We conducted static experiments to assess the effects of ammonium nitrate fertilizer on embryos and larvae of six European amphibians: sharp-ribbed salamander (Pleurodeles waltl), Iberian painted frog (Discoglossus galganoi), western spadefoot toad (Pelobates cultripes), common toad (Bufo bufo), natterjack toad (Bufo calamita), and common tree frog (Hyla arborea). Embryos were exposed to different and environmentally relevant concentrations of ammonium nitrate (0 to 200 mg NO(3)(-)/L) for 15 days. Hatching took place during the experiments. H. arborea was extremely sensitive and had high mortality after 8 days of exposure even at the lower fertilizer levels. D. galganoi and B. bufo were also very sensitive and had significant mortality after 15 days of exposure. The rest of the species did not suffer lethal effects but suffered abnormalities or decreased growth at the highest fertilizer concentrations. Chemical fertilizers or manure could have contributed to the observed decrease of B. bufo and D. galganoi in agricultural areas of the Iberian Peninsula during recent years. H. arborea was the most sensitive species studied. The results of our study showed that environmentally relevant levels of ammonium nitrate can induce mortality and might affect population dynamics of this species in agricultural environments.

Understanding the structure-property relationships that govern exciton dissociation into polarons in conjugated polymers is key in developing materials for optoelectronic applications such as light-emitting diodes and solar cells. Here, the polymer poly(9,9dioctylfluorene) (PFO), which can form a minority population of chain segments in a distinct, lower-energy 'β-phase' conformation, is studied to examine the influence of conformation and microstructure on polaron generation in neat thin films. Using ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy to probe PFO thin films with glassy-phase and β-phase microstructures, and selectively exciting each phase independently, the dynamics of exciton dissociation are resolved. Ultrafast polaron generation is consistently found to be significantly higher and long-lived in thin films containing β-phase chain segments, with an average polaron yield that increases by over a factor of three to 4.9 % vs 1.4 % in glassyphase films. The higher polaron yield, attributed to an increased exciton dissociation yield at the interface between conformational phases, is most likely due to a combination of the significant energetic differences between glassy-phase and β-phase segments and disparities in electronic delocalisation and charge carrier mobilities between phases.

The COVID-19 pandemic is increasing negative emotions and decreasing positive emotions globally. Left unchecked, these emotional changes may have a wide array of adverse impacts. To reduce negative emotions and increase positive emotions, we will examine the impact of reappraisal, a widely studied and highly effective form of emotion regulation. Participants from 55 countries (expected N = 25,448) will be randomly assigned to one of two brief reappraisal interventions (reconstrual or repurposing), an active control condition, or a passive control condition. We predict that both reappraisal interventions will reduce negative emotions and increase positive emotions relative to the control conditions. We further predict that reconstrual will decrease negative emotions more than repurposing, and that repurposing will increase positive emotions more than reconstrual. We hope to inform efforts to create a scalable intervention for use around the world to build resilience during the pandemic and beyond.

SUMMARY: A new species of caprellid amphipod of the genus Paracaprella is described and illustrated in detail. All the material reported was collected from coral rubble samples from the Arrecife Tuxpan/Lobos Protected Natural Area, off Veracruz State, Mexico, WSW Gulf of Mexico. The new species is characterized by large eyes; article 2 of peduncle of antenna 2 with a distoventral process; body dorsally setose; large subrectangular projection on the anteroventral margin of pereonite 2; basis of gnathopod 2 elongate and thin with a proximal knob on posterior margin, propodus longer than broad, with a robust grasping spine, and a large and robust tooth distally; and pereopods 5, 6 and 7 with several long plumose setae. The new species increases the numbers of Paracaprella species recorded around the world to 8, and the caprellid species from the Gulf of Mexico to 16. All caprellid amphipod species documented from this gulf inhabit the coastal zone and six in the deep sea. In addition, the number of caprellid species decreases along the bathymetric gradient: 15 species on the littoral zone, 6 on the continental shelf, 5 on the continental slope, and 3 on the abyssal plain.Keywords: Crustacea, Paracaprella, new species, coral reef, Mexico, taxonomy. RESUMEN: Caprellidea (CrustaCea: peraCarida: amphipoda) del Golfo de méxiCo Con la desCripCion de una espeCie nueva de ParacaPrella. -Se describe e ilustra con detalle una especie nueva de anfípodo caprélido del género Paracaprella. Todo el material estudiado fue encontrado en muestras de restos de coral del Área Natural Protegida Lobos/Tuxpan, Estado de Veracruz, SO del Golfo de México. La especie nueva se caracteriza por tener ojos grandes; artejo 2 del pedúnculo de la antena 2 con un proceso distoventral; cuerpo setoso dorsalmente, proyección subrectangular larga sobre margen anteroventral de pereonite 2; basis del gnatópodo 2 alargada y delgada con una protuberancia proximal sobre margen posterior, propodus más largo que ancho, con una espina robusta raspadora, y un diente robusto y largo distalmente; pereiópodos 5, 6 y 7 con algunas setas plumosas largas. La especie nueva incrementa el número de especies del género Paracaprella registradas en el mundo a ocho, y a 16 las especies de caprélidos para el golfo de México. Todas las especies documentadas para el golfo habitan en la costa y seis especies en el mar profundo. Además, el número de especies de caprélidos decrece a lo largo del gradiente batimétrico: 15 especies en la zona litoral, seis en la plataforma continental, cinco en el talud continental, y tres en la planicie abisal.