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Deforestation in the tropics is often followed by the creation of anthropogenic savannas used for animal husbandry. By discontinuing burning regimes, forests may recolonize the savanna and carbon stocks may recover. However, little is known about the success and speed of tropical forest recovery, while such information is vital for a better quantification of efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) as well as supporting Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) practices. Therefore, we designed a forest regeneration experiment within a savanna patch in the Mayombe hills (Democratic Republic of Congo), by discontinuing the annual burning regime in an 88 ha exclosure since 2005. 101 permanent inventory plots (40.4 ha) were installed in 2010 and remeasured in 2014. Tree species were classified as savanna or forest specialists. We estimate a forest specialist encroachment rate of 9 stems ha−1 yr−1 and a savanna specialist disappearance rate of 16 stems ha−1 yr−1. Average diameter of forest specialists did not change due to an increasing influx of recruits, while average diameter of savanna trees increased due to decreasing recruitment. Carbon stored by forest specialists increased from 3.12 to 5.60 Mg C ha−1, suggesting a forest carbon recovery rate of 0.62 Mg C ha−1 yr−1. Using the average carbon stock of 19 nearby mature rainforest plots as a reference, we estimate a total forest carbon recovery time of at least 150 years. The Manzonzi exclosure may potentially become an important reference experiment to quantify REDD+ schemes in Central Africa. Furthermore, this natural regeneration experiment demonstrates how carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation can go hand-in-hand. However, more censuses are needed to better quantify the long-term carbon recovery trajectory within the protected area.

Although personality is closely related to the psychopathology structure, to our knowledge no study has explored the associations between the Five-Factor traits and a bifactor psychopathology model within a personality developmental framework. Consequently, this study aims to explore intercept and growth of personality traits across three assessments in a 2-year period and their associations with psychopathology in a nonclinical sample of 551 adolescents (51.5% girls; Mage = 13.77, SD = 1.29). Confirmatory Factor Analysis supported the bifactor structure of psychopathology. Latent growth curve modeling showed a slightly declining trend in neuroticism and conscientiousness. Individual differences in starting point and change in personality independently predicted later psychopathology. This highlights the importance of these parameters as risk or protective factors, when developing prevention programs. Funding for open access charge: CRUE-Universitat Jaume I

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd We present an exploratory study examining why people in a relationship use Tinder and whether they score higher on certain (dark) personality traits compared to single users and non-users in a committed relationship. Our results indicate that non-single Tinder users differ significantly on nine Tinder motives from single Tinder users. Moreover, non-single Tinder users generally report a higher number of romantic relationships, French kisses, one night stands, and casual sexual relationships with other Tinder users compared to single Tinder users. In terms of (dark) personality traits, non-single Tinder users score significantly lower on Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, and significantly higher on Neuroticism and Psychopathy compared to non-users in a committed relationship. For non-single Tinder users, lower scores on Agreeableness and Neuroticism and higher scores on Psychopathy and Machiavellianism are significantly correlated with the sexual Tinder motive. Additionally, Narcissism and Machiavellianism were positively associated with using Tinder for an ego-boost. Non-single users who reported to have had offline encounters with other Tinder users reported higher scores on Extraversion and Openness to Experience compared to non-single users who never had an offline encounter. ispartof: COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR vol:89 pages:129-139 status: published

Background and purpose To examine the incidence and outcomes of patients with brain metastases from extra-pulmonary small cell carcinoma (EPSCC) and assess the indication for prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI). Materials and methods A Provincial cancer registry was used to conduct a retrospective, population-based study of patients diagnosed with EPSCC between January 1997 and December 2011. The primary end point was the incidence of brain metastases. The secondary endpoint was overall survival. A "PCI Eligible" cohort was defined to provide an estimation of the incidence of brain metastases in clinically relevant patients. Results In 287 patients, the primary sites were 21% gastrointestinal, 34% genito-urinary, 14% gynecologic, 5% head/neck and 25% unknown primary. Thirty-five (12.5%) patients had brain metastases: 12 (4.2%) at initial diagnosis and 23 (8%) later in the disease course. In PCI Eligible patients, the 3-year cumulative incidence of new brain metastases was 5.5% for M0 stage disease and 26.3% for M1 disease. There was no significant difference in the incidence of brain metastases between primary sites. Conclusions The incidence of brain metastases in patients with EPSCC is comparatively low, even in a cohort of patients that were suitable for PCI. Based on our analysis, we cannot recommend PCI for patients with EPSCC.

The circadian clock is an endogenous 24 hour rhythm that helps organisms anticipate and adapt to daily and seasonal variations in environment, such as the day/night cycle or changing temperatures. The plant clock is a complex network of transcription factors that regulate each other, forming interlocked feedback loops. Most of its components are light-regulated in some way, making the system highly sensitive to changes in light conditions. Here, we explore the mechanisms by which the plant clock adapts to changing day length. We first present some experimental data illustrating the variety of behaviors found in seedlings exposed to external day/night cycles different from 24h. We then use a mathematical model to characterize the response of the clock to a wide range of external cycle lengths and photoperiods. We show the existence of several domains of periodic entrainment with different ratios between the external cycle length and the period of the clock, and the presence of quasiperiodic and chaotic behaviors outside of the entrainment range. We simulate knockout mutants with impaired clock function and theoretical variants with diminished light sensitivity to highlight the role of a complex network and multiple light inputs in keeping the clock entrained over a wide range of conditions.

Tinder is quickly becoming one of the most popular mobile dating applications for meeting people within the vicinity. From a personality theory perspective, it is important to find out what motivates people to use Tinder and what makes them different from those who never used the application. The present study investigated how the Five-Factor Model of personality relates to both Tinder use and motives. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted on 502 single emerging adults. Single Tinder users are more extraverted and open to new experiences than single non-users, whereas single non-users tend to be more conscientious than single Tinder users. Additionally, the findings provide several unique insights into how individual differences in singles can account for Tinder motives by supporting nearly all hypotheses. This study thus adds to a growing body of literature that examines traditional personality theories in the context of computer-mediated online environments. publisher: Elsevier articletitle: To Tinder or not to Tinder, that's the question: An individual differences perspective to Tinder use and motives journaltitle: Personality and Individual Differences articlelink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.01.026 content_type: article copyright: © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. ispartof: Personality and Individual Differences vol:110 pages:74-79 status: published

Objective Bioactive glasses (BAG) form, in contrast to formerly used implant materials, a stable bond with tissues, especially bone, when implanted. Nowadays BAGs are often mixed with a cement/composite that hardens in situ to broaden its applications in dentistry or orthopedics. The bioactivity and biocompatibility of possible BAG candidates for BAG-cement/composite development were evaluated. Methods Two fluoride containing BAGs were tested: a Na + -containing (45S5F), based on the first commercial BAG, and a Na + -free BAG (CF9), with a higher Ca 2+ and PO 4 3− content. BAGs were tested on their bioactivity upon immersion in SBF for 7 days by evaluating the surface changes by FT-IR, SEM, EDS and PO 4 3− and Ca 2+ uptake and/or release from SBF. Moreover, the biocompatibility of the BAGs was investigated with a direct contact cell viability study with HFF cells and a cell adhesion study with MG-63 cells. Results The Na + -free BAG, CF9, showed the highest potential to bioactivate cements because of its high Ca 2+ -release and apatite (Ap) formation, as evidenced by SEM pictures and corresponding EDX patterns. FT-IR confirmed the formation of an Ap layer. Moreover CF9 had a higher biocompatibility than 45S5F. Significance For the bioactivation of GICs/composites in order to enhance bonding and remineralization of surrounding tissues, fluoride containing BAG may have advantages over other BAGs as a more stable fluorapatite can be formed. CF9 may be an excellent candidate therefore.

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of EGFR mutations on the incidence of brain metastases in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).A retrospective, population-based study was conducted using a provincial cancer registry to identify patients with metastatic NSCLC. Patients with diagnostic EGFR mutation testing were divided into EGFR mutation positive (EGFR+) and EGFR wild type (WT) cohorts. The primary endpoint was the incidence of brain metastases. Cumulative incidence curves were estimated using the competing risk method. The secondary endpoint was overall survival.For 543 patients there were 121 EGFR+ and 422 EGFR WT. The cumulative incidence of brain metastases was 39.2% for EGFR+ patients compared to 28.2% for EGFR WT (p=0.038; HR 1.4). In multivariate analysis, younger age and EGFR+ status were significant factors for developing brain metastases. The median survival for the EGFR+ and EGFR WT cohorts were 22.4 and 7.9 months (p0.001), respectively. In multivariate analysis, poor performance status and brain metastases were factors significant for worse survival.There is a higher incidence of brain metastases for patients with EGFR+ metastatic NSCLC, even when adjusted for differences in survival, compared to EGFR WT. For patients with and without brain metastases, survival prognosis with stage IV NSCLC is much longer with EGFR+ disease.

[EN] Nano-crystalline MCM-22 zeolite was synthesized in a one-pot procedure by the use of an organosilane (dimethyl-octadecyl-(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)-ammonium chloride, TPOAC) in the zeolite synthesis gel. This crystal growth inhibition procedure introduced mesopores in the MCM-22 crystallites. The lower mechanical stability of the nano-crystalline MCM-22 zeolite compared with bulk MCM-22 can be countered to some extent by pillaring. The increased external surface of the microporous zeolite domains resulted in increased accessibility of the Bronsted acid sites, as followed from the better performance in liquid-phase benzene alkylation with propylene as compared with bulk MCM-22. The increased accessibility of the internal acid sites in Mo-loaded hierarchical MCM-22 was also evident from the improved benzene selectivity during methane aromatization. Silylation of hierarchical Mo/MCM-22 was detrimental for the catalytic performance in MDA. The nano-crystalline MCM-22 has physico-chemical and catalytic properties intermediate between those of MCM-22 and ITQ-2 with the benefit over ITQ-2 that it can be synthesized in a single step. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved., Funding from the 7th Framework Program of the European Commission through the Collaborative Project Next-GTL (agreement no 229183) and financial support by the Spanish Government-MINECO through "Severo Ochoa" (SEV 2012-0267), Consolider Ingenio 2010-Multicat (CSD2009-00050) and MAT2012-31657 are acknowledged. Marta E. Martinez Armero thanks MINECO for economical support through pre-doctoral fellowship for doctors training (BES-2013-066800). The authors thank B. Esparcia for technical assistance.

Use of kohl (called surma in India and Pakistan) as an eye cosmetic is very common, especially among women, children, and babies, not only in North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Egypt), but also in the Near East and the Middle East, as well in India and Pakistan. This practice has now become widespread in European countries and North America. The cultural custom is very old and has been in use in Egypt since the Ancient Empire. In a great number of kohls available on the free market, lead sulfide is the main component and the very high lead concentration is a risk, particularly for women and children. We report the observation of a case of lead poisoning in a young Moroccan woman caused by prolonged use of a kohl and provide a review of the published literature. This case study should draw the attention of ophthalmologists in French-speaking areas to a public health problem, largely ignored, although real, considering the high lead concentrations found in the majority of kohls. Actions such as prohibition (importation and sale of eye cosmetics made of lead sulfide) have proved to be inadequate. Appropriate educational campaigns directed toward populations using eye cosmetics will be more effective over the long term.