The bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus) of Arkansas, fifty years later

Many species of bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus Latreille) are declining throughout their ranges in North America, yet detecting population trends can be difficult when historical survey data are lacking.  In the present study, contemporary data is compared to a 1965 survey to detect changes in bumble bee distributions throughout Arkansas.  Using county-level records as a point of comparison to look for changes in state-wide occurrence among species over time, we find that state-level changes reflect national trends.  Contemporary records of Bombus bimaculatus Cresson and B. impatiens Cresson have more than tripled, while records for B. pensylvanicus (De Geer) show a decline to 61% of historical levels.  Although B. fervidus (Fabricius) has been reported infrequently in the state, misidentifications may have led to an overestimation of the state’s species richness.  In addition to an updated assessment of the bumble bees of Arkansas, we also provide new, localized information on the seasonal phenology and plant preferences of each species that can be used to guide conservation efforts

Nosema bombi (Microsporidia: Nosematidae) and trypanosomatid prevalence in spring bumble bee queens (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus) in Kansas

Citation: Tribodi, A., Cibils-Stewart, X., McCornack, B., & Szlanski, A. (2014). Nosema bombi (Microsporidia: Nosematidae) and Trypanosomatid Prevalence in Spring Bumble Bee Queens (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus) in Kansas. Journal of the Entomological Society, 87(2), 225-233. https://doi.org/10.2317/JKES130730.1Several species of bumble bees are declining in the United States; these declining populations often show higher prevalence of Nosema bombi, a microsporidian pathogen. To date, surveys of bumble bee pathogens in the United States have only been conducted on workers and males, yet the health of a population is ultimately dependent on the success of colony-founding queens. We conducted a molecular-diagnostic survey of the prevalence of N. bombi and trypanosomatids, such as Crithidia bombi, in six species of spring queens (n  =  142) collected in 2011 and 2013 at three sites in central Kansas. Nosema bombi was found in 27% of Bombus pensylvanicus and 13% of B. auricomus but was not found in the other species sampled. Trypanosomatids were only found in B. pensylvanicus (9%) during the May 2013 sampling period. The high prevalence of N. bombi in B. pensylvanicus is consistent with other surveys for this pathogen in other castes, but the high prevalence of N. bombi in B. auricomus is a novel finding. Although the conservation status of B. auricomus has not been thoroughly assessed, two recently published surveys showed that B. auricomus were less common in portions of the species' range. Based on those findings and an oft-cited link between N. bombi prevalence and bumble bee species' decline (e.g., B. pensylvanicus) in other studies, our findings suggest B. auricomus populations in Kansas may warrant further scrutiny

Stress perception among employees in a French University Hospital

Background Nantes University Hospital comprises 20 activity sectors.Aims To investigate the role of the work environment at the individual level, as well as the workplace level, in explaining the variability in employees’ perception of stress. Methods A self-administered enhanced Karasek Job Content Questionnaire was sent to employees. The main variables were the psychological job demand (PJD) score and the job decision latitude (JDL) score. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate crude odds ratio (OR) and adjusted OR. Results One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight workers were included. Nursing managers (25.9 ± 3.4), non-specialized nurses (25.6 ± 3.5) and physicians (25.3 ± 3.4) had the highest PJD. Cleaning staff (61.4 ± 11.4) and nurse aides (63.6 ± 8.8) had the lowest JDL. Items correlated with high PJD are: unacceptable work schedule, adjusted OR 2.16 (95% CI = 1.3–3.5); unsatisfactory workstation accessibility, OR 1.92 (95% CI = 1.1–3.2); getting from A to B, OR 1.67 (95% CI = 1.2–2.4); and heavy manual handling, OR 1.62 (95% CI = 1.1–2.3). Sleeping tablet use was linked to high PJD (P < 0.01), extra workload (P < 0.05) and tiredness (P < 0.05). Use of painkillers was correlated with musculoskeletal disorders (P < 0.05). Conclusions Our study highlighted women >40 years old, nurse managers, physicians, permanent and/or full-time workers having a high PJD. Nursing aides, medical secretary and nurses presented with high strain. Better control measures should be implemented for those socioprofessional categories to improve prevention measures. This study should be repeated in the future with a multi-centre approach to determine the generalizability of the findings

Prévenir les troubles musculosquelettiques chez les soignants : connaître les expositions et étude des outils d’aide à la manutention

ObjectifsDans le cadre de la Caisse nationale de retaite des agents des collectivités locales (CNRACL), la démarche d’évaluation et de prévention des risques vise à conduire à une démarche spécifique au milieu hospitalier et à construire des outils d’évaluation des risques dans le réseau des CHU français. Les études menées sur la prévention des troubles musculosquelettiques (TMS) associent principalement les compétences en ergonomie, épidémiologie et médecine du travail des CHU d’Angers et de Grenoble. Méthode Une première étude épidémiologique a permis d’identifier les facteurs de risque de TMS et de lombalgie en milieu hospitalier ; une seconde s’est intéressée à l’évaluation des outils d’aide à la manutention des patients en milieu de soins sous un angle ergonomique. Résultats Les salariés du secteur santé sont en moyenne exposés à 2,4 facteurs de risque des 19 répertoriés (3,5 pour le reste du réseau) et ne souffrent pas plus de TMS des membres supérieurs que les autres salariés de la région des Pays-de-la-Loire. En revanche, les expositions aux manutentions manuelles de charges lourdes liées aux soins aux patients sont plus fréquentes. Les aides techniques pour la manutention étudiées ne répondent pas aux critères de dépendance du patient ou aux conditions organisationnelles du service. Du point de vue psychologique, le rapport du patient au matériel ainsi que l’usage du corps du soignant dans la relation aux soins doivent être pris en compte. Conclusion L’approche biomécanique a fait l’objet de cette première investigation. Il s’agit d’une démarche de prévention pluridisciplinaire intégrée dans la politique d’établissement

Particle acoustic detection in gravitational wave aluminum resonant antennas

The results on cosmic rays detected by the gravitational antenna NAUTILUS have motivated an experiment (RAP) based on a suspended cylindrical bar, which is made of the same aluminum alloy as NAUTILUS and is exposed to a high energy electron beam. Mechanical vibrations originate from the local thermal expansion caused by warming up due to the energy lost by particles crossing the material. The aim of the experiment is to measure the amplitude of the fundamental longitudinal vibration at different temperatures. We report on the results obtained down to a temperature of about 4 K, which agree at the level of about 10% with the predictions of the model describing the underlying physical process.Comment: RAP experiment, 16 pages, 7 figure

Phase III studies on novel oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation -a look beyond the excellent results

In this overview we address the three phase III studies that compared new oral anticoagulants (dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban) with warfarin in the setting of stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation. Strengths and weaknesses of the studies were examined in detail through indirect comparison. We analyze and comment the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the characteristics of randomized patients, the primary efficacy and safety end points and side effects. All new oral anticoagulants resulted in being non-inferior to vitamin K antagonists in reducing stroke or systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. Dabigatran 150 mg and apixaban were superior to vitamin K antagonists. Importantly, new oral anticoagulants significantly reduced hemorrhagic stroke in all three studies. Major differences among new oral anticoagulants include the way they are eliminated and side effects. Both dabigatran and apixaban were tested in low- to moderate-risk patients (mean CHADS2 [Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age, Diabetes, Stroke] score = 2.1-2.2) whereas rivaroxaban was tested in high-risk patients (mean CHADS2 score = 3.48) and at variance with dabigatran and apixaban was administered once daily. Apixaban significantly reduced mortality from any cause. The choice of a new oral anticoagulant should take into account these and other differences between the new drugs

The effect of introducing IGRA to screen French healthcare workers for tuberculosis and potential conclusions for the work organisation

INTRODUCTION: In France, pre-employment screening for tuberculosis (TB) is performed for healthcare workers (HCW). Screening is repeated when exposure to TB patients or infectious material occurs. The results of these TB screenings were analysed in a retrospective analysis. METHOD: Tuberculin skin tests (TST) and interferon-gamma release assays (QuantiFERON® Gold In-Tube - QFT) were used to perform the TB screenings. The screening results of 637 HCWs on whom QFT was performed were taken from the records of the University Hospital of Nantes. RESULTS: In three (0.5%) HCW, the QFT was indeterminate. In 22.2%, the QFT was positive. A second QFT was performed in 118 HCWs. The reversion rate was 42% (5 out of 17). The conversion rate was 6% (6 out of 98). A TST was performed on 466 (73.5%) of the HCWs. Results for TST > 10 mm were 77.4%. In those with a TST < 10 mm, QFT was positive in 14% and in those with a TST ≥ 10 mm, QFT was positive in 26.7%. Depending on the definition for conversion in the QFT, the annual attack rate was 4.1% or 7.3%. X-ray and pneumology consultation was based on positive QFT rather than TST alone (52 out of 56). No active TB was detected. CONCLUSION: The TST overestimated the prevalence of LTBI in this cohort. The decision about X-ray and consultation regarding preventive treatment should be based on the QFT rather than the TST results. The high reversion rate should be taken into consideration when consulting with HCWs regarding preventive treatment. The high conversion rate seems to indicate that preventive measures such as wearing masks should be improved

Evidence for a common progenitor of epithelial and mesenchymal components of the liver

Tissues of the adult organism maintain the homeostasis and respond to injury by means of progenitor/stem cell compartments capable to give rise to appropriate progeny. In organs composed by histotypes of different embryological origins (e.g. The liver), the tissue turnover may in theory involve different stem/precursor cells able to respond coordinately to physiological or pathological stimuli. In the liver, a progenitor cell compartment, giving rise to hepatocytes and cholangiocytes, can be activated by chronic injury inhibiting hepatocyte proliferation. The precursor compartment guaranteeing turnover of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) (perisinusoidal cells implicated with the origin of the liver fibrosis) in adult organ is yet unveiled. We show here that epithelial and mesenchymal liver cells (hepatocytes and HSCs) may arise from a common progenitor. Sca+ murine progenitor cells were found to coexpress markers of epithelial and mesenchymal lineages and to give rise, within few generations, to cells that segregate the lineage-specific markers into two distinct subpopulations. Notably, these progenitor cells, clonally derived, when transplanted in healthy livers, were found to generate epithelial and mesenchymal liver-specific derivatives (i.e. hepatocytes and HSCs) properly integrated in the liver architecture. These evidences suggest the existence of a 'bona fide' organ-specific meso-endodermal precursor cell, thus profoundly modifying current models of adult progenitor commitment believed, so far, to be lineage-restricted. Heterotopic transplantations, which confirm the dual differentiation potentiality of those cells, indicates as tissue local cues are necessary to drive a full hepatic differentiation. These data provide first evidences for an adult stem/precursor cell capable to differentiate in both parenchymal and non-parenchymal organ-specific components and candidate the liver as the instructive site for the reservoir compartment of HSC precursors as yet non-localized in the adult. \uc2\ua9 2013 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved