161 reads in the past 30 days
Cranial osteology and neuroanatomy of the late Permian reptile Milleropsis pricei and implications for early reptile evolutionJanuary 2025
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161 Reads
Published by The Royal Society
Online ISSN: 2054-5703
Disciplines: Multidisciplinary
161 reads in the past 30 days
Cranial osteology and neuroanatomy of the late Permian reptile Milleropsis pricei and implications for early reptile evolutionJanuary 2025
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161 Reads
131 reads in the past 30 days
Morphogenesis of pteraspid heterostracan oral plates and the evolutionary origin of teethDecember 2024
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131 Reads
78 reads in the past 30 days
Learning on the job? Foraging strategies of juvenile versus adult Lesser black-backed gulls at their first migratory stopoverDecember 2024
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119 Reads
65 reads in the past 30 days
Cursorial ecomorphology and temporal patterns in theropod dinosaur evolution during the mid-CretaceousJanuary 2025
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65 Reads
64 reads in the past 30 days
Proterozoic microfossils continue to provide new insights into the rise of complex eukaryotic lifeAugust 2024
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558 Reads
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1 Citation
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January 2025
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11 Reads
This study focused on fabricating a cellulose aerogel for oil spill clean-up, using common reed (Phragmites australis) as the cellulose source. The process involved isolating cellulose from reed via traditional Kraft pulping, considering the effects of key factors on the isolated cellulose content. After a two-stage HP bleaching sequence, the highest cellulose content achieved was 27.2%, with 80% ISO brightness and 1% ash content under mild Kraft pulping conditions of 30% sulfidity, 20% active alkali (AA), sustained cooking at 165°C for 3 h, and a liquor-to-reed ratio of 8 : 1. Subsequently, reed-based cellulose aerogel was fabricated via a freeze-drying method using an eco-friendly NaOH/poly(ethylene glycol) aqueous solvent system, which was then modified with methyltrimethoxysilane. The resulting aerogel exhibited remarkable characteristics, including a low density of 0.04 g cm⁻³, high porosity of 96%, high hydrophobicity with a water contact angle (WAC) of 141°, and a superior crude oil adsorption capacity of 35 g g⁻¹. Comprehensive characterizations of the fabricated materials, including scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry, and WAC measurements, were evaluated. This interdisciplinary study explores the commercial promise of reed-based cellulose aerogel as a sustainable solution for oil spill clean-up efforts.
January 2025
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12 Reads
Biological invasions can disrupt the close and longstanding coevolved relationships between host and parasites. At the same time, the shifting selective forces acting on demography during invasion can result in rapid evolution of traits in both host and parasite. Hosts at the invasion front may reduce investment into costly immune defences and redistribute those resources to other fitness-enhancing traits. Parasites at the invasion front may have reduced pathogenicity because traits that negatively impact host dispersal are left behind in the expanding range. The host’s immune system is its primary arsenal in the coevolutionary ‘arms race’ with parasites. To assess the effects of invasion history on immune responses to parasite infection, we conducted a cross-infection experiment which paired common-garden reared cane toads and lungworm parasites originating from various sites in their invaded range across northern Australia. Infected toads had larger spleens and higher concentrations of eosinophils than did uninfected toads. Infected toads also exhibited lower bacteria-killing ability, perhaps reflecting a trade-off of resources towards defences that are more specifically anthelminthic. The impact of infection intensity on multiple immune measures differed among toads and parasites from different parts of the invasion trajectory, supporting the hypothesis that invasion has disrupted patterns of local adaptation.
January 2025
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35 Reads
Adaptive divergence and increased genetic differentiation among populations can lead to reproductive isolation. In Lake Constance, Germany, a population of invasive three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) is currently diverging into littoral and pelagic ecotypes, which both nest in the littoral zone. We hypothesized that assortative mating behaviour contributes to reproductive isolation between these ecotypes and performed a behavioural experiment in which females could choose between two nest-guarding males. Behaviour was recorded, and data on traits relevant to mate choice were collected. Both females of the same and different ecotypes were courted with equal vigour. However, there was a significant interaction effect of male and female ecotypes on the level of aggression in females. Littoral females were more aggressive towards pelagic males, and pelagic females were more aggressive towards littoral males. This indicates rejection of males of different ecotypes in spite of the fact that littoral males were larger, more intensely red-coloured and more aggressive than the pelagic males—all mating traits female sticklebacks generally select for. This study documents the emergence of behavioural barriers during early divergence in an invasive and rapidly diversifying stickleback population and discusses their putative role in facilitating reproductive isolation and adaptive radiation within this species.
January 2025
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28 Reads
There is a growing body of evidence that urbanization can affect body condition and immune function in wild birds, although these effects may be complex and taxa-specific. Here, we assessed the effects of urbanization on body condition (size-corrected body mass and haemoglobin concentration) and innate immune defences (haemolysis–haemagglutination assay, haptoglobin concentration and bacterial killing assay) in 136 Eurasian coots (Fulica atra) from three urban and three non-urban populations across Poland. We also quantified the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio to control for the potential effect of physiological stress on immune defences. We found that urban coots showed significantly better condition than non-urban ones. At the same time, we found no relationship between any immune defence and urbanization or condition. Thus, our study offers no support for condition-dependent immune function. Our analyses also revealed significant differences between male and female coots in both condition and immune defences; however, we found no evidence for sex-specific responses to urbanization. In conclusion, our study provides correlative evidence that urban habitat enhances condition, but not immune defences in the Eurasian coot.
January 2025
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8 Reads
Across mammals, fertility and offspring survival are often lowest at the beginning and end of females’ reproductive careers. However, extrinsic drivers of reproductive success—including infanticide by males—could stochastically obscure these expected age-related trends. Here, we modelled reproductive ageing trajectories in two cercopithecine primates that experience high rates of male infanticide: the chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) and the gelada (Theropithecus gelada). We found that middle-aged mothers generally achieved the shortest interbirth intervals in chacma baboons. By contrast, old gelada females often showed shorter interbirth intervals than their younger group-mates with one exception: the oldest females typically failed to produce additional offspring before their deaths. Infant survival peaked in middle-aged mothers in chacma baboons but in young mothers in geladas. While infant mortality linked with maternal death increased as mothers aged in both species, infanticide risk did not predictably shift with maternal age. Thus, infanticide patterns cannot explain the surprising young mother advantage observed in geladas. Instead, we argue that this could be a product of their graminivorous diets, which might remove some energetic constraints on early reproduction. In sum, our data suggest that reproductive ageing is widespread but may be differentially shaped by ecological pressures.
January 2025
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14 Reads
In our multicultural and interconnected world, the ability to learn new languages is important. However, there are significant differences in how successfully adults can learn aspects of non-native languages. Given robust relationships between musical ability and native-language processing, musical ability might also contribute to successful second-language acquisition. However, while several studies have assessed this relationship in various ways, the consistency and robustness of the relationship between musical ability and second-language learning remains unclear. Thus, we synthesized 184 effects across 57 independent studies (n =3181) with a robust variance estimation multivariate meta-analysis, and we narratively summarized partial correlation effects across 12 studies. The available evidence suggests that musical ability is indeed positively related to second-language learning, even after factoring in publication bias revealed by the meta-analysis. Although future work with more diverse participant populations and methodologies is needed to further disentangle this relationship, it is apparent that individuals with better musical ability are generally more successful at second-language learning.
January 2025
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2 Reads
DNA mixtures containing semen and vaginal fluid are common biological samples in forensic analysis. However, the analysis of semen–vaginal fluid mixtures remains challenging. In this study, to solve these problems, it is proposed to combine semen-specific CpG sites and closely related microhaplotype sites to form a new composite genetic marker (semen-specific methylation-microhaplotype). Six methylation-microhaplotype loci were selected. To further improve discrimination power, five methylation-SNP loci were also included. The methylation levels and genotypes of these selected loci were obtained using massively parallel sequencing technology. Except for loci MMH04ZHA019 and MMH17ZHA059, the remaining nine loci were successfully sequenced. For the successfully sequenced loci, they performed well in identifying individuals and body fluids. An allele categorization model was developed using K-nearest neighbour algorithm, which was then used to predict allele types in semen–vaginal fluid mixtures. These loci were able to confirm the presence of semen and link semen to a true donor in semen–vaginal fluid mixtures with mixing ratios of 10:1, 9:1, 5:1, 4:1, 1:1, 1:3, 1:4, 1:8 and 1:9 (semen:vaginal fluid). This preliminary study suggests that this new composite genetic marker has great potential as a supplementary tool to commonly used genetic markers (STR, etc.) for analysing semen–vaginal fluid mixtures.
January 2025
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6 Reads
This study proposes a methodology and a proof of concept to target and prioritize mass retrofitting of residential buildings in the UK using open building datasets that combine fabric energy efficiency and fuel poverty to meet the net-zero targets. The methodological framework uses a series of multi-variate statistical and geospatial methods that consider urban, socio-economic and physical attributes. In addition, thermal imaging is implemented to provide insights at the building scale. We define a hard-to-decarbonize (HtD) metric to enable the clustering of different residential types to establish retrofitting priorities. Using Cambridge, UK, as a case study, five neighbourhoods were identified and characterized to help determine decarbonization intervention priorities. We found that one of five clusters of neighbourhoods is HtD and requires more policy support from government for the implementation of retrofit strategies. The achieved framework has the potential to inform policy and decision making. Of relevance, it is applicable to different urban contexts.
January 2025
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11 Reads
Field studies of social behaviour are challenging due to the need to record or infer interactions between multiple individuals, often under suboptimal environmental conditions or with potential disturbance by observers. Due to the limited field techniques available, we present a novel method to quantify social behaviours in the field by comparing the counts of individuals caught in traps across multiple locations sampled simultaneously. The distribution of individuals between traps gives the extent of aggregation, and phenotypic data allow for inference of non-random assortment. As a case study, we applied this method to populations of three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) in freshwater ponds, using minnow traps. As expected, we observed a strong trend for aggregation. We were able to describe the ecological drivers of aggregation, comparing environmental and phenotypic conditions across sites. Aggregation was not related to environmental parameters, but was negatively associated with the proportion of breeding males caught during the breeding season. No evidence for phenotypic assortment based on body size was found. These results demonstrate that widely available ecological equipment can address questions related to social behaviour. This cost-effective approach, avoiding the tagging of individuals and minimizing extended observer disturbance, can be applied across various habitats and species.
January 2025
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5 Reads
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a haematologic malignancy with high relapse rates in both adults and children. Leukaemic stem cells (LSCs) are central to leukaemopoiesis, treatment response and relapse and frequently associated with measurable residual disease (MRD). However, the dynamics of LSCs within the AML microenvironment is not fully understood. This study utilized three-dimensional cellular automata (CA) modelling to simulate LSC behaviour and treatment response under induction chemotherapy. Our study revealed: (i) a correlation between LSC persistence post-induction chemotherapy and risk of AML relapse; (ii) MRD negativity based on LSC count may not reliably predict outcomes, supporting clinical evidence that patients with MRD-negative status can still be at risk of relapse; (iii) prolonged persistence of LSCs post-chemotherapy without disruption of normal haematopoiesis, aligning with clinical observations of dormant AML clones; (iv) early LSC dynamics post-induction chemotherapy, characterized by stochastic behaviours and movement velocities, are insufficient predictors of long-term prognosis; and (v) a distinct spatiotemporal organization of LSCs in later phases post-induction chemotherapy is correlated with long-term outcomes. Our modelling results provide a theoretical and clinical framework for AML research, and future clinical data validation could refine the utility of CA modelling for oncological studies.
January 2025
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8 Reads
The analysis of social networks enables the understanding of social interactions, polarization of ideas and the spread of information, and therefore plays an important role in society. We use Twitter data—as it is a popular venue for the expression of opinion and dissemination of information—to identify opposing sides of a debate and, importantly, to observe how information spreads between these groups in our current polarized climate. To achieve this, we collected over 688 000 tweets from the Irish Abortion Referendum of 2018 to build a conversation network from users’ mentions with sentiment-based homophily. From this network, community detection methods allow us to isolate yes- or no-aligned supporters with high accuracy (90.9%). We supplement this by tracking how information cascades spread via over 31 000 retweet cascades. We found that very little information spread between polarized communities. This provides a valuable methodology for extracting and studying information diffusion on large networks by isolating ideologically polarized groups and exploring the propagation of information within and between these groups.
January 2025
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65 Reads
Coelurosauria, including modern birds, represents a successful group of theropod dinosaurs that established a high taxonomic diversity and significant morphological modifications. In the evolutionary history of this group, a specialized foot morphology, the arctometatarsus, evolved independently in several lineages and has been considered an adaptation for cursoriality. While its functional significance has been extensively studied, the temporal pattern of this parallel evolution, as well as its origin and influencing factors, remains largely unresolved. Here, we show the temporal evolution of cursorial traits, including the arctometatarsus and hind limb proportions. Our study reveals that the proportional elongation of distal hind limb segments preceded the evolution of the arctometatarsus in ornithomimosaurs and oviraptorosaurs. In contrast, in tyrannosauroids, alvarezsaurs and troodontids, the proportional elongation of the tibia and metatarsals occurred in parallel with the acquisition of the arctometatarsus. The evolutionary history of the arctometatarsus further highlights the presence of a phylogenetic constraint outside Coelurosauria, as this foot specialization is restricted to members of this group. Finally, our date estimation, based on compiled evolutionary patterns, demonstrates that these cursorial traits emerged during the mid-Cretaceous (93–120 Ma), suggesting selection on theropod locomotor performance throughout this interval.
January 2025
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22 Reads
When haemoglobin genotyping was implemented in the early 1960s to investigate population genetic structure in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), it became one of the first molecular genetic markers deployed in fisheries research worldwide. However, its suitability was questioned due to its potential for selection. While the issue of neutrality concerned the first population geneticists, markers under selection are now routinely used to study population genetic structure. Here, we revisited haemoglobin genotyping half a decade later to analyse >6000 mature Atlantic cod from 73 spawning locations throughout Norway’s approximately 2500 km coastline. A latitudinal gradient in allele frequencies, with a decrease in the HbI-2 allele towards the south, was observed. Our observed HbI-2 frequencies were consistently slightly lower than data from the 1960s, potentially reflecting adaptive changes to increasing sea temperatures. However, despite this difference, the observed north–south pattern in allele frequencies observed here and in the historical studies overlapped, aligning with current knowledge of population genetic structure in this species. We therefore conclude that this once questioned marker, which provided the first molecular genetic insights into genetic structure in Atlantic cod, provides knowledge consistent with the isolation by distance pattern revealed through decades of research in this species in this region.
January 2025
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2 Reads
Levayer and colleagues assessed integrity issues in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in four spine journals using baseline p-values from categorical variables, concluding that there was no evidence of ‘systemic fraudulent behaviour’. We used their published dataset to assess the accuracy of reported p-values and whether observed and expected distributions of frequency counts and p-values were consistent. In 51 out of 929 (5.5%) baseline variables, the sum of frequencies did not agree with the reported number of participants. For one-third of reported p-values (172 out of 522), we could not calculate a matching p-value using a range of statistical tests. Sparse data were common: for 22% (74 out of 332) of variables in which the reported p-value matched the p-value calculated from a chi-square test, the expected cells were smaller than recommended for the use of chi-square tests. There were 20–25% more two-arm trials with differences in frequency counts of 1 or 2 between-groups than expected. There were small differences between observed and expected distributions of baseline p-values, but these depended on analysis methods. In summary, incorrectly reported p-values and incorrect statistical test usage were common, and there were differences between observed and expected distributions of baseline p-values and frequency counts, raising questions about the integrity of some RCTs in these journals.
January 2025
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22 Reads
The time-resolved analysis of heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) is crucial for the evaluation of the dynamic changes of autonomic activity under different clinical and behavioural conditions. Standard HRV analysis is performed in the frequency domain because the sympathetic activations tend to increase low-frequency HRV oscillations, while the parasympathetic ones increase high-frequency HRV oscillations. However, a strict separation of HRV into frequency bands may cause biased estimations, especially in the low-frequency range. To overcome this limitation, we propose a robust estimator that combines HR and HRV dynamics, based on the correlation of the Poincaré plot descriptors of interbeat intervals from the electrocardiogram. To validate our method, we used electrocardiograms gathered from open databases where standardized paradigms were applied to elicit changes in autonomic activity. Our proposal outperforms the standard spectral approach for the estimation of low- and high-frequency fluctuations in HRV, and its performance is comparable with newer methods. Our method constitutes a valuable, robust, time-resolved and cost-effective tool for a better understanding of autonomic activity through HR and HRV in a healthy state and potentially for pathological conditions.
January 2025
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35 Reads
The mechanical properties of dietary items are known to influence skull morphology, either through evolution or by phenotypic plasticity. Here, we investigated the impact of supplementary feeding of peanuts on the morphology of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) from five populations in Britain (North Scotland, Borders, Jersey and two temporally distinct populations from Formby (Merseyside)). Stable isotope analysis confirmed dietary ecology in 58 specimens. Geometric morphometrics were used to analyse three-dimensional and two-dimensional shape variation across 113 crania and 388 mandibles, respectively. Nitrogen isotope ratios (δ¹⁵N) were lower in the 1990s and 2010s Formby squirrels (suggesting a diet with an increased proportion of peanuts), and higher in other populations. Significant differences in cranio-mandibular shape were found between all populations, with 1990s Formby red squirrels exhibiting a morphology associated with reduced masticatory efficiency. This effect was partially reversed following a reduction in supplementary feeding of peanuts. We propose that these morphological changes are related to the reduced mechanical effort needed to process peanuts relative to naturally occurring food items. This could be an example of diet-induced plastic changes to the skeleton in non-muroid wild mammals, although further research is needed to exclude other driving factors such as genetics.
January 2025
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10 Reads
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent clinical arrhythmia, posing significant mortality and morbidity challenges. Outcomes of current catheter ablation treatment strategies are suboptimal, highlighting the need for innovative approaches. A major obstacle lies in the inability to comprehensively assess both structural and functional remodelling in AF. Combining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)’s detailed structural insights with global chamber charge density mapping (CDM)’s functional mapping capabilities holds promise for advancing AF management. Our research introduces a novel tool for three-dimensional reconstruction of left atrial geometries from MRI, facilitating integration into CDM systems. We comprehensively assess our tool by generating three-dimensional left atrial meshes from MRIs of eight patients with AF and compare them with the established CDM intra-chamber ultrasound approach utilizing both geometric and clinical parameters. We apply the CDM inverse algorithm to both sets of reconstructions in order to compare derived conductions across various heart rhythms and AF conduction patterns. Finally, we explore the potential utility of our integrated pipeline through an exploration of the relationship between AF conduction patterns and their proximity to adjacent thoracic structures. Ultimately, this multifaceted approach aims to unveil insights into AF mechanisms, potentially improving treatment outcomes through personalized ablation strategies targeting arrhythmogenic atrial substrate.
January 2025
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8 Reads
During the COVID-19 pandemic, both government-mandated lockdowns and discretionary changes in behaviour combined to produce dramatic and abrupt changes to human mobility patterns. To understand the socioeconomic determinants of intervention compliance and discretionary behavioural responses to epidemic threats, we investigate whether changes in human mobility showed a systematic variation by socioeconomic status during two distinct periods of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. We analyse mobility data from two major urban centres and compare the trends during mandated stay-at-home policies and after the full relaxation of nonpharmaceutical interventions, which coincided with a large surge of COVID-19 cases. We analyse data aggregated from de-identified global positioning system trajectories, collated from providers of mobile phone applications and aggregated to small spatial regions. Our results demonstrate systematic decreases in mobility relative to the pre-pandemic baseline with the index of education and occupation, for both pandemic periods. On the other hand, the index of economic resources was not correlated with mobility changes. This result contrasts with observations from other national contexts, where reductions in mobility typically increased strongly with indicators of wealth. Our analysis suggests that economic support policies in place during the initial period of stay-at-home orders in Australia facilitated broad reductions in mobility across the economic spectrum.
January 2025
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29 Reads
Tsunamis are massive waves generated by sudden water displacement on the ocean surface, causing devastation as they sweep across the coastlines, posing a global threat. The aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami led to the establishment of the Indian Tsunami Early Warning System (ITEWS). Predicting real-time tsunami heights and the resulting coastal inundation is crucial in ITEWS to safeguard the coastal communities. Global tsunamis other than those in the Indian Ocean might weaken at Indian coasts due to distance yet still cause significant damage due to local coastal morphological amplification. The current study focuses on tsunami simulations over global oceans. A finite element (FE)-based ADvanced CIRCulation (ADCIRC) model is configured to the global domain to model global tsunamis accurately and efficiently. The model mesh has a spatial resolution of 2 km in the shallow waters and relaxed to 20 km in the deeper waters. Model simulations are performed for significant historical events, assessing their effect on near and far field regions. Computed results are compared with the observations, and it is found that the model’s predictions align well with the observations. The simulation results demonstrate that ADCIRC can be applied to real-time tsunami predictions due to its computational efficiency and accuracy.
January 2025
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37 Reads
The asymmetric Schiff base prepared in situ from ethylenediamine and pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde reacts with Fe(ClO4)3·6H2O to form the Fe(II) complex [FeL2](ClO4)2 with L = N,N-diethyl-N′-(pyridin-2-yl)methylene)ethane-1,2-diamine, where the Fe(III) starting material has been unexpectedly reduced to Fe(II). This complex was characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectra, single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction measurements, variable temperature DC magnetic measurement and room temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy. The asymmetric ligand L coordinates in a tridentate fashion through its pyridyl, azomethine and amino nitrogen atoms, generating a distorted octahedral geometry around the central metal ion. Variable temperature magnetic studies and a Mössbauer measurement show that the iron is locked in the low spin Fe(II) states.
January 2025
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29 Reads
Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we work with information across disciplines and practical contexts. A growing range of disciplines are now involved in studying, developing and assessing the use of AI in practice, but these disciplines often employ conflicting understandings of what AI is and what is involved in its use. New, interdisciplinary approaches are needed to bridge competing conceptualizations of AI in practice and help shape the future of AI use. I propose a novel conceptual framework called AI Thinking, which models key decisions and considerations involved in AI use across disciplinary perspectives. AI Thinking addresses five practice-based competencies involved in applying AI in context: motivating AI use, formulating AI methods, assessing available tools and technologies, selecting appropriate data and situating AI in the sociotechnical contexts it is used in. A hypothetical case study is provided to illustrate the application of AI Thinking in practice. This article situates AI Thinking in broader cross-disciplinary discourses of AI, including its connections to ongoing discussions around AI literacy and AI-driven innovation. AI Thinking can help to bridge between the work of diverse disciplines, contexts and actors in the AI space, and shape AI efforts in education, industrial development and policy.
January 2025
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8 Reads
Parental experiences can alter offspring phenotypes via transgenerational plasticity (TGP), which may prime offspring to adaptively respond to novel stressors, including novel predators. However, we know little about the types of sensory cues (e.g. visual, olfactory) that parents use to recognize novel predators and the consequences for offspring. Individuals may respond to novel cues if they mimic historical cues or they may need multiple sensory cues to recognize and respond to novel stimuli. We exposed threespined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) males to a full factorial of visual and olfactory cues of a novel trout predator prior to fertilization and tested offspring for antipredator behaviour and survival against a live predator. Fathers exposed to visual cues oriented more to and spent time closer to the novel predator post-exposure on the first day. Paternal response to visual cues was echoed in their offspring: offspring of fathers exposed to visual cues were caught faster by a live predator, suggesting that multiple cues are not needed to induce a transgenerational effect. While visual cues elicited responses both within- and transgenerationally, they do not seem to result in adaptive priming in offspring, suggesting the possibility of maladaptive TGP in response to novel cues of predation risk.
January 2025
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6 Reads
The potential applications of low-dimensional materials continue to inspire significant interest among researchers worldwide. This study investigates the properties of one-dimensional AlSi monolayers, specifically AlSi nanoribbons, and their adsorption behaviour with CO and H2S molecules. The electronic, magnetic and optical properties of these systems are calculated using density functional theory and the Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package. Results indicate that the structures remain relatively planar with negligible buckling heights. All three studied structures exhibit non-zero magnetic moments; notably, CO adsorption enhances the magnetic moment of the pristine AlSi nanoribbon, whereas H2S adsorption reduces it. Adsorption energy calculations reveal that CO exhibits stronger adsorption compared to H2S. Furthermore, a detailed investigation of the optical properties—including the real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function, absorption coefficient and electron–hole density—demonstrates the potential of these structures in nanotechnology applications, particularly for CO and H2S gas sensing.
January 2025
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8 Reads
Oxidation reactions are vital tools in synthetic organic chemistry. Oxidation of organic species such as alcohols, phenols, aldehydes and ketones provides synthetically valuable organic compounds, especially synthetic intermediates for several biologically active compounds. Some of these synthetic intermediates have shown their synthetic utility in the total synthesis of natural products. Several classical and modern synthetic approaches have been used to achieve these oxidation reactions. In this review article, various oxidation reactions achieved by metal catalysis are highlighted.
January 2025
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24 Reads
Many animals are capable of rapid dynamic colour change, which is particularly well represented in fishes. The proximate mechanisms of dynamic colour change in fishes are well understood; however, less attention has been given to understanding its ecological relevance. In this study, we investigate dynamic colour change in zebrafish (Danio rerio) across multiple contexts, using a protocol to image the colouration of live fish without anaesthesia under standardized conditions. We show that zebrafish respond to different visual environments by darkening their overall colouration in a dark environment and lightening in a light environment. This is consistent with crypsis through background matching as a function of dynamic colour change. Additionally, we find that zebrafish use dynamic colour change to increase the internal contrast of their striped patterning in the presence of conspecifics. We speculate that this may function in social signalling and/or dazzle colouration. We find no effect of a predator stimulus on dynamic colour change. Finally, we discuss the potential for zebrafish to use multiple colouration strategies simultaneously as distance-dependent effects, considering the typical viewing distances of zebrafish and their predators.
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Editor-in-Chief
Web Science Institute at the University of Southampton, UK
Registered Reports and Replications Subject Editor
Cardiff University, UK
Astronomy Subject Editor
European Southern Observatory, Germany
Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Subject Editor
University of St Andrews, UK
Chemistry Subject Editor
University of Nottingham, UK