Find research datasets worth reusing

opencc-ncJul 2018View details →

BfR calculator for estimating consumer exposure to biocide residues in food

This calculator has been developed by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) (1) to support competent authorities and industry when performing dietary risk assessment for biocidal products. It presents a tool to facilitate the estimation of dietary risk from consumer exposure to biocidal active substances used in domestic households as described in the Guidance on Estimating Dietary Risk from Transfer of Biocidal Active Substances into Foods - Non-professional Uses (Guidance Non-professional Uses) (2). It applies assumptions and default values as given in the guidance document. The exposure models presented in this calculator are not a comprehensive collection of scenarios. During evaluation it must be ensured that the chosen scenario is applicable to the intended use to be evaluated. Adjustment of existing scenarios or development of new scenarios will be required on a case-by-case basis. The list of scenarios in this calculator may be extended as more active substances and their uses in biocidal products are evaluated. The "Examples" spreadsheet contains calculations for various scenarios to illustrate the use of this calculator. Results for the examples given in the Guidance Non-professional Uses may slightly deviate from results produced by this calculator due to rounding differences. Link: https://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/349/bfr-calculator-for-estimating-transfer-of-biocideresidues-into-foods-non-professional-uses.xlsx

opencc-by-4.0May 2020View details →

Fig 1 from: Branson DH (2020) Influence of cold temperature and exposure time on egg overwintering survival in the white-whiskered grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Journal of Orthoptera Research 29(1): 63-65. https://doi.org/10.3897/jor.29.46967

Fig 1 Proportional survival (mean ± SE) of white-whiskered grasshopper eggs by temperature (-20°C, -25°C, and 4°C control) and exposure time (48, 120, and 240 hours) treatments (8 replicates with 16 egg pods per replicate). No eggs survived in any exposure time treatment at -30°C and -35°C.

opencc-zeroMay 2020View details →

Supplemental materials for: Peri- and post-pubertal estrogen exposures of female mice optimize uterine responses later in life

At birth, all female mice, including those that either lack estrogen receptor α (ERα-knockout) or that express mutated forms of ERα (AF2ERKI), have a hypoplastic uterus. However, uterine growth and development that normally accompanies pubertal maturation does not occur in ERα-knockout or AF2ERKI mice, indicating ERα mediated estrogen signaling is essential for this process. Mice that lack Cyp19 (aromatase, ArKO mice), an enzyme critical for estrogen (E2) synthesis, are unable to make E2, and lack pubertal uterine development. A single injection of E2 into ovariectomized adult (10 weeks old) females normally results in uterine epithelial cell proliferation, however, we observe that, although ERα is present in the ArKO uterine cells, no proliferative response is seen. We assessed the impact of exposing ArKO mice to E2 during pubertal and post-pubertal windows and observed that E2 exposed ArKO mice acquired growth responsiveness. Analysis of differential gene expression between unexposed ArKO samples and samples from animals exhibiting the ability to mount an E2-induced uterine growth response (WT or E2 exposed ArKO) revealed activation of EZH2 and HAND2 signaling and inhibition of GLI1 responses. EZH2 and HAND2 are known inhibit uterine growth, and GLI1 is involved in IHH signaling, which is a positive mediator of uterine response. Finally, we show that exposure of ArKO females to dietary phytoestrogens results in their acquisition of uterine growth competence. Altogether our findings suggest that pubertal levels of endogenous and exogenous estrogens impact biological function of uterine cells later in life via ERα-dependent mechanisms.

opencc-by-4.0Jun 2020View details →

A brief exposure to rightward prismatic adaptation changes resting-state network characteristics of the ventral attentional system

A brief session of rightward prismatic adaptation (R-PA) has been shown to alleviate neglect symptoms in patients with right hemispheric damage, very likely by switching hemispheric dominance of the ventral attentional network (VAN) from the right to the left and by changing task-related activity within the dorsal attentional network (DAN). We have investigated this very rapid change in functional organisation with a network approach by comparing resting-state connectivity before and after a brief exposure i) to R-PA (14 normal subjects; experimental condition) or ii) to plain glasses (12 normal subjects; control condition). A whole brain analysis (comprising all 129 regions of interest) highlighted R-PA-induced changes within a bilateral, fronto-temporal network, which consisted of 13 nodes and 11 edges; all edges involved one of 4 frontal nodes, which were part of VAN. The analysis of network characteristics within VAN and DAN revealed a R-PA-induced decrease in connectivity strength between nodes and a decrease in local efficiency within VAN but not within DAN. These results indicate that the resting-state connectivity configuration of VAN is modulated by R-PA, possibly by decreasing its modularity.

opencc-by-4.0Jun 2020View details →

DATA SET - Sublethal exposure to deltamethrin impairs maternal egg care in the European earwig Forficula auricularia

Data set of the manuscript entitled "Sublethal exposure to deltamethrin impairs maternal egg care in the European earwig Forficula auricularia" and published in the journal Chemosphere.

opencc-by-4.0Jun 2020View details →

Data: Interacting effects of short-term and long-term noise exposure on anti-predator behaviour: A field experiment with sand gobies

Data on anti-predator behaviour of sand gobies during trials with exposure to either boat noise or a silent control. Gobies were living in a range of quiet to noisy habitats.

opencc-by-4.0Jul 2020View details →

Environmental exposure model for copper oxide nanoparticles impact in estuarine ecosystem services

Modelling the effect of copper oxide nanoparticles (< 50 nm) on denitrification rate and abundance and transcription of genes of the denitrification pathway on a temperate estuary.

Using naturalistic incubation temperatures to demonstrate how variation in the timing and continuity of heat wave exposure influences phenotype

Most organisms are exposed to bouts of warm temperatures during development, yet we know little about how variation in the timing and continuity of heat exposure influences biological processes. If heat waves increase in frequency and duration as predicted, it is necessary to understand how these bouts could affect thermally sensitive species, including reptiles with temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). In a multi-year study using fluctuating temperatures, we exposed Trachemys scripta embryos to cooler, male-producing temperatures interspersed with warmer, female-producing temperatures (heat waves) that varied in either timing during development or continuity and then analyzed resulting sex ratios. We also quantified the expression of genes involved in testis differentiation (Dmrt1) and ovary differentiation (Cyp19A1) to determine how heat wave continuity affects the expression of genes involved in sexual differentiation. Heat waves applied during the middle of development produced significantly more females compared to heat waves that occurred just 7 days before or after this window, and even short gaps in the continuity of a heat wave decreased the production of females. Continuous heat exposure resulted in increased Cyp19A1 expression while discontinuous heat exposure failed to increase expression in either gene over a similar time course. We report that even small differences in the timing and continuity of heat waves can result in drastically different phenotypic outcomes. This strong effect of temperature occurred despite the fact that embryos were exposed to the same number of warm days during a short period of time, which highlights the need to study temperature effects under more ecologically relevant conditions where temperatures may be elevated for only a few days at a time. In the face of a changing climate, the finding that subtle shifts in temperature exposure result in substantial effects on embryonic development becomes even more critical.

Supplementary material 4 from: Frem M, Chapman D, Fucilli V, Choueiri E, Moujabber ME, Notte PL, Nigro F (2020) Xylella fastidiosa invasion of new countries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa: Ranking the potential exposure scenarios. NeoBiota 59: 77-97. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.59.53208

Table S3

Supplementary material 1 from: Frem M, Chapman D, Fucilli V, Choueiri E, Moujabber ME, Notte PL, Nigro F (2020) Xylella fastidiosa invasion of new countries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa: Ranking the potential exposure scenarios. NeoBiota 59: 77-97. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.59.53208

Figures S1, S2

Supplementary material 2 from: Frem M, Chapman D, Fucilli V, Choueiri E, Moujabber ME, Notte PL, Nigro F (2020) Xylella fastidiosa invasion of new countries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa: Ranking the potential exposure scenarios. NeoBiota 59: 77-97. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.59.53208

Table S1

Supplementary material 3 from: Frem M, Chapman D, Fucilli V, Choueiri E, Moujabber ME, Notte PL, Nigro F (2020) Xylella fastidiosa invasion of new countries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa: Ranking the potential exposure scenarios. NeoBiota 59: 77-97. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.59.53208

Table S2

Supplementary material 5 from: Frem M, Chapman D, Fucilli V, Choueiri E, Moujabber ME, Notte PL, Nigro F (2020) Xylella fastidiosa invasion of new countries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa: Ranking the potential exposure scenarios. NeoBiota 59: 77-97. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.59.53208

Table S4

Data from: Toward a precision behavioral medicine approach to addressing high-risk sun exposure: a qualitative analysis

Objectives: Precision behavioral medicine techniques integrating wearable ultraviolet radiation (UVR) sensors may help individuals avoid sun exposure that places them at-risk for skin cancer. As a preliminary step in our patient-centered process of developing a just-in-time adaptive intervention, this study evaluated reactions and preferences to UVR sensors among melanoma survivors. Materials and Methods: Early stage adult melanoma survivors were recruited for a focus group (n=11) or 10-day observational study, which included daily wearing a UVR sensor and sun exposure surveys (n=39). Both the focus group moderator guide and observational study exit interviews included questions on UVR sensing as a potential intervention strategy. These responses were transcribed and coded using an inductive strategy. Results: Most observational study participants (84.6%) said they would find information provided by UVR sensors to be useful to help them learn about how specific conditions (e.g., clouds, location) impact sun exposure and provide in-the-moment alerts. Focus group participants expressed enthusiasm for UVR information and identified preferred qualities of a UVR sensor, such as small size and integration with other devices. Participants in both studies indicated concern that UVR feedback may be difficult to interpret and some expressed that a UVR sensor may not be convenient or desirable to wear in daily life. Discussion: Melanoma survivors believe that personalized UVR exposure information could improve their sun protection and want this information delivered in a method that is meaningful and actionable. Conclusion: UVR sensing is a promising component of a precision behavioral medicine strategy to reduce skin cancer risk.

opencc-zeroDec 2019View details →

Noise pollution: acute noise exposure increases susceptibility to disease and chronic exposure reduces host survival

Anthropogenic noise is a pervasive global pollutant that has been detected in every major habitat on the planet. Detrimental impacts of noise pollution on physiology, immunology and behaviour have been shown in terrestrial vertebrates and invertebrates. Equivalent research on aquatic organisms has until recently been stunted by the misnomer of a silent underwater world. In fish, however, noise pollution can lead to stress, hearing loss, behavioural changes and impacted immmunity. But, the functional effects of impacted immunity on disease resistance due to noise exposure have remained neglected. Parasites that cause transmissible disease are key drivers of ecosystem biodiversity and a significant factor limiting the sustainable expansion of the animal trade. Therefore, understanding how a pervasive stressor is impacting host-parasite interactions will have far reaching implications for global animal health. Here, we investigated the impact of acute and chronic noise on vertebrate susceptibility to parasitic infections, using a model host-parasite system (guppy-Gyrodactylus turnbulli). Hosts experiencing acute noise suffered significantly increased parasite burden compared to those in no noise treatments. In contrast, fish experiencing chronic noise had the lowest parasite burden. However, these hosts died significantly earlier compared to those exposed to acute and no noise treatments, demonstrating a potential functional trade-off between improved parasite-resistance and shorter life span. By revealing the detrimental impacts of acute and chronic noise on host-parasite interactions, we add to the growing body of evidence demonstrating a link between noise pollution and reduced animal health.

Data from: Host sex and age typically explain variation in parasitism of Rock Ptarmigan: implications for identifying determinants of exposure and susceptibility

Measures of parasitism often differ between hosts. This variation is thought due in part to age or sex differences in exposure to parasites and/or susceptibility to parasitism. We assessed how often age or sex biases in parasitism were found using a large, multi-year (2006 – 2017) dataset of 12 parasite species of Icelandic Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta). We found host traits (i.e. age and/or sex) accounted for significant variation in abundance of 11 of the 12 parasite species. We often found increased abundance among juvenile hosts, although significant adult biases were observed for three parasite species. Additionally, higher levels of parasitism by many species were observed for female hosts, contrary to frequent male biases in parasitism reported for other vertebrates. Abundance of six parasite species was best explained by interactions between host age and sex; some degree of decrease in abundance with host age was present for both male and female hosts for four of those parasite species. We consider various host and parasite traits that could account for observed singular and repeated patterns of age and/or sex biases in parasitism (e.g. age- and sex-related grouping behaviours, age-specific mortality in relation to parasitism, acquisition of greater immunity with age). This work provides a foundation for future studies investigating age-related differences in acquired immunity and age-specific parasite-mediated mortality for males and females, as well as studies on interactions between co-infecting parasite species.

opencc-zeroSep 2020View details →

Tobacco smoke exposure exacerbated crystalline silica-induced lung toxicity in rats

Smoking may modify the lung response to silica exposure including cancer and silicosis. Nevertheless, the precise role of exposure to tobacco smoke (TS) on the lung response to crystalline silica (CS) exposure and the underlying mechanisms need further clarification. The objectives of the present study were to determine the role of TS on lung response to CS exposure and the underlying mechanism(s). Male Fischer 344 rats were exposed by inhalation to air, CS (15 mg/m3, 6 hrs/day, 5 days), TS (80 mg/m3, 3 hrs/day, twice weekly, 6 months), or CS (15 mg/m3, 6 hrs/day, 5 days) followed by TS (80 mg/m3, 3 hrs/day, twice weekly, 6 months). The rats were euthanized 6 months and 3 weeks following initiation of the first exposure and the lung response was assessed. Silica exposure resulted in significant lung toxicity as evidenced by lung histological changes, enhanced neutrophil infiltration, increased LDH levels, enhanced oxidant production, and increased cytokine levels. The TS exposure alone had only a minimal effect on these toxicity parameters. However, the combined exposure to TS and CS exacerbated the lung response, compared to TS or CS exposure alone. Global gene expression changes in the lungs correlated with the lung toxicity severity. Bioinformatic analysis of the gene expression data demonstrated significant enrichment in functions, pathways, and networks relevant to the response to silica exposure which correlated with the lung toxicity detected. Collectively our data demonstrated an exacerbation of CS-induced lung toxicity by TS exposure and the molecular mechanisms underlying the exacerbated toxicity.