Search

By selecting appropriate microhabitats, animals gain various benefits. For amphibians, which are ectothermic, appropriate microhabitat selection is directly related to their survival. This study aims to characterize the microhabitat type selected by Bufo gargarizans in South Korea, which has not yet been examined, using radiotelemetry. We analyzed the percent cover of different microhabitat features at sites where B. gargarizans was found. The microhabitat was categorized into eight types: stacked dry leaves litter or hay, grass, naked field, stones/pebbles, fallen branches, alive or dead trees/shrubs, wetland, and other. We collected a total of 60 location data, all of which had closed cover. From these, nine hibernation sites and six post-breeding dormancy sites were identified. Dry leaf litter was found to be the most frequently selected microhabitat type. We also found significant differences in microhabitat type between the hibernation period and the post-breeding dormancy period. We considered that these differences can be explained by the ecological characteristics of B. gargarizans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leucism, in which pigmentation is lost over part or the entire body of an animal, has a range of possible genetic causes. Here, we report leucism in an individual tiger keelback (Rhabdophis tigrinus) found on Jeung Island, Shinan‐gun, Jeollanam‐do, South Korea, during a survey of the distribution of reptiles in the area. The individual was observed sunbathing in the bushes next to a pond. This individual exhibited ecdysis, thus it considered that have normal feeding activity. Our report represents the first observation of leucism in R. tigrinus, and thus, further analysis is needed of this phenotype to more clearly understand its impact on the species and its natural history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI–TOF MS) is a commonly used technique for analyzing large biomolecules. However, the utilization of organic matrices limits the small-molecule analysis because of the interferences in the low-mass region and the reproducibility issues. To overcome these limitations, a surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization (SALDI), which utilizes nanostructured metallic surfaces, has been developed. Herein, a novel approach for SALDI–MS was proposed using silica@gold core–shell hybrid materials with a nanogap-rich shell (SiO2@Au NGS), which is an emerging material due to its excellent heat-generating capabilities. The gold shell thickness was controlled by adjusting the concentration of gold precursor for the growth of gold nanoparticles. SALDI-MS measurements were performed on a layer formed by drop-casting a mixture of SiO2@Au NGS and analytes. At the optimized process, the gold shell thickness was observed to be 17.2 nm, which showed the highest absorbance. Based on the enhanced SALDI capability, SiO2@Au NGS was utilized to detect various small molecules, including amino acids, sugars, and flavonoids, and the ionization softness was confirmed with a survival yield upon fragmentation. The limits of detection, reproducibility, and salt tolerance of SiO2@Au NGS demonstrate its potential as an effective and reliable SALDI material for small-molecule analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical features of multiple‐layered axial heterostructures composed of III‐nitride semiconductors (GaN, InGaN, and AlGaN) are investigated to realize tunable nanolasers. The optical confinement effects develop exciton‐polariton in nanorods, leading to polariton lasing with distinctive dispersion. The lasing characteristics in the heterostructure are similar to those in the homostructure, although the carrier transfer between layers influences the optical gain. The energy‐dependent property of polariton changes the mode spacing of lasing peaks. The alloyed systems of InGaN can tune the color of lasing in the visible region, while the lasing of AlGaN is also achievable in the optimized configuration. The polarization of lasing indicates the predominant contribution of the fundamental transverse mode. Therefore, in the multiple‐layered heterostructure, controllable triple‐color lasing using the feature of polariton, modulation of band gap energy, and the amplification process of the waveguide is demonstrated for the first time, with the tunable color over a wide range of the visible region. Multicolor polariton nanolasers offer a promising path to diverse nanophotonic devices with controllable optical characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]