Optimising the colour of traps requires an insect's eye view

Colour is a critical property of many traps used to control or monitor insect pests, and applied entomologists continue to devote time and effort to improving colour for greater trapping efficiency. This work has often been guided by human colour perceptions, which differ greatly from those of the pests being studied. As a result, trap development can be a laborious process that is heavily reliant on trial and error. However, the responses of an insect's photoreceptors to a given trap colour can be calculated using well-established procedures. Photoreceptor responses represent sensory inputs that drive insect behaviour, and if their relationship to insect attraction can be determined or hypothesised, they provide metrics that can guide the rational optimisation of trap colour. This approach has recently been used successfully in separate studies of tsetse flies and thrips, but could be applied to a wide diversity of pest insects. Here we describe this approach to facilitate its use by applied entomologists. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Signal detectability and boldness are not the same: the function of defensive coloration in nudibranchs is distance-dependent

Aposematic signals visually advertise underlying anti-predatory defences in many species. They should be detectable (e.g. contrasting against the background) and bold (e.g. using internal pattern contrast) to enhance predator recognition, learning and memorization. However, the signalling function of aposematic colour patterns may be distance-dependent: signals may be undetectable from a distance to reduce increased attacks from naïve predators but bold when viewed up close. Using quantitative colour pattern analysis, we quantified the chromatic and achromatic detectability and boldness of colour patterns in 13 nudibranch species with variable strength of chemical defences in terms of unpalatability and toxicity, approximating the visual perception of a triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus) across a predation sequence (detection to subjugation). When viewed from an ecologically relevant distance of 30 cm, there were no differences in detectability and boldness between well-defended and undefended species. However, when viewed at closer distances (less than 30 cm), well-defended species were more detectable and bolder than undefended species. As distance increased, detectability decreased more significantly than boldness for defended species. For undefended species, boldness and detectability remained comparatively consistent, regardless of viewing distance. We provide evidence for distance-dependent signalling in aposematic nudibranchs and highlight the importance of distinguishing signal detectability from boldness in studies of aposematism.

Do I stay or do I go? Shifts in perch use by lizards during morning twilight suggest anticipatory behaviour

Anticipatory behaviour is the expectation of a near-future event based on information processed in the past and influences an animal's tactical decisions, particularly when there are significant fitness consequences. The grass lizard (Takydromus viridipunctatus) perches on blades of grass at night which likely reduces the probability of predation by terrestrial predators such as snakes, rodents and shrews. During twilight (starting 30 min before sunrise), they move from above the grass to within grass clumps and this is thought to afford the lizard protection while reducing detection by avian predators. Here, we examined how lizards shift their behaviour as a function of visual detectability to their primary predator, the cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis). We show that the lizards shift from their perch site during twilight at the earliest time at which egrets depart communal roosts. At the same time, visual modelling shows a dramatic increase in the detectability of the lizards to the visual system of egrets. Therefore, anticipatory behaviour in response to environmental cues acts to reduce predation risk as lizards become more conspicuous and predators become more active. Grass lizard anticipatory behaviour appears to be finely tuned by natural selection to adjust to temporal changes in predation risk.

Care Model Design for E-Health: Integration of Point-of-Care Testing at Dutch General Practices

Point-of-care testing (POCT)-laboratory tests performed with new mobile devices and online technologies outside of the central laboratory-is rapidly outpacing the traditional laboratory test market, growing at a rate of 12 to 15% each year. POCT impacts the diagnostic process of care providers by yielding high efficiency benefits in terms of turnaround time and related quality improvements in the reduction of errors. However, the implementation of this disruptive eHealth technology requires the integration and transformation of diagnostic services across the boundaries of healthcare organizations. Research has revealed both advantages and barriers of POCT implementations, yet to date, there is no business model for the integration of POCT within general practice. The aim of this article is to contribute with a design for a care model that enables the integration of POCT in primary healthcare. In this research, we used a design modelling toolkit for data collection at five general practices. Through an iterative design process, we modelled the actors and value transactions, and designed an optimized care model for the dynamic integration of POCTs into the GP's network of care delivery. The care model design will have a direct bearing on improving the integration of POCT through the connectivity and norm guidelines between the general practice, the POC technology, and the diagnostic centre.

Designing a Care Pathway Model - A Case Study of the Outpatient Total Hip Arthroplasty Care Pathway

INTRODUCTION

Although the clinical attributes of total hip arthroplasty (THA) care pathways have been thoroughly researched, a detailed understanding of the equally important organisational attributes is still lacking. The aim of this article is to contribute with a model of the outpatient THA care pathway that depicts how the care team should be organised to enable patient discharge on the day of surgery.

THEORY

The outpatient THA care pathway enables patients to be discharged on the day of surgery, shortening the length of stay and intensifying the provision and organisation of care. We utilise visual care modelling to construct a visual design of the organisation of the care pathway.

METHODS

An embedded case study was conducted of the outpatient THA care pathway at a teaching hospital in the Netherlands. The data were collected using a visual care modelling toolkit in 16 semi-structured interviews. Problems and inefficiencies in the care pathway were identified and addressed in the iterative design process.

RESULTS

The results are two visual models of the most critical phases of the outpatient THA care pathway: diagnosis & preparation (1) and mobilisation & discharge (4). The results show the care team composition, critical value exchanges, and sequence that enable patient discharge on the day of surgery.

CONCLUSION

The design addressed existing problems and is an optimisation of the case hospital's pathway. The network of actors consists of the patient (1), radiologist (1), anaesthetist (1), nurse specialist (1), pharmacist (1), orthopaedic surgeon (1,4), physiotherapist (1,4), nurse (4), doctor (4) and patient application (1,4). The critical value exchanges include patient preparation (mental and practical), patient education, aligned care team, efficient sequence of value exchanges, early patient mobilisation, flexible availability of the physiotherapist, functional discharge criteria, joint decision making and availability of the care team.

Sexual selection predicts brain structure in dragon lizards

Phenotypic traits such as ornaments and armaments are generally shaped by sexual selection, which often favours larger and more elaborate males compared to females. But can sexual selection also influence the brain? Previous studies in vertebrates report contradictory results with no consistent pattern between variation in brain structure and the strength of sexual selection. We hypothesize that sexual selection will act in a consistent way on two vertebrate brain regions that directly regulate sexual behaviour: the medial preoptic nucleus (MPON) and the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMN). The MPON regulates male reproductive behaviour whereas the VMN regulates female reproductive behaviour and is also involved in male aggression. To test our hypothesis, we used high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging combined with traditional histology of brains in 14 dragon lizard species of the genus Ctenophorus that vary in the strength of precopulatory sexual selection. Males belonging to species that experience greater sexual selection had a larger MPON and a smaller VMN. Conversely, females did not show any patterns of variation in these brain regions. As the volumes of both these regions also correlated with brain volume (BV) in our models, we tested whether they show the same pattern of evolution in response to changes in BV and found that the do. Therefore, we show that the primary brain nuclei underlying reproductive behaviour in vertebrates can evolve in a mosaic fashion, differently between males and females, likely in response to sexual selection, and that these same regions are simultaneously evolving in concert in relation to overall brain size.

Ultraviolet sensitivity and colour vision in raptor foraging

Raptors have excellent vision, yet it is unclear how they use colour information. It has been suggested that raptors use ultraviolet (UV) reflections from vole urine to find good hunting grounds. In contrast, UV plumage colours in songbirds such as blue tits are assumed to be 'hidden' communication signals, inconspicuous to raptors. This ambiguity results from a lack of knowledge about raptor ocular media transmittance, which sets the limit for UV sensitivity. We measured ocular media transmittance in common buzzards (Buteo buteo), sparrowhawks (Accipiter nisus), red kites (Milvus milvus) and kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) so that, for the first time, raptor UV sensitivity can be fully described. With this information, and new measurements of vole urine reflectance, we show that (i) vole urine is unlikely to provide a reliable visual signal to hunting raptors and (ii) blue tit plumage colours are more contrasting to blue tits than to sparrowhawks because of UV reflectance. However, as the difference between blue tit and sparrowhawk vision is subtle, we suggest that behavioural data are needed to fully resolve this issue. UV cues are of little or no importance to raptors in both vole and songbird interactions and the role of colour vision in raptor foraging remains unclear.