Weighting of Celestial and Terrestrial Cues in the Monarch Butterfly Central Complex.

Monarch butterflies rely on external cues for orientation during their annual long-distance migration from Northern US and Canada to Central Mexico. These external cues can be celestial cues, such as the sun or polarized light, which are processed in a brain region termed the central complex (CX). Previous research typically focused on how individual simulated celestial cues are encoded in the butterfly's CX.

Effects of higher protein formula with improved fat blend on growth, feeding tolerance and nutritional biomarkers in preterm infants: A double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Background: Preterm formulas containing greater protein:energy ratio are beneficial for non-breastfed infants, since protein is critical for promoting catch-up growth and synthesis of lean body mass. Additionally, formulas containing enriched sn-2 palmitate (sn-2) and reduced medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) may support better feeding tolerance and nutrient utilization.

Methods: The objective of this randomized, controlled, double-blinded clinical trial is to evaluate growth, feeding tolerance and nutritional biomarkers of preterm infants with birth weight ≤2000g and gestational age ≤33wks from one neonatal unit in Vietnam receiving experimental formula (EF, n = 80) containing higher protein level of 3.

Sun compass neurons are tuned to migratory orientation in monarch butterflies.

Every autumn, monarch butterflies migrate from North America to their overwintering sites in Central Mexico. To maintain their southward direction, these butterflies rely on celestial cues as orientation references. The position of the sun combined with additional skylight cues are integrated in the central complex, a region in the butterfly's brain that acts as an internal compass.

Mutagenesis of odorant coreceptor fully disrupts foraging but not oviposition behaviors in the hawkmoth .

The hawkmoth and one of its preferred hosts in the North American Southwest, , share a model insect-plant relationship based on mutualistic and antagonistic life-history traits. is the innately preferred nectar source and oviposition host for Hence, the hawkmoth is an important pollinator while the larvae are specialized herbivores of the plant. Olfactory detection of plant volatiles plays a crucial role in the behavior of the hawkmoth.