Mixtures obtained by reacting trans-(�)-1,2diaminocyclohexane with acetylacetone in the presence of simple cobalt(II) salts.

In the absence of a metal ion, racemic trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (trans-(�)DCH) reacts with acetylacetone (acacH) (1:2.5 mole ratio) to form the bisoxoenamine condensation product, boe (1). CoCl2·6H2O and Co(ClO4)2·6H2O each react with trans-(�)DCH in air to give complexes containing the oxidised Co(III) ion, [Co((�)DCH)3]3+, which does not subsequently react with added acacH to give a Schiff base complex. Mixtures of complexes are obtained from one-pot reactions involving trans-(�)DCH, a simple Co(II) salt and acacH (1:1:2.5 mole ratio). When CoCl2·6H2O is used, the mixed-ligand Co(II) complex [Co((�)DCH)Cl2] (4) precipitates first and, after a period of weeks, the Co(II) complex (diazH)2[CoCl4] (5) (diazH+ is a diazepinium cation), the Co(II) complex [Co(boe)Cl2]n (6) and the Co(III) complex [Co(acac)3] (7), co-crystallise from the mother liquor. Using Co(ClO4)2·6H2O in the reaction with trans-(�)DCH and acacH also gives a mixture of products. Complexes 7, the Co(II) complex [Co2(acac)4(H2O)2][Co(acac)(H2O)4]ClO4·EtOH (8) and the Co(III) complex [Co(acac)2(�)DCH]ClO4 (9) co-crystallise. Complexes 1, 5, 7, 8 and 9 were characterised using X-ray crystallography. The major difference between using CoCl2·6H2O and Co(ClO4)2·6H2O in reactions involving (�)DCH and acacH is that no DCH/acacH condensation products are identified in the product mixtures when the perchlorate salt is employed

Plankton Ecology and Productivity in Jamaican Waters with New and Unique Applications

Unique applications of plankton ecology and productivity in Jamaican waters are presented. While traditional indices were inadequate descriptors of mangrove lagoon water quality, planktonic indices (total Chlorophyll a, zooplankton groups and species) were more reliable. Phytoplankton biomass was used to indicate a longitudinal gradient along the Hellshire Coastline, identifying non-point sources of enrichment, and movement of water masses in the absence of expensive Eulerian current meters. Along that same coast, mean primary production, determined by 14C techniques, confirmed a gradient from the eutrophic Kingston Harbour (21.1 g C m−2year−1) to the oligotrophic control site (0.52 g C m−2 year−1). Maximum inshore station values (36.75–18.39 g C m−2 year−1) were more than 20 times greater than offshore and exceeded Harbour values, confirming non-point sources and localized mechanisms as important inshore sources of eutrophication. The novel use of Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) software to model trophic flows within planktonic communities was done in two bays. For Discovery Bay, on Jamaica’s north coast, the model indicated a developing ecosystem with open mineral cycles and poor nutrient conservation while in Foul and Folly Bays on the southeastern coast the model indicated greater resilience and ability to recover from perturbations. These applications have facilitated informed management decisions for sustainable use in Jamaican coastal ecosystems

Using genomic DNA-based probe-selection to improve the sensitivity of high-density oligonucleotide arrays when applied to heterologous species

High-density oligonucleotide (oligo) arrays are a powerful tool for transcript profiling. Arrays based on GeneChip® technology are amongst the most widely used, although GeneChip® arrays are currently available for only a small number of plant and animal species. Thus, we have developed a method to improve the sensitivity of high-density oligonucleotide arrays when applied to heterologous species and tested the method by analysing the transcriptome of Brassica oleracea L., a species for which no GeneChip® array is available, using a GeneChip® array designed for Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Genomic DNA from B. oleracea was labelled and hybridised to the ATH1-121501 GeneChip® array. Arabidopsis thaliana probe-pairs that hybridised to the B. oleracea genomic DNA on the basis of the perfect-match (PM) probe signal were then selected for subsequent B. oleracea transcriptome analysis using a .cel file parser script to generate probe mask files. The transcriptional response of B. oleracea to a mineral nutrient (phosphorus; P) stress was quantified using probe mask files generated for a wide range of gDNA hybridisation intensity thresholds. An example probe mask file generated with a gDNA hybridisation intensity threshold of 400 removed > 68 % of the available PM probes from the analysis but retained >96 % of available A. thaliana probe-sets. Ninety-nine of these genes were then identified as significantly regulated under P stress in B. oleracea, including the homologues of P stress responsive genes in A. thaliana. Increasing the gDNA hybridisation intensity thresholds up to 500 for probe-selection increased the sensitivity of the GeneChip® array to detect regulation of gene expression in B. oleracea under P stress by up to 13-fold. Our open-source software to create probe mask files is freely available http://affymetrix.arabidopsis.info/xspecies/ webcite and may be used to facilitate transcriptomic analyses of a wide range of plant and animal species in the absence of custom arrays

Network approaches for formalizing conceptual models in ecosystem-based management

Funding Intermodel comparisons were supported through funding from the NOAA Integrated Ecosystem Assessment Program. P.S. McDonald’s involvement was funded in part by a grant from Washington Sea Grant, University of Washington, pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award number NA14OAR4170078. Funding for RPW was supported by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)/Sea Grant Population and Ecosystem Dynamics Graduate Fellowship via federal award NA14OAR4170077. Acknowledgements We would like to acknowledge and thank the participants of the NOAA Integrated Ecosystem Assessment Program conceptual network modelling workshop at Baton Rouge, LA in July 2018. The discussions at this meeting formed some of the basis for the ideas presented in this manuscript. We also thank J. Moss and two anonymous reviewers for valuable comments on earlier manuscript drafts. The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA. Reference to trade names does not imply endorsement by the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA. This is NOAA Integrated Ecosystem Assessment Program contribution number 2021_3.Peer reviewedPostprin

Ink release and swimming behavior in the oceanic Ctenophore Eurhamphaea vexilligera

Author Posting. © University of Chicago, 2020. This article is posted here by permission of University of Chicago for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Biological Bulletin 238(3), (2020): 206-213. doi:10.1086/709504.Of the more than 150 ctenophore species, the oceanic ctenophore Eurhamphaea vexilligera is notable for its bright orange-yellow ink, secreted from numerous small vesicles that line its substomodeal comb rows. To date, in situ observations by scuba divers have proved the most fruitful method of observing these animals’ natural behavior. We present the results of one such contemporary scuba-based observation of E. vexilligera, conducted in the Gulf Stream waters off the coast of Florida, using high-resolution photography and video. Utilizing underwater camera systems purpose built for filming gelatinous zooplankton, we observed E. vexilligera ink release and swimming behavior in situ. From these data, we describe the timeline and mechanics of E. vexilligera ink release in detail, as well as the animal’s different swimming behaviors and resulting ink dispersal patterns. We also describe a rolling swimming behavior, accompanied and possibly facilitated by a characteristic change in overall body shape. These observations provide further insight into the behavioral ecology of this distinctive ctenophore and may serve as the foundation for future kinematic studies.This work was funded by National Science Foundation awards OCE-1829945 to BJG, OCE-1829932 to KRS, OCE-1829913 to SPC, and OCE-1830015 to JHC. We thank the captain and crew of Calypso Dive Charters’ Miss Jackie for their assistance and field expertise, as well as two anonymous reviewers, whose insightful comments have improved the quality of the manuscript

An enquiry into the use of numeric data in learning & teaching

Within UK higher education the renewed attention to learning and teaching is an impetus for change. Advances in information technology create new space for learning beyond the traditional classroom lecture format. New initiatives are creating networked teaching materials for shared use across institutions. But little is known about the readiness of teachers and students to take advantage of these resources for teaching and study. Are universities providing the support needed for using these networked resources in classrooms, computer labs, and independent study? An academic Task Force on the use of numeric data in learning and teaching has issued a report on the barriers faced by teachers and students to using national data services across a number of disciplines, including but not limited to the social sciences. The enquiry focused on numeric data, which involves a higher number of skills to use than many other types of information resources. Results were analysed from a national survey of teaching departments in universities, and seven case studies of real-life teaching scenarios in both post- and undergraduate classes in several disciplines. The Task Force contributed views from their own significant experience of teaching in academia as well. The project is part of a national development programme on learning and teaching funded by the JISC (Joint Information Systems Committee). Its unique focus within the set of projects is on the value of introducing statistical data such as area census statistics, sample survey datasets, and economic trend data to the educational experience of students, particularly when students actively take part in analysing the data, and practice drawing conclusions from empirical evidence. The enquiry found that despite established use of quantitative secondary analysis of national datasets in research, a number of issues make its use in teaching and students’independent study difficult, and therefore rare. Whilst print tables and graphs are often used by lecturers in teaching empirical subjects, statistical files requiring ‘hands- on’ computer analysis are not commonly built into the teaching design, except in methods courses. Yet these are transferable skills needed by today’s graduates to enter the professions or advanced study. Only one-quarter of survey respondents who said they used data in the classroom had considered using the nationally funded academic data services provided by the Data Archive (at Essex), MIMAS (at Manchester), or EDINA (at Edinburgh) as a source of the data used in their teaching. The survey uncovered a number of barriers experienced by teachers in the use of these services, namely a lack of awareness of relevant materials, lack of sufficient time for preparation, complex registration procedures, and problems with the delivery and format of the datasets available. These problems were elaborated in open-ended comments by respondents and in the case studies of current teaching practice. A compounding problem is the lack of local support for teachers who would like to incorporate data analysis into substantive courses. A majority of the survey respondents said that the level of support for data use in their own institutions was ad-hoc. Peer support was more common than support from librarians and computing service staff, and over one-third received no support whatever. The top three forms of local support needed were data discovery/ locating sources, helping students use data, and expert consultation for statistics and methods (for staff). The Task Force analysed the results of the sur vey and the experiences expressed in the case studies and issued recommendations for UK higher education, summorised below: 1. A broad initiative is recommended to promote subject-based statistical literacy for students, coupled with tangible support for academic teaching staff who wish to incorporate empirical data into substantive courses. 2. The development of high-quality teaching materials for major UK datasets must be funded adequately, in order to provide salience to subject matter and demonstrate relevant methods for coursework. 3. The national data services need to improve the usability of their datasets for learning and teaching. 4. A more concerted and co-ordinated promotion of the national data services could then follow, which is responsive to user demand. 5. Universities should develop IT strategies that include data services and support for staff and students, and integration of empirical datasets into learning technologies

Field testing of biohybrid robotic jellyfish to demonstrate enhanced swimming speeds

© The Author(s), 2020. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Xu, N. W., Townsend, J. P., Costello, J. H., Colin, S. P., Gemmell, B. J., & Dabiri, J. O. Field testing of biohybrid robotic jellyfish to demonstrate enhanced swimming speeds. Biomimetics, 5(4), (2020): E64, doi:10.3390/biomimetics5040064.Biohybrid robotic designs incorporating live animals and self-contained microelectronic systems can leverage the animals’ own metabolism to reduce power constraints and act as natural chassis and actuators with damage tolerance. Previous work established that biohybrid robotic jellyfish can exhibit enhanced speeds up to 2.8 times their baseline behavior in laboratory environments. However, it remains unknown if the results could be applied in natural, dynamic ocean environments and what factors can contribute to large animal variability. Deploying this system in the coastal waters of Massachusetts, we validate and extend prior laboratory work by demonstrating increases in jellyfish swimming speeds up to 2.3 times greater than their baseline, with absolute swimming speeds up to 6.6 ± 0.3 cm s−1. These experimental swimming speeds are predicted using a hydrodynamic model with morphological and time-dependent input parameters obtained from field experiment videos. The theoretical model can provide a basis to choose specific jellyfish with desirable traits to maximize enhancements from robotic manipulation. With future work to increase maneuverability and incorporate sensors, biohybrid robotic jellyfish can potentially be used to track environmental changes in applications for ocean monitoring.This work was supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) awarded to N.W.X

Effects of Arteriovenous Fistula on Blood Pressure in Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease: A Systematic Meta-Analysis

Background Central arteriovenous fistula ( AVF ) creation is under investigation for treatment of severe hypertension. We evaluated the effects of AVF for initiation of hemodialysis on systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure in patients with end-stage renal disease. Methods and Results Data search included PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. A systematic review and meta-analysis of peer-reviewed studies reporting the effects of the creation/ligation of an AVF on blood pressure in patients with end-stage renal disease was performed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis), PRISMA -P (PRISMA for systematic review protocols), and ROBINS-I (Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies) criteria by the Cochrane Bias Methods Group. All studies in which the results could have been biased by hemodialysis were excluded. A total of 14 trials including 412 patients with end-stage renal disease ( AVF creation, n=185; AVF ligation, n=227) fulfilled the criteria and were subsequently analyzed. Average blood pressure in patients with no/closed AVF was 140.5/77.6 mm Hg with a mean arterial blood pressure of 96.1 mm Hg. Following creation of AVF , systolic blood pressure significantly decreased by 8.7 mm Hg ( P<0.001), diastolic blood pressure by 5.9 mm Hg ( P<0.001), and mean arterial blood pressure by 6.6 mm Hg ( P=0.02), whereas after ligation systolic blood pressure increased by 5.2 mm Hg ( P=0.07), diastolic blood pressure by 3.8 mm Hg ( P=0.02), and mean arterial blood pressure by 3.7 mm Hg ( P=0.07) during short- to long-term follow-up. Conclusions Creation of AVF significantly decreases blood pressure in patients with end-stage renal disease, whereas blood pressure tends to increase after ligation. These findings illustrate the hemodynamic consequences of AVF which are under investigation for severe hypertension