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The aim of this study was to examine responses at 3 and 27 hours after low-load jump squat (LL) and maximal isometric half-squat (ISO) priming stimuli. Fifteen resistance-trained males performed LL (4 3 3 at 20% 1 repetition maximum [1RM]), ISO (4 3 3 seconds), and control (CON) activities (standardized warm-up) in a randomized and counterbalanced order. Countermovement jump (CMJ) and isometric midthigh pull tests were conducted to assess performance changes after priming and CON activities. No clear changes in CMJ measures were found after priming activities compared with CON. However, small effect size improvements were found after priming stimuli completed on the same day. A 2.9% decrease in concentric phase duration (CI 5 0.3-5.9, p 5 0.333, Cliff's delta520.156) and a 9.1% increase in RSImod (CI 50.2-12.3, p50.151, Cliff's delta520.218) occurred at 3 hours after LL compared with CON. Braking phase duration (CI 5 0.8-10.6, p 5 0.333, Cliff's delta520.213) was 2.9% shorter at 3 hours after ISO compared with CON. No clear changes in isometric peak force occurred after priming activities compared with CON. Additionally, questionnaires were completed to assess perceptual state and perceived effectiveness of the priming stimulus to influence performance. An increase in the "effect of activity" was perceived at 3 hours after LL and ISO (p 5 0.013-0.044, Cliff's delta 5 0.578-0.6) and at 27 hours after ISO (p 5 0.99, Cliff's delta 5 0.173) compared with CON. An increase in "muscular heaviness" was also reported at 3 hours after ISO compared with CON (p 5 0.199, Cliff's delta 5 0.320). The collective findings suggest limited benefits over the day after LL and ISO priming stimuli. However, as there was substantial variation in individual responses, the relative nature of priming responses should be considered when prescribing similar strategies in practical environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chen-Lu Lian,1– 3,&ast; Rui Zhou,2,&ast; Yuan Zhou,2,&ast; Ping Zhou,2 San-Gang Wu1,2 1The School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Radiation Oncology, Xiamen Cancer Center, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (Xiamen Branch), Xiamen, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: San-Gang Wu, Department of Radiation Oncology, Xiamen Cancer Center, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361003, People’s Republic of China, Email unowu12345@hotmail.comPurpose: To compare the short-term treatment response and survival of the three induction chemotherapy (IC) regimens, including gemcitabine and cisplatin (GP), docetaxel and cisplatin (TP), and docetaxel, cisplatin, and fluoropyrimidines (TPF) in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC).Methods: We included stage III–IVA NPC patients who received ≥ 3 cycles of IC in this study. The chi-square test, multivariate logistic regression analysis, and Kaplan–Meier method were used for statistical analysis.Results: A total of 227 patients were included. The overall response rate (ORR) of the primary nasopharyngeal tumors after IC with GP, TP, and TPF was 91.9%, 83.8%, and 91.7%, respectively (P=0.729), and the ORR of the cervical lymph nodes was 94.6%, 72.3%, and 85.0%, respectively (P< 0.001). For the primary nasopharyngeal tumor, there was no significant difference in the ORR among the three IC regimens. For cervical lymph nodes, patients treated with GP had significantly higher ORR compared to those treated with the TP regimen (P=0.014), and comparable ORR was found between TPF and GP regimens (P=0.161). Similar progression-free survival (PFS) (P=0.501) and overall survival (OS) (P=0.504) were found among three IC regimens. There were comparable PFS (P=0.123) and OS (P=0.478) among those with complete response (CR), partial response (PR), and stable disease (SD)/progressive disease (PD) in the primary nasopharyngeal tumors. However, patients who had CR in the primary nasopharyngeal tumor (P=0.014) and the cervical lymph nodes (P=0.022) had better PFS compared to those who had PR or SD/PD.Conclusion: GP and TPF regimens are equivalent to the TP regimen in the response to primary nasopharyngeal tumors after IC, but with better ORR in the cervical lymph nodes than the TP regimen. The response to IC may be a powerful indicator for predicting prognosis and developing individualized follow-up and treatment strategies for LANPC patients.Keywords: nasopharyngeal carcinoma, induction chemotherapy, short-term response, lymph node, survival

"Priming exercises" are gaining popularity as a precompetition strategy to improve subsequent performance. Although priming exercise has been shown to improve various neuromuscular performance measures within 48 hours, a number of studies have also found no change or significant decreases in performance following priming interventions. Inconsistencies in findings are likely due to the many different variables used in the research. In addition, evidence suggests that the potential performance response following a priming stimulus is likely to be influenced by individual characteristics. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to examine the available evidence and identify those variables that most strongly determine whether priming stimuli involving resistance and stretch-shortening cycle exercise tasks are likely to improve performance within 48 hours of that stimulus. In addition to making recommendations based on the evidence to date, directions for future research are also identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition, caused by anthropogenic activities, has various effects on forest ecosystems. Some reports have investigated the responses in tree transpiration to N addition, but few studies have measured the short-term response of mature tree transpiration to N fertilization. This study aimed to clarify the short-term transpiration response in 27-year-old deciduous hardwood trees to an increase in N availability. We established two plot types (control and N-fertilized plots) in Quercus crispula plantation stands in Hokkaido, Northern Japan. We measured sap flow density (SFD; cm3 m−2 s−1) using a thermal dissipation method for three months during the growing season. In the N-fertilized plot, we added 50 kg N ha−1 yr−1 of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) to the forest floor in the middle of the measurement periods. For daily mean SFD, we did not find a significant difference between the control and the N-fertilized plots. Leaf N contents did not differ between treatments, implying a negligible difference in physiological responses and transpiration rates. The slight difference between treatments could be because the trees had already foliated before applying the N fertilizer to our deciduous hardwood trees. The present results indicate that the potential increase in N deposition during the growing season does not immediately alter tree transpiration.

Increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition, caused by anthropogenic activities, has various effects on forest ecosystems. Some reports have investigated the responses in tree transpiration to N addition, but few studies have measured the short-term response of mature tree transpiration to N fertilization. This study aimed to clarify the short-term transpiration response in 27-year-old deciduous hardwood trees to an increase in N availability. We established two plot types (control and N-fertilized plots) in Quercus crispula plantation stands in Hokkaido, Northern Japan. We measured sap flow density (SFD; cm3 m−2 s−1) using a thermal dissipation method for three months during the growing season. In the N-fertilized plot, we added 50 kg N ha−1 yr−1 of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) to the forest floor in the middle of the measurement periods. For daily mean SFD, we did not find a significant difference between the control and the N-fertilized plots. Leaf N contents did not differ between treatments, implying a negligible difference in physiological responses and transpiration rates. The slight difference between treatments could be because the trees had already foliated before applying the N fertilizer to our deciduous hardwood trees. The present results indicate that the potential increase in N deposition during the growing season does not immediately alter tree transpiration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The short-term and long-term efficacy of different thermal percutaneous ablation techniques remains a topical issue. Our group implemented percutaneous laser ablation (LA), a moving-shot technique to increase efficiency and reduce costs and variability of LA by applying multiple lower-intensity energy illuminations (MLIEI) covering the nodular volume (V) through changes in position of a single laser fiber within the thyroid nodule. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of the single-fiber LA-MLIEI during a 5-year follow-up and to identify possible predictors of the final outcome. Methods: Prospective study : Thirty outpatients (23 women and seven men) with benign symptomatic thyroid nodules were assigned to single-fiber LA-MLIEI, between 2012 and 2015. A single LA session was performed under real-time ultrasound (US) guidance using a 1,064-nm continuous-wave laser at 3 W. A 400-µm optical fiber was inserted through a 21-gauge needle, and 3–10 illuminations were performed per nodule, administering between 400 and 850 J/illumination. The total administered energy was calculated on the initial V of the nodule and the estimated ablation area. US evaluation was performed after LA-MLIEI at 1 week and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and after that annually up to 5 years. Clinical symptoms, laboratory thyroid function during follow-up, and acute and chronic complications of treatment were registered. Results: On follow-up, 67% (n: 20) were responders to single-fiber LA-MLIEI, while 33% (n: 10) were non-responders. The responder group initiated V reduction (ΔV) at 1 month, with remission of symptoms, and presented a 50% ΔV at 3 months of treatment; the maximum response was achieved at 24 months and remained stable until the end of the study. The non-responder group presented a ΔV of less than 50% at 12 months; though a tendency to >50% ΔV was observed at 24–36 months, there was subsequent regrowth, and 40% of this group required surgery. ΔV was positively correlated with the total administered energy/V (J/V) and inversely with nodule V. No severe adverse effects were observed. Thyroid function remained normal in all patients. Remission of symptoms occurred rapidly after 1 month. Conclusions: LA with multiple fractional discharges employing a single fiber in a unique session is a safe and inexpensive technique that allows rapid reduction of thyroid nodules, with a stable response up to 5 years, similarly to what has been reported with the conventional LA. Total nodule volume appears as a predictive factor of the reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AimThe short-term and long-term efficacy of different thermal percutaneous ablation techniques remains a topical issue. Our group implemented percutaneous laser ablation (LA), a moving-shot technique to increase efficiency and reduce costs and variability of LA by applying multiple lower-intensity energy illuminations (MLIEI) covering the nodular volume (V) through changes in position of a single laser fiber within the thyroid nodule. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of the single-fiber LA-MLIEI during a 5-year follow-up and to identify possible predictors of the final outcome.MethodsProspective study: Thirty outpatients (23 women and seven men) with benign symptomatic thyroid nodules were assigned to single-fiber LA-MLIEI, between 2012 and 2015. A single LA session was performed under real-time ultrasound (US) guidance using a 1,064-nm continuous-wave laser at 3 W. A 400-µm optical fiber was inserted through a 21-gauge needle, and 3–10 illuminations were performed per nodule, administering between 400 and 850 J/illumination. The total administered energy was calculated on the initial V of the nodule and the estimated ablation area. US evaluation was performed after LA-MLIEI at 1 week and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and after that annually up to 5 years. Clinical symptoms, laboratory thyroid function during follow-up, and acute and chronic complications of treatment were registered.ResultsOn follow-up, 67% (n: 20) were responders to single-fiber LA-MLIEI, while 33% (n: 10) were non-responders. The responder group initiated V reduction (ΔV) at 1 month, with remission of symptoms, and presented a 50% ΔV at 3 months of treatment; the maximum response was achieved at 24 months and remained stable until the end of the study. The non-responder group presented a ΔV of less than 50% at 12 months; though a tendency to >50% ΔV was observed at 24–36 months, there was subsequent regrowth, and 40% of this group required surgery. ΔV was positively correlated with the total administered energy/V (J/V) and inversely with nodule V. No severe adverse effects were observed. Thyroid function remained normal in all patients. Remission of symptoms occurred rapidly after 1 month.ConclusionsLA with multiple fractional discharges employing a single fiber in a unique session is a safe and inexpensive technique that allows rapid reduction of thyroid nodules, with a stable response up to 5 years, similarly to what has been reported with the conventional LA. Total nodule volume appears as a predictive factor of the reduction.

Freire, P.; Oliveira, F. S. B. F. and Oliveira, J. N., 2020. Coastal flooding process: Comparing different coastal typologies response to extreme hydrodynamic conditions. In: Malvárez, G. and Navas, F. (eds.), Global Coastal Issues of 2020. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 95, pp. 797–802. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. To upgrade the response capability to coastal flood events, hazard predictions need to be improved through integrating the effect of the coastal morphological variability in the nearshore-foreshore-backshore hydromorphological processes induced by waves-tide-wind-atmospheric pressure. In order to evaluate the short-term morphological response of different coastal typologies to potential flood conditions (spring high tide level, storm surge, high wave height), field data acquired in 2019 in three sites in the West coast of Portugal with past flooding episodes are presented and discussed. The preliminary results point out that under the same forcing conditions the short-term response of the cross-shore beach profile that controls the flooding levels is dependent on the beach typology, namely: the nature of the lower and upper limits of the beach face, profile gradient and its alongshore context. This knowledge can be used to develop robust and validated flood prediction tools contributing to improve mitigation and adaptation management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whale‐watching is one of the fastest growing ecotourism industries and involves the observation of endangered wild cetacean species. However, this growth has raised concerns because of the negative effects this activity may have on the behavior and survival of focal species. Hence, detecting the effects of this activity requires sensitive analytical methods allowing the implementation of regulations to protect cetacean welfare. We compared the performance of different hypothesis tests from classical and Bayesian approaches to detect whale‐watching effects on humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) behavior. From a cliff located 31 m above sea level in northern Peru, we measured breathing frequency, surface time, long dive duration, directness index (i.e., path linearity), and swimming speed of humpback whales before, during, and after encounters with whale‐watching boats. During 167 hours of observation, we tracked 180 humpback whale groups; 43% of groups had calves and 57% did not. Inference by null‐hypothesis testing indicated significant changes only in directness index after boat encounters in groups with a calf. Other methods of inference detected moderate behavior responses as increments in the number of adult breaths, swimming speed, and dive intervals for adults and calves. Whale‐watching regulations must be implemented in Peru to regulate number of boats, distance to whales, approximate speed, and time observing humpback whales. Whale‐watching of humpback whales with calves should be avoided. © 2018 The Wildlife Society. Humpback whales perform different behavior responses under the presence of whale‐watching vessels. In northern Peru, mother‐calf groups of humpback whales avoided whale‐watching vessels by adopting a more sinuous path, longer dives, and by decreasing breathing frequency, whereas non‐calf groups avoided whale‐watching vessels by increasing swimming speed, surface time, and breathing frequency. The need for governmental whale‐watching regulations in Peru is imminent and we recommend avoiding observation of mother‐calf humpback whales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low temperature is a major factor limiting rice growth and yield, and seedling is one of the developmental stages at which sensitivity to chilling stress is higher. Tolerance to chilling is a complex quantitative trait, so one of the most effective approaches to identify genes and pathways involved is to compare the stress-induced expression changes between tolerant and sensitive genotypes. Phenotypic responses to chilling of 13 Japonica cultivars were evaluated, and Thaibonnet and Volano were selected as sensitive and tolerant genotypes, respectively. To thoroughly profile the short-term response of the two cultivars to chilling, RNA-Seq was performed on Thaibonnet and Volano seedlings after 0 (not stressed), 2, and 10 h at 10 °C. Differential expression analysis revealed that the ICE-DREB1/CBF pathway plays a primary role in chilling tolerance, mainly due to some important transcription factors involved (some of which had never been reported before). Moreover, the expression trends of some genes that were radically different between Thaibonnet and Volano (i.e., calcium-dependent protein kinases OsCDPK21 and OsCDPK23, cytochrome P450 monooxygenase CYP76M8, etc.) suggest their involvement in low temperature tolerance too. Density of differentially expressed genes along rice genome was determined and linked to the position of known QTLs: remarkable co-locations were reported, delivering an overview of genomic regions determinant for low temperature response at seedling stage. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying rice response to chilling and provides a solid background for development of low temperature-tolerant germplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children with non-acquired (na) growth hormone deficiency (GHD) diagnosed over decades in one center may provide perspective insight. Methods: naGHD is divided into idiopathic GHD (IGHD), GHD of known cause (cGHD) and GHD neurosecretory dysfunction (NSD); time periods: <1988 (I); 1988–1997 (II); 1998–2007 (III); 2008–2015 (IV). Descriptive analyses were performed at diagnosis and during first year GH treatment. Results: Patients (periods, N): I, 87; II, 141; III, 356; IV, 51. In cGHD (all), age, maximum GH, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) (5.1 years, 3.6 μg/L, −5.3 standard deviation score [SDS], −3.7 SDS) were lower than in IGHD (all) (6.8 years 5.8 μg/L, −2.5 SDS, −1.0 SDS), but not height (−3.1 vs. −3.2 SDS). Characteristics of NSD were similar to that of IGHD. Patients with IGHD – not cGHD – diagnosed during 2008–2015 (IV) were the youngest with most severe GHD (maxGH, IGF-I, IGFBP-3), and first year height velocity (HV) and ∆ IGF-I (10.5 cm/year, 4.0 SDS) but not ∆ height SDS were the highest on recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) (27 μg/kg/day). Conclusions: Although during 1988–2007 patient characteristics were similar, the recently (>2008) stipulated more stringent diagnostic criteria – HV before testing, sex steroid priming, lower GH cut-off – have restricted diagnoses to more severe cases as they were observed before the rhGH era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of a vertical ground source heat pump system (GSHPS) largely depends on the fluid temperature leaving the borehole heat exchanger (BHE) that may be affected by the short-term behavior of the BHE. Although considerable research has been carried out to analyze the short-term transient response of the BHEs, few studies have investigated its impact on dynamic simulation of GSHPS. Therefore, this paper presents a numerical approach based on a transient BHE model to evaluate the performance of a residential GSHPS over short and long timescales. The numerical results are compared with the results of EnergyPlus software. It is shown that the proposed model can appropriately predict the dynamic behavior of the system. Moreover, effect of borehole thermal capacity on the performance of the GSHPS is investigated in comparison with a quasi-steady state model. It is found that including the borehole thermal capacity substantially affects the design borehole length. Using the transient model instead of the quasi-steady state model leads to a 16% reduction in the required borehole length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reactive hypoglycemia is a metabolic disorder that provokes severe hypoglycemic episodes after meals. Over recent years, the gut microbiota has been recognized as potential target for the control of metabolic diseases, and the possibility to correct gut microbiota dysbioses through diet, favouring the recovery of metabolic homeostasis, has been considered.Methods: We investigate the impact of 2 short-term (3-day) nutritional interventions, based on the macrobiotic Ma-Pi 2 diet and a control Mediterranean diet, on the structure and functionality of the gut microbiota in 12 patients affected by reactive hypoglycemia. The gut microbiota composition was characterized by next-generation sequencing of the V3 to V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene, and the ecosystem functionality was addressed by measuring the faecal concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). In order to measure the short-term physiological gut microbiota fluctuation, the microbiomes of 7 healthy people were characterized before and after 3 days of constant diet.Results: While no convergence of the gut microbiota compositional profiles was observed, a significant increase in SCFA faecal levels was induced only in the Ma-Pi 2 diet group, suggesting the potential of this diet to support a short-term functional convergence of the gut microbiota, regardless of the individual compositional layout.Conclusions: The Ma-Pi 2 diet, with its high fibre load, was effective in increasing the production of SCFAs by the gut microbiota. Because these metabolites are known for their ability to counterbalance the metabolic deregulation in persons with glucose impairment disorders, their increased bioavailability could be of some relevance in reactive hypoglycemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon, completed construction of a large-scale tidal marsh restoration project on the Ni-les'tun Unit within the Coquille River estuary in 2011. To understand the initial effects of restoration construction and establish a baseline for long-term monitoring, we documented the assemblage of fish species 3 y before and 2 y after restoration construction. The overall fish assemblage in the Ni-les'tun Unit was substantially different after restoration construction, with an increased abundance, frequency, and richness of estuarine and diadromous fish species. Threespine Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus and species of Sculpin (family Cottidae) dominated the Ni-les'tun Unit and control area in both relative abundance and capture frequency throughout this study. Among salmonids, Coastal Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii and Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch had the highest frequency of occurrence and relative abundance both before and after restoration construction. Fish occupied newly constructed channels within 2 y. Species found in new channels included freshwater species (e.g., juvenile salmonids), introduced species (e.g., Mosquitofish Gambusia affinis), and estuarine species (e.g., Sculpin, Threespine Stickleback, and Shiner Perch Cymatogaster aggregata). Changes were likely due to improved access and changing habitat created by the reintroduced tidal regime. We recommend long-term monitoring to assess the trajectory of the biological response to the restoration over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The typical industry practice for Tension Leg Platform (TLP) design focuses on a conventional short-term design recipe, which assumes that an N-year design environment leads to an N-year response. In the response-based design method, the TLP is designed to withstand N-year responses rather than respond to N-year environmental conditions. In this paper, we present an overview and a general procedure for the response-based design method and use a case study to compare the critical TLP responses between the two methods. The results of our comparison show that the conventional short-term design method often contains an element of conservatism and that the response-based design method can reduce the design conditions and thereby achieve cost savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Stereotactic radiosurgery combined with pharmacological treatment is currently one of the most acceptable alternatives for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Our primary endpoint was to report the short-term response (one month) outcomes of 10 patients with refractory TN after CyberKnife ® (CK) radiosurgery; secondary endpoints were to assess early side effects and complications. Methods Ten female patients with TN refractory to pharmacological and/or non-pharmacological treatment received a single dose of 90 Gy with CyberKnife ® radiosurgery. Clinical and demographic characteristics were obtained from medical records. The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess facial pain before as well as seven, 15, and 30 days after treatment. Friedman test was performed to evaluate pain relief in treated patients. Results All patients responded well to the CK and experienced initial adequate pain relief during the first 30 days (p<0.001). No significant differences (p=0.661) were found between six patients who received CK radiosurgery as the first treatment option and those who underwent other non-pharmacological treatments. One patient was re-irradiated with 75 Gy. Transient facial paresthesia was observed in 3/10 patients without any other complications. Conclusion High-tech CK treatment is safe, non-invasive, fast, with minimal side effects, and effective in achieving short-term pain relief in patients with refractory TN, even in those with multiple previous interventions. Given these results, we recommend evaluating CK radiosurgery as the first-line treatment of choice for trigeminal neuralgia refractory to pharmacological treatment., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Pérez Fernández et al.)

This paper is about the experience gained and lessons learned while dealing with the long-term recovery of Schneider's Port Logistics Division following extensive damage to three warehouse/office facilities in Savannah, GA on 25th April, 2015. This paper will provide insight into how the initial assessments were handled, how the skill sets needed by the response teams were determined, and vrhat further actions were triggered as more detailed information was received and assessed by the leadership team. This paper will also provide information as to how closely the company followed its existing contingency and disaster recovery plans, as well as where those plans fell short and where it was necessary to make adjustments as the recovery progressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the effects of simulated rainfall and increasing N supply of different levels on CO 2 pulse emission from typical Inner Mongolian steppe soil using the static opaque chamber technique, respectively in a dry June and a rainy August. The treatments included NH 4 NO 3 additions at rates of 0, 5, 10, and 20 g N/(m 2 ·year) with or without water. Immediately after the experimental simulated rainfall events, the CO 2 effluxes in the watering plots without N addition (WCK) increased greatly and reached the maximum value at 2 hr. However, the efflux level reverted to the background level within 48 hr. The cumulative CO 2 effluxes in the soil rang ed from 5.60 to 6.49 g C/m 2 over 48 hr after a single water application, thus showing an increase of approximately 148.64% and 48.36% in the effluxes during both observation periods. By contrast, the addition of different N levels without water addition did not result in a significant change in soil respiration in the short term. Two-way ANOVA showed that the effects of the interaction between water and N addition were insignificant in short-term soil CO 2 effluxes in the soil. The cumulative soil CO 2 fluxes of different treatments over 48 hr accounted for approximately 5.34% to 6.91% and 2.36% to 2.93% of annual C emission in both experimental periods. These results stress the need for improving the sampling frequency after rainfall in future studies to ensure more accurate evaluation of the grassland C emission contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Recent years have witnessed a rising trend in exploring microalgae for valuable carotenoid products as the demand for lutein and many other carotenoids in global markets has increased significantly. In green microalgae lutein is a major carotenoid protecting cellular components from damage incurred by reactive oxygen species under stress conditions. In this study, we investigated the effects of abiotic stressors on lutein accumulation in a strain of the marine microalga D. salina which had been selected for growth under stress conditions of combined blue and red lights by adaptive laboratory evolution. Results Nitrate concentration, salinity and light quality were selected as three representative influencing factors and their impact on lutein production in batch cultures of D. salina was evaluated using response surface analysis. D. salina was found to be more tolerant to hyperosmotic stress than to hypo-osmotic stress which caused serious cell damage and death in a high proportion of cells while hyper-osmotic stress increased the average cell size of D. salina only slightly. Two models were developed to explain how lutein productivity depends on the stress factors and for predicting the optimal conditions for lutein productivity. Among the three stress variables for lutein production, stronger interactions were found between nitrate concentration and salinity than between light quality and the other two. The predicted optimal conditions for lutein production were close to the original conditions used for adaptive evolution of D. salina. This suggests that the conditions imposed during adaptive evolution may have selected for the growth optima arrived at. Conclusions This study shows that systematic evaluation of the relationship between abiotic environmental stresses and lutein biosynthesis can help to decipher the key parameters in obtaining high levels of lutein productivity in D. salina. This study may benefit future stress-driven adaptive laboratory evolution experiments and a strategy of applying stress in a stepwise manner can be suggested for a rational design of experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cadmium (Cd) is a non-essential heavy metal that is recognized as a major environmental pollutant. While Cd responses and toxicities in some plant species have been well established, there are few reports about the effects of short-term exposure to Cd on rice, a model monocotyledonous plant, at the proteome level. To investigate the effect of Cd in rice, we monitored the influence of Cd exposure on root and leaf proteomes. After Cd treatment, root and leaf tissues were separately collected and leaf proteins were fractionated with polyethylene glycol. Differentially regulated proteins were selected after image analysis and identified using MALDI-TOF MS. A total of 36 proteins were up- or down-regulated following Cd treatment. As expected, total glutathione levels were significantly decreased in Cd-treated roots, and approximately half of the up-regulated proteins in roots were involved in responses to oxidative stress. These results suggested that prompt antioxidative responses might be necessary for the reduction of Cd-induced oxidative stress in roots but not in leaves. In addition, RNA gel blot analysis showed that the proteins identified in the proteomic analysis were also differentially regulated at the transcriptional level. Collectively, our study provides insights into the integrated molecular mechanisms of early responses to Cd in rice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

It has been reported that biochar changes the properties of soil and has beneficial environmental and agrotechnical consequences, especially in degraded lands, including those affected by climate change. We added wood biochar (produced from fir sawdust by pyrolysis at 650 °C) to soil collected from a forest and an adjacent long-term cultivated orchard to test the short-term response of soil respiration and methanotrophy under moisture levels of 100% and 55% water holding capacity (WHC). In the controls of the respiration studies (without biochar), CO 2 emission was generally higher under 55% than 100% WHC in both soils. Biochar application to the forest soil resulted in a significant reduction of the CO 2 emission rate under both WHC levels. This is in contrast with the orchard soil, where the CO 2 emission rate was not significantly changed (55% WHC) or even stimulated (100% WHC). Regardless of the moisture level, the CO 2 emission and O 2 consumption was higher in the forest soil than in orchard soil. In the controls of the methanotrophic study, only slight CH 4 consumption was observed in both the tested water-content conditions. The biochar effect was dependent on the WHC level. Under 100% WHC, CH 4 was completely consumed in both soils with different lag durations. However, under 55% WHC, methanotrophy was stimulated by biochar only in the orchard soil. We concluded that the short-term response of soil respiration and methanotrophy to biochar amendment is influenced by land use and strongly depends on soil moisture conditions. We showed the effectiveness of biochar addition as a method to limit CO 2 emission in non-saturated forest soil, and to increase CH 4 uptake in saturated soils, regardless of land use, which confirms its efficiency in reducing the greenhouse effect. Unlabelled Image • Biochar changes soil gases exchange depending on the moisture level. • CO 2 emission was significantly affected by land use. • CH 4 uptake strongly depended on biochar presence. • In forest soil with biochar under 55%WHC, CO 2 emission decreased significantly. • CH 4 was completely consumed in forest and orchard soil with biochar under 100%WHC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pulmonary toxicological properties of inhaled titanium dioxide were studied using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology and proteomics analyses. Fischer 344 rats were exposed to 10 mg/m3 of TiO 2 nanostructured aerosol by nose-only inhalation for 6 h/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks. Lung samples were collected up to 180 post-exposure days. As previously described, cytological analyses of BALF showed a strong inflammatory response up to 3 post-exposure days, which persisted however, at a lower intensity up to 180 days. In addition, using Multidimensional Protein Identification Technology (MudPIT), we identified a total of 107, 50 and 45 proteins (UniprotKB identifiers) differentially expressed in exposed rats immediately, 3 and 180 days after the end of exposure respectively. Increased levels of inflammatory proteins, members of proteasome, various histones, proteins involved in cytoskeleton organization, were noticed up to 3 days (short-term response). Some of these proteins were linked with Neutrophil Extracellular Trap formation (NETosis). Long-term response was also characterized by a persistent altered expression of proteins up to 180 days. Altogether, these results suggest that exposure to low toxicity low solubility nanomaterials such as TiO 2 may induce long-term changes in the pulmonary protein expression pattern of which the physio-pathological consequences are unknown. This paper describes in rats, at the pulmonary level, the effects of inhaled nanostructured aerosol of TiO 2 on the secreted proteins found in the broncho-alveolar space by comparing the proteomic profile in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid supernatants of control and exposed animals. This work brings new insights about the early events occurring following the end of exposure and suggests the formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETosis) that could be interpret as a potential early mechanism of defense against TiO 2 nanoparticles. This work also describes the long term effects (180 post-exposure days) of such an exposure and the change in secreted protein expression in the absence of significant histopathological modifications. Unlabelled Image • BALF proteomics to assess pulmonary toxicity of inhaled TiO 2 in rats • TiO 2 induced proteins and biological processes associated with acute inflammation. • Proteins associated with NETosis found in BALF of exposed rats. • Proteins and biological processes still modified at 180 post-exposure days. • Such study may help identifying markers of particles exposure or effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exercise combined with protein and calcium has been shown to benefit bone turnover and bone metabolism. Greek yogurt (GY) contains important nutrients that support bone but has yet to be studied with exercise for this purpose. Thirty untrained, university-aged, males were randomized to 2 groups ( n = 15/group): GY (20 g protein, 208 mg calcium/dose) or placebo pudding (PP; 0 g protein, 0 g calcium/dose) consumed 3×/day on training days and 2×/day on nontraining days. Both groups underwent a resistance/plyometric training program for 12 weeks. Blood was obtained at weeks 0, 1, and 12 to measure procollagen-type-I-N-terminal-propeptide (P1NP) and C-terminal-telopeptide (CTX). After outlier treatment, P1NP increased more over time in GY versus PP ( p = 0.002; interaction). Both groups decreased CTX over time ( p = 0.046; time effect). Following 1 week of training, there was a trend towards a significant increase in CTX in PP with no change in GY ( p = 0.062; interaction). P1NP changed more in GY than PP (baseline to week 12; p = 0.029) as did the P1NP/CTX ratio ( p = 0.015) indicating a greater increase in formation with GY. Thus, GY added to a high-load, high-impact exercise program positively shifted bone turnover towards increased formation while attenuating resorption. GY could be a plausible postexercise food to support bone health in young adult males. Novelty Greek yogurt, with exercise, increased bone formation in young adult males over 12 weeks. After 1 week of an osteogenic exercise program, Greek yogurt tended to blunt a rise in bone resorption seen with the placebo. Greek yogurt is a plausible postexercise food that supports bone.