Chirality governs the structure and activity changes of firefly luciferase induced by carbon quantum dots.

Nanobiocatalysis is a novel area integrating various advantages of nanotechnology and enzymatic catalysis. However, great efforts are still needed to fully understand the interactions between nanostructures and enzymes. The biological properties of nano-hybrid enzymes greatly depend on the size and chemical properties of their nano element.

Discovery of a new soft-bodied click-beetle genus from Namibia with a unique morphology leads to a modified diagnosis of Drilini (Coleoptera, Elateridae).

Drilini are soft-bodied predatory click beetles with incompletely metamorphosed females. Approximately 150 described species are distributed in the Afrotropical, Palaearctic and Oriental realms, with the highest diversity known from sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we describe from Namibia which brings the total number of genera in Drilini to 16.

Dicobalt(ii) helices kill colon cancer cells enantiomer-specific mechanisms; DNA damage or microtubule disruption.

Highly diastereoselective self-assembly reactions give both enantiomers (Λ and Δ) of anti-parallel triple-stranded bimetallic Co(ii) and Co(iii) cationic helices, without the need for resolution; the first such reaction for Co. The complexes are water soluble and stable, even in the case of Co(ii). Studies in a range of cancer and healthy cell lines indicate high activity and selectivity, and substantial differences between enantiomers.

Phylogenetic analysis reveals a new net-winged beetle genus of Eurrhacini (Coleoptera, Lycidae) from the Pacific slopes of Central America and Ecuador.

The first phylogenetic inference of Calopterini and Eurrhacini focused on and related taxa was carried out. A data matrix composed of 46 species and 51 morphological characters was assembled and analyzed using parsimony and model-based approaches. Eurrhacini were recovered monophyletic.

Characteristics of turion development in two aquatic carnivorous plants: Hormonal profiles, gas exchange and mineral nutrient content.

Turions are vegetative, dormant, and storage overwintering organs formed in perennial aquatic plants in response to unfavorable ecological conditions and originate by extreme condensation of apical shoot segments. The contents of cytokinins, auxins, and abscisic acid were estimated in shoot apices of summer growing, rootless aquatic carnivorous plants, and , and in developing turions at three stages and full maturity to reveal hormonal patterns responsible for turion development. The hormones were analyzed in miniature turion samples using ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry.

Remote Heart Failure Symptoms Assessment After Myocardial Infarction Identifies Patients at Risk for Death.

Background: Heart failure is a common complication after myocardial infarction (MI) and is associated with increased mortality. Whether remote heart failure symptoms assessment after MI can improve risk stratification is unknown. The authors evaluated the association of the 23-item Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) with all-cause mortality after MI.

A new species of Motschulsky, 1854 (Coleoptera, Rhagophthalmidae) from Laos represents the smallest known member of the genus.

Motschulsky, 1854 is the most speciose genus in Rhagophthalmidae, distributed in the region encompassing South, East, and Southeast Asia. Here, we describe from the Houaphanh Province of eastern Laos, which represents the smallest known species in and one of the smallest in Rhagophthalmidae. We compare it with the morphologically similar and geographically close congeners and provide a preliminary identification key to adult males of species from mainland Southeast Asia.

Descriptions of two new flightless species of Schimmel & Platia (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Dimini) from Taiwan Island, China, with a definition of the species-group.

Two new flightless click beetle species, and , are described and illustrated from Taiwan, China. Their habitus and diagnostic characters are illustrated. The two species most resemble , which is endemic to Taiwan, by the strongly protruding pronotal anterior angles accompanied by pits and the shape of aedeagus.

Bug cemetery: a case study of terrestrial isopod distribution on a brick wall in the Czech Republic.

Although terrestrial isopods (Oniscidea) are primarily soil- and surface-dwelling invertebrates, they can also be found on tree trunks and walls. This study evaluated distribution patterns of terrestrial isopods on a brick wall during the first hours of night in autumn. Four species of terrestrial isopods were recorded with being the dominant one.

Higher temperature and substrate vibrations as stress factors for terrestrial isopods - model species matter.

This study was focused on behaviour of the Common Rough Woodlouse () and the Plum Woodlouse () under the influence of stressors in the form of increased temperature, the vibrating surface, or their combination. Two types of experiments were performed. First, woodlice placed in a labyrinth were observed, to determine the degree of turn alternation, the speed of passing through the labyrinth, and the corrections of turn alternation, when exposed to stressors.

Antipredatory strategies of terrestrial isopods.

Terrestrial isopods (Oniscidea) represent a widespread group of land Crustacea that have been able to successfully adapt to the terrestrial environment and occupy newly formed ecological niches. During the colonisation of land, they faced numerous challenges, including finding an effective way to avoid their new terrestrial predators. In response to predation pressure, they have developed various behavioural and morphological adaptations.

Rhagophthalmidae Olivier, 1907 (Coleoptera, Elateroidea): described genera and species, current problems, and prospects for the bioluminescent and paedomorphic beetle lineage.

Rhagophthalmidae are a small beetle family known from the eastern Palaearctic and Oriental realms. Rhagophthalmidae are closely related to railroad worms (Phengodidae) and fireflies (Lampyridae) with which they share highly modified paedomorphic females and the ability to emit light. Currently, Rhagophthalmidae include 66 species classified in the following 12 genera: Pic, 1921 (two spp.

Chitosan-based nanoscale systems for doxorubicin delivery: Exploring biomedical application in cancer therapy.

Green chemistry has been a growing multidisciplinary field in recent years showing great promise in biomedical applications, especially for cancer therapy. Chitosan (CS) is an abundant biopolymer derived from chitin and is present in insects and fungi. This polysaccharide has favorable characteristics, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ease of modification by enzymes and chemicals.

Traits and ecological space availability predict avian densities at the country scale of the Czech Republic.

Species' geographical distributions and abundances are a central focus of current ecological research. Although multiple studies have been conducted on their elucidation, some important information is still missing. One of them is the knowledge of ecological traits of species responsible for the population density variations across geographical (i.

, a new genus of Malthininae (Coleoptera, Cantharidae) from mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar.

A new fossil genus and species of Cantharidae, Li, Biffi, Kundrata & Cai , is reported from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. The new species is tentatively attributed to the extant subfamily Malthininae based on a combination of characters, including the symmetrical apical maxillary palpomeres, shortened elytra, pronotum with arched margins and well-defined borders, tibiae with apical spurs, and tarsal claws simple, although its well-developed gonostyli are atypical in Malthininae. The discovery of also suggests a possible Gondwanan origin for Malthininae.

A new rainfrog of the genus (Anura, Brachycephaloidea) from central and eastern Panama.

Substantial molecular and morphological character differences lead us to the description of a new species of the genus from the cloud forest of Cerro Chucantí, Maje Mountains, Darien Province, as well as from several other mountain ranges in eastern and central Panama. is a sister species to the allopatric group from northern Colombia with a mtDNA sequence divergence of > 4.4% at 16S and > 14.

Functional diversity of avian communities increases with canopy height: From individual behavior to continental-scale patterns.

Vegetation complexity is an important predictor of animal species diversity. Specifically, taller vegetation should provide more potential ecological niches and thus harbor communities with higher species richness and functional diversity (FD). Resource use behavior is an especially important functional trait because it links species to their resource base with direct relevance to niche partitioning.

Rituximab maintenance significantly reduces early follicular lymphoma progressions in patients treated with frontline R-CHOP.

Twenty percent of patients with high-tumor-burden (HTB) follicular lymphoma (FL) develop progression/relapse of disease (POD) within 24 months of frontline immunochemotherapy. Unfortunately, about 50% of these patients die within 5 years since POD event. Rituximab maintenance was proven to reduce relapse rate in responding FL, but its role on preventing POD was not defined.

Thermally induced intra-molecular transformation and metalation of free-base porphyrin on Au(111) surface steered by surface confinement and ad-atoms.

We investigated chemical transformations of a fluorinated free-base porphyrin, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-fluorophenyl)-21,23-porphyrin (2H-4FTPP) under a Au(111) surface confinement and including gold adatoms by using an experiment and density functional theory based first-principles calculations. Annealing of 2H-4FTPP led to cyclodehydrogenation of the molecule to a π-extended fused aromatic planar compound, 2H-4FPP, and metallation of the porphyrin ring by Au atoms to Au-4FPP complex. Noticeable lowering of bond-dissociation energies of the pyrrole's C-H bonds of the Au(111) supported molecule with respect to their values in the gas phase explained the observed on-surface planarization.

Subterranean biodiversity and depth distribution of myriapods in forested scree slopes of Central Europe.

The shallow underground of rock debris is a unique animal refuge. Nevertheless, the research of this habitat lags far behind the study of caves and soil, due to technical and time-consuming demands. Data on Myriapoda in scree habitat from eleven localities in seven different geomorphological units of the Czech and Slovak Republics were processed.

Character of woodland fragments affects distribution of myriapod assemblages in agricultural landscape.

Fragments of woodland fulfil many irreplaceable functions in the agricultural landscape including being the main source of biodiversity of soil invertebrates. Due to intensive farming and land use changes, especially in the second half of the 20 century, fragments of woodland in agricultural landscape almost disappeared. This has led to a decrease in the diversity of invertebrates, especially those for which the presence of these woodland habitats in the landscape is a key element for survival.

Clade composition of a plant community indicates its phylogenetic diversity.

Phylogenetic diversity quantification is based on indices computed from phylogenetic distances among species, which are derived from phylogenetic trees. This approach requires phylogenetic expertise and available molecular data, or a fully sampled synthesis-based phylogeny. Here, we propose and evaluate a simpler alternative approach based on taxonomic coding.

Species-specific habitat preferences do not shape the structure of a crested newt hybrid zone ( x ).

Reproductive isolation barriers maintain the integrity of species by preventing interspecific gene flow. They involve temporal, habitat or behavioral isolation acting before fertilization, and postzygotic isolation manifested as hybrid mortality or sterility. One of the approaches of how to study reproductive isolation barriers is through the analysis of hybrid zones.

Root ABA and H-ATPase are key players in the root and shoot growth-promoting action of humic acids.

Although the ability of humic (HA) and fulvic acids (FA) to improve plant growth has been demonstrated, knowledge about the mechanisms responsible for the direct effects of HA and FA on the promotion of plant growth is scarce and fragmentary. Our study investigated the causal role of both root PM H-ATPase activity and ABA in the SHA-promoting action on both root and shoot growth. The involvement of these processes in the regulation of shoot cytokinin concentration and activity was also studied.