Nectar Fluorescence under Ultraviolet Irradiation.

Nectar, which fluoresces in the visible and absorbs in the ultraviolet spectrum when irradiated by ultraviolet light, occurs in many bee-pollinated plants. It is suggested that these characteristics function as direct visual cues by which bees can evaluate the quantities of nectar available. Thus, they assume an important role in pollination of the flowers and foraging efficiency of beers.

Antiallergic activity of tetracyclic derivatives of quinoline-2-carboxylic acid. 2. Some benzothienoquinolinecarboxylic acids.

Some benzothienoquinolinecarboxylic acids were synthesized and tested in the rat passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) assay as potential antiallergic agents. Many of the compounds showed activity comparable to that shown by disodium cromoglycate (DSFG); two of them, 1,4-dihydro-4,6,6-trioxo-5-chloro[1]benzothieno[2,3-g]quinoline-2-carboxylic acid and 1,4-dihydro-1,7-dioxo[1]benzothieno[3,2-f]quinoline-3-carboxylic acid, showed potency approximately eightfold greater than that of DSCG in the PCA assay.

Antiallergic activity of tetracyclic derivatives of quinoline-2-carboxylic acids. 1.

Substitution of 1,4-dihydro-4-oxoquinoline-2-carboxylic acid by acetyl, benzoyl, and phenylsulfonyl substituents was found to enhance activity in the rat passive cutaneous anaphylaxis assay. A further increase in activity, to equipotency with DSCG, was achieved by incorporation of the 8-benzoyl moiety into a tetracyclic structure to give 1,4-dihydro-4,11(1H,11H)-dioxoindeno[1,2-h]quinoline-2-carboxylic acid (20). In contrast, the reverse isomer 19 was found to have little activity.

Inhibition of rat passive cutaneous anaphylaxis by 3-(tetrazol-5-yl)quinolines.

Quinoline-3-carboxylic acid (3) was found to have weak oral activity in the rat passive cutaneous (PCA) assay. In an effort to increase activity, the synthesis of structurally related compounds was initiated. This led to substituted 3-(tetrazol-5-yl)quinolines, some of which are equal in potency, when given orally, to doxantrazole. Further work resulted in the synthesis of 4-oxoquinolines, one of which, 8-chloro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-3-(tetrazol-5-yl)quinoline (132), is 33-fold more active than disodium cromoglycate (ip) and 32-fold more active than doxantrazole (po).

Evidence for electrostatic enhancement of odor receptor function by worker honeybee antennae.

Pore plates (placoid chemosensillae) on the antennae of dead worker honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) apparently retained a static electric charge that was significantly different from that of the surrounding cuticle. Residual charge resulted in the concentration of airborne particulate matter over the rim of exposed pore plates to the virtual exclusion of such deposition on surrounding cuticle. Postmortem integrity of polar lipids associated with the pore plate and adjacent sense cells is hypothesized as the source of the static potential. Such a lipoidal matrix, if functioning as an electret and if attracting odorous molecules to receptor cells from outside the odor stream of individual receptors, would greatly enhance receptor efficiency of living bees.

Simulated decision-making experience via case analysis.

An effective strategy for developing decision-making skills is presented, using a problem-solving systems model. Through retrospective examination of an actual problem, the systematic, sequential aspects of decision making are illustrated.

Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) queen feces: Source of a pheromone that repels worker bees.

When placed in a small observation arena with workers, most young virgin honeybee queens released fecal (hindgut) material during agonistic interactions with workers and with each other. On release of this material, workers moved to the sides of the arena and groomed themselves. Bioassays of virgin queen fecal material demonstrated that it contains pheromone that repels workers and stimulates grooming behavior. Pheromone was present only in the feces of virgin queens that were more than 24 hr old and less than 2 weeks old. Feces of 2- to 4-day-old workers and virgin queens more than 2 weeks old did not elicit an avoidance response by workers. Moreover, the feces of young virgin queens had a strong fragrance, while that of older queens had a rancid odor and that of young workers had no detectable odor.

Heat stress induced enhancement of heat shock protein gene activity in the honey bee (Apis mellifera).

We employed in vitro translation of mRNA and product separation using SDS-PAGE to examine the heat-shock response of the worker honey bee. Increases in the levels of 6 translatable RNA populations were observed following heat stress. The greatest response was observed among bees aged 9 days. Slight levels of induction of 70 and 82 kDa heat shock proteins were evident among bees taken directly from the colony.