Morphology Of Hybrids Research Articles

Incomplete barriers to heterospecific mating among Somatochlora species (Odonata: Corduliidae) as revealed in multi-gene phylogenies.

Mating between species occurs within many insect orders. The result of heterospecific mating depends upon the effectiveness of pre- and post-reproductive barriers. Incomplete reproductive barriers lead to introgression of DNA into one species or both. Intricate genital morphology among dragonflies provides little assurance of species specificity given that heterospecific mating or mating attempts have been observed among many species. The genetic consequence is unknown for many heterospecific matings. For example, Somatochlora species mating and genetic exchange have been hypothesized based on observational records and individuals with hybrid morphology. We investigate the potential of heterospecific mating between North American Somatochlora species as inferred from multi-gene phylogenies. We used mitochondrial genes (COI and ND3) and nuclear genes (EF1-α and ITS2) to construct phylogenies using maximum parsimony. Observation of non-monophyletic mtDNA lineages but monophyletic nDNA lineages between Somatochlora sister-species would indicate mtDNA introgression and suggest heterospecific matings. Our results highlighted three instances of non-monophyly of mtDNA clades in the following groups: (i) S. hineana + S. tenebrosa; (ii) S. kennedyi + S. forcipata + S. franklini; and (iii) S. calverti + S. provocans + S. filosa. Analysis of partitioned Bremer support indicates that mtDNA COI largely contributed to the non-monophyly of these species, thus suggesting mtDNA introgression resulting from heterospecific matings. Additionally, the topology resulting from the combined data analysis was concordant with previous taxonomic understanding of Somatochlora species groups. These multi-gene phylogenies of North American Somatochlora are the first, providing a foundation for future ecological and evolution studies and knowledge for effective decision-making and public policy, which is especially important for the endangered species, S. hineana.

Anlotinib treatment for rapidly progressing pediatric embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in the maxillary gingiva: a case report

BackgroundEmbryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) is a highly aggressive form of soft-tissue sarcoma that predominantly affects children. Due to limited benefits and resistance to therapy, there is an unmet need to explore alternative therapeutic strategies.Case presentationIn this report, we present a rare case of pediatric ERMS located on the right side of the maxillary gingiva. A composite reference guide integrating clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic findings was used for a definitive diagnosis. Targeted next-generation sequencing of tumor biopsy was performed to identify genetic alterations. A 12-year-old female was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and underwent a tracheotomy to relieve asphyxiation caused by a 5.5 cm diameter mass compressing the tongue root and pharyngeal cavity. Hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed a hybrid morphology characterized by clusters of round and spindle cells. Further immunohistochemistry assays indicated positive immunoreactivity for desmin, myogenin, and MyoD1. Various genetic alterations were identified, including mutations in GNAS, HRAS, LRP1B, amplification of MDM2 and IGF1R, and two novel IGF1R fusions. Negative PAX-FOXO1 fusion status supported the clinical diagnosis of ERMS. Initial treatment involved standard chemotherapy; however, the tumor persisted in its growth, reaching a maximum volume of 12 cm × 6 cm × 4 cm by the completion of treatment. Subsequent oral administration of anlotinib yielded a significant antitumor response, characterized by substantial tumor necrosis and size reduction. Following the ligation of the tumor pedicle and its removal, the patient developed a stabilized condition and was successfully discharged from PICU.ConclusionsOur study highlights the importance of accurate diagnosis established on multifaceted assessment for the effective treatment of ERMS. We present compelling evidence supporting the clinical use of anlotinib as a promising treatment strategy for pediatric ERMS patients, especially for those resistant to conventional chemotherapy.

Histomorphology based prediction of p16 immunopositivity and p16/HPV DNA co-positivity in oral squamous cell carcinoma

The histomorphological features predictive of p16 and human papilloma virus (HPV DNA) positivity in oropharyngeal carcinoma have been a matter of much debate. However, only few studies have been done on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) to correlate the histomorphological features with p16 and HPV DNA positivity. Oral squamous cell carcinoma has distinct etiopathogenesis, treatment and prognosis as compared to oropharyngeal carcinomas.A total of 800 oral squamous cell carcinoma biopsy cases were evaluated for features suggestive of HPV infection like basaloid appearance, absence of stromal reaction, nests and lobules of tumor cells with pushing borders, central necrosis, lympho-epithelial morphology, koilocytes, and non-keratinizing or hybrid morphology. Immunohistochemistry was performed for p16 expression (E6H4 clone, CINtec histology, Roche diagnostics). The cases which showed 2+/3+ (from moderate to high intensity) staining with >75 % cells were considered as p16 immunopositive. All the p16 immunopositive cases were subjected to real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) for HPV DNA detection to confirm HPV positivity. A total of 139 (17.37 %) OSCC cases were p16 immunopositive and out of these 104 (104/139, 74.8 %) cases showed HPV-DNA PCR positivity. None of the features were found to be predictive on multivariate logistic regression analysis. However, on bivariable analysis, nest/lobule with pushing border was the only histopathological feature which had a significant correlation with p16 immunopositivity (P value = 0.0001) and p16 and HPV DNA copositivity (P value = 0.0001). (Fisher's exact test -two tailed).To conclude-morphology is not really predictive of HPV positivity in OSCC cases. Only one feature- nests and lobule with pushing border is suggestive on bivariable analysis.

Polyamide nanofiltration membrane modified with defective covalent organic framework interlayer for selective ion sieving

Generally, thin-film composite (TFC) membranes prepared using piperazine (PIP) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) exhibit good Na2SO4 rejection, but their MgCl2 rejection is not satisfactory. In this study, a defective covalent organic framework (COF) interlayer with residual unreacted amine groups was fabricated via interfacial polymerization (IP) by changing the catalyst concentration. Introduction of the COF layer into a polyamide (PA) separation membrane modified the pore size of the PA layer, thereby improving the rejection of divalent cations. The pore size of the PA layer decreased and the surface morphology of the membrane was converted from nodular to a hybrid morphology of “ridge-and-valleys’’ and nodules, indicating that the residual unreacted amine groups on the COF interlayer successfully reacted with the acyl chloride groups. The optimal membrane (PIP/COF-A/PES) exhibited high rejection of divalent ions (Na2SO4 of 98.3% and MgCl2 of 94.3%), and the membrane showed excellent capability for separating mono/divalent ions. Overall, a method of preparing nanofiltration membranes by modifying the PA layer to enhance the rejection of divalent cations was demonstrated.

(Invited) Plasma Designing of Hybrid 2D Graphene: A Green Approach for Future Energy Materials

The global research interest in two-dimensional (2D) materials and their derivatives has increased significantly, driven by the requirements of application-oriented materials for different sectors, including energy storage. Among the various classes of material groups, 2D layered materials have emerged as a critical research area due to their high aspect ratio, open edge boundaries, high surface-to-volume ratios, and mechanical and electrical properties. Graphene is a widely researched 2D class material with an atomically thin structure, excellent electronic properties, very high intrinsic mobility and exceptional thermal and electrical conductivity1. Even though the research on the electronic properties of graphene is explored very well and in a matured state, the studies on non-electronic properties are still in the budding phase. One of the significant obstacles to extending the studies of graphene to different fields is the cost-effective and environmentally friendly large-scale synthesis and processing of high-quality graphene. Thus, a cutting-edge approach for probing graphene structures at the atomic scale is required to produce high-quality graphene for next-generation applications. As an alternative progressive technique, plasma-enabled methods have emerged as safe and green approaches to tailor different graphene structures at the nanoscale. During graphene production, plasma assembles the nanostructures from gaseous into a solid form or converts solid precursor to graphitic form 2,3. Besides, plasma techniques open up the possibility of tailoring the properties by crafting heteroatoms to the graphene lattice, which is beneficial for energy storage applications4. Therefore, this paper introduces the advantages of plasma-enabled techniques in designing graphene-based materials with different morphologies and orientations and tailoring them at the nanoscale using heteroatoms. Such plasma-assisted techniques ensure the high structural quality of graphene and controllability in the hybrid morphologies, making them frontrunner energy storage applications. Plasma also offers the production of graphene directly on any substrate surface, gives a new direction to designing binder-free electrodes for energy-related applications, and could be used as a competitive alternative approach to the widely known wet chemical procedures to design advanced graphene electrode materials for next-generation energy storage devices.Reference Geim, A. K. Graphene: Status and prospects. Science (1979) 324, 1530–1534 (2009).Dias, A. et al. N-Graphene-Metal-Oxide(Sulfide) hybrid Nanostructures: Single-step plasma-enabled approach for energy storage applications. Chemical Engineering Journal 430, 133153 (2022).Jagodar, A. et al. Growth of graphene nanowalls in low-temperature plasma: Experimental insight in initial growth and importance of wall conditioning. Appl Surf Sci 643, 158716 (2024).Santhosh, N.M. et al. N-Graphene Nanowalls via Plasma Nitrogen Incorporation and Substitution: The Experimental Evidence. Nanomicro Lett 12, 53 (2020).

Vanadium nitride /poly(0-methoxy aniline)- poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) interpenetrated into nanocomposite for efficient photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and enhanced electrochemical sensing of mebendazole

Vanadium nitride-poly (0-methoxy aniline)- poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) (VN-POMA-PEDOT) hybrid was synthesized via ammonolysis and chemical oxidative polymerization technique using VN-POMA-PEDOT/GCE with electrocatalytic activity has two dimensional VN hierarchical porosity with POMA-PEDOT structure created VN-POMA-PEDOT modified GCE working electrode. Donor-acceptor behavior and double-layer growth enable enhanced electrochemical performance and catalytic activity of mebendazole (MBZ). This work investigated the electrochemical sensing conduct of a VN-POMA-PEDOT hybrid composite towards MBZ. The detection limit (DL) and quantification limit (QL) were determined to be 2.192 × 10−9 μM μA−1 and 5.245 × 10−9 M μA−1. Estimation of anti-interference ability, long-term stability, and reproducibility revealed that the prepared VN-POMA-PEDOT electrode is appropriate for the electrochemical sensing finding of MBZ in real analysis, such by way of anti-helminthic drug milk. The VN-POMA-PEDOT achieved 98.9% efficiency in the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) within 50 min with degradation rate 8.3 × 10−3 min−1. The suppleness of this method was confirmed by the hybrid morphology VN-POMA-PEDOT, which shows an enormously superior and enhanced photocatalytic presentation of MB.

Contemporary intergeneric hybridization and backcrossing among birds-of-paradise.

Despite large differences in morphology, behavior and lek-mating strategies the birds-of-paradise are known to hybridize occasionally, even across different genera. Many of these bird-of-paradise hybrids were originally described as distinct species based on large morphological differences when compared to recognized species. Nowadays, these specimens are generally recognized as hybrids based on morphological assessments. Having fascinated naturalists for centuries, hybrid specimens of birds-of-paradise have been collected and the specimens kept in Natural History Collections. In the present study, we utilize this remarkable resource in a museomics framework and evaluate the genomic composition of most described intergeneric hybrids and some intrageneric hybrids. We show that the majority of investigated specimens are first-generation hybrids and that the parental species, in most cases, are in line with prior morphological assessments. We also identify two specimens that are the result of introgressive hybridization between different genera. Additionally, two specimens exhibit hybrid morphologies but have no identifiable signals of hybridization, which may indicate that minor levels of introgression can have large morphological effects. Our findings provide direct evidence of contemporary introgressive hybridization taking place between genera of birds-of-paradise in nature, despite markedly different morphologies and lek-mating behaviors.

Flexible NH3 gas sensors based on ZnO nanostructures deposited on kevlar substrates via hydrothermal method

Owing to their flexibility and high thermal resistance, para-aramid based Kevlar™ fabric substrates are an ideal candidate for obtaining flexible gas sensors for new-generation wearable technologies. The morphology of the surface of the substrate where the target gas comes into contact directly affects the important features of the sensor such as detection limit, selectivity, and response. In this context, a feasible technique is introduced to enhance the efficiency of flexible gas sensors utilizing ZnO/Kevlar™, entailing the modification of ZnO morphology. ZnO based gas sensing layers were deposited on Kevlar™ fabric substrates by a two-stage method. Initially, seed layer was produced on Kevlar™ fabric using the ultrasonic bath method, with five different seed layer processing times ranging from 1 min to 20 min. In the nucleation, all nanostructured layers were deposited by hydrothermal method with constant parameters and under the same conditions. As the seeding time was increased, nanorods (1D) formed on the surface became flakes (2D), leading to considerable improvement in NH3 gas sensing properties. The sensor with a 5-min seeding time showed a sensitivity of 49 % at an optimal operating temperature of 190 °C, while the sensor produced in 20 min showed the best response performance with 169 % at 130 °C for 50 ppm NH3 gas. The increase in seeding time not only reduced the operating temperature of the gas sensor through the conversion from 1D nanostructure to 2D, but also significantly increased the sensor response. Under constant hydrothermal conditions and solution concentration, the density per unit area increases. However, after 10 min of seeding, the length of nanorods shortens and turn into a rod-flake hybrid morphology. A superior sensor performance was demonstrated for the samples examined. The obtained results also showed that flexible Kevlar™ fabric could be a feasible and interesting substrate for nanostructured ZnO-based NH3 gas sensors.

WITHDRAWN: Hybrid morphology of fine nanowires encapsulated with nanoparticles in VO2/CuWO4 nanocomposite as Zn-ion battery cathode

Energy crisis due to decaying fossil fuels can be tackled by using electrochemical energy storage devices specially Zn-ion battery for their non-flammability, cost-effectiveness and promising energy density. However, its feasibility requires excellent cathode materials with high Zn2+ intercalation activity. In this regard, vanadium-based compounds at nanoscale regime are very effective. This work presents a profound synthesis of VO2 nanowires and a novel approach to improve its cathodic property by blending it with a multifunctional CuWO4 compound. For the first time VO2/CuWO4 nanocomposite is developed as a cathode material of Zn-ion battery to showcase a promising specific capacity of 479.9 mAh/g at 0.3 A/g. A stable capacity retention of 85% is achieved after 1000 cycles. SEM and TEM analyses confirms a considerable size reduction of VO2 and CuWO4 constituent in the nanocomposite against their pristine counterparts. This size reduction phenomenon could establish a synergistic effect between VO2 and CuWO4 for a favourable pseudo behaviour combining diffusion and capacitive controlled activities.

Manipulating the morphology and charge accumulation driven- Schottky functionalized type II-scheme heterojunction for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and SERS detection

Inspired by energy conversion and sensing strategies, the construction of a type-II heterojunction proves advantageous in enhancing interfacial charge transfer, redox capabilities, and sensitive detection. Herein, we have developed as-prepared a hierarchical heteronanostructure composed of 2D ultrathin g-C3N4 (g-CN) nanosheets, 3D SrTiO3 (STO) nanocubes, and Ag plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) with a well-controlled configuration and intimate contact for improved practical applications. This multifunctional heterojunction not only exhibits outstanding hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance but also shows excellent SERS detection. The creation of hybrid morphologies and type II schemes contributes to expanding visible light absorption and shortening the path of charge carrier transition. The ternary sample also exhibits an efficient photocatalytic HER rate of 9378 μmol g−1 h−1, which is 13.3 and 26.3 times higher than that of STO (703 μmol g−1 h−1) and g-CN (356 μmol g−1 h−1), respectively. Photoluminescence spectroscopy and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) measurements suggest that the synergistic effect among g-CN nanosheets, STO nanocubes and Ag contributes to enhanced charge separation, as indicated by the applied potential of −0.9 V vs. saturated Ag/AgCl to obtain a photocurrent density of −15 mA cm−2 for the HER. The obtained STO/g-CN/Ag sample exhibits significant capability in enriching small molecules, facilitating the determination of organic pollutants even at ultralow concentrations. Additionally, it exhibits impressive SERS sensitivity and photocatalytic performance. Crystal Violet (CV) at low concentrations can be distinguished and undergoes almost complete degradation under visible-light illumination. The detection platform exhibits ultralow detection capability down to 10−10 M for CV. The outstanding SERS detection may be assigned to the combined enrichment abilities of g-CN, STO and the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of Ag NPs. Furthermore, the type-II heterojunction of the ternary photocatalyst and the mechanisms governing charge carrier flow and transfer on the conductive Ag co-catalyst were also investigated. This work provides novel insights and techniques for effectively engineering 3D STO-like semiconductors, facilitating both green energy production and the detection of trace molecules.

Construction of unary and ternary ZnO–CuO–CdO composite thin films and comprehensive analysis of their optical, electrical, and photocatalytic performance

In this study, unary ZnO, CuO, CdO, and ternary ZnO–CuO–CdO metal oxide thin film materials were fabricated using the SILAR procedure. The XRD spectra of the synthesized films show sharp and dominant diffraction lines, indicating the high crystallinity of both the unary and ternary composite films. The crystallite size values of unary ZnO, CuO, CdO, and ZnO–CuO–CdO ternary films were found to be 18.71 nm, 12.86 nm, 15.88 nm, and 21.96 nm, respectively. FESEM pictures exhibited that nanocomposites have spherical and nanorod-like hybrid morphology, and EDX showed that Cd has a higher content than Zn and Cu. The prepared samples’ FT-IR spectra in the wavenumber range of 500–4000 cm−1 revealed the existence of numerous vibrational modes. The optical bandgap values were found to be 1.47, 3.20, 2.21, and 2.51 eV for the CuO, ZnO, CdO, and ternary ZnO-CuO-CdO films, respectively. The photocatalytic efficiency of the ternary composites is higher than that of the unary metal oxides. The specific contact resistivity values were 780.83 kΩcm2, 213.33 kΩcm2 347.33 Ωcm2, and 1.97 kΩcm2 for ZnO, CuO, CdO, and ternary ZnO–CuO–CdO thin films, respectively. Our inventions provide advanced prompting for constructing new types of catalysts. The characterization results imply that the ternary nanocomposite can be used as a cost-effective alternative material for optoelectronic and photocatalytic implementations.

Morphological variation in Schizothorax oconnori, Schizothorax waltoni (Teleostei: Cyprinidae: Schizothoracinae), and their natural hybrids from the middle Yarlung Zangbo River, Tibet.

The morphological variation in Schizothorax oconnori, Schizothorax waltoni, and their natural hybrids was examined using conventional and image-based analysis approaches. In total, 38 specimens of S. oconnori, 35 of S. waltoni, and 37 natural hybrids were collected from the Shigatse to the Lhasa section of the Yarlung Zangbo River during June and July 2021. A total of 21 morphometric, 4 meristic, and 27 truss variables were employed for the classification of S. oconnori, S. waltoni, and natural hybrids. Principal component analysis (PCA) and factor analysis (FA), as well as discriminant function analysis (DFA) and cluster analysis (CA), were conducted to identify differences based on traditional and truss measurements. Four principal components explained 75.92% of the variation among the morphometric characters, while five principal components accounted for 79.69% of the variation among the truss distances. FA results showed that factor 1 was associated with head shape, and factor 2 was associated with fins based on morphometric characters. Among the truss characters, factor 1 was related to head shape, and factor 2 was related to chest shape. In DFA, morphometric measurements achieved higher accuracy (100%) compared to truss distances (94.55%). The head morphology of hybrids exhibited intermediate traits between S. oconnori and S. waltoni. Both morphometry-based and truss-based clustering indicated that the morphology of natural hybrids leaned toward S. oconnori. In conclusion, the combination of morphometric and truss analysis is beneficial for classifying S. oconnori, S. waltoni, and their natural hybrids. The presence of natural hybrids could be considered an evolutionary response to the differentiation of nutritional and spatial niches in the middle Yarlung Zangbo River.

Nano-micro 2D/3D SnO2 semiconductor ultrahigh sensitive sensors for electrochemical sensing of hydrogen peroxide

Detection of H2O2 levels is highly in demand as they are related with several environmental and medical applications. H2O2 is a reactive oxygen species that plays a crucial role in various cell functions thus it is considered as a potential biomarker. Novel 3D/2D SnO2 micro-nanostructures (with dimensions of 3D: B≈1 µm×L≈10 µm×T≈1 µm; 2D structures ranging<100 nm) modified on glassy carbon electrodes (SnO2/GCE) displayed an electrocatalytic redox behaviour against H2O2 on an alkaline based electrolyte medium illustrated using a three-electrode system. This is the first time hybrid morphology with 2D/3D structures of SnO2 is developed. SnO2/GCE was tested for H2O2 concentration ranging from 2.45 to 24.5 μM. The LOD of the sensor was observed to be 4.09 μM within the measured concentration limits. The sensors exhibited an ultra-high sensitivity value of 108 mA.mM−1.cm−2. All the linear fits are exhibiting higher accuracy with R2 of 0.99. Hybrid morphology of SnO2 acts as promising sensing material independently for detection of H2O2 even in alkaline medium with pH of 12. Also, it should be noted that electrochemical sensing of SnO2 alone is tested depicting better properties whereas commonly hybrid, composite materials are used for sensing applications.

Preparation of poly(methyl methacrylate)-zinc oxide hybrid nanoparticles via miniemulsion polymerization

The encapsulation of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles with poly(methyl methacrylate) in the presence of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) as a crosslinking agent was synthesized by the miniemulsion polymerization technique. The ZnO as a catalyze was varied from 1 wt% - 7 wt%. Several techniques were used to analyze the PMMA/TEGDMA/ZnO hybrid. The morphology and particle size distribution of the PMMA hybrid was observed using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The diameter of the PMMA/TEGDMA/ZnO hybrid was in the range of 57 nm to 115 nm. The morphology of the PMMA/ZnO hybrids was sphere-shaped with a narrow particle size distribution and no agglomeration of the hybrids occurred. The encapsulation and crystalline structure of the PMMA ZnO hybrid were determined using a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM). The HR-TEM image demonstrated that the ZnO was encapsulated in the PMMA hybrid. In addition, the high magnification of the TEM image demonstrated the lattice spacing of ZnO and the diffraction mode image presented the crystalline structure of ZnO. Therefore, the photocatalytic properties of the PMMA/ZnO hybrid were examined via the degradation of methylene blue (MB) solution under dark and UV-A irradiation. It was found that the photocatalytic activities of the PMMA/ZnO hybrid increased when the ZnO content increased up to 7 wt%. The maximum MB degradation for PMMA/TEGDMA/ZnO 7 wt% and PMMA/ZnO 7 wt% were 80.1 % and 77.6 %, respectively. Thus, the photocatalytic efficiency of the PMMA/ZnO increased in the presence of TEGDMA as a crosslinking agent.

Effects of BaTiO3 on dielectric behavior of BaTiO3@RGO-polyvinylidene fluoride composites

This study focused on fabricating three types of BaTiO3@reduced graphene oxide (BT@RGO) hybrids with varying sizes of BT particles and investigating their impact on the dielectric behavior of BT@RGO/PVDF composites. The results highlight the significant role of BT@RGO hybrid morphology in determining the dielectric properties of the composites. The incorporation of morphology-controllable BT@RGO hybrids into the polymer matrix proves to be an effective approach for achieving composites with high dielectric constant. This research offers a valuable design strategy centered around controlling graphene morphology, which holds great potential for a wide range of applications in electromagnetic shielding, dielectric capacitors, etc.

Pollen morphology of Norwegian hybrids of Sorbus

The genus Sorbus s.l. consists of small to medium‐sized trees primarily found in coastal areas, with three European hotspots of diversification: Fennoscandia, south‐east Europe and the British Isles. Taxonomic classification of Sorbus s.l. in Europe is still unresolved, and this study aims to address this issue by examining the pollen morphology of various Sorbus hybrids. Pollen morphology of 16 specimens from 13 species of Sorbus s.str., Aria and Hedlundia, some of them common, others are endemic and listed as threatened species, were studied. Measurements of the polar and equatorial axis of all pollen grains show that there are variations in pollen size and shape among different hybrids, with a correlation between ploidy levels and the equatorial diameter of the pollen. Surface structures of the pollen were observed using SEM. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to analyze the pollen characters, and the results show that it is possible to separate Aria from Sorbus and Hedlundia based on the length of the polar axis of the pollen grain, while the number of perforations is important for classification within Hedlundia. The study concludes that pollen morphology can be a useful tool for distinguishing between different Sorbus hybrids and can thus aid in understanding their past distributions.

Evolution of Metal Tellurides for Energy Storage/Conversion: From Synthesis to Applications.

Metal telluride (MTe)-based nanomaterials have emerged as a potential alternative for efficient, highly conductive, robust, and durable electrodes in energy storage/conversion applications. Significant progress in the material development of MTe-based electrodes is well-sought, from the synthesis of its nanostructures, integration of MTes with supporting materials, synthesis of their hybrid morphologies, and their implications in energy storage/conversion systems. Herein, an extensive exploration of the recent advancements and progress in MTes-based nanomaterials is reviewed. This review emphasizes elucidating the fundamental properties of MTes and providing a systematic compilation of its wet and dry synthesis methods. The applications of MTes are extensively summarized and discussed, particularly, in energy storage and conversion systems including batteries (Li-ion, Zn-ion, Li-S, Na-ion, K-ion), supercapacitor, hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and CO2 reduction. The review also emphasizes the future prospects and urgent challenges to be addressed in the development of MTes, providing knowledge for researchers in utilizing MTes in energy storage and conversion technologies.

Comparative study of the growth, survival and morphology of the whitefish hybrids and parent species in the first year of rearing in cage aquaculture

The purpose of the work: to estimate fish breeding indicators of three hybrid forms of whitefish in comparison with parental species when grown in cage aquaculture.Methods used: the production and cultivation of hybrids and parental species were carried out using standard technology for whitefish from November 2021 to May 2022. We have studied the survival and growth rate of fingerlings, and we also conducted a comparative assessment of the exterior of yearlings using factor and cluster analyses.Novelty: for the first time, three hybrid forms of peled and parent species (peled, muksun, broad whitefish, nelma) were grown in cages, and a comparative analysis of survival, growth and morphology of hybrids and parent species was performed.Results: all hybrid forms occupy an intermediate position in terms of growth rate, surpassing the maternal species (peled), yielding to the paternal ones. The best results in terms of weight and linear growth among hybrids were noted in pelchir. In terms of survival, oneyearlings of all hybrids show the effect of heterosis, although at the stage of larvae and early juveniles, the superiority in survival of hybrid forms over the parental pair was noted only in pelnelm. The survival rate of hybrid eggs, as well as the survival rate of pelchir and pelmuk at the early stages of cultivation, had intermediate values — lower than that of peled, but significantly higher than that of paternal species. The lowest survival rate of eggs among hybrids is shown in pelchir. The peled has the most significant morphological differences from other pure species and hybrid forms used in the experiment, all hybrid forms show more similarity with the paternal species.Practical significance: results provide a potential assessment of whitefish hybrids for the prospect of their use in commercial aquaculture.

High sexual display trait diversity without measured genetic divergence in a montane hybrid zone involving young species (Habronattus americanus subgroup, Araneae: Salticidae)

Abstract Genetic introgression, allele exchange across species boundaries, is a commonly recognized feature of animal evolution. Under such a paradigm, contemporary contact zones provide first-hand insight into the geographic, phenotypic, and genetic details of introgression. Also, when mate choice phenotypes are conspicuous and variable in hybrids, contact zones provide potential insight into how sexual selection interacts with species boundary maintenance, particularly when postzygotic reproductive isolation is weak. The Habronattus americanus subgroup includes several recently evolved jumping spider species, with an estimated age of about 200,000 yr, and substantial evidence for hybridization and introgression. We explored a contact zone involving H. americanus (Keyserling, 1885) and H. kubai (Griswold, 1979) on Mount Shasta, CA, in alpine habitats that would have been unavailable (under ice) at the Last Glacial Maximum. We characterized morphological diversity within the contact zone, including the fine-scale geographic distribution of hybrid and parental individuals, and assessed genetic variation using ddRADseq data. Combined results indicate a lack of measured genomic differentiation between specimens with distinct morphologies, including individuals with phenotypes of the parental species. We identified a diverse array of hybrid morphologies, with phenotypic evidence for backcrossing, essentially forming a phenotypic bridge between parental taxa. The study area is characterized by more hybrid than parental individuals, with a significantly larger number of red-palped morphologies than white- and/or yellow-palped morphologies; the novel, white-palped phenotype is perhaps transgressive. Overall, these results contribute to a better understanding of the expected ebb and flow of lineage interactions during the early stages of speciation.

Hybrid Steroid‐[60]Fullerene as n‐Type Material for Organic Photovoltaics

AbstractFullerene derivatives have been used as electron acceptor and transport materials in organic photovoltaics as well as in perovskite solar cells. Among them, [6,6]‐phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) has been one of the most widely used, in combination with poly‐3‐hexylthiophene (P3HT) as an electron donor semiconducting polymer, for the fabrication of organic bulk heterojunction solar cells (BHJ‐OSC). In this work, a steroid‐fullerene hybrid was synthesized through the Bingel–Hirsch reaction to compare its properties with PC61BM as the reference structure. Different spectroscopic techniques were employed to characterize the new fullerene derivative, namely 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). In addition, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and cyclic voltammetry were also performed. The characterization was completed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which explore the hybrid‘s morphology, where the presence of the steroid moiety increases the solubility of the fullerene material. DFT/PBE−D3(BJ)/6‐311G(d,p) calculations for both the steroid‐fullerene hybrid and PC61BM allowed to obtain geometry optimizations and electronic structure data. A comparative study to analyze the nature of the electronic properties of the synthesized steroid‐[60]fullerene hybrid and PC61BM with an oligomer of ten thiophene units, used in the active layer of organic solar cells, was carried out. Electron density maps using the [CIS|CNDOL/21] approach illustrate the photoexcitation of the donor followed by an electron‐charge transfer to the acceptor fullerene.