The Arabian leopard Panthera pardus nimr is categorized as Critically Endangered, with < 200 individuals estimated to remain in the wild. Historically the species ranged over an extensive area of western Saudi Arabia but, with no confirmed sightings since 2014, investigating potential continued presence and distribution is of critical conservation importance. We present the results of a comprehensive survey designed to detect any remaining Arabian leopard populations in Saudi Arabia. We conducted 14 surveys, deploying 586 camera-trap stations at 13 sites, totalling 82,075 trap-nights. Questionnaire surveys were conducted with 843 members of local communities across the Arabian leopard's historical range to assess the presence of leopards, other predators and prey species. Predator scats were collected ad hoc by field teams and we used mitochondrial DNA analysis to identify the originating species. We obtained 62,948 independent photographs of animals and people, but none were of Arabian leopards. Other carnivores appeared widespread and domestic animals were numerous, but wild prey were comparatively scarce. Three questionnaire respondents reported sightings of leopards within the previous year, but targeted camera-trap surveys in these areas did not yield evidence of leopards. Of the 143 scats sent for analysis, no DNA was conclusively identified as that of the leopard. From this extensive study, we conclude there are probably no surviving, sustainable populations of Arabian leopards in Saudi Arabia. Individual leopards might be present but were not confirmed. Any future Arabian leopard conservation in Saudi Arabia will probably require reintroduction of captive-bred leopards.

In recent years, concern about research reproducibility has increased dramatically for scientists, funders of research, and the general public. With a view to explicitly address what is often called a reproducibility crisis and putting the focus on research being done by individual trainees, a two-hour workshop was developed and introduced into six courses at UC San Diego. Participation in the workshop resulted in a statistically significant increase in the number of different types of strategies identified by the trainees for fostering reproducibility. The findings are consistent with having increased awareness of strategies to promote reproducibility.

The mineral ‘oboyerite’, first described in 1979 from the Grand Central mine, Tombstone, Cochise County, Arizona, USA, has been re-examined. The type specimen from the Natural History Museum, London and a specimen from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (traceable to S. A Williams, who first described ‘oboyerite’) were analysed in this study. The discreditation of ‘oboyerite’ as a valid mineral species has been approved by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification of the International Mineralogical Association (Proposal 19-D). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, electron probe microanalysis and scanning electron microscopy were all employed to show that ‘oboyerite’ is formed of at least two distinct phases, including the lead–tellurium oxysalt minerals ottoite and plumbotellurite. During the course of the discreditation, plumbotellurite was confirmed to be identical to the synthetic compound α-Pb2+Te4+O3. Previously, in some mineralogical literature plumbotellurite was described as orthorhombic with no known crystal structure.

A 2018 workshop on the White Mountain Apache Tribe lands in Arizona examined ways to enhance investigations into cultural property crime (CPC) through applications of rapidly evolving methods from archaeological science. CPC (also looting, graverobbing) refers to unauthorized damage, removal, or trafficking in materials possessing blends of communal, aesthetic, and scientific values. The Fort Apache workshop integrated four generally partitioned domains of CPC expertise: (1) theories of perpetrators’ motivations and methods; (2) recommended practice in sustaining public and community opposition to CPC; (3) tactics and strategies for documenting, investigating, and prosecuting CPC; and (4) forensic sedimentology—uses of biophysical sciences to link sediments from implicated persons and objects to crime scenes. Forensic sedimentology served as the touchstone for dialogues among experts in criminology, archaeological sciences, law enforcement, and heritage stewardship. Field visits to CPC crime scenes and workshop deliberations identified pathways toward integrating CPC theory and practice with forensic sedimentology’s potent battery of analytic methods.

Clinical Enterobacteriacae isolates with a colistin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≥4 mg/L from a United States hospital were screened for the mcr-1 gene using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and confirmed by whole-genome sequencing. Four colistin-resistant Escherichia coli isolates contained mcr-1. Two isolates belonged to the same sequence type (ST-632). All subjects had prior international travel and antimicrobial exposure.

The crystal structure of eztlite has been determined using single-crystal synchrotron X-ray diffraction and supported using electron microprobe analysis and powder diffraction. Eztlite, a secondary tellurium mineral from the Moctezuma mine, Mexico, is monoclinic, space group Cm, with a = 11.466(2) Å, b = 19.775(4) Å, c = 10.497(2) Å, β = 102.62(3)° and V = 2322.6(9) Å3. The chemical formula of eztlite has been revised to ${\rm Pb}_{\rm 2}^{2 +} {\rm Fe}_3^{3 +} $(Te4+O3)3(SO4)O2Cl from that stated previously as ${\rm Fe}_6^{3 +} {\rm Pb}_{\rm 2}^{2 +} $(Te4+O3)3(Te6+O6)(OH)10·nH2O. This change has been accepted by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification of the International Mineralogical Association, Proposal 18-A. Eztlite was reported originally to be a mixed-valence Te oxysalt; however the crystal structure, bond-valence analysis and charge balance considerations clearly show that all Te is tetravalent. Eztlite contains a unique combination of elements and is only the second Te oxysalt to contain both sulfate and chloride. The crystal structure of eztlite contains mitridatite-like layers, with a repeating triangular nonameric [${\rm Fe}_9^{3 +} $O36]45– arrangement formed by nine edge-sharing Fe3+O6 octahedra, decorated by four trigonal pyramidal Te4+O3 groups, compared to PO4 or AsO4 tetrahedra in mitridatite-type minerals. In eztlite, all four tellurite groups associated with one nonamer are orientated with the lone pair of the Te atoms pointing in the same direction, whereas in mitridatite the central tetrahedron is orientated in the opposite direction to the others. In mitridatite-type structures, interlayer connections are formed exclusively via Ca2+ and water molecules, whereas the eztlite interlayer contains Pb2+, sulfate tetrahedra and Cl–. Interlayer connectivity in eztlite is achieved primarily by connections via the long bonds of Pbφ8 and Pbφ9 groups to sulfate tetrahedra and to Cl–. Secondary connectivity is via Te–O and Te–Cl bonds.

The origin of the extraordinary strengthening of the highly alloyed austenitic stainless steel Sanicro 25 during cyclic loading at 700 °C was investigated by the use of advanced scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Along with substantial change of the dislocation structure, nucleation of two distinct populations of nanoparticles was revealed. Fully coherent Cu-rich nanoparticles were observed to be homogeneously dispersed with high number density along with nanometer-sized incoherent NbC carbides precipitating on dislocations during cyclic loading. Probe-corrected high-angle annular dark-field STEM imaging was used to characterize the atomic structure of nanoparticles. Compositional analysis was conducted using both electron energy loss spectroscopy and high spatial resolution energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. High-temperature exposure-induced precipitation of spatially dense coherent Cu-rich nanoparticles and strain-induced nucleation of incoherent NbC nanoparticles leads to retardation of dislocation movement. The pinning effects and associated obstacles to the dislocation motion prevent recovery and formation of the localized low-energy cellular structures. As a consequence, the alloy exhibits remarkable cyclic hardening at elevated temperatures.

Experiments were conducted in 1985 to 1987 to evaluate the effects of conventional and no-tillage systems on the weed control provided by clomazone applied preemergence in soybeans. The persistence of clomazone in soil of the two tillage systems was also determined. Increasing the clomazone rate from 0.8 to 1.4 kg/ha did not increase weed control. Clomazone controlled 80% or more of jimsonweed, velvetleaf, and giant foxtail. Common cocklebur control ranged from about 50 to 70% in no-till and from 80 to 90% in conventional tillage. Generally, soybean pods/plant and yields were lower from clomazone treatments than from handweeded treatments due to inadequate common cocklebur control. Over 40% of the clomazone applied did not reach the soil surface; it was either intercepted by wheat straw, volatilized, or both. Clomazone persisted longer in conventional tillage than in no-tillage in. However, in 1986, clomazone was equally persistent in the two tillage systems. The half-life of clomazone was 34 and 6 days in 1985 in conventional and no-tillage, respectively, and in 1986, 18 and 16 days in conventional and no-tillage, respectively. Significant clomazone concentrations were not found below 10 cm in the soil profile. Corn planted without tillage (no-till) approximately 1 yr after clomazone application was not injured and yields were not reduced due to prior clomazone use.

Diurnal preference is an individual's preference for daily activities and sleep timing and is strongly correlated with the underlying circadian clock and the sleep-wake cycle validating its use as an indirect circadian measure in humans. Recent research has implicated DNA methylation as a mechanism involved in the regulation of the circadian clock system in humans and other mammals. In order to evaluate the extent of epigenetic differences associated with diurnal preference, we examined genome-wide patterns of DNA methylation in DNA from monozygotic (MZ) twin-pairs discordant for diurnal preference. MZ twins were selected from a longitudinal twin study designed to investigate the interplay of genetic and environmental factors in the development of emotional and behavioral difficulties. Fifteen pairs of MZ twins were identified in which one member scored considerably higher on the Horne–Ostberg Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) than the other. Genome-wide DNA methylation patterns were assessed in twins’ buccal cell DNA using the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChips. Quality control and data pre-processing was undertaken using the wateRmelon package. Differentially methylated probes (DMPs) were identified using an analysis strategy taking into account both the significance and the magnitude of DNA methylation differences. Our data indicate that DNA methylation differences are detectable in MZ twins discordant for diurnal preference. Moreover, downstream gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis on the top-ranked diurnal preference associated DMPs revealed significant enrichment of pathways that have been previously associated with circadian rhythm regulation, including cell adhesion processes and calcium ion binding.