Leucokinin and Associated Neuropeptides Regulate Multiple Aspects of Physiology and Behavior in Drosophila

Leucokinins (LKs) constitute a family of neuropeptides identified in numerous insects and many other invertebrates. LKs act on G-protein-coupled receptors that display only distant relations to other known receptors. In adult Drosophila, 26 neurons/neurosecretory cells of three main types express LK. The four brain interneurons are of two types, and these are implicated in several important functions in the fly’s behavior and physiology, including feeding, sleep–metabolism interactions, state-dependent memory formation, as well as modulation of gustatory sensitivity and nociception. The 22 neurosecretory cells (abdominal LK neurons, ABLKs) of the abdominal neuromeres co-express LK and a diuretic hormone (DH44), and together, these regulate water and ion homeostasis and associated stress as well as food intake. In Drosophila larvae, LK neurons modulate locomotion, escape responses and aspects of ecdysis behavior. A set of lateral neurosecretory cells, ALKs (anterior LK neurons), in the brain express LK in larvae, but inconsistently so in adults. These ALKs co-express three other neuropeptides and regulate water and ion homeostasis, feeding, and drinking, but the specific role of LK is not yet known. This review summarizes Drosophila data on embryonic lineages of LK neurons, functional roles of individual LK neuron types, interactions with other peptidergic systems, and orchestrating functions of LK.     

Current advances concerning the most cited metal ions doped bioceramics and silicate-based bioactive glasses for bone tissue engineering

Studies related to biomaterials that stimulate the repair of living tissue have increased considerably, improving the quality of many people's lives that require surgery due to traumatic accidents, bone diseases, bone defects, and reconstructions. Among these biomaterials, bioceramics and bioactive glasses (BGs) have proved to be suitable for coating materials, cement, scaffolds, and nanoparticles, once they present good biocompatibility and degradability, able to generate osteoconduction on the surrounding tissue. However, the role of biomaterials in hard tissue engineering is not restricted to a structural replacement or for guiding tissue regeneration. Nowadays, it is expected that biomaterials develop a multifunctional role when implanted, orchestrating the process of tissue regeneration and providing to the body the capacity to heal itself. In this way, the incorporation of specific metal ions in bioceramics and BGs structure, including magnesium, silver, strontium, lithium, copper, iron, zinc, cobalt, and manganese are currently receiving enhanced interest as biomaterials for biomedical applications. When an ion is incorporated into the bioceramic structure, a new category of material is created, which has several unique properties that overcome the disadvantages of primitive material and favors its use in different biomedical applications. The doping can enhance handling properties, angiogenic and osteogenic performance, and antimicrobial activity. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the effect of selected metal ion dopants into bioceramics and silicate-based BGs in bone tissue engineering. Furthermore, new applications for doped bioceramics and BGs are highlighted, including cancer treatment and drug delivery.     

Er3+-Yb3+ ions doped fluoro-aluminosilicate glass-ceramics as a temperature-sensing material

The transparent Er³⁺-Yb³⁺-doped fluoro-aluminosilicate glass-ceramic (GC) was prepared by melt-quenching. The crystal phase, morphology, and up-conversion (UC) luminescence of as-produced GC were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and fluorescence spectrophotometry, respectively. The results show that BaYF₅ nanocrystals were uniformly distributed in the glass matrix of the as-produced GC. When the as-produced GC was subjected to heat treatment, the crystallinity was increased, but the crystal identity remains unchanged. Such heat-treatment doubled the intensity of the UC luminescence, and this enhancement was ascribed to the increased incorporation of both Er³⁺ and Yb³⁺ ions into the lower phonon energy environment of BaYF₅ nanocrystals. Furthermore, the heat-treated GC was stable against further crystallization, and consequently its UC luminescence was stable at the application temperature. The heat-treated GC was found to possess an outstanding temperature-sensing capability.     

A simulation study of protons heated by left/right-handed Alfvén waves generated by electromagnetic proton-proton instability

Most protons in the solar wind belong to one of two different populations,the less dense beam protons and the denser core protons.The beam protons,with a velocity of(1-2)VA(VA is the local Alfvén speed),always drift relative to the core protons;this kind of distribution is unstable and stimulates several kinds of wave mode.In this study,using a 2D hybrid simulation model,we find that the original right-handed elliptically polarized Alfvén waves become linearly polarized,and eventually become right-handed and circularly polarized.Given that linearly polarized waves are a superposition of left-handed and right-handed waves,cyclotron resonance in the right-handed/left-handed component heats beam/core protons perpendicularly.The resonance between beam protons and right-handed polarized waves is stronger when the beam relative density is lower,resulting in more dramatic perpendicular heating of beam protons,whereas the situation is reversed when the beam relative density is larger.     

Boosted 2D graphene nanosheets by organic-inorganic hybrid cross-linker for an efficient and stable supercapacitor

Using covalent graphene derivatives in energy storage applications is promising. From this view, covalently cross-linked graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets are designed using polyoligomeric silsesquioxanes-propyl-NH₂ (POPN). Then, by incorporating cobalt sulfide nanoparticles into the porous scaffold, a high-value nanocomposite is formed. In a typical three-electrode cell, this nanocomposite declared substantial specific capacity of 454 and 438 Fg^-1 using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and charge-discharge (GCD) assessments. The device is assembled via two identical electrodes containing RGO-SiO₃-NH2-poss-NH2-SiO₃-RGO/cobalt sulfide (RGO-Si-POPN-Si-RGO/CoS₂). Utilizing CV and GCD methods, specific capacitances of 328 and 315 Fg^-1 are realized at a sweep rate and current density of 2 mVs^?1 and 0.5 Ag^-1, respectively. The device presents desirable energy density of 18.5 Whkg^?1 at the power density of 325 Wkg^-1. More impressively, around 97.9% of the specific capacitance is retained after 5000 charge-discharge cycles. The results confirm exceptional capacitive capabilities and super stability of the nanocomposite suitable for practical systems.     

基于设计事理学的儿童情感陪伴玩具研究

目的 从设计事理学视角，探讨儿童情感陪伴玩具的设计方法。方法 通过社会调研结合理论分析，提炼7～12岁城市留守儿童情感陪伴玩具中“事”的各外部因素与内部因素，建立合理的儿童情感陪伴玩具设计模型及评价体系。运用案例分析法，结合儿童情感陪伴玩具设计案例与实践，验证设计事理学在实际儿童情感陪伴玩具设计中的应用价值。结论 探索儿童情感陪伴玩具的设计路径，以Combot——具有情感陪伴与寓教于乐功能的儿童情感陪伴玩具为实践案例，证明了基于设计事理学的儿童情感陪伴玩具设计方法是有效可行的，可有效指导儿童玩具设计，满足父母与孩子的情感需求，促进儿童健康成长。     

Atomic-level insights into the modification mechanism of Fe (III) ion on smithsonite (1 0 1) surface from DFT calculation

Fe(III) ion can strongly inhibit the sulphidation amine flotation of smithsonite. However, its modification mechanism on smithsonite surface is still obscure. In this work, a systematic study of the modification of Fe(III) ion on smithsonite (1 0 1) surface was performed using DFT calculation. The optimal number of H₂O ligands for Fe(III) ion hydrates in aqueous conditions was probed, and [Fe(OH)₂(H₂O)₄]⁺ and [Fe(OH)₄]^? were identified as the major modification species, then their adsorption and bonding mechanisms were further revealed by analyzing the frontier orbitals, density of state, Mulliken population, and electron density. The calculated adsorption structures were consistent with the former experiment, and we found the O site that bonded to the C atom on smithsonite surface was the most favorable position for [Fe(OH)₂(H₂O)₄]⁺ and [Fe(OH)₄]^? adsorptions. Besides, their adsorption mechanisms on smithsonite surface were principally due to the combined effect of FeO bond and hydrogen bonding. Simultaneously, hydrogen bonding greatly enhanced the stability of the adsorption structures. Moreover, the dominant orbital contribution for the bonding of FeO was primarily due to the orbital hybridization between Fe 3d and O 2p orbitals. This work can help in deeper understanding of the depression of Fe(III) ion on the sulphidation amine flotation of smithsonite.     

Real time power management strategy for fuel cell hybrid electric bus based on Lyapunov stability theorem

The fuel cell/battery durability and hybrid system stability are major considerations for the power management of fuel cell hybrid electric bus (FCHEB) operating on complicated driving conditions. In this paper, a real time nonlinear adaptive control (NAC) with stability analyze is formulated for power management of FCHEB. Firstly, the mathematical model of hybrid power system is analyzed, which is established for control-oriented design. Furthermore, the NAC-based strategy with quadratic Lyapunov function is set up to guarantee the stability of closed-loop power system, and the power split between fuel cell and battery is controlled with the durability consideration. Finally, two real-time power management strategies, state machine control (SMC) and fuzzy logic control (FLC), are implemented to evaluate the performance of NAC-based strategy, and the simulation results suggest that the guaranteed stability of NAC-based strategy can efficiently prolong fuel cell/battery lifespan and provide better fuel consumption economy for FCHEB.