Developmental course of psychopathology in youths with and without intellectual disabilities

Background: We aimed to describe similarities and differences in the developmental course of psychopathology between children with and without intellectual disabilities (ID). Method: Multilevel growth curve analysis was used to analyse the developmental course of psychopathology, using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), in two longitudinal multiple-birth-cohort samples of 6- to 18-year-old children with ID (N=978) and without ID (N=2,047) using three repeated measurements across a 6-year period. Results: Children with ID showed a higher level of problem behaviours across all ages compared to children without ID. A significant difference between the samples in the developmental courses was found for Aggressive Behaviour and Attention Problems, where children with ID showed a significantly larger decrease. Gender differences in the development of psychopathology were similar in both samples, except for Social Problems where males with ID showed a larger decrease in problem behaviour across time than females with ID and males and females without ID. Conclusion: Results indicate that children with ID continue to show a greater risk for psychopathology compared to typically developing children, although this higher risk is less pronounced at age 18 than it is at age 6 for Aggressive Behaviour. Contrary to our expectations, the developmental course of psychopathology in children with ID was quite similar from age 6 to 18 compared to children without ID. The normative developmental trajectories of psychopathology in children with ID, presented here, can serve as a yardstick against which development of childhood psychopathology can be detected as deviant. © 2007 The Authors Journal compilation © 2007 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Small-Scale Vertical Movements of Summer Flounder Relative to Diurnal, Tidal, and Temperature Changes

Observation of animal movements on small spatial scales provides a means to understand how large-scale species distributions are established from individual behavioral decisions. Small-scale vertical movements of 14 Summer Flounder Paralichthys dentatus residing in Chesapeake Bay were observed by using depth data collected with archival tags. A generalized linear mixed model was employed to examine the relationship between these vertical movements and environmental covariates such as tidal state, time of day, lunar phase, and temperature. Vertical movements increased with warming water temperatures, and this pattern was most apparent at night and during rising and falling tides. Fish generally exhibited greater vertical movements at night, but the difference between vertical movements in the day and those at night decreased as fish increased in size. Results from this study fill a void in understanding the small-scale movements of Summer Flounder and could be incorporated into individual-based models to investigate how species distributions develop in response to environmental conditions

Impact of Nitrogen Fertilization and Cropping System on Carbon Sequestration in Midwestern Mollisols

Growing interest in the potential for agricultural soils to provide a sink for atmospheric C has prompted studies of effects of management on soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. We analyzed the impact on SOC of four N fertilization rates (0–270 kg N ha−1) and four cropping systems: continuous corn (CC) (Zea mays L.); corn–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (CS); corn–corn–oat–alfalfa (oat, Avena sativa L.; alfalfa, Medicago sativa L.) (CCOA), and corn–oat–alfalfa–alfalfa (COAA). Soils were sampled in 2002, Years 23 and 48 of the experiments located in northeast and north-central Iowa, respectively. The experiments were conducted using a replicated split-plot design under conventional tillage. A native prairie was sampled to provide a reference (for one site only). Cropping systems that contained alfalfa had the highest SOC stocks, whereas the CS system generally had the lowest SOC stocks. Concentrations of SOC increased significantly between 1990 and 2002 in only two of the nine systems for which historical data were available, the fertilized CC and COAA systems at one site. Soil quality indices such as particulate organic carbon (POC) were influenced by cropping system, with CS \u3c CC \u3c CCOA. In the native prairie, SOC, POC, and resistant C concentrations were 2.8, 2.6, and 3.9 times, respectively, the highest values in cropped soil, indicating that cultivated soils had not recovered to precultivation conditions. Although corn yields increased with N additions, N fertilization increased SOC stocks only in the CC system at one site. Considering the C cost for N fertilizer production, N fertilization generally had a net negative effect on C sequestration

In situ estimation of indigestible compounds contents in cattle feed and feces using bags made from different textiles

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate estimates of concentration of indigestible dry matter (iDM), indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF) and indigestible acid detergent fiber (iADF) in samples of cattle feed and feces processed at different particle sizes (1-, 2-, and 3-mm) using bags made from nylon (50 μm), F57 (Ankom®), and non-woven textile (NWT - 100 g/m²) in a in situ evaluation procedure. Eight samples of concentrates, seven samples of forages and two samples of cattle feces were used. The samples were put in the bags according to a ratio of 20 mg of dry matter/cm² of surface by using three bags of each textile for each size of particle, totaling 405 bags, which were submitted to ruminal incubation for 264 hours. The contents of indigestible compounds in the samples were evaluated sequentially. Blank bags were used for microscopic evaluation of textile physical integrity and for evaluation of the physical resistance. The presence of contaminants caused high variability of results of iDM, indicating that its using as internal marker should not be recommended. By using the textiles F57 and NWT, similar estimates for contents of iNDF and iADF were obtained whereas by using nylon (50 μm), the concentration of iNDF was underestimated, possibly because of loss of particles due to its porosity. Nylon presented loss of resistance in all analytical stages, expanding its probality of rupture, especially after extraction with acid detergent. For in situ evaluation of indigestible compounds, it is suggested grinding samples in 2-mm screen sieves.Objetivou-se avaliar as estimativas de concentração de matéria seca (MSi), fibra em detergente neutro (FDNi) e fibra em detergente ácido (FDAi) indigestíveis em amostras de alimentos e fezes bovinas processadas em diferentes tamanhos de partículas (1, 2 e 3 mm) utilizando-se sacos confeccionados com os tecidos nylon (50 μm), F57 (Ankom®) e tecido não-tecido (TNT - 100 g/m²) em procedimento de avaliação in situ. Foram utilizadas oito amostras de alimentos concentrados, sete de alimentos volumosos e duas de fezes bovinas. O material foi acondicionado nos sacos numa relação de 20 mg de matéria seca/cm² de superfície utilizando-se três sacos de cada tecido para cada tamanho de partícula, totalizando 405 sacos, que foram submetidos a incubação ruminal durante 264 horas. Os teores dos compostos indigestíveis nas amostras foram avaliados sequencialmente. Sacos em branco foram utilizados para avaliação microscópica da integridade física dos tecidos e para avaliação da resistência à tração. A presença de contaminantes causou alta variabilidade dos resultados de MSi, o que indica comprometimento de sua aplicação como indicador interno. Utilizando os tecidos F57 e TNT obtiveram-se estimativas similares para os teores de FDNi e FDAi, enquanto com o tecido nylon (50 μm) a concentração de FDNi foi subestimada, possivelmente em decorrência da perda de partículas devido à sua porosidade. O nylon apresentou perda de resistência em todas as etapas analíticas, o que amplia sua probabilidade de ruptura, principalmente após extração com detergente ácido. Para procedimentos in situ de avaliação de compostos indigestíveis, sugere-se a moagem de amostras em peneiras com porosidade de 2 mm

Avaliação laboratorial de compostos fibrosos em alimentos e fezes bovinas sob diferentes ambientes físicos

The neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents were evaluated in concentrates, forages, and cattle feces using filter bags under pressured or non-pressured physical environments. Twenty samples of each material were used. The contents obtained under different environments were compared by linear regression. The NDF and ADF estimates were found different between physical environments for all materials (P<0.01). The utilization of pressured environment is recommended to avoid gas accumulation in the bags, which may compromise the detergent action