Royal Society Open Science

Abstract Rational design of metal-free organic sensitizers is crucial for advancing dye-sensitized solar cells. While D–A–π–A dyes such as XY1 show high performance, their behaviour is strongly influenced by interfacial electric fields (EFs). Using DFT/TD-DFT (CAM-B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)) in a solvent model, we reveal a non-monotonic response of the electronic properties of XY1 to external EFs. The HO…

Abstract In a spatially heterogeneous world, it is key for animals to sense the quality of their immediate environment and perform a directed avoidance behaviour when the environment is harmful. In aquatic environments, steep chemical gradients can be found at the thermocline or at the sediment-water interface resulting in small scale changes of good and harmful patches. Zooplankton that can esca…

Abstract Instantaneous noise-based logic (INBL) leverages the products and superpositions of uncorrelated noise signals to construct a 2N-dimensional Hilbert space (‘hyperspace’). This approach has been investigated for complex computational tasks traditionally associated with quantum computing, such as the Deutsch–Jozsa algorithm and phonebook search problems. In this study, we delve into the st…

Abstract Pleistocene land birds remain rare in East Asia, which hinders the understanding of avian extinctions and the emergence of modern avian diversity in this part of the world. Abundant extinct mammals and reptiles have been documented from the Pleistocene of Taiwan, revealing significant Pleistocene extinctions. However, no fossil evidence shows such events for birds. In this study, we desc…

Abstract How do generalists adjust to variation in prey abundance and profitability and seek out their preferred prey? We investigated this question in the soil protist Dictyostelium discoideum, a generalist predator of many species of bacteria. Despite their generalist diet, amoebas proliferate more quickly on some bacteria than on others. We tested amoeba chemoattraction towards 23 bacterial sp…

Abstract Stable isotope analyses of museum specimens provide an opportunity to examine long-term changes in avian migration strategies. Here, we determined stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) in body feathers (reflecting diet during the non-breeding period) sampled from living birds and historical museum specimens to investigate whether brown skuas Stercorarius antarcticus lonnbe…

Abstract Carbon quantum dot (CQD)-based nanocomposites are widely used as fluorescent sensors for the detection of antibiotics in water; however, the use of CQDs for water remediation is largely unexplored. In this study, a novel polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane modified with CQDs was developed by electrospinning to remove ciprofloxacin from water. A hydrothermal method was used to prepare…

Abstract Crab spiders (Thomisidae) are well-known predators, typically ambushing prey upon flowers and other plants. This style of predation suggests a potential benefit from vision in prey capture by crab spiders despite their comparatively small eyes. However, behavioural evidence on the impact of vision on prey capture success by crab spiders is currently lacking. To address this knowledge gap…

Abstract Movements between humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) breeding stocks are exceedingly rare, and exchange between distant breeding grounds in both directions has not previously been documented between eastern Australia and Brazil. Using 19 283 curated photo-identification images from eastern Australia (breeding stock E1 (BSE1)) and Brazil (breeding stock A (BSA)) collected between 198…

Abstract Prediction of optical properties of molecules still remains a challenge in the design of dye-sensitized solar cells. By linking quantum-chemical accuracy with the flexibility of machine learning (ML), this work offers a glimpse into how data-driven approaches can reshape the way we design next-generation photovoltaic materials. In this work, we combine density functional theory (DFT) and…

Abstract Density is a major determinant of population dynamics, with high densities exacerbating intraspecific competition and disease transmission while low densities increase predation risk. To investigate spatiotemporal density patterns and predator–prey interactions in a breeding colony of Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella), we deployed an autonomous camera capturing minute-by-minute…

Abstract Determining an individual’s sex early in life may clarify fundamental issues such as progeny sex ratios and sex-based divergences in ecology and behaviour prior to maturity and be useful in captive breeding of endangered species or in developing methods to control invasive pests by skewing offspring sex ratios. We measured morphological traits in captive-raised cane toads (Rhinella marin…

Abstract Kirigami, a class of metamaterials composed of elastic sheets with periodic cuts, enables significant in-plane compliance through out-of-plane buckling. This study comprehensively investigates the mechanics and kinematics of chiral cylindrical kirigami structures, demonstrating the emergence of spontaneous rotational deformation under axial stretching. Experimental results reveal that th…

Abstract Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) plays a pivotal role in governing the photophysical behaviour of benzazole-based fluorophores. However, the synergistic effects of heteroatom identity, substituent electronic properties and solvent polarity remain insufficiently understood. Here, we use density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations to investigate …

Abstract Nitrogen serves as an important driver of eutrophication in water bodies, with its excessive inputs posing considerable threats to aquatic ecosystems. In order to remove nitrogen pollutants efficiently, activated carbon fibres (ACFs) were dual-modified with HNO3 and NaOH to improve their adsorption performance in aqueous solution. Batch experiments on surface characteristics and adsorpti…

Abstract The adsorption of plasma proteins like albumin on dental implant surfaces is crucial for effective osseointegration and is strongly influenced by the surface texture. Most of the studies in the literature focused on albumin concentrations well below the physiological values in plasma, thus limiting their biomedical relevance. Here, we study the adsorption of albumin from phosphate-buffer…

Abstract Seabird depredation in fishing gear and aquaculture facilities is documented worldwide and can represent important revenue losses. Although sometimes considered a nuisance, seabirds are also generally protected, so the development of non-lethal methods to reduce depredation is essential to maintain sustainable fishing and aquaculture activities without affecting seabird populations. In t…

Abstract T cells are immune cells that are known to be effective at fighting cancer. However, tumour-specific T cell counts are often insufficient to control cancer growths. Adoptive T cell therapy aims to leverage the cancer-killing functions of the immune system by activating and expanding highly effective T cells ex vivo before injecting them into a cancer patient. Recent experimental setups i…

Abstract Increased coordination challenges, such as in the negotiation of group movement and activity, has been suggested to promote communicative complexity. This hypothesis, however, has rarely been tested within and between species, specifically in relation to signal combinations. We compared two primates, chimpanzees and mangabeys, living in the same dense forest habitat, but with varying deg…

Abstract Accurate perception of speed is essential for adaptive behaviour in dynamic environments, but it is systematically distorted across sensory modalities, making it subject to contextual effects. This study examines the influence of these effects, specifically central tendency and serial dependence, on speed estimation in vision and audition. Participants were asked to rate the speed of vis…