair cells is not supported in mammals

Decades-old model of slow adaptation in sensory hair cells of the auditory and vestibular systems requires revamp. Hair cells detect sound and motion through a mechano-electric transduction (MET) process mediated by tip links connecting shorter stereocilia to adjacent taller stereocilia. Adaptation is a key feature of MET that regulates a cell’s dynamic range and frequency selectivity. A decades-old hypothesis proposes that slow adaptation requires myosin motors to modulate the tip-link position on taller stereocilia. This “motor model” depended on data suggesting that the receptor current decay had a time course similar to that of hair-bundle creep (a continued movement in the direction of a step-like force stimulus). Using cochlear and vestibular hair cells of mice, rats, and gerbils, we assessed how modulating adaptation affected hair-bundle creep. Our results are consistent with slow adaptation requiring myosin motors. However, the hair-bundle creep and slow adaptation were uncorrelated, challenging a critical piece of evidence upholding the motor model. Considering these data, we propose a revised model of hair cell adaptation.
A durable nanomesh on-skin strain gauge for natural skin motion monitoring with minimum mechanical constraints

A thin, soft nanomesh strain gauge enables natural skin motion monitoring with minimum mechanical constraints. Ultraconformable strain gauge can be applied directly to human skin for continuous motion activity monitoring, which has seen widespread application in interactive robotics, human motion detection, personal health monitoring, and therapeutics. However, the development of an on-skin strain gauge that can detect human body motions over a long period of time without disturbing the natural skin movements remains a challenge. Here, we present an ultrathin and durable nanomesh strain gauge for continuous motion activity monitoring that minimizes mechanical constraints on natural skin motions. The device is made from reinforced polyurethane-polydimethylsiloxane (PU-PDMS) nanomeshes and exhibits excellent sustainability, linearity, and durability with low hysteresis. Its thinness geometry and softness provide minimum mechanical interference on natural skin deformations. During speech, the nanomesh-attached face exhibits skin strain mapping comparable to that of a face without nanomeshes. We demonstrate long-term facial stain mapping during speech and the capability for real-time stable full-range body movement detection.
Practical Aspects of the Validation of Toxicity Test Procedures

3ECVAM, JRC Environment Institute, 21020 Ispra (Va), Italy; RITOX, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80.176, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands; Procter & Gamble Health & Beauty Care Europe, Rusham Park, Whitehall Lane, Egham, Surrey TW20 9NW, UK; FRAME, Russell & Burch House, 96-98 North Sherwood Street, Nottingham NGl 4EE, UK; 7Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Division of Toxicology, Box 594, S-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Health, HEF(M) Division, Skipton House, 80 London Road, London SEl 6LW, UK; INSERM U49, Unite deRecherchesHepatologiques, Hopital Pontchaillou, 35033 Rennes, France; ZENECA Central Toxicology Laboratory, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire SKI 0 4T J, UK; 11 BIBRA International, Woodmansterne Road, Carshalton, Surrey SM5 4DS, UK; SIAT In Vzi'ro Toxicology, Technopark, Pfingstweidstrasse 30, CH-8005 Zurich, Switzerland; National Institute of Toxicology, P.O. Box 863, 41080 Seville, Spain; Department of Transplantolof.J? '• Institute of Biostructure/ Medical School, Chalubinskiego 5, 02-004 Warsaw, Poland; 1 ZEBET, Bundesinstitut fur gesundheitlichen Verbraucherschutz und Veteriniirmedizin (BgVV), Diedersdorfer Weg 1, D-12277 Berlin, Germany; Biomedical Technologies InstituteCNR, Via GB Morgagni 30/E, 00161 Rome, Italy
An Integrated Pharmacokinetic Study of an Acanthopanax senticosus Extract Preparation by Combination of Virtual Screening, Systems Pharmacology, and Multi-Component Pharmacokinetics in Rats

In this paper, the integrated pharmacokinetics (PK) of an Acanthopanax senticosus extract preparation (ASEP, named as Ciwujia injection in clinic in China) was explored by combining with multi-component PK in rats, virtual screening, systems pharmacology and molecular docking. Firstly, the ingredients in ASEP with high contents and detectable property in rat plasma were selected. Next, the PK study of the resulted ingredients was performed in rats (1.76 ml/kg and 3.52 ml/kg of 5 times concentrated ASEP, single i.v.). Meanwhile, the drug targets for the ingredients screened out were predicted by using a target fishing online server, PharmMapper (http://www.lilab-ecust.cn/pharmmapper/) with a fit filtration threshold of z’-score >0. Next, the network pharmacology, molecular docking, diseases ontology (DO) analysis, and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were performed respectively for the predicted targets. Finally, the supporting evidences were obtained to characterize the PK markers and carry out the integrated PK study with “plasma-drug concentration sum” or “plasma-drug AUC weighted” methods. As a result, 6 ingredients, involving 5-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA), 3-CQA, 4-CQA, protocatechuic acid, eleutheroside B, and gentiopicroside were selected, and their PK profiles were elucidated. The 6 ingredients were highly related to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis and could mainly interact with similar targets, e.g., GSK3B, PDPK1, PLAU, etc., or pathways, e.g., Insulin, VEGF, FoxO, etc, providing the basis for integrating plasma drug concentration. Ultimately, the 6 ingredients were considered as PK markers and the whole in vivo process of ASEP were characterized. Our study would enhance understanding of the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of ASEP against cardiovascular diseases, and provided useful insights for future integrated PK study on anti-cardiovascular diseases TCM injections.
Modeling of Xerostomia After Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer: A Registry Study

Aim Data from a local quality registry are used to model the risk of late xerostomia after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (HNC), based on dosimetric- and clinical variables. Strengths and weaknesses of using quality registry data are explored. Methods HNC patients treated with radiotherapy at the Karolinska University hospital are entered into a quality registry at routine follow up, recording morbidity according to a modified RTOG/LENT-SOMA scale. Other recorded parameters are performance status, age, gender, tumor location, tumor stage, smoking status, chemotherapy and radiotherapy data, including prescribed dose and organ-at-risk (OAR) dose. Most patients are entered at several time points, but at variable times after treatment. Xerostomia was modeled based on follow-up data from January 2014 to October 2018, resulting in 753 patients. Two endpoints were considered: maximum grade ≥2 (XERG≥2) or grade ≥3 (XERG≥3) late xerostomia. Univariate Cox regression was used to select variables for two multivariate models for each endpoint, one based on the mean dose to the total parotid volume (Dtot) and one based on the mean dose to the contralateral parotid (Dcontra). Cox regression allows the estimation of the risk of xerostomia at different time points; models were presented visually as nomograms estimating the risk at 9, 12, and 24 months respectively. Results The toxicity rates were 366/753 (49%) for XERG≥2 and 40/753 (5.3%) for XERG≥3. The multivariate models included several variables for XERG≥2, and dose, concomitant chemotherapy and age were included for XERG≥3. Induction chemotherapy and an increased number of fractions per week were associated with a lower risk of XERG≥2. However, since the causality of these relationships have limited support from previous studies, alternative models without these variables were also presented. The models based on the mean dose to the total parotid volume and the contralateral parotid alone were very similar. Conclusion Late xerostomia after radiotherapy can be modeled with reasonable predictive power based on registry data; models are presented for different endpoints highly relevant in clinical practice. However, the risk of modeling indirect relationships, given the unavoidably heterogeneous registry data, needs to be carefully considered in the interpretation of the results.
Spatial relationship between seed and seedling abundance and mortality in a deciduous forest of north-eastern North America

The relationship between seed and seedling spatial patterns of abundance was examined for five tree species in a deciduous forest of north-eastern North America. In this low-diversity forest, seed shadows (from different individuals of a given tree species) may overlap to a significant extent. The selective advantages of greater seed dispersal ability in order to avoid high predation and pathogen attack and intraspecific competition at proximity to the parent tree in unclear in this context. On the study site, there were no strong and consistent relationships between seed and seedling spatial patterns of abundance for any of the tree species studied (.)
Interaction of Neutrophils with Endothelial Cells, Fibroblasts and Their Extracellular Matrices: Microscopic and Computerised Analysis

Polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) interaction with vascular endothelial cells is the initial event in the migration of neutrophils through blood vessel walls before reaching inflammation sites in tissues. The interaction between fibroblasts and endothelial cells and their extracellular matrices might be modulated by the activation of neutrophils that occurs at inflammatory reaction sites. We have used an in vitro model to study PMN function, measuring the adhesion of human PMNs to capillary endothelial cells and fibroblasts grown in culture and to their extracellular matrices. The interaction was measured in basal conditions and in the presence of the chemotactic effector, formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP at the concentration of 10 7M). Adhesion was expressed by the number of adherent PMNs/mm2 on a histological specimen. Moreover, we have adapted a program for image analysis to quantify neutrophil adhesion. Three times more PMNs adhered to matrices than to monolayers, and adherence could be increased by the presence of 10-7M FMLP, except in the case of fibroblast monolayers. We found a good correlation between microscopic observation and computerised image analysis measuring PMN adhesiveness to extracellular matrices.
Use of the Placenta as an Alternative to Animal Experimentation

The human placenta has enormous potential for studying metabolic processes without recourse to animal experimentation. Its greatest advanatage lies in eliminating the necessity for extrapolating results from animal experiments and trying to interpret them in terms of the human situation. The experience of the thalidomide tragedy has underlined this fact beyond all doubt, as this most useful drug for pregnant mothers was without any evidence of teratogenic effects on the rabbit fetus, but proved to be disastrous to the human fetus. Until comparatively recently, the placenta was regarded as a membrane which acted as a barrier between mother and fetus, with a degree of selectivity for the good of both. We now know that the placenta fulfils the functions oflungs, kidneys and liver for the fetus. In addition, it has a vast array of biochemical processes which enable it to provide substances for both its own growth and that of the fetus. Its endocrine capacity for the biosynthesis of a multitude of steroid and peptide hormones is greater than that of any other organ. For instance, it makes approximately 0.25g of progesterone per day in the third trimester (1,2), and then proceeds to render this potent steroid hormone into its innocuous metabolite, pregnanediol. We still do not know why such a large amount of this compound is made on a daily basis, but its various actions on metabolic processes, and the placenta's ability to use it as a starting point for the synthesis of other steroids, may be the reason for its prodigious production. It is now also known that the placenta is a reservoir for many enzymes, and only recently has it begun to be tapped for enzymes required for a variety of processes, including studies on enzyme replacement where genetic deficiencies exist. The advantages of enzymes derived from human sources are obvious, particularly the absence of immunological consequences.