Strong Reduction of Thermal Conductivity and Enhanced Thermoelectric Properties in CoSbSSe Paracostibite.

In order to reduce the thermal conductivity of CoSbS, a newly developed thermoelectric semiconductor, we have aimed at intentionally induce atomic disorder in its structure. This endeavor was guided by Density Functional Theory(DFT) calculations which indicated that substituting sulfur with selenium might be easily achievable experimentally because of the low formation energy of this point defect. Thereby, CoSbSSe compounds having 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 have been synthesized by solid state reaction.

8.6% Efficient CZTSSe Solar Cells Sprayed from Water-Ethanol CZTS Colloidal Solutions.

Copper zinc tin sulfide-selenide, Cu2ZnSn(S1-xSex)4 (CZTSSe), thin film photovoltaic devices were fabricated using a fast and environmentally friendly preparation method, consisting of the following steps: An instantaneous synthesis of a Cu-Zn-Sn-S (no Se) colloid, a nonpyrolytic spray of a dispersion of this colloid in a water-ethanol mixture, and a sequential annealing first in a N2 atmosphere and second in a Se atmosphere. The achievement of cell efficiencies up to 8.6% under AM1.

Effects of different mating scenarios on embryo viability in brown trout.

Mating with attractive or dominant males is often predicted to offer indirect genetic benefits to females, but it is still largely unclear how important such non-random mating can be with regard to embryo viability. We sampled a natural population of adult migratory brown trout (Salmo trutta), bred them in vitro in a half-sib breeding design to separate genetic from maternal environmental effects, raised 2098 embryos singly until hatching, and exposed them experimentally to different levels of pathogen stress at a late embryonic stage. We found that the embryos' tolerance to the induced pathogen stress was linked to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of their parents, i.

A double role of sperm in scorpions: the mating plug of Euscorpius italicus (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) consists of sperm.

Mating plugs occluding the female gonopore after mating are a widespread phenomenon. In scorpions, two main types of mating plugs are found: sclerotized mating plugs being parts of the spermatophore that break off during mating, and gel-like mating plugs being gelatinous fluids that harden in the female genital tract. In this study, the gel-like mating plug of Euscorpius italicus was investigated with respect to its composition, fine structure, and changes over time.

Tolerance of whitefish embryos to Pseudomonas fluorescens linked to genetic and maternal effects, and reduced by previous exposure.

Juvenile or adult fish can alter their behaviour and rely on an innate and adaptive immune system to avoid/counteract pathogens, while fish embryos have to depend on egg characteristics and may be partly protected by their developing immune system that is building up from a certain age on. We developed an infection protocol that allows testing the reaction of individual whitefish embryos (Coregonus palaea) to repeated exposures to Pseudomonas fluorescens, an opportunistic bacterial fish pathogen. We used a full-factorial in vitro breeding design to separately test the effects of paternal and maternal contributions to the embryos' susceptibility to different kinds of pathogen exposure.

Gonadal alterations in male whitefish Coregonus fatioi: no evidence for genetic damage reducing viability in early life stages.

In recent years, numerous cases of morphological gonadal alterations in fish have been recorded throughout the world and across a wide range of species. In the whitefish Coregonus fatioi from the pre-alpine Lake Thun (Switzerland), the frequency of gonadal alterations is particularly high and the variety of alteration types large. Little is known about the proximal causes and the direct consequences of these morphological features on population persistence.

Viability of brown trout embryos positively linked to melanin-based but negatively to carotenoid-based colours of their fathers.

'Good-genes' models of sexual selection predict significant additive genetic variation for fitness-correlated traits within populations to be revealed by phenotypic traits. To test this prediction, we sampled brown trout (Salmo trutta) from their natural spawning place, analysed their carotenoid-based red and melanin-based dark skin colours and tested whether these colours can be used to predict offspring viability. We produced half-sib families by in vitro fertilization, reared the resulting embryos under standardized conditions, released the hatchlings into a streamlet and identified the surviving juveniles 20 months later with microsatellite markers.

'Good-genes' and 'compatible-genes' effects in an Alpine whitefish and the information content of breeding tubercles over the course of the spawning season.

Some models of sexual selection predict that individuals vary in their genetic quality and reveal some of this variation in their secondary sexual characteristics. Alpine whitefish (Coregonus sp.) develop breeding tubercles shortly before their spawning season.

Male dominance linked to size and age, but not to 'good genes' in brown trout (Salmo trutta).

Background: Males that are successful in intra-sexual competition are often assumed to be of superior quality. In the mating system of most salmonid species, intensive dominance fights are common and the winners monopolise most mates and sire most offspring. We drew a random sample of mature male brown trout (Salmo trutta) from two wild populations and determined their dominance hierarchy or traits linked to dominance.

'Good-genes' and 'compatible-genes' effects in an Alpine whitefish and the information content of breeding tubercles over the course of the spawning season.

Some models of sexual selection predict that individuals vary in their genetic quality and reveal some of this variation in their secondary sexual characteristics. Alpine whitefish (Coregonus sp.) develop breeding tubercles shortly before their spawning season.

Complex genital system of a haplogyne spider (Arachnida, Araneae, Tetrablemmidae) indicates internal fertilization and full female control over transferred sperm.

The female genital organs of the tetrablemmid Indicoblemma lannaianum are astonishingly complex. The copulatory orifice lies anterior to the opening of the uterus externus and leads into a narrow insertion duct that ends in a genital cavity. The genital cavity continues laterally in paired tube-like copulatory ducts, which lead into paired, large, sac-like receptacula.

Morphology and function of male genitalia (spermatophores) in Euscorpius italicus (Euscorpiidae, Scorpiones): complex spermatophore structures enable safe sperm transfer.

The structure and function of the spermatophore of Euscorpius italicus are analyzed. We show how the spermatophore gets shaped from two hemispermatophores and for the first time the sperm transfer mechanism is shown in detail, illustrating function and importance of all complex lobe structures of an euscorpiid spermatophore. A detailed description of the interaction of spermatophore and female genitalia is given.