Ossicular replacement prostheses from banked bone with ergonomic and functional geometry.

This study shows the fabrication of innovative ossicular replacement prostheses (ORPs) based on banked cortical bone using computer numerically controlled ultraprecision micromilling, as a substantial improvement of "second generation" ORPs. Our aim is to combine optimal middle ear compatibility and surgical manageability in a single device, by releasing off-the-shelf homograft ORPs provided with the appealing features of synthetic ORPs, such as lightness, safety, measurement accuracy, surface decoration, and geometric plasticity. The new total ORP prototype was 13.

Analysis of the structural behaviour of colonic segments by inflation tests: Experimental activity and physio-mechanical model.

A coupled experimental and computational approach is provided for the identification of the structural behaviour of gastrointestinal regions, accounting for both elastic and visco-elastic properties. The developed procedure is applied to characterize the mechanics of gastrointestinal samples from pig colons. Experimental data about the structural behaviour of colonic segments are provided by inflation tests.

Is bigger better? Male body size affects wing-borne courtship signals and mating success in the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Variations in male body size are known to affect inter- and intrasexual selection outcomes in a wide range of animals. In mating systems involving sexual signaling before mating, body size often acts as a key factor affecting signal strength and mate choice. We evaluated the effect of male size on courtship displays and mating success of the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae).

The green leafhopper, Cicadella viridis (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Cicadellidae), jumps with near-constant acceleration.

Jumping insects develop accelerations that can greatly exceed gravitational acceleration. Although several species have been analysed using different tools, ranging from a purely physical to a morpho-physiological approach, instantaneous dynamic and kinematic data concerning the jumping motion are lacking. This is mainly due to the difficulty in observing in detail events that occur in a few milliseconds.