Microelectromechanical system for quantitative testing of tension-compression asymmetry in nanostructures.

Tension-compression asymmetry is a topic of current interest in nanostructures, especially in strain engineering. Herein, we report a novel on-chip microelectromechanical system (MEMS) that can realize quantitative mechanical testing of nanostructures under tension-compression functions. The mechanical properties of three kinds of nanostructures fabricated by focused ion beam (FIB) techniques were systematically investigated with the presented on-chip testing system.

Prolonged drought regulates the silage quality of maize ( L.): Alterations in fermentation microecology.

Prolonged drought stress caused by global warming poses a tremendous challenge to silage production of maize. Drought during maize growth and development resulted in altered micro-environment for silage fermentation. How fermentation of silage maize responds to moisture scales remains uncharted territory.

Alpha-Linolenic Acid Mediates Diverse Drought Responses in Maize ( L.) at Seedling and Flowering Stages.

Water shortage caused by long-term drought is one of the most serious abiotic stress factors in maize. Different drought conditions lead to differences in growth, development, and metabolism of maize. In previous studies, proteomics and genomics methods have been widely used to explain the response mechanism of maize to long-term drought, but there are only a few articles related to metabolomics.

The skin crawls, the stomach turns: ectoparasites and pathogens elicit distinct defensive responses in humans.

Disgust has long been viewed as a primary motivator of defensive responses to threats posed by both microscopic pathogens and macroscopic ectoparasites. Although disgust can defend effectively against pathogens encountered through ingestion or incidental contact, it offers limited protection against ectoparasites, which actively pursue a host and attach to its surface. Humans might, therefore, possess a distinct ectoparasite defence system-including cutaneous sensory mechanisms and grooming behaviours-functionally suited to guard the body's surface.

Preparation and UV Photoelectric Properties of Aligned ZnO-TiO and TiO-ZnO Core-Shell Structured Heterojunction Nanotubes.

Large-area horizontal-aligned ZnO nanotubes (ZNTs), TiO nanotubes (TNTs), TiO-ZnO core-shell nanotubes (TZNTs) and ZnO-TiO core-shell nanotubes (ZTNTs) were successfully synthesized by electrospinning combined with pulsed-laser deposition. The morphology, structure, and composition of the samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of these samples indicate that the addition of a TiO layer greatly decreases the recombination of photogenerated carriers in the heterojunction nanotubes.