A nature-inspired design yields a new class of steroids against trypanosomatids

This article belongs to the Special Issue Drug Discovery for Neglected DiseasesChagas disease and Leishmaniasis are neglected endemic protozoan diseases recognized as public health problems by the World Health Organization. These diseases affect millions of people around the world however, efficient and low-cost treatments are not available. Different steroid molecules with antimicrobial and antiparasitic activity were isolated from diverse organisms (ticks, plants, fungi). These molecules have complex structures that make de novo synthesis extremely difficult. In this work, we designed new and simpler compounds with antiparasitic potential inspired in natural steroids and synthesized a series of nineteen steroidal arylideneketones and thiazolidenehydrazines. We explored their biological activity against Leishmania infantum, Leishmania amazonensis, and Trypanosoma cruzi in vitro and in vivo. We also assayed their genotoxicity and acute toxicity in vitro and in mice. The best compound, a steroidal thiosemicarbazone compound 8 (ID_1260) was active in vitro (IC50 200 nM) and in vivo (60% infection reduction at 50 mg/kg) in Leishmania and T. cruzi. It also has low toxicity in vitro and in vivo (LD50 >2000 mg/kg) and no genotoxic effects, being a promising compound for anti-trypanosomatid drug development

Nature-Inspired Electrocatalysts for CO_{2} Reduction to C_{2+} Products

The electrocatalytic reduction reaction of carbon dioxide (CO2RR) has gained significant attention as a promising approach to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions and generate valuable chemicals and fuels. However, the practical application of CO2RR has been hindered by the lack of efficient and selective electrocatalysts, particularly to produce multi-carbon (C2+) products. Nature serves as an ideal source of inspiration for the development of CO2RR electrocatalysts, as biological organisms can efficiently catalyze the same reaction and possess robust structures that are inherently scaling. In this review, recent advances in the nature-inspired design of electrocatalysts for CO2RR to C2+ products are summarized and categorized based on their inspiration source, including the coordination sphere of metalloenzymes and the cascade reactions within the enzyme, as well as the local environment. The importance of understanding the fundamental mechanisms and the different contexts between nature and technological application in the design process is highlighted, with the aim to improve the nature-inspired design of electrocatalysts for CO2RR to C2+ products

A novel nature-inspired picogrid for flexible PV application in rural electrification systems

Abstract: The Picogrid is a response to the need for electrification in off-grid rural areas in Sub-Saharan Africa. The concept lends itself to the inclusion of renewable energy technologies such as solar photovoltaics and allows for a robust, resilient solution for rural applications. The biomimetic or nature-inspired design allows for uncomplicated scaling of the operational core system. Additionally, the system is fault tolerant and exhibits self-healing properties

Geometric optimization of transition zones based on biomimetics principles

The basic definitions and a history of the development of biomimetics as a discipline that considers nature-inspired design are presented in this paper. The discussion and the results of the application of principles of nature-inspired design in machine elements design are given. The fact that transition zones that Nature chose and designed on trees in many cases survived for more than a hundred years, resisting on the various and variable external loads and other external conditions, is considered. Presented case study used the nature-inspired transition shapes in the research of innovative design and geometric optimization of transition zones of high-loaded shafts. The comparative Finite Element Analysis is performed for a particular transition zone with traditional engineering design, as well as with nature-inspired design. The conclusions about the increase of load capacity that is obtained with innovative biomimetics design are discussed

Geometric optimization of shaft transition zone based on stress-strain analysis of nature inspired design

The presented research primarily considers with the geometric solutions that Nature has optimized. In the study presented in this paper, the nature inspired transition shapes are used in the research of innovative design and geometric optimization of transition zones of the high-loaded shafts

Design based on nature – a literature investigation

This paper discusses the findings of a doctoral literature investigation considering design practice inspired by Nature into education. Academic and mainstream commercial publications related to Bio-design, Bionics, Biomimetics, Biomimicry and Nature Inspired Design form the basis of this investigation. Several approaches are compared and discussed to determine whether they are suitable for design education and capable of fostering sustainable design thinking. Current sustainable design education in the UK is explored to determine whether the identified current sustainable design methods are consistently embedded across the years of an undergraduate design degree or rather seen as an add-on to traditional design methods. The investigation concludes with 3 core questions that form the basis of further investigations. 1) Are design methods involving inspiration through nature used successfully in sustainable design education? 2) Could the integration of design based on nature lead to consistent inherently sustainable design practices. 3) Could this approach foster collaborative cross-discipline design projects at undergraduate level

Biomimetic flow fields for proton exchange membrane fuel cells: A review of design trends

Bipolar Plate design is one of the most active research fields in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) development. Bipolar Plates are key components for ensuring an appropriate water management within the cell, preventing flooding and enhancing the cell operation at high current densities. This work presents a literature review covering bipolar plate designs based on nature or biological structures such as fractals, leaves or lungs. Biological inspiration comes from the fact that fluid distribution systems found in plants and animals such as leaves, blood vessels, or lungs perform their functions (mostly the same functions that are required for bipolar plates) with a remarkable efficiency, after millions of years of natural evolution. Such biomimetic designs have been explored to date with success, but it is generally acknowledged that biomimetic designs have not yet achieved their full potential. Many biomimetic designs have been derived using computer simulation tools, in particular Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) so that the use of CFD is included in the review. A detailed review including performance benchmarking, time line evolution, challenges and proposals, as well as manufacturing issues is discussed.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades ENE2017-91159-EXPMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad UNSE15-CE296

Kinematic Modeling and Analysis of a Walking Machine (Robot) Leg Mechanism on a Rough Terrain

Many manmade machines and mechanisms including robots function based on the concept of nature-inspired design so that they can perform their intended duties by mimicking the working mechanisms of animals and insects. Accordingly, walking machines (robots) use wheels and tracks to cross rough terrain efficiently and in a stable way than more conventional robots. Legged walking robots in particular get a discontinuous contact with the ground that provides them the capability to select tractions such that obstacles or holes are escaped. This article reports a study conducted on kinematic modelling and analysis of a walking machine (robot) leg mechanism that can operate on rough terrain. Its kinematic mechanisms is analyzed using the Denavit-Hartenberg (DH) convention approach. Symbolic computations are also implemented to parametrically optimize the motion parameters of the robot leg mechanism. The equation of motion is derived from the dynamic analysis using the Euler-Lagrange method which involves kinetic and potential energy expressions. In order to validate the performance of the robot leg mechanism and motion behaviors, kinematic motion analysis in SolidWorks and MATLAB are used. The leg mechanism used is effective for rough terrain areas because it is capable of walking on terrain with different amplitudes due to surface toughness and aerodynamics.publishedVersio

Finding a strategic approach for application of biomimicry in architecture.

In the last few decades there has been an increasing interest in bio mimicry worldwide and has led to its emergence as an important theory that looks up to nature as a mentor and model to find out innovative solutions for design. Through the concept of biomimicry, designers realize the organic structures in nature are not only beautiful but also durable, that can be applied to nature-inspired design interventions. As we are heading towards sustainability, biomimicry can be an innovative approach to achieve sustainable design. Here in this paper an attempt has been made to explore the concepts of bio-inspired design and its different methodologies, in order to derive at a systematic approach to design the built environment that mimics the techniques of nature into architecture.  Biomimicry has three levels: organism, behavior and ecosystem, in order to generate form, selection of material, construction process, and establishing it to function. From the literature, 5 aspects of each level of biomimicry were identified and compared with 5 areas of architectural interventions. Opinions of industry experts and academicians were recorded through questionnaire survey on a 5-point Likert-type scale which were then analyzed using t- test. The aspects of each level of biomimicry were then ranked according to their favorability of applications with respect to the area of architecture. This ranking system clearly explains the best suited aspect for each level of biomimicry in a concerned area of architecture as per the requirement. &nbsp