Cast Skin Research Articles

Estimating the Post-mortem Interval Using Black Larder Beetles (Coleoptera: Dermestidae): A Case Study of Cats Abandoned Indoors in Daegu, Korea

Black larder beetles prefer to feed on decomposing animal bodies, particularly those that are dried. When conditions are dry and warm, these beetles often appear in large numbers on dried animal carcasses. In our case, the dried carcasses of several cats were found nearly skeletonized at a villa in Daegu Metropolitan City on July 13, 2022. There were very few empty pupae of Lucilia sericata (Meigen) in the villa, but many adult black larder beetles, larvae, and larval cast skin (exuviae) (<i>Dermestes haemorrhoidalis</i> Küster) belonging to the family of larder beetles (Dermestidae) were found. We estimated the minimum post-mortem interval to be 44.5 days using temperature data from the nearest meteorological observatory and reported animal carcass decomposition and Dermestidae developmental rates. Police investigation confirmed that the cats were alive at least 3 months ago. Consequently, the neglected cats could not have been deceased in the villa for more than 3 months. As a result, the estimate closely matched the statement from the suspect.

The detailed microstructure of an alumina-zirconia-silica (AZS) fused cast refractory material from the cast skin into the bulk analyzed using EBSD

The interface of an industrially-produced block of an alumina-zirconia-silica (AZS) refractory material with the mold is extracted and prepared for analysis. The first 24 mm of crystal growth including the cast skin are analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) including energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDXS) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD).Apart from the bulk, two chemically different zones of crystallization occur near the interface to the mold. The growth model for this material begins with the primary crystallization of dendritic ZrO2 followed by secondary crystallization procedures in the respective crystallization zones. The layer adjacent to the mold crystallizes to form alumina, secondary ZrO2 and mullite. An 001-oriented layer of mullite with the c-axis oriented perpendicular to the mold material is formed in the second layer of crystallization while only alumina, zirconia and residual glass occur further in the bulk.

Physical and Clinical Evaluation of Hip Spica Cast applied with Three-slab Technique using Fibreglass Material.

Introduction: Hip spica casting is an important component of treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and popular treatment method for femur fractures in children. Breakage at the hip region is a relatively common problem of this cast. We have developed a three-slab technique of hip spica application using fibreglass as the cast material. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the physical durability of the spica cast and skin complications with its use.Methodology: A retrospective review of children with various conditions requiring hip spica immobilisation which was applied using our method. Study duration was from 1st of January 2014 until 31st December 2015. Our main outcomes were cast breakage and skin complications. For children with hip instability, the first cast would be changed after one month, and the second cast about two months later.Results: Twenty-one children were included, with an average age of 2.2 years. The most common indication for spica immobilisation was developmental dysplasia of the hip. One child had skin irritation after spica application. No spica breakage was noted.Conclusion: This study showed that the three-slab method of hip spica cast application using fibreglass material was durable and safe with low risk of skin complications.

An Investigation of the Effects of Cast Skin on the Mechanical Properties of an AM60 Die-Cast Magnesium Alloy

An Investigation of the Effects of Cast Skin on the Mechanical Properties of an AM60 Die-Cast Magnesium Alloy

Evaluation of the Machining Aspects of Austempered Ductile Iron

Exceptional properties, such as wear resistance, high strength and ductility, predestine austempered ductile iron (ADI) to substitute for forged steel, aluminum or ductile iron in technical components and parts. The advantages of ADI can be ascribed to the austenitic-ferritic matrix produced in a two-step austempering process. Even though ADI is already established for some industrial applications, machinability in the heat treated condition still hinders a more extensive usage. The machining of ADI is still ambitious, and especially the metallurgical aspects, such as the influence of the chemical composition and the cast skin, have not been taken into account in recent machining investigations. In this paper, the influence of the above mentioned metallurgical aspects on machinability are described and adapted machining strategies to counteract these obstacles will be presented.

Fungi species and red flour beetle in stored wheat flour under Jazan region conditions

Infection of stored wheat flour with insects and toxic fungi can be an extremely serious problem. This study was conducted to isolate and identify the fungal species and insects in different stages, which infested and contaminated the stored flour under Jazan region conditions and changed its color and flavor. The obtained results revealed that the isolated insect was the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum. Live adult, larvae and cast skin were isolated. Four Aspergillus species were isolated from stored wheat flour; the isolated species prevalence being A. flavus > A. niveus > A. terreus > A. niger by rate 44.5%, 37.8%, 10.9% and 6.7%, respectively. The same fungal species isolated from flour were also isolated from different insect stages. A. flavus was the most common fungus and A. niger was isolated with a lower rate. The results about the isolated fungi either from the suspension of adult insects, larvae or cast skins may confirm the role of T. castaneum to carry and distribute fungi in different parts of the stored flour.

Dacnusa cicerina (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae), A New Species of Endoparasitoid of Liriomyza cicerina (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

The larvae, pupa, adults, and venom apparatus of Dacnusa cicerina sp. n., an endoparasitoid of Liriomyza cicerina (Rondani), found on Cicer arietinum Linnaeus in Spain, are described, illustrated, and compared with those of allied species. The mature larva of Eurytoma sp., possibly a hyperparasitoid of D. cicerina, also is described, illustrated, and compared with those of allied species. Keys to discriminate adults are provided and morphological structures of phylogenetic value are discussed. The adults of D. cicerina are similar to those of Dacnusa rodriguezi Docavo & Tormos (1997). The immature larvae are similar to those of Dacnusa areolaris (Nees) and Dacnusa dryas (Nixon), and the mature larva is very similar to that of D. dryas, from which it differs in having scale-like sensilla (“setae”) on the thorax and abdomen. The cast skin of the final instar, like those described for Dacnusa Haliday, has a pleurostoma with well differentiated mandible processes and a long stipital sclerite. The venom apparatus of this species is very similar to that of Dacnusa flavicoxa Thomson, differing from it in length of the reservoir and the number of gland filaments. The mature larva of Eurytoma Illiger described here, despite its endoparasitoid nature, has well differentiated pleural and ventral setae.

Influence of elevated temperatures on the cyclic deformation behaviour of the magnesium die-cast alloys AZ91D and MRI 230D

The magnesium alloys AZ91D and MRI 230D were investigated in form of die-cast specimens with a cast skin. The fine-grained microstructure consists of a dendritic magnesium solid solution and interdentritic precipitates. The cyclic deformation behaviour was characterised in stress-controlled load increase tests and constant amplitude tests by means of mechanical stress–strain hysteresis measurements at room temperature and at T = 150 °C. The MRI alloy leads to higher plastic strain amplitudes and nevertheless higher lifetimes for both temperatures. Load increase tests allow a reliable short-time estimation of the endurance limit under both, room and elevated temperatures. With the physically based fatigue life calculation method “PHYBAL” the lifetime of the magnesium alloys can be calculated on the basis of cyclic deformation data determined in one load increase test and two constant amplitude tests in excellent agreement with the conventionally determined S– N curve.

鋳肌面を有するアルミ合金鋳物の疲労強度特性(金属組織と強度評価 OS.1)

鋳肌面を有するアルミ合金鋳物の疲労強度特性(金属組織と強度評価 OS.1)

Descriptions of adults, immature stages and venom apparatus of two new species of Dacnusini: Chorebus pseudoasphodeli sp. n., parasitic on Phytomyza chaerophili Kaltenbach and C. pseudoasramenes sp. n., parasitic on Cerodontha phragmitophila Hering (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae; Diptera: Agromyzidae)

The imagines, cast skin of the final larval instar, and venom apparatus of Chorebus pseudoasphodeli sp. n., an endoparasitoid of Phytomyza chaerophylli Kaltenbach, 1856 on Daucus carota L., and Chorebus pseudoasramenes sp. n., an endoparasitoid of Cerodontha phragmitophila Hering, 1935 on Arundo donax L., two new species of Dacnusini from Spain, are described, illustrated, and compared with those of allied species. The immature larvae, mature larva, and pupa of C. pseudoasphodeli sp. n. are also described, illustrated, and compared. Morphological structures of phylogenetic value are discussed, and keys for the discrimination of the imagines are provided.

Fatigue characteristics of aluminum cast alloy AC2B-T6 with cast skin

Fatigue characteristics of aluminum cast alloy AC2B-T6 with cast skin

312 アルミ鋳肌面の疲労強度に関する研究

312 アルミ鋳肌面の疲労強度に関する研究

Laboratory observations on the biology of Xenylla welchi (Collembola:Hexapoda) : Proceedings of the Xth international Colloquium on Apterygota, České Budějovice 2000: Apterygota at the Beginning of the Third Millennium

Egg batches of Xenylla welchi are laid in crevices, holes, exuviae, etc. In the present study, the total number of eggs per female varied between 134 and 148. The first batch of eggs was generally laid at the beginning of the sixth instar, on reaching of sexual maturity. The embryonic development was completed in 5 days at 26 °C to 30 °C, while it took 11 and 17 days at 20 ± 1 °C and 15 ± 1 °C, respectively. First instar animal usually hatched through a gradually widening slit in the exposed surface of the egg. Each moult was easily recognized by the presence of cast skin. The post-embryonic development was completed within 10.5 days at 26 °C to 30 °C and 20 days at 20 ± 1 °C. The individual life span was 83 days on average, comprising 22 moults.

Laboratory observations on the biology of Xenylla welchi (Collembola:Hexapoda)Proceedings of the Xth international Colloquium on Apterygota, České Budějovice 2000: Apterygota at the Beginning of the Third Millennium

Summary Egg batches of Xenylla welchi are laid in crevices, holes, exuviae, etc. In the present study, the total number of eggs per female varied between 134 and 148. The first batch of eggs was generally laid at the beginning of the sixth instar, on reaching of sexual maturity. The embryonic development was completed in 5 days at 26 °C to 30 °C, while it took 11 and 17 days at 20 ± 1 °C and 15 ± 1 °C, respectively. First instar animal usually hatched through a gradually widening slit in the exposed surface of the egg. Each moult was easily recognized by the presence of cast skin. The post-embryonic development was completed within 10.5 days at 26 °C to 30 °C and 20 days at 20 ± 1 °C. The individual life span was 83 days on average, comprising 22 moults.

Development of Orius vicinus (Ribaut) (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) on Different Prey

The survival, development and adult size of Orius vicinus were studied on five prey species, the mites Aculus schlechtendali, Panonychus ulmi and Tetranychus urticae, and larvae of the insects Dasineura mali and Thrips obscuratus. Survival was high (74-100%) and O. vicinus was able to complete development on all prey species in an average of 22-26 days at 20 C. The most rapid development occurred on T. obscuratus, T. urticae and P. ulmi. Adult size was estimated from the length of the fifth instar cast skin, which averaged 2.18 to 2.48 mm on different prey. The largest bugs were obtained from feeding on T. obscuratus or D. mali. O. vicinus, which were fed A. schlechtendali, were the slowest to develop and produced the smallest adults. The results are discussed in relation to prey availability and observed predation in the field, and are compared with previous feeding studies.

Cast Skin Lipids of the Indian Python (Python molurus bivittatus, Kühl, 1820)

Cast skins of various snakes and in addition one lizard were found to contain 3.5-8.6% extractable lipid material. Lipids obtained from a cast skin of the Indian python were analyzed in detail indicating the presence of hydrocarbons (squalene, cholestadiene and alkanes), monoester waxes, sterol esters, diester waxes, triglycerides, sterols, free fatty acids and even more polar lipids. Among the monoester wax constituents odd-numbered secondary alkanols were found. It is assumed that the above lipids originate from cells of the past integumental generation and that they play an important facilitating role during the sloughing process.

Identification, accumulation, and biosynthesis of the cuticular hydrocarbons of the southern armyworm, Spodoptera eridania (cramer) (lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

AbstractThe accumulation and biosynthesis of cuticular and internal hydrocarbons in the Southern armyworm, Spodoptera eridania, were examined at closely timed intervals during larval and pupal development. Gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) was used to identify n‐alkanes, monomethylalkanes, and dimethylalkanes ranging in chain length from 23 to 35 carbons. The amount of cuticular hydrocarbon stayed relatively constant during each stadium, while the amount of internal hydrocarbon increased dramatically during the first half of each larval stadium, presumably to replace the cuticular hydrocarbon lost on the shed cast skin with each molt. The accumulation of internal hydrocarbon was mirrored by large increases in the rate of incorporation of labeled acetate into the hydrocarbon fraction. Hydrocarbon production fell to very low rates during the latter part of the fourth and fifth larval stadia. Relatively high rates of hydrocarbon production were observed during the first and last one‐third of the pupal stage and essentially all of the hydrocarbons produced during this stage remained internal. These data document large changes in the rates of hydrocarbon production during development in S. eridania and suggest that most of the hydrocarbon produced during each stage was stored internally and then transported to the cuticle of the next stage.

DIPALTA SERPENTINA OSTEN SACKEN (DIPTERA: BOMBYLIIDAE) AS A PREDATOR ON PUPAE OF THE ANTLION MYRMELEON IMMACULATUS DEGEER (NEUROPTERA: MYRMELEONTIDAE) IN CALIFORNIA

The first record of Dipalta serpentina Osten Sacken, 1877, preying on larvae of Myrmeleon immaculatus DeGeer, 1773, was by Smith (1934: 136-137), who stated that the fly larvae were “parasitic” on the antlion larvae. Cole and Schlinger (1969: 251) stated that the fly larva of this species “…is parasitic on the larvae of Myrmeleontidae.”Although the fly larvae may prey upon the larvae of the antlion, we have established that they definitely prey upon the antlion pupae (Fig. 1). Judging from the emergence dates (early September 1988) of the flies, each had preyed upon an antlion pupa within its cocoon. Each antlion cocoon had one hole in it. An examination of the contents of each antlion cocoon revealed the cast skin of the antlion larva and the empty, clear skin of the antlion pupa. The pupal skins were not split open, which they would have been if the adult antlion had emerged. They were shrivelled, and looked much as if the contents had been sucked out.

Dynamics of hydrocarbon biosynthesis and transport to the cuticle during pupal and early adult development in the cabbage looper Trichoplusia ni (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Hydrocarbons are synthesized at specific time periods during pupal development: between 40–90 h after the pupal molt and 10–12 h before adult emergence, with very low levels of synthesis at other times. These newly synthesized hydrocarbons remain internal and are not deposited on the pupal cuticle. Methylalkanes are synthesized between 40–90 h after the pupal molt while n- alkanes appear at the end of the pupal stage. Hydrocarbon is synthesized by the tissue associated with the pupal case and it is then transferred to an, as yet undetermined, internal storage site. Approximately 5 h before the adult emerges, methylalkanes are deposited on the adult cuticle and deposition continues, although at a slower rate, during the following 24 h. n- Alkanes appear on the adult cuticle 1 day after emergence. Trichoplusia ni does not reabsorb its cuticular hydrocarbons prior to molting, but rather discards them with the cast skin. Internal hydrocarbons synthesized during the previous stadium are deposited on the cuticle of the new instar upon molting. Adult males and females incorporate both [1- 14C]acetate and [1- 14C]propionate into hydrocarbons but no newly synthesized hydrocarbons are deposited on the adult cuticle.

A comparison of techniques used to study the morphology of final instar larvae of aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae)

Abstract. The morphology of the head sclerites of final instar larvae of aphid parasitoids prepared from cast larval skins and excised heads of whole larvae are compared, using both optical and scanning electron microscopy. Remarkable differences in the apparent shape of head sclerites, particularly mandibles, were found. Some of these differences are probably due to a consistent dorso‐ventral flattening of the head during moulting, observed in cast skin preparations, whereas excised heads tend to flatten antero‐posteriorly. The importance of these findings for understanding the three‐dimensional shape of final instar mandibles and for the study of larval morphology and taxonomy of Hymenoptera is discussed