Sex wars: a female genital spine forces male damselflies to shorten copulation duration

In some species, males use weapons to harm females, increasing their short-term fitness. Here we show that females can use genital adaptations against males. Females of the damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum have a conspicuous vulvar spine on the eighth abdominal segment, which contacts with the male during copulation. We tested 3 hypotheses for its function: it (a) inflicts damage to the male during copulation; (b) facilitates endophytic oviposition; and (c) stimulates males during copulation to increase their investment. We found that males mated on average for 54 min with control females, but increased copulation to 99 min with females without spine. There was no evidence of physical harm of the spine on the male’s seminal vesicle, which shows 8- to 18-folds, exactly where the spine contacts during copulation. Females with and without spine exhibited the same egg-laying rates and showed similar fecundity and fertility. Longevity was also similar in males mated to control and spineless females. In contrast to many species where females resist male harassment by behavioral responses, the morphological adaptation observed in E. cyathigerum appears to act as a sexual weapon, allowing females to control copulation duration. We suggest that the spine has evolved because of sexual conflict over mating duration.Universidade de Vigo/CISUGMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad | Ref. CGL2014-53140-PAgencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. PGC2018-096656-B-I0

The molecular chaperone Hsp90 is a component of the cap-binding complex and interacts with the translational repressor Cup during Drosophila oogenesis

In metazoa, the spatio-temporal translation of diverse mRNAs is essential to guarantee proper oocyte maturation and early embryogenesis. The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E), which binds the 5′ cap structure of eukaryotic mRNAs, associates with either stimulatory or inhibitory factors to modulate protein synthesis. In order to identify novel factors that might act at the translational level during Drosophila oogenesis, we have undertaken a functional proteomic approach and isolated the product of the Hsp83 gene, the evolutionarily conserved chaperone Hsp90, as a specific component of the cap-binding complex. Here we report that Hsp90 interacts in vitro with the translational repressor Cup. In addition, we show that Hsp83 and cup interact genetically, since lowering Hsp90 activity enhances the oogenesis alterations linked to diverse cup mutant alleles. Hsp90 and Cup co-localize in the cytoplasm of the developing germ-line cells within the germarium, thus suggesting a common function from the earliest stages of oogenesis. Taken together, our data start elucidating the role of Hsp90 during Drosophila female germ-line development and strengthen the idea that Cup has multiple essential functions during egg chamber development

Physical activity and hypocaloric diet recovers osteoblasts homeostasis in women affected by abdominal obesity.

Obesity is a multifactorial disease linked to metabolic chronic disorders such as diabetes, and hypertension. Also, it has recently been associated with skeletal alterations and low bone mineral density. We previously demonstrated that exposure of osteoblasts to sera of sedentary subjects affected by obesity alters cell homeostasis in vitro, leading to disruption of intracellular differentiation pathways and cellular activity. Thus, the purpose of the present study has been to evaluate whether sera of sedentary obese women, subjected to physical activity and hypocaloric diet, could recover osteoblast homeostasis in vitro as compared to the sera of same patients before intervention protocol. To this aim, obese women were evaluated at time 0 and after 4, 6, and 12 months of individualized prescribed physical activity and hypocaloric diet. Dual-energy-X-ray absorptiometry measurements were performed at each time point, as well as blood was collected at the same points. Cells were incubated with sera of subjects before and after physical activity as described: obese at baseline and after for 4, 6, and 12 months of physical activity and nutritional protocol intervention. Osteoblasts exposed to sera of patients, who displayed increased lean and decreased fat mass (from 55.5 ± 6.5 to 57.1 ± 5.6% p ≤ 0.05; from 44.5 ± 1.1 to 40.9 ± 2.6% p ≤ 0.01 respectively), showed a time-dependent increase of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, versus cells exposed to sera of obese patients before intervention protocol, suggesting recovery of osteoblast homeostasis upon improvement of body composition. An increase in β-catenin nuclear accumulation and nuclear translocation was also observed, accompanied by an increase in Adiponectin receptor 1 protein expression, suggesting positive effect on cell differentiation program. Furthermore, a decrease in sclerostin amount and an increase of type 1 procollagen amino-terminal-propeptide were depicted as compared to baseline, proportionally to the time of physical activity, suggesting a recovery of bone remodeling modulation and an increase of osteoblast activity induced by improvement of body composition. In conclusion, our results show for the first time that sera of obese sedentary women who increased lean mass and decreased fat mass, by physical activity and hypocaloric diet, rescue osteoblasts differentiation and activity likely due to a reactivation of Wnt/β-catenin-pathway, suggesting that a correct life style can improve skeletal metabolic alteration induced by obesity

The impact of multisensory integration and perceptual load in virtual reality settings on performance, workload and presence

Real-world experience is typically multimodal. Evidence indicates that the facilitation in the detection of multisensory stimuli is modulated by the perceptual load, the amount of information involved in the processing of the stimuli. Here, we used a realistic virtual reality environment while concomitantly acquiring Electroencephalography (EEG) and Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) to investigate how multisensory signals impact target detection in two conditions, high and low perceptual load. Different multimodal stimuli (auditory and vibrotactile) were presented, alone or in combination with the visual target. Results showed that only in the high load condition, multisensory stimuli significantly improve performance, compared to visual stimulation alone. Multisensory stimulation also decreases the EEG-based workload. Instead, the perceived workload, according to the "NASA Task Load Index" questionnaire, was reduced only by the trimodal condition (i.e., visual, auditory, tactile). This trimodal stimulation was more effective in enhancing the sense of presence, that is the feeling of being in the virtual environment, compared to the bimodal or unimodal stimulation. Also, we show that in the high load task, the GSR components are higher compared to the low load condition. Finally, the multimodal stimulation (Visual-Audio-Tactile-VAT and Visual-Audio-VA) induced a significant decrease in latency, and a significant increase in the amplitude of the P300 potentials with respect to the unimodal (visual) and visual and tactile bimodal stimulation, suggesting a faster and more effective processing and detection of stimuli if auditory stimulation is included. Overall, these findings provide insights into the relationship between multisensory integration and human behavior and cognition

High glomerular filtration rate is associated with impaired arterial stiffness and subendocardial viability ratio in prediabetic subjects.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS High glomerular filtration rate (HGFR) is associated with cardiovascular damage in the setting of various conditions such as obesity and diabetes. Prediabetes was also associated with increased GFR, however, the association between prediabetes, HGFR and cardiovascular damage has not been investigated. In this study, we investigated the association between HGFR and early markers of cardiovascular disease in subjects with prediabetes. METHODS AND RESULTS Augmentation pressure (Aug), augmentation index (AIx), subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR), pulse wave velocity (PWV), intima-media thickness (IMT) and estimated GFR (eGFR) were evaluated in 230 subjects with prediabetes. The eGFR was assessed using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration formula. HGFR was defined as an eGFR above the 75th percentile. Prediabetic subjects were divided into two groups according to presence/absence of HGFR: 61 subjects with HGFR and 169 subjects without HGFR. Subjects with HGFR showed higher Aug, AIx and lower SEVR compared with prediabetic subjects with lower eGFR (14.1 ± 7.2 vs 10.8 ± 6.2, 32.9 ± 12.7 vs 27.6 ± 11.7, 153.5 ± 27.8 vs 162 ± 30.2, p < 0.05). No differences were found in PWV and IMT values between the two groups. Then, we performed multiple regression analysis to test the relationship between Aug, SEVR and several cardiovascular risk factors. In multiple regression analysis Aug was associated with age, systolic blood pressure (BP), HOMA-IR and eGFR; the major determinants of SEVR were systolic BP, HOMA-IR and eGFR. CONCLUSION Subjects with prediabetes and HGFR exhibited an increased Aug, AIx and a reduced SEVR. These alterations are associated with eGFR, insulin resistance and systolic BP

Effect of biologically oriented preparation technique on the stress concentration of endodontically treated upper central incisor restored with zirconia crown: 3d-fea

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of biologically oriented preparation technique on the stress concentration of endodontically treated upper central incisors restored with zirconia crown (yttria-stabilized zirconia polycrystalline ceramic) through finite element analysis (FEA). Four models of maxillary central incisors containing enamel, dentin, periodontal ligament, cortical and medullary bone were created in CAD. Each model received a polymeric core-build up with nanofilled dental resin composite. The evaluated models were SM—preparation in shoulder 90°; CM—chamfer preparation; BOPT—biologically oriented preparation technique and BOPTB—BOPT preparation 1 mm below the cement-enamel junction. All models received zirconia crowns (5Y-TZP), fiberglass post and 1 mm ferrule. The models were imported into the analysis software with parameters for mechanical structural testing using the maximum principal stress and the tensile strength as the analysis criteria. Then, load of 150 N was applied at the cingulum with 45° slope to the long axis of the tooth, with the fixed base for each model. The type of marginal preparation affected the stresses concentration in endodontically treated teeth and in the zirconia crown margin. Considering the stress magnitude only, BOPT is a viable option for anterior monolithic zirconia crowns; however, with the highest stress magnitude at the restoration margin