Waved albatrosses can navigate with strong magnets attached to their head

The foraging excursions of waved albatrosses Phoebastria irrorata during incubation are ideally suited for navigational studies because they navigate between their Galápagos breeding site and one specific foraging site in the upwelling zone of Peru along highly predictable, straight-line routes. We used satellite telemetry to follow free-flying albatrosses after manipulating magnetic orientation cues by attaching magnets to strategic places on the birds' heads. All experimental, sham-manipulated and control birds, were able to navigate back and forth from Galápagos to their normal foraging sites at the Peruvian coast over 1000 km away. Birds subjected to the three treatments did not differ in the routes flown or in the duration and speed of the trips. The interpretations and implications of this result depend on which of the current suggested magnetic sensory mechanisms is actually being used by the birds

Global orientation aftereffect in multi-attribute displays: implications for the binding problem

AbstractWe investigated the binding problem (e.g. the combination of edge information across attributes), using an orientation aftereffect paradigm (OAE). Horizontal layers of vertical edges were phase-shifted to create a global near-vertical orientation. Multi-attribute displays were created by alternating the attribute defining edges (e.g. luminance, colour, texture or motion) across layers. OAE magnitude was dependent only on the attributes used in the adaptation phase, and the similarity of attributes from adaptation to testing phase had no significant effect. Moreover, compared to single-attribute conditions, the cooperation between attributes is moderate. These results favour segregation models of the binding mechanism

Signal transduction and amplification through enzyme-triggered ligand release and accelerated catalysis

An enzyme-triggered catalytic signal amplification cascade is described through the design of a novel enzyme substrate that selectively activates an organometallic transfer hydrogenation catalyst once triggered.</p

Fine-tuning of ferrocene redox potentials towards multiplex DNA detection

Rational tuning of ferrocene redox potential is achieved by modulation of the hydrophobicity and correlated to c log P.</p

Fine-tuning of ferrocene redox potentials towards multiplex DNA detection

Belgium Herbarium image of Meise Botanic Garden

Ratiometric electrochemical detection of alkaline phosphatase

A novel ferrocene-based substrate incorporating a phosphate trigger is validated for the ratiometric electrochemical detection of alkaline phosphatase activity.</p

Key factors of efficient organization management

Issues of efficiency of organization management are examined in the article. Aggressive competition between companies; what’s the difference between manager and leader; who is a leader; personal qualities of strong charismatic leaders etc. Particular attention is paid to the question of possibility to become a leader or to be born a leader.В статье рассмотрены основные черты настоящего лидера, затронута тема различия между лидером и менеджером, а также освещён вопрос о том, можно ли стать лидером

Ratiometric electrochemical detection of Pd•••π interactions:application towards electrochemical molecular logic gates

<p>The widespread and large scale use of platinum group metals, especially palladium, in a wide variety of industrial applications has seen their levels in wastewater streams, roadside dust and even pharmaceuticals significantly rise over recent years. Due to the possible environmental damage and potential health risk this may cause, there is now substantial demand for inexpensive, efficient and robust methods for the detection of palladium. Based upon self-immolative linker technologies, we have designed and synthesised a number of allyl ether-functionalised electrochemical probes to determine the optimum probe structure required to deliver a ratiometric electrochemical detection method capable of achieving a limit of detection of <1 mg/mL within 20 min through the use of disposable screen-printed carbon electrodes. Combined with an enzymatic assay, this method was then used to achieve a proof-of-principle ratiometric electrochemical molecular logic gate.</p