A framework for mapping and monitoring human-ocean interactions in near real-time during COVID-19 and beyond.

The human response to the COVID-19 pandemic set in motion an unprecedented shift in human activity with unknown long-term effects. The impacts in marine systems are expected to be highly dynamic at local and global scales. However, in comparison to terrestrial ecosystems, we are not well-prepared to document these changes in marine and coastal environments. The problems are two-fold: 1) manual and siloed data collection and processing, and 2) reliance on marine professionals for observation and analysis. These problems are relevant beyond the pandemic and are a barrier to understanding rapidly evolving blue economies, the impacts of climate change, and the many other changes our modern-day oceans are undergoing. The "Our Ocean in COVID-19″ project, which aims to track human-ocean interactions throughout the pandemic, uses the new eOceans platform (eOceans.app) to overcome these barriers. Working at local scales, a global network of ocean scientists and citizen scientists are collaborating to monitor the ocean in near real-time. The purpose of this paper is to bring this project to the attention of the marine conservation community, researchers, and the public wanting to track changes in their area. As our team continues to grow, this project will provide important baselines and temporal patterns for ocean conservation, policy, and innovation as society transitions towards a new normal. It may also provide a proof-of-concept for real-time, collaborative ocean monitoring that breaks down silos between academia, government, and at-sea stakeholders to create a stronger and more democratic blue economy with communities more resilient to ocean and global change.

Vapour-liquid-solid growth of ZnO-ZnMgO core-shell nanowires by gold-catalysed molecular beam epitaxy.

Nanowire heterostructures, combining multiple phases within a single nanowire, modify functional properties and offer a platform for novel device development. Here, ZnO/ZnMgO core-shell nanowires are grown by molecular beam epitaxy. At growth temperatures above 750 °C, Mg diffuses into ZnO making heterostructure growth impossible; at lower shell-growth temperatures (500 °C), the core-shell structure is retained. Even very thin ZnMgO shells show increased intensity photoluminescence (PL) across the ZnO band-gap and a suppression in defect-related PL intensity, relative to plain ZnO nanowires. EDX measurements on shell thickness show a correlation between shell thickness and core diameter which is explained by a simple growth model.

Imaging interfacial electrical transport in graphene-MoS2 heterostructures with electron-beam-induced-currents.

Heterostructure devices with specific and extraordinary properties can be fabricated by stacking two-dimensional crystals. Cleanliness at the inter-crystal interfaces within a heterostructure is crucial for maximizing device performance. However, because these interfaces are buried, characterizing their impact on device function is challenging. Here, we show that electron-beam induced current (EBIC) mapping can be used to image interfacial contamination and to characterize the quality of buried heterostructure interfaces with nanometer-scale spatial resolution. We applied EBIC and photocurrent imaging to map photo-sensitive graphene-MoS2 heterostructures. The EBIC maps, together with concurrently acquired scanning transmission electron microscopy images, reveal how a device's photocurrent collection efficiency is adversely affected by nanoscale debris invisible to optical-resolution photocurrent mapping.

Nanofilament Formation and Regeneration During Cu/Al2O3 Resistive Memory Switching.

Conductive bridge random access memory (CBRAM) is a leading candidate to supersede flash memory, but poor understanding of its switching process impedes widespread implementation. The underlying physics and basic, unresolved issues such as the connecting filament's growth direction can be revealed with direct imaging, but the nanoscale target region is completely encased and thus difficult to access with real-time, high-resolution probes. In Pt/Al2O3/Cu CBRAM devices with a realistic topology, we find that the filament grows backward toward the source metal electrode. This observation, consistent over many cycles in different devices, corroborates the standard electrochemical metallization model of CBRAM operation. Time-resolved scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) reveals distinct nucleation-limited and potential-limited no-growth periods occurring before and after a connection is made, respectively. The subfemtoampere ionic currents visualized move some thousands of atoms during a switch and lag the nanoampere electronic currents.

Thermal measurement. Nanoscale temperature mapping in operating microelectronic devices.

Modern microelectronic devices have nanoscale features that dissipate power nonuniformly, but fundamental physical limits frustrate efforts to detect the resulting temperature gradients. Contact thermometers disturb the temperature of a small system, while radiation thermometers struggle to beat the diffraction limit. Exploiting the same physics as Fahrenheit's glass-bulb thermometer, we mapped the thermal expansion of Joule-heated, 80-nanometer-thick aluminum wires by precisely measuring changes in density. With a scanning transmission electron microscope and electron energy loss spectroscopy, we quantified the local density via the energy of aluminum's bulk plasmon. Rescaling density to temperature yields maps with a statistical precision of 3 kelvin/hertz(-1/2), an accuracy of 10%, and nanometer-scale resolution. Many common metals and semiconductors have sufficiently sharp plasmon resonances to serve as their own thermometers.

Dark-field transmission electron microscopy and the Debye-Waller factor of graphene.

Graphene's structure bears on both the material's electronic properties and fundamental questions about long range order in two-dimensional crystals. We present an analytic calculation of selected area electron diffraction from multi-layer graphene and compare it with data from samples prepared by chemical vapor deposition and mechanical exfoliation. A single layer scatters only 0.5% of the incident electrons, so this kinematical calculation can be considered reliable for five or fewer layers. Dark-field transmission electron micrographs of multi-layer graphene illustrate how knowledge of the diffraction peak intensities can be applied for rapid mapping of thickness, stacking, and grain boundaries. The diffraction peak intensities also depend on the mean-square displacement of atoms from their ideal lattice locations, which is parameterized by a Debye-Waller factor. We measure the Debye-Waller factor of a suspended monolayer of exfoliated graphene and find a result consistent with an estimate based on the Debye model. For laboratory-scale graphene samples, finite size effects are sufficient to stabilize the graphene lattice against melting, indicating that ripples in the third dimension are not necessary.

Charged nanoparticle dynamics in water induced by scanning transmission electron microscopy.

Using scanning transmission electron microscopy we image ~4 nm platinum nanoparticles deposited on an insulating membrane, where the membrane is one of two electron-transparent windows separating an aqueous environment from the microscope's high vacuum. Upon receiving a relatively moderate dose of ~10(4) e/nm(2), initially immobile nanoparticles begin to move along trajectories that are directed radially outward from the center of the field of view. With larger dose rates the particle motion becomes increasingly dramatic. These observations demonstrate that, even under mild imaging conditions, the in situ electron microscopy of aqueous environments can produce electrophoretic charging effects that dominate the dynamics of nanoparticles under observation.

Synergy between an IGF-1R antibody and Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway inhibitors in suppressing IGF-1R-mediated growth in hematopoietic cells.

The Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) is overexpressed in a variety of tumors including breast, prostate and myeloma. Thus, IGF-1R and its downstream signaling effectors are good candidates for molecular-based targeted antitumor therapies. Indeed, protein inhibitors of IGF-1R signaling and IGF-1R blocking antibodies are undergoing clinical trials. Herein, the molecular basis for antibody-mediated IGF-1R signal inhibition has been investigated in a hematopoietic cell line model, FDC-P1, that has been rendered interleukin-3 independent in a ligand-dependent manner through retroviral-mediated expression of IGF-1R (FD/IGF-1R). Furthermore, the ability of an anti-IGF-1R antibody to synergize with signal-transduction pathway inhibitors and induce apoptosis was determined. The alphaIGF-1R antibody, A12, was capable of arresting IGF-1 or insulin-induced FD/IGF-1R cell proliferation in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and resulted in apoptotic induction. A12 effectiveness could be potentiated through combination treatment with small molecule inhibitors of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK or PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways. These results validate the use of the FD/IGF-1R cells to evaluate the effectiveness and mechanisms of targeted IGF-1R therapeutic strategies.

Custom made C18 columns for the hydrophobic chromatography of cephalosporin C derivatives.

"Hydrophobic chromatography", which is a variation of reverse phase chromatography, is applicable to the analysis of cephalosporin C derivatives, especially in fermentation broths. Unfortunately, there are no commercial C18 columns which are entirely suitable for this class of compounds. For this reason C18 columns were prepared by an in-situ bonding technique and were optimally designed for cephalosporin C derivatives. Mono-, di- and trifunctional octadecyl bonding agents were used with 10 microns silica of both 60 A and 100 A pore diameter. The best results were obtained with the difunctional agent, methyloctadecyldichlorosilane, and 100 A silica. "Endcapping" of residual silanol groups with a trimethylsilylation agent was optional, since good results were obtained with both a plain C18 column and one that was "endcapped".

Reverse phase high speed liquid chromatography of antibiotics. III. Use of ultra high performance columns and ion-pairing techniques.

Improved methods for the separation and quantitation of cephalosporin, penicillin, aminoglycoside and anthracycline antibiotics are presented. The use of ultra high performance 5 micrometer phase columns combined with the added dimension of ion-pairing greatly increases the ease of separation and speed of analysis of complex antibiotic mixtures. Antibiotics in a variety of dosage forms and in fermentation broths have been examined in order to provide the maximum data on impurities to meet regulatory requirements for drug safety, purity and efficacy. Mixtures of antibiotics have been analyzed to demonstrate the improved separations, increased efficiency and shortened analysis times possible with ultra thin performance columns. Under these improved conditions, the danger of multiple components in a single peak are markedly reduced.

Risk management: preventive medicine for malpractice.

The remedy for malpractice problems hinges on their identification and subsequent prevention. This study was undertaken to ascertain any patterns of medical negligence, as indicated by patients' allegations, so that specific recommendations could be made to health care providers. In general, it was found that most malpractice suits could have been avoided if more diligent patient care had been provided, particularly with regard to patient communication.

Reverse phase high speed liquid chromatography of antibiotics. II. Use of high efficiency small particle columns.

Improved methods for the separation and quantitation of cephalosporins, penicillins, tetracyclines and several miscellaneous antibiotics by reverse phase high speed liquid chromatography are presented. The methods have been improved significantly by the substitution of high efficiency, small particle (approximately 10 micrometer reverse phase columns in place of the previously used medium efficiency, pellicular columns. The conditions and procedures described here illustrate that considerable improvements in separation and sensitivity of detection of antibiotics are achieved. Pure compounds, complex mixtures of antibiotics in a variety of dosage forms and fermentation broths are routinely analyzed by the described procedures.

The determination of cephradine and cephalexin by reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

The application of reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography to the separation and analysis of cephradine and cephalexin is demonstrated. The procedure has been applied to chemicals, pharmaceutical formulations and reaction solutions. The preparation of samples is simple and rapid. Chromatographic conditions are described for both pellicular and small particle columns. The feasibility of determing cephradine and cephalexin in physiological fluids has also been demonstrated.

Reverse phase high speed liquid chromatography of antibiotics.

Reverse phase high speed liquid chromatographic methods are presented for the separation and detection of cephalosporins, penicillins, tetracyclines and other miscellaneous antibiotics. The reverse phase approach is superior to ion-exchange liquid chromatography and spectrophotometric, chemical and microbiological procedures currently in use. In addition to being simple and easy to control, the technique is rapid, convenient and precise and provides the basis for the direct analysis of pure compounds, stability samples, complex mixtures and dosage forms of all types. Preparative chromatography has been used in our laboratory for the separation and isolation of up to 500 mg of antibiotics. Using this approach, we have separated and isolated small impurities as well as pure feference compounds. The methodology reported here can be extensively applied to the separation, quantitation and isolation of both naturally occurring and synthetically produced antibiotics in a variety of media including physiological fluids.