Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Honeybees and Its Antibacterial Potential

Honeybees (Apis mellifera) are important pollinators of flowering plants and agricultural crops contributing annually to billions of dollars in revenues to crop production. Honeybees have an average lifespan between 8 weeks to 5 years. Dead honeybees are abundantly available in beehives and can be utilized as an alternative source to synthesize nanoparticles. In recent years, biologically synthesized nanoparticles have been preferred over their chemical counterparts. However, honeybee-based-green synthesis of nanoparticles has not been explored yet. Herein, we report the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from honeybees and its antibacterial activity. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles was monitored visually through a gradual change in color. Furthermore, the biosynthesized nanoparticles were confirmed and characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy. Scanning Electron Microscope was utilized to analyze the average size and morphologies of the biosynthesized nanoparticles. Subsequently, the antibacterial potential of the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles was tested against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. It was found that a distinct color change from yellow to brown in the reaction solution suggested the formation of silver nanoparticles. The biosynthesized nanoparticles exhibited absorption maxima at 430 nm. The SEM analysis confirmed the spherical and cuboidal shape of the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles with a size range between 10 - 40 nm. Furthermore, the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles exhibited strong antimicrobial potential against tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria strains by aggregating on the cell surface. This study showcases the biomedical and agricultural applications of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles from honeybee wings. .

Time and Dose-related Effects of the Pyrethroid Fluvalinate on Haemolymph Carbohydrates and Gut Lipids of Honeybees,Following in vivo Injection of very Low Doses

The injection to emerging adult workerbees with fluvalinate doses ranging from 1 femtomol to 1 nanomol per individual resulted in a reduction of haemolymph carbohydrate concentrations, particularly at the lowest dose 1 hour after injections. At the same time, a large increase was observed for triacylglycerols and to a much lesser extent for steroids and phospholipids with 0.1 picomol per bee. By contrast, fatty acids, steroids and triacylglycerols exhibited a depress at the higher dose. Most responses were thus biphasic, showing that much attention should be paid to the effects of very low doses of pesticide.

The Formamidine Amitraz as a Hyperglycemic α-Agonist in Worker Honeybees(Apis mellifera mellifera L.)in Vivo

Intra-abdominal injection of amitraz(0.25 nmol per honeybee,i.e.,approx 2.3 nmol/g)to emerging worker bees,in vivo,led to a significant hypertrehalosemia(300-400%)followed by a hyperglucosemia(≈600%).Maxima were reached at 0.5 and 2h,respectively.A strong negative correlation between glucosemia and trehalosemia appeared after injection of pure phentolamine (1 nmol per bee),suggesting stimulation of trehalase activities.Simultaneous administration of the α-blocker at≥0.25 nmol per individual suppressed the hyperglycemic response of amitraz. The formamidine pesticide thus likely acts on the honeybee α-aminergic system.1989 Academic Press,Inc.

Analysis of Developmental Proteome at Egg Stage of Drone Honeybees (A. m. ligustica)

An investigation on the proteome of drone egg development of native Italian bee （Apis mellifera ligustica Spinola,1806） was carried out in order to prove up the characteristics in protein expression and regulation at egg stage and open out the molecular mechanism of the development. The experiment was carried out by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The results showed that there were 200, 242 and 233 proteins in a wide rang of molecular weight （12.42-169.60 kDa） and in a relatively narrow scope of pI （4.50-9.00） detected on day 1, day 2 and day 3, respectively, during the developmental process of the drone egg. Meanwhile, 164 protein spots were resolved at all the images （i.e., the protein was consistently expressed） along with the egg development, among which 7 were significantly up-expressed （P 〈 0.05） and 4 were significantly down-expressed （P 〈 0.05） while 79 had no significant differences （P 〉 0.05）. In addition, the specific proteins expressing proteins on day 1, day 2 and day 3 were 11, 18 and 18, respectively. Besides, 17 proteins expressed both on day 1 and day 2 but silenced on day 3, and 43 proteins expressed both on day 2 and day 3 but silenced on day 1, while only 8 proteins expressed both on day 1 and day 3 but silenced on day 2. The results indicate that 2-d-old eggs are at the most active expressional stage in the development of drone egg. The protein expressing at all images suggests that it should be indispensable for drone egg development, but their expression pattern is different. The proteins expressing at a specific age of egg suggest that specific proteins are needed in different developmental stages to regulate. And there are more house-keeping proteins in the developmental process of the drone egg than that of worker egg, and it will provide more targets for gene improvement.

Sublethal Effects of the Formamidine Amitraz on Honeybees Gut Lipids, Following in vivo Injections

The time-course and dose-related action of amitraz (AMZ) on gut lipids of worker honeybees were examined over 3 hours following in vivo injections of 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 nmols of pesticide per bee. Significant decreases were observed at 30-45 min with 0.25 nmols per bee, for phospholipids, fatty acids, steroids and triacylglycerols. However increases were observed either later or with higher doses. The decreasing action observed with 0.25 nmol AMZ per bee was inhibited by simultaneous injections of the a antagonist phentolamine (from 0.25 to 2.0 nmols per bee). The toxicity of AMZ to honeybees thus likely involves the mobilization of lipids from the gut, via action of this formamidine pesticide on a-adrenoceptors.

mRNA expression and DNA methylation in three key genes involved in caste differentiation in female honeybees(Apis mellifera)

In honeybee （Apis mellifera） colonies, queens and workers are altemative forms of the adult female honeybee that develop from genetically identical zygotes but that depend on differential nourishment. Queens and workers display distinct morphologies, anatomies and behavior, better known as caste differentiation. Despite some basic insights, the exact mechanism responsible for this phenomenon, especially at the molecular level, remains unclear although some progress has been achieved. In this study, we examined mRNA levels of the TOR （target of rapamycin） and Dnmt3 （DNA methyltransferase 3） genes, closely related to caste differentiation in honeybees. We also investigated mRNA expression of the S6K （similar to RPS6-p70-protein kinase） gene linked closely to organismal growth and development in queen and worker larvae （1-day and 3-day old）. Last, we investigated the methylation status of these three genes in corresponding castes. We found no difference in mRNA expression for the three genes between 1st instar queen and worker larvae; however, 3rd instar queen larvae had a higher level of TOR mRNA than worker larvae. Methylation levels of all three genes were lower in queen larvae than worker larvae but the differences were not statistically significant. These findings provide basic data for broadening our understanding of caste differentiation in female honeybees.

Effects of cold narcosis on memory acquisition, consolidation and retrieval in honeybees （Apis mellifera）

In learning and memory studies on honeybees （Apis mellifera）, cold-induced narcosis has been widely used to temporarily immobilize honeybees. In this study, we investigated the effects of cold narcosis on the associative memories in honeybees by using the proboscis extension response （PER） paradigm. Severe impairments in memory acquisition was found when cold narcosis was performed 30 rain, instead of 1 h before training. Locomotor activities were reduced when honeybees were tested 15 min, instead of 30 rain after cold narcosis. These results indicate that cold narcosis impairs locomotor activities, as well as memory acquisition in a time-dependent manner, but by comparison no such effects on memory retrieval have yet been observed.[0]

Assessment of the Potential of Honeybees (<i>Apis mellifera</i>L.) in Biomonitoring of Air Pollution by Cadmium, Lead and Vanadium

The aim of our study was to explore whether honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) could be used as a reliable alternative to the standard mechanical devices for monitoring of air quality, in particular with respect to the concentration of the heavy metals cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and vanadium (V). We therefore tested whether the concentrations of these metals in adult honeybees and in ambient air were positively correlated, and whether differences in concentration between locations were similar for bees and air. On the basis of our measurements, conducted over a two-month period at three distinct locations in the Netherlands with each three replicate honeybee colonies placed next to mechanical monitoring devices, we concluded that a significant positive relationship between the concentrations in bees and in air could only be established for V. Also, only in the case of V, the differences between the three locations in mean concentration were similar for bees and air. Both outcomes were probably due to the relatively large range over which the concentrations of V varied, both in bees and in air, as compared to Cd and Pb. However, for V, as well as for Cd and Pb, the concentrations in ambient air were about two orders of magnitude below the established air quality standards. We therefore conclude that in the Netherlands, both variation and levels of the atmospheric concentrations of these metals are too low to establish a relationship between the concentration in bees and in air that is useful to present honeybees as an alternative to mechanical devices in monitoring of air pollution. However, in countries with larger variation and higher levels of the atmospheric concentrations of these metals, further exploration of the potential of honeybees in biomonitoring of air pollution may be worthwhile.

Regulation of Pollen Foraging Activity in Apis mellifera Africanized Honeybees Colonies

Efficient honey production requires knowledge about the behavior of the workers and the parameters that influence the strength of the colony. In this study, the objective was to analyze the interaction between the foraging behavior of worker honeybees and pollen storage levels in Africanized honeybees colonies. Colonies with low pollen storage increased pollen intake rates, but this value was 15% lower than colonies with high pollen storage, demonstrating a direct relationship between the pollen storage levels and foraging activity. The difference in pollen intake rates varied according to the number of foraging honeybees and pollen load collected by each individual. Under both high and low pollen storage, colonies returned pollen storage to initial level within 16 days, suggesting that honeybees regulate pollen storage levels around a homeostatic set point. Relationship between pollen storage levels and colony brood production was also found, indicating how alterations in the behavior of each individual can affect the strength of the colony.

基于Ladybug+ Honeybee的外墙保温材料性能比较及研究

基于Ladybug及Honeybee参数化软件,通过分析在工程施工中常用的六种外墙保温隔热材料对人体热舒适度及室内热环境的影响,从而得出不同保温材料的优劣性排序为:Stp超薄绝热板、挤塑聚苯乙烯保温板(XPS)、聚氨酯泡沫塑料保温板、复合硅酸盐保温板、发泡聚苯乙烯板(EPS)、岩棉板。

寒冷地区既有火车站低碳更新适配技术研究

针对寒冷地区既有火车站建筑性能差、围护结构能耗大的现状和低碳更新要求,对既有火车站低碳更新适配技术进行分析,通过Rhino/Grasshopper平台、Honeybee建筑能耗模拟软件对围护结构更新前后的能耗进行模拟,利用正交试验方法对不同更新参数的能耗结果进行优化,得到围护结构能耗影响因素大小排序及低碳更新最优技术参数,分析车站低碳更新的减碳效果,所得结论可为同类既有火车站低碳更新提供参考。

Honeybees prefer novel insect-pollinated flower shapes over bird-pollinated flower shapes

Plant-pollinator in teractio ns have a fundame ntal in fluence on flower evolution. Flower color signals are frequently tuned to the visual capabilities of important pollinators such as either bees or birds, but far less is known about whether flower shape in fluences the choices of pollinators. We tested European honeybee Apis mellifera pref ere nces using novel achromatic (gray-scale) images of 12 insect-pollinated and 12 bird-pollinated native Australian flowers in Germany;thus, avoiding in flue nces of color, odor, or prior experie nee. In depende nt bees were tested with a number of parameterized images specifically desig ned to assess pref ere nces for size, shape, brightness, or the number of flower-like shapes prese nt in an image. We show that honeybees have a pref ere nee for visiti ng images of in sect-polli nated flowers and such a pref ere nee is most-likely mediated by holistic in formati on rather than by in dividual image parameters. Our results in dicate an giosperms have evolved flower shapes which in fluence the choice behavior of importa nt pollinators, and thus suggest spatial achromatic flower properties are an important part of visual signaling for plantpollinator in teractions.

Honeybees have Hydrophobic Wings that Enable Them to Fly through Fog and Dew

Honeybees have received public attention for their remarkable performance in low-altitude flying and their outstanding airborne hovering capability. However, minimal attention has been given to their capability to fly through the harshest climatic conditions. In this study, we used a high-speed camera and recorded an interesting phenomenon in which honeybees （Apis mellifera ligustica） flew effortlessly through mists or drizzling rain. To identify the mechanism behind honeybees flying through mists, the microstructure of their wings was examined via atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Ex- perimental results showed that the surface of a honeybee wing was rough, with bristles distributed on both the dorsal and ventral sides. The measurement results of the contact angle proved that the surface of honeybee wings was hydrophobie. Furthermore, hydrophobic proteins, which contained at least one hydrophobic tetra-peptide （i.e., AAPA/V）, were obtained. The rugged sur- face and hydrophobic proteins caused the hydrophobicity of honeybee wings. These results identify the hydrophobic mechanism of honeybee wings, which will be useful in designing hydrophobic structures.

基于L+H工具的建筑前期设计研究 以苏州市吴中区公寓设计为例

基于参数化节能分析工具,对建筑的前期设计阶段进行研究,主要依靠Ladybug和Hon eybee工具组模拟分析设计对象的日照和风环境情况。本研究以苏州市吴中区公寓设计为例,通过置入各类参数生成对应建筑,并利用L+H工具分析建筑是否能有效获取足够的日照时间以及室外风环境资源,提出优化策略,以期为我国L+H工具组在建筑前期设计阶段中的应用提供一些实践经验。

The Application of Honeybee Products in the Health Sector

The chemical composition of each of the eight total products of beekeeping, which are honey, bee venom, propolis, royal jelly, drone brood, bee pollen, bee bread and beeswax, is analyzed. Each beekeeping product has its own chemical composition which varies from producer to producer. Some of these bee products have been used for centuries in traditional medicine, but to date research has demonstrated many other medicinal properties of these products that were not known. Therapeutic properties of bee products have been discovered even against various types of cancer and scientists are continuing their research to discover other secrets behind the therapeutic properties of bee products. In addition, therapeutic effects of bee products have also been discovered against COVID-19 disease which has significantly affected global health. Finally, it is concluded that bee products are proven to be one of the most valuable medicines that nature can offer showing the great value of the science of beekeeping.

Pollination Effects of Pear Trees by Honeybee and Its Influencing Factors

[Objectives]To improve the yield and quality of different pear varieties by supplementary pollination.[Methods]The effects of bee pollination were compared with other pollination methods,and the effects of different factors on honeybee pollination were studied through experiments.[Results]Honeybee pollination significantly increased the number of fruit per inflorescence.In addition,it could improve the single fruit weight,fruit shape and other quality indicators of fruit.The pollination effect of honeybee was the best in all supplementary pollination measures.Honeybee pollination had good fruit setting effect on different pear varieties,but there were some differences in the effect of quality improvement.Spraying lime sulfur mixture and other measures could significantly affect the effects of honeybee pollination.[Conclusions]The research results prove the effectiveness of honeybee pollination technology in Hebei Province,and provide a certain reference for the establishment of a simple and practical artificial assisted pollination technology system.

Building Daylight Simulation Analysis Based on Ladybug+Honeybee Parametric Approach:A Case Study of Gando Primary School

The Gando Primary School project faces several challenges like extreme environmental constraints,resource scarcity,and design requirements.These challenges include the hot climate of Burkina Faso,economic underdevelopment,building material scarcity,and lack of electrical resources.To implement an architectural design for the classrooms that accommodates these difficulties,especially in the absence of an electrical system,architect Francis Kéréemployed various passive design strategies that can provide shelter from the rain and heat while achieving essential lighting levels and ventilation.This paper used Gando Primary School as the research object and utilized the parametric tools of Ladybug+Honeybee(L+H)to conduct numerical simulations and evaluations of the building’s daylighting,glare analysis,and indoor thermal comfort.The aim of this study is to investigate the application of passive design strategies in energy conservation under extreme environmental conditions,propose a parametric energy-saving evaluation strategy with L+H,and explore energy-saving design ideas in economically underdeveloped Third World countries.

Beeswax:A minireview of its antimicrobial activity and its application in medicine

Beeswax is the substance that forms the structure of a honeycomb; the bees secrete wax to build the honeycombs where to store honey.Thanks to its rich hydrophobic protective properties,the beeswax is in fact present within cosmetics and body products.Also,beeswax is used in the food industry:as a film to wrap cheese for maturing or as a food additive(E901) to give shine to the products.Exactly as the honey which it contains,beeswax is also characterized by several therapeutic properties of great interest to us; it is thought to be particularly effective in healing bruises,inflammation and burns.Recently,the interest of researchers has moved even on antimicrobial properties of beeswax although there are still few studies in the literature focused only on the action of beeswax.The few studies showed an anitimicrobic effectiveness of beeswax against overall Staphylococcus aureus,Salmonella enterica,Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger; these inhibitory effects are enhanced synergistically with other natural products such as honey or olive oil.This minireview aims to be a collection of major scientific works that have considered the antimicrobial activity of beeswax alone or in combination with other natural products in recent years.

Reproduction of Hedysarum scoparium (Fabaceae) in patched habitat is pollen limited,but not just pollinator limited

Pollen limitation of plant reproduction occurs across Angiosperms, particularly those in patched habitats We investigated the, relationship between pollen limitation and patch variables （patch size, visitation frequency） in the desert plant Hedysarum scoparium （Fabaceae）, which is an important xerophyte in the arid and semi-arid regions of Northwest China and can grow well as a pioneer plant in shifting sand dunes. We observed insect visitation to H. scoparium over two flowering seasons and estimated pollen limitation using fruit set and seed production. Our results indicate that fruit set and seed production increased significantly with pollen supplementation compared with open pollination. Hedysarum scoparium was pollinated by over 8 species of bees, with 88.4% of visits made by introduced honeybees （Apis mellifera）. Bee visitation varied significantly among the patches of habitats, but not associated with patch size of habitat. In general, pollen limitation occurred more strongly during fruit set than during seed production. The patches that received higher rates of pollinator visits were less pollen limited for fruit set. Pollen limitation for seed production, however, was not associated with pollinator visitation frequency. We conclude that pollen limitation in H. scoparium was caused by more than one reason, not just pollinator visits.

Profile Analysis of the Proteome of the Egg of the High Royal Jelly Producing Bees (Apis mellifera L.)

The protein composition of the egg development in the high royal jelly producing bees （Apis mellifera L.） was investigated. This pioneer study was to separate and quantify the proteins in the egg of the high royal jelly producing worker bees （Apis mellifera L.） by using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis along with their three-day development. The results showed that 160, 195, and 176 proteins, with a wide range of molecular weight （17-80 KDa） and relatively narrow scope of pI （4. 00-8.40） could be detected on day 1, day 2, and day 3, respectively, during the developmental process of the egg. Meanwhile 44 protein spots were constantly detected along with the egg development. Among them 36% were in the uptrend along with the egg development, 14% were in the downtrend, and 39% were of the largest expressed volume on day 2. In addition, the specific proteins were expressed on day 1, day 2, and day 3 （89, 77, and 80, respectively）. Besides the coexistent and specific proteins, 24 proteins were expressed on day 1 and day 2, but silenced on day 3, 49 proteins were expressed on day 2 and day 3, but silenced on day 1, only 3 proteins were expressed on day 1 and day 3, but silenced on day 2. The result indicates that egg development is a sequential and complex gene controlled process, where the eggs of day 2 express the most active proteins. The coexistent proteins suggest that it is conservative and indispensable for this event. These specific proteins suggest that the different developmental stage needs specific proteins to regulate it.