Level Of Defense Research Articles

Various plasmid strategies limit the effect of bacterial restriction-modification systems against conjugation.

In bacteria, genes conferring antibiotic resistance are mostly carried on conjugative plasmids, mobile genetic elements that spread horizontally between bacterial hosts. Bacteria carry defence systems that defend them against genetic parasites, but how effective these are against plasmid conjugation is poorly understood. Here, we study to what extent restriction-modification (RM) systems-by far the most prevalent bacterial defence systems-act as a barrier against plasmids. Using 10 different RM systems and 13 natural plasmids conferring antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli, we uncovered variation in defence efficiency ranging from none to 105-fold protection. Further analysis revealed genetic features of plasmids that explain the observed variation in defence levels. First, the number of RM recognition sites present on the plasmids generally correlates with defence levels, with higher numbers of sites being associated with stronger defence. Second, some plasmids encode methylases that protect against restriction activity. Finally, we show that a high number of plasmids in our collection encode anti-restriction genes that provide protection against several types of RM systems. Overall, our results show that it is common for plasmids to encode anti-RM strategies, and that, as a consequence, RM systems form only a weak barrier for plasmid transfer by conjugation.

Quantum Computing and the Implications on Online Security

Over the past year, quantum computing has seen many advancements due to contributions from UC Berkeley in collaboration with IBM’s laboratories. Although these breakthroughs seem promising, they introduce new security concerns regarding the potential for quantum attacks to become a major threat in future data breaches. This research investigates the efficiency of many quantum cryptographic techniques. These algorithms include Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), Lattice-Based Cryptography, and Multivariate Cryptography. Utilizing IBM’s Qiskit Python extensions, we were able to test these methods against quantum attack algorithms, including Shor's Algorithm, Grover's Algorithm, and the BB84 protocol. Our results indicate that, although current cryptographic methods provide some level of defense against quantum attacks, there needs to be advancements to protect our digital infrastructure for the future. This study puts emphasis on the need for more development in cryptographic algorithms to ensure proper security in the era of quantum computing.

The power of data: Transforming compliance with anti-money laundering measures in domestic and cross-border payments

Financial crime is on the rise. The interconnectedness of global payments is making illicit cross-border transactions increasingly frictionless, while digitisation has not only increased the attack surface but also enabled criminals to employ increasingly sophisticated methods to evade detection, such as social engineering. Compounding the threat is the ever-growing mountain of data being generated, which is threatening to drown detection and prevention efforts. It is clear that a new level of defence is required in the fight against financial crime. This paper argues that the implementation of data-driven technologies, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI), is a near-term imperative for effective risk-based anti-money laundering (AML) compliance programmes in the payments industry, where legacy AML programmes over-rely on a rule-based approach with a checklist of predetermined rules and indicators to flag potentially suspicious activity. To support the development and implementation of such data-driven enhancements, this paper hones in on the current hurdles, and explains the benefits and technical aspects of AI integration, emphasising the foundational importance of ISO/IEC AI-related standards. Finally, the paper discusses future opportunities for broader collaboration to build stronger collective defences.

Dietary total antioxidant capacity in relation to disease severity and risk of mortality in cirrhosis; results from a cohort study

Liver Cirrhosis, defined as the final stage of chronic liver disease, may become more prevalent in the lower level of body defense against oxidation and inflammation. Therefore, we assessed the association of dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) with the severity and mortality of cirrhosis in a cohort study. 120 newly diagnosed cirrhosis patients from Tehran, Iran, participated in this study. The patients’ habitual diet was assessed using a 168-item validated food frequency questionnaire. Both ferric-reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) and oxygen radical scavenging capacity (ORAC) methods were computed to achieve DTAC scores. The association between DTAC with disease severity and mortality was estimated by multivariate linear regression and cox proportional hazards regression models. Dietary total antioxidant capacity-ORAC had a significant inverse association with disease severity in both crude and adjusted models (P for trend: <0.001 and 0.016 respectively). The risk of mortality in the first and second tertiles of ORAC was 5.56 (95 % CI: 2.25–13.75; P = 0.002) and 3.20 (95 % CI: 1.25–8.19; P = 0.015) higher than those in the third category, respectively. In conclusion, a higher antioxidant capacity of diet is associated with less disease severity and mortality risk in cirrhosis.

Constitutive Level of Specialized Secondary Metabolites Affects Plant Phytohormone Response to Above- and Belowground Herbivores

Plants defend themselves chemically against herbivory through secondary metabolites and phytohormones. Few studies have investigated how constitutive variation in secondary metabolites contributes to systemic herbivory response. We hypothesized that plants with lower constitutive defenses would induce a stronger phytohormone response to spatially separated herbivory than plants with high constitutive defense. We used growth chamber bioassays to investigate how aboveground herbivory by Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata, CPB) and belowground herbivory by northern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne hapla, RKN) altered phytohormones and glycoalkaloids in roots and shoots of two lines of wild potato (Solanum chacoense). These lines had different constitutive levels of chemical defense, particularly leptine glycoalkaloids, which are only present in aboveground tissues. We also determined how these differences influenced the preference and performance of CPB. The susceptible wild potato line responded to aboveground damage by CPB through induction of jasmonic acid (JA) and OPDA. However, when challenged by both RKN and CPB, the susceptible line retained high levels of JA, but not OPDA. Beetles gained more mass after feeding on the susceptible line compared to the resistant line, but were not affected by nematode presence. Belowground, JA, JA-Isoleucine, and OPDA were higher in the resistant line compared to the susceptible line, and some compounds demonstrated response to local herbivory. In contrast, the susceptible line did not induce phytohormone defenses belowground. These findings allow us to predict that constitutive level of defense may influence the threshold of herbivory that may lead to plant-mediated effects on spatially separated herbivores.

Oryza glumaepatula and calcium oxide nanoparticles enhanced Cr stress tolerance by maintaining antioxidant defense, chlorophyll and gene expression levels in rice

Chromium (Cr), a potent heavy metal, threatens rice cultivation due to its escalating presence in soil from human activities. Wild rice contains useful genes for phytoremediation; however, it is difficult to use directly for metal mitigation. Here, a single segment substitution line (SSSL), SG001, was developed by crossing O. glumaepatula and Huajingxian74 (HJX) to evaluate the survival ability of plants against Cr. Further, we explored the potential effect of calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaO-NPs) (50 μM) to minimize the toxic effect of Cr (100 μM) in rice cultivars, SG001 and HJX. The findings of this study indicated that Cr toxicity led to increased oxidative stress. This was shown by higher levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which was increased by 104% in SG001 and 177% in HJX, and malondialdehyde (MDA) increased by 79% in SG001 and 135% in HJX. Furthermore, it also depicted that Cr toxicity considerably declined shoot and root length, shoot and root fresh weight by 30%, 27%, 25%, and 20% in SG001 and 44%, 51%, 42%, and 45% in HJX, respectively. This mitigation was evidenced by decreased Cr contents, increased calcium (Ca) levels in SG001, and the maintenance of chlorophyll, antioxidant defense, and gene expression levels. Moreover, there was a notable reduction in MDA and H2O2, while the defense mechanisms of key antioxidants, including ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, catalase, and peroxidase were upregulated, along with an increase in soluble protein contents in both rice cultivars after applying CaO-NPs. CaO-NPs effectively restored cellular and subcellular structural integrity and growth in both lines, which had been seriously disrupted by Cr toxicity. Overall, our findings suggest that SG001, in combination with CaO-NPs, could serve as an effective strategy to mitigate Cr toxicity in plants.

Therapists' defense use impacts their patients' defensive functioning: a systematic case study.

Research into defensive functioning in psychotherapy has thus far focused on patients' defense use. However, also the defensive functioning of therapists might be significant because of its potential in promoting changes in the patient's overall defensive functioning by sharing their higher-level understanding of a given situation and letting the patient have the opportunity to learn how to cope more successfully. This exploratory case study is the first to examine therapist's defense mechanisms and their relationship to changes in the patient's defensive functioning evaluated at different times throughout psychoanalytic treatment. We assessed the use of defense mechanisms with the Defense Mechanisms Rating Scales in 20 sessions collected at three phases (early, middle and late) of the psychoanalytic treatment. For each session, we identified therapist's and patient's defenses, defense levels and overall defensive functioning, with particular attention to the sequence of consecutively activated defenses within the therapeutic dyad. Results showed that the patient's defensive functioning tended to gradually improve over the course of the treatment, with a slight decrease at the end. Therapists' overall defensive functioning remained stable throughout the treatment with values in the range of high-neurotic and mature defenses. Assessment of the dyadic interaction between therapist and patient's use of defenses showed that within-session, the patient tended to use the same individual defenses that the therapist used, which was especially pronounced in the initial phases of the treatment. Towards the end of the treatment, once there was a stable shared knowledge, the patient started to explore using new, higher-level defenses on her own, independent from what defenses the therapist used. Our findings emphasized the analyst's role in encouraging the development of more effective ways of coping in the patient, confirming previous theoretical and empirical research regarding the improvement of patient's defensive functioning in psychotherapy. The alterations in these coping strategies, also called high-adaptive defenses, as part of the therapist-patient interaction demonstrate the importance of studying defenses as an excellent process-based outcome measure. The measurement of the degree to which the analyst models and illustrates these superior coping methods to the patient is a prime vehicle for supporting internalization of these skills by the patient.

Relationship between mean monthly February temperature and the level of oxidative processes in immunocompetent organs of bream of Rybinsk reservoir in different years

The intensity of oxidative processes in immunocompetent organs of immature bream Abramis brama L. with an average weight of 375±30 g and length of 290±20 cm was studied. The fish were caught with shuttle nets in the Volga Plec of the Rybinsk reservoir in different years in terms of average daily temperature conditions. After autopsy, samples of immunocompetent organs (kidney, spleen and liver) were taken from captured fish into sterile tubes. Samples were then frozen and stored in a freezer at minus 18–20 °C until processing time. In laboratory conditions, samples were thawed at room temperature immediately before analysis. For further studies, homogenate was prepared from kidney, spleen and liver tissues using a homogenizer with physiological solution in the ratio of 1:1. In the homogenates the content of lipid peroxidation products was studied by the content of malonic dialdehyde and the level of antioxidant defense by the index of inhibition of substrate oxidation. The interannual variability of the studied parameters was noted, associated with ecological and climatic conditions, in particular, with temperature. The most significant differences of the studied biochemical parameters were revealed in the year with the highest temperature conditions compared to the year with the lowest temperature. The lowest values of malonic dialdehyde and substrate oxidation constant were observed in fish in the year with the lowest average daily temperature. In warmer year intensification of lipid peroxidation processes and decrease of antioxidant defense level in the studied organs were observed. The results obtained can be used in monitoring the impact of climatic factors on the physiological and biochemical status of fish.

Unlocking What Makes Military Behavioral Health Interventions Work, Stumble, or Fade Away.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense and each of the services have made an unprecedented commitment to the prevention of sexual assault and related behavioral health phenomena. Indeed, the Department of Air Force has selected, in some cases tailored, and disseminated a wide array of evidence-based preventative programs, policies, and practices (EBPs) over the last few decades. However, many of these efforts seem to follow a predictable life course. EBPs are initially implemented with great enthusiasm, supported for a few years, then fall out of favor, and are replaced by a different effort. This research effort aims to build on the existing civilian implementation science research to (1) offer a military-specific model of sustained, high-quality implementation and (2) test this model in a series of interconnected studies. New York University's Institutional Review Board approved the study protocols, and the Army's Human Research Protection Office provided permission to collect data. We conducted interviews first with prevention leaders in the services and at the Office of the Secretary of Defense level regarding factors that they thought helped or hurt the sustainment of EBPs. We used these interviews to identify EBPs currently implemented in Department of Air Force and selected four EBPs out of the 25 identified for intensive study. We then interviewed implementers of those four EBPs regarding what they thought helped or hurt the sustainment of that EBP. We also gathered information about the 25 currently implemented EBPs themselves and gathered policy and guidance, as well as leadership communication about those EBPs and the target problems they focus on. We coded this information to allow us to test EBP parameters and policy and leader communication that predict sustained high-quality implementation. We conducted over 100 observations of the 4 EBPs we are studying intensively and have collected quantitative data from implementers and participants to help us test factors related to sustained high-quality implementation within each of those 4 EBPs and across the EBPs. Several military-specific factors were nominated for inclusion in the military-specific model of implementation sustainment. The implementation of even highly standardized EBPs varies greatly. Implementers and participants are generally highly engaged, but implementers vary in the extent to which they understand the mechanisms of action for the EBP they are implementing. We recommend training implementers in the mechanisms of action in the EBPs they are expected to implement and including quality assurance as a component of prevention efforts in a manner more similar to how the military addresses aspects of the operational mission. By moving beyond counting classes and attendance, and specifying how to engage participants in the EBPs in the manner that produces the key outcomes, it is likely that EBPs will have more robust implementations that can be better sustained over time.

Maternal exposure to low-dose bisphenol A and its potential neurotoxic impact on male pups: A histological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study

BackgroundBisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used chemical with a harmful effect on animal and human. The neonatal and juvenile period is a highly risky neurodevelopmental period. AimThis study aimed to determine how male albino rat pups’ cerebral cortex was altered by low doses of BPA given to mothers and the role of the oxidative stress. MethodsThirty pregnant rats were randomly split into three equal groups, negative control, and positive control: received 1 cc of corn oil once a day through gastric tube and BPA treated: a dose of 200 µg/kg/day (dissolved in 1 cc corn oil). The male rat pups of each group were sacrificed at 1 week, 3 weeks and 6 weeks. The cerebra were then separated from the brain for histological and biochemical studies. ResultsRats administered BPA had raised levels of lipid peroxidation marker (MDA), lower levels of enzymatic antioxidants (SOD and CAT) with decreased body, cerebral weights, and decreased levels of non-enzymatic antioxidant defense (GSH). Histo-pathologically, shrunken pyramidal cells with congested blood vessels appeared. GFAP displayed increased number of positive immune-reactive astrocytes with high statistically significant increase in the area % in BPA treated group when compared to the control groups, on contrary to MBP. Semi-thin and ultra-thin BPA-sections revealed degenerative changes in myelinated axons with tiny nucleus and broken nuclear membranes. Lysosomes, dilated endoplasmic reticulum cisternae with noticeable increase in unmyelinated nerve fibers were also observed. ConclusionThe structure of the developing cerebral cortex is negatively impacted by BPA due to oxidative stress.

Clonal plasticity and trait stability may facilitate knotweed invasion in Europe

Abstract Invasive plant species pose significant ecological and economic threats due to their establishment and dominance in non-native ranges. Previous studies have yielded mixed results regarding the plants' adaptive mechanisms for thriving in new environments, and particularly, little is known about how the phenotypic plasticity of growth and defense-related traits may facilitate plant invasion. This study addressed these uncertainties by employing the aggressive weed Reynoutria japonica as a study model. We examined the differences in growth, defense-related traits, and biomass allocation between R. japonica populations from native and introduced ranges grown in two common gardens with distinct climate conditions. Our results demonstrated that while the introduced populations did not exhibit increases in height and total dry mass, nor reductions in leaf defense levels, their investment in leaf production was significantly higher compared to the native populations. Additionally, introduced populations displayed greater phenotypic plasticity in clonal ramet but less phenotypic plasticity in biomass production than native populations across varying environments. These findings highlight the roles of phenotypic plasticity and specific trait adaptations, such as clonality, in the successful invasion of R. japonica. This study has important implications for managing invasive plant species under changing environmental conditions.

Plasticity in biomass allocation underlies tolerance to leaf damage in native and non-native populations of Datura stramonium

An introduction to a novel habitat represents a challenge to plants because they likely would face new interactions and possibly different physical context. When plant populations arrive to a new region free from herbivores, we can expect an evolutionary change in their defense level, although this may be contingent on the type of defense, resistance or tolerance, and cost of defense. Here, we addressed questions on the evolution of tolerance to damage in non-native Spanish populations of Datura stramonium by means of two comparative greenhouse experiments. We found differences in seed production, specific leaf area, and biomass allocation to stems and roots between ranges. Compared to the Mexican native populations of this species, non-native populations produced less seeds despite damage and allocate more biomass to roots and less to stems, and had higher specific leaf area values. Plasticity to leaf damage was similar between populations and no difference in tolerance to damage between native and non-native populations was detected. Costs for tolerance were detected in both regions. Two plasticity traits of leaves were associated with tolerance and were similar between regions. These results suggest that tolerance remains beneficial to plants in the non-native region despite it incurs in fitness costs and that damage by herbivores is low in the non-native region. The study of the underlying traits of tolerance can improve our understanding on the evolution of tolerance in novel environments, free from plants’ specialist herbivores.

Patterns of constitutive and induced herbivore defence are complex, but share a common genetic basis in annual and perennial monkeyflower

Abstract Despite multiple ecological and evolutionary hypotheses that predict patterns of phenotypic relationships between plant growth, reproduction and constitutive and/or induced resistance to herbivores, these hypotheses do not make any predictions about the underlying molecular genetic mechanisms that mediate these relationships. We investigated how divergent plant life‐history strategies in the yellow monkeyflower and a life‐history altering locus, DIV1, influence plasticity of phytochemical herbivory resistance traits in response to attack by two herbivore species with different diet breadth. Life‐history strategy (annual vs. perennial) and the DIV1 locus significantly influenced levels of constitutive herbivory resistance, as well as resistance induction following both generalist and specialist herbivory. Perennial plants had higher total levels of univariate constitutive and induced defence than annuals, regardless of herbivore type. Annuals induced less in response to generalist herbivory than did perennials, while induction response was equivalent across the ecotypes for specialist herbivory. The effects of the DIV1 locus on levels of constitutive and induced defence were dependent on genetic background, the annual versus perennial haplotype of DIV1 and herbivore identity. The patterns of univariate induction due to DIV1 were non‐additive and did not always match expectations based on patterns of divergence for annual/perennial parents. For example, perennial plants had higher levels of constitutive and induced defence than did annuals, but when the annual DIV1 was present in the perennial genetic background induction response to herbivory was higher than for the perennial parent lines. Patterns for multivariate defence arsenals generally echoed those of univariate, with annual and perennial monkeyflowers and those with alternative versions of DIV1 differing significantly in constitutive and induced resistance. Like univariate resistance, induced multivariate defence arsenals were affected by herbivore identity. Our results highlight the complexity of the genetic mechanisms underlying plastic response to herbivory. While a genetic locus underlying substantial phenotypic variation in life‐history strategy and constitutive defence also influences defence plasticity, the induction response also depends on genetic background. This result demonstrates the potential for some degree of evolutionary independence between constitutive and induced defence, or induced defence and life‐history strategy, in monkeyflowers. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Plants generally suffer less enemy damage and are more defended in a copper mine than in a closely adjacent site

Heavy metal pollution in soil can impact the relationships between plants and their natural enemies. Enemy attack from herbivores and pathogens is predicted to be lower in metal-contaminated areas such as mine sites. However, whether this is the case is remains to be tested. It is also unknown how defense traits differ in polluted sites compared to adjacent sites. To address this gap in knowledge, we compared the standing leaf damage in populations of two invasive and five native plant species at the abandoned Jiuhua copper mine and an adjacent site. We also compared physical and chemical defense traits of the populations. Herbivory on four plant species was significantly lower in a copper mine than in an adjacent site. Overall, plants growing in the mine were more physically and chemically defended than plants growing adjacent to the mine. Copper hyperaccumulator species (Cynodon dactylon and Kummerowia stipulacea) increased defense levels in the mine for only one of the traits. In contrast, defenses were higher in the mine site for most traits relative to their respective adjacent populations in the non-hyperaccumulator species. Our results suggest that the damage herbivores inflict on plants may be strongly influenced by how plants respond to stressors in mine site environments, such as metal pollution. Metal hyperaccumulation and increased non-elemental defenses may be alternate responses used by plants to simultaneously deal with metal pollution and natural enemies in contaminated sites.

"Behavioral rescue: Naringenin's neuroprotective effects against PTZ-induced seizures by mitigating oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in zebrafish larvae"

IntroductionEpilepsy is a complex neurological disorder affecting approximately 70 million people worldwide, accounting for about 1 % of the global population. Despite significant advancements in pharmaceutical therapies, the molecular mechanisms underlying epileptogenesis remain poorly understood, leading to symptomatic treatment being ineffective for about 30 % of patients. Recent evidence implicates oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in the pathophysiology of epilepsy. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been used for millennia across Asia and beyond to treat conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and neurological diseases, owing to its proven effectiveness. Naringenin is a traditional Chinese component commonly found in citrus fruits and is a naturally occurring flavonoid. MethodsThe present investigation aimed to examine the neuroprotective properties of Naringenin in mitigating PTZ-induced seizures in zebrafish larvae. Zebrafish were administered Naringenin (50 µM) for 24 h at 6 days post-fertilization (dpf), followed by exposure to 15 mM PTZ for 30 min. The study assessed c-fos expression and synaptic activity, oxidative damage, antioxidant defence mechanisms, apoptosis, and levels of nrf2, ho-1, and nqo-1 in the head regions of zebrafish larvae. Additionally, the expression of inflammatory cytokines (cox-2, tnfα, il-1β, and il-6) was evaluated. ResultsNaringenin pretreatment restored c-fos expression and synaptic activity in epileptic zebrafish larvae. The study observed high levels of oxidative damage, reduced antioxidant defences, and increased apoptosis in the larvae with epilepsy. Specifically, levels of nrf2, ho-1, and nqo-1 were decreased in the head regions of the epileptic zebrafish larvae. Naringenin administration mitigated oxidative stress, reduced neuronal apoptosis, and increased the expression of nrf2, ho-1, and nqo-1. Additionally, during seizures, inflammatory cytokines such as cox-2, tnfα, il-1β, and il-6 were upregulated, but naringenin pretreatment was shown to mitigate this effect. DiscussionThe findings collectively underscore the potential neuroprotective effects of Naringenin against PTZ-induced seizures. Naringenin modulates behavioural patterns, reduces oxidative stress, and dampens neuroinflammation, highlighting its promise as a therapeutic agent in epilepsy management. The comprehensive findings of this study serve as a foundation for further research into the mechanisms through which Naringenin confers its protective effects. Furthermore, it paves the way for exploring the potential clinical applications of Naringenin in treating epilepsy.

Security and protection of information in electronic document management systems: improving the level of cyber defense

The article describes the main threats to electronic document management systems. The importance of the electronic document management system for organizational processes of enterprises and information security is considered. Particular importance is the use of electronic document management systems for the efficiency and speed of performing organizational functions. The article analyzes the aspects of information security when using electronic document management systems in practice and the effectiveness of implementation to ensure information security in comparison with traditional paper document management. The importance of the Information Security Strategy until 2025, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, is emphasized. Attention is focused on the advantages of using the stages of implementing the cybersecurity model in electronic document management systems to protect information and data. It also discusses best practices for secure document storage and sharing that promote an integrated approach to various aspects of document management security to protect confidential information from potential cyber threats. The criteria for choosing a high-quality electronic document management system, for ensuring information security and countering cyber attacks are quite important. In particular, attention is focused on modern antivirus technologies that allow detecting almost all known viruses by comparing the code of a suspicious file with samples stored in the antivirus database. Therefore, for organizations seeking to use the latest technologies, information security is essential in electronic document management systems to increase the level of cybersecurity.

Dopamine Hydrochloride Alleviates the Salt-induced Stress in Glycine max (L.) Merr. plant

The objective of this study is to evaluate the role of dopamine hydrochloride (DH) in alleviating the detrimental effects of salt stress on Glycine max (L.) plant. Soybean seeds were treated with 150 mM NaCl and DH (100 µM or 200 µM) after they had been grown in plastic pots then the growth parameters, physiological and molecular analyses were assessed. Data showed that salinity stress decreased the germination percentage by 63.6%, the tolerance index (TI) and the seedling vigor index (SVI) were highly decreased. Salinity stress led to a markedly decline in the photosynthetic efficiency and the content of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b by 43.5%, 77.4% and 44.6%, respectively. Salinity stress increased MDA and activity of CAT, SOD, POD, APX, GST and GR by 150%, 39.8%, 75%, 160%, 77.7%, 50% and 57%, respectively. However, DH (100 µM or 200 µM) significantly alleviated the toxic effects of salinity stress, marinated ions absorption, and enhanced the molecular level. Wherein out of 30 ISSR amplified fragments were formed. There were 10 unique bands (587 bp, 453 bp, 393 bp, 435 bp, 157 bp, 679 bp, 473 bp, 675 bp, 758 bp and 531 bp) were appeared in response to DH (100 µM and 200 µM) compared with untreated plants. Our analysis suggests a constructive effect of DH (100 µM and 200 µM) in alleviating the toxic effects of salinity stress on Glycine max (L.) plant not only at the level of antioxidative defense but also by regulating the molecular response highlighting the potential use of DH to improve the sustainability of horticultural production under climate change.

Time-course analysis system for leaf feeding marks reveals effects of Arabidopsis trichomes on insect herbivore feeding behavior.

Bioassay with an insect herbivore is a common approach to studying plant defense. While measuring insect growth rate as a negative indicator of plant defense levels is simple and straightforward, analysing more detailed feeding behavior parameters of insects, such as feeding rates, leaf area consumed per feeding event, intervals between feeding events, and spatio-temporal patterns of feeding sites on leaves, is more informative. However, such observations are generally time consuming and labor-intensive. Here, we provide a semi-automated system for quantifying feeding behavior parameters of insects feeding on plant leaves. Automated photo scanners record the time-course development of feeding marks on leaves. An image analysis pipeline processes the scanned images and extracts leaf area. By analysing changes in leaf area over time, it detects insect feeding events and calculates the leaf area consumed during each feeding event, providing quantitative parameters of the feeding behavior of insects. In addition, it visualizes spatio-temporal changes in feeding sites, providing a measure of the complex behavior of insects on leaves. Using this analysis pipeline, we demonstrate that Arabidopsis trichomes reduce insect feeding rate, but not feeding duration or intervals between feeding events. Our image acquisition system requires only a photo scanner and a laptop computer and does not require any specialized equipment. The analysis software is provided as an ImageJ macro and R package and is available at no cost. Taken together, our work provides a scalable method for quantitative assessment of the feeding behavior of insects on leaves, facilitating understanding of plant defense mechanisms.

The sufficiency of the State’s economic capabilities to ensure the necessary level of defense needs forecasting improving method

The concept of sufficiency is closely related to the economic forecasting ability to set realistic and achievable goals for the economy as a whole development. Forecasting opportunities is a critically important tool that takes into account the current State of the economy, sets goals for future development, and also determines the necessary tools of State regulation to achieve them. Ultimately, the adequacy of economic opportunity can be assessed using these forecasting approaches because they aim to balance what is realistically achievable against the current State of the economy. The initial step in this process involves the formation of conceptual approaches that pave the way to the creation of acomprehensive system of forecasting the economic capabilities of the State to ensure the necessary level of defense needs. The article presents the results of the assessment of the individual economic capabilities of such countries as Norway, France, Finland, the USA, Sweden, Great Britain and Israel, taking into account the level of economic stability of the countries and the coefficients of stability of changes. By means of an expert survey, a list of possible threats and scope of implementation of different levels of protection was determined, taking into account the dependence of defense needs on the stability of funding and the stability of its changes. The averaged values of the limits of the corresponding levels of defense needs until 2033 inclusive are also determined. To predict the sufficiency of the State's economic capabilities ensuring the necessary level of defense needs, the Lagrange interpolation method was used, with the help of which 5possible directions of the development of the situation were identified. The results of using the appropriate method were the provision of recommendations based on the following characteristics: for countries that do not meet the selection criteria (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Germany, Hungary and Poland); for countries with a "wave-like" trend, which characterizes the instability of State policy (France and Finland); for countries with a "wave-like" trend and a high potential for self-sufficiency and characterized by the instability of State policy (Norway); for countries that have the potential for gradual growth, using their own economic opportunities; may be characterized by over Stated defense needs (USA, Sweden and Great Britain); for countries with a high potential of their own capabilities (Israel). Thanks to this distribution, it is possible to examine potential future trends in the development of economic capabilities of countries and compare them with the determined levels of defense needs.

Paradoxical Exception to Island Tameness: Increased Defensiveness in an Insular Population of Rattlesnakes.

Island tameness results largely from a lack of natural predators. Because some insular rattlesnake populations lack functional rattles, presumably the consequence of relaxed selection from reduced predation, we hypothesized that the Santa Catalina Island, California, USA, population of the southern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus helleri, which possesses a functional rattle), would exhibit a decrement in defensive behavior relative to their mainland counterparts. Contrary to our prediction, rattlesnakes from the island not only lacked tameness compared to mainland snakes, but instead exhibited measurably greater levels of defensiveness. Island snakes attempted to bite 4.7 times more frequently as we endeavored to secure them by hand, and required 2.1-fold more time to be pinned and captured. When induced to bite a beaker after being grasped, the island snakes also delivered 2.1-fold greater quantities of venom when controlling for body size. The additional venom resulted from 2.1-fold larger pulses of venom ejected from the fangs. We found no effects of duration in captivity (2-36 months), which suggests an absence of long-term habituation of antipredator behaviors. Breeding bird surveys and Christmas bird counts indicated reduced population densities of avian predators on Catalina compared to the mainland. However, historical estimates confirmed that populations of foxes and introduced mammalian predators (cats and pigs) and antagonists (herbivorous ungulates) substantially exceeded those on the mainland in recent centuries, and therefore best explain the paradoxically exaggerated defensive behaviors exhibited by Catalina's rattlesnakes. These findings augment our understanding of anthropogenic effects on the behaviors of island animals and underscore how these effects can negatively affect human safety.