Choosing This Life: Narratives of Choice amongst House Sharers

House sharing amongst young adults is often regarded as being of significance only as a short term, transitional arrangement, and is associated with economic constraint. This association is, however, undergoing change, as it is a household form increasingly adopted by young people in professional and managerial occupations. This paper focuses on the experiences of these rather more advantaged sharers, and explores their own accounts of why they live in shared housing. The language of choice features heavily in their narratives, embracing a consideration of the material and non-material benefits of sharing, and of their own projected domestic trajectories. It is concluded that, whilst financial concerns are not unimportant in their decision-making, most regard their living arrangements as appropriate to the needs and demands of their current lifestyles, and do not experience their living arrangements as products of constraint.     

RNA-Seq Profiling of Neutrophil-Derived Microvesicles in Alzheimer’s Disease Patients Identifies a miRNA Signature That May Impact Blood–Brain Barrier Integrity

(1) Background: Systemic infection is associated with increased neuroinflammation and accelerated cognitive decline in AD patients. Activated neutrophils produce neutrophil-derived microvesicles (NMV), which are internalised by human brain microvascular endothelial cells and increase their permeability in vitro, suggesting that NMV play a role in blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity during infection. The current study investigated whether microRNA content of NMV from AD patients is significantly different compared to healthy controls and could impact cerebrovascular integrity. (2) Methods: Neutrophils isolated from peripheral blood samples of five AD and five healthy control donors without systemic infection were stimulated to produce NMV. MicroRNAs isolated from NMV were analysed by RNA-Seq, and online bioinformatic tools were used to identify significantly differentially expressed microRNAs in the NMV. Target and pathway analyses were performed to predict the impact of the candidate microRNAs on vascular integrity. (3) Results: There was no significant difference in either the number of neutrophils (p = 0.309) or the number of NMV (p = 0.3434) isolated from AD donors compared to control. However, 158 microRNAs were significantly dysregulated in AD NMV compared to controls, some of which were associated with BBB dysfunction, including miR-210, miR-20b-5p and miR-126-5p. Pathway analysis revealed numerous significantly affected pathways involved in regulating vascular integrity, including the TGFβ and PDGFB pathways, as well as Hippo, IL-2 and DNA damage signalling. (4) Conclusions: NMV from AD patients contain miRNAs that may alter the integrity of the BBB and represent a novel neutrophil-mediated mechanism for BBB dysfunction in AD and the accelerated cognitive decline seen as a result of a systemic infection.     

Chemical and behavioral analyses of volatile sex pheromone components released by callingHeliothis virescens (F.) females (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Gas chromatographic and mass spectral analyses were conducted on pheromone gland extracts, volatiles collected from excised pheromone glands, and volatiles collected from calling females. In addition to tetradecanal, (Z)-9-tetradecenal, hexadecanal, (Z)-7-hexadecenal, (Z)-9-hexadecenal, and (Z)-11-hexadecenal, four other compounds, tetradecanol, (Z)-9-tetradecenol, hexadecanol, and (Z)-11-hexadecenol, were also identified from gland extracts. Only the six aldehyde components were found in gland and female volatile collections. The mean percentage of components identified from volatiles collected from calling females was 13.0% tetradecanal, 18.1% (Z)-9-tetradecenal, 7.3% hexadecanal, 0.6% (Z)-7-hexadecenal, 1.0% (Z)-9-hexadecenal, and 60.0% (Z)-11-hexadecenal. Bioassays using rubber septa formulated to release the female volatile blend indicated that all six aldehyde components play major roles in close-range male reproductive behavior. Deletion of (Z)-9-hexadecenal from the six-component blend reduced the number of copulation attempts while (Z)-7-hexadecenal exerted subtle effects on all close range behaviors. Tetradecanal affected the number of times males reorient from close range. Deletion of hexadecanal from the six-component blend resulted in a significant reduction in the number of times males landed. Comparison of the six-component synthetic blend (released at somewhat less than 1 female equivalent per hour) with calling females indicated that the six-component blend was indistinguishable from the females in inducing all of the behaviors monitored.     

Gamma-Irradiated Cationic Starches: Paper Surface-Sizing Agents

Cationic starches, precisely depolymerized by gamma-irradiation (⁶⁰Co), were dispersed in mild alkali and evaluated as surface sizes for bond paper on a pilot paper machine. The irradiated products had excellent dispersion properties, were well retained on fibers when sized wastepaper (broke) was repulped and had an ability to enhance paper properties that was comparable to that of starch-based materials used commercially. A yellow corn flour, cationized by an essentially dry reaction process recently developed at this Center, was also radiolyzed and evaluated as a size. This latter product was unique in that all drying steps were eliminated in the preparation of a cationic ceral product of reduced viscosity.     

Type B CTD Proteins Secreted by the Type IX Secretion System Associate with PorP-like Proteins for Cell Surface Anchorage

The Bacteroidetes type IX secretion system (T9SS) consists of at least 20 components that translocate proteins with type A or type B C-terminal domain (CTD) signals across the outer membrane (OM). While type A CTD proteins are anchored to the cell surface via covalent linkage to the anionic lipopolysaccharide, it is still unclear how type B CTD proteins are anchored to the cell surface. Moreover, very little is known about the PorE and PorP components of the T9SS. In this study, for the first time, we identified a complex comprising the OM β-barrel protein PorP, the OM-associated periplasmic protein PorE and the type B CTD protein PG1035. Cross-linking studies supported direct interactions between PorE-PorP and PorP-PG1035. Furthermore, we show that the formation of the PorE-PorP-PG1035 complex was independent of PorU and PorV. Additionally, the Flavobacterium johnsoniae PorP-like protein, SprF, was found bound to the major gliding motility adhesin, SprB, which is also a type B CTD protein. Together, these results suggest that type B-CTD proteins may anchor to the cell surface by binding to their respective PorP-like proteins.     

Dysregulation in Multiple Transcriptomic Endometrial Pathways Is Associated with Recurrent Implantation Failure and Recurrent Early Pregnancy Loss

Overlapping disease aetiologies associated with multiple altered biological processes have been identified that change the endometrial function leading to recurrent implantation failure (RIF) and recurrent early pregnancy loss (REPL). We aimed to provide a detailed insight into the nature of the biological malfunction and related pathways of differentially expressed genes in RIF and REPL. Endometrial biopsies were obtained from 9 women experiencing RIF, REPL and control groups. Affymetrix microarray analysis was performed to measure the gene expression level of the endometrial biopsies. Unsupervised clustering of endometrial samples shows scattered distribution of gene expression between the RIF, REPL and control groups. 2556 and 1174 genes (p value < 0.05, Fold change > 1.2) were significantly altered in the endometria of RIF and REPL patients’ group, respectively compared to the control group. Downregulation in Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in RIF and REPL including ribosome and oxidative phosphorylation pathways. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed ribosomes and mitochondria inner membrane as the most significantly downregulated cellular component (CC) affected in RIF and REPL. Determination of the dysregulated genes and related biological pathways in RIF and REPL will be key in understanding their molecular pathology and of major importance in addressing diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment issues     

Flight response ofHeliothis subflexa (Gn.) females (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to an attractant from groundcherry,Physalis angulata L.

Mated femaleHeliothis subflexa (Gn.) (HS) moths 1–7 days old responded positively in a Plexiglas flight tunnel to an attractant extracted with methanol from fresh whole-leaf washes of groundcherry,Physalis angulata L. Response to the groundcherry extract, as indicated by plume-tracking (i.e., upwind flight toward the odor source) and contact with the chemical dispenser did not change significantly during the first 5 hr of scotophase. Overall, ca. 50% of the responding moths also landed on the chemical dispenser; ca. 50% of the moths that landed also deposited eggs. There were no significant differences in the behavioral responses of females mating only once and those that had mated two or more times. Virgin females and male moths were significantly less responsive to the groundcherry attractant than mated females. The flight tunnel bioassay described provides an excellent system for evaluating plant allelochemics associated with host-plant selection.This article reports the results of research only. Mention of a proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement or the recommendation for its use by USDA.     

Influence of pheromone trap color and design on capture of male velvetbean caterpillar and fall armyworm moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Three pheromone traps were evaluated in paired field trials for effectiveness in capturing wild male velvetbean caterpillar moths (VBC),Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, and fall armyworm moths (FAW),Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), using a wind-oriented trapping device. The traps were: (1) the standard multicolored bucket trap consisting of a forest green canopy, yellow funnel, white bucket and open (i.e., single wire) pheromone holder; (2) a forest green monocolored bucket trap; and (3) the Multi-Pher-1 trap consisting of a blue-green canopy, white funnel, white bucket, and white, multislotted pheromone holder. The Multi-Pher-1 trap differs primarily from the other two in that its entrance is smaller in diameter and is partially obstructed by the pheromone holder. Significantly fewer VBC and FAW males were captured in pheromone-baited monocolored (forest green) bucket traps than standard multicolored bucket traps. The Multi-Pher-1 trap also caught significantly fewer VBC moths than the standard multicolored bucket trap, but there was no significant difference in numbers of FAW moths caught in the two traps. The results further demonstrate the importance of considering visual cues, in this case color, in the design of pheromone traps for nocturnal insects.This article reports the results of research only. Mention of a proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement or the recommendation for its use by USDA.     

Mating and oviposition byCotesia (=Apanteles) marginiventris (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in presence of synthetic pheromone ofSpodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Two blends of fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), pheromonal components were evaluated in the laboratory for possible close-range effects on mating and oviposition byCotesia marginiventris (Cresson). Neither a two- nor a five-component blend had any significant effect on mating or parasitization ofS. frugiperda larvae by this parasitoid. Dosages of 200, 400, and 800 g were tested.     

An equilibrium and stability study of Δ1-pyrroline

Several properties of the compound 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole(A1-pyrroline), which has been reported as a component of the male-produced Mediterranean fruit fly pheromone, have been determined by [¹H]- and [¹³C]nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The stability of ¹-pyrroline in several solvents and at moderately elevated temperatures has been investigated, and it has been established that it exists as both a monomer and trimer in solution. Although equilibrium studies indicate that the trimer is thermodynamically more stable than the monomer in solution, only the monomer was found in the vapor phase based on infrared analysis.This article reports the results of research only. Mention of a proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for its use by USDA.