Biohybrid systems have been developed to better understand the design principles and coordination mechanisms of biological systems. We consider whether two functional regulatory features of the heart—mechanoelectrical signaling and automaticity—could be transferred to a synthetic analog of another fluid transport system: a swimming fish. By leveraging cardiac mechanoelectrical signaling, we recreated reciprocal contraction and relaxation in a muscular bilayer construct where each contraction occurs automatically as a response to the stretching of an antagonistic muscle pair. Further, to entrain this closed-loop actuation cycle, we engineered an electrically autonomous pacing node, which enhanced spontaneous contraction. The biohybrid fish equipped with intrinsic control strategies demonstrated self-sustained body–caudal fin swimming, highlighting the role of feedback mechanisms in muscular pumps such as the heart and muscles.

B y M M . N . R a t n a y a k e , B . O l s s o n , D . M a t t h e w s andR. G. A c k m a n *The effect of weight ratio of urea to fatty acids and the urea-fatty acid adduct crystallization temperature on the enrichment of eicosapentaenoic acid from marine oil fatty acids was studied. The optimum ratio of urea to fatty acids was found to be 3 : 1 for laboratory scale preparations and the optimum temperature for the formation of urea-fatty acid adduct was 1' C.At very low temperatures (-12, -18, -35' C) the recovery efficiency for EPA was reduced. Using these optimum values, enrichment of EPA and other n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids viaureacomplexation was carried out on a pilot plant scale on a variety of North Atlantic and North Pacific fish oils and a seal oil. Irrespective of the type of starting oil, all the oils gave a concentrate with 69-85 "/ a total n-3 PUFA with an overall yield of 17-20"/0. Menhaden is clearly an ideal oil for preparation of EPA concentrate, as the starting oil usually has a higher proportion of EPA to DHA than most of the other commercial fish oils.

Countless aquatic animals rotate appendages through the water, yet fluid forces are typically modeled with translational motion. To elucidate the hydrodynamics of rotation, we analyzed the raptorial appendages of mantis shrimp (Stomatopoda) using a combination of flume experiments, mathematical modeling and phylogenetic comparative analyses. We found that computationally efficient blade-element models offered an accurate first-order approximation of drag, when compared with a more elaborate computational fluid-dynamic model. Taking advantage of this efficiency, we compared the hydrodynamics of the raptorial appendage in different species, including a newly measured spearing species, Coronis scolopendra. The ultrafast appendages of a smasher species (Odontodactylus scyllarus) were an order of magnitude smaller, yet experienced values of drag-induced torque similar to those of a spearing species (Lysiosquillina maculata). The dactyl, a stabbing segment that can be opened at the distal end of the appendage, generated substantial additional drag in the smasher, but not in the spearer, which uses the segment to capture evasive prey. Phylogenetic comparative analyses revealed that larger mantis shrimp species strike more slowly, regardless of whether they smash or spear their prey. In summary, drag was minimally affected by shape, whereas size, speed and dactyl orientation dominated and differentiated the hydrodynamic forces across species and sizes. This study demonstrates the utility of simple mathematical modeling for comparative analyses and illustrates the multi-faceted consequences of drag during the evolutionary diversification of rotating appendages.

A Nd:YAG/KNbO(3) composite-material microchip laser has generated blue radiation at 473 nm with output powers of 1 mW when diode laser pumped and 9 mW when Ti:sapphire laser pumped. The fundamental radiation generated by the quasi-three-level (4)F(3/2)-(4)I(9/2) transition in Nd:YAG at 946 nm was frequency doubled in KNbO(3) angle cut to be type I critically phase matched at 45 degrees C. Despite the normally isotropic nature of Nd:YAG, the fundamental is emitted linearly polarized and orthogonal to the linearly polarized blue radiation.

The relationship between morphology and performance is complex, but important for understanding the adaptive nature of morphological variation. Recent studies have sought to better understand this system by illuminating the interconnectedness of different functional systems; however, the role of genetics is often overlooked. In this study, we attempt to gain insights into this relationship by examining the effect of genotypic variation at putative craniofacial loci on the relationship between morphology and feeding performance in cichlids. We studied two morphologically disparate species, as well as a morphologically intermediate hybrid population. We assessed feeding performance, jaw protrusion, and general facial morphology for each fish. We also genotyped hybrid animals at six previously identified craniofacial loci. Cichlid species were found to differ in facial geometry, kinematic morphology, and performance. Significant correlations were also noted between these variables; however, the explanatory power of facial geometry in predicting performance was relatively poor. Notably, when hybrids were grouped by genotype, the relationship between shape and performance improved. This relationship was especially robust in animals with the specialist allele at sox9b, a well-characterized regulator of craniofacial development. These data suggest a novel role for genotype in influencing complex relationships between form and function.

In this paper we present the next step on the roadmap "system scalability towards an output power above 100 kW", first time presented in 2014 [1]. To take a step forward the optical power of the fiber-coupled diode laser has been increased beyond the power level 40kW. The power conversion efficiency exceeds 40%. The laser contains modules with 4 different wavelengths (960nm, 1020nm, 1040nm, 1060nm) there are two modules for each wavelength polarization multiplexed. After the slow-axis collimation these wavelengths are combined using dense wavelength coupling before focusing onto the fiber endface. The delivery-fiber is an uncoated fiber with a diameter of 2 mm and NA 0.22 corresponding a BPP of 220 mm mrad. In a stability test the laser delivered a constant maximum output power with less than +/- 0.5 % variation over 100h. Further results of the optical properties of the laser will be presented in this paper. This new laser is based on a turn-key industrial platform, allowing straight-forward integration into almost any industrial application, like welding or large area heat treatment. As application examples laser welding of thick sheet metal and pumping of an active fiber will be presented. The footprint of the complete system is 2.8 m(2) with a height below 1.8 m

Abstracts The triacylglycerol (TG) composition of evening primrose(Oenothera biennis) seed oil (EPO) was studied using a combination of silver nitrate thin layer chromatography (AgNO```3``‐TLC), reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capillary gas liquid chromatography (GLC). The important TGs in EPO are LLL (24.4%), LLO (23.9%), LLP (11.5%), LOO (7.2%), LOP (6.8%), LLS (4.8%), γLnLp (3.7%), LOS (3.3%), γLnLS (2.0%), γLnLL (2.0%), LPP (1.9%), OOO (1.7%), LSP (1.3%) and γLnLO (1.0%).

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