Search

For the practical applications of wearable electronic skin (e‐skin), the multifunctional, self‐powered, biodegradable, biocompatible, and breathable materials are needed to be assessed and tailored simultaneously. Integration of these features in flexible e‐skin is highly desirable; however, it is challenging to construct an e‐skin to meet the requirements of practical applications. Herein, a bio‐inspired multifunctional e‐skin with a multilayer nanostructure based on spider web and ant tentacle is constructed, which can collect biological energy through a triboelectric nanogenerator for the simultaneous detection of pressure, humidity, and temperature. Owing to the poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanofibers spider web structure, internal bead‐chain structure, and the collagen aggregate nanofibers based positive friction material, e‐skin exhibits the highest pressure sensitivity (0.48 V kPa−1) and high detection range (0–135 kPa). Synchronously, the nanofibers imitating the antennae of ants provide e‐skin with short response and recovery time (16 and 25 s, respectively) to a wide humidity range (25–85% RH). The e‐skin is demonstrated to exhibit temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR = 0.0075 °C−1) in a range of the surrounding temperature (27–55 °C). Moreover, the natural collagen aggregate and the all‐nanofibers structure ensure the biodegradability, biocompatibility, and breathability of the e‐skin, showing great promise for practicability., In this study, a bio‐inspired multifunctional electronic skin (e‐skin) with a multilayer nanostructure based on spider web and ant tentacle is constructed, which can collect biological energy through a triboelectric nanogenerator for the simultaneous detection of pressure, humidity, and temperature. Moreover, the natural collagen aggregate and the all‐nanofiber structure ensure the biodegradability, biocompatibility, and breathability of the e‐skin.

Recientemente se ha notificado el uso de telarañas abandonadas como sustrato de ovoposición para Chrysopidae, sin embargo, hasta ahora este comportamiento nunca se había observado en una telaraña activa (es decir, no abandonada). En julio de 2020, se encontró un racimo de huevos de Chrysopidae pegados al exterior de una red activa de Steatoda nobilis en Inca, Mallorca (Islas Baleares, España). Esta especie de araña es diferente de las citadas hasta ahora en la literatura con huevos de Chrysopidae en sus redes. Se discuten las implicaciones biológicas de este comportamiento poco estudiado.

The polysphinctine wasp Zatypota anomala (Holmgren, 1860), a koinobiont ecto-parasitoid of spiders in the family Dictynidae, was recorded in Italy for the first time. Populations of both the wasp and its host, Dictyna pusilla Thorell, 1856, its host preference and the interaction between the parasitoid and the spider were documented in the field and by laboratory observations.

Funnel webs are common and widespread taxonomically, but little is known about how they are built or details of their structure. Aglaoctenus castaneus (Mello-Leitao, 1942) (Lycosidae) builds horizontal, densely meshed funnel webs of non-adhesive silk, with a tangle of lines above. Web construction behavior was unique in that the spider frequently laid swaths of lines rather than simple drag lines, both to float bands of fine lines on the breeze as bridges to distant objects and to fill in the sheet. Spiders utilized special spinneret movements to widen the swaths of lines that they laid on sheets. These movements have not been seen in web construction by other araneomorphs, but are were similar to and perhaps evolutionarily derived from those used during prey wrapping by many other species. Observations, made with a compound microscope, of the construction behavior of the agelenid Melpomene sp. O.P. Cambridge 1898, and of lines and attachments in sheets of these species and another funnel web spider, the zoropsid Tengella radiata (Kulczynski, 1909) demonstrated the possibly general nature of including obstacles in the web. This probably disadvantageous behavior may be related to constraints in selecting web sites imposed by the need for sheltered retreats, or to the spider's inability to remove preliminary lines. The observation also showed the importance of further improvements in the discriminations made between “sheet” and “brushed” webs in recent discussions of spider web evolution.

Novel appearances in cutaneous pathology as well as mucocutaneous clinical signs are being described which indicate that this is still an attractive area for exploration. The H + E histology terms of “decorated tomb stoning” and “undecorated tomb stoning”, advocated by some pathologists, are misleading and as such should be avoided. Here, an appearance of IgG4 pemphigus deposits examined cost-effectively with direct immunofluorescence and suggested to be called “dew drops on spider web” is depicted in depth.

In spite of its relevance, data on nest architecture and egg morphology are lacking for several bird species, especially in the Neotropics. We provide the first egg and standardized nest description of the Southern Bristle-Tyrant (Phylloscartes eximius), a species considered in the genus Pogonotriccus by some authors. Similarly to two other studies, the nest was a closed/globular/lateral structure built mostly with moss and spider web. The only egg we found was clean white and measured 17.1 mm length x 13.5 mm width. Given the plasticity of nest building and the low sample size, more nests should be described to infer relatedness among Phylloscartes and Pogonotriccus using nest architecture. Similarly, more eggs of these species should be described.

The rapid increase of the number of motor vehicles, especially motorcycles, makes serious problem caused by the pollution from gas emission of fossil fuel combustion. The problems related to human health and the erosion on ozone layer is credited to its gas emission. Several dangerous and toxic gasses such as Hydrocarbon (HC), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and Nitrogen Oxide (NOx), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), and Lead (Pb) are emitted during IC engine operation.To manage those dangerous gasses, catalytic converter which converts the gasses into more eco-friendly CO2H2O and N2 may be employed. In this research, a specially designed catalytic converter made from brass (CuZn) wire in the form of spider web pattern was fitted into exhaust system of a standard motorcycle. The performance of the converter for several engine rotation speeds was examined by measuring CO and HC of exhaust by using Gas Analyzer.By comparing the exhaust of a standard exhaust system and modified exhaust system (fitted with converter), it can be concluded that the converter was able to decrease the exhaust emission gas. For HC content, the percentage of decrease was as much as 36,88 % for converter fitted exhaust system compared to 61.12% for standard one. For CO content, the decrease percentage was 19.90% compared to 80.10% for standard one.

When Endymion, king of the Moon, devised war upon Phaethon, king of the Sun, he decreed that a race of spiders as big as the Cyclades should weave a web between Venus and his lunar dominion, to serve as the battlefield for their regal rumble. And in that region of the heavens he arrayed his army: the king himself led his elite Hippo-vultures in the clouds on the right wing, 80,000 strong; his other cavalry, mounted on giant birds with wings like lettuce leaves, held the left. The Moon's stalwart infantry held the centre, posted on the spider web: Millet-launchers and Garlic-fighters, and his light-armed Flea-archers and Wind-runners, whose long tunics carried them about like sailboats in the fierce winds of the celestial realm. To Endymion's Hippo-vultures, Phaethon opposed the Sun's Hippo-ants (and near two hundred feet long were the insects that bore these cavalry). On the opposite flank of the solar array came the Air-mosquitoes and the formidable radish-flinging Air-dancers. The spears of Phaethon's phalanx, in the centre, were stalks of asparagus, and their round shields were mushrooms. Phaethon's allies, the Cloud-centaurs, expected at any moment from the Milky Way, had not arrived in time for battle.

Based on observations, interviews, and recordings collected in Kenya in May-June 2015, this article presents a summary of the search for a nearly “extinct” musical instrument and the need for advocacy research. The mũtũrĩrũ, originally an oblique bark flute of the Agĩkũyũ of Kenya, is also made from more durable bamboo and plastic. Initial investigations suggested that the flute was no longer played due to urbanization, modernization of farming techniques, and the loss of certain rituals and dances. Discovery of several elders who still play mũtũrĩrũ and the process of watching them build and play bark, bamboo, and spider web mũtũrĩrũs is narrated. The challenges of preserving a tradition when the cultural context for performance no longer exists and potential opportunities for a re-introduction of the mũtũrĩrũ to contemporary Kenyan culture through intentional curriculum, traditional performances and advocacy in Kenyan cultural centers are discussed.

When an insect is intercepted by a spider web, spiders quickly locate the prey, and run towards it. Once they make contact with the prey, they immobilise the prey and retrieve it to the centre of the web or the retreat for consumption. However, in rare circumstances, the spider can also pull the prey towards itself either while running to the prey or from a stationary position, a behaviour termed as ‘reeling’. Reeling is paradoxical since it can lead to web deformation or damage, thereby jeopardising future foraging success. Reeling may lead to increased retention time for heavier prey or for information acquisition with respect to the prey's identity, especially when these prey can cause damage to either the web or the spider itself. We explored the function of reeling behaviour in a neotropical orb web spider Verrucosa arenata. We show that spiders performed reeling behaviour irrespective whether they were approaching heavy or light prey, but they changed their trajectories of approach. Spiders approached heavier prey slower than light prey and they showed significantly higher frequencies of changes in velocities. We discuss these findings in the context of prey capture strategies and prey recognition.

Physical structures built by animals challenge our understanding of biological processes and inspire the development of smart materials and green architecture. It is thus indispensable to understand the drivers, constraints, and dynamics that lead to the emergence and modification of building behavior. Here, we demonstrate that spider web diversification repeatedly followed strikingly similar evolutionary trajectories, guided by physical constraints. We found that the evolution of suspended webs that intercept flying prey coincided with small changes in silk anchoring behavior with considerable effects on the robustness of web attachment. The use of nanofiber based capture threads (cribellate silk) conflicts with the behavioral enhancement of web attachment, and the repeated loss of this trait was frequently followed by physical improvements of web anchor structure. These findings suggest that the evolution of building behavior may be constrained by major physical traits limiting its role in rapid adaptation to a changing environment. Fil: Wolff, Jonas O.. Macquarie University; Australia Fil: Paterno, Gustavo B.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte; Brasil. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; Brasil Fil: Liprandi, Daniele. Universita Degli Studi Di Trento.; Italia Fil: Ramirez, Martin Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentina Fil: Bosia, Federico. Università di Torino; Italia Fil: van der Meijden, Arie. Universidad de Porto; Portugal Fil: Michalik, Peter. Macquarie University; Australia

International audience; 1.In animals, behavioural responses may play an important role in determining population persistence in the face of environmental changes. Body size is a key trait central to many life history traits and behaviours. Correlations with body size may constrain behavioural variation in response to environmental changes, especially when size itself is influenced by environmental conditions. 2.Urbanization is an important human-induced rapid environmental change that imposes multiple selection pressures on both body size and (size-constrained) behaviour. How these combine to shape behavioural responses of urban-dwelling species is unclear. 3.Using web-building, an easily quantifiable behaviour linked to body size, and the garden spider Araneus diadematus as a model, we evaluated direct behavioural responses to urbanization and body size constraints across a network of 63 selected populations differing in urbanization intensity. We additionally studied urbanization at two spatial scales to account for some environmental pressures varying across scales and to obtain first qualitative insights about the role of plasticity and genetic selection. 4.Spiders were smaller in highly urbanized sites (local scale only), in line with expectations based on reduced prey biomass availability and the Urban Heat Island effect. Web surface and mesh width decreased with urbanization at the local scale, while web surface also increased with urbanization at the landscape scale. The latter two responses are expected to compensate, at least in part, for reduced prey biomass availability in cities. The use of multivariate mixed modelling reveals that although web traits and body size are correlated within populations, behavioural responses to urbanization do not appear to be constrained by size there is no evidence of size-web correlations among populations or among landscapes, and web traits appear independent from each other. 5.Our results demonstrate that responses in size-dependent behaviours may be decoupled from size changes, thereby allowing fitness maximisation in novel environments. The spatial scale at which traits respond suggests contributions of both genetic adaptation (for web investment) and plasticity (for mesh width). Although fecundity decreased with local-scale urbanization, Araneus diadematus abundances were similar across urbanization gradients; behavioural responses thus appear overall successful at the population level.

The problem of area coverage in 3D wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is a NP-Hard problem. The approaches used to optimise this problem are not effective due to the difficulty of ensuring 3D connectivity, communication, and monitoring. The fundamental issue of all these constraints is the difficulty of deploying the sensor nodes with fair densities on the 3D areas, in order to guarantee the connectivity and the coverage over all the network. In this paper, we will mimic the spider techniques to texture their web to the movements of their enemies, and to hunt their prey, to ensure the 3D coverage inside WSNs. Indeed, spider web are made to catch insects and they have remarkable strength and resilience. The mobility of the sensor nodes, according to Archimedes' spiral function, facilitates the proper node positioning. Positioning the mobile sensor nodes by miming a spider canvas in 3D ensures the equitable distribution of nodes in the area of interest (AoI). Moreover, the ability to vary communication and surveillance radii ensures the connectivity and the entire coverage. We have made some simulations to assess performance of our algorithms. Our simulation shows that the spider canvas strategy outperforms the area coverage in 3D scheme in both effectiveness and efficiency.

Spider silk and spider orb webs are among the most studied biological materials and structures owing to their outstanding mechanical properties. A key feature that contributes significantly to the robustness and capability to absorb high kinetic energy of spider webs is the presence of junctions connecting different silk threads. Surprisingly, in spite of their fundamental function, the mechanics of spider web junctions have never been reported. Herein, through mechanical characterization and imaging, we show for the first time that spider orb webs host two different types of junction, produced by different silk glands, which have different morphology, and load bearing capability. These differences can be explained in view of the different roles they play in the web, i.e. allowing for a localized damage control or anchoring the whole structure to the surrounding environment.

In order to develop effective low-cost prosthetic limbs for people with disabilities, it is proposed to implement wireless communication of sensors used to pick up control commands and prostheses. In this case, the sensors can easily be placed anywhere in the patient's body, which expands the choice of effects on the prostheses. This concept is based on the decision to abandon the built-in biosensors in order to reduce the cost of prostheses, reduce the pain of their use and expand the range of prosthetic coverage, including segments of the population with incomes below average. The paper substantiates the use of low-power mobile phone network and the use of neural networks to create individual prosthetic control algorithms. The results of the first experiments in this area are given.

In the goose farm, to prevent virus be transmitted to other goose quickly, if the health status indicate the goose need special care, then this goose must be put in isolation ward and be examined thoroughly. Because, the amount of eggs laid by goose is a significant information of the goose health. This study implemented an egg productivity analysis system for goose farms. In this system, each goose worn a specify RFID foot ring, when it enter goose cage, the cage will read the RFID data and record the time of this goose stay in. Beside, used video analysis technique to track the eggs while the goose laying egg. In this system we proposed a feature extraction method based on diamond-shaped algorithm to identify egg. In experiment, evaluated 10 test films those record the goose cages where non spider webs in the FOV (field of view) of camera, the system can identified each egg while egg rolling out the cage. But analysis the 40 videos those had spider web in the camera's FOV, some segment of the spider web were fail identified as egg.

Roads, like a spider web, intertwine our world up and down, and every day people build hundreds of kilometers of roadway, sometimes without even thinking about the environmental friendliness of road construction methods. The urgency of the problem of dirty road construction should not raise questions in our time, and especially in the Russian state. The article highlights the issue of reducing the risks of environmental pollution during the construction of the road network, the issue of green building is touched upon. Focal points are highlighted, which are worth paying attention to during the preparation of documentation to reduce the risks of environmental pollution. As a result, conclusions were drawn on the list of materials that should be used in order to reduce the impact on the environment.

To study the mechanical behavior of double-layer toughened sandwich glass with two-side simple support under out-of-plane bending, a total of sixty-four specimens with different test parameters were experimentally investigated in this paper. The main parameters of specimens include thickness of single layer, supporting width, and loading length. It was demonstrated that the specimens failed with all pieces of cracks combined together as an entire unit rather than to separate into a large number of glass fragments. What's more, the cracks appeared only in the lower layer of the toughened sandwich glass, extending in a way similar to the spider web. The ultimate bending strength and bending stiffness of the toughened sandwich glass are enhanced with the increase of the thickness of single layer, the supporting width, and the loading length. Among the above parameters, the thickness of single layer plays a leading role in enhancing the ultimate bending strength and bending stiffness of the toughened sandwich glass. Nevertheless, the supporting width only has a slight effect on improving the ultimate bending strength and bending stiffness. Based on the bending theory of thin plates, the simplified design formulas were presented to evaluate the ultimate bending strength of double-layer toughened sandwich glass with two-side simple support under out-of-plane bending, which was verified to be reasonable and accurate.

Spiders, silks and webs are abundant in most ecosystems, suggesting that they are a significant evolutionary success. The structures they build – in particular various forms of webs – have intrigued engineers for a long time, and elucidated inspiration for new mechanical designs of de novo materials. Here we report the development of a biomateriomic neural network based constitutive model to describe the mechanical features, such as strength and toughness, of a 3D spider web depending on salient structural features, specifically: average fiber lengths, fiber orientations, web connectivity, and web density. In particular, we focus our study on the structural and mechanical properties of a Cyrtophora citricola spider web, and report a method to derive the neural net model directly from the experimental–computational mesoscale modeling, using a novel data augmentation method. Our machine learning model captures the complex biomateriomical mechanics of spider webs. More generally, approaches such as reported here can be useful to describe the intricate relationships in other hierarchical materials, and provide a basis to develop multiscale models, and bridge experimental data with computational and theoretical modeling efforts.

The key issues examined are covering, how the implementation of an integrated learning strategy model Spider-webs on the subject Quran Hadis learners XI MAN IC Gowa, What the integrated learning strategy model of spider-webs can improve learning outcomes in Class X MAN IC Gowa students, and How to apply the integrated learning strategy of the Spider Web model in improving the learning outcomes of Class XI MAN IC Gowa. This research is a classroom action research conducted in the first semester of the academic year 2019-2020 consists of two cycles, each cycle consisting of 2 meetings. Furthermore, the data were analyzed qualitatively, which explains the results of actions during the teaching and learning process, and quantitatively calculated the data, namelythe average score, frequency table, minimum value, maximum value, and percentage. The results showed that the integrated learning strategy of the spider-web model can improve student learning outcomes seen from an increase in the percentage of students’ mastery learning, from pre-cycle to cycle I, and to cycle II, namely 29 % pre-cycle there was an increase in cycle I, 82 % and cycle II reached 100 % and the average pre-cycle class was 67 an increase in cycle I to be 87 and in cycle II to 94.

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation on the mechanical behavior of three-layer toughened sandwich glass with trilateral simple support under uniform lateral loads. A total of sixty-four specimens with different test parameters are designed and tested to consider the effects of the thickness of single layer, supporting width and loading length. It was observed that the specimens failed with all pieces of cracks combined together as an entire unit rather than to separate into a large number of glass fragments. The cracks occurred only at the lower layer of toughened sandwich glass and extended in a way similar to the spider web. The ultimate bending strength and bending rigidity of the toughened sandwich glass are enhanced as the thickness of single layer, the supporting width, and the loading length increase. Among the above parameters, the thickness of single layer plays a leading role in improving the ultimate bending strength and bending rigidity of toughened sandwich glass. However, the enhancement effect of supporting width on the ultimate bending strength and bending rigidity of toughened sandwich glass is quite limited. Based on elastic thin plate theory, the derived mechanical formulae were presented to evaluate the ultimate bending strength of three-layer toughened sandwich glass with trilateral simple support under uniform lateral load, which was verified to be reasonable and accurate.

Background The selection of quality control indicators in a complex system is a key scientific issue for the study of Chinese materia medica (CMM), which is directly related to its safety and efficacy. In order to scientifically understand and control the quality of CMM, quality marker (Q-marker) has been recently raised as a new concept, which provided a novel research idea for the quality control and evaluation of CMM. Purpose By a new and integrated “spider-web” mode, Q-markers of Xuefu Zhuyu capsule (XZC) were comprehensively uncovered, conducing to great improvement of quality control of XZC. Methods Mainly established by three dimensions derived from six variables including content, stability and activity, “spider-web” mode was constructed to evaluate Q-marker property of candidate compounds by taking regression area of the tested compounds into account. Results The candidate compounds with larger regression area were preferentially adopted as Q-markers, which should possess the satisfactorily integrated properties of content, stability and activity. Six compounds, naringin, isoliquiritin, paeoniflorin, protocatechuic acid, neohesperidin and ferulic acid, were identified and preferred as Q-markers of XZC. Conclusion Based on “spider-web” mode, Q-markers from Xuefu Zhuyu capsule were successfully screened, which would substantially perform quality control of XZC and prove the feasibility of “spider-web” mode in solving the selection of quality control indicators from compound formulae.