bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cobalt Nanoparticles/Black Phosphorus Nanosheets: An Efficient Catalyst for Electrochemical Oxygen Evolution
Authors: Shi Fangbing , Geng Zhibin , Huang Keke , Liang Qingshuang , Zhang Yuan , Sun Yu , Cao Jungang , Feng Shouhua
Published: June 2018

Black phosphorus (BP) nanosheet (NS) is an emerging oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalyst with both high conductivity and abundant active sites. However, its ultrathin structure suffers instability because of the lone pair electrons exposed at the surface, which badly restricts durability for achieving long‐term OER catalysis. Herein, a facile solvothermal reduction route is designed to fabricate Co/BP NSs hybrid electrocatalyst by in situ growth of cobalt nanoparticles on BP NSs. Notably, electronic structure engineering of Co/BP NSs catalyst is observed by electron migration from BP to Co due to the higher Fermi level of BP than that of Co. Because of the preferential migration of the active lone pairs from the defect of BP NSs, the stability and high hole mobility can be effectively retained. Consequently, Co/BP NSs electrocatalyst exhibits outstanding OER performance, with an overpotential of 310 mV at 10 mA cm−2, and excellent stability in alkaline media, indicating the potential for the alternatives of commercial IrO2. This study provides insightful understanding into engineering electronic structure of BP NSs by fully utilizing defect and provides a new idea to design hybrid electrocatalysts.
N‐Type Surface Doping of MAPbI3 via Charge Transfer from Small Molecules
Authors: Perry Erin E. , Labram John G. , Venkatesan Naveen R. , Nakayama Hidenori , Chabinyc Michael L.
Published: June 2018

Organic hole and electron transport materials are regularly employed as electron‐ and hole‐blocking layers in perovskite thin‐film solar cells. In order to optimize charge extraction in the device, these organic layers can be doped using organic small molecules. However, to date there is little work carried out on direct doping of perovskite surfaces. In this report, the change in electrical properties of thin films of MAPbI3 by surface doping the film with an organic dopant molecule: cobaltocene (Co(C5H5)2) is studied. By varying the quantity of cobaltocene deposited, the conductivity of MAPbI3 thin films is observed to be tunable over several orders of magnitude. A tunable shift in the Fermi level illustrating that charge transfer doping enables control over the interfacial energy levels, is observed. An increase in photoconductivity is seen at intermediate doping levels, indicating passivation of surface traps confirmed by increased photoluminescence. This model system provides a means to understand more complex heterointerfaces of doped organic blends at perovskite surfaces.
Product design: Nanoparticle‐Loaded polyvinyl butyral interlayer for solar control
Authors: Ge Shaqi , Wang Neng , Fung Ka Yip , Wong Ka Wai , Chan Che Ting , Ng Ka Ming
Published: June 2018

A systematic procedure for the design of nanoparticle‐loaded polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer for solar control applications is developed. Desirable product attributes—transparency, energy savings, pleasant color, and so on and the related product specifications—transmittance of visible light, solar heat gain coefficient, color coordinates, and so on are met by properly selecting the type(s) of nanoparticles, their volume fraction in the PVB interlayer, and so on. The selection is based on the Maxwell Garnett relation to account for the localized surface plasmon resonance of the nanoparticles, Beer–Lambert's law, various international standards, and a database of transmittance and reflectance developed in our laboratory. The final product that meets all the product specifications as verified by prototypes is obtained by iterating between predictions and experiments. A causal table is provided to guide the verification step. Two examples of preparing solar control PVB interlayers with different specifications are provided to illustrate this design procedure. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 64: 3614–3624, 2018
Kinetic parameter estimation based on spectroscopic data with unknown absorbing species
Authors: Chen Weifeng , Biegler Lorenz T. , Muñoz Salvador García
Published: June 2018

In many studies, kinetic parameter estimation from spectroscopic data is performed with the absorbing species known beforehand, as this provides a straightforward link between the reaction models to the spectroscopic data. In practice, however, the absorbing species are generally unknown and they are only estimated based on professional experience and prior knowledge of the kinetic reaction. In this work, we propose an optimization strategy with both continuous and discrete decision variables in order to estimate kinetic parameters from spectroscopic data with unknown absorbing species. Also included in our approach is an estimability analysis for kinetic parameters based on the Gram‐Schmidt orthogonalization procedure, along with covariance estimation. Four case studies were considered, which demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach. The first and second have simulated data and illustrate our approach with known solutions. The third and fourth are based on actual experiments from spectroscopy data sets. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 64: 3595–3613, 2018
Photothermal Heating and Cooling of Nanostructures
Authors: Crane Matthew J. , Zhou Xuezhe , Davis E. James , Pauzauskie Peter J.
Published: June 2018

A vast range of insulating, semiconducting, and metallic nanomaterials have been studied over the past several decades with the aim of understanding how continuous‐wave or pulsed laser radiation can influence their chemical functionality and local environment. Many fascinating observations have been made during laser irradiation including, but not limited to, the superheating of solvents, mass‐transport‐mediated morphology evolution, photodynamic therapy, morphology dependent resonances, and a range of phase transformations. In addition to laser heating, recent experiments have demonstrated the laser cooling of nanoscale materials through the emission of upconverted, anti‐Stokes photons by trivalent rare‐earth ions. This Focus Review outlines the analytical modeling of photothermal heat transport with an emphasis on the experimental validation of anti‐Stokes laser cooling. This general methodology can be applied to a wide range of photothermal applications, including nanomedicine, photocatalysis, and the synthesis of new materials. The review concludes with an overview of recent advances and future directions for anti‐Stokes cooling.
Effect of Treatment on the Quality of Harvested Rainwater for Residential Systems
Authors: Keithley Sarah E. , Fakhreddine Sarah , Kinney Kerry A. , Kirisits Mary Jo
Published: June 2018

Rainwater harvested from four pilot‐scale roofs (concrete tile, green, metal, and asphalt–fiberglass shingle) was batch‐chlorinated to a target total chlorine 10 min residual of 2 mg/L as Cl2 and passed through an activated carbon filter after 24 h to simulate treatment in a residential system. Total coliforms (TCs) were not detected, and the total trihalomethane (TTHM) concentration was typically (>85% of samples) below the US Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 80 μg/L in chlorinated–unfiltered rainwater harvested from conventional roofing materials. In contrast, TCs were always detected, and the TTHM concentration was 3–5 times higher than the MCL in chlorinated–unfiltered rainwater harvested from the green roof. The filter lowered the turbidity and TTHM concentration, but it also shed coliforms. Batch chlorination and filtration are more suitable potable treatment techniques for rainwater harvested from conventional roofs than from a green roof, but concerns regarding disinfection and turbidity remain.
Career Adaptability, Self‐Esteem, and Social Support Among Hong Kong University Students
Authors: Hui Tracy , Yuen Mantak , Chen Gaowei
Published: June 2018

Career adaptability manifests itself through 4 self‐regulated internal resources for coping with occupational challenges and transitions: concern, control, curiosity, and confidence. Few studies have examined career adaptability specifically in the Hong Kong context. The Career Adapt‐Abilities Scale–China Form (CAAS‐China; Hou, Leung, Li, Li, & Xu, 2012) was administered, along with measures of self‐esteem and social support, to 522 Hong Kong Chinese undergraduate students. Results indicated that the CAAS‐China is a reliable and valid instrument for use with these students. Data also showed that self‐esteem was strongly associated with career adaptability, and this relationship was partially mediated by perceived social support. Implications for careers counseling in universities and colleges are discussed.
Integrating Relational Perspectives in Career Counseling Practice
Authors: Kenny Maureen E. , Blustein David L. , Meerkins Tera M.
Published: June 2018

Sweeping changes in the world of work are transforming the very fabric of career counseling practice as clients cope increasingly with work uncertainty, including unemployment, underemployment, and precarious work. The authors describe how relational perspectives (Blustein, 2011; Flum 2015; Richardson, 2012; Schultheiss, 2003) can be infused in career counseling, with a focus on the concerns of an increasingly stressed and anxious client population. To provide a framework for the application of relational perspectives, the authors integrate and present existing relational theories and frameworks in 4 tenets that have particular relevance for career counseling practice. An in‐depth case analysis is provided to illustrate how relational perspectives can be integrated in working with clients experiencing uncertain work and associated relational challenges.
The Influence of Career Planning on Career Thoughts in STEM‐Interested Undergraduates
Authors: Belser Christopher T. , Prescod Diandra J. , Daire Andrew P. , Dagley Melissa A. , Young Cynthia Y.
Published: June 2018

Undergraduate career planning courses have shown efficacy in decreasing students’ negative career thoughts; however, universities have minimally applied these courses to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) populations. This study compared the influence of a STEM‐focused career planning course for undecided STEM students with a seminar course for decided STEM majors. An analysis of covariance with covariate adjustment revealed that undecided career planning students had lower adjusted mean scores on a measure of negative career thinking than the decided STEM majors after the first semester of college. The results provide support for the efficacy of STEM‐focused career planning courses and measuring negative career thoughts with STEM undergraduates.
Rational Design of Ternary Composite Photoanode BiVO4/PW12/NiTsPc for Improved Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation
Authors: Xi Lu , Zhang Qian , Sun Zhixia , Song Chunli , Xu Lin
Published: June 2018

Despite recent efforts to improve BiVO4 semiconductor photoanodes, the electron‐hole recombination in BiVO4 photoanodes is still a critical problem in efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation. In this work, a dual modification of BiVO4 photoanodes is performed utilising the polyoxometalate compound H3PW12O40 (PW12), acting as electron shuttle (electron capture and transfer), and nickel (II) phthalocyanine tetrasulfonic acid (NiTsPc), acting as hole extractor (accelerating hole transport). As for the photoelectrochemical water oxidation, the BiVO4/PW12/NiTsPc photoanode displays a 5.4‐fold improvement in photocurrent density at 1.23 V (vs. RHE) as compared to the pristine BiVO4 photoanode, under illumination of simulated solar light. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the recombination of electron‐hole pairs could be remarkably suppressed in the dual modified BiVO4 photoanode, by means of the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements together with hydrogen peroxide as the hole scavenger. Additionally, the energy band distributions among PW12, BiVO4, and NiTsPc allow the photoelectron to transfer from BiVO4 to PW12 and the hole from BiVO4 to NiTsPc, which is responsible for the improved photoactivity of BiVO4. This work provides a new insight into effectively improving BiVO4 photoanode by rational design of dual modification.
Catalytic Photoreduction Induced by Visible Light
Authors: Qiao Baokun , Jiang Zhiyong
Published: June 2018

In 1978, Kellogg et al. described photoreduction of sulfonium ions to the corresponding thioethers and alkanes with tertiary amines as the terminal reductant [Tetrahedron Lett., 1978, 19, 1255]. Since then, visible‐light‐driven photocatalysis, which enables the substrates to undergo an open‐shell single‐electron transfer to realize important transformations, has attracted significant research interest. Among the many methods inspired by this early report, photoreduction as an extension of Kellogg's work has received particular attention given its ability to provide an expedient and sustainable approach to access valuable compounds from readily accessible feedstocks. Furthermore, the development of distinct reductive procedures presented important foundations to develop other synthetic methodologies for the construction of natural and bioactive non‐natural molecules. In this Review, we will discuss advances in this significant research area. The examples are categorized by achiral and chiral reaction patterns with different kinds of starting substrates.
Effect of ultraviolet light treatment on surface hydrophilicity and human gingival fibroblast response on nanostructured titanium surfaces
Authors: Areid Nagat , Peltola Ari , Kangasniemi Ilkka , Ballo Ahmed , Närhi Timo O.
Published: June 2018

This study was designed to investigate the effect of nanostructured TiO2coatings on human gingival fibroblast and to explore the influence of ultraviolet (UV) light on surface wettability and cellular response. Ti‐6Al‐4V titanium alloy discs (n = 96) were divided into three groups: a sol–gel‐derived MetAlive™ (MA) coating; hydrothermal (HT) coating; and a non‐coated (NC) group. Forty‐eight titanium substrates were further treated with UV light for 15 min. The water contact angles of the substrates were measured using the sessile drop method. Human gingival fibroblasts were used to evaluate the cell adhesion strength and cell proliferation on experimental surfaces. The strength of cell adhesion against enzymatic detachment was studied after 6 hr of adhesion using gentle trypsinization for 15 min at room temperature. A fluorescence microscope was used for cell imaging (Zeiss‐stereo‐lumar‐v12), and images were analyzed for cell counting, and the percentage of detached cells were calculated. The proliferation of cultured cells up to 10 days was determined according to the cell activity using Alamar Blue™assay. The HT group had the lowest contact angle value (31.1°) followed by MetAlive™ (35.3°), whereas the NC group had the highest contact angle (50.3°). After UV light treatment, all surfaces become considerably more hydrophilic. There was a significant difference in the amount of adherent cells between sol–gel and HT groups when compared with the NC group (p < .05) with detachment percentages of 35.8%, 36.4%, and 70.7%, respectively. All substrate types showed an increase in cell proliferation rate until 10 days. It can be concluded that nanostructured titanium oxide implant surfaces, obtained by sol–gel and HT coating methods, enhance the surface wettability and improve human gingival fibroblast function in terms of adhesion and proliferation rate when compared with non‐coated surfaces. UV light treatment clearly enhances the wettability of all titanium surfaces.
Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Efficiently Catalyzed by Ru2P Nanoparticles
Authors: Wang Yuan , Liu Zong , Liu Hui , Suen Nian‐Tzu , Yu Xu , Feng Ligang
Published: June 2018

Developing alternatives to Pt catalysts is a prerequisite to cost‐effectively produce hydrogen. Herein, we demonstrate Ru2P nanoparticles (without any doping and modifications) as a highly efficient Pt‐like catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in different pH electrolytes. On transferring the hexagonal close‐packed crystal structure of Ru to the orthorhombic structure of Ru2P, a greatly improved catalytic activity and stability toward HER is found owing to Ru−P coordination. The electronic state change originates from the P−Ru bonding structures, which accounts for the HER activity improvement compared with Ru nanoparticles. Specifically, Ru2P nanoparticles can drive 10 mA cm−2 at a very low overpotential of 55 mV, only 8 mV more than Pt/C in an acidic solution; and an extremely low overpotential of approximately 50 mV is needed in alkaline solution, about 20 mV less than the Pt/C catalyst. The Volmer–Tafel mechanism is indicated on Ru2P nanoparticles with the typical Tafel slope of 30 mV dec−1 of Pt metal indicating a Pt‐like catalytic ability. Ru2P is more active in the Ru‐P family as H atoms prefer to adsorb on Ru atoms rather than on the P element according to theoretical calculations. Considering the low price of Ru (20 % of Pt), anti‐corrosion ability in the electrolyte, and the safe and reliable fabrication approach, the powder Ru2P nanoparticles make an excellent HER catalyst with great promise for large‐scale water electrolysis applications.
Genetic structure in Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) populations: Strong spatial patterns in the wild ancestors of domestic chickens in a core distribution range
Authors: Nguyen‐Phuc Hoa , Berres Mark E.
Published: June 2018

Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) are among the few remaining ancestors of an extant domesticated livestock species, the domestic chicken, that still occur in the wild. Little is known about genetic diversity, population structure, and demography of wild Red Junglefowl in their natural habitats. Extinction threats from habitat loss or genetic alteration from domestic introgression exacerbate further the conservation status of this progenitor species. In a previous study, we reported extraordinary adaptive genetic variation in the MHC B‐locus in wild Red Junglefowl and no evidence of allelic introgression between wild and domestic chickens was observed. In this study, we characterized spatial genetic variation and population structure in naturally occurring populations of Red Junglefowl in their core distribution range in South Central Vietnam. A sample of 212 Red Junglefowl was obtained from geographically and ecologically diverse habitats across an area of 250 × 350 km. We used amplified fragment‐length polymorphism markers obtained from 431 loci to determine whether genetic diversity and population structure varies. We found that Red Junglefowl are widely distributed but form small and isolated populations. Strong spatial genetic patterns occur at both local and regional scales. At local scale, population stratification can be identified to approximately 5 km. At regional scale, we identified distinct populations of Red Junglefowl in the southern lowlands, northern highlands, and eastern coastal portions of the study area. Both local and long‐distance genetic patterns observed in wild Red Junglefowl may reflect the species’ ground‐dwelling and territorial characteristics, including dispersal barriers imposed by the Annamite Mountain Range. Spatially explicit analyses with neutral genetic markers can be highly informative and here elevates the conservation profile of the wild ancestors of domesticated chickens.
Not attackable or not crackable—How pre‐ and post‐attack defenses with different competition costs affect prey coexistence and population dynamics
Authors: Ehrlich Elias , Gaedke Ursula
Published: June 2018

It is well‐known that prey species often face trade‐offs between defense against predation and competitiveness, enabling predator‐mediated coexistence. However, we lack an understanding of how the large variety of different defense traits with different competition costs affects coexistence and population dynamics. Our study focusses on two general defense mechanisms, that is, pre‐attack (e.g., camouflage) and post‐attack defenses (e.g., weaponry) that act at different phases of the predator—prey interaction. We consider a food web model with one predator, two prey types and one resource. One prey type is undefended, while the other one is pre‐ or post‐attack defended paying costs either by a higher half‐saturation constant for resource uptake or a lower maximum growth rate. We show that post‐attack defenses promote prey coexistence and stabilize the population dynamics more strongly than pre‐attack defenses by interfering with the predator's functional response: Because the predator spends time handling “noncrackable” prey, the undefended prey is indirectly facilitated. A high half‐saturation constant as defense costs promotes coexistence more and stabilizes the dynamics less than a low maximum growth rate. The former imposes high costs at low resource concentrations but allows for temporally high growth rates at predator‐induced resource peaks preventing the extinction of the defended prey. We evaluate the effects of the different defense mechanisms and costs on coexistence under different enrichment levels in order to vary the importance of bottom‐up and top‐down control of the prey community.
Double‐digest RADseq loci using standard Illumina indexes improve deep and shallow phylogenetic resolution of Lophodermium, a widespread fungal endophyte of pine needles
Authors: Salas‐Lizana Rodolfo , Oono Ryoko
Published: June 2018

The phylogenetic and population genetic structure of symbiotic microorganisms may correlate with important ecological traits that can be difficult to directly measure, such as host preferences or dispersal rates. This study develops and tests a low‐cost double‐digest restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq) protocol to reveal among‐ and within‐species genetic structure for Lophodermium, a genus of fungal endophytes whose evolutionary analyses have been limited by the scarcity of informative markers. The protocol avoids expensive barcoded adapters and incorporates universal indexes for multiplexing. We tested for reproducibility and functionality by comparing shared loci from sample replicates and assessed the effects of numbers of ambiguous sites and clustering thresholds on coverage depths, number of shared loci among samples, and phylogenetic reconstruction. Errors between technical replicates were minimal. Relaxing the quality‐filtering criteria increased the mean coverage depth per locus and the number of loci recovered within a sample, but had little effect on the number of shared loci across samples. Increasing clustering threshold decreased the mean coverage depth per cluster and increased the number of loci recovered within a sample but also decreased the number of shared loci across samples, especially among distantly related species. The combination of low similarity clustering (70%) and relaxed quality‐filtering (allowing up to 30 ambiguous sites per read) performed the best in phylogenetic analyses at both recent and deep genetic divergences. Hence, this method generated sufficient number of shared homologous loci to investigate the evolutionary relationships among divergent fungal lineages with small haploid genomes. The greater genetic resolution also revealed new structure within species that correlated with ecological traits, providing valuable insights into their cryptic life histories.
Turnover in local parasite populations temporarily favors host outcrossing over self‐fertilization during experimental evolution
Authors: Lynch Zachary R. , Penley McKenna J. , Morran Levi T.
Published: June 2018

The ubiquity of outcrossing in plants and animals is difficult to explain given its costs relative to self‐fertilization. Despite these costs, exposure to changing environmental conditions can temporarily favor outcrossing over selfing. Therefore, recurring episodes of environmental change are predicted to favor the maintenance of outcrossing. Studies of host–parasite coevolution have provided strong support for this hypothesis. However, it is unclear whether multiple exposures to novel parasite genotypes in the absence of coevolution are sufficient to favor outcrossing. Using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the bacterial parasite Serratia marcescens, we studied host responses to parasite turnover. We passaged several replicates of a host population that was well‐adapted to the S. marcescens strain Sm2170 with either Sm2170 or one of three novel S. marcescens strains, each derived from Sm2170, for 18 generations. We found that hosts exposed to novel parasites maintained higher outcrossing rates than hosts exposed to Sm2170. Nonetheless, host outcrossing rates declined over time against all but the most virulent novel parasite strain. Hosts exposed to the most virulent novel strain exhibited increased outcrossing rates for approximately 12 generations, but did not maintain elevated levels of outcrossing throughout the experiment. Thus, parasite turnover can transiently increase host outcrossing. These results suggest that recurring episodes of parasite turnover have the potential to favor the maintenance of host outcrossing. However, such maintenance may require frequent exposure to novel virulent parasites, rapid rates of parasite turnover, and substantial host gene flow.
Attracting Common Carp to a bait site with food reveals strong positive relationships between fish density, feeding activity, environmental DNA, and sex pheromone release that could be used in invasive fish management
Authors: Ghosal Ratna , Eichmiller Jessica J. , Witthuhn Bruce A. , Sorensen Peter W.
Published: June 2018

Measurement of environmental DNA (eDNA) is becoming a common technique to survey for rare and invasive fish due to its sensitivity and specificity. However, its utility is limited by an incomplete understanding of factors governing its sources and fates. Failure to detect eDNA is especially difficult to interpret so surveillance techniques often collect large numbers of samples across broad regions. If, however, fish could be reliably attracted to a single location where their eDNA could be easily measured that would be useful. We conducted a proof‐of‐concept study of this idea using invasive Common Carp. We monitored the distribution of radio‐tagged Carp and their eDNA across a 67 ha lake focusing at the bait site while a pheromone (Prostaglandin F2α; PGF2α) was also measured to determine their reproductive condition. Prior to baiting, Carp were patchily distributed and while eDNA was occasionally detectable, it was patchy and only loosely associated with moderately dense groups of fish. Further, neither Carp, nor their eDNA were consistently measurable at the bait site and surrounding region, and the pheromone was not measurable at all. However, once baiting commenced, Carp started visiting the bait site and feeding, especially at night, where eDNA levels increased 500‐fold as fish densities doubled and PGF2α became detectable. Fish presence, eDNA and pheromone concentrations peaked at night after 6 days, strongly suggesting feeding activity was the main driver. While the presence of eDNA precisely coincided with this aggregation, levels had dropped dramatically within 5 m. PGF2α levels dropped less rapidly and demonstrated the presence of live mature fish. We suggest that food could be used to train fish to come to locations where they otherwise are too scarce to be reliably measured, increasing their eDNA release, making them measurable, and their reproductive condition also discernable by measuring pheromones.
Impact of ecological redundancy on the performance of machine learning classifiers in vegetation mapping
Authors: Macintyre Paul D. , Van Niekerk Adriaan , Dobrowolski Mark P. , Tsakalos James L. , Mucina Ladislav
Published: June 2018

Vegetation maps are models of the real vegetation patterns and are considered important tools in conservation and management planning. Maps created through traditional methods can be expensive and time‐consuming, thus, new more efficient approaches are needed. The prediction of vegetation patterns using machine learning shows promise, but many factors may impact on its performance. One important factor is the nature of the vegetation–environment relationship assessed and ecological redundancy. We used two datasets with known ecological redundancy levels (strength of the vegetation–environment relationship) to evaluate the performance of four machine learning (ML) classifiers (classification trees, random forests, support vector machines, and nearest neighbor). These models used climatic and soil variables as environmental predictors with pretreatment of the datasets (principal component analysis and feature selection) and involved three spatial scales. We show that the ML classifiers produced more reliable results in regions where the vegetation–environment relationship is stronger as opposed to regions characterized by redundant vegetation patterns. The pretreatment of datasets and reduction in prediction scale had a substantial influence on the predictive performance of the classifiers. The use of ML classifiers to create potential vegetation maps shows promise as a more efficient way of vegetation modeling. The difference in performance between areas with poorly versus well‐structured vegetation–environment relationships shows that some level of understanding of the ecology of the target region is required prior to their application. Even in areas with poorly structured vegetation–environment relationships, it is possible to improve classifier performance by either pretreating the dataset or reducing the spatial scale of the predictions.
Effects of patch size and basal area on avian taxonomic and functional diversity in pine forests: Implication for the influence of habitat quality on the species–area relationship
Authors: Lee Myung‐Bok , Carroll John P.
Published: June 2018

Relationships between avian diversity and habitat area are assumed to be positive; however, often little attention has given to how these relationships can be influenced by the habitat structure or quality. In addition, other components of biodiversity, such as functional diversity, are often overlooked in assessing habitat patch value. In the Sandhills Ecoregion of Georgia, USA, we investigated the relationship between avian species richness and functional diversity, forest basal area, and patch size in pine forests using basal area as a surrogate for overstory structure which in turn impacts vegetation structure and determines habitat quality within a patch. We conducted bird surveys in planted mature pine stands, during breeding season of 2011. We used three classes of stand basal area (BA): OS, overstocked (BA ≥ 23 m2/ha); FS, fully/densely stocked (13.8 m2/ha ≤ BA < 23 m2/ha); and MS, moderately stocked (2.3 m2/ha ≤ BA < 13.8 m2/ha). MS patches showed more structural diversity due to higher herbaceous vegetation cover than other two pine stocking classes of patches. Total species richness and functional richness increased with the size of MS patches, whereas functional divergence decreased with the size of OS patches (p < 0.05). Functional richness tended to be lower than expected as the size of OS patches increased. Greater richness of pine–grassland species was also found at MS patches. Percent cover of MS patches within a landscape influenced positively the richness of pine–grassland species (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that (a) avian species–habitat area relationship can be affected by habitat quality (structural diversity) and varies depending on diversity indices considered, and (b) it is important to maintain moderate or low levels of pine basal area and to preserve large‐sized patches of the level of basal area to enhance both taxonomic and functional diversity in managed pine forests.
Reciprocal intraguild predation and predator coexistence
Authors: Marques Renata Vieira , Sarmento Renato Almeida , Oliveira Adriana Gonçalves , Rodrigues Diego de Macedo , Venzon Madelaine , Pedro‐Neto Marçal , Pallini Angelo , Janssen Arne
Published: June 2018

Intraguild predation is a mix of competition and predation and occurs when one species feeds on another species that uses similar resources. Theory predicts that intraguild predation hampers coexistence of species involved, but it is common in nature. It has been suggested that increasing habitat complexity and the presence of alternative food may promote coexistence. Reciprocal intraguild predation limits possibilities for coexistence even further. Habitat complexity and the presence of alternative food are believed to promote coexistence. We investigated this using two species of predatory mites, Iphiseiodes zuluagai and Euseius concordis, by assessing co‐occurrence in the field and on arenas differing in spatial structure in the laboratory. The predators co‐occured on the same plants in the field. In the laboratory, adults of the two mites fed on juveniles of the other species, both in the presence and the absence of a shared food source, showing that the two species are involved in reciprocal intraguild predation. Adults of I. zuluagai also attacked adults of E. concordis. This suggests limited possibilities for coexistence of the two species. Indeed, E. concordis invariably went extinct extremely rapidly on arenas without spatial structure with populations consisting of all stages of the two predators and with a shared resource. Coexistence was prolonged on host plant leaves with extra food sources, but E. concordis still went extinct. On small, intact plants, coexistence of the two species was much longer, and ended with the other species, I. zuluagai, often going extinct. These results suggest that spatial structure and the presence of alternative food increase the coexistence period of intraguild predators.
MicroWeaR: A new R package for dental microwear analysis
Authors: Strani Flavia , Profico Antonio , Manzi Giorgio , Pushkina Diana , Raia Pasquale , Sardella Raffaele , DeMiguel Daniel
Published: June 2018

Mastication of dietary items with different mechanical properties leaves distinctive microscopic marks on the surface of tooth enamel. The inspection of such marks (dental microwear analysis) is informative about the dietary habitus in fossil as well as in modern species. Dental microwear analysis relies on the morphology, abundance, direction, and distribution of these microscopic marks. We present a new freely available software implementation, MicroWeaR, that, compared to traditional dental microwear tools, allows more rapid, observer error free, and inexpensive quantification and classification of all the microscopic marks (also including for the first time different subtypes of scars). Classification parameters and graphical rendering of the output are fully settable by the user. MicroWeaR includes functions to (a) sample the marks, (b) classify features into categories as pits or scratches and then into their respective subcategories (large pits, coarse scratches, etc.), (c) generate an output table with summary information, and (d) obtain a visual surface‐map where marks are highlighted. We provide a tutorial to reproduce the steps required to perform microwear analysis and to test tool functionalities. Then, we present two case studies to illustrate how MicroWeaR works. The first regards a Miocene great ape obtained from through environmental scanning electron microscope, and other a Pleistocene cervid acquired by a stereomicroscope.
Opsin expression predicts male nuptial color in threespine stickleback
Authors: Brock Chad D. , Rennison Diana , Veen Thor , Bolnick Daniel I.
Published: June 2018

Theoretical models of sexual selection suggest that male courtship signals can evolve through the build‐up of genetic correlations between the male signal and female preference. When preference is mediated via increased sensitivity of the signal characteristics, correlations between male signal and perception/sensitivity are expected. When signal expression is limited to males, we would expect to find signal‐sensitivity correlations in males. Here, we document such a correlation within a breeding population of threespine stickleback mediated by differences in opsin expression. Males with redder nuptial coloration express more long‐wavelength‐sensitive (LWS) opsin, making them more sensitive to orange and red. This correlation is not an artifact of shared tuning to the optical microhabitat. Such correlations are an essential feature of many models of sexual selection, and our results highlight the potential importance of opsin expression variation as a substrate for signal‐preference evolution. Finally, these results suggest a potential sensory mechanism that could drive negative frequency‐dependent selection via male–male competition and thus maintain variation in male nuptial color.
The benefits of pair bond tenure in the cooperatively breeding pied babbler (Turdoides bicolor)
Authors: Wiley Elizabeth M. , Ridley Amanda R.
Published: June 2018

The benefits of stable pair bonds (that persist between breeding attempts) have been well described, but are relatively less well known in cooperatively breeding species. If pair bonds are beneficial, then it is possible that the bond between the behaviorally and socially dominant pair may influence factors such as reproductive success and group stability in cooperative species. Here, we used long‐term data to investigate the relationships between pair bond tenure, reproductive success, and group stability in the cooperatively breeding pied babbler (Turdoides bicolor). Pair bond tenure positively influenced both the number of offspring recruitedannuallyper pair and total reproductive success (over entire pair bond duration), indicating that pair bond tenure has an important influence on reproductive success. The likelihood of immigration into the group was lower for groups containing a bonded pair with long tenure, indicating that the duration of pair bonds may impact group stability. These findings suggest that pair tenure, a hitherto relatively unexplored factor in cooperative species, may have an important influence on group dynamics.
Do community and autonomy moral violations elicit different emotions?
Authors: Kollareth Dolichan , Kikutani Mariko , Shirai Mariko , Russell James A.
Published: June 2018

According to one important set of theories, different domains of immorality are linked to different discrete emotions—panculturally. Violations against the community elicit contempt, whereas violations against an individual elicit anger. To test this theory, American, Indian and Japanese participants (N = 480) indicated contempt and anger reactions (with verbal rating and face selection) to both the types of immorality. To remedy method problems in previous research, community and autonomy violations were created for the same story‐frame, by varying the target to be either the community or an individual. Community and autonomy violations did not differ significantly in the emotion elicited: overall, both types of violations elicited more anger than contempt (and more negative emotion of any kind than positive emotion). By verbal rating, Americans and Indians reported more anger than contempt for both types of violation, whereas Japanese reported more contempt than anger for both types. By face selection, the three cultural groups selected anger more than contempt for both types of violation. The results speak against defining distinct domains of morality by their association with distinct emotions.
Reconstructed evolution of insulin receptors in insects reveals duplications in early insects and cockroaches
Authors: Kremer Lukas Peter Maria , Korb Judith , Bornberg‐Bauer Erich
Published: June 2018

Social insects show an extreme degree of phenotypic plasticity. In highly eusocial species, this manifests in the generation of distinct castes with extreme differences in both morphology and life span. The molecular basis of these differences is highly entangled and not fully understood, but several recent studies demonstrated that insulin/insulin‐like growth factor signaling (IIS) is one of the key pathways. Here, we investigate the molecular evolution of insect insulin receptors (InRs), which are membrane‐bound dimers that enable IIS by relaying extracellular signals to intracellular signaling cascades. Classic models of invertebrate IIS include only one InR gene, but some recent studies on less commonly studied insects have found two InRs, which act in an antagonistic manner to facilitate polyphenism in at least one documented case. We search 22 arthropod genomes and identify several InR copies and their evolutionary origin that were lacking from previous annotations. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the two insect InR genes date back at least 400 million years to a common ancestor of winged insects. Most notably, we also identified the evolutionary origin of a third InR copy that is unique to the clade of Blattodea, just before therein the eusocial termites evolved. One of the InR paralogs consistently shows caste‐biased expression in all three termites, which strongly suggests a role in caste differentiation. These results have important ramifications for past and future InR inhibition/InR knockdown experiments in insects and they provide a set of key genes regulating life span and morphology in termite castes.
A New Sustainable Strategy for Synthesis of Novel Series of Bis‐imidazole and Bis‐1,3‐thiazine Derivatives
Authors: Arafa Wael A. A. , Faty Rasha A. M. , Mourad Asmaa K.
Published: June 2018

An expeditious, eco‐friendly, and efficacious protocol was achieved for the preparation of bis‐imidazoles and bis‐1,3‐thiazines from the reaction of tetracyanoethylene with dialdehydes or bis‐thiosemicarbazones, respectively. Merely mixing and sonicating the starting materials furnishes the desirable products in considerable yields. This reaction smoothly proceeded and presented many merits, over conventional and mechanochemical approaches, including simple experimental workup procedure, no by‐products, and short reaction time. Moreover, the protocol scoring admirably in various green metrics, as a consequence, shows these approaches to be an ideal sustainable and green process.
DNA adducts: Formation, biological effects, and new biospecimens for mass spectrometric measurements in humans
Authors: Hwa Yun Byeong , Guo Jingshu , Bellamri Medjda , Turesky Robert J.
Published: June 2018

Hazardous chemicals in the environment and diet or their electrophilic metabolites can form adducts with genomic DNA, which can lead to mutations and the initiation of cancer. In addition, reactive intermediates can be generated in the body through oxidative stress and damage the genome. The identification and measurement of DNA adducts are required for understanding exposure and the causal role of a genotoxic chemical in cancer risk. Over the past three decades, 32P‐postlabeling, immunoassays, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) methods have been established to assess exposures to chemicals through measurements of DNA adducts. It is now possible to measure some DNA adducts in human biopsy samples, by LC/MS, with as little as several milligrams of tissue. In this review article, we highlight the formation and biological effects of DNA adducts, and highlight our advances in human biomonitoring by mass spectrometric analysis of formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tissues, untapped biospecimens for carcinogen DNA adduct biomarker research.
Comparison among the microbial communities in the lake, lake wetland, and estuary sediments of a plain river network
Authors: Huang Wei , Chen Xing , Wang Kun , Chen Junyi , Zheng Binghui , Jiang Xia
Published: June 2018

Sediment microbial communities from plain river networks exert different effects on pollutant transformation and migration in lake basins. In this study, we examined millions of Illumina reads (16S rRNA gene amplicons) to compare lake, lake wetland, and estuary bacterial communities through a technically consistent approach. Results showed that bacterial communities in the sampled lake sediments had the highest alpha‐diversity (Group B), than in sampled lake wetland sediments and estuary sediments. Proteobacteria was the most abundant (more than 30%) phyla in all the sediments. The lake sediments had more Nitrospirae (1.63%–11.75%) and Acidobacteria (3.46%–10.21%) than the lake wetland and estuary sediments, and estuary sediments had a greater abundance of the phylum Firmicutes (mean of 22.30%). Statistical analysis (LEfSe) revealed that lake wetland sediments contained greater abundances of the class Anaerolineaceae, orders Xanthomonadales, Pseudomonadales, and genera Flavobacterium, Acinetobacter. The lake sediments had a distinct community of diverse primary producers, such as phylum Acidobacteria, order Ignavibacteriales, and families Nitrospiraceae, Hydrogenophilaceae. Total phosphorus and organic matter were the main factors influencing the bacterial communities in sediments from several parts of the lake wetland and river estuary (p < .05). The novel insights into basin pollution control in plain river networks may be obtained from microbial distribution in sediments from different basin regions.
Wzx flippases exhibiting complex O‐unit preferences require a new model for Wzx–substrate interactions
Authors: Liu Michael A. , Morris Paraskevi , Reeves Peter R.
Published: June 2018

The Wzx flippase is a critical component of the O‐antigen biosynthesis pathway, being responsible for the translocation of oligosaccharide O units across the inner membrane in Gram‐negative bacteria. Recent studies have shown that Wzx has a strong preference for its cognate O unit, but the types of O‐unit structural variance that a given Wzx can accommodate are poorly understood. In this study, we identified two Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Wzx that can distinguish between different terminal dideoxyhexose sugars on a common O‐unit main‐chain, despite both being able to translocate several other structurally‐divergent O units. We also identified other Y. pseudotuberculosis Wzx that can translocate a structurally divergent foreign O unit with high efficiency, and thus exhibit an apparently relaxed substrate preference. It now appears that Wzx substrate preference is more complex than previously suggested, and that not all O‐unit residues are equally important determinants of translocation efficiency. We propose a new “Structure‐Specific Triggering” model in which Wzx translocation proceeds at a low level for a wide variety of substrates, with high‐frequency translocation only being triggered by Wzx interacting with one or more preferred O‐unit structural elements found on its cognate O unit(s).
Nonresonant and Resonant Spin Rectification in the Exchange Biased NiFe/MnIr Bilayer
Authors: Pan Lining , Soh Wee Tee , Phuoc Nguyen N. , Ong Chong Kim
Published: June 2018

Through a systematic investigation of the magnetization rotation and reversal in an exchange‐biased NiFe/MnIr film electrically detected by spin rectification effect (SRE), we experimentally demonstrate that this SRE DC voltage can be detected in the field‐swept spectra both at resonant and nonresonant conditions. The spectra show clear shifted hysteretic curves driven by exchange bias and a hysteresis loop is formed at applied magnetic field around exchanged bias field by the nonzero SRE DC voltage with sign change with the sweeping direction. More interestingly, we found that the voltage magnitude changes upon switching of magnetization can be greatly enhanced at resonance thereby suggesting an attractive approach to realize a highly sensitive method to measure exchange bias field. This experimental behavior can be interpreted within the framework of the near‐resonant spin rectification effect.