Find research datasets worth reusing

Data from: Heteroaggregation of virions with microplastics reduces the number of active bacteriophages in aqueous environments

The objective of this study is to explore the effects of microplastics on the viability of the bacteriophages in an aqueous environment. Bacteriophages (phages), i.e., viruses of bacteria, are essential in homeostasis. It is estimated that phages cause up to 40% of the death of all bacteria daily. Any factor affecting phage activity is vital for the whole food chain and the ecology of numerous niches. We hypothesize that the number of active phages decreases due to the virions' adsorption on microplastic particles or by the released leachables from additives used in the production of plastic, e.g., stabilizers, plasticizers, colorants, and reinforcements. We exposed three diverse phages, namely T4 (tailed), MS2 (icosahedral), and M13 (filamentous), to 1 mg/mL suspension of twelve industrial-grade plastics [acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), poly-ε-caproamide (PA6), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyurethane (PUR), polyvinyl chloride (PVC)] shredded to obtain microparticles of radius ranging from 2 to 50 µm. The effect of leachables was measured upon exposure of phages not to particles themselves but to the buffer pre-incubated with microplastics. A double-overlay plaque counting method was used to assess phage titers. We employed a classical linear regression model to verify which physicochemical parameters (65 variables were tested) govern the decrease of phage titers. The key finding is that adsorption mechanisms result in up to complete scavenging of virions, whereas leachables deactivate up to 50% of phages. This study reveals microplastic pollution's plausible and unforeseen ecotoxicological effect causing phage deactivation. Also, phage transmission through adsorption can alter the balance of the food chain in the new environment. The effect depends mainly on the zeta potentials of the polymers and the phage type.

Time-Resolved XAS Provides Direct Evidence for Oxygen Activation on Cationic Iron in a Bimetallic Pt-FeOx/Al2O3 Catalyst

Open data for "Time-Resolved XAS Provides Direct Evidence for Oxygen Activation on Cationic Iron in a Bimetallic Pt-FeOx/Al2O3 Catalyst"  published in  ACS Catal. 2021, 11, 11793−11805 <a href="https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.1c02795">https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.1c02795</a>

Rain, recreation, and risk: Human activity and ecological disturbance create seasonal risk landscapes for the prey of an ambush predator

Predation risk and prey responses exhibit fluctuations in space and time. Seasonal ecological disturbances can alter landscape structure and permeability to influence predator activity and efficacy, creating predictable patterns of risk for prey (seasonal risk landscapes). This may create corresponding seasonal shifts in antipredator behavior, mediated by species ecology and trade-offs between risk and resources. Yet, how human recreation interacts with seasonal risk landscapes and antipredator behavior remains understudied. Goals – In South Florida, we investigated the impact of a seasonal ecological disturbance, specifically flooding, which is inversely related to human activity, on interactions between Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). We hypothesized that human activity and ecological disturbances would interact with panther-deer ecology, resulting in the emergence of two distinct seasonal landscapes of predation risk and the corresponding antipredator response. We conducted camera trap surveys across southwestern Florida to collect detection data on humans, panthers, and deer. We analyzed the influence of human site use and flooding on deer and panther detection probability, co-occurrence, and diel activity during the flooded and dry seasons. Flooding led to decreased panther detections and increased deer detections, resulting in reduced deer-panther co-occurrence during the flooded season. Panthers exhibited increased nocturnality and reduced diel activity overlap with deer in areas with higher human activity. Supporting our hypothesis, panthers' avoidance of human recreation and flooding created distinct risk schedules for deer, driving their antipredator behavior. Deer utilized flooded areas to spatially offset predation risk during the flooded season while increasing diurnal activity in response to human recreation during the dry season. Significance to the field – We highlight the importance of understanding how competing risks and ecological disturbances influence predator and prey behavior, leading to the generation of seasonal risk landscapes and antipredator responses. We emphasize the role of cyclical ecological disturbances in shaping dynamic predator-prey interactions. Furthermore, we highlight how human recreation may function as a 'temporal human shield,' altering seasonal risk landscapes and antipredator responses to reduce encounter rates between predators and prey.

Data for: Food Anticipatory Behaviour on European Seabass in Sea Cages: Activity-, Positioning- and Density-based approaches

Telemetry and sensory data data for: Food Anticipatory Behaviour on European Seabass in Sea Cages: Activity-, Positioning- and Density-based approaches Please read the README.txt file before working with the data.

Data for: Intraspecific variation for host immune activation by the spider mite Tetranychus evansi

Many parasites can interfere with their host's defences to maximize their fitness. Here, we investigated if there is heritable variation in the spider mite Tetranychus evansi for traits associated with how they interact with their host plant. We also determined if this variation correlates with mite fecundity. Tetranychus evansi can interfere with jasmonate (JA) defences which are the main determinant of anti-herbivore immunity in plants. We investigated (i) variation in fecundity in the presence and absence of JA defences, making use of a wild-type tomato cultivar and a JA-deficient mutant (defenseless-1), and (ii) variation in the induction of JA defences, in four T. evansi field populations and 59 inbred lines created from an outbred population originating from controlled crosses of the four field populations. We observed a strong positive genetic correlation between fecundity in the presence (on wild-type) and the absence of JA defences (on defenseless-1). However, fecundity did not correlate with the magnitude of induced JA defences in wild-type plants. Our results suggest that the performance of the specialist T. evansi is not related to their ability to manipulate plant defences, either because all lines can adequately reduce levels of defences, or because they are resistant to them.

opencc-by-4.0Mar 2022View details →

Data from: Thermal springs and active fault network of the central Colca River basin, Western Cordillera, Peru, published in Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research

We used hydrogeochemical analysis of 35 water samples from springs and geysers, together with isotopic (δ18O and δD) analysis, chemical and mineral studies of precipitates collected in the field around these outflows, and field observations to study the thermal system of the Colca River basin in S Peru. We aimed to determine the geochemistry of thermal waters, identify fluid sources and their origin, estimate reservoir temperature, and discuss the regional tectonic and volcanic framework. Our findings presented in Tyc et al. (2022; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2022.107513) corroborate a heterogeneous and complex geothermal system in the central region of the Colca River basin. This system exhibits contrasting hydrogeochemical and physical characteristics, variable isotope compositions, distinct reservoir temperatures, and associated precipitates near thermal springs. The control of water chemistry in this area is closely linked to the activity of the Ampato-Sabancaya magmatic chamber and the presence of tectonic structures, which enable intricate interactions between meteoric waters, magmatic fluids, and gases. Here, we present datasets used in the article (Tyc et al., 2022; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2022.107513), including: - Physicochemical characteristics of water samples collected by authors in the field in September 2012 and August–September 2017 (Table 1) - Chemical and isotopic composition of water samples collected by authors in the field in September 2012 and August–September 2017 (Table 2) and those monitored by INGEMMET in years 2013-2018 (Table 3) - Chosen molecular ratios discussed in Tyc et al., 2022 (Table 4) - Calculated reservoir temperature with the use of different Na/K geothermometers (Table 5) - Mineral phases in efflorescences precipitating at the water sampling sites (Table 6). Thirty-five sets of water samples were collected in the field in September 2012 and August–September 2017 using polyethylene bottles of high density (Table 1). Consequently, these were analyzed in the Water Analysis Laboratory at the University of Silesia in Katowice (Poland; Table 2). Water temperatures, pH, and electrical conductivity were measured in the field using portable pH meter CP-315 and conductivity meter CC-315, both with temperature sensors, with an accuracy of ±0.1 °C, ±0.01 pH, and ± 0.1% (up to 19.999 mS/cm) or ± 0.25% (above 20.00 mS/cm), respectively. Discharge of springs was estimated if possible (Table 1). Both cations and anions were analyzed by ion chromatography using Methron 850 Professional Ion Chromatograph with separate Metrosept C4–150 and A-supp 7–250 columns for cations and anions, respectively (Tables 2 and 4). Analysis of water analyses collected by INGEMMET in years 2013-2018 was performed at the INGEMMET Chemical Laboratory in Lima with the use of ion chromatography (Dionex ICS 5000) for the determination of anions and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) – VARIAN for cations (Table 3). Isotopic analyses (δ2H, δ18O) of 17 water samples collected in 2017 were performed at the Stable Isotope Laboratory Institute of Geological Sciences Polish Academy of Sciences (Table 2). The δ2H values of studied H2O were measured using the H-Device peripheral coupled to MAT 253 IRMS (Thermo Scientific) in a dual inlet system. For the determination of δ18O in H2O, an equilibration technique was used. The analysis used the GasBench II peripheral device (Thermo Scientific) coupled to MAT 253 IRMS with a continuous He flow. The AquaChem 4.0.284 software was used to evaluate the water samples' geochemical properties and calculate reservoir temperature for thermal waters (Table 5). Precipitates found at the water sampling sites were collected separately into plastic bags with strings and sealed boxes. These samples were subsequently analyzed at the Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice. The qualitative chemical composition and mineral characteristics were examined using a Philips XL 30 ESEM/TMP scanning electron microscope coupled with an energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS; EDAX type Sapphire). The phase composition of the precipitates was determined through X-ray diffraction (XRD) using a Philips PW 3710 diffractometer. The XRD data were analyzed and interpreted using the X'Pert HIGHScore Plus software (Table 6).

Molecular Insights into the MLCK Activation by CaM

The "last_frames.tar.gz" file contains coordinates of the last frames of all trajectories generated for the manuscript "Molecular Insights into the MLCK Activation by CaM".

Hindbrain modules differentially transform activity of single collicular neurons to coordinate movements

Seemingly simple behaviors such as swatting a mosquito or glancing at a signpost involve the precise coordination of multiple body parts. Neural control of coordinated movements is widely thought to entail transforming a desired overall displacement into displacements for each body part. Here we reveal a different logic implemented in the mouse gaze system. Stimulating superior colliculus (SC) elicits head movements with stereotyped displacements but eye movements with stereotyped endpoints. This is achieved by individual SC neurons whose branched axons innervate modules in medulla and pons that drive head movements with stereotyped displacements and eye movements with stereotyped endpoints, respectively. Thus, single neurons specify a mixture of endpoints and displacements for different body parts, not overall displacement, with displacements for different body parts computed at distinct anatomical stages. Our study establishes an approach for unraveling motor hierarchies and identifies a logic for coordinating movements and the resulting pose.

Transition to organic farming negatively affects bat activity

<ol> <li>The effectiveness of organic farming on biodiversity has been widely documented especially for plants, arthropods and birds; however, the effects of the transition period required to become an organic farm on wildlife remain poorly understood.</li> <li>We assessed the effects of organic farming on insectivorous bats in citrus orchards in the Republic of Cyprus employing two matched designs (conventional vs. 3-years organic-transitional and conventional vs. organic-certified) and a third unmatched design (3-years organic-transitional vs. organic-certified). We specifically investigated whether the transition period prior to full organic certification influenced bat activity with a special focus on any moderation effects from surrounding semi-natural areas.</li> <li>The activity of three (Pipistrellus kuhlii, Hypsugo savii and Miniopterus schreibersii) of four bat species was significantly lower in farms undergoing the transitional period than in conventional farms, and P. kuhlii and H. savii were significantly less active in organic transitional farming systems that in organic-certified ones. Furthermore, the activity of the most dominant species (P. kuhlii) was significantly higher on organic than transitional and conventional citrus orchards, thus suggesting a time-lag effect. Landscape complexity measured as the amount of semi-natural areas did not moderate the effects of farming system for any study species.</li> <li> Synthesis and application. The transition to organic farming had persistent detrimental effects on bats and potentially on the pest suppression services they provide. Future agri-environmental policy should consider the transition period and implement measures to mitigate any negative effects on biodiversity, alongside promoting asynchronous transition of nearby farms. Our findings further highlight the crucial need to consider the time since transition to organic farming when assessing potential benefits of organic management on biodiversity.</li> </ol>

opencc-by-4.0Jan 2021View details →

Dataset: Live cell dynamics of production, explosive release and killing activity of phage tail-like weapons for Pseudomonas kin exclusion

This dataset is related to "Live cell dynamics of production, explosive release and killing activity of phage tail-like weapons for Pseudomonas kin exclusion" and contains the raw data obtained.

Quantifying the potential epidemiological impact of a two-year active case finding for tuberculosis in rural Nepal: A model-based analysis

Includes data and codes for the manuscript entitled: Quantifying the potential epidemiological impact of a two-year active case finding for tuberculosis in rural Nepal: A model-based analysis <div> <div> <div> doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2022-062123 </div> </div> </div>

opencc-by-4.0Dec 2022View details →

Dataset of H-alpha activity indices of F-, G-, and K-type stars observed by the LAMOST Medium-Resolution Spectroscopic Survey

This dataset of H-alpha activity indices is for investigation of stellar H-alpha chromospheric activity based on the LAMOST Medium-Resolution Spectroscopic Survey (MRS). High signal-to-noise ratio MRS coadded spectra of F-, G-, and K-type stars (4000-7000 K) from LAMOST Data Release 8 are utilized in the dataset (329,294 spectra in total). The H-alpha activity index (I_halpha) and the H-alpha R-index (R_halpha) are evaluated for the MRS spectra. The values of the H-alpha indices and their uncertainties, as well as the related spectroscopic parameters from the LAMOST catalogs, are stored in a CSV-format file (file name: Halpha_activity_indices_LAMOST_MRS_DR8.csv).   Columns included in the dataset: obsid - unique observation identifier of LAMOST MRS ra - right ascension of the observed object (unit: degree) dec - declination of the observed object (unit: degree) obsdate - UTC date of the observation (format: YYYY-MM-DD) fitsname - MRS FITS data file name sn_B - signal-to-noise ratio of the blue band of MRS sn_R - signal-to-noise ratio of the red band of MRS band_para - indicating which band of MRS is used by the LASP to determine the stellar atmospheric parameters; ‘B’ representing the blue band and ‘R’ representing the red band teff - effective temperature determined by the LASP (unit: K) teff_err - uncertainty of teff (unit: K) logg - surface gravity determined by the LASP (unit: dex) logg_err - uncertainty of logg (unit: dex) feh - metallicity determined by the LASP (unit: dex) feh_err - uncertainty of feh (unit: dex) rv_r0 - radial velocity determined based on the red band data of MRS (unit: km/s) rv_r0_err - uncertainty of rv_r0 (unit: km/s) category* - ‘main-sequence’ or ‘giant’ or ‘intermediate-zone’ I_halpha* - H-alpha activity index I_halpha_err* - uncertainty of I_halpha chi* - χ factor for calculating R_halpha from I_halpha (unit: 1/Å) chi_err* - uncertainty of chi (unit: 1/Å) R_halpha* - H-alpha R-index R_halpha_err* - uncertainty of R_halpha (Note: The columns marked with an asterisk are provided by this dataset. Other columns are from the catalogs of LAMOST DR8 v1.1. LASP is an acronym for the LAMOST Stellar Parameter Pipeline. A value of -9999.0 in the dataset indicates that it is not available.)

Supporting materials and data from: Hypotheses concerning global magnetospheric convection, magnetosphere-Ionosphere coupling, and auroral activity at Uranus

Summary: The data and figures contained in this dataset are supporting materials for the paper referenced in the title and abstract below. This study involved an analytical and numerical assessment of the Uranian magnetosphere and its interaction with the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). The data and figures contained in this dataset include supplementary results for a greater number of IMF orientations and Uranian seasons than the examples presented in the corresponding paper. Abstract from corresponding paper: doi:10.1029/2023JA031791 with Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics: We investigate the unique magnetosphere of Uranus and its interaction with the solar wind. Following previous work, we developed and validated a simple yet valuable and illustrative model of Uranus' offset, tilted, and rapidly-spinning magnetic field and magnetopause (nominal and fit to the Voyager-2 inbound crossing point) in three-dimensional space. With this model, we investigated details of the seasonal and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) orientation dependencies of dayside and flank reconnection along the Uranian magnetopause. We found that anti-parallel (magnetic field shear angle greater than 170-degrees) reconnection occurs nearly continuously along the Uranian dayside and/or flank magnetopause under all seasons of the 84 (Earth) year Uranian orbit and the most likely IMF orientations. Such active and continuous driving of the Uranian magnetosphere should result in constant loading and unloading of the Uranian magnetotail, which may be further complicated and destabilized by sudden changes in the IMF orientation and solar wind conditions plus the reconfigurations from the rotation of Uranus itself. We demonstrate that unlike the other magnetospheric systems that are Dungey-cycle driven (i.e., Mercury and Earth) or rotationally driven (Jupiter and Saturn), global magnetospheric convection of plasma, magnetic flux, and energy flow may occur via three distinct cycles, two of which are unique to Uranus (and possibly also Neptune). Our simple model is also used to map signatures of dayside and flank reconnection down to the Uranian ionosphere, as a function of planetary latitude and longitude. Such mapping demonstrates that "spot"-like auroral features should be very common on the Uranian dayside, consistent with observations from Hubble Space Telescope. We further detail how the combination of Uranus' rapid rotation and unique and very active global magnetospheric convection should be consistent with fueling of the surprisingly intense trapped radiation environment observed by Voyager-2 during its single flyby. Summarizing, Uranus is a very special magnetosphere that offers new insights on the nature, complexity, and diversity of planetary magnetospheric systems and the acceleration of particles in space plasmas, which might have important analogs to exoplanetary magnetospheric systems. Our hypotheses can be tested with further work involving more advanced models, new auroral observations, and unprecedented missions to explore the in situ environment from orbit around Uranus, which should include a complement of magnetospheric instruments in the payload.

Phases evolution and photocatalytic activity of Cu2O films electrodeposited from a non-pH-adjusted solution

A pure-phase Cu2O film photocatalyst was successfully prepared by the electrodeposition technique from a non-pH-adjusted solution. To investigate the phase evolution and photocatalytic activity of the film, the electrodeposition was conducted at different deposition temperatures. Photocatalytic activity of the films was evaluated from methylene blue (MB) dye degradation. The Cu2O phase initially appeared at room temperature and its fraction was found to increase with increasing the deposition temperature, while the impurity phase was successfully diminished. A pure Cu2O film with a narrow optical bandgap energy of 1.96 eV was obtained at 75°C. The multi-faceted crystals were found to form at 45°C and became a truncated octahedral structure that possessed {111} and {100} facets as deposition temperature further increased. A preferred orientation growth of {110} facet, which is known to possess a relatively high surface energy, was produced at 75°C. The performance of MB photodegradation enhanced gradually by increasing the deposition temperature. The increase of photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the rise of photoelectrochemical response and the decrease of resistance charge transfer because of narrowing bandgap energy, increasing Cu2O fraction, and growing a relatively high catalytic activity facet which had escalated redox reaction that decomposed MB at the photocatalyst-solution interface.

GPS and activity data from wild boars tracked in Southern France

Many animals living in anthropized landscapes try to avoid encountering people by being active at night. By doing so, however, they risk being disturbed while at rest during the day. To mitigate this risk, diurnally resting species may be highly selective about where they rest. Here, we used GPS and activity sensors to study how wild boars (Sus scrofa) might adjust their resting site selection and revisitation patterns to the risk of disturbance by people. We evaluated the probability of daytime relocation to assess the efficacy of wild boars' resting strategy in reducing the risk of human encounter while at rest. We attempted to identify the cause of some relocations using audio recordings. Generally, we found that wild boars did not specifically avoid resting near villages or roads, i.e. where the risk of encountering people is higher, if they could find sites with suitable vegetation cover. The risk of disturbance by people was low, even near villages. Resting sites located close to villages were visited more repeatedly than those located further away, suggesting that focusing on a few familiar and quiet resting sites was a successful strategy for resting undisturbed in an anthropized landscape.

Data from: Fission-fusion dynamics in sheep: The influence of resource distribution and temporal activity patterns

Fission-fusion events, i.e. changes to the size and composition of animal social groups, are a mechanism to adjust the social environment in response to short-term changes in the cost-benefit ratio of group living. Furthermore, the time and location of fission-fusion events provide insight into the underlying drivers of these dynamics. Here, we describe a method for identifying group membership over time and for extracting fission-fusion events from animal tracking data. We applied this method to high-resolution GPS data of free-ranging sheep (Ovis aries). Group size was highest during times when sheep typically rest (mid-day and at night), and when anti-predator benefits of grouping are high while costs of competition are low. Consistent with this, fission and fusion frequencies were highest during early morning and late evening, suggesting that social restructuring occurs during periods of high activity. However, fission and fusion events were not more frequent near food patches and water resources when adjusted for overall space use. This suggests a limited role of resource competition. Our results elucidate the dynamics of grouping in response to social and ecological drivers, and we provide a tool for investigating these dynamics in other species.

opencc-by-4.0Jul 2023View details →

NEATmap: a high-efficiency deep learning approach for whole mouse brain neuronal activity trace mapping

Here are some demo datasets for validating the NEATmap pipeline for high-efficiency whole brain c-Fos+ cell automated segmentation and quantitative analysis, including: <ol> <li>BrainImage_group.zip.001-007: Validation of NEATmap for automated segmentation and quantitative analysis of mouse whole-brain c-Fos activity images (in Forced Swimming Test).</li> <li>Segmentation_result.zip: Figure 1a, Supplementary Videos 1 and 2 show dual-channel brain slices and segmentation results. They can be merged using Imaris to validate the segmentation results of NEATmap.</li> <li>RawImage_example.zip: High-resolution 3D images of mouse brain slices showing c-Fos+ cells in Figure 1e.</li> </ol> Due to the total size of the mouse whole-brain image datasets (both raw and processed) included in all the tests exceeding 10 Terabytes, uploading it to a public data repository is impractical. In this work, we provide a dataset of dual-channel (c-Fos+ channel and autofluorescence channel in forced swimming test experimental group) whole-brain images of mouse for the validation of NEATmap automated segmentation method.

Data from: Human activities modulate reciprocal effects of a subterranean ecological engineer rodent, Tachyoryctes macrocephalus, on Afroalpine vegetation cover

Human activities, directly and indirectly, impact ecological engineering activities of subterranean rodents. As engineering activities of burrowing rodents are affected by, and reciprocally affect vegetation cover via feeding, burrowing and mound building, human influence such as settlements and livestock grazing, could have cascading effects on biodiversity and ecosystem processes such as bioturbation. However, there is limited understanding of the relationship between human activities and burrowing rodents. The aim of this study was therefore to understand how human activities influence the ecological engineering activity of the giant root-rat (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus), a subterranean rodent species endemic to the Afroalpine ecosystem of the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia. We collected data on human impact, burrowing activity and vegetation during February and March of 2021. Using path analysis, we tested (1) direct effects of human settlement on the patterns of livestock grazing intensity, (2) direct and indirect impacts of humans and livestock grazing intensity on the root-rat burrow density, and (3) whether human settlement and livestock grazing influence the effects of giant root-rat burrow density on vegetation and vice versa. We found lower levels of livestock grazing intensity further from human settlement than in its proximity. We also found a significantly increased giant root-rat burrow density with increasing livestock grazing intensity. Seasonal settlement and livestock grazing intensity had an indirect negative and positive effect on giant root-rat burrow density, respectively, both via vegetation cover. Analysing the reciprocal effects of giant root-rat on vegetation, we found a significantly decreased vegetation cover with increasing density of giant root-rat burrows, and indirectly with increasing livestock grazing intensity via giant root-rat burrow density. Our results demonstrate that giant root-rats play a synanthropic engineering role that affects vegetation structure and ecosystem processes.

Data from: Vitamin D induces SIRT1 activation through K610 deacetylation in colon cancer

Posttranslational modifications of epigenetic modifiers provide a flexible and timely mechanism for rapid adaptations to the dynamic environment of cancer cells. SIRT1 is an NAD+-dependent epigenetic modifier whose activity is classically associated with healthy aging and longevity, but its function in cancer is not well understood. Here, we reveal that 1a,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3, calcitriol), the active metabolite of vitamin D (VD), promotes SIRT1 activation through auto-deacetylation in human colon carcinoma cells, and identify lysine 610 as an essential driver of SIRT1 activity. Remarkably, our data show that the post-translational control of SIRT1 activity mediates the antiproliferative action of 1,25(OH)2D3. This effect is reproduced by the SIRT1 activator SRT1720, suggesting that SIRT1 activators may offer new therapeutic possibilities for colon cancer patients who are VD deficient or unresponsive. Moreover, this might be extrapolated to inflammation and other VD deficiency-associated and highly prevalent diseases in which SIRT1 plays a prominent role.

Data from: Silicon supplementation and jasmonate activation synergistically increase phenolic defences against a legume herbivore

The accumulation of silicon (Si) is widely reported to have anti-herbivore defensive properties in grasses. There is emerging, but fragmentary, evidence that Si could play a similar role in legumes. Here, we sought to understand the effects of Si supplementation on anti-herbivore defensive properties in lucerne (Medicago sativa), especially in relation to other potential defences (i.e. phenolics) and the phytohormone that regulates anti-herbivore defences, jasmonic acid or jasmonate (JA), which is also linked to Si accumulation. We determined how growth, root nodulation and chemistry (carbon, nitrogen and phenolic concentrations) of four genotypes of lucerne responded to Si supplementation, with and without the application of JA, and we used feeding assays to determine the subsequent effects on the feeding success of adult Sitona discoideus weevils. Si supplementation increased plant mass and root nodulation of M. sativa by 61% and 227%, respectively, and reduced relative consumption (RC) and frass production by S. discoideus by 38% and 30%, respectively. Si supplementation had no effect on foliar nitrogen concentrations, most likely due to the dilution effects of increased plant growth and foliar carbon. Phenolic concentrations were negatively correlated with leaf RC; RC also decreased by 34% when JA was applied to plants. When Si was combined with JA application, phenolics were significantly enhanced, demonstrating the potential to stimulate multiple anti-herbivore properties in M. sativa. The novel findings suggest that Si accumulation may play a more important role in legume resistance to herbivorous animals than previously thought. The ubiquity of soil Si and its emerging functional role in plant biology, including plant–animal interactions, suggest that these patterns could be common amongst legumes.