Atomic Force Microscopy Study of Nano-Physiological Response of Ladybird Beetles to Photostimuli

Background: Insects are of interest not only as the most numerous and diverse group of animals but also as highly efficient bio-machines varying greatly in size. They are the main human competitors for crop, can transmit various diseases, etc. However, little study of insects with modern nanotechnology tools has been done. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we applied an atomic force microscopy (AFM) method to study stimulation of ladybird beetles with light. This method allows for measuring of the internal physiological responses of insects by recording surface oscillations in different parts of the insect at sub-nanometer amplitude level and sub-millisecond time. Specifically, we studied the sensitivity of ladybird beetles to light of different wavelengths. We demonstrated previously unknown blindness of ladybird beetles to emerald color (,500nm) light, while being able to see UV-blue and green light. Furthermore, we showed how one could study the speed of the beetle adaptation to repetitive flashing light and its relaxation back to the initial stage. Conclusions: The results show the potential of the method in studying insects. We see this research as a part of what might be a new emerging area of ‘‘nanophysiology’ ’ of insects

Representative spectra of vibrations of elytra of a ladybird beetle exposed to a flashing monochromatic light of wavelengths (1) 375 nm, (2) 550 nm, and (3) 700 nm.

<p>Black curve (4) shows the spectrum of a dead beetle. The shown spectra are averaged over a 100 sec interval.</p

A special insect holder that restricts the motion of the insect.

<p>A special insect holder that restricts the motion of the insect.</p

“Measure of disturbance” of the series of flashing (0.5–1 Hz) UV light of 375nm light.

<p>The gray region is the area of fluctuations of a presumably relaxed insect. The series of <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0012834#pone-0012834-g002" target="_blank">Fig. 2</a> are repeated several times with 2–3, 4–5 min and 1 hour beaks in-between.</p

The beetle's spectral response to flashing light of different wavelengths.

<p>(a) Representative spectra measured for a beetle exposed to flashing monochromatic light of various wavelengths ranging from 700 nm (curve 3) to 375 nm (curve 10) with 50-nm step. Curves (1) and (2) are the reference spectra recorded on a dead and living (with no illumination) beetle, respectively. The vertical shift of 10 dB was added to each consequent spectrum except (1) for better visibility. The spectrum of the room noise collected from a microphone is shown in the bottom. Peaks typical for the beetle are (47, ∼150, and 187 Hz) shown with arrows. (b) Spectral amplitudes averaged in 10Hz windows within 10–100Hz range. The average value and one standard deviation are shown for each frequency. Grey area is the variation of the spectra for the beetle with no flashing light.</p

Associated production of prompt J/ψJ/\psi and Υ\mathit{\Upsilon} mesons in pppp collisions at s=13 TeV\sqrt{s}=13\,\mathrm{TeV}

International audienceThe associated production of prompt $J/\psi$ and $\mathit{\mathit{\Upsilon}}$ mesons in $pp$ collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=13\,\mathrm{TeV}$ is studied using LHCb data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $4\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. The measurement is performed for $J/\psi$ ($\mathit{\Upsilon}$) mesons with a transverse momentum $p_{\mathrm{T}}<10\,(30)\,\mathrm{GeV}/c$ in the rapidity range $2.0<y<4.5$. In this kinematic range, the cross-section of the associated production of prompt $J/\psi$ and $\mathit{\Upsilon}(1S)$ mesons is measured to be $133 \pm 22 \pm 7 \pm 3 \, \mathrm{pb}$, with a significance of $7.9\,\sigma$, and that of prompt $J/\psi$ and $\mathit{\Upsilon}(2S)$ mesons to be $76\pm 21 \pm 4 \pm 7 \, \mathrm{pb}$, with a significance of $4.9\,\sigma$. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic, and the third due to uncertainties on the used branching fractions. This is the first observation of the associated production of $J/\psi$ and $\mathit{\Upsilon}(1S)$ in proton-proton collisions. Differential cross-sections are measured as function of variables that are sensitive to kinematic correlations between the $J/\psi$ and $\mathit{\Upsilon}(1S)$ mesons. The effective cross-sections of the associated production of prompt $J/\psi$ and $\mathit{\Upsilon}$ mesons are obtained and found to be compatible with measurements using other particle productions

Search for the lepton-flavour violating decays B0→K∗0μ±e∓B^0 \to K^{*0} \mu^\pm e^\mp and Bs0→ϕμ±e∓B_s^0 \to \phi \mu^\pm e^\mp

A search for the lepton-flavour violating decays $B^0 \to K^{*0} \mu^\pm e^\mp$ and $B_s^0 \to \phi \mu^\pm e^\mp$ is presented, using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9\,\text{fb}^{-1}$. No significant signals are observed and upper limits of \begin{align} {\cal B}( B^0 \to K^{*0} \mu^+ e^- ) &< \phantom{1}5.7\times 10^{-9}~(6.9\times 10^{-9}),\newline {\cal B}( B^0 \to K^{*0} \mu^- e^+ ) &< \phantom{1}6.8\times 10^{-9}~(7.9\times 10^{-9}),\newline {\cal B}( B^0 \to K^{*0} \mu^\pm e^\mp ) &< 10.1\times 10^{-9}~(11.7\times 10^{-9}),\newline {\cal B}( B_s^0 \to \phi \mu^\pm e^\mp ) &< 16.0\times 10^{-9}~(19.8\times 10^{-9}) \end{align} are set at $90\%~(95\%)$ confidence level. These results constitute the world's most stringent limits to date, with the limit on the decay $B_s^0 \to \phi \mu^\pm e^\mp$ the first being set. In addition, limits are reported for scalar and left-handed lepton-flavour violating New Physics scenarios.A search for the lepton-flavour violating decays B$^{0}$ → K$^{*0}$μ$^{±}$e$^{∓}$ and ${B}_s^0$→ ϕμ$^{±}$e$^{∓}$ is presented, using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb$^{−1}$. No significant signals are observed and upper limits of${\displaystyle \begin{array}{c}\mathcal{B}\left({B}^0\to {K}^{\ast 0}{\mu}^{+}{e}^{-}\right)<5.7\times {10}^{-9}\left(6.9\times {10}^{-9}\right),\\ {}\mathcal{B}\left({B}^0\to {K}^{\ast 0}{\mu}^{-}{e}^{+}\right)<6.8\times {10}^{-9}\left(7.9\times {10}^{-9}\right),\\ {}\mathcal{B}\left({B}^0\to {K}^{\ast 0}{\mu}^{\pm }{e}^{\mp}\right)<10.1\times {10}^{-9}\left(11.7\times {10}^{-9}\right),\\ {}\mathcal{B}\left({B}_s^0\to \phi {\mu}^{\pm }{e}^{\mp}\right)<16.0\times {10}^{-9}\left(19.8\times {10}^{-9}\right)\end{array}}$are set at 90% (95%) confidence level. These results constitute the world’s most stringent limits to date, with the limit on the decay ${B}_s^0$→ ϕμ$^{±}$e$^{∓}$ the first being set. In addition, limits are reported for scalar and left-handed lepton-flavour violating New Physics scenarios.[graphic not available: see fulltext]A search for the lepton-flavour violating decays $B^0 \to K^{*0} \mu^\pm e^\mp$ and $B_s^0 \to \phi \mu^\pm e^\mp$ is presented, using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9\,\text{fb}^{-1}$. No significant signals are observed and upper limits of \begin{align} {\cal B}( B^0 \to K^{*0} \mu^+ e^- ) &< \phantom{1}5.7\times 10^{-9}~(6.9\times 10^{-9}),\newline {\cal B}( B^0 \to K^{*0} \mu^- e^+ ) &< \phantom{1}6.8\times 10^{-9}~(7.9\times 10^{-9}),\newline {\cal B}( B^0 \to K^{*0} \mu^\pm e^\mp ) &< 10.1\times 10^{-9}~(11.7\times 10^{-9}),\newline {\cal B}( B_s^0 \to \phi \mu^\pm e^\mp ) &< 16.0\times 10^{-9}~(19.8\times 10^{-9}) \end{align} are set at $90\%~(95\%)$ confidence level. These results constitute the world's most stringent limits to date, with the limit on the decay $B_s^0 \to \phi \mu^\pm e^\mp$ the first being set. In addition, limits are reported for scalar and left-handed lepton-flavour violating New Physics scenarios