bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of the pain tolerance threshold induced by electrical stimulation of the alveolar ridge
Authors: Nakashima Yoshio , Kimoto Suguru , Ogawa Takahiro , Furuse Nobuhiko , Ono Masanori , Kawai Yasuhiko
Published: January 2016

The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of the pain tolerance threshold (PTT) induced by electrical stimulation of the alveolar ridge. A total of 100 healthy volunteers studying or working at Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo and patients from Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo Affiliated Hospital, including 51 men (58.7 ± 17.6 years old) and 49 women (60.7 ± 17.1 years old), participated in this study. The volunteers were enrolled after obtaining written informed consent. PTT measurements were obtained using a Neurometer CPT/C® device to deliver electrical stimulation around the left greater palatine foramen at frequencies of 5 and 250 Hz. When the stimulus could no longer be tolerated, the participant released a button to automatically discontinue the stimulus. After the distribution of the PTT values was analyzed, the influence of gender, age, and Eichner index on PTT was analyzed. The Eichner index values were divided into three categories: group A (four supporting zones), group B (less than four supporting zones but with anterior tooth contact), and group C (no occlusal contact). The PTT values did not show a normal distribution. There were no significant differences in PTT between men and women. PTT was significantly associated with age (P = 0.017) at 5 Hz in men. There were no significant differences in PTT among the Eichner index groups. The characteristics of the PTT of the alveolar ridge are as follows: (1) age and PTT at 5 Hz are significantly associated with men but not with women, and (2) the Eichner index has no influence on the PTT.
Resveratrol Ameliorates the Components of Hepatic Inflammation and Apoptosis in a Rat Model of Streptozotocin‐Induced Diabetes
Authors: Pektaş Mehmet Bilgehan , Sadi Gökhan , Koca Halit Bugra , Yuksel Yasemin , Vurmaz Ayhan , Koca Tulay , Tosun Murat
Published: January 2016

Preclinical Research

Trans‐resveratrol has a wide range of biological effects that reflect its antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, anticarcinogenic and cardioprotective properties. This study was conducted to elucidate the potential role of resveratrol on hepatic inflammation and the apoptotic pathway components Bcl‐2, Bax and p53 in a streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced rat model of diabetes mellitus. Inflammatory and apoptotic biomarkers indicated a reduction in hepatic erythropoietin (1.26‐fold) and increased asymmetric dimethylarginine (3.9‐fold), visfatin (1.6‐fold), inflammatory interleukins and TNF–α contents (approximately twofold each) in the diabetic animals. Induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase gene (2.04‐fold) and protein expression (1.24‐fold) was also observed. Immunohistochemical studies showed enhancement of the apoptotic biomarkers Bax and p53 in diabetic animals. STZ‐induced diabetic male Wistar rats were treated with resveratrol (20 mg/kg/day i.p.). Resveratrol succeeded to recover most of these inflammatory and apoptotic elements. Therefore, inflammatory and apoptotic pathways were proved to be affected by STZ‐induced diabetes in several aspects and resveratrol might contribute hepatoprotective effects as evidenced from this study. Drug Dev Res 77 : 12–19, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Annual banned‐substance review: analytical approaches in human sports drug testing
Authors: Thevis Mario , Kuuranne Tiia , Walpurgis Katja , Geyer Hans , Schänzer Wilhelm
Published: January 2016

The aim of improving anti‐doping efforts is predicated on several different pillars, including, amongst others, optimized analytical methods. These commonly result from exploiting most recent developments in analytical instrumentation as well as research data on elite athletes' physiology in general, and pharmacology, metabolism, elimination, and downstream effects of prohibited substances and methods of doping, in particular. The need for frequent and adequate adaptations of sports drug testing procedures has been incessant, largely due to the uninterrupted emergence of new chemical entities but also due to the apparent use of established or even obsolete drugs for reasons other than therapeutic means, such as assumed beneficial effects on endurance, strength, and regeneration capacities. Continuing the series of annual banned‐substance reviews, literature concerning human sports drug testing published between October 2014 and September 2015 is summarized and reviewed in reference to the content of the 2015 Prohibited List as issued by the World Anti‐Doping Agency (WADA), with particular emphasis on analytical approaches and their contribution to enhanced doping controls.
Reading Test—Sentence Comprehension: An Adapted Version of Lobrot's Lecture 3 Test for Brazilian Portuguese
Authors: de Araújo Vilhena Douglas , Sucena Ana , Castro São Luís , Pinheiro Ângela Maria Vieira
Published: January 2016

Our aim was to analyse the linguistic structure of the Lobrot's Lecture 3 (L3) reading test and to describe the procedure for its adaptation to a Brazilian cultural‐linguistic context. The resulting adapted version is called the Reading Test—Sentence Comprehension [Teste de Leitura: Compreensão de Sentenças (TELCS)] and was developed using the European Portuguese adaptation of L3 as a reference. The present study was conducted in seven steps: (1) classification of the response alternatives of L3 test; (2) adaptation of the original sentences into Brazilian Portuguese; (3) back‐translation; (4) adaptation of the distractors from TELCS; (5) configuration of TELCS; (6) pilot study; and (7) validation and standardization. In comparison with L3, TELCS included new linguistic and structural variables, such as frequency of occurrence of the distractors, gender neutrality and position of the target words. The instrument can be used for a collective screening or individual clinical administration purposes to evaluate the reading ability of second‐to‐fifth‐grade and 7‐to‐11‐year‐old students. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Confident body, confident child: A randomized controlled trial evaluation of a parenting resource for promoting healthy body image and eating patterns in 2‐ to 6‐year old children
Authors: Hart Laura M. , Damiano Stephanie R. , Paxton Susan J.
Published: January 2016

Objective

Body image and eating patterns develop in early childhood and are influenced by the family environment. This research evaluated Confident Body, Confident Child (CBCC), an intervention for parents of 2‐ to 6‐year‐old children, designed to promote body satisfaction, healthy eating, and weight management in early childhood.

Method

A randomized controlled trial compared four groups: (A) received the CBCC resource pack and a workshop, (B) received the CBCC resource pack only, (C) received a nutrition‐only resource and (D) received no interventions until all questionnaires were completed (i.e., functioned as waitlist control). Measures of parenting variables relevant to child body image and eating patterns, parent‐report of child weight, and evaluation questions about the resource, were implemented pre‐ and post‐intervention.

Results

At 6‐weeks post‐intervention, the CBCC resource was associated with significant reductions in parents' intentions to use behaviors that increase the risk of negative body attitudes or unhealthy eating in their children, in parents' use of feeding practices associated with childhood overweight, and in television watching during family meals. Significant increases in parents' intentions to use positive behaviors and knowledge of child body image and healthy eating patterns were also found. Superior results were found for the CBCC resource + workshop condition, suggesting it is the preferred delivery method.

Discussion

CBCC positively impacts parenting variables associated with childhood risk for body dissatisfaction, unhealthy eating and weight. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:458–472)
The influence of simulated exploitation on Patella vulgata populations: protandric sex change is size‐dependent
Authors: Borges Carla D. G. , Hawkins Stephen J. , Crowe Tasman P. , Doncaster C. Patrick
Published: January 2016

Grazing mollusks are used as a food resource worldwide, and limpets are harvested commercially for both local consumption and export in several countries. This study describes a field experiment to assess the effects of simulated human exploitation of limpets Patella vulgata on their population ecology in terms of protandry (age‐related sex change from male to female), growth, recruitment, migration, and density regulation. Limpet populations at two locations in southwest England were artificially exploited by systematic removal of the largest individuals for 18 months in plots assigned to three treatments at each site: no (control), low, and high exploitation. The shell size at sex change (L50: the size at which there is a 50:50 sex ratio) decreased in response to the exploitation treatments, as did the mean shell size of sexual stages. Size‐dependent sex change was indicated by L50 occurring at smaller sizes in treatments than controls, suggesting an earlier switch to females. Mean shell size of P. vulgata neuters changed little under different levels of exploitation, while males and females both decreased markedly in size with exploitation. No differences were detected in the relative abundances of sexual stages, indicating some compensation for the removal of the bigger individuals via recruitment and sex change as no migratory patterns were detected between treatments. At the end of the experiment, 0–15 mm recruits were more abundant at one of the locations but no differences were detected between treatments. We conclude that sex change in P. vulgata can be induced at smaller sizes by reductions in density of the largest individuals reducing interage class competition. Knowledge of sex‐change adaptation in exploited limpet populations should underpin strategies to counteract population decline and improve rocky shore conservation and resource management.
Mapping species abundance by a spatial zero‐inflatedPoisson model: a case study in theWaddenSea, theNetherlands
Authors: Lyashevska Olga , Brus Dick J. , van der Meer Jaap
Published: January 2016

The objective of the study was to provide a general procedure for mapping species abundance when data are zero‐inflated and spatially correlated counts. The bivalve speciesMacoma balthicawas observed on a 500×500 m grid in theDutch part of theWaddenSea. In total, 66% of the 3451 counts were zeros. A zero‐inflatedPoisson mixture model was used to relate counts to environmental covariates. Two models were considered, one with relatively fewer covariates (model “small”) than the other (model “large”). The models contained two processes: aBernoulli (species prevalence) and aPoisson (species intensity, when theBernoulli process predicts presence). The model was used to make predictions for sites where only environmental data are available. Predicted prevalences and intensities show that the model “small” predicts lower mean prevalence and higher mean intensity, than the model “large”. Yet, the product of prevalence and intensity, which might be called the unconditional intensity, is very similar.Cross‐validationshowed that the model “small” performed slightly better, but the difference was small. The proposed methodology might be generally applicable, but is computer intensive.
Exclusion of introduced deer increases size and seed production success in an island‐endemic plant species
Authors: Dvorak Tyler M. , Catalano Amy E.
Published: January 2016

The presence of extra‐local invaders, such as the southern California mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) on Santa Catalina Island, may contribute to more selective and insidious effects within the unique ecosystems that have evolved in their absence. Studies at the species level may detect effects not noticed in broader, community level vegetation monitoring or help tease apart differences in the level of effect among the various ecological components of an invaded system. In this initial study, we measured the impacts of herbivory by mule deer, a species native to analogous habitats on the adjacent mainland, on size and seed production success for Crocanthemum greenei (island rush‐rose), a federally listed sub‐shrub that is not present on mainland California. We found deer exclusion resulted in an overall increase in stem measurement of 18.8 cm. Exclosure populations exhibited complete seed production success, whereas control populations showed significantly reduced success and exhibited complete failure within 58% of populations. These results show that the introduced mule deer on Santa Catalina Island are negatively affecting a federally threatened plant species. This strongly implies that the current deer management strategy is insufficient, if one of its goals is biodiversity and endemic species conservation.
Phylogenetic analysis suggests that sociality is associated with reduced effectiveness of selection
Authors: Settepani Virginia , Bechsgaard Jesper , Bilde Trine
Published: January 2016

The evolution of sociality in spiders is associated with female bias, reproductive skew and an inbreeding mating system, factors that cause a reduction in effective population size and increase effects of genetic drift. These factors act to decrease the effectiveness of selection, thereby increasing the fixation probability of deleterious mutations. Comparative studies of closely related species with contrasting social traits and mating systems provide the opportunity to test consequences of low effective population size on the effectiveness of selection empirically. We used phylogenetic analyses of three inbred social spider species and seven outcrossing subsocial species of the genus Stegodyphus, and compared dN/dS ratios and codon usage bias between social Inbreeding and subsocial outcrossing mating systems to assess the effectiveness of selection. The overall results do not differ significantly between the social inbreeding and outcrossing species, but suggest a tendency for lower codon usage bias and higher dN/dS ratios in the social inbreeding species compared with their outcrossing congeners. The differences in dN/dS ratio and codon usage bias between social and subsocial species are modest but consistent with theoretical expectations of reduced effectiveness of selection in species with relatively low effective population size. The modest differences are consistent with relatively recent evolution of social mating systems. Additionally, the short terminal branches and lack of speciation of the social lineages, together with low genetic diversity lend support for the transient state of permanent sociality in spiders.
Comparative phylogeography and evolutionary history of schizothoracine fishes in the Changtang Plateau and their implications for the lake level and Pleistocene climate fluctuations
Authors: He Dekui , Chen Yifeng , Liu Chunlong , Tao Juan , Ding Chengzhi , Chen Yiyu
Published: January 2016

The water level oscillation of endorheic lakes and extent change of glaciers associated with the Asian monsoon are known as prominent representatives of climatic and environmental events in the Tibetan Plateau during the Quaternary. However, details process in spatial and temporal changes are still debated. We use the schizothoracines as a palaeoclimatic proxy to test two hypotheses concerning the evolution of Quaternary glaciations and lakes of the Changtang Plateau: (1) the Tibetan glaciations generally tended to decrease since the middle Pleistocene; (2) the lakes expansion was driven by summer monsoon rainfall. Based on a wide range‐wide sampling throughout in the Changtang Plateau and its adjacent drainages, we constructed phylogeny and demographic histories of schizothoracines in the Changtang Plateau. Our results showed that the populations of the exorheic rivers and lakes in southern Tibet possessed higher genetic variability, earlier coalescent and expansion times than those of the endorheic lakes in the Changtang Plateau. Population expansions are highly consistent with phases of strong summer monsoon and high lake level during interglacial stages. The maximum growth rate intervals showed three pulses from 64.7 to 54.8, 39.6 to 31.0, and 14.9 to 2.4 kya respectively. The significant positive correlations were found between regional precipitation and genetic diversity, as well as coalescence time of populations in the endorheic lakes. We suggested that the demographic history of the schizothoracines reflects the spatial and temporal changes in climate and lake level, in particular, in regional precipitation gradients associated with changes of the South Asian monsoon, and supports the climatic hypothesis of a general diminishing tend in Tibetan glaciations in the Tibetan Plateau since the middle Pleistocene.
Quantitative and qualitative shifts in defensive metabolites define chemical defense investment during leaf development inInga, a genus of tropical trees
Authors: Wiggins Natasha L. , Forrister Dale L. , Endara María‐José , Coley Phyllis D. , Kursar Thomas A.
Published: January 2016

Selective pressures imposed by herbivores are often positively correlated with investments that plants make in defense. Research based on the framework of an evolutionary arms race has improved our understanding of why the amount and types of defenses differ between plant species. However, plant species are exposed to different selective pressures during the life of a leaf, such that expanding leaves suffer more damage from herbivores and pathogens than mature leaves. We hypothesize that this differential selective pressure may result in contrasting quantitative and qualitative defense investment in plants exposed to natural selective pressures in the field. To characterize shifts in chemical defenses, we chose six species ofInga,a speciose Neotropical tree genus. Focal species represent diverse chemical, morphological, and developmental defense traits and were collected from a single site in the Amazonian rainforest. Chemical defenses were measured gravimetrically and by characterizing the metabolome of expanding and mature leaves. Quantitative investment in phenolics plus saponins, the major classes of chemical defenses identified inInga, was greater for expanding than mature leaves (46% and 24% of dry weight, respectively). This supports the theory that, because expanding leaves are under greater selective pressure from herbivores, they rely more upon chemical defense as an antiherbivore strategy than do mature leaves. Qualitatively, mature and expanding leaves were distinct and mature leaves contained more total and unique metabolites. Intraspecific variation was greater for mature leaves than expanding leaves, suggesting that leaf development is canalized. This study provides a snapshot of chemical defense investment in a speciose genus of tropical trees during the short, few‐week period of leaf development. Exploring the metabolome through quantitative and qualitative profiling enables a more comprehensive examination of foliar chemical defense investment.
Context‐dependent female preference for multiple ornaments in the bearded reedling
Authors: Griggio Matteo , Hoi Herbert , Lukasch Barbara , Pilastro Andrea
Published: January 2016

While it is well established that females prefer to mate with well‐ornamented males, the influence of perceptive and cognitive processes on the expression of female mate choice is still poorly known. It has been suggested that the female perception of a male's attractiveness is not absolute, but depends on the other males with which he is compared that have been previously encountered (comparative evaluation). We investigated whether mate preference in bearded reedlings (Panurus biarmicus) is dependent on or independent of social context in relation to two different traits: beard and tail lengths. Each female had a choice between two to three males with different modifications of beard and tail. For each female, three different experiments were conducted (one binary and two trinary tests). We found that when females are presented with options that vary antagonistically with respect to two ornaments (binary test), some individuals prefer one trait while others the other trait. This indicates that in our bearded reedlings population exists a mate preference polymorphisms. Moreover, we found that the presence of a third stimulus, irrespective of the initial preference, reduced the strength of the initial preference – what we can call a “preference dilution effect.” Our results suggest that the female's choice may be constrained by her cognitive abilities when she is simultaneously presented with several options varying for two uncorrelated traits.
Mean reproductive traits of fungal assemblages are correlated with resource availability
Authors: Bässler Claus , Halbwachs Hans , Karasch Peter , Holzer Heinrich , Gminder Andreas , Krieglsteiner Lothar , Gonzalez Ramiro Silveyra , Müller Jörg , Brandl Roland
Published: January 2016

Organisms have evolved a fascinating variety of strategies and organs for successful reproduction. Fruit bodies are the reproductive organ of fungi and vary considerably in size and shape among species. Our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the differences in fruit body size among species is still limited. Fruit bodies of saprotrophic fungi are smaller than those of mutualistic ectomycorrhizal fungi. If differences in fruit body size are determined by carbon acquisition, then mean reproductive traits of saprotrophic and ectomycorrhizal fungi assemblages should vary differently along gradients of resource availability as carbon acquisition seems more unpredictable and costly for saprotrophs than for ectomycorrhizal fungi. Here, we used 48 local inventories of fungal fruit bodies (plot size: 0.02 ha each) sampled along a gradient of resource availability (growing stock) across 3 years in the Bavarian Forest National Park in Germany to investigate regional and local factors that might influence the distribution of species with different reproductive traits, particularly fruit body size. As predicted, mean fruit body size of local assemblages of saprotrophic fungi was smaller than expected from the distribution of traits of the regional species pool across central and northern Europe, whereas that of ectomycorrhizal fungi did not differ from random expectation. Furthermore and also as expected, mean fruit body size of assemblages of saprotrophic fungi was significantly smaller than for assemblages of ectomycorrhizal species. However, mean fruit body sizes of not only saprotrophic species but also ectomycorrhizal species increased with resource availability, and the mean number of fruit bodies of both assemblages decreased. Our results indicate that the differences in carbon acquisition between saprotrophs and ectomycorrhizal species lead to differences in basic reproductive strategies, with implications for the breadth of their distribution. However, the differences in resource acquisition cannot explain detailed species distribution patterns at a finer, local scale based on their reproductive traits.
Stoichiometrical regulation of soil organic matter decomposition and its temperature sensitivity
Authors: He Nianpeng , Yu Guirui
Published: January 2016

The decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) can be described by a set of kinetic principles, environmental constraints, and substrate supply. Here, we hypothesized that SOM decomposition rates (R) and its temperature sensitivity (Q10) would increase steadily with the N:C ratios of added substrates by alleviating N limitation on microbial growth. We tested this hypothesis by investigating SOM decomposition in both grassland and forest soils after addition of substrates with a range of N:C ratios. The results showed that Michaelis–Menten equations well fit the response of R to the N:C ratio variations of added substrates, and their coefficients of determination (R2) ranged from 0.65 to 0.89 (P < 0.01). Moreover, the maximal R, Q10, and cumulative C emission of SOM decomposition increased exponentially with the N:C ratios of added substrates, and were controlled interactively by incubation temperature and the N:C ratios of the added substrates. We demonstrated that SOM decomposition rate and temperature sensitivity were exponentially correlated to substrate stoichiometry (N:C ratio) in both grassland and forest soils. Therefore, these correlations should be incorporated into the models for the prediction of SOM decomposition rate under warmer climatic scenarios.
Vegetable oil‐mediated thermal isomerization of (all‐E)‐lycopene: Facile and efficient production of Z‐isomers
Authors: Honda Masaki , Horiuchi Ikumi , Hiramatsu Hayato , Inoue Yoshinori , Kitamura Chitoshi , Fukaya Tetsuya , Takehara Munenori
Published: January 2016

Thermal isomerization of (all‐E)‐lycopene to the corresponding Z‐isomers was investigated in edible vegetable oils; perilla, linseed, grape seed, soybean, corn, sesame, rapeseed, rice bran, safflower seed, olive, and sunflower seed oil. Purified (all‐E)‐lycopene from tomato oleoresin was converted to Z‐isomers in the range of 44.8–58.8% content, and the remaining ratio of total amount of lycopene isomers without decomposition were ranged from 38.8 to 79.6% after heating at 100°C for 1 h in the vegetable oils. Both values were exceedingly high in sesame oil: 58.8% of total Z‐isomers content and 78.3% of remaining lycopene. In particular, (5Z)‐lycopene, which has higher bioavailability and antioxidant capacity as well as greater storage stability among the Z‐isomers, was notably increased in that oil; approximately threefold higher than the average of the other vegetable oils.

Practical applications: Lycopene offers many health benefits such as decreased risk of cancer and arteriosclerosis. The Z‐isomers of lycopene, occurring in processed tomato products, are more bioavailable than the all‐E‐isomer which is a major configuration form in raw tomatoes. This study has developed an efficient production method for Z‐isomers of lycopene by heating (all‐E)‐lycopene in edible vegetable oils, in which neither organic solvents nor food additives are used. It would be practically feasible to utilize this procedure for the food, drink, and dietary supplement manufacturing, as well as for daily cooking at home.

Thermal isomerization of (all‐E)‐lycopene to Z‐isomers was investigated in edible vegetable oils. In sesame oil, (5Z)‐lycopene, which has higher bioavailability, antioxidant capacity, and greater storage stability among the Z‐isomers, was increased significantly.
Electric‐Field‐Driven Caloric Effects in Ferroelectric Materials for Solid‐State Refrigeration
Authors: Patel Satyanarayan , Chauhan Aditya , Vaish Rahul
Published: January 2016

Ferroelectrics have long been investigated for electrocaloric cooling applications, and recent studies have hinted that these materials possess huge potential for multiple caloric possibilities. These caloric effects are manifested as a response to multiple physical impetus. The present work evaluates the electrocaloric effect (ECE) and inverse piezocaloric (iPC) effect in various ferroelectric materials. Here, three different ferroelectric materials, namely, single crystal 0.65(PbMg1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.35PbTiO3 (PMN–0.35PT), polycrystalline lanthanum‐doped lead zirconate titanate [PLZT(8/65/35)], and (Ba0.865Ca0.135)(Zr0.11Ti0.89)O3 (BCZTO) ceramics are considered for ECE and iPC investigations. The results were obtained using modified Maxwell's relations in conjunction with independent experimental data. It was observed that PMN–35PT possesses significantly high potential for ECE (ΔTEC=0.78 K), for an applied electric field of 2.75 MV m−1 at 418 K. PLZT and BCZTO have ΔTEC values of 0.45 and 0.49 K at 383 K (1 MV m−1) and 353 K (3 MV m−1), respectively. As the selected compositions are relaxors, ΔTEC is observed in a wide operating temperature range. Finally, a new component of electric‐field‐driven caloric effect (iPC effect) has been reported for all compositions. PMN–35PT and PLZT exhibit ΔTiPC values of 0.29 K (425 K) and 0.49 K (383 K) under applied electric fields of 2.75 and 1 MV m−1, respectively. However, BCZTO demonstrates a stress‐biased
=0.35 K at 298 K for a 3 MV m−1 electric field. This new way of estimating the caloric effect can be employed for materials having higher strain. Moreover, the iPC and ECE effects are manifested simultaneously in the material; therefore it is very difficult to determine, theoretically, which effect ultimately dominates.
Artificial Leaf for Water Splitting Based on a Triple‐Junction Thin‐Film Silicon Solar Cell and a PEDOT:PSS/Catalyst Blend
Authors: Bogdanoff Peter , Stellmach Diana , Gabriel Onno , Stannowski Bernd , Schlatmann Rutger , van de Krol Roel , Fiechter Sebastian
Published: January 2016

An integrated water‐splitting device based on a triple‐junction silicon‐based solar cell (a‐Si:H/a‐Si:H/μc‐Si:H; a‐Si=amorphous silicon, μc‐Si=microcrystalline) in superstrate configuration modified with catalysts at the back and front contacts is described. In this configuration, the solar cell is illuminated by the glass substrate, while the back and front contacts are arrayed laterally at the opposite side of the cell. Therefore, neither shadowing nor light scattering by evolved gas bubbles can detrimentally affect the solar‐to‐hydrogen efficiency of this artificial leaf. By modifying the contact layers of the cell, its chemical stability in acid electrolyte is significantly improved. To test the system, RuO2 and Pt black catalysts are fixed on the contacts as a blend by using a conductive polymer [poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS)]. A solar‐to‐hydrogen efficiency of 3.4 % is obtained under AM1.5G illumination and 1000 W m−2 in 0.5 M H2SO4 without applying any external bias. The device shows only 6 % loss of efficiency within 17 h of operation.
Wetland buffers: numerical modeling of wave dissipation by vegetation
Authors: Smith Jane McKee , Bryant Mary Anderson , Wamsley Ty V.
Published: January 2016

The resiliency of coastal communities is imperative because these areas experience risk of damage from coastal storms as well as increasing population pressures and development. The severity of this hazard is compounded by sea level rise and a potential increase in storm intensities due to climate change. The ability of coastal communities to plan for, resist, and quickly and completely recover from severe coastal storm events and flooding is of critical importance. There is a growing interest in applying complementary and redundant approaches to reduce the flood risk of these vulnerable communities, such as incorporating natural and nature‐based features into the project planning process. However, accounting for the benefits of these nature‐based features in coastal design is still challenging. One of the natural features generally acknowledged to offer coastal protection benefits is wetlands. Using laboratory experiments of artificial vegetation as a foundation, the bounds of wave dissipation by vegetation are explored analytically and the effectiveness of wave dissipation by vegetation over large scales is investigated using the spectral wave model STWAVE. Wave heights modeled using a vegetation dissipation formulation are compared to those modeled with the current practice of representing vegetation using bottom friction, particularly the Manning formulation. The vegetation dissipation formulation reduced more wave energy than the Manning bottom friction formulation for submerged wetlands. Because the Manning formulation does not integrate vegetation properties, to achieve consistent results would require varying the Manning n coefficient to account for the spatial and temporal variation in form drag induced by the plants due to changes in plant density, diameter, and degree of plant submergence. Thus, a re‐evaluation of existing methods for assessing wave dissipation by vegetation is recommended for wider application of vegetation dissipation formulations in numerical models. Such models are critical for evaluating coastal resiliency of communities protected by wetland features. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Ecotoxicological evaluation of low-concentration bisphenol A exposure on the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and intrinsic mechanisms of stress response in vivo
Authors: Zhou Dong , Yang Jie , Li Hui , Lu Qiang , Liu Yong-di , Lin Kuang-fei
Published: January 2016

As a representative species of nematodes, Caenorhabditis elegans is an attractive animal model for evaluating ecotoxicological effects and intrinsic mechanisms of the stress response in vivo. To acquire a better knowledge of environmental effects of bisphenol A (BPA), ecotoxicological evaluations were conducted using C. elegans on the physiological (growth, locomotion behaviors, and reproduction), biochemical (lipofuscin accumulation, reactive oxygen species production, and cell apoptosis), and molecular (stress-related gene expression) responses. Nematodes were exposed to BPA (0.001–10 µM) in 2 assay systems (L4 larvae for 24 h and L1 larvae for 72 h). Exposure to BPA could significantly (p < 0.05) alter body length, locomotion behaviors, brood size, cell apoptosis, and selected stress-related gene expression. At the physiological level, BPA exerted adverse effects on nematodes at the microgram per liter level in both assay systems, with head thrashes as the most sensitive endpoint. At the biochemical level, apoptosis degree showed increases at concentrations above 0.1 µM in both assay systems. At the molecular level, BPA induced increases in selected stress-related gene expression, even at the lowest tested concentration. In addition, BPA-induced cell apoptosis was suggested as a potential mode of action, resulting in adverse physiological effects. Therefore, BPA exposure was speculated to impose developmental, reproductive, and neurobehavioral toxicities on C. elegans and caused variations of stress-related gene expression. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2041–2047. © 2016 SETAC
The endocrine effects of dietary brominated diphenyl ether-47 exposure, measured across multiple levels of biological organization, in breeding fathead minnows
Authors: Thornton Leah M. , Path Elise M. , Venables Barney J. , Sellin Jeffries Marlo K.
Published: January 2016

The goal of the present study was to evaluate the reproductive function of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) exposed to brominated diphenyl ether-47 (BDE-47) at doses lower than those used in previous studies. This was accomplished by evaluating the impacts of BDE-47 exposures across multiple levels of biological organization. Breeding pairs were exposed to BDE-47 via diet for 21 d, during which reproductive success was monitored. At the conclusion of the exposure, fish were euthanized to assess the effects of BDE-47 on sex steroid–related and thyroid-related transcripts, plasma androgen levels, gonadosomatic index (GSI), and secondary sexual characteristics. Several alterations in gene expression were noted including a >2.1-fold decrease in hepatic estrogen receptor α (erα) and a 2.9-fold decrease in ovarian aromatase (arom). In addition, BDE-47–exposed males experienced increases in deiodinase 2 (dio2) expression in brain tissue (∼1.5-fold) and decreases in hepatic transthyretin (ttr) expression (∼1.4-fold). Together, these gene expression alterations suggest the potential for BDE-47 to disrupt endocrine signaling. There were no significant differences in plasma hormone levels, GSI, secondary sexual characteristics, or reproductive success. Overall, the present study demonstrates that exposure to BDE-47 is capable of altering both sex steroid–related and thyroid-related transcripts but that these observed alterations do not necessarily manifest themselves at higher levels of biological organization for the endpoints selected. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2048–2057. © 2016 SETAC
Chromatographic and spectral characteristic of some esters of a common monoterpene alcohols
Authors: Bonikowski Radosław , Paoli Mathieu , Szymczak Kamil , Krajewska Agnieszka , Wajs‐Bonikowska Anna , Tomi Félix , Kalemba Danuta
Published: January 2016

Simple esters of monoterpene alcohols are common secondary plant metabolites for which there are no scientific reports that provide relevant information for identification of these compounds. The aim of this work was to create a database of monoterpene esters which made the identification of these constituents possible. 64 esters of common monoterpene alcohols were obtained. Retention indices, mass spectra and nuclear magnetic resonance data are given. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cenozoic lacustrine stromatolites from the southern margin of the Junggar Basin, NW China and adjacent areas: indicators for palaeoclimatic and tectonic evolution
Authors: Yang Wei , Spiro Baruch , Guo Zhao‐Jie , Pentecost Allan
Published: January 2016

Lacustrine stromatolites provide high‐resolution and sensitive palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic records of their respective drainage basins and beyond. A well‐developed stromatolite bed was discovered within the clastic deposits of the Early Miocene Taxihe Formation in the southern margin of the Junggar Basin, north of the Tian Shan Mountains. Their sedimentological features indicate a near‐shore stable environment of a shrinking lake. The study of the stable oxygen and carbon isotopes in this stromatolite bed revealed that δ18O V‐PDB values range from −11.3‰ to −5. 6‰ and those of δ13C V‐PDB from −1.8‰ to 1.7‰. Lower values −10. 2‰ and −8. 2‰, respectively, were determined from nearby lacustrine limestones of Oligocene age. The co‐variation and overall increasing trend of the δ18O and δ13C values indicate deposition in a closed basin during a period of aridification. This environmental change can be related to the major uplift of the Tian Shan Mountains, the southern border of the Junggar Basin, during the Early Miocene. Several δ18O and δ13C records of lacustrine stromatolites ranging in age from Oligocene to Middle Miocene were reported: from localities in the Northern Tibetan Plateau and western Qaidam Basin. The similarity of the individual stable isotope records in stromatolites from Northwest China, indicate an underlying regional cause. These stromatolites were deposited during the period of major uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and the Tian Shan Mountains. It is therefore concluded that the stromatolite records provide local snapshots of the effect of this major process on atmospheric precipitation and environmental conditions in Northwest China. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High amyloid‐β deposition related to depressive symptoms in older individuals with normal cognition: a pilot study
Authors: Yasuno Fumihiko , Kazui Hiroaki , Morita Naomi , Kajimoto Katsufumi , Ihara Masafumi , Taguchi Akihiko , Yamamoto Akihide , Matsuoka Kiwamu , Kosaka Jun , Kudo Takashi , Iida Hidehiro , Kishimoto Toshifumi , Nagatsuka Kazuyuki
Published: January 2016

Objective

Previous studies have reported depressive symptoms in the preclinical stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The objective of this study was to determine whether depressive symptoms are associated with cortical amyloid burden. In order to do this, we measured cortical amyloid via 11C‐labeled Pittsburgh Compound B ([11C]PIB) uptake using positron emission tomography (PET) in cognitively normal subjects.

Methods

We performed [11C]PIB‐PET in 29 cognitively normal, older participants. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 15‐item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Aβ deposition was quantified by binding potential (BPND), and the association between cortical mean BPND values and GDS scores was evaluated. Analysis of parametric BPND images was performed to examine the relationship between regional BPND and GDS scores.

Results

We found a positive correlation between depressive symptoms and mean cortical PIB‐BPND in groups of subjects with middle to high PIB‐BPND. There was little change in GDS‐depression score between subjects with low and middle PIB‐BPND levels, while an increase in GDS was shown in the high PIB‐BPND group. The main BPND increase was localized to the precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex (PCu/PCC) in subjects with high PIB‐BPND, and we found a significant positive relationship between PIB‐BPND in this area and depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

Emotional dysregulation because of Aβ neuropathology in the PCu/PCC may relate to depressive symptoms. More specifically, we found that older, cognitively normal patients with depressive episodes were more likely to have underlying AD pathology. Thus, depressive symptoms may increase the predictive ability of the identification of future AD cases. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
FMRI of spinal and supra‐spinal correlates of temporal pain summation in fibromyalgia patients
Authors: Bosma Rachael L. , Mojarad Elham Ameli , Leung Lawrence , Pukall Caroline , Staud Roland , Stroman Patrick W.
Published: January 2016

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) is a debilitating chronic pain condition, which afflicts primarily females. Although the etiology of this illness is not completely understood, FM pain is thought to rely on enhanced pain sensitivity maintained by central mechanisms. One of these mechanisms is central pain amplification, which is characterized by altered temporal summation of second pain (TSSP). Here we use a TSSP paradigm and functional MRI (fMRI) of the spinal cord, brainstem, and brain to noninvasively examine the central nervous system contributions to TSSP in FM patients and normal controls (NC). Functional MRI of pain‐free female adults (N = 15) and FM patients (N = 14) was conducted while brief, repetitive heat pain stimuli (0.33 Hz) were applied to the thenar eminence of the hand (C6 dermatome). The stimulus intensity was adjusted to each participant's heat pain sensitivity to achieve moderate pain. Data were analyzed by means of a General Linear Model and region‐of‐interest analyses. All participants demonstrated significant pain summation in the TSSP condition. FM subjects, however, required significantly lower stimulus intensities than NC to achieve similar TSSP. fMRI analyses of perceptually equal TSSP identified similar brain activity in NC and FM subjects; however, multiple areas in the brainstem (rostral ventromedial medulla and periaqueductal grey region) and spinal cord (dorsal horn) exhibited greater activity in NC subjects. Finally, increased after‐sensations and enhanced dorsal horn activity was demonstrated in FM patients. In conclusion, the spinal and brainstem BOLD responses to TSSP are different between NC and FM patients, which may indicate alterations to descending pain control mechanisms suggesting contributions of these mechanisms to central sensitization and pain of FM patients. Hum Brain Mapp 37:1349‐1360, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nogo‐A controls structural plasticity at dendritic spines by rapidly modulating actin dynamics
Authors: Kellner Yves , Fricke Steffen , Kramer Stella , Iobbi Cristina , Wierenga Corette J. , Schwab Martin E. , Korte Martin , Zagrebelsky Marta
Published: January 2016

Nogo‐A and its receptors have been shown to control synaptic plasticity, including negatively regulating long‐term potentiation (LTP) in the cortex and hippocampus at a fast time scale and restraining experience‐dependent turnover of dendritic spines over days. However, the molecular mechanisms and the precise time course mediating these actions of Nogo‐A are largely unexplored. Here we show that Nogo‐A signaling in the adult nervous system rapidly modulates the spine actin cytoskeleton within minutes to control structural plasticity at dendritic spines of CA3 pyramidal neurons. Indeed, acute Nogo‐A loss‐of‐function transiently increases F‐actin stability and results in an increase in dendritic spine density and length. In addition, Nogo‐A acutely restricts AMPAR insertion and mEPSC amplitude at hippocampal synaptic sites. These data indicate a crucial function of Nogo‐A in modulating the very tight balance between plasticity and stability of the neuronal circuitry underlying learning processes and the ability to store long‐term information in the mature CNS. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
T‐NET, a dynamic model for simulating daily stream temperature at the regional scale based on a network topology
Authors: Beaufort A. , Curie F. , Moatar F. , Ducharne A. , Melin E. , Thiery D.
Published: January 2016

Currently, the distribution areas of aquatic species are studied by using air temperature as a proxy of water temperature, which is not available at a regional scale. To simulate water temperature at a regional scale, a physically based model using the equilibrium temperature concept and including upstream‐downstream propagation of the thermal signal is proposed. This model, called Temperature‐NETwork (T‐NET), is based on a hydrographical network topology and was tested at the Loire basin scale (105 km2). The T‐NET model obtained a mean root mean square error of 1.6 °C at a daily time step on the basis of 128 water temperature stations (2008–2012). The model obtained excellent performance at stations located on small and medium rivers (distance from headwater <100 km) that are strongly influenced by headwater conditions (median root mean square error of 1.8 °C). The shading factor and the headwater temperature were the most important variables on the mean simulated temperature, while the river discharge influenced the daily temperature variation and diurnal amplitude. The T‐NET model simulates specific events, such as temperature of the Loire during the floods of June 1992 and the thermal regime response of streams during the heatwave of August 2003, much more efficiently than a simple point‐scale heat balance model. The T‐NET model is very consistent at a regional scale and could easily be transposed to changing forcing conditions and to other catchments. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cancer cell identification by bi‐color ZnO and TiO2 nanowires
Authors: Li Wei‐Jen , Chen Yung‐Tsan , Huang Po‐Hao , Yang Tsung‐Lin , Huang Jian‐Jang
Published: January 2016

Semiconductor nanocomposites provide advantages beyond the capability of typical fluorescent materials for cancer detection. In this work, nanowire‐based probes with dual color channels are employed to demonstrate the capacity of cancer cell detection. Purple emitting ZnO/antibody probes are applied to detect cancer cells and meanwhile TiO2/antibody probes with green light emission are applied to identify normal fibroblast cells. A series of quantitative analyses are conducted to verify the correlation between the concentrations of ZnO and TiO2 probes, cell numbers, and peak intensities of the PL spectra. The results provide a quantitative reference for developing nanowire‐based cancel cell probes.

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