Volume reduction and shape abnormality of the hippocampus have been associated with mood disorders. However, the hippocampus is not a uniform structure and consists of several subfields, such as the ...cornu ammonis (CA) subfields CA1-4, the dentate gyrus (DG) including a granule cell layer (GCL) and a molecular layer (ML) that continuously crosses adjacent subiculum (Sub) and CA fields. It is known that cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with mood disorders may be localized to specific hippocampal subfields. Thus, it is necessary to investigate the link between the in vivo hippocampal subfield volumes and specific mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). In the present study, we used a state-of-the-art hippocampal segmentation approach, and we found that patients with BD had reduced volumes of hippocampal subfields, specifically in the left CA4, GCL, ML and both sides of the hippocampal tail, compared with healthy subjects and patients with MDD. The volume reduction was especially severe in patients with bipolar I disorder (BD-I). We also demonstrated that hippocampal subfield volume reduction was associated with the progression of the illness. For patients with BD-I, the volumes of the right CA1, ML and Sub decreased as the illness duration increased, and the volumes of both sides of the CA2/3, CA4 and hippocampal tail had negative correlations with the number of manic episodes. These results indicated that among the mood disorders the hippocampal subfields were more affected in BD-I compared with BD-II and MDD, and manic episodes had focused progressive effect on the CA2/3 and CA4 and hippocampal tail.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
VALUE is an open European collaboration to intercompare downscaling approaches for climate change research, focusing on different validation aspects (marginal, temporal, extremes, spatial, ...process‐based, etc.). Here we describe the participating methods and first results from the first experiment, using “perfect” reanalysis (and reanalysis‐driven regional climate model (RCM)) predictors to assess the intrinsic performance of the methods for downscaling precipitation and temperatures over a set of 86 stations representative of the main climatic regions in Europe. This study constitutes the largest and most comprehensive to date intercomparison of statistical downscaling methods, covering the three common downscaling approaches (perfect prognosis, model output statistics—including bias correction—and weather generators) with a total of over 50 downscaling methods representative of the most common techniques.
Overall, most of the downscaling methods greatly improve (reanalysis or RCM) raw model biases and no approach or technique seems to be superior in general, because there is a large method‐to‐method variability. The main factors most influencing the results are the seasonal calibration of the methods (e.g., using a moving window) and their stochastic nature. The particular predictors used also play an important role in cases where the comparison was possible, both for the validation results and for the strength of the predictor–predictand link, indicating the local variability explained. However, the present study cannot give a conclusive assessment of the skill of the methods to simulate regional future climates, and further experiments will be soon performed in the framework of the EURO‐CORDEX initiative (where VALUE activities have merged and follow on).
Finally, research transparency and reproducibility has been a major concern and substantive steps have been taken. In particular, the necessary data to run the experiments are provided at http://www.value‐cost.eu/data and data and validation results are available from the VALUE validation portal for further investigation: http://www.value‐cost.eu/validationportal.
The largest and most comprehensive to date intercomparison of statistical downscaling methods is presented, with a total of over 50 downscaling methods representative of the most common approaches and techniques. Overall, most of the downscaling methods greatly improve raw model biases and no approach is superior in general, due to the large method‐to‐method variability. The main factors influencing the results are the seasonal calibration of the methods and their stochastic nature, for biases in the mean and variance.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Cryptomelane-type manganese oxide with cesium and lithium incorporated in its tunnel structure is a highly active catalyst for the oxidation of ethyl acetate. Display omitted
► Li and Cs were ...successfully incorporated in the cryptomelane structure. ► Alkali metals doping enhances both the reducibility and the basicity of cryptomelane. ► These parameters have a significant effect on the catalytic properties. ► Li and especially Cs-doped catalysts are highly active for ethyl acetate oxidation. ► The amounts of Cs or Li incorporated do not influence the performance (pore mouth activity).
Different amounts of cesium (0.8–1.3at.%) and lithium (up to 0.5at.%) were introduced in the tunnel structure of cryptomelane in order to tailor its physical and chemical properties. The mechanism by which cryptomelane accommodates these alkali cations is different; Li occupies mainly empty sites by a redox-type reaction, while Cs is ion-exchanged by H3O+ cations. The adsorption of these alkali metals into cryptomelane was highly selective and is dictated by the solvation energy and ionic radius. Extrinsic defects (e.g. positive holes and oxygen vacancies) are created upon doping, enhancing the redox-properties of cryptomelane. The basicity of the framework also increases when Cs and Li are incorporated. The catalytic properties of this material were tested in the oxidation of ethyl acetate, and greatly improved after doping. The observed activity increase is explained by the redox and basic properties of the modified materials. The amount of cesium loaded has no effect on the activity, as a result of pore mouth catalysis.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
In this paper the authors derive a higher-order shear deformation theory for modeling functionally graded plates accounting for extensibility in the thickness direction.
The explicit governing ...equations and boundary conditions are obtained using the principle of virtual displacements under Carrera’s Unified Formulation. The static and eigenproblems are solved by collocation with radial basis functions.
The efficiency of the present approach is assessed with numerical results including deflection, stresses, free vibration, and buckling of functionally graded isotropic plates and functionally graded sandwich plates.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
N-doped carbon materials are promising metal-free catalysts for a number of applications. In this work, a cost effective and easy method to prepare N-doped carbon nanotubes by ball milling was ...developed, which avoids the use of solvents and production of wastes. Melamine and urea were used as nitrogen precursors. The textural and chemical properties of the N-doped materials were characterized by N2 adsorption at −196°C, temperature programmed desorption, elemental analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The highest efficiency of N-doping was obtained with melamine. This method leads to the incorporation of large amounts of N-groups, namely quaternary nitrogen, pyridinic, and pyrrolic groups.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
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Cobalt-cerium mixed oxides were prepared by the wet impregnation method and evaluated for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) abatement, using ethyl acetate (EtAc) as model molecule. ...The impact of Co content on the physicochemical characteristics of catalysts and EtAc conversion was investigated. The materials were characterized by various techniques, including N2 adsorption at −196°C, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), H2-temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to reveal the structure–activity relationship. The obtained results showed the superiority of mixed oxides compared to bare CeO2 and Co3O4, demonstrating a synergistic effect. The optimum oxidation performance was achieved with the sample containing 20wt.% Co (Co/Ce atomic ratio of ca. 0.75), in which complete conversion of EtAc was attained at 260°C. In contrast, temperatures above 300°C were required to achieve 100% conversion over the single oxides. Notably, a strong relationship between both the: (i) relative population, and (ii) facile reduction of lattice oxygen with the ethyl acetate oxidation activity was found, highlighting the key role of loosely bound oxygen species on VOCs oxidation. A synergistic Co-Ce interaction can be accounted for the enhanced reducibility of mixed oxides, linked with the increased mobility of lattice oxygen.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Abstract The rat possesses hemochorial placentation with deep intrauterine trophoblast cell invasion and trophoblast-directed uterine spiral artery remodeling; features shared with human ...placentation. Recognition of these similarities spurred the establishment of in vitro and in vivo research methods using the rat as an animal model to address mechanistic questions regarding development of the hemochorial placenta. The purpose of this review is to provide the requisite background to help move the rat to the forefront in placentation research.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
•4MBC induced mortality, malformations and reduced growth in S. senegalensis larvae.•Swimming behaviour was affected by 4MBC at low concentrations.•4MBC caused alterations in AChE and LDH biochemical ...markers.•Assessment of behaviour is recommended in ecotoxicological studies with sole larvae.
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The inclusion of organic UV filters in personal care products (PCPs) has increased in recent years. 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor (4MBC) is one of the most used UV filters, and thus it is commonly found in aquatic ecosystems, with proved negative effects on aquatic organisms. Effects on early life stages of marine vertebrates are largely unknown. Therefore, the main goal of this work was to evaluate 4MBC effects on Senegalese sole (Solea Senegalensis Kaup, 1858) larvae at different levels of biological organization. S. senegalensis were exposed to increasing concentrations of 4MBC from egg stage until 96 h. Mortality, growth, malformations, behaviour and biochemical responses, including enzymatic biomarkers were studied. The exposure to 4MBC until 96 h post-fertilization (hpf) induced mortality and malformations in a dose-response manner. Besides, reduced growth with increasing concentrations was observed. The exposure to 4MBC also caused alterations on behaviour, including overall lower swimming time during light and dark periods. Biomarker alterations caused by 4MBC included imbalance of neurotransmission related endpoints (increased acetylcholinesterase activity) and decreased activity of enzymes related to anaerobic metabolism (lower cellular lactate dehydrogenase activity) at the lower concentrations tested. Furthermore, our results suggest that 4MBC do not induce oxidative stress in S. senegalensis larvae, since catalase and lipid peroxidation levels were not significantly altered by 4MBC.
S. senegalensis revealed to be a good model species for vertebrate animal testing in the marine environment. Sub-lethal concentrations of 4MBC induced toxic effects at all organizational levels. Swimming behaviour was a sensitive endpoint and showed that exposure to 4MBC causes impairment on response to light stimulus which is possibly linked with the observed imbalances on cholinesterase activity in larvae. Conservation concerns along distribution range of S. senegalensis should consider that increasing levels of UV filters in marine environment might have impact on the ecology of the species.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The interplay of stabilized (sub)-nanosized gold species, cryptomelane, and cerium (as dopant and ceria nano-particles) results in a highly active gold catalyst for the low-temperature oxidation of ...CO. Display omitted
•Cerium-doped cryptomelane stabilizes polyhedron Au nano-particles smaller than 3nm.•The obtained Au/Ce/cryptomelane catalyst is highly active for CO oxidation.•Cationic, neutral, and anionic gold species were found on Ce/cryptomelane.•Ce increases the number of defect sites and charge transfer between Au and KOMS-2.•TOF for Au/Ce–K-OMS-2 is about twice that of Au/CeO2 prepared by the same procedure.
Cerium-doped cryptomelane stabilizes polyhedron Au nano-particles smaller than 3nm. The obtained Au/Ce/cryptomelane catalyst is highly active for CO oxidation. Cationic, neutral, and anionic gold species were found on Ce/cryptomelane. The modification of cryptomelane by the addition of cerium is twofold: (i) cerium is incorporated in the tunnels of cryptomelane, increasing the number of defects which function as nucleation sites for gold and (ii) ceria nano-particles at the surface induce charge transfer between gold and cryptomelane. TOF for Au/Ce–K-OMS-2 is about twice that of Au/CeO2 prepared by the same procedure.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Ivermectin (IVM) is a broad acting antihelmintic used in various veterinary pharmaceuticals. It has been shown that IVM enters the aquatic compartment and adversely affects organisms including fish. ...This study is based on the hypothesis that long term exposure to IVM affects fish and thus, the main objective was to assess the chronic effects of 0.25 and 25 µg IVM/L to zebrafish using multiple endpoints representative of several levels of biological organization: weight, behaviour (swimming and feeding) and subcellular markers including biomarkers for oestrogenicity (vitellogenin-VTG), oxidative stress (catalase-CAT and glutathione-S-transferase-GST) and neurotransmission (cholinesterase-ChE). Concentrations as low as 0.25 µg IVM/L disrupted the swimming behaviour, causing fish to spend more time at the bottom of aquaria. Such reduction of the swimming performance affected the feeding ability which is likely responsible for the weight loss. The effects on weight were gender differentiated, being more pronounced in males (0.25 µg IVM/L) than in females (25 µg IVM/L). Fish exposed to 25 µg/L exhibited darker coloration and mild curvature of the spine. No effects on VTG and AChE were observed, but a reduction on CAT and GST levels was observed in fish exposed to 25 µg IVM/L, although these alterations probably only reflect the general condition of the fish which was significantly compromised at this concentration. Despite that predicted environmental concentrations of IVM are below 0.25 µg/L, the behavioural effects may be translated into important ecological impacts, e.g. at predator–prey interactions where fish competitive advantage can be decreased. Future work should address the link between behaviour disruption and population fitness. The current study was based on a one experiment and multiple endpoint (anchored) approach, allowing the results to be integrated and linked towards a mechanistic understanding.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
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