Life history traits and interactions of Stylops advarians (Strepsiptera) with its bee host, Andrena milwaukeensis.

Specimens of Stylops advarians were sampled by collecting foraging bees of Andrena milwaukeensis along the South Saskatchewan River within Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. As the foraging season progressed from early May till late June over three consecutive years (2016-2018), most stylopized bees possessed endoparasitic adult (neotenic) females of S. advarians protruding from the bee gaster's dorsum. In contrast, very few adult bees stylopized by male puparia, and no free-living males, were encountered. Over the sampling period, prevalence remained around 22% each year; mean intensity was 1.2 (range of 1-3 female parasites per bee); and parasite abundance was 0.27. Also newly reported for Stylops is the occurrence of one bee bearing four Stylops (two neotenic females and two males with puparia), plus another bee with a male puparium extruded from its gaster's sternites. Around 2 May each year, a high proportion of the earliest captured female bees were stylopized. However, non-stylopized female bees typically were not encountered until about 10 days later, suggesting the parasites manipulate female bee hosts to emerge earlier, in close synchrony to male bee emergence. First-instar larvae of S. advarians appeared from 22-25 May, indicating that adults of S. advarians matured and mated at similar times each season.

Comparison of line-field confocal optical coherence tomography images with histological sections: Validation of a new method for in vivo and non-invasive quantification of superficial dermis thickness.

BACKGROUND: Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) is an imaging technique providing "optical biopsies" of the skin in real time and non-invasively. At a center optical wavelength of 1.3 µm, this innovative technology can be applied to dermo-cosmetic product development due to both high image resolution (~2 µm) and sufficient penetration (~0.5 mm). Nevertheless, the precise dermal area analyzed with LC-OCT has never been identified. In this study, the objective was to compare LC-OCT images with histological sections of the same area, in order to validate a new method for in vivo and non-invasive quantification of superficial dermis thickness. Once validated, this standardized and quantitative method was used to assess age-related changes of the superficial dermis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ex vivo LC-OCT acquisitions and hematoxylin-eosin-safran staining were performed on a panel of four healthy Caucasian female volunteers. In vivo LC-OCT study of skin aging was performed on a panel of 37 healthy Caucasian female divided into five different age-groups. RESULTS: Comparison with histological sections revealed that LC-OCT images allow the visualization and the quantification of the superficial portion of papillary dermis. Applied to different age-group of volunteers, LC-OCT images show a constant decrease in this superficial dermis thickness with age. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, we have introduced LC-OCT as a novel technique for in vivo and non-invasive evaluation of superficial dermis thickness. This approach could be used in the future to demonstrate visually and quantitatively the capacity of a dermo-cosmetic active ingredient to renormalize the structural properties of the dermis.

Inpatient Mortality and 30-Day Readmission Rates Associated with Troponin Testing in Patients without Acute Myocardial Infarction.

OBJECTIVE: Troponin values above the threshold established to diagnose acute myocardial infarction (AMI; >99th percentile) are commonly detected in patients with diagnoses other than AMI. The objective of this study was to compare inpatient mortality and 30-day readmission rate in patients with troponin I (TnI) above and below the 99th percentile in those with type 1 AMI and type 2 myocardial injury. METHODS: Between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016, there were 56,895 inpatient hospitalizations; of these 14,326 (25.2%) patients received troponin testing. We evaluated mortality and readmissions in the entire cohort based on the primary discharge International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition (ICD-10) diagnosis and grouped into type 1 AMI versus other diagnoses comprising the type 2 AMI group (including ICD-10 codes for congestive heart failure, sepsis, and other). Among those with TnI drawn, we evaluated in-hospital mortality and 30-day readmissions based on troponin values > 99th percentile (≥ 0.1 ng/ml). RESULTS: Among the entire cohort, the inpatient mortality rate was significantly higher in those with TnI testing (5.0%, 95% CI 4.6%-5.3%) compared to those without testing (0.7%, 95% CI 0.6%-0.7%, P < 0.01). In the tested cohort 3,743 (26%) patients had troponin levels above the 99th percentile (> 0.1 ng/ml), and 10,583 (74%) had troponin levels below the 99th percentile (≤ 0.1 ng/ml). Comparing type 2 AMI with type 1 AMI and troponin testing, TnI values ≥ 0.1 ng/ml were associated with higher inpatient mortality (11.6% vs. 3.9%) and 30-day readmission rates (16.9% vs. 10.7%). CONCLUSIONS: A higher inpatient mortality and 30-day readmission rates were found in patients with type 2 AMI compared to type 1 AMI group.

Molecular identification of Stylops advarians (Strepsiptera: Stylopidae) in western Canada.

Strepsiptera are an enigmatic order of insects with extreme sexual dimorphism which makes it difficult to "match-up" free-living adult males with parasitic conspecific females of the Stylopidia, and free-living females of the Mengenillidae using morphological characters. Species identification is further complicated for the Stylopidia because adult females are endoparasitic and neotenic. Therefore, we used DNA sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1) to confirm the species identity of adult strepsipterans that were morphologically identified as Stylops advarians. These specimens, collected from Saskatoon (Saskatchewan, Canada), included one adult male, and eight females, the latter of which had been collected from solitary bees (Andrena milwaukeensis). Also included in the analyses were three pools of first-instar larvae that had emerged from three of the females. The results of the molecular analyses revealed that all specimens had an identical cox1 sequence, and belonged to a clade, with total statistical support (bootstrap value of 100%), that contained specimens of S. advarians from New York and Maine (USA). Hence, the results were consistent with the morphological identification of S. advarians. This study demonstrates the usefulness of a molecular approach for the identification of endoparasitic adult female and larval strepsipterans, life cycle stages that lack significant morphological characters for species identification.

Pollen, ovules, and pollination in pea: Success, failure, and resilience in heat.

Field pea (Pisum sativum), a major grain legume crop, is autogamous and adapted to temperate climates. The objectives of this study were to investigate effects of high temperature stress on stamen chemical composition, anther dehiscence, pollen viability, pollen interactions with pistil and ovules, and ovule growth and viability. Two cultivars ("CDC Golden" and "CDC Sage") were exposed to 24/18°C (day/night) continually or to 35/18°C for 4 or 7 days. Heat stress altered stamen chemical composition, with lipid composition of "CDC Sage" being more stable compared with "CDC Golden." Heat stress reduced pollen viability and the proportion of ovules that received a pollen tube. After 4 days at 35°C, pollen viability in flower buds decreased in "CDC Golden," but not in "CDC Sage." After 7 days, partial to full failure of anthers to dehisce resulted in subnormal pollen loads on stigmas. Although growth (ovule size) of fertilized ovules was stimulated by 35°C, heat stress tended to decrease ovule viability. Pollen appears susceptible to stress, but not many grains are needed for successful fertilization. Ovule fertilization and embryos are less susceptible to heat, but further research is warranted to link the exact degree of resilience to stress intensity.

Line-field confocal time-domain optical coherence tomography with dynamic focusing.

A time-domain optical coherence tomography technique is introduced for high-resolution B-scan imaging in real-time. The technique is based on a two-beam interference microscope with line illumination and line detection using a broadband spatially coherent light source and a line-scan camera. Multiple (2048) A-scans are acquired in parallel by scanning the sample depth while adjusting the focus. Quasi-isotropic spatial resolution of 1.3 µm × 1.1 µm (lateral × axial) is achieved. In vivo cellular-level resolution imaging of human skin is demonstrated at 10 frames per second with a penetration depth of ∼500 µm.

Seed set, pollen morphology and pollen surface composition response to heat stress in field pea.

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is a major legume crop grown in a semi-arid climate in Western Canada, where heat stress affects pollination, seed set and yield. Seed set and pod growth characteristics, along with in vitro percentage pollen germination, pollen tube growth and pollen surface composition, were measured in two pea cultivars (CDC Golden and CDC Sage) subjected to five maximum temperature regimes ranging from 24 to 36 °C. Heat stress reduced percentage pollen germination, pollen tube length, pod length, seed number per pod, and the seed-ovule ratio. Percentage pollen germination of CDC Sage was greater than CDC Golden at 36 °C. No visible morphological differences in pollen grains or the pollen surface were observed between the heat and control-treated pea. However, pollen wall (intine) thickness increased due to heat stress. Mid-infrared attenuated total reflectance (MIR-ATR) spectra revealed that the chemical composition (lipid, proteins and carbohydrates) of each cultivar's pollen grains responded differently to heat stress. The lipid region of the pollen coat and exine of CDC Sage was more stable compared with CDC Golden at 36 °C. Secondary derivatives of ATR spectra indicated the presence of two lipid types, with different amounts present in pollen grains from each cultivar.

The relationship between cell division and elongation during development of the nectar-yielding petal spur in Centranthus ruber (Valerianaceae).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Floral spurs are hollow, tubular outgrowths that typically conceal nectar. By their involvement in specialized pollinator interactions, spurs have ecological and evolutionary significance, often leading to speciation. Despite their importance and diversity in shape and size among angiosperm taxa, detailed investigations of the mechanism of spur development have been conducted only recently. METHODS: Initiation and growth of the nectar-yielding petal spur of Centranthus ruber 'Snowcloud' was investigated throughout seven stages, based on bud size and developmental events. The determination of the frequency of cell division, quantified for the first time in spurs, was conducted by confocal microscopy following 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining of mitotic figures. Moreover, using scanning electron microscospy of the outer petal spur surface unobstructed by trichomes, morphometry of epidermal cells was determined throughout development in order to understand the ontogeny of this elongate, hollow tube. KEY RESULTS: Spur growth from the corolla base initially included diffuse cell divisions identified among epidermal cells as the spur progressed through its early stages. However, cell divisions clearly diminished before a petal spur attained 30 % of its final length of 4·5 mm. Thereafter until anthesis, elongation of individual cells was primarily responsible for the spur's own extension. Consequently, a prolonged period of anisotropy, wherein epidermal cells elongated almost uniformly in all regions along the petal spur's longitudinal axis, contributed principally to the spur's mature length. CONCLUSIONS: This research demonstrates that anisotropic growth of epidermal cells - in the same orientation as spur elongation - chiefly explains petal spur extension in C. ruber. Representing the inaugural investigation of the cellular basis for spur ontogeny within the Euasterids II clade, this study complements the patterns in Aquilegia species (order Ranunculales, Eudicots) and Linaria vulgaris (order Lamiales, Euasterids I), thereby suggesting the existence of a common underlying mechanism for petal spur ontogeny in disparate dicot lineages.

Annular floral nectary with oil-producing trichomes in Salvia farinacea (Lamiaceae): Anatomy, histochemistry, ultrastructure, and significance.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Many angiosperms produce nectar that entices pollinator visits. Each floral nectary tends to embody a singular form, such as the receptacular ring arising beneath the ovary in mint flowers (Lamiaceae). Exceptionally, the annular floral nectary in Salvia farinacea possesses modified stomata plus secretory trichomes. This first study of nectary ultrastructure within the largest genus of Lamiaceae examined this unusual condition. METHODS: Nectary anatomy, histochemistry, and ultrastructure were investigated from fresh and fixed material using light microscopy and scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy. KEY RESULTS: The annular nectary encircled the ovary plus extended ventrally as a projection. Modified stomata occurred only in the projection's abaxial epidermis. Conversely, peltate trichomes with a basal cell, a stalk cell, and 4-7 head cells were interspersed among the ovary lobes and covered the projection's adaxial surface. Phloem and xylem supplied the nectary interior, where parenchyma cells had numerous mitochondria and plastids with little starch, but few dictyosomes and little endoplasmic reticulum. Nectar accumulated as a drop opposite the projection's abaxial surface, escaping through stomatal pores and probably the cuticle. However, the annular nectary's glistening trichomes secreted a Sudan-positive product largely retained below the distended cuticle, but not nectar. CONCLUSIONS: This first ultrastructural study of co-occurring secretory trichomes and modified stomata on a mint nectary suggests multiple interactive functions for this atypical structure. These trichomes-possibly generating a substance informative to pollinators or as an ovarian defense against phytophagy-produced oil in an aqueous milieu, rather than contributing fluid to nectar.

Evaluation of inflorescence visitors as pollinators of Echinacea angustifolia (Asteraceae): comparison of techniques.

Inflorescences (heads or capitula) of the putative self-incompatible species, purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia (DC) Cronq. (Asteraceae)), were visited by insects representing the Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera, in accordance with a generalist pollination syndrome. Measurement of the effectiveness of insect species as pollinators was accomplished by permitting solitary visits to receptive, central disc florets of virgin (previously bagged) heads. Four parameters were quantified: total stigmatic pollen load and proportion of pollen grains germinated, numbers of pollen tubes at style bases, and percentages of total receptive florets that had retracted (shrivelled) styles. Quantifying total and germinated pollen grains proved ineffective, partly owing to the tendency of self-pollen to initiate pollen tubes. The most effective pollinators were Apidae, especially bumble bees (Bombus spp.) and the European honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) (mean: 39 - 61% of styles retracted). Other noteworthy pollinators were cloudless sulfur butterflies (Phoebis sennae L.--Pieridae; mean 47% of style bases with pollen tubes), golden blister beetles (Epicauta ferruginea Say--Meloidae; 44%), and grasshopper bee flies (Systoechus vulgaris Loew--Bombyliidae; 22%). Sunflower leafcutter bees (Megachile pugnata Say) were less effective (4% of styles retracted). Promisingly, analysis of the proportion of retracted styles provided similar results to the established technique of pollen-tube quantification, but had the significant advantages of being completed more rapidly, without a microscope, and in the field. The quantitative technique of retracted-style analysis appears well suited for prompt measurement of inflorescence-visiting insects as pollinators of many asteraceans.

Endovascular Venous Interventions - A State-of-the-Art Review.

Venous vascular diseases are an important clinical entity estimated to affect several million people worldwide. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common venous disease with a population variable prevalence of 122 to 160 persons per 100,000 per year, whereas pulmonary embolism (PE) affects up to 60 to 70 per 100 000 and carries much higher mortality. Chronic venous diseases, which cause symptoms like leg swelling, heaviness, pain, and discomfort, are most prevalent in the elderly and significantly impact their quality of life. Some estimate that chronic vascular diseases account for up to 2% of healthcare budgets in Western countries. Treating venous vascular disease includes using systemic anticoagulation and interventional therapies in some patient subsets. In this comprehensive review, we discuss endovascular treatment modalities in the management of venous vascular diseases.

Ontogeny of floral organs in flax (Linum usitatissimum; Linaceae).

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is an important crop worldwide; however, a detailed study on flower development of this species is lacking. Here we describe the pattern of initiation and a program of key developmental events in flax flower ontogeny. This study provides important fundamental information for future research in various aspects of flax biology and biotechnology. METHODS: Floral buds and organs were measured throughout development and examined using scanning electron microscopy. KEY RESULTS: Floral organs were initiated in the following sequence: sepals, stamens and petals, gynoecium, and nectaries. The five sepals originated in a helical pattern, followed evidently by simultaneous initiation of five stamens and five petals, the former opposite of the sepals and the latter alternate to them. The gynoecium, with five carpels, was produced from the remaining, central region of the floral apex. Stamens at early stages were dominated by anther growth but filaments elongated rapidly shortly before anthesis. Early gynoecium development occurred predominantly in the ovary, and ovule initiation began prior to enclosure of carpels. A characteristic feature was the twisted growth of styles, accompanied by the differentiation of papillate stigmas. Petal growth lagged behind that of other floral organs, but petals eventually grew rapidly to enclose the inner whorls after style elongation. Flask-shaped nectaries bearing stomata developed on the external surface of the filament bases. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first detailed study on flax floral organ development and has established a key of 12 developmental stages, which should be useful to flax researchers.

Floral glands in myophilous and sapromyophilous species of Pleurothallidinae (Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae)-osmophores, nectaries, and a unique sticky gland.

Pleurothallidinae orchids have been the focus of many multidisciplinary studies due to their challenging systematics and taxonomy. The synapomorphies already recognized in the group are mostly related to floral characters, the last proposed being the occurrence of alkanes in the floral fragrance. The composition of the floral bouquet varied significantly among the studied species, leading us to hypothesize that the variations in volatiles emitted could be linked to the structure of osmophores, especially when comparing the myophilous and sapromyophilous pollination syndromes. Sepals and labellum at different developmental stages of seven Brazilian Pleurothallidinae species were examined using light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. Nectar reabsorption was assessed by Lucifer Yellow CH tracer and imaged under confocal microscopy. Nectaries were restricted to the labellum of the myophilous species, whereas osmophores occurred in the dorsal and/or lateral sepals, varying according to species. In the sapromyophilous species, floral nectaries were not detected and osmophores were restricted to the labellum. Osmophore structure was correlated with the volatiles emitted, being the trichome osmophores notably present on the sepals of both myophilous species that possess nectaries. For the first time, we demonstrated reabsorption of the released nectar in Pleurothallidinae and the occurrence of a unique gland named sticky-exudate glands, which occurred in the lateral sepals and labellum of Echinosepala aspasicensis, a sapromyophilous species, that released a heterogeneous exudate composed of polysaccharides and lipids. Similar glands have been reported in Bulbophyllum, highlighting the convergence between both groups.

Use of Web-Based Patient Portals in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Is Associated With Higher Readmissions.

Background: The impact of web-based patient portals on patient outcomes-specifically hospital readmissions in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF)-remains understudied. Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study investigated the use of an online portal system (MyChart) by patients hospitalized from January 1, 2014 to June 30, 2017 for AF. During the study period, 11,334 unique AF admissions were identified; 50.3% were MyChart users and 49.7% were non-MyChart users. Patients who experienced inpatient mortality were excluded. The study groups were analyzed for demographic variables, comorbidities, readmission rates, and the frequency of MyChart use during the 3.5-year time frame. Results: MyChart users were younger (median age, 74 years, interquartile range [IQR] 66-82 vs 77 years, IQR 68-85; P<0.0001) and more likely to be white (91.9% vs 84.6%; P<0.0001), but the sex distribution was similar between groups, with 51.8% males in the MyChart group vs 53.2% in the non-MyChart group. MyChart users had a significantly higher rate of readmission compared to non-MyChart users at 1 year (43.0% vs 32.0%, respectively; P<0.0001). MyChart users who were readmitted had a higher median number of logins to MyChart (121 [IQR 32-270.5]) than MyChart users who were not readmitted (91 [IQR 26-205]; P<0.0001). Multivariable regression analysis demonstrated that MyChart use was associated with readmission (odds ratio 1.57, 95% CI 1.49-1.70; P<0.0001). Conclusion: Among patients with AF, MyChart use was associated with higher readmissions in this single-center cohort. Use and benefit of bespoke portals require further study.

Description of the Adult Male of Stylops nubeculae Pierce (Strepsiptera: Stylopidae), a New Record for Canada.

The morphology of the adult male of Stylops nubeculae Pierce, encountered in stylopized gasters of two adult bees of Andrena peckhami, is described for the first time. This species was previously known only from the endoparasitic adult female found in Colorado, USA. We report a new locality for this species in Alberta, Canada.

Description of the Adult Male of Stylops advarians Pierce (Strepsiptera: Stylopidae).

The morphology of the adult male of Stylops advarians Pierce is described for the first time. This species was previously known only from the endoparasitic adult female and the host-seeking, first-instar larva. Members of Stylops are cosmopolitan, and Stylops advarians can be found parasitizing Andrena milwaukeensis Graenicher in western Canada.

Adaptive morphology of the host-seeking first-instar larva of Stylops advarians Pierce (Strepsiptera, Stylopidae), a parasite of Andrena milwaukeensis Graenicher (Hymenoptera, Andrenidae).

The morphology of the prognathous, host-seeking first-instar larvae of Stylops advarians was examined to advance our understanding of their adaptations to reach immature bee hosts, a process requiring temporal phoresy on an adult bee. Sensory structures on the larval head, including eye spots and two pairs of olfactory pits, evidently assist recognition of an adult bee and eventual detection of a permanent host within a nest cell. First-instar larvae utilize various features of their appendages to travel securely on their phoretic host. Flexible adhesive tarsi of the pro- and mesothoracic legs allow them to embark and be retained on a flying bee. The tips of the pair of caudal filaments appear modified for a similar purpose. Spinulae of two lengths, and arranged in distinct patterns, cover the posterior edges of the thoracic and abdominal segments both dorsally and ventrally. These projections can cause lodging of larvae in the plumose hairs of the phoretic host, and may lock into the exine of pollen collected by the foraging bee. Discovery of a first-instar larva partially packed into a pollen load and in the crop of Andrena milwaukeensis demonstrates that Stylops is adapted to travel with a phoretic host both externally and internally.

A delayed diagnosis of aortic coarctation.

Coarctation of the aorta is most often diagnosed in early childhood, with infrequent recorded presentations of previously undiagnosed adults. We present a young female hospitalized with hypertensive emergency who was then diagnosed with a stenotic bicuspid aortic valve requiring surgical intervention. Subsequent preoperative coronary angiogram led to discovery of an undiagnosed coarctation of the aorta, which is commonly a forgotten cause of secondary hypertension.

Simultaneous dual-band line-field confocal optical coherence tomography: application to skin imaging.

Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) operating in two distinct spectral bands centered at 770 nm and 1250 nm is reported, using a single supercontinuum light source and two different line-scan cameras. B-scans are acquired simultaneously in the two bands at 4 frames per second. Greyscale representation and color fusion of the images are performed to either produce a single image with both high resolution (1.3 µm × 1.2 µm, lateral × axial, measured at the surface) in the superficial part of the image and deep penetration, or to highlight the spectroscopic properties of the sample. In vivo images of fair and dark skin are presented with a penetration depth of ∼700 µm.

Identification and characterization of two bovine spongiform encephalopathy cases diagnosed in the United States.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of cattle, first detected in 1986 in the United Kingdom and subsequently in other countries. It is the most likely cause of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in humans, but the origin of BSE has not been elucidated so far. This report describes the identification and characterization of two cases of BSE diagnosed in the United States. Case 1 (December 2003) exhibited spongiform changes in the obex area of the brainstem and the presence of the abnormal form of the prion protein, PrP(Sc), in the same brain area, by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot analysis. Initial suspect diagnosis of BSE for case 2 (November 2004) was made by a rapid ELISA-based BSE test. Case 2 did not exhibit unambiguous spongiform changes in the obex area, but PrP(Sc) was detected by IHC and enrichment Western blot analysis in the obex. Using Western blot analysis, PrP(Sc) from case 1 showed molecular features similar to typical BSE isolates, whereas PrP(Sc) from case 2 revealed an unusual molecular PrP(Sc) pattern: molecular mass of the unglycosylated and monoglycosylated isoform was higher than that of typical BSE isolates and case 2 was strongly labeled with antibody P4, which is consistent with a higher molecular mass. Sequencing of the prion protein gene of both BSE-positive animals revealed that the sequences of both animals were within [corrected] the range of the prion protein gene sequence diversity previously reported for cattle.