Accuracy of Model Estimation versus Tanaka and Johnston Arch Length Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This study examines how accurate pediatric dentists are at estimating dental arch lengths by comparing their model estimations (guesstimating the arch length without measuring) to the Tanaka and Johnston mixed dentition arch length analysis. STUDY DESIGN: This study consisted of two parts, a survey of practitioners and a model estimating and measuring component. The survey was designed and given to 44 pediatric dentists to determine how many were practicing orthodontics and using arch length analyses routinely. Then 18 pediatric dentists and 13 pediatric dental residents examined 20 sets of mixed dentition models and estimated how much space was available. These estimations were compared to the calculated gold standard, the Tanaka and Johnston arch length analysis of the same models. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: More than half of the dentists surveyed that practice comprehensive orthodontics use arch length estimates. Pediatric dentists and pediatric dental residents are just as good as each other at estimating arch length. Pediatric dentists and pediatric dental residents underestimated arch length by -3.6 and -3.1 mm, respectively. More research needs to be done to determine if model estimation is a clinically acceptable way to judge arch length.

Genomic and transcriptomic signals of thermal tolerance in heat-tolerant corals (Platygyra daedalea) of the Arabian/Persian Gulf.

Scleractinian corals occur in tropical regions near their upper thermal limits and are severely threatened by rising ocean temperatures. However, several recent studies have shown coral populations can harbour genetic variation in thermal tolerance. Here, we have extended these approaches to study heat tolerance of corals in the Persian/Arabian Gulf, where heat-tolerant local populations experience extreme summer temperatures (up to 36°C). To evaluate whether selection has depleted genetic variation in thermal tolerance, estimate potential future adaptive responses and understand the functional basis for these corals' unusual heat tolerance, we conducted controlled crosses in the Gulf coral Platygyra daedalea. Heat tolerance is highly heritable in this population (h 2  = 0.487-0.748), suggesting substantial potential for adaptive responses to selection for elevated temperatures. To identify genetic markers associated with this variation, we conducted genomewide SNP genotyping in parental corals and tested for relationships between paternal genotype and offspring thermal tolerance. Resulting multilocus SNP genotypes explained a large fraction of variation in thermal tolerance in these crosses (69%). To investigate the functional basis of these differences in thermal tolerance, we profiled transcriptional responses in tolerant and susceptible families, revealing substantial sire effects on transcriptional responses to thermal stress. We also studied sequence variation in these expressed sequences, identifying alleles and functional groups of differentially expressed genes associated with thermal tolerance. Our findings demonstrate that corals in this population harbour extensive genetic variation in thermal tolerance, and heat-tolerant phenotypes differ in both gene sequences and transcriptional stress responses from their susceptible counterparts.

Phylogenetic characterization of transporter proteins in the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.

Metabolic exchange between cnidarians and their symbiotic dinoflagellates is central to maintaining their mutualistic relationship. Sugars are translocated to the host, while ammonium and nitrate are utilized by the dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium spp.). We investigated membrane protein sequences of each partner to identify potential transporter proteins that move sugars into cnidarian cells and nitrogen products into Symbiodinium cells. We examined the facilitated glucose transporters (GLUT), sodium/glucose cotransporters (SGLT), and aquaporin (AQP) channels in the cnidarian host as mechanisms for sugar uptake, and the ammonium and high-affinity nitrate transporters (AMT and NRT2, respectively) in the algal symbiont as mechanisms for nitrogen uptake. Homologous protein sequences were used for phylogenetic analysis and tertiary structure deductions. In cnidarians, we identified putative glucose transporters of the GLUT family and glycerol transporting AQP proteins, as well as sodium monocarboxylate transporters and sodium myo-inositol cotransporters homologous to SGLT proteins. We hypothesize that cnidarians use GLUT proteins as the primary mechanism for glucose uptake, while glycerol moves into cells by passive diffusion. We also identified putative AMT proteins in several Symbiodinium clades and putative NRT2 proteins only in a single clade. We further observed an upregulation of expressed putative AMT proteins in Symbiodinium, which may have emerged as an adaptation to conditions experienced inside the host cell. This study is the first to identify transporter sequences from a diversity of cnidarian species and Symbiodinium clades, which will be useful for future experimental analyses of the host-symbiont proteome and the nutritional exchange of Symbiodinium cells in hospite.

Host adaptation and unexpected symbiont partners enable reef-building corals to tolerate extreme temperatures.

Understanding the potential for coral adaptation to warming seas is complicated by interactions between symbiotic partners that define stress responses and the difficulties of tracking selection in natural populations. To overcome these challenges, we characterized the contribution of both animal host and symbiotic algae to thermal tolerance in corals that have already experienced considerable warming on par with end-of-century projections for most coral reefs. Thermal responses in Platygyra daedalea corals from the hot Persian Gulf where summer temperatures reach 36°C were compared with conspecifics from the milder Sea of Oman. Persian Gulf corals had higher rates of survival at elevated temperatures (33 and 36°C) in both the nonsymbiotic larval stage (32-49% higher) and the symbiotic adult life stage (51% higher). Additionally, Persian Gulf hosts had fixed greater potential to mitigate oxidative stress (31-49% higher) and their Symbiodinium partners had better retention of photosynthetic performance under elevated temperature (up to 161% higher). Superior thermal tolerance of Persian Gulf vs. Sea of Oman corals was maintained after 6-month acclimatization to a common ambient environment and was underpinned by genetic divergence in both the coral host and symbiotic algae. In P. daedalea host samples, genomewide SNP variation clustered into two discrete groups corresponding with Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman sites. Symbiodinium within host tissues predominantly belonged to ITS2 rDNA type C3 in the Persian Gulf and type D1a in the Sea of Oman contradicting patterns of Symbiodinium thermal tolerance from other regions. Our findings provide evidence that genetic adaptation of both host and Symbiodinium has enabled corals to cope with extreme temperatures in the Persian Gulf. Thus, the persistence of coral populations under continued warming will likely be determined by evolutionary rates in both, rather than single, symbiotic partners.

A pragmatic, clinically optimized approach to characterizing adolescent irritability: Validation of parent- and adolescent reports on the Multidimensional Assessment Profile Scales-Temper Loss Scale.

OBJECTIVES: Heightened irritability in adolescence is an impairing symptom that can lead to negative outcomes in adulthood, but effective screening tools are lacking. This study aimed to derive clinically-optimized cutoff scores using the Multidimensional Assessment Profile Scales-Temper Loss (MAPS-TL) to pragmatically identify adolescents with impairing irritability. METHODS: A diverse sample of 79 adolescents and their parents completed the MAPS-TL-Youth version. Stepwise logistic regression analyses were used to determine the items associated with impairment, and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analyses were conducted to derive optimal cutoff scores. RESULTS: Three parent-report items (become frustrated easily, angry/irritable/grouchy throughout the day, difficulty calming down when angry) and two youth-report items (hit/shove/kick when lost temper, difficulty calming down when angry) were strongly associated with impairment. Optimal cutoff scores garnered very good sensitivity (91%, 73%) and specificity (77%, 75%) for the parent- and youth-report versions respectively. Scores above these cutoffs were associated with increased internalizing and externalizing problems and lower overall quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The MAPS-TL clinically optimized irritability scores show preliminary validity for implementation in practical settings to efficiently identify adolescents who need additional evaluation and/or intervention. Further research is important to validate these cutoff scores with larger population-based samples and real-world settings.

Developmentally specified characterization of the irritability spectrum at early school age: Implications for pragmatic mental health screening.

OBJECTIVES: Developmentally specified measures that identify clinically salient irritability are needed for early school-age youth to meaningfully capture this transdiagnostic risk factor for psychopathology. Thus, the current study modeled the normal:abnormal irritability spectrum and generated a clinically optimized screening tool for this population. METHODS: The irritability spectrum was modeled via the youth version of the Multidimensional Assessment Profile Scales-Temper Loss Scale (MAPS-TL-Youth) in children (n = 474; 6.0-8.9 years) using item response theory (IRT). Both cross-cutting core irritability items from the early childhood version and new developmentally specific items were included. Items uniquely associated with impairment were identified and used to derive a brief, clinically optimized irritability screener. Longitudinal data were then utilized to test the predictive utility of this clinically optimized screener in preadolescence (n = 348; 8.0-12.9 years). RESULTS: Most children exhibit irritability regularly, but daily occurrence was rare. Of the top 10 most severe items from the IRT analyses, 9 were from the developmentally specific items added for the MAPS-TL Youth version. Two items associated with concurrent impairment were identified for the clinically optimized irritability screener ("Become frustrated easily" and "Act irritable"). The MAPS-TL-Youth clinically optimized screener demonstrated good sensitivity (69%) and specificity (84%) in relation to concurrent DSM 5 irritability-related diagnoses. Youth with elevated scores on the screener at early school age (ESA) had more than 7x greater odds of irritability-related psychopathology at pre-adolescence. CONCLUSIONS: The MAPS-TL-Youth characterized the developmental spectrum of irritability at ESA and a clinically optimized screener showed promise at predicting psychopathology risk. Rigorous testing of clinical applications is a critical next step.

Characterizing the spectrum of irritability in preadolescence: Dimensional and pragmatic applications.

OBJECTIVES: Characterize the dimensional spectrum of preadolescent (PA) irritability, a robust transdiagnostic vulnerability marker, using the youth version of the Multidimensional Assessment Profiles Temper Loss (MAPS-TL-Youth) scale including common and with developmentally specific items. Based on this, derive and validate a clinically optimized irritability screener to flag psychopathology risk in preadolescents. METHODS: The normal:abnormal irritability spectrum was modeled using MAPS-TL-Youth data from the Multidimensional Assessment of Preschoolers Study (MAPS) Study PA wave (n = 340) via item response theory. Both cross-cutting core items from the MAPS scales and developmentally specific items were used to generate this dimension. Stepwise logistic regression was then used to optimize MAPS-TL-Youth irritability items in relation to Kiddie Schedule of Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia impairment to generate a clinically optimized irritability screener. Receiver operator characteristic analysis identified the irritability threshold for the screener. For the first time, youth self-report of their own irritability on the MAPS-TL was also modeled via the MAPS-TL-Youth-Self-Report (MAPS-TL-Youth-SR). RESULTS: Irritability was unidimensional and ranged from mild and common to severe and rare behaviors. Developmentally specific items allowed detection of more severe irritability. Items for the screener were identified in relation to concurrent impairment. These included low frustration tolerance and pathognomonic severe behaviors. The clinically optimized screener demonstrated very good sensitively (87%) and specificity (81%) in regard to concurrent irritability-related DSM disorders. Modeling of the MAPS-TL-Youth-SR yielded similar results. CONCLUSION: Characterizing the normal: abnormal spectrum of irritability in preadolescence advances application of Research Domain Criteria methods to this developmental period. This foundational work yielded two developmentally specified tools for irritability characterization in preadolescence: a nuanced dimensional scale to precisely characterize the full normal-abnormal irritability spectrum, and a pragmatic, clinically optimized screener suitable for real world use. Future application in mechanistic and clinical studies will be important for establishing validity and incremental utility.

Range-wide population genetic structure of Symbiodinium associated with the Caribbean Sea fan coral, Gorgonia ventalina.

Numerous marine invertebrates form endosymbiotic relationships with dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium, yet few studies have examined the population structure of these symbionts. Here, we elucidate the population genetic structure of Symbiodinium harboured by the Caribbean octocoral Gorgonia ventalina throughout the entire range of the host. We used ten microsatellite loci to survey 35 localities spanning 3124 km across the Caribbean and Western Atlantic. Diversity of Symbiodinium haplotypes was low within colonies of G. ventalina but high among colonies. Despite high haplotypic diversity, significant evidence of clonal reproduction in Symbiodinium was detected, and most clones occurred within localities, not among them. Pairwise measures of F(ST) illustrated significant differentiation in 98% of comparisons between localities, suggesting low levels of gene flow. Clustering analyses identified six genetic groups whose distribution delimited four broad biogeographic regions. There was evidence of some connectivity among regions, corresponding with known geographic and oceanographic features. Fine-scale spatial surveys of G. ventalina colonies failed to detect differentiation among Symbiodinium at the metre scale. However, significant differentiation was observed among Symbiodinium hosted by sympatric G. ventalina colonies of different size/age classes. This cohort effect suggests that Symbiodinium may have an epidemic population structure, whereby G. ventalina recruits are infected by the locally predominant symbiont strain(s), which change over time.

Increased HIV diagnoses in West Virginia counties highly vulnerable to rapid HIV dissemination through injection drug use: a cautionary tale.

PURPOSE: To investigate HIV transmission potential from a cluster of HIV infections among men who have sex with men to persons who inject drugs in 15 West Virginia counties. These counties were previously identified as highly vulnerable to rapid HIV dissemination through injection drug use (IDU) associated with high levels of opioid misuse. METHODS: We interviewed persons with 2017 HIV diagnoses about past-year risk behaviors and elicited sexual, IDU, and social contacts. We tested contacts for HIV and assessed risk behaviors. To determine HIV transmission potential from persons with 2017 diagnoses to persons who inject drugs, we assessed viral suppression status, HIV status of contacts, and IDU risk behaviors of persons living with HIV and contacts. RESULTS: We interviewed 78 persons: 39 with 2017 diagnoses and 39 contacts. Overall, 13/78 (17%) injected drugs in the past year. Of 19 persons with 2017 diagnoses and detectable virus, 9 (47%) had more than or equal to 1 sexual or IDU contacts of negative or unknown HIV status. During the past year, 2/9 had injected drugs and shared equipment, and 1/9 had more than or equal to 1 partner who did so. CONCLUSIONS: We identified IDU risk behavior among persons with 2017 diagnoses and their contacts. West Virginia HIV prevention programs should continue to give high priority to IDU harm reduction.

Stable Symbiodinium composition in the sea fan Gorgonia ventalina during temperature and disease stress.

Like most Caribbean octocorals, Gorgonia ventalina, the common sea fan, harbors endosymbiotic dinoflagellates belonging to the genus Symbiodinium. When stressed, the host can lose these algal symbionts, a phenomenon termed "bleaching." Many cnidarians host multiple types of algal symbionts within the genus Symbiodinium, and certain types of algae may be more tolerant of stress than others. We examined the effects of temperature, temperature-induced bleaching, and infection by Aspergillus sydowii, a fungal pathogen, on Symbiodinium types harbored by the sea fan Gorgonia ventalina in the Florida Keys. Symbiont type, identified on the basis of variation in small subunit nuclear ribosomal genes or large subunit chloroplast ribosomal genes, did not vary with temperature treatment or infection status. Although allelic variation based on one microsatellite locus was found among samples and reef site, it did not consistently correlate with temperature, treatment, or disease status, suggesting that the symbiont-host relationship is stable. An aberrant PCR product was found in samples collected at one site and could be used to differentiate Symbiodinium populations among sites in the Florida Keys.

Tracking transmission of apicomplexan symbionts in diverse Caribbean corals.

Symbionts in each generation are transmitted to new host individuals either vertically (parent to offspring), horizontally (from exogenous sources), or a combination of both. Scleractinian corals make an excellent study system for understanding patterns of symbiont transmission since they harbor diverse symbionts and possess distinct reproductive modes of either internal brooding or external broadcast spawning that generally correlate with vertical or horizontal transmission, respectively. Here, we focused on the under-recognized, but apparently widespread, coral-associated apicomplexans (Protista: Alveolata) to determine if symbiont transmission depends on host reproductive mode. Specifically, a PCR-based assay was utilized towards identifying whether planula larvae and reproductive adults from brooding and broadcast spawning scleractinian coral species in Florida and Belize harbored apicomplexan DNA. Nearly all (85.5%; n = 85/89) examined planulae of five brooding species (Porites astreoides, Agaricia tenuifolia, Agaricia agaricites, Favia fragum, Mycetophyllia ferox) and adults of P. astreoides were positive for apicomplexan DNA. In contrast, no (n = 0/10) apicomplexan DNA was detected from planulae of four broadcast spawning species (Acropora cervicornis, Acropora palmata, Pseudodiploria strigosa, and Orbicella faveolata) and rarely in gametes (8.9%; n = 5/56) of these species sampled from the same geographical range as the brooding species. In contrast, tissue samples from nearly all (92.0%; n = 81/88) adults of the broadcast spawning species A. cervicornis, A. palmata and O. faveolata harbored apicomplexan DNA, including colonies whose gametes and planulae tested negative for these symbionts. Taken together, these data suggest apicomplexans are transmitted vertically in these brooding scleractinian coral species while the broadcast spawning scleractinian species examined here acquire these symbionts horizontally. Notably, these transmission patterns are consistent with those of other scleractinian coral symbionts. While this study furthers knowledge regarding these symbionts, numerous questions remain to be addressed, particularly in regard to the specific interaction(s) between these apicomplexans and their hosts.

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in Symbiodinium B1/B184, the dinoflagellate symbiont of the Caribbean sea fan coral, Gorgonia ventalina.

Here we report primers targeting 10 microsatellite loci of dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodinium (clade B1/B184) symbiotic with the Caribbean sea fan coral, Gorgonia ventalina. Primers were tested on 12 Symbiodinium B1/B184 cultures, as well as 40 genomic DNA extracts of G. ventalina tissue samples. All loci were polymorphic with allelic richness ranging from 4-16. Gene diversity ranged from 0.15 to 0.91. These primers provide powerful tools for examining the fine-scale population structure and dynamics of Symbiodinium within a single host species.