Augmented Partial Diallel Cross Based on Circulant Sample

At present, the parents are included in the experimental material for judging the performance of crosses over parents and for calculation of heterosis but they are ignored for combining ability analysis of Partial Diallel Crosses due to the non-availability of the method of analysis for such designs. To satisfy the practical need of the breeders on one hand and to remove the statistical objections on the other hand, a method of analysis of Partial Diallel Crosses based on circulant sample including parents has been presented in this paper. A numerical example is given for llustration of technique.     

Psychosocial problems of Pakistani parents of Thalassemic children: a cross sectional study done in Bahawalpur, Pakistan

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Thalassemia is a blood disorder passed down through families (inherited) in which the body makes an abnormal form of hemoglobin. This disorder results in excessive destruction of red blood cells, and there is no effective treatment. Patients require lifelong blood transfusion, usually started within 6 to 12 months of birth of patient, which on other hand has its own complications. It is a chronic disease that manifests so early in life that it leads to psychological and social problems for parents . We focused on parents to assess the impact of their child's disease. OBJECTIVE: To determine the psychosocial problems of parents of thalassemic children. METHODS: This cross sectional study was conducted among the parents of thalassemic children attending THALASSEMIA CENTRE, BAHAVAL VICTORIA HOSPITAL (BVH), BAHAWALPUR, PAKISTAN during the year 2011. A self designed questionnaire was used that contained questions regarding psychological and social aspects. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ- 9) was used to assess the depression of parents of thalassemic children. RESULTS: Of the 100 parents interviewed, the majority were mothers (71%), with a mean age of 32 +/- 8.07 years for both sexes. 29 percent of the parents had moderate to severe depression, 16 percent had sleep disturbances. 56 percent were downgraded by relatives. There was a significant relationship between respondent education and depression(p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A substantial number of parents have psychosocial problems due to the disease of their child. Parent counseling is needed on regular basis.     

萝卜-芥蓝杂种F_1代创制及杂种鉴定

以萝卜为母本,以芥蓝为父本,采用人工去雄授粉的方法进行杂交,然后通过胚抢救(embryo rescue)得到F1代植株,并利用RAPD技术对杂种F1代幼苗进行了鉴定.RAPD鉴定结果表明:杂种表现出亲本的特异带或者亲本不具备的新谱带,有的还遗失了亲本的特异带或者共有带.     

萝卜-芥蓝杂种F1代创制及杂种鉴定

以萝卜为母本,以芥蓝为父本,采用人工去雄授粉的方法进行杂交,然后通过胚抢救（embryo rescue）得到F1代植株,并利用RAPD技术对杂种F1代幼苗进行了鉴定。RAPD鉴定结果表明：杂种表现出亲本的特异带或者亲本不具备的新谱带,有的还遗失了亲本的特异带或者共有带。     

First report of a hatched,hand‐reared,and released African oystercatcher

The African oystercatcher Haematopus moquini is a near‐threatened wader that is endemic to southern Africa. In the past, the species suffered a drastic decrease in nesting success due to human disturbance. We present the case report of an African oystercatcher that was hatched, hand‐reared, and released in the Western Cape, South Africa. African oystercatchers are semi‐altricial birds that tend to be highly sensitive to stress; as a result, strategies to minimize stress and the employment of surrogate parents and pre‐release acclimatization are important to ensure post‐release survival of hand‐reared chicks. Considering the lack of literature on the incubation and hand‐rearing of oystercatchers, this case report provides a basis for the development of hand‐rearing techniques that might be useful for the protection of this and other threatened wader species.     

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     

Parents' age at birth of their offspring and child survival

This study presents some new results on parental age as a risk factor for child survival. The study is based on individual registration forms for live births and infant deaths collected in Hungary from 1984 to 1988. Logistic regression models have been fitted for early neonatal and neonatal mortality on the one hand, and post-neonatal mortality on the other hand. Children of older males and females have significantly higher early neonatal and neonatal mortality rates compared to those of younger males and females. The impact of age of both parents remains, however, slighter than that of other biological characteristics such as previous number of fetal deaths, induced abortions, or live births. The authors discuss possible biological explanations.     

Genetic associations between lateral signs.

Only a few authors examined several lateral asymmetries in families simultaneously. Seven lateralities (handedness, footedness, eyedness, earedness, hand clasping, arm folding and leg crossing) were examined in a sample of 292 biologically related parent-offspring triads and 36 sibling pairs. Analysis of the family data showed a significant association between parents and children in most lateralities. The frequency of left-sidedness increased with the number of left-sided parents. Only in the case of footedness and hand clasping there are no significant correlations. Additionally we investigated the inter-relationship between the lateralities in the parental generation. There is a relative strong relation especially among the functional asymmetries. The study analysed also the genetic association (linkage) according to McManus & Mascie-Taylor (1979) between seven different lateralized characteristics. It is shown that the lateral asymmetries correlate genetically relatively imperfectly with each other comparing the inter-relationship between the lateralities in the parental generation. This implicates a multigenetical and also multifactorial determination of laterality in human being.     

Flexibility in the Foraging Behavior of Blue Tits in Response to Short‐Term Manipulations of Brood Size

Previous work suggests that short‐term changes in feeding rate are usually produced by the parent‐offspring interaction. However, few studies have properly tested this assumption. In this study, we attempt to explore the short‐term consequences of daily (within‐pair) brood size manipulations (reduced, original, and enlarged) on feeding behavior (provisioning rates, prey size, and prey type) of Mediterranean blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus. Total provisioning rates were lowest when broods were reduced in size and greatest when broods were enlarged. Mean prey size was also affected by the brood size changes: parents tended to bring larger prey when confronted with low brood demand reinforcing the view that a trade‐off exists between minimizing foraging time and maximizing food quantity. Such differences in feeding frequencies and the load sizes delivered may be explained by changes in the parents’ foraging tactic. Increase of brood size compelled parents to work harder and be less selective in prey choice; we found that stressed birds with a high level of feeding responsibility (hungry nestlings) opted to concentrate on more readily available food items (Tortricids). On the other hand, their immediate reaction when faced with a low level of feeding responsibility was to decrease this prey type in the diet, so that the percentage of other preys (Noctuids) in the diet increased. There was no intersexual difference in the way in which parents responded to the manipulation. In sum, our results revealed a flexibility in foraging strategies of blue tits to cope with changing scenarios, which supports the idea that provisioning behavior is largely governed by nestling demand.     

The attitudes of Israeli youth towards inter‐ethnic and intra‐ethnic marriage: 1975 and 1990

The research examines the attitudes of 649 Israeli high school seniors with regard to inter‐ethnic and intra‐ethnic marriage in 1975 and 1990. Gradual but steady increases in the rates of intermarriage over the last decade suggest a lessening of the social distance between the society's major ethnic groups: Sabras (parents born in Israel), Orientals (parents born in Asia or Africa) and Westerners (parents born in America or Europe). On the other hand, a shift in Israel's social ideology ‐ from a melting‐pot policy towards a current emphasis on cultural uniqueness and esprit de corps ‐ may signal a reverse in this trend. The findings of the study indicate significant differences between the attitudes of adolescents in 1975 and 1990 to intra‐ and intermarriage. There is a growing trend towards intramarriage among youth of Oriental and Western origin. In contrast, the second‐generation Sabras of today no longer prefer members of their own group, as they did in 1975, but rather tend to favour intermarrige, especially to Westerners.     

Similarities between the faces of parents and offspring in Bewick's swan and the differences between mates

The faces of individual Bewick's swans ( Cygnus columbianus bewickii ) are highly distinctive. Similarities between the faces of parents and their offspring in 12 families living in the wild were examined using a code that gave a value to 29 features of each individual's face. The similarities between the faces of 22 wild–living mated pairs were also analyzed. The offspring resembled both their parents more closely than would have been expected on a chance basis. The similarities were particularly striking in the upper part of the bill. Mates, on the other hand, did not resemble each other and analysis of each character suggested that in some respects, they were less like each other than would have been expected on a chance basis. It is concluded that the facial appearance of Bewick's swans is inherited and that the swans may actively outbreed.     

Peer effects on obesity in a sample of European children

This study analyzes peer effects on childhood obesity using data from the first two waves of the IDEFICS study, which applies several anthropometric and other measures of fatness to approximately 14,000 children aged two to nine participating in both waves in 16 regions of eight European countries. Peers are defined as same-sex children in the same school and age group. The results show that peer effects do exist in this European sample but that they differ among both regions and different fatness measures. Peer effects are larger in Spain, Italy, and Cyprus – the more collectivist regions in our sample – while waist circumference generally gives rise to larger peer effects than BMI. We also provide evidence that parental misperceptions of their own children's weight goes hand in hand with fatter peer groups, supporting the notion that in making such assessments, parents compare their children's weight with that of friends and schoolmates.     

普通小麦不同优势杂交种及其亲本苗期根系基因的差异表达

为探讨小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)杂种优势形成的分子机理,选用普通小麦品种(系)3338、6554和2410TD及其强优势杂种A(3338×6654)和无优势杂种B(2410TD×6554),采用mRNA差异显示技术,对生长至三叶一心的根系(初生根)基因表达差异进行了比较研究.结果发现,小麦杂种一代苗期根系基因表达较亲本明显不同,表现为数量水平和质量水平上的差异,且差异表达基因的数目远高于我们以苗期叶片为材料的研究结果,表明小麦杂交种与其亲本间的基因差异表达与所研究的组织和器官有关.比较分析发现,在强优势杂种组合A中,超亲表达和偏高亲表达基因所占比例均明显高于无优势杂种组合B.以家族特异基因替代随机引物进行的差异显示结果表明,MADS-box家族基因在小麦杂交种和亲本苗期根系中存在着显著的表达差异,且差异表达类型以杂种特异表达和亲本基因在杂种一代沉默为主,说明MADS-box家族基因可能与小麦的杂种优势形成具有重要关系.对杂种和亲本基因表达差异与杂种优势的关系进行了分析和讨论.     

Significance of Literacy in the Performance of Students in the First Year of the Nottingham Medical Course

The “literacy” of a fresh intake of medical students as measured by standardized vocabulary tests has been measured and correlated with examination performance during the first year. Although most students lacked an upper social class upbringing, medical parents, or a classical education, the group performed to a high standard in the tests, comparable with an English honours intake. On the other hand, there appears to be no correlation between an extensive working vocabulary and the ability to perform well in any aspect of the course, apart from the community studies. A qualification in Latin confers no advantage at all on the aspiring doctor.     

The challenge of the well child

Upon general practitioners and pediatricians falls the responsibility of recognizing and treating most emotional problems in young children. This may be best carried out by the anticipation of expected problems, and the advance guidance or counseling of parents. That such problems are of high incidence was indicated in experience at a pediatric clinic where approximately 40 per cent of 7,000 children observed had psychosomatic symptoms. In order to utilize effectively the limited time available in office practice for Well Child care, a physician must have at hand certain basic information on personality development. Many of the normal behavior patterns in children which frequently are misinterpreted as "behavior problems" by parents are presented herein in chart form, divided into critical age periods, to help physicians quickly recognize what is normal and what abnormal in various periods of maximal crisis. Most of the problems of conflict within a child and of conflict between parents and child, it is felt, could be and should be handled at the pediatric level. Some seriously disturbed children need to be referred for psychiatric care. When this is necessary, skillful preparation of the parent and the child by the family physician for referral is most important to successful psychotherapy.     

The frequency of fingerprint type in parents of children with Trisomy 21 in Japan

Analysis of the frequency data of each fingerprint type (arch, ulnar loop, radial loop, and whorl) of the parents of children with Trisomy 21 (Fathers: 71; Mothers: 128) born between 1965 and 1970 obtained from the Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital was carried out. Japanese controls were taken from dermatoglyphics data in Japan. We conducted the Friedman test on each type of fingerprint between Japanese controls and parents of Trisomy 21 children.Results from a statistical analysis based on the above data showed significant differences, more arches (p < 0.0001) and fewer whorls (p < 0.05) in mothers of children with Trisomy 21. Among fathers of Trisomy 21 children, a significant difference was found in there being fewer whorls (p < 0.05) and ulnar loops (p = 0.06). Considering the mothers' fingerprints, we suspected that females with a higher frequency of arches and a lower frequency of whorls had a stronger possibility of bearing Trisomy 21 babies. On the other hand, in fathers of Trisomy 21 children, we considered that there would be a possibility of significant differences if cases in the sample were increased.     

The "beggar's" hand and the "unshakable" hand in children with total obstetric brachial plexus palsy

A total 12 consecutive children with secondary deformities following total obstetric brachial plexus palsy were included in this retrospective study. In all patients, the main complaints were two socially disabling hand postures: the "beggar's" hand and/or the "unshakable" hand. All children had a supinated forearm with no active pronation and were teased by their friends, who called them "beggars." When the impairment was severe and involved the right hand and wrist, children also complained that they were not able to shake hands. The management approach to these children was described, with the main aim of surgery being the correction of the abnormal posture. Other simultaneous tendon transfers were also performed to improve hand function if there were suitable musculotendinous units. Successful reconstruction was accomplished in all patients. Preoperatively, some children refused to go to school because of teasing, and most did not want to interact socially. After surgery, all children attended school regularly, and parents reported much better social interaction. However, the functional gain was never enough to dramatically improve the daily use of the limb. The contralateral normal limb remained the dominant one for all daily activities, including writing and eating.     

Harsh nutritional environment has positive and negative consequences for family living in a burying beetle

Harsh environmental conditions in form of low food availability for both offspring and parents alike can affect breeding behavior and success. There has been evidence that food scarce environments can induce competition between family members, and this might be intensified when parents are caring as a pair and not alone. On the other hand, it is possible that a harsh, food-poor environment could also promote cooperative behaviors within a family, leading, for example, to a higher breeding success of pairs than of single parents. We studied the influence of a harsh nutritional environment on the fitness outcome of family living in the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides. These beetles use vertebrate carcasses for reproduction. We manipulated food availability on two levels: before and during breeding. We then compared the effect of these manipulations in broods with either single females or biparentally breeding males and females. We show that pairs of beetles that experienced a food-poor environment before breeding consumed a higher quantity of the carcass than well-fed pairs or single females. Nevertheless, they were more successful in raising a brood with higher larval survival compared to pairs that did not experience a food shortage before breeding. We also show that food availability during breeding and social condition had independent effects on the mass of the broods raised, with lighter broods in biparental families than in uniparental ones and on smaller carcasses. Our study thus indicates that a harsh nutritional environment can increase both cooperative as well as competitive interactions between family members. Moreover, our results suggest that it can either hamper or drive the formation of a family because parents choose to restrain reproductive investment in a current brood or are encouraged to breed in a food-poor environment, depending on former experiences and their own nutritional status.     

Brood reduction and begging behaviour in the Swift Apus apus; no evidence that large nestlings restrict parental choice

Brood reduction in birds is generally viewed as an adaptive process by which parents can maximize reproductive success in the face of an unpredictable environment. However, brood reduction may not be adaptive for the parents if the reduction is instead caused by large nestlings that block the nest entrance, thereby restricting parental choice. To determine the degree of difficulty faced by the parents in obtaining access to their smallest nestlings, a simple experiment was conducted in the Swift Apus apus. By inserting a human hand blindly into Swift nesting holes, nestlings were stimulated to beg and to grasp the approaching fingers. The results show that the smallest nestlings in the nest were the first to encounter the approaching fingers. Small nestlings were also just as likely to be found with at least some food in their crops as were medium and large nestlings, but gained mass at a significantly slower rate. I suggest that parent Swifts can easily access small nestlings, but prefer either to allocate more food to larger nestlings or to allow sibling competition in order to facilitate brood reduction.     

PATHOGEN IMPACT ON SEXUAL VS. ASEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS IN ARISAEMA TRIPHYLLUM

Populations of Arisaema triphyllum commonly harbor a systemic fungal pathogen, Uromyces ari-triphylli, which reduces leaf area and leaf longevity. Infected plants produced 42% fewer asexual progeny (cormlets). Furthermore, all asexual progeny from infected parents were themselves infected with Uromyces. Mean seed production of infected plants was only 21% of that among healthy plants. A hand pollination experiment demonstrated that 1) infected male plants can produce viable pollen, 2) the low seed production of naturally pollinated infected females was not due to inadequate pollination, and 3) seed production among healthy female plants was strongly pollinator limited. Seeds from infected and healthy parents had similar viability, and all seeds germinating from both types of parents were uninfected. The contrast in disease transmission to sexual vs. asexual progeny suggests that pathogen attack may be one selective factor favoring sexual reproduction in A. triphyllum populations.