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Aims/hypothesis Accumulating evidence suggests that maternal obesity may increase the risk of metabolic disease in the offspring. We investigated the effects of established maternal diet-induced obesity on male and female offspring appetite, glucose homeostasis and body composition in rats. Methods Female Wistar rats were fed either a standard chow (3% fat, 7% sugar [wt/wt]) or a palatable obesogenic diet (11% fat, 43% sugar [wt/wt]) for 8 weeks before mating and throughout pregnancy and lactation. Male and female offspring of control and obese dams were weaned on to standard chow and assessed until 12 months of age. Results At mating, obese dams were heavier than control with associated hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia. Male and female offspring of obese dams were hyperphagic (p < 0.0001) and heavier than control (p < 0.0001) until 12 months of age. NEFA were raised at 2 months but not at 12 months. At 3 months, OGTT showed more pronounced alteration of glucose homeostasis in male than in female offspring of obese animals. Euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamps performed at 8 to 9 months in female and 10 to 11 months in male offspring revealed insulin resistance in male offspring of obese dams (p < 0.05 compared with control). Body compositional analysis at 12 months also showed increased fat pad weights in male and female offspring of obese animals. Conclusions/interpretation Diet-induced obesity in female rats leads to a state of insulin resistance in male offspring, associated with development of obesity and increased adiposity. An increase in food intake may play a role.

Recent studies have suggested a correlation between genotype groups of Brettanomyces bruxellensis and their source of isolation. To further explore this relationship, the objective of this study was to assess metabolic differences in carbon and nitrogen assimilation between different B. bruxellensis strains from three beverages, including beer, wine, and soft drink, using Biolog Phenotype Microarrays. While some similarities of physiology were noted, many traits were variable among strains. Interestingly, some phenotypes were found that could be linked to strain origin, especially for the assimilation of particular α- and β-glycosides as well as α- and β-substituted monosaccharides. Based upon gene presence or absence, an α-glucosidase and β-glucosidase were found explaining the observed phenotypes. Further, using a PCR screen on a large number of isolates, we have been able to specifically link a genomic deletion to the beer strains, suggesting that this region may have a fitness cost for B. bruxellensis in certain fermentation systems such as brewing. More specifically, none of the beer strains were found to contain a β-glucosidase, which may have direct impacts on the ability for these strains to compete with other microbes or on flavor production.

Background Literature on the effects of prenatal exposure to platinum-based chemotherapy on the auditory capacity of the offspring is scarce. The current study aims to describe the occurrence of hearing impairment in a well-documented series of children who underwent audiological testing. Methods An international, descriptive multicentre study using oncological, obstetrical, and neonatal data registered by the International Network of Cancer Infertility and Pregnancy database, was performed. The offspring (aged ≥ 4 years) underwent pure tone audiometry. Audiological outcomes were registered after expert review, using international standardized audiological grading as developed for platinum exposed childhood cancer patients: the Muenster criteria and the International Society for Paediatric Oncology classification. Platinum-induced hearing loss was defined as bilateral hearing loss, starting at 8 kHz and without middle ear problems confirmed by tympanometry or otoscopy. Findings Twenty-five children were included of which 17 children (68%) had been exposed to cisplatin and 8 (32%) to carboplatin, none to both. Median gestational age at start maternal treatment was 22 weeks (range, 14–31). Median gestational age at delivery was 35 weeks (range, 31–39), and median birth weight was 2345 g (range, 1526–3360). Neonatal hearing screening, performed in 10 children (40%), showed no hearing loss. At a median age of 6.0 years (range, 4.0–28 . 0), 6 children (24%) revealed bilateral hearing loss, using cut-off values of Muenster grade ≥ 2b and SIOP grade ≥ 2. Interpretation Antenatal exposure to platinum-based chemotherapy is associated with hearing loss in a subset of the offspring. Prospective longitudinal standardized surveillance of auditory function is advised, starting after birth.

Background Depression during pregnancy is associated with higher maternal morbidity and mortality, and subsequent possible adverse effects on the cognitive, emotional and behavioral development of the child. The aim of the study was to identify maternal characteristics associated with poor mental health, in a group of overweight/obese pregnant women in nine European countries, and thus, to contribute to better recognition and intervention for maternal depression. Methods In this cross-sectional observational study, baseline data from early pregnancy (< 20 weeks) of the DALI (Vitamin D and Lifestyle Intervention for gestational diabetes mellitus prevention) study were analyzed. Maternal mental health was assessed with the World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO–5). Women were classified as having a low (WHO–5 ≤ 50) or high wellbeing. Results. A total of 735 pregnant women were included. The prevalence of having a low wellbeing was 27.2%, 95% CI [24.0, 30.4]. Multivariate analysis showed independent associations between low wellbeing and European ethnicity, OR  = .44, 95% CI [.25, .77], shift work, OR  = 1.81, 95% CI [1.11, 2.93], insufficient sleep, OR  = 3.30, 95% CI [1.96, 5.55], self-efficacy, OR  = .95, 95% CI [.92, .98], social support, OR  = .94, 95% CI [.90, .99], and pregnancy-related worries (socioeconomic: OR  = 1.08, 95% CI [1.02, 1.15]; health: OR  = 1.06, 95% CI [1.01, 1.11]; relationship: OR  = 1.17, 95% CI [1.05, 1.31]). Conclusions Mental health problems are common in European overweight/obese pregnant women. The identified correlates might help in early recognition and subsequent treatment of poor mental health problems during pregnancy. This is important to reduce the unfavorable effects of poor mental health on pregnancy outcomes. Trial registration ISRCTN70595832 , 02.12.2011.

1. Requirements for dormancy break and seed germination are specific for all species and depend chiefly on phylogeny, geographical distribution, habitat preference and life cycle. Studying germination requirements of closely related species with a similar geographic distribution allows one to attribute variation in germination requirements to differences in habitat preference between the species. 2. We investigated requirements for dormancy break and the effect of environmental signals on induction of germination in seeds of four closely related Caryophyllaceae species growing in a variety of habitats (Moehringia trinervia, Stellaria holostea, S. nemorum and S. graminea). The species studied depend on disturbances in the vegetation for seed germination and subsequent seedling establishment. 3. Seedlings of all four species emerged both in summer and spring. Stellaria nemorum and M. trinervia, both growing in temperate forests, emerged mainly in summer under a closed forest canopy. Seeds of S. graminea, occurring in grasslands, did germinate in summer at an open site, but could not germinate under a closed forest canopy. Seedlings of S. holostea were observed in late summer when buried at an open site or in early spring when sown in a forest patch. 4. Seeds of S. holostea and M. trinervia were completely dormant at dispersal in early summer, while germination was low in fresh seeds of S. graminea and S. nemorum. Dormancy was broken, to a certain extent, during all three after-ripening treatments applied (dry storage, cold and warm stratification). 5. The effect of three gap-detection signals (light, fluctuating temperatures, nitrates) on germination of fresh and dry stored seeds was tested. Seeds of S. holostea only germinated in response to daily fluctuating temperatures. Although light was the most important signal affecting germination of S. graminea and M. trinervia, we also observed a positive effect of fluctuating temperatures and nitrates on germination. The effect of fluctuating temperatures on germination of S. nemorum was small in both light and dark incubated seeds. Seed germination in this species generally occurred in response to addition of light and nitrates. 6. This study on dormancy breaking and germination requirements of the four species enabled us to expose, sometimes subtle, differences in germination requirements. These contrasting germination patterns were related to differences in the species' habitat preferences.

• The influence of seasonal factors on the germination of impermeable seeds of Fabaceae was studied. Seeds of 14 herbaceous species were buried for up to 2.5 yr and exposed to natural seasons. At regular intervals, seeds were exhumed and germination was tested in four different temperature regimes. Some species had a very low percentage germination regardless of season, others germinated predominantly in the autumn. • Six species showed a marked seasonal cycle with high germination percentages in spring and very low percentages in other seasons. The results of the burial experiment were similar to the pattern of seedling emergence in field conditions. • High percentage germination in spring could be simulated in controlled conditions for Melilotus albus, Medicago lupulina, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium pratense and T. repens. Seeds of T. pratense had a high percentage germination after cold treatment, whereas seeds of the other four species were brought to germination by chilling for 8 wk followed by exposure to daily alternating temperatures (15/6°C or 20/10°C). Without previous chilling, these seeds did not respond to the alternating temperatures. • At least for some legume species, a combination of temperature treatments may act as a signal for seeds and induce water uptake and germination. If the temperature requirements are not fulfilled, seeds remain impermeable and dormant until the next favourable season.

Among 14 species of herbaceous Fabaceae, all six winter annuals show a marked non-deep physiological dormancy of the embryo in addition to physical dormancy. This physiological dormancy is apparent at 23°C, but not at lower temperatures of 10°C and 5°C and disappears after 3 months of dry storage. These results corroborate the hypothesis that combinational dormancy is a double safety mechanism for delaying germination during summer: physical dormancy postpones germination, and even in early softened seeds germination is prevented by physiological dormancy of the embryo. Softened, swollen seeds of Medicago arabica tolerate a subsequent desiccation and remain viable even after five cycles of dehydration and rehydration. The rate of natural softening of M. arabica seeds increases exponentially at higher temperatures, with a Q10 between 3.4 and 5.1, and obeys the Arrhenius equation. This indicates that a chemical reaction might be involved in breakdown of physical dormancy. Winter annuals with hard seeds show similar properties as winter annuals with permeable seeds: the need for afterripening and requirement of lower temperatures delay germination until autumn. Only one species, Vicia sativa, loses physical dormancy during dry storage. Drying during summer might be a supplementary cue for germination in autumn.

Medical and nursing staff of all involved departments took part in developing and implementing these guidelines. Besides emphasizing the importance of existing guidelines (antiseptic shower, hair removal by clipper, strict hand hygiene, prophylactic antibiotics, limiting OR traffic, tight glycemic control (80 to 110 mg/ dl), and so on), new strategies were introduced. The most important new strategies were nasal decolonization with mupirocin twice daily 48 hours perioperatively, preoperative antiseptic skin preparation twice (chlorhexidine gluconate 0.5%), applying topical skin adhesive to the sternal wound postoperatively and in the case of CABG procedures maintaining a strict barrier between the vein harvesting procedure and the chest procedure.

Short-term phosphate uptake rates were measured on intact ectomycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal Pinus sylvestris seedlings using a new, non-destructive method. Uptake was quantified in semihydroponics from the depletion of Pi in a nutrient solution percolating through plant containers. Plants were grown for 1 or 2 months after inoculation at a low relative nutrient addition rate of 3% d−1 and under P limitation. Four ectomycorrhizal fungi were studied: Paxillus involutus, Suillus luteus, Suillus bovinus and Thelephora terrestris. The Pi-uptake capacity of mycorrhizal plants increased sharply in the month after inoculation. The increase was dependent on the development of the mycobionts. A positive correlation was found between the Pi-uptake rates of the seedlings and the active fungal biomass in the substrate as measured by the ergosterol assay. The highest Pi-uptake rates were found in seedlings associated with fungi producing abundant external mycelia. At an external Pi concentration of 10 μM, mycorrhizal seedlings reached uptake rates that were 2.5 (T. terrestris) to 8.7 (P. involutus) times higher than those of non-mycorrhizal plants. The increased uptake rates did not result in an increased transfer of nutrients to the plant tissues. Nutrient depletion was ultimately similar between mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants in the semihydroponic system. Net Pi absorption followed Michaelis–Menten kinetics: uptake rates declined with decreasing Pi concentrations in the nutrient solution. This reduction was most pronounced in non- mycorrhizal seedlings and plants colonized by T. terrestris. The results confirm that there is considerable heterogeneity in affinity for Pi uptake among the different mycobionts. It is concluded that the external mycelia of ectomycorrhizal fungi strongly influence the Pi-uptake capacity of the pine seedlings, and that some mycobionts are well equipped to compete with other soil microorganisms for Pi present at low concentrations in soil solution.

A low-temperature requirement for dormancy break has been observed frequently in temperate-climate Apiaceae species, resulting in spring emergence of seedlings. A series of experiments was performed to identify dormancy-breaking requirements of Aegopodium podagraria, a nitrophilous perennial growing mainly in mildly shaded places. In natural conditions, the embryos in seeds of A. podagraria grow in early winter. Seedlings were first observed in early spring and seedling emergence peaked in March and April. Experiments using temperature-controlled incubators revealed that embryos in seeds of A. podagraria grow only at low temperatures (5°C), irrespective of a pretreatment at higher temperatures. Seeds did not germinate immediately after embryo growth was completed, instead an additional cold stratification period was required to break dormancy completely. Once dormancy was broken, seeds germinated at a range of temperatures. Addition of gibberellic acid (GA3) had a positive effect on embryo growth in seeds incubated at 10°C and at 23°C, but it did not promote germination. Since seeds of A. podagraria have a low-temperature requirement for embryo growth and require an additional chilling period after completion of embryo growth, they exhibit characteristics of deep complex morphophysiological dormancy.