Subdivisions of the mesencephalon and isthmus in the lizard Gekko gecko as revealed by ChAT immunohistochemistry.

The distribution of cholinergic cell bodies and fibers was examined in the mesencephalon and isthmus of Gekko gecko. Distinct groups with prominent labeled cells were observed in the cranial nerve motor nuclei and isthmic nuclei, and weak labeled cell bodies and fibers were observed in the mesencephalic nucleus of the trigeminal nerve and the central nucleus of the torus semicircularis. After discussing the topological relationships within the tectum and isthmus, we unify the nomenclature of the caudal deep mesencephalic nucleus in lizards and the rostral magnocellular nucleus isthmi in turtles that is similar in terms of the preisthmic position, nontopographic connections with the tectum, and the same midbrain origin to the magnocellular preisthmic nucleus in birds, and may be homologous to the superficial cuneiform nucleus in mammals.

Application of robo-pigeon in ethological studies of bird flocks.

Birds flying collectively is a fascinating phenomenon in nature, which is central in ethological studies. Owing to the difficulty of introducing controlled variables into a natural bird flock, current animal behavior paradigms limit our understanding of collective behavior and mechanism. The recently developed technology of robo-pigeon, which allows behavior regulation over organisms through brain microstimulation, can potentially serve to design the controlled variables.

Fabrication and characteristics of a multilayered ionic polymer metal composite based on Nafion/tetraethyl orthosilicate and Nafion/MCNT nanocomposites.

Nafion/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Nafion/MCNT) and Nafion/tetraethyl orthosilicate (Nafion/TEOS) nanocomposites were prepared and used as starting materials in the fabrication of an ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC). Experimental data show that the Nafion/MCNT-based IPMC exhibited a blocking force that is two times higher than that of bare Nafion-based IPMC. This higher blocking force is due to the stable homogeneous dispersions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes as well as to their improved conductivity.

Objectifying research on special region corresponding to five internal organs in colour inspections of Chinese medicine.

Objective: To study the differences in a special region (SR) corresponding to five internal organs between the young and the elderly and to verify the effectiveness of a developed system for objectifying research in colour inspections of Chinese medicine (CICM).

Methods: An image acquisition device imitating daylight to meet the requirement of CICM was designed. Image processing software based on CICM theory was developed.

Fabrication and adhesion of a bio-inspired microarray: capillarity-induced casting using porous silicon mold.

Inspired by the setal microstructure found on the gecko's toe-pads, a highly dense array of high-aspect-ratio (HAR) artificial setae has been developed with a novel mold-casting technique using a porous silicon (PSi) template. To overcome the high fluid resistance in the HAR capillary pores, the PSi template surface is modified with a monolayer coating of dimethylsilane. The coating exhibits similar chemical composition and surface energy to the precursor of the poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) replica.

Macroporous silicon templated from silicon nanocrystallite and functionalized Si-H reactive group for grafting organic monolayer.

This paper reports the development of a new fabrication process for highly porous and highly functional macroporous silicon (m-PSi). This new fabrication process involves two steps of electrochemical etching and one step of sonication detachment, and it uses silicon nanocrystallites as a template to form a honeycomb-like macroporous structure. The surface fabricated by this process has been characterized in comparison with the m-PSi surface fabricated by a one-step etching process.

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.

Comparative studies on the structure and adhesion of setae in G. gecko and G. swinhonis.

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and histological techniques were used to observe and study the setae structures of two gecko species (G. gecko and G. swinhonis) and the relationships between these structures and the adhesive forces.