Flexible biomimetic materials with excellent photothermal performance and superhydrophobicity.

Although thousands of superhydrophobic composites have been reported, it is still a challenge to develop eco-friendly superhydrophobic materials by a simple and low-cost strategy. Here, a paper-based superhydrophobic material was prepared by carbon fiber powders and polydimethylsiloxane through a facile spraying method. This obtained material has excellent liquid resistance and self-cleaning properties, whose contact angle reaches 155°. In addition, it possesses excellent photothermal conversion characteristics with a stable surface temperature of 73.4 °C and good water evaporation performance with an evaporation rate up to 1.08 kg/(m2·h) under one solar intensity (100 mW/cm2). Also, it has outstanding self-deicing performance, whose deicing time is 120 s earlier than that of the untreated surface under one solar intensity. An adaptability test shows this strategy of functional coatings can also be applied to other fiber substrates (coating paper, kraft paper, non-woven fabric, paulownia veneer, etc.). Overall, this superhydrophobic material has a promising application prospect in many fields such as waterproof packaging, deicing materials, water evaporation materials, etc.

Multilayer networks with higher-order interaction reveal the impact of collective behavior on epidemic dynamics.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted tremendous economic and societal losses. In the absence of pharmaceutical interventions, the population behavioral response, including situational awareness and adherence to non-pharmaceutical intervention policies, has a significant impact on contagion dynamics. Game-theoretic models have been used to reproduce the concurrent evolution of behavioral responses and disease contagion, and social networks are critical platforms on which behavior imitation between social contacts, even dispersed in distant communities, takes place. Such joint contagion dynamics has not been sufficiently explored, which poses a challenge for policies aimed at containing the infection. In this study, we present a multi-layer network model to study contagion dynamics and behavioral adaptation. It comprises two physical layers that mimic the two solitary communities, and one social layer that encapsulates the social influence of agents from these two communities. Moreover, we adopt high-order interactions in the form of simplicial complexes on the social influence layer to delineate the behavior imitation of individual agents. This model offers a novel platform to articulate the interaction between physically isolated communities and the ensuing coevolution of behavioral change and spreading dynamics. The analytical insights harnessed therefrom provide compelling guidelines on coordinated policy design to enhance the preparedness for future pandemics.

Eco-Friendly Superhydrophobic Composites with Thermostability, UV Resistance, and Coating Transparency.

Despite the market demand for biofiber assemblies endowed with superhydrophobicity being huge, the current approaches to their production are complicated, time-consuming, and even pose a serious threat to the environment. Here, we report a simple surface treatment strategy to prepare environmentally friendly superhydrophobic biofiber composites. The obtained samples have certain UV resistance properties, which are mainly determined by the titanium dioxide (TiO2) dosage. Additionally, the sample has excellent thermal stability, and the contact angle is maintained at 153.26° after heat treatment at 140 °C for 1 h. Quite encouragingly, thermal annealing of samples can transform translucent coatings into transparent structures and increase the tensile strength. The results also showed that this strategy could be integrated into the mass production process of other biofiber components as coating, such as coated paper, pulp boards, cotton gauzes, tissues, and so forth. Due to the facile preparation and environment-friendliness, this sustainable paper-based product can be used in diversified applications: packaging and storage of liquid food, protection of ancient books, UV- and rain-proof materials, and teaching demonstrations relevant to bionics, among others.

Altered physiological response and gill histology in black rockfish, Sebastes schlegelii, during progressive hypoxia and reoxygenation.

Hypoxia has gradually become common in aquatic ecosystems and imposes a significant challenge for fish farming. The loss of equilibrium (LOE), 50% lethal time (LT50), plasma cortisol, glucose, red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), gill histological alteration, and related parameters (lamellar length [SLL] and width [SLW], interlamellar distance [ID], basal epithelial thickness [BET], lamellar surface area [LA], and gill surface area [GSA]); respiratory rate; the proportion of the secondary lamellae available for gas exchange (PAGE); and hypoxia-inducible factor (hif-1α, hif-2α) mRNA expression were determined during progressive hypoxia and reoxygenation (R-0, R-12, R-24 h) to illustrate the underlying physiological response mechanisms in black rockfish Sebastes schlegelii. Results showed that the DO concentration significantly decreased during progressive hypoxia, while DO at LOE and LT50 were 2.42 ± 0.10 mg L-1 and 1.67 ± 0.38 mg L-1, respectively. Cortisol and glucose were significantly increased at LOE and LT50, with the highest levels observed at LT50, and then gradually recovered to normal within reoxygenation 24 h. RBC number and Hb results were like those of glucose. Hypoxia stress resulted in lamellar clubbing, hypertrophy, and hyperplasia. Respiratory frequency significantly increased at LOE and decreased at LT50. Lamellar perimeters, SLL, ID, LA, GSA, and PAGE, significantly increased at LOE and LT50, with the highest values observed at LT50. However, SLW and BET significantly decreased at LOE, LT50, and R-0. These parameters recovered to nearly normal levels at R-24 h. hif-1α mRNAs in gill and liver were significantly upregulated at LOE and LT50, and recovery to normal after reoxygenation 24 h. hif-2α mRNAs in gill was similar to that of hif-1α, whereas hepatic hif-2α mRNAs remained unchanged during hypoxia-reoxygenation. These results indicated that progressive hypoxia stress elevated RBC number, Hb, cortisol, and glucose levels, induced the alteration of gill morphology, increased LA and GSA, stimulated respiratory frequency and PAGE, and upregulated the transcription of hif-1α and hif-2α in gill and liver. Reoxygenation treatment for 24 h alleviated the stress mentioned above effects. These findings expand current knowledge on hypoxia tolerance in black rockfish Sebastes schlegelii.