Instead of acting as a black box, NIMS allows researchers to make informed decisions about whether to merge non-redundant modules. NIMS returns network modules that are robust to minor variation and does not require optimization of a global modularity function. NIMS may prove useful to identify modules also in small ecological and social networks.The hormone corticosterone (CORT) has been hypothesized to be linked with fitness, but the directionality of the relationship is unclear. The ‘CORT-fitness hypothesis’ proposes that high levels of CORT arise from challenging environmental conditions, resulting in lower reproductive success (a negative relationship). In contrast, the CORT-adaptation hypothesis suggests that, during energetically demanding periods, CORT will mediate physiological or behavioral changes that result in increased reproductive investment and success (a positive relationship). During two breeding seasons, we experimentally manipulated circulating CORT levels in female tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) prior to egg laying, and measured subsequent reproductive effort, breeding success, and maternal survival. When females were recaptured during egg incubation and again during the nestling stage, the CORT levels were similar among individuals in each treatment group, and maternal treatment had no effect on indices of fitness. By considering variation among females, we found support for the CORT-adaptation hypothesis; there was a significant positive relationship between CORT levels during incubation and hatching and fledging success. During the nestling stage CORT levels were unrelated to any measure of investment or success. Within the environmental context of our study, relationships between maternal glucocorticoid levels and indices of fitness vary across reproductive stages.

To describe the intraindividual changes of heart biomarker levels during and after pregnancy and to evaluate existing cut-off levels for heart failure or myocardial ischaemia in pregnant women.

A total of 196 healthy pregnant women were recruited from maternal outpatient clinics and included in the study. Blood samples were obtained on four occasions at 10-12 gestational weeks (gw), 20-25 gw, after delivery and 6 months postpartum and analysed for N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) and high sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs-cTNT). Echocardiography ruled out existing cardiac disease. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated.

There were significant changes in NTproBNP between the measurements with the highest NTproBNP at 10-12 gw and the lowest value being at 20-25 gw, (with eGFR being the highest). Hs-cTNT was significantly higher at the peripartum measurement compared with the other measurements (p<0.05). Regardless, the 95th percentile for both biomarkers was below cut-off levels of 300 ng/L for NTproBNP and 14 ng/L for hs-cTNT. There was an association between NTproBNP above the upper limit of normal of 125 ng/L and eGFR (p=0.04) and between hs-cTNT >5.0 ng/L and time from delivery to blood sample (p=0.001) at the peripartum measurement. Both were associated with the use of oxytocin.

Existing cut-off values for ruling out heart failure (NTproBNP <300 ng/L) and myocardial ischaemia (hs-cTNT <14 ng/L) are applicable during pregnancy and after delivery. Elevated levels mandate further attention on cardiac symptoms and renal function.

Existing cut-off values for ruling out heart failure (NTproBNP less then 300 ng/L) and myocardial ischaemia (hs-cTNT less then 14 ng/L) are applicable during pregnancy and after delivery. Elevated levels mandate further attention on cardiac symptoms and renal function.

To evaluate a novel β-amyloid (Aβ)-PET-based quantitative measure (Aβ accumulation index [Aβ index]), including the assessment of its ability to discriminate between participants based on Aβ status using visual read, CSF Aβ

/Aβ

, and post-mortem neuritic plaque burden as standards of truth.

One thousand one hundred twenty-one participants (with and without cognitive impairment) were scanned with Aβ-PET Swedish BioFINDER, n = 392, [

F]flutemetamol; Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), n = 692, [

F]florbetapir; and a phase 3 end-of-life study, n = 100, [

F]flutemetamol. The relationships between Aβ index and standardized uptake values ratios (SUVR) from Aβ-PET were assessed. The diagnostic performances of Aβ index and SUVR were compared with visual reads, CSF Aβ

/Aβ

, and Aβ histopathology used as reference standards.

Strong associations were observed between Aβ index and SUVR (

BioFINDER 0.951, ADNI 0.943, end-of-life, 0.916). Both measures performed equally well in differentiatnegative participants compared to Aβ-PET visual reads, CSF Aβ

/Aβ

, and Aβ histopathology.

This study provides Class III evidence that the Aβ accumulation index accurately differentiates Aβ-positive from Aβ-negative participants compared to Aβ-PET visual reads, CSF Aβ42/Aβ40, and Aβ histopathology.

Evidence suggests that government expenditures on non-health care services can reduce infant mortality, but it is unclear what types of spending have the greatest impact among groups at highest risk. Thus, we sought to quantify how US state government spending on various services impacted infant mortality rates (IMRs) over time and whether spending differentially reduced mortality in some subpopulations.

A longitudinal, repeated-measures study of US state-level infant mortality and state and local government spending for the years 2000-2016, the most recent data available. selleck screening library Expenditures included spending on education, social services, and environment and housing. Using generalized linear regression models, we assessed how changes in spending impacted infant mortality over time, overall and stratified by race and ethnicity and maternal age group.

State and local governments spend, on average, $9 per person. A $0.30 per-person increase in environmental spending was associated with a decrease of 0.03 deaths per 1000 live births, and a $0.73 per-person increase in social services spending was associated with a decrease of 0.02 deaths per 1000 live births. Infants born to mothers aged <20 years had the single greatest benefit from an increase in expenditures compared with all other groups. Increased expenditures in public health, housing, parks and recreation, and solid waste management were associated with the greatest reduction in overall IMR.

Investment in non-health care services was associated with lower IMRs among certain high-risk populations. Continued investments into improved social and environmental services hold promise for further reducing IMR disparities.

Investment in non-health care services was associated with lower IMRs among certain high-risk populations. Continued investments into improved social and environmental services hold promise for further reducing IMR disparities.