Amnioinfusion Compared With No Intervention in Women With Second-Trimester Rupture of Membranes A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of amnioinfusion in women with second-trimester preterm prelabor rupture of membranes. METHODS: We performed a nationwide, multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial, the PPROM: Expectant Management versus Induction of Labor-III (PPROMEXIL-III) trial, in women with singleton pregnancies and preterm prelabor rupture of membranes at 16 0/7 to 24 0/7 weeks of gestation with oligohydramnios (single deepest pocket less than 20 mm). Participants were allocated to transabdominal amnioinfusion or no intervention in a oneto- one ratio by a web-based system. If the single deepest pocket was less than 20 mm on follow-up visits, amnioinfusion was repeated weekly until 28 0/7 weeks of gestation. The primary outcome was perinatal mortality. We needed 56 women to show a reduction in perinatal mortality from 70% to 35% (b error 0.20, two-sided a error 0.05). RESULTS: Between June 15, 2012, and January 13, 2016, we randomized 28 women to amnioinfusion and 28 to no intervention. One woman was enrolled before the trial registration date (June 19, 2012). Perinatal mortality rates were 18 of 28 (64%) in the amnioinfusion group vs 21 of 28 (75%) in the no intervention group (relative risk 0.86, 95% CI 0.601.22, P5.39). CONCLUSION: In women with second-trimester preterm prelabor rupture of membranes and oligohydramnios, we found no reduction in perinatal mortality after amnioinfusion

Microhalocline enabled nutrient recycling may explain extreme Azolla event in the Eocene Arctic Ocean. PLoS ONE 7:e50159. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050159

In order to understand the physicochemical mechanisms that could explain the massive growth of Azolla arctica in the Eocene Arctic Ocean, we carried out a laboratory experiment in which we studied the interacting effects of rain and wind on the development of salinity stratification, both in the presence and in the absence of a dense Azolla cover. Additionally, we carried out a mesocosm experiment to get a better understanding of the nutrient cycling within and beneath a dense Azolla cover in both freshwater and brackish water environments. Here we show that Azolla is able to create a windproof, small-scale salinity gradient in brackish waters, which allows for efficient recycling of nutrients. We suggest that this mechanism ensures the maintenance of a large standing biomass in which additional input of nutrients ultimately result in a further expansion of an Azolla cover. As such, it may not only explain the extent of the Azolla event during the Eocene, but also th

Mesocosm experiment.

<p><b>A</b>) Development of the biomass density of <i>Azolla filiculoides</i> (g dry weight m⁻² ± standard error) grown in freshwater or brackish water basins. <b>2B</b>) Chloride concentrations and <b>2C</b>) phosphate concentrations (µM ± standard error) in the top, middle and bottom water layers of the freshwater and brackish water basins during the mesocosm experiment. Significant differences between water layers are indicated by different letters. The cumulative amount of rainfall during the experiment (mm) is shown on the right axis in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0050159#pone-0050159-g002" target="_blank">figure <b>2B</b></a>.</p

Interacting effects of <i>Azolla</i>, rain and wind on salinity stratification. A

<p>) Salinity (mg L⁻¹ ± standard error) in the top water layers (solid lines) and in the bottom water layers (dotted lines) of the beakers in the absence of <i>Azolla</i> (rounds), in the presence of <i>Azolla</i> (squares), with no influence of wind (closed figures) or with influence of wind (open figures) hours after the rain event. <b>B</b>) Salinity (mg L⁻¹) profiles in the beakers 20 hours after the rain event.</p

Appendix J. Results from PROC MIXED (SAS) analysis of effects of inoculum origin on plant biomass production of mid-successional plant species relative to the sterilized control treatment.

Results from PROC MIXED (SAS) analysis of effects of inoculum origin on plant biomass production of mid-successional plant species relative to the sterilized control treatment

Appendix F. Results of t tests to analyze if feedback responses of early-successional plant species in monocultures and in mixed communities in competition with later-successional species differed from zero.

Results of t tests to analyze if feedback responses of early-successional plant species in monocultures and in mixed communities in competition with later-successional species differed from zero

Appendix K. Ordination diagram of principal components analysis on bacterial and fungal denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles of Poa annua rhizosphere samples.

Ordination diagram of principal components analysis on bacterial and fungal denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles of Poa annua rhizosphere samples

Appendix G. Results of General Linear Model testing the difference in feedback effects of early-successional plant species in monocultures and in mixed communities in competition with later-successional species.

Results of General Linear Model testing the difference in feedback effects of early-successional plant species in monocultures and in mixed communities in competition with later-successional species