Variation in plant leaf traits affects transmission and detectability of herbivore vibrational cues.

Many insects use plant-borne vibrations to obtain important information about their environment, such as where to find a mate or a prey, or when to avoid a predator. Plant species can differ in the way they vibrate, possibly affecting the reliability of information, and ultimately the decisions that are made by animals based on this information. We examined whether the production, transmission, and possible perception of plant-borne vibrational cues is affected by variation in leaf traits.

Hematite coated, conductive Y doped ZnO nanorods for high efficiency solar water splitting.

For the first time, hematite (α-FeO) crystals were electrochemically deposited over vertically aligned conductive zinc oxide nanorods (NR) to form a specially designed 3D heterostructure with a unique triple layer structure. The structure formed with a thin layer of ZnFeO sandwiched between the hematite and the ZnO, which forms a barrier to reduce the back migration of holes. Hence, the charge separation is significantly improved.

Transparent conductive oxides in photoanodes for solar water oxidation.

Rational designs of the conductive layer below photocatalytic films determine the efficiency of a photoanode for solar water oxidation. Generally, transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) are widely used as a conductive layer. In this mini review, the fundamentals of TCOs are explained and typical examples of nanoscale TCOs are presented for application in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation.

Agglomerated novel spray-dried lactose-leucine tailored as a carrier to enhance the aerosolization performance of salbutamol sulfate from DPI formulations.

Spray-drying allows to modify the physicochemical/mechanical properties of particles along with their morphology. In the present study, -leucine with varying concentrations (0.1, 0.

Ultra rapid direct heating synthesis of ZnO nanorods with improved light trapping from stacked photoanodes for high efficiency photocatalytic water splitting.

An ultra rapid growth method for vertically aligned ZnO nanorod (NR) thin films on metal meshes was developed using a direct heating synthesis technique. A typical NR growth rate of 10 μm h was achieved. The effects of the applied heating power and growth duration on the morphologies of ZnO nanostructures were examined.

Comparative toxicity of imidacloprid and thiacloprid to different species of soil invertebrates.

Neonicotinoid insecticides have come under increasing scrutiny for their impact on non-target organisms, especially pollinators. The current scientific literature is mainly focused on the impact of these insecticides on pollinators and some aquatic insects, leaving a knowledge gap concerning soil invertebrates. This study aimed at filling this gap, by determining the toxicity of imidacloprid and thiacloprid to five species of soil invertebrates: earthworms (Eisenia andrei), enchytraeids (Enchytraeus crypticus), Collembola (Folsomia candida), oribatid mites (Oppia nitens) and isopods (Porcellio scaber).