Investigating whether adverse prenatal and perinatal events are associated with non-clinical psychotic symptoms at age 12 years in the ALSPAC birth cohort

Background. Non-clinical psychosis-like symptoms (PLIKS) occur in about 15% of the population. It is not clear whether adverse events during early development alter the risk of developing PLIKS. We aimed to examine whether maternal infection, diabetes or pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, gestational age, perinatal cardiopulmonary resuscitation or 5-min Apgar score were associated with development of psychotic symptoms during early adolescence. Method. A longitudinal study of 6356 12-year-old adolescents who completed a semi-structured interview for psychotic symptoms in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) birth cohort. Prenatal and perinatal data were obtained from obstetric records and maternal questionnaires completed during pregnancy. Results. The presence of definite psychotic symptoms was associated with maternal infection during pregnancy [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11–1.86, p=0.006], maternal diabetes (adjusted OR 3.43, 95% CI 1.14–10.36, p=0.029), need for resuscitation (adjusted OR 1.50, 95% CI 0.97–2.31, p=0.065) and 5-min Apgar score (adjusted OR per unit decrease 1.30, 95% CI 1.12–1.50, p<0.001). None of these associations were mediated by childhood IQ score. Most associations persisted, but were less strong, when including suspected symptoms as part of the outcome. There was no association between PLIKS and gestational age or pre-eclampsia. Conclusions. Adverse events during early development may lead to an increased risk of developing PLIKS. Although the status of PLIKS in relation to clinical disorders such as schizophrenia is not clear, the similarity between these results and findings reported for schizophrenia indicates that future studies of PLIKS may help us to understand how psychotic experiences and clinical disorders develop throughout the life-course

Does presence of a mid-ocean ridge enhance biomass and biodiversity?

In contrast to generally sparse biological communities in open-ocean settings, seamounts and ridges are perceived as areas of elevated productivity and biodiversity capable of supporting commercial fisheries. We investigated the origin of this apparent biological enhancement over a segment of the North Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) using sonar, corers, trawls, traps, and a remotely operated vehicle to survey habitat, biomass, and biodiversity. Satellite remote sensing provided information on flow patterns, thermal fronts, and primary production, while sediment traps measured export flux during 2007-2010. The MAR, 3,704,404 km 2 in area, accounts for 44.7% lower bathyal habitat (800-3500 m depth) in the North Atlantic and is dominated by fine soft sediment substrate (95% of area) on a series of flat terraces with intervening slopes either side of the ridge axis contributing to habitat heterogeneity. The MAR fauna comprises mainly species known from continental margins with no evidence of greater biodiversity. Primary production and export flux over the MAR were not enhanced compared with a nearby reference station over the Porcupine Abyssal Plain. Biomasses of benthic macrofauna and megafauna were similar to global averages at the same depths totalling an estimated 258.9 kt C over the entire lower bathyal north MAR. A hypothetical flat plain at 3500 m depth in place of the MAR would contain 85.6 kt C, implying an increase of 173.3 kt C attributable to the presence of the Ridge. This is approximately equal to 167 kt C of estimated pelagic biomass displaced by the volume of the MAR. There is no enhancement of biological productivity over the MAR; oceanic bathypelagic species are replaced by benthic fauna otherwise unable to survive in the mid ocean. We propose that globally sea floor elevation has no effect on deep sea biomass; pelagic plus benthic biomass is constant within a given surface productivity regime.Peer reviewe

Different paths to the modern state in Europe: the interaction between domestic political economy and interstate competition

Theoretical work on state formation and capacity has focused mostly on early modern Europe and on the experience of western European states during this period. While a number of European states monopolized domestic tax collection and achieved gains in state capacity during the early modern era, for others revenues stagnated or even declined, and these variations motivated alternative hypotheses for determinants of fiscal and state capacity. In this study we test the basic hypotheses in the existing literature making use of the large date set we have compiled for all of the leading states across the continent. We find strong empirical support for two prevailing threads in the literature, arguing respectively that interstate wars and changes in economic structure towards an urbanized economy had positive fiscal impact. Regarding the main point of contention in the theoretical literature, whether it was representative or authoritarian political regimes that facilitated the gains in fiscal capacity, we do not find conclusive evidence that one performed better than the other. Instead, the empirical evidence we have gathered lends supports to the hypothesis that when under pressure of war, the fiscal performance of representative regimes was better in the more urbanized-commercial economies and the fiscal performance of authoritarian regimes was better in rural-agrarian economie

PRECIOUS study (PREterm Caesarean/vaginal birth and IVH/OUtcomeS): does mode of birth reduce the risk of death or brain injury in very preterm babies? A cohort and emulated target trial protocol

INTRODUCTION: Very preterm babies are at risk of poor neurodevelopmental outcomes and death. Intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) after birth is the most prevalent cause of this. Birth by caesarean section may protect against IVH in very preterm babies, but the evidence is limited. The aim is to identify and obtain the quantitative evidence needed to inform a future definitive clinical trial to determine the optimal mode of delivery in preterm birth. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will use three broad workstreams (WS) to answer complementary questions. WSs 1 and 2 involve the analysis of routinely recorded national clinical data held in an established research database. In WS1 (October 2023-March 2024), we will use conventional methods to identify what is needed to undertake a trial: the population of interest, areas of equipoise and a plausible range of effect sizes. In WS2 (April 2024-October 2024), using an emulated target trial framework, we will attempt to make inferences about the treatment effect from such a future trial and will identify potential challenges in recruitment and estimate likely 'intention-to-treat' versus 'per-protocol' profiles; these analyses will also be useful for power calculations for future possible trials. In WS3 (October 2024-March 2025), we will convene a consensus meeting with key stakeholders, supported by a clinical trials unit, to develop a multicentre clinical trial to identify the optimal mode of birth for preterm deliveries. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: In this study, we will use deidentified data held in the National Neonatal Research Database (NNRD), an established national population database; parents can opt out of their baby's data being held in the NNRD. HRA/Health and Care Research Wales and National Health Service (NHS) study-specific Research Ethics Committee approval (London-Queen Square Research Ethics Committee) (Ref: 23/LO/0826) ethical approval has been obtained. Key outputs of the PRECIOUS (PREterm Caesarean/vaginal birth and IVH/OUutcomeS) study include the identification of the data, and accordingly of the multidisciplinary team required, to develop, gain funding and complete, a clinical trial to definitively identify the optimal mode of delivery for preterm infants and their mothers

How computation can facilitate sensemaking about physics: A case study

We present a case study featuring a first-year bio-science university student using computation to solve a radioactive decay problem and interpret the results. In a semi-structured cognitive interview, we use this case to examine the process of sensemaking in a computational science context. We observe the student entering the sensemaking process by inspecting and comparing computational outputs. She then makes several attempts to resolve the perceived inconsistency, foregrounding knowledge from different domains. The key to making sense of the model for this student proves to be thinking about how to implement a better model computationally. This demonstrates that integrating computation in physics activities may provide students with opportunities to engage in sensemaking and critical thinking. We finally discuss some implications for instruction.Comment: 4 pages. Updated after peer review to be ready for inclusion in the PERC 2018 proceeding

Short-term sequence evolution and vertical inheritance of the Naegleria twin-ribozyme group I intron

Background Ribosomal DNA of several species of the free-living Naegleria amoeba harbors an optional group I intron within the nuclear small subunit ribosomal RNA gene. The intron (Nae.S516) has a complex organization of two ribozyme domains (NaGIR1 and NaGIR2) and a homing endonuclease gene (NaHEG). NaGIR2 is responsible for intron excision, exon ligation, and full-length intron RNA circularization, reactions typical for nuclear group I intron ribozymes. NaGIR1, however, is essential for NaHEG expression by generating the 5' end of the homing endonuclease messenger RNA. Interestingly, this unusual class of ribozyme adds a lariat-cap at the mRNA. Results To elucidate the evolutionary history of the Nae.S516 twin-ribozyme introns we have analyzed 13 natural variants present in distinct Naegleria isolates. Structural variabilities were noted within both the ribozyme domains and provide strong comparative support to the intron secondary structure. One of the introns, present in N. martinezi NG872, contains hallmarks of a degenerated NaHEG. Phylogenetic analyses performed on separate data sets representing NaGIR1, NaGIR2, NaHEG, and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 ribosomal DNA are consistent with an overall vertical inheritance pattern of the intron within the Naegleria genus. Conclusion The Nae.S516 twin-ribozyme intron was gained early in the Naegleria evolution with subsequent vertical inheritance. The intron was lost in the majority of isolates (70%), leaving a widespread but scattered distribution pattern. Why the apparent asexual Naegleria amoebae harbors active intron homing endonucleases, dependent on sexual reproduction for its function, remains a puzzle

Child Mortality in England During the First 2 Years of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Importance During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, child mortality in England was the lowest on record, but if this trend will continue, or if unrecognized morbidity during the first year of the pandemic will manifest as increased deaths over the next few years is unclear.Objective To examine the risks and patterns of childhood deaths before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design, Setting, and Participants This population-based cohort study includes all child deaths in England from April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2022.Exposures The year of death.Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome measure is risk of death.Results Of the 9983 child deaths reported during the study period, 9872 (98.8%) were linked to demographic and population data with 3409 deaths (34.5%) between April 2019 and March 2020, 3035 (30.7%) between April 2020 and March 2021, and 3428 (34.7%) between April 2021 and March 2022. Most deaths occurred in children who were younger than 1 year (6257 of 9872 [62.7%]), the majority were male (5534 of 9760 [56.7%]), and lived in an urban area (8766 of 9872 [88.8%]). The risk of death was lower between April 2020 and March 2021 (relative risk [RR], 0.89 [95% CI, 0.84-0.93]), but not between April 2021 and March 2022 (RR, 1.00 [95% CI, 0.95-1.05]) when compared with April 2019 to March 2020. A population attributable risk (PAF) of 4.0% (95% CI, 0.1%-6.8%) suggested fewer deaths occurred during the whole 3-year period than expected. Reductions were seen in risk of dying by infection (PAF, 22.8% [95% CI, 8.2%-37.0%]) and underlying disease (PAF, 13.3% [95% CI, 8.1%-18.8%]), but there was evidence of an increasing risk of death by trauma (PAF, 14.7% [95% CI, 2.9%-25.2%]). Any reduction in the risk of death was greater in rural areas than in urban areas (RR, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.63-0.85] vs RR, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.86-0.95]) and was not seen in children older than 9 years.Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study, there was a significant reduction in all-cause child mortality during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021), which returned to close to prepandemic levels the following year (2021-2022). However, there was a net reduction in deaths despite this, with 4% fewer deaths during the 3-year period than would have been expected from the 2019 to 2020 risks. The reductions were largest in rural areas and in children younger than 10 years

Effect of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on snow crab catch rates in the Barents Sea pot fishery

Snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) has become an important species for the Norwegian seafood industry since its first commercial harvest in 2012. However, periodically catch rates can be low, causing a financial strain on the fishery. Thus, improving the catch rate of existing pot designs has the potential to significantly improve the profitability of fishing enterprises. In this study, we investigated whether the addition of low-powered purple and white light-emitting diode (LED) fishing lights inside the pots could improve catch rates of snow crab in the Barents Sea. Results showed that pots with purple lights harvested a 12.8% higher catch per unit effort (CPUE; number of crab per pot) of legal-sized crab, which was significantly more than the control pots (p = 0.035); pots with white lights did not catch significantly more crab (p > 0.05). Pots equipped with only light (no bait) caught very few crabs and were not considered a viable alternative. Although purple LEDs increased snow crab capture, the economic benefits of using underwater lights in pots remains unclear given the high capital investment required.publishedVersio

Child suicide rates during the COVID-19 pandemic in England

BACKGROUND: There is concern about the impact of COVID-19, and the control measures to prevent the spread, on children's mental health. The aim of this work was to identify if there had been a rise of childhood suicide during the COVID pandemic. METHOD: Using data from England's National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) the characteristics and rates of children dying of suicide between April to December 2020 were compared with those in 2019. In a subset (1(st) January to 17(th) May 2020) further characteristics and possible contributing factors were obtained. RESULTS: A total of 193 likely childhood deaths by suicide were reported. There was no evidence overall suicide deaths were higher in 2020 than 2019 (RR 1.09 (0.80-1.48), p=0.584) but weak evidence that the rate in the first lockdown period (April to May 2020) was higher than the corresponding period in 2019 (RR 1.56 (0.86-2.81), p=0.144). Characteristics of individuals were similar between periods. Social restrictions (e.g. to education), disruption to care and support services, tensions at home and isolation appeared to be contributing factors. LIMITATIONS: As child suicides are fortunately rare, the analysis is based on small numbers of deaths with limited statistical power to detect anything but major increases in incidence. CONCLUSION: We found no consistent evidence that child suicide deaths increased during the COVID-19 pandemic although there was a possibility that they may have increased during the first UK lockdown. A similar peak was not seen during the following months, or the second lockdown