A new maniraptoran dinosaur from China with long feathers on the metatarsus

The unusual presence of long pennaceous feathers on the feet of basal dromaeosaurid dinosaurs has recently been presented as strong evidence in support of the arboreal–gliding hypothesis for the origin of bird flight, but it could be a unique feature of dromaeosaurids and thus irrelevant to the theropod–bird transition. Here, we report a new eumaniraptoran theropod from China, with avian affinities, which also has long pennaceous feathers on its feet. This suggests that such morphology might represent a primitive adaptation close to the theropod–bird transition. The long metatarsus feathers are likely primitive for Eumaniraptora and might have played an important role in the origin of avian flight.Electronic Supplementary Material  Supplementary material is available for this article at     

Heteropteran chemical repellents identified in the citrus odor of a seabird (crested auklet: Aethia cristatella): evolutionary convergence in chemical ecology

The exogenous application of chemical repellents is widespread in birds, but endogenous production is exceedingly rare. We herein report a new class of avian defensive compounds isolated from the feathers and volatile odor of the crested auklet (Aethia cristatella). Mass spectra indicate that n-hexanal, n-octanal, n-decanal, Z-4-decenal and a 12-carbon unsaturated aldehyde comprise the auklet odorant. Octanal and hexanal are also secreted in the repugnant metasternal gland emissions of heteropteran insects and are known to be potent invertebrate repellents. We suggest that the auklet odorant functions as an ectoparasite repellent and a signal of mate quality. This would represent a rare and direct link between vigor, quality and parasite resistance, one of several putative bases for mate selection. This is the first report of defensive compounds produced by a seabird or colonial bird and one of the few examples of chemical defense in a polar or subpolar marine vertebrate.     

Soil and preen waxes influence the expression of carotenoid-based plumage coloration

The signaling function of carotenoid-based plumage is mainly determined by the concentration of pigments in feathers. For this reason, most studies of the proximate control of coloration focus on processes during and preceding moult. In great tits Parus major, past research demonstrates that carotenoid-based plumage coloration honestly indicates male quality and, thus, may be a sexually selected signal. In this study, we investigate how dirt and preen oil influence the coloration of carotenoid-based feathers in the great tit. We collected six feathers from each individual bird; three feathers served as controls while the remaining three feathers were washed with a chloroform/methanol mixture to remove soil and preen waxes. We assessed plumage coloration using digital photography. This cleaning procedure slightly enhanced ornamentation; the experimentally cleaned feathers expressed hues shifted towards shorter wavelengths and expressed brighter overall coloration than control feathers. This is the first experimental study conducted on wild birds demonstrating that, in addition to pigment concentration, the presence of preen waxes and soils on feathers may contribute to variation in coloration.     

Fifty shades of white: how white feather brightness differs among species

White colouration is a common and important component of animal visual signalling and camouflage, but how and why it varies across species is poorly understood. White is produced by wavelength-independent and diffuse scattering of light by the internal structures of materials, where the degree of brightness is related to the amount of light scattered. Here, we investigated the morphological basis of brightness differences among unpigmented pennaceous regions of white body feathers across 61 bird species. Using phylogenetically controlled comparisons of reflectance and morphometric measurements, we show that brighter white feathers had larger and internally more complex barbs than duller white feathers. Higher brightness was also associated with more closely packed barbs and barbules, thicker and longer barbules, and rounder and less hollow barbs. Larger species tended to have brighter white feathers than smaller species because they had thicker and more complex barbs, but aquatic species were not significantly brighter than terrestrial species. As similar light scattering principals affect the brightness of chromatic signals, not just white colours, these findings help broaden our general understanding of the mechanisms that affect plumage brightness. Future studies should examine how feather layering on a bird’s body contributes to differences between brightness of white plumage patches within and across species.     

热塑性复合材料高速冲击时不同失效模式对比分析研究

目的准确地对热塑性复合材料前缘结构进行抗鸟撞冲击设计。方法首先基于刚度退化、材料塑性及应变率影响的复合材料本构关系,通过霍普金森拉-压杆测试得到热塑性复合材料的动力学性能参数。基于不同的失效模式,采用PAM-CRASH显式有限元法,针对运输类飞机热塑性复合材料机翼前缘结构在高速冲击时的破坏形式进行对比分析研究。结果热塑性复合材料较其他复合材料在临界拉伸损伤极限值和纵横向及屈服应力的率相关性上具有更好的性能。冲击分析时,失效应变应考虑材料破坏瞬间的强化效应。剪切应变取值为0.1左右时,前缘结构计算仿真失效的结果与试验结果一致性较高,应变误差仅为6.2%,破坏尺寸误差为4.9%。结论在复合材料失效参数较复杂的情况下,抗冲击设计可将拉伸、压缩、剪切及层间失效等多目标优化设计简化为等效剪切应变失效的单目标优化,此方法可推广应用于其他类型复合材料的抗冲击设计。     

严酷环境下飞机外场腐蚀防护对策与措施

简要分析了飞机在沿海及海岛等严酷环境下使用面临的腐蚀问题,通过列举国内外典型飞机腐蚀案例,阐明了环境腐蚀对飞机的危害性。简要介绍了美军飞机腐蚀防护对策与控制措施。针对我国现役飞机的严酷使用环境、腐蚀特点研究制定了外场条件下飞机腐蚀防护对策与措施,主要包括有针对性的腐蚀检查、表面清洗、除湿干燥、机载电子电气设备防护措施、易腐蚀部位涂覆缓蚀剂、动部件活动部位涂覆润滑脂、腐蚀损伤修复的原则与措施等。     

Do spotless starlings place feathers at their nests by ultraviolet color?

A considerable number of bird species carry feathers to their nests. Feathers’ presence in the nests has traditionally been explained by their insulating properties. Recently, however, it has been suggested that feathers carried to the nests by females of the spotted starling (Sturnus unicolor L.) could have an ornamental function based on their ultraviolet (300–400 nm) and human-visible longer wavelength (400–700 nm) coloration. In our population, 95.7% of feathers found inside next-boxes occupied by nesting starlings were rock dove fly feathers. Of these feathers, 82.7% were naturally positioned with their reverse side oriented toward the entrance hole and 42.4% of all found feathers were situated within the nest-cup. Here we experimentally assess the signaling function of ultraviolet coloration of feathers in nests of spotless starlings by providing nests with a number of pigeon flight feathers that were respectively treated on their obverse, reverse, both, or neither side with a UV blocker. Starlings placed 42.5% of the experimental feathers in the nest-cup irrespective of the UV block treatment. Orientation of feathers toward the entrance hole was not related with their ultraviolet radiation. However, feathers placed within the nest-cup were more likely found with their reverse side oriented toward the entrance hole confirming our correlative findings. These results suggest a minor role of ultraviolet coloration on feather location by spotless starlings.     

Effects of exotic fish farms on bird communities in lake and marine ecosystems

Salmon farming is a widespread activity around the world, also known to promote diverse environmental effects on aquatic ecosystems. However, information regarding the impact of salmon farming on bird assemblages is notably scarce. We hypothesize that salmon farming, by providing food subsidies and physical structures to birds, will change their local community structure. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a seasonal monitoring of bird richness, abundance, and composition at paired salmon pen and control plots in two marine and two lake sites in southern Chile, from fall 2002 to summer 2004. Overall, salmon farming had no significant effects on species richness, but bird abundance was significantly and noticeably higher in salmon pens than in controls. Such aggregation was mainly accounted for by the trophic guilds of omnivores, diving piscivores, carrion eaters, and perching piscivores, but not by invertebrate feeders, herbivores, and surface feeders. Species composition was also significantly and persistently different between salmon pens and controls within each lake or marine locality. The patterns described above remained consistent across environment types and seasons indicating that salmon farming is changing the community structure of birds in both lake and marine habitats by promoting functional and aggregation responses, particularly by favoring species with broader niches. Such local patterns may thus anticipate potential threats from the ongoing expansion of the salmon industry to neighboring areas in Chile, resulting in regional changes of bird communities, toward a less diverse one and dominated by opportunistic, common, and generalist species such as gulls, vultures, and cormorants.     

Colour change in a structural ornament is related to individual quality,parasites and mating patterns in the blue tit

Carry-over effects refer to processes that occur in one season and influence fitness in the following. In birds, two costly activities, namely reproduction and moult, are restricted to a small time window, and sometimes overlap. Thus, colour in newly moulted feathers is likely to be affected by the costs of reproduction. Using models of bird vision we investigated male colour change in a free-living population of blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) in three sampling occasions: spring 1, winter and spring 2. We related crown, tail, breast and cheek feather colouration after the moult (winter) to the intensity of infections by blood parasites during reproduction (spring 1). In the following spring (spring 2), we explored mating patterns with respect to changes in feather colour (springs 1 vs. 2). Males that were less intensely infected by the malaria parasite Plasmodium while breeding showed purer white cheek feathers in winter, which may indicate higher feather quality. Increased brightness in the white cheek was associated with better body condition during reproduction. In the following season, males with brighter cheeks paired with females that had noticeably brighter cheek patches compared to the male’s previous mate. These results suggest that the conditions experienced during reproduction are likely to affect moult and thus feather colouration, at least in the white patch. High quality individuals may allocate resources efficiently during reproduction increasing future reproductive success through variation in mating patterns. Carry-over effects from reproduction might extend not only to the non-breeding phase, but also to the following breeding season.     

Do feather-degrading bacteria actually degrade feather colour? No significant effects of plumage microbiome modifications on feather colouration in wild great tits

Parasites are known to exert selective pressures on host life history traits since the energy and nutrients needed to mount an immune response are no longer available to invest in other functions. Bird feathers harbour numerous microorganisms, some of which are able to degrade feather keratin (keratinolytic microorganisms) and affect feather integrity and colouration in vitro. Although named “feather-degrading” microorganisms, experimental evidence for their effects on feathers of free-living birds is still lacking. Here, we tested whether (i) keratinolytic microorganisms can degrade feathers in vivo and thus modify the colour of feathers during the nesting period and (ii) whether feather microorganisms have a long-term effect on the investment in colouration of newly moulted feathers. We designed treatments to either favour or inhibit bacterial growth, thus experimentally modifying plumage bacterial communities, in a wild breeding population of great tits (Parus major). Our analyses revealed no significant effects of the treatments on feather colours. Moreover, we found that differences in bacterial exposure during nesting did not significantly affect the colouration of newly moulted feathers. Our results suggest that significant feather degradation obtained during in vitro studies could have led to an overestimation of the potential of keratinolytic microorganisms to shape feather colouration in free-living birds.     

Keratin decomposition by trogid beetles: evidence from a feeding experiment and stable isotope analysis

The decomposition of vertebrate carcasses is an important ecosystem function. Soft tissues of dead vertebrates are rapidly decomposed by diverse animals. However, decomposition of hard tissues such as hairs and feathers is much slower because only a few animals can digest keratin, a protein that is concentrated in hairs and feathers. Although beetles of the family Trogidae are considered keratin feeders, their ecological function has rarely been explored. Here, we investigated the keratin-decomposition function of trogid beetles in heron-breeding colonies where keratin was frequently supplied as feathers. Three trogid species were collected from the colonies and observed feeding on heron feathers under laboratory conditions. We also measured the nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) and carbon (δ¹³C) stable isotope ratios of two trogid species that were maintained on a constant diet (feathers from one heron individual) during 70 days under laboratory conditions. We compared the isotopic signatures of the trogids with the feathers to investigate isotopic shifts from the feathers to the consumers for δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C. We used mixing models (MixSIR and SIAR) to estimate the main diets of individual field-collected trogid beetles. The analysis indicated that heron feathers were more important as food for trogid beetles than were soft tissues under field conditions. Together, the feeding experiment and stable isotope analysis provided strong evidence of keratin decomposition by trogid beetles.     

复合材料尾翼前缘结构抗鸟撞仿真及试验验证研究

目的 依据适航条款25.631的要求,对飞机复材尾翼前缘结构抗鸟撞能力进行仿真分析及试验验证。方法 根据复材鸟撞仿真计算的需要,建立了获取复材动态力学性能参数的试验矩阵,开展了复材动态力学性能测试及本构模型参数标定。应用标定后的复材本构模型参数,对尾翼前缘结构的抗鸟撞能力进行了仿真分析,同时开展了试验验证。结果 试验结果与仿真结果良好的一致性,表明建立的鸟撞数值仿真模型能够较合理地预计尾翼前缘结构的损伤。结论 建立的试验证矩阵和经试验验证过的复材鸟撞仿真分析方法对飞机结构抗鸟撞设计具有一定的指导作用。     

高空风场对某飞行器级间分离影响研究

目的研究高空风场对飞行器飞行时级间分离的影响。方法建立飞行器分离模型,仿真计算飞行器分离时下面级的横移距离、两个关键部件之间的间隙。结果在最低飞行条件风速34 m/s时,下面级横移距离和两个关键间隙均满足设计条件。在仿真计算风速40 m/s条件下,下面级横移距离、两个关键部件间隙均满足设计要求,因此最低飞行条件风速可放宽至40 m/s。在最大风速45 m/s时,三个值均超出了设计值,有可能会对分离造成影响。结论高空风对飞行器级间分离存在一定影响,随着高空风风速的增加,面级的横移距离和两个关键部件之间键间隙随之增加。     

某型飞机尾翼前缘不同构型抗鸟撞计算与试验分析

目的通过不同构型的抗鸟撞研究,找到满足25.631[1]条吸能最好的尾翼前缘构型。方法结合某型民机尾翼前缘结构设计,规划了3种构型6种方案进行优选,分析中,鸟体采用SPH光滑粒子,金属材料则考虑了不同应变率下的动态力学性能,对其进行了结构动力学鸟撞冲击仿真分析,并同选型研发试验的结果进行了对比。结果仿真与试验结果一致,吻合度较高,结合吸能情况,选择最佳的前缘布置方案。结论验证了仿真分析手段的合理可靠性,并且在构型优化过程中得到最佳设计方案。     

Analysis of machined surface quality in a single-pass of ball-end milling on Inconel 718

The ball-end milling process is widely used for generating three-dimensional sculptured surfaces with definite curvature. In such cases, variation of surface properties along the machined surface curvatures is not well understood. Therefore, this paper reports the effect of machining parameters on the quality of surface obtained in a single-pass of a ball-end milling cutter with varying chip cross-sectional area. This situation is analogous to generation of free form cavities, pockets, and round fillets on mould surfaces. The machined surfaces show formation of distinct bands as a function of instantaneous machining parameters along the periphery of cutting tool edge, chip compression and instantaneous shear angle. A distinct variation is also observed in the measured values of surface roughness and micro-hardness in these regions. The maximum surface roughness is observed near the tool tip region on the machined surface. The minimum surface roughness is obtained in the stable cutting zone and it increases towards the periphery of the cutter. Similar segmentation was observed on the deformed chips, which could be correlated with the width of bands on the machined surfaces. The sub-surface quality analysis in terms of micro-hardness helped define machining affected zone (MAZ). The parametric effects on the machining induced shear and residual stresses have also been evaluated.     

机翼前缘抗鸟撞设计中的结构选型研究

目的通过仿真及试验对比六种机翼前缘构型,为机翼前缘发图选型提供参考。方法以某型飞机机翼前缘结构选型设计为例,对其抗鸟撞性能进行分析。通过对比复材蒙皮蜂窝结构、复材蒙皮蜂窝加吸能板结构以及纯金属结构等不同结构形式的质量变化及抗鸟撞吸能特性,发现纯金属结构前缘抗鸟撞性能具有优势。结果试验数据与仿真计算结果谱型一致,试验曲线应变峰值为0.0108,仿真结果应变峰值为0.0103,两者相差仅5%。结论仿真计算有效,且符合预期要求。     

饮用水消毒副产物处理技术及其进展

论述和比较了饮用水中消毒副产物的各种控制技术,提出电场处理因其高效、成本低廉和不带二次污染等特点,是未来饮用水消毒副产物极有前途和实用的处理技术,并结合目前研究进展指出该技术的不足和亟待完善的方向。     

Effects of access to preen gland secretions on mallard plumage

Preen glands exist in almost every bird species and several non-exclusive functions have been proposed for this gland and the oils that it produces. One function generally admitted is that the oily secretions of the preen gland would provide a waterproofing layer when spread over feathers. Alternatively, several authors have proposed that plumage waterproofness is mostly due to the spatial micro-structure of feathers. The purpose of this study was to examine, by manipulating the access to the preen gland, the effect of the preen oil on the plumage waterproofness and condition. To explore this question, we carried out two independent experiments where we temporarily blocked access to the preen gland secretions with a removable mechanism in one group of captive mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), whilst a second group of birds had access to gland secretions. In a long-term experiment (3 months of treatment) and a short-term experiment (10 days), we measured plumage water retention and condition. After 3 months without access to preen glands, we found a significant decrease of plumage condition and an associated increase in plumage water retention. Moreover, we found a significant correlation between plumage condition and water retention ability. In contrast, after 10 days of treatment, no significant effect was found on plumage condition and water retention. Our study shows that preen oil acts to maintain plumage condition and suggests that feather microstructure is essential to maintain plumage waterproofness.     

一种飞机发动机影响区设备的可靠性试验剖面设计方法

目的 准确制定飞机发动机影响区设备的可靠性试验剖面,提出一种可靠性试验剖面设计方法.方法 结合飞机发动机影响区设备的振动"宽带随机信号叠加窄带尖峰信号"的特点,采用工程截取等效法对实测振动数据分析归纳,得到振动试验谱.然后根据振动应力简化原则和飞机典型任务状态的持续时间及其占整个任务剖面的时间比例得到振动应力条件,并合成可靠性试验剖面.结果 使用此方法对某飞机发动机影响区设备的振动数据进行处理,得到飞机发动机影响区设备的可靠性试验剖面.结论 提出的工程截取等效法非常适合发动机影响区设备振动信号的分离和归纳;提出的可靠性试验剖面设计方法,为飞机发动机影响区设备的可靠性剖面设计工作提供了新思路,对飞机发动机影响区域设备的可靠性设计有重要意义.     

隔声技术在民用工程中的应用

叙述了隔声技术在民用工程噪声控制中的几种应用 ,特别对固定式和活动式声屏障的设计方法、使用效果作了介绍。声屏障用于降低以空气动力性噪声为主的水泵、风机、冷却塔等噪声源 ,结合室内吸声处理能收到明显的效果。