Plasticity in moth mating behavior and ejaculate proteomic diversity induced by male competition.

In male competition, large and costly ejaculates are advantageous. Prior research on male accessory gland secretions in Plutella xylostella left open questions about how males modulate their mating behaviors and ejaculate composition allocation in response to varying levels of competition. The current study aimed to delve deeper into these unexplored facets. A totally of 928 ejaculate proteins were identified across males exposed to different competition conditions. Notably, males courting under non-, low-, and high-competition scenarios exhibited 867, 635, and 858 ejaculate proteins, respectively. Approximately 10% of these ejaculate proteins displayed variations that aligned with changes in competition intensity. Subsequent analyses focused on the proteins transferred to females, revealing that 44% of ejaculate proteins were transferred, with 37 proteins exhibiting differential expression. Functional analyses uncovered their crucial roles in sperm maturation, motility, and capacitation. Our findings reveal adaptive adjustments in ejaculate protein abundance and transmission in P. xylostella as a response to varying competition levels. Moreover, fluorescent sperm labeling indicated higher sperm transfer during low competition correlated with shorter sperm length. Furthermore, evidence suggests that males shorten their courtship duration and extend their mating duration when faced with competition. These results illustrate how competition drives ejaculate investment and behavioral plasticity, offering valuable insights for advancements in assisted reproductive technologies and pest management strategies.

Development of ammonia sensors by using conductive polymer/hydroxyapatite composite materials.

In order to improve the gas sensing properties, hydroxyapatite (HAp)-based composites were prepared by mixing with different contents of conductive polymers: polypyrrole (PPy) and polyaniline (PAni). The compositions, microstructures and phase constitutions of polymer/HAp composites were characterized, and the sensing properties were studied using a chemical gas sensing (CGS-8) system. The results showed that, compared to pure HAp, the sensitivities of the composites to ammonia were improved significantly. 5%PPy/HAp and 20%PAni/HAp composites exhibited the best sensitivities to ammonia, and the sensitivities at 500ppm were 86.72% and 86.18%, respectively. Besides, the sensitivity of 5%PPy/HAp at 1000ppm was up to 90.7%. Compared to pure PPy and PAni, the response and the recovery time of 5%PPy/HAp and 20%PAni/HAp at 200ppm were shortened several times, and they were 24s/245s and 15s/54s, respectively. In addition, the composites showed a very high selectivity to ammonia. The mechanism for the enhancement of the sensitivity to ammonia was also discussed. The polymer/HAp composites are very promising in applications of ammonia sensors.