Digital Twin-Driven Mating Performance Analysis for Precision Spool Valve

The precision spool valve is the core component of the electro-hydraulic servo control system, and its performance has an important influence on the flight control of aviation and aerospace products. The non-uniform surface topography error causes a non-uniform mating gap field inside the spool valve, which causes oil leakage and leads to deterioration of the spool valve performance. However, the current oil leakage calculation method only considers the influence of size errors, which is not comprehensive. Thus, how to characterize the mating behavior of the spool valve and its effect on oil leakage with consideration of surface topography errors is the key to evaluating the performance of the spool valve. This paper proposes a new way of analyzing the mating performance of precision spool valves, which considers the surface topography errors based on digital twin technology. Firstly, a general framework for the analysis of mating performance of precision spool valve based on a digital twin is proposed. Then, key technologies of assembly interface geometry modeling, matching behavior modeling and performance analysis are studied. Finally, a quantitative correlation between the mating parameters and the oil leakage of the precision spool valve is revealed. The method is tested on a practical case. This proposed method can provide theoretical support for the accurate prediction and evaluation of the mating performance of the precision spool valve.

Influence of Mates Virginity on Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: stratiomyidae) Mating Performance

Hermetia illucens (L.), the black soldier fly (BSF), has raised attention due to its potential in solving various organic waste prob-lems and the benefits of the prepupa biomass as an alternative highly nutritious livestock feed. The availability of BSF populations strongly depends on mating success and reproduction. The mechanism of sex-ual selection during the mating period also determines the success rate of mating and reproduction and the survivorship of the offspring. Here, we analyzed how the influence of different mating status (virgin-ity) of mating pairs on mating success, daily oviposition, the number of eggs and fertility of eggs. BSF reared in semi-outdoor screen cages with five replication and four treatment of mates virginity combina-tion. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess differences in mating and reproductive performance among treatment. Male and female BSF performed the remating activity. The virginity of males and females significantly influenced mating and oviposition frequen-cy. Mate choice was influenced by the virginity of mates. However, vir-ginity status of mates did not affect the number of eggs, eggs weight, and eggs fertility. Understanding of mate selection behavior in rela-tion to virginity in BSF served as important information to obtain the sustain population in the various scale of rearing design applicat

Male-lure type, lure dosage, and fly age at feeding all influence male mating success in Jarvis’ fruit fly

Males of certain Dacini fruit flies are strongly attracted to, and feed upon, plant secondary compounds such as methyl eugenol, raspberry ketone and zingerone. The consumed lure is generally found to induce physiological and behavioural changes that enhance the mating performance of lure-fed males. Male Bactrocera jarvisi respond strongly to zingerone from a young age, but only weakly respond to raspberry ketone. We hypothesized that this selective lure-response would be reflected in the physiological importance of the lure to the fly. We found that zingerone feeding by young males resulted in significantly greater mating success in competitive mating trials with lure-deprived flies, but the mating advantage was lost in older males. Lure dosage had a significant effect on the duration of the mating advantage, for example when fed 20 µg of zingerone, the advantage lasted only 1 day post-feeding, but when fed of 50 µg zingerone the advantage lasted 7 days. Raspberry ketone feeding did not confer any mating advantage to males except at one dosage (50 µg) for 1 day after feeding. When given a choice, B. jarvisi females preferred to mate with zingerone-fed versus to raspberry ketone-fed males. This study revealed lure, dosage and age of fly at time of lure administration are all important factors for maximising lure-enhanced fruit fly mating performance. These findings contribute to a better theoretical understanding of the evolution of fruit fly-lure interactions and may help improve fruit fly pest management via the Sterile Insect Technique through semiochemical-mediated enhancement of sterile male mating performance.

Gamma Irradiation and Male Glossina austeni Mating Performance

An area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) strategy with a sterile insect technique (SIT) component has been proposed for the management of African animal trypanosomosis (AAT) in South Africa. In preparation for the SIT, the mating performance of colony reared Glossina austeni males under influencing factors such as radiation dose and the development stage that is exposed to radiation, was assessed under laboratory and semi-field conditions. The radiation sensitivity of G. austeni colonized 37 years ago when treated as adults and late-stage pupae was determined. Radiation doses of 80 Gy and 100 Gy induced 97–99% sterility in colony females that mated with colony males treated as adults or pupae. Males irradiated either as adults or pupae with a radiation dose of 100 Gy showed similar insemination ability and survival as untreated males. Walk-in field cage assessments indicated that a dose of up to 100 Gy did not adversely affect the mating performance of males irradiated as adults or late stage pupae. Males irradiated as adults formed mating pairs faster than fertile males and males irradiated as pupae. The mating performance studies indicated that the colonized G. austeni males irradiated as adults or late stage pupae will still be suited for SIT.

Under pressure: predation risk defining mating investment in matured spider mite Tetranychus urticae

The emergence of anti-predatory strategies for prey survival are ruled by the minimization of the encounters/interactions with potential predators, but at the same time by maximizing the access to limiting resources such as food or mating partners. Cues indicating predatory activity influence decision-making activities in the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae, such as dispersion, foraging activities, and reproductive effort. However, anti-predatory strategies studied in spider mites generally considers mainly the female perspective (e.g. oviposition), leaving a gap in how T. urticae couples deal with predatory risk. Here, through laboratory experiments, we observed that matured spider mite couples were only affected by predation risk during the pre-copulatory stages of the mating process, especially when deciding to proceed in a mating opportunity. The mating performance of individuals was independent of their exposure to predation risk, suggesting that couples would adopt full investment behavior after opting to proceed in a mating attempt. Though our working hypothesis predicted predation risk interference throughout the entire mating process, we conclude that decision-making activities by spider mite during pre-copulatory stages act independently from copulatory stages associated to insemination.

EFFECT OF ADVERTISED POLYHERBAL (AYURVEDIC) APHRODISIAC FORMULATIONS ON POTENT MALE ALBINO RATS

Objective: The objective of the study was to study aphrodisiac activity of polyherbals on albino Wistar rats. Methods: Play Win and Ayurex are examples of the already marketed polyherbal formulations (PHFs), which are used in this study to determine their mating behavior and mating performance test activities in albino Wistar rats. Results: Both the test drugs Play Win and Ayurex created noteworthy increase in the mounting behavior of animals. It was also observed that mounting behavior activity (number of mounts) in Play Win, in the 1st h and the 3rd h, was greater than Ayurex. Administration of suspension of a single dose of Play Win, Ayurex, and sildenafil citrate concluded in the increase in the mating performance of the rats. The result of Play Win was found to be less than that of Ayurex and nearly the same as that of sildenafil citrate. Conclusion: From the research of the above-mentioned formulations with comparison to the standard drug (sildenafil), it is concluded that the PHFs are capable of producing aphrodisiac activity.

The Association Between Mating Performance, Marital Status, and the Length of Singlehood: Evidence From Greece and China

A considerable proportion of people in postindustrial societies experience difficulties in intimate relationships and spend considerable time being single. In the current research, we attempted to examine mating performance, and occurrence and length of singlehood in a Greek ( N = 884) and a Chinese ( N = 2,041) sample. We found that, in both samples, about half of the participants experienced difficulties in intimate relationships. In addition, more than half of the participants were single, and nearly one in four participants indicated that they were single because they faced difficulties attracting a partner. Moreover, more than one in five singles in the Greek sample were without a partner for more than 3 years, and almost half of the singles in the Chinese sample had never been in a relationship. Mating performance predicted marital status, with low scorers being more likely to be single because they faced difficulties in attracting a partner than high scorers. Mating performance predicted also the length of singlehood, with low scorers spending more time being single than high scorers. In addition, singles who faced difficulties in attracting partners experienced lengthier spells of singlehood than other categories of singles. Furthermore, there were significantly more participants who preferred to be single and who never had a relationship in the Chinese than in the Greek sample. Overall, in both samples, a considerable proportion of participants experienced low mating performance, which was associated with increased incidence of prolonged spells of singlehood.

Tolerance to a Combination of Low Temperature and Sterilizing Irradiation in Male Glossina palpalis gambiensis (Diptera: Glossinidae): Simulated Transport and Release Conditions

Recently, aerial delivery of sterilized adult tsetse flies has been developed based on the release of chilled adult sterile males. The long-distance transport of irradiated male tsetse pupae for chilled adult release systems requires exposure of the mature pupae to irradiation and to low temperatures for both the pupae and adults. The effect of these treatments on mating of adult Glossina palpalis gambiensis (Vanderplank, Diptera: Glossinidae) males was investigated. Male G. p. gambiensis pupae were stored at 10°C for 5 d and irradiated with 110 Gy within the first 24 h of cold storage. In addition, to simulate a chilled adult release environment, 6-d-old adult males were stored at 5.1 ± 0.4°C for 6 or 30 h. Mating performance was compared to untreated controls in walk-in field cages. A significantly lower proportion of males that had been irradiated and stored at low temperature succeeded in securing a mating compared to untreated males. Premating time, copulation duration and spermathecal fill were similar. Insemination levels were slightly lower for adult males stored at low temperature for 30 h compared to 6 h or control. Although the mating behavior of the males was affected by the treatments given, the data presented confirm the suitability of using long-distance transport of chilled and irradiated male G. p. gambiensis pupae followed by releasing the emerged adult male flies using a chilled adult release system. However, the data indicate that the chilling duration of the adults should be minimized.