Aqueous Solution‐Processable Small Molecular Metal‐Chelate Complex Electrolyte for Flexible All‐Solid State Energy Storage Devices

A small molecular metal‐chelate complex, tris(8‐hydroxyquinoline‐5‐sulfonic acid) aluminum (AlQSA₃), that has three sulfonic acid groups per molecule leading to an excellent solubility in water is reported as a liquid‐free perfect solid‐state electrolyte for flexible film‐type all‐solid‐state energy storage devices. The AlQSA₃ material is synthesized by one‐step reaction of aluminum triisopropoxide and 8‐hydroxyquinoline‐5‐sulfonic acid. The aqueous solutions of AlQSA₃ are applied to fabricate flexible film‐type all‐solid state electric double layer capacitors with indium‐tin oxide thin film electrodes. The ion conductivity of the AlQSA₃ film reaches 0.116 mS cm^?1, while a pronounced hysteresis are obtained in the cyclic voltammetry measurement. The AlQSA₃ film capacitors exhibit an output voltage of 1.5 V at 20 μA cm^?2, which is considerably stable by the repeated operation. In particular, the peak output voltage is well kept even after 180° bending for 500 times in the case of the flexible AlQSA₃ film capacitors.     

Na3V2(PO4)3 as the Sole Solid Energy Storage Material for Redox Flow Sodium‐Ion Battery

Redox flow batteries have considerable advantages of system scalability and operation flexibility over other battery technologies, which makes them promising for large‐scale energy storage application. However, they suffer from low energy density and consequently relatively high cost for a nominal energy output. Redox targeting–based flow batteries are employed by incorporating solid energy storage materials in the tank and present energy density far beyond the solubility limit of the electrolytes. The success of this concept relies on paring suitable redox mediators with solid materials for facilitated reaction kinetics and lean electrolyte composition. Here, a redox targeting‐based flow battery system using the NASICON‐type Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃ as a capacity booster for both the catholyte and anolyte is reported. With 10‐methylphenothiazine as the cathodic redox mediator and 9‐fluorenone as anodic redox mediator, an all‐organic single molecule redox targeting–based flow battery is developed. The anodic and cathodic capacity are 3 and 17 times higher than the solubility limit of respective electrolyte, with which a full cell can achieve an energy density up to 88 Wh L^?1. The reaction mechanism is scrutinized by operando and in‐situ X‐ray and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. The reaction kinetics are analysed in terms of Butler–Volmer formalism.     

Monitoring gradient formation in a jet aerated bioreactor

Jet aerated loop reactors (JLRs) provide high mass transfer coefficients (k_La) and can be used for the intensification of mass transfer limited reactions. The jet loop reactor achieves higher k_La values than a stirred tank reactor (STR). The improvement relies on significantly higher local power inputs (～10⁴) than those obtainable with the STR. Operation at high local turnover rates requires efficient macromixing, otherwise reactor inhomogeneities might occur. If sufficient homogenization is not achieved, the selectivity of the reaction and the respective yields are decreased. Therefore, the balance between mixing and mass transfer in jet loop reactors is a critical design aspect. Monitoring the dissolved oxygen levels during the turnover of a steady sodium sulfite feed implied the abundance of gradients in the JLR. Prolonged mixing times at identical power input and aeration rates (～100%) were identified for the JLR in comparison to the STR. The insertion of a draft tube to the JLR led to a more homogenous dissolved oxygen distribution, but unfortunately a reduction of mixing time was not achieved. In case of increased medium viscosities as they may arise in high cell density cultivations, no gradient formation was detected. However, differences in medium viscosity significantly altered the mass transfer and mixing performance of the JLR.     

Activity budget and spatial distribution of Bennett's wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) in open versus closed exhibit designs

Although many studies investigating the impacts of zoo exhibit designs on captive animals exist, none have been performed on how they influence the behavior and welfare of captive Bennett's wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus). Here, we assess the impact of exhibit design on the activity budget and spatial distribution of Bennett's wallabies. We compared animal behavior in two open exhibits (i.e. physical interaction between animals and visitors permitted) to two closed exhibits (i.e. physical interaction between animals and visitors prohibited). Behavioral data were collected using focal sampling, and spatial distribution was recorded on exhibit maps at regular time intervals. We found a significant increase in feeding and interactive behaviors in closed exhibits in comparison to open exhibits. However, other behaviors such as resting, locomotion, and vigilance did not vary with design. Functional use of space was similar between both designs; however, the effect of habituation may be relevant to consider in future studies. Although some support for visitor effects were present, our study provided no evidence for strong impacts of exhibit design on Bennett's wallaby welfare. Our study emphasizes the need for additional research into the impacts of how zoo environments affect Bennett's wallaby behavior and welfare.     

Physiographic and climatic events in the Chihuahuan Desert lead to the speciation and distinct demographic patterns of two sister Sceloporus lizards

The biogeographic history of the Chihuahuan Desert is known to be complex, and there is evidence of the effects of physiographic and climatic events in species diversification and demographic population changes in many taxa. Here, using DNA sequence data, we studied the influence of the physiographic and climatic events that occurred in the Chihuahuan Desert during the Pliocene–Pleistocene transition on the speciation and evolutionary history of the sister lizard species Sceloporus cyanostictus and S. gadsdeni. First, based on mtDNA and nDNA sequences, we estimated the divergence times of the sister species. Then, based on mtDNA sequences, we investigated the demographic history of both species within a phylogeographic framework. The divergence time was inferred to be 1.48 Mya, date that corresponds to the existence of a large lake in the Mapimian subprovince, between the current geographic locations of S. cyanostictus and S. gadsdeni. This lake could have acted as a barrier, leading to the speciation of both species. For the demographic history of the two species, we identified two distinct patterns: the population expansion of S. gadsdeni within the Last Glacial Maximum and the potential population decline of S. cyanostictus. Our results can be used as a guide for the study of other aspects that could be critical to developing conservation actions that ensure the survival of not only S. gadsdeni and S. cyanostictus, but also other co‐occurring lizard species.     

Understanding extinction debts: spatio–temporal scales,mechanisms and a roadmap for future research

Extinction debt refers to delayed species extinctions expected as a consequence of ecosystem perturbation. Quantifying such extinctions and investigating long‐term consequences of perturbations has proven challenging, because perturbations are not isolated and occur across various spatial and temporal scales, from local habitat losses to global warming. Additionally, the relative importance of eco‐evolutionary processes varies across scales, because levels of ecological organization, i.e. individuals, (meta)populations and (meta)communities, respond hierarchically to perturbations. To summarize our current knowledge of the scales and mechanisms influencing extinction debts, we reviewed recent empirical, theoretical and methodological studies addressing either the spatio–temporal scales of extinction debts or the eco‐evolutionary mechanisms delaying extinctions. Extinction debts were detected across a range of ecosystems and taxonomic groups, with estimates ranging from 9 to 90% of current species richness. The duration over which debts have been sustained varies from 5 to 570 yr, and projections of the total period required to settle a debt can extend to 1000 yr. Reported causes of delayed extinctions are 1) life‐history traits that prolong individual survival, and 2) population and metapopulation dynamics that maintain populations under deteriorated conditions. Other potential factors that may extend survival time such as microevolutionary dynamics, or delayed extinctions of interaction partners, have rarely been analyzed. Therefore, we propose a roadmap for future research with three key avenues: 1) the microevolutionary dynamics of extinction processes, 2) the disjunctive loss of interacting species and 3) the impact of multiple regimes of perturbation on the payment of debts. For their ability to integrate processes occurring at different levels of ecological organization, we highlight mechanistic simulation models as tools to address these knowledge gaps and to deepen our understanding of extinction dynamics.     

Comprehensive metabolomic,proteomic and physiological analyses of grain yield reduction in rice under abrupt drought–flood alternation stress

Abrupt drought–flood alternation (T1) is a meteorological disaster that frequently occurs during summer in southern China and the Yangtze river basin, often causing a significant loss of rice production. In this study, the response mechanism of yield decline under abrupt drought–flood alternation stress at the panicle differentiation stage was analyzed by looking at the metabolome, proteome as well as yield and physiological and biochemical indexes. The results showed that drought and flood stress caused a decrease in the yield of rice at the panicle differentiation stage, and abrupt drought–flood alternation stress created a synergistic effect for the reduction of yield. The main reason for the decrease of yield per plant under abrupt drought–flood alternation was the decrease of seed setting rate. Compared with CK0 (no drought and no flood), the net photosynthetic rate and soluble sugar content of T1 decreased significantly and its hydrogen peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase activity increased significantly. The identified differential metabolites and differentially expressed proteins indicated that photosynthesis metabolism, energy metabolism pathway and reactive oxygen species response have changed strongly under abrupt drought–flood alteration stress, which are factors that leads to the rice grain yield reduction.     

Mating system shifts a species’ range

Understanding the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that shape a species’ range is an important goal in evolutionary biology. Evidence indicates that mating system is an effective predictor of the global range of native species or naturalized alien plants, but the mechanisms underlying this predictability are not elaborated. Here, we develop a theoretical model to account for the ranges of plants under different mating systems based on migration‐selection processes (an idea proposed by Haldane). The model includes alternation of gametophyte and sporophyte generations in one life cycle and the dispersal of haploid pollen and diploid seeds as vectors for gene flow. We show that the interaction between selfing rates and gametophytic selection determines the role of mating system in shaping a species’ range. Selfing restricts the species’ range under gametophytic selection in nonrandom mating systems, but expands the species’ range under the absence of gametophytic selection in any mating system. Gametophytic selection slightly restricts the species’ range in random mating. Both logarithmic and logistic models of population demography yield similar conclusions in the case of fixed or evolving genetic variance. The theory also helps to explain a broader relationship between mating system and range size following biological invasion or plant naturalization.