Possible domestication of uranium oxides using biological assistance reduction

Uranium has been defined in material research engineering field as one of the most energetic radioactive elements in the entire Mendeleev periodic table. The manipulation of uranium needs higher theories and sophisticated apparatus even in nuclear energy extraction or in many other chemical applications. Above the nuclear exploitation level, the chemical conventional approaches used, require a higher temperature and pressure to control the destination of ionic form. However, it has been discovered later that at biological scale, the manipulation of this actinide is possible under friendly conditions. The review summarizes the relevant properties of uranium element and a brief characterization of nanoparticles, based on some structural techniques. These techniques reveal the common link between chemical approaches and biological assistance in nanoparticles. Also, those biological entities have been able to get it after reduction. Uranium is known for its ability to destroy ductile materials. So, if biological cell can really reduce uranium, then how does it work?     

Contemporary parasite stress curvilinearly correlates with outgroup trust: Cross-country evidence from 2005 to 2014

General trust is trust extended to people from outside one's immediate social network. Two studies have tested a parasite stress explanation of general trust using cross-cultural data, showing a linear negative correlation between parasite stress and trust in “most people.” However, recent studies suggest that 1) trust in most people as a measure of general trust confounds ingroup trust and outgroup trust in cross-cultural surveys and 2) parasite stress can curvilinearly correlate with variables of ingroup embeddedness and outgroup avoidance. Using data from the World Value Survey (WVS) Waves 5 and 6 (N?=?117,370 from 80 countries and geopolitical regions), we found no evidence that parasite stress—measured either as contemporary non-sexually-transmitted-disease (non-STD) stress or as historical pathogen prevalence—curvilinearly correlated with ingroup trust. However, parasite stress significantly curvilinearly correlated with outgroup trust, and the two-line test confirmed that the correlation was U-shaped. This research extends previous work on parasite stress and trust, informs the recent debate on whether parasite stress relates to outgroup avoidance, and suggests directions for developing the parasite stress theory of values and sociality.     

Maternal protectiveness and response to the unfamiliar in vervet monkeys

Vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus) show individual differences in approach-avoidance behavior when faced with an unfamiliar and potentially threatening situation. Prior research from our colony demonstrated that juveniles who had experienced high levels of early maternal protectiveness were more cautious in response to novelty, compared to juveniles who had had less protective mothers. The research reported here was designed to verify this result in a paradigm that experimentally varied maternal protectiveness through the introduction of new breeding adult males. Mothers responded to the presence of new males by increased maternal protectiveness toward infants born in the year following the introductions. Individual differences in response to the unfamiliar were later evaluated by measuring the latency to approach within 1 m of novel food containers placed into the home enclosure of four naturally composed social groups. Infants approached with the same latency and in the same order as their mothers. Juveniles approached sooner than, and independent of, their mother's current behavior, but their latency to approach could be predicted by the experimentally induced variation in maternal protectiveness they had experienced as infants. Immatures who had been born in New Male years, when maternal protectiveness was high, were more cautious and had significantly longer latencies to approach the novel stimulus compared to immatures who had been born in Resident Male years. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Behavioral laterality in captive bonobos (Pan paniscus): Replication and extension

We report observational data on behavioral laterality in 10 captive bonobos (Pan paniscus)at the San Diego Zoo. The unimanual measures include carrying, leading limb in locomotion, self-touching, face-touching, reaching, and gestures. We also recorded bimanual feeding in these subjects. A significant population level left-hand bias exists for carrying. Right-hand biases occur for leading limb in locomotion and gestures. During bimanual feeding, the bonobos hold food items with the left hand while feeding with the right hand. Overall, bonobos exhibit behavioral asymmetries that are similar to previous findings in other pongid ape species. The asymmetries in gestures and bimanual feeding represent novel findings with theoretical implications for the origins of tool use and language.     

Flamingo breeding: The role of group displays

Group displays in flamingos have been presumed to play a role in stimulating synchronous nesting and in facilitating pair formation. This study compares the group displays and breeding success of a captive flock of Caribbean flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) at the National Zoological Park between 2 years: the frequency and synchrony of group displays were measured for a flock of 17 in 1988 and then again in 1989 after flock size was increased to 21. In 1989 the rate of occurrence of display activity increased 48%, the synchrony of group displays increased 100%, the frequency of mounts and copulations almost doubled, and for the first time in the flock's history two fertile eggs were produced. The use of sprinklers to simulate rain had no effect on the group displays. The amount of naturally occurring rainfall in 1989 was almost twice that in 1988. The increased frequency and synchrony of group displays could be attributed to increased flock size, change in sex ratio, addition of strange individuals, or increased rainfall. This study, however, provides evidence for a relationship between behavioral stimulation from group displays and components of breeding success in flamingos.     

Beneficial effects of n-hexane bark extract of Onosma echioides L. on diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Onosma echioides Linn (Boraginaceae) is the most frequently used curative herb widely used for kidney obstruction, sciatic pain, and gout. The present study was designed to investigate the therapeutic effects of n-hexane bark extract of O. echioides (OE) L. root in vivo against Streptozotocin-induced diabetic neuropathy in SD rats. For in vivo activity, the experiment was categorized into five different groups (n = 5). Group-I was considered as nondiabetic/normal control (NC) treated with 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), Group II as diabetic control, Group-III, IV, and V served as diabetic treated with OE 50, OE 100, and pregabalin at a dose of 50, 100, and 10 mg/kg body weight, orally, respectively. Body weight, blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, behavioral studies (motor coordination test, thermal hyperalgesia, cold allodynia, locomotor activity, oxidative biomarkers (thio barbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS], superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione [GSH], and catalase), and histopathology of the sciatic nerve were performed. Treatment with OE showed a dose-dependent increase in neuroprotective activity by improving the myelination and decreasing the axonal swelling of nerve fibers. The verdicts of behavioral activities showed a remarkable effect on animals after the treatment of extract and standard drug pregabalin. In conclusion, our findings supported the traditional application of OE and explored its importance in the management of diabetic neuropathy. Additional clinical experiments may provide novel therapeutic drugs for diabetes and its complications.     

Forest fragments become farmland: Dietary Response of wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) to fast-changing anthropogenic landscapes

Behavioral flexibility, including an ability to modify feeding behavior, is a key trait enabling primates to survive in forest fragments. In human-dominated landscapes, unprotected forest fragments can become progressively degraded, and may be cleared entirely, challenging the capacity of primates to adjust to the changes. We examined responses of wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) to major habitat change: that is, clearance of forest fragments for agriculture. Over 7 years, fragments in Bulindi, Uganda, were reduced in size by 80%. We compared the chimpanzees’ diet at the start and end of this period of rapid deforestation, using data derived mainly from fecal analysis. Similar to other long-term study populations, chimpanzees in Bulindi have a diverse diet comprising over 169 plant foods. However, extensive deforestation seemed to impact their feeding ecology. Dietary changes after fragment clearance included reduced overall frugivory, reduced intake of figs (Ficus spp.; formerly a dietary “staple” for these chimpanzees), and reduced variety of fruits in fecal samples. Nevertheless, the magnitude of most changes was remarkably minor given the extent of forest loss. Agricultural fruits increased in dietary importance, with crops accounting for a greater proportion of fruits in fecal samples after deforestation. In particular, cultivated jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) became a “staple” food for the chimpanzees but was scarcely eaten before fragment clearance. Crops offer some nutritional benefits for primates, being high in carbohydrate energy and low in hard-to-digest fiber. Thus, crop feeding may have offset foraging costs associated with loss of wild foods and reduced overall frugivory for the chimpanzees. The adaptability of many primates offers hope for their conservation in fragmented, rural landscapes. However, long-term data are needed to establish whether potential benefits (i.e. energetic, reproductive) of foraging in agricultural matrix habitats outweigh fitness costs from anthropogenic mortality risk for chimpanzees and other adaptable primates.     

Early liraglutide treatment is better in glucose control, β-cell function improvement and mass preservation in db/db mice

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has been proved to have effects of anti-hyperglycemia and β-cell preservation. However, it is still unclear whether there are differences between early and late GLP-1 intervention in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We divided the mice into 5 groups: early treated group (n = 7, 8-week old, fasting glucose > 10 mmol/l), late treated group (n = 7, 10-week old, fasting glucose > 20 mmol/l), early control group (n = 7), late control group (n = 7) and wild type group (n = 7). Treated group was injected with liraglutide (a GLP-1 analog) 300 μg/kg bid for 4 weeks, while control group was given saline at the same time. The results showed that compared with control group, food intake and body weight gain were reduced in both early and late treated group (p < 0.05), and there was no significance between the two treated groups. Early liraglutide intervention showed better improvements in glucose control, acute insulin response to glucose (AIRg) and disposition index (before vs. after treatment, AIRg 1.01 ± 0.53 vs. 2.98 ± 0.63, disposition index 10.81 ± 0.89 vs. 27.4 ± 2.15) than late intervention (AIRg 0.99 ± 0.02 vs. 1.41 ± 0.32, disposition index 3.47 ± 0.38 vs. 6.43 ± 1.62, p = 0.001). The histopathology of the pancreas showed the estimated β-cell mass (BCM) was increased more in early treated group than that in late one (0.03 vs. 0.01 g). Expressions of the proliferation related genes PDX-1, MafA and GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) in early treated group were 1.81, 2.57 and 1.59 times as much as that in late treated group. In conclusion, early liraglutide intervention was better in glucose control, β-cell function improvement and β-cell mass preservation.