Vitellogenin Receptor and Neuropeptide Receptors Involved in Reproduction of the Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren)

Social insects have complex forms of social organization. Molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of their reproduction are not fully understood. This dissertation investigated the vitellogenin receptor (VgR), short neuropeptide F (sNPF) receptor, and two insulin receptors (InRs) in the red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta, focusing on their possible roles in the regulation of queen reproduction. Knowledge of these receptors may provide novel ways to manipulate either reproductive castes or overall reproductive outcome, diminishing the fire ant impact as invasive pest. Fire ant virgin queens have more abundant VgR (SiVgR) transcripts than newly-mated queens, but limited egg formation. To elucidate whether queen maturation involved changes in SiVgR expression, we investigated both virgin and mated queens. In both queens, immunofluorescence analysis of ovaries revealed differential SiVgR localization in early and late stage oocytes; however, mated queens showed higher SiVgR expression than virgin queens. In virgin queens, the SiVgR signal was first observed at the oocyte membrane beginning at day 12 post-emergence, coinciding with the maturation period required before a mating flight. SiVgR silencing in virgins through RNA interference abolished egg formation, demonstrating that SiVgR is involved in queen ovarian development pre-mating. The sNPF and insulin signaling pathways have been implicated in the regulation of food intake and body size, and these peptides also play a gonadotropic role in the ovaries of some insect species. To elucidate the sites of action of the sNPF peptide(s), the sNPF receptor tissue expression and cellular localization were analyzed in the queen brain, subesophageal ganglion (SEG), and ovaries by immunofluorescence. Results suggest that the sNPF signaling cascade may be involved in diverse functions, and the sNPF peptide(s) may act in the brain and SEG as neurotransmitter(s) or neuromodulator(s), and in the ovaries as neurohormone(s). In addition, to elucidate the role of insulin signaling pathway in the fire ant, two putative InRs were cloned. Transcriptional expression analyses show that the receptor abundance was negatively correlated with body size and nutrition status in fire ant immatures. In queens, the expression of InRs in different queen tissues correlates with tissue requirements for queen reproductive physiology and behaviors

International tourists purchase intention towards low-carbon tour packages / Teng-Yuan Hsiao, Pei-Ling Sung and Chia-Yun Lu

More attention hence has been paid to low-carbon economic theory to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and understand green development. Therefore, the concept of low-carbon tourism has become increasingly accepted. Also, travel agencies play a crucial role in promoting the concept of environmental protection and low-carbon tourism. In recent years, the importance of the tourism development has been emphasized in Taiwan. The government has developed various tourist policies, and the number of tourists in Taiwan has increased to more than 10 million in 2015. However, no studies have investigated the international tourists in Taiwan who purchased low-carbon tour packages provided by travel agencies. The present study, therefore, explored international tourists’ understanding of low-carbon tour packages in Taiwan, their purchase intention, and willingness to pay. The following results were revealed. First, international tourists in Taiwan exhibited a certain degree of understanding of low-carbon tour packages (M = 3.79). Second, the understanding of low-carbon tour packages significantly influenced purchase intention; particularly, tourists’ views about food and accommodation effectively predicted their purchase intention. Third, 34.5% of international tourists in Taiwan were willing to pay 5% more to purchase low-carbon tour packages, and 32.3% of international tourists in Taiwan were willing to pay 10% more to purchase low-carbon tour packages. That the results of this study can serve as a reference for the government and travel agencies to design and determine prices for low-carbon tour packages

The Design and Implementation of Collaborative Filtering in Data Mining

Data mining is the process of discovering explicit knowledge from large amounts of data stored in database, data warehouse or other repositories. There have been many studies about models of data mining such as association rule, sequential pattern and so on. Collaborative filtering is one of data mining models. In this paper, we propose two approaches to solving the mining process of collaborative filtering. Finally, collaborative filtering mining is applied to Knowledge Management system

A Calcium Bioluminescence Assay for Functional Analysis of Mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and Tick (Rhipicephalus microplus) G Protein-coupled Receptors

Arthropod hormone receptors are potential targets for novel pesticides as they regulate many essential physiological and behavioral processes. The majority of them belong to the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). We have focused on characterizing arthropod kinin receptors from the tick and mosquito. Arthropod kinins are multifunctional neuropeptides with myotropic, diuretic, and neurotransmitter function. Here, a method for systematic analyses of structure-activity relationships of insect kinins on two heterologous kinin receptor-expressing systems is described. We provide important information relevant to the development of biostable kinin analogs with the potential to disrupt the diuretic, myotropic, and/or digestive processes in ticks and mosquitoes

Physiological indexes, psychological resilience, sensory functions, and sleep quality on the cognitive function of older adults with pre-frailty: a predictive study

Population ageing has increased the prevalence of prefrailty comorbid with cognitive impairment among older adults. However, few studies have explored the risk factors common to both prefrailty and cognitive impairment. This study determined the predictive accuracy of demographic characteristics, physiological indexes, psychological resilience, sensory function, and sleep quality on the cognitive function of older adults with prefrailty. In this cross-sectional study, the physiological indexes, psychological resilience, sensory function, sleep quality, and cognitive function of 167 community-dwelling older adults with prefrailty recruited through purposive sampling were measured. SPSS software was used for data coding and compilation. Data analysis involved the use of descriptive statistics, the independent samples t test, the chi-square test, and logistic regression. Overall, in cognitive function, there was no difference in gender but were in age, were incapable of text messaging, had a greater number of chronic diseases, were less able to perform activities of daily living, had low psychological resilience, and had depressive tendencies. In addition, Text messaging capability and depression status can all predict the cognitive impairment state of prefrail older elderly. Physiological indexes, psychological resilience, sensory function, and sleep quality can affect cognitive function in older adults with prefrailty. Meanwhile, depressive tendencies and the inability to send text messages on a mobile device constituted critical predictors of cognitive function in the participants

Role in Diuresis of a Calcitonin Receptor (GPRCAL1) Expressed in a Distal-Proximal Gradient in Renal Organs of the Mosquito Aedes aegypti (L.)

Evolution of anthropophilic hematophagy in insects resulted in the coordination of various physiological processes for survival. In female mosquitoes, a large blood meal provides proteins for egg production and as a trade-off, rapid elimination of the excess water and solutes (Na(+), Cl(-)) is critical for maintaining homeostasis and removing excess weight to resume flight and avoid predation. This post-prandial excretion is achieved by the concerted action of multiple hormones. Diuresis and natriuresis elicited by the calcitonin-like diuretic hormone 31 (DH(31)) are believed to be mediated by a yet uncharacterized calcitonin receptor (GPRCAL) in the mosquito Malpighian tubules (MTs), the renal organs. To contribute knowledge on endocrinology of mosquito diuresis we cloned GPRCAL1 from MT cDNA. This receptor is the ortholog of the DH(31) receptor from Drosophila melanogaster that is expressed in principal cells of the fruit fly MT. Immunofluorescence similarly showed AaegGPRCAL1 is present in MT principal cells in A. aegypti, however, exhibiting an overall gradient-like pattern along the tubule novel for a GPCR in insects. Variegated, cell-specific receptor expression revealed a subpopulation of otherwise phenotypically similar principal cells. To investigate the receptor contribution to fluid elimination, RNAi was followed by urine measurement assays. In vitro, MTs from females that underwent AaegGPRcal1 knock-down exhibited up to 57% decrease in the rate of fluid secretion in response to DH(31). Live females treated with AaegGPRcal1 dsRNA exhibited 30% reduction in fluid excreted after a blood meal. The RNAi-induced phenotype demonstrates the critical contribution of this single secretin-like family B GPCR to fluid excretion in invertebrates and highlights its relevance for the blood feeding adaptation. Our results with the mosquito AaegGPRCAL1 imply that the regulatory function of calcitonin-like receptors for ion and fluid transport in renal organs arose early in evolution

Altered Striatocerebellar Metabolism and Systemic Inflammation in Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most second common neurodegenerative movement disorder. Neuroinflammation due to systemic inflammation and elevated oxidative stress is considered a major factor promoting the pathogenesis of PD, but the relationship of structural brain imaging parameters to clinical inflammatory markers has not been well studied. Our aim was to evaluate the association of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) measures with inflammatory markers. Blood samples were collected from 33 patients with newly diagnosed PD and 30 healthy volunteers. MRS data including levels of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine (Cre), and choline (Cho) were measured in the bilateral basal ganglia and cerebellum. Inflammatory markers included plasma nuclear DNA, plasma mitochondrial DNA, and apoptotic leukocyte levels. The Cho/Cre ratio in the dominant basal ganglion, the dominant basal ganglia to cerebellum ratios of two MRS parameters NAA/Cre and Cho/Cre, and levels of nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA, and apoptotic leukocytes were significantly different between PD patients and normal healthy volunteers. Significant positive correlations were noted between MRS measures and inflammatory marker levels. In conclusion, patients with PD seem to have abnormal levels of inflammatory markers in the peripheral circulation and deficits in MRS measures in the dominant basal ganglion and cerebellum

Use and effectiveness of dapagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a multicenter retrospective study in Taiwan

Aims/Introduction To investigate the clinical outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who initiated dapagliflozin in real-world practice in Taiwan. Materials and Methods In this multicenter retrospective study, adult patients with T2DM who initiated dapagliflozin after May 1st 2016 either as add-on or switch therapy were included. Changes in clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated at 3 and 6 months. Baseline factors associated with dapagliflozin response in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results A total of 1,960 patients were eligible. At 6 months, significant changes were observed: HbA1c by −0.73% (95% confidence interval [CI] −0.80, −0.67), body weight was -1.61 kg (95% CI −1.79, −1.42), and systolic/diastolic blood pressure by −3.6/−1.4 mmHg. Add-on dapagliflozin showed significantly greater HbA1c reduction (−0.82%) than switched therapy (−0.66%) (p = 0.002). The proportion of patients achieving HbA1c <7% target increased from 6% at baseline to 19% at Month 6. Almost 80% of patients experienced at least 1% reduction in HbA1c, and 65% of patients showed both weight loss and reduction in HbA1c. Around 37% of patients had at least 3% weight loss. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated patients with higher baseline HbA1c and those who initiated dapagliflozin as add-on therapy were associated with a greater reduction in HbA1c. Conclusions In this real-world study with the highest patient number of Chinese population to date, the use of dapagliflozin was associated with significant improvement in glycemic control, body weight, and blood pressure in patients with T2DM. Initiating dapagliflozin as add-on therapy showed better glycemic control than as switch therapy

Subcellular localization of Mitf in monocytic cells

Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (Mitf) is a transcription factor that plays an important role in regulating the development of several cell lineages. The subcellular localization of Mitf is dynamic and is associated with its transcription activity. In this study, we examined factors that affect its subcellular localization in cells derived from the monocytic lineage since Mitf is present abundantly in these cells. We identified a domain encoded by Mitf exon 1B1b to be important for Mitf to commute between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Deletion of this domain disrupts the shuttling of Mitf to the cytoplasm and results in its retention in the nucleus. M-CSF and RANKL both induce nuclear translocation of Mitf. We showed that Mitf nuclear transport is greatly influenced by ratio of M-CSF/Mitf protein expression. In addition, cell attachment to a solid surface also is needed for the nuclear transport of Mitf