Highlights d Marine heatwaves lead to rapid coral mortality and microbial biofilm formation d Microbial metabolic activity results in rapid dissolution of the coral skeleton d Dissolution reduces skeletal hardness and density and increased porosity

The thermal decompositions of 2-azidoethanol and 2-azidoethyl acetate have been studied by matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy and real-time ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. The products that were detected in a flow system at different temperatures (CH2NH, H2CO, N2, CO, and HCN from N3CH2CH2OH and C2H4, CH2NH, HCN, CO2, and N2 from N3CH2COOCH2CH3) allowed mechanisms for decomposition to be proposed. The experimental evidence obtained is consistent with 2-azidoethyl actetate decomposing via a concerted mechanism, similar to that found previously for azidoacetic acid, whereas the 2-azidoethanol decomposition is consistent with a stepwise decomposition mechanism as observed previously for azidoacetone.

The ultraviolet photoelectron spectrum of F 2 O was recorded with a higher resolution than previously published. New vibrational structure was observed in the second and third bands. Near state-of-the-art molecular orbital calculations were performed on the

Rice (Oryza sativa) was domesticated in the Yangtze Valley region at least 6000–8000 years ago, yet the timing of dispersal of domesticated rice to Southeast Asia is contentious. Often rice is not well-preserved in archaeobotanical assemblages at early Neolithic sites in the wet tropics of Southeast Asia and consequently rice impressions in pottery have been used as a proxy for rice cultivation despite their uncertain taxonomic and domestication status. In this research, we use microCT technology to determine the 3D microscale morphology of rice husk and spikelet base inclusions within pottery sherds from early Neolithic sites in Vietnam. In contrast to surface impressions, microCT provides images of the entire husk and spikelet base preserved within the pottery, including the abscission scar characteristic of domesticated rice. This research demonstrates the potential of microCT to be a new, non-destructive method for the identification of domesticated plant remains within pottery sherds, especially in contexts where archaeobotanical preservation is poor and chaff-tempered sherds are rare and unavailable for destructive analysis. The method has the potential to greatly advance the understanding of crop domestication and agricultural dispersal for ceramic cultures in different parts of the world.

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