The genomes of two key bumblebee species with primitive eusocial organization

Background: The shift from solitary to social behavior is one of the major evolutionary transitions. Primitively eusocial bumblebees are uniquely placed to illuminate the evolution of highly eusocial insect societies. Bumblebees are also invaluable natural and agricultural pollinators, and there is widespread concern over recent population declines in some species. High-quality genomic data will inform key aspects of bumblebee biology, including susceptibility to implicated population viability threats. Results: We report the high quality draft genome sequences of Bombus terrestris and Bombus impatiens, two ecologically dominant bumblebees and widely utilized study species. Comparing these new genomes to those of the highly eusocial honeybee Apis mellifera and other Hymenoptera, we identify deeply conserved similarities, as well as novelties key to the biology of these organisms. Some honeybee genome features thought to underpin advanced eusociality are also present in bumblebees, indicating an earlier evolution in the bee lineage. Xenobiotic detoxification and immune genes are similarly depauperate in bumblebees and honeybees, and multiple categories of genes linked to social organization, including development and behavior, show high conservation. Key differences identified include a bias in bumblebee chemoreception towards gustation from olfaction, and striking differences in microRNAs, potentially responsible for gene regulation underlying social and other traits. Conclusions: These two bumblebee genomes provide a foundation for post-genomic research on these key pollinators and insect societies. Overall, gene repertoires suggest that the route to advanced eusociality in bees was mediated by many small changes in many genes and processes, and not by notable expansion or depauperation

Extended properties of magnetic spins of zinc ferrite nanoparticles in the THz frequency range

We fabricated nanoparticles of Zn ferrite of the chemical formula ZnFe$_2$O$_4$ using the auto-combustion technique, and investigated their magnetic spin distribution and frequency response to optical excitation. Optical absorption and magnetic characterization of the nanoparticles were carried out in the UV–Vis and IR range, and extended on the low frequency side down to the THz domain. The nanoparticles were also characterized by X-ray diffraction and by magnetic force microscopy. The optical dielectric constant was calculated in both the UV–Vis and the THz domain. The optical bandgap, the dispersion energy and the oscillator strength of the nanoparticles were calculated from the optical data based on the single oscillator model. We measured the optical absorption, transmission and reflection spectra in the wavelength range from 200 to 800 nm, and calculated the refractive index, absorption and extinction coefficient. The optical band gap was found to be 1.14 eV and the oscillating energy of the dipole was determined to be 6.94 eV. The study shows that the coordination number of a metal complex and the symmetrical arrangement play an important role in determining the nanoparticle properties

Surface alterations of polished and sandblasted and acid-etched titanium implants after Er:YAG, carbon dioxide, and diode laser irradiation

PURPOSE: Laser treatment has become a popular method for resolving peri-implantitis, but the full range of its effects on implant surfaces is unknown. The purpose of the present investigation was to analyze the influence of different clinically applicable erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG), carbon dioxide (CO2), and diode laser parameters on titanium surfaces that were either polished or sandblasted, large-grit, acid-etched (SLA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six polished and six SLA titanium disks were irradiated at nine different power settings (n = 54 polished, 54 SLA) with Er:YAG, CO2, or diode lasers. The CO2 and diode lasers were used in continuous wave mode, and the Er:YAG laser was used in a pulsed manner. The surface of each disk was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and confocal white light microscopy. Each disk was irradiated on six circular areas of 5 mm in diameter with the same specific laser setting for 10 seconds. RESULTS: Within the chosen parameters, the CO2 and diode laser did not cause any visible surface alterations on either the polished or SLA disks. In contrast, both polished and SLA disks showed surface alterations when irradiated with the pulsed Er:YAG laser. The SLA surfaces showed alteration after 10 seconds of irradiation with Er:YAG laser at 300 mJ/10 Hz. The surfaces of the polished disks did not show alteration with the Er:YAG laser until they were irradiated at the higher energy of 500 mJ/10 Hz for 10 seconds. The results of confocal white light microscopy were in agreement with scanning electron micrographs. CONCLUSION: In contrast to continuous-wave diode and CO2 laser irradiation, pulsed Er:YAG laser irradiation caused distinct alterations with power settings beyond 300 mJ/10 Hz on the SLA surface and 500 mJ/10 Hz on the polished surface. Thus, it is only safe to use the Er:YAG laser for implant surface irradiation with settings no higher than 300 or 500 mJ/10 Hz

Anaesthetic induction with etomidate in cardiac surgery: A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Etomidate is perceived as preserving haemodynamic stability during induction of anaesthesia. It is also associated with adrenocortical dysfunction. The risk/benefit relationship is controversial. OBJECTIVES We tested the hypotheses that single-dose etomidate increases cumulative vasopressor requirement, time to extubation and length of stay in the ICU. DESIGN Double-blind randomised controlled trial. SETTING Bern University Hospital, Switzerland, from November 2006 to December 2009. PATIENTS There were 90 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) and 40 patients undergoing mitral valve surgery (MVS). Reasons for noninclusion were known adrenocortical insufficiency, use of etomidate or propofol within 1 week preoperatively, use of glucocorticoids within 6 months preoperatively, severe renal or liver dysfunction, or carotid stenosis. INTERVENTIONS CABG patients were allocated randomly to receive either etomidate 0.15 mg kg with placebo, propofol 1.5 mg kg with placebo or etomidate 0.15 mg kg with hydrocortisone (n = 30 in each arm). Risk stratification (low vs. high) was achieved by block randomisation. MVS patients received either etomidate 0.15 mg kg or propofol 1.5 mg kg (n = 20 in each arm). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Cumulative vasopressor requirements, incidence of adrenocortical insufficiency, length of time to extubation and length of stay in ICU. RESULTS Cumulative vasopressor requirements 24 h after induction did not differ between treatments in patients who underwent CABG, whereas more noradrenaline was used in MVS patients following propofol induction (absolute mean difference 5.86 μg kg over 24 h P = 0.047). The incidence of relative adrenocortical insufficiency was higher after etomidate alone than propofol (CABG 83 vs. 37%, P < 0.001; MVS: 95 vs. 35%, P < 0.001). The time to extubation, length of stay in ICU and 30-day mortality did not differ among treatments. Within low and high-risk subgroups, no differences in vasopressor use or outcomes were found. CONCLUSION In elective cardiac surgery, laboratory indicators of etomidate-induced adrenal insufficiency do not translate into increased vasopressor requirement or inferior early outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT 00415701

The choice of an autocorrelation length in dark-field lung imaging

Respiratory diseases are one of the most common causes of death, and their early detection is crucial for prompt treatment. X-ray dark-field radiography (XDFR) is a promising tool to image objects with unresolved micro-structures such as lungs. Using Talbot-Lau XDFR, we imaged inflated porcine lungs together with Polymethylmethacrylat (PMMA) microspheres (in air) of diameter sizes between 20 and 500 [Formula: see text] over an autocorrelation range of 0.8-5.2 [Formula: see text]. The results indicate that the dark-field extinction coefficient of porcine lungs is similar to that of densely-packed PMMA spheres with diameter of [Formula: see text], which is approximately the mean alveolar structure size. We evaluated that, in our case, the autocorrelation length would have to be limited to [Formula: see text] in order to image [Formula: see text]-thick lung tissue without critical visibility reduction (signal saturation). We identify the autocorrelation length to be the critical parameter of an interferometer that allows to avoid signal saturation in clinical lung dark-field imaging.ISSN:2045-232