Retrieval Intention Modulates the Effects of Directed Forgetting Instructions on Recollection

The neurocognitive basis of memory retrieval is often examined by investigating brain potential old/new effects, which are differences in brain activity between successfully remembered repeated stimuli and correctly rejected new stimuli in a recognition test. In this study, we combined analyses of old/new effects for words with an item-method directed-forgetting manipulation in order to isolate differences between the retrieval processes elicited by words that participants were initially instructed to commit to memory and those that participants were initially instructed to forget. We compared old/new effects elicited by to-be-forgotten (TBF) words with those elicited by to-be-remembered (TBR) words in both an explicit-memory test (a recognition test) and an implicit-memory test (a lexical-decision test). Behavioral results showed clear directed forgetting effects in the recognition test, but not in the lexical decision test. Mirroring the behavioral findings, analyses of brain potentials showed evidence of directed forgetting only in the recognition test. In this test, potentials from 450–650 ms (P600 old/new effects) were more positive for TBR relative to TBF words. By contrast, P600 effects evident during the lexical-decision test did not differ in magnitude between TBR and TBF items. When taken in the context of prior studies that have linked similar parietal old/new effects to the recollection of episodic information, these data suggest that directed-forgetting effects manifest primarily in greater episodic retrieval by TBR than TBF items, and that retrieval intention may be important for these directed-forgetting effects to occur.     

The influence of temporal variation on relationships between ecosystem services

A growing literature aims to identify areas of congruence in the provision of multiple ecosystem goods and services. However, little attention has been paid to the effect that temporal variation in the provision of such services may have on understanding of these relationships. Due to a lack of temporally and spatially replicated monitoring surveys, such relationships are often assessed using data from disparate time periods. Utilising temporally replicated data for indices of freshwater quality and agricultural production we demonstrate that through time the biophysical values of ecosystem services may vary in a spatially non-uniform way. This can lead to differing conclusions being reached about the strength of relationships between services, which in turn has implications for the prioritisation of areas for management of multiple services. We present this first analysis to illustrate the effect that the use of such temporally disparate datasets may have, and to highlight the need for further research to assess under what circumstances temporal variation of this sort will have the greatest impact.     

A multiple watershed field test of hydrogeomorphic functional assessment of headwater streams—Variability in field measurements between independent teams

Ephemeral and intermittent headwater streams are under increasing pressure from disturbance and development. Rapid, repeatable assessment techniques are needed in order to gauge the condition of these stream systems. Several attributes of these headwater streams constrain the use of the most widely used macroinvertebrate or water quality stream assessment techniques. The hydrogeomorphic (HGM) functional assessment is a reference-based alternative technique. To evaluate this alternative, repeated assessments were conducted in eight high-gradient headwaters in West Virginia by four independent teams. Across-site and measurement variance among teams was assessed using a coefficient of variation (CV, expressed as percent). A variability of >50% CV, which suggests less repeatable results, occurred in only 13.8% of measurements, primarily associated with 2 of the 9 variables examined (snag density and substrate size). Between site measurement variance was the greatest at more highly disturbed sample locations, particularly with regard to the large woody debris, tree species richness, and channel bank erosion variables. Variables with the lowest CV were tree diameter, detrital cover, canopy cover, and channel embeddedness. Based on these results, measurements included when applying HGM approach to these streams should focus on direct measurements or directed estimates that yield a large response range across a spectrum of sites while maintaining consistent repeatability among different teams, with special attention paid to their use in highly disturbed sites.     

Atomic Layer Deposition of CdS Quantum Dots for Solid‐State Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cells

Functioning quantum dot (QD) sensitized solar cells have been fabricated using the vacuum deposition technique atomic layer deposition (ALD). Utilizing the incubation period of CdS growth by ALD on TiO₂, we are able to grow QDs of adjustable size which act as sensitizers for solid‐state QD‐sensitized solar cells (ssQDSSC). The size of QDs, studied with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), varied with the number of ALD cycles from 1‐10 nm. Photovoltaic devices with the QDs were fabricated and characterized using a ssQDSSC device architecture with 2,2',7,7'‐tetrakis‐(N,N‐di‐p methoxyphenylamine) 9,9'‐spirobifluorene (spiro‐OMeTAD) as the solid‐state hole conductor. The ALD approach described here can be applied to fabrication of quantum‐confined structures for a variety of applications, including solar electricity and solar fuels. Because ALD provides the ability to deposit many materials in very high aspect ratio substrates, this work introduces a strategy by which material and optical properties of QD sensitizers may be adjusted not only by the size of the particles but also in the future by the composition.     

High levels of cryptic species diversity uncovered in Amazonian frogs

One of the greatest challenges for biodiversity conservation is the poor understanding of species diversity. Molecular methods have dramatically improved our ability to uncover cryptic species, but the magnitude of cryptic diversity remains unknown, particularly in diverse tropical regions such as the Amazon Basin. Uncovering cryptic diversity in amphibians is particularly pressing because amphibians are going extinct globally at an alarming rate. Here, we use an integrative analysis of two independent Amazonian frog clades, Engystomops toadlets and Hypsiboas treefrogs, to test whether species richness is underestimated and, if so, by how much. We sampled intensively in six countries with a focus in Ecuador (Engystomops: 252 individuals from 36 localities; Hypsiboas: 208 individuals from 65 localities) and combined mitochondrial DNA, nuclear DNA, morphological, and bioacoustic data to detect cryptic species. We found that in both clades, species richness was severely underestimated, with more undescribed species than described species. In Engystomops, the two currently recognized species are actually five to seven species (a 150-250% increase in species richness); in Hypsiboas, two recognized species represent six to nine species (a 200-350% increase). Our results suggest that Amazonian frog biodiversity is much more severely underestimated than previously thought.     

Antifibrotic effect of the Chinese herbs, Astragalus mongholicus and Angelica sinensis, in a rat model of chronic puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis

Nephrotic syndrome has long been treated in China with two herbs, Astragalus mongholicus and Angelica sinensis, which may have antifibrotic effects. METHODS: Rats with chronic puromycin-induced nephrosis were treated with Astragalus and Angelica 3 mL/d (n = 7) or enalapril 10 mg/kg/d (n = 7). Normal control rats (n = 7) received saline rather than puromycin, and an untreated control group (n = 7) received puromycin but no treatment. After 12 weeks, stained sections of the glomerulus and tubulointerstitium were evaluated for injury. Immunohistochemistry staining measured extracellular matrix components, transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta1), osteopontin, ED-1-positive cells, and alpha-actin. TGFbeta1 mRNA was assessed by in situ hybridization. Renin, ACE activity, angiotensin, and aldosterone were measured by radioimmunoassay or colorimetry. In the untreated rats, chronic renal injury progressed to marked fibrosis at 12 weeks. Astragalus and Angelica significantly reduced deterioration of renal function and histologic damage. Expressions of type III and IV collagen, fibronectin, and laminin also decreased significantly. This anti-fibrotic effect was similar to that of enalapril. The herbs had no effect on the renin-angiotensin system but did reduce the number of ED-1-positive, and alpha-actin positive cells and expression of osteopontin compared to untreated controls. The combination of Astragalus and Angelica retarded the progression of renal fibrosis and deterioration of renal function with comparable effects of enalapril. These effects were not caused by blocking the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system, but associated with suppression of the overexpression of TGFbeta1 and osteopontin, reduction of infiltrating macrophages, and less activation of renal intrinsic cells [corrected].     

Equilibrium unfolding mechanism of chicken muscle triose phosphate isomerase

Triose phosphate isomerase (TIM) was prepared and purified from chicken breast muscle. The equilibrium unfolding of TIM by urea was investigated by following the changes of intrinsic fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy, and the equilibrium thermal unfolding by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results show that the unfolding of TIM in urea is highly cooperative and no folding intermediate was detected in the experimental conditions used. The thermodynamic parameters of TIM during its urea induced unfolding were calculated as DeltaG degrees =3.54 kcal.mol(-1), and m(G) = 0.67 kcal.mol(-1)M(-1), which just reflect the unfolding of dissociated folded monomer to fully unfolded monomer transition, while the dissociation energy of folded dimer to folded monomer is probe silence. DSC results indicate that TIM unfolding follows an irreversible two-state step with a slow aggregation process. The cooperative unfolding ratio, DeltaH(cal)/DeltaH(vH), was measured close to 2, indicating that the two subunits of chicken muscle TIM unfold independently. The van't Hoff enthalpy, DeltaH(vH), was estimated as about 200 kcal.mol(-1). These results support the unfolding mechanism with a folded monomer formation before its tertiary structure and secondary structure unfolding.     

鼎湖山自然林豆科固氮植物资源的调查研究

本文在调查鼎湖山自然林木本豆科植物结瘤固氮的基础上,参阅了国内外有关豆科植物结瘤固氮的主要文献,研究了鼎湖山自然林木本豆科植物的固氮资源。结果得出鼎湖山自然林中常见的木本豆科植物共有41种,其中乔木15种,灌木6种,木质藤本20种;有结瘤固氮特性的26种,其中乔木11种,灌木5种,木质藤本10种;经初步调查未见根瘤的6种,其中乔木2种,灌木1种,木质藤本3种;未调查的9种,其中乔木2种,木质藤本7种。本研究结果为鼎湖山木本豆科固氮植物资源的保护、管理和开发利用提供了科学论据,在理论和应用方面均有重要意义。