Genetic Covariance Structure of Reading, Intelligence and Memory in Children

This study investigates the genetic relationship among reading performance, IQ, verbal and visuospatial working memory (WM) and short-term memory (STM) in a sample of 112, 9-year-old twin pairs and their older siblings. The relationship between reading performance and the other traits was explained by a common genetic factor for reading performance, IQ, WM and STM and a genetic factor that only influenced reading performance and verbal memory. Genetic variation explained 83% of the variation in reading performance; most of this genetic variance was explained by variation in IQ and memory performance. We hypothesize, based on these results, that children with reading problems possibly can be divided into three groups: (1) children low in IQ and with reading problems; (2) children with average IQ but a STM deficit and with reading problems; (3) children with low IQ and STM deficits; this group may experience more reading problems than the other two

The role of reference frames in learners’ internal feedback generation with a learning analytics dashboard

Being able to self-regulate can positively impact learners’ academic achievement. An inherent catalyst of Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) is internal feedback, the new knowledge which is generated when comparing current knowledge against reference information. Learners may not always generate internal feedback, hampering further SRL. Supporting SRL can be done with a Learning Analytics Dashboard (LAD), in which reference frames allow for comparisons and facilitate internal feedback generation. This study explores internal feedback generation using a LAD and the effect of reference frame availability. A multiple method design examined the interplay of reference frames, comparison processes, internal feedback generation and preparatory activities engagement. Differences between three conditions were explored using Bain ANOVA's. Results showed that reference frames almost exclude other external comparators and are used in parallel with an internal comparator. A peer reference frame leads to most verbalizations of internal feedback, and potentially to most verbalizations of preparatory activities

Changes in Natural Foxp3+Treg but Not Mucosally-Imprinted CD62LnegCD38+Foxp3+Treg in the Circulation of Celiac Disease Patients

Background:Celiac disease (CD) is an intestinal inflammation driven by gluten-reactive CD4+ T cells. Due to lack of selective markers it has not been determined whether defects in inducible regulatory T cell (Treg) differentiation are associated with CD. This is of importance as changes in numbers of induced Treg could be indicative of defects in mucosal tolerance development in CD. Recently, we have shown that, after encounter of retinoic acid during differentiation, circulating gut-imprinted T cells express CD62LnegCD38+. Using this new phenotype, we now determined whether alterations occur in the frequency of natural CD62L+Foxp3+ Treg or mucosally-imprinted CD62LnegCD38+Foxp3+ Treg in peripheral blood of CD patients. In particular, we compared pediatric CD, aiming to select for disease at onset, with adult CD.Methods:Cell surface markers, intracellular Foxp3 and Helios were determined by flow cytometry. Foxp3 expression was also detected by immunohistochemistry in duodenal tissue of CD patients.Results:In children, the percentages of peripheral blood CD4+Foxp3+ Treg were comparable between CD patients and healthy age-matched controls. Differentiation between natural and mucosally-imprinted Treg on the basis of CD62L and CD38 did not uncover differences in Foxp3. In adult patients on gluten-free diet and in refractory CD increased percentages of circulating natural CD62L+Foxp3+ Treg, but normal mucosally-imprinted CD62LnegCD38+Foxp3+ Treg frequencies were observed.Conclusions:Our data exclude that significant numeric deficiency of mucosally-imprinted or natural Foxp3+ Treg explains exuberant effector responses in CD. Changes in natural Foxp3+ Treg occur in a subset of adult patients on a gluten-free diet and in refractory CD patients

11 Ontwerpen voor de Delta

Afstuderen op bouwkunde betekent: je eigen opgave en probleemstelling formuleren, onderzoek doen en een ontwerp maken. Bij de leerstoel Stad en Regio wordt de context bepaald door de Hollandse metropool. Die grote schaal daagt uit tot strategische perspectieven voor de toekomst en ruimtelijke ontwerpen voor strategische interventies daarin. In het afstuderen komen de studenten zichzelf tegen. In het bepalen van hun opgave, die veel zegt over hun eigen kijk op de samenleving en hun interessen. In hun onderzoeksmethoden en technieken die duidelijk moeten maken dat ze zelfstandig onderzoek moeten kunnen doen en in hun uiteindelijke ruimtelijke strategie en ontwerp, waaruit hun creativiteit en ruimtelijk inzicht blijkt. De verzameling afstudeerplannen uit een bepaalde periode zijn niet slechts losse projecten, maar zijn tevens een beeld van de tijdgeest, van actuele maatschappelijke opgaven en tenslotte van visies op de metropolitane ontwikkeling van Nederland en het landschap van Nederland. Door die plannen te laten becommentariëren door externe experts worden ze van een actuele maatschappelijke opvatting voorzien en bekritiseerd. Daarmee wordt het tijdsbeeld gecreëerd van opvattingen vanuit de samenleving en ontstaat inzicht in de mate van acceptatie van de afstudeerplannen van de jonge ingenieurs, en hun bijdrage aan het ruimtelijke en programmatische onderzoek naar de toekomst van dit land

The course of mental health problems in children presenting with abdominal pain in general practice

Objective. To investigate the course of mental health problems in children presenting to general practice with abdominal pain and to evaluate the extent to which abdominal pain characteristics during follow-up predict the presence of mental health problems at 12 months' follow-up. Design. A prospective cohort study with one-year follow-up. Setting. 53 general practices in the Netherlands, between May 2004 and March 2006. Subjects. 281 children aged 4-17 years. Main outcome measures. The presence of a depressive problem, an anxiety problem, and multiple non-specific somatic symptoms at follow-up and odds ratios of duration, frequency, and severity of abdominal pain with these mental health problems at follow-up. Results. A depressive problem persisted in 24/74 children (32.9%; 95% CI 22.3-44.9%), an anxiety problem in 13/43 (30.2%; 95% CI 17.2-46.1%) and the presence of multiple non-specific somatic symptoms in 75/170 children (44.1%; 95% CI 36.7-51.6%). None of the abdominal pain characteristics predicted a depressive or an anxiety problem at 12 months' follow-up. More moments of moderate to severe abdominal pain predicted the presence of multiple nonspecific somatic symptoms at follow-up. Conclusions. In one-third of the children presenting to general practice for abdominal pain, anxiety and depressive problems persist during one year of follow-up. Characteristics of the abdominal pain during the follow-up period do not predict anxiety or depressive problems after one-year follow-up. We recommend following over time children seen in primary care with abdominal pain

Development and Function of Immune Cells in an Adolescent Patient with a Deficiency in the Interleukin-10 Receptor

OBJECTIVE:: Monogenic defects in the interleukin-10 (IL-10) pathway are extremely rare and cause infantile-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-like pathology. Understanding how immune responses are dysregulated in monogenic IBD-like diseases can provide valuable insight in “classical” IBD pathogenesis. Here, we studied long-term immune cell development and function in an adolescent IL-10 receptor (IL10RA)-deficient patient who presented in infancy with severe colitis and fistulizing perianal disease and is currently treated with immune suppressants. METHODS:: Biomaterial was collected from the IL10RA-deficient patient, pediatric IBD patients and healthy controls. The frequency and phenotype of immune cells were determined in peripheral blood and intestinal biopsies by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Functional changes in monocyte-derived dendritic cells and T cells were assessed by in vitro activation assays. RESULTS:: The IL10RA-deficient immune system developed normally with respect to numbers and phenotype of circulating immune cells. Despite normal co-stimulatory molecule expression, bacterial lipopolysaccharide-stimulated monocyte-derived dendritic cells from the IL10RA-deficient patient released increased amounts of TNFα compared to healthy controls. Upon T-cell receptor ligation, IL10RA-deficient peripheral blood mononuclear cells released increased amounts of T cell cytokines IFNγ and IL-17 agreeing with high numbers of T-bet and IL-17 cells in intestinal biopsies taken at disease onset. In vitro, the immunosuppressive drug thalidomide used to treat the patient decreased peripheral blood mononuclear cell-derived TNFα production. CONCLUSIONS:: With time and during immunosuppressive treatment the IL10RA- deficient immune system develops relatively normally. Upon activation, IL-10 is crucial for controlling excessive inflammatory cytokine release by dendritic cells and preventing IFNγ and IL-17-mediated T-cell responses

Does having a twin-brother make for a bigger brain?

Objective: Brain volume of boys is larger than that of girls by ∼10%. Prenatal exposure to testosterone has been suggested in the masculinization of the brain. For example, in litter-bearing mammals intrauterine position increases prenatal testosterone exposure through adjacent male fetuses, resulting in masculinization of brain morphology. Design: The influence of intrauterine presence of a male co-twin on masculinization of human brain volume was studied in 9-year old twins. Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging brain scans, current testosterone, and estradiol levels were acquired from four groups of dizygotic (DZ) twins: boys from same-sex twin-pairs (SSM), boys from opposite-sex twin-pairs (OSM), girls from opposite-sex twin-pairs (OSF), and girls from same-sex twin-pairs (SSF; n=119 individuals). Data on total brain, cerebellum, gray and white matter volumes were examined. Results: Irrespective of their own sex, children with a male co-twin as compared to children with a female co-twin had larger total brain (+2.5%) and cerebellum (+5.5%) volumes. SSM, purportedly exposed to the highest prenatal testosterone levels, were found to have the largest volumes, followed by OSM, OSF and SSF children. Birth weight partly explained the effect on brain volumes. Current testosterone and estradiol levels did not account for the volumetric brain differences. However, the effects observed in children did not replicate in adult twins. Conclusions: Our study indicates that sharing the uterus with a DZ twin brother increases total brain volume in 9-year olds. The effect may be transient and limited to a critical period in childhood. © 2009 European Society of Endocrinology

Students' Use of a Learning Analytics Dashboard and Influence of Reference Frames: Goal Setting, Motivation, and Performance

Background: University students need to self-regulate but are sometimes incapable of doing so. Learning Analytics Dashboards (LADs) can support students' appraisal of study behaviour, from which goals can be set and performed. However, it is unclear how goal-setting and self-motivation within self-regulated learning elicits behaviour when using an LAD. Objectives: This study's purpose is exploring reference frames’ influence on goal setting, LAD elements’ influence on student motivation, and the predictive value of goal setting and motivation on behaviour, adding to our understanding of the factors predicting task attainment and the role of reference frames. Methods: In an experimental survey design, university students (n = 88) used an LAD with a peer reference frame (Condition 1) or without one (Condition 2), set a goal, determined goal difficulty, self-assessed motivation and LAD elements' influence on motivation. Researchers coded goal specificity. Four weeks later, students self-assessed task attainment, task satisfaction, time on task, and task frequency. T-tests and MANOVA explored effects of the reference frame. Regression analyses determined predictive potential of goal difficulty, goal specificity, and motivation on goal attainment. Results and Conclusions: Results showed no difference between conditions on goal specificity, difficulty, or motivation. The peer reference frame's perceived influence on motivation was small. LAD elements’ influence on motivation varied but were mainly positive. Regression models were not predictive, except the task satisfaction exploratory model. Most participants (77%) attained their goals. Reference frame integration should be carefully considered, given potential negative effects. Students may require educators’ support when setting goals, but the support should balance students’ autonomy