Macro-/Micro-Structures of Elytra, Mechanical Properties of the Biomaterial and the Coupling Strength Between Elytra in Beetles

Macro-/Micro-structures and mechanical properties of the elytra of beetles were studied. The Scan Electron Microscope (SEM) and optical microscopy were employed to observe the macro-/micro-structure of the surface texture and cross-section structure of elytra. Nano-indentation was carried out to measure the elastic modulus and the hardness of elytra. Tensile strengths of elytra in lateral and longitudinal directions were measured by a muhifunctional testing machine. The coupling force between elytra was also measured and the clocking mechanism was studied. SEM images show the similar geometric structure in transverse and longitudinal sections and multilayer-dense epicuticle and exocuticle, followed by bridge piers with a helix structured fibers, which connect the exocuticle to the endodermis, and form an ellipse empty to reduce the structure weight. The elastic modulus and the hardness are topologically distributed and the mechanical parameters of fresh elytra are much higher than those of dried elytra. The tensile strength of the fresh biological material is twice that of dried samples, but there is no clear difference between the data in lateral and longitudinal directions. Coupling forces measured are 6.5 to 160 times of beetles' bodyweight, which makes the scutellum very important in controlling the open and close of the elytra. The results provide a biological template to inspire lightweight structure design for aerospace engineering.     

Coupling between elytra of some beetles: Mechanism, forces and effect of surface texture

Lightweight materials, structures and coupling mechanisms are very important for realizing advanced flight vehicles. Here, we obtained the geometric structures and morphologies of the elytra of beetles and ascertained its coupling zone by using the histological section technique and SEM. We set up a three-dimensional motion observing system to monitor the opening and closing behaviour of elytra in beetles and to determine the motion mechanism. We constructed a force measuring system to measure the coupling forces between elytra. The results show that elytra open and close by rotating about a single axle, where the coupling forces may be as high as 160 times its own bodyweight, the elytra coupling with the tenon and mortise mechanism, surface texture and opening angle between elytra heavily influence the coupling forces. These results may provide insights into the design mechanism and structure for future vehicles of flight.     

五种木兰属植物的花粉形态

对木兰属(Magnolia)5种花粉进行了光学显微镜观察,形态相似。扫描电镜下观察,花粉外壁均为小穴状纹饰,荷花玉兰(M．grandiflora)略为粗糙。透射电镜下观察,5种花粉外壁均可分为覆盖层、柱状层和基层。覆盖层不连续,有小穿孔。在远极面萌发沟区域,外壁逐渐减薄,最后覆盖层和柱状层消失,仅残留基层。柱状层内部空隙较小,多由颗粒构成,处于小柱发育的初级阶段。荷花玉兰和玉兰萌发沟区域下有明显的外壁-2。木兰属花粉属于原始类型的代表。     

Mechanical Properties of the Rhizome of Arundo donax L.

Abstract: The mechanical properties of rhizome segments of Arundo donax L. were studied in three dimensions: longitudinal (X), transverse-vertical (Y), transverse-horizontal (Z). Tensile, cyclic loading and torsional tests demonstrate that the distinct anisotropy found in the hollow stems is less pronounced in the rhizome. Morphological and anatomical examinations suggest that the mechanical anisotropy of the stem is caused by the arrangement parallel to the stem of the vascular bundles and sclerenchymatous fibres, embedded in lignified parenchyma. Anatomical inhomogeneity is less pronounced in the rhizome due to the short internode lengths, and predominance of nodal regions, where sclerenchymatous fibres form a complex three-dimensional arrangement embedded in unlignified starch-storing parenchyma. Cyclic loading experiments indicate viscoelastic behaviour of the rhizomatous tissues under tensile stress. Additionally, viscoelastic behaviour under torsional stress was studied. Mechanical behaviour of the rhizome under tension up to fracture is discussed with regard to the fracture surfaces, analysed by SEM.     

Sequential Blade‐Coated Acceptor and Donor Enables Simultaneous Enhancement of Efficiency,Stability, and Mechanical Properties for Organic Solar Cells

As a predominant fabrication method of organic solar cells (OSCs), casting of a bulk heterojunction (BHJ) structure presents overwhelming advantages for achieving higher power conversion efficiency (PCE). However, long‐term stability and mechanical strength are significantly crucial to realize large‐area and flexible devices. Here, controlling blend film morphology is considered as an effective way toward co‐optimizing device performance, stability, and mechanical properties. A PCE of 12.27% for a P‐i‐N‐structured OSC processed by sequential blade casting (SBC) is reported. The device not only outperforms the as‐cast BHJ devices (11.01%), but also shows impressive stability and mechanical properties. The authors corroborate such enhancements with improved vertical phase separation and purer phases toward more efficient transport and collection of charges. Moreover, adaptation of SBC strategy here will result in thermodynamically favorable nanostructures toward more stable film morphology, and thus improving the stability and mechanical properties of the devices. Such co‐optimization of OSCs will pave ways toward realizing the highly efficient, large‐area, flexible devices for future endeavors.     

Effects of Grain Boundaries and Surfaces on Electronic and Mechanical Properties of Solid Electrolytes

Extended defects, including exposed surfaces and grain boundaries (GBs), are critical to the properties of polycrystalline solid electrolytes in all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs). These defects can alter the mechanical and electronic properties of solid electrolytes, with direct manifestations in the performance of ASSBs. Here, by building a library of 590 surfaces and grain boundaries of 11 relevant solid electrolytes—including halides, oxides, and sulfides— their electronic, mechanical, and thermodynamic characteristics are linked to the functional properties of polycrystalline solid electrolytes. It is found that the energy required to mechanically “separate” grain boundaries can be significantly lower than in the bulk region of materials, which can trigger preferential cracking of solid electrolyte particles in the grain boundary regions. The brittleness of ceramic solid electrolytes, inferred from the predicted low fracture toughness at the grain boundaries, contributes to their cracking under local pressure imparted by lithium (sodium) penetration in the grain boundaries. Extended defects of solid electrolytes introduce new electronic interfacial states within bandgaps of solid electrolytes. These states alter and possibly increase locally the availability of free electrons and holes in solid electrolytes. Factoring effects arising from extended defects appear crucial to explain electrochemical and mechanical observations in ASSBs.     

New Neotropical Species of the Genus Frankliniella Karny (Insecta: Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Four new species of the genus Frankliniella Karny are described, two from Chile, F. rahakana sp. n. and F. otites sp. n.; one from Costa Rica, F. senckenbergiana sp. n. and one from Argentina, F. amigoi sp. n. F. rahakana sp. n. belongs to the ‘intonsa group’ and the other three to the ‘minuta group’ of Frankliniella.     

木莲属(木兰科)5种植物的花粉形态

光学显微镜下观察的木莲属(Manglietia)5种植物的花粉形态相似。长赤道轴大于45μm,属于大的花粉。扫描电镜下观察,花粉外壁均为小穴状雕纹,但毛桃木莲(Manglietia moto)和厚叶木莲(M．pachyphylla)略为粗糙。透射电镜下观察,5种植物花粉外壁均可分为覆盖层、柱状层和基层。覆盖层不连续,有小穿孔。在远极面萌发沟区域,外壁逐渐减薄,最后覆盖层和柱状层消失,仅残留基层。柱状层内空间较密实,内部空隙小,多由颗粒构成,处于小柱发育的初级阶段。孢粉学资料证明木莲属是木兰科最原始的类群。     

中国5种常见宽广蜡蝉形态比较研究

为了给农林业生产中的宽广蜡蝉属Pochazia常见种类提供准确鉴别依据,补充广翅蜡蝉科Ricaniidae昆虫分类的形态学资料,对5种中国常见的宽广蜡蝉(眼斑宽广蜡蝉P.discreta、圆纹宽广蜡蝉P.guttifera、柿宽广蜡蝉P.sublimata、山东宽广蜡蝉P.shantungensis和阔带宽广蜡蝉P.confuse)的外部形态和雌雄外生殖器结构进行了比较研究。结果表明:这5种宽广蜡蝉在外部形态特征(体色、身体各部分比例及前、后翅斑纹)、雄性外生殖器构造(尾节、肛节、阳茎干)及雌性外生殖器构造(肛节、第一产卵瓣、第三产卵瓣)上既有相似性,又存在一定的种间差异,这些差异特征可作为种间鉴别的分类依据。5种宽广蜡蝉的雌性外生殖器构造均为首次报道,此外,还给出了这5种宽广蜡蝉的整体形态图、局部特征图和雌雄外生殖器特征图,以及在中国分布的10种宽广蜡蝉分种检索表。     

Mechanical Properties of Collagen Biomimetic Films Formed in the Presence of Calcium,Silica and Chitosan

Using eucollagen solutions from ox hide, we cast collagen films to assess the influence of calcium and silica on the reconstitution of the fibrous structure of collagen. The tensile strength and the breaking elongation of the reconstituted collagen films were measured and analysed. Significant differences were observed between reconstituted collagen films with and without calcium and silica. The breaking elongation of the films obtained in the presence of silica was significantly greater, and the degradation was lower than other films of reconstituted collagen. Collagen and chitosan do not exist together as blends in nature, but the specific properties of each may be used to produce in biomimetic way man-made blends with biomedical applications, that confer unique structural, mechanical （detail） and in vivo properties.     

Quasi-Static and Dynamic Nanoindentation of Some Selected Biomaterials

This study details an investigation of the viscoelastic behavior of some biomaterials （nacre, cattle horn and beetle cuticle） at lamellar length scales using quasi-static and dynamic nanoindentation techniques in the materials＇ Transverse Direction （TD） and Longitudinal Direction （LD）. Our results show that nacre exhibits high fracture toughness moving towards a larger cam- paniForm as the stress frequency varies from 10 Hz to 200 Hz. Elytra cuticle exhibits the least fracture toughness presenting little energy dissipation in TD. It was initially speculated that the fracture toughness of the subject materials would be directly related to energy-dissipating mechanisms （mechanical hysteresis）, but not the maximum value of the loss tangent tan＆ However, it was found that the materials＇ elastic modulus and hardness are similar in both the TD and LD when assessed using the quasi-static nanoindentation method, but not dynamic nanoindentation. It is believed that the reported results can be useful in the design of new crack arrest and damping materials based on biological counterparts.     

杉木人工林木材力学性质与纤维形态关系的研究

应用正交试验设计方法对不同林龄、立地条件和林分密下杉木人林木材力学性质,纤维形态的测定结果为基础,采用多元线性回归方法,对杉木人工林木材力学性质与纤维形态的关系进行相关分析和回归分析,结果表明：杉木人工林木材顺纹抗压强度,抗弯强度等十一项力学性质指标与纤维长度,纤维宽度、壁厚、腔径、壁腔比之间存在极显著的相关关系。     

Enhanced Thermoelectric and Mechanical Properties in Yb0.3Co4Sb12 with In Situ Formed CoSi Nanoprecipitates

Filled Skutterudites are one group of the most promising thermoelectric materials in real power generation applications. Herein, homogeneously dispersed multiscale CoSi nanostructures are successfully embedded into grains of the classic skutterudite system, Yb_0.3Co₄Sb₁₂, by the in situ precipitation method. Such nanoprecipitates contribute much to the synergistic enhancement of thermoelectric and mechanical properties. On one hand, by the fine deployment of multiscale CoSi nanoparticles, the lattice thermal conductivity is significantly depressed almost to the theoretical limit because of the disrupted propagation of the heat‐carrying phonons at phase boundaries. On the other hand, low‐energy electrons are effectively screened due to the energy filtering effect by the interfacial potential barrier between the CoSi nanoprecipitate and the matrix, resulting in an enhanced power factor. Taken together, an enhanced peak ZT value of ≈1.5 at 873 K for the Yb_0.3Co₄Sb₁₂/0.05CoSi composite is obtained with a high average ZT ≈0.95 between 300 and 873 K through decoupling the electrical and thermal transport parameters. Moreover, such a microstructure with multiscale CoSi nanoparticles shows significantly improved mechanical properties owing to particle hardening, making it more competitive for practical applications.     

Novel In Silico Analyses of Repetitive Spider Silk Sequences to Understand the Evolution and Mechanical Properties of Fibrous Protein Materials

The mechanical properties of spider silks have diverged as spiders have diversely speciated. Because the main components of silks are proteins, it is valuable to investigate their sequences. However, silk sequences have been regarded as difficult information to analyze due to their imbalance and imperfect tandem repeats (ITR). Here, an in silico approach is applied to systemically analyze a group of silk sequences. It is found that every time new spider groups emerge, unique trimer motifs appear. These trimer motifs are used to find additional clues of evolution and to determine relationships with mechanical properties. For the first time, crucial evidence is provided that shows silk sequences coevolved with spider species and the mechanical properties of their fibers to adapt to new living environments. This novel approach can be used as a platform for analyzing other groups of ITR‐harboring proteins and to obtain information for the design of tailor‐made fibrous protein materials.     

Effects of Rice Hull Particle Size and Content on the Mechanical Properties and Visual Appearance of Wood Plastic Composites Prepared from Poly(vinyl chloride)

This research aims to develop Wood Plastic Composites (WPCs) from rice hull and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). The influences of the rice hull particle size and content on the mechanical properties and the visual appearance of the WPC decking board were investigated. The experimental results revealed that the impact strength tended to decrease with increasing rice hull content. The composites with larger particle sizes exhibited higher impact strength. Under tensile and flexure load, higher rice hull content induced greater modulus and ultimate strength when the rice hull was applied at less than 60 phr. Beyond this concentration, the modulus and the strength dropped due to the formation of rice hull agglomerates. The smaller particles of the milled rice hull, the greater tendency there was for them to act as a pigment to form a darker shade close that of the rice hull on the composite decking board. The larger particle sizes were 106 μm and beyond simply embedded in the white PVC matrix.     

Flexural and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Alkali-Treated Coir/Pineapple Leaf Fibres Reinforced Polylactic Acid Hybrid Biocomposites

Polylactic acid(PLA)possesses good mechanical and biodegradability properties which make it a suitable material for polymer composites whereas brittleness and high costs limit its utilization in various applications.The reinforcement of natural fibres with biopolymers has been formed to be an efficient technique to develop composites having the ability to be fully biodegradable.This study concerns with the incorporation of various percentages of untreated and alkali-treated Coir Fibres(CF)and pineapple leaf fibres(PALF)in PLA biocomposites and characterizations of flexural,morphological and dynamic mechanical properties.Flexural properties showed that the treated C1P1 hybrid composites(C1P1A)displayed highest flexural strength(35.81 MPa)and modulus(5.28 GPa)among all hybrid biocomposites.Scanning Electron Micros-copy(SEM)revealed a behaviour of fibre-matrix adhesion in untreated treated biocomposites.SEM observation revealed good dispersion of the fillers in PLA.Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that C1P1A showed highest glass transition temperature(Tg)and storage modulus(E')while untreated C3P7 displayed the least Tg and E'.Overall findings showed that alkali-treated hybrid biocomposites(CF/PALF/PLA)especially C1P1A have improved flexural properties,dynamic and morphological properties over untreated biocomposites.Success of these findings will provide attracting consideration of these hybrid biocomposites for various lightweight uses in a broad selection of industrial applications such as biomedical sectors,automobile,construction,electronics equipment,and hardware tools.     

Tailoring the Mechanical and Electrochemical Properties of an Artificial Interphase for High‐Performance Metallic Lithium Anode

Lithium metal is regarded as the “Holy Grail” of anode materials due to its low electrochemical potential and high theoretical capacity. Unfortunately, its unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) leads to low Coulombic efficiency (CE) and serious safety issues. Herein, a hybrid nanoscale polymeric protective film with tunable composition and improved stiffness is developed by incorporating aluminum crosslinkers into the polymer chains. The Li plating/stripping process is regulated through the protective coating and the dendrite growth is effectively suppressed. Promisingly, the protected Li can deliver stable performance for more than 350 h with a cycling capacity of 2 mAh cm^?2 without a notable increase in overpotential. Moreover, a stable charge/discharge cycling in Li–O₂ batteries with the protected Li can be maintained for more than 600 h. This work provides guidance on the rational design of electrode interfaces and opens up new opportunities for the fabrication of next‐generation energy storage systems.