Arthropod fauna on the abaxial and adaxial surfaces of Acacia mangium (Fabaceae) leaves

Acacia mangium (Willd., 1806) (Fabales: Fabaceae) is a fast growing, rustic, pioneer species, with potential to fix nitrogen, and for programs to recover degraded areas. The objective was to evaluate the distribution and the functional diversity of interactions and the K-dominance of arthropod groups on A. mangium saplings. The number of individuals of eleven species of phytophagous insects, three bee species, and fourteen natural enemy species were highest on the adaxial leaf surface of this plant. Abundance, diversity and species richness of phytophagous insects and natural enemies, and abundance and species richness of pollinators were highest on the adaxial A. mangium leaf surface. The distribution of five species of sap-sucking hemipterans and six of protocooperating ants (Hymenoptera), with positive interaction between these groups, and three bee species (Hymenoptera) were aggregated on leaves of A. mangium saplings. Aethalion reticulatum (L.) (Hemiptera: Aethalionidae) and Bemisia sp. (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae); Brachymyrmex sp. and Camponotus sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae); and Trigona spinipes Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Apidae) were the most dominant phytophagous insects, natural enemies, and pollinators, respectively, on A. mangium leaves. Knowledge of preferred leaf surfaces could help integrated pest management programs.

Effect of angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphism on patients with in-stent restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention

Purpose: To evaluate the association between common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene and the risk of in-stent restenosis (ISR) and/or the response to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor ACEI in individuals with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) after stent implantation. Methods: The total population of this study consisted of 200 Egyptian individuals divided into 2 groups - in-stent restenosis (ISR) and non ISR group). Genomic DNA was withdrawn from EDTA whole blood applying a spin column approach and ACE gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Carriers of allele D of ACE gene were significantly more liable to ISR occurrence. However, carriers of allele I were significantly more liable to ISR occurrence after administration of ACEI. There is a negative interaction between DD genotype of ACE gene and ACEI administration on ISR after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, there is a positive interaction between II and ID genotype of ACE gene and ACEI administration on ISR after PCI with bare metal stents (BMS). Conclusion: It is beneficial to implement ACEI in therapeutic regimen in individuals with ID or II genotypes of ACE gene, especially with BMS implementation.

Adjustment of fecundity and sex ratio in response to social environments in a haplodiploid mite

Animals can adjust reproductive strategies in favour of corporation or competition in response to local population size and density, the two key factors of social environments. However, previous studies usually focus on either population size or density but ignore their interactions. Using a haplodiploid spider mite, Tetranychus ludeni Zacher, we carried out a factorial experiment in the laboratory to examine how ovipositing females adjust their fecundity and offspring sex ratio during their early reproductive life under various population size and density. We reveal that females laid significantly more eggs with increasing population size and significantly fewer eggs with increasing population density. This suggests that large populations favour cooperation between individuals and dense populations increase competition. We demonstrate a significant negative interaction of population size and density that resulted in significantly fewer eggs laid in the large and dense populations. Furthermore, we show that females significantly skewed the offspring sex ratio towards female-biased in small populations to reduce the local mate competition among their sons. However, population density incurred no significant impact on offspring sex ratio, while the significant positive interaction of population size and density significantly increased the proportion of female offspring in the large and dense populations, which will minimise food or space competition as females usually disperse after mating at crowded conditions. These results also suggest that population density affecting sex allocation in T. ludeni is intercorrelated with population size. This study provides evidence that animals can manipulate their reproductive output and adjust offspring sex ratio in response to various social environments, and the interactions of different socio-environmental factors may play significant roles.

Changing in the production of anticancer drugs (vinblastine and vincristine) in Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don by potassium and ascorbic acid treatments

Catharanthus roseus seedling was treated with different concentrations (1.5, 3.16, 15, and 30 mmol) and forms (K₂SO₄ and KNO₃) of potassium (K⁺) via Hoagland’s nutrient solution. Ascorbic acid (AsA) was sprayed twice (plant days 68 and 78) with different concentrations (750 and 1 500 mg/L) on the leaves. Vinblastine, vincristine, tryptophan contents, D4H and DAT genes expression, peroxidase activity, and H₂O₂ content of leaves were measured. Potassium in KNO₃ form increased vinblastine (60%) and vincristine (50%), compared to 30% and 20% using K₂SO₄. Vinblastine and vincristine inhibit microtubule assembly and ultimately metaphase-arrested caused by the polymerisation. The genes expression was higher 3 times in KNO₃ and 2.5 times in K₂SO₄ in excess of K⁺. Foliar application of 750 mg/L AsA led to an increase in vinblastine (20%) and vincristine (16%). Both concentrations of AsA had the same additional effect on the expression of D4H and DAT about 30% and 60%, respectively, compared to the control plant. Tryptophan decreased 2.5 times in excess of K⁺ and 35% due to the exterior of AsA. H₂O₂ decreased while peroxidase activity increased along with AsA treatment. A positive interaction existed between the K⁺ and AsA on the amount of vinblastine, vincristine, tryptophan, and gene expression.

Basalt Fibers in Modified Whisker Reinforced Cementitious Composites

The calcium carbonate whisker (CW) and basalt fiber are gaining popularity due to its enhanced mechanical properties in composites. Also, the short and long fibers provide bridging role and resistance against cracking from micro- to macro-scale, respectively. The usage of long and short hybrid basalt fiber along with addition of CW in cement-based composites is still a research gap. In this work, experimental behavior of CW basalt hybrid fiber reinforced mortar is considered with various content and length (3 mm, 6 mm, 12 mm, and 20 mm) of hybrid basalt fibers. In addition to this, synergy performance index is determined to quantitatively evaluate the positive interaction of hybrid basalt fiber in cementitious materials. The strengthening effect of whiskers and basalt fibers are also studied using scanning electron microscopy. The CW with various basalt fiber contents having different length of hybrid basalt fiber is used. It was found that the four various length of hybrid basalt fiber together with CW in cement mortar exhibited enhanced compressive, flexural, and split tensile strength than that of pure mortar and single length basalt fiber reinforced cementitious mortar. The results of synergy performance index showed similar trend with the experimental results. The strengthening effect caused by step by step crack arresting mechanism was also observed in cementitious material.

The Rhizobium-Legume Symbiosis: Co-opting Successful Stress Management

The interaction of bacteria with plants can result in either a positive, negative, or neutral association. The rhizobium-legume interaction is a well-studied model system of a process that is considered a positive interaction. This process has evolved to require a complex signal exchange between the host and the symbiont. During this process, rhizobia are subject to several stresses, including low pH, oxidative stress, osmotic stress, as well as growth inhibiting plant peptides. A great deal of work has been carried out to characterize the bacterial response to these stresses. Many of the responses to stress are also observed to have key roles in symbiotic signaling. We propose that stress tolerance responses have been co-opted by the plant and bacterial partners to play a role in the complex signal exchange that occurs between rhizobia and legumes to establish functional symbiosis. This review will cover how rhizobia tolerate stresses, and how aspects of these tolerance mechanisms play a role in signal exchange between rhizobia and legumes.

The Effectiveness of Governmental Nonpharmaceutical Interventions Against COVID-19 On The Control of Seasonal Influenza Transmission: An Ecological Study

Background: A range of strict nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) had been implemented in many countries to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. These NPIs might also be effective in controlling the seasonal influenza virus, which share the same transmission path with SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of different NPIs for control of seasonal influenza.Methods: Data on 14 NPIs implemented in 33 countries and corresponding data on influenza virologic surveillance were collected. The influenza suppression index was calculated as the difference between the influenza-positive rate during its decline period from 2019 to 2020 and that during influenza epidemic seasons in the previous 9 years. A machine learning model was developed by using extreme gradient boosting tree (XGBoost) regressor to fit NPI data and influenza suppression index. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) was used to characterize NPIs in suppressing influenza.Results: Gathering limitation contributed the most (37.60%) among all NPIs in suppressing influenza transmission in the 2019-2020 influenza season. The top three effective NPIs were gathering limitation, international travel restriction, and school closure. Regarding the three NPIs, their intensity threshold to generate effect were restrictions on the size of gatherings less than 1000 people, travel bans on all regions or total border closure, and closing only some categories of schools, respectively. There was a strong positive interaction effect between mask wearing requirement and gathering limitation, whereas merely implementing mask wearing requirement but ignoring other NPIs would dilute mask wearing requirement’s effectiveness in suppressing influenza.Conclusions: Gathering limitation, travel bans on all regions or total border closure, and closing some levels of schools are the most effective NPIs to suppress influenza transmission. Mask wearing requirement is advised to be combined with gathering limitation and other NPIs. Our findings could facilitate the precise control of future influenza epidemics and potential pandemics.

Positive Interactions Drive Bat Distribution in a Remote Oceanic Archipelago (Azores, Portugal)

One of the fundamental interests in ecology is understanding which factors drive species’ distribution. We aimed to understand the drivers of bat distribution and co-occurrence patterns in a remote, insular system. The two bat species known to occur in the Azores archipelago were used as a model. Echolocation calls were recorded at 414 point-locations haphazardly distributed across the archipelago. Calls were analysed and assigned to each species. Binominal generalised linear models were adjusted using different descriptors at two scales: archipelago and island. The presence of the co-occurring species was included at both scales. The results show that island isolation, habitat and climate play an essential role on the archipelago and island scales, respectively. However, the positive interaction between bat species was the most critical driver of species’ distribution at the island scale. This high co-occurrence pattern at the island scale may result from both species’ maximising foraging profit in a region where prey abundance may be highly variable. However, further research is necessary to clarify the mechanisms behind this positive interaction. Both species are threatened and lack specific management and protection measures. Maintaining this positive interaction between the two species may prove to be fundamental for their conservation.

Positive psychological counseling: Theoretical bases and methodological foundations

The paper gives grounds for designing a new creative model of positive psychological counseling that focuses on developmental and preventive objectives rather than on correctional ones. These developmental and preventive objectives include actualization and transformation of personality resources, optimization of productivity and full personality potential, and tackling them helps overcome normative difficulties, achieve important life goals, implement inmost values and increase subjective well-being. Post-modern paradigm beliefs in complementarity of scientific psychological knowledge and constructivism in the process of its production, ideas of positive approach in psychotherapy, findings in the field of positive psychology, provisions of system and subject approaches to the understanding of personality development, theory of psychological relationships of personality, conceptual ideas of meaningful feelings, regulatory function of secondary images, aspiration of a person to seek and accomplish their purpose in life, types of life orientations were used as theoretical bases and methodological foundations for designing the model of positive psychological counseling. The author describes the goals, objectives and methodological principles of positive psychological counseling: psychological positivity (as a subject’s ability to select and create the best of the real opportunities throughout their self-actualization and realization of the meaning of life), psychological transformation and psychosynthesis, eco-sensitivity and self-transcendence, development and creativity, purposefulness and resourcefulness, personal and phenomenological uniqueness, psychotechnical variability and plasticity, positive interaction.