Acoustic deterrents influence foraging activity, flight and echolocation behaviour of free-flying bats

Acoustic deterrents have shown potential as a viable mitigation measure to reduce human impacts on bats, however, the mechanisms underpinning acoustic deterrence of bats have yet to be explored. Bats avoid ambient ultrasound in their environment and alter their echolocation calls in response to masking noise. Using stereo thermal videogrammetry and acoustic methods, we tested predictions that i) bats would avoid acoustic deterrents and forage and social call less in a ‘treated airspace’; ii) deterrents would cause bats to fly with more direct flight paths akin to commuting behaviour and in line with a reduction in foraging activity, resulting in increased flight speed and decreased flight tortuosity; iii) bats would alter their echolocation call structure in response to the masking deterrent sound. As predicted, overall bat activity was reduced by 30% and we recorded a significant reduction in counts of Pipistrellus pygmaeus (27%), Myotis spp. (probably M. daubentonii) (26%) and Nyctalus and Eptesicus spp. (68%) passes. P. pygmaeus feeding buzzes were also reduced by the deterrent in relation to general activity (by 38%), however social calls were not (only 23% reduction). Bats also increased their flight speed and reduced the tortuosity of their flight paths and P. pygmaeus reduced echolocation call bandwidth and start frequency of calls in response to deterrent playback, probably due to the masking effect of the sound. Deterrence could therefore be used to remove bats from areas where they forage, for example wind turbines and roads, where they may be under threat from direct mortality.

Fundamentals of the Model of Implementation of the Pedagogical System For Ensuring the Quality of Ground Training of Future Tactical Aviation Pilots in Ukraine

The article is devoted to the still unresearched problem of modern didactic theory (within the framework of professional, military and professional aviation pedagogy) - the system of ensuring the quality of ground training of future tactical aviation pilots in the institution of Higher Military Education (SVVO) of Ukraine. Since the current system of training cadetsmilitary pilots in the Russian military educational institution is essentially a post-Soviet pedagogical relic, which has its roots in the morally outdated Soviet method of flight training, a systematic search for the latest alternative seems relevant and timely. Comprehensive author's research of the last five years on the problem of professional training of future tactical aviation pilots, as well as personal experience and observations of the author, allow us to confidently state that the theory of this problem clearly requires a thorough revision and addition of the pedagogical component. The most significant gap, according to the author, is the lack of a complete modern pedagogical system for ensuring the quality of professional training of future military aviation specialists in terms of ground training. The latter plays no less important role in all training than direct flight training in the sky. At the same time, ignoring the didactic features and propeidic function of ground training in the SVVO often leads to insufficient technical, physical, psychological, and most importantly competent readiness of cadets for flight training. The author has developed his own pedagogical system for ensuring the quality of ground training for future tactical aviation pilots, which is currently being tested experimentally on the basis of the Ivan Kozhedub Kharkiv National Air Force University (Ukraine) and offers a structural and functional model of its implementation. This article reveals the basics of this pedagogical model and substantiates its content

A Direct Flight to Revolution: Maududi, Divine Sovereignty, and the 1979-Moment in Iran

This article explores the engagement of the Pakistani Jamaʿat-i Islami (JI) with the Iranian Revolution. I argue that the Islamist JI was drawn to the events because it reflected a core concern and signature idea of Abu ’l-Aʿla Maududi, namely to establish the sovereignty of God (hakimiyya) on earth. My analysis of various travelogues and JI publications from the 1980s demonstrates that JI observers were deeply familiar with internal revolutionary dynamics and Iran's Shiʿi identity. The prospect of seeing a proper Islamic system in action, with potentially global consequences for their cause, initially crowded out any sectarian concerns for the JI. At the same time, certain JI leaders began to voice criticism of what they perceived as rash revolutionary policies that differed from Maududi's careful, irenic understanding of a proper Islamic revolution. They also took note of sectarian messages that damaged Iran's ecumenical outreach. It was, however, the more general geopolitical climate in the Middle East and South Asia which forced the JI to publicly downplay its ties with Iran. By the late 1980s, being accused of harbouring affinities for the ‘deviant Islam’ of Shiʿism was a charge that had to be avoided at all costs in Pakistan and beyond.

Single-cell transcriptomics of the Drosophila wing disc reveals instructive epithelium-to-myoblast interactions

In both vertebrates and invertebrates, generating a functional appendage requires interactions between ectoderm-derived epithelia and mesoderm-derived cells. To investigate such interactions, we used single-cell transcriptomics to generate a temporal cell atlas of theDrosophilawing disc from two developmental time points. Using these data, we visualized gene expression using a multilayered model of the wing disc and cataloged ligand–receptor pairs that could mediate signaling between epithelial cells and adult muscle precursors (AMPs). We found that localized expression of the fibroblast growth factor ligands, Thisbe and Pyramus, in the disc epithelium regulates the number and location of the AMPs. In addition, Hedgehog ligand from the epithelium activates a specific transcriptional program within adjacent AMP cells, defined by AMP-specific targetsNeurotactinandmidline, that is critical for proper formation of direct flight muscles. More generally, our annotated temporal cell atlas provides an organ-wide view of potential cell–cell interactions between epithelial and myogenic cells.

The First Golden Age of the Tourism of Pécs

In the second half of the 19th century Pécs was one of the most dynamically developing cities of Hungary. This process persisted until World War I. The losses of the world war and the following 3 years of Serbian occupation caused huge damages in the economy and society of the city. The paper, bringing forward the antecedents of the economic history and the economic environment, reviews the first golden age of the tourism of Pécs. The tourism of Pécs experienced an extraordinary development in the 1930s. The cities of the country, getting over the trauma of World War I and the Great Economic Crisis, realised the economic opportunities of tourism and their majority started a conscious development of this branch of economy. Its importance was also realised by the management of Pécs and among the first in the country, on the 28th March, 1933 the municipality committee adjudicated to establish the tourism committee and the tourism bureau. An enthusiastic welcome “propaganda” has been launched and a conscious product development work has been realised primarily concentrating on – in today’s terms – cultural and ecotourism. The tourism supply was based on the heritage values of the city and on the natural beauties of the Mecsek Mountains. The hosting conditions, such as the accommodations and guest catering places, were established with the adequate quality. Such transport connections were realised – which can make us envious even today – as the direct flight connections with Budapest and Kaposvár or the train connections with Vienna. Budapest could be accessed within 3 hours by train and due to the cheap railways domestic tourism became multitudinous and its greatest beneficiary was Pécs. The city development decisions payed regard to the needs of tourism and there was also an intention to utilise the local products in tourism which is even fashionable today. Presently the market of local products has its renaissance. The results of the 1930s have their impacts on the tourism of the present day Pécs as well.

Single-cell transcriptomics of the Drosophila wing disc reveals instructive epithelium-to-myoblast interactions

In both vertebrates and invertebrates, generating a functional appendage requires interactions between ectoderm-derived epithelia and mesoderm-derived cells. To investigate such interactions, we used single-cell transcriptomics to generate a cell atlas of the Drosophila wing disc at two time points during development. Using these data, we investigate gene expression using a multi-layered model of the wing disc and catalogued ligand-receptor pairs that could mediate signaling between epithelial cells and adult muscle precursors (AMPs). We found that localized expression of the FGF ligands, Thisbe and Pyramus, in the disc epithelium regulates the number and location of the AMPs. In addition, Hedgehog ligand from the epithelium activates a specific transcriptional program within adjacent AMP cells, which is critical for proper formation of a subset of the direct flight muscles. More generally, our annotated atlas provides a global view of potential cell-cell interactions between subpopulations of epithelial and myogenic cells.

Air Transportation Direct Share Analysis and Forecast

Air transportation direct share is the ratio of direct passengers to total passengers on a directional origin and destination (O&D) pair. Direct share is an essential factor of passenger flow distribution and shows passengers’ general preference for direct flight services on a certain O&D. A better understanding and a more accurate forecast of direct share can benefit air transportation planners, airlines, and airports in multiple ways. In most of the previous research and applications, it is commonly assumed that direct share is a fixed ratio, which contradicts the air transportation practice. In the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Terminal Area Forecast (TAF), the O&D direct share is forecasted as a constant based on the latest observation of direct share on the O&D. To find factors which have significant impacts on O&D direct share and to build an accurate model for O&D direct share forecasting, both parametric and nonparametric machine learning models are investigated in this research. We propose a novel category-based learning method which can provide better forecasting performance compared to employing the single modeling method for O&D direct share forecasting. Based on the comparison, the developed category-based learning model is a promising replacement for the model used for O&D direct share forecasting by the FAA TAF.

Outbound Tourism and Determinants: Evidence from China

This study examines the determinants of outbound tourism from China to 73 destinations, while focusing on the impact of direct flights, cultural heritage, and the conditional effect of geographical distance. Panel data covering the period from 2000 to 2014 are used to estimate the working model. The results reveal that the impact of distance conditional on the development status of destinations is positive. Direct flight is positive and significant, demonstrating that an increase in the number of cities accessible with direct flights will increase outbound tourism. Cultural heritage is positive but not significant because most destinations recorded zero heritage centers. These results point to need for African countries to strive towards becoming developed, and for destinations to ensure the availability of direct flights from their respective countries to China.

A single-cell transcriptome atlas of the adult muscle precursors uncovers early events in fiber-type divergence in Drosophila

SummaryIn Drosophila, the wing disc-associated adult muscle precursors (AMPs) give rise to the fibrillar indirect flight muscles (IFM) and the tubular direct flight muscles (DFM). To understand early transcriptional events underlying this muscle diversification, we performed single cell RNA-sequencing experiments and built a cell atlas of AMPs associated with third instar larval wing disc. Our analysis identified distinct transcriptional signatures for IFM and DFM precursors that underlie the molecular basis of their divergence. The atlas further revealed various states of differentiation of AMPs, thus illustrating previously unappreciated spatial and temporal heterogeneity among them. We identified and validated novel markers for both IFM and DFM precursors at various states of differentiation by immunofluorescence and genetic tracing experiments. Finally, we performed a systematic genetic screen using a panel of markers from the reference cell atlas as an entry point and found a novel gene, Ama, which is functionally important in muscle development. Thus, our work provides a framework of leveraging scRNA-seq for gene discovery and therefore, this strategy can be applied to other scRNA-seq datasets.

Resilin in the flight apparatus of Odonata (Insecta)—cap tendons and their biomechanical importance for flight

In Odonata, a direct flight mechanism with specialized tendons evolved. One particular adaptation, the implementation of the rubber-like protein resilin in these cap tendons, might be of major importance. Although resilin was first described in one tendon of Odonata, to our knowledge no comprehensive study about the presence of resilin in the thorax exists yet. We investigated various species of Odonata, using µCT, dissection and fluorescence microscopy. Here we show a complete mapping of the odonatan pterothorax, regarding the presence of tendons and their properties. Thus, 20–21 cap tendons in the pterothorax of Odonata show the presence of resilin. While performing outstanding and often-aggressive flight manoeuvres, resilin can provide shock absorption against mechanical damage from strong impacts. It may further improve the wear and fatigue resistance owing to resilin's damping behaviour. Additionally, resilin in tendons can absorb and return kinetic energy to restore muscles to their original shape after contracting and help in maintaining self-oscillation of the flight muscles. Here, the material distribution within the direct flight system of Odonata and the biomechanical importance and possible function of resilin are discussed. These results are an important step towards the understanding of the complex form–material–function interplay of the insect cuticle.