Relative forelimb–hindlimb investment is associated with flight style, foraging strategy, and nestling period, but not nest type

We investigated Dial’s 2003 hypothesis that birds that rely more heavily on flight as their primary mode of locomotion and thus invest more in their forelimbs than hindlimbs will experience selection for smaller body sizes, greater altriciality, and more complex nests. To test this hypothesis, we examined the skeletons of over 2,000 individuals from 313 species representing the majority of avian families and all major branches of the avian tree. We used the lengths of the sternal keel and long bones of the wing relative to the lengths of the leg long bones as an index of relative locomotor investment. We found that locomotor investment was predicted by flight style, foraging method, and length of nestling period, supporting Dial’s hypothesis. Soaring birds and birds with more acrobatic flight styles, birds whose foraging methods were heavily reliant upon flight, and birds whose young spent more time in the nest tended to invest more in their forelimbs relative to hindlimbs. Nest type and body size were not significant predictors of relative forelimb–hindlimb investment, however, suggesting that the relationships among flight style, locomotor investment, and life history are not as tightly intertwined as Dial originally hypothesized.

Trophic guilds of suction-feeding fishes are distinguished by their characteristic hydrodynamics of swimming and feeding

Suction-feeding in fishes is a ubiquitous form of prey capture whose outcome depends both on the movements of the predator and the prey, and on the dynamics of the surrounding fluid, which exerts forces on the two organisms. The inherent complexity of suction-feeding has challenged previous efforts to understand how the feeding strikes are modified when species evolve to feed on different prey types. Here, we use the concept of dynamic similarity, commonly applied to understanding the mechanisms of swimming, flying, walking and aquatic feeding. We characterize the hydrodynamic regimes pertaining to (i) the forward movement of the fish (ram), and (ii) the suction flows for feeding strikes of 71 species of acanthomorph fishes. A discriminant function analysis revealed that feeding strikes of zooplanktivores, generalists and piscivores could be distinguished based on their hydrodynamic regimes. Furthermore, a phylogenetic comparative analysis revealed that there are distinctive hydrodynamic adaptive peaks associated with zooplanktivores, generalists and piscivores. The scaling of dynamic similarity across species, body sizes and feeding guilds in fishes indicates that elementary hydrodynamic principles govern the trophic evolution of suction-feeding in fishes.

A new genus of the tribe Rhinocartini (Coleoptera, Rhynchitidae) from the Solomon Islands

A new genus, Solomonocartus Legalov, gen. nov., with a new species Solomonocartus bukejsi Legalov, sp. nov. belongs to the tribe Rhinocartini from Guadalcanal Island (Solomon Islands) is described and illustrated. This new genus differs from the genus Rhinocartus Voss, 1922 from Western Africa in the long antennae inserted in the basal third of the rostrum and almost reaching the middle of the elytra, almost straight sides of the pronotum, long ventrite 2, and larger body sizes. It is the first record of the tribe Rhinocartini from the South Pacific and the second find of Rhynchitidae from the Solomon Islands.

A new species of the genus Notaris Gernar, 1817 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from Kazakhstan

A new species, Notaris (Asionotaris) temreshevi Legalov, sp. nov. from Trans-Ili Alatau (Kazakhstan) is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to N. (A.) imprudens Faust, 1885 from Kyrgyzstan but differs from it in the smaller body sizes, the pronotum punctate by large points, densely punctate elytral interstriae with long setae, and the apex of the aedeagus weakly extended forward. A distribution map for N. (A.) temreshevi Legalov, sp. nov. and N. (A.) imprudens is given.

Comparative vulnerability of Indosylvirana temporalis and Clinotarsus curtipes (Anura: Ranidae) tadpoles to water scorpions: importance of refugia and swimming speed in predator avoidance

The comparative vulnerability of two co-existing tadpole species (Indosylvirana temporalis and Clinotarsus curtipes) to their common predator, water scorpions (Laccotrephes sp.; Hemiptera: Nepidae), and the importance of refugia in predator avoidance were studied in the laboratory. In a total of 60 experimental trials, 10 tadpoles each of I. temporalis and C. curtipes of comparable body sizes were exposed to water scorpions (starved for 48 h). Thirty trials included refugia while 30 did not. The results of this study showed that in both the absence and the presence of refugia C. curtipes tadpoles fell prey to water scorpions more frequently than I. temporalis tadpoles. A main difference between the two species is the speed of swimming; Vmax of C. curtipes (24.73 cm/s) tadpoles is lower than that of I. temporalis (30.78 cm/s) tadpoles. This is likely to be the reason why more C. curtipes tadpoles were preyed upon than were I. temporalis tadpoles. Predation risk of tadpoles of both species was affected significantly by the presence of refuge sites. The vulnerability of both tadpole species was lower where refuge sites were available. The present study clearly shows that I. temporalis tadpoles avoid predation by water scorpions more effectively than do C. curtipes tadpoles.

Conditional Knockout of PDK1 in Osteoclasts Suppressed Osteoclastogenesis and Ameliorated Prostate Cancer-Induced Osteolysis

Background: The development and maintenance of normal bone tissue is supported by balanced communication between osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The invasion of cancer cells disrupts this balance, leading to osteolysis. As the only bone resorption cells in vivo, osteoclasts play important roles in cancer-induced osteolysis. However, the function of 3-phosphoinositide–dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1) in osteoclast resorption remains unclear. Methods: In our study, we used a receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B (RANK) promoter‐driven Cre‐LoxP system to conditionally delete the PDK1 gene in osteoclasts in mice. We investigated the impact of Osteoclast‐specific knockout of PDK1 on prostate cancer-induced osteolysis. Bone marrow-derived macrophage cells (BMMs) were extracted and induced to differentiate osteoclasts in vitro to examine the function of PDK1 in osteoclasts.Results: In this study, we found that PDK1 conditional knockout (cKO) mice exhibited smaller body sizes when contrasted with the wild-type (WT) mice. Moreover, deletion of PDK1 in osteoclasts ameliorated osteolysis and reduced bone resorption markers in the murine model of prostate cancer-stimulated osteolysis. In vivo, we discovered that osteoclast‐specific knockout of PDK1 suppressed RANKL-stimulated bone resorption function, osteoclastogenesis, and osteoclast-specific gene expression (Ctsk, TRAP, MMP-9, NFATc1). Western blot analyses of RANKL-induced signaling pathways showed that conditional knockout of PDK1 in osteoclasts inhibited the early nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation, which consequently suppressed the downstream induction of NFATc1. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that PDK1 performs an instrumental function in osteoclastogenesis and prostate cancer-induced osteolysis by modulating the PDK1/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Girth body dimensions in men and women with seborrheic dermatitis of varying severity

Today in modern medicine the study of human health is reoriented to the individual principle, which is based on the identification and study of constitutionally determined patterns of manifestation of certain diseases. The purpose of the study is to establish and analyze the features of the girth body sizes in men and women with generalized fatty form of seborrheic dermatitis of varying severity. The comprehensive body size of 40 men and 40 young women (25-44 years) with generalized fatty seborrheic dermatitis (mild and severe) was determined. The control group consisted of the girth sizes of practically healthy men (n=82) and women (n=154) of the same age group, which were selected from the database of the research center National Pirogov Memorial Medical University. Statistical processing of body circumference was performed in the licensed package “Statistica 6.0” using non-parametric evaluation methods. As a result of studies in patients with seborrheic dermatitis of varying severity of men, compared with practically healthy men, found only greater values of the girth of the shoulder in a relaxed state and thighs, neck (only mild), shin in the upper part and waist (in both cases only with a severe degree), as well as smaller values of the girth of the shoulder in a tense state; and in patients of varying severity of women – greater values of the girth of the shoulder in a relaxed state, thighs, lower legs, neck, waist and all girths of the chest and both thighs (only severe), as well as smaller values of the girth of the hand (only with mild). In both men and women with seborrheic dermatitis, differences in girth body sizes are more pronounced in people with severe disease. Between men or women with seborrheic dermatitis of varying severity, there are no significant or trends in differences in girth body sizes. In the analysis of the manifestations of sexual dimorphism of the circumferential body size between men and women with seborrheic dermatitis found greater values in men with mild and severe disease of the upper extremities, hands, shin, feet and neck (in most cases more pronounced in representatives with mild severity), as well as only in men with mild severity – greater values of all chest girths. For a more correct understanding of changes in girth body sizes in Ukrainian men or women with seborrheic dermatitis of varying severity, it is necessary to analyze other constitutional parameters of the body.

Total, longitudinal and transverse body sizes in men with psoriasis of different somatotypes

Using a constitutional approach to predict the onset of a disease can be key not only to solving the problem of late-stage lifestyle modification therapy but also to understanding the deep, seemingly incomprehensible links between organs and body structure. The aim of the study was to establish and analyze the differences in total, longitudinal and transverse body sizes between healthy and/or psoriatic men of different somatotypes depending on the severity of the disease. Anthropo-somatotypological examination was performed on Ukrainian men (aged 22 to 35 years) with psoriasis (n=100, including 32 with mild and 68 with severe). A clinical assessment of the severity and area of psoriatic lesions was performed using the PASI index. Anthropometric data of 82 practically healthy men of the same age group was taken from the data bank of the research center of National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsya. Statistical processing of the obtained results was performed in the license package “Statistica 5.5” using non-parametric evaluation methods. In patients with mild and severe psoriasis, men of mesomorphic and endo-mesomorphic somatotypes in comparison with healthy men of the corresponding somatotypes, higher values of almost all total (in the endo-mesomorphs with severe disease), transverse (except for shoulder width) and lateral body size (except endo-mesomorphs with severe disease) was found. In patients with psoriasis, men of endo-mesomorphic somatotype with a mild course of the disease found greater than in patients with a similar course men of mesomorphic somatotype, body weight, length and surface area, height of acromial and finger anthropometric points, and transverse middle thoracic diameters and anteroposterior middle thoracic diameter; and in patients with psoriasis men of endo-mesomorphic somatotype with a severe course of the disease – only greater values than in patients with a similar course of the disease men of mesomorphic somatotype, interspinous distance. When comparing the total, longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the body between men with psoriasis of the corresponding somatotypes, in representatives of the mesomorphic somatotype with a mild course of the disease found greater than with severe course, body length values and lower – posterior middle thoracic diameter. The revealed differences in total, longitudinal and transverse body sizes between healthy and/or patients with mild or severe psoriasis Ukrainian men of mesomorphic and endo-mesomorphic somatotypes provide an opportunity to increase the effectiveness of the use of body structure and size to identify risk groups psoriasis.

‘Photography’ as a useful method for estimating the density, sex-ratio and body size of the surface-active Austruca perplexa (H. Milne Edwards, 1852) (Brachyura, Ocypodidae)

Estimations of crab density, sex-ratio, and body sizes are difficult. Though the ‘burrow excavation’ method is widely used to estimate these parameters in surface-active crabs, it is destructive to crab populations. Therefore, an alternative, non-destructive method is desirable. This study compared the non-destructive ‘photography’ method with the ‘burrow excavation’ method in a fiddler crab (Austruca perplexa (H. Milne Edwards, 1852)) population. Twenty 0.25 m2 quadrats were set out and 4 photos were taken of the surface-active crabs in each quadrat. All crab burrows were then excavated, and the crabs were collected to estimate their numbers, sexes, and body and claw sizes. Afterward, the photographs were analysed to estimate the same parameters by using the GIMP program. These parameters were then compared between the two methods. The results showed that these parameters were not different between the methods compared. This study thus reveals that the ‘photography’ method could safely be used instead of the ‘burrow excavation’ method, and yield the same results.

Sex-specific covariance between metabolic rate, behaviour and morphology in the ground beetle Carabus hortensis

Background Individuals within the same species often differ in their metabolic rates, which may covary with behavioural traits (such as exploration), that are consistent across time and/or contexts, and morphological traits. Yet, despite the frequent occurrence of sexual dimorphisms in morphology and behaviour, few studies have assessed whether and how sexes differ in metabolic trait covariances. Methods We investigated sex-specific relationships among resting or active metabolic rate (RMR and AMR, respectively) with exploratory behaviour, measured independently of metabolic rate in a novel environment, body size and body mass, in Carabus hortensis ground beetles. Results RMR, AMR and exploratory behaviour were repeatable among individuals across time, except for male RMR which was unrepeatable. Female RMR neither correlated with exploratory behaviour nor body size/body mass. In contrast, AMR was correlated with both body size and exploratory behaviour. Males with larger body sizes had higher AMR, whereas females with larger body sizes had lower AMR. Both male and female AMR were significantly related to exploratory behaviour, though the relationships between AMR and exploration were body mass-dependent in males and temperature-dependent in females. Discussion Differences between sexes exist in the covariances between metabolic rate, body size and exploratory behaviour. This suggests that selection acts differently on males and females to produce these trait covariances with potentially important consequences for individual fitness.