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Liu C, Xu L, Li X, Liu Y, Qi Y, Sun J, Zou M. Microscopy imaging and modeling study on the mechanical properties of the primary flight feather shaft of the bean goose, Anser fabalis. Microsc Res Tech 2022; 85:2446-2454. [PMID: 35274785 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.24100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Avian flight feathers have the unique advantages of lightweight and high strength, which play a key role in their flight capacity. In this article, the rachis of the bean goose's primary flight feather was used as the research object. Its compressive properties were analyzed and the 3D microscale was observed by 3D microscope system with a super wide depth of field. The distribution of mechanical properties, section variation of fiber and internal microstructure of rachis were obtained by micro-CT technique. Based on these results, a 3D reconstructed model was established for structure mechanical simulation. The simulation results were close basically to the compressive strength of the actual sample. These results show that the synergistic effect of cortex and medulla can improve mechanical resistance of the rachis. Therefore, the best position (N3) of the primary flight feather shaft can be applied to the bionic design of thin wall structures for energy absorption. This research can provide some guidance for the application of lightweight structural design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education, China), Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Lihan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education, China), Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiujuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education, China), Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yansong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education, China), Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yingchun Qi
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education, China), Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiyu Sun
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education, China), Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Meng Zou
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education, China), Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Lin PY, Huang PY, Lee YC, Ng CS. Analysis and comparison of protein secondary structures in the rachis of avian flight feathers. PeerJ 2022; 10:e12919. [PMID: 35251779 PMCID: PMC8893027 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Avians have evolved many different modes of flying as well as various types of feathers for adapting to varied environments. However, the protein content and ratio of protein secondary structures (PSSs) in mature flight feathers are less understood. Further research is needed to understand the proportions of PSSs in feather shafts adapted to various flight modes in different avian species. Flight feathers were analyzed in chicken, mallard, sacred ibis, crested goshawk, collared scops owl, budgie, and zebra finch to investigate the PSSs that have evolved in the feather cortex and medulla by using nondestructive attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). In addition, synchrotron radiation-based, Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (SR-FTIRM) was utilized to measure and analyze cross-sections of the feather shafts of seven bird species at a high lateral resolution to resolve the composition of proteins distributed within the sampled area of interest. In this study, significant amounts of α-keratin and collagen components were observed in flight feather shafts, suggesting that these proteins play significant roles in the mechanical strength of flight feathers. This investigation increases our understanding of adaptations to flight by elucidating the structural and mechanistic basis of the feather composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pin-Yen Lin
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Yu Huang
- National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Chang Lee
- National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, Hsinchu, Taiwan,Department of Optics and Photonics, National Central University, Chung-Li, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chen Siang Ng
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan,Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan,Bioresource Conservation Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan,The iEGG and Animal Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
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Zhou J, Zou M, Xu S, Li X, Song J, Qi Y. Study on the structural features and geometric parameters affecting the axial mechanical properties of the primary feather rachis. Microsc Res Tech 2021; 85:861-874. [PMID: 34664756 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.23955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The seagull feather shaft is an important part of the feather, which provides a good mechanical support for the excellent flight performance of seagull, and has the characteristics of lightweight and high strength. In this paper, the microstructure of the seagull feather rachis was observed firstly. Then, based on the structure of feather rachis, combined with the cortex that plays the main load-bearing role, a model with the characteristics of the cortex was proposed and its finite element model was established. Through analyzing the simulation, the effect of section shape of cortex on mechanical properties of feathers under axial impact was revealed. And the conclusion that the section shape with groove structure and non-equal wall thickness could have different effects on mechanical properties was drawn. Then, parameterized cortical models were studied, including different impact velocities and different cortical heights, to reveal the differences in mechanical properties of cortical models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfei Zhou
- Key Lab of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Meng Zou
- Key Lab of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Shucai Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiujuan Li
- Key Lab of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiafeng Song
- Key Lab of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yingchun Qi
- Key Lab of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Laurent CM, Dyke JM, Cook RB, Dyke G, de Kat R. Spectroscopy on the wing: Investigating possible differences in protein secondary structures in feather shafts of birds using Raman spectroscopy. J Struct Biol 2020; 211:107529. [PMID: 32416130 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2020.107529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The central shaft of a bird's flight feather bears most of the aerodynamic load during flight and exhibits some remarkable mechanical properties. The shaft comprises two parts, the calamus and the rachis. The calamus is at the base of the shaft, while the rachis is the longer upper part which supports the vanes. The shaft is composed of a fibrous outer cortex, and an inner foam-like core. Recent nanoindentation experiments have indicated that reduced modulus values, Er, for the inner and outer regions of the cortex can vary, with the Er values of the inner region slightly greater than those of the outer region. In this work, Raman spectroscopy is used to investigate the protein secondary structures in the inner and outer regions of the feather cortex. Analysis of the Amide I region of Raman spectra taken from four birds (Swan, Gull, Mallard and Kestrel) shows that the β-sheet structural component decreases between the inner and outer region, relative to the protein side-chain components. This finding is consistent with the proposal that Er values are greater in the inner region than the outer region. This work has shown that Raman spectroscopy can be used effectively to study the change in protein secondary structure between the inner and outer regions of a feather shaft.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian M Laurent
- Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK; Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, SO17 1BJ, UK; Department of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, Romania.
| | - John M Dyke
- School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
| | - Richard B Cook
- nCATS National Centre for Advanced Tribology Southampton, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Gareth Dyke
- Department of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, Romania
| | - Roeland de Kat
- Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK; Faculty of Military Sciences, Netherlands Defence Academy, The Netherlands
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