Developmental Relationship Research Articles

Temporal recording of mammalian development and precancer

Temporal ordering of cellular events offers fundamental insights into biological phenomena. Although this is traditionally achieved through continuous direct observations1,2, an alternative solution leverages irreversible genetic changes, such as naturally occurring mutations, to create indelible marks that enables retrospective temporal ordering3–5. Using a multipurpose, single-cell CRISPR platform, we developed a molecular clock approach to record the timing of cellular events and clonality in vivo, with incorporation of cell state and lineage information. Using this approach, we uncovered precise timing of tissue-specific cell expansion during mouse embryonic development, unconventional developmental relationships between cell types and new epithelial progenitor states by their unique genetic histories. Analysis of mouse adenomas, coupled to multiomic and single-cell profiling of human precancers, with clonal analysis of 418 human polyps, demonstrated the occurrence of polyclonal initiation in 15–30% of colonic precancers, showing their origins from multiple normal founders. Our study presents a multimodal framework that lays the foundation for in vivo recording, integrating synthetic or natural indelible genetic changes with single-cell analyses, to explore the origins and timing of development and tumorigenesis in mammalian systems.

Parent and adolescent perceptions of parent–child developmental relationships: The role of family routines

AbstractObjectiveThis study examined family routines in relation to the strength of parent–child developmental relationships and discordant perceptions among parents and their adolescent children.BackgroundPositive parent–child relationships and regular engagement in family routines are known to create a positive environment in which adolescents can thrive. Yet both parents and their children hold unique perspectives on family structure and functioning. Agreement between parent and child reports tend to be low and often become increasingly discrepant during adolescence. Engaging in consistent and predictable family routines may not only strengthen parent–child relationships but also result in more concordant perceptions of the quality of their shared relationship.MethodUsing data from 633 matched parents and their children, we examined the association between engagement in family routines and the strength of parent–adolescent relationships including discrepant reports using a latent congruence model.ResultsFamily routines were positively associated with stronger parent–adolescent relationships and less discrepant reports of this critical relationship.ConclusionEngagement in family routines plays an important role in parent–adolescent developmental relationships.ImplicationsFindings have important implications for practices and research focused on improving adolescent outcomes through family structures and parent–child relationships.

Student‐teacher developmental relationships: A mechanism through which culturally responsive school environments promote positive outcomes for students of color

AbstractCulturally responsive student–teacher relationships are critical to the academic success and social‐emotional learning (SEL) outcomes of students of color and/or students from low‐income backgrounds. Yet, little is known about how students’ perceptions of their schools’ culturally responsive environment are related to the quality of student–teacher relationships. To address this gap, the current study examined how students’ perceptions of their school's culturally responsive environment contributes to positive student–teacher developmental relationships, and in turn, their academic motivation and SEL. A total of 2,069 public middle and high school students of color from 46 schools across the country were surveyed (51.4% female; Mage = 13.4, SD = 1.86; 30.7% Hispanic or Latina/o/x, 30.4% Multiracial or Multiethnic, 17.5% Black or African American, 12.4% Asian or Pacific Islander, 8.7% American Indian or Alaska Native; 0.4% identified as another race or ethnicity). Students’ perceptions of their school as a culturally responsive environment were both directly and indirectly associated with greater academic motivation and SEL via stronger student–teacher developmental relationships. Findings have important implications for school administrators’ and school psychologists’ efforts to create more culturally responsive education environments.

Histopathologic observations in a coccidiosis model of Eimeria tenella.

Species of the genus Eimeria cause coccidiosis in chickens, resulting in a huge burden to the poultry industry worldwide. Eimeria tenella is one of the most prevalent chicken coccidia in China, and E. tenella infection causes hemorrhagic cecitis. Using an established model of coccidiosis in chickens combined with necropsy, imaging of pathological tissue sections, and other techniques, we evaluated the gross and microscopic lesions of cecal tissue within 15 days after inoculation with sporulated oocysts and described the endogenetic developmental process and relationship between E. tenella infection and enteritis development in chickens. We observed three generations of merogony and gamogony in E. tenella. We observed gross lesions in the cecum from 84 hpi (hours post inoculation) and microscopic lesions from 60 hpi. The lesions in the cecum mainly exhibited hemorrhagic enteritis. Their severity increased with the onset of the second generation of merogony. The lesions began to alleviate by the end of the endogenous stages of E. tenella. We show, for the first time, the complete observation of a series of changes in enteritis caused by 5 × 103 E. tenella oocysts. This study provides reference materials for E. tenella research and pathological diagnosis.

The developmental and dynamic relationship between psychopathology and psychotic-like experiences trajectories in children and adolescents

BackgroundThe previous cross-sectional and prospective studies have reported that psychopathology was associated with the occurrence of psychotic-like experiences (PLEs). However, few of these studies have examined this longitudinal association considering the different developmental trajectories of PLEs, as well as the growth or changes of psychopathology over time. MethodsFour waves PLEs and psychopathology assessments from Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study were used. The latent class growth modeling (LCGM) and latent growth curve modeling (LGCM) was used to assess latent PLEs class (group) and time-varying psychopathology, respectively. Lastly, the multinomial logistic regression model was used to examined the dynamic and developmental relationship between intercept/slope in psychopathology and different PLEs trajectories. ResultsThree PLEs trajectory classes were confirmed: low decreasing PLEs (84.7 %), persistent PLEs (7.01 %) and high decreasing PLEs trajectories (8.29 %). We also found that the intercept of anxious/depressed problems and total problems scales and the slope of social problems were associated with the persistent PLEs trajectory compared with the low decreasing PLEs trajectories, indicating both the early onset and the growth of psychopathology over time are needed to be clinical attention. LimitationsThe CBCL as the sole outcome measure for psychopathology and a widely acknowledged definition for PLEs is lacking. We lacked the mechanisms underlying the current results. ConclusionThese longitudinal and dynamic results suggest that future intervention studies aimed at preventing the transition from persistent PLEs to psychotic disorders can focus on both the early onset and the growth of psychopathology over time.

Comprehensive analysis of somatic mutations and structural variations in domestic pig.

Understanding somatic mutations and structural variations in domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) is critical due to their increasing importance as model organisms in biomedical research. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis through whole-genome sequencing of skin, organs, and blood samples. By examining two pig pedigrees, we investigated the inheritance and sharedness of structural variants among fathers, mothers, and offsprings. Utilizing single-cell clonal expansion techniques, we observed significant variations in the number of somatic mutations across different tissues. An in-house developed pipeline enabled precise filtering and analysis of these mutations, resulting in the construction of individual phylogenetic trees for two pigs. These trees explored the developmental relationships between different tissues, revealing insights into clonal expansions from various anatomical locations. This study enhances the understanding of pig genomes, affirming their increasing value in clinical and genomic research, and provides a foundation for future studies in other animals, paralleling previous studies in mice and humans. This approach not only deepens our understanding of mammalian genomic variations but also strengthens the role of pigs as a crucial model in human health and disease research.

ScRNAs reveals high-frequency rTMS-induced pericyte differentiation: Potential implications for vascular regeneration and blood-brain barrier stability in stroke

Stroke is a major cause of adult disability worldwide, often involving disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Repairing the BBB is crucial for stroke recovery, and pericytes, essential components of the BBB, are potential intervention targets. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been proposed as a treatment for functional impairments after stroke, with potential effects on BBB integrity. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study using a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) rat model, we investigated the impact of rTMS on post-stroke BBB. Through single-cell sequencing (ScRNAs), we observed developmental relationships among pericytes, endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells, suggesting the differentiation potential of pericytes. A distinct subcluster of pericytes emerged as a potential therapeutic target for stroke. Additionally, our results revealed enhanced cellular communication among these cell types, enriching signaling pathways such as IGF, TNF, NOTCH, and ICAM. Analysis of differentially expressed genes highlighted processes related to stress, differentiation, and development. Notably, rTMS intervention upregulated Reck in vascular smooth muscle cells, implicating its role in the classical Wnt signaling pathway. Overall, our bioinformatics findings suggest that rTMS may modulate BBB permeability and promote vascular regeneration following stroke. This might happen through 20 Hz rTMS promoting pericyte differentiation into vascular smooth muscle cells, upregulating Reck, then activating the classical Wnt signaling pathway, and facilitating vascular regeneration and BBB stability.

Executive functions and their relationship with age: Insights from a novel neuropsychological Assessment Battery in Children—a pilot study

Executive functions (EFs) are a set of cognitive processes that enable individuals to manage and coordinate their thoughts and actions toward achieving specific goals. EFs include planning, organizing, initiating, and monitoring actions, and have been found to improve with age due to the maturation of the brain, especially during childhood. Therefore, our correlational study sought to determine the relationship between the performance in executive functions and age in 79 children (36 girls, 45.6%) throughout development, between the ages of 6 and 12 (mean = 9.25; SD = 2.05), using a battery designed in Chile: BEFE (Batería de Evaluación de las Funciones Ejecutivas: Executive Function Assessment Battery) based on traditional neuropsychological tests to evaluate Working Memory, Inhibitory Control, Cognitive Flexibility, and Planning skills. Our results showed various correlations between the variables age and performance in various behavioral parameters, demonstrating an increase in the number of correct responses (positive correlation) and/or a decrease in errors (negative correlation) with age (6–12) in the subtests that correspond to dimensions of Cognitive Flexibility (Semantic and Phonological Fluency, Card Sorting Game, and Tracing Tasks), Inhibitory Control (ENA-F and Sentence Completion), Working Memory (Audio-verbal WM Forward and Ordering, and Visuospatial WM Forward and Backward), and Planning (La Portada de Antofagasta and FISA Maps). These results are consistent with previous empirical evidence and support the notion of a developmental relationship between EF performance and age. Additionally, this study contributes to understanding EF development in culturally specific contexts, highlighting the importance of contextually relevant assessment tools in evaluating cognitive development.

Developmental relations of achievement goals and affect in physical education

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the developmental relationships between achievement goals and affect in school physical education. MethodThe study sample comprised 1063 (girls 546) Finnish Grade 6 students (M = 12.27 years ± 0.33 at the beginning of the study). The participants in the study were asked to provide annual assessments about their perceptions of achievement goals, enjoyment, and anxiety. The assessments were conducted four times over three consecutive years. ResultsThe results indicated that mastery-approach goals were positively associated with enjoyment (between-level), whereas both mastery-avoidance and performance-avoidance goals were positively associated with anxiety (between-level). Additionally, the associations between repeated measures (within-level) of mastery-approach goals and enjoyment were similar each year, whereas mastery- and performance-approach/avoidance goals were consistently associated with anxiety within the same year. Girls reported lower performance-approach goals and enjoyment but higher mastery-avoidance goals and anxiety than boys. ConclusionThe findings suggest that mastery approach goals exhibit a positive correlation with favorable affective reactions, while performance-avoidance goals demonstrate a connection with maladaptive responses. Physical education teachers should endeavor to establish mastery-oriented goals for their students from the outset of the educational process.

Bidirectional pathways between relationships and sense of belonging in a program for youth living in low-income households

High-quality youth development programs can serve as relationship-rich spaces where youth develop a sense of belonging and meaningful connections with caring adults and peers. The pathways between strong relationships and youth’s sense of belonging within these settings remains unexplored, particularly among PYD programs who serve youth from low-income communities. Therefore, this study examined the bidirectional pathways between developmental relationships with program peers and program staff and youth’s sense of belonging. The study included 194 youth (ages 8–17; 75% youth of color; 46% female) who participated in a program designed to provide youth living in low-income households with trusting relationships and greater access to year-round enrichment opportunities. Utilizing survey data across three time points, findings show how youth’s sense of belonging and developmental relationships with program peers led to stronger developmental relationships with program staff over time. Findings highlight important implications for the role of program peers within positive youth development programs.

Mapping the chromatin accessibility landscape of zebrafish embryogenesis at single-cell resolution by SPATAC-seq.

Currently, the dynamic accessible elements that determine regulatory programs responsible for the unique identity and function of each cell type during zebrafish embryogenesis lack detailed study. Here we present SPATAC-seq: a split-pool ligation-based assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing. Using SPATAC-seq, we profiled chromatin accessibility in more than 800,000 individual nuclei across 20 developmental stages spanning the sphere stage to the early larval protruding mouth stage. Using this chromatin accessibility map, we identified 604 cell states and inferred their developmental relationships. We also identified 959,040 candidate cis-regulatory elements (cCREs) and delineated development-specific cCREs, as well as transcription factors defining diverse cell identities. Importantly, enhancer reporter assays confirmed that the majority of tested cCREs exhibited robust enhanced green fluorescent protein expression in restricted cell types or tissues. Finally, we explored gene regulatory programs that drive pigment and notochord cell differentiation. Our work provides a valuable open resource for exploring driver regulators of cell fate decisions in zebrafish embryogenesis.

Applying Organisational Support Lenses for Employee Retention: The Role of Supervisor Support and Compensation Fairness

Employee retention is critical, yet organisations face challenging talent markets and increasing turnover costs from departing staff. This study examines drivers of retention for professional workers to isolate actionable focus areas for organisations. Drawing on organisational support theory, perceived organisational support, compensation fairness, and quality leader-member exchange relationships are hypothesized to reduce turnover intentions. Survey data from a sample of 120 employees analysed using PLS-SEM, confirmed perceived organisational support as the strongest predictor, followed by compensation equity and supervisor support. All three fulfil socioemotional needs that build affective commitment and loyalty when present. Practical recommendations center on monitoring support perceptions through pulse surveys, purposeful communications conveying care for employees, and leader training on nurturing developmental relationships. Investing in perceived support elements represents a high-yield, affordable retention strategy. These findings refine broader retention drivers, spotlighting the centrality of care and inclusion assurances for anchoring talent. Limitations around generalizability and cross-sectional data point to useful future research directions.

Developmental Relationships That Encourage Generativity

Early leader and leadership development experiences that develop generativity and therefore social responsibility will become increasingly imperative in preparing a young workforce to shoulder the burden of a substantial leadership transfer in the wake of Baby Boomer retirements. While generativity is considered a midlife construct, recent and emergent research is documenting an association between developmental relationships, such as mentoring, coaching, and advising, and generativity in young adults. The current article highlights the recent research and addresses its implications for leadership practitioners, scholars, and educators. The article concludes with a discourse on future research directions that considers the nuances of particular methodological approaches that will be needed to understand how developmental relationships encourage generativity over time.

From Craftsmanship to Connectivity

Apprenticeship is a long-valued form of workforce learning. Historical models of craft apprentices learning a trade from a master have prevailed for centuries. In more recent eras, apprenticeship programs have proliferated in industrial sectors and are now facing a revival in corporate settings (Fuller & Sigelman, 2017; Federal Reserve Bank, 2019). However, corporate programs today face different challenges than earlier renditions. Specifically, programs today must enable learning outcomes in a digital context, as professional work today increasingly involves digital or hybrid working environments. Much of the existing literature on apprenticeship focuses on the nature of the craft apprenticeship or the specific features of cognitive apprenticeship within a developmental relationship. Given the rapidly growing number of modern corporate apprenticeship programs, it is essential to understand how learning happens in these dynamic environments. This paper analyzes interview data and five participant case studies to examine a modern corporate apprenticeship program at a multinational consulting firm. The program is a full-time and fully paid learning and working experience for non-degree candidates. It operates in 40 cities across the United States and has enrolled over 2,000 apprentices. Apprentices have formal and informal learning experiences throughout the program, including on-the-job learning. They also work in geographically dispersed teams via a hybrid workplace that is predominantly virtual. Emic themes reveal that digital tools afford apprentices access to a broader networking environment, level up independently, engage in informal betterment with experienced others, and participate in shared discovery and problem-solving with peers. However, situated learning in a project context and strong relationships with various experienced others are equally essential to the digital tools. Drawing upon epistemic lenses of learning that consider how technologies enable learning across multiple activities, environments, and relationships, these findings paint a picture of how apprentices collaboratively engage in value-generating activities as mediated by technology and engage in networked learning.

Support without Status: Inequities in Student–Advisor Relational Dynamics between First-Generation and Continuing-Generation Doctoral Students

One of the most important developmental relationships in the doctoral student experience is that of the faculty advisor, and yet we know little about whether and how advisor relationships vary between first-generation and continuing-generation doctoral students. Drawing on qualitative interviews with 83 late-stage doctoral students in biological sciences, we explore differences in student perceptions of their relationships with advisors. Narratives reveal a continuum of relationship types, including strained, evolving, supportive, and equal. In equal relationships, doctoral students feel more like collegial partners working alongside their advisors. While continuing-generation and first-generation students are similarly represented among strained and evolving relationships, first-generation students rarely attain equal relationship status. The presented findings offer implications for understanding how inequality shapes student–advisor relationships, the role of collegiality in doctoral education’s hidden curriculum, and the supports needed to foster equity for first-generation students in graduate programs.

The interplay between I and We intentionality

We and I intentionality appear to be two distinct forms of human intentionality, as one cannot be explained in terms of the other. We-intentionality is part of the psychological infrastructure at the basis of human cooperative behavior, while I-intentionality is potentially more related to competitive relationships with conspecifics. Our work tries to empirically address the relationship between these two forms of human intentionality as exhibited during the early stages of human development. The experimental setting consisted of four different games, two competitive and two cooperative. We focused our experiment on three age groups and schooling: Early Elementary School Children (mean = 5 years 6 months; σ = 4.2 months), Late Elementary School Children (mean = 9 years 4 months; σ = 7.5 months), and Adult University students (mean = 21 years; σ = 11 months). The key aspect of the investigation was that only one participant was informed of the game, rules, and reward. The second participant came to the set uninformed. It was the first participant's decision whether and how to engage the latter in the game. We were especially interested in the communicative behaviors: when and how the informed participant would share his or her information. We observed that the Adult University Informed participants shared their information with the Adult University Uninformed participants, while this almost never happened in Early Elementary School Children. Late Elementary School Children presented a split halfway between keeping and sharing the information. The results seem to support the hypothesis of a developmental relationship between the two forms of intentions. They also suggest that the two forms of intentionality are complementary. Each plays a specific role in human relationships with social and physical environments: the We-intentionality would establish the common ground within which the I-intentionality would manifest itself.

A temporal developmental map separates human NK cells from noncytotoxic ILCs through clonal and single-cell analysis

AbstractNatural killer (NK) cells represent the cytotoxic member within the innate lymphoid cell (ILC) family that are important against viral infections and cancer. Although the NK cell emergence from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells through multiple intermediate stages and the underlying regulatory gene network has been extensively studied in mice, this process is not well characterized in humans. Here, using a temporal in vitro model to reconstruct the developmental trajectory of NK lineage, we identified an ILC-restricted oligopotent stage 3a CD34−CD117+CD161+CD45RA+CD56− progenitor population, that exclusively gave rise to CD56-expressing ILCs in vitro. We also further investigated a previously nonappreciated heterogeneity within the CD56+CD94−NKp44+ subset, phenotypically equivalent to stage 3b population containing both group-1 ILC and RORγt+ ILC3 cells, that could be further separated based on their differential expression of DNAM-1 and CD161 receptors. We confirmed that DNAM-1hi S3b and CD161hiCD117hi ILC3 populations distinctively differed in their expression of effector molecules, cytokine secretion, and cytotoxic activity. Furthermore, analysis of lineage output using DNA-barcode tracing across these stages supported a close developmental relationship between S3b-NK and S4-NK (CD56+CD94+) cells, whereas distant to the ILC3 subset. Cross-referencing gene signatures of culture-derived NK cells and other noncytotoxic ILCs with publicly available data sets validated that these in vitro stages highly resemble transcriptional profiles of respective in vivo ILC counterparts. Finally, by integrating RNA velocity and gene network analysis through single-cell regulatory network inference and clustering we unravel a network of coordinated and highly dynamic regulons driving the cytotoxic NK cell program, as a guide map for future studies on NK cell regulation.

Evolution of Chinese Bamboo Flutes and Flute Music from Six-Hole to Eight-Hole Flutes

The flute is the oldest known musical instrument in China, with the six-hole bamboo flute representing a traditional fixed form. In the context of todays diverse musical culture, the traditional six-hole bamboo flute faces significant limitations when handling various stylistic compositions. In contrast, the eight-hole flute incorporates strengths from Western musical culture, enabling it to both maintain traditional characteristics and perform modern musical works. This paper, based on experimental and literature research methods, aims to elucidate the impact of the evolution from the six-hole to the eight-hole bamboo flute on the development of Chinese bamboo flute and flute music. The paper is divided into three parts. Firstly, it provides an overview of the basic structures of the six-hole and eight-hole bamboo flutes. Secondly, through flute music analysis, it explores the advantages of the eight-hole bamboo flute and the developmental relationship between bamboo flutes and flute music. The third part involves a new perspective on the development of bamboo flutes and flute music, contemplating how to coexist more effectively with the diverse music of the world.

Longitudinal Relationships Between Depressive Symptoms and Generalized Anxiety Symptoms in Adolescents: A Cross-Lagged Network Analysis.

The comorbidity of depression and generalized anxiety have raised questions about the existing classification system. Based on the perspective of network analysis, the developmental relationship between psychological symptoms can be explored more clearly. The current study aimed to explore the longitudinal network association of depressive symptoms and generalized anxiety symptoms in non-clinical adolescents. The sample contained 1,947 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 13.93, SD = 1.71; 48.5% girls). Their depression (PHQ-9) and generalized anxiety (GAD-7) symptoms were assessed at baseline (T1) and 6-month follow-up (T2). Data was analyzed using a cross-lagged network analysis. Depressive symptoms and generalized anxiety symptoms were closely related and did not appear to be distinct categories in adolescence. More generalized anxiety symptoms predicted depressive symptoms rather than vice versa. After controlling for gender, and age, "Difficulty relaxing" presented the highest out-expected influence (out-EI) in the network, while "trouble concentrating", and "suicidal ideation" showed the lowest in expected influence (in-EI). Findings suggested that interventions for generalized anxiety symptoms may help reduce depressive symptoms among Chinese adolescents. Specifically, alleviating "difficulty relaxing" may improve overall mental health.

Longitudinal development of second language utterance fluency, cognitive fluency, and their relationship

AbstractThe development of L2 utterance fluency has been extensively researched, whereas that of cognitive fluency has rarely been examined. This study investigated the longitudinal development of L2 utterance and cognitive fluency and their relationship. Thirty-one Chinese learners of English completed speaking tasks and a set of tasks for cognitive fluency before and after 5 months’ study abroad. The results showed that participants made a significant improvement in mean syllable duration, end-clause pause frequency, and the speed of syntactic encoding and articulation but not in mid-clause pause frequency or lexical retrieval speed. Mixed-effects modeling confirmed a significant relationship between syntactic encoding speed and mean syllable duration and mid-clause pausing. Furthermore, the significant relationships were maintained over time. The findings highlight (a) the differences between mid-clause and end-clause pausing in terms of their developmental patterns and relationship with cognitive fluency and (b) a significant role of syntactic encoding speed in L2 utterance fluency.