Trapping Method Research Articles

Hexagonal Boron Nitride as a Two-Dimensional Surfactant: Low-Density Flame-Resistant Composites Based on Boron Nitride Exfoliated by an Interface Trapping Technique.

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is a two-dimensional material isoelectric to graphene. It has a hexagonal structure with alternating boron and nitrogen atoms and is electrically insulating, thermally conductive, and chemically inert. However, like graphene, its use as a functional nanofiller requires exfoliation. Here, we present a method for exfoliating and dispersing hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) sheets within a polymer matrix. This is achieved by a solvent interface trapping method (SITM), where hBN exfoliates and spreads at a high-energy oil/water interface, separating the two phases and lowering the system's free energy. hBN thus acts as a surfactant, allowing us to form stable water-in-oil emulsions stabilized by films of overlapping hBN sheets. Polymerizing the continuous oil phase results in polymerized high internal phase emulsions (polyHIPE), with the foam cells lined with hBN. In the investigation presented here, we use acoustic spectroscopy, optical and electron microscopy, and image analysis to study the emulsion and polyHIPE formation mechanisms. We find that the amount of hBN used, the flake size of the hBN, the mixing time, the type of initiator used, and the oil-to-water ratio all play a role in the morphology of the final polyHIPE. Lastly, we demonstrate the flame-retardant properties of the hBN polyHIPEs and show that, at 1% loadings, the presence of hBN prevents dripping and relighting of the composites, even when the material is heated to a red glow.

Intensity of <em>Haemoproteus</em> spp. blood infection differs between wild birds captured using different trapping methods

Infection with haemoparasites (Haemosporida spp.) is common within wild birds’ populations and has been associated with adverse effects on birds’ fitness and life performance. Existing literature suggests a hypothesis that birds infected with haemosporidians and exhibiting high parasitemia levels may demonstrate reduced activity, potentially leading to their underrepresentation in captures which use stationary traps, such as mist nets. However, there are limited studies demonstrating this phenomenon in wild birds. To study the possible under representation of highly parasitized birds, captured with commonly used stationary mist nets, we compared parasitemia levels of haemosporidian parasites in wild birds captured during spring migration using both actively startling of birds and birds trapped passively into the mist nets. Utilizing cumulative link mixed models, we assessed the influence of trapping methods on parasitemia scores, controlling for factors such as species identity, season progression, and migration distance. Our dataset comprised 1815 individuals of 60 species, including 142 actively captured and 1673 passively captured ones. Although the number of infected individuals was higher in passively caught birds (24 % in active vs 43 % in passive), the study revealed a significant difference between infected birds within two capture methods: despite challenges in balancing sample sizes, and trapping dates, the findings affirm the underestimation of birds having high parasitemia levels with prevalent mist net techniques. We highlight the importance of considering potential biases in trapping methods when studying haemosporidian parasites in avian hosts during migration.

Nanocochleate-based delivery of quercetin with enhanced therapeutic potential: formulation, cytotoxicity and pharmacokinetics study

BackgroundQuercetin has well-proven anticancer potential through various mechanisms, but its applications in drug delivery are limited due to poor biopharmaceutical properties. The present study was aimed to formulate quercetin nanocochleates (QNC) in order to overcome these limitations. QNC formulation was fabricated by a trapping method, optimized and evaluated for various formulation aspects, in vitro cytotoxicity and pharmacokinetic parameters.ResultDeveloped nanocochleates possess particle size and encapsulation efficiency of 205.6 ± 2.55 nm and 76.36 ± 0.88%, respectively. In vitro cytotoxicity study performed using MCF-7 cell lines revealed the comparative efficiency of QNC over pure quercetin. Total growth inhibition concentration (TGI) for pure quercetin was 96.73 μg/ml, while for QNC it was 83.29 μg/ml. Pharmacokinetic study results showed improvement in Cmax and AUC after QNC formulation with increased Tmax showing sustained release.ConclusionOverall, the developed QNC formulation markedly improved cytotoxic potential and biopharmaceutical aspects.

Comparing Methods of Detecting an Elusive Dasyurid Marsupial, the Threatened Julia Creek Dunnart (Sminthopsis douglasi), in Central Western Queensland, Australia.

The Julia Creek dunnart, Sminthopsis douglasi, is a small, threatened carnivorous marsupial occurring in scattered populations in the grasslands of central and northwestern Queensland, Australia. The distribution of the species is largely unknown due to sporadic survey efforts and its historically low detection using traditional live trapping methods. There is an urgent need to determine the best methods of detection to optimise survey methodologies and more effectively manage species conservation efforts. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of live (Elliott) traps, baited white flash camera traps and thermal imagery binocular surveying for detecting S. douglasi. We deployed 40 white flash camera traps at two sites in Bladensburg National Park (south of Winton), where the species is known to occur, for three consecutive periods between June and November 2022. Four comparative sessions of live trapping were undertaken between April and August 2022 at the same locations. During the live trapping periods, a total of 12 nights of surveying were conducted with thermal imagery binoculars in a preliminary assessment of the technique. The total live trapping effort was 3600 trap nights (approximately 700 trap nights per site in each trapping event). Live trapping resulted in 12 detections of individual S. douglasi from 19 total captures. The highest trap success on a given trapping session was 1.71%, and overall trap success from both sites across all sessions was 0.53%. In comparison, baited camera traps (deployed facing the ground at 70 cm range) took 1,269,884 images over 5383 trap nights. There were 11 confirmed images of S. douglasi, on three individual occasions, which represented 2.10% of all small mammal captures and just 0.0009% of the total images. Four species of small mammals were detected using camera traps, whereas live trapping detected only two species. No small mammals were detected on any of the 12 thermal binocular surveys. Overall, our study highlights the comparative high utility of traditional live trapping for detecting S. douglasi. This research provides a framework for ongoing monitoring of the Bladensburg National Park population. It will be more broadly beneficial for informing the best detection techniques of S. douglasi in ongoing work investigating the overall distribution of the species. Similar studies assessing multiple detection methods for small terrestrial mammals have shown an advantage of white flash camera traps compared to other traditional detection techniques. Our contrasting results serve as a reminder that the utility of different techniques for detecting small mammals is best assessed on a species-by-species basis.

Evaluation of the diversity and abundance of selected insect orders (Orthoptera, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera) in a wetland in Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria

This study assessed the diversity and abundance of selected insect orders (Orthoptera, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera) in a wetland at Federal University Oye-Ekiti. Insects were collected from February to April, 2022 using a combination of pitfall traps, sweep nets and active hunting methods. Arthropods were identified up to the generic level and counted monthly. A total of 3654 individuals belonging to 3 orders, 21 families and 54 species were recorded from the studied habitat. The highest relative abundance of 19.37603% was found in Odontomachus monticola (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). In this study, Hymenoptera was the most dominant order while Orthoptera was the least dominant order. The active hunting method collected the highest number of insects while the sweep net method collected the lowest number of insects. Results of the percentage distribution of insect species and individual insects revealed that for both active hunting and pitfall trap methods, the Order Hymenoptera had the highest percentage distribution while the Order Coleoptera had the lowest percentage distribution. Results of the diversity index across the collection methods revealed that the Sweep net method had the highest insect diversity and evenness (H’=2.492, 0.4317) while the Pitfall method had the lowest insect diversity and evenness (H’=1.818, 0.126). Results of one- way ANOVA showed no significant difference in species composition across habitats at a 5% probability level. This study has shown that the etlandd at Federal University Oye- Ekiti is rich in insect species with the Order Hymenoptera being the most abundant.

Method for disrupting the reproductive pheromone bond of the cotton bollworm on sunflower crops

Background: Synthetic analogs of sexual pheromones provide an effective method of biorational control of the number of phytophagous insects based on the directed disruption of reproductive functions in populations of the target pest on the protected crop without affecting the integrity of the agrocenosis. The work aims to determine the biological effectiveness of methods of mass trapping and disorientation of the cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) to protect sunflower (Helianthus annuus) crops.Methods: The experiments were carried out in 2022-2023 in the Central Zone of the Krasnodar Territory, Russia in the stationary scientific crop rotation at the Federal Research Center for Biological Plant Protection, Krasnodar (2.5 ha) and the Kononenko farm, Novovelichkovskaya village, Dinsky district (10 ha). The biological effectiveness of elimination and disorientation methods was judged by the degree of damage to plants and buds. The disorientation effect was calculated by the number of males captured at the disorientation sites compared to the control sites.Result: The decrease in males’ search activity (disorientation effect) reached 85.3%. The damage to buds by the pest in this variant was 2.0% compared to 10.8% in the control group. In the mass trapping variant, it equaled 1.5-3.0 and 7.5%, respectively, indicating the prospects of including these techniques in the H. armigera biorational control system.Conclusion: Our findings could aid future research on insect chemical communication to develop effective biological control methods.Keywords: Biological plant protection; Sunflower; Cotton bollworm; Synthetic sex pheromones; Elimination; Disorientation; Biological effectiveness

A quantitative and systematic analysis of Anopheles stephensi bionomics and control approaches

Anopheles stephensi is a mosquito endemic to South Asia and the Arabian Peninsula that has recently been detected in eight African countries, posing a significant threat to global malaria control efforts. A challenge with An. stephensi is that it requires unique surveillance and control tools when compared to other malaria vectors. Through a systematic literature review, we investigated the efficacy of trapping methods and controls for An. stephensi mosquitoes, with a focus on studies of its behavior and biology. Data from 83 articles (native range: Afghanistan, India, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and Qatar; invasive range: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan) met our study inclusion criteria. Data from these studies revealed that using host-seeking animal baited traps increased the number of mosquitoes collected per trap per day in the native range when compared to host-seeking human baited traps. However, these differences were not present in data collection rate assessments from the invasive range. We also found that An. stephensi equally used a large variety of breeding habitats in the native range, but that it tended to prefer water reservoirs and wastewater in the invasive range. Finally, we found that temephos, fenthion, Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, and Beauveri bassiana were more effective at reducing larvae in their native range compared to the approaches found in our systematic literature search, but the relative effectiveness of these approaches in the invasive range was less clear. Understanding proven historical surveillance and control approaches is essential to the advancement of invasive An. stephensi mitigation efforts, but continued investigations in the invasive range are critical to reducing the impacts of malaria morbidity and mortality.

In-tube extraction dynamic headspace coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the sensitive analysis of volatile compounds in aqueous samples

Aim: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are often human-made contaminants used and generated in the manufacturing of numerous products, presenting notable environmental and health hazards. Therefore, the development of sensitive and reliable analytical methods is crucial for their detection with accuracy, timeliness, and automation capabilities. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the suitability of the in-tube extraction dynamic headspace (ITEX-DHS) sampling method for the gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) analysis of BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) compounds in aqueous matrices. It emphasizes the method’s metrological reliability and innovative approach to precisely determining VOCs in aqueous environments providing a tool to prevent contamination of the agrifood sector. Methods: Following the optimization of various experimental parameters, including salt incorporation and adjustments of both dry purging and desorption conditions. The method’s performance was evaluated for repeatability, reproducibility, and robustness. Results: Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were for all substances determined lower than 50 and 100 ng/L, respectively. Average relative standard deviations below 5% were achieved for all analytes, with recovery rates ranging between 93% and 101%. Subsequently, the method was applied for the determination of BTEX in one hundred groundwater samples. The findings revealed that the BTEX levels were below the LOD in 84.2% of samples. However, in the remaining samples, more than one compound was detected at concentrations higher than the LOQ. Conclusions: The ITEX method emerges as a highly favorable alternative to both solid phase microextraction (SPME) and purge and trap (P & T) methods for determining BTEX in aqueous samples, providing significant advantages. Its strengths lie in its increased robustness, extended trap lifespan, and enhanced sensitivity, underscoring its superior performance in VOC analysis. The total analytical method allows the sensitive and robust determination of VOC.

Methods for live-trapping beaver (Castor spp.)

Effective live-trapping of beaver (Castor spp.) has been and will continue to be necessary for introductions, re-introductions, translocation for the preservation of populations, removal of nuisance beaver, and to obtain animals for fur breeding, zoological gardens and research. The aim of this study was therefore to review the existing knowledge about live-trapping through a literature study, contact with individuals involved in live-trapping, and personal experience. Before starting live-trapping, the area used by the beaver should be determined by careful reconnaissance. Beaver are usually captured either in unbaited traps placed at sites frequently visited by beaver, or in traps baited with castoreum or an aspen twig. Human scent on traps and around the trap site may be reduced by adding mud, water or scent. Usually Bailey or Hancock traps are used for live-trapping beaver. The Hancock trap is preferable because of its greater catch efficiency and versatility. Other traps reviewed are the Breathe Easy trap, Scheffer-Couch trap and different types of cage traps. Other methods used for live-trapping of beaver are snares (often considered highly effective), the Byelorussian trapping method, nets and seines, landing nets, pits and enclosures. Capture methods involving the destruction of lodges/dens and dams have often been employed in the past. Such methods require special permission in most countries and are usually not to be recommended. The Eurasian beaver (C. fiber Linnaeus, 1758) is reportedly more difficult to live-trap than its North American counterpart (C. canadensis Kuhl, 1820). New, effective methods for live-trapping of beaver also need to be developed.

The Effectiveness of Essential Oils as Vegetable Pheromones Against Cocoa Pests Using The Trap Method

Cocoa plants are one of the important commodities in plantation crops. The decreasing cocoa production is caused by several factors, one of which is pest attacks. There are several main pests in cocoa plants, namely, fruit borer pests, fruit sucking pests and lice. Currently, the use of chemical insecticides has been widely studied, causing many residues that can pollute the environment and disrupt the stability of the agro-ecosystem. One alternative that can be used is the use of attractants, namely pheromones derived from plant extracts containing essential oils. The use of pheromones with the trap method is one of the insect trapping techniques that has been widely used in control. The purpose of this study was to obtain the best combination of essential oils as vegetable pheromones to control pests in cocoa plants. This study consisted of six treatments and three replications. Treatment consists of use of vegetable pheromones derived from patchouli oil, cinnamon oil, oil nutmeg, clove oil, control (water) and combination (all treatments).

Microstructural Characterization of InP Films on SOI (001) Substrates Grown by Selective Lateral Metal-Organic Vapor-Phase Epitaxy

To achieve monolithic integration of Si-waveguide-coupled III-V laser diodes, it is important to establish a method of growing high-quality III-V materials on large Si wafers without a thick buffer layer. Here, the lateral aspect ratio trapping (LART) method has recently been attracting attention because of its potential for integrating large-area and high-quality III-V films on (001)-oriented silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates. In this paper, we report a detailed microstructural analysis of InP films that were fabricated on (001) SOI substrates by using metal–organic vapor-phase epitaxy and the LART method. The obtained films had an area of around 50 x 4 μm2, which is large enough for them to be used as templates in photonics device fabrication. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that propagation of threading dislocations in the Si/InP interface region was suppressed. However, the films tended to contain other planar defects, such as stacking faults, rotational twin boundaries, and anti- phase boundaries. We discuss the mechanisms underlying the generation of these defects and approaches to suppressing their formation.

Aerobiology of Olive Pollen (Olea europaea L.) in the Atmosphere of the Iberian Peninsula

Olea europaea L. pollen is one of the main causes of pollinosis and respiratory diseases in the Iberian Peninsula (IP). The aim of this study was to provide a pollen calendar in different regions of the IP, which could help allergists and allergic patients in the management of Olea europaea allergic diseases, and to update/complement what has already been reported on olive trees’ aeropalynology in this region. Airborne Olea pollen dynamics were analyzed over a period of 8 years in a total of 21 localities, 7 in Portugal and 14 in Spain. Airborne pollen monitoring was carried out using the Hirst-type spore trap method and following the recommendations of the Quality Control Working Group of the European Aerobiology Society. The daily pollen count, the annual pollen profile, the Annual Pollen Integral (APIn), the Seasonal Pollen Integral (SPIn) and the Pollen Peak, all expressed in number of pollen grains per cubic metre of air, together with the main pollen season and its characteristics, the Start Day, the End Day and the length of the pollen season, were calculated for each sampling station. Differences in mean Olea pollen concentration between odd and even years were also analyzed. On average, the main pollen season (MPS) started in April/May and ended in June, with Pollen Peaks recorded in May, except in Burgos, where it was recorded in June. The longest MPS occurred in Lisbon, Oviedo and Valencia (53 days) and the shortest in Vitoria (25 days). A high daily pollen concentration (i.e., >200 grains/m3) was recorded between 1 and 38 days along the year in all sampling stations of the southwest quadrant of the IP and in Jaén. A biannual pattern, characterized by alternating years of high and low pollen production, was found in the southwest of the IP. In conclusion, the study provided a deeper understanding of the pollination behaviour of olive trees in the IP and allowed the establishment of a representative Olea pollen calendar for this region. In addition, our results suggest the usefulness of investigating more detailed relationships between annual Olea pollen, allergen sensitization and symptoms, both for allergists involved in the study and management of allergic respiratory diseases caused by this species and for the self-management of disease in allergic subjects.

Pan Trapping and Malaise Trapping: A Comparison of Bee Collection Techniques in Subalpine Meadows

Public lands, managed for multiple uses such as logging, mining, grazing, and recreation, also support vital environmental services like wild bee pollination. A trending decline in wild bees has heightened interest in documenting these key pollinators in their native habitats. Accurate assessment of pollinator community diversity is crucial for population monitoring and informing land management practices. In this study, we evaluate the efficiency of Malaise traps and pan traps in sampling wild bees over three growing seasons in subalpine meadow communities in central Utah. Sixteen trapping sites were established, each with a Malaise trap and an array of blue, white, and yellow pan traps, nine at each site. Weekly collections were made through summer months and a comparison of their effectiveness in capturing bee abundance and species richness was made. Malaise traps captured significantly greater abundance of bees on average, though this was species-dependent. Malaise traps were especially effective at capturing Bombus spp. and larger species. Pan traps were generally more effective with smaller species such as Hylaeus spp. White pan traps outperformed yellow and blue pan traps in terms of abundance and only yellow pan traps in terms of richness. Both methods contributed unique species to the overall collection effort, suggesting that a combination of trapping methods provides a more comprehensive understanding of bee communities. Species accumulation curves indicate that species existing within the community went unencountered in our samples and that more time or perhaps additional methods could aid in best describing the entire community.

Physiological Status of Rice Leaf-Roller Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Adults Trapped by Sex Pheromone and Floral Odor.

The rice leaf-roller Cnaphalocrocis medinalis is an important migratory pest of rice. We conducted a study to determine the physiological status of adults trapped by a sex pheromone and floral odor. In the immigrant group, the number of males trapped by the floral odor was greater than the number caught by sex pheromone trapping. The volume of testes was similar in the above two trapping methods but was smaller than in the sweep net method. The ovary developmental grade, mating rate, and number of matings of females caught in floral odor trap were higher than in those caught in the sweep net. In the local breeding group, the number of males trapped by sex pheromones was greater than the number trapped by the floral odor. The volume of testes was smaller in the floral odor trap compared to the pheromone trap group, with the largest in the sweep net group. The ovarian developmental grade, mating rate, and number of matings of females were significantly higher in the floral odor trap group than in the sweep net group. In the emigrant group, the adult olfactory response to the sex pheromone and floral odor was low. The volume of testes was larger in the sweep net group compared to the moths caught by floral odor trapping. The number of eggs laid by female immigrants trapped by the floral odor and sweep net was similar, while the number in the local breeding group was greater in moths caught with the sweep net in comparison with those caught by the floral odor trap. The difference in egg hatchability between the two trapping methods in both immigrants and local breedings was not significant.

What to monitor? Microplastics in a freshwater lake – From seasonal surface water to bottom sediments

Marine microplastics have received considerable attention, and efforts are underway to develop standardised methods for sampling, sample treatment, and analysis, while the observation of freshwater ecosystems remains relatively overlooked. To address this understudied environment, we present a comprehensive case study on microplastics in an urban lake from Baltic region of Northern Europe covering the seasonal dynamics of microplastics in surface water, deposition rate throughout one year in sediment traps and distribution of microplastics in dated sediment archive to determine the most representative environmental compartment for microplastic pollution monitoring. The following well-established microplastic research methods have been used: Manta trawling for surface water, trapping for assessing microplastics sedimentation rate and coring for sediments. Attenuated total reflection and micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy methods were used to investigate the synthetic nature of identified particles. The sediment core chronology was based on 210Pb and Bayesian Plum model revealing sediment layers to represent even the time before the beginning of plastic mass production (approximately 1950). The surface water microplastic concentrations were higher in summer (5.71 particles/m3) and gradually decreased towards winter (0.75 particles/m3); they were almost 25 times higher in more recent (2018) sediments than in the deeper layers referring to years prior to 1890. Surprisingly, microplastic particles were found in sediments before the year 1950. The microplastic deposition rate was 9.47 particles/cm2/year or 4.31 µg/cm2/year. The most abundant polymers were polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene, and the prominent particle shapes were fibres in surface water and fragments in sediments. Our results provide a baseline for evaluating future contamination level changes in highly urbanized area. We recommend the combination of surface water filtering with net and sediment trapping methods for monitoring microplastics in lakes since this method requires little time and financial resources for sampling and processing and produces information on temporal microplastic occurrence and deposition.

Ultrasensitive Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Platform for Protein Detection via Active Delivery to Nanogaps as a Hotspot.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is an attractive technique in molecular detection with high sensitivity and label-free characteristics. However, its use in protein detection is limited by the large volume of proteins, hindering its approach to the narrow spaces of hotspots. In this study, we fabricated a Au nanoTriangle plate Array on Gel (AuTAG) as an SERS substrate by attaching a Au nanoTriangle plate (AuNT) arrangement on a thermoresponsive hydrogel surface. The AuTAG acts as an actively tunable plasmonic device, on which the interparticle distance is altered by controlling temperature via changes in hydrogel volume. Further, we designed a Gel Filter Trapping (GFT) method as an active protein delivery strategy based on the characteristics of hydrogels, which can absorb water and separate biopolymers through their three-dimensional (3D) polymer networks. On the AuTAGs, fabricated with AuNTs modified with charged surface ligands to prevent the nonspecific adsorption of analytes to particles, the GFT method helped the delivery of proteins to hotspot areas on the AuNT arrangement. This combination of a AuTAG substrate and the GFT method enables ultrahigh sensitivity for protein detection by SERS up to a single-molecule level as well as a wide quantification concentration range of 6 orders due to their geometric advantages.

Vibration as a New Survey Method for Spiders.

Spiders have important ecological roles as generalist predators, are a significant source of food for many other species, and are bioindicators of environmental health. However, spiders are poorly studied. Given their importance, a comparison of spider survey methods used to determine differences in spider diversity and abundance is required to understand their limitations and biases. A new survey method to attract spiders, based on vibration from an idling diesel tractor, was tested and compared to the traditional methods of pitfall trapping and hand collection of spiders at night. Across the three survey methods, there were, in total, 2294 spiders in 34 families, 138 genera, and 226 species identified. Spider species diversity and richness were significantly greater for spiders collected at night than from the other two methods (spiders collected in pitfall traps and attracted to vibration). The collection of spiders using the night collection and vibration-based methods were very similar in terms of labor required and material costs. Of all spider species identified, 80% were captured during hand collection, 30% through pitfall trapping, and 30% from vibration-based collection. Most species of spiders caught in pitfall traps were species known to be primarily ground-dwelling, whereas both arboreal and ground-dwelling spiders were collected at night and as a result of being attracted and collected using the vibration-based method.

How many sequences should I track when applying the random encounter model to camera trap data?

AbstractThe random encounter model (REM) is a camera trapping method to estimate population density (i.e. number of individuals per unit area) without the need for individual recognition. The REM can be applied considering camera trap data only by tracking the passages of animals in front of the camera (i.e. sequences). However, it has not been assessed how the number of sequences tracked (i.e. trajectory of the animal reconstructed) influences the REM estimates. In this context, we aimed to gain further insights into the relationship between the number of sequences tracked and reliability in REM estimates to optimize its applicability. We monitored multiple species using camera traps, and we applied REM to estimate population density. We considered red fox Vulpes vulpes, roe deer Capreolus capreolus, fallow deer Dama dama, red deer Cervus elaphus and wild boar Sus scrofa as model species. We tracked from a minimum of 154 (red fox) to a maximum of 527 (red deer) sequences per species, and we then sampled the dataset to simulate different scenarios in which a lower number of sequences were tracked (20, 40, 80 and 160). We also assessed the effect of adjusting the survey period to the minimum necessary to record the desired number of sequences. Our results suggest that tracking around 100 sequences returns a precision level equivalent to the one obtained by tracking a considerably higher number of sequences and reduced and optimized the human effort necessary to apply REM. Tracking less than 40 sequences could result in low precise density estimates. Our results also highlighted the relevance of considering study periods of ca. 2 months to increase the number of sequences recorded and tracking a random sample of them. Our results contribute to the optimization and harmonization of REM as a reference method to estimate wildlife population density without the need for individual identification. We make clear recommendations on the cost‐effective sample size for estimating REM parameters, optimizing the human effort when applying REM, and discouraging REM applications based on low sample sizes.

High-Efficiency Photocatalytic Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol by NH2-UiO-66-(Indole-2,3-Dione)-Fe.

The photocatalytic oxidation of biomass-derived benzyl alcohol provides a promising way for the synthesis of benzoic acid, which is an important intermediate with wide applications. To improve the efficiency of photocatalytic benzyl alcohol oxidation to benzoic acid is of great interest. In this work, we propose the utilization of NH2-UiO-66-ID-Fe catalyst for photocatalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzoic acid, where NH2-UiO-66 is a typically used metal-organic framework, ID is indole-2,3-dione (ID) that has biocompatibility, light absorption property and can be covalently combined with amino-functionalized substances. The NH2-UiO-66-ID-Fe catalyst exhibits improved light absorption and photo-generated electron-hole separation ability compared with NH2-UiO-66. The photocatalytic performance of NH2-UiO-66-ID-Fe was examined for the oxidation of bio-based benzyl alcohol under mild conditions of air atmosphere, room temperature and no additive or additional oxidant involved. The results show that the conversion of benzyl alcohol and the selectivity to benzoic acid could both reach over 99 % in 6 h, and the generation rate of benzoic acid per gram of catalyst is 3.36 mmol g-1 h-1. The reaction mechanism was detected by radical trapping method and in situ electron paramagnetic resonance. This study presents an efficient and environmentally benign avenue for the synthesis of carboxylic acid compounds.

Single-nanoparticle electrophoretic mobility determination and trapping using active-feedback 3D tracking.

Nanoparticles (NP) are versatile materials with widespread applications across medicine and engineering. Despite rapid incorporation into drug delivery, therapeutics, and many more areas of research and development, there is a lack of robust characterization methods. Light scattering techniques such as dynamic light scattering (DLS) and electrophoretic light scattering (ELS) use an ensemble-averaged approach to the characterization of nanoparticle size and electrophoretic mobility (EM), leading to inaccuracies when applied to polydisperse or heterogeneous populations. To address this lack of single-nanoparticle characterization, this work applies 3D Single-Molecule Active Real-time Tracking (3D-SMART) to simultaneously determine NP size and EM on a per-particle basis. Single-nanoparticle EM is determined by using active feedback to "lock on" to a single particle and apply an oscillating electric field along one axis. A maximum likelihood approach is applied to extract the single-particle EM from the oscillating nanoparticle position along the field-actuated axis, while mean squared displacement is used along the non-actuated axes to determine size. Unfunctionalized and carboxyl-functionalized polystyrene NPs are found to have unique EM based on their individual size and surface characteristics, and it is demonstrated that single-nanoparticle EM is a more precise tool for distinguishing unique NP preparations than diffusion alone, able to determine the charge number of individual NPs to an uncertainty of less than 30. This method also explored individual nanoparticle EM in various ionic strengths (0.25-5 mM) and found decreased EM as a function of increasing ionic strength, in agreement with results determined via bulk characterization methods. Finally, it is demonstrated that the electric field can be manipulated in real time in response to particle position, resulting in one-dimensional electrokinetic trapping. Critically, this new single-nanoparticle EM determination and trapping method does not require microfluidics, opening the possibility for the exploration of single-nanoparticle EM in live tissue and more comprehensive characterization of nanoparticles in biologically relevant environments.