Neotenic formation in laboratory colonies of the termite Coptotermes gestroi after orphaning

The termite Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann 1896) (Rhinotermitidae: Coptotermitinae) is an exotic species in Brazil and information concerning its reproductive developmental biology is scarce. We induced the formation of neotenics in laboratory colonies through orphaning experiments. Orphaning experiments were conducted in three-year old colonies of C. gestroi kept under laboratory conditions. After three months, eight nymphoid neotenics were observed in one colony after queen removal. Histological analysis showed that these neotenics were non-functional. The results suggest that these individuals may have arisen from the first nymphal instar (N1) or from an early N1 instar after one or two larval moults. Neotenics also were recorded on two incipient colonies of C. gestroi that lost the queen naturally

Relationship Between Cardiovascular Disease Pathology and Fatal Opioid and Other Sedative Overdose:A Post-Mortem Investigation and Pilot Study

Introduction: In 2019, Scotland reported the highest number of drug deaths amongst EU countries. Of the 1,264 drug deaths reported in 2019, 94% were related to polysedative use. Studies have proposed a relationship between opioid use and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, the concomitant use of sedatives and opioids has been associated with lethal cardiopulmonary events. However, evidence is still limited for the relationship between polysedative use and cardiovascular diseases. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the association between polysedative use and the underlying cardiovascular pathologies in drug deaths. Methods: This study consisted of a post-mortem investigation of 436 drug deaths. Data extracted from post-mortem reports included socio-demographic characteristics (e.g., gender, age), cardiovascular pathologies (e.g., atherosclerosis, atheroma, and inflammation), in addition to the presence of opioids (e.g. methadone, heroin) and other substances (e.g., alcohol, benzodiazepine) in the blood of the deceased. Stepwise multiple regression models were employed to identify which substances predicted cardiovascular pathologies. Results: The presence of opioids, benzodiazepines, and alcohol in the blood of the deceased predicted overall cardiovascular disease (CVD) severity [R2 = 0.33, F (5, 430) = 39.64, p < 0.0001; adjusted R2 = 0.32, f2 = 0.49]. Positive Beta coefficients may indicate an exacerbation of CVD (B = 0.48 95% CI = 0.25, 0.70) due to the presence of opioids in the blood of the deceased. Negative associations may instead indicate a relative protective effect of alcohol (B = −0.2, 95% CI = −0.41, −0.00) and benzodiazepines (B = −0.29, 95% CI = −0.48, −0.09) on CVD. Conclusion: These findings may inform national clinical guidelines on the need to monitor individuals who abuse opioids for presence of cardiovascular disease risk factors pathologies and provide timely interventions to reduce mortality in the population.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Atratividade de Bucephalogonia xanthophis (Cicadellidae) por voláteis de seu hospedeiro atural Vernonia condensata (Asteraceae)

Plant volatiles are important cues for the orientation of herbivorous insects. It is possible that these compounds indicate whether the plant is suitable for feeding and larval development, or for mating aggregation. Vernonia condensata (Asteraceae) is known to attract species of leafhoppers, most of them important vectors of the citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC). In this study, we evaluated the role of volatiles of V. condensata on the orientation of Bucephalogonia xanthophis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Four-arm olfactometer bioassays showed that only males were attracted to the volatiles of the host-plants Citrus sp. and V. condensata. Furthermore, fresh leaves of V. condensata induced a stronger response than volatiles from hexane-extracted leaves. This study opens the possibility to utilize V. condensata volatiles for pest management programs of B. xanthopis.Os voláteis de plantas são sinais importantes para a orientação de insetos herbívoros. É possível que esses compostos indiquem que a planta é apropriada para alimentação e desenvolvimento larval, ou para agrupamento reprodutivo. Vernonia condensata (Asteraceae) atrai espécies de cigarrinhas, muitas delas vetores da clorose variegada dos citros (CVC). Neste trabalho, foi avaliado o papel dos voláteis de V. condensata na orientação de Bucephalogonia xanthophis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Bioensaios em olfatômetro de quatro braços mostraram que somente os machos foram atraídos pelos voláteis das plantas hospedeiras Citrus sp. e V. condensata, sendo que os voláteis das folhas frescas de V. condensata induziram uma maior resposta quando comparada aos extratos hexânicos da planta. A possibilidade de usar os voláteis de V. condensata abre novas perspectivas para programas e alternativas para o manejo de pragas.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa no Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Influence of nanoliposomes incorporation on properties of film forming dispersions and films based on corn starch and sodium caseinate

The incorporation of potentially antimicrobial volatile compounds (orange essential oil and limonene) into soy and rapeseed nanoliposomes was carried out by encapsulating them trough sonication of their aqueous dispersions. Nanoliposomes were added to starch-sodium caseinate (50:50) film forming dispersions, which were dried to obtain films without losses of the volatile compounds. Structural, mechanical and optical properties of the films were analysed, as well as their antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes. The addition of liposomes in the polymeric matrix supposed a decrease of the mechanical resistance and extensibility of the films. The natural colour of lecithin conferred a loss of lightness, a chroma gain and a redder hue to the films, which were also less transparent than the control one, regardless the lecithin and volatile considered. The possible antimicrobial activity of the films containing orange essential oil or limonene was not observed, which could be due to their low antilisterial activity or to the inhibition effect of the encapsulation which difficult their release from the matrix.Jiménez Marco, A.; Sánchez González, L.; Desobry, S.; Chiralt Boix, MA.; Arab Tehrany, E. (2014). Influence of nanoliposomes incorporation on properties of film forming dispersions and films based on corn starch and sodium caseinate. Food Hydrocolloids. 35:159-169. doi:10.1016/j.foodhyd.2013.05.006S1591693

Total energy expenditure is repeatable in adults but not associated with short-term changes in body composition

Low total energy expenditure (TEE, MJ/d) has been a hypothesized risk factor for weight gain, but repeatability of TEE, a critical variable in longitudinal studies of energy balance, is understudied. We examine repeated doubly labeled water (DLW) measurements of TEE in 348 adults and 47 children from the IAEA DLW Database (mean ± SD time interval: 1.9 ± 2.9 y) to assess repeatability of TEE, and to examine if TEE adjusted for age, sex, fat-free mass, and fat mass is associated with changes in weight or body composition. Here, we report that repeatability of TEE is high for adults, but not children. Bivariate Bayesian mixed models show no among or within-individual correlation between body composition (fat mass or percentage) and unadjusted TEE in adults. For adults aged 20-60 y (N = 267; time interval: 7.4 ± 12.2 weeks), increases in adjusted TEE are associated with weight gain but not with changes in body composition; results are similar for subjects with intervals >4 weeks (N = 53; 29.1 ± 12.8 weeks). This suggests low TEE is not a risk factor for, and high TEE is not protective against, weight or body fat gain over the time intervals tested

Greater male variability in daily energy expenditure develops through puberty

The authors also gratefully acknowledge funding from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (grant no. CAS153E11KYSB20190045) to J.R.S. and the US National Science Foundation (grant no. BCS-1824466) awarded to H.P. Acknowledgements Yvonne Schönbeck provided important information about morphometric measurements for Dutch children. A chat over dinner with Karsten Koehler, Eimear Dolan and Danny Longman brought up a number of thoughts that influenced this manuscript. The DLW database, which can be found at https://doublylabelled-waterdatabase.iaea.org/home, is hosted by the IAEA and generously supported by Taiyo Nippon Sanso and SERCON. We are grateful to the IAEA and these companies for their support and especially to Takashi Oono for his tremendous efforts at fundraising on our behalf.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Variability in energy expenditure is much greater in males than females

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Variability in energy expenditure is much greater in males than females

In mammals, trait variation is often reported to be greater among males than females. However, to date, mainly only morphological traits have been studied. Energy expenditure represents the metabolic costs of multiple physical, physiological, and behavioral traits. Energy expenditure could exhibit particularly high greater male variation through a cumulative effect if those traits mostly exhibit greater male variation, or a lack of greater male variation if many of them do not. Sex differences in energy expenditure variation have been little explored. We analyzed a large database on energy expenditure in adult humans (1494 males and 3108 females) to investigate whether humans have evolved sex differences in the degree of interindividual variation in energy expenditure. We found that, even when statistically comparing males and females of the same age, height, and body composition, there is much more variation in total, activity, and basal energy expenditure among males. However, with aging, variation in total energy expenditure decreases, and because this happens more rapidly in males, the magnitude of greater male variation, though still large, is attenuated in older age groups. Considerably greater male variation in both total and activity energy expenditure could be explained by greater male variation in levels of daily activity. The considerably greater male variation in basal energy expenditure is remarkable and may be explained, at least in part, by greater male variation in the size of energy-demanding organs. If energy expenditure is a trait that is of indirect interest to females when choosing a sexual partner, this would suggest that energy expenditure is under sexual selection. However, we present a novel energetics model demonstrating that it is also possible that females have been under stabilizing selection pressure for an intermediate basal energy expenditure to maximize energy available for reproduction. (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe