The wing coupling apparatus and the morphometric analysis of honeybee populations

Significant differences between countries were found in the distribution of the number of hamuli within Apis andreniformis, A. florea, A. cerana and A. koschevnikovi. The mean hamuli numbers for Apis mellifera intermissa differed significantly among localities in Algeria. Significant differences in intercolonial variability between countries were found within A. cerana. There was no significant infraspecific variability within A. andreniformis, A. florea, A. koschevnikovi and A. m. intermissa. Significant differences in the mean number of hamuli occur between A. m. intermissa and A. andreniformis, A. florea and A. cerana; also between A. cerana/A. koschevnikovi and A. andreniformis and A. florea. Significant differences were found in the distribution and variability of the number of hamuli between species (populations). The mean numbers of hamuli for A. andreniformis differed from those of A. florea. Both these population means differed from those of A. cerana, A. koschevnikovi and A. m. intermissa. No significant differences were found between A. cerana and A. koschevnikovi. When the analysis included data for A. dorsata, A. nigrocincta, A. m. carnica, A. m. caucasica and A. m. ligustica, the results showed significant differences in hamuli numbers between A. andreniformis/A. florea and A. cerana/A. koschevnikovi/A. nigrocincta and A. m. intermissa/A. m. carnica/A. m. caucasica/A. m. ligustica. Hamuli numbers in A. dorsata significantly differed from those of other populations except A. m. intermissa. These results show that hamuli numbers are useful in the classification of honeybee populations. Whether hamuli would be useful in multivariate analysis depends on the correlation between the number of hamuli and the other characters used

Temporal scales of variation in settlement and recruitment of the mussel Perna perna (Linnaeus, 1758)

Population dynamics of many intertidal organisms are strongly affected by the abundance and distribution of larvae arriving on the shore. In particular, not only absolute numbers of settlers but also the degree of synchronisation of settlement can have a strong influence on whether density-dependent or density-independent processes shape adult shape populations. Temporal variation in rates of settlement and recruitment of the mussel Perna perna on the south coast of South Africa was investigated using a nested spatial design at different temporal scales. Variability in settlement at spring tides was examined at two temporal scales: lunar (to investigate the effect of state of the moon on settlement) and tidal (to investigate the influence of state of the tide on mussel settlement). Recruitment over neap tides was examined at one temporal scale, fortnight (to investigate the effect of date on mussel recruitment). Strong temporal variation was evident for both settlement and recruitment, but not at all time scales. Distinct peaks of settler/recruit abundance were observed during the lunar and neap tide studies. Recruitment intensity differed over the course of the year, and pulsing of recruitment was generally synchronised among locations. However, the strength of pulsing differed dramatically among locations, giving a significant interaction between fortnight and location. The finest temporal scale, investigated in the tidal study, did not reveal a significant effect of the state of the tide on settlement. The state of the moon (new or full) was not significant as a main factor (p = 0.052), although generally more settlers arrived on the shore during new moon. Phase of the moon appeared to have an effect on settler abundances, but only when and where densities were high

Obesity: a preliminary report of an introductory service-learning course on the role of pharmacy students in health promotion

Lifestyle diseases such as obesity have been neglected in developing countries partly due to a more urgent focus on infectious diseases in these countries. The incidence of obesity is on the increase in developing countries, with a marked rise in childhood obesity. A health promotioning service-learning principles required final year pharmacy students to prepare a pilot-tested computer-based quiz, using a pre- and post-intervention test design, along with other learning material, for participants at the 2007 Sasol National Festival of Science and Technology (SciFest). Interactive models, posters and information leaflets were used in explaining the prevention and control of obesity to learners. The results showed that the pre-existing knowledge of the participants was good. There was a further improvement after the educational intervention. Activities such as this are important in heightening awareness of obesity in learners as it is likely to reduce the incidence of obesity later in life. Furthermore, the activity also served to increase awareness of the role of pharmacists in the prevention of lifestyle diseases such as obesity

Apis florea in Jordan: source of the founder population

A recent isolated population of Apis florea has been reported from Aqaba in Jordan at the Red Sea, consisting of numerous colonies within a still limited range which apparently is expanding. This region is about 1500 km apart from its next occurrences in Sudan where it had been introduced and first detected in 1985 and about 2000 km apart from its next natural occurrences in Iran and Oman. These bees apparently have been imported by human transport, most likely by ship. This new location thus represents a major jump in the progression of the species still to fill a wide area of possible locations offering adequate living conditions. Here we attempt to track the possible origin of this new population by morphometric methods. This analysis indicated closest relation to A. florea from Oman, thus being the most likely source of this population

Parasitic Cape bees in the northern regions of South Africa: source of the founder population

Multivariate discriminant analyses of nine standard morphometric characters of honeybee workers were used to track the origin of a social parasitic pseudo-clone of thelytokous laying workers that have invaded colonies of Apis mellifera scutellata in South Africa. Twenty social parasitic workers were sampled from both of two infested A. m. scutellata colonies at two distant apiaries (Graskop and Heilbronn, about 390 km apart) and compared with data obtained from 80 colonies in four different geographical zones (zone I: thelytokous A. m. capensis morphocluster; zone II: natural thelytokous hybrids between A. m. capensis and A. m. scutellata; zone III: thelytokous A. m. scutellata morphocluster; zone IV: an arrhenotokous A. m. scutellata morphocluster). Thelytokous laying workers occur naturally in zones I-III. Highly significant morphometric differences were found among the bees in the four zones. The data support the conclusion that the social parasitic workers belong to the thelytokous A. m. capensis morphocluster. It is most likely that the social parasitic workers originated from the heart of the Cape bee's distribution range in the Western Cape region in zone I. Morphometric analysis makes it feasible to restrict the possible origin of the social parasitic workers from the natural distribution range of thelytoky (approximately 240 000 km2) down to about 12 000 km2, which represents a resolution capacity of about 95%

H19 and IGF-2 allele-specific expression in hepatoblastoma

Patterns of allele-specific expression of H19 and insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2) were examined in tissue obtained from 30 children diagnosed with hepatoblastoma. All informative tumours demonstrated monoallelic expression of H19. In contrast, variable patterns of allele-specific expression of IGF-2 were seen in tumours from children of different ages.© 2000 Cancer Research Campaig

Students perceiving risk: a quantitative assessment on three South African university campuses

This paper documents risk as perceived by students in three South African universities—it focuses on risk encountered in everyday choices such as sexual behaviour, alcohol use and freedom of association.The project originated in qualitative research conducted over two years (2008- 2009) among Rhodes University (RU) Sociology students. A second—quantitative—phase began in 2010 when findings from the initial phase were used to guide students in designing and piloting a questionnaire. Pilot results then informed a final research iteration in which a second questionnaire was designed and administered at three universities.The final questionnaire proved robust and performed very well. Among the 1694 valid cases included in analyses, strong associations were found between the universities, respondents’ sex and their worldview. Exploratory factor analysis revealed four latent constructs underlying all responses: The existential experience of risk; Stress and pressure resulting from exposure to financial and emotional risk; Risks attached to the everyday university culture; and Promiscuity. These constructs explained 59.8% of the total variance in all observed cases (all respondents in all universities).Students’ perception of risk in their lives is complex and multi-dimensional. The research found considerable evidence for Beck’s claim that in late modernity there is increasing individualisation in people’s perception of risk. Also, the degrees to which specific risks resonate in student consciousness demonstrate that risk is—as Zinn claims—both constructed and real.Key Words: risk, student behaviour, existential experience, sexual violence, South AfricaRésuméCet article documente le risque perçu par les étudiants dans trois universités sud- africaines concentre-il un risque rencontré dans les choix de tous les jours tels que le comportement sexuel, la consommation d’alcool et la liberté de projet association. The origine dans la recherche qualitative Menée sur deux ans (2008-2009) entre Les étudiants de l’Université de Rhodes (RU) sociologie. Une deuxième phase quantitative a commencé en 2010 lorsque les résultats de la première phase ont été utilisés pour guider les élèves dans la conception et le pilotage d’un questionnaire. Résultats de pilote informe alors une itération de recherche final dans lequel un second questionnaire a été conçu et administré à trois universities.The questionnaire final s’est avéré robuste et très bien performé. Parmi les 1 694 cas valides incluses dans les analyses, de fortes associations ont été trouvées entre les universités, le sexe des répondants et de leur vision du monde. L’analyse factorielle exploratoire a révélé quatre construits latents sous-jacents toutes les réponses: L’expérience existentielle de risque; Le stress et la pression résultant de l’exposition au risque financier et émotionnel; Risques liés à la culture universitaire de tous les jours; et la promiscuité. Ces constructions ont expliqué 59,8% de la variance totale dans tous les-cas observés (tous les répondants dans toutes les universités). La perception du risque dans leur vie des étudiants est complexe et multidimensionnelle. La recherche a trouvé des preuves considérables pour la demande de Beck C’est à la fin de la modernité, il ya augmentation de l’individualisation dans la perception des gens de risque. En outre, les degrés dans laquelle les risques spécifiques résonnent dans la conscience des étudiants démontrent C’est le risque que les créances Zinn appliquées Bothan- construit et réel.Mots clés: risque, le comportement des élèves, l’expérience existentielle, la violence sexuelle, l’Afrique du Su

A scientific note on the natural merger of two honeybee colonies (Apis mellifera capensis)

Natural mergers of honeybee colonies are commonplace in tropical Africa (Hepburn and Radloff, 1998), but their consequences on organizational structure are unknown. Here we determine the spatial distribution and division of labor of workers (Apis mellifera capensis Esch.) following a merger of two colonies. Two unrelated colonies (each ~3000 bees) were placed in threeframe observation hives. When workers emerged from the sealed brood of each colony, they were individually labeled and reintroduced into their respective mother hives. They are referred to as cohorts Aand B, each comprising 300 workers of the same age. The behaviors and positions of all labeled workers and queens were recorded twice daily for 24 days (Kolmes, 1989; Pirk et al., 2000). On day 14 colony B was dequeened, left its nest and merged with colony A on day 15

The use of a nonradioactive probe in RFLP analysis of Neurospora crassa DNA

Our laboratory is investigating the use of nonradioactive alternatives for the synthesis of DNA probes used in hybridization experiments

Social parasitism by honeybee workers (Apis mellifera capensis Escholtz): host finding and resistance of hybrid host colonies

We studied possible host finding and resistance mechanisms of host colonies in the context of social parasitism by Cape honeybee (Apis mellifera capensis) workers. Workers often join neighboring colonies by drifting, but long-range drifting (dispersal) to colonies far away from the maternal nests also rarely occurs. We tested the impact of queenstate and taxon of mother and host colonies on drifting and dispersing of workers and on the hosting of these workers in A. m. capensis, A. m. scutellata, and their natural hybrids. Workers were paint-marked according to colony and reintroduced into their queenright or queenless mother colonies. After 10 days, 579 out of 12,034 labeled workers were recaptured in foreign colonies. We found that drifting and dispersing represent different behaviors, which were differently affected by taxon and queenstate of both mother and host colonies. Hybrid workers drifted more often than A. m. capensis and A. m. scutellata. However, A. m. capensis workers dispersed more often than A. m. scutellata and the hybrids combined, and A. m. scutellata workers also dispersed more frequently than the hybrids. Dispersers from queenright A. m. capensis colonies were more often found in queenless host colonies and vice versa, indicating active host searching and/or a queenstate-discriminating guarding mechanism. Our data show that A. m. capensis workers disperse significantly more often than other races of A. mellifera, suggesting that dispersing represents a host finding mechanism. The lack of dispersal in hybrids and different hosting mechanisms of foreign workers by hybrid colonies may also be responsible for the stability of the natural hybrid zone between A. m. capensis and A. m. scutellata