Multifetal pregnancies are at risk of adverse maternal, neonatal and long-term health outcomes, and gestational weight gain (GWG) is a potentially modifiable risk factor for several of these. However, studies assessing the associations of GWG with long-term health in twins are rare, and studies which do assess these associations in twins often do not account for gestational age. Since longer gestations are likely to lead to larger GWG and lower risk of adverse outcomes, adjusting for gestational age is necessary to better understand the association of GWG with twin health outcomes. We aimed to explore long-term associations of GWG-for-gestational-age with twin anthropometric measures. The Peri/Postnatal Epigenetic Twins Study (PETS) is a prospective cohort study, which recruited women pregnant with twins from 2007 to 2009. Twins were followed-up at 18 months and 6 years of age. GWG-for-gestational-age z-scores were calculated from pre-pregnancy weight and weight at delivery. We fitted regression models to assess associations of GWG with twin weight, height and BMI at birth, 18 months, and 6 years. Of the 250 women in the PETS, 172 had GWG measured throughout pregnancy. Overall, higher GWG-for-gestational-age z-scores were associated with higher birthweight (β: 0.32 z-scores, 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI): 0.19, 0.45), BMI (β: 0.29 z-scores, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.43) and length (β: 0.27 z-scores, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.45). However, these associations were not observed at 18 months or 6 years of age. GWG was associated with twin length, weight and BMI at birth but not during childhood. Further research is needed to determine the long-term effects of GWG on twin health outcomes.

The National Institute of Mental Health's Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework has prompted a paradigm shift from categorical psychiatric disorders to considering multiple levels of vulnerability for probabilistic risk of disorder. However, the lack of neurodevelopmentally based tools for clinical decision making has limited the real-world impact of the RDoC. Integration with developmental psychopathology principles and statistical methods actualize the clinical implementation of RDoC to inform neurodevelopmental risk. In this conceptual paper, we introduce the probabilistic mental health risk calculator as an innovation for such translation and lay out a research agenda for generating an RDoC- and developmentally informed paradigm that could be applied to predict a range of developmental psychopathologies from early childhood to young adulthood. We discuss methods that weigh the incremental utility for prediction based on intensity and burden of assessment, the addition of developmental change patterns, considerations for assessing outcomes, and integrative data approaches. Throughout, we illustrate the risk calculator approach with different neurodevelopmental pathways and phenotypes. Finally, we discuss real-world implementation of these methods for improving early identification and prevention of developmental psychopathology. We propose that mental health risk calculators can build a needed bridge between the RDoC multiple units of analysis and developmental science.

In 2011 the Incidence Assay Critical Path Working Group reviewed the current state of HIV incidence assays and helped to determine a critical path to the introduction of an HIV incidence assay. At that time the Consortium for Evaluation and Performance of HIV Incidence Assays (CEPHIA) was formed to spur progress and raise standards among assay developers, scientists and laboratories involved in HIV incidence measurement and to structure and conduct a direct independent comparative evaluation of the performance of 10 existing HIV incidence assays, to be considered singly and in combinations as recent infection test algorithms. In this paper we report on a new framework for HIV incidence assay evaluation that has emerged from this effort over the past 5 years, which includes a preliminary target product profile for an incidence assay, a consensus around key performance metrics along with analytical tools and deployment of a standardized approach for incidence assay evaluation. The specimen panels for this evaluation have been collected in large volumes, characterized using a novel approach for infection dating rules and assembled into panels designed to assess the impact of important sources of measurement error with incidence assays such as viral subtype, elite host control of viraemia and antiretroviral treatment. We present the specific rationale for several of these innovations, and discuss important resources for assay developers and researchers that have recently become available. Finally, we summarize the key remaining steps on the path to development and implementation of reliable assays for monitoring HIV incidence at a population level.

Stars are tidally disrupted and accreted when they approach massive black holes (MBHs) closely, producing a flare of electromagnetic radiation. The majority of the (approximately two dozen) tidal disruption events (TDEs) identified so far have been discovered by their luminous, transient X-ray emission. Once TDEs are detected in much larger numbers, in future dedicated transient surveys, a wealth of new applications will become possible. Here, we present the proposed Einstein Probe mission, which is a dedicated time-domain soft X-ray all-sky monitor aiming at detecting X-ray transients including TDEs in large numbers. The mission consists of a wide-field micro-pore Lobster-eye imager (60° × 60°), and is designed to carry out an all-sky transient survey at energies of 0.5-4 keV. It will also carry a more sensitive telescope for X-ray follow-ups, and will be capable of issuing public transient alerts rapidly. Einstein Probe is expected to revolutionise the field of TDE research by detecting several tens to hundreds of events per year from the early phase of flares, many with long-term, well sampled lightcurves.

The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis infections and to investigate associations between their presence in the lower female genital tract and lifestyle characteristics. The study was performed on a population of 3115 women, comparing the demographic and behavioural characteristics of 872 women with U. urealyticum infection and 142 women with M. hominis with uninfected women, using univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of infection with U. urealyticum was 28% and M. hominis was 4·6%. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, intrauterine device, number of sexual partners and age (<35 years) were significantly associated with U. urealyticum while previous induced abortion, condom use and young age at first intercourse (<16 years) were associated with M. hominis infection. U. urealyticum infection presents the same demographic and behavioural characteristics of a sexually transmitted disease. The unprotective role of condom use suggests a non-sexual mode of transmission of M. hominis infection.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and optimizing energy consumption are important for mitigating climate change and improving resource use efficiency. Strawberry (Fragaria xananassa Duch) crops are a key component of the UK soft fruit sector and potentially resource-intensive crops. This is the first study to undertake a detailed environmental impact assessment of all methods of UK strawberry production. A total of 14 systems with six additional sub-systems grown for between 1 and 3 years were identified. They were defined by the growing of short-day (Junebearer) or everbearer varieties, organic production, covering with polytunnels or grown in the open, soil-grown (with or without fumigation) or container-grown (with peat or coir substrate) and summer or spring planted. Pre-harvest, the global warming potential varied between 1·5 and 10·3 t CO2 equiv/ha/crop or 0·13 and 1·14 t CO2 equiv/t of class 1 fruit. Key factors included the use of tunnels, mulch and irrigation, sterilization of soil with fumigants and the use of peat substrate. Seasonal crops without covers grown where rotation of sufficient length reduced Verticillium (system 4) were the most efficient. System 4a (that did not use mulch) emitted 0·13 t CO2 equiv/t of class 1 fruit. A second or third cropping year in soil-grown systems prolonged the effect of mulch and soil fumigants. Greenhouse gases from system 4 (with mulch) averaged 0·30 t CO2 equiv/t of class 1 fruit after 3 years of cropping compared to 0·63 and 0·36 t CO2 equiv/t after 1 and 2 years, respectively.

To provide a quantitative description of postnatal retinal expansion in rabbits, a new procedure was developed to map the retinae, which cover the inner surface of hemispheres or parts of rotation ellipsoids, in situ, onto a single plane. This method, as well as the known distribution of Müller cells per unit retinal surface area, were used to estimate the redistribution of specific subpopulations of Müller cells within different topographic regions of the retinae. Müller cells are known to exist as a stable population of cells 1 week after birth and can therefore be used as “markers” for determining tissue expansion. Our results show that differential retinal expansion occurs during development. Peripheral retinal regions expand at least twice as much as the central ones. Furthermore, there is a greater vertical than horizontal expansion. This differential retinal expansion leads to a corresponding redistribution of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) accumulating amacrine cells. Differential retinal expansion, however, does not account for all of the changes in the centro-peripheral density gradient of cells in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) — mostly retinal ganglion cells — during postnatal development. The changes in the ganglion cell layer were evaluated in Nissl-stained wholemount retinal preparations. Additionally, the difference between expansion-related redistribution of cells in the GCL and Müller cells was confirmed in wholemount preparations where Müller cells (identified as vimentin positive) and cells in the GCL (identified by fluorescent supravital dyes) were simultaneously labeled. It is assumed that many of the ganglion cells within the retinal center are not translocated during retinal expansion, possibly because their axons are fixed. In contrast, 5-HT accumulating amacrine cells — which are interneurons without a retinofugal axon — display a passive redistribution together with the surrounding retinal tissue.

Reduction of blood flow to the rat retina was achieved by either clamping both carotid arteries briefly (24 min) or combining clamping of the carotid arteries with permanent occlusion of the vertebral arteries. Analysis of retinas 6 days after operations showed that GFAP immunoreactivity is expressed throughout the retinal Müller cells, although this was variable in retinas from animals where only the carotid arteries were clamped. GFAP immunoreactivity was not associated with retinal Müller cells from control animals and no obvious neuronal damage was observed in retinas from operated animals. These data suggest that Müller-cell GFAP expression may be used as an index to follow possible processes leading to an ischemic insult.

An in vitro culture system incorporating a cell monolayer was used to induce most activated oncospheres of Taenia ovis to enter post-oncospheral development. Seven distinct developmental phases were recognized during the 23 days required for development to reach a stage similar to that achieved after 14 days in vivo. Secretions or tegumental substance were released during each developmental phase.

In an attempt to induce passive protection in lambs against Taenia ovis larvae that would last for the 15–20 weeks from birth to slaughter as fat lambs, one group of ewes was immunized by a series of injections of 2000, 4000, 8000, 16000 and 32000 activated oncospheres of Taenia ovis prior to parturition. Another group of ewes was not immunized. All ewes had previously grazed pasture lightly infected with T. ovis eggs. Most lambs from non-immunized ewes developed cysts after oral infection with T. ovis eggs. However, no lambs from immunized ewes developed cysts up to and including 6 weeks after birth. Between 8 and 16 weeks after birth a proportion of lambs were found to be susceptible to infection. By 18 weeks after birth all lambs were apparently susceptible. The 99% confidence band for the mean duration of demonstrable complement-fixing antibody titres was 6·2–7·8 weeks for lambs from immunized ewes. The persistence of maternal protective antibody in some lambs could possibly preclude successful active immunization of all lambs against T. ovis larvae before 18 weeks of age.

The observations of the supernova remnant G343.1—2.3 with the Mauritius Radio Telescope, the Australia Compact Array, and the Hobart Single dish are presented. With these more sensitive measurements the association with the pulsar PSR1706-44 becomes much more likely. The major points from the observations are presented.

The ESEN (European Sero-Epidemiology Network) project was established to harmonize the seroepidemiology of five vaccine preventable infections including measles, mumps and rubella in eight European countries. This involved achieving comparability both in the assay results from testing in different centres and also sampling methodology. Standardization of enzyme immunoassay results was achieved through the development of common panels of sera by designated reference centres. The panels were tested at the reference laboratory and then distributed to each participating laboratory for testing using their routine methods. Standardization equations were calculated by regressing the quantitative results against those of the reference laboratory. Our study found large differences in unitage between participants, despite all using an EIA method standardized against an international or local standard. Moreover, our methodology adjusted for this difference. These standardization equations will be used to convert the results of main serosurvey testing into the reference country unitage to ensure inter-country comparability.

Cost effectiveness analyses of alternative hepatitis B vaccination programmes in England and Wales require a robust estimate of the lifetime risk of carriage. To this end, we report the prevalence of infection in 3781 anonymized individuals aged 15–44 years whose sera were submitted in 1996 to 16 microbiology laboratories in England and Wales. One hundred and forty-six individuals (3·9%) were confirmed as anti HBc positive, including 14 chronic carriers (0·37%). The prevalence of infection and carriage was higher in samples collected in London and increased with age. No increased risk of infection was seen in sera from genito-urinary (GUM) clinics. Only 15 sera positive for hepatitis B were also positive for hepatitis C. Our results confirm the low prevalence of hepatitis B in England and Wales, are consistent with previous estimates of carriage and suggest that many infections were acquired while resident outside the UK. Future prevalence studies should determine the country of birth and other risk factors for each individual in order to confirm these findings.

The aim of the study was to determine whether memantine could slow down the changes seen in the rabbit and rat retina following ischemia/reperfusion. A “suction cup procedure,” which raises the intraocular pressure, was used to give an ischemic insult to the rabbit retina. The electroretinogram was recorded before ischemia and after 2 days of reperfusion. Memantine or saline (10 μl) was injected into the eye before ischemia. Immunohistochemistry was used to study the effect of ischemia/reperfusion on the GABA, ChAT, and αPKC immunoreactivities. Ischemia/reperfusion injury to the rat retina was induced by raising the intraocular pressure above the systolic blood pressure for 60 min, followed by reperfusion of 3–14 days. Memantine (5 mg/kg) or saline was injected i.p. at the onset of ischemia or reperfusion. Immunohistochemistry was used to study the effect of ischemia/reperfusion on the ChAT, αPKC, and Thy-1 immunoreactivities. In addition, morphometric analysis was carried out to determine the effects of ischemia/reperfusion on the thickness of the retina. Ischemia for 75 min caused a change in the nature of the normal GABA and ChAT immunoreactivities in the rabbit retina and a reduction in the b-wave of the electroretinogram. When memantine was injected into the vitreous humour at the onset of an ischemic insult, the changes in the GABA and ChAT immunoreactivities were reduced and the recovery of the reduced b-wave of the electroretinogram after 2 days reperfusion was enhanced significantly. Ischemia for 60 min followed by 3 days reperfusion showed a clear change in ChAT immunoreactivity in the rat retina. The Thy-1 immunoreactivity was only clearly altered after a reperfusion period of 7 days. Moreover, a measurable change in the thickness of the inner retinal layers was detected after 14 days of reperfusion. When given at the onset of ischemia, memantine counteracted the effect of ischemia/reperfusion to varying degrees. However, when memantine was given at the onset of the reperfusion this was not the case. The combined data show that a single injection of memantine given i.p. or intravitreally will protect the retina from a subsequent ischemic insult.