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As natural predators, owls fly with astonishing stealth due to the serrated feather morphology that produces advantageous flow characteristics. Traditionally, these serrations are tailored for airfoil edges with simple two-dimensional patterns, limiting their effect on noise reduction while negotiating tradeoffs in aerodynamic performance. Conversely, the intricately structured wings of cicadas have evolved for effective flapping, presenting a potential blueprint for alleviating these aerodynamic limitations. In this study, we formulate a synergistic design strategy that harmonizes noise suppression with aerodynamic efficiency by integrating the geometrical attributes of owl feathers and cicada forewings, culminating in a three-dimensional sinusoidal serration propeller topology that facilitates both silent and efficient flight. Experimental results show that our design yields a reduction in overall sound pressure levels by up to 5.5 dB and an increase in propulsive efficiency by over 20% compared to the current industry benchmark. Computational fluid dynamics simulations validate the efficacy of the bioinspired design in augmenting surface vorticity and suppressing noise generation across various flow regimes. This topology can advance the multifunctionality of aerodynamic surfaces for the development of quieter and more energy-saving aerial vehicles.

How a developing organ robustly coordinates the cellular mechanics and growth to reach a final size and shape remains poorly understood. Through iterations between experiments and model simulations that include a mechanistic description of interkinetic nuclear migration, we show that the local curvature, height, and nuclear positioning of cells in the Drosophila wing imaginal disc are defined by the concurrent patterning of actomyosin contractility, cell-ECM adhesion, ECM stiffness, and interfacial membrane tension. We show that increasing cell proliferation via different growth-promoting pathways results in two distinct phenotypes. Triggering proliferation through insulin signaling increases basal curvature, but an increase in growth through Dpp signaling and Myc causes tissue flattening. These distinct phenotypic outcomes arise from differences in how each growth pathway regulates the cellular cytoskeleton, including contractility and cell-ECM adhesion. The coupled regulation of proliferation and cytoskeletal regulators is a general strategy to meet the multiple context-dependent criteria defining tissue morphogenesis.

Thermal plasticity of melanin pigmentation patterns in Drosophila species has been studied as a model to investigate developmental mechanisms of phenotypic plasticity. The developmental process of melanin pigmentation patterns on wings of Drosophila is divided into two parts, prepattern specification during the pupal period and wing vein-dependent transportation of melanin precursors after eclosion. Which part can be affected by thermal changes? To address this question, we used polka-dotted melanin spots on wings of Drosophila guttifera, whose spot areas are specified by wingless morphogen. In this research, we reared D. guttifera at different temperatures to test whether wing spots show thermal plasticity. We found that wing size becomes larger at lower temperature and that different spots have different reaction norms. Furthermore, we changed the rearing temperature in the middle of the pupal period and found that the most sensitive developmental periods for wing size and spot size are different. The results suggest that the size control mechanisms for the thermal plasticity of wing size and spot size are independent. We also found that the most sensitive stage for spot size was part of the pupal period including stages at which wingless is expressed in the polka-dotted pattern. Therefore, it is suggested that temperature change might affect the prepattern specification process and might not affect transportation through wing veins.

Wings are one of the engineering components that play a vital role in the aerospace industry. Therefore, increasing the performance of the wings can improve the overall performance of the airplanes. One way to increase wing performance is to use sinusoidal curvature at the attack edge and wing escape, which delays the phenomenon of fatigue and improves aerodynamic performance at high attack angles. This study is to provide a better understanding of the aerodynamic characteristics of a finite NACA0012 wing with the performance of a wing with different types of wings with sinusoidal attack edge, sinusoidal escape edge, and compared them with simple wing. ANSYS FLUENT method has been used to simulate the wings. In addition to, the TRANSITION SST-4EQ method has also been used to solve the governing equations. The aerodynamic performance of a wing with the performance of different types of wings with sinusoidal attack edge, sinusoidal escape edge, and simple wing with NACA0012 cross section are investigated in Reynolds numbers of 5000, 15000 and 60,000 numerically. The kinetic energy distribution of turbulence on the wing body in these Reynolds numbers has been investigated. The amount of coefficients for and after different wings in Reynolds number 15000 with changing angle has been analyzed. In unstable conditions, compressibility and non-viscosity have been compared. According to the present study, it was observed that the maximum pressure around the wing is sinusoidal and the wing with a combined design is higher than the simple wing. The drag is related to the wing with the combined design, although this geometry has the highest value of drag in the article with other types of wings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat-specific thermal responses are well documented in various organisms and likely determine the vulnerability of populations to climate change. However, the underlying roles of genetics and plasticity that shape such habitat-specific patterns are rarely investigated together. Here we examined the thermal plasticity of the butterfly Bicyclus dorothea originating from rainforest and ecotone habitats in Cameroon under common garden conditions. We also sampled wild-caught butterflies from forest and ecotone sites and used RADseq to explore genome-wide population differentiation. We found differences in the level of phenotypic plasticity across habitats. Specifically, ecotone populations exhibited greater sensitivity in wing eyespot features with variable development temperatures relative to rainforest populations. Known adaptive roles of wing eyespots in Bicyclus species suggest that this morphological plasticity is likely under divergent selection across environmental gradients. However, we found no distinct population structure of genome-wide variation between habitats, suggesting high level of ongoing gene flow between habitats is homogenizing most parts of the genome.

An insect's living systems-circulation, respiration, and a branching nervous system-extend from the body into the wing. Wing hemolymph circulation is critical for hydrating tissues and supplying nutrients to living systems such as sensory organs across the wing. Despite the critical role of hemolymph circulation in maintaining healthy wing function, wings are often considered "lifeless" cuticle, and flows remain largely unquantified. High-speed fluorescent microscopy and particle tracking of hemolymph in the wings and body of the grasshopper Schistocerca americana revealed dynamic flow in every vein of the fore- and hindwings. The global system forms a circuit, but local flow behavior is complex, exhibiting three distinct types: pulsatile, aperiodic, and "leaky" flow. Thoracic wing hearts pull hemolymph from the wing at slower frequencies than the dorsal vessel; however, the velocity of returning hemolymph (in the hindwing) is faster than in that of the dorsal vessel. To characterize the wing's internal flow mechanics, we mapped dimensionless flow parameters across the wings, revealing viscous flow regimes. Wings sustain ecologically important insect behaviors such as pollination and migration. Analysis of the wing circulatory system provides a template for future studies investigating the critical hemodynamics necessary to sustaining wing health and insect flight.

BackgroundThrough the evolution of novel wing structures, bats (Order Chiroptera) became the only mammalian group to achieve powered flight. This achievement preceded the massive adaptive radiation of bats into diverse ecological niches. We investigate some of the developmental processes that underlie the origin and subsequent diversification of one of the novel membranes of the bat wing: the plagiopatagium, which connects the fore- and hind limb in all bat species.ResultsOur results suggest that the plagiopatagium initially arises through novel outgrowths from the body flank that subsequently merge with the limbs to generate the wing airfoil. Our findings further suggest that this merging process, which is highly conserved across bats, occurs through modulation of the programs controlling the development of the periderm of the epidermal epithelium. Finally, our results suggest that the shape of the plagiopatagium begins to diversify in bats only after this merging has occurred.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates how focusing on the evolution of cellular processes can inform an understanding of the developmental factors shaping the evolution of novel, highly adaptive structures.

The exact mechanism controlling cell growth remains a grand challenge in developmental biology and regenerative medicine. The Drosophila wing disc tissue serves as an ideal biological model to study mechanisms involved in growth regulation. Most existing computational models for studying tissue growth focus specifically on either chemical signals or mechanical forces. Here we developed a multiscale chemical-mechanical model to investigate the growth regulation mechanism based on the dynamics of a morphogen gradient. By comparing the spatial distribution of dividing cells and the overall tissue shape obtained in model simulations with experimental data of the wing disc, it is shown that the size of the domain of the Dpp morphogen is critical in determining tissue size and shape. A larger tissue size with a faster growth rate and more symmetric shape can be achieved if the Dpp gradient spreads in a larger domain. Together with Dpp absorbance at the peripheral zone, the feedback regulation that downregulates Dpp receptors on the cell membrane allows for further spreading of the morphogen away from its source region, resulting in prolonged tissue growth at a more spatially homogeneous growth rate.

The objective of this review paper is to identify the gap in finding out the direction toward the enhancement of heat transfer and the performance of heat exchangers. Heat exchangers can be found in many applications ranging from engineering devices to household consumer appliances. Heat exchangers must offer a good heat transfer performance apart from saving energy. Heat transfer enhancement techniques help to save energy and cool hot components in the design of electronic and mechanical circuits. However, enhancement in heat transfer takes place at the cost of a bearable increase in friction losses and pressure drop. Therefore, miniature heat exchanger systems and the cost of energy, motivate industries to use energy-saving methods in their design. With aging, the most common problem in heat exchangers is the reduction in heat transfer rate. Numerous studies have proved that placing a disturbance occurs in the fluid flow path and it can help to increase the heat transfer rate in the case of worn-out heat exchangers. For decades, researchers are numerically investigating the effects of various kinds of insert tape to improve the heat transfer operation in the heat exchangers. As heat exchangers form the backbone of many industrial processes, the idea of saving energy with the design of a cost-effective tape insert motivated us to work on this area of research. The paper proposes the new model of heat exchanger with an insert having a trapezoidal cut on both sides of an insert and using the different ratios of twist experimentation that will perform and compare the output with the previous studies by using different fluid or phase change materials as a fluid to maximize the performance of heat transfer rate. Also, it aims to find out the impact on friction factor as well pressure drop in the heat exchanger when there is a change in ratios of twist. This research aims to review the findings of earlier researchers in this area and to utilize the knowledge for improving the heat transfer rate of conventional tubes in our future work.

Promotion of altruistic behaviour in organisations to foster larger, socially responsible considerations to avoid the self-centred mentality is crucial nowadays. Examining how different factors work together to support a comprehensive solution that inspires self-transformation and leads to altruistic behaviour would be instructive. Altruistic behaviour built due to yoga-based practices was identified from the past literature and is finalised based on the Fuzzy Delphi method. The WINGS method has developed the contextual relationship between the identified behaviours. The results revealed that self-transcendence has a greater impact on others for altruistic behaviour followed by psychological capital and emotional intelligence which is found to be the prime causal factor. This study will assist management practitioners and institutions in identifying the behaviours and conducting the yoga-based practice in their organization. The study will also contribute to developing efficient, long-lasting, and successful training materials for encouraging altruistic conduct among management staff.

The objective of this review paper is to identify the gap in finding out the direction toward the enhancement of heat transfer and the performance of heat exchangers. Heat exchangers can be found in many applications ranging from engineering devices to household consumer appliances. Heat exchangers must offer a good heat transfer performance apart from saving energy. Heat transfer enhancement techniques help to save energy and cool hot components in the design of electronic and mechanical circuits. However, enhancement in heat transfer takes place at the cost of a bearable increase in friction losses and pressure drop. Therefore, miniature heat exchanger systems and the cost of energy, motivate industries to use energy-saving methods in their design. With aging, the most common problem in heat exchangers is the reduction in heat transfer rate. Numerous studies have proved that placing a disturbance occurs in the fluid flow path and it can help to increase the heat transfer rate in the case of worn-out heat exchangers. For decades, researchers are numerically investigating the effects of various kinds of insert tape to improve the heat transfer operation in the heat exchangers. As heat exchangers form the backbone of many industrial processes, the idea of saving energy with the design of a cost-effective tape insert motivated us to work on this area of research. The paper proposes the new model of heat exchanger with an insert having a trapezoidal cut on both sides of an insert and using the different ratios of twist experimentation that will perform and compare the output with the previous studies by using different fluid or phase change materials as a fluid to maximize the performance of heat transfer rate. Also, it aims to find out the impact on friction factor as well pressure drop in the heat exchanger when there is a change in ratios of twist. This research aims to review the findings of earlier researchers in this area and to utilize the knowledge for improving the heat transfer rate of conventional tubes in our future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds perform astounding aerial maneuvers by actuating their shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints to morph their wing shape. This maneuverability is desirable for similar-sized uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and can be analyzed through the lens of dynamic flight stability. Quantifying avian dynamic stability is challenging as it is dictated by aerodynamics and inertia, which must both account for birds' complex and variable morphology. To date, avian dynamic stability across flight conditions remains largely unknown. Here, we fill this gap by quantifying how a gull can use wing morphing to adjust its longitudinal dynamic response. We found that it was necessary to adjust the shoulder angle to achieve trimmed flight and that most trimmed configurations were longitudinally stable except for configurations with high wrist angles. Our results showed that as flight speed increases, the gull could fold or sweep its wings backward to trim. Further, a trimmed gull can use its wing joints to control the frequencies and damping ratios of the longitudinal oscillatory modes. We found a more damped phugoid mode than similar-sized UAVs, possibly reducing speed sensitivity to perturbations, such as gusts. Although most configurations had controllable short-period flying qualities, the heavily damped phugoid mode indicates a sluggish response to control inputs, which may be overcome while maneuvering by morphing into an unstable flight configuration. Our study shows that gulls use their shoulder, wrist, and elbow joints to negotiate trade-offs in stability and control and points the way forward for designing UAVs with avian-like maneuverability.

An important unanswered question in regenerative biology is to what extent regeneration is accomplished by the reactivation of gene regulatory networks used during development versus the activation of regeneration-specific transcriptional programs. Following damage, Drosophila imaginal discs, the larval precursors of adult structures, can regenerate missing portions by localized proliferation of damage-adjacent tissue. Using single-cell transcriptomics in regenerating wing discs, we have obtained a comprehensive view of the transcriptome of regenerating discs and identified two regeneration-specific cell populations within the blastema, Blastema1 and Blastema2. Collectively, these cells upregulate multiple genes encoding secreted proteins that promote regeneration including Pvf1, upd3, asperous, Mmp1, and the maturation delaying factor Ilp8. Expression of the transcription factor Ets21C is restricted to this regenerative secretory zone; it is not expressed in undamaged discs. Ets21C expression is activated by the JNK/AP-1 pathway, and it can function in a type 1 coherent feedforward loop with AP-1 to sustain expression of downstream genes. Without Ets21C function, the blastema cells fail to maintain the expression of a number of genes, which leads to premature differentiation and severely compromised regeneration. As Ets21C is dispensable for normal development, these observations indicate that Ets21C orchestrates a regeneration-specific gene regulatory network. We have also identified cells resembling both Blastema1 and Blastema2 in scribble tumorous discs. They express the Ets21C-dependent gene regulatory network, and eliminating Ets21C function reduces tumorous growth. Thus, mechanisms that function during regeneration can be co-opted by tumors to promote aberrant growth.

Bats have evolved behavioral specializations that are unique among mammals, including self-propelled flight and echolocation. However, areas of motor cortex that are critical in the generation and fine control of these unique behaviors have never been fully characterized in any bat species, despite the fact that bats compose ∼25% of extant mammalian species. Using intracortical microstimulation, we examined the organization of motor cortex in Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus), a species that has evolved a novel form of tongue-based echolocation.1,2 We found that movement representations include an enlarged tongue region containing discrete subregions devoted to generating distinct tongue movement types, consistent with their behavioral specialization generating active sonar using tongue clicks. This magnification of the tongue in motor cortex is comparable to the enlargement of somatosensory representations in species with sensory specializations.3-5 We also found a novel degree of coactivation between the forelimbs and hindlimbs, both of which are involved in altering the shape and tension of wing membranes during flight. Together, these findings suggest that the organization of motor cortex has coevolved with peripheral morphology in bats to support the unique motor demands of flight and echolocation.

The flies of different families that the flies which act as the main sources of annoyance to both humans and animals, as well as being direct vectors of many pathogens, its indeed need to do this study to check for the presence of these flies within the animal environment near the sources of food and water, in addition to their presence close to animals or on their bodies. As indicated from the results of the present study of morphological or formal specification for Musca, Lucilia, Chrysoma, Stomoxys, and Parasarchophaga, which were collected from cowsheds from AL-Saada and Baawyza and Al-Shalalaat areas in Mosul city. The current study focused on the morphological features of flies collected to achieve guideline evidence with images taken under the stereoscopic dissecting microscope. Three families and seven species of dipteran flies' morphological specifications have been revealed in this research with the help of taxonomic keys particularly; wing venation, number of strips on the thorax, color of head, thorax, and abdomen with colored hairy of the flies and antennae, as well as an activity note of flies during the day and peak of this activity in the noon hours, especially in the warm months in which the study took place, like April and May and the daylight time (sunrise at 4:52-5:57 am, the sunset at 6:29-7:17 pm) characterized encouraging for light action of flies families.

The evolution of color vision is often studied through the lens of receptor gain relative to an ancestor with fewer spectral classes of photoreceptor. For instance, in Heliconius butterflies, a genus-specific UVRh opsin duplication led to the evolution of UV color discrimination in Heliconius erato females, a rare trait among butterflies. However, color vision evolution is not well understood in the context of loss. In Heliconius melpomene and Heliconius ismenius lineages, the UV2 receptor subtype has been lost, which limits female color vision in shorter wavelengths. Here, we compare the visual systems of butterflies that have either retained or lost the UV2 photoreceptor using intracellular recordings, ATAC-seq, and antibody staining. We identify several ways these butterflies modulate their color vision. In H. melpomene, chromatin reorganization has downregulated an otherwise intact UVRh2 gene, whereas in H. ismenius, pseudogenization has led to the truncation of UVRh2. In species that lack the UV2 receptor, the peak sensitivity of the remaining UV1 photoreceptor cell is shifted to longer wavelengths. Across Heliconius, we identify the widespread use of filtering pigments and co-expression of two opsins in the same photoreceptor cells. Multiple mechanisms of spectral tuning, including the molecular evolution of blue opsins, have led to the divergence of receptor sensitivities between species. The diversity of photoreceptor and ommatidial subtypes between species suggests that Heliconius visual systems are under varying selection pressures for color discrimination. Modulating the wavelengths of peak sensitivities of both the blue- and remaining UV-sensitive photoreceptor cells suggests that Heliconius species may have compensated for UV receptor loss.

Life history and metabolism covary, but the mechanisms and individual traits responsible for these linkages remain unresolved. Dispersal capability is a critical component of life history that is constrained by metabolic capacities for energy production. Conflicting relationships between metabolism and life histories may be explained by accounting for variation in dispersal and maximal metabolic rates. We used female wing-polymorphic sand field crickets, Gryllus firmus, selected either for long wings (LW, flight-capable) or short wings (SW, flightless) to test the hypothesis that selection on dispersal capability drives the evolution of metabolic capacities. While resting metabolic rates were similar, long-winged crickets reached higher maximal metabolic rates than short-winged crickets, resulting in improved running performance. We further provided insight into the mechanisms responsible for covariation between life history and metabolism by comparing mitochondrial content of tissues involved in powering locomotion and assessing the function of mitochondria isolated from long- and short-winged crickets. Our results demonstrated that larger metabolic capacities in long-winged crickets were underpinned by increases in mitochondrial content of dorsoventral flight muscle and enhanced bioenergetic capacities of mitochondria within the fat body, a tissue responsible for fuel storage and mobilization. Thus, selection on flight capability correlates with increases in maximal, but not resting metabolic rates, through modifications of tissues powering locomotion at the cellular and organelle levels. This allows organisms to meet high energetic demands of activity for life history. Dispersal capability should therefore explicitly be considered as a potential factor driving the evolution of metabolic capacities.

Birds morph their wing shape to accomplish extraordinary manoeuvres1-4, which are governed by avian-specific equations of motion. Solving these equations requires information about a bird's aerodynamic and inertial characteristics5. Avian flight research to date has focused on resolving aerodynamic features, whereas inertial properties including centre of gravity and moment of inertia are seldom addressed. Here we use an analytical method to determine the inertial characteristics of 22 species across the full range of elbow and wrist flexion and extension. We find that wing morphing allows birds to substantially change their roll and yaw inertia but has a minimal effect on the position of the centre of gravity. With the addition of inertial characteristics, we derived a novel metric of pitch agility and estimated the static pitch stability, revealing that the agility and static margin ranges are reduced as body mass increases. These results provide quantitative evidence that evolution selects for both stable and unstable flight, in contrast to the prevailing narrative that birds are evolving away from stability6. This comprehensive analysis of avian inertial characteristics provides the key features required to establish a theoretical model of avian manoeuvrability.

In true color vision, animals discriminate between light wavelengths, regardless of intensity, using at least two photoreceptors with different spectral sensitivity peaks. Heliconius butterflies have duplicate UV opsin genes, which encode ultraviolet and violet photoreceptors, respectively. In Heliconius erato, only females express the ultraviolet photoreceptor, suggesting females (but not males) can discriminate between UV wavelengths. We tested the ability of H. erato, and two species lacking the violet receptor, Heliconius melpomene and Eueides isabella, to discriminate between 380 and 390 nm, and between 400 and 436 nm, after being trained to associate each stimulus with a sugar reward. We found that only H. erato females have color vision in the UV range. Across species, both sexes show color vision in the blue range. Models of H. erato color vision suggest that females have an advantage over males in discriminating the inner UV-yellow corollas of Psiguria flowers from their outer orange petals. Moreover, previous models ( McCulloch et al., 2017) suggested that H. erato males have an advantage over females in discriminating Heliconius 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-OHK) yellow wing coloration from non-3-OHK yellow wing coloration found in other heliconiines. These results provide some of the first behavioral evidence for female H. erato UV color discrimination in the context of foraging, lending support to the hypothesis ( Briscoe et al., 2010) that the duplicated UV opsin genes function together in UV color vision. Taken together, the sexually dimorphic visual system of H. erato appears to have been shaped by both sexual selection and sex-specific natural selection.

In Heliconius butterflies, wing colour pattern diversity and scale types are controlled by a few genes of large effect that regulate colour pattern switches between morphs and species across a large mimetic radiation. One of these genes, cortex, has been repeatedly associated with colour pattern evolution in butterflies. Here we carried out CRISPR knockouts in multiple Heliconius species and show that cortex is a major determinant of scale cell identity. Chromatin accessibility profiling and introgression scans identified cis-regulatory regions associated with discrete phenotypic switches. CRISPR perturbation of these regions in black hindwing genotypes recreated a yellow bar, revealing their spatially limited activity. In the H. melpomene/timareta lineage, the candidate CRE from yellow-barred phenotype morphs is interrupted by a transposable element, suggesting that cis-regulatory structural variation underlies these mimetic adaptations. Our work shows that cortex functionally controls scale colour fate and that its cis-regulatory regions control a phenotypic switch in a modular and pattern-specific fashion.

Natural surfaces with remarkable properties and functionality have become the focus of intense research. Heretofore, the natural antimicrobial properties of insect wings have inspired research into their applications. The wings of cicadas, butterflies, dragonflies, and damselflies have evolved phenomenal anti-biofouling and antimicrobial properties. These wings are covered by periodic topography ranging from highly ordered hexagonal arrays of nanopillars to intricate “Christmas-tree” like structures with the ability to kill microbes by physically rupturing the cell membrane. In contrast, the topography of honeybee wings has received less attention. The role topography plays in antibiofouling, and antimicrobial activity of honeybee wings has never been investigated. Here, through antimicrobial and electron microscopy studies, we showed that pristine honeybee wings displayed no microbes on the wing surface. Also, the wings displayed antimicrobial properties that disrupt microbial cells and inhibit their growth. The antimicrobial activities of the wings were extremely effective at inhibiting the growth of Gram-negative bacterial cells when compared to Gram-positive bacterial cells. The fore wing was effective at inhibiting the growth of Gram-negative bacteria compared to Gram-positive samples. Electron microscopy revealed that the wings were studded with an array of rough, sharp, and pointed pillars that were distributed on both the dorsal and ventral sides, which enhanced anti-biofouling and antimicrobial effects. Our findings demonstrate the potential benefits of incorporating honeybee wings nanopatterns into the design of antibacterial nanomaterials which can be translated into countless applications in healthcare and industry.

Abstract Background Vector control tools are urgently needed to control malaria transmission in Africa. A native strain of Chromobacterium sp. from Burkina Faso was recently isolated and preliminarily named Chromobacterium anophelis sp. nov. IRSSSOUMB001. In bioassays, this bacterium showed a promising virulence against adult mosquitoes and reduces their blood feeding propensity and fecundity. The current study assessed the entomopathogenic effects of C. anophelis IRSSSOUMB001 on larval stages of mosquitoes, as well as its impacts on infected mosquitoes reproductive capacity and trans-generational effects. Methods Virulence on larvae and interference with insemination were assayed by co-incubation with C. anophelis IRSSSOUMB001 at a range of 104 to 108 cfu/ml. Trans-generational effects were determined by measuring body size differences of progeny from infected vs. uninfected parent mosquitoes using wing size as a proxy. Results Chromobacterium anophelis IRSSSOUMB001 killed larvae of the pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles coluzzii with LT80 of ~ 1.75 ± 0.14 days at 108 cfu/ml in larval breeding trays. Reproductive success was reduced as a measure of insemination rate from 95 ± 1.99% to 21 ± 3.76% for the infected females. There was a difference in wing sizes between control and infected mosquito offsprings from 2.55 ± 0.17 mm to 2.1 ± 0.21 mm in infected females, and from 2.43 ± 0.13 mm to 1.99 ± 0.15 mm in infected males. Conclusions This study showed that C. anophelis IRSSSOUMB001 was highly virulent against larvae of insecticide-resistant Anopheles coluzzii, and reduced both mosquito reproduction capacity and offspring fitness. Additional laboratory, field, safety and social acceptance studies are needed to draw firm conclusions about the practical utility of this bacterial strain for malaria vector control.

Simple Summary: Insects possess a very strong and flexible protein in their appendages and wing joints called resilin. In flying insects, resilin provides wing flexibility that improves flight and movement dynamics. In our study, we investigated how resilin changes with age in honey bees. We discovered that resilin genes are expressed at high levels in worker honey bee pupae, but then levels decline significantly with age. We also determined that the resilin protein is found at higher levels in some joints in the newly emerged honey bees compared to older age classes, further confirming the age-dependent nature of resilin presence in honey bee wings. Specifically, resilin is highly expressed in pupae, deposited at high amounts in some joints in newly emerged honey bees, and then expression and deposition both decline rapidly with age. Resilin must be kept hydrated to stay functional, so these results suggest that although resilin genes may not be expressed significantly after emerging, the resilin protein is likely maintained through fluid support to allow for strong flight dynamics throughout life. Resilin expression and maintenance should be explored for their potential to be used as an indicator of wing development and overall wing health in aging honey bees in the future. The presence of resilin, an elastomeric protein, in insect vein joints provides the flexible, passive deformations that are crucial to flapping flight. This study investigated the resilin gene expression and autofluorescence dynamics among Apis mellifera (honey bee) worker age classes and drone honey bees. Resilin gene expression was determined via ddPCR on whole honey bees and resilin autofluorescence was measured in the 1m-cu, 2m-cu, Cu-V, and Cu2-V joints on the forewing and the Cu-V joint of the hindwing. Resilin gene expression varied significantly with age, with resilin activity being highest in the pupae. Autofluorescence of the 1m-cu and the Cu-V joints on the ventral forewing and the Cu-V joint on the ventral hindwing varied significantly between age classes on the left and right sides of the wing, with the newly emerged honey bees having the highest level of resilin autofluorescence compared to all other groups. The results of this study suggest that resilin gene expression and deposition on the wing is age-dependent and may inform us more about the physiology of aging in honey bees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study offers an integrated evaluation methodology for construction project delay causes viewed as a multicriteria sorting (MCS) problem. Time, cost, and quality were the three project management factors considered as criteria to evaluate 38 identified delay causes. The priority weights were extracted using the integration of Weighted Influence Non-linear Gauge Systems (WINGS) and Level-Based Weight Assessment (LBWA) to capture the inherent interdependencies of the criteria. The sorting of 38 delay causes was performed using FlowSort. To handle the uncertainty and vagueness of the judgments of the decision makers in the evaluation process, q-rung fuzzy orthopair fuzzy sets (q-ROFS) were integrated within the proposed computational framework. The proposed novel q-ROF–WINGS–LBWA–FlowSort method was applied in an actual case study in residential construction projects. The delay causes were categorized under three categories of construction firm vulnerability into four levels of impact. In highly vulnerable construction firms, thirty-five delay causes have a high impact, two have a moderate impact, and one has the least impact. In moderately vulnerable and least-vulnerable construction firms, 32 and 28 delay causes have a medium impact, respectively. The results may provide insights for decision makers in highly vulnerable construction firms, i.e., small companies with limited resources and networks. Layers of sensitivity and comparative analyses were put forward to test the robustness of the approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds dynamically adapt to disparate flight behaviours and unpredictable environments by actively manipulating their skeletal joints to change their wing shape. This in-flight adaptability has inspired many unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) wings, which predominately morph within a single geometric plane. By contrast, avian joint-driven wing morphing produces a diverse set of non-planar wing shapes. Here, we investigated if joint-driven wing morphing is desirable for UAVs by quantifying the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of gull-inspired wing-body configurations. We used a numerical lifting-line algorithm (MachUpX) to determine the aerodynamic loads across the range of motion of the elbow and wrist, which was validated with wind tunnel tests using three-dimensional printed wing-body models. We found that joint-driven wing morphing effectively controls lift, pitching moment and static margin, but other mechanisms are required to trim. Within the range of wing extension capability, specific paths of joint motion (trajectories) permit distinct longitudinal flight control strategies. We identified two unique trajectories that decoupled stability from lift and pitching moment generation. Further, extension along the trajectory inherent to the musculoskeletal linkage system produced the largest changes to the investigated aerodynamic properties. Collectively, our results show that gull-inspired joint-driven wing morphing allows adaptive longitudinal flight control and could promote multifunctional UAV designs.

Bees (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) have unique wing venation, which can be used to classify variation between populations of the same species using geometric morphometrics. Here, an application of this method is presented, showing successful distinction between populations of the sweat bee Halictus tripartitus (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) from either island or mainland collections. These two locations are Santa Cruz Island, a 35-kilometer long island about 32 kilometers off the coast of Santa Barbara in the Pacific Ocean, and Santa Barbara, California, a coastal mainland town. To analyze wing patterns, forewings were removed, imaged, and annotated with digital landmarks using TPS morphometric software for 9 landmarks. Significant difference between populations is shown with an ANOSIM test (p

Cytonemes are specialized filopodia that mediate paracrine signaling in Drosophila and other animals. Studies using fluorescence confocal microscopy (CM) established their general paths, cell targets, and essential roles in signaling. To investigate details unresolvable by CM, we used high-pressure freezing and EM to visualize cytoneme structures, paths, contents, and contacts. We observed cytonemes previously seen by CM in the Drosophila wing imaginal disc system, including disc, tracheal air sac primordium (ASP), and myoblast cytonemes, and identified cytonemes extending into invaginations of target cells, and cytonemes connecting ASP cells and connecting myoblasts. Diameters of cytoneme shafts vary between repeating wide (206 ± 51.8 nm) and thin (55.9 ± 16.2 nm) segments. Actin, ribosomes, and membranous compartments are present throughout; rough ER and mitochondria are in wider proximal sections. These results reveal novel structural features of filopodia and provide a basis for understanding cytoneme cell biology and function.

The end-Permian mass extinction (EPME) led to a severe terrestrial ecosystem collapse. However, the ecological response of insects-the most diverse group of organisms on Earth-to the EPME remains poorly understood. Here, we analyse beetle evolutionary history based on taxonomic diversity, morphological disparity, phylogeny, and ecological shifts from the Early Permian to Middle Triassic, using a comprehensive new dataset. Permian beetles were dominated by xylophagous stem groups with high diversity and disparity, which probably played an underappreciated role in the Permian carbon cycle. Our suite of analyses shows that Permian xylophagous beetles suffered a severe extinction during the EPME largely due to the collapse of forest ecosystems, resulting in an Early Triassic gap of xylophagous beetles. New xylophagous beetles appeared widely in the early Middle Triassic, which is consistent with the restoration of forest ecosystems. Our results highlight the ecological significance of insects in deep-time terrestrial ecosystems.

This study uncovers a correlation between the mid-infrared emissivity of butterfly wings and the average air temperature of their habitats across the world. Butterflies from cooler climates have a lower mid-infrared emissivity, which limits heat losses to surroundings, and butterflies from warmer climates have a higher mid-infrared emissivity, which enhances radiative cooling. The mid-infrared emissivity showed no correlation with other investigated climatic factors. Phylogenetic independent contrasts analysis indicates the microstructures of butterfly wings may have evolved in part to regulate mid-infrared emissivity as an adaptation to climate, rather than as phylogenetic inertia. Our findings offer new insights into the role of microstructures in thermoregulation and suggest both evolutionary and physical constraints to butterflies' abilities to adapt to climate change.

During development, tissue-specific patterns of gene expression are established by transcription factors and then stably maintained via epigenetic mechanisms. Cancer cells often express genes that are inappropriate for that tissue or developmental stage. Here, we show that high activity levels of Yki, the Hippo pathway coactivator that causes overgrowth in Drosophila imaginal discs, can also disrupt cell fates by altering expression of selector genes like engrailed (en) and Ultrabithorax (Ubx). Posterior clones expressing activated Yki can down-regulate en and express an anterior selector gene, cubitus interruptus (ci). The microRNA bantam and the chromatin regulator Taranis both function downstream of Yki in promoting ci expression. The boundary between Yki-expressing posterior clones and surrounding wild-type cells acquires properties reminiscent of the anteroposterior compartment boundary; Hedgehog signaling pathway activation results in production of Dpp. Thus, at least in principle, heterotypic interactions between Yki-expressing cells and their neighbors could activate boundary-specific signaling mechanisms.

Animals that move through complex habitats must frequently contend with obstacles in their path. Humans and other highly cognitive vertebrates avoid collisions by perceiving the relationship between the layout of their surroundings and the properties of their own body profile and action capacity. It is unknown whether insects, which have much smaller brains, possess such abilities. We used bumblebees, which vary widely in body size and regularly forage in dense vegetation, to investigate whether flying insects consider their own size when interacting with their surroundings. Bumblebees trained to fly in a tunnel were sporadically presented with an obstructing wall containing a gap that varied in width. Bees successfully flew through narrow gaps, even those that were much smaller than their wingspans, by first performing lateral scanning (side-to-side flights) to visually assess the aperture. Bees then reoriented their in-flight posture (i.e., yaw or heading angle) while passing through, minimizing their projected frontal width and mitigating collisions; in extreme cases, bees flew entirely sideways through the gap. Both the time that bees spent scanning during their approach and the extent to which they reoriented themselves to pass through the gap were determined not by the absolute size of the gap, but by the size of the gap relative to each bee's own wingspan. Our findings suggest that, similar to humans and other vertebrates, flying bumblebees perceive the affordance of their surroundings relative their body size and form to navigate safely through complex environments.

Migratory animals exhibit traits that allow them to exploit seasonally variable habitats. In environments where migration is no longer beneficial, such as oceanic islands, migration-association traits may be selected against or be under relaxed selection. Monarch butterflies are best known for their continent-scale migration in North America but have repeatedly become established as nonmigrants in the tropical Americas and on Atlantic and Pacific Islands. These replicated nonmigratory populations provide natural laboratories for understanding the rate of evolution of migration-associated traits. We measured >6,000 museum specimens of monarch butterflies collected from 1856 to the present as well as contemporary wild-caught monarchs from around the world. We determined 1) how wing morphology varies across the monarch's global range, 2) whether initial long-distance founders were particularly suited for migration, and 3) whether recently established nonmigrants show evidence for contemporary phenotypic evolution. We further reared >1,000 monarchs from six populations around the world under controlled conditions and measured migration-associated traits. Historical specimens show that 1) initial founders are well suited for long-distance movement and 2) loss of seasonal migration is associated with reductions in forewing size and elongation. Monarch butterflies raised in a common garden from four derived nonmigratory populations exhibit genetically based reductions in forewing size, consistent with a previous study. Our findings provide a compelling example of how migration-associated traits may be favored during the early stages of range expansion, and also the rate of reductions in those same traits upon loss of migration.

Apoptosis is an ancient and evolutionarily conserved cell suicide program. During apoptosis, executioner caspase enzyme activation has been considered a point of no return. However, emerging evidence suggests that some cells can survive caspase activation following exposure to apoptosis-inducing stresses, raising questions as to the physiological significance and underlying molecular mechanisms of this unexpected phenomenon. Here, we show that, following severe tissue injury, Drosophila wing disc cells that survive executioner caspase activation contribute to tissue regeneration. Through RNAi screening, we identify akt1 and a previously uncharacterized Drosophila gene CG8108, which is homologous to the human gene CIZ1, as essential for survival from the executioner caspase activation. We also show that cells expressing activated oncogenes experience apoptotic caspase activation, and that Akt1 and dCIZ1 are required for their survival and overgrowth. Thus, survival following executioner caspase activation is a normal tissue repair mechanism usurped to promote oncogene-driven overgrowth.

Background: Vector control tools are urgently needed to control malaria transmission in Africa. A native strain of Chromobacterium sp. from Burkina Faso was recently isolated and preliminarily named Chromobacterium anophelis sp. nov. IRSSSOUMB001. In bioassays, this bacterium showed a promising virulence against adult mosquitoes and reduces their blood feeding propensity and fecundity. The current study assessed the entomopathogenic effects of C. anophelis IRSSSOUMB001 on larval stages of mosquitoes, as well as its impacts on infected mosquitoes reproductive capacity and trans-generational effects. Methods: Virulence on larvae and interference with insemination were assayed by co-incubation with C. anophelis IRSSSOUMB001 at a range of 104 to 108 cfu/ml. Trans-generational effects were determined by measuring body size differences of progeny from infected vs. uninfected parent mosquitoes using wing size as a proxy. Results: Chromobacterium anophelis IRSSSOUMB001 killed larvae of the pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles coluzzii with LT80 of ~ 1.75 ± 0.14 days at 108 cfu/ml in larval breeding trays. Reproductive success was reduced as a measure of insemination rate from 95 ± 1.99% to 21 ± 3.76% for the infected females. There was a difference in wing sizes between control and infected mosquito offsprings from 2.55 ± 0.17 mm to 2.1 ± 0.21 mm in infected females, and from 2.43 ± 0.13 mm to 1.99 ± 0.15 mm in infected males. Conclusions: This study showed that C. anophelis IRSSSOUMB001 was highly virulent against larvae of insecticide-resistant Anopheles coluzzii, and reduced both mosquito reproduction capacity and offspring fitness. Additional laboratory, field, safety and social acceptance studies are needed to draw firm conclusions about the practical utility of this bacterial strain for malaria vector control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Wings play an important role in insect locomotion. It is the venation that provides reinforcement to the wings. An important question is whether the lines considered to be veins are visible in cross-section or are they just the folds of the wing's membrane. The cross-sections of the forewing of the scale insect Matsucoccus pini were cut and confirmed the presence of only one vein—radius. There were also campaniform sensilla described, for the first time, on both the dorsal and ventral sides of the wing base. Wings of Matsucoccus pini males were studied. Using light and scanning electron microscopes, both sides of the wing membrane, dorsal and ventral, were examined. The presence of only one vein in the common stem was confirmed by the cross-section, namely the radius. The elements regarded as subcostal and medial veins were not confirmed as veins. On the dorsal side of the wings, a cluster of campaniform sensilla is shown for the first time in the family Matsucoccidae, through SEM, and two additional sensilla were found on the ventral side. There was a lack of alar setae, microtrichia as well as pterostigma. This is the second cross-section of the wing among scale insects. We propose the following nomenclature for the wings in the family Matsucoccidae: subcostal thickening (sct), radius (R), median fold (med) and anal fold (af). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural surfaces with remarkable properties and functionality have become the focus of intense research. Heretofore, the natural antimicrobial properties of insect wings have inspired research into their applications. The wings of cicadas, butterflies, dragonflies, and damselflies have evolved phenomenal anti-biofouling and antimicrobial properties. These wings are covered by periodic topography ranging from highly ordered hexagonal arrays of nanopillars to intricate "Christmas-tree" like structures with the ability to kill microbes by physically rupturing the cell membrane. In contrast, the topography of honeybee wings has received less attention. The role topography plays in antibiofouling, and antimicrobial activity of honeybee wings has never been investigated. Here, through antimicrobial and electron microscopy studies, we showed that pristine honeybee wings displayed no microbes on the wing surface. Also, the wings displayed antimicrobial properties that disrupt microbial cells and inhibit their growth. The antimicrobial activities of the wings were extremely effective at inhibiting the growth of Gram-negative bacterial cells when compared to Grampositive bacterial cells. The fore wing was effective at inhibiting the growth of Gram-negative bacteria compared to Gram-positive samples. Electron microscopy revealed that the wings were studded with an array of rough, sharp, and pointed pillars that were distributed on both the dorsal and ventral sides, which enhanced anti-biofouling and antimicrobial effects. Our findings demonstrate the potential benefits of incorporating honeybee wings nanopatterns into the design of antibacterial nanomaterials which can be translated into countless applications in healthcare and industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While surface microstructures of butterfly wings have been extensively studied for their structural coloration or optical properties within the visible spectrum, their properties in infrared wavelengths with potential ties to thermoregulation are relatively unknown. The midinfrared wavelengths of 7.5 to 14 µm are particularly important for radiative heat transfer in the ambient environment, because of the overlap with the atmospheric transmission window. For instance, a high midinfrared emissivity can facilitate surface cooling, whereas a low midinfrared emissivity can minimize heat loss to surroundings. Here we find that the midinfrared emissivity of butterfly wings from warmer climates such as Archaeoprepona demophoon (Oaxaca, Mexico) and Heliconius sara (Pichincha, Ecuador) is up to 2 times higher than that of butterfly wings from cooler climates such as Celastrina echo (Colorado) and Limenitis arthemis (Florida), using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and infrared thermography. Our optical computations using a unit cell approach reproduce the spectroscopy data and explain how periodic microstructures play a critical role in the midinfrared. The emissivity spectrum governs the temperature of butterfly wings, and we demonstrate that C. echo wings heat up to 8 °C more than A. demophoon wings under the same sunlight in the clear sky of Irvine, CA. Furthermore, our thermal computations show that butterfly wings in their respective habitats can maintain a moderate temperature range through a balance of solar absorption and infrared emission. These findings suggest that the surface microstructures of butterfly wings potentially contribute to thermoregulation and provide an insight into butterflies' survival.

Epithelial sheets define organ architecture during development. Here, we employed an iterative multiscale computational modeling and quantitative experimental approach to decouple direct and indirect effects of actomyosin-generated forces, nuclear positioning, extracellular matrix, and cell-cell adhesion in shaping Drosophila wing imaginal discs. Basally generated actomyosin forces generate epithelial bending of the wing disc pouch. Surprisingly, acute pharmacological inhibition of ROCK-driven actomyosin contractility does not impact the maintenance of tissue height or curved shape. Computational simulations show that ECM tautness provides only a minor contribution to modulating tissue shape. Instead, passive ECM pre-strain serves to maintain the shape independent from actomyosin contractility. These results provide general insight into how the subcellular forces are generated and maintained within individual cells to induce tissue curvature. Thus, the results suggest an important design principle of separable contributions from ECM prestrain and actomyosin tension during epithelial organogenesis and homeostasis.

Tradeoffs affect resource allocation during development and result in fitness consequences that drive the evolution of life history strategies. Yet despite their importance, we know little about the mechanisms underlying life history tradeoffs. Many species of Colias butterflies exhibit an alternative life history strategy (ALHS) where females divert resources from wing pigment synthesis to reproductive and somatic development. Due to this reallocation, a wing color polymorphism is associated with the ALHS: either yellow/orange or white. Here we map the locus associated with this ALHS in Colias crocea to a transposable element insertion located downstream of the Colias homolog of BarH-1, a homeobox transcription factor. Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, antibody staining, and electron microscopy we find white-specific expression of BarH-1 suppresses the formation of pigment granules in wing scales and gives rise to white wing color. Lipid and transcriptome analyses reveal physiological differences associated with the ALHS. Together, these findings characterize a mechanism for a female-limited ALHS.

A variety of genetic techniques have been devised to determine cell lineage relationships during tissue development. Some of these systems monitor cell lineages spatially and/or temporally without regard to gene expression by the cells, whereas others correlate gene expression with the lineage under study. The GAL4 Technique for Real-time and Clonal Expression (G-TRACE) system allows for rapid, fluorescent protein-based visualization of both current and past GAL4 expression patterns and is therefore amenable to genome-wide expression-based lineage screens. Here we describe the results from such a screen, performed by undergraduate students of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Undergraduate Research Consortium for Functional Genomics (URCFG) and high school summer scholars as part of a discovery-based education program. The results of the screen, which reveal novel expression-based lineage patterns within the brain, the imaginal disc epithelia, and the hematopoietic lymph gland, have been compiled into the G-TRACE Expression Database (GED), an online resource for use by the Drosophila research community. The impact of this discovery-based research experience on student learning gains was assessed independently and shown to be greater than that of similar programs conducted elsewhere. Furthermore, students participating in the URCFG showed considerably higher STEM retention rates than UCLA STEM students that did not participate in the URCFG, as well as STEM students nationwide.

The purpose of this article is to determine whether there is a link between the effort capacity and the generally recognized value at national level in the case of performance athletes specialized as wing in the Romanian National Men’s Handball League. The sample of participants consisted of 20 male players divided into two groups. The first group included 16 wings (n=16) who participate in the first handball league and the second group included four wing players (n=4), which play for Dinamo Bucharest Sports Club. In order to assess the effort capacity, we chose to use the Gacon test, which has a high degree of applicability at the level of performance handball, oriented towards the evaluation of the intermittent running skills of the athlete. Analyzing the performances obtained, we notice that at the level of the National League of Men’s Handball, the effort level presents us with an average of 18.68±3.66 with a variability coefficient of 19.61% located on the threshold of average homogeneity and the values obtained by the players specialized as wings that play for Dinamo Bucharest Sports Club, indicate an average of 14.75±2.21, inferior to the group to which they belong, but with the same degree of average homogeneity (15.03%). As a result of the tests carried out, a significant difference is observed between the two groups of subjects when it comes to the distance traveled, the average speed and the aerobic power, but not in terms of heart rate, which indicates that the individual value expressed on the court and generally recognized in the professional handball players specialized as wing is not directly related to their effort capacity.

Forest strip systems have a multifunctional effect on agricultural landscapes, stabilize the agroecological situation, and form new sustainable agroforestry systems. Goal. On the basis of a comparative analysis of the taxation and reclamation parameters of the protective forest strips (PLP) of various windage to assess their current state. The novelty of the research lies in the assessment of the state of various types of ZLN consisting of curtains, wings, modular and linear forest strips on complex chestnut soils. Methods. The methodology included a survey of protective forest stands, laying of permanent test areas, determination of morphometric parameters taking into account the assortment of tree species and their condition. The width of the crown space, openwork, crown closeness coefficient, optical density, etc. were determined by the method of photographic images. Results. Most of the plantings were planted in the period from 1988-92 of the last century. Forest strips whose age exceeds 34 years were created in an ordinary way. In addition to the main breed, shrubs were present in the composition of the bands. Many years of experience in creating forest strips in the dry steppe has revealed the dependence of plantings on the conditions of the soil cover on which they are grown. Moreover, the successful survival of PZLP on meadow-chestnut soils is linked to depressions. Edaphic conditions become an important criterion when growing LP. Conclusion. When the edaphic conditions are significantly complicated, due to the complexity of soils and the rigidity of the climate, it is either extremely difficult or impossible to grow durable, stable and aerodynamically efficient tree plantations from tree species. In such cases, non-linear curtain and backstage plantings may be more reliable and effective.

Abstract The Weighted Influence Nonlinear Measurement System (WINGS) method originates from DEMATEL, which has the advantage of analyzing the interweaved determinants and the causal relationships within them. The innovation is mainly reflected in considering both the strength of the influencing factors themselves and the relationship of their mutual influence. To address the problems of ambiguity in assessing information and uncertainty in the judgment of expert group, this paper proposes fuzzy WINGS improved by D numbers (fuzzy D-WINGS). Combining D numbers with Triangular fuzzy numbers can overcome the limitation of mutually exclusive and collectively extensive set. The WINGS method is used to reveal the interdependent causal relationships by recognizing the orientation and strength of the factors. Utilizing the MICMAC method to draw matrix analysis diagrams can further reveal the relationship among them. Finally, a practical case study is conducted to prove the practicability of this fuzzy D-WINGS–MICMAC method.

The Weighted Influence Nonlinear Measurement System (WINGS) method originates from DEMATEL, which has the advantage of analyzing the interweaved determinants and the causal relationships within them. The innovation is mainly reflected in considering both the strength of the influencing factors themselves and the relationship of their mutual influence. To address the problems of ambiguity in assessing information and uncertainty in the judgment of expert group, this paper proposes fuzzy WINGS improved by D numbers (fuzzy D-WINGS). Combining D numbers with Triangular fuzzy numbers can overcome the limitation of mutually exclusive and collectively extensive set. The WINGS method is used to reveal the interdependent causal relationships by recognizing the orientation and strength of the factors. Utilizing the MICMAC method to draw matrix analysis diagrams can further reveal the relationship among them. Finally, a practical case study is conducted to prove the practicability of this fuzzy D-WINGS–MICMAC method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Western culture, for centuries the figure of the bat has been associated with the forces of evil, with demons living in the dark, in the most hidden recesses of human fears. Some characteristics of demons of the pagan world (dark color of the body, wings, etc.) pass into the Christian iconography of the devil. Baltrušaitis has shown several elements that place the origin of bat-winged devils in China. From that area they spread out to the West and soon became common images in Europe starting from the 13th century. In the Middle Ages travelling was frequent and even long-range, from Europe to Central Asia, through the Silk Road network and also attested by the diffusion of the Nestorian Church as far as China, beginning from the 7th century. Some of the artistic images of devils with bat wings are shown also in contrast to the wings of angels with feathered wings. The oldest depiction in Europe of a devil with bat wings is the mosaic representing the fall of Simon Magus in the Cappella Palatina (Palatine Chapel) in Palermo (1135-1143). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some structural characters, such as wing venation, have been used in odonates differentiate taxa. In Cordulegaster boltonii, a species widely distributed throughout the western Palaearctic, the main characteristics of its wing venation have not been quantified until now. A six-variable analysis of wing venation (number of antenodal and postnodal cross-veins, number of cells in the anal triangle and in the anal loop) in specimens from several European countries was carried out. The results showed that: (a) females had a greater number of transversal veins and cells in the anal loop than males; (b) the values of these four variables were significantly lower in males from the Iberian Peninsula than in those from elsewhere; (c) within the Iberian Peninsula two groups of populations can be distinguished: one covers the north and the other the rest of the peninsula, the latter with two subgroups, one in the centre and one in the south and east. The number of cells in the anal loop is a valid variable for analyzing geographic differences in this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communication between neoplastic cells and cells of their microenvironment is critical to cancer progression. To investigate the role of cytoneme-mediated signaling as a mechanism for distributing growth factor signaling proteins between tumor and tumor-associated cells, we analyzed EGFR and RET Drosophila tumor models and tested several genetic loss-of-function conditions that impair cytoneme-mediated signaling. Neuroglian, capricious, Irk2, SCAR, and diaphanous are genes that cytonemes require during normal development. Neuroglian and Capricious are cell adhesion proteins, Irk2 is a potassium channel, and SCAR and Diaphanous are actin-binding proteins, and the only process to which they are known to contribute jointly is cytoneme-mediated signaling. We observed that diminished function of any one of these genes suppressed tumor growth and increased organism survival. We also noted that EGFR-expressing tumor discs have abnormally extensive tracheation (respiratory tubes) and ectopically express Branchless (Bnl, a FGF) and FGFR. Bnl is a known inducer of tracheation that signals by a cytoneme-mediated process in other contexts, and we determined that exogenous over-expression of dominant negative FGFR suppressed tumor growth. Our results are consistent with the idea that cytonemes move signaling proteins between tumor and stromal cells and that cytoneme-mediated signaling is required for tumor growth and malignancy.