For shallow ponds to be contenders for the venue of the emergence of life on Earth, they would have had to provide sufficient protection from ultraviolet (UV) radiation to allow for the preservation of organic molecules. Shallow ponds of a variety of compositions are proposed for early Earth, many of which may have provided ample shielding effects by attenuating UV light via absorption by (in)organic ions. Here, we present an experimental setup designed to simulate an irradiated water column to investigate the preservation/degradation of organic molecules and by proxy the attenuation of UV radiation in ponds of diverse compositions. In this setup, we dissolved glycine in ultrapure water, ferrocyanide and carbonate pond simulants and irradiated for several days. Our findings indicate that glycine’s photochemical degradation under UV irradiation is minimal in the carbonate pond, though significant in the ferrocyanide pond and in ultrapure water, where it breaks down into diverse products including formamide, glycinamide, glycinmethylester and acetaldehyde. Though ferrocyanide is a potent UV absorber, our experiments show ferrocyanide ponds to be transiently UV-shielding environments due to the removal of ferrocyanide by UV-induced precipitation of goethite and pyrite mineral assemblages and subsequent photodegradation of glycine in the cleared water column. Our results further suggest that hypersaline, carbonate ponds may present stable environments for prebiotic chemistry while providing ample UV attenuation, ultimately protecting the integrity of organic molecules. This work contributes to understanding the interplay between UV irradiation and (in)organic compounds in ponds and the suitability of those ponds for the onset of prebiotic chemistry on Earth, Mars and other celestial bodies.

In her target article, Burt revives a by now ancient debate on nature and nurture, and the ways to measure, disentangle, and ultimately trust one or the other of these forces. Unfortunately, she largely dismisses recent advances in behavior genetics and its huge potential in contributing to a better prediction and understanding of complex traits in social sciences.

Across four studies participants (N = 818) rated the profoundness of abstract art images accompanied with varying categories of titles, including: pseudo-profound bullshit titles (e.g., The Deaf Echo), mundane titles (e.g., Canvas 8), and no titles. Randomly generated pseudo-profound bullshit titles increased the perceived profoundness of computer-generated abstract art, compared to when no titles were present (Study 1). Mundane titles did not enhance the perception of profoundness, indicating that pseudo-profound bullshit titles specifically (as opposed to titles in general) enhance the perceived profoundness of abstract art (Study 2). Furthermore, these effects generalize to artist-created abstract art (Study 3). Finally, we report a large correlation between profoundness ratings for pseudo-profound bullshit and “International Art English” statements (Study 4), a mode and style of communication commonly employed by artists to discuss their work. This correlation suggests that these two independently developed communicative modes share underlying cognitive mechanisms in their interpretations. We discuss the potential for these results to be integrated into a larger, new theoretical framework of bullshit as a low-cost strategy for gaining advantages in prestige awarding domains.

The Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus is a generalist species that inhabits temperate and arctic coasts of the north Atlantic Ocean. In recent years, there has been growing concern about population declines at local and regional scales; however, there has been no attempt to robustly assess Great Black-backed Gull population trends across its global range. We obtained the most recent population counts across the species’ range and analysed population trends at a global, continental, and national scale over the most recent three-generation period (1985–2021) following IUCN Red List criteria. We found that, globally, the species has declined by 43%–48% over this period (1.2–1.3% per annum, respectively), from an estimated 291,000 breeding pairs to 152,000–165,000 breeding pairs under two different scenarios. North American populations declined more steeply than European ones (68% and 28%, respectively). We recommend that Great Black-backed Gull should be uplisted from ‘Least Concern’ to ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species under criterion A2 (an estimated reduction in population size >30% over three generations).

Currently, there is little comparative data on ‘efficiency’ of different engineering species, i.e. species richness, density and biomass of the associated organisms that have been supported by engineering species. The use of fouling communities makes it possible to compare the efficiency of different engineering species under the same conditions, which is necessary to obtain correct estimates and difficult to do when studying natural bottom communities. In this study, we have analysed the fouling communities in four different mussel culture farms in the White Sea to test the following hypotheses. (1) Different engineering species (mussel Mytilus edulis, solitary ascidian Styela rustica, sponge Halichondria panicea) have different assemblages of the associated vagile fauna. (2) Mytilus edulis is the most efficient engineering species, i.e. species richness, species diversity, density and biomass of the associated vagile fauna is higher in the mussel communities than in those dominated by Styela rustica or Halichondria panicea. The first hypothesis was confirmed, while the second was rejected. In all the culture farms studied, all parameters of the mussel-associated vagile fauna were not higher and in most cases were even lower than those of the fauna associated with ascidians or sponges. The reason for this seems to be the very dense packing of mussels in patches. Therefore, Mytilus edulis is not the most efficient engineering species among fouling organisms, at least in the conditions of the subarctic White Sea. The data obtained are particularly important in view of the ever-increasing volume of anthropogenic substrate and fouling communities in coastal marine ecosystems.

We describe a novel dietary assessment strategy to estimate usual food intake in the ongoing large-scale multi-center German National Cohort (GNC). The dietary assessment is based on three 24 h food lists (24h-FL) and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) enriched by information from the representative German National Nutrition Survey II (NVS II). The novelty of this dietary assessment strategy is based on separating the probability of food intake from daily consumption amounts. The probability of consumption is estimated from 24h-FLs used in the GNC. To estimate daily consumption amounts, the already collected data of the NVS II are used. The 24h-FL simplifies the question on food consumption for all foods asked to consumption or not and so the questionnaire can be completed in about 10 minutes, reducing the burden on study participants. As proof of concept, we applied the assessment strategy to pretest data collected in 2012 to 2013 to assess the feasibility of the instruments. In brief, the novel dietary assessment strategy comprises three steps. First, the individuals’ consumption probability is estimated by three 24h-FLs and one FFQ applying a logistic linear mixed model adjusted for characteristics of the participants. Second, person-specific daily consumption amounts are estimated from the NVS II applying a linear mixed model taking the characteristics of the participants into account. Third, usual food intake is estimated by the consumption probability multiplied by person-specific daily amounts. Usual intake of 41 food groups in 318 men and 377 women were estimated. Of those participants who completed the first 24h-FL, 84.4, and 68.5% completed the second and third 24h-FL, respectively. No associations were observed between probability to participate and lifestyle factors. The estimated usual food intake distributions were in a plausible range as shown by comparing the estimated energy intake to the energy needs approximated by estimated total energy expenditure. Total energy was estimated to be 2,707 kcal/day for men and 2,103 kcal/day for women. With a few exceptions, the estimated food-based consumption probabilities did not differ considerably between men and women. The differences in energy intake between men and women were mainly due to their differences in the estimated person-specific daily amounts. As a conclusion, plausible but not validated values for usual food intake were derived in the pretest study, so that the combination of three repeated 24h-FLs, an FFQ and person-specific daily amounts from an external source is a feasible strategy for dietary assessment.

We study particle capture on an angled cylinder at a range of Péclet numbers. This system was inspired by the plumose antennae of certain species of male moths that intercept female pheromones at low Péclet numbers of 0.9–23. We use confocal microscopy to measure the branching patterns of 49 moths, spanning 12 families and two orders of magnitude in mass. Among the three levels of hierarchy in antennae, we find the middle level has a prevalent branching angle, $52^{\circ }\pm 12^{\circ }$ across our study set. Such intermediate branching angles are a surprising way to intercept molecules because they do not maximize the exposed surface area. To understand the benefits of angling cylinders into the flow, we study particle collection at high Péclet number using $10~\unicode[STIX]{x03BC}\text{m}$ drops that are several orders of magnitude larger than moth pheromones. Wind tunnel tests show that cylinders angled at $30^{\circ }{-}60^{\circ }$ are optimal for collection of particles, collecting 30 % more than when perpendicular to the flow. Simulations and smoke visualization show that angled cylinders bend incoming streamlines, creating a lingering effect near the cylinder that can enhance deposition by diffusion. We surmise that the optimal angle arises from a trade-off between the lingering effect, which decreases with increasing angle of the cylinder, and the cylinder’s increasing projected area as it is turned more perpendicular to the flow. Using a mathematical model, we show that only cylinders at low Péclet number show improved collection at intermediate angles. Thus, we cannot rationalize the high collection rates in our wind tunnel experiments at high Péclet number. We hope that our study will inspire more research into bio-inspired particle collection of angled surfaces, and find applications in sensors and filters.

The multi-layered settlement of Turganik in the Tok River valley (steppe region west of the Urals) has been studied using paleopedological and microbiomorphical methods. Early humans lived in the settlement during the Eneolithic epoch (the fifth millennium BC) and in the Early Bronze Age (the fourth millennium BC). The cultural layers attributable to the Atlantic period of the Holocene developed under conditions of a rather dry climate, with the landscapes being dominated by the grass and herb steppe. The settlement area was above the flood water level and was suitable for habitation. The soils in its vicinity were Kastanozems (Endosalic Protosodic). The final stages of the cultural layer formation bear traces of strong (though short-term) floods, with the deposits of the latter partly concealed traces of the preceding long-term arid phase. Maximum aridity was during the final interval of the Atlantic period. The Subboreal and Subatlantic periods were noted for meadow-chernozem soil formation (Luvic Chernozems [Stagnic]) and an increasing proportion of arboreal species in the pollen assemblages. Some phytoliths of aquatic plants were found in the assemblages dominated by those of meadow grasses. The climate was more humid and cool, although short episodes of aridity were possible.

Two-step crystallization process based on a low-Pb-content seed layer is proposed to form PZT films by the chemical solution deposition. The first crystallization step was performed after the deposition from precursor solutions with 0 and 5 wt% Pb excess, which provides a low nucleation rate and the strong perovskite (111) orientation. The bulk film was obtained from solutions with a 30 wt% Pb excess, which ensures a high growth rate and eliminates formation of pyrochlore residuals. Some films with a fixed Pb excess were prepared for comparison. It is shown that the low-Pb-content seed layer can sufficiently enhance the texture of perovskite (111) grains thus providing the highest polarization magnitudes as compared to films prepared with the fixed Pb content. The lead content and the crystallization of the seed layer are found to affect the grain-boundary conduction, which, in turn, influences the polarization dependence of transient currents.

The paper describes the studies of the transformation of Cs+- and Sr2+-containing zeolite sorbents synthesized from fly ash cenospheres to crystalline mineral composition, suitable for the long-term disposal. Series of Cs+- and Sr2+-exchanged NaP1-containing sorbents were subjected to the thermochemical transformation in the temperature range 40-1100°C at atmospheric pressure in air and the progress of reaction was monitored by DSC and XRD analysis. It was shown that initial sodium zeolite undergoes two-step transformation at 736-785°C and 892-982°C forming nepheline as the principle product, with the conversion temperatures being dependant on the heating rate.

The thermal treatment of Cs+-bearing zeolite sorbent led to formation of a complex multiphase system, the principal components of which were nepheline and pollucite. Increasing cesium content in the samples led to a monotonous shift of crystallization peak to the higher temperature range (1005-1006°C). A more complicated behavior was observed for Sr2+-containing samples, for which the crystallization temperature tends to increase (compared with NaP1) at lower Sr contents, but it starts decreasing parallel to the Sr2+ content at Sr2+ loadings >10 mg/g. The principal crystalline phases in Sr-NaP1 sample conversion were nepheline and Sr2+-containing feldspar, the quantity of which increased parallel to the increase of strontium content in zeolite.

Apparent activation energies of thermochemical transformations were calculated and possible approaches to reduce transformation temperature are discussed and experimentally illustrated.

During past years the 5-HT1A C(-1019)G polymorphism has been associated with vulnerability to depression, anxiety-disorder and personality traits related to negative emotionality (e.g. neuroticism). Many of these studies focused on case-control comparisons or associations between genetic markers and personality traits assessed by the use of questionnaires. In contrast, overt behaviour and physiological measures in experimental paradigms, although very promising, have seldom been the focus of studies investigating the role of the 5-HT1A polymorphism for behaviour and psychopathology. To fill this gap, we examined the relationship between the 5-HT1A C(-1019)G polymorphism and reaction times (in a reward/punishment paradigm) as well as electrodermal activity, as a marker of autonomic arousal, in 123 healthy subjects. This paradigm seems very promising, as sensitivity to punishment in particular, is strongly associated to traits related to negative emotionality. Carriers of the GG genotype, which is related to increased expression of 5-HT1A autoreceptors, exhibited increased reaction times when they were able to win money (reward condition). In direct contrast to the reward condition, these subjects show faster reaction times in the punishment condition (losing money). Moreover, GG carriers are characterized by an enhanced electrodermal activity in all experimental conditions (win, lose and verbal feedback). Finally, the reaction-time pattern mentioned was related to higher scores on negative emotionality as revealed by self-reports. These findings demonstrate for the first time that the 5-HT1A polymorphism is related to personality on the level of a triadic approach including behaviour, physiology and self-reports.

To define brain regions involved in feature extraction or elementary form perception, regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured using positron emission tomography (PET) in subjects viewing two classes of achromatic textures. Textures composed of local features (e.g. extended contours and rectangular blocks) produced activation or increased rCBF along the occipitotemporal pathway relative to textures with the same mean luminance, contrast, and spatial-frequency content but lacking organized form elements or local features. Significant activation was observed in striate, extrastriate, lingual, and fusiform cortices as well as the hippocampus and brain stem. On a scan-by-scan basis, increases in rCBF shifted from the occipitotemporal visual cortices to medial temporal (hippocampus) and frontal lobes with increased exposure to only those textures containing local features. These results suggest that local feature extraction occurs throughout the occipitotemporal (ventral) pathway during extended exposure to visually salient stimuli, and may indicate the presence of similar receptive-field mechanisms in both occipital and temporal visual areas of the human brain.