Improved prediction equations for estimating height in adults from ethnically diverse backgrounds

Background & aims When body height cannot be measured, it can be predicted from ulna length (UL). However, commonly used published prediction equations may not provide useful estimates in adults from all ethnicities. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between UL and height in adults from diverse ethnic groups and to consider whether this can be used to provide useful prediction equations for height in practice. Methods Standing height and UL were measured in 542 adults at seven UK locations. Ethnicity was self-defined using UK Census 2011 categories. Data were modelled to give two groups of height prediction equations based on UL, sex and ethnicity and these were tested against an independent dataset (n = 180). Results UL and height were significantly associated overall and in all groups except one with few participants (P = 0.059). The new equations yielded predicted height (H p) that was closer to measured height in the Asian and Black subgroups of the independent population than the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) equations. For Asian men, (H p (cm) = 3.26 UL (cm) + 83.58), mean difference from measured (95% confidence intervals) was −0.6 (−2.4, +1.2); Asian women, (H p = 3.26 UL + 77.62), mean difference +0.5 (−1.4, 2.4) cm. For Black men, H p = 3.14 UL + 85.80, −0.4 (−2.4, 1.7); Black women, H p = 3.14 UL + 79.55, −0.8 (−2.8, 1.2). These differences were not statistically significant while predictions from MUST equations were significantly different from measured height. Conclusions The new prediction equations provide an alternative for estimating height in adults from Asian and Black groups and give mean predicted values that are closer to measured height than MUST equations

ATEX directive (2014/34/EU) – declaration of conformity for machines and electrical drives

W niniejszej publikacji przedstawiono wymagania dla deklaracji zgodności, jakie stawia dyrektywa Unii Europejskiej 2014/34/UE – nowa dyrektywa ATEX, która weszła w życie z dniem 20 kwietnia 2016 roku. Wskazano jakie elementy powinien dokument ten zawierać, przedstawiono kilka szczególnych przypadków z jakimi można mieć styczność przy tego rodzaju dokumentach, a także omówiono najczęstsze zagadnienia problematyczne. W artykule dokładnie omówiono deklarację zgodności UE wydawaną dla maszyn i napędów elektrycznych oraz zestawów w skład których mogą one wchodzić.This publication presents the requirements for the declaration of conformity of the European Union Directive 2014/34/EU – a new ATEX Directive, which came into force on 20 April 2016. In this paper there are indicated items which should contain this document, there are showed several particular cases which can be used in this kind of documents. There are also given many details about problematical situation. Declaration of conformity issued for machines and electrical drives, and also assemblies are elaborated particularly in this article

New ATEX directive (2014/34/EU) – declaration of conformity for machines and electrical drives

This publication presents the requirements for the declaration of conformity of the European Union Directive 2014/34 / EU - a new ATEX Directive, which comes into force on 20 April 2016. In this paper there are indicated items which should contain this document, there are showed several particular cases which can be used in this kind of documents. There are also given many details about problematical situation. Declaration of conformity issued for machines and electrical drives, and also assemblies are elaborated particularly in this article.W niniejszej publikacji przedstawiono wymagania dla deklaracji zgodności, jakie stawia dyrektywa Unii Europejskiej 2014/34/UE – nowa dyrektywa ATEX, która wchodzi w życie z dniem 20 kwietnia 2016 roku. Wskazano jakie elementy powinien dokument ten zawierać, przedstawiono kilka szczególnych przypadków z jakimi można mieć styczność przy tego rodzaju dokumentach, a także omówiono najczęstsze zagadnienia problematyczne. W artykule dokładnie omówiono deklarację zgodności UE wydawaną dla maszyn i napędów elektrycznych oraz zestawów, w skład których mogą one wchodzić

Cereal architecture and its manipulation

Our lives depend on an incredibly small number of cereal species whose grain provides more calories to our diet than any other source. The extraordinary productivity of cultivated cereals reflects millennia of selection, recent directed breeding, and modern agricultural practices. Here, we examine selected architectural and agronomic features of major cereal body parts: leaf, branch, inflorescence, stem, and root; and discuss how their manipulation enhanced crop performance. Highlighting synergistic research across laboratory models and field-based systems, we consider how diversified molecular circuitry, novel regulators and conserved components of genetic, hormonal, and molecular mechanisms control cereal architecture. Lastly, we emphasise the agricultural importance of developmental decisions during cereal growth and propose future perspectives for robust architectural improvement, made ever more urgent by our accelerating climate crisis

The K/HDEL receptor does not recycle but instead acts as a Golgi-gatekeeper

Accurately measuring the ability of the K/HDEL receptor (ERD2) to retain the ER cargo Amy-HDEL has questioned earlier results on which the popular receptor recycling model is based upon. Here we demonstrate that ERD2 Golgi-retention, rather than fast ER export supports its function. Ligand-induced ERD2 redistribution is only observed when the C-terminus is masked or mutated, compromising the signal that prevents Golgi-to-ER transport of the receptor. Forcing COPI mediated retrograde transport destroys receptor function, but introducing ER-to-Golgi export or cis-Golgi retention signals re-activate ERD2 when its endogenous Golgi-retention signal is masked or deleted. We propose that ERD2 remains fixed as a Golgi gatekeeper, capturing K/HDEL proteins when they arrive and releasing them again into a subdomain for retrograde transport back to the ER. An in vivo ligand:receptor ratio far greater than 100 to 1 strongly supports this model, and the underlying mechanism appears to be extremely conserved across kingdoms

Speed vernalization to accelerate generation advance in winter cereal crops

There are many challenges facing the development of high-yielding, nutritious crops for future environments. One limiting factor is generation time, which prolongs research and plant breeding timelines. Recent advances in speed breeding protocols have dramatically reduced generation time for many short-day and long-day species by optimising light and temperature conditions during plant growth. However, winter crops with a vernalization requirement still require up to 6–10 weeks in low-temperature conditions before the transition to reproductive development. Here, we tested a suite of environmental conditions and protocols to investigate if vernalization can be satisfied more efficiently. We identified a vernalization method consisting of exposing seeds at the soil surface to an extended photoperiod of 22 h day:2 h night at 10°C with transfer to speed breeding conditions that dramatically reduces generation time in both winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) and winter barley (Hordeum vulgare). Implementation of the speed vernalization protocol followed by speed breeding achieved up to five generations per year for winter wheat or barley, whereas only two generations can be typically completed under standard vernalization and plant growth conditions. The speed vernalization protocol that we developed in this study has great potential to accelerate biological research and breeding outcomes for winter crops