Pantropical modelling of canopy functional traits using Sentinel-2 remote sensing data

Tropical forest ecosystems are undergoing rapid transformation as a result of changing environmental conditions and direct human impacts. However, we cannot adequately understand, monitor or simulate tropical ecosystem responses to environmental changes without capturing the high diversity of plant functional characteristics in the species-rich tropics. Failure to do so can oversimplify our understanding of ecosystems responses to environmental disturbances. Innovative methods and data products are needed to track changes in functional trait composition in tropical forest ecosystems through time and space. This study aimed to track key functional traits by coupling Sentinel-2 derived variables with a unique data set of precisely located in-situ measurements of canopy functional traits collected from 2434 individual trees across the tropics using a standardised methodology. The functional traits and vegetation censuses were collected from 47 field plots in the countries of Australia, Brazil, Peru, Gabon, Ghana, and Malaysia, which span the four tropical continents. The spatial positions of individual trees above 10 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) were mapped and their canopy size and shape recorded. Using geo-located tree canopy size and shape data, community-level trait values were estimated at the same spatial resolution as Sentinel-2 imagery (i.e. 10 m pixels). We then used the Geographic Random Forest (GRF) to model and predict functional traits across our plots. We demonstrate that key plant functional traits can be accurately predicted across the tropicsusing the high spatial and spectral resolution of Sentinel-2 imagery in conjunction with climatic and soil information. Image textural parameters were found to be key components of remote sensing information for predicting functional traits across tropical forests and woody savannas. Leaf thickness (R2 = 0.52) obtained the highest prediction accuracy among the morphological and structural traits and leaf carbon content (R2 = 0.70) and maximum rates of photosynthesis (R2 = 0.67) obtained the highest prediction accuracy for leaf chemistry and photosynthesis related traits, respectively. Overall, the highest prediction accuracy was obtained for leaf chemistry and photosynthetic traits in comparison to morphological and structural traits. Our approach offers new opportunities for mapping, monitoring and understanding biodiversity and ecosystem change in the most species-rich ecosystems on Earth

Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of aryl tellurides with potassium aryltrifluoroborate salts

Palladium(O)-catalyzed cross-coupling between potassium aryltrifluoroborate salts and aryl tellurides proceeds readily to afford the desired biaryls in good to excellent yield. the reaction seems to be unaffected by the presence of electron-withdrawing or electron-donating substituents in both the potassium aryltrifluoroborate salts and aryl tellurides partners. Biaryls containing a variety of functional groups can be prepared. A chemoselectivity study was also carried out using aryl tellurides bearing halogen atoms in the same compound. in addition, this new version of the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction was monitored by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry where some reaction intermediates were detected and analyzed.Univ São Paulo, Inst Quim, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biofis, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut, São Paulo, BrazilInst Butantan, CEPID, CAT, Lab Espectrometria Massas, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biofis, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Guidelines for the use of flow cytometry and cell sorting in immunological studies (second edition)

These guidelines are a consensus work of a considerable number of members of the immunology and flow cytometry community. They provide the theory and key practical aspects of flow cytometry enabling immunologists to avoid the common errors that often undermine immunological data. Notably, there are comprehensive sections of all major immune cell types with helpful Tables detailing phenotypes in murine and human cells. The latest flow cytometry techniques and applications are also described, featuring examples of the data that can be generated and, importantly, how the data can be analysed. Furthermore, there are sections detailing tips, tricks and pitfalls to avoid, all written and peer-reviewed by leading experts in the field, making this an essential research companion