JournalTOCs

Biologia Futura
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Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles)
ISSN (Print) 2676-8615 - ISSN (Online) 2676-8607
Published by Springer-Verlag

[2468 journals]

Patent landscaping and citation network analysis to reveal the global
research trends in biopriming using microbial inoculants: an insight
toward sustainable agriculture
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  Abstract: As an alternative to harmful chemical fertilizers and toward fulfilling Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, growth promoting rhizobacterial bioinoculants, emerged as potential players. These act in multifunctional ways, including seed colonization, seed germination, stress tolerance and many more, leading to proper growth and development of plants. Biopriming seeds with these beneficial multi-trait microbes is an effective way to introduce them in the soil, and this is an example of bottom-up approach of rhizosphere engineering. Using such sustainable approach is promising and, to investigate and analyze, their research trends are of prime importance. Thus, data were retrieved using Lens and Scopus databases and used for patent landscaping and citation network analysis, respectively. For patent landscaping, documents obtained using customized keyword search were broadly from the past 35 years (1987–2022) and yielded 114 patents which were manually curated in title, abstract and claims (TAC). From the year 2000, interest in this area was observed which further gained momentum from the year 2008, and a maximum peak was observed in the year 2021. Patent profile (filed, granted and published) showed an upward trend during this tenure (1987–2022). In this research article, we aim to provide an overview of current research in this field, identify research hotspots, project future development prospects and make recommendations for further research. Patent landscaping and citation network analysis were used to analyze the recent trends in biopriming approaches using microbial bioinoculants for the first time to identify progress and hotspots in the field of seed priming with PGPRs.
  PubDate: 2023-11-23
The effect of 10-week long yoga training on interoceptive abilities:
cross-sectional and longitudinal investigation of cardiac and gastric
accuracy
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  Abstract: Abstract Based on their characteristics, it is likely that mind–body techniques develop interoception, the perception of bodily state. Nevertheless, findings on mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and body scan techniques are inconclusive. Additionally, the methodological scope is not exhaustive, neither in terms of the intervention nor the applied measure of interoception. This study investigated for the first time the effect of regular yoga training on cardiac and gastric perceptual ability (measured with the mental heartbeat tracking task and the water load task, respectively). With the involvement of 90 female university students (yoga group n = 57, control group n = 33) we did not find any connection between baseline heartbeat perception score and gastric fullness. Moreover, the applied 10-week-long regular yoga training did not develop any of the measured interoceptive abilities. We conclude that yoga might develop other abilities than these specific sensations. Very probably, the measured cardiac and gastric perceptual abilities do not represent bodily sensations in general. It would be worth to investigate, however, the effect of longer yoga training on interoception.
  PubDate: 2023-11-18
Investigation of the effects of mineral elements on flower coloration of
plants growing in different habitats (limestone, serpentine, gypsum)
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  Abstract: Abstract In this study, 25 plant species growing in different habitats in Erzincan province were studied with gypsum (Ebenus macrophylla, Gypsophila lepidioides, Linum flavum, Onobrychis nitida, Paracaryum stenolophum, Psephellus recepii, Tanacetum heterotomum, Verbascum alyssifolium), limestone (Alkanna megacarpa, Alyssum sibiricum, Anthemis sp., Astragalus sp., Chrysophthalmum montanum, Ebenus laguroides, Genista aucheri, Pelargonium endlicherianum, Stachys sparsipilosa), or serpentine (Artedia squamata, Consolida olopetala, Convolvulus pseudoscammania, Erysimum pulchellum, Fumana aciphylla, Gladiolus halophilus, Hypericum thymbrifolium, Salvia indica). Within the scope of the study, element concentrations were determined in plants with different flower colors (yellow, purple–blue–pink, white) and in the soils where they grow. Our goal was to assess whether there were differences in mineral element concentrations within plants from these different areas and whether those differences (if they existed) led to changes in plant morphology, specifically flower coloration. The flowers, leaves and root parts of the collected plants and the soils of the habitats where they grow were pre-treated in the laboratory. Mineral element concentrations in the prepared samples were determined by ICP-MS. Plant and soil data obtained were statistically evaluated, and the differences between the habitats were determined. It was observed that there were differences in terms of mineral elements in the generative and vegetative parts of the plant and these differences impacted flower color; these coloration differences in plants from other areas might be used to indicate the presence of potentially important minerals.
  PubDate: 2023-11-17
Saccharomyces cerevisiae survival against heat stress entails a
communication between CCT and cell wall integrity pathway
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  Abstract: Abstract The chaperonin TRiC/CCT is cytosolic cylindrical complex of 16 subunits encoded by eight essential genes CCT1-8. It contributes to folding 10% of cellular polypeptides in yeast. The strain carrying substitution point mutation G412E in the equatorial domain of Cct7p resulted in the improper folding of substrates. In this study, the Cct7p mutant exhibited sensitivity to non-optimal growth temperatures and cell wall stressors. Heat shock is known to disrupt cell wall and protein stability in budding yeast. Mitogen-activated protein kinase-mediated cell wall integrity pathway gets activated to compensate the perturbed cell wall. Overexpression of the PKC1 and SLT2 genes of MAPK signaling pathway in mutant rescued the growth and cell division defects. Additionally, the genes of the CWI pathway such as SED1, GFA1, PIR1, and RIM21 are down-regulated. The Cct7p mutant strain (G412E) is unable to withstand the heat stress due to the underlying defects in protein folding and cell wall maintenance. Taken together, our results strongly indicate the interaction between CCT and cell wall integrity pathway.
  PubDate: 2023-11-15
The moderating effect of resting heart rate variability on the
relationship between pain catastrophizing and depressed mood: an empirical
study
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  Abstract: Abstract Previous research indicated that pain catastrophizing—a negative emotional and cognitive response toward actual or anticipated pain—could contribute to pain intensity and could be associated with depressive symptoms not just in chronic pain patients but in healthy population as well. Accumulated evidence suggests that resting heart rate variability (HRV) as a putative proxy of emotion regulation could moderate the association of self-reported pain catastrophizing and depressed mood. In the present cross-sectional study, we investigated these associations in a healthy young adult sample controlling for the effect of trait rumination. Seventy-two participants (58 females, mean age = 22.2 ± 1.79 years ranging from 19 to 28 years old) completed the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale and the Ruminative Response Scale. Resting HRV was measured by time domain metric of HRV, the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD). The results showed that the relationship between pain catastrophizing and depressive symptoms is significantly moderated by resting HRV (indexed by lnRMSSD). Specifically, in participants with higher resting HRV there was no significant relationship between the two investigated variables, while in participants with relatively low or medium HRV pain catastrophizing and depressed mood showed significant positive association. The relationship remained significant after controlling for sex, age and trait rumination. These results might indicate that measuring pain catastrophizing and depressive symptoms is warranted in non-clinical samples as well and higher resting HRV could have a buffer or protective role against depressive symptoms.
  PubDate: 2023-11-07
On the taxonomy of the Thalpophila Hübner, 1820-Olivenebula Kishida and
Yoshimoto 1977 generic complex (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Xyleninae)
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  Abstract: Abstract The supraspecific taxa of the Thalpophila generic complex are revised, a new genus Dandirania gen. n. and two new subgenera, Confectania subgen. n. and Wallaceania subgen n. are described. The genus Chlorothalpa Beck,1996) and its subgenus Subthalpa Beck, 1996 are reinstated from synonymy with Olivenebula Kishida and Yoshimoto, 1977. The western Palaearctic (European) species associated with Olivenebula are transferred to Chlorothalpa (comb. rev.). A new Chlorothalpa (Subthalpa) species, C. vargazoli sp. n.; a new Olivenebula species, O. (O.) stanegomboci sp. n. and a new subspecies O. (O.) oberthueri thomasbaroni ssp. n.; and two species and a new subspecies of Dandirania, D. (W.) sramkogabori sp. n., D. (W.) alfredrussellwallacei sp. n. and D. (D.) opulenta schreieri ssp. n. are described. Chlorothalpa (C.) graslini (Culot, 1913), Dandirania (D.) opulenta (Butler, 1889) and D. (W.) largeteaui (Oberthür, 1881) are upgraded to species level (stat. rev.).
  PubDate: 2023-11-07
Biogeographic history, egg colouration, and habitat selection in Turdus
thrushes (Aves: Turdidae)
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  Abstract: Abstract Despite broad interest and recent experimentation, there is no single ecological model accounting for the adaptive significance of the diversity of avian eggshell colouration. The often blue-green eggs of Turdus thrushes are a charismatic example of this, having long captured cultural and scientific attention. Although the biology and evolutionary history of “true” thrushes is well understood, little is known about correlated evolution between shifts in habitat and eggshell pigmentation, and how these shifts map with Turdus biogeography. We applied phylogenetic comparative methods to assess the evolutionary timing of divergence and variation of life history traits and eggshell colouration and maculation presence in the genus. We found that eggshell colour diversified independently on several occasions in the past 11 million years, with much of the variation occurring within the last 4 million years. The majority of Turdus species lay blue-green eggs and also tend to be sedentary and forest-dwelling. Diet generalist species and species which have transitioned to a forest habitat are more likely to lay white eggs (10% of studied species). In turn, lineages in any habitat were more likely to transition to blue-green eggs. We found that variation in egg colour is increased in some clades, of which two lineages radiated in South America and the East Palearctic, in the past 2–4 million years. These findings provide support for the hypothesis that white eggs are more conspicuous to predators in open environments and that multiple, non-mutually exclusive constraints operate on the adaptive function of avian eggshell colour.
  PubDate: 2023-11-02
European Tuber melanosporum plantations: adaptation status in Hungary,
mycorrhizal level, and first ascocarp detection in two truffle orchards
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  Abstract: Abstract Tuber melanosporum is one of the most economically important truffle species. Besides harvesting from its natural habitats, this truffle can also be extensively grown through artificial cultivation. However, the natural habitat of T. melanosporum has drastically declined, and the demand for the truffle in society is rapidly increasing. Therefore, enhancing production in truffle orchards by seeking new places for the establishment and regularly monitoring its adaptability might be an effective method for ensuring the sustainable productivity of the species. As a truffle science, recent information is important to further success in the growth of this truffle species. This study reports mycorrhization level and ascocarp production in two truffle plantations in Hungary. The estimated mycorrhization levels of the host plants were 43.36% in Biatorbágy and 42.93% in Jászszentandrás plantations. In March 2020, the 6-year-old and 18-year-old T. melanosporum plantations yielded around 100 g and 980 g of ascocarps, respectively. In general, adaptation of mycorrhizal seedlings in Hungary may become more effective as present management practices improve.
  PubDate: 2023-11-02
Physicochemical and sequence determinants of antiviral peptides
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  Abstract: Abstract Antiviral peptides (AVPs) open new possibilities as an effective antiviral therapeutic in the current scenario of evolving drug-resistant viruses. Knowledge about the sequence and structure activity relationship in AVPs is still largely unknown. AVPs and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) share several common features but as they target different life forms (living organisms and viruses), exploring the differential sequence features may facilitate in designing specific AVPs. The current work developed accurate prediction models for discriminating (a) AVPs from AMPs, (b) Coronaviridae AVPs from other virus family specific AVPs and (c) highly active AVPs (HAA) from lowly active AVPs (LAA). Further explainable machine learning methods (using model agnostic global interpretable methods) are utilized for exploring and interpreting the physicochemical spaces of AVPs, Coronaviridae AVPs and highly active AVPs. To further understand the association of physicochemical space distribution with pIC50 values, regression models were developed and analyzed using accumulated local effects and interaction strength analysis. An independent sample t-test is used to filter out the significant compositional differences between the smaller length HAA and longer length HAA groups. AVPs prefer lower charge/length ratio and basic residues in comparison with AMPs. Coronaviridae family-specific AVPs have lower propensities for basic amino acids, charge and preference for aspartic acid. Further there is prevalence for basic residues in lowly active AVPs as compared to highly active AVPs. Sequence order effects captured in terms of average amino acid pair distances proved to be more constructive in deciphering the sequences of AVPs.
  PubDate: 2023-10-27
Structural neural correlates of mental fatigue and reward-induced
improvement in performance
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  Abstract: Abstract Neuroimaging studies investigating the association between mental fatigue (henceforth fatigue) and brain physiology have identified many brain regions that may underly the cognitive changes induced by fatigue. These studies focused on the functional changes and functional connectivity of the brain relating to fatigue. The structural correlates of fatigue, however, have received little attention. To fill this gap, this study explored the associations of fatigue with cortical thickness of frontal and parietal regions. In addition, we aimed to explore the associations between reward-induced improvement in performance and neuroanatomical markers in fatigued individuals. Thirty-nine healthy volunteers performed the psychomotor vigilance task for 15 min (i.e., 3 time-on-task blocks of 5 min) out of scanner; followed by an additional rewarded block of the task lasting 5 min. Baseline high-resolution T1-weigthed MR images were obtained. Reaction time increased with time-on-task but got faster again in the rewarded block. Participants’ subjective fatigue increased during task performance. In addition, we found that higher increase in subjective mental fatigue was associated with the cortical thickness of the following areas: bilateral precuneus, right precentral gyrus; right pars triangularis and left superior frontal gyrus. Our results suggest that individual differences in subjective mental fatigue may be explained by differences in the degree of cortical thickness of areas that are associated with motor processes, executive functions, intrinsic alertness and are parts of the default mode network.
  PubDate: 2023-10-27
The role of connection with nature in empirical studies with physiological
measurements: a systematic literature review
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  Abstract: Abstract It is well described that exposure to nature reduces physiological stress, and connectedness to nature can have a moderating effect. However, few studies have so far examined the construction of the connection with nature in relation to physiological processes. In this systematic review, we collected studies that used a physiological measure and included a scale to measure connectedness to nature. Our aim was to assess the role of nature relatedness at the level of physiological processes and to summarize the results published so far. Our review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. A literature search was conducted in 3 different databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar). As keywords, we used all the different questionnaires that measure connectedness to nature, combined with terms related to physiological measures. After final screening, 28 articles met the inclusion criteria for the review. The studies were very diverse in terms of purpose, intervention and methods, so narrative synthesis was conducted without measures of effect. We found evidence for a mediating effect of nature connectedness on the associations between nature exposure and cognitive function, brain activity, blood pressure, cortisol level and mental health. Studies investigating nature relatedness as state-like characteristics have shown that exposure to nature increases the level of connection to nature. Eye-tracking studies have confirmed that this measurement method can be used to investigate nature relatedness at a physiological level, which could be a useful complement to self-report questionnaires in future studies.
  PubDate: 2023-10-18
Agent-based simulations improve abundance estimation
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  Abstract: Abstract Abundance is a fundamental characteristic of every biological population and is the focus of many research programs in ecology and conservation. In this paper I give an overview of the challenges of estimating abundance. I argue that truly understanding, validating, and refining the field techniques and quantitative methods used to estimate abundance can largely benefit from agent-based simulations. I illustrate this through the example of bird point counts and introduce the software bSims to test statistical and biological assumptions for estimating abundance and to aid survey design.
  PubDate: 2023-10-15
How do you do the things that you do' Ethological approach to the
description of robot behaviour
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  Abstract: Abstract The detailed description of behaviour of the interacting parties is becoming more and more important in human–robot interaction (HRI), especially in social robotics (SR). With the rise in the number of publications, there is a substantial need for the objective and comprehensive description of implemented robot behaviours to ensure comparability and reproducibility of the studies. Ethograms and the meticulous analysis of behaviour was introduced long ago in animal behaviour research (cf. ethology). The adoption of this method in SR and HRI can ensure the desired clarity over robot behaviours, while also providing added benefits during robot development, behaviour modelling and analysis of HRI experiments. We provide an overview of the possible uses and advantages of ethograms in HRI, and propose a general framework for describing behaviour which can be adapted to the requirements of specific studies.
  PubDate: 2023-10-09
The bZIP-type transcription factors NapA and RsmA modulate the volumetric
ratio and the relative superoxide ratio of mitochondria in Aspergillus
nidulans
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  Abstract: Abstract Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors are crucial components of differentiation, cellular homeostasis and the environmental stress defense of eukaryotes. In this work, we further studied the consequence of gene deletion and overexpression of two bZIP transcription factors, NapA and RsmA, on superoxide production, mitochondrial morphology and hyphal diameter of Aspergillus nidulans. We have found that reactive oxygen species production was influenced by both gene deletion and overexpression of napA under tert-butylhydroperoxide (tBOOH) elicited oxidative stress. Furthermore, gene expression of napA negatively correlated with mitochondrial volumetric ratio as well as sterigmatocystin production of A. nidulans. High rsmA expression was accompanied with elevated relative superoxide ratio in the second hyphal compartment. A negative correlation between the expression of rsmA and catalase enzyme activity or mitochondrial volumetric ratio was also confirmed by statistical analysis. Hyphal diameter was independent on either rsmA and napA expression as well as 0.2 mM tBOOH treatment.
  PubDate: 2023-10-09
The interference of negative emotional stimuli on semantic vigilance
performance in a dual-task setting
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  Abstract: Abstract A large body of previous research has shown that emotional stimuli have an advantage in a wide variety of cognitive processes. This was mainly observed in visual search and working memory tasks. Emotionally charged objects draw and hold attention, are remembered better, and interfere more with the completion of the primary task than neutral ones. Therefore, it seems reasonable to assume that emotional stimuli also greatly affect sustained attention and vigilance decrement. In the present research, we investigated whether emotional stimuli demand more attentional resources than neutral ones in a dual-task paradigm. We adopted the abbreviated semantic discrimination vigilance task and measured participants’ (N = 49) performance in a single-task and two dual-task settings. In the dual-task conditions, the visual semantic vigilance paradigm was combined with an auditory word recall task (with neutral or emotional stimuli). We found reduced vigilance and improved word recall performance in the emotional dual-task condition compared to the neutral dual-task and single-task conditions. The reduced performance was apparent throughout the task, while in the neutral conditions, participants’ performance first increased and then dropped as time progressed. To conclude, our results indicate that emotional stimuli not only have an advantage in cognitive processing but also demand more attentional resources continuously while it is present compared to neutral stimuli. These results are consistent with the emotionality effect theory and evolutionary accounts of the neural circuits underlying motivated behaviors associated with critical survival needs.
  PubDate: 2023-10-01
Heart activity perception: narrative review on the measures of the cardiac
perceptual ability
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  Abstract: Abstract Measures of cardiac perceptual ability (also called cardiac accuracy) are methods of cardiac interoception, the perception of bodily sensation related to heart activity. This narrative review aims to provide an overview of these methods. We differentiate between three main measurement types: (1) change detection, i.e., when the task is to notice the change in the heart rate; also called: heart rate perception tasks, (2) discrimination tasks, i.e., when the task is to compare the internal sensations with external signal(s); also called: heartbeat detection tasks and (3) tracking tasks, i.e., when the task is to follow and report heartbeats via tapping or counting. We describe some of the new methods under “mixed methods,” as they share features with more than one of the large measurement types described above. Specific measures differ in various aspects, such as their focus (heart rhythm vs. single beats), their sensitivity to non-conscious sensations and the calculated indices (e.g., whether significance level by hypothesis test is provided). When a measure of cardiac perceptual ability is chosen, it is advisable to take its characteristics into consideration in light of the planned research.
  PubDate: 2023-09-25
Biofilm-forming plant growth-promoting rhizobacterial consortia isolated
from mines and dumpsites assist green remediation of toxic metal (Ni and
Pb) using Brassica juncea
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  Abstract: Abstract To study how biofilm-forming rhizobacteria isolated from mines and dumpsites improved the phytoremediation efficacy of B. juncea in metal-contaminated soil. Out of 91 isolates, six were chosen for research based on their tolerance to metals, and their efficient PGPR properties, and subjected to the design of a consortium. A compatibility study revealed no antagonistic interaction between rhizobacterial-consortiums. The results of the biofilm formation and FEG-SEM studies revealed that a consortium-BC8 formed a strong biofilm on the root surface of B. juncea seedlings. Based on results obtained with the phytoextraction efficiency of B. juncea in consortium-BC8 (SMHMZ46 and SMHMP23), they were identified as Klebsiella variicola and Pseudomonas otitidis, respectively, and submitted to NCBI GenBank with accession numbers MZ145092 and OK560623. This rhizobacteria is the first to be reported as assisting Ni and Pb phytoremediation by employing B. juncea. Soil inoculation with consortium-BC8 increased the amount of soluble Ni and Pb by 13.25-fold and 10.69-fold, respectively, when compared to the control. These consortiums-BC8 significantly increased vegetative growth and metal accumulation in root and shoot with a translocation-factor of 1.58 for Ni and soil to root with a bioconcentration-factor of 1.3 for Pb in B. juncea grown in individual soil contamination with 96.05 mg/kg NiCl2 and 89.63 mg/kg Pb(NO3)2, which are significantly higher than other consortium treatments and the non-inoculated control. B. juncea amendments with a biofilm-forming consortium-BC8 having TF, BCF, and BAC > 1 for Ni, whereas BCF > 1, TF, and BAC < 1 for Pb, are appropriate for green remediation of Ni and phytostabilization of Pb.
  PubDate: 2023-09-21
Evolution of reproductive strategies: sex roles, sex ratios and
phylogenies
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  Abstract: Abstract Behavioural variations associated with breeding—termed reproductive strategies—are some of the striking behaviours that have occupied naturalists for 1000s of years. How an animal seeks, competes for and/or chooses a mate' Do they breed with a single partner, or do they change partners between breeding events' How and when do they look after their young' Behavioural biologists, ecologists and evolutionary biologists have investigated these questions using quantitative methods since 1970s. In Debrecen, with the support and mentoring of Prof Zoltán Varga, we are investigating the causes and implications of reproductive strategies since 1988. This article reviews some of the core ideas in reproductive strategies research and explains the influence of Prof Varga on the development of these ideas. My main thesis here is that both integrative thinking and adopting a multi-pronged research approach using an explicit phylogenetic framework—both of these have been spearheaded by Prof Varga throughout his lifetime—can reveal novel aspects of reproductive strategies. Importantly, some of these academic insights have direct implications for preserving species and their habitats in the wild, and thus benefit biodiversity conservation.
  PubDate: 2023-09-19
Investigation of the expansin gene family in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) by
the genome-wide level and their expression responses under abiotic
stresses
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  Abstract: Abstract Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) is primarily used in sugar production worldwide. Expansins are a gene family of cell wall proteins effective in regulating cell wall structure. They also participate in developmental stages, including cell and leaf growth, root development, and fruit ripening. This study comprehensively characterizes the expansin gene family members found in the sugar beet genome. In addition, in silico expression analysis of sugar beet expansin genes under variable abiotic stress conditions and expression profiles of expansin genes under combined drought and heat stresses by the qRT-PCR method were evaluated in the study. A total of 31 sugar beet expansin genes were identified. BvuEXLA-02 and BvuEXLB-02 genes can have abiotic stress tolerance roles besides their roles in normal development. Determining the properties of sugar beet expansin, family members can help enable the cellulose hydrolysis mechanism and raise plant biomass. Elucidating expression profiles of the sugar beet expansin genes under variable stress conditions can support improving plant productivity. The results of the current study may also contribute to the deep understanding of sugar beet expansin genes in the future.
  PubDate: 2023-08-29
  DOI: 10.1007/s42977-023-00176-1
Peppers and their constituents against obesity
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  Abstract: Abstract Phytotherapy can be an efficient tool for prevention and treatment of disorders including obesity. The purpose of this narrative review is to summarize the available knowledge concerning the positive effects of peppers (Capsicum spp.) and their alkaloid capsaicin on human health, in particular on fat and obesity. Search for literature was performed in Medline/Pubmed, Web of Science and SCOPUS databases between the year 2000 and 2023. Words used to search were pepper, Capsicum, capsaicin, review, obesity, fat, weight loss and mechanisms. The available data demonstrate that both pepper extract and capsaicin can positively influence human health and treat several disorders. Moreover, they can reduce fat storage affecting brain centres responsible for the sensation of hunger, nutrient uptake by gastrointestinal tract, state of adipocytes, increase in carbohydrate and fat oxidation, metabolism and thermogenesis and other mechanisms. Therefore, despite some possible limitations, these substances could be useful for treatment of obesity.
  PubDate: 2023-07-26
  DOI: 10.1007/s42977-023-00174-3