Development of Multiple Polymorphic Microsatellite Markers for Ceratina calcarata (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Using Genome-Wide Analysis

The small carpenter bee, Ceratina calcarata (Robertson), is a widespread native pollinator across eastern North America. The behavioral ecology and nesting biology of C. calcarata has been relatively well-studied and the species is emerging as a model organism for both native pollinator and social evolution research. C. calcarata is subsocial: reproductively mature females provide extended maternal care to their brood. As such, studies of C. calcarata may also reveal patterns of relatedness and demography unique to primitively social Hymenoptera. Here, we present 21 microsatellite loci, isolated from the recently completed C. calcarata genome. Screening in 39 individuals across their distribution revealed that no loci were in linkage disequilibrium, nor did any deviate significantly from Hardy-Weinberg following sequential Bonferroni correction. Allele count ranged from 2 to 14, and observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.08 to 0.82 (mean 0.47) and 0.26 to 0.88 (mean 0.56), respectively. These markers will enable studies of population-wide genetic structuring across C. calcarata’s distribution. Such tools will also allow for exploration of between and within-colony relatedness in this subsocial native pollinator

The Genome and Methylome of a Subsocial Small Carpenter Bee, Ceratina calcarata

Understanding the evolution of animal societies, considered to be a major transition in evolution, is a key topic in evolutionary biology. Recently, new gateways for understanding social evolution have opened up due to advances in genomics, allowing for unprecedented opportunities in studying social behavior on a molecular level. In particular, highly eusocial insect species (caste-containing societies with nonreproductives that care for siblings) have taken center stage in studies of the molecular evolution of sociality. Despite advances in genomic studies of both solitary and eusocial insects, we still lack genomic resources for early insect societies. To study the genetic basis of social traits requires comparison of genomes from a diversity of organisms ranging from solitary to complex social forms. Here we present the genome of a subsocial bee, Ceratina calcarata. This study begins to address the types of genomic changes associated with the earliest origins of simple sociality using the small carpenter bee. Genes associated with lipid transport and DNA recombination have undergone positive selection in C. calcarata relative to other bee lineages. Furthermore, we provide the first methylome of a noneusocial bee. Ceratina calcarata contains the complete enzymatic toolkit for DNA methylation. As in the honey bee and many other holometabolous insects, DNA methylation is targeted to exons. The addition of this genome allows for new lines of research into the genetic and epigenetic precursors to complex social behaviors

On the Deployment of Cognitive Relay as Underlay Systems

The objective of this paper is to extend the idea of Cognitive Relay (CR). CR, as a secondary user, follows an underlay paradigm to endorse secondary usage of the spectrum to the indoor devices. To seek a spatial opportunity, i.e., deciding its transmission over the primary user channels, CR models its deployment scenario and the movements of the primary receivers and indoor devices. Modeling is beneficial for theoretical analysis, however it is also important to ensure the performance of CR in a real scenario. We consider briefly, the challenges involved while deploying a hardware prototype of such a system.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, 4 tables, accepted in Proceedings of CrownCom 2014, Oulu (Finland), June 2-4, 201

Infantile hemangioma presenting as colocolic intussusception in an infant case report with review of pathologic lead points

Infantile hemangioma (IH) is one of the most common vascular anomalies of early childhood and is usually recognized in the first few weeks to months of life as a solitary cutaneous lesion. This report documents our experience with a GLUT-1 positive IH presenting as the pathologic lead point in a colocolic intussusception in a 10-week-old infant who had no skin lesions. Literature suggests approximately 2% of all children presenting with an intussusception require surgical intervention; however, an IH as the pathologic lead point is unique

Treatment Strategies for Refractory Diabetic Macular Edema: Switching Anti-VEGF Treatments, adopting corticosteroid-based treatments, and combination therapy

Introduction: The pathophysiology of diabetic macular edema (DME) is complex, involving vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and other inflammatory mediators. DME is currently treated first-line with intravitreal anti-VEGF treatments, though some cases are refractory to multiple anti-VEGF treatments. Areas covered: This article examines the evolution of treatment practices for DME, with discussion of the recent studies that guide treatment for refractory cases of DME. A literature search was performed using the following terms: anti-VEGF, DME, aflibercept, bevacizumab, ranibizumab, refractory macular edema, and VEGF. Expert opinion: Focal extrafoveal DME may be treated first-line with laser. In patients with center-involving DME and only mild vision loss, consider starting treatment with bevacizumab, especially when cost is an issue, whereas aflibercept may be considered more strongly in patients with moderate visual loss or worse. There are no standard protocols that define ‘treatment failure,’ but several studies have reported that switching from bevacizumab to either ranibizumab or aflibercept will result in further reduction of CSFT and improvement in BCVA. Further study with prospective randomized trials is warranted to validate these findings. Switching to intravitreal corticosteroids may be of particular benefit to pseudophakic patients. Anti-VEGF combination with sustained-release corticosteroids also appears promising for refractory DME

Liver Adiposity and Metabolic Profile in Individuals with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

Purpose. To quantify liver adiposity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to determine its association with metabolic profile in men with spinal cord injury (SCI). Materials and Methods. MRI analysis of liver adiposity by fat signal fraction (FSF) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was completed on twenty participants. Intravenous glucose tolerance test was conducted to measure glucose effectiveness (g) and insulin sensitivity (i ). Lipid panel, fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and inflammatory cytokines were also analyzed. Results. Average hepatic FSF was 3.7% ± 2.1. FSF was positively related to TG, non-HDL-C, fasting glucose, HbA1c, VAT, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-). FSF was negatively related to i and testosterone. FSF was positively related to VAT ( = 0.48, = 0.032) and TNF- ( = 0.51, = 0.016) independent of age, level of injury (LOI), and time since injury (TSI). The associations between FSF and metabolic profile were independent of VAT. Conclusions. MRI noninvasively estimated hepatic adiposity in men with chronic SCI. FSF was associated with dysfunction in metabolic profile, central adiposity, and inflammation. Importantly, liver adiposity influenced metabolic profile independently of VAT. These findings highlight the significance of quantifying liver adiposity after SCI to attenuate the development of metabolic disorders

Analysis of Unsteady Squeezing Flow Between Two Porous Plates With Variable Magnetic Field

Analysis will be made for the non-isothermal Newtonian fuid flow between two unsteady squeezing porous plates under the infuence of variable magnetic feld. The similarity transformations will be used to transform the partial differential equations into nonlinear coupled ordinary differential equations. The modeled nonlinear differential equations representing the flow behavior in the geometry under consideration will be investigated using analytical and numerical method. Comparison of the solutions will be made. Convergence of solution will also be discussed. Flow behavior under the infuence of non-dimensional parameters will be discussed with the help of graphical aids