Alterations induced by the juvenile hormone in glandular cells of the Apis mellifera venom gland: applications on newly emerged workers (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Histological and histochemical analyses were carried out in order to evaluate the influence of the topical application of a synthetic juvenile hormone on the secretory cycle and degeneration of the venom gland of Apis mellifera. Newly emerged workers received the topical application of synthetic hormone and the results were compared to the normal development of the secretory cycle in virgin and mated queens. The first worker group received the juvenile hormone diluted in hexane (2 microg/microL), the second received only 1 microL of hexane, and the third did not receive any kind of application. After the application the workers were returned to the colony and collected at the ages of 14 and 25 days of adult life. The groups with virgin queens and the other with mated queens, did not receive the treatment. The results show that the individuals treated with juvenile hormone and with pure hexane presented differences in the histological and cytochemical aspects of the secretory cells of the venom gland. The data indicate that both the juvenile hormone and hexane accelerate the activity of the secretory cycle and the degeneration of the venom gland; however, the juvenile hormone proved to be more effective than hexane.     

Ovarian ultrastructure in virgin queens of Apis mellifera L. narcotized by CO₂

Ovaries of newly emerged virgin queens, aged 1, 3, 5, and 10 days, were submitted to an atmosphere of CO₂ for 1 min, and studied by transmission electron microscopy. Newly emerged control and experimental queens were kept caged during 15 days with six nurse workers (changed every 2 days) and fed with sugar candy and water ad libitum. For the ultrastructural studies, the ovaries were collected when the queens were 3, 5, 10, and 15 days old. The effect of the treatment on the ovary was mainly evaluated by cell death incidence and acid phosphatase detection. Neither the confinement nor CO₂ treatment interfered with the pattern of queen ovarian development for up to 5 days; that is, no differences were observed in ovarian ultrastructure or acid phosphatase activity between control and treated queens. Beyond the age of 10 days, treated queens showed a lower rate of cell death than controls, but the positivity to acid phosphatase reaction remained similar in both. The protective effect of CO₂ on cells, however, did not persist, and 15-day-old treated queens showed no differences compared to the controls in the rates of cell death or enzyme reactivity. In conclusion, treatment with CO₂ did not significantly change the ultrastructure of ovarian cells, or acid phosphatase activity in them, during the caging time of the queens. From an applied perspective, the short-term imprisonment of newly emerged queens outside of the colony, as is done by beekeepers, does not seem to affect their performance in terms of future fertility, although the narcosis, as applied in this study, may negatively affect their long-term performance.     

The venom gland of queens of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera, Apidae): morphology and secretory cycle

The venom gland of queens of Apis mellifera was examined through light and transmission electron microscopy and subjected to electrophoretic analyses. Virgin queens exhibited prismatic secretory cells containing large amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum with dilated cisternae, open secretory spaces, numerous vacuoles and granules scattered in the cytoplasm, and spherical nuclei with numerous nucleoli. The secretion produced was non-refringent under polarized light and the electrophoretic analysis of glandular extracts revealed five main protein bands. In mated queens, the venom gland exhibited a high degree of degeneration. Its secretion was refringent under polarized light and one of the main bands was absent in the electrophoretic pattern obtained. The morphological aspects observed are in agreement with the function of this gland in queens, given that virgin queens use venom in battles for the dominance of the colony, a situation that occurs as soon as they emerge, while fertilized queens rarely use venom.     

An infrared spectroscopic study of the structural phase transitions of n-C10H21NH3Cl

Infrared spectroscopy was used to study the phases of n-decylammonium chloride in the temperature range 20 to 65°C. The infrared spectra of virgin crystals at room temperature are indicative of a well-ordered phase, while the spectra of the high temperature phase demonstrate extensive motional and conformational disorder. The phase obtained by cooling from 65 to 25°C also presents motional and conformational disorder. However, it is metastable and annealing for 13 days at room temperature (25°C) results in a phase similar but not identical to the virgin crystals.     

A morphological view of the relationship between indirect flight muscle maturation and the flying needs of two species of advanced eusocial bees

This paper describes the flight muscles changes in relation to the age/function of the adult members of the colonies of two advanced species of eusocial bees: Apis mellifera (Apini) and Scaptotrigona postica (Meliponini). Here, are reported the results obtained through transmission electron microscopy studies, first describing a general overview of the flight muscle ultrastructure and second reporting on the ultrastructural changes that occur along the life stages/functions of workers, queens and males. The workers emerge with immature flight muscles, and the maturation takes about 20 days. In contrast, queens and males emerged with more advanced muscle differentiation, similar to workers after the 20 days of maturation. In both forager workers and laying queens, flight muscles showed signs of senescence, but not in sexually mature males. The differences among life phases, individual classes and species are discussed in relation to their functions in the colony.     

Histopathological Changes of Vocal Folds Induced by Chronic Pollutant Exposure: An Experimental Study

Calcium carbonate (CaCO(3)) particles, the main component of chalk, are an important pollutant in the Brazilian school environment. However, there are few reports of the effect of this pollutant in the vocal folds and its influence in voice disorder in the literature. METHODS: Thirty rats (Wistar), randomly divided into two groups, the control group and the experimental group, were submitted to air or to CaCO(3) inhalation, respectively, during 15, 30, and 90 days. Then, the larynx region was dissected and embedded in paraffin, and 5-mum sections were obtained for microscopic analysis. RESULTS: No histopathological alteration was found on the vocal folds in the control group. In the experimental group, a moderate chronic inflammatory infiltrate, characterized by macrophage cells, was found in the vocal folds after 30 and 90 days of the CaCO(3) inhalation. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the inhalation of pollutant particles, such as CaCO(3), induces inflammatory alterations in the larynx; this can affect the vibration of the vocal folds, which influence vocal function.     

V-cryo-plate procedure as an effective protocol for cryobanks: case study of mint cryopreservation

A vitrification procedure using aluminium cryo-plates (V-Cryo-plate procedure) was successfully developed and adjusted for in vitro-grown mint (Mentha spp.) shoot tips. Shoots were cultured at 25°C on MS medium containing 0.088 M sucrose for 7 to 14 days after the last subculture. Shoot tips with a basal part (1-1.5 mm × 1 mm) were dissected from the shoots and precultured at 25°C for 1 day on the same medium. Precultured shoot tips were placed on aluminium cryo-plates with 10 wells and embedded in alginate gel. Osmoprotection was performed by immersing the cryo-plates for 30 min at 25 degree C in 25 ml pipetting reservoirs filled with loading solution (2 M glycerol + 0.8 M sucrose). For dehydration, the cryo-plates were transferred and immersed in 25 ml pipetting reservoirs filled with PVS2 for 20 min at 25 degree C. Then the cryo-plates were transferred in uncapped 2 ml cryotubes and directly plunged into liquid nitrogen. For rewarming, shoot tips attached to the cryo-plates were immersed in cryotubes containing 2 ml 1 M sucrose solution at room temperature. Using this procedure, regrowth of cryopreserved shoot tips of line 'Fukuyamajisei' reached over 90 percent. This protocol was successfully applied to 16 additional Mentha lines, with regrowth ranging from 73 percent to 100 percent. This V-Cryo-plate method will facilitate the cryostorage of mint germplasm in our genebank.     

添加不同比例玉米秸秆对猪粪高温堆肥过程中胡敏酸的结构组成及红外光谱特性影响分析

以猪粪和玉米秸秆为原料高温堆肥,试验设置三个不同处理：C/N 15,C/N 25,C/N 35。堆肥周期为120天,其中通风周期为30天,采用强制连续式通风。在第0,22,30,60,90,120天取样,利用元素分析和红外光谱法研究不同木质素添加量对堆肥胡敏酸(HA)的组分及分子结构的影响。研究表明堆肥胡敏酸C的变化主要集中在堆肥前30 d,堆肥结束后,堆肥HA中O/C增大,H/C减小,N含量增加。不同处理之间低碳氮比(15)和高碳氮比(35)堆肥HA氧化程度要高于中碳氮比(25)。红外光谱吸收峰分析表明,不同木质素添加量处理堆肥过程中胡敏酸的红外光谱基本相似,但各峰吸收强度不同。研究表明堆肥腐熟化阶段更有利于堆肥HA中芳香性的增强。堆肥结束后,碳氮比15堆肥HA中多糖、脂肪类成分减少,芳香结构成分增加,相比较碳氮比25和35,碳氮比15堆肥HA腐殖化程度更高,结构更稳定。     

Cryopreservation of lateral buds of in vitro-grown innala plants (Solemostemon rotundifolius) by vitrification

We succeeded in cryopreserving of innala (Solenostemon rotundifolius) in vitro-grown young lateral buds by vitrification. Nodal segments from in vitro-grown shoots (2-4 mm in length) were cultured on MS medium containing 0.1M sucrose in Petri dishes for 3 weeks under 16-h photoperiod at 25 degree C. This pre-growth induced a large number of uniform young lateral buds. Nodal segments (0.5 to 1.0 mm in length) with two lateral buds were dissected from the shoots and precultured with 0.3 M sucrose for 2 days at 25 degree C. They were then treated with loading solution containing 2 M glycerol and 0.4 M sucrose (LS solution) for 20 min at 25 degree C and dehydrated with the PVS2 vitrification solution for 18 min at 25(C prior to either rapid immersion in liquid nitrogen. Surviving lateral buds resumed growth within 3 days and developed shoots without intermediary callus formation. The average growth recovery after cryopreservation amounted to 85%.     

The ultrasound application does not affect to the thermal properties and chemical composition of virgin olive oils

In this work, the effects of high power ultrasound treatment (40 kHz) on virgin olive oil (VOO) for different times (0, 15, 30 min) were studied, in order to verify if extent modifications in their chemical composition and thermal properties. The effects of the different ultrasound treatments on VOOs were determined considering the following parameters: quality index (free acidity, K₂₃₂ and K₂₇₀), lipid profile (fatty acids and triglycerides composition) minor components (phenols, tocopherols, pigments and volatiles) and thermal properties (crystallization and melting) by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC).During the ultrasound treatments, bubbles growth was present in the VOO due to the phenomenon of cavitation and a slight increase of the temperature was observed. In general, the ultrasound treatments did not cause alterations on VOO parameters evaluated (oxidation state, lipid profile, minor components and thermal profiles). However, a slight decrease was observed in some volatile compounds.     

ICP-MS法测定板栗自交与异交后子房微量元素的含量变化

为探明板栗授粉后子房的微量元素需求分配规律,应用电感耦合等离子体质谱测定与分析板栗自交与异交子房主要微量元素的含量。结果表明：板栗自交与异交5～50 d,六种微量元素均呈波动的变化趋势。授粉后20 d,异交Ca含量达到最高为6.50 mg·g-1,而自交后10 d,子房的Ca含量达到最高为7.77 mg·g-1。授粉后30 d,异交和自交子房Mg含量都达到最高,分别为4.19和4.69 mg·g-1。授粉后5 d,异交子房Zn含量达到最高,为0.038 7 mg·g-1,而自交后10 d达到最高为0.039 9 mg·g-1。授粉后35 d,自交和异交子房Fe含量达到最高,分别为0.022和0.019 mg·g-1。授粉后20 d,异交和自交子房Cu含量达到最高,分别为0.056和0.045 mg·g-1。授粉后40 d,自交子房Mn含量达到最高,为1.204 mg·g-1,而异交30 d,其子房Mn含量达到最高为0.845 mg·g-1。研究结果可为在生产上喷施微肥来调控板栗子房发育提供参考依据,从而来提高板栗产量。     

The study of heat stress in tomato fruits by NMR microimaging.

The ripening of the tomato fruit was delayed for several days (average 5 days) by a 1-day heat treatment at 42 degrees C. Ethylene production increased during the first 3 h, but, after 6 h inhibition was almost total in tomato fruit incubated at 42 degrees C. However, recovery of ethylene production was rapid if fruits were returned to a temperature of 25 degrees C after heating. In NMR microimaging, three imaging pulse sequences with different repetition and echo times at 42 degrees C were used to obtain the proton density (TR = 6000 ms, TE = 15 ms), the T1 weighted image (TR = 1000 ms, TE = 15 ms) and the T2-weighted image (TR = 6000 ms, TE = 120 ms). After 12 h heating, the water in locular tissues began to show shorter T1 and T2 values. Though the tomatos were returned to 25 degrees C and preserved one more day, the water having a shorter T2 value in locular tissues, did not change. These results show that tomato fruit do not fully recover from heating even after one day, although ethylene production is recovered almost immediately. For this reason, we suggest that some denaturation event inside the tomato, which goes on after the end of heating, is the cause of the delay in tomato ripening.     

Vitrification of caudal fin explants from zebrafish adult specimens

No data on vitrification of tissue samples are available in fishes. Three vitrification solutions were compared: V1: 20% ethylene glycol and 20% dimethyl sulphoxide; V2: 25% propylene glycol and 20% dimethyl sulphoxide, and; V3: 20% propylene glycol and 13% methanol, all three prepared in Hanks' buffered salt solution plus 20 percent FBS, following the same one step vitrification procedure developed in mammals. Caudal fin tissue pieces were vitrified into 0.25 ml plastic straws in 30s and stored in liquid nitrogen for 3 days minimum, warmed (10s in nitrogen vapour and 5s in a 25 degree C water bath) and cultured (L-15 plus 20% FBS at 28.5 degree C). At the third day of culture, both attachment and outgrowing rates were recorded. V3 led to the worst results (8% of attachment rate). V1 and V2 allow higher attachment rates (V1: 63% vs V2: 50%. P < 0.05) but not significantly different outgrowing rates (83% to 94%). Vitrification of caudal fin pieces is advantageous in fish biodiversity conservation, particularly in the wild, due to the simplicity of procedure and equipment.     

基于植物油可见吸收光谱的相关系数鉴别特级初榨橄榄油

目前市场上的橄榄油品牌很多,质量参差不齐,亟需完善橄榄油的等级分类检测和特级初榨橄榄油的鉴别方法。可见吸收光谱光谱法可在不直接接触样品的情况下对样品进行无添加试剂的探测,因此为实现特级初榨橄榄油的鉴别,采用可见吸收光谱法对不同种类植物油进行了光谱测量。实验结果发现特级初榨橄榄油在500~780 nm波段内具有4个明显的吸收峰,而其他种类植物油在此波段内吸光度较弱或无吸收峰,且同种植物油不同品牌之间的光谱特征极其相似。采用相关系数比对不同种类植物油可见吸收光谱,分别计算了四个不同波长范围内植物油的可见吸收光谱的相关系数,实验发现不同波长范围内的植物油可见光谱相关系数差别较大。在520～700 nm范围内,特级初榨橄榄油间的光谱相关系数在0.999 6以上,特级初榨橄榄油与其他种类植物油的光谱相关系数均低于0.267 8,特级初榨橄榄油与其他等级橄榄油的光谱相关系数在0.194 6～0.835 8之间。研究结果表明可见吸收光谱相关系数法是一种快速非接触式鉴别特级初榨橄榄油的可行性方法。建立了一种特级初榨橄榄油快速鉴别方法,即可见吸收光谱相关系数法。该方法在特级初榨橄榄油的实际鉴别中具有一定的应用价值。     

激光诱导击穿光谱结合标准加入法定量分析未知样品中铅含量

利用激光诱导击穿光谱结合标准加入法定量分析了铅蓄电池厂含铅污泥中重金属铅元素含量,标准加入法有效避免了外标法与内标法制作标准曲线时基质不同对LIBS检测结果的影响,且样品处理过程简单。实验采用中心波长为1 064 nm的Nd∶YAG脉冲激光器作为激发光源,以高分辨率、宽光谱段的中阶梯光栅光谱仪和增强型电荷耦合器件为谱线分离与探测器件,选取铅的PbⅠ：405.78 nm特征谱线作为分析线,以FeⅠ：404.58 nm特征谱线作为内标线进行结果计算。预实验确定较佳的实验条件后(激光脉冲能量：128.5 mJ,延时：2.5 μs,门宽：3 μs),对铅蓄电池厂的未知铅泥样品中铅元素进行定量分析,结果表明加入铅在0~25 000 mg·kg-1范围内谱线不会产生自吸收,PbⅠ：405.78 nm信号强度与铅加入量呈很好的线性关系,由此确定合适的铅加入量为0~25 000 mg·kg-1。在此基础上配制四个样品,基质均为铅蓄电池厂含铅污泥,加入铅浓度分别为5 000,10 000,15 000,20 000 mg·kg-1,每个样品设置三个平行样,验证实验重复性及可靠性,并与ICP-MS检测结果对比,结果直线外推误差为-14.8%。12个样品单次计算结果误差介于为-24.6%~17.6%之间,含铅量平均值为43 069 mg·kg-1,相对误差为-2.44%。     

损耗可控条件下掺铒光纤中光速减慢现象的研究

由于相干布居振荡效应,光脉冲通过处于吸收状态的掺铒光纤介质时,将导致群速度传输减慢. 由掺铒光纤的吸收特性可知,此时必伴随着强烈的吸收损耗,这势必会给实际的慢光信号测量及光通信领域带来诸多的困难. 从铒离子基态粒子速率方程出发,对损耗可控条件下的光速减慢传输进行了数值仿真研究,并加以实验验证. 研究表明：抽运光强度越高,信号光损耗系数越小;抽运掺铒光纤长度越长,信号光损耗系数越小. 通过优化抽运光强度、掺铒光纤长度等参量,可以实现损耗可控条件下的光脉冲群速度减慢传输. 关键词： 时间延迟 吸收损耗 掺铒光纤     

Optical characterization of photonic crystal delay lines based on one-dimensional coupled defects

We performed optical characterizations of optical delay lines based on photonic crystal waveguides. The delay lines were composed of cylindrical air holes in silicon-on-silicon-dioxide ridge waveguides, defects were periodically created by means of increasing the separation of two neighboring air holes, and the structure was designed to have flat-transmittance impurity band. We clearly observed an impurity band with a bandwidth of ~30 nm and a maximum transmittance of ~0.5 at an operating wavelength of ~1.55 microm . A 600-fs delay was confirmed with a 20-microm -long delay line. A good agreement was confirmed between the experimental results and the calculations.     

非晶态铁磁Fe-Ni基合金的穆斯堡尔谱研究

本文研究了非晶态合金Fe_81-xNi_xSi_3.5B_13.5C₂(x=5,10,15,20,25,30,35)及坡莫合金Fe₅₀Ni₅₀在室温和外加磁场下的穆斯堡尔谱,用拟谱方法获得了超精细相互作用的参量及超精细场分布P(H).实验结果表明,非晶态Fe-Ni基合金存在两种磁性铁原子且有类因瓦特性,在x=15左右存在异常现象.文中提出了外加磁场和低温的外界条 关键词：     

临界电流磁矢量分析法在YBCO线圈上的验证

高温超导磁体临界电流磁矢量分析法准确地预测了BSCCO高温超导磁体的临界电流,为了进一步验证该方法预测YBCO高温超导磁体临界电流的准确性,文中作者用9.3m二代高温超导YBCO带材绕制了一个内径为70mm,外径为100mm,共35匝的单饼,测试了单饼5-15匝,15-25匝,25-35匝和5-35匝在77K下的临界电流,并用磁矢量分析法进行了仿真分析。通过对比发现,仿真分析和实验结果的误差在5%左右,最大误差是6.75%,最小误差是4.77%,验证了磁矢量分析法在预测YBCO高温超导磁体临界电流时的准确性。     

New Pool Boiling Heat Transfer in the Presence of Low-Frequency Vibrations Into a Vertical Cylindrical Heat Source

A vertical cylinder was applied as a heat source into a water pool; the vibrations were imposed into the heater with different heat fluxes, and the frequencies were adjusted at 10, 15, 20, and 25 Hz. An imaging system was employed to observe the produced bubbles around the cylindrical heat source. The results showed that the boiling heat transfer was enhanced under the vibrations with a shorter transient process, and the wall temperature also decreased. The best enhancement ratio was achieved at the frequency of 25 Hz and a heat flux value of 30 kW/m² as a consequence of imposed vibrations.