Palaeontology, stratigraphy and sedimentology of the Kinderscoutian and Lower Marsdenian (Namurian) of North Staffordshire and adjacent areas

The thicker-shelled goniatite fauna of the Kinderscoutian and the Marsdenian up to the R. bilingue s. s. marine band is described in detail. The lower part of the Kinderscoutian is almost completely fossiliferous and the goniatites are described from "horizons" rather than marine bands. Five marine bands have been identified in Rlb, and faunas from two marine bands noted in Rlc. The R. gracile, R. 0bilingue early form and R. bilingue s. s. marine bands are described from the Marsdenian. Identification of material from the Brund Boreholes confirms the succession deduced from field evidence, and a revision of the R. dubium subzone is suggested on the basis of palaeontological evidence from North Staffordshire. As well as the faunal marker horizons, eight thin, kaolinised ash bands have been used in correlation of the succession. The existence of these bands and the establishment of the faunal succession has enabled the stratigraphy of the sandstones to be studied in detail. The K-feldspathic lithofacies, derived from the north, is composed entirely of turbidites. It has been divided up into seven sublithofacies by the use of such characteristics as average bed thickness and sandstone: shale ratios. The K-feldspathic lithofacies is diachronous, making its first appearance in Rlc in the north of the area and R2b in the south. Rhythms superimposed on a megarhythm, or sandstone unit between two marine bands, have been recognised and described in detail from an R2a section. The lowest Kinderscoutian protoquartzite units known are in the upper part of Rla in the south of the area. Representatives of this lithofacies as deltaic deposits are known at various horizons up to R2b in the south, but the lithofacies occurs more rarely in the north, extending as tongues of turbidites from the deltaic area in Rlb and Ric. The differing rates of sedimentation and environments of deposition of the protoquartzites and K-feldspathic sandstones on occasion influence the thickness of the marine bands and their faunas. Variations are noted in the distribution of these faunas in relationship to the sediments, particularly within the R. gracile sequence

The Role of Parents, Peers, and Autonomy in Alcohol Use during the First Year of College

Drinking among college students is a serious problem that can have severe consequences, and research on the factors which influence student drinking are prevalent in the literature. Two such factors, parental knowledge and close friend/peer norms about alcohol use, were examined in the current study. It was hypothesized that drinking behavior among college students would be influenced by parental knowledge, close friend alcohol use, and peer norms about alcohol use. In addition, parental and peer influences on alcohol use among college students were expected to differ depending on the levels of autonomy the students possessed. Data were collected from freshmen college students at the University of Pittsburgh during the Fall semester of 2009. Results showed that higher levels of parental knowledge were significantly related to lower levels of alcohol use, and higher levels of both close friend alcohol use and peer norms were associated with higher levels of alcohol use. The moderating effect of autonomy was found for peer norms about alcohol use, but not for parental knowledge or friend alcohol use. The pattern of the results was, however, not in the hypothesized direction, with a stronger association between peer norms and alcohol use among those with higher autonomy than those with lower autonomy. Potential explanations for the findings, along with the limitations of the current study and the future directions, are discussed

Levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase one in first trimester and outcomes of pregnancy: a systematic review

Angiogenic factors are involved in formation of new blood vessels required for placental development and function; and critical for fetal growth and development. Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1(sFlt-1) is an anti-angiogenic protein that inhibits formation of new blood vessels resulting in potential pregnancy complications. The objective of this study was to undertake a systematic review to assess levels of sFlt-1 in early pregnancy and association with adverse pregnancy outcomes. PubMed and Medline databases and reference lists were searched up to July 2010. Inclusion criteria were pregnant women, blood sample taken during first trimester and assessment/reporting of sFlt-1 concentrations and subsequent pregnancy complications. Twelve relevant studies were identified of 71 to 668 women. No pooling of results was undertaken due to variation in sFlt-1 concentrations (range, 166-6,349 pg/ml amongst controls), samples used (serum, plasma), different summary statistics (mean, median, odds ratio) and outcome definitions applied. Levels of sFlt-1 were generally higher among women who developed preeclampsia (11 studies) or gestational hypertension (two studies), but not significantly different to normotensive women in most studies. There was no consistent pattern in association between sFlt-1 concentrations and fetal growth restriction (4 studies); and levels were non-significantly higher for women with postpartum bleeding (1 study) and significantly lower for stillbirths (1 study).This review found no clear evidence of an association between sFlt-1 levels in first trimester and adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, findings were affected by methodological, biological and testing variations between studies; highlighting the need for consistent testing of new biomarkers and reporting of outcome measures

Angiopoietin 1 and 2 serum concentrations in first trimester of pregnancy as biomarkers of adverse pregnancy outcomes

Objective: To assess Ang-1, Ang-2 and the Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio levels in the first trimester of pregnancy, their association with adverse pregnancy outcomes; and their predictive accuracy. Study Design: This cohort study measured serum Ang-1 and Ang-2 levels in 4,785 women with singleton pregnancies attending first trimester screening in New South Wales, Australia. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the association and predictive accuracy of serum biomarkers with subsequent adverse pregnancy outcomes (small for gestational age, preterm birth, preeclampsia, miscarriage >10 weeks and stillbirth). Results: Median (interquartile range) levels for Ang-1, Ang-2 and the Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio for the total population were 19.6 ng/ml (13.6-26.4), 15.5 ng/ml (10.3-22.7) and 1.21 (0.83-1.73), respectively. Maternal age, weight, country of birth and socio-economic status significantly affected Ang-1, Ang-2 and the Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio levels. After adjusting for maternal and clinical risk factors, women with low Ang-2 levels (90th centile) had increased risk of developing most adverse pregnancy outcomes. Compared to the Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio alone, maternal and clinical risk factors had better predictive accuracy for most adverse pregnancy outcomes. The exception was miscarriage [Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio area under ROC curve (AUC) =0.70; maternal risk factors AUC =0.58]. Overall, adding the Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio to maternal risk factors did not improve the ability of the models to predict adverse pregnancy outcomes. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio in first trimester is associated with most adverse pregnancy outcomes, but do not predict outcomes any better than clinical and maternal risk factor information.Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Project Grant (#632653)

First trimester screening of serum soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 and placental growth factor predicting hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the accuracy of first trimester soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PlGF) in predicting pregnancy hypertension and pre-eclampsia; and compare with the accuracy of routinely collected maternal and clinical risk factors.Study designIn this population-based cohort study, serum sFlt-1 and PlGF levels were measured in first trimester in 2,681 women with singleton pregnancies in New South Wales, Australia.Main outcome measuresPrediction of pregnancy hypertension and pre-eclampsia.ResultsThere were 213 (7.9%) women with pregnancy hypertension, including 68 (2.5%) with pre-eclampsia. The area under the curve (AUC) for both sFlt-1 and PlGF was not different from chance, but combined was 0.55 (P=0.005). Parity and previous diagnosed hypertension had better predictive accuracy than serum biomarkers (AUC=0.64, P<0.001) and the predictive accuracy for all maternal and clinical information was fair (AUC=0.70, P<0.001 for pregnancy hypertension and AUC=0.74, P<0.001 for pre-eclampsia). Adding sFlt-1 and PlGF to maternal risk factors did not improve the ability of the models to predict pregnancy hypertension or pre-eclampsia.ConclusionsMaternal first trimester serum concentrations of sFlt-1 and PlGF do not predict hypertensive disorders in pregnancy any better than routinely collected clinical and maternal risk factor information. Screening for sFlt-1 and PlGF levels in early pregnancy would not identify those pregnancies at-risk

First trimester screening of serum soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 and placental growth factor predicting hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the accuracy of first trimester soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PlGF) in predicting pregnancy hypertension and pre-eclampsia; and compare with the accuracy of routinely collected maternal and clinical risk factors.Study designIn this population-based cohort study, serum sFlt-1 and PlGF levels were measured in first trimester in 2,681 women with singleton pregnancies in New South Wales, Australia.Main outcome measuresPrediction of pregnancy hypertension and pre-eclampsia.ResultsThere were 213 (7.9%) women with pregnancy hypertension, including 68 (2.5%) with pre-eclampsia. The area under the curve (AUC) for both sFlt-1 and PlGF was not different from chance, but combined was 0.55 (P=0.005). Parity and previous diagnosed hypertension had better predictive accuracy than serum biomarkers (AUC=0.64, P<0.001) and the predictive accuracy for all maternal and clinical information was fair (AUC=0.70, P<0.001 for pregnancy hypertension and AUC=0.74, P<0.001 for pre-eclampsia). Adding sFlt-1 and PlGF to maternal risk factors did not improve the ability of the models to predict pregnancy hypertension or pre-eclampsia.ConclusionsMaternal first trimester serum concentrations of sFlt-1 and PlGF do not predict hypertensive disorders in pregnancy any better than routinely collected clinical and maternal risk factor information. Screening for sFlt-1 and PlGF levels in early pregnancy would not identify those pregnancies at-risk

Master of Management Science in the Management of Technology and Innovation: self‐study report

No description supplie