Integrating father involvement into early childhood initiatives delivered at scale: key considerations

Early child development (ECD) interventions, usually centered around the mother, exclude fathers from contributing to childcare. Research shows that a father’s involvement in childcare can have a positive impact on the child’s growth. In this light, a trial was conducted in rural India wherein a new program component aimed at enhancing fathers’ engagement in early child was incorporated into an existing childcare intervention. The paper highlights the learnings drawn from the trial to present pathways to change, that is, strategies needed to embed father involvement as a component within the intervention ecosystem

Nutrition as an important mediator of the impact of background variables on outcome in middle childhood

Adequate nutrition is fundamental to the development of a child's full potential. However, the extent to which malnutrition affects developmental and cognitive outcomes in the midst of co-occurring risk factors remains largely understudied. We sought to establish if the effects of nutritional status varied according to diverse background characteristics as well as to compare the relative strength of the effects of poor nutritional status on language skills, motor abilities, and cognitive functioning at school age. This cross-sectional study was conducted among school-age boys and girls resident in Kilifi District in Kenya. We hypothesized that the effects of area of residence, school attendance, household wealth, age and gender on child outcomes are experienced directly and indirectly through child nutritional status. The use of structural equation modeling (SEM) allowed the disaggregation of the total effect of the explanatory variables into direct effects (effects that go directly from one variable to another) and indirect effects. Each of the models tested for the four child outcomes had a good fit. However, the effects on verbal memory apart from being weaker than for the other outcomes, were not mediated through nutritional status. School attendance was the most influential predictor of nutritional status and child outcomes. The estimated models demonstrated the continued importance of child nutritional status at school-age

A population of deletion mutants and an integrated mapping and exome-seq pipeline for gene discovery in maize

To better understand maize endosperm filling and maturation, we used gamma irradiation of the B73 maize reference line to generate mutants with opaque endosperm and reduced kernel fill phenotypes, and created a population of 1788 lines including 47 Mo17 × F2s showing stable, segregating and viable kernel phenotypes. For molecular characterization of the mutants, we developed a novel functional genomics platform that combined Bulked Segregant RNA and Exome sequencing (BSREx-seq) to map causative mutations and identify candidate genes within mapping intervals. To exemplify the utility of the mutants and provide proof-ofconcept for the bioinformatics platform, we present detailed characterization of line 937; an opaque mutant harboring a 6203-bp in-frame deletion covering six exons within the Opaque-1 gene. In addition, we describe mutant line 146 which contains a 4.8 Kb intra-gene deletion within the Sugary-1 gene and line 916 in which an 8.6 Kb deletion knocks out a Cyclin A2 gene. The publically available algorithm developed in this work improves the identification of causative deletions and its corresponding gaps within mapping peaks. This study demonstrates the utility of gamma irradiation for forward genetics in large non-dense genomes such as maize since deletions often affect single genes. Furthermore, we show how this classical mutagenesis method becomes applicable for functional genomics when combined with state-of-the-art genomics tools

A population of deletion mutants and an integrated mapping and exome-seq pipeline for gene discovery in maize

To better understand maize endosperm filling and maturation, we used gamma irradiation of the B73 maize reference line to generate mutants with opaque endosperm and reduced kernel fill phenotypes, and created a population of 1788 lines including 47 Mo17 × F2s showing stable, segregating and viable kernel phenotypes. For molecular characterization of the mutants, we developed a novel functional genomics platform that combined Bulked Segregant RNA and Exome sequencing (BSREx-seq) to map causative mutations and identify candidate genes within mapping intervals. To exemplify the utility of the mutants and provide proof-ofconcept for the bioinformatics platform, we present detailed characterization of line 937; an opaque mutant harboring a 6203-bp in-frame deletion covering six exons within the Opaque-1 gene. In addition, we describe mutant line 146 which contains a 4.8 Kb intra-gene deletion within the Sugary-1 gene and line 916 in which an 8.6 Kb deletion knocks out a Cyclin A2 gene. The publically available algorithm developed in this work improves the identification of causative deletions and its corresponding gaps within mapping peaks. This study demonstrates the utility of gamma irradiation for forward genetics in large non-dense genomes such as maize since deletions often affect single genes. Furthermore, we show how this classical mutagenesis method becomes applicable for functional genomics when combined with state-of-the-art genomics tools

Measurement of expressive vocabulary in school-age children:Development and application of the Kilifi Naming Test (KNT)

The dearth of locally developed measures of language makes it difficult to detect language and communication problems among school-age children in sub-Saharan African settings. We sought to describe variability in vocabulary acquisition as an important element of global cognitive functioning. Our primary aims were to establish the psychometric properties of an expressive vocabulary measure, examine sources of variability, and investigate the measure’s associations with non-verbal reasoning and educational achievement. The study included 308 boys and girls living in a predominantly rural district in Kenya. The developed measure, the Kilifi Naming Test (KNT), had excellent reliability and acceptable convergent validity. However, concurrent validity was not adequately demonstrated. In the final regression model, significant effects of schooling and area of residence were recorded. Contextual factors should be taken into account in the interpretation of test scores. There is need for future studies to explore the concurrent validity of the KNT further

Does cerebral malaria constitute a risk factor for special educational needs?

In a malarial endemic area it is pre-school children who are at most risk of developing cerebral malaria. This study was designed to increase the understanding of the expected outcome for survivors through investigating both cognitive and behavioural aspects of development. A broad assessment battery was developed, taking into account both potential neurological impairments, and the particular social and cultural background of the children being assessed. Tasks, adapted from the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, and measuring information processing skills formed the core. The battery also included measures of attention, visuo-motor speed, language, and behaviour. Modifications were made to all the tests used, following assessment of the reliability and validity of the tools within the study population. A matched pairs design was applied, each "case" being matched on age; sex; and measures of socio-economic and nutritional status. The 87 pairs were assessed at 6 years old, (approximately 50 months post discharge). An investigation was made of the symptoms of the acute stage of the disease, to determine if there were any distinctive characteristics associated with poor outcome. Results on the information processing battery showed no impairments in performance for the majority of children, although a significantly greater number of cases had an impaired performance. This sub-group were identified as in need of specialist educational facilities. A combination of coma; hypoglycaemia; and fits provided the best-fit predictive model for membership of the impaired subgroup. More widespread deficits emerged in measures of language; behaviour and attention/planning. On each of these significant differences were found between cases and controls. This combination of deficits is suggestive of an immaturity in the development of survivors, which, if it should continue, may place these children at risk of educational difficulties at higher levels of schooling, when tasks become more complex