The Allometry of Bee Proboscis Length and Its Uses in Ecology

Allometric relationships among morphological traits underlie important patterns in ecology. These relationships are often phylogenetically shared; thus quantifying allometric relationships may allow for estimating difficult-to-measure traits across species. One such trait, proboscis length in bees, is assumed to be important in structuring bee communities and plant-pollinator networks. However, it is difficult to measure and thus rarely included in ecological analyses. We measured intertegular distance (as a measure of body size) and proboscis length (glossa and prementum, both individually and combined) of 786 individual bees of 100 species across 5 of the 7 extant bee families (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila). Using linear models and model selection, we determined which parameters provided the best estimate of proboscis length. We then used coefficients to estimate the relationship between intertegular distance and proboscis length, while also considering family. Using allometric equations with an estimation for a scaling coefficient between intertegular distance and proboscis length and coefficients for each family, we explain 91% of the variance in species-level means for bee proboscis length among bee species. However, within species, individual-level intertegular distance was a poor predictor of individual proboscis length. To make our findings easy to use, we created an R package that allows estimation of proboscis length for individual bee species by inputting only family and intertegular distance. The R package also calculates foraging distance and body mass based on previously published equations. Thus by considering both taxonomy and intertegular distance we enable accurate estimation of an ecologically and evolutionarily important trait.     

CO2 Saturation and Trophic Shift Induced by Microbial Metabolic Processes in a River-Dominated Ocean Margin (Tropical Shallow Lagoon,Chilika, India)

An effort has been made for the first time in Asia's largest brackish water lagoon, Chilika, to investigate the spatio-temporal variability in primary productivity (PP), bacterial productivity (BP), bacterial abundance (BA), bacterial respiration (BR) and bacterial growth efficiency (BGE) in relation to partial pressure of CO₂ (pCO₂) and CO₂ air–water flux and the resultant trophic switchover. Annually, PP ranged between 24 and 376 µg C L^?1 d^?1 with significantly low values throughout the monsoon (MN), caused by light limitation due to inputs of riverine suspended matter. On the contrary, BP and BR ranged from 11.5 to 186.3 µg C L^?1 d^?1 and from 14.1 to 389.4 µg C L^?1 d^?1, respectively, with exceptionally higher values during MN. A wide spatial and temporal variation in the lagoon trophic status was apparent from BP/PP (0.05–6.4) and PP/BR (0.10–18.2) ratios. The seasonal shift in net pelagic production from autotrophy to heterotrophy due to terrestrial organic matter inputs via rivers, enhanced the bacterial metabolism during the MN, as evident from the high pCO₂ (10,134 µatm) and CO₂ air–water flux (714 mm m^?2 d^?1). Large variability in BGE and BP/PP ratios especially during MN led to high bacteria-mediated carbon fluxes which was evident from significantly high bacterial carbon demand (BCD >100% of PP) during this season. This suggested that the net amount of organic carbon (either dissolved or particulate form) synthesized by primary producers in the lagoon was not sufficient to satisfy the bacterial carbon requirements. Lagoon sustained low to moderate autotrophic–heterotrophic coupling with annual mean BCD of 231% relative to the primary production, which depicted that bacterioplankton are the mainstay of the lagoon biogeochemical cycles and principal players that bring changes in trophic status. Study disclosed that the high CO₂ supersaturation and oxygen undersaturation during MN was attributed to the increased heterotrophic respiration (in excess of PP) fuelled by allochthonous organic matter. On a spatial scale, lagoon sectors such as south sector, central sector and outer channel recorded “net autotrophic,” while the northern sector showed “net heterotrophic” throughout the study period.     

Bringing Conducting Polymers to High Order: Toward Conductivities beyond 105 S cm−1 and Thermoelectric Power Factors of 2 mW m−1 K−2

Here, an effective design strategy of polymer thermoelectric materials based on structural control in doped polymer semiconductors is presented. The strategy is illustrated for two archetypical polythiophenes, e.g., poly(2,5‐bis(3‐dodecyl‐2‐thienyl)thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene) (C₁₂‐PBTTT) and regioregular poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT). FeCl₃ doping of aligned films results in charge conductivities up to 2 × 10⁵ S cm^?1 and metallic‐like thermopowers similar to iodine‐doped polyacetylene. The films are almost optically transparent and show strongly polarized near‐infrared polaronic bands (dichroic ratio >10). The comparative study of structure–property correlations in P3HT and C₁₂‐PBTTT identifies three conditions to obtain conductivities beyond 10⁵ S cm^?1: i) achieve high in‐plane orientation of conjugated polymers with high persistence length; ii) ensure uniform chain oxidation of the polymer backbones by regular intercalation of dopant molecules in the polymer structure without disrupting alignment of π‐stacked layers; and iii) maintain a percolating nanomorphology along the chain direction. The highly anisotropic conducting polymer films are ideal model systems to investigate the correlations between thermopower S and charge conductivity σ. A scaling law S ∝ σ^?1/4 prevails along the chain direction, but a different S ∝ ?ln(σ) relation is observed perpendicular to the chains, suggesting different charge transport mechanisms. The simultaneous increase of charge conductivity and thermopower along the chain direction results in a substantial improvement of thermoelectric power factors up to 2 mW m^?1 K^?2 in C₁₂‐PBTTT.     

Zingerone induced caspase‐dependent apoptosis in MCF‐7 cells and prevents 7,12‐dimethylbenz(a)anthracene‐induced mammary carcinogenesis in experimental rats

Breast cancer is a prevalent of tumoregenesis in women and reports for the maximum mortality and morbidity in the global. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is the mainly widespread spice and herbal remedies used in the world. Since antique periods, ginger has been used in Greece, India and China for the curing of upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, colds, and headaches. The current work was planned to explore the anticancer properties of zingerone (ZO) toward 7,12‐dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)‐treated mammary carcinogenesis in Sprague‐Dawley (SD) rats and MCF‐7 mammary cancer cells. The mammary carcinogenesis was produced through a single dosage of DMBA (20 mg/kg bwt) mixed in soya oil (1 mL) administrated intragastrically with a gavage. We found improved concentrations of lipid peroxidation (LOOH and TBARS), carcinoembryonic antigen, lowered levels of enzymatic (CAT, GPx, and SOD), and nonenzymatic (vitamin E, GSH, and vitamin C) antioxidant in mammary tissues and plasma of DMBA‐induced cancer bearing animals. Moreover, augmented concentrations of phase I (Cyt‐b₅ and CYP₄₅₀) and reduced levels of phase II (GR and GST) detoxification microsomal proteins in mammary tissues were noticed. ZO administrations significantly reverted back to all these parameters in this way, showing efficient of anticancer effect. Furthermore, our in vitro study also supported the anticancer effect of the treatment of ZO were noticed loss of cell viability, improved reactive oxygen species formation, and reduced MMP. Furthermore, the status of apoptosis proteins such as Bcl‐2, Bax, and Bid expressions was determined by using Western blot analysis techniques. Overall, these results proposed the anticancer effect of ZO toward DMBA‐induced mammary cancer in SD animals and Michigan cancer foundation‐7 mammary cancer cells.     

A ginger derivative,zingerone—a phenolic compound—induces ROS‐mediated apoptosis in colon cancer cells (HCT‐116)

Zingerone (ZO), an active phenolic agent derived from Zingiber officinale (Ginger), has many pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, antiangiogenic, and antitumor. However, its potential value in cancer and the mechanism by which ZO wields its therapeutic effects remain obscure. Therefore, in this current study, we explored the effects of ZO on suppressing cell proliferation and enhancing apoptosis in colon cancer cells (HCT116). Our results indicated that ZO significantly enhances the production of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance [TBARS]), and loss of cell viability; and reduces mitochondrial membrane potential and antioxidant levels (SOD, CAT, and GSH) in ZO‐treated HCT116 cells in a dose‐dependent (2.5, 5, and 10 µM) manner. Furthermore, ZO induces oxidative stress‐mediated apoptosis as evidenced by apoptotic morphological changes predicted by AO/EtBr, Hoechst staining and further confirmed by comet assay. Moreover, immunoblotting techniques showed that ZO treatment effectively enhances Bax, caspase‐9, and caspase‐3 expressions and decreases the expression of Bcl‐2 in colon cancer cells. Together, our results evidenced that the antitumor effects of ZO reduce cell proliferation and stimulate apoptosis through modulating pro‐ and antiapoptotic molecular events in HCT116 colon cancer cells. Therefore, based on our findings, ZO may be used as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of colon cancer.     

Prospects for seascape repair: Three case studies from eastern Australia

Three case studies spanning tropical, subtropical and temperate environments highlight the minimum potential benefits of investing in repair of coastal seascapes. Fisheries, a market benefit indicator readily understood by a range of stakeholders from policymakers to community advocates, were used as a surrogate for ecosystem services generated through seascape habitat restoration. For each case study, while recognising that biological information will always remain imperfect, the prospects for seascape repair are compelling.     

Insulin adsorption onto zinc oxide nanoparticle mediates conformational rearrangement into amyloid-prone structure with enhanced cytotoxic propensity

Background

Injection localized amyloidosis is one of the most prevalent disorders in type II diabetes mellitus (TIIDM) patients relying on insulin injections. Previous studies have reported that nanoparticles can play a role in the amyloidogenic process of proteins. Hence, the present study deals with the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONP) on the amyloidogenicity and cytotoxicity of insulin.

Insights into the structure–function relationship of brown plant hopper resistance protein,Bph14 of rice plant: a computational structural biology approach

Brown plant hopper (BPH) is one of the major destructive insect pests of rice, causing severe yield loss. Thirty-two BPH resistance genes have been identified in cultivated and wild species of rice Although, molecular mechanism of rice plant resistance against BPH studied through map-based cloning, due to non-existence of NMR/crystal structures of Bph14 protein, recognition of leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain and its interaction with different ligands are poorly understood. Thus, in the present study, in silico approach was adopted to predict three-dimensional structure of LRR domain of Bph14 using comparative modelling approach followed by interaction study with jasmonic and salicylic acids. LRR domain along with LRR-jasmonic and salicylic acid complexes were subjected to dynamic simulation using GROMACS, individually, for energy minimisation and refinement of the structure. Final binding energy of jasmonic and salicylic acid with LRR domain was calculated using MM/PBSA. Free-energy landscape analysis revealed that overall stability of LRR domain of Bph14 is not much affected after forming complex with jasmonic and salicylic acid. MM/PBSA analysis revealed that binding affinities of LRR domain towards salicylic acid is higher as compared to jasmonic acid. Interaction study of LRR domain with salicylic acid and jasmonic acid reveals that THR987 of LRR form hydrogen bond with both complexes. Thus, THR987 plays active role in the Bph14 and phytochemical interaction for inducing resistance in rice plant against BPH. In future, Bph14 gene and phytochemicals could be used in BPH management and development of novel resistant varieties for increasing rice yield.     

Acute and subchronic toxicity of aflatoxin B1 to rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton)

Pathological alterations in various organs of rohu (L. rohita) fingerlings following acute (0, 7.50, 11.25 and 13.75 mg/kg body weight) and subchronic (0, 1.25 and 2.50 mg/kg body weight) single i.p. aflatoxin B1 exposure for 10 and 90 days, respectively, were investigated. Mortality (dose-dependent) was marked only during acute toxicosis. The changes observed in various organs were dose and time dependent. The acute dose groups revealed toxic changes viz., necrotic and vascular changes in liver and gill lamellae; meningitis, congestion in brain, degeneration and inflammatory reaction in heart along with degenerative to necrotic changes in kidney tubules and sloughing of the intestinal mucosa. During subchronic exposure to this toxin, preneoplastic lesions in liver along with changes in spleen, intestine, gill and pancreas were recorded. With low doses of aflatoxin, the fish did not reveal any mortality or external signs other than catchexia and increased pigmentation on scales. In composite culture practice of Indian major carps, this could be of economic significance.