Diverse Family Research Articles

Factors influencing kindergarten Families' perceptions of home–school interactions

AbstractThe transition to and through kindergarten is consequential for the academic, social, and emotional wellbeing of children. Policies and practices are in place to smooth that transition. Researchers are working to understand which practices work best and for whom, particularly as the student population in U.S. schools continues to diversify. In this study, we analysed data from a large longitudinal study of racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse families, children, and their teachers. We used multi‐level modelling to examine the factors associated with families' reports of strong home–school interactions at the transition to and through kindergarten on the Family Involvement Questionnaire. We found that children having attended preschool and lower class size were associated with family reports of strong interactions. Surprisingly, we also found that teacher–family language match, teachers' self‐efficacy for working with families, and teachers' beliefs about children were not significantly associated with families' reports of strong or weak interactions. This work has implications for family engagement policy and practice as children transition to and through kindergarten.

Doing Family Before the State. Does Recognition of De Facto Families Lead to More Inclusive Migration Law Practices?

Abstract Critical scholars have long called for state recognition of de facto families, beyond legal or biological ties, as a pathway toward inclusion of more diverse family forms. This article asks to what extent recognition of de facto families indeed leads to more inclusion, in the context of a restrictive immigration regime in which families need state permission to live together. It zooms in on migration law practice in the Netherlands, through an analysis of laws and regulations, work instructions of street-level implementers, and interviews with migration lawyers. It finds that conceptions of family-as-doing which focus on practices of dependency and care play a small but significant role in Dutch migration law, enabling inclusion of families beyond the nuclear model. However, recognition of de facto families may lead to new forms of state scrutiny of intimate lives, as well as to new forms of exclusion.

Dynamic responses of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters to drought across diverse plant families.

Chlorophyll fluorescence measurement is a quick and efficient tool for plant stress-level detection. The use of Pulse amplitude modulation (PAM), allows the detection of the plant stress level under field conditions. Over the years, several parameters estimating different parts of the chlorophyll and photosystem response were developed to describe the plant stress level. Despite all fluorescence parameters being based on the same measurements, their relationship remains unclear, and their response to drought stress is significantly influenced by the incoming light intensity. In this study, we use six different annual plants from different families, both C3 and C4 photosynthesis types, to describe the plant response to drought through the fluorescence parameters response (NPQ, Y(NPQ), and qN). To describe the dynamic response to drought, we employed light-response curves, adapting and fitting an equation for each curve to compare the drought response for each fluorescence parameter. The results demonstrated that the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and the quantum yield of non-photochemical quenching [Y(NPQ)] maximal values decrease when the PSII functionality (Fv/Fm) is lower than ~0.7. The basal fluorescence level ( and remained unaffected by the stress level and stayed stable across the various plants and stress levels. Our results indicate that the response of different stress parameters follows a distinct order under continuous drought. Consequently, monitoring just one parameter during long-term stress assessments may result in biased analysis outcomes. Incorporating multiple chlorophyll fluorescence parameters offers a more accurate reflection of the plant's stress level.

Fishing for Estuarine Oomycetes

Oomycetes are water molds that are frequently isolated during a survey of waterways. Biodiversity of oomycetes in the estuary region of the Veleka River in Bulgaria was investigated in 2021. A total number of 32 isolates were derived using the baiting method. Species identification based on sequencing of the ITS region divided them into four different genera: Phytophthora (P.), Phytopythium (Pp.), Pythium (Py.) and Elongisporangium (E.). The most abundant species in the studied region was P. lacustris (sixteen isolates), followed by P. honggalleglyana (nine isolates). P. bilorbang and P. inundata were represented by only one isolate each and were recognized for the first time in Bulgaria. The genus Phytopythium was presented by two isolates that belong to different species, Pp. litorale and Pp. citrinum. In the obtained collection, the genera Pythium and Elongisporangium were represented by only one species each, Py. angustatum (one isolate) and E. anandrum (two isolates), respectively. Colony morphology of the eight collected oomycete species was characterized by cultivation of selected isolates on three different media. Potential host species of the isolated estuarine oomycetes were estimated by pathogenicity tests conducted with sixteen plants from ten diverse families. P. lacustris and P. honggalleglyana demonstrated a higher aggressiveness among Phytophthora isolates, whereas P. bilorbang and P. inundata showed less ability to infect the tested plant species. Similar pathogenicity and a potential host range for both Phytopythium species were observed. Less aggressive against analyzed plants in this study were Py. angustatum and E. anandrum.

TRANSLATION OF ENGLISH ISLAMIC MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA/TEXAS INTO ARABIC

The present study evaluates and examines three translations, provided by three students who have master degree in translation, for a sample of English Islamic Marriage contract that is officially utilized by Muslims in the United States/ Texas. The central aim of the study is to identify the main issues which are usually faced by the legal translators in translating English International Islamic marriage contracts in the United States of America/Texas and Islamic matrimony registration forms and examining the procedures adopted by translators concerning the translation of official documentsThey followed Peter Newmark’s Theory (1988) of Semantic and Communicative translation in translating this legal document which includes cultural-bound terms related specifically to the Islamic beliefs and concepts that are considered fundamental parts of formulating such documents and raise a real challenge for legal translators due to the source language and target language related to diverse linguistic families and different legal systems and religious cultures. So, different translation issues have been committed by the translators in the usage of lexical items according to the current context. It is worth mentioning that the current document issued by "Frisco Masjid Inc.”, in which it is an organization concerning the affairs of Muslims in the American United States/Texas. The most important conclusion is the legal translator should first opt for the communicative technique due to the multiple terminologies that have no suitable equivalence in the target TL at the same time s/he should be aware of employing such procedure to grasp the alike alike ated lawful impact of the source language’s words.

An AP2/ERF transcription factor confers chilling tolerance in rice.

Cold stress, a prominent adverse environmental factor, severely hinders rice growth and productivity. Unraveling the complex mechanisms governing chilling tolerance in rice is crucial for molecular breeding of cold-tolerant varieties. Here, we identify an APETALA2/Ethylene Responsive Factor (AP2/ERF) transcription factor, OsERF52, as a positive modulator in response to low temperatures. OsERF52 directly regulates the expression of C-Repeat Binding Factor (CBF) genes in rice. In addition, Osmotic Stress/ABA-Activated Protein Kinase 9-mediated phosphorylation of OsERF52 at S261 enhances its stability and interaction with Ideal Plant Architecture 1 and OsbHLH002/OsICE1. This collaborative activation leads to the expression of OsCBFs, thereby initiating the chilling response in rice. Notably, plants with base-edited OsERF52S261D-3HA exhibit enhanced chilling resistance without yield penalty. Our findings unveil the mechanism orchestrated by a regulatory framework involving a protein kinase and transcription factors from diverse families, offering potential genetic resources for developing chilling-tolerant rice varieties.

Affective-sexual education in teacher training: the long road ahead in Spain

ABSTRACT This study involved an analysis of the teaching guides for the subjects included in Spain’s primary education teaching degree programmes to determine if content on affective-sexual education was included. Mixed methods were employed to examine 132 teaching guides from 108 universities. The results revealed an abundance of subject areas in which some of the subject content had a focus on sexuality diversity, but specific courses or modules with a focus on the topic were scarce. Three key thematic areas were identified: family diversity, gender, and sexuality and gender diversity. Our quantitative analysis identified that sexuality related content was offered to a greater extent in universities that were publicly funded, non-religious in their affiliation, founded before 1980, and with more than 10,000 students currently enrolled. The main conclusion we reached is that primary education teachers in Spain are not adequately prepared to engage with gender and sexuality diversity in the classroom.

A Review of the Pharmacological Effects of Solanum muricatum Fruit (Pepino Melon).

Solanaceae, commonly known as nightshade, is a diverse family of flowering plants comprising around 90 genera and an estimated 3000-4000 species. Solanaceae spp. and its various fruits, including pepino (Solanum muricatum), commonly known as pepino melon, are widely recognized by the public for their nutritional value and pharmacological effects. Pepino melon, in particular, is often enjoyed as a fresh dessert or salad due to its juicy flesh. Given its beneficial properties, the potential of pepino melon to be developed as a functional food has been extensively studied. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the reported pharmacological effects of the active compounds found in pepino plant and melon. Among these compounds, polyphenols, notably quercetin, and vitamin C have demonstrated notable antioxidant properties such as scavenging free radicals, effectively protecting against free-radical damage. Moreover, these active ingredients provide pepino with anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and enzymes, thereby reducing nitric oxide production. Additionally, they have shown promise in selectively targeting cancer cells, exhibiting anti-cancer properties. Furthermore, the active compounds such as quercetin in pepino have been associated with anti-diabetic effects, improving insulin sensitivity and inhibiting insulin resistance. Overall, this review highlights the diverse and significant pharmacological effects of the active compounds found in pepino melon, emphasizing its potential as a valuable functional food.

LZTR1 loss-of-function variants associated with café au lait macules with or without freckling.

Pathogenic variants in the leucine zipper-like transcriptional regulator 1 gene (LZTR1) have been identified in schwannomatosis and Noonan syndrome. Here, we expand the phenotype spectrum of LZTR1 variants. We identified four loss-of-function heterozygous LZTR1 variants in five children with multiple café au lait macules and one adult with multiple café au lait macules and axillar freckling, by applying gene panel analysis in four families. The three LZTR1 variants, namely, c.184del/p.Glu62Serfs*39, c.1927C < T/p.Gln643*, and c.857_858delinsT/p.Gly286Valfs*65, were novel, whereas the variant c.1018C > T/ p.Arg340* had been previously reported in a patient with schwannomatosis. Similar to what is known from other LZTR1-associated conditions, penetrance of the skin manifestations was reduced in two carriers of the familial variants. Our study expands the LZTR1 phenotype to the presence of isolated café au lait macules with or without freckling. Thus, variants in the LZTR1 gene should be considered in patients with multiple café au lait macules.

Equal Ground: Meaningful Collaboration with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families of Children with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities

ABSTRACT Despite increased attention and research during the past three decades, systemic barriers continue to hamper meaningful collaboration between school personnel (e.g. teachers, consultants) and culturally and linguistically diverse families of children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD). In this critical review of recent research, we address both the ideal of culturally responsive family-professional partnerships and the frequent reality of persistent systemic barriers, adversarial interactions, and the expectation of advocacy (rather than participation) by families. We highlight the cultural mismatch and inherently hierarchical nature of formal interactions with school personnel. Framed by a life span approach and drawing from our research and first-hand experiences shared as testimonios, we provide descriptive examples and make recommendations for structural change to improve family-school collaboration and outcomes for children with I/DD.

An algorithm-driven intelligent mining and identification strategy for natural product mass spectrometry

Efficiently mining and identification of new compounds from the extensive MS/MS datasets of plant extracts poses a significant challenge due to the structural diversity and compositional complexity inherent in natural products (NPs). Various data post-processing techniques have been developed to simplify the interpretation of MS/MS data; however, they often suffer from limited specificity and precision. Meanwhile, structure annotation following data post-processing is particularly time-consuming. In this study, we introduced an innovative strategy named MS-SMART, which integrates three intelligent algorithms: automatic mining of diagnostic ions, rapid filtration of alkaloids from untargeted MS/MS data, and structural recommendations for filtered components. The feasibility of this approach for rapidly discovering novel compounds was demonstrated using berberine-type alkaloids as an example. Firstly, diagnostic ions were automatically extracted and validated using available reference data. Subsequently, berberine-type compounds were filtered from raw MS/MS data. Finally, the structures of the target components were recommended using building blocks derived from berberines reported in various plants. A total of 103, 198, 60, 80 and 51 berberines were efficiently identified in diverse families and genera, including Stephaniae Epigaeae Radix, Coptidis Rhizoma, Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex, Phellodendri Amurensis Cortex and Corydalis Decumbentis Rhizoma, with 99, 169, 50, 64 and 40 new compounds identified, respectively. Among these, 8, 14, 8, 7 and 12 berberines were confirmed by reference compounds. This strategy provides a new research paradigm for the rapid discovery and identification of different types of new compounds in complex samples.

The Role of Family and Friends to Broaden and Diversify Participation in Educational Research

This study examined critical factors in a mentoring system within a federally-funded Pathways to the Education Sciences Research Training Program to prepare undergraduates at a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) for graduate studies in educational research. Our conceptual framework integrates an inclusive model of family engagement consistent with the literature recommendations for diverse families of college students. We considered the following question: what is the role of family and friends within an orchestrated network of mentors who provide support to undergraduate fellows from minoritized groups in their pathways toward graduate studies in educational sciences? We analyzed quantitative and qualitative responses from an end-of-program survey administered to one cohort of this program. Within their mentoring network, fellows reported that family and friends provided important support in socio-emotional, cognitive, and identity development, but not as strong as that provided by distributed faculty and academic mentors. This study furthers our understanding of the role of family and friends within an orchestrated network of mentors within our Pathways Training Program. However, we still need to extend our knowledge of how research training programs at HSIs can be more intentional in emphasizing the important contributions family and friends provide to promote the success of diverse students in their pathways toward graduate studies.

Island biogeography of the megadiverse plant family Asteraceae

The megadiverse plant family Asteraceae forms an iconic component of island floras including many spectacular radiations, but a global picture of its insular diversity is lacking. Here, we uncover the global biogeographical and evolutionary patterns of Asteraceae on islands to reveal the magnitude and potential causes of their evolutionary success. We compile a global checklist of Asteraceae species native and endemic to islands and combine it with macroecological analyses and a phylogenetic review of island radiations. Asteraceae have a global distribution on islands, comprising approximately 6,000 native island species, with 58% endemics. While diversity of the family on islands is lower than expected given its overall diversity, Asteraceae are the most diverse family on oceanic islands, suggesting an exceptional ability to thrive in isolation. In agreement with island biogeography predictions, native Asteraceae diversity increases with area and decreases with isolation, while endemism increases with both. We identify 39 confirmed island radiations and 69 putative radiations, exceeding numbers for other iconic insular groups. Our results reveal Asteraceae offer immense potential for research in ecology and evolution, given their close tracking of island biogeography expectations, large number of both species and radiations, cosmopolitan distribution, and numerous undiscovered radiations.

Computing marginal and conditional divergences between decomposable models with applications in quantum computing and earth observation

AbstractThe ability to compute the exact divergence between two high-dimensional distributions is useful in many applications, but doing so naively is intractable. Computing the $$\alpha \beta $$ α β -divergence—a family of divergences that includes the Kullback–Leibler divergence and Hellinger distance—between the joint distribution of two decomposable models, i.e., chordal Markov networks, can be done in time exponential in the treewidth of these models. Extending this result, we propose an approach to compute the exact $$\alpha \beta $$ α β -divergence between any marginal or conditional distribution of two decomposable models. In order to do so tractably, we provide a decomposition over the marginal and conditional distributions of decomposable models. We then show how our method can be used to analyze distributional changes by first applying it to the benchmark image dataset QMNIST and a dataset containing observations from various areas at the Roosevelt Nation Forest and their cover type. Finally, based on our framework, we propose a novel way to quantify the error in contemporary superconducting quantum computers.

Genetic analysis of TRIOBP and MYO15A variants in Iranian families with autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss

BackgroundDeafness is a prevalent sensory and neurological disorder that impacts over 466 million individuals globally. Congenital deafness is the most prevalent birth defect, occurring in approximately 2–3 out of every 1000 births. It is recognized as a highly diverse condition. >50% of congenital deafness has genetic causes and the rest is due to environmental causes or both. With the development of next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics tools, whole-exome sequencing has been proposed as one of the effective methods for diagnosing genetics of hearing loss. MethodFive Iranian Autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) families negative for GJB2 (NM_004004.6) gene mutations from Sistan and Baluchestan province were selected for further study by whole-exome sequencing analysis. The analysis procedure was performed using multiple bioinformatics tools and websites after filling the consent form and extracting DNA from whole blood using the salting out method. After detecting the variants in priority and confirming them in the probands by Sanger sequencing, other family members were studied to confirm the variant within the family. ResultsAfter analyzing the families recruited for this study, four known genes along with known and novel variants were discovered. Mutations found in the MYO15A, SLC26A4, TRIOBP and TECTA genes among which, the variants found in TRIOBP (NM_001039141.3, p.R283X) and MYO15A (NM_016239.4, p.P2880Rfs*19) were novel. Other known variants were TECTA (NM_005422.4, p.W1534X) and SLC26A4 (NM_000441.2, p.V239D). No genes or variants that might contribute to hearing loss have been identified within one of the families. ConclusionOur study's findings support previous research that has identified SLC26A4, MYO15A, and TECTA genes as common genetic factors following GJB2 in our population.

Development of temperament types from infancy to adolescence: Genetic and environmental influences with an economically and racially/ethnically diverse sample.

Kagan theorized biologically based temperament types that are present in infancy, stable across development, and essential for understanding individual differences. Despite evidence, temperament research remains focused on a few prominent dimensions of temperament, without adequately addressing covariance among dimensions and temperament types. Using longitudinal twin data, we took a person-centered statistical approach to identify temperament types and examined continuity and change across five developmental periods (Ninfancy = 602; Ntoddlerhood = 522; Nearly childhood = 390; Nlate childhood = 718; Nearly adolescence = 700). We then examined the genetic and environmental etiology of temperament types. Twins were boys and girls (51-53% female), primarily Hispanic/Latinx (23-30%) and non-Hispanic/Latinx White (56-63%), and from socioeconomically diverse families (28-38% near-or-below the poverty line). Using latent profile analysis, we identified three temperament types at each age characterized by negative reactivity and dysregulation, positive reactivity and strong self-regulation, and moderate reactivity and regulation. Latent transition analyses revealed considerable continuity in membership type for "negative dysregulated" beginning in infancy, log odds = 1.58 (SE = .65) to 3.16 (SE = .77), p < .01, of remaining relative to transitioning to "typical expressive", and "positive well-regulated" beginning in early childhood, log odds = 1.41 (SE = .56) to 2.25 (SE = .47), p < .05. Twin analyses revealed moderate heritability and a consistent role of the shared environment on positive well-regulated, with negative dysregulated and typical expressive also moderately heritable with the shared environment being important at some ages. Findings support the presence of theorized biologically based temperament types that develop rapidly in infancy and toddlerhood and provide a foundation for the study of individual differences and risk and resilience processes across the lifespan. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Conservation of the cooling agent binding pocket within the TRPM subfamily.

Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels are a large and diverse family of tetrameric cation selective channels that are activated by many different types of stimuli, including noxious heat or cold, organic ligands such as vanilloids or cooling agents, or intracellular Ca 2+ . Structures available for all subtypes of TRP channels reveal that the transmembrane domains are closely related despite their unique sensitivity to activating stimuli. Here we use computational and electrophysiological approaches to explore the conservation of the cooling agent binding pocket identified within the S1-S4 domain of the Melastatin subfamily member TRPM8, the mammalian sensor of noxious cold, with other TRPM channel subtypes. We find that a subset of TRPM channels, including TRPM2, TRPM4 and TRPM5, contain pockets very similar to the cooling agent binding pocket in TRPM8. We then show how the cooling agent icilin modulates activation of TRPM4 to intracellular Ca 2+ , enhancing the sensitivity of the channel to Ca 2+ and diminishing outward-rectification to promote opening at negative voltages. Mutations known to promote or diminish activation of TRPM8 by cooling agents similarly alter activation of TRPM4 by icilin, suggesting that icilin binds to the cooling agent binding pocket to promote opening of the channel. These findings demonstrate that TRPM4 and TRPM8 channels share related ligand binding pockets that are allosterically coupled to opening of the pore.

The Expanding Mycovirome of Aspergilli.

Mycoviruses are viruses that infect fungi and are widespread across all major fungal taxa, exhibiting great biological diversity. Since their discovery in the 1960s, researchers have observed a myriad of fungal phenotypes altered due to mycoviral infection. In this review, we examine the nuanced world of mycoviruses in the context of the medically and agriculturally important fungal genus, Aspergillus. The advent of RNA sequencing has revealed a previous underestimate of viral prevalence in fungi, in particular linear single-stranded RNA viruses, and here we outline the diverse viral families known to date that contain mycoviruses infecting Aspergillus. Furthermore, we describe these novel mycoviruses, highlighting those with peculiar genome structures, such as a split RNA dependent RNA polymerase gene. Next, we delineate notable mycovirus-mediated phenotypes in Aspergillus, in particular reporting on observations of mycoviruses that affect their fungal host's virulence and explore how this may relate to virus-mediated decreased stress tolerance. Furthermore, mycovirus effects on microbial competition and antifungal resistance are discussed. The factors that influence the manifestation of these phenotypes, such as temperature, fungal life stage, and infection with multiple viruses, among others, are also evaluated. In addition, we attempt to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that underpin these phenotypes, examining how mycoviruses can be targets, triggers, and even suppressors of RNA silencing and how this can affect fungal gene expression and phenotypes. Finally, we highlight the potential therapeutic applications of mycoviruses and how, in an approach analogous to bacteriophage therapy, their ability to produce hypovirulence in Aspergillus might be used to attenuate invasive aspergillosis infections in humans.

Genetic Variants in the TBC1D2B Gene Are Associated with Ramon Syndrome and Hereditary Gingival Fibromatosis.

Ramon syndrome (MIM 266270) is an extremely rare genetic syndrome, characterized by gingival fibromatosis, cherubism-like lesions, epilepsy, intellectual disability, hypertrichosis, short stature, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and ocular abnormalities. Hereditary or non-syndromic gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is also rare and considered to represent a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by benign, slowly progressive, non-inflammatory gingival overgrowth. To date, two genes, ELMO2 and TBC1D2B, have been linked to Ramon syndrome. The objective of this study was to further investigate the genetic variants associated with Ramon syndrome as well as HGF. Clinical, radiographic, histological, and immunohistochemical examinations were performed on affected individuals. Exome sequencing identified rare variants in TBC1D2B in both conditions: a novel homozygous variant (c.1879_1880del, p.Glu627LysfsTer61) in a Thai patient with Ramon syndrome and a rare heterozygous variant (c.2471A>G, p.Tyr824Cys) in a Cambodian family with HGF. A novel variant (c.892C>T, p.Arg298Cys) in KREMEN2 was also identified in the individuals with HGF. With support from mutant protein modeling, our data suggest that TBC1D2B variants contribute to both Ramon syndrome and HGF, although variants in additional genes might also contribute to the pathogenesis of HGF.

Soft, Multifunctional MXene-Coated Fiber Microelectrodes for Biointerfacing.

Flexible fiber-based microelectrodes allow safe and chronic investigation and modulation of electrically active cells and tissues. Compared to planar electrodes, they enhance targeting precision while minimizing side effects from the device-tissue mechanical mismatch. However, the current manufacturing methods face scalability, reproducibility, and handling challenges, hindering large-scale deployment. Furthermore, only a few designs can record electrical and biochemical signals necessary for understanding and interacting with complex biological systems. In this study, we present a method that utilizes the electrical conductivity and easy processability of MXenes, a diverse family of two-dimensional nanomaterials, to apply a thin layer of MXene coating continuously to commercial nylon filaments (30-300 μm in diameter) at a rapid speed (up to 15 mm/s), achieving a linear resistance below 10 Ω/cm. The MXene-coated filaments are then batch-processed into free-standing fiber microelectrodes with excellent flexibility, durability, and consistent performance even when knotted. We demonstrate the electrochemical properties of these fiber electrodes and their hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) sensing capability and showcase their applications in vivo (rodent) and ex vivo (bladder tissue). This scalable process fabricates high-performance microfiber electrodes that can be easily customized and deployed in diverse bioelectronic monitoring and stimulation studies, contributing to a deeper understanding of health and disease.