School performance of international adoptees better than expected from cognitive test results

Objective: To investigate school performance of international adoptees in relation to their cognitive competence. Method: From the population of all male Swedish residents born 1973–1976, registered in the census 1985 and with complete test scores from military conscription, the following study groups were identified: Korean adoptees (n = 320), non-Korean adoptees (n = 1,125), siblings (children born by adoptive parents, n = 190) and Swedish majority comparisons (n = 142,024). Global scores from intelligence tests at conscription were compared with grade points from the last compulsory school year (year 9). Linear and logistic regression was applied in statistical analyses. Results: The mean grade points in theoretical subjects were lower in non-Korean adoptees than in the majority population, but when global test scores from military conscription were adjusted for, outcomes were significantly better, equal for physics, than in the majority population. The grade points of Korean adoptees were higher than in the majority population and the same held true after adjusting for global test scores. When SES was taken into account, the risk of poor school performance (only completed lower subject levels) increased in non-Korean adoptees compared to models only adjusted for age and sex. Conclusion: Male international adoptees generally perform better in school than expected by their cognitive competence. A cognitive evaluation is important in the assessment of adoptees with learning difficulties

International comparisons of behavioral and emotional problems in preschool children: parents’ reports from 24 societies

International comparisons were conducted of preschool children’s behavioral and emotional problems as reported on the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1½–5 by parents in 24 societies (N¼19,850). Item ratings were aggregated into scores on syndromes; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–oriented scales; a Stress Problems scale; and Internalizing, Externalizing, and Total Problems scales. Effect sizes for scale score differences among the 24 societies ranged from small to medium (3–12%). Although societies differed greatly in language, culture, and other characteristics, Total Problems scores for 18 of the 24 societies were within 7.1 points of the omnicultural mean of 33.3 (on a scale of 0–198). Gender and age differences, as well as gender and age interactions with society, were all very small (effect sizes<1%). Across all pairs of societies, correlations between mean item ratings averaged .78, and correlations between internal consistency alphas for the scales averaged .92, indicating that the rank orders of mean item ratings and internal consistencies of scales were very similar across diverse societies

Métabolisme de l'azote chez le ray-grass (Lolium perenne L.). Etude par marquage 15

International audienc

Metabolisme de l'azote chez le Ray-grass (Lolium perenne L.). Etude par marquage 15 N des remobilisations d'azote apres une coupe

National audienceThe effects of a partial defoliation on the turn-over of nitrogen compounds were studied during the regrowth of Lolium perenne L. using 15 N labelling. After 5 days of labelling with 15 NH4 15 NO3, 8 week old plants were defoliated 4 cm above the root system and were analysed after 14 days of regrowth on a non-labelled medium. The comparison with unclipped plants shows that foliar nitrogen has two different origins: nitrogen mobilised from reserves and newly absorbed nitrogen. Clipping enhances both absorption from the medium and remobilisation from roots and stubble to new young growing leaves. Analysis of the different nitrogen fractions (nitrate nitrogen, soluble reduced nitrogen and protein nitrogen) shows that proteins from roots and stubble were the major source of remobilised nitrogen. Defoliation, by increasing both proteolysis in the oldest parts of stubble and the remobilisation of root proteins, enhances the recycling of nitrogen to the young growing leaves. Nitrate accumulation in roots and stubble following defoliation could be directly related to the decrease of total soluble carbohydrate content.L’effet spécifique d’une défoliation sur les phénomènes de remobilisation et de renouvellement des composés azotés, au cours d’une repousse, est étudié par marquage 15 N, chez le ray-grass anglais (Lotium perenne L.). Après 5 jours de contact avec 15 NH4 15 NO3 les plantes âgées de 8 semaines sont défoliées puis analysées après 14 jours de repousse. La comparaison avec des témoins (plantes non coupées), montre que l’azote foliaire présente une double origine: réserves azotées et azote nouvellement absorbé. La défoliation accroît à la fois le prélèvement d’azote dans le milieu et la remobilisation de l’azote des racines et des chaumes vers les feuilles en cours de repousse. L’analyse des fractions nitrique, azote soluble réduit et protéique permet de constater que les protéines des racines et des chaumes constituent la source majeure de l’azote remobilisé. La défoliation, en activant la protéolyse au niveau des parties les plus âgées des chaumes et la remobilisation des protéines racinaires, favorise le recyclage de l’azote vers les feuilles en cours de repousse. L’augmentation de la teneur en nitrate des racines et des chaumes, consécutive à la coupe, serait concomitante de la chute de la teneur en sucres solubles totaux

Comparison between siblings and twins supports a role for modifier genes in ADPKD.

BACKGROUND: Autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is characterized by intrafamilial variability in renal disease progression, which could result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Although a role for modifier genes has been evidenced in mouse models, direct evidence in ADPKD patients is lacking. The analysis of variability in affected siblings and monozygotic (MZ) twins would help evaluate the relative contribution of environment and genetic factors on renal disease progression in ADPKD. METHODS: The difference in the age at end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were quantified in a large series of ADPKD siblings from western Europe and compared with the values obtained in a series of MZ ADPKD twins from the same geographic area. RESULTS: Fifty-six sibships (including 129 patients) and nine pairs of MZ twins were included. The difference in the age at ESRD was significantly higher in siblings (6.9 +/- 6.0 years, range 2 months to 23 years) than in MZ twins (2.1 +/- 1.9 years, range 1 month to 6 years; P = 0.02). Furthermore, the intraclass correlation coefficient was significantly lower in siblings than in MZ twins (0.49 vs. 0.92, respectively; P = 0.003). The intrafamilial difference in the age at ESRD was not influenced by gender. CONCLUSION: These data substantiate the existence of a large intrafamilial variability in renal disease progression in ADPKD siblings. The fact that the variability in siblings is in a significant excess of that found in MZ twins strongly suggests that modifier genes account for a significant part of this variability