Rapid shifts in grassland communities driven by climate change.

Many terrestrial plant communities, especially forests, have been shown to lag in response to rapid climate change. Grassland communities may respond more quickly to novel climates, as they consist mostly of short-lived species, which are directly exposed to macroclimate change. Here we report the rapid response of grassland communities to climate change in the California Floristic Province.

Environmental safety of second and third generation bioplastics in the context of the circular economy.

Bioplastics derived from organic materials other than crude oil are often suggested as sustainable solutions for tackling end-of-life plastic waste, but little is known of their ecotoxicity to aquatic species. Here, we investigated the ecotoxicity of second and third generation bioplastics toward the freshwater zooplankton Daphnia magna. In acute toxicity tests (48 h), survival was impacted at high concentrations (g.

Human health impacts of exposure to phthalate plasticizers: An overview of reviews.

In this review of reviews, we overview the current global body of available evidence from structured reviews of epidemiological studies that explore human health outcomes associated with exposure to phthalates (chemical plasticisers commonly found in plastics). We found robust evidence for an association with lower semen quality, neurodevelopment and risk of childhood asthma, and moderate to robust evidence for impact on anogenital distance in boys. We identified moderate evidence for an association between phthalates/metabolites and low birthweight, endometriosis, decreased testosterone, ADHD, Type 2 diabetes and breast/uterine cancer.

Single-use plastic and COVID-19 in the NHS: Barriers and opportunities.

Background: Single-use personal protective equipment (PPE) has been essential to protect healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, intensified use of PPE could counteract the previous efforts made by the UK NHS Trusts to reduce their plastic footprint.

Design And Methods: In this study, we conducted an in-depth case study in the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust to investigate plastic-related issues in a typical NHS Trust before, during and after the pandemic.

Cardiovascular Effects of Switching From Tobacco Cigarettes to Electronic Cigarettes.

Background: E-cigarette (EC) use is increasing exponentially worldwide. The early cardiovascular effects of switching from tobacco cigarettes (TC) to EC in chronic smokers is unknown. Meta-analysis of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) studies indicate 13% lower pooled, adjusted relative risks of cardiovascular events with every 1% improvement in FMD.

Effect of Crystal Grain Orientation on the Rate of Ionic Transport in Perovskite Polycrystalline Thin Films.

In this work, we examine the effect of microstructure on ion-migration-induced photoluminescence (PL) quenching in methylammonium lead iodide perovskite films. Thin films were fabricated by two methods: spin-coating, which results in randomly oriented perovskite grains, and zone-casting, which results in aligned grains. As an external bias is applied to these films, migration of ions causes a quenching of the PL signal in the vicinity of the anode.

A Word to the Wise: Advice for Scientists Engaged in Collaborative Adaptive Management.

Collaborative adaptive management is a process for making decisions about the environment in the face of uncertainty and conflict. Scientists have a central role to play in these decisions. However, while scientists are well trained to reduce uncertainty by discovering new knowledge, most lack experience with the means to mitigate conflict in contested situations.

Effect of Injection Layer Sub-Bandgap States on Electron Injection in Organic Light-Emitting Diodes.

It is generally considered that the injection of charges into an active layer of an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) is solely determined by the energetic injection barrier formed at the device interfaces. Here, we demonstrate that the density of surface states of the electron-injecting ZnO layer has a profound effect on both the charge injection and the overall performance of the OLED device. Introducing a dopant into ZnO reduces both the energy depth and density of surface states without altering the position of the energy levels-thus, the magnitude of the injection barrier formed at the organic/ZnO interface remains unchanged.

Iodine Migration and its Effect on Hysteresis in Perovskite Solar Cells.

The migration and accumulation of iodide ions create a modulation of the respective interfacial barriers causing the hysteresis in solar cells based on methylammonium lead iodide perovskites. Iodide ions are identified as the migrating species by measuring temperature dependent current-transients and photoelectron spectroscopy. The involved changes in the built-in potential due to ion migration are directly measured by electroabsorption spectroscopy.

Major depressive disorder with melancholia displays robust alterations in resting state heart rate and its variability: implications for future morbidity and mortality.

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with increased heart rate and reductions in its variability (heart rate variability, HRV) - markers of future morbidity and mortality - yet prior studies have reported contradictory effects. We hypothesized that increases in heart rate and reductions in HRV would be more robust in melancholia relative to controls, than in patients with non-melancholia.

Methods: A total of 72 patients with a primary diagnosis of MDD (age M: 36.

Tadalafil in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors improve exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension. However, whether such beneficial effects take place in selected populations with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains uncertain. We aimed to assess the effects of tadalafil--a PDE5 inhibitor--on exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with COPD and mild pulmonary hypertension.

Treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis with oral steroids followed by topical steroids: a randomized trial.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyposis is common. The long-term efficacy and safety of approaches to medical management are not well-known.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a 2-week regimen of oral steroid therapy followed by 26 weeks of sequential topical steroid maintenance therapy.

Disconnect between standardized field-based testing and mannitol challenge in Scottish elite swimmers.

Background: Elite swimmers have high rates of rhinoconjunctivitis and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. Moreover, exposure to chlorine and chlorine metabolites is known to induce bronchial hyper-reactivity.

Objective: To assess the early and late effects of chlorine and exercise on the unified airway of elite swimmers, and to compare the response to mannitol and field-based exercise challenge.

In vivo comparison of the relative systemic bioavailability of fluticasone propionate from three anti-static spacers and a metered dose inhaler.

What Is Already Known About This Subject: Conventional spacers help overcome problems with co-ordination and may improve lung deposition and decrease oropharyngeal impaction. Antistatic spacers eliminate electrostatic charge and may hence improve respirable dose delivery. The systemic bioavailability of inhaled fluticasone propionate is primarily dependent on delivery by the pulmonary route and hence the performance of antistatic spacers can be evaluated using adrenal suppression as a sensitive surrogate for relative bioavailability to the lung after an inhalation.

Investigating models of affect: relationships among EEG alpha asymmetry, depression, and anxiety.

The approach-withdrawal and valence-arousal models both predict that depressive and anxious profiles will be associated with relatively reduced left frontal and increased right frontal activity respectively, while the valence-arousal model also proposes a dissociation by lower and higher right parietotemporal activity, respectively. Recent work further suggests that subtypes of anxiety disorders may be characterized by distinctive patterns of activity depending on their type of arousal (anxious arousal/apprehension). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships among nonclinical depression/anxiety and lateralized frontal/parietotemporal activity by categorizing participants (N=428) on the basis of both negative mood and alpha EEG.

Resting electroencephalogram asymmetry and posttraumatic stress disorder.

The valence-arousal (W. Heller, 1993) and approach-withdrawal (R. J.

Effect of aspirin on airway inflammation and pulmonary function in patients with persistent asthma.

Background: Aspirin can cause bronchoconstriction in some asthmatic patients through increased production of proinflammatory mediators, particularly leukotrienes. However, recent in vivo evidence has suggested that aspirin also triggers the production of lipoxins, which act as natural antagonists of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Aside from patients with known aspirin-sensitive asthma, physicians have avoided the use of aspirin in asthmatic patients in general because it was believed that this agent might precipitate worsening of their condition.

Fronto-temporal alterations within the first 200 ms during an attentional task distinguish major depression, non-clinical participants with depressed mood and healthy controls: a potential biomarker?

Attentional impairment in depression is a cardinal feature of depression and has been proposed as a candidate endophenotype for major depressive disorder. Event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited by oddball signal detection tasks provide objective markers of selective stimulus processing, and are pertinent endophenotypic markers for depression. While previous studies have sought to determine objective markers for attentional impairment in depression, evidence is inconsistent and may involve heterogeneity in relatively small samples.

Differential anti-inflammatory effects of large and small particle size inhaled corticosteroids in asthma.

Background: Extra-fine particle formulations of hydrofluoroalkane-134a beclometasone dipropionate (HFA-BDP) exhibit clinical effects comparable with conventional particle formulations of chlorofluorocarbon beclometasone dipropionate (CFC-BDP) at half the dose. There is little data comparing their effects on inflammation. We have evaluated the effects of HFA-BDP and CFC-BDP on pulmonary and systemic markers of asthmatic inflammation.

Integrating objective gene-brain-behavior markers of psychiatric disorders.

There is little consensus about which objective markers should be used to assess major psychiatric disorders, and predict/evaluate treatment response for these disorders. Clinical practice relies instead on subjective signs and symptoms, such that there is a "translational gap" between research findings and clinical practice. This gap arises from: a) a lack of integrative theoretical models which provide a basis for understanding links between gene-brain-behavior mechanisms and clinical entities; b) the reliance on studying one measure at a time so that linkages between markers are their specificity are not established; and c) the lack of a definitive understanding of what constitutes normative function.

A proof-of-concept study to assess the putative dose response to topical corticosteroid in persistent allergic rhinitis using adenosine monophosphate challenge.

Introduction: The aim of this proof-of-concept study was to assess whether nasal adenosine monophosphate (AMP) challenge may be used to quantify dose response to topical fluticasone propionate (FP) in persistent allergic rhinitis (PER).

Methods: Eligible subjects with PER entered a randomized double-blind crossover study of 2 weeks of intranasal FP at 100 microg or 400 microg daily, with a 2-week placebo washout period before each randomized treatment. Measurements after each washout or treatment comprised: peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) response to nasal AMP (the primary outcome), domiciliary PNIF, the mini rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (miniRQLQ), symptom scores, nasal nitric oxide levels and overnight urinary cortisol:creatinine ratios.

Predicting severity of non-clinical depression: preliminary findings using an integrated approach.

Introduction: Depression is characterized by disturbances in affect, cognition, brain and body function, yet studies have tended to focus on single domains of dysfunction. An integrated approach may provide a more complete profile of the range of deficits characterized by depressed individuals, but it is unclear whether this approach is able to predict depression severity over and above that predicted by single tasks or domains of function. In this study, we examined the value of combining multiple domains of function in predicting depression severity.