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Background: The standard approach for classifying child/youth psychiatric disorder as present or absent in epidemiological studies is lay‐administered structured, standardized diagnostic interviews (interviews) based on categorical taxonomies such as the DSM and ICD. Converting problem checklist scale scores (checklists) to binary classifications provides a simple, inexpensive alternative. Methods: Using assessments obtained from 737 parents, we determine if child/youth behavioral, attentional, and emotional disorder classifications based on checklists are equivalent psychometrically to interview classifications. We test this hypothesis by (1) comparing their test–retest reliabilities based on kappa (κ), (2) estimating their observed agreement at times 1 and 2, and (3) in structural equation models, comparing their strength of association with clinical status and reported use of prescription medication to treat disorder. A confidence interval approach is used to determine if parameter differences lie within the smallest effect size of interest set at ±0.125. Results: The test–retest reliabilities (κ) for interviews compared with checklists met criteria for statistical equivalence: behavioral,.67 and.70; attentional,.64 and.66; and emotional,.61 and.65. Observed agreement between the checklist and interviews on classifications of disorder at times 1 and 2 was, on average, κ =.61. On average, the β coefficients estimating associations with clinical status were.59 (interviews) and.63 (checklists); and with prescription medication use,.69 (interviews) and.71 (checklists). Behavioral and attentional disorders met criteria for statistical equivalence. Emotional disorder did not, although the coefficients were stronger numerically for the checklist. Conclusions: Classifications of child/youth psychiatric disorder from parent‐reported checklists and interviews are equivalent psychometrically. The practical advantages of checklists over interviews for classifying disorder (lower administration cost and respondent burden) are enhanced by their ability to measure disorder dimensionally. Checklists provide an option to interviews in epidemiological studies of common child/youth psychiatric disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Logging and habitat conversion create hotter microclimates in tropical forest landscapes, representing a powerful form of localised anthropogenic climate change. It is widely believed that these emergent conditions are responsible for driving changes in communities of organisms found in modified tropical forests, although the empirical evidence base for this is lacking.Here we investigated how interactions between the physiological traits of genera and the environmental temperatures they experience lead to functional and compositional changes in communities of ants, a key organism in tropical forest ecosystems.We found that the abundance and activity of ant genera along a gradient of forest disturbance in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, was defined by an interaction between their thermal tolerance (CTmax) and environmental temperature. In more disturbed, warmer habitats, genera with high CTmax had increased relative abundance and functional activity, and those with low CTmax had decreased relative abundance and functional activity.This interaction determined abundance changes between primary and logged forest that differed in daily maximum temperature by a modest 1.1°C, and strengthened as the change in microclimate increased with disturbance. Between habitats that differed by 5.6°C (primary forest to oil palm) and 4.5°C (logged forest to oil palm), a 1°C difference in CTmax among genera led to a 23% and 16% change in relative abundance, and a 22% and 17% difference in functional activity. CTmax was negatively correlated with body size and trophic position, with ants becoming significantly smaller and less predatory as microclimate temperatures increased.Our results provide evidence to support the widely held, but never directly tested, assumption that physiological tolerances underpin the influence of disturbance‐induced microclimate change on the abundance and function of invertebrates in tropical landscapes. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how community assembly processes drive biodiversity patterns is a central goal of community ecology. While it is generally accepted that ecological communities are assembled by both stochastic and deterministic processes, quantifying their relative importance remains challenging. Few studies have investigated how the relative importance of stochastic and deterministic community assembly processes vary among taxa and along gradients of habitat degradation. Using data on 1645 arthropod species across seven taxonomic groups in Malaysian Borneo, we quantified the importance of ecological stochasticity and of a suite of community assembly processes across a gradient of logging intensity. The relationship between logging and community assembly varied depending on the specific combination of taxa and stochasticity metric used, but, in general, the processes that govern invertebrate community assembly were remarkably robust to changes in land use intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Self‐completed checklists measuring youth mental health problems produce dimensional scale scores and can be converted to categorical classifications representing the presence/absence of psychopathology. We test whether categorical classifications from scale scores are equivalent psychometrically to categorical classifications of the same problems obtained by lay‐administered standardized structured diagnostic interviews. Methods: The sample of n = 325 youth aged 12–18 (44% male) and their parent/caregivers come from combined test–retest reliability studies conducted in Ontario, Canada, from 2011 to 2015. Ontario Child Health Study Emotional Behavioural Scales‐Brief Version (OCHS‐EBS‐B) scores converted to categorical classifications of emotional and behavioral problems were compared with interview classifications. We test hypotheses of statistical equivalence and inferiority, using a confidence interval approach to detect if differences lie within the smallest effect size of interest of ±0.18. We compare categorical classifications on: (1) test–retest reliability (ҡ), (2) content validity (between‐instrument agreement), and (3) construct validity (strength of association with three mental health‐related constructs). Results: Average test–retest reliabilities were 0.695 (checklists) and 0.670 (interviews). The reliability of checklist emotional problem classifications was not inferior to interview classifications and the difference in reliability between instruments for behavioral problems was small (−0.036). Average between‐instrument agreement was ҡ = 0.586 (observed) and ҡ = 0.841 (corrected for attenuation due to measurement error) indicating high content overlap. Statistical equivalence criteria were met in 5 of 6 construct validity comparisons. Conclusions: Categorical classifications of emotional and behavioral problems from youth‐reported checklists are, on balance, equivalent to interview classifications. Checklists represent a simple, brief, inexpensive alternative to interviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Individuals born extremely preterm are exposed to significant perinatal stresses that are associated with an increased risk of psychopathology. However, a paucity of longitudinal studies has prevented the empirical examination of long‐term, dynamic effects of perinatal adversity on mental health. Here, internalizing and externalizing problems from adolescence through adulthood were compared in individuals born at extremely low birth weight (ELBW; <1,000 g) and normal birth weight (NBW; >2,500 g). Methods: Internalizing and externalizing data were collected over 20 years in three waves, during adolescence, young adulthood, and adulthood. Growth models were used to compare longitudinal trajectories in a geographically based sample of 151 ELBW survivors and 137 NBW control participants born between 1977 and 1982 matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic status at age 8. Results: After adjusting for sex, socioeconomic and immigrant status, and family functioning, ELBW survivors failed to show the normative, age‐related decline in internalizing problems over time relative to their NBW peers (β = .21; p < .01). Both groups exhibited small declines in externalizing problems over the same period. Self‐esteem (but not physical health, IQ, or maternal mood) partially mediated the association between ELBW status and internalizing problems. Conclusions: Extremely low birth weight survivors experienced a blunting of the expected improvement in depression and anxiety from adolescence to adulthood. These findings suggest that altered physiological regulatory systems supporting emotional and cognitive processing may contribute to the maintenance of internalizing problems in this population. Read the full article at doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12971 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preterm birth is associated with an increased risk of depression and anxiety, but it is not known if this is due to greater exposure to risk, or if perinatal adversity amplifies the impact of traditional risk factors. This study sought to determine if exposure to perinatal adversity modifies associations between traditional risk and resilience factors and depression and anxiety in adulthood. Methods: A sample of 142 extremely low‐birth‐weight (ELBW < 1,000 g) survivors and 133 sociodemographically matched normal birth weight (NBW) control participants was followed longitudinally to 22–26 years of age. Separate postnatal risk and resilience scales were created using eight risk and seven resilience factors, respectively. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the internalizing scale of the Young Adult Self‐Report (YASR). This scale was also dichotomized at the 90th percentile to define clinically significant psychopathology. Results: While the average number of risk exposures did not differ between groups, ELBW survivors were more susceptible to risk than NBW control participants. For the ELBW group, each additional risk factor resulted in a 2‐point increase in internalizing scores, and two and a half times the odds of clinically significant internalizing symptoms (OR = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.63, 3.76). The protective effect of resiliency factors was also blunted among ELBW survivors. Conclusions: Extremely low‐birth‐weight survivors may be more sensitive to traditional risk factors for psychopathology and less protected by resiliency factors. Intervention strategies aimed at preventing or reducing exposure to traditional childhood risk factors for psychopathology may reduce the burden of mental illness in adult survivors of prematurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the need for research on the psychometric adequacy of self-completed problem checklists to classify child and adolescent psychiatric disorder based on proxy assessments by parents and self-assessments by adolescents. We put forward six theoretical arguments for expecting checklists to achieve comparable levels of reliability and validity with standardized diagnostic interviews for identifying child psychiatric disorder in epidemiological studies and clinical research. Empirically, the modest levels of test-retest reliability exhibited by standardized diagnostic interviews - 0.40 to 0.60 based on kappa - should be achievable by checklists when thresholds or cut-points are applied to scale scores to identify a child with disorder. The few studies to conduct head-to-head comparisons of checklists and interviews in the 1990s concurred that no construct validity differences existed between checklist and interview classifications of disorder, even though the classifications of youth with psychiatric disorder only partially overlapped across instruments. Demonstrating that self-completed problem checklists can classify disorder with similar reliability and validity as standardized diagnostic interviews would provide a simple, brief, flexible way to measuring psychiatric disorder as both a categorical or dimensional phenomenon as well as dramatically lowering the burden and cost of assessments in epidemiological studies and clinical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the introduction of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy to the neonatal transport environment. Topics include the number of infants managed on HFNC support in Great Britain, safety of the Acute Neonatal Transfer Service (ANTS) in delivering HFNC support during neonatal transportation, and blood gas analysis on infants on respiratory support.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to test for measurement invariance and examine differences in global self-concept between adolescents with and without physical illness or developmental disability. The sample consisted of adolescents 10–19 years who participated in the Canadian National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (N =8491). Multiple group confirmatory factor analysis was used to test for measurement invariance. Twenty-three percent (n =1966) of participants had a physical illness or developmental disability. Support was found for strict measurement invariance between groups suggesting adolescents in both groups perceived items similarly, indicating that comparisons between adolescents with and without physical illness or developmental disability are meaningful. Controlling for several sociodemographic characteristics, evidence suggested that self-concept is lower in adolescents with physical illness or developmental disability, β =−0.24, p =0.0005, compared to their healthy peers. Future work should attempt to understand the processes leading to compromised self-concept in adolescents with physical illness or developmental disability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study tests the hypothesis that links between contextual risk and children's outcomes are partially explained by differential parenting. Using multi-informant measurement and including up to four children per family ( Mage = 3.51, SD = 2.38) in a sample of 397 families, indirect effects (through maternal differential parenting: self-reported and observed) of cumulative contextual risk on four child outcomes were investigated. Cumulative risk was associated with higher levels of differential parenting and, in turn, with higher levels of behavioral problems. Indirect effects were strongest for attentional and social problems but also evident for aggression. The link between differential parenting and outcome was moderated by favoritism, but this was only evident for maternal report and strongest for aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

General measures of self-rated health are collected routinely in national health surveys and widely used in the analyses of determinants of health and health care utilization. However, these subjective assessments can be influenced by health expectations (contextualized beliefs about health) that may vary systematically across individuals and be associated with their socio-demographic characteristics. Our objective is to contrast the impact of health expectations associated with respondent characteristics (reporting heterogeneity) on self-rated feelings of sadness, lowness or depression obtained from general population samples in France and Vietnam. Based on self ratings and ratings in response to common anchoring vignettes depicting different levels of depression, we used nationally representative data from the World Health Survey conducted in France (2002) and Vietnam (2002-2003) and a modification of the standard probit model to test and adjust for reporting heterogeneity associated with individual characteristics. We find evidence of reporting heterogeneity within France and Vietnam and across the two countries. In particular we find that, when adjusted for reporting heterogeneity, sex is no longer significantly associated with self-rated feelings of sadness, lowness or depression in France. Given the absence of clear biological markers in the definitions of depressive disorders and the substantial impact reporting heterogeneity is shown to have, measures of depressive disorders based on self-reports should be interpreted with caution. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maximizing measurement accuracy is an important aim in child development assessment and research. Parents are essential informants in the diagnostic process, and past research suggests that certain parental characteristics may influence how they report information about their children. This has not been studied in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to date. We aimed, therefore, to investigate the possible effect that maternal depression might have on a mother's reports of her child's ASD behaviors. Using structural equation modeling, we disaggregated shared from unique variation in the association between latent variable measures of maternal depression and ASD behaviors. Methods: Data were obtained from a study of preschoolers aged 2-4 newly diagnosed with ASD ( n = 214). Information from a parent questionnaire, a semi-structured parent interview, and a semi-structured observational assessment was used to develop a latent variable measure of child ASD behaviors. Mothers reported on their own depression symptoms. We first modeled the covariance between maternal depression and child ASD behavior. Then, to quantify unique variation, we added covariance terms between maternal depression and the residual variation associated with the individual measures of child ASD behaviors. Results: The model demonstrated excellent fit to the underlying data. Maternal self-report of depression symptoms exhibited a significant association with the unique variance of the questionnaire report but not with the latent variable measure of child ASD behavior. A gradient pattern of association was demonstrated between maternal depression and the unique variance of the ASD measures: most strongly for the maternal questionnaire report, more weakly for the maternal semi-structured interview, and to a trivial extent for the observational interview. Conclusions: Parental depression may influence reporting of ASD behaviors in preschoolers. Shared method effects may also contribute to bias. This finding highlights the importance of obtaining multimethod reports of child ASD symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child sexual abuse and suicide-related behaviors are associated, but it remains unclear if the strength of this association differs in boys and girls. In a systematic review of this association in children and youth, we identified 16 relevant studies, all cross-sectional surveys of students. The association is stronger in boys specific to suicide attempt(s). Adjustments for potential confounding variables explained some, but not all of this sex difference. While additional research would strengthen causal inferences, this sex difference may be influenced by the nature and timing of child sexual abuse as well as the sex of the perpetrator, which in turn shapes the disclosure of these events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although structured interviews are assumed to be scientifically superior to checklists for measuring youth psychopathology, few studies have tested this hypothesis. Interviews place a much greater burden on respondents, making it critical to determine their added value when quantifying psychiatric symptoms. Methods: Confirmatory factor analysis was used to compare interviews and checklists in community ( N = 251) and clinically referred ( N = 406) samples of youth aged 5 to 17 years. We examined the associations between mother-reported externalizing symptoms assessed by interview versus checklist against (a) teacher-reported externalizing symptoms, and (b) child’s gender, academic performance, single- versus two-parent family, and family income. Models in which associations were estimated freely were contrasted to models in which the interview and the checklist were constrained to have equal associations with the variables. Finding these models fit comparably would suggest no difference between interviews and checklists. Results: In the community sample, both the constrained and unconstrained models provided comparable fit to the data, suggesting no marked differences between interviews and checklists. In the clinical sample, associations with the interview were generally stronger. Reducing the number of items on the interview to match those on the 6-item checklist eliminated these differences, suggesting that the increased reliability of the interview scales, afforded by additional items, enhanced their quantification of psychopathology. Conclusions: Consistent with previous studies, interviews were not notably superior to checklists for the measurement of externalizing symptoms. When only a few items are used, small performance differences between checklists and interviews may be due to scale length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study examines the use of the Brief Child and Family Phone Interview (BCFPI) to screen for childhood psychiatric disorder based on Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version IV (DISC-IV) classifications of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD), separation anxiety (SAD), generalized anxiety (GAD) and major depression (MDD). Methods: Data for analysis come from a sample of 399 children and adolescents aged 5–17 years old referred to child mental health outpatient services in three Ontario cities. Mothers were administered the BCFPI on three occasions: baseline, 2 and 13 months; and the DISC-IV on two occasions: 1 and 12 months. Results: Based on kappa, test–retest reliability for disorders classified by the BCFPI exceeded .50 for all conditions except MDD (.45). In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, area-under-the-curve (AUC) estimates for BCFPI scale score associations with DISC-IV classifications of disorder exceeded .80 for CD, ODD, ADHD and SAD; and were lower for GAD (.76) and MDD (.75). In stratified analyses, there were no statistically significant differences in AUC estimates for boys versus girls and 5 to 11 versus 12 to 17-year-olds. Conclusions: Classifications of childhood disorder derived from the BCFPI provided a reasonable approximation to disorders classified by the DISC-IV administered by lay interviewers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study describes the development of the Brief Child and Family Phone Interview (BCFPI) – a computer-assisted telephone interview which adapts the revised Ontario Child Health Study’s (OCHS-R) parent, teacher, and youth self-report scales for administration as intake screening and treatment outcome measures in children’s mental health services. It focuses on the factor structure of the BCFPI’s hypothesized parent-reported child mental health scales describing attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD), separation anxiety disorder (SAD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and major depression (MDD). Methods: Data for the analysis come from an OCHS-R measurement study that included two groups of children and adolescents selected from the same urban area: a general population sample ( n = 1,712) and a clinic-referred sample ( n = 1,512); and a third sample that was enlisted in a province-wide implementation study of clinic-referred 6- to 18-year-olds ( n = 56,825). We used confirmatory factor analysis to assess the factor structure of the BCFPI scales in different populations and to test measurement equivalence across selected groups. Results: Despite the strong constraints imposed on the measurement models, estimates of model fit across the three samples were comparable in magnitude and approached the cut-offs suggested for the GFI and CFI (>.9) and RMSEA (<.05). Measurement equivalence was demonstrated between the OCHS-R clinic and provincial implementation samples. Within the implementation sample, the factor structure of the BCFPI scales was equivalent for boys versus girls and for 6- to 12- versus 13- to 18-year-olds. A companion paper examines the test–retest reliability, sensitivity, specificity, and validity of these BCFPI scales when used for screening. Conclusion: This project supports the feasibility and acceptability of a computer-assisted telephone interview for assessing emotional-behavioral problems of children and adolescents referred to children’s mental health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most bilaterian animals have evolved a through gut that is regionally specialized along the anterior–posterior axis. In the polychaete annelid, Capitella sp. I, the alimentary canal is subdivided into a buccal cavity, pharynx, esophagus, midgut, and hindgut. Members of the Fox and GATA families of transcription factors have conserved functions in patterning ectodermal and endodermal gut components. We have isolated and characterized expression of one FoxA gene (CapI-foxA) and four GATA genes ( CapI-gataB1, CapI-gataB2, CapI-gataB3, and CapI-gataA1) from Capitella sp. I. Both gene families are expressed in the developing gut of this polychaete. CapI-foxA, an ortholog of the FoxA subgroup, is expressed in vegetal hemisphere micromeres of cleavage-stage embryos, in multiple blastomeres within and surrounding the blastopore during gastrulation, and throughout morphogenesis of the pharynx, esophagus, and hindgut. The CapI-gataB genes group within the vertebrate GATA4/5/6 subfamily, appear to be products of lineage-specific gene duplication, and are expressed in specific domains of endomesoderm. CapI-gataB1 is expressed in endoderm precursors and throughout developing midgut endoderm, and is particularly prominent at anterior and posterior midgut boundaries. CapI-gataB2 is co-expressed with CapI-gataB1 in midgut endoderm, and is also expressed in visceral mesoderm. CapI-gataB3 is limited to and coexpressed with CapI-gataB2 in visceral mesoderm. CapI-gataA1 groups within the vertebrate GATA1/2/3 subfamily and is expressed primarily in ectodermal tissues of the brain, ventral nerve cord, lateral trunk, and both pharyngeal and esophageal regions of the foregut. Collectively, the CapI- foxA and CapI- gata genes show patterns of expression that span almost the entire length of the developing alimentary canal, consistent with a role in gut development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data from a nationally representative sample of 13,470 children aged 4–11 years were used to study contextual influences on children’s mental health and school performance, the moderating effects of family immigrant status and underlying family processes that might explain these relationships. Despite greater socioeconomic disadvantage, children living in recent immigrant families had lower levels of emotional–behavioral problems and higher levels of school performance. Living in a neighborhood characterized with higher concentration of immigrants was associated with lower levels of emotional–behavioral problems among children living in immigrant families; the reverse was true for children living in nonimmigrant families. These differences are partially explained by family process variables. The implications of these findings for future research and policy are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study examines the longitudinal associations between adolescent tobacco and cannabis use and young adult functioning. Methods: Data for analysis come from the Ontario Child Health Study (OCHS), a prospective study of child health, psychiatric disorder and adolescent substance use in a general population sample that began in 1983, with follow-ups in 1987 and 2001. The sample for analysis includes 1,282 individuals who were between the ages of 12 and 16 years during the original OCHS in 1983 or the first follow-up in 1987 and returned for the 2001 follow-up. Results: Tobacco use in adolescence and continued use in adulthood is associated with increased risk for poorer functioning across multiple domains, including physical health and life satisfaction (.62 and .66 standard units lower, respectively), depression (Odds Ratio = 3.44), personal income ($7,281 less per year) and years of education (2.29 years lower). Cannabis use is associated with a reduced set of adverse outcomes and the magnitude of the effects is weaker. Conclusions: The long-term risks associated with adolescent tobacco and cannabis use speak to the importance of prevention and early intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study applies multilevel logistic regression to Demographic and Health Survey data from 22 sub-Saharan African countries to examine whether the relationship between child mortality and family structure, with a specific emphasis on polygyny, varies cross-nationally and over time. Hypotheses were developed on the basis of competing theories on the relationship between child health and family structure. Although children of mothers in polygynous marriages are more likely to die than those of mothers in monogamous unions, the relationship is constant across time. Familial factors including education, socioeconomic status (SES), and urban residence accounted for most of the observed cross-national variation associated with polygyny. Consequently, improving maternal education and household SES would greatly benefit child health in sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses multilevel models to examine longitudinal associations between contextual influences (neighborhood and family) assessed in 1983 in a cohort of 2,355 children, 4–16 years of age, and educational attainment in 2001. Variation in educational attainment in 2001 attributable to between-neighborhood and between-family differences was 8.17% and 36.88%, respectively. The final model explained 33.64% of the variance in educational attainment, with unique variances of 14.53% for neighborhood and family-level variables combined versus 10.94% for child-level variables. Among the neighborhood and family-level variables, indicators of status (5.29%) versus parental capacity/family process (4.03%) made comparable predictions to attainment while children from economically disadvantaged families did not benefit educationally from living in more affluent areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the impact of differential-maternal parenting behavior, evaluated as a family-level experience, on children's emotional-behavioral problems. Data come from 3 child development studies: 2,128 four- to sixteen-year-olds (Ontario Child Health Study), 7,392 four- to eleven-year-olds (National Longitudinal Study of Children and Youth), and 1,992 three- to fourteen-year-olds (National Longitudinal Study of Youth). In 2 of 3 studies, there was consistent evidence that differential-maternal parenting behavior had an adverse impact on all siblings as a group, over and above parenting directed at individual siblings. The strength of association was sensitive to the type of maternal parenting behavior, dimension of child maladjustment, and respondent perspective (stronger for hostile/negative parenting, child externalizing problems, and mother assessments of child emotional-behavioral problems). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the impact of home ownership on the emotional-behavioral problems of children and youth ages 4 to 16 years. Data came from two large-scale general population surveys conducted in the province of Ontario in 1983, the Ontario Child Health Study (N = 3,325) and the National Longitudinal Study of Children and Youth (N = 12,592). Results showed an inverse association between home ownership and ratings of emotional-behavioral problems. The net effects of home ownership expressed in standard units dropped from the .20 to .43 range for teacher and parent ratings to the .07 to .17 range, after controlling for socioeconomic variables. Furthermore, the concentration of home ownership in neighborhoods was not associated with ratings of child problem behavior in either study. Projects aimed at supporting home ownership among low-income families may provide a means for improving the emotional and behavioral functioning of disadvantaged children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel growth phase-associated two-component-type regulator, Fas (fibronectin/fibrinogen binding/haemolytic activity/streptokinase regulator), of Streptococcus pyogenes was identified in the M1 genome sequence, based on homologies to the histidine protein kinase (HPK) and response regulator (RR) part of the Staphylococcus aureus Agr and Streptococcus pneumoniae Com quorum-sensing systems. The fas operon, present in all 12 tested M serotypes, was transcribed as polycystronic message (fasBCA) and contained genes encoding two potential HPKs (FasB and FasC) and one RR (FasA). Downstream of fasBCA, we identified a small 300 nucleotide monocistronic transcript, designated fasX, that did not appear to encode true peptide sequences. Measurements of luciferase promoter fusions revealed a growth phase-associated transcription of fasBCA and fasX, with peak activities during the late exponential phase. Insertional mutagenesis disrupting fasBCA and fasA led to a phenotype similar to agr-null mutations in S. aureus, with prolonged expression of extracellular matrix protein-binding adhesins and reduced expression of secreted virulence factors such as streptokinase and streptolysin S. In addition, fasX transcription was dependent on the RR FasA; however, deletion mutagenesis of fasX resulted in a similar phenotype to that of the fasBCA or fasA mutants. Complementation of the fasX deletion mutant, with the fasX gene expressed in trans from a plasmid, restored the wild-type fasBCA regulation pattern. This strongly suggested that fasX, a putative non-translated RNA, is the main effector molecule of the fas regulon. However, using spent culture supernatants from wild-type and fas mutant strains, we were not able to show an influence on the logarithmic growth phase expression of fas and dependent genes. Thus, despite structural and functional similarities between fas and agr, to date the fas operon appears not to be involved in group A streptococcal (GAS) quorum-sensing regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on a study which aimed to develop a multilevel framework that can be used for longitudinal studies on child development. Research design and data collection; Developmental data and models; Details on the multilevel framework; Methodology and discussion.

SUMMARY A 31-year-old Caucasian man with AIDS developed a crusted violaceous plaque under adhesive tape near a central venous catheter insertion site. Histological examination demonstrated a ruptured hair follicle containing collections of fungal hyphae typical of Aspergillus spp. A culture of the biopsy material grew Aspergillus fumigatus. The patient responded to removal of the catheter and the occlusive dressing, in addition to itraconazole therapy. Aspergillosis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous lesions in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients, in particular when the lesion occurs under adhesive tape or an occlusive dressing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We investigated the effectiveness of Nurse‐Family Partnership (NFP), a prenatal‐to‐age‐two‐years home‐visiting programme, in British Columbia (BC), Canada. Methods: For this randomised controlled trial, we recruited participants from 26 public health settings who were: <25 years, nulliparous, <28 weeks gestation and experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage. We randomly allocated participants (one‐to‐one; computer‐generated) to intervention (NFP plus existing services) or comparison (existing services) groups. Prespecified outcomes were prenatal substance exposure (reported previously); child injuries (primary), language, cognition and mental health (problem behaviour) by age two years; and subsequent pregnancies by 24 months postpartum. Research interviewers were masked. We used intention‐to‐treat analyses. (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01672060.) Results: From 2013 to 2016 we enrolled 739 participants (368 NFP, 371 comparison) who had 737 children. Counts for child injury healthcare encounters [rate per 1,000 person‐years or RPY] were similar for NFP (223 [RPY 316.17]) and comparison (223 [RPY 305.43]; rate difference 10.74, 95% CI ‐46.96, 68.44; rate ratio 1.03, 95% CI 0.78, 1.38). Maternal‐reported language scores (mean, M [SD]) were statistically significantly higher for NFP (313.46 [195.96]) than comparison (282.77 [188.15]; mean difference [MD] 31.33, 95% CI 0.96, 61.71). Maternal‐reported problem‐behaviour scores (M [SD]) were statistically significantly lower for NFP (52.18 [9.19]) than comparison (54.42 [9.02]; MD ‐2.19, 95% CI −3.62, −0.75). Subsequent pregnancy counts were similar (NFP 115 [RPY 230.69] and comparison 117 [RPY 227.29]; rate difference 3.40, 95% CI ‐55.54, 62.34; hazard ratio 1.01, 95% CI 0.79, 1.29). We observed no unanticipated adverse events. Conclusions: NFP did not reduce child injuries or subsequent maternal pregnancies but did improve maternal‐reported child language and mental health (problem behaviour) at age two years. Follow‐up of long‐term outcomes is warranted given that further benefits may emerge across childhood and adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Part II. Presents the finds of a report that described the program effects of the Tri-Ministry Study, a school-based longitudinal trial assessing the effectiveness of classwide social skills training, partner reading and a combination of both. Overview of the study; Results; Discussion.

Part I. Describes the methods used to evaluate program impacts on the social, behavioral and academic functioning of children participating in the Tri-Ministry Study. Rationale for prevention; Study overview; Programs; Sampling and randomization; Measurement and data collection; Analyses.

Focuses on the relationship between maternal depressive symptoms and emotional disorder in children and adolescents. What must be taken into consideration before the association is made; Details on studies conducted; Description of the methodology used in the study; Analysis of data collected.

This article examines relationships between psychiatric disorder, poor school performance, family dysfunction and low family income in a cohort of 8-12-year-olds and use of tobacco, marijuana and hard drugs 4 years later. Conduct disorder assessed by teachers predicted use of alcohol and hard drugs, while low family income and poor school performance predicted use of tobacco. Neither attention-deficit disorder nor emotional disorder was related to adolescent substance use. Although behavioural deviance in childhood is associated with adolescent substance use, it has limited potential for identifying groups at risk in the general population for purposes of preventing substance use in later years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the development and evaluation of the revised Ontario Child Health Study (OCHS) scales to measure conduct disorder, oppositional disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, overanxious disorder, separation anxiety and depression based on DSM-III-R symptom criteria. Problem checklist assessments were obtained from parents and teachers of children aged 6-16 and youths aged 12-16 drawn from: (1) a general population sample (N = 1751); and (2) a mental health clinic sample (N = 1027) in the same industrialized, urban setting. Evaluation of the revised OCHS scales indicates that they possess adequate psychometric properties and provide an efficient means to obtain measurements of childhood psychiatric disorder, in general population studies, that correspond to DSM-III-R classification of disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotional and behavioral disorders in childhood constitute major health problems for developed countries. Although the exact prevalence of such disorders is unknown, it is clear that the direct costs arising from them are staggering. During 1981, the Ontario Ministry of Community and, Social Services spent over $100 million on children's mental health programs. The social implications of such disorders go beyond tangible costs. This article examines definitions of disorder, alternative measurement approaches and guidelines that might help researchers choose disorders for study. This paper provides some guidelines for evaluating measures of emotional and behavioral disorder in childhood.

The article discusses the therapeutic benefits of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy in neonatal medicine. It provides brief overview of the function of the treatment citing the review of neonatal transfers on HFNC by the Acute Neonatal Transfer Service (ANTS). The author also confirms the effectiveness of HFNC as feasible mode of transport for neonates that require respiratory support.

Aim: The full blood count (FBC) is commonly measured as part of a partial septic work‐up in asymptomatic infants at increased risk of early‐onset neonatal sepsis (EOS). To determine the impact of FBC parameters on infants' subsequent management a retrospective cross‐sectional study was performed. Methods: Infants, born at ≥34 weeks gestation, asymptomatic at birth, undergoing a partial septic work‐up and receiving prophylactic antibiotics due to increased risk of EOS in a single centre over a 2‐year period, were included. The primary outcome measure was frequency of FBC result impacting on duration of antibiotic therapy. Secondary outcome measures included frequency of FBC parameters outside of the reference range and incidental diagnoses. Results: In total, 16 726 live‐born infants were delivered during the study period. A total of 802 (4.8%) were included. Thirteen infants (1.6%) received a prolonged course of antibiotics due to suspicion for EOS. Two of these infants had elevated white cell counts. All had normal neutrophil counts. In no case did the FBC result influence the decision to prolong the antibiotic course. Conclusion: In a cohort of 802 infants, asymptomatic at birth and at increased risk of EOS, the FBC result did not impact on the decision to prolong the course of antibiotics for suspicion of EOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research focusing on pelagic gastropods in the open ocean has demonstrated that many morphospecies comprise multiple distinct clades or cryptic species that can be distinguished with DNA sequence data. To date, the genetic diversity of the pelagic gastropod fauna of the tropical East Pacific, especially in shallow coastal waters, remains largely unexplored. To document the diversity of pterotracheoids (formerly heteropods) from the coastal waters of the Bay of Panama, we collected, photographed and sequenced fragments of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S ribosomal DNA for 60 atlantids, 3 carinariids and 6 pterotracheids. In addition to the COI barcode, our results include the first published 16S sequences for these groups. We found 11 operational taxonomic units (OTUs): 9 in the genus Atlanta, 1 Carinaria and 1 Firoloida. We report the presence of Atlanta oligogyra (Clades A and B), Atlanta turriculata, Atlanta lesueurii, Atlanta helicinoidea (Clade B), Atlanta plana, Atlanta echinogyra, Atlanta inflata and Atlanta frontieri through comparisons of our sequences with previously published sequences. We did not find Atlanta gaudichaudi, Atlanta inclinata, Atlanta tokiokai, Atlanta gibbosa, Atlanta peronii, or Oxygyrus inflatus, which have previously been reported from the region. Haplotype networks and estimates of ΦST illustrate how some species show population differentiation across the tropical Indo‐Pacific region, whereas others show little apparent population structure. For example, the most common haplotypes of A. inflata and of A. turriculata occur in the Indian Ocean, the Central and West Pacific and the tropical East Pacific, whereas individuals of A. frontieri from the Indian Ocean do not share haplotypes with individuals of A. frontieri from the Pacific Ocean. Analyses were limited by sample sizes, but these data suggest that population genetics approaches may be useful for reconstructing population histories of these important, but overlooked, components of the plankton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of cow's‐milk protein allergy (CMPA) is between 2% and 3% and symptoms vary depending on underlying immune mechanism at play. Breast milk is the optimal nutrition for premature infants and breast milk fortifiers (BMF) are commonly used to optimise growth and nutrition. BMF are typically derived from cow's milk and, as such, preterm infants are exposed to cow's milk in the first weeks of life. Previously, preterm infants were suspected to have a higher risk of allergen development because of early antigen exposure and increased gut permeability. The primary aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of CMPA among very preterm (<32 weeks) and/or very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. The secondary aim was to describe feeding practices, specifically the breastfeeding rates and specialist, non‐standard formula use in this cohort over the first 6 months of life. Methods: This was a retrospective study performed in a large tertiary maternity hospital (8500 deliveries/year and 110 very preterm infants/year) in Dublin, Ireland over a 3‐year period, 2017–2020. Infants born very preterm and/or VLBW who were followed in the outpatient clinic until 6 months corrected gestational age (CGA) were included. Hospital ethical approval was obtained. Results: One hundred and forty‐four infants were included with a median birth weight of 1338 g. No infant had a diagnosis of CMPA when leaving the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) but, by 6 months CGA, this increased to 1.4% (n = 2). Upon discharge from the NICU, 88 infants (61%) were receiving at least some breast milk, decreasing to 13 (9.1%) at 6 months CGA. Those who were receiving exclusive breast milk at discharge were significantly more likely to still be receiving any breast milk at three (p ≤ 0.001) and 6 months (p ≤ 0.001) CGA compared to those combined feeding or exclusively formula feeding. At 6 months CGA, 18.9% (n = 27) were attending a dietician and 31.5% (n = 45) were using specialist, non‐standard infant formula. Conclusions: The prevalence of CMPA in this cohort was 1.4%, which is similar to the reported prevalence of CMPA in the general paediatric population. Infants who were discharged from NICU exclusively breastfeeding were more likely to be receiving any breast milk at outpatient follow‐up. This highlights the importance of on going dietetic and lactation support in the outpatient setting for this vulnerable cohort. Key points: The prevalence of CMPA in our cohort was similar to the previously determined prevalence in the general paediatric population.The significant use of specialist formula among ex preterm/VLBW infants during the first year of life conveys the need for accessible dietetic services.Breastfeeding rates were lower in the ex preterm cohort compared to term infants in Ireland. Breastfeeding initiation and support in the NICU is extremely important for sustaining breastfeeding rates at home following discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors examined internalizing behavior problems at middle childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood and brain-based measures of stress vulnerability in 154 right-handed, nonimpaired young adults (M age = 23 years): 71 (30 males, 41 females) born at extremely low birth weight (ELBW; < 1,000 g) and 83 (35 males, 48 females) controls born at normal birth weight (NBW). Internalizing behavior problems increased from adolescence to young adulthood among ELBW individuals. ELBW adults exhibited greater relative right frontal electroencephalogram activity at rest and more concurrent internalizing behavior problems than NBW controls. Being born at ELBW may have subtle influences on brain-behavior relations even in survivors without major impairments and evidence of these influences may not emerge until young adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the heterotypic continuity of aggression hypothesis (physical to indirect) using independent teacher reports of aggression drawn from a nationally representative sample of 749 Canadian girls and boys. Confirmatory factor analysis using an accelerated longitudinal design confirmed a two-factor model of physical and indirect aggression that was stable across time, but not sex. Mean levels of indirect aggression were highest for girls whereas mean levels of physical aggression were highest for boys. Results of a series of path analyses indicated statistically significant cross-lagged effects that varied by sex. Physical aggression at Time 1 (T1; aged six to nine years) significantly predicted increased levels of indirect aggression at Time 2 (T2; girls only) and Time 3 (T3; boys and girls). Indirect aggression at T1 predicted decreased physical aggression at T2 (boys only) and at T3 (boys and girls). These results offer support for the heterotypic continuity of aggression and underscore the usefulness of teacher reports in studies of childhood aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The authors sought to investigate the detection of non-eosinophilic asthma using induced sputum. Although this is an important subtype of clinical asthma, its recognition is not standardized. Methods: Adult non-smokers with asthma and healthy controls underwent sputum induction and hypertonic saline challenge. Non-eosinophilic asthma was defined as symptomatic asthma with normal sputum eosinophil counts. The normal range for sputum eosinophil count was determined using the 95th percentile from the healthy control group as a cut-off point. Results: The recognition of non-eosinophilic asthma using eosinophil proportion was in agreement with a definition based on absolute eosinophil count (kappa 0.67). Non-eosinophilic asthma was a stable subtype over both the short term (4 weeks) and longer term (5 years, kappa 0.77). Airway inflammation in asthma could be categorized into four inflammatory subtypes based on sputum eosinophil and neutrophil proportions. These subtypes were neutrophilic asthma, eosinophilic asthma, mixed granulocytic asthma and paucigranulocytic asthma. Subjects with increased neutrophils (neutrophilic asthma and mixed granulocytic asthma) were older and had an increased total cell count and cell viability compared with other subtypes. Conclusion: Induced sputum eosinophil proportion is a good discriminator for eosinophilic asthma, providing a reproducible definition of a homogenous group. The remaining non-eosinophilic subjects are heterogeneous and can be further classified based on the presence of neutrophils. These inflammatory subtypes have important implications for the investigation and characterization of airway inflammation in asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addressed four questions which parents of children with selective mutism (SM) frequently ask: (1) Is SM associated with anxiety or oppositional behavior? (2) Is SM associated with parenting and family dysfunction? (3) Will my child fail at school? and (4) Will my child make friends or be teased and bullied? In comparison to a sample of 52 community controls, 52 children with SM were more anxious, obsessive, and prone to somatic complaints. In contrast, children with SM were less oppositional and evidenced fewer attentional difficulties at school. We found no group differences in family structure, economic resources, family functioning, maternal mood difficulties, recreational activities, or social networks. While parents reported no differences in parenting strategies, children with SM were described as less cooperative in disciplinary situations. The academic (e.g., reading and math) and classroom cooperative skills of children with SM did not differ from controls. Parents and teachers reported that children with SM had significant deficits in social skills. Though teachers and parents rated children with SM as less socially assertive, neither teachers nor parents reported that children with SM were victimized more frequently by peers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the internal construct validity of models of child psychopathology based on the `Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,' 4th ed. (DSM-IV). Sources of error in DSM-IV based models; Factors affecting measurement precision in DSM-IV; Discussion of approaches toward improved conceptualization of DSM-IV.

The morphological diversity of marine annelid larvae is stunning. Although many of the larval forms have been categorized as trochophores or modified trochophores, there are a few groups with distinctive larval features that make them easy to distinguish from other annelid larvae. We collected 252 annelid larvae from the plankton, with particular emphasis on oweniids, polygordiids, and thalassematids (i.e., echiurans) and sequenced fragments of their cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and 16S ribosomal RNA genes. We found six oweniid, five polygordiid, and eight thalassematid OTUs. Thalassematids were found only in samples from the Pacific, and oweniids were found only in Caribbean samples. Among the oweniids we found two distinct morphotypes, one with a narrow, cloche shape and another that had a wider and more rectangular shape with clearly developed lappets. Among the polygordiids, we identified one larva as Polygordius eschaturus and several larvae as Polygordius jenniferae. All larvae, except for the P. eschaturus, which was at a stage too early to make a determination, were endolarvae. Among the thalassematids, we identified larvae of Ochetostoma edax and found seven unidentified OTUs. Finally, 150 miscellaneous polychaete larvae were sequenced, representing ~76 OTUs. Four rostraria larvae from the Caribbean, whose sequences confirm the long‐held assumption that they are amphinomids, could not be identified to species. In total only 5% of these OTUs could be identified to species with known sequences, and most could not be identified to genus or even family with reasonable certainty. It is clear that this poor coverage in the reference databases will limit metabarcoding efforts to document numbers of OTUs, and that DNA barcodes will be of limited use for identifying neotropical marine annelids until reference databases have improved their coverage of this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant percentage of children with disruptive behaviour disorders do not receive mental health assistance. Utilization is lowest among groups whose children are at greatest risk. To increase the availability, accessibility, and cost efficacy of parent training programs, this prospective randomized trial compared a large group community- based parent training program to a clinic-based individual parent training (PT) program. All families of junior kindergartners in the Hamilton public and separate school boards were sent a checklist regarding problems at home. Those returning questionnaires above the 90th percentile were block randomly assigned to: (1) a 12-week clinic-based individual parent training (Clinic/Individual), (2) a 12-week community-based large group parent training (Community/Group), or (3) a waiting list control condition. Immigrant families, those using English as a second language, and parents of children with severe behaviour problems were significantly more liklely to enrol in Community/Groups than Clinic/Individual PT. Parents in Community/Groups reported greater improvements in behaviour problems at home and better maintenance of these gains at 6-month followup. A cost analysis showed that, with groups of 18 families, Community/Groups are more than six times as cost effective as Clinic/Individual programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the effects of a change in the wording the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) instructions for the 0 category on the reported prevalence of behaviors among normal children by their parents. Convenience sample of parents were randomly allocated to complete CBCL items using either the standard instructions "not true" or "never or not true" use of that category and increased their use of the adjacent, 1, category. Implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to present data from the Ontario Child health Study on the prevalence of attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADDH). The overall prevalence of ADDH was 9.6% in boys and 3.3% in girls. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of ADDH by age or urban-rural status, but the disorder was significantly more common in boys than in girls. The prevalence of various subtypes of ADDH was also explored, attention deficit with and without hyperactivity, situational vs pervasive ADDH and ADDH with and without other disorders. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to report on the correlates of attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADDH), the associated impairments of ADDH children and to describe briefly their utilization services. Our results suggest that household, family, parental and developmental variables are associated with this disorder. However, child-centred rather than psychosocial variable emerge as important if one controls for the presence of other disorders. Compared to children without any disorder, ADDH children are also impaired in their relationships with others, their school performance and competence in extra-curricular activities. ADDH children utilized mental health, social, and special education services more than non-ADULT children. Nevertheless, it was found that only a minority of ADDH children had received specialized mental health or social services in the past 6 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of a project to document the diversity of larval invertebrates on both coasts of Panama, we collected and photographed 141 larval asteroids and sequenced fragments of their mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S ribosomal DNA. We uncovered 10 Caribbean operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and five Pacific OTUs. We could identify six of the 15 OTUs based on >99% similarity with reference sequences in GenBank: The Pacific species Astropecten verrilli and Pentaceraster cumingi and the Caribbean species Astropecten marginatus, Astropecten antillensis, Oreaster reticulatus, and Mithrodia clavigera. Two other OTUs were placed in BINs in the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD) with unpublished sequences that were identified as Pharia pyramidata from the Pacific and Valvaster striatus, now known from the Caribbean as well as the Indo‐West Pacific. The remaining seven species appear likely to belong to Luidia, as 16S sequences from each have 87%–95% identity with various species of Luidia, and the sequences nest among species of Luidia in neighbor‐joining trees. The low diversity of asteroid larvae reflects ~10% of the diversity of adult sea stars reported from Panama, and highlights the need for broader collection efforts and improved coverage of DNA barcode reference sequences for Luidia and other soft‐bottom species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]