A cuckoo in wolves' clothing? Chemical mimicry in a specialized cuckoo wasp of the European beewolf (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae and Crabronidae)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Host-parasite interactions are among the most important biotic relationships. Host species should evolve mechanisms to detect their enemies and employ appropriate counterstrategies. Parasites, in turn, should evolve mechanisms to evade detection and thus maximize their success. Females of the European beewolf (<it>Philanthus triangulum</it>, Hymenoptera, Crabronidae) hunt exclusively honeybee workers as food for their progeny. The brood cells containing the paralyzed bees are severely threatened by a highly specialized cuckoo wasp (<it>Hedychrum rutilans</it>, Hymenoptera, Chrysididae). Female cuckoo wasps enter beewolf nests to oviposit on paralyzed bees that are temporarily couched in the nest burrow. The cuckoo wasp larva kills the beewolf larva and feeds on it and the bees. Here, we investigated whether <it>H. rutilans </it>evades detection by its host. Since chemical senses are most important in the dark nest, we hypothesized that the cuckoo wasp might employ chemical camouflage.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Field observations suggest that cuckoo wasps are attacked by beewolves in front of their nest, most probably after being recognized visually. In contrast, beewolves seem not to detect signs of the presence of these parasitoids neither when these had visited the nest nor when directly encountered in the dark nest burrow.</p> <p>In a recognition bioassay in observation cages, beewolf females responded significantly less frequently to filter paper discs treated with a cuticular extract from <it>H. rutilans </it>females, than to filter paper discs treated with an extract from another cuckoo wasp species (<it>Chrysis viridula</it>). The behavior to paper discs treated with a cuticular extract from <it>H. rutilans </it>females did not differ significantly from the behavior towards filter paper discs treated with the solvent only.</p> <p>We hypothesized that cuckoo wasps either mimic the chemistry of their beewolf host or their host's prey. We tested this hypothesis using GC-MS analyses of the cuticles of male and female beewolves, cuckoo wasps, and honeybee workers. Cuticle extracts of <it>Hedychrum nobile </it>(Hymenoptera: Chrysididae) and <it>Cerceris arenaria </it>(Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) were used as outgroups. There was little congruence with regard to cuticular compounds between <it>H. rutilans </it>females and honeybees as well as females of <it>C. arenaria </it>and <it>H. nobile</it>. However, there was a considerable similarity between beewolf females and <it>H. rutilans </it>females. Beewolf females show a striking dimorphism regarding their cuticular hydrocarbons with one morph having (<it>Z</it>)-9-C25:1 and the other morph having (<it>Z</it>)-9-C27:1 as the major component. <it>H. rutilans</it> females were more similar to the morph having (Z)-9-C27:1 as the main component.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We conclude that <it>H. rutilans </it>females closely mimic the composition of cuticular compounds of their host species <it>P. triangulum</it>. The occurrence of isomeric forms of certain compounds on the cuticles of the cuckoo wasps but their absence on beewolf females suggests that cuckoo wasps synthesize the cuticular compounds rather than sequester them from their host. Thus, the behavioral data and the chemical analysis provide evidence that a specialized cuckoo wasp exhibits chemical mimicry of the odor of its host. This probably allows the cuckoo wasp to enter the nest with a reduced risk of being detected by olfaction and without leaving traitorous chemical traces.</p

The Chemistry of the Postpharyngeal Gland of Female European Beewolves

Females of the European beewolf, Philanthus triangulum, possess a large glove-shaped gland in the head, the postpharyngeal gland (PPG). They apply the content of the PPG to their prey, paralyzed honeybees, where it delays fungal infestation. Here, we describe the chemical composition of the gland by using combined GC-MS, GC-FTIR, and derivatization. The PPG of beewolves contains mainly long-chain unsaturated hydrocarbons (C23–C33), lower amounts of saturated hydrocarbons (C14–C33), and minor amounts of methyl-branched hydrocarbons (C17–C31). Additionally, the hexane-soluble gland content is comprised of small amounts of an unsaturated C25 alcohol, an unknown sesquiterpene, an octadecenylmethylester, and several long-chain saturated (C25, C27) and unsaturated (C23–C27) ketones, some of which have not yet been reported as natural products. Surprisingly, we found a dimorphism with regard to the major component of the PPG with some females having (Z)-9-pentacosene, whereas others have (Z)-9-heptacosene as their predominant component. The biological relevance of the compounds for the prevention of fungal growth on the prey and the significance of the chemical dimorphism are discussed

Neurological outcomes at 18 months of age after moderate hypothermia for perinatal hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy: synthesis and meta-analysis of trial data

Objective To determine whether moderate hypothermia after hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy in neonates improves survival and neurological outcome at 18 months of age

Effects of Hypothermia for Perinatal Asphyxia on Childhood Outcomes

BACKGROUND: In the Total Body Hypothermia for Neonatal Encephalopathy Trial (TOBY), newborns with asphyxial encephalopathy who received hypothermic therapy had improved neurologic outcomes at 18 months of age, but it is uncertain whether such therapy results in longer-term neurocognitive benefits. METHODS: We randomly assigned 325 newborns with asphyxial encephalopathy who were born at a gestational age of 36 weeks or more to receive standard care alone (control) or standard care with hypothermia to a rectal temperature of 33 to 34°C for 72 hours within 6 hours after birth. We evaluated the neurocognitive function of these children at 6 to 7 years of age. The primary outcome of this analysis was the frequency of survival with an IQ score of 85 or higher. RESULTS: A total of 75 of 145 children (52%) in the hypothermia group versus 52 of 132 (39%) in the control group survived with an IQ score of 85 or more (relative risk, 1.31; P=0.04). The proportions of children who died were similar in the hypothermia group and the control group (29% and 30%, respectively). More children in the hypothermia group than in the control group survived without neurologic abnormalities (65 of 145 [45%] vs. 37 of 132 [28%]; relative risk, 1.60; 95% confidence interval, 1.15 to 2.22). Among survivors, children in the hypothermia group, as compared with those in the control group, had significant reductions in the risk of cerebral palsy (21% vs. 36%, P=0.03) and the risk of moderate or severe disability (22% vs. 37%, P=0.03); they also had significantly better motor-function scores. There was no significant between-group difference in parental assessments of children's health status and in results on 10 of 11 psychometric tests. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate hypothermia after perinatal asphyxia resulted in improved neurocognitive outcomes in middle childhood. Copyright © 2014 Massachusetts Medical Society

Implementation and Conduct of Therapeutic Hypothermia for Perinatal Asphyxial Encephalopathy in the UK – Analysis of National Data

BACKGROUND: Delay in implementing new treatments into clinical practice results in considerable health and economic opportunity costs. Data from the UK TOBY Cooling Register provides the opportunity to examine how one new effective therapy for newborn infants suspected of suffering asphyxial encephalopathy--therapeutic hypothermia- was implemented in the UK. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We analysed returned data forms from inception of the Register in December 2006 to the end of July 2011. Data forms were received for 1384 (67%) of the 2069 infants registered. The monthly rate of notifications increased from median {IQR} 18 {15-31} to 33 {30-39} after the announcement of the results of the recent TOBY trial, and to 50 {36-55} after their publication. This rate further increased to 70 {64-83} following official endorsement of the therapy, and is now close to the expected numbers of eligible infants. Cooling was started at 3.3 {1.5-5.5} hours after birth and the time taken to achieve the target 33-34 °C rectal temperature was 1 {0-3} hours. The rectal temperature was in the target range in 83% of measurements. From 2006 to 2011 there was evidence of extension of treatment to slightly less severely affected infants. 278 of 1362 (20%) infants died at 2.9 {1.4-4.1} days of age. The rates of death fell slightly over the period of the Register and, at two years of age cerebral palsy was diagnosed in 22% of infants; half of these were spastic bilateral. Factors independently associated with adverse outcome were clinical seizures prior to cooling (p&lt;0.001) and severely abnormal amplitude integrated EEG (p&lt;0.001). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Therapeutic hypothermia was implemented appropriately within the UK, with significant benefit to patients and the health economy. This may be due in part to participation by neonatal units in clinical trials, the establishment of the national Register, and its endorsement by advisory bodies

All-day school: Perspectives from education science and practice

Ganztagsschulen werden im pädagogischen Diskurs gefordert, weil das Mehr an Zeit die Möglichkeit gibt die "Schule neu zu denken" (Hartmut von Hentig). Unsicherheit besteht vielerorts bei der Frage nach der Ausgestaltung der ganztägigen Schulorganisation. In diesem Band geben Praktiker und Wissenschaftler Hinweise, wie eine Ganztagsschule gelingen kann. Der Band richtet sich an Interessierte aus Schule, Schulverwaltung, Wissenschaft und Studium. Inhaltsverzeichnis: Teil I: Perspektiven aus der Wissenschaft Olaf-Axel Burow Ganztagsschule entwickeln: Durch die „Weisheit der Vielen“ von der Unterrichtsanstalt zum Kreativen Feld Gerhard Koller Ganztagsschulen als Chance für die Entwicklung lokaler Bildungsregionen Fritz-Ulrich Kolbe Zur Entwicklung der Lern- und Unterrichtskultur in ganztägigen Angeboten: Erste Ergebnisse der LUGS-Studie Thomas Schnetzer Tagesstruktur an Ganztagsschulen: Die Rhythmisierung Christian Nerowski Die Tagesschule als Modell der Zeitstrukturierung durch Umverteilung des Unterrichts Ilse Kamski Hausaufgaben – Schulaufgaben – Lernzeiten: Ein Perspektivenwechsel Lars Holm Die Kooperation zwischen Ganztagsschulen und Eltern in Dänemark: Herausforderungen und Möglichkeiten Lea Pulkkinen/Raija Pirttimaa Der „integrierte Schultag“ in Finnland Teil II: Perspektiven aus der Praxis Alfred Hinz Schule ist Stätte der Personwerdung, was sonst? Ein Plädoyer für die Ganztagsschule am Beispiel der Bodensee-Schule St. Martin Christine Modesto Die offene Ganztagsschule in Bayern Claudia Gantke Die gebundene Ganztagsschule in Bayern Peter Hottaß Ganztagsschule: Von der Planung zur Umsetzung Andreas Keim Das Konzept des Achtjährigen Ganztagsgymnasiums am Beispiel des Johann-Philipp-von-Schönborn-Gymnasiums in Münnerstadt Karin Doberer Optimierte Raumbedingungen zur Unterstützung von Schulklima und Lernkultur Safter Çinar Können Ganztagsschulen Kinder und Jugendliche mit Migrationshintergrund besser fördern? Stephan Bloße Schulinterne Evaluation ganztägiger Angebote Sabine Brendel/Judith Strohm Das Programm „Ideen für Mehr! Ganztägig lernen“: Bedarfsorientierte Unterstützung von Ganztagsschulen"In the German educational discourse, all-day schools are demanded because the extra time provides the opportunity to "re-think school" ("die Schule neu denken", Hartmut von Hentig). In many schools, there is uncertainty in questions of the arrangement of the daily routine. In this book, researchers and practitioners indicate how an all-day school may succeed. The publication adresses interested people from school, school administration, education research and education studies.

Building a culture of engagement at a research centre for childhood disability

BACKGROUND: Engaging patients and family members as partners in research studies has become a widespread practice in healthcare. However, relatively little has been documented about what happens after the research study ends. For example, is patient and family engagement embedded in the wider infrastructure of organizations, and if so how? What are the long-term effects of engaging parents on research teams on the culture of how research is conducted? This study seeks to address these two gaps by examining how a culture of family engagement has been built over time at CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. METHODS: This study is based on ethnographic research methodology and combines elements of organizational ethnography, interviews, and collaborative auto-ethnography with parent partners, researchers, staff, and trainees. RESULTS: Since the inception of CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research at McMaster University in 1989, parents have been involved in research studies. Over time, this involvement evolved from being consulted on research studies to undertaking decision-making roles as partners and most recently as co-principal investigators. A growing infrastructure fosters a community of engagement that goes beyond the individual research study, and often beyond CanChild. This infrastructure consists of training, knowledge mobilization and social networking. In addition, the "softer" building blocks of CanChild's culture of engagement are an openness to learning from others, a commitment to relationship building, and a drive to grow and improve. These values are espoused by the leadership and are instilled in the next generation of researchers to inform both research and clinical work. While some challenges should be acknowledged when researchers and family partners work together on research studies, we identify a number of strategies that we have used in our studies to foster authentic and meaningful family-researcher partnerships. CONCLUSION: Engaging patients and families as partners in research constitutes a culture shift in health research, whereby studies about patients and families are carried out with them. Developing a community of engagement that transcends an individual research study is a step towards creating a culture of research that is truly shaped by the people about whom the research is being done

Support for maternal manipulation of developmental nutrition in a facultatively eusocial bee, Megalopta genalis (Halictidae)

Developmental maternal effects are a potentially important source of phenotypic variation, but they can be difficult to distinguish from other environmental factors. This is an important distinction within the context of social evolution, because if variation in offspring helping behavior is due to maternal manipulation, social selection may act on maternal phenotypes, as well as those of offspring. Factors correlated with social castes have been linked to variation in developmental nutrition, which might provide opportunity for females to manipulate the social behavior of their offspring. Megalopta genalis is a mass-provisioning facultatively eusocial sweat bee for which production of males and females in social and solitary nests is concurrent and asynchronous. Female offspring may become either gynes (reproductive dispersers) or workers (non-reproductive helpers). We predicted that if maternal manipulation plays a role in M. genalis caste determination, investment in daughters should vary more than for sons. The mass and protein content of pollen stores provided to female offspring varied significantly more than those of males, but volume and sugar content did not. Sugar content varied more among female eggs in social nests than in solitary nests. Provisions were larger, with higher nutrient content, for female eggs and in social nests. Adult females and males show different patterns of allometry, and their investment ratio ranged from 1.23 to 1.69. Adult body weight varied more for females than males, possibly reflecting increased variation in maternal investment in female offspring. These differences are consistent with a role for maternal manipulation in the social plasticity observed in M. genalis

Nanoelectronic COupled problems solutions - nanoCOPS: modelling, multirate, model order reduction, uncertainty quantification, fast fault simulation

The FP7 project nanoCOPS derives new methods for simulation during development of designs of integrated products. It covers advanced simulation techniques for electromagnetics with feedback couplings to electronic circuits, heat and stress. It is inspired by interest from semiconductor industry and by a simulation tool vendor in electronic design automation. The project is on-going and the paper presents the outcomes achieved after the first half of the project duration