Ecology and display behaviour of breeding Eurasian woodcock Scolopax rusticola

In Britain, the Eurasian woodcock Scolopax rusticola occurs as both a common winter migrant and a resident breeding species. A national Breeding Woodcock Survey, conducted in 2003, provided the first accurate assessment of Britain’s resident population size. Here, data from a second national Breeding Woodcock Survey are presented, providing the first opportunity to assess changes in abundance. I estimated Britain’s Breeding population to be 55,241 males (95% CL: 41,806–69,004), representing a 29% decline in ten years. Abundance was correlated with the availability of large, well-connected and heterogenous areas of woodland and populations have retracted towards more heavily wooded landscapes. Woodcock site occupancy increases with the availability of certain woodland types, notably birch, and with increasing distance from urban areas. The 2003 and 2013 Breeding Woodcock Surveys used counts of displaying male woodcock to estimate abundance across a stratified sample of randomly selected sites. Chapters 4 to 7 seek to improve the current understanding of this unique display, known as roding, which underpins national surveys in Britain and elsewhere in Europe. To do this, GPS loggers were used to track the movements of male woodcock during their roding flights. Male woodcock covered roding grounds that were larger in size than most previous estimates, with mean daily roding grounds measuring between 1.11 and 1.29 km2 depending on the technique employed. Roding activity was reduced if dry periods preceded roding surveys, and temperature, cloud and moon phase could all influence the timing of display. The woodcock’s roding display is targeted towards open space within woodlands and woodland edges, and woodcock showed a preference for permanent clearings during display. These findings are discussed in terms of their potential influence on the interpretation of existing roding survey data and their implications for future assessments of population size and trend

Sorl1 as an Alzheimer's disease predisposition gene?

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressively disabling impairments in memory, cognition, and non-cognitive behavioural symptoms. Sporadic AD is multifactorial and genetically complex. While several monogenic mutations cause early-onset AD and gene alleles have been suggested as AD susceptibility factors, the only extensively validated susceptibility gene for late-onset AD is the apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon4 allele. Alleles of the APOE gene do not account for all of the genetic load calculated to be responsible for AD predisposition. Recently, polymorphisms across the neuronal sortilin-related receptor (SORL1) gene were shown to be significantly associated with AD in several cohorts. Here we present the results of our large case-control whole-genome scan at over 500,000 polymorphisms which presents weak evidence for association and potentially narrows the association interval

Interspecific variation in non-breeding aggregation: a multi-colony tracking study of two sympatric seabirds

Migration is a widespread strategy for escaping unfavourable conditions during winter, but the extent to which populations that segregate during the breeding season aggregate during the non-breeding season is poorly understood. Low non-breeding season aggregation may be associated with higher likelihood of overlap with threats, but with fewer populations affected, whereas high aggregation may result in a lower probability of exposure to threats, but higher overall severity. We investigated non-breeding distributions and extent of population aggregation in 2 sympatrically breeding auks. We deployed geolocation-immersion loggers on common guillemots Uria aalge and razorbills Alca torda at 11 colonies around the northern UK and tracked their movements across 2 non-breeding seasons (2017-18 and 2018-19). Using 290 guillemot and 135 razorbill tracks, we mapped population distributions of each species and compared population aggregation during key periods of the non-breeding season (post-breeding moult and mid-winter), observing clear interspecific differences. Razorbills were largely distributed in the North Sea, whereas guillemot distributions were spread throughout Scottish coastal waters and the North, Norwegian and Barents Seas. We found high levels of aggregation in razorbills and a strong tendency for colony-specific distributions in guillemots. Therefore, razorbills are predicted to have a lower likelihood of exposure to marine threats, but more severe potential impact due to the larger number of colonies affected. This interspecific difference may result in divergent population trajectories, despite the species sharing protection at their breeding sites. We highlight the importance of taking whole-year distributions into account in spatial planning to adequately protect migratory species.</jats:p

Localization of type 1 diabetes susceptibility to the MHC class I genes HLA-B and HLA-A

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on chromosome 6 is associated with susceptibility to more common diseases than any other region of the human genome, including almost all disorders classified as autoimmune. In type 1 diabetes the major genetic susceptibility determinants have been mapped to the MHC class II genes HLA-DQB1 and HLA-DRB1 (refs 1-3), but these genes cannot completely explain the association between type 1 diabetes and the MHC region. Owing to the region's extreme gene density, the multiplicity of disease-associated alleles, strong associations between alleles, limited genotyping capability, and inadequate statistical approaches and sample sizes, which, and how many, loci within the MHC determine susceptibility remains unclear. Here, in several large type 1 diabetes data sets, we analyse a combined total of 1,729 polymorphisms, and apply statistical methods - recursive partitioning and regression - to pinpoint disease susceptibility to the MHC class I genes HLA-B and HLA-A (risk ratios >1.5; Pcombined = 2.01 × 10-19 and 2.35 × 10-13, respectively) in addition to the established associations of the MHC class II genes. Other loci with smaller and/or rarer effects might also be involved, but to find these, future searches must take into account both the HLA class II and class I genes and use even larger samples. Taken together with previous studies, we conclude that MHC-class-I-mediated events, principally involving HLA-B*39, contribute to the aetiology of type 1 diabetes. ©2007 Nature Publishing Group

Oral Abstracts 7: RA ClinicalO37. Long-Term Outcomes of Early RA Patients Initiated with Adalimumab Plus Methotrexate Compared with Methotrexate Alone Following a Targeted Treatment Approach

Background: This analysis assessed, on a group level, whether there is a long-term advantage for early RA patients treated with adalimumab (ADA) + MTX vs those initially treated with placebo (PBO) + MTX who either responded to therapy or added ADA following inadequate response (IR). Methods: OPTIMA was a 78- week, randomized, controlled trial of ADA + MTX vs PBO + MTX in MTX-naïve early (<1 year) RA patients. Therapy was adjusted at week 26: ADA + MTX-responders (R) who achieved DAS28 (CRP) <3.2 at weeks 22 and 26 (Period 1, P1) were re-randomized to withdraw or continue ADA and PBO + MTX-R continued randomized therapy for 52 weeks (P2); IR-patients received open-label (OL) ADA + MTX during P2. This post hoc analysis evaluated the proportion of patients at week 78 with DAS28 (CRP) <3.2, HAQ-DI <0.5, and/or ΔmTSS ≤0.5 by initial treatment. To account for patients who withdrew ADA during P2, an equivalent proportion of R was imputed from ADA + MTX-R patients. Results: At week 26, significantly more patients had low disease activity, normal function, and/or no radiographic progression with ADA + MTX vs PBO + MTX (Table 1). Differences in clinical and functional outcomes disappeared following additional treatment, when PBO + MTX-IR (n = 348/460) switched to OL ADA + MTX. Addition of OL ADA slowed radiographic progression, but more patients who received ADA + MTX from baseline had no radiographic progression at week 78 than patients who received initial PBO + MTX. Conclusions: Early RA patients treated with PBO + MTX achieved comparable long-term clinical and functional outcomes on a group level as those who began ADA + MTX, but only when therapy was optimized by the addition of ADA in PBO + MTX-IR. Still, ADA + MTX therapy conferred a radiographic benefit although the difference did not appear to translate to an additional functional benefit. Disclosures: P.E., AbbVie, Merck, Pfizer, UCB, Roche, BMS—Provided Expert Advice, Undertaken Trials, AbbVie—AbbVie sponsored the study, contributed to its design, and participated in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data, and in the writing, reviewing, and approval of the final version. R.F., AbbVie, Pfizer, Merck, Roche, UCB, Celgene, Amgen, AstraZeneca, BMS, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis—Research Grants, Consultation Fees. S.F., AbbVie—Employee, Stocks. A.K., AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, BMS, Celgene, Centocor-Janssen, Pfizer, Roche, UCB—Research Grants, Consultation Fees. H.K., AbbVie—Employee, Stocks. S.R., AbbVie—Employee, Stocks. J.S., AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, BMS, Celgene, Centocor-Janssen, GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly, Pfizer (Wyeth), MSD (Schering-Plough), Novo-Nordisk, Roche, Sandoz, UCB—Research Grants, Consultation Fees. R.V., AbbVie, BMS, GlaxoSmithKline, Human Genome Sciences, Merck, Pfizer, Roche, UCB Pharma—Consultation Fees, Research Support. Table 1.Week 78 clinical, functional, and radiographic outcomes in patients who received continued ADA + MTX vs those who continued PBO + MTX or added open-label ADA following an inadequate response ADA + MTX, n/N (%)a PBO + MTX, n/N (%)b Outcome Week 26 Week 52 Week 78 Week 26 Week 52 Week 78 DAS28 (CRP) <3.2 246/466 (53) 304/465 (65) 303/465 (65) 139/460 (30)*** 284/460 (62) 300/460 (65) HAQ-DI <0.5 211/466 (45) 220/466 (47) 224/466 (48) 150/460 (33)*** 203/460 (44) 208/460 (45) ΔmTSS ≤0.5 402/462 (87) 379/445 (86) 382/443 (86) 330/459 (72)*** 318/440 (72)*** 318/440 (72)*** DAS28 (CRP) <3.2 + ΔmTSS ≤0.5 216/462 (47) 260/443 (59) 266/443 (60) 112/459 (24)*** 196/440 (45) 211/440 (48)*** DAS28 (CRP) <3.2 + HAQ-DI <0.5 + ΔmTSS ≤0.5 146/462 (32) 168/443 (38) 174/443 (39) 82/459 (18)*** 120/440 (27)*** 135/440 (31)** aIncludes patients from the ADA Continuation (n = 105) and OL ADA Carry On (n = 259) arms, as well as the proportional equivalent number of responders from the ADA Withdrawal arm (n = 102). bIncludes patients from the MTX Continuation (n = 112) and Rescue ADA (n = 348) arms. Last observation carried forward: DAS28 (CRP) and HAQ-DI; Multiple imputations: ΔmTSS. ***P < 0.001 and **iP < 0.01, respectively, for differences between initial treatments from chi-squar

Ecology and display behaviour of breeding Eurasian woodcock Scolopax rusticola

In Britain, the Eurasian woodcock Scolopax rusticola occurs as both a common winter migrant and a resident breeding species. A national Breeding Woodcock Survey, conducted in 2003, provided the first accurate assessment of Britain’s resident population size. Here, data from a second national Breeding Woodcock Survey are presented, providing the first opportunity to assess changes in abundance. I estimated Britain’s Breeding population to be 55,241 males (95% CL: 41,806–69,004), representing a 29% decline in ten years. Abundance was correlated with the availability of large, well-connected and heterogenous areas of woodland and populations have retracted towards more heavily wooded landscapes. Woodcock site occupancy increases with the availability of certain woodland types, notably birch, and with increasing distance from urban areas. The 2003 and 2013 Breeding Woodcock Surveys used counts of displaying male woodcock to estimate abundance across a stratified sample of randomly selected sites. Chapters 4 to 7 seek to improve the current understanding of this unique display, known as roding, which underpins national surveys in Britain and elsewhere in Europe. To do this, GPS loggers were used to track the movements of male woodcock during their roding flights. Male woodcock covered roding grounds that were larger in size than most previous estimates, with mean daily roding grounds measuring between 1.11 and 1.29 km2 depending on the technique employed. Roding activity was reduced if dry periods preceded roding surveys, and temperature, cloud and moon phase could all influence the timing of display. The woodcock’s roding display is targeted towards open space within woodlands and woodland edges, and woodcock showed a preference for permanent clearings during display. These findings are discussed in terms of their potential influence on the interpretation of existing roding survey data and their implications for future assessments of population size and trend

CR1 Is Associated with Amyloid Plaque Burden and Age-Related Cognitive Decline

OBJECTIVE: Recently, genome-wide association studies have identified three new susceptibility loci for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), CLU, CR1, and PICALM. We leveraged available neuropsychological and autopsy data from two cohort studies to investigate whether these loci are associated with cognitive decline and AD neuropathology. METHODS: The Religious Orders Study (ROS) and Rush Memory and Aging Project (MAP) are longitudinal studies that enroll non-demented subjects and include annual clinical evaluations and brain donation at death. We evaluated CR1 (rs6656401), CLU (rs11136000) and PICALM (rs7110631) in 1666 subjects. We evaluated associations between genotypes and rate of change in cognitive function as well as AD-related pathology. Lastly, we used pathway analysis to determine if relationships between SNPs and cognitive decline were mediated through AD pathology. RESULTS: Among our study cohort, the mean years of follow-up was 7.8 for ROS and 4.3 for MAP. Only the CR1 locus was associated with both global cognitive decline (p=0.011) and global AD pathology (p=0.025). More specifically, the locus affects the deposition of neuritic amyloid plaque (p=0.009). In a mediation analysis, controlling for amyloid pathology strongly attenuated the effect of the CR1 locus on cognitive decline. INTERPRETATION: We found that common variation at the CR1 locus has a broad impact on cognition and that this effect is largely mediated by an individual’s amyloid plaque burden. We therefore highlight one functional consequence of the CR1 susceptibility allele and generalize the role of this locus to cognitive aging in the general population