Maternal scaffolding during play with 12- to 24-month-old infants: stability over time and relations with emerging effortful control

Abstract: There is evidence that parents could influence the development of their children’s effortful control in infancy through social interaction. Playful interactions in infancy often involve scaffolding - i.e. the parental provision of support and modelling for problem solving and learning during play. However, previous research has found little consistency over time in this type of parental scaffolding behaviour with infants. The present study had two aims. The first aim was to use a new, tiered coding system to assess the consistency of maternal scaffolding across toys (at the same time point) and over time. The second aim was to assess whether features of parental scaffolding related to concurrent or future measures of child effortful control. Thirty-six mother-child dyads engaged in joint play when children were 12, 18 and 24 months old. The following inhibitory/effortful control tests were administered: The ‘Grasping Task’, an object-retrieval task using a spoon laden with food at 12 months; Two delay of gratification tasks (Snack Delay and Gift Delay) at 24 months. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development Cognitive Scale was administered at 18 months. Maternal propensity to scaffold was the scaffolding behaviour that showed most consistency across toys and over time. Maternal contingency at 12 months predicted children’s effortful control at 24 months. Sequential analysis indicated that maternal contingent interventions leading to children’s successful actions could be the developmental mechanism underpinning the relationship between contingency and later effortful control. Maternal behaviour during play could lay the foundations for the strategic regulation of cognition and behaviour

Genetic, environmental and gender influences on attachment disorder behaviours

Background Despite current interest in attachment disorder, there is concern about its discrimination from other disorders and an unproven assumption of an environmental aetiology. Aims To test whether behaviours suggestive of attachment disorder are distinct from other childhood behavioural and emotional problems and are solely environmentally determined. Method In a community sample of 13 472 twins, we carried out factor analysis of questionnaire items encompassing behaviours indicative of attachment disorder, conduct problems, hyperactivity and emotional difficulties. We used behavioural genetic model-fitting analysis to explore the contribution of genes and environment. Results Factor analysis showed clear discrimination between behaviours suggestive of attachment disorder, conduct problems, hyperactivity and emotional problems. Behavioural genetics analysis suggested a strong genetic influence to attachment disorder behaviour, with males showing higher heritability. Conclusions Behaviours suggestive of attachment disorder can be differentiated from common childhood emotional and behavioural problems and appear to be strongly genetically influenced, particularly in boys. INTRODUCTION TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION METHOD RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES There have been recent attempts to codify behaviours associated with early neglect and institutionalisation (Chisolm et al, 1995; Zeanah et al, 2004) into a psychiatric category. Both DSM–IV and ICD–10 describe reactive attachment disorder, with two subtypes encompassing inhibited and disinhibited behaviour (World Health Organization, 1992; American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Questions remain about the nosology of the syndrome beyond age 5 years (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2005), therefore we simply refer to ‘attachment disorder behaviours’. We seek to extend the extant literature by testing two hypotheses: first, that the two subtypes are distinct from one another and from other common behavioural and emotional problems in young children, and second that these behavioural patterns are environmentally mediated. We capitalise on a twin study, a design that provides particular leverage in testing environmental hypotheses

Improvement and further development of SSM/I overland parameter algorithms using the WetNet workstation

Since the launch of the DMSP Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I), several algorithms have been developed to retrieve overland parameters. These include the present operational algorithms resulting from the Navy calibration/validation effort such as land surface type (Neale et al. 1990), land surface temperature (McFarland et al. 1990), surface moisture (McFarland and Neale, 1991) and snow parameters (McFarland and Neale, 1991). In addition, other work has been done including the classification of snow cover and precipitation using the SSM/I (Grody, 1991). Due to the empirical nature of most of the above mentioned algorithms, further research is warranted and improvements can probably be obtained through a combination of radiative transfer modelling to study the physical processes governing the microwave emissions at the SSM/I frequencies, and the incorporation of additional ground truth data and special cases into the regression data sets. We have proposed specifically to improve the retrieval of surface moisture and snow parameters using the WetNet SSM/I data sets along with ground truth information namely climatic variables from the NOAA cooperative network of weather stations as well as imagery from other satellite sensors such as the AVHRR and Thematic Mapper. In the case of surface moisture retrievals the characterization of vegetation density is of primary concern. The higher spatial resolution satellite imagery collected at concurrent periods will be used to characterize vegetation types and amounts which, along with radiative transfer modelling should lead to more physically based retrievals. Snow parameter retrieval algorithm improvement will initially concentrate on the classification of snowpacks (dry snow, wet snow, refrozen snow) and later on specific products such as snow water equivalent. Significant accomplishments in the past year are presented

A uniform analysis of HD209458b Spitzer/IRAC lightcurves with Gaussian process models

We present an analysis of Spitzer/IRAC primary transit and secondary eclipse lightcurves measured for HD209458b, using Gaussian process models to marginalise over the intrapixel sensitivity variations in the 3.6 micron and 4.5 micron channels and the ramp effect in the 5.8 micron and 8.0 micron channels. The main advantage of this approach is that we can account for a broad range of degeneracies between the planet signal and systematics without actually having to specify a deterministic functional form for the latter. Our results do not confirm a previous claim of water absorption in transmission. Instead, our results are more consistent with a featureless transmission spectrum, possibly due to a cloud deck obscuring molecular absorption bands. For the emission data, our values are not consistent with the thermal inversion in the dayside atmosphere that was originally inferred from these data. Instead, we agree with another re-analysis of these same data, which concluded a non-inverted atmosphere provides a better fit. We find that a solar-abundance clear-atmosphere model without a thermal inversion underpredicts the measured emission in the 4.5 micron channel, which may suggest the atmosphere is depleted in carbon monoxide. An acceptable fit to the emission data can be achieved by assuming that the planet radiates as an isothermal blackbody with a temperature of $1484\pm 18$ K.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures, 6 tables. Accepted by MNRA

Protein Phosphatase 2A as a Key Player in Disease Pathways: Potential for Therapeutic Intervention

This thesis describes the synthesis of a library of small molecule activators of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) derived from the AAL(S) and FTY720 scaffolds and the characterisation of their therapeutic potential in biological systems. Specifically, their anti-inflammatory effects in and their cytotoxicity in cancer cells are described. Chapter 1 introduces the role and structure of PP2A, and its associated diseases. The development of AAL(S) and FTY720 is discussed. Chapter 2 provides a summary of the key exogenous and endogenous entities that modulate PP2A’s activity. The mechanisms by which they act, and their associated disease states are discussed. This provides an important perspective on how an improved understanding of these processes is key to optimising pharmaceutical regulation of PP2A activity for therapeutic purposes. Chapter 3 discusses the synthesis of the AAL(S) and FTY720 analogue library. To access gram scale quantities of AAL(S) required for biological testing, a revised version of Hinterding's procedure incorporating Schöllkopf's reagent was investigated. This produced 15 analogues. A variety of amide groups were examined, along with the methylation of the alcohol group. Chapter 4 describes the biological characterisation of the compound library in airways both in vivo and in vitro. Specifically, the cytotoxicity and impact on inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 was quantified in A549 and BEAS-2B cells. Pleasingly, several analogues displayed a reduced cytotoxicity compared to their parent scaffolds, along with comparable anti-inflammatory activity. A total of eight compounds were assessed in a cigarette smoke mouse model, in which two analogues, DNT5 and DNT7, induced a similar reduction in the inflammatory response to AAL(S). Chapter 5 discusses the biological characterisation of the compound library in cancer. Specifically, the cytotoxicity and PP2A activation of the compounds was quantified in D816V FDC.P1 myeloid cells. Enhancement of PP2A activity comparable to AAL(S) was observed by two analogues, DNT2 and DNT5. Finally, the synthesis of AAL(S)-derived proteolysis targeting chimera molecules is described. The compounds were found to also induce cytotoxicity in myeloid cancer cells, and their effects on endogenous PP2A protein modulators was determined. Chapter 6 provides an overall summary. Full experimental procedures have been provided in Chapter 7

Conceptualising and prototyping a decision support system for safer urban unmanned aerial vehicle operations

Currently, there is limited discourse surrounding the safe operational planning of UAVs within complex multi-stakeholder urban environments. This paper conceptualises a methodology for prototyping a decision support system for urban UAV flight operations planning. The proposition is based on integrating urban 3-dimensional data with the physical factors of UAV flight operations. A simulated, holistic understanding of UAV usage in urban space emerges, enabling better informed decisions by planners around safe flight operations. The feasibility, applicability and benefits of the decision support system and associated policy implications for urban planners and UAV users are discussed scoping further development of this approach

The venom of the spine-bellied sea snake (Hydrophis curtus): proteome, toxin diversity and intraspecific variation

The spine-bellied sea snake (Hydrophis curtus) is known to cause human deaths, yet its venom composition has not yet been proteomically characterised. An in-depth proteomic analysis was performed on H. curtus venom from two different seasons, January and June, corresponding to adults and subadults, respectively. Venoms from adult and subadult H. curtus individuals were compared using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) to detect intraspecific variation, and the molecular weight data obtained with ESI-MS were used to assess toxin diversity. RP-HPLC and LC-ESI-MS/MS were used to characterise the venom proteome and estimate the relative abundances of protein families present. The most abundant protein family in January and June venoms is phospholipase A2 (PLA2: January 66.7%; June 54.5%), followed by three-finger toxins (3FTx: January 30.4%; June 40.4%) and a minor component of cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISP: January 2.5%; June 5%). Trace amounts of snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMP), C-type lectins and housekeeping and regulatory proteins were also found. Although the complexity of the venom is low by number of families present, each family contained a more diverse set of isoforms than previously reported, a finding that may have implications for the development of next-generation sea snake antivenoms. Intraspecific variability was shown to be minor with one obvious exception of a 14,157-Da protein that was present in some January (adult) venoms, but not at all in June (subadult) venoms. There is also a greater abundance of short-chain neurotoxins in June (subadult) venom compared with January (adult) venom. These differences potentially indicate the presence of seasonal, ontogenetic or sexual variation in H. curtus venom

A Spatially Distributed Water Balance Based on Physical, Isotropic and Airborne Remotely Sensed Data

Introduction: The objective of this research to develop a spatially distributed water balance model based on the integration of spatially distributed data. Progress this year has consisted of model development, instrument acquisition, installation and development of experimental procedures, and baseline data collection. The original research plan called for detailed observations related to the water balance over the year September 1991 to August 1992. The detailed measurements were to start with accumulation of the snowpack followed by melt and evapotranspiration measurements from March to August. The objective was to measure the energy balance parameters starting with the peak accumulation, through the melt and infiltration phases, the greenup of vegetation, the peak evapotranspiration period and the dry-down and senescence of grasses and other species in the upper Sheep Creek sub-basin of the Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed. Groundwater depths as well as run-off in the stream were to be measured and samples of the snowpack water, soil water, groundwater and run-off water were to be taken for isotopic tracing. Unfortunately, average snow accumulation was well below average last winter. April 1st, snow course measurement indicated that the snowpack at the Reynolds mountain sub-basin was only 30% of normal. In the Upper Sheep Creek sub-basin, which usually has a 10-m high drift during this time of the year there was less than 0.5 m of snow. After consultation with the USDA scientists from the Northwest Watershed Research Center, we decided in February to postpone the field campaign for one year. In retrospect this was wise because there was no runoff reponse from Upper Sheep Creek (the basin where we plan to do our detailed model development) and few of the groundwater wells had measureable response, we would have had nothing to measure. The intensive field campaign will be conducted in Spring 1993. Although a repeat of last year\u27s condition is possible, the chances are very low and we are hopeful of better snowfall. A revised project time schedule is shown on the next page. This has us finished the field measurement in August 1993. Given this it is unlikely that all data reduction and modeling will be complete by August 15, 1993 so we will need until May 1993, a 9-month no-cost extention to complete the data analysis. In this report we describe our progress in terms of data base development, model development, and modeling based on data from earlier years. Some of this will be presented at the AGU Fall meeting in San Francisco in Devember (see abstract on page 3). We also developed snow-isotope fractionation studies, evapotranspiration model development, installation of soil moisture measurement equipment, and database development. Abstract: A distributed mass balance appraoch is being developed to model spatially variable hydrologic processes in an arid mountain watershed. The model will be applied to Upper Sheep Creek, a 26 ha catchment within the Reynolds Creek ARS Experimental Watershed, near Boise, ID. The model is based on a DEM representation of basin topography. A mass balance equation relating moisture inflow, outflow, and the change in storage is resolved to give the moisture defecit in each DEM cell. Moisture input is subsurface flow from up-gradient DEM cells and surface influx from rain or a spatially distributed energy-balance snowmelt model. Subsurface outlfow is determined from topographic slope and transmissivity, which is a function of moisture content. We illustrate the effects of topography on the areal distribution of soil moisture and the time variation of streamflow in Upper Sheep Creek and compare our results with field observations and streamflow measurements

Wavelength and Temperature-Dependent Apparent Quantum Yields for Photochemical Formation of Hydrogen Peroxide in Seawater

Wavelength and temperature-dependent apparent quantum yields (AQYs) were determined for the photochemical production of hydrogen peroxide using seawater obtained from coastal and oligotrophic stations in Antarctica, the Pacific Ocean at Station ALOHA, the Gulf of Mexico, and at several sites along the East Coast of the United States. For all samples, AQYs decreased exponentially with increasing wavelength at 25 °C, ranging from 4.6 × 10−4 to 10.4 × 10−4 at 290 nm to 0.17 × 10−4 to 0.97 × 10−4 at 400 nm. AQYs for different seawater samples were remarkably similar irrespective of expected differences in the composition and concentrations of metals and dissolved organic matter (DOM) and in prior light exposure histories; wavelength-dependent AQYs for individual seawater samples differed by less than a factor of two relative to respective mean AQYs. Temperature-dependent AQYs increased between 0 and 35 °C on average by a factor of 1.8 per 10 °C, consistent with a thermal reaction (e.g., superoxide dismutation) controlling H2O2 photochemical production rates in seawater. Taken together, these results suggest that the observed poleward decrease in H2O2photochemical production rates is mainly due to corresponding poleward decreases in irradiance and temperature and not spatial variations in the composition and concentrations of DOM or metals. Hydrogen peroxide photoproduction AQYs and production rates were not constant and not independent of the photon exposure as has been implicitly assumed in many published studies. Therefore, care should be taken when comparing and interpreting published H2O2AQY or photochemical production rate results. Modeled depth-integrated H2O2 photochemical production rates were in excellent agreement with measured rates obtained from in situ free-floating drifter experiments conducted during a Gulf of Maine cruise, with differences (ca. 10%) well within measurement and modeling uncertainties. Results from this study provide a comprehensive data set of wavelength and temperature-dependent AQYs to model and remotely sense hydrogen peroxide photochemical production rates globally