The effect of urbanization and exposure to multiple environmental factors on life-history traits and breeding success of Barn Swallows(Hirundo rustica)across China

In addition to landscape changes,urbanization also brings about changes in environmental factors that can affect wildlife.Despite the common referral in the published literature to multiple environmental factors such as light and noise pollution,there is a gap in knowledge about their combined impact.We developed a multidimensional environmental framework to assess the effect of urbanization and multiple environmental factors(light,noise,and temperature)on life-history traits and breeding success of Barn Swallows(Hirundo rustica)across rural to urban gradients in four locations spanning over 2500 km from North to South China.Over a single breeding season,we measured these environmental factors nearby nests and quantified landscape urbanization over a 1km~2radius.We then analysed the relationships between these multiple environmental factors through a principal component analysis and conducted spatially explicit linear-mixed effects models to assess their effect on lifehistory traits and breeding success.We were particularly interested in understanding whether and how Barn Swallows were able to adapt to such environmental conditions associated with urbanization.The results show that there is significant variation in the exposure to environmental conditions experienced by Barn Swallows breeding across urbanization gradients in China.These changes and their effects are complex due to the behavioural responses ameliorating potential negative effects by selecting nesting sites that minimize exposure to environmental factors.However,significant relationships between landscape urbanization,exposure to environmental factors,and life-history traits such as laying date and clutch size were pervasive.Still,the impact on breeding success was,at least in our sample,negligible,suggesting that Barn Swallows are extremely adaptable to a wide range of environmental features.

Electrodes for Li-ion batteries: From high-voltage LiCoO_(2) to Coreduced /Co-free layered oxides with potential anodes

Li-ion batteries(LIBs)are one type of more and more widely used devices for energy storage and power supply in which cathode materials are playing a relatively more decisive role at current stage.In this review,we start with pioneeringly commercialized R¯3mLiCoO_(2)(LCO)with a layered rhombohedral structure(space group)to discuss novel sequentially emerging LCO-derived layered oxides from the perspectives of both cobalt content reduction and performance improvement.Emphasis is placed on the improvement of high-voltage performance of LCO and Co-reduced/free layered oxides,including Co-reduced high-nickel layered oxides,Co-free Li-rich layered oxides,and Ni-based layered oxides cathodes,and their underlying mechanisms via different strategies.Also,possibly matched carbon and silicon-based anode materials are briefly discussed.The common issues and prospects of the layered oxides cathodes and their potential anodes are summarized and commented on.This review can help understand the emergence logics of novel layered oxides with gradually vanishing cobalt involved,provide insights about the underlying mechanisms of performance enhancement pertaining to particular strategies,and even inspire the discovery of novel cathode materials with high performance and low cost.

Integrated hetero-nanoelectrodes for plasmon-enhanced electrocatalysis of hydrogen evolution

Hetero-nanostructures of plasmonic metals and semiconductors have attracted increasing attention in the field of photocatalysis.However,most of the hetero-nanostructured catalysts are randomly arranged and therefore require comprehensive structural design for optimizing their properties.Herein,we report the robust construction of hierarchical hetero-nanostructures where gold(Au)nanorods and molybdenum disulfide(Mo S_(2))quantum sheets(QSs)are integrated in highly ordered arrays.Such construction is achieved through porous anodic alumina(PAA)template-assisted electrodeposition.The as-fabricated hetero-nanostructures demonstrate exciting electrocatalysis towards hydrogen evolution reaction(HER).Both plasmon-induced hot-electron injection and plasmonic scattering/reabsorption mechanisms are determinative to the enhanced electrocatalytic performances.Notably,broadband photoresponses of HER activity in the visible range are observed,indicating their superiority compared with random systems.Such integrated hetero-nanoelectrodes could provide a powerful platform for conversion and utilization of solar energy,meanwhile would greatly prompt the production and exploration of ordered nanoelectrodes.

Fishbone-like platinum-nickel nanowires as an efficient electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation

Platinum(Pt)-based electrocatalyst with low Pt content and high electrocatalytic performance is highly desired in fuel cell applications.Herein,we demonstrated that platinum-nickel(Pt-Ni)nanowires with an average composition of PtNi3 and a fishbone structure can be readily synthesized and used as an efficient electrocatalyst toward methanol oxidation reaction(MOR).The PtNi3 fishbone-like nanowires(PtNi3-FBNWs)present features such as richer Pt on the surface than in the bulk,high-index facets on the rough surface,and polyhedral facets at the ends of side chains.Such compositional and structural features could be determinative to the enhanced performance in the electrocatalysis of MOR.Compared with commercial 20%Pt/carbon black(Pt/C),the specific activity and mass activity of the PtNi3-FBNWs are enhanced by approximately 4.76 and 3.02 times,respectively.The stability of electrocatalysis is significantly improved as well.Such comprehensive enhancement indicates that the PtNi3-FBNWs would be a promising candidate toward MOR in fuel cells.

Genomes and evolutionary genomics of animals

Alongside recent advances and booming applications of DNA sequencing technologies, a great number of complete genome sequences for animal species are available to researchers. Hundreds of animals have been involved in whole genome se- quencing, and at least 87 non-human animal species＇ complete or draft genome sequences have been published since 1998. Based on these technological advances and the subsequent accumulation of large quantity of genomic data, evolutionary genomics has become one of the most rapidly advancing disciplines in biology. Scientists now can perform a number of comparative and evolu- tionary genomic studies for animals, to identify conserved genes or other functional elements among species, genomic elements that confer animals their own specific characteristics and new phenotypes for adaptation. This review deals with the current ge- nomic and evolutionary research on non-human animals, and displays a comprehensive landscape of genomes and the evolution- ary genomics of non-human animals. It is very helpful to a better understanding of the biology and evolution of the myriad forms within the animal kingdom [Current Zoology 59 （1）： 87-98, 2013].