Developmental Relationship Research Articles

Auditory Processing Differences in Toddlers With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Purpose Auditory processing measures have been used in an attempt to understand the relationship between neurological mechanisms and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptomatology in school-age children. The focus of the current study was to understand neural auditory processing in 2- to 3-year-olds with ASD. Method Auditory processing measures (click auditory brainstem responses and speech-evoked frequency-following responses) were hypothesized to differ between typically developing children (n = 18) and children with ASD (n = 18). Auditory processing measures were hypothesized to relate to language development in children with ASD. Results The current study found limited differences in auditory processing measures between the two groups. No relationships were found between auditory processing measures and language development measures. Conclusions Future research is necessary to characterize auditory processing in toddlers with ASD. Longitudinal approaches should be considered when studying auditory processing in children with ASD in order to explore its developmental relationship with ASD symptomatology.

Talent Development Practices Predict the Employee Engagement of Human Resource Professionals

There is little evidence to indicate the association between talent development practices and the employee engagement of human resource (HR) professionals. The aim of this study was to examine if talent development practices predict the employee engagement levels of HR professionals. The study was conducted by means of a quantitative survey research design based on a sample of 354 HR professionals. A stratified random sampling technique was applied and data were collected by means of the Survey Monkey internet tool and analysed by means of multiple regression analysis. The results indicate that self-development behaviour is not a significant predictor of organisational engagement, while developmental relationships and support as well as development assignments are significant predictors. These results suggest that managers should provide developmental support and assignments to enhance employee engagement.

Reawakening the Developmental Origins of Cancer Through Transposable Elements.

Transposable elements (TEs) have an established role as important regulators of early human development, functioning as tissue-specific genes and regulatory elements. Functional TEs are highly active during early development, and interact with important developmental genes, some of which also function as oncogenes. Dedifferentiation is a hallmark of cancer, and is characterized by genetic and epigenetic changes that enable proliferation, self-renewal and a metabolism reminiscent of embryonic stem cells. There is also compelling evidence suggesting that the path to dedifferentiation in cancer can contribute to invasion and metastasis. TEs are frequently expressed in cancer, and recent work has identified a newly proposed mechanism involving extensive recruitment of TE-derived promoters to drive expression of oncogenes and subsequently promote oncogenesis—a process termed onco-exaptation. However, the mechanism by which this phenomenon occurs, and the extent to which it contributes to oncogenesis remains unknown. Initial hypotheses have proposed that onco-exaptation events are cancer-specific and arise randomly due to the dysregulated and hypomethylated state of cancer cells and abundance of TEs across the genome. However, we suspect that exaptation-like events may not just arise due to chance activation of novel regulatory relationships as proposed previously, but as a result of the reestablishment of early developmental regulatory relationships. Dedifferentiation in cancer is well-documented, along with expression of TEs. The known interactions between TEs and pluripotency factors such as NANOG and OCTt4 during early development, along with the expression of some placental-specific TE-derived transcripts in cancer support a possible link between TEs and dedifferentiation of tumor cells. Thus, we hypothesize that onco-exaptation events can be associated with the epigenetic reawakening of early developmental TEs to regulate expression of oncogenes and promote oncogenesis. We also suspect that activation of these early developmental regulatory TEs may promote dedifferentiation, although at this stage it is hard to predict whether TE activation is one of the initial drivers of dedifferentiation. We expect that developmental TE activation occurs as a result of the establishment of an epigenetic landscape in cancer that resembles that of early development and that developmental TE activation may also enable cancers to exploit early developmental pathways, repurposing them to promote malignancy.

Impact of the Angles of the Septal Deviation on the Degree of the Mastoid Pneumatization.

Introduction:The aim was to explore the developmental relationships between the angles of septal deviations and the degree of the mastoid pneumatization.Materials and Methods:In total, 143 patients with a diagnosis of septal deviation who underwent septoplasty were included. The patients were divided into three groups in terms of the angles of the septal deviation. The angle of the septal deviations was defined as mild (<9 degrees), moderate (between 9 and 15 degrees) and severe (15 degrees and above). The degree of the mastoid pneumatization of each groups were compared.Results:In right-sided septal deviation subjects, the right mastoid air cell volumes of group mild, moderate and severe were 6,31±2,33 cm3, 5,20± 1,51 cm3, and 5,31±1,57 cm3, respectively. The mean right mastoid volumes of each groups did not differ in right-sided deviations subjects (P>0.05). The mean left mastoid volumes of each groups did not differ in right-sided deviations subjects (P>0.05). In right-sided septal deviation subjects, the mean volume of the right and left-sided mastoid air cells of each groups did not differ (P>0.05). In left-sided septal deviation subjects, the mean volume of the right and left-sided mastoid air cells of each groups did not differ (P>0.05).Conclusions:No developmental relationships between the angles of septal deviations and the degree of the mastoid pneumatization was observed in the study.

Dynamic changes in patterns of ganglioside expression characterize maturation of lymphoid lineage cells into effector cells and suggest a close relationship between CD8+ T cells and NK cells

Abstract Gangliosides are glycosphingolipids that play important regulatory roles in cell signaling and differentiation. To investigate their expression patterns during lymphoid cell development, human PBMC were stained with recombinant B subunits of LT-IIa, LT-IIb, or LT-IIc and with select mAb. FACS analysis showed that ganglioside ligands for LT-IIaB, LT-IIbB, and LT-IIcB were increasingly expressed during transition from naïve to memory to effector memory CD4+ T cells, with ganglioside ligands for LT-IIbB exhibiting the greatest increase. A similar trend was observed in CD8+ T cell subsets, except no major changes in the expression of LT-IIaB ligands were detected. Patterns of ganglioside expression in NK cell subsets were remarkably similar to those observed in the CD8+ T cells: The ganglioside ligands for LT-IIbB and LT-IIcB were increasingly expressed during transition from tissue-resident to effector to differentiated/exhausted NK cells, with ganglioside ligands for LT-IIbB exhibiting the greatest increase and ligands for LT-IIaB showing little change across subsets. Finally, expression of LT-IIaB- and LT-IIcB-binding gangliosides increased during transition from naïve to memory to antibody-secreting B cells, with ganglioside ligands for LT-IIaB exhibiting the greatest increase and ligands for LT-IIbB showing little change across subsets. Our results demonstrated the existence of dynamic changes in the patterns of gangliosides expressed throughout lymphoid cell development and differentiation. The distinct patterns suggest the existence of cell signaling differences between and within the distinct lymphoid cell lineages and a close developmental and functional relationship between CD8+ T cells and NK cells.

Developmental relationships of four exhausted CD8 T cell subsets reveals underlying transcriptional and epigenetic control mechanisms

Abstract Exhausted CD8 T cells (TEX) are essential during chronic viral infections and cancer. Two TEX subpopulations including a progenitor and a more terminally exhausted subset cooperate to maintain an active immune response during antigen persistence. However, non-overlapping delineations of these populations have suggested a more complex developmental biology. Here, using the LCMV mouse model of chronic viral infection, we identify four distinct TEX subsets based on Ly108 (Slamf6) and CD69 expression revealing a novel stepwise developmental framework. We reveal the transcriptional and epigenetic control mechanisms and associated biological changes underlying each TEX subset transition. Two TCF1+ progenitors were identified along with a novel TCF1-intermediate subset that re-engaged some aspects of effector biology. This subset depended on T-bet and was re-invigorated upon PD-L1 blockade. Ultimately, Tox coordinated loss of T-bet and differentiation into a fourth, terminally exhausted subset. These data define a new developmental hierarchy of TEX and reveal distinct biological properties with direct relevance to immunotherapy. Defining the control mechanisms of this TEX subset hierarchy provides novel opportunities to manipulate TEX biology for clinical goals.

Developmental Relationships of Four Exhausted CD8+ T Cell Subsets Reveals Underlying Transcriptional and Epigenetic Landscape Control Mechanisms

CD8+ Tcell exhaustion is a major barrier to current anti-cancer immunotherapies. Despite this, the developmental biology of exhausted CD8+ Tcells (Tex) remains poorly defined, restraining improvement of strategies aimed at "re-invigorating" Tex cells. Here, we defined a four-cell-stage developmental framework for Tex cells. Two TCF1+ progenitor subsets were identified, one tissue restricted and quiescent and one more blood accessible, that gradually lost TCF1 as it divided and converted to a third intermediate Tex subset. This intermediate subset re-engaged some effector biology and increased upon PD-L1 blockade but ultimately converted into a fourth, terminally exhausted subset. By using transcriptional and epigenetic analyses, we identified the control mechanisms underlying subset transitions and defined a key interplay between TCF1, T-bet, and Tox in the process. These data reveal a four-stage developmental hierarchy for Tex cells and define the molecular, transcriptional, and epigenetic mechanisms that could provide opportunities to improve cancer immunotherapy.

COVID-19 transmission through host cell directed network of GPCR.

COVID-19 transmission through host cell directed network of GPCR.

Enhancing recruitment and retention of visible minority police officers in Canadian policing agencies

ABSTRACT Given the challenges that police organisations continue to face in attracting visible minorities, this study reviews how minority police officers perceive the barriers they confront. The systematic review of the literature provided the initial framework to guide the interviews with 20 visible minority police officers in a medium sized police organisation in Western Canada. The results illustrate that this police organisation, like many others, is slow in changing its organisational culture. This was demonstrated through comments about some misguided recruitment practices where human resource officers are not able to generate interest from potential minority recruits. It was also demonstrated through comments about leadership’s inability to follow through on improving diversity. Thirdly, it was demonstrated through comments about job satisfaction and motivational issues. The findings point to reshaping recruitment, leadership and motivational practices as a way to better develop a more heterogeneous police culture. In re-engineering the recruitment process, a key message emphasises building relationships using ‘gatekeepers’. Changes in leadership practices might encourage transformational or shared types of leadership with structures for more engagement – teamwork, participation, and personal development. This may allow leaders and members to be involved in pursuing diversity goals and be internally motivated to carry them out. The findings also indicate that key motivators for minorities relate to community feedback, autonomy, career developmental opportunities and team relationships. These motivators build on police public service-like motivators (PSM’s) emphasising service to the larger community, a focus which might offer insights in responding to the diversity issues in the future.

Procedural and declarative memory brain systems in developmental language disorder (DLD)

The aim of the current study was to examine microstructural differences in white matter relevant to procedural and declarative memory between adolescents/young adults with and without Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The findings showed atypical age-related changes in white matter structures in the corticostriatal system, in the corticocerebellar system, and in the medial temporal region in individuals with DLD. Results highlight the importance of considering the age factor in research on DLD. Future studies are needed to examine the developmental relationship between long-term memory and individual differences in language development and learning.

Influence of maltreatment, bullying, and neurocognitive impairment on recidivism in adolescents with conduct disorder: A 3-Year prospective study

We sought to clarify the influence of family developmental conditions (e.g., adverse childhood experiences: ACEs), peer relationships (e.g., bullying), and neurocognitive impairment on recidivism in adolescents with conduct disorder (CD). We interviewed 290 adolescents with CD (265 males, 25 females) who had been admitted to a juvenile justice assessment center for the first time about their offense(s), onset of delinquency, ACEs, and peer relationships. The participants also completed tests of neurocognitive activities and self-report symptom measures: the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), the Memory Updating test for the assessment of attention, the Adolescent Dissociative Experiences Scale (A-DES) for the assessment of dissociation, and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11th version (BIS-11) for the assessment of impulsivity. After the family court judgement and discharge, the participants were followed for 3 years. Readmissions to the center during the follow-up period were considered cases of “recidivism.” During the follow-up, 102 (35.2%) participants were readmitted to the center. A survival analysis (Cox proportional hazard model) showed that lower age, bullying (as the perpetrator), and impaired cognitive function (e.g., a lower SDMT score) significantly increased recidivism, whereas bullying (as both victim and perpetrator) decreased recidivism. ACEs showed no clear effect on recidivism. Lower age and impaired cognitive function appear to predispose adolescent first-time offenders with CD to recidivism. However, the peer bullying analysis showed that being a perpetrator positively influenced recidivism, whereas being both a victim and a perpetrator negatively influenced recidivism. Further research considering the heterogeneity and comorbidity of CD could clarify bullying’s influence on recidivism.

The relationship between unfair treatment and tobacco use: A national longitudinal Chinese sample.

The aim of present study is to contribute to the literature by examining the developmental relationship between unfair treatment and tobacco use in a national longitudinal Chinese sample. Linear mixed model was used to analyze data from a national longitudinal survey, which measured unfair treatment and tobacco use in 33,600 adults in 4 waves from 2010-2016. The results showed that unfair treatment positively predicted tobacco use and the prediction was consistent over time.Our findings imply that reducing unfair treatment may be an effective way to prevent tobacco use, which is one of the leading causes of preventable morbidity and mortality all over the world.

Exploring the Risky Terrain of Entrepreneurship With Support From Developmental Relationships: Narratives From Indian Women Entrepreneurs

The Problem There has been a burgeoning interest in studies on women entrepreneurs in the past decade, but in most studies conducted thus far, the scope has remained narrow with the focus mostly on strategic perspective and not so much on the individual-level understanding of the entrepreneurs. Furthermore, the limited number of studies that have looked into novice women entrepreneurs are restricted to western hemisphere, and to our knowledge, no study has looked into narratives on how women entrepreneurs in India benefit from various developmental relationships over the course of their entrepreneurial journey. The Solution Using narrative inquiry, we explore the stories of six urban women entrepreneurs in India illustrating how and why they started their careers in entrepreneurship, the challenges they experienced along the way, and how the varied developmental relationships they nurtured over time supported them to cope with those challenges. The Stakeholders The article aimed at venture capitalists that extend support to women entrepreneurs and to women who are considering to pursue entrepreneurship. The findings can guide them to anticipate the challenges and opportunities commonly experienced by women entrepreneurs and appreciate the value of developmental relationships that help to sustain motivation to be entrepreneurs.

Effects of developmental relationships with teachers on middle‐school students’ motivation and performance

AbstractWe examined how middle‐school students’ motivation, belonging, school climate, and grade point average (GPA) are affected by students experiencing developmental relationships—those that go beyond teachers being caring (e.g., showing warmth to students) and providing challenge (e.g., high expectations) to also include teachers providing support, sharing power, and expanding students’ sense of possibilities. We also examined variations in those associations by student socioeconomic status (SES). The study included 534 diverse Grades 6–8 students (51% female, 46% non‐White, 33% eligible for free and reduced price meals). Structural equation modeling and regressions showed that students with better developmental relationships with their teachers had better outcomes. Developmental relationships strongly predicted academic motivation at both the beginning and end of the school year, and also directly predicted students’ sense of belonging and school climate. Relationships indirectly predicted GPA, through motivation. Student–teacher relationship quality for low‐SES students was lower and declined more than for other students. The results both reflect current literature in showing the importance of strong student–teacher relationships, and extend it in showing the worsening relationships quality for low‐income students, and in suggesting that strengthening multiple facets of student–teacher developmental relationships may have important effects on motivation and achievement of middle‐school students.

Integrating resident memory into T cell differentiation models.

Advances in the field of T cell memory, including the discovery of tissue residency, continue to add to the list of defined T cell subsets. Here, we briefly review the role of resident memory T cells (TRM) in protective immunity, and propose that they exhibit developmental and migrational plasticity. We discuss T cell classification, the concept of cell type versus 'subset', and the difficulty of inferring developmental relationships between cells occupying malleable differentiation states. We propose that popular subsetting strategies do not perfectly define boundaries of developmental potential. We integrate TRM into a 'terrace' model that classifies memory T cells along a continuous axis of decreasing developmental potential. This model also segregates cells on the basis of migration properties, although different migration properties are viewed as parallel differentiation states that may be permissive to change.

Organelle size scaling over embryonic development.

Cell division without growth results in progressive cell size reductions during early embryonic development. How do the sizes of intracellular structures and organelles scale with cell size and what are the functional implications of such scaling relationships? Model organisms, in particular Caenorhabditis elegans worms, Drosophila melanogaster flies, Xenopus laevis frogs, and Mus musculus mice, have provided insights into developmental size scaling of the nucleus, mitotic spindle, and chromosomes. Nuclear size is regulated by nucleocytoplasmic transport, nuclear envelope proteins, and the cytoskeleton. Regulators of microtubule dynamics and chromatin compaction modulate spindle and mitotic chromosome size scaling, respectively. Developmental scaling relationships for membrane-bound organelles, like the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, mitochondria, and lysosomes, have been less studied, although new imaging approaches promise to rectify this deficiency. While models that invoke limiting components and dynamic regulation of assembly and disassembly can account for some size scaling relationships in early embryos, it will be exciting to investigate the contribution of newer concepts in cell biology such as phase separation and interorganellar contacts. With a growing understanding of the underlying mechanisms of organelle size scaling, future studies promise to uncover the significance of proper scaling for cell function and embryonic development, as well as how aberrant scaling contributes to disease. This article is categorized under: Establishment of Spatial and Temporal Patterns > Regulation of Size, Proportion, and Timing Early Embryonic Development > Fertilization to Gastrulation Comparative Development and Evolution > Model Systems.

The influence of servant leadership on an organization’s serving-driven capabilities in a Kuwaiti bank environment

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is threefold: first, to test the direct influence of servant leadership (SL) on an organization’s serving-driven capabilities (S-DC). Second, to test the indirect effect of SL on employee customer-service behaviors and identification with their branch. Third, to determine the direct effect of an organization’s S-DC on employee customer-service behaviors and identification with the branch. Thus, the authors provide evidence of how SL influence serving-driven interaction capabilities that are later deployed to execute customer-oriented behaviors.Design/methodology/approachSurvey data were obtained from a sample of 36 bank branches of one bank in the Middle East. Employees evaluated their manager’s SL behaviors, the six S-DC and their identification with the organization. In turn, managers assessed their employees on customer-service behaviors. Partial least squares path analysis was used to model the relationships.FindingsResults indicate servant leaders’ behaviors are example, motivator and determinant of an organization’s S-DC. Employees not only adopt the S-DC by imitation but also as a mean to reciprocate the leader: serve your customers like the leader serves you. Other results and implications for managers are presented.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is of a cross-sectional nature therefore a causal effect of SL on S-DC cannot be determined. Second, the study is limited to one bank although several branches were randomly sampled. Third, the evaluations of the S-DC have been done by the employees rather than customers.Practical implicationsThe S-DC concept provides ample opportunities for managers to enhance their interactions with employees and customers to improve their performance by identifying which capabilities to develop. Specifically, interactions that promote ethical, empowering, developmental relationships and that encourage genuine two-way communication and responds to individual needs.Originality/valueThe study is original in testing the mediating effect of a S-DC. The focus on individual and organizational capabilities is relevant because they have been touted as among the most important factors to explain the differences of company performances and competitive advantages

Discrepancy between musical ability and language skills in children with Williams syndrome

BackgroundChildren with Williams syndrome (WS) show a marked interest in music, a characteristic often explored in clinical settings. However, the actual musical abilities of patients with WS remain debatable due to some of the relevant data being derived from experimental tasks that require a verbal response, despite the known language impairments in WS. The present study aimed to examine musical ability in children with WS using a newly invented pitch discrimination task with minimal involvement of language and clarify its relationship with language skill. MethodsEleven children with WS participated in the study. We used a novel pitch discrimination task that required minimal language use. Two piano tones were presented sequentially, and children were asked to give a non-verbal response as to whether the second tone was higher than, lower than, or the same as the first tone. ResultsPitch discrimination performance in children with WS was lower than the level predicted for their chronological age (CA), even in the non-verbal task. Pitch discrimination ability and verbal mental age (VMA) were shown to be dissociated, such that children with WS with a lower skill level for language showed an unexpectedly higher level of pitch discrimination ability and vice versa. ConclusionsOur results indicated reduced musical ability with respect to CA in children with WS. The dissociation between musical ability and language skills may indicate unique developmental relationships that differ from those in normal children. These findings provide new evidence to support the importance of assessing actual musical ability in WS prior to implementing interventional music therapy.

The developmental relationship between stomata and mesophyll airspace.

The quantitative and spatial coordination of stomatal pores in the epidermis and airspaces in the underlying mesophyll tissue is vital for efficient gas exchange in the leaf. The mechanisms that determine the distribution of stomata in the epidermis have been studied extensively, but how this relates to the regulation of mesophyll airspace configuration is poorly understood. Recent studies have investigated how development is coordinated between these tissue layers. The evidence suggests that multiple mechanisms are likely to work concurrently to coordinate stomatal and mesophyll development for optimal leaf gas exchange, and that both genetic and physiological factors contribute to this regulation. Such advances in our understanding of leaf development have important implications for potential improvement of crop water use efficiency.

Mesoderm: The Possible Key to the Organic Basis of Freud’s Theories

The main body of the paper leads to the insight that there might be a correlational and/or developmental relationship between systems, layers, structures, levels of consciousness and Freud’s model of the mind. It rests on three premises or postulates: 1) mesoderm might provide the key to the organic basis of Freud’s topographical and structural models, both of which involve primary and secondary systems; 2) mesoderm is not a limiting skin, but a layer that simultaneously creates space and connects: 3) as it gives rise to the major structural components and organs of the inner body including the notochord (made of three-dimensional meso tissue) which underlies and promotes the development of the CNS made of neuroectoderm, mesoderm also involves primary and secondary aspects. In this paper, the possible links between these aspects are explored. As the activities, contents, and history related to the meso layer predate temporal reasoning associated with the prefrontal cortex, our contact with this deeper layer is either direct through feeling and sensation, which predate verbal thought, or indirect using free association and dreams. This perspective also throws light on Freud’s agents of the psyche or soul, where the ego is the chief protagonist and whose actions and decisions are affected by unconscious processes. Resistance to accessing this inner “unconscious” layer is probably related to an early tendency in controlling the expression of emotional and instinctual behaviour.