Sexually antagonistic coevolution of the male nuptial gift and female feeding behaviour in decorated crickets.

The evolution of nuptial gifts has traditionally been considered a harmonious affair, providing benefits to both mating partners. There is growing evidence, however, that receiving a nuptial gift can be actively detrimental to the female. In decorated crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus), males produce a gelatinous spermatophylax that enhances sperm transfer but provides little nutritional benefit and hinders female post-copulatory mate choice. Here, we examine the sexually antagonistic coevolution of the spermatophylax and the female feeding response to this gift in G. sigillatus maintained in experimental populations with either a male-biased or female-biased adult sex ratio. After 25 generations, males evolving in male-biased populations produced heavier spermatophylaxes with a more manipulative combination of free amino acids than those evolving in female-biased populations. Moreover, when the spermatophylax originated from the same selection regime, females evolving in male-biased populations always had shorter feeding durations than those evolving in female-biased populations, indicating the evolution of greater resistance. Across populations, female feeding duration increased with the mass and manipulative combination of free amino acids in the spermatophylax, suggesting sexually antagonistic coevolution. Collectively, our work demonstrates a key role for interlocus sexual conflict and sexually antagonistic coevolution in the mating system of G. sigillatus.

The effects of trade liberalization on inequality in nutrition intake: empirical evidence from Indian districts.

BACKGROUND: Despite the positive impact of trade liberalization on food availability in India, severe inequality in nutrition consumption at the district level persists. Empirical evidence on the relationship between trade liberalization and nutrition consumption inequality often offers a country-level perspective and generates disputed outcomes. The study aimed to explore the effects of trade liberalization on inequality in nutrition consumption at the district level in India and to examine the heterogeneity of the impact on different nutrition consumption. METHODS: Our study employed the Gini Index to measure nutrition consumption inequality of 2 macronutrients and 5 micronutrients at the district level in India during 2009-2011, utilizing the comprehensive FAO/WHO individual food consumption data. The import tariff was adopted as a proxy for trade liberalization, as its externally imposed nature facilitates a causal interpretation. We further identified the direct causal relationship between food trade liberalization and inequality in nutrition consumption using a fixed effects model. RESULTS: The results show that more than 50% of the individuals in the survey districts did not meet the dietary standards for both macronutrients and micronutrients. Food trade liberalization hindered the improvement of inequality in nutrition consumption. As import tariffs were reduced by 1%, the inequality in intake of calories, zinc, vitamin B1, and vitamin B2 increased significantly by 0.45, 0.56, 0.48, and 0.66, respectively, which might be related to food market performance. The results also highlight the positive role of the gender gap, female-headed households, and caste culture on inequality in nutrition consumption in India. CONCLUSIONS: To ease the shock of liberalization and minimize its inequality effects, complementary measures should be adopted, such as improving food logistic conditions in poor areas, and nutrition relief schemes.

The cost of influence: How gifts to physicians shape prescriptions and drug costs.

This paper investigates the influence of gifts - monetary and in-kind payments - from drug firms to US physicians on prescription behavior and drug costs. Using causal models and machine learning, we estimate physicians' heterogeneous responses to payments on antidiabetic prescriptions. We find that payments lead to increased prescription of brand drugs, resulting in a cost rise of $23 per dollar value of transfer received. Paid physicians show higher responses when they treat higher proportions of patients receiving a government-funded low-income subsidy that lowers out-of-pocket drug costs. We estimate that introducing a national gift ban would reduce diabetes drug costs by 2%.

Investigative power of Genomic Informational Field Theory (GIFT) relative to GWAS for genotype-phenotype mapping.

Identifying associations between phenotype and genotype is the fundamental basis of genetic analyses. Inspired by frequentist probability and the work of R.A. Fisher, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) extract information using averages and variances from genotype-phenotype datasets. Averages and variances are legitimated upon creating distribution density functions obtained through the grouping of data into categories. However, as data from within a given category cannot be differentiated, the investigative power of such methodologies is limited. Genomic Informational Field Theory (GIFT) is a method specifically designed to circumvent this issue. The way GIFT proceeds is opposite to that of GWAS. Whilst GWAS determines the extent to which genes are involved in phenotype formation (bottom-up approach), GIFT determines the degree to which the phenotype can select microstates (genes) for its subsistence (top-down approach). Doing so requires dealing with new genetic concepts, a.k.a. genetic paths, upon which significance levels for genotype-phenotype associations can be determined. By using different datasets obtained in ovis aries related to bone growth (Dataset-1) and to a series of linked metabolic and epigenetic pathways (Dataset-2), we demonstrate that removing the informational barrier linked to categories enhances the investigative and discriminative powers of GIFT, namely that GIFT extracts more information than GWAS. We conclude by suggesting that GIFT is an adequate tool to study how phenotypic plasticity and genetic assimilation are linked.

Effects of Fat and Carnitine on the Expression of Carnitine Acetyltransferase and Enoyl-CoA Hydratase Short-Chain 1 in the Liver of Juvenile GIFT (Oreochromis niloticus).

Carnitine acetyltransferase (CAT) and Enoyl-CoA hydratase short-chain 1 (ECHS1) are considered key enzymes that regulate the ß-oxidation of fatty acids. However, very few studies have investigated their full length and expression in genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT, Oreochromis niloticus), an important aquaculture species in China. Here, we cloned CAT and ECHS1 full-length cDNA via the rapid amplification of cDNA ends, and the expressions of CAT and ECHS1 in the liver of juvenile GIFT were detected in different fat and carnitine diets, as were the changes in the lipometabolic enzymes and serum biochemical indexes of juvenile GIFT in diets with different fat and carnitine levels. CAT cDNA possesses an open reading frame (ORF) of 2167 bp and encodes 461 amino acids, and the ECHS1 cDNA sequence is 1354 bp in full length, the ORF of which encodes a peptide of 391 amino acids. We found that juvenile GIFT had higher lipometabolic enzyme activity and lower blood CHOL, TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C contents when the dietary fat level was 2% or 6% and when the carnitine level was 500 mg/kg. We also found that the expression of ECHS1 and CAT genes in the liver of juvenile GIFT can be promoted by a 500 mg/kg carnitine level and 6% fat level feeding. These results suggested that CAT and ECHS1 may participate in regulating lipid metabolism, and when 2% or 6% fat and 500 mg/kg carnitine are added to the feed, it is the most beneficial to the liver and lipid metabolism of juvenile GIFT. Our results may provide a theoretical basis for GIFT feeding and treating fatty liver disease.

A scoping review of sociology of voluntary blood donation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Maintaining stable blood supplies presents an increasing challenge for blood collection agencies (BCAs). Novel and multidisciplinary approaches and research have been called for to understand the mechanisms underlying the trends. The current body of sociological research on blood donation is a potentially valuable resource, but it is dispersed over different publications and theoretical frameworks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of sociological research on voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation to identify insights and practical applications for researchers and BCAs. RESULTS: Four organizing themes were identified: donated blood, blood donors, organizations and blood service systems. Key challenges associated with the organization of voluntary blood donation exist at the institutional and systems levels, and they may not be readily resolved by interventions focussed solely on the individual donor level. We identified opportunities for organizations to build trust with donors and the public through communications and working with communities to promote inclusion in blood donation. CONCLUSION: The results support a multidisciplinary approach and research for BCAs to move forward and find novel ways to ensure safe, resilient blood service systems.

The Making of Corporate Legal Concession Theory.

Professor Watson's The Making of the Modern Company traces the development of the modern corporate form back to the East India Company, disproving a common notion that company law originated solely with small, private companies. This review article argues three key implications of this excellent book. First, Watson focuses on the duality of the modern company-with state-provided and private features. This cuts through, and goes a long way to resolving, the ongoing historic debate as to the nature of the company. Second, the primary unit of study chosen-the modern company-reminds corporate lawyers of our role in studying this duality in a very crowded field. Third, despite eschewing 'concession theories' of company law (which hold that the company is merely a concession from the state), Watson demonstrates a role for the state in the modern company that is often overlooked.

Minimum Dietary Diversity for Adolescents: Multicountry Analysis to Define Food Group Thresholds Predicting Micronutrient Adequacy among Girls and Boys Aged 10-19 Years.

Background: Adolescents' diets have been overlooked in nutrition information systems, interventions, and policies. The minimum dietary diversity for women (MDD-W) indicator has been validated to signal greater micronutrient adequacy among nonpregnant women from low- and middle-income countries, but there is limited evidence for valid food group thresholds among boys or nonpregnant nonlactating girls. Objective: To define a food group threshold that reflects minimum dietary diversity for adolescents. Methods: This multicountry study evaluated the test characteristics of a 10-point food group diversity score (FGDS)-underlying MDD-W-and food group thresholds to predict the micronutrient adequacy of diets from single 24-h recalls or food diaries (24-HRs) among 83,935 adolescents aged 10-19 y and repeated 24-HRs among 75,480 adolescents from upper-middle and high-income countries. Results: FGDS was lowest among adolescents in lower-middle countries (3.5 ± 1.1) and greatest in high-income countries (5.4 ± 1.3 points). Using single 24-HRs, 1-point increments in FGDS performed identically to predict a higher mean adequacy ratio among boys and girls (5.1 percentage points; 95% confidence interval: 5.0, 5.2; P < 0.001). MDD-W (i.e., ≥5 food groups) performed well in predicting a mean adequacy ratio of >0.60 among adolescents from upper-middle and high-income countries, whereas a ≥4 food group cutoff showed a superior balance between sensitivity, specificity, and percentage correctly classified in low (only girls) and lower-middle-income countries (boys and girls). In contrast, using repeated 24-HRs, the mean probability of adequacy levels among adolescents were too high and homogeneous (i.e., all mean probability of adequacies > 0.60) to define an optimal food group threshold. Conclusions: MDD-W can be extended to boys and girls aged 10-19 y from upper-middle and high-income countries. Furthermore, an adapted indicator using a ≥4 food group threshold signals higher micronutrient adequacy in low and lower-middle-income countries. Food group cutoffs to predict the micronutrient adequacy of usual intakes should be validated using repeated 24-HRs in populations where a lower proportion of adolescents meet mean dietary requirements.

The role of gifts in building influence with politicians: Thematic analysis of interviews with current and former parliamentarians.

Gifts are a powerful way to acknowledge and strengthen interpersonal relationships. As with any relational space, gifting plays various roles in forming and maintaining relationships in political contexts, but its contribution to relationship-building has attracted little attention. This paper examines how politicians in Aotearoa New Zealand both engage with gifting and how they navigate the perceptions of others. Four current members of parliament (MPs) and six retired MPs participated in semi-structured interviews with questions on common practices and common understandings about political gifting. Their responses indicate their use of four different processes: formal processes are the guidelines provided by the government on gifting, but when these are insufficient, contextual processes regarding perceptions of the media, constituents or colleagues are used, or, alternatively, MPs rely on personal values or view gifting in terms of transactional processes with both parties receiving benefits. The paper explores perceptions and complexities of a sequence of gifts during events (event gifting). The authors recommend an improved awareness and understanding of the contribution of gifting practices to political relationship building.

Effect of sulfate on the osmoregulatory and physio-biochemical responses of GIFT (Oreochromis niloticus) juveniles reared in potassium-deficient medium saline waters.

The inland saline waters were continuously observed to have low potassium concentrations compared to their seawater counterpart of the same salinity. We hypothesize that the toxic effect of sulfate may manifest in low potassium saline (LPSW) waters compared to brackish water of the same salinity. Thus, LC50 trials were performed in GIFT (genetically improved farmed tilapia) fry (0.5 ± 0.02 g) to determine the acute sulfate toxicity in freshwater (FW, 0.5 g L-1), artificial seawater (ASW, 10 g L-1), and LPSW (10 g L-1). The median lethal concentrations (96h LC50) of sulfate ion in FW, LPSW, and ASW for the GIFT were 5.30 g L-1, 2.56 g L-1, and 2.98 g L-1, respectively. A second experiment was conducted for 21 days, exposing fish to a sub-lethal level of sulfate ion (SO42-) concentration (1000 mg L-1, one-fifth of FW LC50) with different types of waters (FW, freshwater, 0.5 g L-1; ASW, artificial seawater, 10 g L-1; LPSW, low potassium saline water, 10 g L-1) with and without sulfate inclusion to constitute the treatments as follows, (FW, FW + SO4, ASW, ASW + SO4, LPSW, LPSW + SO4). The effect of sulfate on GIFT reared in sulfate-rich potassium-deficient medium saline water was evaluated by focusing on the hematological adjustments, stress-induced oxidative damage, and osmoregulatory imbalances. The survival was not altered due to the sulfate concentration and K+ deficiency; however, there were significant changes in branchial NKA (Na+/K+-ATPase) activity and osmolality. The increase in NKA was highest in LPSW treatment, suggesting that internal ionic imbalance was triggered due to an interactive effect of sulfate and K+ deficiency. The cortisol levels showed a pronounced increase due to sulfate inclusion irrespective of K+ deficiency. The antioxidant enzymes, i.e., SOD (superoxide dismutase), catalase, GST (glutathione-S-transferase), and GPX (glutathione peroxidase), reflected a similar pattern of increment in the gills and liver of the LPSW + SO4 groups, suggesting a poor antioxidant status of the exposed group. The hepatic peroxidation status, i.e. TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances), and the peroxide values were enhanced due to both K+ deficiency and sulfate inclusion, suggesting a possible lipid peroxidation in the liver due to handling the excess sulfate anion concentration. The hematological parameters, including haemoglobin, total erythrocyte count, and hematocrit level, reduced significantly in the LPSW + SO4 group, indicating a reduced blood oxygen capacity due to the sulfate exposure and water potassium deficiency. The hepatic acetylcholine esterase activity was suppressed in all the treatments with sulfate inclusion, while the highest suppression was observed in the LPSW + SO4 group. Thus, it is concluded that sulfate-induced physiological imbalances manifest more in potassium-deficient water, indicating that environmental sulfate is more detrimental to inland saline water than freshwater or brackish water of the same salinity.

Ultrastructural, Antioxidant, and Metabolic Responses of Male Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT, Oreochromis niloticus) to Acute Hypoxia Stress.

Tilapia tolerate hypoxia; thus, they are an excellent model for the study of hypoxic adaptation. In this study, we determined the effect of acute hypoxia stress on the antioxidant capacity, metabolism, and gill/liver ultrastructure of male genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT, Oreochromis niloticus). Fish were kept under control (dissolved oxygen (DO): 6.5 mg/L) or hypoxic (DO: 1.0 mg/L) conditions for 72 h. After 2 h of hypoxia stress, antioxidant enzyme activities in the heart and gills decreased, while the malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased. In contrast, in the liver, antioxidant enzyme activities increased, and the MDA content decreased. From 4 to 24 h of hypoxia stress, the antioxidant enzyme activity increased in the heart but not in the liver and gills. Cytochrome oxidase activity was increased in the heart after 4 to 8 h of hypoxia stress, while that in the gills decreased during the later stages of hypoxia stress. Hypoxia stress resulted in increased Na+-K+-ATP activity in the heart, as well as hepatic vacuolization and gill lamella elongation. Under hypoxic conditions, male GIFT exhibit dynamic and complementary regulation of antioxidant systems and metabolism in the liver, gills, and heart, with coordinated responses to mitigate hypoxia-induced damage.

Quantitative research assessment: using metrics against gamed metrics.

Quantitative bibliometric indicators are widely used and widely misused for research assessments. Some metrics have acquired major importance in shaping and rewarding the careers of millions of scientists. Given their perceived prestige, they may be widely gamed in the current "publish or perish" or "get cited or perish" environment. This review examines several gaming practices, including authorship-based, citation-based, editorial-based, and journal-based gaming as well as gaming with outright fabrication. Different patterns are discussed, including massive authorship of papers without meriting credit (gift authorship), team work with over-attribution of authorship to too many people (salami slicing of credit), massive self-citations, citation farms, H-index gaming, journalistic (editorial) nepotism, journal impact factor gaming, paper mills and spurious content papers, and spurious massive publications for studies with demanding designs. For all of those gaming practices, quantitative metrics and analyses may be able to help in their detection and in placing them into perspective. A portfolio of quantitative metrics may also include indicators of best research practices (e.g., data sharing, code sharing, protocol registration, and replications) and poor research practices (e.g., signs of image manipulation). Rigorous, reproducible, transparent quantitative metrics that also inform about gaming may strengthen the legacy and practices of quantitative appraisals of scientific work.

Sugarcane bagasse biochar enhances the growth parameters, haematological parameters, and enzyme activities of genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) reared in inland saline water.

In the present scenario, waste management, especially agro-waste, is one of the major challenges. India is an agrarian country and the economy depends on agriculture and a huge amount of agro-wastes are generated. In this study, biochar was prepared from paddy straw and sugarcane bagasse and was used in the feed of genetically improved farm tilapia (GIFT) at 0.5% (w/w) basis to study its effect on growth and haematological parameters. An experiment was carried out in triplicate in 500-l capacity FRP tanks comprising two treatments and one control. Tanks were filled with inland saline soil to maintain 25-cm soil's bed and water with 12 ppt salinity. A total of 22 fish having an average length of 5.14 ± 0.07 cm and weight of 4.8 ± 0.05 g were stocked in each tank; the fish were fed at apparent satiation level, twice daily for 45 days. It was observed that growth parameters like SGR% (specific growth rate), weight gain (WG%), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly improved (p < 0.05) than the control. Biochar-enriched feed also significantly improved the haematological parameters like red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), haemoglobin (Hb) haematocrit % (HCT), mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCH), and MCV (mean cell volume) in treatment groups than the control. Feeding biochar as feed additives was also found to decrease catalase (CAT) and enhanced amylase and lipase activities in treatments as compared to control (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that the application of biochar as a feed additive enhanced the growth and overall health of the fish, and it can enhance fish production. However, biochar from sugarcane bagasse was found to be more effective than the paddy straw biochar in the diet of tilapia (GIFT).

In silico molecular and functional characterization of a dual function antimicrobial peptide, hepcidin (GIFT-Hep), isolated from genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT, Oreochromis niloticus).

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), innate immune response molecules in organisms, are also known for their dual functionality, exemplified by hepcidin-an immunomodulator and iron regulator. Identifying and studying various AMPs from fish species can provide valuable insights into the immune profiles of aquaculturally significant fish, which can be made use of in its culture. RESULTS: Hepcidin, a dual-function antimicrobial peptide, was isolated from the gill tissue of Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT-Hep). GIFT-Hep consists of a 90 amino acid pre-propeptide with a 24-mer signal, a 40-mer propeptide, and a 26-mer mature peptide region. The mature peptide had a molecular weight of 3015.61 Da, a theoretical pI of 8.78, a net charge of +4.25, and a protein-binding potential of 2.06 kcal/mol. Four disulfide bonds were formed by eight cysteine residues in the mature region. The presence of positively charged arginine residues renders the peptide 50% hydrophobic. Molecular analysis of GIFT-Hep revealed the presence of a furin propeptide convertase motif, RX(K/R)R, which facilitates trimming of the peptide to yield the mature GIFT-Hep. The hypothetical iron regulatory sequence, QSHLSL, was also identified in the mature peptide. In silico predictions about the characteristics of GIFT-Hep, such as charge, hydrophobicity, high surface accessibility, transmembrane helical regions, hydrophobic faces, hot spots, and cell-penetrating properties, suggest that the peptide functions as an iron regulatory antimicrobial agent. CONCLUSIONS: This study reports a hepcidin antimicrobial peptide with both HAMP1 and HAMP2 properties isolated from genetically improved farmed tilapia, and further evaluation of the properties will prove the feasibility of GIFT-Hep being used as a therapeutant in aquaculture.

Buy solar, get cashback: do consumer subsidies described as promotions influence electricity choices?

Introduction: Most countries want to make the transition to increased or even exclusive use of renewable energy. To achieve this goal, how can individuals be persuaded to use more renewable electricity? For example, does the way energy companies communicate so-called consumer subsidies matter in this regard, and if so, which communication strategy is best? For example, is a monetary promotion (e.g., cashback) better than a non-monetary one (e.g., gift)? Methods: In a total of four studies (with a total of more than 1700 participants), we investigated what type of promotion most influenced the choice of a renewable energy product, varying, for example, the environmental friendliness of the renewable energy product. Results: The monetary promotion (e.g., get $35 back through subsidies) appeared to be the most successful; it significantly increased the choice of the renewable electricity product (i.e., between 12-22%). However, this result was only evident when the subsidized renewable product was not the product already preferred by most individuals. Other measures, such as the willingness to pay (WTP), showed no differential effects. Discussion: Overall, the observed pattern suggests that promoting renewable energy choices, is similar to promoting donations to a charity. Accordingly, the description of the consumer subsidy as a monetary promotion (i.e., cashback or negative labeling) is most effective in terms of promotion. However, the effect of monetary promotions seems to diminish if the subsidized product is already the product preferred by most consumers. Nevertheless, the use of monetary promotions can encourage the transition to renewable energy.

Sodium chloride alleviates oxidative stress and physiological responses induced by extreme winter cold in genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT; Oreochromis niloticus).

A 6-week trial was designed to investigate the effects of dietary sodium chloride supplementation on physiological, metabolic, and molecular stress response parameters. The findings showed that (1) there were no significant differences between sodium chloride supplementation groups (0.05S, 0.1S, and 0.15S) and the control group (P > 0.05), except for the 0.2S diet, which showed better final body weight, weight gain rate, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ratio than the control group (P < 0.05). (2) The hypothermic stress experiment results showed that the survival rates in the 0.1S and 0.15S diets were significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.05). (3) Transcription results showed that these enriched pathways in the gill were mainly energy metabolism and apoptosis pathways, while the major enrichment pathways in the liver were mainly amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism. (4) The plasma parameter results showed, compared to the control group, the 0.15S diet significantly increased the plasma GLU, TG contents, and Na+ and K+ concentrations and decreased the plasma ALT activity (P < 0.05). In addition, the 0.1S diet increased the plasma ALB content and Cl- concentration (P < 0.05). The gill Na+/K+-ATPase activity decreased markedly when the fish were fed the 0.1S and 0.15S diets (P < 0.05). The antioxidant enzyme activity results showed that the 0.1S and 0.15S diets significantly increased the T-SOD activities (P < 0.05). Gene expression results showed that compared to the control group, the 0.1S and 0.15S diets up-regulated the expression of gys, hsp70, mlcp, mlc, myosin, tnt mRNA, and down-regulated the akt, gk, and erk mRNA expression. Based on the regression analysis, the optimum dietary sodium chloride levels range from 0.10 % to 0.13 % of the diet, which could facilitate energy regulation, improve the immune response, and ultimately strengthen the cold resistance of GIFT.

Does having more power make people more materialistic? The role of personal sense of power for gift preferences.

Introduction: Gift-giving is a prevalent practice in daily life, with experiential gifts being identified in studies as having hedonic and interpersonal advantages, often yielding greater recipient satisfaction compared to material gifts. However, the reception of experiential gifts might not always align with expectations, as material gifts are valued for their enduring qualities. Thus, comprehending the contexts favoring material or experiential gift preferences becomes crucial. Methods: Existing research primarily delves into external influences like income and social proximity, while intrinsic factors such as personal sense of power in interpersonal interactions have received limited attention. Guided by the Agentic-communal Model of Power, we conducted three studies to investigate how personal sense of power impact gift preferences. Results: Our findings demonstrated that gift preferences are contingent upon personal sense of power. Specifically, those possessing a high personal sense of power exhibited a preference for material gifts over experiential ones, whereas individuals with a low personal sense of power favored experiential gifts over material ones. Further analysis revealed that the relationship between personal sense of power and gift preference is mediated by information processing fluency. Discussion: This study contributes to the field of gift preferences and sheds light on the role of personal sense of power. By incorporating the Agentic-communal Model of Power, we offer novel insights into the dynamics between personal sense of power and gift preferences. These findings hold valuable implications for managerial strategies concerning gift selection and interpersonal interactions.

Morphological changes in female reproductive organs in the African monarch butterfly, host to a male-killing Spiroplasma.

Background: Sexual selection and conflicts within and between sexes promote morphological diversity of reproductive traits within species. Variation in the morphology of diagnostic reproductive characters within species offer an excellent opportunity to study these evolutionary processes as drivers of species diversification. The African monarch, Danaus chrysippus (Linnaeus, 1758), is widespread across Africa. The species is polytypic, with the respective geographical ranges of the four colour morphs only overlapping in East Africa. Furthermore, some of the populations host an endosymbiotic bacterium, Spiroplasma, which induces son-killing and distorts the local host population sex-ratio, creating sexual conflicts between the females seeking to optimize their fecundity and the limited mating capacity of the rare males. Methods: We dissected females from Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa, where Spiroplasma vary in presence and prevalence (high, variable and absent, respectively), and conducted microscopy imaging of their reproductive organs. We then characterized the effect of population, female body size, and female mating status, on the size and shape of different genitalia characters of the D. chrysippus female butterflies. Results: We showed that although the general morphology of the organs is conserved in D. chrysippus, female genitalia vary in size and shape between and within populations. The virgin females have smaller organs, while the same organs were expanded in mated females. Females from highly female-biased populations, where the male-killing Spiroplasma is prevalent, also have a larger area of their corpus bursae covered with signa structures. However, this pattern occurs because a larger proportion of the females remains virgin in the female-biased populations rather than because of male depletion due to the symbiont, as males from sex-ratio distorted populations did not produce significantly smaller nutritious spermatophores.

Stressful environments favor deceptive alternative mating tactics to become dominant.

BACKGROUND: Deceptive alternative mating tactics are commonly maintained at low frequencies within populations because males using them are less competitive and acquire lower fitness than those using dominant tactics. However, the successful invasion of a male deceptive tactic is plausible if deception carries no fitness cost to females. Among populations of the gift-giving spider Paratrechalea ornata, males very often offer females a deceptive worthless gift, rather than a nutritive gift. We tested the degree to which deceptive worthless gifts can occur in natural populations living under divergent environmental conditions (moderate and stressful). We examined the plasticity of morphological and behavioral traits and analyzed the fitness of females in relation to the gift type, also examining the paternity acquired by males offering either gift type. RESULTS: We demonstrated that worthless gifts can become dominant under highly stressful environmental conditions (84-100%). Individuals in such environment reach smaller sizes than those in moderate conditions. We suggest that the size reduction probably favors low metabolic demands in both sexes and may reduce the costs associated with receiving deceptive worthless gifts for females. In contrast, males living under moderate conditions varied the use of the deceptive tactic (0-95%), and worthless gifts negatively influenced female fecundity. Furthermore, male size, rather than gift content, positively impacted paternity success in the moderate but not in the stressful environment. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this is the first empirical evidence that a reversible deceptive tactic can become dominant when the environment becomes harsh and mate choice becomes limited.

Undeserved authorship in surgical research: an underestimated bias with potential side effects on academic careers.

The incidence of courtesy authorship in research over time has probably increased due to the enormous pressure to publish to increase the bibliometric indexes necessary to achieve an academic role. The aim of this survey was to quantify and characterize this research malpractice among a very selected group of surgeons from different surgical specialties belonging to the European Association of Surgery (ESA). E-mail addresses for the invitation to take part to the survey were collected by the Twenty-eighth Annual Meeting final program. Five-item were designed and developed by the authors using an online platform. Eighty-six members from 21 countries completed the survey (female/male ratio: 0.09). In the last 10 years, almost half of the responders (41, 47.7%, 37 academics) have included colleagues for courtesy authorship. The most common reason of courtesy authorships was to support the academic career of another researcher (62.5%). Other reasons were fear of retaliation (12.5%), reciprocal authorship (12.5%) or support for a partner (10%). This survey showed that undeserved authorship is sadly confirmed to be a common research misconduct across any countries and medical specialties, even among a very selected group of surgeons with international reputation irrespective of the academic position.