Input effects across domains:The case of Greek subjects in child heritage language

A recurring question in the literature of heritage language acquisition, and more generally of bilingual acquisition, is whether all linguistic domains are sensitive to input reduction and to cross-linguistic influence and to what extent. According to the Interface Hypothesis, morphosyntactic phenomena regulated by discourse–pragmatic conditions are more likely to lead to non-native outcomes than strictly syntactic aspects of the language (Sorace, 2011). To test this hypothesis, we examined subject realization and placement in Greek–English bilingual children learning Greek as a heritage language in North America and investigated whether the amount of heritage language use can predict their performance in syntax–discourse and narrow syntactic contexts. Results indicated two deviations from the Interface Hypothesis: First, subject realization (a syntax–discourse phenomenon) was found to be largely unproblematic. Second, subject placement was affected not only in syntax–discourse structures but also in narrow syntactic structures, though to a lesser degree, suggesting that the association between the interface status of subject placement and its sensitivity to heritage language use among children heritage speakers is gradient rather than categorical

An experimental model of neonatal normocapnic hypoxia and resuscitation in Landrace/Large White piglets

Objective: The aim of this study is to describe and evaluate an experimental model of neonatal normocapnic hypoxia and resuscitation. Methods: Ten male Landrace/Large White neonatal piglets were studied. Following anaesthesia and intubation, the animals were mechanically ventilated. Surgical procedures included catheterization of the right internal jugular vein and the carotid artery. After stabilization with 21% O-2, normocapnic hypoxia was induced by decreasing the inspired O-2 to 6-8%. When piglets developed bradycardia (heart rate <60 beats/min), reoxygenation was initiated by administering 21% O-2. Arterial blood samples were taken during baseline, hypoxia and reoxygenation in order to measure interleukine-6 and interleukine-8. Results: Nine out of ten animals were successfully resuscitated (one of these required chest compressions and a dose of adrenaline) and one died despite resuscitation efforts. After returning to baseline haemodynamic values, euthanasia was performed using thiopental overdose. Conclusions: Haemodynamic fluctuations at baseline, during normocapnic hypoxia and reoxygenation in Landrace/Large White piglets are comparable to that in human neonates, making the breed a favorable model of human neonatal hypoxia investigation

Risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy following assisted reproductive technology: overview and meta-analysis

The extent of the increased risk of pregnancy hypertensive disorders following assisted reproductive technology (ART) was investigated. PubMed and the Cochrane Collaboration Library were used as data sources to identify and select longitudinal cohorts comparing pregnancies following ART with spontaneously conceived pregnancies, between 1978 and June 2016. Risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of three outcomes, ie, gestational hypertension (GH), preeclampsia (PE), and their sum (PHD), were calculated. Stratification of results by gestation order (singletons and nonsingletons) was pursued, but a separate “all orders” mixed stratification was considered. Sixty-six longitudinal studies (7 038 029 pregnancies; 203 375 following any ART) were eligible. All outcomes independent of gestation order (“all orders”) were increased following any invasive ART: GH (+79% [95% CI, 24%–157%]) and PE (+75% [95% CI, 50%–103%]) to a greater extent, with smaller increases in PHD (+54% [95% CI, 39%–70%]). The risk of PHD following ART steadily increased independent of gestation order. ©2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Assessment of DNA Topoisomerase I Unwinding Activity, Radical Scavenging Capacity, and Inhibition of Breast Cancer Cell Viability of <i>N</i>-alkyl-acridones and <i>N</i>,<i>N′</i>-dialkyl-9,9′-biacridylidenes

The anticancer activity of acridone derivatives has attracted increasing interest, therefore, a variety of substituted analogs belonging to this family have been developed and evaluated for their anti-cancer properties. A series of N-alkyl-acridones 1&#8722;6 and N,N&#8242;-dialkyl-9,9&#8242;-biacridylidenes 7&#8722;12 with variable alkyl chains were examined for their topoisomerase I activity at neutral and acidic conditions as well as for their binding capacity to calf thymus and possible radical trapping antioxidant activity. It was found that at a neutral pH, topoisomerase I activity of both classes of compounds was similar, while under acidic conditions, enhanced intercalation was observed. N-alkyl-acridone derivatives 1&#8722;6 exhibited stronger, dose-dependent, cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 human breast epithelial cancer cells than N,N&#8242;-dialkyl-9,9&#8242;-biacridylidenes 7&#8722;12, revealing that conjugation of the heteroaromatic system plays a significant role on the effective distribution of the compound in the intracellular environment. Cellular investigation of long alkyl derivatives against cell migration exhibited 40&#8722;50% wound healing effects and cytoplasm diffusion, while compounds with shorter alkyl chains were accumulated both in the nucleus and cytoplasm. All N,N&#8242;-dialkyl-9,9&#8242;-biacridylidenes showed unexpected high scavenging activity towards DPPH or ABTS radicals which may be explained by higher stabilization of radical cations by the extended conjugation of heteroaromatic ring system