Behavioral,social, and physiological determinants of lipoprotein concentrations

Abstract

The Lipoprotein Family Study of Japanese‐Americans in Hawaii is described. Measured effects of the behavioral, social, and physiological milieu (apart from age and sex) account for little of the variance. Subsequent papers will consider the genetic and cultural causes of family resemblance in this material.     

Gender,family configuration,and the effect of family background on educational attainment

Abstract

A comprehensive model of family influences on educational resemblance of siblings expands the traditional sibling pair model to a full sibship model in order to investigate how gender, gender composition of sibships, and a measure of ordinal position moderate the effect of social origins on educational attainments of siblings. One common family factor is sufficient to explain the variation of educational attainment among brothers and sisters. Although effects of social origin variables on brothers are larger than on sisters, the relative effects of measured social origins are virtually the same among sisters and brothers. The disparity between educational attainments of brothers and sisters persists across sex composition and family size. Ordinal position does not alter the effects of social origins on educational attainment nor does it directly affect educational attainment. Father's and mother's education are equally important for all siblings regardless of birth order, gender composition, and family size.     

Academic performance in Hawaii

Abstract

Differences among census tracts in academic performance are estimated and related by path analysis to social class, race, and school characteristics in the only American state without local autonomous school districts. Contrary to the Coleman Report, school has a significant effect and race does not, but social class is the major cause of census tract difference in academic performance. Without appropriate data on family resemblance, a genetic component in class structure cannot be delineated.     

Experimental Sociality and Gestational Surrogacy in the Indian ART Clinic

Abstract

This article marks experimental modes of sociality in a transnational Indian assisted reproductive technology (ART) clinic as a contact zone between elite doctors, gestational surrogates, and transnational commissioning parents. It examines efforts within one ART clinic to separate social relationships from reproductive bodies in its surrogacy arrangements as well as novel social formations occurring both because of and despite these efforts. Draft regulative legislation in India marks a shift in the distribution of risk among actors in the clinic that parallels a shift in medical practice away from a technique of caring for the body to producing bodies as instruments of contracted service. The clinic provides an opportunity to observe forms of sociality that emerge as experiments with modernities, with different relationships to the body and the social meaning of medicalized biological reproduction, and with understanding the role of the market and altruism in the practice of gestational surrogacy.     

Economic empathy in family entrepreneurship: Mexican-origin street vendor children and their parents

ABSTRACT

Research on ethnic entrepreneurship has shown that children of immigrants may experience an economic advantage associated with their entrepreneurial parents’ ‘modes of incorporation’ – the individual, group, and structural opportunities and characteristics that facilitate entrepreneurial participation and consequent economic progress. This ethnographic study examines street vending as a family enterprise and finds that the entrepreneurial, but nevertheless, disadvantaged Latino street vending parents experience economic stagnation. Child street vendors in this study experience compounded disadvantages stemming from their parents’ social locations rooted in unauthorized status, informal work, and stigma, as working together shortens the distance between ‘adulthood’ and ‘childhood’. Yet, street vending also sets the stage for children to develop economic empathy, a resiliency that results from experiencing their parent's position of oppression that helps prevent an authority shift in favour of the children.     

Family planning among Japanese on public relief

Abstract

Two recurrent concepts in fertility literature permit prediction of an inverse relationship between social class and fertility. The commitment to familism refers to the degree that couples embrace a family‐centered style of life over a consumerist or careerist style of life. Commitment to individual children refers to the emotional and material involvement of parents in each child they have. Data show that commitment to individual children is negatively related to fertility, that social class is negatively related to commitment to familism, that social class is positively related to commitment to individual children, and that commitment to familism and commitment to individual children account for relationships between class and fertility.     

The Psychosocial Function Of Reincarnation Among Druze In Israel

To gain an understanding of the psychosocial function of reincarnation among Druze, interviews were conducted with nine male subjects who had experienced reincarnation (Notq) and with one or two of their family members. Analysis of these interviews revealed that the onset of Notq typically occurs at between two and five years of age. Five of the subjects had displayed psychological distress in their childhood that was alleviated after the Notq. Once the child has displayed initial indications of reincarnation, such as mentioning names that the family construes as being from a past life, the family takes an active role in constructing the past-life story and matching it to a known real story involving a tragic death. This match creates a new order in the life of the child, the family, and the past-life family. All parties benefit from this new order: the child receives new special attention and love and becomes able to control and manipulate the parents; the parents are relieved because they see the child happy, and benefit from the social attention and regard they receive; and the grieving of the bereaved past-life family is alleviated by the realization that the soul of their lost son still lives. The findings support the sociocognitive notion of the constructing of past memories by the social environment. Additional research that should include data collection from the past-life family and examination of the affinity of reincarnation with dissociation and child abuse is recommended.     

Facialmetric similarities mediate mate choice: sexual imprinting on opposite-sex parents

Former studies have suggested that imprinting-like processes influence the shaping of human mate preferences. In this study, we provide more direct evidence for assessing facial resemblance between subjects' partner and subjects' parents. Fourteen facial proportions were measured on 312 adults belonging to 52 families, and the correlations between family members were compared with those of pairs randomly selected from the population. Spouses proved to be assortatively mated in the majority of measured facial proportions. Significant correlations have been found between the young men and their partner's father (but not his mother), especially on facial proportions belonging to the central area of the face. Women also showed resemblance to their partner's mother (but not to their father) in the facial characteristics of their lower face. Replicating our previous studies, facial photographs of participants were also matched by independent judges who ascribed higher resemblance between partners, and subjects and their partners' opposite-sex parents, compared with controls. Our results support the sexual imprinting hypothesis which states that children shape a mental template of their opposite-sex parents and search for a partner who resembles that perceptual schema. The fact that only the facial metrics of opposite-sex parents showed resemblance to the partner's face tends to rule out the role of familiarity in shaping mating preferences. Our findings also reject several other rival hypotheses. The adaptive value of imprinting-related human mating is discussed, and a hypothesis is made of why different facial areas are involved in males' and females' search for resemblance.     

Sibling and environment correlates of children's achievement: Sex group differences

Abstract

Regression surface analysis was used to examine associations between sibling variables and measures of academic achievement and intellectual ability at different levels of social status and family environment variables for girls and boys. The sample was 460 Anglo‐Australian families, each with an 11‐year‐old child. Family environments were defined by parents’ aspirations for their children and parents’ instrumental and affective orientations. Regression models included terms to account for possible linear, interaction, and curvilinear relations between sib size and birth order and measures of word knowledge, word comprehension, mathematics performance, and intellectual ability. The findings indicated that the sibling variables were poor predictors of children's cognitive performance. Typically, sib size and birth order were not related to children's academic performance at different levels of family environment scores.     

Sibling and environmental correlates of adolescents’ perceptions of family environments: Ethnic group differences

Abstract

Hierarchical regression analyses and response surfaces were used in an investigation of relationships between sibling variables and adolescents’ perceptions of their family environments, after the impact on the perceptions of earlier family measures was taken into account. The analyses involved Australian adolescents and included 260 Anglo‐Australian, 120 Greek, and 90 Southern Italian families. Regression models included terms to test for possible linear, interaction, and curvilinear associations between the sibling and family environment variables. The analysis suggested the propositions that: (a) parents from different ethnic groups create different learning environments for their children and that there are ethnic‐group variations in how children perceive their family environments, (b) there are ethnic‐group variations in relationships between sibling variables and adolescents’ perceptions of their parents’ support for learning, and (c) within ethnic groups the relationships between sibling variables and perceived parental support for learning differ, depending on whether the support of fathers or mothers is being considered.     

Family resemblance for anthropometric and blood pressure measurements in Black Caribs and Creoles from St. Vincent Island

This paper examines family resemblance for five anthropometric measurements (height, weight, triceps skinfold, upper arm circumference relaxed [UACR] and flexed [UACF] and for systolic and diastolic blood pressure in a group of adult Caribbean islanders of primarily African ancestry. Six hypotheses about family resemblance are tested by using path analysis and likelihood ratios. Significant intergenerational transmission is found only for height and UACR. For weight, UACF, and diastolic blood pressure, non-transmissible sibling resemblance is the primary component of family resemblance, although significant marital resemblance exists for diastolic blood pressure. Triceps skinfold and systolic blood pressure show no evidence of any family resemblance. Although results for highly heritable traits such as height are comparable to reports from other populations, measurements with a large contribution from common family environment or residual environmental effects, such as triceps skinfold or blood pressure, have much lower family resemblance in this population than in other populations. We hypothesize that this difference is due to the fact that adult children and their parents do not share a common household in this culture and to the presence of major nonfamilial environmental factors contributing to obesity and hypertension in this population.     

Facial resemblance of Japanese children to their parents

Facial resemblance between parents and their children could be an indicator of genetic relationship, and selective pressure could bias the resemblance of appearance. We assessed the degree of resemblance of 38 Japanese children (3–6 years old) to each of their parents using photographs. We asked nonrelatives to assess which of the parents each child resembled, manipulating indications of the sex of the children. Variance in the degree of resemblance between the children and their fathers was very large. Although the basic facial appearance of each parent can be reflected in each child with 50% probability, the children did not equally show the facial characteristics of each parent at the individual level. The indication of sex had no significant effect on the assessment of resemblance. On the other hand, a questionnaire given to the assessors revealed that, as children, they tended to be said to resemble the opposite-sex parent. This result indicates that alleged resemblance does not reflect an actual condition but rather might have cultural meaning. Electronic Publication     

Comparing the biological and cultural inheritance of personality and social attitudes in the Virginia 30,000 study of twins and their relatives.

Measures of four dimensions of personality (Psychoticism, Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Lie scores) and six aspects of social attitudes (to sex, taxation, militarism, politics, religion and a general conservatism scale) were obtained by mailed questionnaire from 29,691 US subjects including adult twins (n = 14,761) their parents (n = 2360), their spouses (n = 4391), siblings (n = 3184) and adult children (n = 4800). After correction for the average effects of age, sex and source of sample, familial correlations were computed for 80 distinct biological and social relationships. The data allow for the estimation of the additive and non-additive effects of genes, assortative mating, vertical cultural inheritance and other non-parental effects of the shared environment on differences in personality and social attitudes. The interaction of genetic and environmental effects with sex may also be analyzed. Model-fitting analyses show that personality and social attitude measures differ markedly in major features of family resemblance. Additive and dominant genetic effects contribute to differences in both personality and attitudes, but the effects of the family environment, including vertical cultural transmission from parent to child, are much more marked for social attitudes than for personality. There is substantial assortative mating for social attitudes and almost none for personality. The causes of family resemblance depend significantly on sex for almost every variable studied. These findings clarify and extend the more tentative findings derived from previous twin, family and adoption studies.     

“Hot” acetogenesis

Thermophilic microorganisms as well as acetogenic bacteria are both considered ancient. Interestingly, only a few species of bacteria, all belonging to the family Thermoanaerobacteraceae, are described to conserve energy from acetate formation with hydrogen as electron donor and carbon dioxide as electron acceptor. This review reflects the metabolic differences between Moorella spp., Thermoanaerobacter kivui and Thermacetogenium phaeum, with focus on the biochemistry of autotrophic growth and energy conservation. The potential of these thermophilic acetogens for biotechnological applications is discussed briefly.

     

NUMERICAL TAXONOMY OF LIMNANTHACEAE

A numerical taxonomic study of the angiosperm family Limnanthaceae is presented. The 21 OTUs include all taxa recognized in a recent monograph of Limnanthes (Mason, 1952), plus Floerkea proserpinacoides, two undescribed Limnanthes species, and two artificial interspecific F₁ Limnanthes hybrids. One species (L. montana) was treated as two OTUs: measurements for one OTU were taken from field collections and for the other, from garden-grown plants. A maximum of 35 characters was used in the numerical analyses. Raw data for each character were given equal weighting by condensation. Coefficients of resemblance were established using the mean character difference (MCD) method. Tryon's clustering technique (called key communality cluster analysis) was used. Three numerical analyses of Limnanthaceae were made: one with all 35 characters (T analysis), one with 18 floral characters (F analysis), and one with 17 pre- or post-anthesis or vegetative characters (V analysis). Relative positions of OTUs in the T and F analyses are substantially different from those in a conventional taxonomic treatment of the family. The V analysis shows many differences from the T and F analyses. In all analyses the two OTUs representing L. montana were closer to other OTUs than to each other. The two hybrid OTUs showed greater resemblance to one parent than to the other and in two analyses one hybrid was not intermediate between the parents. Similarities between the T and F analyses are explained on the basis of the predominance of floral characters in both. The differences between these two analyses on the one hand and the V analysis and phylogenetic arrangement of the family on the other are attributed to parallelisms in the evolution of floral characters associated with iucreasing autogamy in each of the two phyletic lines in the family. Analyses emphasizing floral characters will place evolutionarily remotely related outcrossing OTUs together and unrelated, autogamous OTUs together. Using characters that are mostly unassociated with the breeding system the positions of OTUs in a numerical analysis are similar to their positions in a phylogenetic arrangement. The V analysis agrees best with suggestions concerning phylogenetic affinities among the taxa in the family, and provides a useful context for the generation of further evolutionary hypotheses.     

Familial resemblance of body composition,physical activity,and resting metabolic rate in pre-school children

Background:

Although parental obesity is a well-established predisposing factor for the development of obesity, associations between regional body compositions, resting metabolic rates (RMR), and physical activity (PA) of parents and their pre-school children remain unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate parent-child correlations for total and regional body compositions, resting energy expenditures, and physical activity.

Methods:

Participants were 89 children aged 2-6 years and their parents, consisting of 61 families. Resting metabolic rate was assessed using indirect calorimetry. Total and regional body compositions were measured by both dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and deuterium dilution. Physical activity was assessed by an accelerometer.

Results:

There was a significant parent-offspring regression for total fat free mass (FFM) between children and their mothers (P=0.02), fathers (P=0.02), and mid-parent (average of father and mother value) (P=0.002) when measured by DXA. The same was true for fat mass (FM) between children and mothers (P<0.01), fathers (P=0.02), and mid-parent (P=0.001). There was no significant association between children and parents for physical activity during the entire week, weekend, weekdays, and different parts of days, except for morning activity, which was positively related to the mothers’ morning activities (P<0.01) and mid-parent (P=0.009). No association was found between RMR of children and parents before and after correction for FFM and FM.

Conclusion:

These data suggest a familial resemblance for total body composition between children and their parents. Our data showed no familial resemblance for PA and RMR between children and their parents. Key Words: Obesity, Familial resemblance, Children, Resting metabolic rate, Physical activity     

Empathic Response to Animal Suffering: Societal Versus Family Influence

ABSTRACT

Attitudes to animals vary according to social conditions, current philosophies and personal experience. This paper reports the findings from two items which were part of a 21-item questionnaire investigating attitudes to non-pet animals. Participants were drawn equally from three consecutive and related generations; students, parents and grandparents. They were asked how they would respond to the plight of a mouse or bird, when each was attacked by a cat. Responses were associated with cat, but not dog, ownership. There were generational differences in participants' reactions to the two situations, and in the reasons given for their choice of action. The findings suggest that changing ideologies and social conditions have a greater impact on attitudes than does transmission of family values.     

Pet Dogs Improve Family Functioning and Reduce Anxiety in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

ABSTRACT

There is increasing evidence to suggest that dogs are beneficial for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in therapy sessions, and anecdotal reports suggest that dogs may have wider benefits, in a family setting. This study investigated the effect of dog ownership on family functioning and child anxiety. Using a validated scale of family strengths and weaknesses (Brief Version of the Family Assessment Measure-III [General Scale]), we compared parents of children with ASD who had recently acquired a pet dog (n=42, Intervention group) with a similar group of parents not acquiring a dog (n=28, Control group) at matched time points. A sub-population (n =14 acquiring a dog, n=26 controls) completed a parental-report measure of child anxiety (Spence Children's Anxiety Scale). The primary carer completed the scales via telephone at Baseline (up to 17 weeks before acquiring a dog), Post-intervention (3–10 weeks after acquisition), and Follow-up (25–40 weeks after acquisition). Over time, scores for family functioning showed significant improvements (reduced family weaknesses, increased strengths) in the dog-owning compared with the non-dog owning group. In comparison with the non-dog owning group, anxiety scores in the dog-owning group reduced by a greater percentage, most notably in the domains of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (26% greater decrease), Panic Attack and Agoraphobia (24%), Social Phobia (22%), and Separation Anxiety (22%). The results illustrate the potential of pet dogs to improve whole family functioning and child anxiety.