Yellow Jacket Research Articles

Dissent Dressing: The Colour and Fabric of Political Rage

Dissent Dressing: The Colour and Fabric of Political Rage

Либеральная демократия vs консервативный популизм

The origins of democracy date back to the Ancient World, and parliamentarism appeared in the Middle Ages. Their fusion to create representative democracy took nearly two centuries with this evolution process resulting in the appearance of present-day liberal democracy, where the latest form of liberalism have little to do with the laissez faire liberalism of the 19-th century or the Keynesian neo-liberalism of the 20-th. It serves the interests of financial oligarchy and imposes its rules upon the whole world. The former right- and left-wing parties are now merged into the same ruling elite. Nor did the former conservatism stand the test of time, resorting to alliance with neo-conservatism. Various opponents of this elite in the West today are called «populists». The most colorful example of this «populism» of the last decade is the movement of «yellow jackets» in France. Its participants unite socialist and anarchist slogans with the conservative ones and demand the «direct democracy». In Russia we have our own tradition of such unity, beginning with the early Slavophils, and supported by A.I. Solzhenitsyn as «democracy from below».

Risk Assessment and Recommendations for Forester Exposure to Hymenoptera

ABSTRACTObjective: Ants, bees, hornets, wasps, and yellow jackets (insects in Order Hymenoptera) are potentially a serious concern to outdoor workers, as the venom from their stings can cause life-threatening allergic reactions. This study assessed the impacts of Hymenoptera stings and related worker training regimes of forestry workers across the United States (US).Methods: A survey was distributed to nearly 2,000 outdoor workers in the forestry industry from four US regions (South, West, Northeast, and Midwest).Results: Ants are a primary concern in the South, with >75% of participants reporting ant stings within the last 5 years. Bees, hornets, wasps, and yellow jackets are a concern for surveyed foresters in all US regions, with 60–70% and 75–93% of participants, respectively, having been stung by bees or hornets/wasps/yellow jackets within the last 5 years. Despite such a large number of participants experiencing stings, nearly 75% of participants were not concerned about being stung or their reaction to stings. Approximately, 70% of participants reported not having received any safety training related to Hymenoptera from their employers.Conclusion: No significant difference was shown in the number of foresters stung at work between safety trained and non-safety trained participants. However, it was significantly more likely for participants to carry a first aid kit if they had received Hymenoptera safety training. Consequently, more comprehensive and frequent training should be considered to help reduce risk of exposure to Hymenoptera.

Prevalence of Hymenoptera venom allergy and sensitization in the population-representative German KORA cohort

Allergic reactions to Hymenoptera venoms represent potentially life-threatening conditions. However, studies on their prevalence in Germany and their relation to specific IgE sensitization are rare. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Hymenoptera venom allergy as well as the frequency of venom-specific IgE sensitization in a large population-based adult German cohort. Questionnaire data were collected from the participants of the German population-based KORA (Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg) S4 baseline study population (n = 4,261) and the follow-up F4 study population (n = 3,074), which was conducted seven years later. Moreover, sIgE antibodies to honeybee (HBV) and yellow jacket venom (HJV) as well as to common aeroallergens were measured in the S4 study population. The prevalence of systemic sting reactions ranged between 2.3 % and 2.6 %. sIgE sensitization (≥ 0.35 kUA/L) to HBV and YJV was demonstrated in 23.1 % and 31.7 % of the population, respectively (41.6 % to HBV and/or YJV). Double-sensitization to both venoms occurred in 13.2 % of the individuals. Approximately 53 % and 77 % of the individuals who reported shock symptoms after honeybee and yellow jacket stings, respectively, exhibited sIgE ≥ 0.35 kUA/L to the culprit venom. In contrast, only 2.8 % of the venom-sensitized individuals reported symptoms exceeding local reactions. Local reactions were reported by 4.4 to 4.8 % of the population. Self-reported Hymenoptera sting reactions and venom sensitization are frequent in the general German population. In many cases, sensitization and clinically relevant allergy are not observed in the same individual, indicating that comprehensive diagnostic approaches are a prerequisite for the identification of patients at risk for severe reactions.

A chilei tüntetések hátterében álló tényezők

Broken out on October 18, protests and riots have been going on for weeks in Santiago de Chile. Most of the international press characterises these simply as the social crisis of the neoliberal Chilean model. Numerous political analysts speak about “obvious causes” ranging from the crisis of neoliberal capitalism to the subversive intervention of Cuba and Venezuela. Latin America’s most advanced and stable economy has literally burst into flames. Are those right who are talking about another wave of the Latin American political left, such as the elected president of Argentina, Alberto Fernandez? Or will the view of Mario Vargas Llosa, a Nobel Prize-winning writer be correct, when he does not identify the above mentioned happenings with recent protests in other Latin American countries, but rather with the French yellow jacket movement? (La Nacion, 2019. 11. 04.) What has been going on in Chile? Who are the protesters? What are they demanding? What kind of solution are the events moving towards?

A review on Respiratory allergy caused by insects.

Hypersensitivity or allergy encompasses a wide range of immunological reactions that generally have adverse consequences involving one or many organ systems of the body. Allergens are usually glycoprotein or chemically complex low molecular weight substances. The common allergens include pollen, fungal spores, house dust mite and house dust, animal danders, drugs, foods, insect emanations, and detritus, etc. Information on the role of insects in respiratory allergy is increasing in the literature. There are about 30 million living species of insects. These insects can broadly be classified as stinging insects, biting insects and non-stinging and non-biting insects. All materials form insets namely wings, scales, saliva; dried feces and venom can cause allergic diseases, such as rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma and urticaria. There are wide varieties of insects such as moths, butterflies, bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, flies, beetles, cockroaches, and mosquitoes. Exposure to emanations and detritus of these insects may lead to several allergies in some genetically predisposed individuals. Therefore, it is of interest to review allergies caused by various insect’s stings and bites and their adverse effect on the human body.

Discovery of the nest of the yellow jacket Vespula structor (Smith) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) from China with description of its immature stages

Data on the nest structure, morphology of all stages and behaviour have contributed to the phylogenetic and taxonomic studies of social vespids. Two underground nests ofVespulastructor(Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Vespinae) were discovered in China. For the first time, the morphology of all the stages, and the nests are described in detail and illustrated. It is additional evidence supporting the recent conclusion that synonymizedVespulagongshanensiswithV.structor. The status ofVespulastructorwithin both the genusVespulaand thevulgaris-groupare briefly discussed.

Initiating yellow jacket venom immunotherapy with a 100-μg dose: A challenge?

Yellow jacket venom immunotherapy (YJ-VIT) is highly effective in reducing the occurrence and severity of systemic reactions to YJ stings and improving quality of life.1 However, VIT may also induce systemic adverse reactions. It is a common belief that updosing of venom at the start of VIT reduces the occurrence of systemic adverse reactions, although this effect has never been demonstrated.

Does a yellow jacket enhance cyclists’ sensory conspicuity for car drivers during daylight hours in an urban environment?

The aim of this study was to find out if the colour contrast of a vest worn by cyclists improved their visibility for motorists in a simulated car driving task. BackgroundIn several cases involving collisions between cars and cyclists, car drivers failed to detect the latter in time to avoid collision because of their low visibility or sensory conspicuity. We studied the effect of a yellow cyclist jacket on the detection of cyclists by motorists in an urban environment during daylight hours. Method43 motorists performed a vulnerable road user detection task in a car-driving simulator. They had to detect cyclists and pedestrians in an urban setting, to locate them and estimate how difficult it was to detect them. Cyclists’ levels of visibility for car drivers were either high or low in critical situations. The cyclists were dressed in grey and wore yellow jackets, or they did not. ResultsMotorists detected cyclists wearing jackets at a greater distance, but only in those situations previously identified as being of high cyclist visibility. Several mechanisms underlying the sensory conspicuity of cyclists for car drivers were considered. Motorists were able to estimate cyclist visibility correctly based on the type of situation, but were unable to evaluate the jacket’s effect on cyclist visibility. ConclusionThe attentional selection of a cyclist in the road environment during car driving depends partly on bottom-up processing (such as saliency related to colour contrast). However, the yellow cyclist jacket proved to be insufficient as a visibility aid.

Hymenoptera Venom Anaphylaxis

Systemic reactions to insect sting can be life-threatening. Life-threatening systemic reactions to insect sting are estimated to occur in 0.4% to 0.8 % of children and in 3 % of adults. Hymenoptera stings that includes Apoidea (bees), Vespoidea (wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets), and Formicidae (ants) cause more deaths than other insects all over the world. Hymenoptera venom include mixtures of numerous relevant allergens .The diagnosis of venom allergy is based on both of clinical history and positive skin test response, and/or specific immunoglobulin E antibodies. Allergic reactions may develop after stinging by hymenoptera venom. It is ranging from local up to severe systemic reactions and even fatal anaphylaxis. The treatment of large local reactions is oral antihistamines and corticosteroid therapy. Patients with any signs or symptoms of anaphylaxis should immediately receive epinephrine intramuscularly, emergency medical attention and treatment. After acute treatment of a sting reaction, patients should be given a prescription for an epinephrine autoinjector. Patients with experiences of systemic reactions after hymenoptera venom sting with positive specific IgE should receive venom immunotherapy. Venom immunotherapy is the only causal treatment to prevent further systemic sting reactions. The protective rate of venom immunotherapy is reported 98% in patients with had venom anaphylaxis history.

Oxidative stress biomarkers in Oreochromis niloticus as early warning signals in assessing pollution from acid mine drainage and diffuse sources of pollutants in a subtropical river

This study investigated the use of an exotic fish species Oreochromis niloticus as a bio-indicator organism in active biomonitoring of Yellow Jacket and Mazowe rivers, Zimbabwe, receiving acid mine drainage from Iron Duke Mine. The Yellow Jacket River flows through Iron Duke Pyrite Mine while the Mazowe River passes through the Mazowe factory and estate shop that receives runoff from intensive agricultural activities. Active biomonitoring (ABM) exposures were conducted for 6 weeks in effluent-contaminated sections of the rivers during high flow, from February to March 2013. A set of biomarkers of exposure and effect (glutathione S-transferase, catalase and metallothioneins) were selected and their responses determined in O. niloticus liver, gills and muscle. We hypothesized that the increase in activities of GST, CAT and MT in exposed fish, in comparison to control fish, can be used to assess river water quality using O. niloticus. Biomarker expression was measured after 4 and 6 weeks and compared against control fish kept under laboratory conditions without contaminants. Concentrations of zinc, cadmium, chromium, nickel, lead, copper, manganese, arsenic and iron were measured in flowing water, riverbed sediments and muscle tissue of actively biomonitored O. niloticus. Key water quality parameters, including dissolved oxygen and conductivity, clearly showed a pollution gradient from Iron Duke Mine. Expression of CAT and GST was highest in the liver, compared to gills and muscles, after 4 and 6 weeks of exposure, and their expression was lower (p < 0.05) in control fish. The expression of the enzymes was not significantly different after 6 weeks compared to 4 weeks. Increased enzyme expressions at Site 1, which is upstream from Iron Duke Mine, were comparable to enzyme expressions at Sites 3, 4, 5 and 6, which correlated with increased zinc concentrations in the exposed fish muscle tissue. The general order of metal concentrations was sediments > water > fish, except for zinc, which had the highest bioconcentration factors. Using the GST, CAT and MT we concluded that Mazowe and Yellow Jacket rivers are contaminated and that these oxidative stress biomarkers can successfully be used in assessing pollution from point sources such as acid mine drainage, as well as diffuse sources of pollutants such as commercial agriculture.

The high molecular weight dipeptidyl peptidase IV Pol d 3 is a major allergen of Polistes dominula venom

Hymenoptera venom allergy can cause severe anaphylaxis in untreated patients. Polistes dominula is an important elicitor of venom allergy in Southern Europe as well as in the United States. Due to its increased spreading to more moderate climate zones, Polistes venom allergy is likely to gain importance also in these areas. So far, only few allergens of Polistes dominula venom were identified as basis for component-resolved diagnostics. Therefore, this study aimed to broaden the available panel of important Polistes venom allergens. The 100 kDa allergen Pol d 3 was identified by mass spectrometry and found to be a dipeptidyl peptidase IV. Recombinantly produced Pol d 3 exhibited sIgE-reactivity with approximately 66% of Polistes venom-sensitized patients. Moreover, its clinical relevance was supported by the potent activation of basophils from allergic patients. Cross-reactivity with the dipeptidyl peptidases IV from honeybee and yellow jacket venom suggests the presence of exclusive as well as conserved IgE epitopes. The obtained data suggest a pivotal role of Pol d 3 as sensitizing component of Polistes venom, thus supporting its status as a major allergen of clinical relevance. Therefore, Pol d 3 might become a key element for proper diagnosis of Polistes venom allergy.

Performing Race, Speaking the Body

Performing Race, Speaking the Body

Phospholipase A1-based cross-reactivity among venoms of clinically relevant Hymenoptera from Neotropical and temperate regions

Molecular cross-reactivity caused by allergen homology or cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs) is a major challenge for diagnosis and immunotherapy of insect venom allergy. Venom phospholipases A1 (PLA1s) are classical, mostly non-glycosylated wasp and ant allergens that provide diagnostic benefit for differentiation of genuine sensitizations from cross-reactivity. As CCD-free molecules, venom PLA1s are not causative for CCD-based cross-reactivity. Little is known however about the protein-based cross-reactivity of PLA1 within vespid species. Here, we address PLA1-based cross-reactivity among ten clinically relevant Hymenoptera venoms from Neotropical and temperate regions including Polybia paulista (paulistinha) venom and Vespula vulgaris (yellow jacket) venom. In order to evaluate cross-reactivity, sera of mice sensitized with recombinant PLA1 (rPoly p 1) from P. paulista wasp venom were used. Pronounced IgE and IgG based cross-reactivity was detected for wasp venoms regardless the geographical region of origin. The cross-reactivity correlated well with the identity of the primary sequence and 3-D models of PLA1 proteins. In contrast, these mice sera showed no reaction with honeybee (HBV) and fire ant venom. Furthermore, sera from patients monosensitized to HBV and fire ants did not recognize the rPoly p 1 in immunoblotting. Our findings reveal the presence of conserved epitopes in the PLA1s from several clinically relevant wasps as major cause of PLA1-based in vitro cross-reactivity. These findings emphasize the limitations but also the potential of PLA1-based HVA diagnostics.

Vegetation Management and Host Density Influence Bee-Parasite Interactions in Urban Gardens.

Apocephalus borealis phorid flies, a parasitoid of bumble bees and yellow jacket wasps in North America, was recently reported as a novel parasitoid of the honey bee Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Little is known about the ecology of this interaction, including phorid fecundity on bee hosts, whether phorid-bee parasitism is density dependent, and which local habitat and landscape features may correlate with changes in parasitism rates for either bumble or honey bees. We examined the impact of local and landscape drivers and host abundance on phorid parasitism of A. mellifera and the bumble bee Bombus vosnesenskii Radoszkowski (Hymenoptera: Apidae). We worked in 19 urban gardens along the North-Central Coast of California, where phorid parasitism of honey bees was first reported in 2012. We collected and incubated bees for phorid emergence, and surveyed local vegetation, ground cover, and floral characteristics as well as land cover types surrounding gardens. We found that phorid parasitism was higher on bumble bees than on honey bees, and phorids produced nearly twice as many pupae on individual bumble bee hosts than on honey bee hosts. Parasitism of both bumble and honey bees increased with abundance of honey bees in a site. Differences in landscape surroundings did not correlate with parasitism, but local factors related to bee resource provisioning (e.g., tree and shrub abundance) positively correlated with increased parasitism. This research thus helps to document and describe conditions that may have facilitated phorid fly host shift to honey bees and further elucidate how resource provisioning in urban gardens influences bee-parasite interactions.

The effect of a yellow bicycle jacket on cyclist accidents

This study is the first randomised controlled trial (RCT) of the safety effect of high-visibility bicycle clothing. The hypothesis was that the number of cyclist accidents can be reduced by increasing the visibility of the cyclists. The study design was an RCT with 6793 volunteer cyclists – 3402 test cyclists (with a yellow jacket) and 3391 control cyclists (without the jacket). The safety effect of the jacket was analysed by comparing the number of self-reported accidents for the two groups. The accident rate (AR) (accidents per person month) for personal injury accidents (PIAs) for the test group was 47% lower than that of the control group. For accidents involving cyclists and motor vehicles, it was 55% lower. The study was non-blinded, and the number of reported single accidents was significantly lower in the test group than in the control group. This is likely a result of a response bias, since the bicycle jacket was not expected to affect the number of single accidents. To compensate for this bias, a separate analysis was carried out. This analysis reduced the effect of the jacket from 47% to 38%.

Randomized trials and self-reported accidents as a method to study safety-enhancing measures for cyclists—two case studies

A large number of studies show that high visibility in traffic is important in the struggle of getting the attention from other road users and thus an important safety factor. Cyclists have a much higher risk of being killed or injured in a traffic accident than car drivers so for them high visibility is particularly important. A number of studies have examined the effect of high visibility, such as reflective clothing, but most studies have been primitive, the data limited and the results very uncertain.In this paper we describe the safety impact of increased visibility of cyclists through two randomised controlled trials: permanent running lights on bicycles and a yellow bicycle jacket, respectively.The effect of running lights was studied through a trial where the lights were mounted to 1,845 bicycles and 2,000 others comprised a control group. The bicycle accidents were recorded every two month in a year through self-reporting on the Internet. Participants were asked to report all cycling accidents independently of severity to avoid differences between participants as regards to which accidents were reported. They reported a total of 255 accidents i.e. 7 accidents per 100 cyclists. The results showed that the incidence rate for multiparty bicycle accidents with personal injury was 47% lower for cyclists with permanent running light. The difference is statistically significant at the 5% level.The effect of a yellow bicycle jacket was examined through a trial with 6,800 volunteer cyclists. The half of the group received a bicycle jacket and the other half comprised a control group. Both groups reported every month all their bicycle accidents independently of severity on the Internet. They reported a total of 694 accidents i.e. 10 accidents per 100 cyclists. The treatment group was asked each month if they carried the jacket on their last cycling trip. The results showed that on a random day the treatment group carried the jacket or other fluorescent cycling garment on 77% of their cycle trips. The incidence rate for multiparty accidents with personal injury was 38% lower than the control group. The difference is statistically significant at the 5% level.The trials were not blind and it seems that the lack of blinding has influenced the level of the groups accident reporting. To address this bias we used a correction factor formed by the difference in the number of single accidents of the two groups.The experiences with self-reporting of accidents via a web based questionnaire sent by e-mail with one respective two month intervals were very good; in both trials more than 80% answered all questionnaires whereas less than 2% did not answer, and the quality of the self-reported accident was considered high.

Component Resolved Diagnosis in Hymenoptera Anaphylaxis

Hymenoptera anaphylaxis is one of the leading causes of severe allergic reactions and can be fatal. Venom-specific immunotherapy (VIT) can prevent a life-threatening reaction; however, confirmation of an allergy to a Hymenoptera venom is a prerequisite before starting such a treatment. Component resolved diagnostics (CRD) have helped to better identify the responsible allergen. Many new insect venom allergens have been identified within the last few years. Commercially available recombinant allergens offer new diagnostic tools for detecting sensitivity to insect venoms. Additional added sensitivity to nearly 95% was introduced by spiking yellow jacket venom (YJV) extract with Ves v 5. The further value of CRD for sensitivity in YJV and honey bee venom (HBV) allergy is more controversially discussed. Recombinant allergens devoid of cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants often help to identify the culprit venom in patients with double sensitivity to YJV and HBV. CRD identified a group of patients with predominant Api m 10 sensitization, which may be less well protected by VIT, as some treatment extracts are lacking this allergen. The diagnostic gap of previously undetected Hymenoptera allergy has been decreased via production of recombinant allergens. Knowledge of analogies in interspecies proteins and cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants is necessary to distinguish relevant from irrelevant sensitizations.

Fatal Anaphylaxis to Yellow Jacket Stings in Mastocytosis: Options for Identification and Treatment of At-Risk Patients

Patients with indolent systemic mastocytosis (ISM) are at risk for severe anaphylactic reactions to yellow jacket (YJ) stings while demonstration of sensitization can be challenging because specific IgE (sIgE) levels are regularly below 0.35 kUA/L. The implication of missing YJ allergy is illustrated by a case of fatal anaphylaxis. To explore the natural course of YJ venom allergy and the diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic consequence of YJ venom sIgE in patients with ISM. All patients with ISM seen from 1981 to 2015 (n= 243) were evaluated on the number of YJ stings, reaction severity, and sensitivity and specificity of YJ venom sIgE. YJ venom allergic patients without mastocytosis served as control (n= 313). A total of 153 patients with ISM were stung during adult life. The first systemic reaction was more often severe in patients with ISM than in patients without mastocytosis (69.9% vs 22.0%) and reactions recurred in 40 of 41 re-stung patients with ISM. ISM reactors showed lower YJ venom sIgE levels than nonmastocytosis reactors (0.61 vs 4.83 kUA/L; P < .001) and asymptomatic sensitization was exceedingly rare. In ISM the current clinical threshold of 0.35 kUA/L yields a sensitivity and specificity of 77.6% and 87.5%, respectively. The optimal diagnostic accuracy is achieved at 0.17 kUA/L (sensitivity, 83.6%; specificity, 85.0%). The high rate of severe reactions and the fatal case underscore the importance of adequate diagnostic sensitivity of sIgE in patients with ISM. The sensitivity of sIgE can be ameliorated by lowering the threshold to 0.17 kUA/L, retaining good specificity. We recommend sIgE screening in all patients with ISM and discussing immunotherapy when YJ venom sIgE exceeds 0.17 kUA/L.

Identification of bee and wasp taxa relevant in systemic allergic reactions to Hymenoptera stings in Central Europe

Correct identification of the Hymenoptera that was responsible for stinging a patient is crucial when establishing the indication for specific immunotherapy (SIT) using Hymenoptera venom immunotherapy (VIT), advising the patient on allergen avoidance, and in terms evaluating accidental stings or sting challenges during VIT. There are around 15 species of social bees and wasps that most frequently cause stings in Central Europe. Even lay people are normally able to correctly classify causal insects into their respective families, i. e., Apidae or Vespidae. On the other hand, a more precise taxonomic classification and distinction within the subfamily and the genus is often imprecise or incorrect; for example, within the family Apidae (true bees), Apis (honeybees) is often mistaken for Bombus (bumblebees), while within the family Vespidae (folded-winged wasps), there is confusion between Polistes (paper wasps), Vespa (hornets), Dolichovespula (yellow jackets, long-cheeked wasps), and Vespula (yellow jackets, short-cheeked wasps). The morphological characters used for the typing of relevant genera are described and illustrated. A redetermination of wasps used at university hospitals for sting challenge tests revealed that 7% did not belong to the desired genus Vespula, but mainly to Dolichovespula instead. However, sting challenge tests using Dolichovespula species elicit approximately the same percentage of systemic allergic reactions as do Vespula stings. With training, even nonentomologists are able to distinguish between taxa using simple techniques. The fact that a similar number of systemic allergic reactions are seen with sting challenge tests using Dolichovespula as with challenge tests using Vespula may be due to the high allergen affinity between the venoms. Another possible explanation for this could be that allergic reactions are more commonly triggered by Dolichovespula venom compared with Vespula venom than originally assumed.