Cognitive, Behavioral, and Adaptive Functioning in Fragile X and Non-Fragile X Retarded Men

The cognitive, behavioral, and adaptive functioning of 12 men with fragile X syndrome (aged 23 to 62 years) was systematically assessed and compared to two matched groups of retarded men without fragile X syndrome residing at the same institution. The fragile X group was largely indistinguishable from the comparison groups on the cognitive, behavioral, and adaptive measures. Fragile X patients were, however, significantly more likely to have achieved levels of adaptive functioning commensurate with their intellectual abilities. Fragile X subjects who had similarly affected siblings emerged as significantly higher-functioning in all areas than Fragile X subjects who did not have affected siblings. These findings are discussed with respect to future research

Determining Hybridization in Jack Pine and Lodgepole Pine from British Columbia

This study was conducted to find wood quality evidence of hybridization between jack pine (Pinus banksiana) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) in northeast British Columbia (BC). To determine if wood and fiber traits could be used as distinguishing features among jack pine, lodgepole pine, and their hybrids, differences in morphology and wood and fiber traits were related to the genetic identity of each sample. Thirty samples each of pure lodgepole pine, pure jack pine, and potential hybrids were collected from the Prince George area of BC, the Smoky Lake area of Alberta, and the Fort Nelson region of BC, respectively. Two 10-mm cores (bark to bark) were taken from each tree and analyzed for fiber length and coarseness, microfibril angle (MFA), basic density, earlywood:latewood ratios, and cell dimensions. Needle and cone morphology was used to distinguish among species groups in the field. Based on genetically identified samples, the fiber traits that best differentiated among pure jack pine, lodgepole pine, and hybrids were MFA and cell area

Trehalose 6-phosphate signalling and impact on crop yield

The domestication and breeding of crops has been a major achievement for mankind enabling the development of stable societies and civilisation. Crops have become more productive per unit area of cultivated land over the course of domestication supporting a current global population of 7.8 billion. Food security crops such as wheat and maize have seen large changes compared to early progenitors. Amongst processes that have been altered in these crops, is the allocation of carbon resources to support larger grain yield (grain number and size). In wheat, reduction of stem height has enabled diversion of resources from stems to ears. This has freed up carbon to support greater grain yield. Green revolution genes responsible for reductions in stem height are known, but a unifying mechanism for the active regulation of carbon resource allocation towards and within sinks has however been lacking. The trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P) signalling system has emerged as a mechanism of resource allocation and has been implicated in several crop traits including assimilate partitioning and improvement of yield in different environments. Understanding the mode of action of T6P through the SnRK1 protein kinase regulatory system is providing a basis for a unifying mechanism controlling whole plant resource allocation and source-sink interactions in crops. Latest results show it is likely that the T6P/ SnRK1 pathway can be harnessed for further improvements such as grain number and grain filling traits and abiotic stress resilience through targeted gene editing, breeding and chemical approaches

Recovery of the m-function from spectral data for generalized Sturm–Liouville problems

AbstractThe Sturm–Liouville problem −y″+qy=λy, y(0)cosα=y′(0)sinα, (y′/y)(1)=h(λ)/g(λ) is studied, where h and g are real polynomials. Generalized norming constants ρnk associated with eigenvalues Λn are defined and formulae are given for recovering the m-function from these constants. This leads to a uniqueness theorem for the associated inverse problem

How multiple interviews and interview framing influence the development and maintenance of rapport

Information obtained from investigative interviews is crucial for police to develop leads, advance investigations and make effective decisions. One well-endorsed approach for eliciting detailed and accurate information is building rapport between the interviewer and interviewee. While familiarity and communicative tone are predicted determinants of rapport, the effects of repeated exposure to an interviewer, as well as interview framing, on rapport has rarely been tested. In two simulated suspect interview experiments, we tested whether established rapport is maintained during a second interview with the same interviewer (Experiment 1) and how accusatory and humanitarian interview framings impact the development of rapport (Experiment 2). We also tested, across both experiments, whether nonverbal mimicry can be a proxy for measuring rapport. We found evidence suggesting that rapport, once established, is carried over to subsequent meetings, and that it is possible to build rapport even when it was poorly established in the initial interview. We also found that an accusatory interview framing was associated with lower rapport than a humanitarian interview framing, and that interview framing affected nonverbal mimicry between interviewer and interviewee. Contrary to our expectations, mimicry did not correlate with an existing measure of rapport

Quality Assurance in Emergency Medicine - A Caribbean Perspective

Purpose – Emergency medicine is a new specialty in the Caribbean. With the development of specialist training over the past 20 years, the issues of quality assurance and governance have become more prominent. The purpose of this paper is to explore the successes and challenges of implementing systems of quality assurance in this unique environment, highlighting issues peculiar to the Caribbean setting. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is a review of current practice in the emergency departments (ED) of the four major teaching hospitals of the University of the West Indies. Information was gathered through interviews with key stakeholders (including the respective ED residency directors, senior residents and senior nursing and administrative staff), review of departmental protocols and guidelines and reviews of current published and unpublished literature. Findings – Examples of good practice were identified in all six components of the clinical governance framework (clinical audit, clinical effectiveness, research and development, openness, risk management and education and training). Challenges to implementation of quality management included an underdeveloped quality culture, inadequate data collection, poor incentives for improvement and high external pressures, including staff shortages, departmental crowding and lack of public empowerment. Originality/value – This is the first published work on clinical governance and quality assurance in emergency medicine in the Caribbean. This paper gives an insight into the unique opportunities and challenges in the area of quality management and clinical governance in the developing world, and suggests ways forward with regard to more effective implementation of quality initiatives in under-resourced jurisdictions

Synthesis of oxindoles and benozfuranones via oxidation of 2-heterocyclic BMIDAs

The synthesis of functionalized oxindoles and benzofuranones via oxidation of 2-BMIDA indoles and benzofurans, respectively, is described. Interconversion of boron species (BMIDAàBF3K) was necessary to enable oxidation and overcome boronic acid stability issues associated with a difficult BMIDA hydrolysis. Overall, a robust process was developed that allowed access to a small library of oxindole and benzofuranone products and facilitated the step-efficient synthesis of biologically-active compounds containing the oxindole pharmacophore

Pharmacist-led management of chronic pain in primary care:results from a randomised controlled exploratory trial

To compare the effectiveness of pharmacist medication review, with or without pharmacist prescribing, with standard care, for patients with chronic pain