Multivariate female preference tests reveal latent perceptual biases.

The question of why males of many species produce elaborate mating displays has now been largely resolved: females prefer to mate with males that produce such displays. However, the question of why females prefer such displays has been controversial, with an emerging consensus that such displays often provide information to females about the direct fitness benefits that males provide to females and/or the indirect fitness benefits provided to offspring. Alternative explanations, such as production of arbitrarily attractive sons or innate pre-existing female sensory or perceptual bias, have also received support in certain taxa. Here, we describe multivariate female preference functions for male acoustic traits in two chirping species of field crickets with slow pulse rates; our data reveal cryptic female preferences for long trills that have not previously been observed in other chirping species. The trill preferences are evolutionarily pre-existing in the sense that males have not (yet?) exploited them, and they coexist with chirp preferences as alternative stable states within female song preference space. We discuss escape from neuronal adaptation as a possible mechanism underlying such latent preferences.

Performance comparison of nylon and an absorbable suture material (Polyglactin 910) in the closure of punch biopsy sites.

The ability to close biopsy sites primarily without the need for removing sutures is obvious. However, it was unclear whether absorbable sutures could be used for this purpose. We prospectively studied 10 healthy volunteers on whom one 3 mm punch biopsy was performed on each arm. In each subject two sutures were compared for closure of the biopsy sites, polyglactin 910 and nylon. Our primary goal was to compare absorbable and nonabsorbable sutures in the closure of punch biopsy sites. Each site was closed with one simple percutaneous suture. The sites were evaluated at 2 weeks and 6 months for redness, infection, dehiscence, scar hypertrophy, and patient satisfaction. We found no statistically significant difference between the two suture materials in any of the above parameters. Therefore we conclude that absorbable sutures are a good alternative in the primary closure of skin biopsy sites.