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A recent study based on gonad histology revealed that the existence of the spawning grounds for Gray's grenadier anchovy (Coilia grayii) and Osbeck's grenadier anchovy (C. mystus) in the Min River Estuary, the largest in Fujian Province, southern China. Further confirming their natal sources and migratory patterns is essential to understand their life histories. We used otolith microchemistry to assess the origins and habitat uses of 23 C. grayii and 22 C. mystus , collected the Min River Estuary and the adjacent waters. The results showed that C. grayii spawned in both freshwater (n‍ = 14) and brackish water (n = 9), and C. mystus spawned mainly in brackish water (n‍ = 20) with minor in freshwater (n‍ = 1) and marine water (n‍ = 1). The migratory patterns of C. grayii (four types) and C. mystus (five types) were diverse, mainly exhibiting anadromous and semi-anadromous behaviors. The first migratory behavior of C. grayii and C. mystus occurred within the age of the first year. The findings have significant implications for fishery stock management of the Min River Estuary and its adjacent waters. • Movements between the Min River Estuary and the adjacent waters were studied for Coilia grayii and C. mystus (Engraulidae). • Otolith microchemistry was used to assess natal sources and migratory patterns. • C. grayii and C. mystus have different natal sources and migratory patterns. • The ages of the first migratory behavior were assessed for C. grayii and C. mystus. • Understanding fish movements are important for effective fishery management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of microchemistry in fish fin spines offers a non-lethal approach to address key questions about life history specific movement and habitat use. Reconstruction of life history is based on chemical changes within calcified structures with an underlying assumption of elemental incorporation relative to environmental concentration. However, information on the relative contributions of water and diet to trace elements in calcified structures of fishes, including fin spines, is limited. Strontium (Sr) is commonly used in trace element studies because of its predictable changes within watersheds, with recent applications showing utility of 87Sr/86Sr for greater spatial resolution. In this study we evaluated the influence of water and diet 87Sr/86Sr on pectoral fin spines of Atlantic Sturgeon A. oxyrinchus oxyrinchus in controlled laboratory experiments. To understand the extent to which water and diet 87Sr/86Sr contribute to levels in fin spines, we exposed fish to one of four treatments for 12 weeks; a control, water spiked with 87Sr, and diet spiked with medium and high levels of 87Sr. To determine the amount of time it takes to elicit a shift in fin spine 87Sr/86Sr following a change in 87Sr/86Sr, fish were maintained in water- or diet-spiked treatments for up to 6 weeks. Lastly, we investigated how temperature may influence fin spine 87Sr/86Sr by holding fish at either 16 °C or 24 °C for 12 weeks. Our experiments indicated water is the primary contributor of 87Sr/86Sr levels in fin spines of Atlantic Sturgeon, and these levels shifted 1 week and 12 weeks following changes in water and diet, respectively. Water temperature did not have an effect on 87Sr/86Sr fin spine chemistry, although sample size was low (n = 3). These results provide guidance for interpretation of 87Sr/86Sr in pectoral fin spines of sturgeon and indicate usefulness of the technique for retrospectively estimating movement and habitat use. • This study validated incorporation of strontium isotopes into fish fin spines. • Fin spine strontium changes after 1 week in different water concentrations. • Diet also influences fin spine strontium isotopes. • Changes in fin spine strontium isotopes are slower by diet than water. • Temperature had little influence on strontium isotope ratios in fin spines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, Hf and B modified ribbon produced by RSP (rapid solidification process) method have been studied to investigate the microstructure, phase formation and magnetic properties of the Sm-Co-based alloy. (Sm 0.12 Co 0.88) 95 Hf 1 B 4 ribbon has been synthesized and annealed at various temperatures (700 °C, 800 °C & 900 °C) to analyze the effect of temperature on magnetic properties and structure. X-ray diffraction (XRD) phase analysis has confirmed the 1:7 H phase as a significant phase in the as-spun ribbon. A combination of 1:5 H and 2:17 R phases were found in the ribbon annealed at 900 °C due to disorder-order transformation upon heat treatment. The development of ordered structure and grain growth upon annealing at 800 °C and 900 °C have deteriorated the magnetic properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis also revealed the grain growth and the development of the ordered 2:17 R structure upon annealing. The ribbon annealed at 700 °C showed better magnetic properties, H c ≈ 8.6 kOe, M r ≈ 49 emu/g and (BH) max ≈ 5.63 MGOe with an average grain size of ∼149 ± 5 nm. T C of the as-spun ribbon was found to be ⁓750 °C, and the temperature co-efficient of magnetization (α) and coercivity (β) were about − 0.008 and − 0.161%/°C, respectively. The APT analysis confirmed the fine borides in both as-spun and annealed (700 °C & 900 °C) ribbons. • Sm-Co-based ribbon was synthesized. Temperature effects were also investigated. • Grain refinement and 1:7 H phase significantly improved the magnetic properties. • The microchemistry of the ribbons was studied by APT. • The disorder-order transformation at higher temperatures has been confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coevaporated bismuth-tellurium and antimony-tellurium films were fabricated under various deposition conditions (controlled evaporation rates of individual species, substrate temperature, and substrate material), and their thermoelectric (TE) properties (Seebeck coefficient, electrical resistivity, and carrier concentration) were measured in search of optimal TE performance. The tellurium atomic concentration was varied from 48% to 74%, the substrate temperature ranged from 130 to 300 °C, and glass, mica, magnesium oxide, and sapphire substrates were used. The chemical composition and crystal structure of the films were recorded (using microprobe and x-ray diffractometer, respectively), analyzed, and compared with available standard Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 single-crystal samples. High-performance TE films had tellurium atomic concentration around 60% and were deposited at a substrate temperature between 260 and 270 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The depth distribution of ultraviolet laser irradiation-induced defects in fused silica has been determined using cathodoluminescence (CL) microanalysis. CL emissions have been observed at 1.9, 2.2, 2.7, and 4.4 eV. In addition, following a CO2 laser treatment for damage mitigation, an emission at 3.2 eV is also observed. The CL emissions have been identified with the nonbridging oxygen hole center, the self-trapped exciton, the oxygen-deficient center, and the aluminum impurity center. The spatially resolved CL data are consistent with the damage initiation at the exit surface. The concentration of 355-nm laser-induced defects is greatest at the surface and monotonically decays to preirradiation levels at ∼10-μm depth below the surface. The CO2 processing reduces the defect concentration and spatial distribution to a maximum depth of ∼6 μm, confirming significant damage mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional x-ray transmission tomography provides the spatial distribution of the absorption coefficient inside a sample. Other tomographic techniques, based on the detection of photons coming from fluorescent emission, Compton and Rayleigh scattering, are used for obtaining information on the internal elemental composition of the sample. However, the reconstruction problem for these techniques is generally much more difficult than that of transmission tomography, mainly due to self-absorption effects in the sample. In this article an approach to the reconstruction problem is presented, which integrates the information from the three types of signals. This method provides the quantitative spatial distribution of all elements that emit detectable fluorescent lines (Z≥15 in usual experimental conditions), even when the absorption effects are strong, and the spatial distribution of the global density of the lighter elements. The use of this technique is demonstrated on the reconstruction of a grain of the martian meteorite NWA817, mainly composed of low Z elements not measured in fluorescence and for which this method provides a unique insight. The measurement was done at the ID22 beamline of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the intrinsic noise of a micromechanical displacement detector based on the radio-frequency single-electron transistor (rf-SET). Using the noise analysis of a SET by Korotkov [Phy. Rev. B 49, 10381 (1994)] as our starting point, we determine the spectral density of the displacement noise due to the tunneling current shot noise. The resulting mechanical displacement noise decreases in inverse proportion to the increasing gate voltage. In contrast, the displacement noise due to the fluctuating SET island charge increases approximately linearly with increasing gate voltage. Taking into account both of these noise sources results in an optimum gate voltage value for the lowest displacement noise and hence best sensitivity. We show that a displacement sensitivity of about 10[sup -4] Å and a force sensitivity of about 10[sup -16] N are predicted for a micron-sized cantilever with a realizable resonant frequency 100 MHz and quality factor Q∼10[sup 4]. Such sensitivities would allow the detection of quantum squeezing in the mechanical motion of the micromechanical cantilever and the detection of single-spin magnetic resonance in magnetic resonance force microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Each year, the Microanalysis Society (MAS) bestows several major awards during the Microscopy & Microanalysis annual meeting. Regrettably, there is never enough time on stage to detail these awardees' contributions to the science of microanalysis and the Society, which we hope to rectify here and in future articles. The shift of the 2020 M&M meeting to a virtual format meant that our awardees did not receive their accolades on a physical main stage. These recipients were selected for recognition by a variety of mechanisms, of which many Society members may not be aware. For example, the MAS Awards Committee solicits nominations for annual Outstanding Paper Awards from M&M meeting attendees and symposium organizers via a simple webform (https://the-mas.org/mm-outstanding-paper-recommendation/), whereas the Duncumb Award requires a full nomination package from Society members, and other awards are selected solely at the discretion of the MAS President or Council. Additional description of the various MAS awards, including lists of previous award winners, can be found at https://the-mas.org/awards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a smartphone-assisted microchemistry analyzer for the quantitative detection of carbofuran using a paper-based colorimetric sensor, Photoshop software, and a smartphone app. The changes in color of the carbofuran enzymatic reaction in the paper-based sensor were captured and analyzed using a smartphone-controlled analyzer with an LED light source and a smartphone camera. The high accuracy of this method was demonstrated for the determination of carbofuran with a linear response in the range 0.05-1.0 ppm and limits of detection (LOD) of 0.02 and 0.018 ppm using Photoshop and smartphone app colorimetric analysis, respectively. These two methods not only show the high sensitivity and highly quantitative relationships between the concentrations of commercial carbofuran and characteristic color values of the blue channel in smartphone images but were also applied to infusions of tea. Moreover, the smartphone app is able to GPS tag the location of the test and transmit the results to a website that displays quantitative results from carbofuran samples on a map.

This paper represents an interdisciplinary research focused on the microscopic and mineralogical investigations of the original fragments of a precious medieval painting, a rare byzantine Dormition of the Virgin in Italy. The painting has discovered in the rural monastery of Santa Maria del Rogato (Sicily), thanks to a recent restoration work. In order to obtain an exhaustive description of both the original mortars and pigments, several investigation methods are employed, from optical, polarization-fluorescence and electron microscopies, elemental analyses and X-ray diffraction as well. The experimental analyses, useful as a guideline in the restoration, allowed to the knowledge of the original materials as well as of the techniques used to realize the artwork. The paintings are realized by a fresco technique, by using lime and a simple color palette, based on natural earth, as typical of the Byzantine pictorial tradition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasingly, otolith microchemistry analysis is used as a tool to trace fish migrations, especially migrations of diadromous fishes. Yet, few studies have used otolith microchemistry to trace migrations in small inland watersheds, leaving major knowledge gaps in our understanding of inland fish spatial ecology. Here, we evaluate the use of tributary habitat for spawning and describe and compare fluvial brown trout (Salmo trutta) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) natal origin distribution, time spent in natal streams, and spawning site fidelity. 63% of rainbow trout and 57% of brown trout migrated after hatching. Brown trout showed greater variation in time spent in natal tributaries, suggesting that individuals are temporally distributing risk among offspring. By contrast, rainbow trout showed greater variation in natal origin, suggesting that individuals are spatially distributing risk among offspring. Our results indicate there is high inter- and intraspecific migration variation in inland salmonid populations, which may be linked to access to a mosaic of spawning and rearing habitat types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective management and conservation of riverine fish species relies on identification of habitats that contribute recruits to fish populations. Paddlefish are an important commercial and recreational species inhabiting North American large rivers. However, despite the knowledge of adult paddlefish movement patterns in large rivers, their principal natal environments and early life dispersal patterns remain unknown. Paddlefish dentary microchemistry can be used to identify natal environment of fish in large river networks such as the middle Mississippi River (MMR) and tributaries. The goals of this study were to (a) use dentary microchemistry (strontium:calcium ratios; Sr:Ca) to determine natal environment and potential drift for age‐0 paddlefish collected from the MMR and (b) assess whether MMR reach or year of collection influenced the percentage of recruits originating from different rivers. Age‐0 paddlefish were collected during 2010–2011 from two reaches of the MMR (upstream and downstream of the Kaskaskia River confluence). Water samples from the MMR and tributaries (upper Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, Osage, and Kaskaskia Rivers) were collected during 2006–2016. Water Sr:Ca differed among rivers, enabling identification of natal environment for individual fish using dentary core Sr:Ca. The MMR (44–69% of fish sampled) and Missouri River (25–45% of fish sampled) were the primary natal environments for age‐0 paddlefish across both river reaches and collection years. The upper Mississippi River and smaller tributaries contributed few recruits (<13% of fish sampled). Conservation of paddlefish populations should include maintenance or improvement of connectivity between river reaches used for spawning and juvenile rearing and stock assessments of riverine paddlefish may need to be conducted at a riverscape scale because multiple rivers can contribute to paddlefish recruitment in a particular river reach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geopolymers are three-dimensional amorphous Si-O-Al networks that generally can be synthesized from low-Ca aluminosilicate mineral sources. Such materials were first introduced as a sustainable construction material but today their application goes beyond the building industry. So far, a broad range of aluminosilicate minerals including fly ash, natural pozzolans, kaolin and metakaolin have been used to produce geopolymers; however, there are limited studies on the geopolymerization of porous and crystalline aluminosilicate minerals such as mined zeolites. Use of zeolite as it is for commercial applications depends on the shape and architecture of these materials. Therefore, the hypothesis was that geopolymerization provides the possibility of using mined zeolite in different shapes. Moreover, zeolite as a nontoxic mineral material with an inherent 3D structure may result in the formation of the cleaner geopolymeric product with different physical properties compared to when waste materials such as fly ash are employed. In this study, the viability of creating geopolymers from mined zeolite has been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different parameters such as zeolite particle size, curing temperature, reagents ratio and time on amorphous content and mechanical strength. The conversion of the crystalline phase of mined zeolite to amorphous gel and/or synthetic zeolite phases was comprehensively studied using X-ray diffraction. It was found that finer zeolite particles resulted in the formation of a material with higher amorphous content (max ∼60%) and higher mechanical strength (max ∼33 MPa). It was also shown that the higher amorphous content did not necessarily translate to higher mechanical strength due to the formation of intermediate species that cannot transfer into the polycondensation stage. It was revealed that the formation of analcime and chabazite may occur through the geopolymerization process. Microstructure studies using infrared spectroscopy confirmed the geopolymer formation and development over time. Image 1 • Geopolymers were successfully synthesized using mined zeolite. • Finer zeolite particle size resulted in the higher mechanical strength. • Curing time for a chemically stable geopolymer was found to be minimum 2 weeks. • Thermal analysis by TG-DSC confirmed thermal stability of geopolymers to that of raw mineral. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brackish Baltic Sea is inhabited by several primary freshwater fish species. The pike (Esox lucius) is the largest of these species and acts as the top predator in the marine food web of the Baltic Sea. Prior studies have shown the importance of brackish bays as spawning grounds for the Baltic Sea pike. To identify the spawning habitat of the pike population around the island of Rügen (southern Baltic Sea)—either freshwater streams flowing into the Baltic or brackish lagoons of the Baltic—we used the ICPMS method to quantify the strontium to calcium (Sr:Ca) ratios in sagittal otoliths of 79 adult pike. In total, only six per cent (n = 5) of the analysed Baltic Sea individuals were classified as being of freshwater origin. Ninety‐four per cent (n = 74) of analysed pike were classified as having hatched in brackish water. Compared to previous studies on Baltic Sea pike, our sample shows a high proportion of pike that is of brackish origin: this highlights the adaptive capacity of this species with regard to its ability to reproduce in different salinities. Our data highlight the importance of brackish bays for pike reproduction in the southern Baltic Sea, even if pike live on the upper limit of their salinity tolerance in this area. This is an important finding considering decreases in commercial catches in the last 30 years indicating a population decline supposedly related to recruitment failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proton irradiation induced Nb redistribution in Zr-xNb alloys (x = 0.4, 0.5, 1.0 wt%) has been investigated using scanning transmission electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (STEM/EDS). Zr-xNb alloys are mainly composed of Zr matrix, native Zr–Nb–Fe phases, and β-Nb precipitates. After 2 MeV proton irradiation at 350 °C, a decrease of Nb content in native precipitates, as well as irradiation-induced precipitation of Nb-rich platelets (135 ± 69 nm long and 27 ± 12 nm wide) were found. Nb-rich platelets and Zr matrix form the Burgers orientation relationship, [ 1 1 ¯ 1 ]//[ 2 1 ¯ 1 ¯ 0 ] and (011)//(0002). The platelets were found to be mostly coherent with the matrix with a few dislocations near the ends of the precipitate. The coherent strain field has been measured in the matrix and platelets by the 4D-STEM technique. The growth of Nb-rich platelets is mainly driven by coherency and dislocation-induced strain fields. Irradiation may both enhance the diffusion and induce segregation of interstitial Nb to the ends of the irradiation induced platelets, further facilitating their growth. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructure evolution and oxidation behavior of alloy Ni-13Mo-13Cr-9W-3Fe-3Ti-2Al (alloy K4208), a newly developed Ni-Cr-W-Mo-based wear-resistant superalloy, were investigated by isothermal aging at 900 °C in air. Thermodynamic calculations, microstructure observations, electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and precise microchemical analysis were used to study the microstructure evolution and oxidation mechanism of alloy K4208. The results showed that alloy K4208 was mainly composed of a P-like phase, M6C (and M12C) carbide, γ′ phase, μ phase, and γ matrix. During the 900 °C aging, the γ′ phase coarsened into irregular shapes, the M6C (and M12C) carbide decomposed, and the μ phase dissolved into the matrix, providing abundant Cr, Mo, and W for the growth of the P-like phase. Hence, the relationship between the different phases was established by element redistribution. In addition, the oxidation of alloy K4208 was a diffusion-controlled process, leading to the formation of a stable oxide layer composed of three parts: a thin layer of NiCr2O4 spinel located on the outermost side, a continuous Cr2O3 layer decorated with TiO2 in the middle, and an internal Al2O3 layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Otolith chemistry supports 87.5% correct classification of juvenile steelhead. • Bedrock, surficial geologies significantly correlated with otolith microchemistry. • Assignment of unknown-origin steelhead supported at a management geographic scale. A primary application of otolith microchemistry is distinguishing natal origins of individual fish within a mixed-stock fishery. Stocks must be distinguishable according to stock-specific microchemistry patterns, with accurate stock assignment contingent upon microchemistry assessment of all sources contributing to the mixed-stock fishery. However, otolith microchemistry signatures of individual fish, upon which classification models are built, likely represent only a portion of the variability that exists for the stocks corresponding to each natal source. To statistically infer expected otolith microchemistry patterns among unsampled catchment areas proximal to sampled areas, we tested the hypothesis that variation in catchment geology among 35 stream sites across the Lake Michigan basin is correlated with the variation in otolith microchemistry signatures of age-0 steelhead collected at those sites. Matrices of Mahalanobis distances between all pairs of individual fish were calculated for each of the following: (1) assignment scores from discriminant function analysis of the variation among sites based on otolith microchemistry, and (2) the geology underlying the catchments upstream of each of the sites where fish were sampled. Based on Mantel tests, these matrices were found to be significantly correlated, indicating that age-0 steelhead that exhibit greater differences in otolith microchemistry signatures tended to come from sites exhibiting greater differences in catchment geology. Surficial geology alone was more correlated with otolith microchemistry than bedrock age, bedrock lithology, or any combinations of the three geological datasets. The significant relationship between geology and otolith microchemistry, although weak, supports tenuous hydrologic and geologic bases for delineating natal source geographic boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the Early Bronze Age, tools used to determine the nature and value of precious metal have been used as traditional symbols in burial rituals. During the Early Medieval Period, balances, weights and touchstones became widespread in the northern part of Europe, or bullion-economy zone. This paper focuses on a selection of touchstones from Viking Age Iceland, from both graves and settlements. Chemical microanalyses of streaks of metals observed on their surfaces show that not only precious metals, but also other non-ferrous metals, and in particular lead, have been tested on touchstones. The settlement finds come primarily from high-status farms which have produced evidence of working with non-ferrous metals. The disproportion between the low frequency of precious metals and the relatively high representation of touchstones in burials, including the occurrence of clearly ostentatious specimens, is apparent in Iceland. However, due to uncertainty as to the origins of the metal streaks on imported touchstones, the workshop finds are regarded as the more important source for knowledge of both metalworking and social relations in Viking Age Iceland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented work offers an overview of the microchemical applications of solid and non-cohesive, synthetic and natural materials realized by electron microanalysis. Microchemical study of materials for the purpose of research and monitoring of environmental burdens aims to identify potential contamination in the source area or its spread in the natural environment. In addition to the direct identification of the chemical elements of interest or mineral phases, the results of the electron probe micro-analysis analysis provide information on the physical and chemical stability conditions of the system under investigation. The work gradually presents solved examples selectively for various types of materials such as waste sludge, metallurgical waste, organic material, sands, ash, soils and river sediments. The analysed materials are in natural conditions in direct interaction with surface waters, atmosphere and biosphere and their interaction determines various variants of migration of pollutants in hypergenic environment. Migration is not always controlled by the active form of transport in the aquatic environment, as demonstrated by several examples. Migration of pollutants by mechanical or aeolian form of transport is frequent and may be unidentifiable by classical hydrochemical monitoring methods. The use of a microchemical study for the analysis of solid materials in a hypergenic environment utilizes their natural physical and chemical properties with respect to sorption capacity and their function as a natural geochemical barrier in the area of the migration route. The systematic analysis of the organic material of decaying plant tissues and the autogenous phases of FeOOH proves their effective usability as natural time-sensitive monitoring probes throughout their lifetime. Identifying elements of interest or pollutants on autogenous minerals directly identifies the distribution of contamination in the environment and their form of migration. The knowledge gained from the results of the microchemical EPMA study serves as a direct basis for the reconstruction of distribution, the form and extent of migration and the prognosis of the development of contamination in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Placer gold is widely distributed in southwestern Cameroon but no known lode sources have been uncovered possibly because of intense weathering. In this study, the morphology and microchemistry of alluvial gold from Ako'ozam and Njabilobe were investigated to understand the nature of the source mineralization. SEM, QEMSCAN and EMPA methods were employed to characterize morphology, mineral associations, alloy composition and mineral inclusions of placer gold in both localities. The gold grains exhibited angular to sub-rounded shapes, complex outlines and possessed surface textures such as striations, pits and cavities. These morphological parameters indicated a close source. Major mineral associations included clays and quartz with minor monazite, zircon, pyrite, ilmenite, rutile, chlorite and Fe oxide minerals. Gold in the area is essentially alloyed with Ag. Mineral inclusions included quartz, rutile, Fe-oxide and mica. Gold chemistry indicates interaction of the mineralization with basic rocks notably amphibolite and metadolerite in the area. The wide compositional span of Ag indicated that gold mineralization in the area resulted from multiple source deposit. Similarity in chemical character of gold from Ako'ozam and Njabilobe pointed to the same mineralizing event that sourced the placers in both localities. Gold chemistry suggested an orogenic style of mineralization in which gold occur as free gold in quartz veins. Liberation properties of gold within the Ako'ozam-Njabilobe area weighed in favor of physical gravity-based ore recovery methods which are environmentally friendly. • Local provenance of gold from Ako'ozam and Njabilobe. • Gold in the area is principally alloyed with Ag. • Mineralization is orogenic and mainly hosted or associated to basic rocks. • Morphological and microchemical studies indicate the same mineralization style in both localities. • Ore recovery via physical means is suitable given the liberation >80% and grain size >50 μm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The first approach to a microanalysis system for quasi on-line urea determination in culture medium. • Development of a novel LTCC microfluidic system with built-in enzymatic microreactor. • Elaboration of a method for urea determination in small-volume samples based on modified Berthelot's reaction. • Minimization of sample volume – down to extremely small volume – 1 μl. • Determination of urea in cell culture medium and cell lysates. Abstract In this paper a novel microanalytical system based on absorption photometry for urea determination in small-volume biological samples is described. The developed microsystem with built-in microreactor with urease immobilised on its surface was fabricated using low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) technology. For detection of the ammonium ions – product of urea hydrolysis, the modified Berthelot's reaction was applied and conditions of this reaction were optimised in a way to be suitable for analysis in microsystems and for particular application, with special regards to very small alternation of urea concentration in culture medium. The best results were obtained for reagent R1 composed of: 180 mM sodium salicylate, 15 mM sodium nitroprusside, 2 mM EDTA in phosphate buffer solution of pH 7 and reagent R2 containing 16.9 mM sodium hypochlorite in phosphate buffer solution of pH 12. Linear concentration range of urea detection with the use of the developed LTCC microfluidic system for the selected flow rate of 4 μl/min, was in the range up to 1 mM, and the calculated lower limit of detection – 0.002 mM. The developed microsystem enables urea determination in samples of post-culture medium and of cells lysates of minimised volume c.a. 1 μl. Preliminary studies related to determination of urea in real samples, performed using hepatic cells lysates and post-culture medium were successful. As reference methods, commercially available tests were applied. The determined urea concentration measured by means of the QuantiChrom™ and BioMaxima test and by the developed method based on the LTCC microanalytical system differs by c.a. 9% and 2% respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first urea analysis microsystem for use in cells culture studies characterised by: the smallest volume of sample – 1 μl, long lifetime with stable response - reduced by 14%, through experimental time span of 30 days as well as suitability for quasi-monitoring of cells in vitro with sampling rate - 6 samples per hour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the degree of convergence among self-regulated learning microanalysis, measures of metacognitive monitoring, and a self-regulated learning questionnaire during reading. Participants' reported strategy use during reading, as measured by self-regulated learning microanalysis, was significantly related to scores on a self-regulated learning questionnaire. Self-monitoring on the microanalytic protocol was significantly related to a measure of metacognitive monitoring as well as to participants' item-level confidence judgments. Participants who made strategy attributions for performance tended to have higher scores on the measure of reading comprehension. Strategic planning and strategy use during reading of the text also predicted comprehension. Implications and future directions for the study of self-regulated learning microanalysis are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay uses the case of a childless widow and her apostate brother-in-law to examine how gender and conversion became lightning rods for Jewish legalists and publicists like Moshe Leib Lilienblum to espouse religious and social reforms in late-imperial Russia. A microanalysis of Sura Gener's sensational levirate divorce case and the multiple legal regimes involved in adjudicating her fate sheds light on the history of Jewish modernization in the late Russian empire and argues that there was no straightforward process of secularization. In the crosscurrents of late nineteenth-century Russian Jewish social and religious life—Haskalah, Orthodoxy, government intervention, economic dislocation and migration, Jewish apostasy, and assimilation—women became a battlefield for the fight over changing religious and social norms and communal authority. Rather than a narrative of modernity entailing the weakening of halakhah, the decline of rabbinic authority, and a reactionary Orthodoxy, the Gener affair highlights the religious preservationist aspects of the Haskalah, the expansion and assertiveness of rabbinic authority buttressed by mass transport and new media, and the potential alignment of ritual expertise and social reform in rabbinic interpretation and vernacular debate. As such, analysis of the Gener affair adds a helpful corrective, exploring the paradoxical rise and creative development of religion at a time when standard models of secularization suggest that it should have declined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermoelectric modules with a π-structure were fabricated on four types of substrates, and their high-temperature durability was evaluated. A direct bonded aluminum (DBA) substrate was fabricated by using braze material in a vacuum furnace. In addition, an alumina substrate and DBA substrate each coated with pre-sintered Ag layers were fabricated by firing in a furnace in air after screen-printing of an Ag paste containing glass frit on alumina or DBA. Thermoelectric materials were mounted on these substrates by die bonding. In thermal durability tests, the percent increase in internal resistance of modules after 100 thermal cycles (cold side: Tc = 80°C; hot side: Th=150∘C⇔450∘Cwas measured in air. After the durability testing, cross sections of the modules were prepared and analyzed by electron probe microanalysis and scanning electron microscopy. The percent increase in resistance of the module with pre-sintered Ag layers on an alumina substrate was 33%, and the percent increase in resistance of the module with pre-sintered Ag layers on a DBA substrate was less than 1%. These results demonstrated that, at high temperature in air, the percent increase in internal resistance at the interface between the thermoelectric materials and the metal electrode of a thermoelectric module can be significantly decreased by using Ag as an oxidation-resistant electrode and Al as a buffer layer for stress relaxation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) are forage fish that play an important role in the ecosystem as prey for many species. Given their continuing population decline, determining accurate ages is necessary for age-structured stock assessments. This study employed microchemistry analysis to identify group differences and help interpret growth zone patterns on otolith surfaces. Specimens were collected off the coast of Oregon, in the coastal areas of Southeast Alaska, and in the southeastern Bering Sea. Laser-ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was used to measure elemental ratios in the otoliths along a continuous track from the core to the proximoventral margin. Ba:Ca, Sr:Ca, Zn:Ca, and Mg:Ca signatures suggested that eulachon specimens from three geographic regions are different based on their elemental profiles. For the Oregon specimens, fluctuations in Ba:Ca and Zn:Ca signatures appeared consistent with otolith growth zones and most likely were the result of seasonal coastal upwelling events. Variations in Ba:Ca and Zn:Ca were useful as annual markers for eulachon otoliths from the Bering Sea. For the Southeast Alaska specimens, analysis of the Ba:Ca and Zn:Ca oscillations was not straightforward. Further work is needed to understand the link between otolith microchemistry, fish physiology, and regional environmental factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Long-term corrosion of bronzes in seawater studied by SEM-EDS, XRD, FTIR, OM and XPS. • Identification of Cl− as main harmful corrosive species. • Corrosion forms complex microstructures including anions and cations from environment. • Useful information to tailor reliable effective long-lasting conservation strategies. Abstract The corrosion products naturally formed on archaeological Cu-based artefacts during their long-term exposure to seawater have been investigated in details by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM + EDS), optical microscopy (OM), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), differential thermal analysis-thermogravimetry (DTA-TG), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The bronze artefacts include fragments of valuable statues and objects that were retrieved some decades ago from different seabeds along the Italian coast of the Mediterranean basin including the so called " Punta del Serrone " area (Apulia), the Sicilian channel (Sicily) and the Arburese coast (Sardinia). Our findings show that the alloy matrix is often heavily corroded also in the bulk and reveal the dangerous presence of chlorine from seawater as main dangerous corrosive agent. Chlorine is present as copper nantokite (CuCl) in the inner layers of the patina and is potentially inducing with oxygen and moisture the cyclic and often relentless copper degradation phenomenon commonly called "bronze disease". The most common corrosion products are also lead carbonate (cerussite, PbCO 3) and aragonite (CaCO 3), likely related to the large abundance of CO 2 in the seawater where is assimilated much more than in fresh water. Furthermore, the results reveal that other environmental elements contributing to the composition of the patina are sulphur, magnesium and phosphorous thus giving rise to a patina with a chemically and structurally complex structure. The results reveal also the contribution of bio-organism to the formation of the patina as supported by the presence of vanadium and copper sulphides. These information allow, as a whole, to propose a tentative correlation between the patina's nature, the chemical composition and metallurgical features of the alloys and the marine environment where the objects lived for about two thousands years. From a conservation point of view, the findings reported in this work can provide some insights useful to tailor more efficient conservation strategies with the purpose to ensure a long-term chemical-physical stability to the bronze artefacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This article presents a novel method combining ion irradiation, in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and microchemistry analysis before/after irradiation, which allows to examine same microstructural areas throughout ion irradiation. A 12 wt% Cr Ferritic/Martensitic steel (HT9) was irradiated in the TEM to 1.17 × 1020 ions·m−2 at 440 °C using 1 MeV Kr2+ ions, and the in-situ characterization focused on radiation-induced precipitation and segregation. Results of in-situ experiments were compared with those obtained from ex-situ experiments, to showcase how this method helps to better understand precipitation kinetics in the irradiated material examined ex-situ, for which only snapshots are available at limited doses. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Ambient water Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca concentration ratios affect composition of estuarine triplefin otoliths linearly and positively. • Salinity has limited effect of otolith microchemistry of estuarine triplefin otoliths. • Sr facilitates Ba uptake in estuarine triplefin otoliths. • Otolith trace element analysis is a reliable technique to reconstruct the life history of estuarine triplefin. Abstract Temporal fluctuations of physicochemical variables within estuaries present challenges in the use of otolith chemistry as a proxy to fish habitat use. Therefore, validating the relationship between ambient water and otolith chemical composition in a controlled environment before employing the technique is of great value in reconstructing life history of a fish species. In the present experiment we reared juveniles of estuarine triplefin at three Sr and Ba concentrations and two salinity levels for a period of six weeks. Analyses of otoliths using Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) indicated that Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca in otoliths were directly and linearly related to their respective concentration in the rearing water. However, enhanced uptake of Ba with increasing Sr concentration was also observed. Overall, the effect of salinity on otolith Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca was found to be limited. Our results confirmed that otolith trace element analysis is a reliable technique to decipher migration pattern of fish that move between waters with different Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca compositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of environments used during early life history and movement patterns of Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and Silver Carp (H. molitrix), collectively termed bigheaded carps, in the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) would be valuable for informing control measures to limit further population expansion and impacts of these species. Lock and Dam 19 (LD19) is a high-head dam on the UMR that delineates downriver areas where bigheaded carps are well established from upriver pools where these species are less abundant and evidence of reproduction and recruitment are limited. Principal natal environments supporting recruitment of emerging bigheaded carp populations in the UMR are unknown. The objectives of this study were to (1) infer environments occupied during early-life stages by bigheaded carps collected in UMR Pools 19-21 during 2013-2014 using otolith microchemistry and stable isotope analyses, and (2) use early-life environment assignments and capture location to identify individuals that passed through LD19. Differences in multivariate water chemistry signatures (Sr:Ca, Ba:Ca and δ18O) among the UMR, its tributaries, and the Missouri and Middle Mississippi rivers enabled development of a classification model for inferring early-life environment of bigheaded carps. Multiple sources of recruits, including from tributaries, have contributed to upriver expansion of bigheaded carps in the UMR. Sustainable control of bigheaded carps upstream of LD19 will likely require efforts to control local recruitment and immigration from downriver. The frequency of bigheaded carps collected in Pool 19 that were downstream of LD19 during early life suggests that bigheaded carps upstream of LD19 still predominantly consisted of immigrants from downriver during 2013-2014. Otolith chemistry provides an approach for assessing the extent to which changes in abundance of bigheaded carps upstream of LD19 are associated with local recruitment or immigration from downriver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gross energy content of spawning batches and the microchemistry of sagittal otoliths in individual female bonga shad Ethmalosa fimbriata were compared between contrasting sampling sites at the Senegalese southern coast and inside the hypersaline Sine Saloum Estuary. Results show that females spawning in the estuary's middle reaches invested almost three times more energy into reproduction (115 ± 65 J g−1 body mass) than their neritic counterparts (39 ± 34 J g−1 body mass). Also, female otolith levels of Ba:Ca, Sr:Ca and Zn:Ca either differed significantly between study sites or could be linked to heterogeneous environmental variables. A quadratic discriminant function analysis provided evidence of segregated spawning populations of E. fimbriata in southern Senegalese waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM/EDS), a technique not routinely used to detect radiation, was used to identify radioactive particulate matter in house and environmental dust. The study focused on elements that are necessarily radioactive, including thorium, plutonium, americium, and uranium. Seventy-nine dust and 31 soil and sediment samples were collected from the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, Los Alamos National Laboratory, the former Rocky Flats Plant in Colorado, and from homes of workers or abutters of these nuclear facilities. Dusts containing percent levels of uranium, plutonium, americium, and both mineral and metallic thorium were detected outside of radiation-controlled areas. These radioactive dusts are a potential source of internal radiation exposure to nuclear site workers, or to their families via secondary contamination. Uranium and thorium-containing particles were fingerprinted as either natural minerals or processed industrial particles, based on elemental composition of the microparticles. Activities of individual uranium-, thorium-, or plutonium-bearing dust particles varied by five orders of magnitude, ranging from <0.005 mBq (millibecquerel) to 2,270 mBq. Hanford workplace dusts also had up to 564 ± 24 Bq/kg of137Cs. SEM/EDS techniques reliably detected environmental radioactivity in samples that had barely detectable results by gamma spectrometry. The technique was able to definitively show that thorium, plutonium, and uranium from nuclear facilities could be found in general population settings outside of radiation protection zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Thin films of Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) with a [Ga]/([Ga] + [In]) ratio of about 0.3 were deposited on Mo-coated soda-lime glass substrates by co-evaporation of the elements. In combination with three different solution-grown buffer layers, namely CdS, Zn(O,S), and In x (O,S) y , and sputtered ZnO/ZnO:Al or Zn 0.75 Mg 0.25 O/ZnO:Al double layers as the front contact they were completed to three different types of CIGS-based solar cells. The as-fabricated cell efficiencies are 16.9%, 14.7%, and 14.6%, respectively. The microstructure of all the three devices was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Pores occur at the interface between CIGS absorber and Mo back electrode, and stacking faults and microtwins are observed in the CIGS absorber. Zn(O,S) and In x (O,S) y buffers are nanocrystalline in contrast to larger grain sizes in the CdS buffer. The structure of the CIGS/CdS interface is frequently coherent, while that of the CIGS/Zn(O,S) and CIGS/In x (O,S) y interfaces is incoherent. High-resolution TEM imaging demonstrates that CdS buffer occurs in the cubic zincblende and hexagonal wurtzite structure with a high stacking fault density in zincblende CdS. The difference in crystalline quality of the buffers and CIGS/buffer interfaces might contribute to the different efficiencies of the investigated CIGS-based thin-film solar cells. Chemical analyses by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy show interdiffusion and chemical inhomogeneities in Zn(O,S) and In x (O,S) y buffers. Highlights • CIGS-based solar cells with solution-grown CdS, Zn(O,S), and In x (O,S) y buffers. • CdS occurs in hexagonal wurtzite and cubic zincblende structure. • Defined orientation relationship of CIGS/CdS in contrast to Zn(O,S) and In x (O,S) y. • Nanocrystalline Zn(O,S) and In x (O,S) y buffers in contrast to large grains in CdS. • O and S contents in Zn(O,S) vary, In x (O,S) y contains In 2 S 3 and In 2 O 3 phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying the relative importance of various nursery areas is critical for understanding the ecological roles of diverse juvenile habitats, as well as for the sustainable management of fisheries and coastal resources. Recent field collections suggest that a portion of the bonefish (Albula vulpes) population in South Florida may be using nearshore estuarine habitats as nurseries. Nearshore marine habitats are traditionally considered nursery habitat for bonefish. However, the prevalence of their reliance on lower salinity areas is not known. To address this, we used otolith microchemistry using laser ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry to examine variation in Strontium (Sr), a marker for salinity, and determine the connectivity between estuarine and marine habitats across the life of bonefish. Sr profiles from otoliths obtained in locations within South Florida (SFL, N = 40) and Southwest Cuba (SCB, N = 10) were compared using a juvenile-migration index (JMI), and change point models to assess the generality of a shift in salinity and thus habitats across life histories. Adult stages of bonefish otoliths collected in SFL and SCB locations showed Sr concentrations connected to marine, high-salinity environments. The JMI showed that a vast majority of individuals (68.4% and 70% in South Florida and Cuba, respectively) moved from low- to high-salinity environments between juvenile and adult stages. The change point models showed that these shifts to high salinity environments occurred suddenly (in 85% of those showing a low to high salinity change), and early in life (after 2 years in South Florida and after 4 years in Cuba) suggesting an ontogenetic habitat change. This study provided evidence that bonefish use low-salinity estuarine environments as juvenile habitats, perhaps more commonly than marine habitats. The reliance on low-salinity environments suggests the potential vulnerability of bonefish nearshore nursery habitats to disturbances associated with coastal freshwater discharges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D printing has emerged as a valuable approach for the fabrication of fluidic devices and may replace soft-lithography as the method of choice for rapid prototyping. The potential of this disruptive technology is much greater than this – it allows for functional integration in a single, highly automated manufacturing step in a cost and time effective manner. Integration of functionality with a 3D printer can be done through spatial configuration of a single material, inserting pre-made components mid-print in a print-pause-print approach, and/or through the precise spatial deposition of different materials with a multimaterial printer. This review provides an overview on the ways in which 3D printing has been exploited to create and use fluidic devices with different functionality, which provides a basis for critical reflection on the current deficiencies and future opportunities for integration by 3D printing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used otolith microchemistry to evaluate whether the moray eel Gymnothorax chilospilus uses different habitats throughout its life (mainly juvenile and adult phases). Of the most informative trace elements within otoliths (the twelve isotopes 23Na, 25Mg, 43Ca, 55Mn, 59Co, 60Ni, 63Cu, 66Zn, 86Sr, 111Cd, 138Ba and 208Pb) only three ratios of Ca (Na:Ca, Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca) were informative and therefore used in a multivariate regression‐tree analysis. Using a multivariate partitioning, three main phases were described from profiles, including the larval life phase (leptocephali), the intermediate phase (longest section between the larval life phase and the terminal phase) and the terminal phase (final section i.e., the most recent months preceding the death of fish). According to concentrations of the three ratios to Ca, G. chilospilus can be separated into three groups during their larval life stage (very different in Sr and Na), four groups during the intermediate phase (few differences in Sr and Na) and three groups during the terminal phase (differences in Sr), illustrating that G. chilospilus inhabit different habitats during these three phases. Our results showed that the leptocephali encountered different oceanic water masses with fluctuating Sr:Ca ratios during the early larval phase. During the intermediate phase (main part of their life‐span), they lived in lagoonal waters such as fringing reefs or reef flats of lagoonal islets, characterized by a lower Sr:Ca ratio. During the latter part of their life, approximately one third of G. chilospilus encountered more oceanic waters close to or at barrier reefs, suggesting possible movements of these fish along a coast‐to‐ocean gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract As the tachyzoite form of Toxoplasma gondii divides inside the parasitophorous vacuole, the daughter cells remain attached to each other at the posterior end through the so-called residual body (RB). Here, we studied this process using field emission scanning electron microscopy of dry scraped infected cells, transmission electron microscopy of random ultrathin sections, X-ray microanalysis, and 3-D modelling of tomographic volumes and slice and view series obtained by FIB SEM at 7, 24, and 48 h post infection. Combining these methods of observation, we traced a timeline of events for the formation, development, and fate of the RB. The RB is formed as the first endodyogenic division is complete. Before that, finger-like invaginations at the posterior end of the tachyzoite secrete tubules from the intravacuolar network. The RB is roughly spherical and measures 1 μm in diameter at random. Its size does not vary considerably as the division cycles that form the rosette proceed. The contents of the RB are similar to the cytoplasm of the parasites. It contains ER membranous profiles and vacuolar structures identified as acidocalcisomes. This was confirmed by microanalysis. Mitochondrial profiles seen inside the RB are actually branches of mother cell mitochondrion not yet split between the two daughter cells. Acidocalcisomes of a mother cell are distributed between the two daughter cells, but as the rosette of parasites grow, acidocalcisomes seem to concentrate inside the RB where they are usually larger and tend to fuse to each other, filling most of the space in the RB. Here we hypothesize that, upon egress, the acidocalcisomes would ultimately fuse with the RB membrane liberating its contents inside the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) and, by doing so; the RB would disintegrate, releasing its contents in the PV. Graphical abstract As the tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii divide and form a rosette, acidocalcisomes (yellow) accumulate inside the residual body (arrow in left panel). Ultimately, these acidocalcisomes release their contents in the intravacuolar space (arrow in right panel). Image 1 Highlights •. This paper traces a follow up of the development of tachyzoites of the RH strain of Toxoplasma gondii. •. Combining three-dimensional reconstruction of tomographic and dual –beam serial sections, we traced a timeline of events for the formation, development, and fate of the RB. •. Our observations raised a hypothesis, to be confirmed by further studies, that acidocalcisomes concentrate inside the RB and ultimately fuse, liberating its contents. •. This liberation of calcium in the intravacuolar space would trigger the egress of tachyzoites from the parasitophorous vacuole and, ultimately, the host cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fishes that depend on large‐river habitats have declined in many regions due to human alteration of both mainstems and tributaries. Conserving these species is often complicated by their dependence on long‐distance movements to complete their life cycle, but the location of key habitats is difficult to assess across multiple life history stages. Movement of large‐river fishes between mainstems and major tributaries is commonly observed, but the role of these exchanges at the population level is uncertain. We used shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) as a case study for assessing the lifelong spatial ecology of large‐river fishes. Fin ray microchemistry data indicate that shovelnose sturgeon from the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers represent a unified population that relies on connections among multiple large‐river habitats throughout life history. The tributary serves as an important spawning area, but fin ray chemistry data suggest larvae subsequently drift downstream to nursery habitats in the mainstem; an assertion that is supported by extensive field survey data. Our analyses underscore the lifelong importance of connections within river networks for maintaining viable populations of this, and likely other large‐river species that have been documented to use tributary habitats. These findings support a metapopulation perspective on species that depend on large‐river habitats, many of which are now highly altered and fragmented. For shovelnose sturgeon and species with similar life history, protecting or restoring linkages between mainstem rivers and their tributaries should be a conservation priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • New coumarine derivatives and palladium(II) complexes were synthesized. • Characterized by microanalysis, infrared, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. • Monocrystal X-ray structural analysis and DFT calculations. • Antimicrobial activity for ligands and complexes is investigated. Abstract The five coumarin derivatives 3-(1-(2-hydroxypropylamino)ethylidene)-chroman-2,4-dione (L1), 3-(1-(phenylamino)ethylidene)-chroman-2,4-dione (L2), 3-(1-(o -toluidino)ethylidene)-chroman-2,4-dione (L3), 3-(1-(m -toluidino)ethylidene)-chroman-2,4-dione (L4), 3-(1-(2-mercaptoethylamino)ethylidene)-chroman-2,4-dione (L5) and its corresponding complexes 3-(1-(2-hydroxypropylamino)-ethylidene)-chroman-2,4-dione-palladium(II) (C1), 3-(1-(phenylamino)-ethylidene)-chroman-2,4-dione-palladium(II) ( C 2), 3-(1-(o -toluidino)-ethylidene)-chroman-2,4-dione-palladium(II) (C3), 3-(1-(m -toluidino)ethylidene)-chroman-2,4-dione-palladium(II) (C4), 3-(1-(2-mercaptoethylamino)ethylidene)-chroman-2,4-dione-palladium(II) (C5), were synthesized and characterized with microanalysis, infrared, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The proposed structures of ligands L3 and L4 were confirmed on the basis of the X-ray structural study. The ligands and their complexes were tested for their in vitro antimicrobial activity against 17 species of bacteria and fungi. Testing is performed by the microdilution method, with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum microbicidal concentration (MMC) being determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Knowledge about the sublattice site preference of alloying elements in the L1 2 -γ′ phase of novel Co-base superalloys is a necessary pre-requisite to understand their influence on the properties of the alloys in general and the γ′ phase in particular. In the present study, the atomic site occupancy of the alloying elements in the L1 2 -γ′ structure in Co-9Al-9W-2X quaternary alloys after long-term annealing at 900 °C for 5000 h was determined using the atom location by channeling enhanced microanalysis (ALCHEMI) technique in combination with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) composition analysis in a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The experimental ALCHEMI data were evaluated by comparing them with those calculated by the program 'Inelastic Cross Section Calculator' (ICSC). The results show that Co mainly occupies one sublattice site and Al/W are located at the other sublattice site in the L1 2 unit cell in the ternary alloy. The additional elements Ti, V, Mo and Ta which partition strongly to the γ′ phase tend to occupy the Al/W sublattice site, and Cr which partitions more to the γ phase also favors the Al/W sublattice site, while Ni weakly partitions into the γ′ phase and favors the Co sublattice site. The results of this study can provide evidence to the predictions on the site preference in literature based on the phase composition or on theoretical studies. Graphical abstract Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal habitats in Chile are hypothesized to support a number of diadromous fish species. The objective of this study was to document migratory life histories of native galaxiids and introduced salmonids from a wide latitudinal range in Chilean Patagonia (39-48°S). Otolith microchemistry data were analysed using a recursive partitioning approach to test for diadromy. Based on annular analysis of Sr:Ca ratios, a diadromous life history was suggested for populations of native Aplochiton taeniatus, A. marinus, and Galaxias maculatus. Lifetime residency in freshwater was suggested for populations of A. zebra and G. platei. Among introduced salmonids, populations of Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and O. kisutch exhibited patterns consistent with anadromy, whereas the screened population of O. mykiss appeared restricted to freshwater. Salmo trutta exhibited variable patterns suggesting freshwater residency and possibly anadromy in one case. The capacity and geographic scope of hydropower development is increasing and may disrupt migratory routes of diadromous fishes. Identification of diadromous species is a critical first step for preventing their loss due to hydropower development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Migration of fishes between habitats influences population dynamics and ecological interactions. Some "partially migratory" populations include both migratory and non-migratory individuals, adding complexity to these dynamics. For partially migratory fishes with diadromous life histories, freshwater and marine habitats can differ greatly in availability of prey and physical conditions conducive to growth, predation risk, and exposure to fisheries and to contaminants. Therefore, understanding patterns of migratory behavior can inform population biology and conservation. Using otolith microchemistry, we describe observations of partial anadromy in a threatened, iteroparous salmonid species, bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus), in the Skagit River basin of Washington State, USA. We found that 59% of the fish sampled (> 338 mm fork length) in the river had not been to marine water, despite easy access. The other 41% had migrated to salt water, typically every year beginning at age 2 or 3. We also observed overwintering in marine waters by some individuals, and extended time in fresh water between otherwise annual migrations to marine waters in others. Additionally, there was no obligatory relationship between anadromy in mothers and their offspring. The facultative nature of migration in this species, and the lack of tight connection between maternal and offspring life history patterns are consistent with studies of other Salvelinus species but contrast with the more rigid controls on migration in semelparous salmonids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the range of habitats needed to complete life-cycles is essential for the effective conservation and management of species. We combined otolith microchemistry, acoustic tracking, and underwater video to determine patterns of seascape use by an assemblage of tropical snappers, including two little-known species of high economic importance, the Papuan black bass (Lutjanus goldiei) and spot-tail snapper (Lutjanus fuscescens). All species appeared to have marine larval phases, and post-settlement distributions broadly overlapped across the coastal seascape. However, species and life stages were distributed along a gradient from freshwater to coastal waters. Lutjanus fuscescens is primarily a freshwater species post-settlement, but larger individuals move into brackish estuaries and even coastal waters at times. Lutjanus goldiei appear to recruit to low salinity or freshwater areas. Larger individuals tend to have home-ranges centred on brackish estuaries, while making regular movements into both coastal waters and freshwater. Lutjanus argentimaculatus also ranged widely from fresh to coastal waters, but juveniles were most common in the saline parts of estuaries. Ontogenetic shifts by L. argentimaculatus were similar to those reported from other regions, despite vast differences in the spatial proximity of seascape components. The wide-ranging seascape movements of our target species highlight the importance of maintaining effective connectivity between marine, estuarine, and freshwaters in the region to maintain ecosystem function and support sustainable sport fisheries. The combined approaches resolved some of the ambiguities of individual methods and provide a powerful approach to understanding seascape use by coastal fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Microchemical analyses were carried out in order to estimate the Strontium:Calcium (Sr:Ca) ratio in the otolith of the white mullet, Mugil curema , in the Pernambuco (at the Santa Cruz channel, Brazil) in order to determine its connectivity between the estuary and ocean. Variation in the otolith Sr:Ca ratio was directly related to salinity, with greater salinity denoting a higher otolith Sr:Ca value. Data on the otolith Sr:Ca ratio demonstrates that the individuals analyzed are born in areas of salinity that are characteristic of the estuary, where they develop until approximately one year of age, at which point they migrate to areas of greater salinity until reaching sexual maturity (3 years of age) in the sea. Spawning occurs in the ocean, after which M. curema individuals may either remain or return to the estuary until the next spawning. Differences in estuarine salinity were found for young-of-year individuals and may be related to the season when spawning took place, since M. curema females are found spawning throughout the year. The hypothesis is that higher salinity in the dry season leads to a greater otolith Sr:Ca signature among individuals spawned in this season from birth until one year of life. On the other hand, the lower salinity in the rainy season leads to a lower otolith Sr:Ca signature among individuals spawned in this season. These information are important for the adequate management of the white mullet stock in northeastern Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]