Copulatory courtship by internal genitalia in bushcrickets

Male genital organs are among the fastest evolving morphological structures. However, large parts of the male’s genitalia are often hidden inside the female during mating. In several bushcricket species, males bear a pair of sclerotized genital appendices called titillators. By employing synchrotron-based in vivo X-ray cineradiography on mating couples, we were able to visualize titillator movement and spermatophore attachment inside the female. Titillators are inserted and retracted rhythmically. During insertion the titillator processes tap the soft and sensillae-covered dorsal side of the female’s flap-like genital fold, which covers the opening of the female’s genitalia, without tissue penetration. Titillators thus appear to be initially used for stimulation; later they may apply pressure that forces the female’s genital fold to stay open, thereby aiding mechanically in spermatophore transfer

Компаративний аналіз привабливості стратегічних зон господарювання підприємства

Запропоновано методику компаративного аналізу привабливості стратегічних зон господарювання підприємства з використанням методів багатокритеріального оцінювання.Предложена методика компаративного анализа привлекательности стратегических зон хозяйствования предприятия с использованием методов многокритериального оценивания.The article proposed a method for comparative analysis of attractiveness of enterprise strategic bussines unit using methods of multi-criteria evaluation

Refractoriness in Sustained Visuo-Manual Control: Is the Refractory Duration Intrinsic or Does It Depend on External System Properties?

Researchers have previously adopted the double stimulus paradigm to study refractoriness in human neuromotor control. Currently, refractoriness, such as the Psychological Refractory Period (PRP) has only been quantified in discrete movement conditions. Whether refractoriness and the associated serial ballistic hypothesis generalises to sustained control tasks has remained open for more than sixty years. Recently, a method of analysis has been presented that quantifies refractoriness in sustained control tasks and discriminates intermittent (serial ballistic) from continuous control. Following our recent demonstration that continuous control of an unstable second order system (i.e. balancing a ‘virtual’ inverted pendulum through a joystick interface) is unnecessary, we ask whether refractoriness of substantial duration (,200 ms) is evident in sustained visual-manual control of external systems. We ask whether the refractory duration (i) is physiologically intrinsic, (ii) depends upon system properties like the order (0, 1st, and 2nd) or stability, (iii) depends upon target jump direction (reversal, same direction). Thirteen participants used discrete movements (zero order system) as well as more sustained control activity (1st and 2nd order systems) to track unpredictable step-sequence targets. Results show a substantial refractory duration that depends upon system order (250, 350 and 550 ms for 0, 1st and 2nd order respectively, n = 13, p,0.05), but not stability. In sustained control refractoriness was only found when the target reverses direction. In the presence of time varying actuators, systems and constraints, we propose that central refractoriness is an appropriate control mechanism for accommodating online optimization delays within the neural circuitry including the more variable processing times of higher order (complex) input-output relations

Muscle Quality is More Impaired in Sarcopenic Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

BACKGROUND: Quadriceps muscle fiber atrophy and a loss of oxidative type I muscle fibers and mitochondrial content often occur in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which adversely affects exercise performance. Sarcopenia is an age-related syndrome characterized by wasting and weakness of muscle mass. We recently showed in a large cohort of patients that COPD-related sarcopenia, in particular in male patients, was not only associated with impaired quadriceps muscle strength but also with decreased exercise performance endurance, which could imply involvement of altered muscle fiber type composition. Hence, we hypothesized that both the fiber atrophy and loss of oxidative muscle fibers are more pronounced in sarcopenic compared with nonsarcopenic patients with COPD. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate quadriceps muscle fiber-type characteristics in relation to presence of sarcopenia in patients with COPD and in healthy age-matched controls. DESIGN: For this retrospective cross-sectional study, body composition (assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) and quadriceps muscle biopsy (fiber type distribution and sizes) data were collected from 45 patients with COPDs (aged 42-77 years) and 52 healthy controls (aged 50-77 years). Sarcopenia was based on assessment of appendicular skeletal muscle mass index. RESULTS: Sarcopenia was found in 5.8% of healthy controls and in 31.1% of patients with COPD (P < .01). The proportion of oxidative type I fibers and size of type IIx muscle fibers were decreased in patients with COPD, and the sarcopenic subgroup showed a further decreased proportion as well as a lower size of type I fibers. CONCLUSIONS: Type I muscle fiber proportion is lower in sarcopenic compared with nonsarcopenic patients with COPD. Longitudinal studies may elucidate if the loss of muscle oxidative phenotype drives or accelerates the process of muscle wasting

Knowledge, attitude and practices of obstetric care providers towards maternal red-blood-cell immunization during pregnancy

Background and objectives A successful routine RBC alloantibody screening programme should not lead to unnecessary emotional burden during pregnancy due to inadequate counselling on the risk of severe haemolytic disease of the foetus and the newborn (HDFN). Rareness of this disease may result in insufficient knowledge and subsequent inadequate information transfer to women, diagnosed with RBC antibodies. We investigated the current knowledge, views and experiences of Dutch obstetric care providers regarding RBC alloimmunization during pregnancy. Materials and methods We performed a quantitative cross-sectional study, using a structured digital questionnaire to measure knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) regarding maternal RBC alloimmunization among Dutch obstetric care providers in 2016. Results About 10% of obstetric care providers completed the questionnaire. A sufficient level of knowledge was found in 7% of all participants (N = 329). Knowledge about RhD immunisation and prophylaxis was sufficient in 60% of the responders. Knowledge gaps were found concerning the relevance of non-RhD RBC antibodies, the indications for giving extra RhD prophylaxis and the interpretation of laboratory test results. Healthcare providers estimated their own level of knowledge 'sufficient' (primary/secondary care) to 'good' (tertiary care), and all participants considered their professional role important within the screening programme. Conclusion Dutch obstetric care providers showed a lack of knowledge regarding maternal RBC immunization. Awareness of the lack of knowledge is necessary to help obstetric care providers to be careful in giving information and even to decide to contact the expert centre before counselling the patient