Behavioural and educational outcomes following extremely preterm birth : current controversies and future directions

As a consequence of improved survival rates for extremely preterm (EP; <28 weeks of gestation) births, there is a growing body of evidence detailing the impact of extreme prematurity on outcomes throughout childhood and adolescence. Historically, attention first focused on documenting rates of sensory impairments and severe neurodevelopmental disabilities. However, over recent years, there has been growing interest in the impact of EP birth on long term mental health and educational outcomes. In this chapter we review literature relating to the impact of EP birth on attention, social and emotional problems, psychiatric disorders and educational outcomes. We also outline current controversies in the field. In particular, we present emergent research exploring developmental trajectories to determine whether the sequelae associated with EP birth represent a developmental delay or persistent deficit, and we consider what approaches to intervention may be most fruitful in improving behavioural and educational outcomes in this population

Scientific concepts for an integrated analysis of desertification

The Global Drylands Observing System proposed in this issue should reduce the huge uncertainty about the extent of desertification and the rate at which it is changing, and provide valuable information to scientists, planners and policy-makers. However, it needs careful design if information outputs are to be scientifically credible and salient to the needs of people living in dry areas. Its design would benefit from a robust, integrated scientific framework like the Dryland Development Paradigm to guide/inform the development of an integrated global monitoring and assessment programme (both directly and indirectly via the use of modelling). Various types of dryland system models (e.g. environmental, socioeconomic, land-use cover change, and agent-based) could provide insights into how to combine the plethora of monitoring information gathered on key socioeconomic and biophysical indicators to develop integrated assessment models. This paper shows how insights from models can help in selecting and integrating indicators, interpreting synthetic trends, incorporating cross-scalar processes, representing spatio-temporal variation, and evaluating uncertainty. Planners could use this integrated global monitoring and assessment programme to help implement effective policies to address the global problem of desertification. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Fil: Reynolds, J. F.. University of Duke; Estados UnidosFil: Grainger, A.. University Of Leeds; Reino UnidoFil: Stafford Smith, D. M.. Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organization; AustraliaFil: Bastin, G.. Csiro Ecosystem Sciences; AustraliaFil: Garcia Barrios, L.. El Colegio de la Frontera Sur; MéxicoFil: Fernandez Alduncin, Roberto Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Janssen, M. A.. Arizona State University; Estados UnidosFil: Jürgens, N.. Universitat Hamburg; AlemaniaFil: Scholes, R. J.. The Council For Scientific And Industrial Research; SudáfricaFil: Veldkamp, A.. University of Twente; Países BajosFil: Verstraete, M. M.. European Commission Joint Research Centre; ItaliaFil: Von Maltitz, G.. The Council For Scientific And Industrial Research; SudáfricaFil: Zdruli, P.. Istituto Agronomico Mediterraneo Di Bari; Itali