Lifestyle has been associated with in vitro fertilisation (IVF) success rates, but studies on diet and IVF outcomes are inconclusive. We studied associations between adherence to the Dutch guidelines for a Healthy diet 2015 and pregnancy chances among women receiving modified natural cycle in vitro fertilisation (MNC-IVF). This prospective cohort study utilised data from 109 women undergoing MNC-IVF between 2014 and 2018 at University Medical Centre Groningen enrolled in a study examining associations between metabolic profile of follicular fluid and oocyte quality. Adherence to dietary guidelines was assessed by daily food records quantified based on the Dutch Healthy Diet (DHD) 2015 Index. IVF outcomes (i.e. positive pregnancy test, ongoing pregnancy, and live birth) were obtained from patient records. Statistical analyses involved Cox proportional hazard regression analyses while adjusting for maternal covariates age, smoking, and Body Mass Index (BMI), and stratified for treatment, age, BMI, and energy intake. Women were 31.5 ± 3.3 years old, and had a BMI of 23.5 ± 3.5 kg/m2. Higher DHD2015 adherence was linked to a reduced probability of achieving an ongoing pregnancy (HR = 0.77, 95%CI: 0.62–0.96), live birth (HR = 0.78, 95%CI: 0.62–0.98), and showed a non-significant trend towards a lower probability of a positive pregnancy test (HR = 0.85, 95%CI: 0.71–1.01). Associations were particularly present among women undergoing MNC-ICSI (n = 87, p-for-interaction = 0.06), with shorter duration of infertility (n = 44, p-for-interaction=0.06), being overweight (n = 31, p-for interaction = 0.11), and having higher energy intakes (n = 55, p-for-interaction = 0.14). This explorative study suggests inverse trends between DHD2015 adherence and MNC-IVF outcomes, encouraging well-powered stratified analyses in larger studies to further explore these unexpected findings.

Leafy green vegetables are a common source of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC O157) foodborne illness outbreaks. Ruminant animals, primarily cattle, are the major reservoir of STEC O157. Epidemiological, traceback and field investigations were conducted to identify potential outbreak sources. Product and environmental samples were tested for STEC. A reoccurring strain of STEC O157 caused two multistate outbreaks linked to romaine lettuce in 2018 and 2019, resulting in 234 illnesses in 33 states. Over 80% of patients interviewed consumed romaine lettuce before illness. The romaine lettuce was sourced from two California growing regions: Santa Maria and Salinas Valley in 2018 and Salinas Valley in 2019. The outbreak strain was isolated from environmental samples collected at sites >90 miles apart across growing regions, as well as from romaine-containing products in 2019. Although the definitive route of romaine contamination was undetermined, use of a contaminated agricultural water reservoir in 2018 and contamination from cattle grazing on adjacent land in 2019 were suspected as possible factors. Preventing lettuce contamination from growth to consumption is imperative to preventing illness. These outbreaks highlight the need to further understand mechanisms of romaine contamination, including the role of environmental or animal reservoirs for STEC O157.

It is under debate how preferential perfusion of the brain (brain-sparing) in fetal growth restriction (FGR) relates to long-term neurodevelopmental outcome. Epigenetic modification of neurotrophic genes by altered fetal oxygenation may be involved. To explore this theory, we performed a follow-up study of 21 FGR children, in whom we prospectively measured the prenatal cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) with Doppler sonography. At 4 years of age, we tested their neurodevelopmental outcome using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, the Child Behavior Checklist, and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function. In addition, we collected their buccal DNA to determine the methylation status at predefined genetic regions within the genes hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF1A), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), erythropoietin (EPO), EPO-receptor (EPOR), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neurotrophic tyrosine kinase, receptor, type 2 (NTRK2) by pyrosequencing. We found that FGR children with fetal brain-sparing (CPR <1, n = 8) demonstrated a trend (0.05 < p < 0.1) toward hypermethylation of HIF1A and VEGFA at their hypoxia-response element (HRE) compared with FGR children without fetal brain-sparing. Moreover, in cases with fetal brain-sparing, we observed statistically significant hypermethylation at a binding site for cyclic adenosine monophophate response element binding protein (CREB) of BDNF promoter exon 4 and hypomethylation at an HRE located within the NTRK2 promoter (both p <0.05). Hypermethylation of VEGFA was associated with a poorer Performance Intelligence Quotient, while hypermethylation of BDNF was associated with better inhibitory self-control (both p <0.05). These results led us to formulate the hypothesis that early oxygen-dependent epigenetic alterations due to hemodynamic alterations in FGR may be associated with altered neurodevelopmental outcome in later life. We recommend further studies to test this hypothesis.

The ‘Vulnerable’ Swinhoe’s Rail Coturnicops exquisitus is believed to occur in only two regions in Russia’s Far East and China’s Heilongjiang province, separated by more than 1,000 km. Recent observations suggest that the Amur region, situated between the two known populations, might be inhabited by this secretive species as well. As the species is rather similar in appearance and field characteristics to its Nearctic sister taxon, the Yellow Rail C. noveboracensis, and almost all field records relate to flushed individuals in flight, we aimed to complement the field observations by genetic evidence. Samples were obtained from four individuals and one eggshell and their mitochondrial cytochrome b genes were amplified and sequenced. The genetic analyses unequivocally confirmed that swab samples and eggshell were attributable to Swinhoe’s Rail, thus constituting the first known breeding record of this species for 110 years. It is therefore likely that the individuals observed in the field also belonged to this species. It seems possible that Swinhoe’s Rail is more widely distributed in the Amur region and was overlooked in the past, possibly due to a misleading description of its calls in the literature.

Therapy-resistance for positive symptoms is one of the most important problems that occurs with the medical treatment of schizophrenia. In the past years, clozapine has proven its effectiveness in this area and has been included in the treatment protocols and guidelines. Because of the risk of agranulocytosis with this compound and the intensive laboratory controls to be done, several studies have been performed with the new antipsychotics risperidone and olanzapine as alternative treatments. A review of the literature suggests that both drugs are as effective as the classic antipsychotics for therapy-resistant patients. A switch to risperidone or olanzapine possibly would be a alternative for those patients who have favourable effects on a low dose of clozapine. Furthermore the new antipsychotics have less side effects and ameliorating effects on negative and cognitive symptoms, so contributing to overall improvement in chronic schizophrenic disorders. However, in case of persistent positive symptopathology, clozapine remains the golden standard. The new antipsychotics should be included in treatment protocols before clozapine.

On 23 May 2011, CDC identified a multistate cluster of Salmonella Heidelberg infections and two multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates from ground turkey retail samples with indistinguishable pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns. We defined cases as isolation of outbreak strains in persons with illness onset between 27 February 2011 and 10 November 2011. Investigators collected hypothesis-generating questionnaires and shopper-card information. Food samples from homes and retail outlets were collected and cultured. We identified 136 cases of S. Heidelberg infection in 34 states. Shopper-card information, leftover ground turkey from a patient's home containing the outbreak strain and identical antimicrobial resistance profiles of clinical and retail samples pointed to plant A as the source. On 3 August, plant A recalled 36 million pounds of ground turkey. This outbreak increased consumer interest in MDR Salmonella infections acquired through United States-produced poultry and played a vital role in strengthening food safety policies related to Salmonella and raw ground poultry.

Genebanks serve as a rich source of diversity that can be exploited for crop improvement. However, large numbers of accessions usually have to be evaluated to find material with the characters of interest, and therefore, enhanced trait information can facilitate the more efficient selection of accessions by users. In this study, we report on the distribution of resistances to 28 races of downy mildew among 1223 genebank accessions of cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and 14 related wild species. Due to modern plant breeding, the overall level of resistance of cultivars released after 1950 appears to have increased two- to three-fold compared with varieties from earlier periods. Although fully resistant reactions could be observed among the accessions of cultivated lettuce for each of the 28 investigated races, the resistance probability was more than two-fold higher on average for accessions from the wild gene pool. In general, species of the primary gene pool appeared less resistant than those of the secondary or tertiary gene pool. Probabilities for examined Lactuca species ranged from 0.29 for L. serriola to 1.00 for L. perennis compared with 0.19 for cultivated lettuce, with lower overall resistance probabilities observed only for L. altaica, L. dregeana and L. tenerrima. For L. serriola, the closest relative of cultivated lettuce and the wild species with the highest number of examined accessions, resistance probabilities to each of the investigated downy mildew races were relatively high for populations originating from Eastern Europe and Northern Asia.

Hans Keman's and Paul Pennings's critique (‘Managing Political and Societal Conflict in Democracies: Do Consensus and Corporatism Matter?’, this Journal, preceding pages) of our attempt to link corporatism and consensus democracy falls essentially into three parts. Their first criticism deals with the way we measured corporatism. They reject our ‘composite’ approach on the basis that different experts have different conceptual understandings of corporatism. Hence, they argue, it is unwarranted to add up these various scores. Secondly, they claim that our central relationship between consensus democracy and corporatism is a function of our particular measure of corporatism and, in addition, driven by two outlying cases: Italy and Austria. Thirdly, they claim that corporatism and consensus democracy are two different phenomena, and that therefore, corporatism should not be integrated into the concept of consensus democracy. We shall address these three main criticisms in the order described.

This research Note has two complementary theoretical objectives. First, we shall attempt to place the form of interest representation and the involvement of interest groups in policy formation known as corporatism – or as democratic, societal, liberal or neo-corporatism – in a broader political context: is corporatism systematically linked with other democratic institutions and processes? Secondly, we shall try to fill a gap in the theory of consensus democracy. This theory holds that types of party, electoral, executive and legislative systems occur in distinct clusters, but it fails to link interest group systems to these clusters.

Fatty acid (FA) translocase (FAT)/CD36 is a key protein involved in regulating the uptake of FA across the plasma membrane in heart and skeletal muscle. A null mutation of FAT/CD36 reduces FA uptake rates and metabolism, while its overexpression increases FA uptake rates and metabolism. FA uptake into the myocyte may be regulated (a) by altering the expression of FAT/CD36, thereby increasing the plasmalemmal content of this protein (i.e. streptozotocin-induced diabetes, chronic muscle stimulation), or (b) by relocating this protein to the plasma membrane, without altering its expression (i.e. obese Zucker rats). By repressing FAT/CD36 expression, and thereby lowering the plasmalemmal FAT/CD36 (i.e. leptin-treated animals), the rate of FA transport is reduced. Within minutes of beginning muscle contraction or being exposed to insulin FA transport is increased. This increase is a result of the contraction- and insulin-induced translocation of FAT/CD36 from an intracellular depot to the cell surface. Neither PPARα nor PPARγ activation alter FAT/CD36 expression in muscle, despite the fact that PPARα activation increases FAT/CD36 by 80% in liver. A novel observation is that FAT/CD36 also appears to be involved in mitochondrial FA oxidation, as this protein is located on the mitochondrial membrane and seems to be required to participate in moving FA across the mitochondrial membrane. Clearly, FAT/CD36 has an important role in FA homeostasis in skeletal muscle and the heart.

Glucose and long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) are two major substrates used by heart and skeletal muscle to support contractile activity. In quiescent cardiac myocytes a substantial portion of the glucose transporter GLUT4 and the putative LCFA transporter fatty acid translocase (FAT)/CD36 are stored in intracellular compartments. Induction of cellular contraction by electrical stimulation results in enhanced uptake of both glucose and LCFA through translocation of GLUT4 and FAT/CD36 respectively to the sarcolemma. The involvement of protein kinase A, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms and the extracellular signal-regulated kinases was evaluated in cardiac myocytes as candidate signalling enzymes involved in recruiting these transporters in response to contraction. The collected evidence excluded the involvement of PKA and implicated an important role for AMPK and for one (or more) PKC isoform(s) in contraction-induced translocation of both GLUT4 and FAT/CD36. The unravelling of further components along this contraction pathway can provide valuable information on the coordinated regulation of the uptake of glucose and of LCFA by an increase in mechanical activity of heart and skeletal muscle.

Reliability and validity of the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCD-Q) was assessed using a population-based sample of 608 children (311 males, 297 females; mean age 7y 8mo [SD 2y 4mo]), a sample of 55 children with DCD referred to a rehabilitation clinic, and a control sample of 55 children matched for age and sex (48 males, seven females in each sample; mean age 8y 3mo [SD 2y]). The DCD-Q is reliable and valid in the age range for which the questionnaire was developed(8y–14y 7mo) and in a younger age range (4–8y). Sensitivity and specificity of the DCD-Q was assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children as the criterion standard. The DCD-Q met the standard for sensitivity (80%) in the clinic-referred sample (81.6%), but not in the population-based sample (28.9%). Specificity almost reached the standard of 90%: 89% in the population-based sample and 84% in the clinic-referred sample.