bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Infant and toddler oral‐ and manual‐motor skills predict later speech fluency in autism
Authors: Gernsbacher Morton Ann , Sauer Eve A. , Geye Heather M. , Schweigert Emily K. , Hill Goldsmith H. 
Published: November 2007

Background:  Spoken and gestural communication proficiency varies greatly among autistic individuals. Three studies examined the role of oral‐ and manual‐motor skill in predicting autistic children's speech development.Methods:  Study 1 investigated whether infant and toddler oral‐ and manual‐motor skills predict middle childhood and teenage speech fluency; Study 2 verified those early infant and toddler predictions with historical home video; and Study 3 assessed the relation between autistic children's current‐day oral‐motor skill and their speech fluency.Results:  Infant and toddler oral‐motor and manual‐motor skills inter‐correlated significantly, distinguished autistic children (N = 115) from typically developing children (N = 44), and distinguished autistic children whose current‐day speech was minimally fluent (N = 33), moderately fluent (N = 39), and highly fluent (N = 39). These results were corroborated by analysis of historical home video (N = 32) and verified with current‐day assessment (N = 40).Conclusions:  The prominent associations among early oral‐ and manual‐motor skills and later speech fluency bear implications for understanding communication in autism. For instance, these associations challenge the common assumption (made even in diagnostic criteria) that manual modes of communication are available to autistic individuals – if simply they choose to use them. These associations also highlight a potential confound from manual‐motor skills when assessing autistic cognition, receptive language, and ‘nonverbal’ social communication.
The effect of cleft lip and palate, and the timing of lip repair on mother–infant interactions and infant development
Authors: Murray Lynne , Hentges Françoise , Hill Jonathan , Karpf Janne , Mistry Beejal , Kreutz Marianne , Woodall Peter , Moss Tony , Goodacre Tim ,   the Cleft Lip and Palate Study team
Published: November 2007

Background: Children with cleft lip and palate are at risk for psychological problems. Difficulties in mother–child interactions may be relevant, and could be affected by the timing of lip repair.Method: We assessed cognitive development, behaviour problems, and attachment in 94 infants with cleft lip (with and without cleft palate) and 96 non‐affected control infants at 18 months; mother–infant interactions were assessed at two, six and 12 months. Index infants received either ‘early’, neonatal, lip repair, or ‘late’ repair (3–4 months).Results: Index infants did not differ from controls on measures of behaviour problems or attachment, regardless of timing of lip repair; however, infants having late lip repair performed worse on the Bayley Scales of Mental Development; the cognitive development of early repair infants was not impaired. Difficulties in early mother–infant interactions mediated the effects of late lip repair on infant cognitive outcome.Conclusions: Early interaction difficulties between mothers and infants having late repair of cleft lip are associated with poor cognitive functioning at 18 months. Interventions to facilitate mother–infant interactions prior to surgical lip repair should be explored.
Word recognition and cognitive profiles of Chinese pre‐school children at risk for dyslexia through language delay or familial history of dyslexia
Authors: McBride‐Chang Catherine , Lam Fanny , Lam Catherine , Doo Sylvia , Wong Simpson W.L. , Chow Yvonne Y.Y. 
Published: November 2007

Background:  This study sought to identify cognitive abilities that might distinguish Hong Kong Chinese kindergarten children at risk for dyslexia through either language delay or familial history of dyslexia from children who were not at risk and to examine how these abilities were associated with Chinese word recognition. The cognitive skills of interest were syllable awareness, tone detection, rapid automatised naming, visual skill, and morphological awareness.Method:  We recruited 36 children whose sibling had been previously diagnosed with dyslexia (familial risk group) and 36 children who were initially reported to have difficulties in preschool literacy acquisition by either teachers or parents and subsequently found to demonstrate clinical at‐risk factors in aspects of language by paediatricians (language delayed group); the mean age of these groups was approximately 61 months. Thirty‐six children with no such risk factors were matched by age, IQ, and parents’ education to the at‐risk groups. All children were tested on cognitive skills and Chinese word recognition.Results:  Compared to the controls, children in the language delayed group scored significantly lower on all measures, whereas children in the familial risk group performed significantly worse only on tone detection, morphological awareness, and Chinese word recognition. In regression analyses, word recognition was best explained by morphological awareness, tone detection and visual skill.Conclusions:  Language‐related measures are strongly associated with early reading development and impairment in Hong Kong Chinese children. Tests of tone detection and morphological awareness may be important clinical tools for diagnosing risk for reading problems in young Chinese children. In contrast, Chinese language delay may be associated with broader cognitive impairments as found previously in various Indo‐European languages (e.g., Bishop & Snowling, 2004).
Which children receive grandparental care and what effect does it have?
Authors: Fergusson Emma , Maughan Barbara , Golding Jean 
Published: November 2007

Background:  Grandparents are increasingly involved in the care of young children, but little is known about factors associated with this type of care, or its implications for children's behavioural development.Methods:  We used information collected from 8752 families in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) on grandparent involvement when the study children were aged 8, 15 and 24 months; potential maternal and family predictors of grandparent care; and behavioural outcomes at age 4 years.Results:  Forty‐four percent of children were regularly cared for by grandparents at each age. Throughout the sample, key correlates of grandparent care were maternal age and education. In families without access to paid help with childcare, the child's ordinal position, maternal employment, the mother's recall of parenting by her own mother and the reasons for choosing the type of childcare were also associated with variations in grandparent care. Grandparent care was associated with some elevated rates of hyperactivity and peer difficulties at age 4, but these were largely attributable to variations in the types of families using grandparent care.Conclusions:  The popular belief that the extended family is no longer an important part of British life is not borne out by this study. Grandparents played a significant role in the care of their young grandchildren. The modest behavioural sequelae of extensive grandparental care differ from those reported for group‐based day care.
Which forms of child/adolescent externalizing behaviors account for late adolescent risky sexual behavior and substance use?
Authors: Timmermans Maartje , Van Lier Pol A.C. , Koot Hans M. 
Published: November 2007

Background:  Health risk behaviors like substance use (alcohol, tobacco, soft/hard drugs) and risky sexual behavior become more prevalent in adolescence. Children with behavior problems are thought to be prone to engage in health risk behaviors later in life. It is, however, unclear which problems within the externalizing spectrum account for these outcomes.Methods:  Three hundred and nine children were followed from age 4/5 years to 18 years (14‐year follow‐up). Level and course of parent‐rated opposition, physical aggression, status violations and property violations were used to predict adolescent‐reported substance use and risky sexual behavior at age 18 years.Results:  Both level and change in physical aggression were unique predictors of all forms of adolescent health risk behavior. Levels of status violations predicted smoking and soft drug use only, while change in property violations predicted each of the health risk behaviors. The links between opposition and health risk behaviors were accounted for by co‐occurring problem behaviors.Conclusions:  Of externalizing problems, physical aggression is the best predictor of adolescent substance use and risky sexual behavior from childhood onwards. Possible explanations and implications of these findings, and future research directions are discussed.
Effect of gestational hypercholesterolaemia on omental vasoreactivity, placental enzyme activity and transplacental passage of normal and oxidised fatty acids
Authors: Liguori A , D’Armiento FP , Palagiano A , Balestrieri ML , Williams‐Ignarro S , De Nigris F , Lerman LO , D’Amora M , Rienzo M , Fiorito C , Ignarro LJ , Palinski W , Napoli C 
Published: November 2007

Objective  Maternal hypercholesterolaemia during pregnancy increases lipid peroxidation in mothers and fetuses and programs increased susceptibility to atherosclerosis later in life. The objective of this study was to elucidate the role of the placenta in mediating oxidative stress from mother to offspring.Design  Comparison between normo‐ and hypercholesterolaemic mothers (n = 36 each) and their children.Setting  Obstetric wards, hospitals of the University of Naples and Regione Campania.Population  Healthy primiparas delivering by caesarean section.Methods  Biochemical measurements of oxidative stress and serum leptin in cord plasma and placenta, immunochemistry of placenta microvessels, and vasoreactivity studies were performed.Main outcome measures  Oxidative status (i.e. lipid composition and content of oxidised fatty acids, activity of pro‐ and antioxidant enzymes, immunohistochemical presence of oxidation‐specific epitopes) in maternal and cord blood and in placental tissue, as well as vascular reactivity in omental arteries.Results  Hypercholesterolaemia during pregnancy was associated with extensive changes in fatty acid composition of both maternal and cord blood lipids, sufficient to alter vasoreactivity of omental vessels. Results also indicated that the placenta is not only subject to substantial oxidative stress, but that it may further increase fetal oxidative stress through changes of pro‐ and antioxidant enzyme activities.Conclusions  The placenta plays an important role in both transmitting and enhancing pathogenic effects of gestational hypercholesterolaemia.
Tibolone and low‐dose continuous combined hormone treatment: vaginal bleeding pattern, efficacy and tolerability
Authors: Hammar ML , Van De Weijer P , Franke HR , Pornel B , Von Mauw EMJ , Nijland EA ,   TOTAL Study Investigators Group
Published: November 2007

Objectives  The primary objective was to compare the vaginal bleeding pattern during administration of tibolone and low‐dose continuous combined estradiol plus norethisterone acetate (E2/NETA). The secondary objectives were efficacy on vasomotor symptoms and vaginal atrophy.Design  A randomised, double‐blind, double‐dummy, group comparative intervention trial.Setting  Multicentre study executed in 32 centres in 7 European countries.Sample  Five hundred and seventy‐two healthy symptomatic postmenopausal women, aged 45–65 years.Methods  Participants were randomised to receive 2.5 mg tibolone or 1 mg 17β estradiol plus 0.5 mg norethisterone acetate (E2/NETA) daily for 48 weeks.Main outcome measures  Prevalence of vaginal bleeding, hot flushes and adverse events.Results  The incidence of bleeding was significantly lower in the tibolone group during the first 3 months of treatment (18.3 versus 33.1%; P < 0.001) when compared with the E2/NETA group. This effect on the bleeding pattern was sustained throughout the study, although reaching statistical significance again only in 7–9 months of treatment (11 versus 19%; P < 0.05). In both treatment groups, vasomotor symptoms and vaginal atrophy were significantly reduced to a similar extent when compared with baseline. The prevalence of breast pain/tenderness was significantly lower with tibolone compared with E2/NETA (3.2 versus 9.8%; P < 0.001).Conclusion  Tibolone reduces menopausal symptoms to a similar extent as conventional low‐dose continuous combined hormone therapy but causes significant less vaginal bleeding in the first 3 months of treatment. This constitutes an important argument for woman adherence to therapy.
TECHNICAL ADVANCES: Effects of genotyping protocols on success and errors in identifying individual river otters (Lontra canadensis) from their faeces
Authors: HANSEN HEIDI , BEN‐DAVID MERAV , MCDONALD DAVID B. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractIn noninvasive genetic sampling, when genotyping error rates are high and recapture rates are low, misidentification of individuals can lead to overestimation of population size. Thus, estimating genotyping errors is imperative. Nonetheless, conducting multiple polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) at multiple loci is time‐consuming and costly. To address the controversy regarding the minimum number of PCRs required for obtaining a consensus genotype, we compared consumer‐style the performance of two genotyping protocols (multiple‐tubes and ‘comparative method’) in respect to genotyping success and error rates. Our results from 48 faecal samples of river otters (Lontra canadensis) collected in Wyoming in 2003, and from blood samples of five captive river otters amplified with four different primers, suggest that use of the comparative genotyping protocol can minimize the number of PCRs per locus. For all but five samples at one locus, the same consensus genotypes were reached with fewer PCRs and with reduced error rates with this protocol compared to the multiple‐tubes method. This finding is reassuring because genotyping errors can occur at relatively high rates even in tissues such as blood and hair. In addition, we found that loci that amplify readily and yield consensus genotypes, may still exhibit high error rates (7–32%) and that amplification with different primers resulted in different types and rates of error. Thus, assigning a genotype based on a single PCR for several loci could result in misidentification of individuals. We recommend that programs designed to statistically assign consensus genotypes should be modified to allow the different treatment of heterozygotes and homozygotes intrinsic to the comparative method.
Microsatellite loci isolated from the scleractinian coral, Acropora nobilis
Authors: ISOMURA NAOKO , HIDAKA MICHIO 
Published: November 2007

AbstractWe report the isolation and characterization of eight microsatellite loci from the scleractinian coral, Acropora nobilis. The microsatellite loci were obtained using compound SSR primers or an enrichment protocol. All the loci were polymorphic with four to eight alleles per locus and observed heterozygosities ranging from 0.22 to 0.76. Some of the primers developed for the two congeners, Acropora palmata and Acropora millepora were applicable to A. nobilis. These loci are useful for studying the connectivity among A. nobilis populations in Okinawa, southern Japan.
Microsatellite markers isolated from the flightless cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi)
Authors: DUFFIE CAROLINE , GLENN TRAVIS C. , HAGEN CRIS , PARKER PATRICIA 
Published: November 2007

AbstractEight polymorphic microsatellite DNA loci were isolated from the flightless cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi) for future population genetic studies. Genetic variability was assessed using at least 38 individuals from two populations. Allele numbers ranged from three to nine per locus. Mean observed heterozygosity varied from 0.27 to 0.78. No locus deviated from Hardy–Weinberg (HW) or linkage equilibria in either population. The high levels of detected polymorphism indicate the utility of these markers for population genetic studies of this Galápagos species.
Sixteen polymorphic microsatellites in bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) and cross‐amplification in silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)
Authors: CHENG L. , LIU L. , YU X. , TONG J. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractA (GT)n enriched partial genomic library of bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) was constructed by employing the (fast isolation by AFLP of sequences containing repeats) FIASCO protocol. Sixteen loci exhibited polymorphism with two to seven alleles/locus (mean 3.263) in a test population and the observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.100 to 0.690 (mean 0.392). Eleven of the 16 bighead carp microsatellites were found to be also polymorphic in silver carp. These polymorphic loci should provide sufficient level of genetic diversity to evaluate population structure of bighead carp.
Polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers in the penduline tit, Remiz pendulinus
Authors: MÉSZÁROS L. A. , FRAUENFELDER N. , VAN DER VELDE M. , KOMDEUR J. , SZABAD J. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractTo describe the exceptional mating system of the penduline tit, Remiz pendulinus, we aim to combine field observation records with DNA analysis based on polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers. Here we describe features of nine loci and their corresponding polymerase chain reaction primers. The observed number of alleles varied from four to seven and the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.419 to 0.802. Neither of the loci is sex‐linked and as linkage disequilibrium analysis showed they assort independently. Seven of the nine loci were polymorphic in the Cape penduline tit, Anthoscopus minutus.
Application of a predictive model to detect long‐term changes in nest‐site selection in the Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus: conservation in relation to territory shrinkage
Authors: MARGALIDA ANTONI , DONÁZAR JOSÉ ANTONIO , BUSTAMANTE JAVIER , HERNÁNDEZ FRANCISCO JOSÉ , ROMERO‐PUJANTE MARILÓ 
Published: November 2007

In this study we examined long‐term variation in the selection of nesting cliffs for the recovering population of the Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus inhabiting the Spanish Pyrenees. We focussed on variables indicating a high probability of cliff occupancy as determined by a previously published model. Although the breeding population increased from 53 to 93 territories between 1991 and 2002, the breeding range expanded only slightly. New and old nesting cliffs had similar habitat features in relation to topography, altitude and degree of human influence, but the distance between occupied cliffs was reduced (from 11.1 to 8.9 km). Thus the probabilities of occupation predicted by the model were lower for newly colonized locales. Our study shows that territory compression may occur without serious modification of nesting habitat quality. These results may arise from the lack of strong territorial behaviour by Bearded Vultures and the availability of high‐quality cliffs. The relatively low quality of sites in adjacent mountains may prevent the expansion of the breeding range, but conspecific attraction may also play a role. Our study confirms that monitoring changes in key variables important to habitat selection is useful in determining long‐term trends in settlement patterns in heterogeneous environments. The results also suggest that the available nest‐site selection model may accurately predict cliff occupancy by Bearded Vultures in those areas where the distance to the nearest neighbour is not a limiting factor. In particular, the model may be useful in establishing priority areas for reintroduction.
AGENCY CONFLICTS IN DELEGATED PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT: EVIDENCE FROM NAMESAKE MUTUAL FUNDS
Authors: Ferris Stephen P. , (Sterling) Yan Xuemin 
Published: November 2007

AbstractNamesake funds provide a unique sample for studying the two agency conflicts that exist within a mutual fund. The first is between the fund management company and fund shareholders, and the second is between the fund management company and the fund manager. A typical namesake fund manager sits on his or her fund's board, frequently as the chairman, is the majority owner of the fund management company, and has significant investments in the fund he or she manages. Our results indicate that namesake funds charge higher fees, suggesting that the boards of namesake funds are less effective. We find that namesake funds are more tax efficient, consistent with the idea that managerial ownership helps align the interests of managers with those of shareholders. Because of fewer career concerns, namesake fund managers herd less while assuming greater unsystematic risk. We find weak evidence that namesake fund managers outperform their benchmarks and peers. Finally, we observe that namesake funds attract higher levels of investor cash flow.
EXTENSIONS OF THE STANDARDIZED CROSS‐SECTIONAL APPROACH TO SHORT‐HORIZON EVENT STUDIES
Authors: Bremer Ronald , Zhang Zhaohui 
Published: November 2007

AbstractStrong evidence indicates that short‐horizon event‐induced abnormal returns and volatility vary significantly over event days. Event‐study methods that assume constant event‐induced abnormal returns and volatility over event days have potentially inflated Type I error rates and poor test power. Our simple extensions of the Boehmer, Musumeci, and Poulsen (1991) approach scale abnormal returns with conditional variance, which is estimated with GARCH(1,1) and an indicator of the event in a two‐stage estimation. Our method improves the Boehmer, Musumeci, and Poulsen approach on model specification and test power, even under challenging event‐induced mean and volatility structures, and could standardize short‐horizon event studies.
MUTUAL FUND TRADES: ASYMMETRIC LIQUIDITY PREFERENCES AND FUND PERFORMANCE
Authors: Clarke Alex , Cullen Grant , Gasbarro Dominic 
Published: November 2007

AbstractWe investigate the role of the liquidity of stocks traded by mutual funds on the performance of funds experiencing substantial and sustained redemptions (outflows) or inflows. Accordingly, we identify 770 redeeming fund‐periods and 1,757 inflow fund‐periods and find a statistically significant relation between the liquidity of the stocks they trade and the quantity of the stock traded. Notably, when funds experience redemptions, those with low portfolio liquidity have an elevated preference for selling more‐liquid stocks. In the following period, such funds statistically and economically underperform funds that sell less‐liquid stocks. This is consistent with redemptions detrimentally affecting shareholders that remain in a fund.
Eye blink in newborn and preschool‐age children
Authors: Lavezzo Marcelo M. , Schellini Silvana A. , Padovani Carlos R. , Hirai Flavio Eduardo 
Published: November 2007

Abstract.Purpose:  To investigate the dynamics of ocular eyelid movements in newborn infants and preschool‐age children.Methods:  Fifty newborn infants and 200 preschool children aged 4−6 years were examined. Images of each child, with his or her eyes in the primary eye position looking at an object placed at the child's height, were recorded with a digital videocamera for 3 mins. Complete and incomplete blink rates, opening, closing and complete blink times were calculated.Results:  Newborn infants presented a lower number of incomplete movements than preschool children. The complete blink rate was lower in newborn infants (6.2 blinks/min) than in preschool children (8.0 blinks/minute). Eyelid closing, opening and compete blink times were longer in newborn infants than in preschool children at all observation times.Conclusions:  Newborn infants had a different pattern of eyelid movement compared with preschool children. Specific characteristics that are found in this group of children particularly, such as immaturity of the neural system and more resistant tear film, may explain these findings in part.