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Long interspersed nuclear element 1 (L1) parasitized most vertebrates and constitutes ∼20% of the human genome. It encodes ORF1p and ORF2p which form an L1-ribonucleoprotein (RNP) with their encoding transcript that is copied into genomic DNA (retrotransposition). ORF1p binds single-stranded nucleic acid (ssNA) and exhibits NA chaperone activity. All vertebrate ORF1ps contain a coiled coil (CC) domain and we previously showed that a CC-retrotransposition null mutant prevented formation of stably bound ORF1p complexes on ssNA. Here, we compared CC variants using our recently improved method that measures ORF1p binding to ssDNA at different forces. Bound proteins decrease ssDNA contour length and at low force, retrotransposition-competent ORF1ps (111p and m14p) exhibit two shortening phases: the first is rapid, coincident with ORF1p binding; the second is slower, consistent with formation of tightly compacted complexes by NA-bound ORF1p. In contrast, two retrotransposition-null CC variants (151p and m15p) did not attain the second tightly compacted state. The C-terminal half of the ORF1p trimer (not the CC) contains the residues that mediate NA-binding. Our demonstrating that the CC governs the ability of NA-bound retrotransposition-competent trimers to form tightly compacted complexes reveals the biochemical phenotype of these coiled coil mutants.

Issue consists of one article divided into downloadable PDFS. The Southern African Lepidoptera Conservation Assessment (SALCA) was a collaborative venture between the Lepidopterists’ Society of Africa (LepSoc Africa), the Brenton Blue Trust (BBT) and the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), and formed part of the National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA). SALCA was founded on the importance of Lepidoptera both ecologically and as biodiversity indicators and the proven expertise of the participants during the Southern African Butterfly Conservation Assessment (SABCA). The main outcomes of the SALCA project are presented and discussed here.The SALCA tool, a custom-designed interactive distribution database, enabled high quality data to be derived so that accurate conservation assessments could be produced in accordance with IUCN methodology. The Red Lists of SALCA and SABCA facilitated the first opportunity to calculate the Red List Index (RLI) for South African butterflies during the period from 2012–2018. Other metrics required for the NBA included protection level and threats analyses. A further outcome was the critical habitat mapping for butterflies, which formed part of a screening tool implemented by SANBI, to ensure that land use changes did not cause any further loss of butterfly biodiversity.A comprehensive distribution database was developed for South African moths, enabling data to be analysed so that moth species potentially threatened could be short-listed for further investigation.Geographical hotspots and ecosystems (vegetation types) containing butterflies of conservation concern are highlighted. The societal, economic and human wellbeing benefits of conserving Lepidoptera are identified. Responses by LepSoc Africa to the increasing pressures on South African Lepidoptera biodiversity, are also reported on and discussed. The significant outcomes of SABCA and SALCA are benchmarked against a well-known European butterfly atlasing and conservation assessment project.The 165 SALCA Red Lists and conservation assessments are presented at the end of this publication. PDF Published 2022-03-27 Issue Vol. 31 No. 4 (2020) Section Articles All copyright for publications belongs to the Lepidopterists’ Society of Africa NPC (LepSoc Africa) and/or the individual author(s), in terms of a Creative Commons license, which can be viewed at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/, and which only allows users to copy, distribute and transmit the work, whilst prohibiting commercial use and preventing alteration, transformation of, or building upon the work. The finally formatted, printed version is under the copyright of LepSoc Africa as the publisher, although the author(s) retain the right to fully use the content of the article, provided that the publisher is acknowledged. Text extracts may be used by third parties with prior, written permission from the Metamorphosis Editor and (as a minimum) the senior author. The journal name, volume, number and date of publication must be acknowledged by the third party together with the author(s) and title of the article.

The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein performs several functions including binding, compacting, and packaging the ∼30 kb viral genome into the viral particle. N protein consists of two ordered domains, with the N terminal domain (NTD) primarily associated with RNA binding and the C terminal domain (CTD) primarily associated with dimerization/oligomerization, and three intrinsically disordered regions, an N-arm, a C-tail, and a linker that connects the NTD and CTD. We utilize an optical tweezers system to isolate a long single-stranded nucleic acid substrate to measure directly the binding and packaging function of N protein at a single molecule level in real time. We find that N protein binds the nucleic acid substrate with high affinity before oligomerizing and forming a highly compact structure. By comparing the activities of truncated protein variants missing the NTD, CTD, and/or linker, we attribute specific steps in this process to the structural domains of N protein, with the NTD driving initial binding to the substrate and ensuring high localized protein density that triggers interprotein interactions mediated by the CTD, which forms a compact and stable protein-nucleic acid complex suitable for packaging into the virion.

The Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Program, managed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) and administered by the FE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), is currently developing low-cost SOFC power generation systems. SOFC power systems have the potential to achieve greater than 60 percent efficiency. The SOFC’s operating temperature is lower than combustion-based processes and precludes NOx formation; there are near-zero emissions of CO2, criteria pollutants, and particulates. Furthermore, SOFC power systems require approximately one-third the amount of water relative to conventional combustion-based power systems. The Program includes the testing of SOFC with natural gas in distributed applications, including data centers. In addition to SOFC, there are several new projects on various aspects of high temperature solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) for electrolysis of water. The development of efficient systems for hydrogen production is very interesting, especially when supplementary heat is provided from solar or other waste heat sources such as nuclear or coal power plants.

A high temperature solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) for electrolysis of water is paired with a H-SOEC for hydrogen compression (EHC). SOEC and EHC have been integrated into an electrochemical network (ECN) in a flow-series configuration and then simulated and analyzed. Adding heat and minimizing area specific resistance (ASR) would be highly desirable for further developing highly-efficient SOEC+EHC ECN’s. It is important to note there is a maximum possible heat generation rate with a given ASR when operated below the thermoneutral point. There is a maximal heat addition rate for optimal efficiency of the SOEC, and it is not at thermoneutral. Many developers have expressed interest in the thermal management of electrolyzer cells and in the possible existence of such an optimum. It is important to understand in general that heat removal can allow an increased hydrogen production rate over the thermoneutral path at constant temperature. For this reason, the SOEC+EHC ECN was simulated over a range of currents and ASR’s to determine the heat addition or removal required. If the internal resistance of an SOEC could be lowered sufficiently via the development of new, high-performing materials, the efficiency of hydrogen production could be very high, especially when supplementary heat is provided from solar or other waste heat sources such as nuclear or coal power plants. It is remarkable that a quarter to a third of the energy for the combined high-temperature electrolysis and hydrogen compression system could be provided by solar, nuclear, or coal.

It is shown that lowering area specific resistance (ASR) or Rt (total resistance) should lead to lower capital cost, CAPEX, and also to the lowest possible electrical power consumption per hydrogen produced, OPEX. Many researchers have focused for many years on thinning component layers and developing new higher-performance materials. Thinning of components to lower RT is widely researched. Based on simple correlations, the CAPEX of the solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) stack cost could expect to be lowered by 25 percent by thinning components. In terms of size this low- Rt SOEC stack has the potential to be significantly smaller. Building off the DOE’s progress with SOFC, even lower Rt SOEC and SOFC’s are possible with techniques such as sputtering and Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) which produce better conducting materials. This is truly remarkable in that the low per kilowatt SOEC stack cost and low power consumption may make the SOEC a truly realizable economically viable SO manifestation.

Coal plants are under tremendous stress due to the introduction of renewables, particularly solar, which create intermittent periods of power demand and lower the overall demand for coal-based power. For coal plants to operate efficiently and consistently, it has been proposed that solid oxide electrolyser cells (SOECs) be incorporated into the coal plants to produce storable hydrogen from high temperature steam and electricity. An integrated SOEC would enable the boiler to operate at maximum efficiency while borrowing a fraction of the clean high temperature steam for electrolysis. It is likely that the increase in efficiency, consistent operating hours, and revenue from hydrogen sales will outweigh the price of integration, but it is yet unknown whether this solution is profitable. One of the challenges to assessing the profitability of SOEC integration is the variability in coal plant sizes. To assess the profitability of SOEC integration in any sized coal plant, an excel sheet was developed that uses coal plant specifications to calculate coal, water and air consumption, electricity, hydrogen and oxygen production, and expected costs and revenue from each. The sheet also automatically calculates the net present value (NPV) and displays the discounted cumulative cash flow. This excel sheet can be used to model the integration of an SOEC into any selected coal plant, enabling coal plant managers to decide whether or not to invest in the project.

The articles published since the author’s Publications on Afrotropical Papilionoidea during 2020 (Metamorphosis 31(1): 155–156, which dealt with scientific research into Afrotropical Papilionoidea, including those published in 2020 that were not included, are listed alphabetically by author.

“Knowledge graphs” (KGs) have become a common approach for representing biomedical knowledge. In a KG, multiple biomedical data sets can be linked together as a graph representation, with nodes representing entities, such as “chemical substance” or “genes,” and edges representing predicates, such as “causes” or “treats.” Reasoning and inference algorithms can then be applied to the KG and used to generate new knowledge. We developed three KG‐based question‐answering systems as part of the Biomedical Data Translator program. These systems are typically tested and evaluated using traditional software engineering tools and approaches. In this study, we explored a team‐based approach to test and evaluate the prototype “Translator Reasoners” through the application of Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) questions. Specifically, we describe three “hackathons,” in which the developers of each of the three systems worked together with a moderator to determine whether the applications could be used to solve MCAT questions. The results demonstrate progressive improvement in system performance, with 0% (0/5) correct answers during the first hackathon, 75% (3/4) correct during the second hackathon, and 100% (5/5) correct during the final hackathon. We discuss the technical and sociologic lessons learned and conclude that MCAT questions can be applied successfully in the context of moderated hackathons to test and evaluate prototype KG‐based question‐answering systems, identify gaps in current capabilities, and improve performance. Finally, we highlight several published clinical and translational science applications of the Translator Reasoners.

The Nevada Seismological Laboratory (NSL) at the University of Nevada, Reno, installed eight temporary seismic stations following the 15 May 2020 Mww 6.5 Monte Cristo Range earthquake. The mainshock and resulting aftershock sequence occurred in an unpopulated and sparsely instrumented region of the Mina deflection in the central Walker Lane, approximately 55 km west of Tonopah, Nevada. The temporary stations supplement NSL’s permanent seismic network, providing azimuthal coverage and near-field recording of the aftershock sequence beginning 1–3 days after the mainshock. We expect the deployment to remain in the field until May 2021. NSL initially attempted to acquire the Monte Cristo Range deployment data in real time via cellular telemetry; however, unreliable cellular coverage forced NSL to convert to microwave telemetry within the first week of the sequence to achieve continuous real-time acquisition. Through 31 August 2020, the temporary deployment has captured near-field records of three aftershocks ML≥5 and 25 ML 4–4.9 events. Here, we present details regarding the Monte Cristo Range deployment, instrumentation, and waveform availability. We combine this information with waveform availability and data access details from NSL’s permanent seismic network and partner regional seismic networks to create a comprehensive summary of Monte Cristo Range sequence data. NSL’s Monte Cristo Range temporary and permanent station waveform data are available in near-real time via the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology Data Management Center. Derived earthquake products, including NSL’s earthquake catalog and phase picks, are available via the Advanced National Seismic System Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog. The temporary deployment improved catalog completeness and location quality for the Monte Cristo Range sequence. We expect these data to be useful for continued study of the Monte Cristo Range sequence and constraining crustal and seismogenic properties of the Mina deflection and central Walker Lane.

EXPLANATION OF THE MASTER LISTSThere are 28 master lists, grouped as convenient taxon groups and split in such a way as to make each list individually downloadable but form an integral part of the main article. Citations to these master lists should be as indicated for the main article. Each master list contains a table that is made up of eight columns and each row represents information on one rearing record. For each master list, the rearing records are ordered under family, subfamily and sometimes tribe headings (in some cases we offer a superfamily instead of a family name where we were uncertain of the family placement). The records are ordered by family, subfamily, species and then rearer name. Explanation of the information contained in each column is as follows:Ref. no. This column contains references to a unique rearing number that links the notes, photographs and reared specimens gathered during the course of the rearing. A blank field indicate that there was no reference number submitted.Lepidoptera species. This column contains the best identification that could be made of the Lepidoptera taxon at the time of publication given the resources available. The name of the taxon specialist who identified the species (if not an author) is given in brackets. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the taxon with some certainty.Host species (Family). This columns contain the best identifications that could be made of the host species, on which the caterpillar was feeding, at the time of publication given the resources available. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the plant species to that level with some certainty or that feeding by the caterpillar was not confirmed. In the majority of cases the host indicated is the host on which the life stage was collected in the wild and on which the caterpillar fed subsequently. In cases where the host was presented to the larva in captivity, this is indicated. Where relevant, the name of the determiner is given in brackets. The host family name is given at the end in brackets. The phrase “reared ab ovum” means that the pictured larva was reared from the egg, meaning that the entire life-history of the species (all larval instars) was recorded and documented. In most cases such larvae were reared from eggs laid by a female moth collected at a light but raised on a natural host-plant of the species (though not necessarily one occurring at the locality where the female was taken), in some cases such larvae were reared from eggs found laid on a host-plant in the wild, and in a few cases the larvae were reared on an unnatural (exotic) host-plant in captivity. Such imprecisions regarding host use are, however, also contained in records of field-collected larvae, as mature larvae sometimes feed on plants they will not take in the early instars but do switch to at a later stage, and many also naturally feed on exotic plants in the wild.Locality. This column contains a short standardised reference to the locality where the specimen used in the rearing was collected, be it any life stage or a female from which eggs were obtained. The locality field lists, in order, the locality description, followed by the closest town, province (where relevant) and then country.Date of collection (c), pupation (p), emergence (e). This column contains the dates as indicated, where available. Missing dates are indicated by a “?”.Rearer. This column contains the name(s) of the person(s) who conducted the rearing, who may or may not have been the person who collected the rearing material.Final instar larva. This column contains the photographs of the caterpillar of the species reared. In most cases they depict the final-instar larva and at the time it was still feeding, but in some cases they show the larva in the pre-pupation phase (usually on the ground) and in a few cases an earlier instar, where for some reason a photograph of the final instar was unavailable.Adult. This column contains photographs of the actual adult specimen reared from the caterpillar shown in the previous column. Photographs marked with * are not of the actual adult specimen which emerged from the imaged larva.

EXPLANATION OF THE MASTER LISTSThere are 28 master lists, grouped as convenient taxon groups and split in such a way as to make each list individually downloadable but form an integral part of the main article. Citations to these master lists should be as indicated for the main article. Each master list contains a table that is made up of eight columns and each row represents information on one rearing record. For each master list, the rearing records are ordered under family, subfamily and sometimes tribe headings (in some cases we offer a superfamily instead of a family name where we were uncertain of the family placement). The records are ordered by family, subfamily, species and then rearer name. Explanation of the information contained in each column is as follows:Ref. no. This column contains references to a unique rearing number that links the notes, photographs and reared specimens gathered during the course of the rearing. A blank field indicate that there was no reference number submitted.Lepidoptera species. This column contains the best identification that could be made of the Lepidoptera taxon at the time of publication given the resources available. The name of the taxon specialist who identified the species (if not an author) is given in brackets. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the taxon with some certainty.Host species (Family). This columns contain the best identifications that could be made of the host species, on which the caterpillar was feeding, at the time of publication given the resources available. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the plant species to that level with some certainty or that feeding by the caterpillar was not confirmed. In the majority of cases the host indicated is the host on which the life stage was collected in the wild and on which the caterpillar fed subsequently. In cases where the host was presented to the larva in captivity, this is indicated. Where relevant, the name of the determiner is given in brackets. The host family name is given at the end in brackets. The phrase “reared ab ovum” means that the pictured larva was reared from the egg, meaning that the entire life-history of the species (all larval instars) was recorded and documented. In most cases such larvae were reared from eggs laid by a female moth collected at a light but raised on a natural host-plant of the species (though not necessarily one occurring at the locality where the female was taken), in some cases such larvae were reared from eggs found laid on a host-plant in the wild, and in a few cases the larvae were reared on an unnatural (exotic) host-plant in captivity. Such imprecisions regarding host use are, however, also contained in records of field-collected larvae, as mature larvae sometimes feed on plants they will not take in the early instars but do switch to at a later stage, and many also naturally feed on exotic plants in the wild.Locality. This column contains a short standardised reference to the locality where the specimen used in the rearing was collected, be it any life stage or a female from which eggs were obtained. The locality field lists, in order, the locality description, followed by the closest town, province (where relevant) and then country.Date of collection (c), pupation (p), emergence (e). This column contains the dates as indicated, where available. Missing dates are indicated by a “?”.Rearer. This column contains the name(s) of the person(s) who conducted the rearing, who may or may not have been the person who collected the rearing material.Final instar larva. This column contains the photographs of the caterpillar of the species reared. In most cases they depict the final-instar larva and at the time it was still feeding, but in some cases they show the larva in the pre-pupation phase (usually on the ground) and in a few cases an earlier instar, where for some reason a photograph of the final instar was unavailable.Adult. This column contains photographs of the actual adult specimen reared from the caterpillar shown in the previous column. Photographs marked with * are not of the actual adult specimen which emerged from the imaged larva.

EXPLANATION OF THE MASTER LISTSThere are 28 master lists, grouped as convenient taxon groups and split in such a way as to make each list individually downloadable but form an integral part of the main article. Citations to these master lists should be as indicated for the main article. Each master list contains a table that is made up of eight columns and each row represents information on one rearing record. For each master list, the rearing records are ordered under family, subfamily and sometimes tribe headings (in some cases we offer a superfamily instead of a family name where we were uncertain of the family placement). The records are ordered by family, subfamily, species and then rearer name. Explanation of the information contained in each column is as follows:Ref. no. This column contains references to a unique rearing number that links the notes, photographs and reared specimens gathered during the course of the rearing. A blank field indicate that there was no reference number submitted.Lepidoptera species. This column contains the best identification that could be made of the Lepidoptera taxon at the time of publication given the resources available. The name of the taxon specialist who identified the species (if not an author) is given in brackets. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the taxon with some certainty.Host species (Family). This columns contain the best identifications that could be made of the host species, on which the caterpillar was feeding, at the time of publication given the resources available. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the plant species to that level with some certainty or that feeding by the caterpillar was not confirmed. In the majority of cases the host indicated is the host on which the life stage was collected in the wild and on which the caterpillar fed subsequently. In cases where the host was presented to the larva in captivity, this is indicated. Where relevant, the name of the determiner is given in brackets. The host family name is given at the end in brackets. The phrase “reared ab ovum” means that the pictured larva was reared from the egg, meaning that the entire life-history of the species (all larval instars) was recorded and documented. In most cases such larvae were reared from eggs laid by a female moth collected at a light but raised on a natural host-plant of the species (though not necessarily one occurring at the locality where the female was taken), in some cases such larvae were reared from eggs found laid on a host-plant in the wild, and in a few cases the larvae were reared on an unnatural (exotic) host-plant in captivity. Such imprecisions regarding host use are, however, also contained in records of field-collected larvae, as mature larvae sometimes feed on plants they will not take in the early instars but do switch to at a later stage, and many also naturally feed on exotic plants in the wild.Locality. This column contains a short standardised reference to the locality where the specimen used in the rearing was collected, be it any life stage or a female from which eggs were obtained. The locality field lists, in order, the locality description, followed by the closest town, province (where relevant) and then country.Date of collection (c), pupation (p), emergence (e). This column contains the dates as indicated, where available. Missing dates are indicated by a “?”.Rearer. This column contains the name(s) of the person(s) who conducted the rearing, who may or may not have been the person who collected the rearing material.Final instar larva. This column contains the photographs of the caterpillar of the species reared. In most cases they depict the final-instar larva and at the time it was still feeding, but in some cases they show the larva in the pre-pupation phase (usually on the ground) and in a few cases an earlier instar, where for some reason a photograph of the final instar was unavailable.Adult. This column contains photographs of the actual adult specimen reared from the caterpillar shown in the previous column. Photographs marked with * are not of the actual adult specimen which emerged from the imaged larva.

EXPLANATION OF THE MASTER LISTSThere are 28 master lists, grouped as convenient taxon groups and split in such a way as to make each list individually downloadable but form an integral part of the main article. Citations to these master lists should be as indicated for the main article. Each master list contains a table that is made up of eight columns and each row represents information on one rearing record. For each master list, the rearing records are ordered under family, subfamily and sometimes tribe headings (in some cases we offer a superfamily instead of a family name where we were uncertain of the family placement). The records are ordered by family, subfamily, species and then rearer name. Explanation of the information contained in each column is as follows:Ref. no. This column contains references to a unique rearing number that links the notes, photographs and reared specimens gathered during the course of the rearing. A blank field indicate that there was no reference number submitted.Lepidoptera species. This column contains the best identification that could be made of the Lepidoptera taxon at the time of publication given the resources available. The name of the taxon specialist who identified the species (if not an author) is given in brackets. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the taxon with some certainty.Host species (Family). This columns contain the best identifications that could be made of the host species, on which the caterpillar was feeding, at the time of publication given the resources available. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the plant species to that level with some certainty or that feeding by the caterpillar was not confirmed. In the majority of cases the host indicated is the host on which the life stage was collected in the wild and on which the caterpillar fed subsequently. In cases where the host was presented to the larva in captivity, this is indicated. Where relevant, the name of the determiner is given in brackets. The host family name is given at the end in brackets. The phrase “reared ab ovum” means that the pictured larva was reared from the egg, meaning that the entire life-history of the species (all larval instars) was recorded and documented. In most cases such larvae were reared from eggs laid by a female moth collected at a light but raised on a natural host-plant of the species (though not necessarily one occurring at the locality where the female was taken), in some cases such larvae were reared from eggs found laid on a host-plant in the wild, and in a few cases the larvae were reared on an unnatural (exotic) host-plant in captivity. Such imprecisions regarding host use are, however, also contained in records of field-collected larvae, as mature larvae sometimes feed on plants they will not take in the early instars but do switch to at a later stage, and many also naturally feed on exotic plants in the wild.Locality. This column contains a short standardised reference to the locality where the specimen used in the rearing was collected, be it any life stage or a female from which eggs were obtained. The locality field lists, in order, the locality description, followed by the closest town, province (where relevant) and then country.Date of collection (c), pupation (p), emergence (e). This column contains the dates as indicated, where available. Missing dates are indicated by a “?”.Rearer. This column contains the name(s) of the person(s) who conducted the rearing, who may or may not have been the person who collected the rearing material.Final instar larva. This column contains the photographs of the caterpillar of the species reared. In most cases they depict the final-instar larva and at the time it was still feeding, but in some cases they show the larva in the pre-pupation phase (usually on the ground) and in a few cases an earlier instar, where for some reason a photograph of the final instar was unavailable.Adult. This column contains photographs of the actual adult specimen reared from the caterpillar shown in the previous column. Photographs marked with * are not of the actual adult specimen which emerged from the imaged larva.

EXPLANATION OF THE MASTER LISTSThere are 28 master lists, grouped as convenient taxon groups and split in such a way as to make each list individually downloadable but form an integral part of the main article. Citations to these master lists should be as indicated for the main article. Each master list contains a table that is made up of eight columns and each row represents information on one rearing record. For each master list, the rearing records are ordered under family, subfamily and sometimes tribe headings (in some cases we offer a superfamily instead of a family name where we were uncertain of the family placement). The records are ordered by family, subfamily, species and then rearer name. Explanation of the information contained in each column is as follows:Ref. no. This column contains references to a unique rearing number that links the notes, photographs and reared specimens gathered during the course of the rearing. A blank field indicate that there was no reference number submitted.Lepidoptera species. This column contains the best identification that could be made of the Lepidoptera taxon at the time of publication given the resources available. The name of the taxon specialist who identified the species (if not an author) is given in brackets. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the taxon with some certainty.Host species (Family). This columns contain the best identifications that could be made of the host species, on which the caterpillar was feeding, at the time of publication given the resources available. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the plant species to that level with some certainty or that feeding by the caterpillar was not confirmed. In the majority of cases the host indicated is the host on which the life stage was collected in the wild and on which the caterpillar fed subsequently. In cases where the host was presented to the larva in captivity, this is indicated. Where relevant, the name of the determiner is given in brackets. The host family name is given at the end in brackets. The phrase “reared ab ovum” means that the pictured larva was reared from the egg, meaning that the entire life-history of the species (all larval instars) was recorded and documented. In most cases such larvae were reared from eggs laid by a female moth collected at a light but raised on a natural host-plant of the species (though not necessarily one occurring at the locality where the female was taken), in some cases such larvae were reared from eggs found laid on a host-plant in the wild, and in a few cases the larvae were reared on an unnatural (exotic) host-plant in captivity. Such imprecisions regarding host use are, however, also contained in records of field-collected larvae, as mature larvae sometimes feed on plants they will not take in the early instars but do switch to at a later stage, and many also naturally feed on exotic plants in the wild.Locality. This column contains a short standardised reference to the locality where the specimen used in the rearing was collected, be it any life stage or a female from which eggs were obtained. The locality field lists, in order, the locality description, followed by the closest town, province (where relevant) and then country.Date of collection (c), pupation (p), emergence (e). This column contains the dates as indicated, where available. Missing dates are indicated by a “?”.Rearer. This column contains the name(s) of the person(s) who conducted the rearing, who may or may not have been the person who collected the rearing material.Final instar larva. This column contains the photographs of the caterpillar of the species reared. In most cases they depict the final-instar larva and at the time it was still feeding, but in some cases they show the larva in the pre-pupation phase (usually on the ground) and in a few cases an earlier instar, where for some reason a photograph of the final instar was unavailable.Adult. This column contains photographs of the actual adult specimen reared from the caterpillar shown in the previous column. Photographs marked with * are not of the actual adult specimen which emerged from the imaged larva.

EXPLANATION OF THE MASTER LISTSThere are 28 master lists, grouped as convenient taxon groups and split in such a way as to make each list individually downloadable but form an integral part of the main article. Citations to these master lists should be as indicated for the main article. Each master list contains a table that is made up of eight columns and each row represents information on one rearing record. For each master list, the rearing records are ordered under family, subfamily and sometimes tribe headings (in some cases we offer a superfamily instead of a family name where we were uncertain of the family placement). The records are ordered by family, subfamily, species and then rearer name. Explanation of the information contained in each column is as follows:Ref. no. This column contains references to a unique rearing number that links the notes, photographs and reared specimens gathered during the course of the rearing. A blank field indicate that there was no reference number submitted.Lepidoptera species. This column contains the best identification that could be made of the Lepidoptera taxon at the time of publication given the resources available. The name of the taxon specialist who identified the species (if not an author) is given in brackets. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the taxon with some certainty.Host species (Family). This columns contain the best identifications that could be made of the host species, on which the caterpillar was feeding, at the time of publication given the resources available. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the plant species to that level with some certainty or that feeding by the caterpillar was not confirmed. In the majority of cases the host indicated is the host on which the life stage was collected in the wild and on which the caterpillar fed subsequently. In cases where the host was presented to the larva in captivity, this is indicated. Where relevant, the name of the determiner is given in brackets. The host family name is given at the end in brackets. The phrase “reared ab ovum” means that the pictured larva was reared from the egg, meaning that the entire life-history of the species (all larval instars) was recorded and documented. In most cases such larvae were reared from eggs laid by a female moth collected at a light but raised on a natural host-plant of the species (though not necessarily one occurring at the locality where the female was taken), in some cases such larvae were reared from eggs found laid on a host-plant in the wild, and in a few cases the larvae were reared on an unnatural (exotic) host-plant in captivity. Such imprecisions regarding host use are, however, also contained in records of field-collected larvae, as mature larvae sometimes feed on plants they will not take in the early instars but do switch to at a later stage, and many also naturally feed on exotic plants in the wild.Locality. This column contains a short standardised reference to the locality where the specimen used in the rearing was collected, be it any life stage or a female from which eggs were obtained. The locality field lists, in order, the locality description, followed by the closest town, province (where relevant) and then country.Date of collection (c), pupation (p), emergence (e). This column contains the dates as indicated, where available. Missing dates are indicated by a “?”.Rearer. This column contains the name(s) of the person(s) who conducted the rearing, who may or may not have been the person who collected the rearing material.Final instar larva. This column contains the photographs of the caterpillar of the species reared. In most cases they depict the final-instar larva and at the time it was still feeding, but in some cases they show the larva in the pre-pupation phase (usually on the ground) and in a few cases an earlier instar, where for some reason a photograph of the final instar was unavailable.Adult. This column contains photographs of the actual adult specimen reared from the caterpillar shown in the previous column. Photographs marked with * are not of the actual adult specimen which emerged from the imaged larva.

EXPLANATION OF THE MASTER LISTSThere are 28 master lists, grouped as convenient taxon groups and split in such a way as to make each list individually downloadable but form an integral part of the main article. Citations to these master lists should be as indicated for the main article. Each master list contains a table that is made up of eight columns and each row represents information on one rearing record. For each master list, the rearing records are ordered under family, subfamily and sometimes tribe headings (in some cases we offer a superfamily instead of a family name where we were uncertain of the family placement). The records are ordered by family, subfamily, species and then rearer name. Explanation of the information contained in each column is as follows:Ref. no. This column contains references to a unique rearing number that links the notes, photographs and reared specimens gathered during the course of the rearing. A blank field indicate that there was no reference number submitted.Lepidoptera species. This column contains the best identification that could be made of the Lepidoptera taxon at the time of publication given the resources available. The name of the taxon specialist who identified the species (if not an author) is given in brackets. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the taxon with some certainty.Host species (Family). This columns contain the best identifications that could be made of the host species, on which the caterpillar was feeding, at the time of publication given the resources available. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the plant species to that level with some certainty or that feeding by the caterpillar was not confirmed. In the majority of cases the host indicated is the host on which the life stage was collected in the wild and on which the caterpillar fed subsequently. In cases where the host was presented to the larva in captivity, this is indicated. Where relevant, the name of the determiner is given in brackets. The host family name is given at the end in brackets. The phrase “reared ab ovum” means that the pictured larva was reared from the egg, meaning that the entire life-history of the species (all larval instars) was recorded and documented. In most cases such larvae were reared from eggs laid by a female moth collected at a light but raised on a natural host-plant of the species (though not necessarily one occurring at the locality where the female was taken), in some cases such larvae were reared from eggs found laid on a host-plant in the wild, and in a few cases the larvae were reared on an unnatural (exotic) host-plant in captivity. Such imprecisions regarding host use are, however, also contained in records of field-collected larvae, as mature larvae sometimes feed on plants they will not take in the early instars but do switch to at a later stage, and many also naturally feed on exotic plants in the wild.Locality. This column contains a short standardised reference to the locality where the specimen used in the rearing was collected, be it any life stage or a female from which eggs were obtained. The locality field lists, in order, the locality description, followed by the closest town, province (where relevant) and then country.Date of collection (c), pupation (p), emergence (e). This column contains the dates as indicated, where available. Missing dates are indicated by a “?”.Rearer. This column contains the name(s) of the person(s) who conducted the rearing, who may or may not have been the person who collected the rearing material.Final instar larva. This column contains the photographs of the caterpillar of the species reared. In most cases they depict the final-instar larva and at the time it was still feeding, but in some cases they show the larva in the pre-pupation phase (usually on the ground) and in a few cases an earlier instar, where for some reason a photograph of the final instar was unavailable.Adult. This column contains photographs of the actual adult specimen reared from the caterpillar shown in the previous column. Photographs marked with * are not of the actual adult specimen which emerged from the imaged larva.

EXPLANATION OF THE MASTER LISTSThere are 28 master lists, grouped as convenient taxon groups and split in such a way as to make each list individually downloadable but form an integral part of the main article. Citations to these master lists should be as indicated for the main article. Each master list contains a table that is made up of eight columns and each row represents information on one rearing record. For each master list, the rearing records are ordered under family, subfamily and sometimes tribe headings (in some cases we offer a superfamily instead of a family name where we were uncertain of the family placement). The records are ordered by family, subfamily, species and then rearer name. Explanation of the information contained in each column is as follows:Ref. no. This column contains references to a unique rearing number that links the notes, photographs and reared specimens gathered during the course of the rearing. A blank field indicate that there was no reference number submitted.Lepidoptera species. This column contains the best identification that could be made of the Lepidoptera taxon at the time of publication given the resources available. The name of the taxon specialist who identified the species (if not an author) is given in brackets. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the taxon with some certainty.Host species (Family). This columns contain the best identifications that could be made of the host species, on which the caterpillar was feeding, at the time of publication given the resources available. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the plant species to that level with some certainty or that feeding by the caterpillar was not confirmed. In the majority of cases the host indicated is the host on which the life stage was collected in the wild and on which the caterpillar fed subsequently. In cases where the host was presented to the larva in captivity, this is indicated. Where relevant, the name of the determiner is given in brackets. The host family name is given at the end in brackets. The phrase “reared ab ovum” means that the pictured larva was reared from the egg, meaning that the entire life-history of the species (all larval instars) was recorded and documented. In most cases such larvae were reared from eggs laid by a female moth collected at a light but raised on a natural host-plant of the species (though not necessarily one occurring at the locality where the female was taken), in some cases such larvae were reared from eggs found laid on a host-plant in the wild, and in a few cases the larvae were reared on an unnatural (exotic) host-plant in captivity. Such imprecisions regarding host use are, however, also contained in records of field-collected larvae, as mature larvae sometimes feed on plants they will not take in the early instars but do switch to at a later stage, and many also naturally feed on exotic plants in the wild.Locality. This column contains a short standardised reference to the locality where the specimen used in the rearing was collected, be it any life stage or a female from which eggs were obtained. The locality field lists, in order, the locality description, followed by the closest town, province (where relevant) and then country.Date of collection (c), pupation (p), emergence (e). This column contains the dates as indicated, where available. Missing dates are indicated by a “?”.Rearer. This column contains the name(s) of the person(s) who conducted the rearing, who may or may not have been the person who collected the rearing material.Final instar larva. This column contains the photographs of the caterpillar of the species reared. In most cases they depict the final-instar larva and at the time it was still feeding, but in some cases they show the larva in the pre-pupation phase (usually on the ground) and in a few cases an earlier instar, where for some reason a photograph of the final instar was unavailable.Adult. This column contains photographs of the actual adult specimen reared from the caterpillar shown in the previous column. Photographs marked with * are not of the actual adult specimen which emerged from the imaged larva.

EXPLANATION OF THE MASTER LISTSThere are 28 master lists, grouped as convenient taxon groups and split in such a way as to make each list individually downloadable but form an integral part of the main article. Citations to these master lists should be as indicated for the main article. Each master list contains a table that is made up of eight columns and each row represents information on one rearing record. For each master list, the rearing records are ordered under family, subfamily and sometimes tribe headings (in some cases we offer a superfamily instead of a family name where we were uncertain of the family placement). The records are ordered by family, subfamily, species and then rearer name. Explanation of the information contained in each column is as follows:Ref. no. This column contains references to a unique rearing number that links the notes, photographs and reared specimens gathered during the course of the rearing. A blank field indicate that there was no reference number submitted.Lepidoptera species. This column contains the best identification that could be made of the Lepidoptera taxon at the time of publication given the resources available. The name of the taxon specialist who identified the species (if not an author) is given in brackets. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the taxon with some certainty.Host species (Family). This columns contain the best identifications that could be made of the host species, on which the caterpillar was feeding, at the time of publication given the resources available. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the plant species to that level with some certainty or that feeding by the caterpillar was not confirmed. In the majority of cases the host indicated is the host on which the life stage was collected in the wild and on which the caterpillar fed subsequently. In cases where the host was presented to the larva in captivity, this is indicated. Where relevant, the name of the determiner is given in brackets. The host family name is given at the end in brackets. The phrase “reared ab ovum” means that the pictured larva was reared from the egg, meaning that the entire life-history of the species (all larval instars) was recorded and documented. In most cases such larvae were reared from eggs laid by a female moth collected at a light but raised on a natural host-plant of the species (though not necessarily one occurring at the locality where the female was taken), in some cases such larvae were reared from eggs found laid on a host-plant in the wild, and in a few cases the larvae were reared on an unnatural (exotic) host-plant in captivity. Such imprecisions regarding host use are, however, also contained in records of field-collected larvae, as mature larvae sometimes feed on plants they will not take in the early instars but do switch to at a later stage, and many also naturally feed on exotic plants in the wild.Locality. This column contains a short standardised reference to the locality where the specimen used in the rearing was collected, be it any life stage or a female from which eggs were obtained. The locality field lists, in order, the locality description, followed by the closest town, province (where relevant) and then country.Date of collection (c), pupation (p), emergence (e). This column contains the dates as indicated, where available. Missing dates are indicated by a “?”.Rearer. This column contains the name(s) of the person(s) who conducted the rearing, who may or may not have been the person who collected the rearing material.Final instar larva. This column contains the photographs of the caterpillar of the species reared. In most cases they depict the final-instar larva and at the time it was still feeding, but in some cases they show the larva in the pre-pupation phase (usually on the ground) and in a few cases an earlier instar, where for some reason a photograph of the final instar was unavailable.Adult. This column contains photographs of the actual adult specimen reared from the caterpillar shown in the previous column. Photographs marked with * are not of the actual adult specimen which emerged from the imaged larva.

EXPLANATION OF THE MASTER LISTSThere are 28 master lists, grouped as convenient taxon groups and split in such a way as to make each list individually downloadable but form an integral part of the main article. Citations to these master lists should be as indicated for the main article. Each master list contains a table that is made up of eight columns and each row represents information on one rearing record. For each master list, the rearing records are ordered under family, subfamily and sometimes tribe headings (in some cases we offer a superfamily instead of a family name where we were uncertain of the family placement). The records are ordered by family, subfamily, species and then rearer name. Explanation of the information contained in each column is as follows:Ref. no. This column contains references to a unique rearing number that links the notes, photographs and reared specimens gathered during the course of the rearing. A blank field indicate that there was no reference number submitted.Lepidoptera species. This column contains the best identification that could be made of the Lepidoptera taxon at the time of publication given the resources available. The name of the taxon specialist who identified the species (if not an author) is given in brackets. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the taxon with some certainty.Host species (Family). This columns contain the best identifications that could be made of the host species, on which the caterpillar was feeding, at the time of publication given the resources available. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the plant species to that level with some certainty or that feeding by the caterpillar was not confirmed. In the majority of cases the host indicated is the host on which the life stage was collected in the wild and on which the caterpillar fed subsequently. In cases where the host was presented to the larva in captivity, this is indicated. Where relevant, the name of the determiner is given in brackets. The host family name is given at the end in brackets. The phrase “reared ab ovum” means that the pictured larva was reared from the egg, meaning that the entire life-history of the species (all larval instars) was recorded and documented. In most cases such larvae were reared from eggs laid by a female moth collected at a light but raised on a natural host-plant of the species (though not necessarily one occurring at the locality where the female was taken), in some cases such larvae were reared from eggs found laid on a host-plant in the wild, and in a few cases the larvae were reared on an unnatural (exotic) host-plant in captivity. Such imprecisions regarding host use are, however, also contained in records of field-collected larvae, as mature larvae sometimes feed on plants they will not take in the early instars but do switch to at a later stage, and many also naturally feed on exotic plants in the wild.Locality. This column contains a short standardised reference to the locality where the specimen used in the rearing was collected, be it any life stage or a female from which eggs were obtained. The locality field lists, in order, the locality description, followed by the closest town, province (where relevant) and then country.Date of collection (c), pupation (p), emergence (e). This column contains the dates as indicated, where available. Missing dates are indicated by a “?”.Rearer. This column contains the name(s) of the person(s) who conducted the rearing, who may or may not have been the person who collected the rearing material.Final instar larva. This column contains the photographs of the caterpillar of the species reared. In most cases they depict the final-instar larva and at the time it was still feeding, but in some cases they show the larva in the pre-pupation phase (usually on the ground) and in a few cases an earlier instar, where for some reason a photograph of the final instar was unavailable.Adult. This column contains photographs of the actual adult specimen reared from the caterpillar shown in the previous column. Photographs marked with * are not of the actual adult specimen which emerged from the imaged larva.

EXPLANATION OF THE MASTER LISTSThere are 28 master lists, grouped as convenient taxon groups and split in such a way as to make each list individually downloadable but form an integral part of the main article. Citations to these master lists should be as indicated for the main article. Each master list contains a table that is made up of eight columns and each row represents information on one rearing record. For each master list, the rearing records are ordered under family, subfamily and sometimes tribe headings (in some cases we offer a superfamily instead of a family name where we were uncertain of the family placement). The records are ordered by family, subfamily, species and then rearer name. Explanation of the information contained in each column is as follows:Ref. no. This column contains references to a unique rearing number that links the notes, photographs and reared specimens gathered during the course of the rearing. A blank field indicate that there was no reference number submitted.Lepidoptera species. This column contains the best identification that could be made of the Lepidoptera taxon at the time of publication given the resources available. The name of the taxon specialist who identified the species (if not an author) is given in brackets. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the taxon with some certainty.Host species (Family). This columns contain the best identifications that could be made of the host species, on which the caterpillar was feeding, at the time of publication given the resources available. A blank cell means that we were unable to identify the plant species to that level with some certainty or that feeding by the caterpillar was not confirmed. In the majority of cases the host indicated is the host on which the life stage was collected in the wild and on which the caterpillar fed subsequently. In cases where the host was presented to the larva in captivity, this is indicated. Where relevant, the name of the determiner is given in brackets. The host family name is given at the end in brackets. The phrase “reared ab ovum” means that the pictured larva was reared from the egg, meaning that the entire life-history of the species (all larval instars) was recorded and documented. In most cases such larvae were reared from eggs laid by a female moth collected at a light but raised on a natural host-plant of the species (though not necessarily one occurring at the locality where the female was taken), in some cases such larvae were reared from eggs found laid on a host-plant in the wild, and in a few cases the larvae were reared on an unnatural (exotic) host-plant in captivity. Such imprecisions regarding host use are, however, also contained in records of field-collected larvae, as mature larvae sometimes feed on plants they will not take in the early instars but do switch to at a later stage, and many also naturally feed on exotic plants in the wild.Locality. This column contains a short standardised reference to the locality where the specimen used in the rearing was collected, be it any life stage or a female from which eggs were obtained. The locality field lists, in order, the locality description, followed by the closest town, province (where relevant) and then country.Date of collection (c), pupation (p), emergence (e). This column contains the dates as indicated, where available. Missing dates are indicated by a “?”.Rearer. This column contains the name(s) of the person(s) who conducted the rearing, who may or may not have been the person who collected the rearing material.Final instar larva. This column contains the photographs of the caterpillar of the species reared. In most cases they depict the final-instar larva and at the time it was still feeding, but in some cases they show the larva in the pre-pupation phase (usually on the ground) and in a few cases an earlier instar, where for some reason a photograph of the final instar was unavailable.Adult. This column contains photographs of the actual adult specimen reared from the caterpillar shown in the previous column. Photographs marked with * are not of the actual adult specimen which emerged from the imaged larva.

We present an overview of the known host associations of larval Lepidoptera for southern Africa, based on a database of 11 628 rearings, including all Caterpillar Rearing Group (CRG) records and other published records. Rearings per Lepidoptera family show some bias in the rearing effort towards the more conspicuous families, ectophagous groups and non-detritus-feeders but in general follow species diversity. Recorded Lepidoptera host associations per host family for southern Africa are shown. Data analyses revealed the following general trends: of the 20 most reared species 13 are polyphagous; Fabaceae are the most utilised plant family with 2 122 associations, followed by Asteraceae (600), Malvaceae (564) and Anacardiaceae (476); 98.8 % of hosts are vascular plants; and of the 19 most utilised host species 18 are common trees or shrubs. We discuss possible reasons behind these trends, particularly the high utilisation of Fabaceae and the widespread use of trees and shrubs as hosts. We compare recorded host species numbers with species diversity for the 19 most recorded host families and discuss possible reasons for the low utilisation of four plant families with an exceptionally low percentage of Lepidoptera host species / plant host species diversity. All Lepidoptera families for which more than 100 rearings have been recorded (21 families) utilise one (or two in the case of Pyralidae, Nolidae and Hesperiidae) plant family exponentially more than any of the other families, with resulting histograms forming hyperbolic curves, as are typical of distributions of taxonomic assemblages in nature. We calculate an exponential factor to quantify this phenomenon and show that for all 21 Lepidoptera families one host family is utilised 6–33 times more than the average use of other host families. In this paper, the larvae and adults of 953 African, mostly South African, Lepidoptera species reared by the CRG between January 2016 and June 2019 are illustrated together with pertinent host information. 119 Lepidoptera-parasitoid associations are reported, comprising seven hymenopteran families and one dipteran family. With the current data release, larval host association records are now available for 2 826 Lepidoptera species in the southern African subregion, covering about 25 % of the described fauna.

The articles published since the author’s Publications on Afrotropical Lepidoptera during 2017-2018, which deal with scientific research into Afrotropical Lepidoptera, are listed alphabetically by author. Articles dealing with control of Lepidoptera as pests are excluded.

No Abstract

Calcium cobaltite Ca3Co4O9+δ in a single-crystal form was reported with an extrapolated dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit of 0.87 in the year 2003. Regardless of the intensive effort dur...

The solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology is expanding globally and finding new market opportunities in a variety of applications. The technology has not been fully tapped and has a promising future. The amazing versatility and applicability of the solid oxide (SO) technology is astounding as solid oxide fuel cells are developed as a source of efficient, low-cost electricity from natural gas distributed power generation, as reversible SO cells, and as solid oxide electrolyzers (SOEC) which have many applications in distributed generation (DG), hydrogen production, energy storage, microgrids, telecom backup market, combined heat and power (CHP), sensors, power to chemicals and fuels, data centers, ships, vehicles, absorption chillers, drones, and others. The United States has the greatest manufacturing capability and the most megawatts (MWs) of demonstrations of any nation due to Bloom Energy, which has over 350 MW of cumulative installation. The current US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy SOFC Program administered by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) includes cell development and core technology research to increase the reliability, robustness, and durability of cell, stack, and system technology. Japan leads the world in the total number of demonstrations of the SOFC with over 60,000 kilowatt (kW)-class demonstrations by Kyocera. The European efforts of Ceres, SOLIDpower, Sunfire, Elcogen, and others represent major new directions into SO electrolysis, datacenters, and power-to-fuels. In the last decade China, through Suzhou Huatsing Power, SOFCMAN and CNFC, has made significant progress in SOFC and in electrolysis, scaling to 30-kWe and 80-kWe, respectively.

A powerful electrical network analyzer, PSpice, is used to explore alternative solid oxide fuel cell Energy Conversion Networks (ECN’s). The ECN’s electrical network configurations are important in determining where solid oxide fuel cells can best play in modern grid support and resiliency. A modeling methodology is used to relate microscopic solid oxide fuel cell solid-state ionic material properties like electrical conductivity to macroscopic solid oxide fuel cell Energy Conversion Networks’ electrical network performance. While many models could be used for the ECN components, such as fuel cells, storage, etc., the model chosen in this paper as an example to illustrate the methodology, allows heat engine component performance, when included, to be recast solely in electrochemical and electrical network terms. The analysis results in this paper include the power and efficiency responses of the ECN’s of interest, such as multiple solid oxide fuel cells in multi-loop electrical networks, smart grids and microgrids.

The aim of this paper is to analyze in how far a consistent strategy can be developed using methane along the path from existing fossil fuel supply towards a sustainable energy supply infrastracture including fuel cells. This is the first of a three part analysis of the options for natual gas and methaner and the fuel cell technology as part of a closed cycle infrastructure. The transport sector is an important energy consumer and the impact of a methane infrastructure and the ongoing fuel cell development will be analyzed in a following paper. The impact of the population development and its challenges for such a roadmap will described in a third paper.

Small-molecule DNA-binding drugs have shown promising results in clinical use against many types of cancer. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of DNA binding for such small molecules can be critical in advancing future drug designs. We have been exploring the interactions of ruthenium-based small molecules and their DNA-binding properties that are highly relevant in the development of novel metal-based drugs. Previously we have studied the effects of the right-handed binuclear ruthenium threading intercalator ΔΔ-[μ-bidppz(phen)

In barren alpine catchments of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, microorganisms are typically carbon (C)-limited, and C-limitation can influence critical heterotrophic processes, such as denitrification. In these remote locations, organic matter deposited during dust intrusion events and other forms of aerosol deposition may be an important C source for heterotrophs; however, little is known regarding the biodegradability of atmospherically deposited organic matter. This study evaluated the extent to which organic matter in Holocene dust and other types of atmospheric deposition in the Colorado Rocky Mountains could support metabolic activity and be biodegraded by alpine bacteria. Microplate bioassays revealed that all atmospheric deposition samples were able to activate microbial metabolism. Decreases in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations over time in biodegradability incubations reflect the presence of two pools of dissolved organic matter (DOM), a rapidly decaying pool with rate constants in the range of 0.0130–0.039 d–1 and a slowly decaying pool with rate constants in the range of 0.0008–0.009 d–1. Changes in the fluorescence excitation-emission matrix of solutions evaluated over time indicated a transformation of organic matter by bacteria resulting in a more humic-like fluorescence signature. Fluorescence spectroscopic analyses, therefore, suggest that the degradation of non-fluorescent DOM in glutamate and dust-derived C sources by bacteria results in the production of fluorescent DOM.

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Fossil Energy (FE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Program is currently developing efficient, low-cost electricity from natural gas distributed generation applications in FY2019. The current program includes cell development and core technology research to increase the reliability, robustness, and durability of cell, stack, and system technology; and providing the technology base to permit cost-competitive distributed generation applications. The program is a unique balance of strategically oriented research and development activities spanning fundamental research to prototype testing. The SOFC Program collaborates and coordinates with other fuel cell programs government-wide, including ARPA-E and DOE EERE's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Office. The accomplishments of these activities, along with the status of the program's integrated systems tests will be presented.