bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do Infants Need Social Cognition to Act Socially? An Alternative Look at Infant Pointing
Authors: D'Entremont Barbara , Seamans Elizabeth
Published: June 2007

Tomasello, Carpenter, and Liszkowski (2007) present a comprehensive review of the infant pointing literature. They conclude that infant pointing demonstrates communicative intent from its onset, at about 1 year of age. In this commentary, it is noted that for infants to understand communicative intent, they must have a concept of self and others as intentional agents. Evidence is reviewed to argue that this is not possible until 18–24 months of age. A leaner explanation of how infants might initially succeed in pointing tasks without understanding communicative intent is considered.
Pointing Behaviors in Apes and Human Infants: A Balanced Interpretation
Authors: Gómez Juan‐Carlos
Published: June 2007

This article presents a tentatively “balanced” view (i.e., midway between lean and rich interpretations) of pointing behavior in infants and apes, based upon the notion of intentional reading of behavior without simultaneous attribution of unobservable mental states. This can account for the complexity of infant pointing without attributing multilayered mindreading to infants. It can also account for ape pointing, which shares some of the complexities of infant pointing, but departs from it in other respects, notably in its range of motives and its focus upon the regulation of executive behavior. The article explores some explanations for these similarities and differences and calls for a new look at human infant communication unbiased by adult communication models.
Infant Pointing: Communication to Cooperate or Communication to Learn?
Authors: Southgate Victoria , Van Maanen Catharine , Csibra Gergely
Published: June 2007

Tomasello, Carpenter, and Liszkowski (2007)present compelling data to support the view that infant pointing, from the outset, is communicative and deployed in many of the same situations in which adults would ordinarily point for one another, either to share their interest in something, or to informatively help the other person. This commentary concurs with the view that infant pointing is a communicative gesture, but challenges their interpretation of the motives behind pointing in 12‐month‐olds. An alternative account is proposed, according to which infant pointing is neither declarative nor imperative, butinterrogative, and rather than being driven by the motive to share or help, it may serve a powerful cultural learning mechanism by which infants can obtain information from knowledgeable adults.
Developmental Changes in the Coherence of Essentialist Beliefs About Psychological Characteristics
Authors: Gelman Susan A. , Heyman Gail D. , Legare Cristine H.
Published: June 2007

Essentialism is the belief that certain characteristics (of individuals or categories) may be relatively stable, unchanging, likely to be present at birth, and biologically based. The current studies examined how different essentialist beliefs interrelate. For example, does thinking that a property is innate imply that the property cannot be changed? Four studies were conducted, examining how children (N=195, grades 1–7; ages 7–13) and adults (N=187) reason about familiar and novel social characteristics. By 3rd grade (9 years), children showed some coherence of essentialist beliefs. In contrast, younger children expected less interrelatedness among dimensions than older children or adults. These findings suggest that essentialist attributions at first consist of separate strands that children eventually link together into a more coherent understanding.
Adolescents' Cognitive and Emotional Responses to Marital Hostility
Authors: Buehler Cheryl , Lange Garrett , Franck Karen L.
Published: June 2007

Early adolescents' (11–14 years) responses to marital hostility were examined in a sample of 416 families. The cognitive‐contextual perspective and emotional security hypothesis guided the study and 9 adolescent responses were identified. Prospective associations were examined in several structural equation models that included adolescent problems as outcomes. Self‐blame and perceived threat uniquely mediated the association between Year 1 marital hostility and Year 3 adolescent externalizing problems (p<.05). Self‐blame, lower constructive representations, internalization of feelings, avoidance, and emotional dysregulation uniquely mediated the association between Year 1 marital hostility and Year 3 internalizing problems. Specific cognitive and emotionally based responses are important to understanding how martial hostility affects youth and need to be considered within an integrated model.
Training Parents to Mediate Sibling Disputes Affects Children's Negotiation and Conflict Understanding
Authors: Smith Julie , Ross Hildy
Published: June 2007

The effects of training parents to use formal mediation procedures in sibling disputes were examined in 48 families with 5‐ to 10‐years‐old children, randomly assigned to mediation and control conditions. Children whose parents were trained in mediation were compared with those whose parents intervened normally. Parents reported that children used more constructive conflict resolution strategies, compromised more often, and controlled the outcomes of conflicts more often in mediation families than in control families. Observations indicated less negativity in children's independent negotiations of recurrent conflicts, better understanding of the role of interpretation in assessing blame, and better knowledge of their siblings' perspectives in the mediation group. Thus, both social and social‐cognitive gains resulted from experience with constructive conflict resolution.
Doing the Right Thing: Infants' Selection of Actions to Imitate From Observed Event Sequences
Authors: Brugger Amy , Lariviere Leslie Adams , Mumme Donna L. , Bushnell Emily W.
Published: June 2007

Two studies were conducted to investigate how 14‐ to 16‐month‐old infants select actions to imitate from the stream of events. In each study, an experimenter demonstrated two actions leading to an interesting effect. Aspects of the first action were manipulated and whether infants performed this action when given the objects was observed. In both studies, infants were more likely to imitate the first action when it was physically necessary to generate the effect, and in Study 2 they were also more likely to imitate the action when it was socially cued. It seems that infants' own knowledge of space and causality as well as their sensitivity to others' social signals both contribute to their tendency to imitate actions.
Peer Selection and Socialization Effects on Adolescent Intercourse Without a Condom and Attitudes About the Costs of Sex
Authors: Henry David B. , Schoeny Michael E. , Deptula Daneen P. , Slavick John T.
Published: June 2007

This study investigated peer selection and socialization effects on sexual behavior and attitudes using 1,350 15‐ to 18‐year‐old students participating in two waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Regarding socialization effects, friends' intercourse without condoms predicted later individual intercourse without condoms positively. Friends' attitudes about the costs of sex predicted later individual attitudes positively and intercourse without condoms negatively. The latter relation was stronger for females than for males. Regarding selection effects, individual attitudes predicted later friends' attitudes positively, but the strength of this effect varied by ethnicity. The results suggest that adolescents socialize friends to have similar sexual attitudes and behavior but tend to select friends based on similar attitudes rather than similar behaviors.
Mind What Mother Says: Narrative Input and Theory of Mind in Typical Children and Those on the Autism Spectrum
Authors: Slaughter Virginia , Peterson Candida C. , Mackintosh Emily
Published: June 2007

In 2 studies mothers read wordless storybooks to their preschool‐aged children; narratives were analyzed for mental state language. Children's theory‐of‐mind understanding (ToM) was concurrently assessed. In Study 1, children's (N=30;Mage 3 years 9 months) ToM task performance was significantly correlated with mothers' explanatory, causal, and contrastive talk about cognition, but not with mothers' simple mentions of cognition. In Study 2, the same pattern was found in an older sample of typically developing children (N=24;Mage 4 years 7 months), whereas for children on the autism spectrum (N=24;Mage 6 years 7.5 months), ToM task performance was uniquely correlated with mothers' explanatory, causal, and contrastive talk about emotions.
What is to be Done? Children's Ascriptions of Conventional Obligations
Authors: Kalish Charles W. , Cornelius Rebecca
Published: June 2007

It is often not apparent what people ought to do. Three experiments explored cues that children and adults may use to identify conventional obligations. Experiment 1 addressed the hypothesis that young children identify obligations with expected outcomes. Although preschool‐aged (4–5 years) children often expected consistency, they and school‐aged (7–8 years) and adult participants indicated that obligations may be at odds with costs and benefits. In Experiment 2, all participants realized that people may have obligations they are unaware of. Preschool‐aged children often used information about obligations to identify characters' beliefs. In Experiment 3, preschool but not school‐aged children reliably identified obligations with the desires of authorities. The results are discussed in terms of expectations about canonical relations between mental states, outcomes, and obligations.
Children's Aesthetic Understanding of Photographic Art and the Quality of Art‐Related Parent–Child Interactions
Authors: Szechter Lisa E. , Liben Lynn S.
Published: June 2007

This research was designed to examine the quality of children's aesthetic understanding of photographs, observe social interactions between parents and children in this aesthetic domain, and study whether qualitatively different dyadic interactions were associated with children's own aesthetic understanding. Parents and children (7–13 years; 40 dyads) individually completed measures of aesthetic understanding and jointly selected photographs for a souvenir scrapbook. Parents' artistic experience varied widely and was associated with their own performance on aesthetic understanding measures. Children's performance on the individual aesthetic tasks was related to age, but not to parents' art experience nor to the qualities of parent–child discussions of aesthetic concepts. Among both parents and children, artistic experience was associated with aesthetic preferences for photographs.
Adolescent Prosocial Behavior: The Role of Self‐Processes and Contextual Cues
Authors: Wentzel Kathryn R. , Filisetti Laurence , Looney Lisa
Published: June 2007

Peer‐ and teacher‐reported prosocial behavior of 339 6th‐grade (11–12 years) and 8th‐grade (13–14 years) students was examined in relation to prosocial goals, self‐processes (reasons for behavior, empathy, perspective taking, depressive affect, perceived competence), and contextual cues (expectations of peers and teachers). Goal pursuit significantly predicted prosocial behavior, and goal pursuit provided a pathway by which reasons for behavior were related to behavior. Reasons reflected external, other‐focused, self‐focused, and internal justifications for behavior; each reason was related to a unique set of self‐processes and contextual cues. Associations between prosocial outcomes and sex and race (Caucasian and African American) were mediated in part by self‐processes and contextual cues. The implications of studying prosocial behavior from a motivational perspective are discussed.
Development of Gender Attitude Traditionality Across Middle Childhood and Adolescence
Authors: Crouter Ann C. , Whiteman Shawn D. , McHale Susan M. , Osgood D. Wayne
Published: June 2007

The development of gender attitudes in 402 youth (201 firstborn and 201 secondborn siblings) in 201 European American families was examined using data collected on seven occasions across 9 years. Pooling across siblings and using multilevel modeling, we examined gender attitude development from ages 7 to 19. Consistent with an ecological perspective, the combined effects of individual (i.e., sex, age, birth order) and contextual (i.e., parents' gender attitudes, sibling sex) characteristics predicted patterns of change. Although most youth declined in traditionality, the attitudes of firstborn boys with brothers and traditional parents became more traditional over time. No one longitudinal pattern captured the development of gender attitudes; trajectories varied as a function of contextual and personal characteristics.
Salivary Biomarker Levels and Diurnal Variation: Associations With Medications Prescribed to Control Children's Problem Behavior
Authors: Hibel Leah C. , Granger Douglas A. , Cicchetti Dante , Rogosch Fred
Published: June 2007

This study examined associations between medications prescribed to control children's problem behaviors and levels of, and diurnal variation in, salivary cortisol (C), testosterone (T), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Saliva was collected in the morning, midday, and afternoon from 432 children ages 6–13 years. Relative to a no‐medication comparison group, children taking (1) antipsychotics had higher DHEA levels and flat C diurnal rhythms, (2) Ritalin® or Adderall® had flat T diurnal rhythms, (3) Concerta® had higher T and DHEA levels, (4) antidepressants had flat DHEA diurnal rhythms, and (5) hypotensives had flat DHEA diurnal rhythms and higher T levels. Medications prescribed to control children's problem behaviors should be monitored in studies of the endocrine correlates and consequences of developmental psychopathology.
Individual Differences and the Development of Joint Attention in Infancy
Authors: Mundy Peter , Block Jessica , Delgado Christine , Pomares Yuly , Van Hecke Amy Vaughan , Parlade Meaghan Venezia
Published: June 2007

This study examined the development of joint attention in 95 infants assessed between 9 and 18 months of age. Infants displayed significant test–retest reliability on measures of following gaze and gestures (responding to joint attention, RJA) and in their use of eye contact to establish social attention coordination (initiating joint attention, IJA). Infants displayed a linear, increasing pattern of age‐related growth on most joint attention measures. However, IJA was characterized by a significant cubic developmental pattern. Infants with different rates of cognitive development exhibited different frequencies of joint attention acts at each age, but did not exhibit different age‐related patterns of development. Finally, 12‐month RJA and 18‐month IJA predicted 24‐month language after controlling for general aspects of cognitive development.
Developmental Trends for Object and Spatial Working Memory: a Psychophysiological Analysis
Authors: Van Leijenhorst Linda , Crone Eveline A. , Van der Molen Maurits W.
Published: June 2007

This study examined developmental trends in object and spatial working memory (WM) using heart rate (HR) to provide an index of covert cognitive processes. Participants in 4 age groups (6–7, 9–10, 11–12, 18–26,n=20 each) performed object and spatial WM tasks, in which each trial was followed by feedback. Spatial WM task performance reached adult levels before object WM task performance. The differential developmental trends for object and spatial WM found in this study are taken to suggest that these WM components are separable. Negative performance feedback elicited HR slowing that was more pronounced for adults than for children. The development of performance monitoring as indexed by covert HR slowing following performance feedback contributes to WM performance.
Improbable or Impossible? How Children Reason About the Possibility of Extraordinary Events
Authors: Shtulman Andrew , Carey Susan
Published: June 2007

The present study investigated the development of possibility‐judgment strategies between the ages of 4 and 8. InExperiment 1, 48 children and 16 adults were asked whether a variety of extraordinary events could or could not occur in real life. Although children of all ages denied the possibility of events that adults also judged impossible, children frequently denied the possibility of events that adults judged improbable but not impossible. Three additional experiments varied the manner in which possibility judgments were elicited and confirmed the robustness of preschoolers' tendency to judge improbable events impossible. Overall, it is argued that children initially mistake their inability to imagine circumstances that would allow an event to occur for evidence that no such circumstances exist.
Tariff Liberalisation and Increased Administrative Protection: Is There a Quid Pro Quo?
Authors: Feinberg Robert M. , Reynolds Kara M.
Published: June 2007

Theoretical models and intuition suggest that the amount of non‐traditional protection such as anti‐dumping duties will increase as more traditional forms such as tariffs are lowered under multilateral trade agreements. This paper is the first empirical study of the role of tariff liberalisation in the spread of anti‐dumping. Through both correlations and regression approaches we analyse the relationship between tariff concessions made during the Uruguay Round trade negotiations and the filing of anti‐dumping petitions, with particular interest in whether multilateral trade reductions have spurred the recent growth in new users of anti‐dumping policies. We find that, at least for developing economies, tariff reductions agreed to under the Uruguay Round not only increased the likelihood of a country using anti‐dumping protection but also the total number of anti‐dumping petitions filed by countries.
Is Regionalism an Increasing Feature of the World Economy?
Authors: Pomfret Richard
Published: June 2007

Measuring the importance of regionalism in international trade is desirable but difficult. The number of regional trade agreements (RTAs) reported to the WTO or the proportion of world trade which is between countries in an RTA are frequently cited as evidence that regionalism is growing at an accelerating rate. This paper questions whether RTAs really are as important as the headline numbers suggest, or whether they just occupy an excessively large part of policymakers’ and economic journalists’ time. The main contributions are to analyse the number of RTAs and the share of world trade criteria in order to show why both are meaningless in the current world economy. The paper concludes that, although the extent of regionalism is difficult to measure and the desirability of individual RTAs is difficult to assess, the threat to the multilateral trading system does not appear to be as large as is often reported, because the long‐term dynamics of RTAs lead either to state formation, which is important but rare, or to ineffectiveness, which is the fate of the vast majority of RTAs.
Aid and Trade Sustainability under Liberalisation in Least Developed Countries
Authors: Santos‐Paulino Amelia U.
Published: June 2007

This study investigates the effect of trade liberalisation on export growth, import growth, the trade balance and the current account of the balance of payments in 17 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) over the period 1970 to 2001. The paper also assesses the marginal relation between capital flows (e.g. aid flows) and import growth, and the trade balance and the current account of the balance of payments. The higher import growth contrasts with the more modest export growth following trade liberalisation and that has fundamental policy implications, especially for the balance of trade and the balance of payments. However, the financing and sustainability of the trade deficit in the reforming countries will depend not only on the outcome of trade liberalisation, but also on other macroeconomic policies, developments in the real exchange rate and the inflows of foreign capital.
Men at Work and at Home: Managing Emotion in Telework
Authors: Marsh Katy , Musson Gill
Published: June 2007

Home‐based telework, as one of the flexible working options available today, is unique in its ability to blur physically and emotionally the boundaries between work and home. This article explores how men experience working from home, how they construct their identities as workers and as parents in this ambiguous location and how, as fathers, they manage the emotional work of reconciling family and career in this context. Our findings suggest that in order to manage the emotional aspects of telework men will, at times, focus on either the professional or parental part of their identity in their narratives, and at times attempt to ‘have it all’. We conclude that telework can provide a space where men can adopt emotional discourses and practices traditionally associated with women and, particularly, with working mothers.
A population matrix model and population viability analysis to predict the fate of endangered species in highly managed water systems
Authors: Zambrano L. , Vega E. , Herrera M. L. G. , Prado E. , Reynoso V. H.
Published: June 2007

Matrix models and population viability analysis (PVA) have become useful tools to understand population attributes and dynamics. Demography analysis gives valuable information for the management of threatened species, and can be used to create action plans for their conservation. PVA is particularly useful in those species with small population sizes difficult to sample. By calculating the individual fate of each member of the population, PVA simulates temporal population changes and estimates extinction risk over a time period. Here we use these models to analyse the population of axolotl Ambystoma mexicanum, which has decreased more than six times within only 5 years. Its natural environment (the Xochimilco aquatic system within Mexico City) has deteriorated significantly in the last decades. The matrix analysis showed large oscillations in the axolotl population growth rate (damping behaviour), which could explain the fast density reduction in only few generations. Younger ages (eggs and larvae) showed the highest sensitivity and elasticity values, suggesting that the lack of food sources such as zooplankton or the increased predation by exotic carp and tilapia are capable to reduce axolotl density. PVA shows low extinction probabilities using laboratory data for younger ages. However, a small reduction in egg or larvae survival rate is capable to increase extinction probabilities to 100% in 20 years. Based on these results, we found that the best strategy to restore the axolotl population is to increase the survival rate of eggs and larvae by restoring the habitat, eradicating introduced fish and improving water quality, rather than implementing a reintroduction programme.
Characterization and distribution of hyaluronan and the proteoglycans decorin, biglycan and perlecan in the developing embryonic mouse gonad
Authors: Miqueloto C. A. , Zorn T. M.
Published: June 2007

The morphogenesis of tissues and organs requires dynamic changes in cells and in extracellular matrix components. It is known that various extracellular matrix molecules are of fundamental importance for gonad differentiation and growth. In the adult testis, the extracellular matrix represents an important component of the interstitium, participating in the transport of biologically active substances needed for the communication between different cellular components, as well as for the regulation of spermatogenesis and hormone production. The present study was designed in order to identify the proteoglycans biglycan, decorin and perlecan, as well as the glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan, during testis development in mouse embryos. Our data profile the chronology of testis differentiation, as well as the distribution of these extracellular matrix components during testis development in mice. We show that these extracellular matrix molecules are present early in the development of the gonads, suggesting that they play a role in gonad development. In addition, we found no decorin in the testicular cords. Furthermore, of the proteoglycans analysed, only biglycan was seen surrounding immature Sertoli cells and Leydig cell precursors in the testicular cords. This indicates that specific sets of extracellular matrix molecules are required in the various compartments of the developing gonad.
Nicotinic receptor activation by epibatidine induces heme oxygenase‐1 and protects chromaffin cells against oxidative stress
Authors: Egea Javier , Rosa Angelo O. , Cuadrado Antonio , García Antonio G. , López Manuela G.
Published: June 2007

Activation of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) provides neuroprotection against different toxic stimuli that often lead to overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell death. ROS production has been related with disease progression in several neurodegenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases. In this context, we investigated here if the exposure of bovine chromaffin cells to the potent nAChR agonist epibatidine protected against rotenone (30 μmol/L) plus oligomycin (10 μmol/L) (rot/oligo) toxicity, an in vitro model of mitochondrial ROS production. Epibatidine induced a concentration‐ and time‐dependent protection, which was maximal at 3 μmol/L after 24 h. Pre‐incubation with dantrolene (100 μmol/L) (a blocker of the ryanodine receptor channel), chelerythrine (1 μmol/L) (a protein kinase C inhibitor), or PD98059 (50 μmol/L) (a MEK inhibitor), aborted epibatidine‐elicited cytoprotection. Mitochondrial depolarization, ROS, and caspase 3 active produced by rot/oligo were also prevented by epibatidine. Epibatidine doubled the amount of heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1), a critical cell defence enzyme against oxidative stress. Furthermore, the HO‐1 inhibitor Sn(IV) protoporphyrin IX dichloride reversed the epibatidine protecting effects and HO‐1 inducer Co (III) protoporphyrin IX dichloride exhibited neuroprotective effects by itself. The results of this study point to HO‐1 as the cytoprotective target of nAChR activation through the following pathway: endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‐induced Ca2+‐release activates the protein kinase C/extracellular regulated kinase/HO‐1 axis to mitigate mitochondrial depolarization and ROS production. This study provides a mechanistic insight on how nAChR activation translates into an antioxidant and antiapoptotic signal through up‐regulation of HO‐1.
Amyloid precursor protein knockdown by siRNA impairs spontaneous alternation in adult mice
Authors: Senechal Yann , Kelly Peter H. , Cryan John F. , Natt Francois , Dev Kumlesh K.
Published: June 2007

The cleavage‐product of amyloid precursor protein (APP) constitutes the core component of plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. APP is ubiquitously expressed and its precise physiological functions remain unclear. This protein has been proposed to regulate synaptic function and processes underlying learning and memory. While APP knockout mice show behavioral impairments, these may occur due to early changes during development and/or due to abolition of APP function in adult. To investigate the acute effects of APP knockdown without involving developmental processes, APP expression was reduced using RNA interference in adult mouse brain. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that down‐regulated mouse APP protein levels (APP‐siRNA) were identified using an APP plasmid‐siRNA co‐transfection assay in mouse NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells. Infusion of APP‐siRNAs into the ventricular system for 2 weeks also down‐regulated APP mRNA in mouse brain. Highest knockdown of APP mRNA levels was found in the CA2‐CA3 regions of the hippocampus. Mice treated with the most active APP‐siRNA showed a significant reduction in spontaneous alternation rate in the Y‐maze, without effects on forelimb grip strength or locomotor activity. These data suggest that acute knockdown of APP in adult mouse brain impairs hippocampus‐dependent spatial working memory.
Cholesterol supports the retinoic acid‐induced synaptic vesicle formation in differentiating human SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma cells
Authors: Sarkanen Jertta‐Riina , Nykky Jonna , Siikanen Jutta , Selinummi Jyrki , Ylikomi Timo , Jalonen Tuula O.
Published: June 2007

Synaptic vesicle formation, vesicle activation and exo/endocytosis in the pre‐synaptic area are central steps in neuronal communication. The formation and localization of synaptic vesicles in human SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, differentiated with 12‐o‐tetradecanoyl‐phorbol‐13‐acetate, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, all‐trans‐retinoic acid (RA) and cholesterol, was studied by fluorescence microscopy and immunocytochemical methods. RA alone or together with cholesterol, produced significant neurite extension and formation of cell‐to‐cell contacts. Synaptic vesicle formation was followed by anti‐synaptophysin (SypI) and AM1‐43 staining. SypI was only weakly detected, mainly in cell somata, before 7 days in vitro, after which it was found in neurites. Depolarization of the differentiated cells with high potassium solution increased the number of fluorescent puncta, as well as SypI and AM1‐43 co‐localization. In addition to increase in the number of synaptic vesicles, RA and cholesterol also increased the number and distribution of lysosome‐associated membrane protein 2 labeled lysosomes. RA‐induced Golgi apparatus fragmentation was partly avoided by co‐treatment with cholesterol. The SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line, differentiated by RA and cholesterol and with good viability in culture, is a valuable tool for basic studies of neuronal metabolism, specifically as a model for dopaminergic neurons.
Genome‐wide survey of Tribolium castaneum microsatellites and description of 509 polymorphic markers
Authors: DEMUTH JEFFERY P. , DRURY DOUGLAS W. , PETERS MORGAN L. , VAN DYKEN J. DAVID , PRIEST NICHOLAS K. , WADE MICHAEL J.
Published: June 2007

We survey the Tribolium castaneum whole genome sequence for 1–6 bp microsatellite motifs. Of the > 12 000 microsatellites discovered, we screened 981 primer pairs which yielded 509 polymorphic markers. We report polymorphism data for pooled DNA samples from three to 11 geographically widespread T. castaneum populations as well as heterozygosity for a subset of the markers. The composition and chromosomal distribution of microsatellites is briefly discussed in relation to previous studies.
kernelpop, a spatially explicit population genetic simulation engine
Authors: STRAND ALLAN E. , NIEHAUS JAMES M.
Published: June 2007

Individual‐based, spatially explicit models provide a mechanism to understand distributions of individuals on the landscape; however, few models have been coupled with population genetics. The primary benefits of such a combination is to assess performance of population‐genetic estimators in realistic situations. kernelpop represents a flexible framework to implement almost any arbitrary population‐genetic and demographic model in a spatially explicit context using a variety of dispersal kernels. Estimates of type I error associated with genome scans in metapopulations are provided as an illustration of this software's utility.
Microsatellite markers from an expressed sequence tag library of half‐smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) and their application in other related fish species
Authors: LIU Y. G. , SUN X. Q. , GAO H. , LIU L. X.
Published: June 2007

Microsatellite markers have been developed from a cDNA library of half‐smooth tongue sole, Cynoglossus semilaevis. Twenty‐five microsatellites were selected for designing microsatellite primers, of which 11 gave working primer pairs. They had between four and 12 alleles. Observed and expected heterozygosities varied from 0.60 to 0.90 and from 0.57 to 0.88, respectively. Five additional fish species assessed for cross‐species amplification revealed between one and four positive amplifications and between 0 and four polymorphic loci per species.
Microsatellites from clade B Symbiodinium spp. specialized for Caribbean corals in the genus Madracis
Authors: PETTAY DANIEL T. , LAJEUNESSE TODD C.
Published: June 2007

In order to determine boundaries of genetic recombination among putative ‘species’ of endosymbiotic dinoflagellates, nine polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed and optimized for clade B Symbiodinium designated as type 7 (B7) and two related types, B13 and B13a. Together, they form a subclade in clade B that is specific to Caribbean corals in the genus Madracis. A total of 52 samples were analysed (including 43 B7, 2 B13, 7 B13a) originating from seven Caribbean locations. Diversity indices at each haploid locus ranged from 0.302 to 0.836 and four to 14 alleles were found per locus. The loci were preliminarily cross‐tested on closely related ‘ancestral’ B1 populations found in maze coral Meandrina meandrites and that of another host specialist, B5, from the lesser starlet coral Siderastrea radians.
Microsatellite markers isolated from polyploid wood‐sorrel Oxalis alpina (Oxalidaceae)
Authors: TSYUSKO OLGA V. , TUBERVILLE TRACEY D. , PETERS MAUREEN B. , CRAWFORD NICHOLAS , HAGEN CRIS , WELLER STEPHEN G. , SAKAI ANN K. , GLENN TRAVIS C.
Published: June 2007

Twelve polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated from polyploid alpine wood‐sorrel, Oxalis alpina (Oxalidaceae), and optimized for future studies of its breeding system. The loci were screened for variability among 72 individuals from Pinos Altos, New Mexico. The primers amplified loci with allele number ranging from two to 17 per locus and with estimates of Nei's genetic diversity varying from 0.10 to 0.99. These primers provide an opportunity to use polymorphic DNA markers to study the causes of breeding system variability in this species.
Isolation and characterization of tetranucleotide microsatellite markers in a mouth‐brooding haplochromine cichlid fish (Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor victoriae) from Uganda
Authors: CRISPO ERIKA , HAGEN CRIS , GLENN TRAVIS , GENEAU GENEVIÈVE , CHAPMAN LAUREN J.
Published: June 2007

Eight tetranucleotide microsatellite loci were isolated from the haplochromine cichlid fish, Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor victoriae, an important model species for studies in respiratory ecology, conservation, and evolution. We surveyed variation at these loci in 23 individuals from western Uganda, finding four to 19 alleles per locus and an average expected heterozygosity of 0.8575. These microsatellite loci will be used to examine gene flow and population structure in Ugandan P. m. victoriae.
Understanding Pensions: Cognitive Function, Numerical Ability and Retirement Saving*
Authors: Banks James , Oldfield Zoë
Published: June 2007

In a world of declining state pension provision, it is becoming increasingly important that individuals are able to understand the financial choices they face and can choose savings products, portfolios and contribution rates accordingly. In this paper, we look at numerical ability and other dimensions of cognitive function in a sample of older adults in England and examine the extent to which these abilities are correlated with various measures of wealth and retirement saving outcomes. As well as finding that relatively large fractions of the older population can be seen to have low levels of numeracy, we show that numeracy levels are strongly correlated with measures of retirement saving and investment portfolios, even when controlling for other dimensions of cognitive ability as well as educational attainment. Numeracy is also related to knowledge and understanding of pension arrangements, and with perceived financial security. In the short run, there may be a role for targeting simple retirement planning information at low‐numeracy, low‐education groups; a longer‐run goal for retirement saving policy might be to improve numeracy levels more generally.
Business Optimism for Small, Medium and Large Firms: Does It Explain Investment?*
Authors: Driver Ciaran
Published: June 2007

We use UK survey data on variation in business optimism by manufacturing size group to estimate the determinants of optimism using OLS and SURE. There are similarities across the size groups but also some differences: the medium‐size group seems to have been unusually affected by real interest rates in recent years. We also model investment authorisations, conditional on business optimism. Again, there are similarities across the size groups. However, the largest‐size group, and possibly also the medium‐size group, seem to be investing less in recent years in relation to reported optimism. By contrast, capital investment by smaller‐sized firms has been stable in relation to business optimism. Some tentative explanations for these findings are explored.
Making the Stability Pact More Flexible: Does It Lead to Pro‐Cyclical Fiscal Policies?*
Authors: Mackiewicz Michał
Published: June 2007

One of the often‐discussed negative aspects of the Stability and Growth Pact is the rigidity of its deficit rule. Several reform proposals aim currently to alleviate the rule in order to allow the automatic stabilisers to operate freely. However, such a reform is likely to cause even further deterioration of fiscal balances in the EMU member countries. The empirical evidence presented in this paper shows that, in the past, increasing the structural deficit had a strong negative impact on the degree of anti‐cyclical fiscal stabilisation. This suggests that the reform of the Pact, through higher structural deficits, could decrease rather than increase the scope of anti‐cyclical fiscal actions in the EMU member countries.
Mortality Risk in Older Inner‐City African Americans
Authors: Malmstrom Theodore K. , Andresen Elena M. , Wolinsky Fredric D. , Philip Miller J. , Stamps Kathryn , Miller Douglas K.
Published: June 2007

OBJECTIVES: To investigate mortality risks in a sample of poor, inner‐city‐dwelling, older African Americans.

DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.

SETTING: St. Louis, Missouri.

PARTICIPANTS: Six hundred twenty‐two African Americans aged 68 to 102 at the time of their 1992 to 1994 baseline interviews.

MEASUREMENTS: Risk factors previously identified in the literature were examined for seven categories: demographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, biomedical, disability and physical function, perceived health, and health services utilization. Vital status was ascertained through 2002.

RESULTS: Three hundred eighty‐six subjects (62.1%) were deceased and 236 were alive (mortality higher than in matched controls). Significant risks for mortality were older age, male sex, annual income less than $10,000, cancer, cerebrovascular disease, dependencies in lower‐body function, and number of physician visits in the 12 months before baseline.

CONCLUSION: In addition to improving the risk factors for stroke and malignant disease in this population, studies focused on improving lower‐body functioning may be warranted as a part of efforts aimed at enhancing longevity in older African‐American adults.
Age‐Varying Association Between Blood Pressure and Risk of Dementia in Those Aged 65 and Older: A Community‐Based Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Li Ge , Rhew Isaac C. , Shofer Jane B. , Kukull Walter A. , Breitner John C. S. , Peskind Elaine , Bowen James D. , McCormick Wayne , Teri Linda , Crane Paul K. , Larson Eric B.
Published: June 2007

OBJECTIVES: To assess variation in the association between blood pressure (BP) and risk for dementia across a spectrum of older ages and to examine BP changes before dementia onset.

DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.

SETTING: A large health maintenance organization in Seattle, Washington.

PARTICIPANTS: A cohort of 2,356 members of a large health maintenance organization aged 65 and older who were initially without dementia.

MEASUREMENTS: Dementia diagnosis was assessed biennially, and systolic (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were measured at baseline and at four follow‐up assessments. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) associated with baseline BP in different age groups.

RESULTS: Within the youngest age group (65–74 at enrollment) a greater risk for dementia was found in participants with high SBP (≥160 mmHg) (hazard ratio (HR)=1.60, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.01–2.55) or borderline‐high DBP (80–89 mmHg) (HR=1.59, 95% CI=1.07–2.35) than for those with normal BP (SBP <140 mmHg and DBP <80 mmHg). The dementia risk associated with SBP declined with increasing age (SBP‐by‐age interaction, P=.01). SBP declined similarly with aging in subjects who developed dementia and those who did not. Thus, in this sample, the association between SBP and dementia risk was not dependent on when BP was measured in relation to onset of dementia.

CONCLUSION: High SBP was associated with greater risk of dementia in the young elderly (<75) but not in older subjects. Adequate control of hypertension in early old age may reduce the risk for dementia.
Increased Satisfaction with Care and Lower Costs: Results of a Randomized Trial of In‐Home Palliative Care
Authors: Brumley Richard , Enguidanos Susan , Jamison Paula , Seitz Rae , Morgenstern Nora , Saito Sherry , McIlwane Jan , Hillary Kristine , Gonzalez Jorge
Published: June 2007

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether an in‐home palliative care intervention for terminally ill patients can improve patient satisfaction, reduce medical care costs, and increase the proportion of patients dying at home.

DESIGN: A randomized, controlled trial.

SETTING: Two health maintenance organizations in two states.

PARTICIPANTS: Homebound, terminally ill patients (N=298) with a prognosis of approximately 1 year or less to live plus one or more hospital or emergency department visits in the previous 12 months.

INTERVENTION: Usual versus in‐home palliative care plus usual care delivered by an interdisciplinary team providing pain and symptom relief, patient and family education and training, and an array of medical and social support services.

MEASUREMENTS: Measured outcomes were satisfaction with care, use of medical services, site of death, and costs of care.

RESULTS: Patients randomized to in‐home palliative care reported greater improvement in satisfaction with care at 30 and 90 days after enrollment (P<.05) and were more likely to die at home than those receiving usual care (P<.001). In addition, in‐home palliative care subjects were less likely to visit the emergency department (P=.01) or be admitted to the hospital than those receiving usual care (P<.001), resulting in significantly lower costs of care for intervention patients (P=.03).

CONCLUSION: In‐home palliative care significantly increased patient satisfaction while reducing use of medical services and costs of medical care at the end of life. This study, although modest in scope, presents strong evidence for reforming end‐of‐life care.
Energy Requirements in Hospitalized Elderly People
Authors: Alix Emmanuel , Berrut Gilles , Boré Maryvonne , Bouthier‐Quintard Françoise , Buia Jean Marie , Chlala André , Cledat Yves , D'Orsay Geneviève , Lavigne Christian , Levasseur Régis , Mouzet Jean Baptiste , Ombredanne Marie Pierre , Sallé Agnès , Gaillard Cathy , Ritz Patrick
Published: June 2007

OBJECTIVES: To estimate energy intake and energy expenditure (EE) in elderly hospitalized patients recovering from an acute illness.

DESIGN: Cross‐sectional evaluation of the disparity between energy intake and expenditure.

PARTICIPANTS: Ninety geriatric patients (mean age±standard deviation 79.7±7.5) admitted to acute care or rehabilitation units.

MEASUREMENTS: Patients' energy intake and resting EE (REE) were measured over a 3‐day period. Blood samples were taken to determine C‐reactive protein (CRP), creatinine, and albumin concentrations and to check renal function.

RESULTS: Energy intake was higher than REE by a factor of 1.29, but it was lower than the energy requirement. Energy intake, adjusted for differences in body weight, was independent of sex, highest in those who were malnourished (defined as a body mass index (BMI) <21), and lowest in patients who scored poorly on the Mini‐Mental State Examination. Energy intake and REE were independent of plasma CRP, creatinine, and albumin concentrations, as well as the initial diagnosis. REE was similar in men and women, at 18.8 kcal/kg per day. REE was 21.4 kcal/kg per day in patients with a BMI of 21 or less and 18.4 kcal/kg per day in those with a BMI greater than 21 kg/m2. The Harris‐Benedict equation accurately predicted mean REE.

CONCLUSION: The mean REE of the geriatric patients studied was 18.8 kcal/kg per day, whereas energy intake was just sufficient to cover minimal requirements. Thus, hospitalized elderly patients are likely to benefit from higher calorie intake.
Preliminary Derivation of a Nursing Home Confusion Assessment Method Based on Data from the Minimum Data Set
Authors: Dosa David , Intrator Orna , McNicoll Lynn , Cang Yuwei , Teno Joan
Published: June 2007

OBJECTIVES: To develop a Nursing Home Confusion Assessment Method (NH‐CAM) for diagnosing delirium using items found on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) and to compare its performance with that of the delirium Resident Assessment Protocol (RAP) trigger and to an additive score of six of the RAP items.

DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study using MDS and Medicare claims data.

SETTING: Free‐standing NHs in urban markets in the 48 contiguous U.S. states.

PARTICIPANTS: Long‐stay residents who returned to their NHs after acute hospitalizations between April and September 2000 (N=35,721).

MEASUREMENTS: Mortality and rehospitalization rates within 90 days of readmission to the NH from the hospital.

RESULTS: Almost one‐third (31.8%) of the residents were identified as having delirium according to the RAP; 1.4% had full delirium, 13.2% had Subsyndromal II delirium, and 17.2% had Subsyndromal I delirium. More‐severe NH‐CAM scores were associated with greater risks of mortality and rehospitalization. NH‐CAM levels were strong independent risk factors for survival and rehospitalization in a Cox model (hazard ratios ranging from 1.5 to 1.9 for mortality and 1.1 to 1.3 for rehospitalization) adjusting for cognitive and physical function, diagnoses, inpatient care parameters, care preferences, and sociodemographic factors.

CONCLUSION: The NH‐CAM successfully stratified NH residents' risk of mortality and rehospitalization. If validated clinically, the NH‐CAM may be useful in care planning and in further research on the determinants and consequences of delirium in the NH.
Septic Arthritis of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint in Cattle: Comparison of Digital Amputation and Joint Resection by Solar Approach
Authors: STARKE A. , HEPPELMANN M. , BEYERBACH M. , REHAGE J.
Published: June 2007

Objective— To determine in cattle with septic arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint (SADIJ) the efficacy of resection of the distal interphalangeal joint (JRES) as a digit salvage technique compared with digital amputation (DAMP).

Study Design— Prospective, randomized clinical study.

Animals— German Holstein–Friesian dairy cattle with SADIJ of 1 hind limb (n=52).

Methods— SADIJ diagnosis was based on clinical examination and radiography. Cows were randomly assigned with owner consent to DAMP (n=26) or JRES (n=26). After JRES, a wooden block was fixed to the partner claw in combination with a tipping claw prophylaxis.

Results— After surgery, degree of lameness improved significantly faster after DAMP than after JRES. New claw diseases in the opposite limb occurred more frequently after JRES (n=6) than after DAMP (n=1). New claw defects developed in the partner claw on the operated limb in 6 cows after DAMP compared with 1 after JRES. Tipping claw was observed in 50% of JRES cows at day 180. Mean life span between groups was not significantly different (DAMP=13.5 months, JRES=10.9 months).

Conclusion— Higher surgical and postsurgical expenditures for JRES were not counterbalanced by a longer productive life; however, frequent disease of the partner claw of cows after DAMP should be considered a critical point, as this generally leads to culling.

Clinical Relevance— The higher expenditure for JRES can be justified only for young, valuable cattle.