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The co-immobilization of enzymes and metal catalysts addresses key challenges in chemo-enzymatic catalysis, leading to a more efficient and environmentally sustainable process. Central to this approach is the development of a solid support with large pore size and an efficient decoration method for both enzymes and metal catalysts. In this context, a mesoporous covalent organic framework is rationally designed as the porous solid carrier for co-immobilizing a Ru(N^N)3-based photocatalyst, a Cp*Rh-based electron mediator, and an alcohol dehydrogenase. The integrated system catalyzes the Michael addition between 1-propanethiol and 1-penten-3-one to produce 1-(propylthio)pentan-3-one under visible light irradiation, which is further reduced to 1-(propylthio)pentan-3-ol with a photo-regenerated nicotinamide cofactor. This work presents a novel one-pot photobiocatalytic cascade system for synthesizing enantiomerically pure 1,3-mercaptoalkanols. The system showcases excellent performance in terms of yield and enantioselectivity, along with effective cofactor photo-regeneration, demonstrating a significant advancement in the field of chemo-enzymatic catalysis through enzyme and metal catalyst co-immobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wide bandgap semiconductor-based photocatalysts are usually limited by their low solar energy conversion efficiency due to their limited absorption solar wavelength, their rapid surface recombination of the photogenerated electron–hole pairs, and their low charge-carrier mobility. Here, we report a novel stepwise solution synthesis for achieving a new photocatalytic core–shell consisting of a titanate nanowire/reduced graphene oxide shell (or titanate/rGO) 1D-nanocomposite. The new core–shell nanocomposite maximized the specific surface area, largely reduced the charge transfer resistance and reaction energy barrier, and significantly improved the absorption of visible light. The core–shell nanocomposites' large on/off current ratio and rapid photo-responses boosted the photocurrent by 30.0%, the photocatalysis rate by 50.0%, and the specific surface area by 16.4% when compared with the results for the pure titanate nanowire core. Our numerical simulations support the effective charge separation on the new core–shell nanostructure, which can help further advance the novel photocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timely and accurate knowledge of species-level biomass is essential for forest managers to sustain forest resources and respond to various forest disturbance regimes. In this study, maps of species-level biomass in Chinese boreal forests were generated by integrating Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images with forest inventory data using k nearest neighbor (kNN) methods and evaluated at different scales. The performance of 630 kNN models based on different distance metrics, k values, and temporal MODIS predictor variables were compared. Random Forest (RF) showed the best performance among the six distance metrics: RF, Euclidean distance, Mahalanobis distance, most similar neighbor in canonical correlation space, most similar neighbor computed using projection pursuit, and gradient nearest neighbor. No appreciable improvement was observed using multi-month MODIS data compared with using single-month MODIS data. At the pixel scale, species-level biomass for larch and white birch had relatively good accuracy (root mean square deviation < 62.1%), while the other species had poorer accuracy. The accuracy of most species except for willow and spruce was improved up to the ecoregion scale. The maps of species-level biomass captured the effects of disturbances including fire and harvest and can provide useful information for broad-scale forest monitoring over time. Key words: species-level biomass, MODIS, Chinese boreal forest, Random Forest (RF), kNN. Une connaissance precise et en temps opportun de la biomasse de chaque espece est essentielle pour permettre aux amenagistes forestiers d'effectuer un amenagement durable des ressources forestieres et pour s'ajuster aux divers regimes de perturbations forestieres. Dans cette etude, des cartes de biomasse par espece ont ete generees dans les forets boreales chinoises en integrant des images MODIS (spectroradiometre imageur a resolution moyenne) a des donnees d'inventaire forestier au moyen de l'approche des k plus proches voisins (kNN) et evaluees a differentes echelles. Les performances de 630 modeles kNN ont ete comparees en fonction de differentes metriques de distance, valeurs de k et variables predictives temporelles de MODIS. Les forets d'arbres decisionnels (RF) ont fait ressortir les meilleures performances parmi les six metriques de distance : la distance RF, la distance euclidienne, la distance de Mahalanobis, le plus proche voisin dans l'espace de correlation canonique, le plus proche voisin calcule par poursuite de projection, et le plus proche voisin par gradient. L'utilisation de donnees MODIS sur plusieurs mois n'a apporte aucune amelioration notable en comparaison de l'utilisation des donnees MODIS d'un seul mois. A l'echelle des pixels, la biomasse par espece avait une precision relativement bonne pour le meleze et le bouleau blanc (ecart quadratique moyen < 62,1%), tandis que la precision etait plus faible pour les autres especes. Pour la plupart des especes, a l'exception du saule et de l'epinette, la precision s'est amelioree jusqu'a l'echelle de l'ecoregion. Les cartes de la biomasse par espece ont capte les effets des perturbations, y compris les feux et la recolte, et peuvent fournir des informations utiles pour la surveillance des forets a une vaste echelle au fil du temps. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: biomasse par espece, spectroradiometre imageur a resolution moyenne (MODIS), foret boreale chinoise, forets d'arbres decisionnels (RF), methode des k plus proches voisins (kNN)., 1. Introduction The boreal forest is the second largest terrestrial biome in the world, covering 33% of forest area and holding 23% of terrestrial carbon stocks (Carlson et al. 2009; [...]

Undersea optical communication (UOC) has been considered as the most potential next‐generation underwater wireless communication technology for ocean exploration. Photodetector is the essential component in UOC system, however, the harsh undersea environment like light attenuation and seawater corrosivity restricts the applications of conventional photodetectors. Herein, a novel natural‐electrolyte self‐powered photoelectrochemical (PEC) photodetector based on core‐shell structured Cu@GaN nanowires (NWs) network is demonstrated and direct utilization of seawater. High quality GaN shell is encapsulated on the Cu NWs network through Ga‐coating and high temperature nitridation processes. A Schottky junction along radial direction has formed at the Cu/GaN interface due to the outward diffusion of Cu into the GaN layer. Such a structure provides narrowed band detection on blue light as well as efficient carrier separation. A self‐powered undersea PEC photodetector is designed with a mini‐pipes connected device chamber, which allows direct indrawing of seawater and blue channel light communication (458 nm). This photodetector works stably for UOC in both shallow and deep‐sea conditions in Pacific Ocean area. It shows a high responsivity up to 5.04 mA W−1 and rapid response time of 0.68 ms. This photodetector can be easily integrated to marine equipment without waterproof packaging for the future energy‐saving UOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-resolution site index (SI) and mean annual increment (MAI) maps are desired for local forest management. We integrated field inventory, Landsat, and ecological variables to produce 30 m SI and MAI maps for the Tahoe National Forest (TNF) where different tree species coexist. We converted species-specific SI using adjustment factors. Then, the SI map was produced by (i) intensifying plots to expand the training sets to more climatic, topographic, soil, and forest reflective classes, (ii) using results from a stepwise regression to enable a weighted imputation that minimized the effects of outlier plots within classes, and (iii) local interpolation and strata median filling to assign values to pixels without direct imputations. The SI (reference age is 50 years) map had an [R.sup.2] of 0.7637, a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 3.60, and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 3.07 m. The MAI map was similarly produced with an [R.sup.2] of 0.6882, an RMSE of 1.73, and a MAE of 1.20 [m.sup.3] x [ha.sup.-1] x [year.sup.-1]. Spatial patterns and trends of SI and MAI were analyzed to be related to elevation, aspect, slope, soil productivity, and forest type. The 30 m SI and MAI maps can be used to support decisions on fire, plantation, biodiversity, and carbon. Key words: site index, mean annual increment, timber productivity, remote sensing, Sierra Nevada. Il est souhaitable de disposer de cartes a haute resolution d'indice de qualite de station (IQS) et d'accroissement annuel moyen (AAM) pour amenager localement les forets. Nous avons integre des variables ecologiques, d'inventaire de terrain et de Landsat pour produire des cartes d'IQS et d'AAM a une resolution de 30 m pour la foret nationale de Tahoe ou differentes especes d'arbres coexistent. Nous avons converti les IQS propres a chaque espece a l'aide de facteurs d'ajustement. Par la suite, la carte d'IQS a ete produite (i) en intensifiant les placettes pour etendre les donnees de base a des classes plus representatives de climat, de topographie, de sol et de foret, (ii) en utilisant les resultats d'une regression pas a pas pour realiser une imputation ponderee minimisant les effets des placettes aberrantes dans les classes, et (iii) en completant le jeu de donnees a l'aide d'interpolations locales et de valeurs medianes des strates pour assigner des valeurs aux pixels n'ayant pas d'imputation directe. La carte d'IQS (l'age de reference est de 50 ans) etait associee a un [R.sup.2] de 0,7637, une erreur quadratique moyenne (EQM) de 3,60 et une erreur moyenne absolue (EMA) de 3,07 m. La carte d'AAM a ete produite de facon similaire et etait associee a un [R.sup.2] de 0,6882, une EQM de 1,73 et une EMA de 1,20 [m.sup.3] x [ha.sup.-1] x [an.sup.-1]. La distribution et la tendance spatiale du rapport entre l'IQS et l'AAM ont ete analysees et reliees a l'altitude, l'orientation, la pente, la productivite du sol et le type forestier. Les cartes d'IQS et d'AAM a une resolution de 30 m peuvent etre utilisees pour appuyer les decisions concernant le feu, les plantations, la biodiversite et le carbone. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: indice de qualite de station, accroissement annuel moyen, productivite ligneuse, teledetection, Sierra Nevada., 1. Introduction Forest productivity is an important indicator of diverse applications such as biofuels supply, carbon sequestration, and forest growth projection. In the western United States (US), potential productivity is [...]

The albedo change caused by fires and the subsequent succession is spatially heterogeneous, leading to the need to assess the spatiotemporal variation of surface shortwave forcing (SSF) as a component to quantify the climate impacts of high-latitude fires. We used an image reconstruction approach to compare postfire albedo with the albedo assuming that no fires had occurred. Combining the fire-caused albedo change from the 2001-2010 fires in interior Alaska and the monthly surface incoming solar radiation, we examined the spatiotemporal variation of SSF in the early successional stage of approximately 10 years. Our results showed that although postfire albedo generally increased in fall, winter, and spring, some burned areas could show an albedo decrease during these seasons. In summer, the albedo increased for several years and then declined again. The spring SSF distribution did not show a latitudinal decrease from south to north as previously reported. The results also indicated that although the SSF is usually largely negative in the early successional years, it may not be significant during the first postfire year. The annual 2005-2010 SSF for the 2004 fire scars was -1.30, -4.40, -3.31, -4.00, -3.42, and -2.47 W x [m.sup.-2], respectively. The integrated annual SSF map showed significant spatial variation, with a mean of -3.15 W x [m.sup.-2], a standard deviation of 3.26 watts per square metre (W x [m.sup.-2]), and 16% of burned areas having positive SSF. Our results suggest that boreal deciduous fires would be less positive for climate change than boreal evergreen fires. Future research is needed to comprehensively investigate the spatiotemporal radiative and nonradiative forcings to determine the effect of boreal fires on the climate. Key words: Alaska, albedo, fire, surface shortwave forcing, climate forcing. La modification de l'albedo causee par les feux et la succession vegetale subsequente est spatialement heterogene. Il est donc necessaire d'avoir acces a la variation spatio-temporelle du forcage aux courtes longueurs d'onde de la surface en tant que composante pour quantifier les impacts des feux aux latitudes elevees sur le climat. Nous avons utilise la reconstruction d'image pour comparer l'albedo apres feu a celui qu'on aurait pu mesurer s'il n'y avait pas eu de feu. En combinant la modification de l'albedo causee par les feux de 2001 a 2010 a l'interieur de l'Alaska et le rayonnement solaire mensuel incident a la surface, nous avons etudie la variation spatio-temporelle du forcage au stade precoce de succession sur une periode d'environ 10 ans. Nos resultats ont montre que, bien que l'albedo apres feu ait generalement augmente a l'automne, en hiver et au printemps, il pouvait diminuer durant ces saisons dans certaines zones brulees. En ete, l'albedo a augmente pendant plusieurs annees et diminue a nouveau par la suite. Il n'y a pas eu de diminution latitudinale de la distribution printaniere du forcage, du sud vers le nord, comme cela a deja ete rapporte. Les resultats indiquent aussi que meme si le forcage est habituellement largement negatif durant les premieres annees de la succession, il peut ne pas etre significatif durant les premieres annees apres feu. Le forcage annuel de 2005 a 2010 pour les cicatrices de feu de 2004 mesurait : -1,30, -4,40, -3,31, -4,00, -3,42 et -2,47 W x [m.sup.-2]. La carte du forcage annuel integre montre qu'il y a une variation spatiale significative avec une moyenne de -3,15 W x [m.sup.-2] et un ecart type de 3,26 W x [m.sup.-2],16 % des zones brulees ayant un forcage positif. Nos resultats indiquent que les feux en zone boreale decidue seraient moins benefiques pour les changements climatiques que les feux en zone boreale resineuse. D'autres travaux seront necessaires pour etudier a fond les forcages radiatifs et non radiatifs afin de determiner l'effet des feux en zone boreale sur le climat. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : Alaska, albedo, feu, forcage aux courtes longueurs d'onde de la surface, forcage climatique., 1. Introduction The forcing due to albedo change is an important factor in assessing the climatic effects of land surface change (Flanner et al. 2011; O'Halloran et al. 2012; Barnes [...]

Hybrid piezo/triboelectric nanogenerators (H‐P/TENGs) are developed to compensate the drawbacks of a single nanogenerator by synergizing high triboelectric output voltage and piezoelectric output current in continuous contact‐separation cycles. In particular, piezoelectric zinc oxide (ZnO) has been widely used due to its excellent orientation along the c‐axis and tunable growth structures. Herein, various growth structures of ZnO, unoriented, oriented, and hierarchical structures, are incorporated in H‐P/TENGs, enhancing their power densities from 6 to 17 times. Particularly, oriented ZnO nanorod/PVA (ZnR) achieves a maximum power density of 15.9 W m−2 (≈17‐fold increment compared to pristine PVA). The highly oriented ZnO growth along the c‐axis enables large deformation upon a vertical compression, subsequently generating a large piezoelectric polarization. Moreover, the enhancement mechanism via piezoelectric polarization is elucidated using a modified overlapped electron cloud model supported with Kelvin probe force microscopy measurements. The polarization of ZnO nanocomposites enlarges the difference in the highest electron energies (ΔE) between the two triboelectric layers, driving more electrons to transfer during contact electrification, thereby enriching their surface charge densities. This study highlights the significance of growth structure control in maximizing the piezoelectric responses of ZnO, consequently improving the output performances of H‐P/TENGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commonly, an elusive intermediate is generated from a precursor and then trapped and consumed in a reaction. Vinylidene ortho‐quinone methides (VQMs) have been demonstrated as transient axially chiral intermediates in asymmetric catalysis due to their orthogonal π‐bonds forming an allene motif. The current understanding of VQMs is primarily based on time‐resolved absorption, trapping experiments and computational studies. Herein, we report the first isolation and comprehensive characterization of a VQM, including crystallographic analysis. The disturbed aromaticity of the VQM led to its high reactivity as an electrophile or a 4π‐component capable of asymmetric dearomatization of an electron‐deficient phenyl group. Notably, the VQM could be isolated in enantiomerically enriched form, and the subsequent transformation was stereospecific, indicating that the generation of the VQM was involved in the enantiodetermining step. This study paves the way for the direct application of VQMs as starting materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles are membrane-packed entities that are involved in various physiological and pathological processes. Recently, the role of exosomes and microvesicles in regenerative medicine has been elucidated. Indeed, therapeutic potential of stem cells may be partly due to exosomes or microvesicles. However, injection of these vesicles may lead to their rapid clearance from the injection site. To address this challenge, different delivery systems for these vesicles' sustained delivery have been developed. In this regard, chitosan based hydrogels have been successfully utilized as delivery platforms for exosomes and microvesicles. In the current review, the prospects, challenges, and applications of chitosan-based hydrogels as a delivery vehicle for exosomes and microvesicles will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enantioselective construction of molecules bearing multiple stereogenic elements is increasingly related to the synthesis of enantiopure natural products, pharmaceuticals, and functional materials. However, atom‐economical and enantioselective approaches to install multiple stereogenic elements in a small molecular template by limited chemical transformation remain challenging. We describe an organocatalytic enantioselective method for the preparation of polychiral molecules bearing four types of stereogenic elements in fused azepines via vinylidene ortho‐quinone methide (VQM)‐mediated intramolecular electrophilic aromatic substitution. This method was proved robust with a wide range of substrate scope (46–92 % yield), with excellent diastereoselectivity (>20:1 dr) and enantioselectivity achieved (up to 97 % ee). Optical properties and Ru3+‐induced fluorescence responses of these compounds suggest their potential applications in optoelectronic materials and heavy metal ion detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background A simulation model based on remote sensing data for spatial vegetation properties has been used to estimate ecosystem carbon fluxes across Yellowstone National Park (YNP). The CASA (Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach) model was applied at a regional scale to estimate seasonal and annual carbon fluxes as net primary production (NPP) and soil respiration components. Predicted net ecosystem production (NEP) flux of CO2 is estimated from the model for carbon sinks and sources over multi-year periods that varied in climate and (wildfire) disturbance histories. Monthly Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) image coverages from the NASA Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument (from 2000 to 2006) were direct inputs to the model. New map products have been added to CASA from airborne remote sensing of coarse woody debris (CWD) in areas burned by wildfires over the past two decades. Results Model results indicated that relatively cooler and wetter summer growing seasons were the most favorable for annual plant production and net ecosystem carbon gains in representative landscapes of YNP. When summed across vegetation class areas, the predominance of evergreen forest and shrubland (sagebrush) cover was evident, with these two classes together accounting for 88% of the total annual NPP flux of 2.5 Tg C yr-1 (1 Tg = 1012 g) for the entire Yellowstone study area from 2000-2006. Most vegetation classes were estimated as net ecosystem sinks of atmospheric CO2 on annual basis, making the entire study area a moderate net sink of about +0.13 Tg C yr-1. This average sink value for forested lands nonetheless masks the contribution of areas burned during the 1988 wildfires, which were estimated as net sources of CO2 to the atmosphere, totaling to a NEP flux of -0.04 Tg C yr-1 for the entire burned area. Several areas burned in the 1988 wildfires were estimated to be among the lowest in overall yearly NPP, namely the Hellroaring Fire, Mink Fire, and Falls Fire areas. Conclusions Rates of recovery for burned forest areas to pre-1988 biomass levels were estimated from a unique combination of remote sensing and CASA model predictions. Ecosystem production and carbon fluxes in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) result from complex interactions between climate, forest age structure, and disturbance-recovery patterns of the landscape.