45 research outputs found
Coatings on Mammalian Cells: Interfacing Cells with Their Environment
The research community is intent on harnessing increasingly complex biological building blocks. At present, cells represent a highly functional component for integration into higher order systems. In this review, we discuss the current application space for cellular coating technologies and emphasize the relationship between the target application and coating design. We also discuss how the cell and the coating interact in common analytical techniques, and where caution must be exercised in the interpretation of results. Finally, we look ahead at emerging application areas that are ideal for innovation in cellular coatings. In all, cellular coatings leverage the machinery unique to specific cell types, and the opportunities derived from these hybrid assemblies have yet to be fully realized
Radio-Continuum study of the Nearby Sculptor Group Galaxies. Part 1: NGC 300 at lambda = 20 cm
A series of new radio-continuum (lambda=20 cm) mosaic images focused on the
NGC 300 galactic system were produced using archived observational data from
the VLA and/or ATCA. These new images are both very sensitive (rms=60 microJy)
and feature high angular resolution (<10"). The most prominent new feature is
the galaxy's extended radio-continuum emission, which does not match its
optical appearance. Using these newly created images a number of previously
unidentified discrete sources have been discovered. Furthermore, we demonstrate
that a joint deconvolution approach to imaging this complete data-set is
inferior when compared to an immerge approach.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figures, accepted to APSS, new version to correct the
missing reference
Impacts of salvage logging on biodiversity: A meta-analysis
Logging to "salvage" economic returns from forests affected by natural disturbances has become increasingly prevalent globally. Despite potential negative effects on biodiversity, salvage logging is often conducted, even in areas otherwise excluded from logging and reserved for nature conservation, inter alia because strategic priorities for post-disturbance management are widely lacking. A review of the existing literature revealed that most studies investigating the effects of salvage logging on biodiversity have been conducted less than 5 years following natural disturbances, and focused on non-saproxylic organisms. A meta-analysis across 24 species groups revealed that salvage logging significantly decreases numbers of species of eight taxonomic groups. Richness of dead wood dependent taxa (i.e. saproxylic organisms) decreased more strongly than richness of non-saproxylic taxa. In contrast, taxonomic groups typically associated with open habitats increased in the number of species after salvage logging. By analysing 134 original species abundance matrices, we demonstrate that salvage logging significantly alters community composition in 7 of 17 species groups, particularly affecting saproxylic assemblages. Synthesis and applications. Our results suggest that salvage logging is not consistent with the management objectives of protected areas. Substantial changes, such as the retention of dead wood in naturally disturbed forests, are needed to support biodiversity. Future research should investigate the amount and spatio-temporal distribution of retained dead wood needed to maintain all components of biodiversity
Estimating retention benchmarks for salvage logging to protect biodiversity
S.T. was supported by the Humboldt-Foundation and by the MOST (Ministry of Science
and Technology) Taiwan Research Fellowship to work with A.C. at National Tsing Hua
University, Taiwan. S.T. received funds from the Gregor Louisoder Environmental
Foundation. A.B.L. received funds from the Humboldt-Foundation.Forests are increasingly affected by natural disturbances. Subsequent salvage logging, a
widespread management practice conducted predominantly to recover economic capital,
produces further disturbance and impacts biodiversity worldwide. Hence, naturally disturbed
forests are among the most threatened habitats in the world, with consequences for their
associated biodiversity. However, there are no evidence-based benchmarks for the proportion
of area of naturally disturbed forests to be excluded from salvage logging to conserve biodiversity.
We apply a mixed rarefaction/extrapolation approach to a global multi-taxa dataset
from disturbed forests, including birds, plants, insects and fungi, to close this gap. We find
that 75 ± 7% (mean ± SD) of a naturally disturbed area of a forest needs to be left unlogged
to maintain 90% richness of its unique species, whereas retaining 50% of a naturally disturbed
forest unlogged maintains 73 ± 12% of its unique species richness. These values do
not change with the time elapsed since disturbance but vary considerably among taxonomic
groups.Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEA