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This report summarises additions, amendments and corrections made since 2012 to the Irish Lepidoptera fauna. The species recorded include Phereoeca lodliVives (Tineidae) and Mesophleps ochraceella (Turati) (Gelechiidae), neither of which has been recorded from Great Britain. As a result of these additions and changes the current list of Irish Microlepidoptera stands at 909 species, compared with 858 on the 2012 list. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The year 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the discovery of the Burren Green Calamia tridens in Ireland and we provide a complete checklist of the Lepidoptera of the Burren region of western Ireland, the first such list since 1967. The checklist is compiled from published sources and verified records. In total 1,002 species are listed as present in the region up to the end of 2023 which represents 65% of the Irish Lepidoptera fauna. 27 species are only present in the Burren region within Ireland and two of these are only found here within Britain and Ireland. The Burren region supports a significant proportion of the Irish Red-listed macromoths and butterflies. The history of recording in the Burren region is briefly described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of structural materials in extreme nuclear reactor environments—with high temperature, high radiation, and corrosive media—directly affects the lifespan of the reactor. In such extreme environments, an oxide layer on the metal surface acts as a passive layer protecting the metal underneath from corrosion. To predict the irradiation effect on the metal layer in these metal/oxide bilayers, nondestructive depth-resolved positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) and complementary transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to investigate small-scale defects created by ion irradiation in an epitaxially grown (100) Fe film capped with a 50 nm Fe2O3 oxide layer. In this study, the evolution of induced vacancies was monitored, from individual vacancy formation at low doses—10−5 dpa—to larger vacancy cluster formation at increasing doses, showing the sensitivity of positron annihilation spectroscopy technique. Furthermore, PALS measurements reveal how the presence of a metal–oxide interface modifies the distribution of point defects induced by irradiation. TEM measurements show that irradiation induced dislocations at the interface is the mechanism behind the redistribution of point defects causing their accumulation close to the interface. This work demonstrates that the passive oxide layers formed during corrosion impact the distribution and accumulation of radiation induced defects in the metal underneath and emphasizes that the synergistic impact of radiation and corrosion will differ from their individual impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Zirconia, with its excellent mechanical properties, has become a popular choice for esthetic and durable restorations due to the increasing demand of patients. It has overcome most of the limitations of all ceramic restorations. However, bonding to zirconia remains a challenge. Objectives. This study is aimed at assessing the effect of surface treatment with alkaline agents at two different temperatures on microshear bond strength (μSBS) of zirconia to composite resin. Materials and Methods. This in vitro, experimental study was conducted on zirconia blocks measuring 2 × 4 × 8 mm. The blocks were sandblasted with alumina powder and randomly assigned to 5 groups (n = 16 each). The blocks in groups 1 and 2 underwent surface treatment with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and groups 3 and 4 with zirconium hydroxide (Zr(OH)4) at room temperature and 70°C. Group 5 served as the control group and did not receive any surface treatment. After the application of bonding agent and its light-curing, composite cylinders in plastic tubes were bonded to the surface of each block and cured. After incubation, they underwent μSBS test. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (alpha = 0.05). Results. The μSBS was significantly higher in all intervention groups than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The μSBS in Zr(OH)4 groups was significantly higher than that in NaOH groups (P < 0.05). The mean μSBS of heated groups was slightly, but not significantly, higher than the corresponding room temperature groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion. Surface treatment of zirconia with NaOH and Zr(OH)4 alkaline agents can increase its μSBS to composite resin; Zr(OH)4 was significantly more effective than NAOH for this purpose, but heating did not have a significant effect on μSBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming in 2023 shows no signs of slowing down. The situation alarms scientists, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the international body responsible for regularly developing knowledge on climate change. Indeed, some impacts are already threatening the environment. Today, the average global temperature has increased by about 1 °C compared to the pre-industrial era (1850–1900). At the current rate, the increase in global average temperature will reach 1.5 °C between 2030 and 2052. The greenhouse effect is unbalanced by human activities, in particular the use of fossil fuels (oil, gas, and coal), which lead to the release of greenhouse gases. CO2 represents nearly 2/3 of global greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activities and has the tendency to linger in the atmosphere for a long time. This is why the effect of other greenhouse gases is usually measured in CO2 equivalent. Current CO2 emissions will impact atmospheric concentrations and global temperatures for decades. To date, some solutions have been proposed to deal with this (energy transition, regulation of emissions, etc.). However, most of these solutions have not yet been sufficiently developed and/or do not offset the effects of ever-increasing industrialization on anthropogenic CO2 emissions. As a result, carbon capture and sequestration processes appear to be attractive solutions. CO2 capture can take place by absorption (chemical and/or physical) and/or adsorption (chemisorption and/or physisorption). Various compounds can act as sorbents, among which polysaccharides and lignin have special importance due to their many advantages, the most important of which are biodegradability, availability, relatively cheapness, environmental friendliness, etc. In this review, we report recent studies regarding polysaccharides and lignin-based materials for CO2 capture. Such materials can be in different forms such as composites, aerogels, hydrogels, pellets, heteroatom-doped materials, membranes, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), porous carbons, etc. These materials are used for CO2 capture through the adsorption or absorption processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green and scalable materials are essential to fulfill the need of electrification for transitioning into a fossil‐fuels free society, and sustainability is a requirement for all new technologies. Rechargeable batteries are one of the most important elements for electrification, enabling the transition to mobile electronics, electrical vehicles and grid storage. We here report synthesis and characterization of polyelectrolyte complexes of alginate and chitosan, both biopolymers deriving from the sea, for transport of zinc ions in hydrogel electrolytes. We have used vibrational spectroscopy, thermal measurements and microscopy, as well as transport measurements with ohmic or blocking contacts. The transference number for zinc ions is close to 1, the conductivity is ≈10 mS/cm, with stability at Zn interfaces seen through 7000 cycles in symmetric zinc//zinc cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noteworthy records of microlepidoptera obtained in the British Isles during 2022 are summarised. This includes three species new to the British Isles, one of which is already breeding. Numerous new vice-county records are detailed, with notable observations of 464 species in total. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fourth specimen of Bactra venosana (Zeller, 1847) is recorded for Great Britain and Ireland and diagnostic notes for distinguishing B. venosana from other UK species of Bactra are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon carbide (SiC) is a promising material for a wide range of applications, including mechanical nano-resonators, quantum photonics, and non-linear photonics. However, its chemical inertness poses challenges for etching in terms of resolution and smoothness. Herein, a novel approach known as helium ion-bombardment-enhanced etching (HIBEE) is presented to achieve high-quality SiC etching. The HIBEE technique utilizes a focused helium ion beam with a typical ion energy of 30 keV to disrupt the crystal lattices of SiC, thus enabling wet etching using hydrofluoric acids and hydrogen peroxide. The etching mechanism is verified via simulations and characterization. The use of a sub-nanometer beam spot of focused helium ions ensures fabrication resolution, and the resulting etched surface exhibits an extremely low roughness of ≈0.9 nm. One of the advantages of the HIBEE technique is that it does not require resist spin-coating and development processes, thus enabling the production of nanostructures on irregular SiC surfaces, such as suspended structures and sidewalls. Additionally, the unique interaction volume of helium ions with substrates enables the one-step fabrication of suspended nanobeam structures directly from bulk substrates. The HIBEE technique is expected to facilitate and accelerate the prototyping of high-quality SiC devices., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Objective This study aimed to investigate the effect of relining prefabricated fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) posts using bulk-fill, flowable, discontinuous short fiber-reinforced composite (SFRC) on intracanal adaptation in weakened endodontically-treated premolar teeth. Materials and Methods Forty extracted human premolar teeth were selected and randomly allocated to five groups (n = 8) according to the canal preparation method and restorative technique after endodontic treatment: Group 1 (control): nonflared, closed apex root canals; group 2, 4: flared, open-apex root canals; group 3, 5: flared, closed apex root canals. Groups 1 to 3 were restored with standard RelyX fiber post size #1, while groups 4 and 5 were restored with customized RelyX fiber post size #1 and relined with bulk-fill flowable SFRC (everX Flow, GC, Tokyo, Japan). To evaluate intracanal adaptation, the empty root of each sample with the corresponding fiber post (standard or customized) inserted was measured twice using a micro-digital scale and the average value was calculated. The post was then removed, followed by the insertion of a light body polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) impression material into the canal, followed by reinsertion of the post and removal of excess material once the PVS was set. Finally, the sample weight was recorded, and the data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and the Bonferroni post hoc test (p -value = 0.05). Results A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in PVS material weight was identified between the groups. Group 1 (control) had the lightest weight of PVS material, followed by groups restored with customized fiber posts (groups 4 and 5) and standard fiber posts (groups 2 and 3). Conclusion Anatomically-customized fiber posts with bulk-fill flowable SFRC provided better intracanal adaptation compared with standard fiber posts in teeth with compromised root canals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expensive adhesives and preservative-chemicals pose challenges to the wood composite industry. Adhesive-extenders reduce cost and enhance ply-joint bonding strength. Urea Formaldehyde (UF) extender was substituted with Milicia excelsa sawdust to formulate five extender-combinations: A (no sawdust), B (100% cassava flour); C (25% cassava flour, 75% sawdust); D (75% cassava flour, 25% sawdust); E (50% cassava flour, 50% sawdust) and F or control (100% cassava flour with 10 g Fossect 88 insecticide). Each glue-mixture contained 3 kg UF (primary resin), hardener (0.6 kg) and water (4.5 l). Ceiba pentandra ply-joint bond strength was subjected to knife-test under dry and cold/moist conditions. Glue-line durability was determined through outdoor exposure. Viscosities for the formulations ranged between 2600cps (for C) to 265cps (for B and F). C had the fastest spreadability(231.67 g/m) and F the least (188.33 g/m). Bond strength for D dry-pressed plies (88.750%)] was greatest and E's (72.083%) the weakest. Bonds weakened under moist conditions; however, C plies' (73.33%) remained strongest and F's (67.083%) the weakest. C plies degraded most outdoors (mass loss: 54.434%); F (13.89%) and E (42.964%) performed well. Normal C. pentandra boards lost 28.975%. Visual durability rating followed similar pattern. Appropriately formulated, sawdust from other durable hardwoods has utilization potential as glue/adhesive-extender and would serve as durable in-line treatment for chemical protection of wood composites alongside conventional preservative-chemical in glue mixtures. These need be explored by the wood and other related industries to enhance timber recovery, efficient total utilization and ensure eco-friendliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable Operations Management (SOM) practices must include coordinating, integrating, and directing activities both inside and outside organisational boundaries in order to achieve the desired economic, social and environmental goals. The aim of this article is to use exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to determine whether or not there is a consistent set of factors underlying each of Ethiopia’s largest manufacturing firms’ SOM dimensions. We primarily defined SOM practices through a literature review. We looked for the most popular subjects in this field and took care to cover operations in all phases that occur in the product life cycle, from conception to the procurement of raw materials to the management of production processes and supply chains. The measurement items indicators for SOM practices were then summarised based on earlier validated studies and in accordance with the literature review. A total of 223 operations managers from large manufacturing companies in Ethiopia participated in a paper survey. In this paper, a literature review and an EFA were used to illustrate the fundamental SOM practices and their corresponding measurement items, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the notoungulate family Hegetotheriidae, some species have not been analyzed since their original publication more than a century ago. Here we present the first re-evaluation of Tegehotherium burmeisteri, including a detailed description of its holotype in an updated comparative framework, a species presumably coming from the Trelew Member of the Sarmiento Formation (Chubut Province, Argentina). Tegehotherium burmeisteri is included for the first time in a phylogenetic analysis centered in the interrelationships of hegetotheriids and defining clades according to the PhyloCode. Tegehotherium burmeisteri is recovered as a hegetotheriine closely related to Sallatherium and Hegetotherium; Hegetotheriopsis sulcatus is the earliest branch of the clade Hegetotheriidae, whereas Prohegetotherium and Paedotherium turn out to be paraphyletic, reinforcing results obtained in recent studies. The family Hegetotheriidae and both subfamilies, Hegetotheriinae and Pachyrukhinae, are recovered as monophyletic groups and defined phylogenetically, as well as two new clades: Pachyrukhini and Hemihegetotheriomorpha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plate reconstructions provide basic constraints on the tectonic evolution of the Antarctic Peninsula but they are limited by a scarcity of paleomagnetic data. Here, using a combination of new and published paleomagnetic data and geological evidence, we present an updated reconstruction of the plate rotation and spatio‐temporal history of magmatism of the northern Antarctic Peninsula since ∼90 Ma. The Phoenix Plate‐Antarctic Peninsula convergence variation and back‐arc extension of the Scotia Plate are correlated to five distinct plate rotation periods. The initiation of the ancestral South Sandwich subduction zone and the late Paleocene separation between the Antarctic Peninsula and South America may be explained by the small‐ and large‐scale clockwise rotation of the Antarctic Peninsula starting at ∼80 and 62 Ma, respectively. Furthermore, we have identified five pulses of magmatism, which are correlated to the Phoenix Plate‐Antarctic Peninsula convergence rates. The Antarctic Peninsula plate rotation fits well with the process observed in the Phoenix Plate subduction, long‐term variation of the magmatism and tectonic evolution in the Scotia Sea, clarifying the relationship between these geological events. Plain Language Summary: In this study, we update the northern Antarctic Peninsula‐South Shetland Islands plate rotation process since ∼90 Ma. Five new enhanced magmatic events are identified in the northern Antarctic Peninsula‐South Shetland Islands, and we also reconstruct the migration of magmatism. Then, we compare plate rotation and magmatic migration to the Phoenix Plate‐Antarctic Peninsula convergence, and find a strong correlation between these events. The abrupt change in the convergence rate is attributed to the enhanced magmatic events. The clockwise rotation of the northern Antarctic Peninsula also corresponds to the Late Cretaceous initiation of the ancestral South Sandwich subduction zone and the late Paleocene separation of the northern Antarctic Peninsula from South America, indicating a causal relationship. The counterclockwise rotation of the northern Antarctic Peninsula after ∼47 Ma facilitated lithospheric extension and basin opening in the South Scotia Ridge region, contributing to the opening of the Scotia Sea. Therefore, this study provides a comprehensive interpretation of the geological process in Scotia Sea regions, from slab subduction and overlaying plate rotation to magmatic evolution and continental separation. Key Points: We provide an updated reconstruction of the plate rotation and magmatic process of the northern Antarctic Peninsula since ∼90 MaThe relationship between Phoenix Plate subduction, northern Antarctic Peninsula plate rotation, and magmatic migration is reconstructedThe northern Antarctic Peninsula's plate rotation is linked to Weddell Sea crust subduction and the late Paleocene opening of the Scotia Sea [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of professionals working in manufacturing operations who are interested in sustainable operations management (SOM) is growing. This is primarily due to an increased awareness of the negative effects that manufacturing operations have on the natural world. This article brings together empirical academic research on sustainable operations management. Via a systematic literature review, we investigate 96 articles and books on sustainable operations management published between 1994 and 2022. These studies are analyzed based on the following themes: (1) the definitions of sustainable operations management, (2) sustainable operations management practices and (3) empirical outcomes of sustainable operations management practices. Based on this analysis, we develop a more inclusive definition of sustainable operations management. We put forward three future research suggestions: (1) a holistic investigation of the relationship between SOM practices and sustainable performance (2) the consideration of all the triple bottom-line dimensions (environmental, social and economic); and (3) moving from a qualitative dominance to using quantitative methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper seeks to analyze the concept of packaging re-design with the main purpose to better exploit the utilized space within a secondary packaging, pallet and/or to make better use of transport, respectively. In addition, it investigates and discusses the importance of space exploitation in relation to environmental benefits, the industry and the community in general. Design/methodology/approach: The research is based on a specific case study, in which two different options of a bottle with the same capacity are investigated in terms of: shape and space utilization. The investigation includes a detailed numerical comparison between the bottles, in order to show the strengths and weaknesses of each option. Findings: The analysis provides evidence that any shape improvements could result into benefits such as: reduce waste, increase space utilization and increase the number of transported products per load. This in turn could reduce the energy and CO2 emissions required per unit of product carried or stored. The analysis shows that a better utilization of the space could further offer significant economic benefits for the company with respect to transportation and warehousing. Research limitations/implications: However, the proposed packaging design solutions are proposed with the guarantee that the protection of the product is ensured, the logistics activities are facilitated as expected, the needs of the user are fully covered and the cost is maintained low. This solution, therefore, addresses the economic, social and environmental aspect of packaging. Originality/value: This paper fulfills an identified need to study the relation between the packaging redesign concept and the various environmental and economic benefits for the industry and the participants of the supply chain, while maintaining the needs of the user. This works contributes to other more recent studies that are concerned with packaging design innovation that respond to key environmental concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation is a computational method for analyzing the physical movements of atoms and molecules allowed to interact for a fixed duration of time. In this study, the thermal stability of carbonic anhydrase, which catalyzes the reaction of water and carbon dioxide, was investigated. Our simulations were performed in a box of water at four different temperatures, 300 K, 310 K, 320 K, and 330 K. The duration of each simulation was 100 ns, and thereafter the hydrogen bonds, Solvent Accessible Surface Area (SASA), as well as Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD) were analyzed. Moreover, cluster analysis was done to identify representative structures at each temperature. The results showed that changing the temperature did not significantly impact the number of hydrogen bonds. The SASA had more fluctuation when the temperature increased. Moreover, the higher the temperature of the simulation was, the more clusters were obtained. The higher number of clusters indicates higher conformational flexibility and less-stable conformers forming during the simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noteworthy records of microlepidoptera obtained in the British Isles during 2021 are summarised. This includes two species new to the British Isles. A further two new species are reported from previous years. numerous new vice-county records are detailed, with notable observations of 420 species in total. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Explanations of pantropical distributions are challenging for taxa that diverged during the Cenozoic, after Gondwana broke apart. The 'boreotropics hypothesis' suggests that pantropical birds originated in the Laurasian forests. Extant parrots (Psittaciformes) are one the most species‐rich pantropical avian clades, but their known evolutionary history does not fit a boreotropical origin. Most living parrots and the earliest diverging lineages of the Psittaciformes inhabit the remnants of Gondwana, whereas the oldest stem and crown fossils are from the remnants of Laurasia. Our study proposes a biogeographic hypothesis that focuses on the Cenozoic connections between Laurasia and Gondwana to explain extant and fossil geographical distributions. Location: Global. Taxon: Psittaciformes. Methods: We generated a time tree using previously derived data from 32 molecular markers for 312 parrot species and reconstructed their biogeographic history using maximum likelihood. Two scenarios were compared: one with dispersal constrained to adjacent areas, including the connections between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and one without this constraint. Results: Our results indicate that the pantropical distribution of parrots was shaped by two major geological events. First, the final breakup of parts of Gondwana may have caused the first splits within crown parrots, establishing two parallel radiations: Psittacidae in the Neotropics and Psittaculidae in Australasia. Second, igneous palaeoprovinces could have connected major biogeographic realms. It seems that Atlantogea and Eurogondwana were important, as they connected South America, Africa and Europe, thus reconciling the Gondwanan crown splits and the early Laurasian fossils. Main Conclusions: Our time tree allowed more concise biogeographic correlations between parrots and their sister group, the passerines and Earth's tectonic history. The crown lineages of Psittacopasseres appear to have originated in the Southern Hemisphere remnants of Gondwana, but stem lineages appear to have been able to disperse into the Northern Hemisphere through palaeobiogeographic provinces in the Cenozoic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyze the bankruptcies of companies in the plastic and packaging industry listed on the Indonesian stock exchange. This analysis is essential to know the condition of the company's performance and in what position. The hope is to assist stakeholders in making the best decisions for sustainability. The positive contribution of the plastics and packaging industry in supporting economic growth in Indonesia, as well as the challenges of global issues regarding the negative impact of use, requires companies to avoid financial distress or bankruptcy. However, recent research argues that very few company management try hard to avoid the risk of bankruptcy. This type of quantitative descriptive research takes a sample of 10 companies selected purposively with predetermined criteria. Following the arguments of Altman (1983), the research analysis uses the Altman Z-Score for a sample of firms in one homogeneous industry. The results showed that, in general, the plastic and packaging industry was potentially vulnerable and had financial distress or went bankrupt, and there was only one healthy company. The results of this study also have an essential contribution for stakeholders to detect early on the company's financial condition and help make sound managerial decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As most of the fossil carbon on earth is stored in an oxidized state as carbonate minerals, exploration of metal carbonate catalyst for selective CO2 reduction can open appealing access to boost the CO2 capture and storage. However, carbonate is commonly regarded as a poor matrix to host photocatalytic active species, and current literature has few reports of carbonate‐based photocatalytic material. Herein, a hierarchically porous catalyst that features ≈5 nm deficient NiCO3 nanoparticles embedded in sponge‐like high‐magnesium calcite is disclosed. In the photocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction, the as‐prepared catalyst of low Ni content attains a high CO production rate of 10 565 µmol g−1 h−1 and a high selectivity of 94% relative to H2 evolution, a performance that surpasses many other state‐of‐the‐art nickel‐based catalysts. Experiments and theoretical calculations reveal that the carbonate vacancy of NiCO3 strengthens the adsorption and activation of CO2 more significantly than the corresponding oxygen vacancy of NiO. The inert CO2 molecule becomes highly deformed on the surface of NiCO3 which can be readily activated to the key intermediate CO2·− for the photoreduction reaction. The present findings add to the existing knowledge of advanced catalysis using defect materials and demonstrate an intriguing and rare case of highly performing carbonate‐based catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Packaging plays an essential role in ensuring that goods are delivered safely and in good condition to the final consumer within supply chains. Packaging also has many potentials to help with the long-term development of food products. This review paper investigates consumer perceptions and understanding of design food packaging and how design packaging can help the environmental pillar of sustainable development. A literature analysis was conducted using the search strategy in Web of Science as well as other suitable international databases based on their global accessibility and researchers' library access. The result indicates that, from the consumer's standpoint, the essential aspect of sustainable packaging is represented by packing materials, and the packaging design must contain information about recycling actions. Considering the current issues, such as plastic waste and plastic packaging, the consumers believe that sustainable packaging is not as available on the food market as expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystallographic assessment of the hydrogen embrittlement behavior of Al-Zn-Mg alloy was performed by means of a technique combining fracture trajectory analysis and synchrotron X-ray diffraction contrast tomography. The 3D microstructure reconstructed using diffraction contrast tomography contained 119 grains. Fracture surfaces revealing intergranular fracture, ductile fracture, and quasi-cleavage fracture were observed in the alloy. While the intergranular crack initiated at a grain boundary with high grain boundary energy and a high angle between the grain boundary plane and loading direction, the crack propagation itself was not observed to be sensitive to these two parameters. The quasi-cleavage fracture surfaces were not characterized by any specific crystal orientation because of variation in the free surface segregation energy of hydrogen uniforms without depending on surface orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is of profound significance concerning the global energy and environmental crisis to develop new techniques that can reduce and convert CO2. To address this challenge, we built a new type of artificial photoenzymatic system for CO2 reduction, using a rationally designed mesoporous olefin‐linked covalent organic framework (COF) as the porous solid carrier for co‐immobilizing formate dehydrogenase (FDH) and Rh‐based electron mediator. By adjusting the incorporating content of the Rh electronic mediator, which facilitates the regeneration of nicotinamide cofactor (NADH) from NAD+, the apparent quantum yield can reach as high as 9.17±0.44 %, surpassing all reported NADH‐regenerated photocatalysts constructed by crystalline framework materials. Finally, the assembled photocatalyst–enzyme coupled system can selectively convert CO2 to formic acid with high efficiency and good reusability. This work demonstrates the first example using COFs to immobilize enzymes for artificial photosynthesis systems that utilize solar energy to produce value‐added chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is of profound significance concerning the global energy and environmental crisis to develop new techniques that can reduce and convert CO2. To address this challenge, we built a new type of artificial photoenzymatic system for CO2 reduction, using a rationally designed mesoporous olefin‐linked covalent organic framework (COF) as the porous solid carrier for co‐immobilizing formate dehydrogenase (FDH) and Rh‐based electron mediator. By adjusting the incorporating content of the Rh electronic mediator, which facilitates the regeneration of nicotinamide cofactor (NADH) from NAD+, the apparent quantum yield can reach as high as 9.17±0.44 %, surpassing all reported NADH‐regenerated photocatalysts constructed by crystalline framework materials. Finally, the assembled photocatalyst–enzyme coupled system can selectively convert CO2 to formic acid with high efficiency and good reusability. This work demonstrates the first example using COFs to immobilize enzymes for artificial photosynthesis systems that utilize solar energy to produce value‐added chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to obtain the complete equilibrium state of rural financial market and ensure the stable development of rural financial consumer market, this paper introduces CGE model and analyzes the dynamic trust mechanism of individual consumers in rural financial market. In this paper, the single variable evolutionary fuzzy clustering algorithm is used to analyze the orthogonal eigenvector solutions of individual consumers; the big data of individual consumers under the mode of perceived trust is automatically clustered, so as to obtain the fuzzy analogy function of individual consumers in the rural financial market; and finally the prediction value of consumer trust is obtained. The results show that trust, customer satisfaction, and service quality are positively correlated. Under the same sample expectation constraints, the dynamic CGE model is more robust, and the individual consumer trust mechanism of rural financial market in the study area has higher advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing concerns on environmental issues, employing sustainable practices has become one of the most significant issues in today's business agenda. Sustainable packaging is an umbrella term referring to different packaging related operations at various levels of supply chains. This study investigates the sustainable packaging practices and inhibiting factors in packaging supply chains. Semi-structured expert interviews were employed with a quartic perspective, involving diverse packaging supply chain members. By proposing a Sustainable Packaging Practices Model (SPPM), nine sustainable packaging practices are presented: (1) raise awareness, (2) innovate: sustainable raw materials and processes, (3) reduce packaging material and carbon footprint, (4) recollect and reuse, (5) save energy and use sustainable energy sources, (6) sort waste and recycle, (7) consume water less and recycle water, (8) certify, (9) co-create. Moreover, the findings of the study show that the scarcity and high costs of sustainable raw materials, low demand for sustainable packaging, legal incompatibilities, and production and quality related issues inhibit sustainable packaging practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caviomorph rodents became important components of South American faunas after their Eocene arrival from Africa. Here we describe the cavioid, chinchilloid, and erethizontoid caviomorphs of the early Miocene Pampa Castillo fauna of southern Chile. This fauna's age and location make it key for resolving outstanding biostratigraphic questions concerning early Miocene Patagonian fossiliferous strata. Each of the four major caviomorph clades ("superfamilies") is represented in the Pampa Castillo fauna, three whose members are detailed here: cavioids (3 genera; 3 species), chinchilloids (3 genera; 6 species), and erethizontoids (2 genera; 2 species). Abundantly represented taxa, e.g., Neoreomys australis, Perimys erutus, and Prolagostomus pusillus, corroborate previous work assigning the Pampa Castillo fauna to the Santacrucian South American Land Mammal "Age" (SALMA; inclusive of the "Pinturan"). Several taxa, including Eosteiromys, Perimys intermedius, and Perimys sp. nov.?, are also found in the lower and middle Pinturas Formation (lmPF) but not "core" Santacrucian faunas (from the Santa Cruz Formation [SCF] along the Río Santa Cruz and Atlantic coast), suggesting a distinctive resemblance between lmPF and Pampa Castillo rodents. Some authors consider the fauna from the lmPF to form the basis of a "Pinturan" SALMA or subage, considered to slightly predate core Santacrucian faunas, but which has yet to be formally recognized. The taxonomic composition of rodent fauna from Pampa Castillo, as well as relative abundance data, indicated a paleoenvironment intermediate between the closed forests of the lmPF and the mosaic of open and closed habitats of the core Santacrucian faunas from the SCF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spherical tokamaks (STs) have been shown to possess properties desirable for a fusion power plant such as achieving high plasma β and having increased vertical stability. To understand the confinement properties that might be expected in the conceptual design for a high β ST fusion reactor, a 1 GW ST plasma equilibrium was analysed using local linear gyrokinetics to determine the type of micro-instabilities that arise. Kinetic ballooning modes and micro-tearing modes are found to be the dominant instabilities. The parametric dependence of these linear modes was determined and, from the insights gained, the equilibrium was tuned to find a regime marginally stable to all micro-instabilities at θ 0 = 0.0. This work identifies the most important micro-instabilities expected to generate turbulent transport in high β STs. The impact of such modes must be faithfully captured in first-principles-based reduced models of anomalous transport that are needed for predictive simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tracks or footprints provide useful evidence of animal activity in places or situations where bodily remains are not present (e.g., Nied'zwiedzki et al., [34]), and those belonging to mammals have often been heavily researched and interpreted (e.g., McNeil et al., [30]; Bennett et al., [2]). The hoofprint shapes of many ungulate mammals have been characterized as being rather similar across time (Lucas, [26]), with a foot anatomy resembling that of Recent relatives being achieved quite early in their Cenozoic evolutionary history. METHODS Using the software CorelDRAW, outlines of footprints were traced or redrawn from illustrations of Cenozoic ungulate mammal ichnotaxa and other described footprints in the published literature. [Extracted from the article]

Noteworthy records of microlepidoptera obtained in the British Isles during 2020 are summarised. this includes two species new to the British Isles, one of which is already breeding. Numerous new vice-county records are detailed, with notable observations of 459 species in total. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polysaccharide lyase family 6 (PL6) represents one of the 41 polysaccharide lyase families classified in the CAZy database with the vast majority of its members being alginate lyases grouped into three subfamilies, PL6_1–3. To decipher the mode of recognition and action of the enzymes belonging to subfamily PL6_1, we solved the crystal structures of Pedsa0632, Patl3640, Pedsa3628 and Pedsa3807, which all show different substrate specificities and mode of action (endo-/exolyase). Thorough exploration of the structures of Pedsa0632 and Patl3640 in complex with their substrates as well as docking experiments confirms that the conserved residues in subsites −1 to +3 of the catalytic site form a common platform that can accommodate various types of alginate in a very similar manner but with a series of original adaptations bringing them their specificities of action. From comparative studies with existing structures of PL6_1 alginate lyases, we observe that in the right-handed parallel β-helix fold shared by all these enzymes, the substrate-binding site harbors the same overall conserved structures and organization. Despite this apparent similarity, it appears that members of the PL6_1 subfamily specifically accommodate and catalyze the degradation of different alginates suggesting that this common platform is actually a highly adaptable and specific tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After several years of intense fieldwork in the area of Huayquerías del Este, northern Mendoza (Argentina), the results account for more than 1,000 specimens and 67 taxa of vertebrates documented from the Huayquerías and Tunuyán formations. In this contribution, we present the first record of an indeterminate Typotheria Interatheriinae coming from a fossil-bearing level in the lower section of the Tunuyán Formation, 10–15 m above the contact with the underlying Huayquerías Formation (5.84 ± 0.41 Ma, late Miocene; Messinian), which implies an interval age between the latest Miocene (upper Messinian) and early Pliocene (Zanclean) age for the lower levels of the Tunuyán Formation where the interathere remain comes from. The specimen (IANIGLA-PV 450) is a fragment of mandible with a broken right p3?, whose small size and features (shortening of the trigonid, a low trigonid-talonid length ratio <1, and a circular-outlined talonid) distinguish it from late Miocene species of Protypotherium (P. antiquum, P. distinctum, and P. minutum), but also from early and middle Miocene interatheres (e.g., Miocochilius, Interatherium, Caenophilus). We recognize it as an Interatheriinae indet., and based on the peculiar features of this specimen it could be a new taxon, but its fragmentary and isolated condition prevent us from providing an accurate diagnosis. IANIGLA-PV 450 is the first mention of an Interatheriinae for the Tunuyán Formation and the central-west region of Argentina, but also the Last Appearance Datum (LAD), latest Miocene–early Pliocene, for the group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1933 George G. Simpson described a remarkably complete skull of Trigonostylops, an Eocene South American native ungulate (SANU) whose relationships were, in his mind, quite uncertain. Although some authorities, such as Florentino Ameghino and William B. Scott, thought that a case could be made for regarding Trigonostylops as an astrapothere, Simpson took a different position, emphasizing what would now be regarded as autapomorphies. He pointed out a number of features of the skull of Trigonostylops that he thought were not represented in other major clades of SANUs, and regarded these as evidence of its phyletic uniqueness. Arguing that the lineage that Trigonostylops represented must have departed at an early point from lineages that gave rise to other SANU orders, Simpson reserved the possibility that Astrapotheriidae might still qualify (in modern terms) as its sister group. Even so, he argued that the next logical step was to place Trigonostylops and its few known allies in a separate order, Trigonostylopoidea, coordinate with Astrapotheria, Notoungulata, Litopterna, and Pyrotheria. Simpson's classification was not favored by most later authors, and in recent decades trigonostylopids have been almost universally assigned to Astrapotheria. However, his evaluation of the allegedly unique characters of Trigonostylops and its allies has never been systematically treated, which is the objective of this paper. Using computed tomography, the skull of Trigonostylops is compared, structure by structure, to a variety of representative SANUs as well as extant perissodactylans (which together comprise the clade Panperissodactyla) and the "condylarthran" Meniscotherium. In addition to placing Simpson's character evaluations in a comparative context, we also provide detailed assessments of many vascular and pneumatization-related features of panperissodactylans never previously explored. Overall, we found that this new assessment strengthened the placement of Trigonostylops within a monophyletic group that includes Astrapotherium and Astraponotus, to the exclusion of other SANU clades. Although Trigonostylops cannot be considered as morphologically distinct or unusual as Simpson thought, our comparative and phylogenetic analyses have helped to generate a number of hypotheses about character evolution and function in SANUs that may now be fruitfully tested using other taxon combinations. Reconstruction of Trigonostylops wortmani by Jorge Blanco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atalophlebiinae (Ephemeroptera, Leptophlebiidae) is a mayfly subfamily present in temperate and mountainous areas of South America and Australia. We tested the hypothesis that both vicariance and dispersal related to the second phase of Gondwana breakup—which began in the Early Cretaceous and resulted in the separation between Madagascar and India from Antarctica and Australia—contributed to the origin, diversification, and shaped the current distribution of this group. The hypothesis was tested using Bayesian phylogenetic trees, fossil‐based molecular dating, and ancestral range estimation to reconstruct the biogeography of the lineages within this group. The results suggested an origin in the late Gondwana supercontinent for Atalophlebiinae (85.76–136.63 mya) after a vicariant event during the Cretaceous period. Subsequently, the lineage diversified into a scenario that refers to a Gondwanic corridor formed by South America, Antarctica, and Australia. At the end of the separation of the continents that made up the Gondwanic corridor, speciation occurred within the current distribution areas. The diversity and current distribution of Atalophlebiinae were shaped by complex processes of vicariance, dispersal, and speciation within the Gondwanic corridor during the second phase of the supercontinent breakup. Mayflies have difficulty in crossing transoceanic barriers, which suggests that most living taxa are the result of more recent local ecological and historical processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interatheriinae is one of the most derived subfamilies of South American notoungulates. Several interatheriines have been described since the 19th century, but most of them have not been revised, or been formally re-examined, for more than a century. Most interatheriine taxa were erected based on materials collected from Argentinean Patagonia, particularly from the Santa Cruz Formation (early–middle Miocene), Santa Cruz Province. Within the framework of an exhaustive unpublished systematic revision of Interatheriinae (early Oligocene–late Miocene), we studied the holotype of Santacrucian Icochilus undulatus, leading to the recognition of a new monospecific genus, Neoicochilus gen. nov., and the new combination N. undulatus. In addition, we formalize the taxonomic revision of Cochilius, proposing the following: Paracochilius is the junior synonym of Cochilius; Cochilius consists of C. volvens, C. fumensis, and C. brevirostrus; Paracochilius chubutensis and Protypotherium minor are junior synonyms of Cochilius brevirostrus; Cochilius pendens is the junior synonym of Cochilius columnifer; and the holotype of Cochilius columnifer exhibits the diagnostic features of Protypotherium, so we propose the new combination Protypotherium columnifer, pending publication of our thorough taxonomic revision of Protypotherium. Our taxonomic scheme is supported by a cladistic analysis, which places Neoicochilus undulatus in a derived position within Interatheriinae, as the sister taxon of the monophyletic genus Cochilius, and the clade Neoicochilus plus Cochilius positioned as the sister taxon of Interatherium. Our phylogenetic results support the monophyly of Miocene interatheriines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evolutionary relationships of the endemic South American ungulates (SANUs), both to each other and to other major placental clades, have been robustly debated for more than a century. Morphological evidence has not provided unambiguous resolution of these controversies, although recent paleoproteomic and paleogenomic analyses have supplied unequivocal evidence that at least Litopterna and Notoungulata are most closely related to each other and then to crown Perissodactyla. A recent study based on morphological characters has gone much further, claiming that litopterns and South American condylarths are stem to, or even nested within, Perissodactyla, but are not otherwise related to any North American clades of archaic ungulates. This study also concluded that the alleged shared presence of perissodactyls in Paleogene South America and India, along with several other biological groups, is evidence of a fluid biotic interchange early in the Cenozoic. Our assessment of this study revealed various conceptual and methodological errors, including misinterpretation of homologies, scoring errors, and failure to include relevant taxa such as Notoungulata. Our corrected phylogenetic analysis, performed with essentially the same taxon/character sampling and searching options, recovered all litopterns and their relatives in a single monophyletic clade, separate from the one representing Perissodactyla s.s. Both clades are clearly derived from Laurasian ungulate ancestors. In addition to the absence of true perissodactyls in Paleogene South America, most of the biological groups postulated as shared by both continents are not found in Paleogene strata of India. In sum, there is no meaningful evidence supporting the alleged multiclade, multiterrain biotic interchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports two specific aspects of Si implantation in the molecular beam epitaxy grown p-type GaSb epilayer, namely, the evolution of nanoporosity and doping characteristics. The implantation is done with 100 keV Si ions at four different fluences, i.e., 5 × 1013, 1 × 1014, 5 × 1014, and 1 × 1015 ions/cm2. A field-emission scanning electron microscope (in-plane and cross-sectional view) shows a smooth nanoporous GaSb with a pore diameter of 10–20 nm for the higher fluences. The thickness of the porous film is enhanced from 235 nm (fluence: 1 × 1014 ions/cm2) to 515 nm (fluence: 1 × 1015 ions/ cm2). Development of smooth uniform porous GaSb using Si ion implantation is discussed from the viewpoint of displacement per atom and distribution of vacancies estimated through Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter simulation tool. Hall measurement shows conversion to n-type behavior after implantation and a variation in the sheet carrier concentration from 2.22 × 1014 to 8.52 × 1014 cm−2. There is a drastic change in the mobility with the onset of void formation by implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mineral carbonation is the most effective carbon capture technique, but carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion is limited by the slow hydration rate of CO2 (<10−1 s−1). A biological solution exists: carbonic anhydrase (CA) efficiently hydrates CO2 at a turnover rate of ≈106 s−1 under ambient conditions, making it an extremely attractive candidate for industrial post‐combustion CO2 capture. However, high cost and poor long‐term stability impose a technical barrier to its practical uses. Here, a genetically engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum (C. glutamicum) is introduced as a robust cell display platform for the in situ stabilization and low‐cost production of CA. The enzyme is displayed in the mycolic layer with porin B as an anchoring protein with (GGGGS)2 as a spacer. The cell‐displayed CA exhibits no significant inactivation of the CO2 hydration activity for at least one month at 37 °C. Its denaturation rate constant at 50 °C (0.07) is an order of magnitude lower than that of free CA (0.52–0.54). This study demonstrates that a structurally robust cell template allows the effective stabilization of CA, suggesting the C. glutamicum‐based cell display as a promising technique to achieve highly efficient, sustainable, and low‐cost CO2 capture for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Estimates of snow and firn density are required for satellite-altimetry-based retrievals of ice sheet mass balance that rely on volume-to-mass conversions. Therefore, biases and errors in presently used density models confound assessments of ice sheet mass balance and by extension ice sheet contribution to sea level rise. Despite this importance, most contemporary firn densification models rely on simplified semi-empirical methods, which are partially reflected by significant modeled density errors when compared to observations. In this study, we present a new drifting-snow compaction scheme that we have implemented into SNOWPACK, a physics-based land surface snow model. We show that our new scheme improves existing versions of SNOWPACK by increasing simulated near-surface (defined as the top 10 m) density to be more in line with observations (near-surface bias reduction from - 44.9 to - 5.4 kgm-3). Furthermore, we demonstrate high-quality simulation of near-surface Antarctic snow and firn density at 122 observed density profiles across the Antarctic ice sheet, as indicated by reduced model biases throughout most of the near-surface firn column when compared to two semi-empirical firn densification models (SNOWPACK mean bias=-9.7 kgm-3 , IMAU-FDM mean bias=-32.5 kgm-3 , GSFC-FDM mean bias=15.5 kgm-3). Notably, our analysis is restricted to the near surface where firn density is most variable due to accumulation and compaction variability driven by synoptic weather and seasonal climate variability. Additionally, the GSFC-FDM exhibits lower mean density bias from 7–10 m (SNOWPACK bias=-22.5 kgm-3 , GSFC-FDM bias=10.6 kgm-3) and throughout the entire near surface at high-accumulation sites (SNOWPACK bias=-31.4 kgm-3 , GSFC-FDM bias=-4.7 kgm-3). However, we found that the performance of SNOWPACK did not degrade when applied to sites that were not included in the calibration of semi-empirical models. This suggests that SNOWPACK may possibly better represent firn properties in locations without extensive observations and under future climate scenarios, when firn properties are expected to diverge from their present state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand radiation damage in the nickel based superalloy Inconel X-750 in thermal reactors, where (n, α) transmutation reaction also occurred in addition to fast neutron induced atomic displacement, heavy ion (1MeV Kr2+) irradiation with pre-injected helium was performed under in-situ observations of an intermediate voltage electron microscope at Argonne National Laboratory. By comparing to our previous studies using 1MeV Kr2+ irradiation solely, the pre-injected helium was found to be essential in cavity nucleation. Cavities started to be visible after Kr2+ irradiation to 2.7 dpa at ≥200°C in samples containing 200 appm, 1000 appm, and 5000 appm helium, respectively, but not at lower temperatures. The cavity growth was observed during the continuous irradiation. Cavity formation appeared along with a reduced number density of stacking fault tetrahedra, vacancy type defects. With higher pre-injected helium amount, a higher density of smaller cavities was observed. This is considered to be the result of local trapping effect of helium which disperses vacancies. The average cavity size increases with increasing irradiation temperatures; the density reduced; and the distribution of cavities became heterogeneous at elevated temperatures. In contrast to previous characterization of in-reactor neutron irradiated Inconel X-750, no obvious cavity sink to grain boundaries and phase boundaries was found even at high doses and elevated temperatures. MC-type carbides were observed as strong sources for agglomeration of cavities due to their enhanced trapping strength of helium and vacancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenology is an important component in the climate system, and play a key role in controlling many feedbacks of vegetation to the climate systems. Differences in phenology of plant functional types (PFTs) due to the variation in seasonal cycles (e.g. changes in weather variability), the impact from land-use activities (e.g. fire) and their mechanisms for adaptation (e.g. climate change, regrowth/post-fire regeneration) have major implications in conservation planning and monitoring actions. Detecting phenological variations in PFTs is therefore of great importance to quantitative remote sensing applications, especially in a biome as diverse and complex as savannah. In this study, we implement Savitzky–Golay filtering and the Breaks For Additive Seasonal and Trend (BFAST) algorithms to detect changes in PFTs based on their phenological events using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data from 2001 to 2018. In this region, PFTs present distinct seasonal, annual and interannual variability. Woody phenology presents early green-up dates with a prolonged senescence period and invariably observed the longest growing season length (GSL). The relationship between the start of season (SOS) or end of season (EOS) was assessed for each PFT to find out the extent to which they determine GSL for different PFTs. GSL is mostly determined by the SOS in woody savannah (coefficient of determination (R²) =0.41, p <0.01), open shrubs and (R² =0.79, p <0.001), grassland (R² =0.35, p <0.01) while EOS determined the GSL for both dryland crops (R² =0.75, p <0.001) and paddy rice (R² =0.69, p <0.001). We compared the interannual variability of woody savannah and other PFTs by measuring the differences of their phenological indicators using Welch's t-test. All PFTs show statistically significant difference with the GSL of woody savannah except open shrubs (p = 0.23). The abrupt vegetation changes estimated with BFAST varied by PFT. Some PFTs are more resilient to harsh environmental conditions than others. While woody species present a few abrupt changes, grass phenology is more vulnerable to disturbance, seasonally as well as in the trend components (large number of abrupt changes) with browning trend following an abrupt negative change. In all PFTs, breakpoint (disturbance) assessed using BFAST negatively correlate with precipitation data which means the magnitude of disturbance decreases with increasing precipitation. Woody species had an r (correlation coefficient) value of -0.5 while grassland had r = -0.7 which is a further indication that grass phenology responds more strongly to annual precipitation than the woody species. These results show that MODIS NDVI time-series data can be used to distinguish the phenological events of different PFTs in West African savannah dominated landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]