Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yonggang Wu, Jihua Zhang, Bingwei Long, Hong Zhang
Summary: Zinc tungstate (ZnW04) shows multiple surface terminations under certain thermodynamic equilibrium conditions, with the W2O4 - Zn8W6O36 termination exhibiting stronger light absorption and delocalized surface states within the band gap.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Timur Yu Magarlamov, James M. Turbeville, Alexei Chernyshev
Summary: The fine structure of mature pseudocnidae of 32 species of nemerteans, representatives of 20 genera, six families, and two classes was investigated with scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Pseudocnidae are composed of four layers in most species investigated, but the degree of development and position of each layer can vary between different species. Based on the structure of the discharged pseudocnidae observed in eleven species of palaeonemerteans and in eight species of pilidiophorans, researchers distinguished three different mechanisms of core extrusion/discharge.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthew Haworth, Giovanni Marino, Alessandro Materassi, Antonio Raschi, Charles P. Scutt, Mauro Centritto
Summary: The limits of stomatal conductance in plants are determined by the size and density of stomata. There is an inverse relationship between stomatal size and density in both fossil and living plants. However, the functional significance of this relationship is still unclear, and it may reflect geometric constraints rather than physiological control. Understanding the tradeoffs involved in stomatal size and density and their interaction with atmospheric CO2 levels is crucial for developing more productive and climate-resilient crops.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jeremias N. Brand, Gudrun Viktorin, R. Axel W. Wiberg, Christian Beisel, Lukas Schaerer
Summary: This study reports on a global sampling campaign aimed at increasing taxon sampling and geographic representation of the genus Macrostomum. Using extensive transcriptome and single-locus data, the researchers generated phylogenomic hypotheses including 145 species. The results show consistent clades across different phylogenetic methods, but the exact grouping is unclear, possibly due to a radiation early in Macrostomum evolution. Additionally, the study reveals a large undescribed diversity, with 94 of the studied species likely being new to science, and identifies multiple novel morphological traits.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuying Cao, Fei Wu, Chang Xu, Haotian Wu, Shuixing Li, Xinru Wang, Tianyi Chen, Boyu Peng, Hanying Li, Hongzheng Chen, Lijian Zuo
Summary: In this study, the potential of organic semiconductors for improving the grain boundaries of perovskite films in solar cells was investigated. It was found that the use of non-fullerene acceptors filled into the grain boundaries can effectively enhance the charge transport, leading to improved device performance.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Junmei Shang, Guirong Tang, Jun Yang, Mengting Lu, Chen-Zhu Wang, Chengshu Wang
Summary: Insects have developed behavioral defenses against parasite attacks in addition to their innate immunity. This study found that Drosophila can sense the CFEM protein Mcdc9, which acts as a negative virulence factor of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii. Deletion of Mcdc9 in the fungus or knockdown of CheA75a in flies led to a greater number of fungal spores remaining on the flies after topical infection, resulting in faster death of the flies. These findings reveal an previously unknown mechanism of fungus-insect interactions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Domingo Lago-Barcia, Marta Alvarez-Presas, Marta Riutort, Alejandro Oceguera-Figueroa, Fernando Carbayo
Summary: This study assessed the phylogenetic relationships within Geoplaninae through morphological, molecular, and combined datasets. It produced the best-resolved hypothesis so far for the phylogeny of Geoplaninae, although ancient clades remain elusive. The study also found that most diagnostic morphological characters of the genera are homoplastic.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Yu-feng Zheng, Yan-ling Dong, Zhao-fu Yang
Summary: This study examined the ultramorphology of the antennae and proboscis sensilla of the poplar clearwing moth. It found sexual dimorphism in the structures and types of sensilla between males and females. The research provides a theoretical foundation for studying the behavioral mechanisms and functions of sensilla of this wood-boring pest.
MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yixian Li, Mingcai Yin, Jiangfan Sun, Kaiyue Liang, Yaoting Fan, Zhongjun Li
Summary: In this study, cubic CdS with promising photocatalytic performance was successfully prepared by a simple precipitation method. The optimization of preparation conditions and investigation of photostability were systematically conducted to provide insights into the performance of cubic CdS for hydrogen production.
NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Maria Schoernig, Xiangchun Ju, Luise Fast, Sebastian Ebert, Anne Weigert, Sabina Kanton, Theresa Schaffer, Nael Nadif Kasri, Barbara Treutlein, Benjamin Marco Peter, Wulf Hevers, Elena Taverna
Summary: The study showed that chimpanzee and bonobo iNs express genes related to dendrite and synapse development earlier than human iNs, leading to faster development in the former two species. However, all three species eventually reach the same level of structural complexity.
Article
Microbiology
Nami Suzuki-Hashido, Sayaka Tsuchida, Akinori Azumano, Benoit Goossens, Diana A. Ramirez Saldivar, Danica J. Stark, Augustine Tuuga, Kazunari Ushida, Ikki Matsuda
Summary: Two strains of novel lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus nasalidis) were isolated from the freeze-dried forestomach contents of a wild proboscis monkey inhabiting a riverine forest in Malaysia, exhibiting phenotypic differences from strains previously isolated from captive monkeys. The diverse sugar utilization and lower salt tolerance of the wild strains suggest that feeding conditions may induce these differences. The presence of L. nasalidis in the 16S rRNA libraries of proboscis monkeys in Malaysia and Japan indicates its importance in the foregut microbial community of this species.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xin Zhou, Yan Ren, Hongzhen Li, Xiaoqing Zhou, Shilong Hao, Rong Xu, Qi Zhang
Summary: A novel polymer-directed crystallization method was developed to construct HMX polycrystalline aggregates with controllable molecular-scale structure and crystal-scale aggregation microstructures. The morphology and phase composition of the aggregates could be systematically tuned by adjusting the HMX concentration, and a slower feeding rate led to more compact spherulites. This work provides a new approach for designing high explosive polycrystalline aggregates with well-defined multi-scale architectural features and reduced mechanical sensitivity.
Review
Ecology
Timothy E. Higham, Lara A. Ferry, Lars Schmitz, Duncan J. Irschick, Samuel Starko, Philip S. L. Anderson, Philip J. Bergmann, Heather A. Jamniczky, Leandro R. Monteiro, Dina Navon, Julie Messier, Emily Carrington, Stacy C. Farina, Kara L. Feilich, L. Patricia Hernandez, Michele A. Johnson, Sandy M. Kawano, Chris J. Law, Sarah J. Longo, Christopher H. Martin, Patrick T. Martone, Alejandro Rico-Guevara, Sharlene E. Santana, Karl J. Niklas
Summary: Physical principles and laws determine organismal phenotypes, while constraints from development, the environment, and evolutionary history shape integrated phenotypes. The 'ecomechanical approach' integrates organismal traits with ecological variables, aiding in predicting species shifts and understanding phenotypic diversity. Incorporating this approach can help build interdisciplinary bridges and improve data collection, analysis, and model dissemination.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Frances S. Dunn, Alexander G. Liu, Dmitriy Grazhdankin, Philip Vixseboxse, Joseph Flannery-Sutherland, Emily Green, Simon Harris, Philip R. Wilby, Philip C. J. Donoghue
Summary: Researchers characterized the development of Charnia masoni and established its affinity with rangeomorphs in the Ediacaran macrobiota, providing evidence for their internal interconnected nature. The study revealed that Charnia was constructed of repeated branches and proposed homology between disparate rangeomorph taxa. By resolving Charnia as a stem-eumetazoan, the research expanded on the anatomical disparity of that group and brought competing records of early animal evolution into closer agreement.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Artem Levitsky, Sebastian Alexander Schneider, Eugen Rabkin, Michael F. Toney, Gitti L. Frey
Summary: The performance of organic solar cells (OSC) is dependent on the morphology of the active layer, which undergoes changes during thermal annealing. Research shows that in the early stages of annealing, spinodal decomposition may lead to the formation of a bicontinuous structure, while large polycrystalline fullerene aggregates are formed in later stages. The co-existence of spinodal decomposition and nucleation and growth mechanisms is surprising, but can be explained by a metastable monotectic phase diagram.
MATERIALS HORIZONS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
R. Evens, A. Jacot, T. Artois, E. Ulenaers, T. Neyens, L. Rappaz, C. Theux, Jean-Nicolas Pradervand
Summary: Understanding species' ecological requirements is crucial for effective conservation; research found that nightjars utilize multiple habitats and are influenced by habitat configuration and composition; national-level land use changes contribute to the long-term decline of the Swiss nightjar population.
ANIMAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Review
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Armando J. Cruz-Laufer, Tom Artois, Karen Smeets, Antoine Pariselle, Maarten P. M. Vanhove
Summary: Species interactions, particularly driven by parasites, play a crucial role in shaping species communities and impacting biosecurity and public health. Utilizing recent interacting host-parasite radiations as macroevolutionary models can provide insights into the evolution of species interactions, but it is important to address issues such as data resolution, sampling bias, and reporting quality to enhance understanding in this field.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Karolien Bijnens, Sofie Thijs, Nathalie Leynen, Vincent Stevens, Breanne McAmmond, Jonathan Van Hamme, Jaco Vangronsveld, Tom Artois, Karen Smeets
Summary: The study reveals that silver nanoparticles can impact the microbiome of freshwater planarians at a concentration of 10μg/ml. However, the effect of AgNP exposure on the microbiome of regenerating worms is less pronounced, possibly due to developmental changes masking the AgNP-induced effect. The presence of a PVP coating did not significantly alter the outcomes of the experiments compared to uncoated particles.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
V Jaenen, S. Fraguas, K. Bijnens, M. Heleven, T. Artois, R. Romero, K. Smeets, F. Cebria
Summary: Research has found that wound-induced ROS, particularly H2O2, act as upstream cues in activating regeneration in planarians. The study reveals new relationships between regeneration-related ROS production and MAPK/ERK activation at the earliest stages of regeneration, as well as the involvement of the EGFR-signaling pathway.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Raquel Hermans, Maarten P. M. Vanhove, Oleg Ditrich, Tomas Tyml, Milan Gelnar, Tom Artois, Nikol Kmentova
Summary: This study fills the knowledge gap on monogenean parasites infecting thorny skate in the northern part of its range, identifying two species of parasites and confirming their distribution in the area. There is relatively high morphological variation in Acanthocotyle verrilli compared to its congeners, and sclerotised structures are found to have high diagnostic significance in the identification of Rajonchocotyle, suggesting further genetic studies are needed to assess migration patterns.
PARASITOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Stefan Gobert, Yander L. Diez, Marlies Monnens, Patrick Reygel, Niels W. L. Van Steenkiste, Brian S. Leander, Tom Artois
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive morphological and taxonomic account of the members of the genus Cheliplana, introducing six new species and discussing the systematic position and synonymy within the genus. The total number of Cheliplana species is increased to 49, and an identification key based on field characteristics is provided for species level identification.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Karolien Bijnens, Vincent Jaenen, Annelies Wouters, Nathalie Leynen, Nicky Pirotte, Tom Artois, Karen Smeets
Summary: In this study, in vivo imaging was used to locate and analyze reactive oxygen species (ROS) during different physiological stages in the regenerative planarian Schmidtea mediterranea, revealing a well-equipped redox system in the gut and epidermis. The pharmacological inhibition or RNA interference of the redox balance showed alterations in the regeneration process, affecting tails more significantly. Focusing on glutathione, a reduction in its content led to regenerative failure with tissue lesions and underlying stem cell alterations. This highlights the intertwined relationship between ROS and antioxidants in animal physiology.
Article
Ecology
Jolien Wevers, Natalie Beenaerts, Jim Casaer, Fridolin Zimmermann, Tom Artois, Julien Fattebert
Summary: Habitat selection is scale-dependent and understanding the characteristic scale of environmental factors influencing species distribution is essential. Using camera trap data in the Swiss Jura Mountains, this study optimized characteristic scales of explanatory variables to construct multivariable, multiscale occupancy models for wild boar and roe deer. The findings suggest that the interaction between elevation, forest cover, ruggedness, and open landscape significantly influence species occupancy in the study area.
REMOTE SENSING IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Bart Tessens, Marlies Monnens, Thierry Backeljau, Kurt Jordaens, Niels Van Steenkiste, Floris C. Breman, Karen Smeets, Tom Artois
Summary: The study on the micrometazoan flatworm Gyratrix hermaphroditus revealed a high species diversity, with 78 putative species identified by GMYC and 62 by ABGD methods. Shape and molecular data showed consistent classification results, indicating it as one of the most species-rich complexes known to date.
Article
Biology
Nikol Kmentova, Christoph Hahn, Stephan Koblmuller, Holger Zimmermann, Jiri Vorel, Tom Artois, Milan Gelnar, Maarten P. M. Vanhove
Summary: The study revealed the lake-wide occurrence of Cichlidogyrus casuarinus and highlighted the limitations of its magnifying potential for the focal host species. Additionally, the first assessment of the genetic variation of mitochondrial data in Cichlidogyrus was provided using different sequencing technologies. In bathybatine cichlid fishes, the lake-wide population differentiation pattern differs among species, indicating potential for further research on mechanisms driving host range and the role of phenotypic plasticity in diversification and speciation.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Maarten P. M. Vanhove, Raquel Hermans, Tom Artois, Nikol Kmentova
Summary: Tropical African freshwater clupeids host a rich diversity of monogenean flatworms, with 11 new species discovered recently. These parasites provide valuable information about the ecology, evolutionary history, and introduction pathways of their hosts.
Article
Ecology
Jeffrey Jacobs, Matty Berg, Natalie Beenaerts, Tom Artois
Summary: This study evaluated the diversity of springtails, a dominant group of soil fauna, on twelve extensive green roofs in Belgium. The results showed that the characteristics of the roofs did not significantly affect the species richness, abundance, or diversity of springtails. Roof communities were characterized by hemiedaphic life forms, preferring neutral to semi-moist conditions.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mare Geraerts, Tine Huyse, Maxwell Barson, Hassan Bassirou, Charles F. Bilong Bilong, Arnold R. Bitja Nyom, Auguste Chocha Manda, Armando J. Cruz-Laufer, Clement Kalombo Kabalika, Gyrhaiss Kapepula Kasembele, Fidel Muterezi Bukinga, Samuel Njom, Tom Artois, Maarten P. M. Vanhove
Summary: This study explored the origin of introduced Nile tilapia stocks in sub-Saharan Africa and tested the potential of monogeneans as biological tags and magnifying glasses. The results showed that dactylogyrids can be used as biological tags, and the magnifying glass hypothesis was confirmed only for certain dactylogyrid species. The study carried out a phylogeographic analysis based on the mitochondrial genomes of monogeneans, providing unprecedented diagnostic resolution.
Article
Zoology
Stefan Gobert, Werner Armonies, Yander L. Diez, Philippe Jouk, Marlies Monnens, Nathalie Revis, Patrick Reygel, Julian Smith, Niels Van Steenkiste, Tom Artois
Summary: The newly discovered genus Orostylis of dalytyphloplanid rhabdocoels has unique characteristics such as a sclerotised stylet, an anterior male copulatory organ, and direct emptying of the ovary into the intestinal lumen. The seven new species within Orostylis are distinguished by the structure of the sclerotised parts of the male copulatory organ. This new genus is placed in Neodalyellida Willems et al. 2006 based on molecular and morphological evidence, with discussions on similarities with other taxa.
Article
Plant Sciences
Albrecht M. Houben, Marlies Monnens, Willem Proesmans, Tom J. Artois
Summary: This article describes four new species of limnoterrestrial rhabdocoels and provides new data for nine known species. The new species are distinguished based on reproductive system differences, and one species could not be placed in an existing genus. The findings contribute to the understanding of this group of organisms.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TAXONOMY
(2022)
