Explore the vast range of titles available.

Aim: The individual effects of climate and soil properties on functional trait distributions have become increasingly clear with recent syntheses of large datasets. However, the distribution of traits in a given climate may depend on the fertility of the soil. Our aim was to quantify how soil-climate interactions explain community-level variation in functional traits from every plant organ to improve predictions of plant community responses to environmental change. Location: Temperate forests throughout New Zealand. Methods: We measured traits of foliar, stem, root and reproductive tissue for 64 species and calculated abundance-weighted mean trait values on 324 forest plots. Multiple linear regression was used to model the variation in each of the traits as functions of mean annual temperature (MAT), vapour pressure deficit (VPD), soil pH, soil total phosphorus (P) and their interactions. Results: Soil-climate interactions explained significant variation in functional traits. For example, specific leaf area (SLA) was highest in high-P soil within a wet and warm climate; however, strong interactions indicate that SLA was lowest in wet and warm climates in low-P soil. Root tissue density was lowest in warm climates and high-P soil, but it was high in warm climates and low-P soil and in cold climates and high-P soil. According to model predictions, the largest potential responses of vegetation to warming may occur in fertile and wet environments. Main conclusions: Pervasive soil-climate interactions demonstrate that interpreting simple bivariate relationships between traits and climate must be done with caution because the adaptive value of traits in a given climate depends on the fertility of the soil. Predictions of vegetation responses to climate change will improve significantly by incorporating local-scale soil properties into modelling frameworks. Rising global temperatures may shift community-level trait values in opposite directions depending on whether the soil is fertile or infertile.

Abstract Rationale Developmental patterns of lung function during childhood may have major implications for our understanding of the pathogenesis of respiratory disease throughout life. Objectives To explore longitudinal trajectories of lung function during childhood and factors associated with lung function decline. Methods In a population-based birth cohort, specific airway resistance (sRaw) was assessed at age 3 (n = 560), 5 (n = 829), 8 (n = 786), and 11 years (n = 644). Based on prospective data (questionnaires, skin tests, IgE), children were assigned to wheeze phenotypes (no wheezing, transient, late-onset, and persistent) and atopy phenotypes (no atopy, dust mite, non–dust mite, multiple early, and multiple late). We used longitudinal linear mixed models to determine predictors of change in sRaw over time. Measurements and Main Results Contrary to the assumption that sRaw is independent of age and sex, boys had higher sRaw than girls (mean difference, 0.080; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.049–0.111; P < 0.001) and a higher rate of increase over time. For girls, sRaw increased by 0.017 kPa ⋅ s−1 per year (95% CI, 0.011–0.023). In boys this increase was significantly greater (P = 0.012; mean between-sex difference, 0.011 kPa ⋅ s−1; 95% CI, 0.003–0.019). Children with persistent wheeze (but not other wheeze phenotypes) had a significantly greater rate of deterioration in sRaw over time compared with never wheezers (P = 0.009). Similarly, children with multiple early, but not other atopy phenotypes had significantly poorer lung function than those without atopy (mean difference, 0.116 kPa ⋅ s−1; 95% CI, 0.065–0.168; P < 0.001). sRaw increased progressively with the increasing number of asthma exacerbations. Conclusions Children with persistent wheeze, frequent asthma exacerbations, and multiple early atopy have diminished lung function throughout childhood, and are at risk of a progressive loss of lung function from age 3 to 11 years. These effects are more marked in boys.

The term \"atopic march\" has been used to imply a natural progression of a cascade of symptoms from eczema to asthma and rhinitis through childhood. We hypothesize that this expression does not adequately describe the natural history of eczema, wheeze, and rhinitis during childhood. We propose that this paradigm arose from cross-sectional analyses of longitudinal studies, and may reflect a population pattern that may not predominate at the individual level. Data from 9,801 children in two population-based birth cohorts were used to determine individual profiles of eczema, wheeze, and rhinitis and whether the manifestations of these symptoms followed an atopic march pattern. Children were assessed at ages 1, 3, 5, 8, and 11 y. We used Bayesian machine learning methods to identify distinct latent classes based on individual profiles of eczema, wheeze, and rhinitis. This approach allowed us to identify groups of children with similar patterns of eczema, wheeze, and rhinitis over time. Using a latent disease profile model, the data were best described by eight latent classes: no disease (51.3%), atopic march (3.1%), persistent eczema and wheeze (2.7%), persistent eczema with later-onset rhinitis (4.7%), persistent wheeze with later-onset rhinitis (5.7%), transient wheeze (7.7%), eczema only (15.3%), and rhinitis only (9.6%). When latent variable modelling was carried out separately for the two cohorts, similar results were obtained. Highly concordant patterns of sensitisation were associated with different profiles of eczema, rhinitis, and wheeze. The main limitation of this study was the difference in wording of the questions used to ascertain the presence of eczema, wheeze, and rhinitis in the two cohorts. The developmental profiles of eczema, wheeze, and rhinitis are heterogeneous; only a small proportion of children (∼ 7% of those with symptoms) follow trajectory profiles resembling the atopic march. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.

There is evidence for adverse effects of outdoor air pollution on lung function of children. Quantitative summaries of the effects of air pollution on lung function, however, are lacking due to large differences among studies. We aimed to study the association between residential exposure to air pollution and lung function in five European birth cohorts with a standardized exposure assessment following a common protocol. As part of the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE) we analyzed data from birth cohort studies situated in Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom that measured lung function at 6-8 years of age (n = 5,921). Annual average exposure to air pollution [nitrogen oxides (NO2, NOx), mass concentrations of particulate matter with diameters < 2.5, < 10, and 2.5-10 μm (PM2.5, PM10, and PMcoarse), and PM2.5 absorbance] at the birth address and current address was estimated by land-use regression models. Associations of lung function with estimated air pollution levels and traffic indicators were estimated for each cohort using linear regression analysis, and then combined by random effects meta-analysis. Estimated levels of NO2, NOx, PM2.5 absorbance, and PM2.5 at the current address, but not at the birth address, were associated with small decreases in lung function. For example, changes in forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) ranged from -0.86% (95% CI: -1.48, -0.24%) for a 20-μg/m3 increase in NOx to -1.77% (95% CI: -3.34, -0.18%) for a 5-μg/m3 increase in PM2.5. Exposure to air pollution may result in reduced lung function in schoolchildren.

BackgroundAsthma is misdiagnosed in one-third of patients . Due to its variable nature, international guidelines recommend performing key diagnostic tests during symptomatic periods or in the morning to improve accuracy. Limited access to timely clinic appointments and community-based diagnostics makes this difficult. Handheld spirometry and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) are feasible for home use, enabling timely and flexible testing.ObjectiveTo explore patients’ views on performing spirometry and FeNO at home during the asthma diagnostic process.DesignA qualitative study using semistructured interviews. Data were analysed using the framework approach.SettingThis prospective observational study was conducted at a National Institute for Health and Care Research Clinical Research Facility, based within a large National Health Service Trust, as part of the Rapid-Access Diagnostics for Asthma (RADicA) study (ISRCTN11676160).ParticipantsA purposive sample of 15 symptomatic adult patients with general practitioner-suspected asthma who were referred for diagnostic evaluation of the condition; all patients were given home spirometry and FeNO devices during their diagnostic processes.ResultsThree themes emerged from the analysis: ‘Perceived value of, and burdens of home testing’, ‘Views on device usability and acceptability’ and ‘Information and support needs’. Home testing was generally welcomed by patients as a way of improving their understanding of their condition and enabling an accurate diagnosis of their symptoms. Key barriers (eg, testing frequency, lack of privacy) and enablers to improve feasibility (eg, training and support) were also identified.ConclusionThis study provides valuable insights into the barriers and enablers of home-based diagnostic strategies for asthma. Findings can inform service design and implementation approaches to enhance the feasibility and effectiveness of home testing.Trial registration numberISRCTN11676160.

Spiders are commonly found in terrestrial environments and many rely heavily on their silks for fitness related tasks such as reproduction and dispersal. Although rare, a few species occupy aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats and for them, silk-related specializations are also essential to survive in aquatic environments. Most spider silks studied to date are from cob-web and orb-web weaving species, leaving the silks from many other terrestrial spiders as well as water-associated spiders largely undescribed. Here, we characterize silks from three Dictynoidea species: the aquatic spiders Argyroneta aquatica and Desis marina as well as the terrestrial Badumna longinqua . From silk gland RNA-Seq libraries, we report a total of 47 different homologs of the spidroin (spider fibroin) gene family. Some of these 47 spidroins correspond to known spidroin types (aciniform, ampullate, cribellar, pyriform, and tubuliform), while other spidroins represent novel branches of the spidroin gene family. We also report a hydrophobic amino acid motif (GV) that, to date, is found only in the spidroins of aquatic and semi-aquatic spiders. Comparison of spider silk sequences to the silks from other water-associated arthropods, shows that there is a diversity of strategies to function in aquatic environments.

Abstract Rationale Pooling data from multiple cohorts and extending the time frame across childhood should minimize study-specific effects, enabling better characterization of childhood wheezing. Objectives To analyze wheezing patterns from early childhood to adolescence using combined data from five birth cohorts. Methods We used latent class analysis to derive wheeze phenotypes among 7,719 participants from five birth cohorts with complete report of wheeze at five time periods. We tested the associations of derived phenotypes with late asthma outcomes and lung function, and investigated the uncertainty in phenotype assignment. Results We identified five phenotypes: never/infrequent wheeze (52.1%), early onset preschool remitting (23.9%), early onset midchildhood remitting (9%), persistent (7.9%), and late-onset wheeze (7.1%). Compared with the never/infrequent wheeze, all phenotypes had higher odds of asthma and lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity in adolescence. The association with asthma was strongest for persistent wheeze (adjusted odds ratio, 56.54; 95% confidence interval, 43.75–73.06). We observed considerable within-class heterogeneity at the individual level, with 913 (12%) children having low membership probability (<0.60) of any phenotype. Class membership certainty was highest in persistent and never/infrequent, and lowest in late-onset wheeze (with 51% of participants having membership probabilities <0.80). Individual wheezing patterns were particularly heterogeneous in late-onset wheeze, whereas many children assigned to early onset preschool remitting class reported wheezing at later time points. Conclusions All wheeze phenotypes had significantly diminished lung function in school-age children, suggesting that the notion that early life episodic wheeze has a benign prognosis may not be true for a proportion of transient wheezers. We observed considerable within-phenotype heterogeneity in individual wheezing patterns.

Groups were well matched for age (P = 0.11), body mass index (P = 0.25), FEV1% predicted (P = 0.85), smoking status (P = 0.3), serum total IgE (P = 0.23), fractional exhaled nitric oxide (P = 0.58), blood eosinophil count (P = 0.58), and treatment (intramuscular triamcinolone [P = 0.71], oral prednisolone [P = 0.31], or daily inhaled corticosteroids [beclomethasone dipropionate equivalent]; P = 0.31). H.J.D. is supported by an Asthma UK Senior Clinical Academic Development Award (AuK-SCAD-2013-229), the J P Moulton Charitable Foundation, a North West Lung Centre Charity project grant, and the University of Manchester Dean's Prize for Clinicians. D.W.R. is a Wellcome Trust Investigator (107849/Z/15/Z) and received a Medical Research Council Program grant (MR/P023576/1). A.S. was supported by grants from the Medical Research Council, National Institute for Health Research, EU FP7, and the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre.

Asthma is a heterogeneous condition often studied through wheeze alone, yet the interplay between lung function and reported symptoms remains underexplored. To capture this heterogeneity, we applied Bayesian Profile Regression to data from school-age children in two prospective birth cohorts, integrating airway hyperresponsiveness, lung function, bronchodilator reversibility, allergic sensitisation, reported symptoms, and physician diagnosis. In the Manchester Allergy and Asthma Study (discovery cohort), five reproducible clusters were identified: HA-LLF (high asthma-low lung function), HA-NLF (high asthma normal lung function), LA-RLF (low asthma-reduced lung function), LA-NLF (low asthma normal lung function), and MA-NLF (moderate asthma normal lung function). The HA-LLF and HA-NLF clusters had very high asthma prevalence (80–100%), but differed markedly in lung function, airway responsiveness, bronchodilator reversibility, sensitisation, and symptom burden. The LA-RLF and LA-NLF clusters with low asthma prevalence (< 5%) displayed contrasting lung function profiles, while MA-NLF (~ 50% asthma prevalence) was largely defined by prominent symptoms such as chest tightness and shortness of breath. These subtypes were replicated in an independent cohort, Isle of Wight. Our findings demonstrate that integrating physiological, immunological, and symptom-based measures yields clinically meaningful asthma subtypes beyond wheeze-based definitions and may support more precise disease classification.

The worldwide plant economic spectrum hypothesis predicts that leaf, stem, and root traits are correlated across vascular plant species because carbon gain depends on leaves being adequately supplied with water and nutrients, and because construction of each organ involves a trade‐off between performance and persistence. Despite its logical and intuitive appeal, this hypothesis has received mixed empirical support. If traits within species diverge in their responses to an environmental gradient, then interspecific trait correlations could be weakened when measured in natural ecosystems. To test this prediction, we measured relative growth rates (RGR) and seven functional traits that have been shown to be related to fluxes of water, nutrients, and carbon across 56 functionally diverse tree species on (1) juveniles in a controlled environment, (2) juveniles in forest understories, and (3) mature trees in forests. Leaf, stem, and fine root traits of juveniles grown in a controlled environment were closely correlated with each other, and with RGR. Remarkably, the seven leaf, stem, and fine root tissue traits spanned a single dimension of variation when measured in the controlled environment. Forest‐grown juveniles expressed lower leaf mass per area, but higher wood and fine root tissue density, than greenhouse‐grown juveniles. Traits and growth rates were decoupled in forest‐grown juveniles and mature trees. Our results indicate that constraints exist on the covariation, not just the variation, among vegetative plant organs; however, divergent responses of traits within species to environmental gradients can mask interspecific trait correlations in natural environments. Correlations among organs and relationships between traits and RGR were strong when plants were compared in a standardized environment. Our results may reconcile the discrepancies seen among studies, by showing that if traits and growth rates of species are compared across varied environments, then the interorgan trait correlations observed in controlled conditions can weaken or disappear. Phenotypic coordination across leaves, stems, and roots has recently been proposed to explain worldwide interspecific variation in resource use and growth rates among all vascular plant species, but empirical evidence for this “whole‐plant economic spectrum” is mixed. We have compiled an unprecedented dataset to test the hypothesis that leaf, wood, and fine root traits would be coordinated with each other and with relative growth rate under standardized environmental conditions, but that intraspecific trait variation could decouple this phenotypic coordination in field‐grown plants. We show for the first time that juvenile trees grown in a controlled environment express strong coordination of traits and growth rates, but that intraspecific trait variation can weaken interspecific trait correlations when assessing the whole‐plant economic spectrum in natural ecosystems.