However, AIx depends on the intensity of the reflected wave and as such it will depend on the diameter and elasticity of the small muscular arteries/arterioles at the major sites of pressure wave reflection. Therefore, alterations in muscular smooth muscle tone affecting mainly the small muscular arteries but not the elastic aorta might influence reflected wave intensity and hence AIx independently of PWV. In accordance to this, administration of vasoactive substances will affect AIx and PWV differently. Furthermore, the dissociation between PWV and AIx observed in our study has also been described in individuals with metabolic syndrome, a condition that is also present in a number of women who develop PE. The aim of the current study was to investigate the maternal cardiovascular adaptation and in particular arterial stiffness in women destined to develop PE and not to assess whether arterial stiffness indices could be used as predictors of PE development. Therefore, we did not attempt to create predictive models and receiver-operating characteristics curve analysis. Furthermore, this was a cross-sectional study and as such we cannot comment on the longitudinal changes of maternal arterial stiffness during pregnancy complicated by PE. However, our results should encourage further research, involving larger number of women, to establish the predictive value of PWV in PE development and its use in patient’s management. The study demonstrated Apoptosis Activator 2 significant maternal hemodynamic/ arterial stiffness differences between women destined to develop PE and those did not. The extent to which arterial stiffness is useful in screening for PE in unselected and high risk populations remains to be determined. Initially there was confusion regarding the taxonomic status and geographic origin of the King Island Emu, particularly with respect to their relationship to Kangaroo Island Emu,Antipyrine which were also transported to France as part of the same expedition. The expeditions logbooks failed to clearly state where and when dwarf emu individuals were collected. This led to both taxa being interpreted as a single taxon and that it originated from Kangaroo Island. More recent finds of sub-fossil material and subsequent studies on King and Kangaroo Island Emu confirm their separate geographic origin and distinct morphology. There are few morphological differences that distinguish dwarf emu taxa from modern Emu besides their size, but all three taxa are now nevertheless considered separate species. The remains of the Tasmanian Emu are scarce. There are suggestions this bird was slightly smaller than the modern Emu, but in conflict, other evidence indicates that both are similar in size. The Tasmanian Emu has to date, been considered a subspecies of the modern Emu. This is likely to continue until more conclusive evidence clarifies this matter. Fossil emu from mainland Australia display a more ‘‘average’’ range of sizes between that of the dwarf and modern taxa. To investigate the relationship between the modern Emu and the King Island Emu we characterised the complete mitochondrial control region and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I as well as part of the nuclear encoded melanocortin 1 receptor gene. In contrast to previous unsuccessful attempts to isolate DNA from King Island Emu, we used a multiplex PCR approach to amplify these loci from sub-fossil King Island Emu remains, and report the first ancient DNA sequences recovered for this taxon.