Chimera states in coupled sine-circle map lattices

Systems of coupled oscillators have been seen to exhibit chimera states, i.e. states where the system splits into two groups where one group is phase locked and the other is phase randomized. In this work, we report the existence of chimera states in a system of two interacting populations of sine circle maps. This system also exhibits the clustered chimera behavior seen earlier in delay coupled systems. Rich spatio-temporal behavior is seen in different regimes of the phase diagram.We carry out a detailed analysis of the stability regimes and map out the phase diagram using numerical and analytic techniques.Comment: 10 pages, 5 picture

A new species from Genus Megachile Subgenus Callomegachile (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae) from Chandigarh and Punjab plains

A new species Megachile pseudodisjuncta of the bee is being reported from Genus Megachile and Subgenus Callomegachile. It bears a close resemblance to M. disjuncta from which it has been distinguished on the basis of certain morphological characters and genitalia. Megachilid bees bear utmost significance because they are very good pollinators of both cultivated and wild fauna. Consequently, their taxonomic identification and conservation are very crucial. The detailed taxonomically important morphological characters of both the species were studied and photographed. Male sternum and genitalia were studied microscopically and photographed. The material examined and floral associations have also been presented in the paper

Changes in protein profile and RNA content of Apis mellifera worker pupa on parasitization with Tropilaelaps clareae

Tropilaelaps infestation of Apis mellifera pupa caused reduction in total protein concentration of the infested pupa. This may be due to protein feeding by mite. The additional protein fractions observed by SDS-PAGE and the difference in the nature of free amino acids suggested synthesis of newer proteins perhaps related to the stress response of the host. This opinion is strengthened by the increase in concentration of RNA ( 184.580±36.987 in non-infested pupa and 293.402±50.329 in infested pups) observed in the present study which was responsible for increased transcription of genes encoding antiparasite peptides as reported by other workers

A study on biochemical composition of the sting gland (poison gland) and the reservoir (poison sac) of the dwarf honey bee Apis florea F. workers

The glands associated with the sting apparatus of worker honey bee Apis florea produce Venom which is known to be composed of a wide spectrum of biomolecules ranging from biogenic amines to peptides and proteins. The Venom apparatus showed the presence of two important associated exocrine glands i.e. Venom gland and Dufors gland. The secretions of both glands are apocrine and are released into the lumen to be stored in the venom sac. The presence of some exocrine cells in the distal part of venom sac which is otherwise known to only store the component of Venom gland led to the present study. The present study that there were considerable differences in the biochemical composition of Venom gland and Venom sac secretions of Apis species The concentration of lipids (Sting gland =1.423±0.0001 and Reservoir = 1.21±0.0067), proteins (Sting gland=0.440±0.0226, Reservoir = 0.390± 0.032), activity of acid phosphatase (Sting gland=112.09±21.100, Reservoir=22.63±1.467) and hexokinase (Sting gland=20.7±4.016, Reservoir=10.66±2.465) was found to be more in case of Venom gland while cholesterol(Sting gland=0.138±0.0161 reservoir=0.324±0.00323), glucose (Sting gland=189±1.31, Reservoir=321±7.19), free amino acids, and activity of alkaline phosphatase (Sting gland=21.03±0.195 Reservoir=22.4±0.685) was more in Venom sac. Glycogen was absent in both Venom gland and Venom sac of Apis species as confirmed by the absence of glucose-6-phosphatase activity. It is established from the present study that Venom sac also secretes various biochemicals and enzymes which are added to the total Venom

Characterization of cavity dwelling honey bees using enzyme polymorphism

The most intensively studied of all insects are perhaps honey bees. Recognition of valid honey bee species has been difficult for several reasons. Most important reason has been the movement of honey bees all over the world for bee keeping which has resulted in their hybridization. Another problem is that scientists and bee keepers do not always use the same criteria for identification. While scientists are concerned with the biological parameters, bee keepers are more interested in behavioral traits. Even within a single species there are locally adapted populations called geographic ecotypes, which differ from each other in several morphological, biological, molecular and economic characteristics. Beside behavioral, morphological and cytogenetic evidence, electrophoretic data provide strong support for phylogenetic relationships among insects. Apis cerana and Apis mellifera are the Eastern and the Western cavity dwelling honey bees. Their habit of nesting in dark, enclosed spaces made it possible for man to domesticate them and to use them as a highly commercial industrial enterprise.  A. mellifera is thought to have originated in the African tropics or Asia and colder European climates. The recent movement of bees by European settlers for bee keeping has resulted not only in worldwide distribution of Apis mellifera but has also led to some degree of hybridization between subspecies. On the other hand there has also occurred isolation of populations either by distance or by barrier giving rises to newer subspecies or races. To differentiate these honey bees on the basis of biochemical polymorphism alcohol dehydrogenase provided significant results and was observed to be an additional marker for the species

Description of a new species of Neocressionella Gupta (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) from North western India

A new species, Megachile (Neocressionella) patialensis is described from Patiala, India. Full description of male with their floral relationship, morphological measurements and specimens examined is provided. Knowledge of the life history and nesting habits of Megachile bees will pave the way for their manipulation so that these can be used to increase pollination. Documentation of the genera and species will increase our knowledge of the biodiversity of these bees in the study area

The importance of inversion disorder in the visible light induced persistent luminescence in Cr3+^{3+} doped AB2_2O4_4 (A = Zn or Mg and B = Ga or Al)

Cr$^{3+}$ doped spinel compounds AB$_2$O$_4$ with A=Zn, Mg and B=Ga, Al exhibit a long near infrared persistent luminescence when excited with UV or X-rays. In addition, persistent luminescence of ZnGa$_2$O$_4$ and to a lesser extent MgGa$_2$O$_4$, can also be induced by visible light excitation via $^4$A$_2$ $\rightarrow$ $^4$T$_2$ transition of Cr$^{3+}$, which makes these compounds suitable as biomarkers for in vivo optical imaging of small animals. We correlate this peculiar optical property with the presence of antisite defects, which are present in ZnGa$_2$O$_4$ and MgGa$_2$O$_4$. By using X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy, associated with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical emission spectroscopy, it is shown that an increase in antisite defects concentration results in a decrease in the Cr-O bond length and the octahedral crystal field energy. A part of the defects are in the close environment of Cr$^{3+}$ ions, as shown by the increasing strain broadening of EPR and XAFS peaks observed upon increasing antisite disorder. It appears that ZnAl$_2$O$_4$, which exhibits the largest crystal field splitting of Cr$^{3+}$ and the smallest antisite disorder, does not show considerable persistent luminescence upon visible light excitation as compared to ZnGa$_2$O$_4$ and MgGa$_2$O$_4$. These results highlight the importance of Cr$^{3+}$ ions with neighboring antisite defects in the mechanism of persistent luminescence exhibited by Cr$^{3+}$ doped AB$_2$O$_4$ spinel compounds.Comment: 10 pages + supplementary (available on request

Study of perinatal outcomes in normal and borderline oligamnios

Background: Oligamnios is a common cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity, but the outcome of borderline oligamnios, defined as Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI) between 5 and 8, is less clear. This study aims to find out the effect of borderline oligamnios on perinatal outcomes in pregnancies beyond 37 weeks.Methods: An observational prospective study of 131 antenatal mothers with AFI between 5 and 8, after 37 weeks of gestation was conducted in Sree Gokulam Medical College and Research Foundation from October 2017 to September 2019. These observations were compared with that of 131 antenatal mothers with normal AFI beyond 37 weeks of gestation. The observations according to fetal heart rate abnormalities, meconium staining of amniotic fluid, mode of delivery, low birth weight babies, APGAR score, the need of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions due to neonatal complications were statistically analysed.Results: Both groups were comparable with respect to age, parity and gestational age. In those with borderline oligamnios, fetal heart rate abnormality was seen in 21% (28), meconium stained amniotic fluid in 18% (23), 70% (91) delivered vaginally and 30% (40) underwent caesarean section, 31% (41) babies weighed below 2.5 kg and 21% (27) neonates needed NICU admissions. In those with normal AFI, none showed fetal heart rate abnormality, 2% (3) showed meconium staining, 93% (122) delivered vaginally and 7% (9) underwent caesarean section, 11% (14) babies weighed below 2.5 kg and 3% (4) neonates needed NICU admissions.Conclusions: Borderline oligamnios is associated with poor perinatal outcome. AFI can be used as an adjunct to other fetal surveillance methods. It helps to identify those infants at risk of poor perinatal outcome