Effect Of Parentage Research Articles

Parent American Sign Language skills correlate with child–but not toddler–ASL vocabulary size

ABSTRACT Most deaf children have hearing parents who do not know a sign language at birth and are at risk of limited language input during early childhood. Studying these children as they learn a sign language has revealed that timing of first-language exposure critically shapes language outcomes. But the input deaf children receive in their first language is not only delayed, it is much more variable than most first language learners, as many learn their first language from parents who are themselves new sign language learners. Much of the research on deaf children learning a sign language has considered the role of parent input using broad strokes, categorizing hearing parents as non-native, poor signers, and deaf parents as native, strong signers. In this study, we deconstruct these categories and examine how variation in sign language skills among hearing parents might affect children’s vocabulary acquisition. This study included 44 deaf children between 8- and 60-months-old who were learning American Sign Language (ASL) and had hearing parents who were also learning ASL. We observed an interactive effect of parent ASL proficiency and age, such that parent ASL proficiency was a significant predictor of child ASL vocabulary size, but not among the infants and toddlers. The proficiency of language models can affect acquisition above and beyond age of acquisition, particularly as children grow. At the same time, the most skilled parents in this sample were not as fluent as “native” deaf signers, and yet their children reliably had age-expected ASL vocabularies. Data and reproducible analyses are available at https://osf.io/9ya6h/.

Effects of Diet and Provisioning Behavior on Chick Growth in Adélie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae)

When provisioning chicks, parents trade-off their time, energy, and other resources to maximize reproductive success. As parents adjust investment to maximize their fitness, impacts on offspring growth can occur. We investigated provisioning and chick growth of Adélie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) at one of the largest colonies (∼175,000 pairs), during one year of normal chick growth and survival and in a year which, by chance, was characterized by low chick growth and survival (“difficult” year). We measured daily average amount and quality of food delivered, as well as foraging-trip duration, and compared them to chick mass and skeletal growth during two years of contrasting conditions. We used mixed-effects models to test the prediction that increased parental investment would lead to increased growth rates, while accounting for confounding effects. There was no evidence of an effect of parent age. All provisioning measures predicted growth of at least one morphological character but, especially during the year of normal reproductive success, no provisioning measure strongly predicted growth across most morphological characters. However, during the difficult year parental investment positively affected growth rates, especially for males that were fed relatively more fish. The observed variation in growth rates between males and females, and between years of contrasting apparent resource availability, was large enough to lead to size differences that may subsequently affect post-fledging survival and ultimately population processes.

The Effects of Parent Ages on Birth Defects.

Men and women, in the United States, are having children at considerably older ages. This changing demographic has been associated with multiple neonatal adverse birth outcomes that are currently considered to constitute a major public health crisis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk of parent age on birth defects and to provide results that can serve as a starting point for more specific mediation modeling. The modeling estimated the effects of parent age on birth defects controlling for confounding between maternal and paternal age and separated the mediating effect of chromosomal disorders, including Down syndrome. Data containing approximately 15,000,000 birth records were obtained from the United States Natality database for the years 2014 to 2018. A Bayesian modeling approach was used to estimate adjusted risks of parent ages both unadjusted and adjusted for the other parent's age and for the mediational effect of chromosomal disorders, including Down syndrome. Increasing maternal age was associated with increased risks for hypospadias and cyanotic congenital heart disease. Increasing maternal and paternal ages were associated with decreasing risks for gastroschisis. For limb reduction defect, cleft lip and all defects combined, the risk of maternal age was U-shaped with the lowest risks observed at approximately age 35y. Paternal age was not associated with an increase in the birth prevalence of birth defects. Advancing maternal age was associated with increased birth prevalence of hypospadias and cyanotic congenital heart disease and associated with a lower birth prevalence for gastroschisis. Both older and younger maternal ages were related to limb reduction defect and cleft lip. Advancing paternal age was not associated with an increased birth prevalence of birth defects but was associated with a decreased birth prevalence of gastroschisis.

Characteristics of half-siblings cows’ by growth and milk productivity

It is proved that the live weight of replacement heifers, the intensity of their formation and milk productivity in primiparous cows depends on father origin, in particular, the value of the index of live weight formation between groups of half-siblings ranges from 68,9 to 82.3 (for comparing ages 6–0 and 12–6 months), from 15,1 to 18,4 (6–3 and 9–6 months), from 23,8 to 28,6 (6–3 and 12–9 months); average daily growth rate in the age of 0–12 months – from 659 to 717 g, 12–18 months – from 500 to 585 g; live weight at the age of 12 months – from 367 to 399 kg; 305-day milk yield – from 5295 to 7595 kg, fat content in milk – from 3,70 to 3,78 %, protein content – from 3,23 to 3,34 %, milk fat – from 197 to 286 kg, milk protein – from 175 to 253 kg. Regardless of the method of determining the index of live weight formation, the higher values of them had daughters of sires M. Nirvana 101709244 (82,3; 18,3; 26,9, respectively), B. Buick 10789585 (80,0; 18,1; 28,6) and M. W. Tahoe 8189401 (80,1; 18,4; 27,7). There were determined differences (P < 0,001) between half-siblings by the average daily growth at the age 0-12 and 12-18 months. At the age of 0-12 months, the higher average daily growths showed daughters of sires M. W. Tahoe 8189401, Flame 112302008 and B. Buick 10789585 (on average 711 g), aged 12–18 months – daughters of sires M. Nirvana 101709244, N. Alfons 353588796, H. R. Artist 6284191 and H. Hadley 123055802 (on average 566 g). The higher intensity of growth of replacement heifers up to 12 months was not related to higher milk productivity in primiparous cows. The advantage of milk yield (+606…+1373 kg, P < 0,001), milk fat (+25…+54 kg, P < 0,001) and milk protein (+22…+48 kg, P < 0,001) was observed in daughters of sires M. Estimate 5925716 and N. Alfons 353588796, whose live weight at the age of 18 months did not exceed the average in the group. The low milk productivity (–525…–927 kg of milk compared to the average, –18…–44 kg of milk fat and –8…–30 kg of milk protein) were characterized for daughters of bulls Flame 112302008 and M. W. Tahoe 8189401, which had significantly higher intensity of growth and live weight formation. Based on the variance analysis it was established that the effect of parentage on the live weight of cows from birth to 18 months was 24,4–43,6 % of the total phenotypic variation, the average daily growth rate – 27,5–47,7 %, traits of milk productivity – 18,0–30,1 % with a high probability (P < 0,001) Key words: dairy cattle, parentage, half-siblings, the index of live weight formation, milk productivity, power of influence.

Analysis of secondary sex ratio in the fox (Vulpes vulpes L.)

Secondary sex ratio and its variability in relation to some paratypic and genetic factors were studied in the silver fox by analysis of data obtained at the Pushkinskii fur farm (Moscow oblast) in 1980-1989. A total of 17285 whelps were examined. The mean proportion of males over the ten years of observation was 0.536+/-0.004. No effect of parent age or litter size on this proportion was found. Individual analysis of the progeny of a single parent revealed 44 males and 49 females showing significant deviations from the expected sex ratio (l male : 1 female). These results can be used for reconstruction of pedigrees whose progeny yields regular deviations from the expected sex ratio.

Effect of parentage and relatedness on the individual contribution to cooperative chick care in carrion crows Corvus corone corone

Carrion crows Corvus corone corone in northern Spain form complex cooperative groups that contain non-dispersing offspring and immigrants. Reproduction is often shared among group members, with polyandry prevalent over joint egg laying. However, due to incest avoidance or sexual immaturity, reproduction is potentially available only to a fraction of group members (“potential breeders”), while others do not breed (“non-breeders”). We combined molecular data with video-recorded observations at nests in order to investigate whether potential breeders and non-breeders adjust their individual effort in nestling feeding respectively to their level of parentage and the relatedness with the chicks. Overall, parents of at least one chick in the brood showed the highest feeding rates. Among potential breeders, genetic mothers and fathers fed chicks at significantly higher rates than individuals with no parentage, but they did not adjust their effort according to the proportion of offspring generated. Current direct fitness benefits are therefore important in determining a high provisioning effort, but crows may lack a mechanism to finely assess their share of parentage. Among non-breeders, males contributed more than females to chick feeding, but we found no significant correlation between feeding rate and relatedness to the nestling. We discuss how the latter result can be reconciled with the fact that kin selection has been shown to be important in shaping the crow cooperative society.

Estimating Family Long-Term Care Decisions in the Presence of Endogenous Child Characteristics

This paper estimates the effects of various parent and child characteristics on the choice of care arrangement of the parent taking into account the potential endogeneity of some of the child characteristics. This potential endogeneity is controlled for by using an instrumental variables approach with panel data. The procedure conditions on the parent receiving no significant care in the first year of the panel causing first year variables to be valid instruments for the second year variables. The estimation procedure shows that, after controlling for endogeneity, potentially endogenous child variables have smaller effects. The estimates predict moderate effects of parent sex, age, race, andrhealth and child sex and marital status, and large effects of parent marital status and child distance.

Effects of Parentage and Size of the Pollen Load on Progeny Performance in Campanula americana

Effects of Parentage and Size of the Pollen Load on Progeny Performance in Campanula americana

Effect of Spacing and Sucker Removal on Precocity of Hazelnut Seedlings

The effect of parentage, spacing, and sucker removal on precocity of hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) seedlings was investigated. Wider spacing (1.2 vs. 0.6 m) within the row doubled the number of nuts per seedling in the 5th year but had no effect on nut count in the 3rd or 4th year, nor did it affect the percentage of seedlings bearing nuts in any of the three years. Differences among the four progenies were highly significant for number of clusters, number of nuts, and percentage of seedlings bearing nuts in all years and for number of years to first fruiting. The progeny `Barcelona' × OSU 55.097 had the most bearing seedlings in, the 3rd year but was outperformed by `Casina' × OSU 55.129 in the 4th and 5th years. Number of years to first fruiting varied from 4.3 for `Casina' × OSU 55.129 to 5.2 for `Tombul' × `Tonda di Giffoni'. Sucker removal increased both the percentage of seedlings bearing nuts and the number of nuts per seedlings, but the difference was not significant until the 5th year. Sucker removal reduced the length of the juvenile phase by 3 months. The use of precocious parents was more effective than sucker removal in shortening the juvenile period, while sucker removal and wide spacing within seedling rows increased the number of nuts produced by seedlings in the 5th year. Selection of seedlings for early initiation of bearing will shorten the breeding cycle, and the resulting new cultivars will be precocious when planted in commercial orchards.

Effects of parentage, prior fruit set and pollen load on fruit and seed production in Campanula americana L.

We conducted a controlled crossing experiment to examine the effects of maternal and paternal parentage, the size of the pollen load, and prior fruit production on the proportion of flowers that set fruit, seed number per fruit and seed weight in a natural population of Campanula americana. Effects due to the maternal parent were large for all measures of fruit and seed production, while the paternal parent had a significant effect only upon mean seed weight. As the number of prior fruits on the maternal plant increased the probability that a flower would produce a mature fruit, the number of seeds per fruit, and total seed weight per fruit all decreased. We found no effect of the size of the pollen loads used in this study on fruit or seed production. These results are consistent with those of other studies that suggest in natural plant populations maternal effects, especially environmental maternal effects, can have an overwhelming effect on fruit and seed production and on seed characteristics.

Effects of host age, host density and parent age on reproduction of the filth fly parasite Urolepis rufipes (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

Urolepis rufipes Ashmead, a pteromalid wasp, was recently discovered parasitizing house fly and stable fly pupae in eastern Nebraska dairies. Studies have been conducted on the biology of this parasite to evaluate its potential as a biological control agent of stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans (L.] and house flies (Musca domestica L.). House fly pupae were suitable as hosts for U.rufipes at all ages; however, significantly higher parasitism occurred on host pupae aged 96-120 h. Parasite-induced mortality (host mortality without progeny production) was higher than for other pteromalid parasites of filth flies under similar conditions. Parasitism increased with parasite--host ratio at 20 degrees C; however, the opposite was noted at 30 degrees C for parasite--host ratios ranging from 5:50 to 50:50. Fly eclosion decreased as parasite--host ratio increased at 20 degrees C, and no host eclosion occurred at the highest parasite--host ratios (20:50 and 50:50) at 30 degrees C. Females produced an average of 18.6 female and 7.6 male progeny. 88% of the progeny were produced during the first 6 days post parental eclosion. The short life span, low progeny emergence rate and high per cent host eclosion, in comparison with other parasite species, suggests that the Nebraska strain of U.rufipes may not an effective biological control agent of house flies.

The Effects of Parent Age and Posthatch Treatment on Broiler Performance

The relationship between age of the parent and the quality of the day-old broiler chick were studied in two experiments by examining the loss in egg weight during incubation (percentage of egg weight loss, PEWL). Also, the efficacy of a water-soluble antibiotic and the practice of withholding feed at placement time were examined. Eggs were obtained from two sets of breeders (approximately 30 and 50 wk of age). The eggs were weighed individually and were incubated. Chicks of each parent age group were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: 1) water and feed at placement time; 2) water and Neo-Terramycin and feed at placement time; 3) water at placement time and feed 4 h later; and 4) water and Neo-Terramycin at placement time and feed 4 h later. The chicks were housed in cages for Experiment 1 and in floor pens for Experiment 2.In both experiments, breeder age significantly affected BW. Chicks from old flocks were heavier and exhibited a significantly higher growth rate than the chicks from young flocks. Significant correlations between chick hatch weight and egg weight were observed. Low correlations between PEWL and BW were noted. In Experiment 1, the chicks receiving the Neo-Terramycin were significantly heavier up to 4 days of age than the chicks in other treatments. Chicks allowed access to feed at placement time were significantly heavier at most weigh times, up to 5 wk of age. Male chicks from old flocks that received both Neo-Terramycin and feed at the time of placement had a significantly higher growth rate than did the males of any other treatment in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, neither the administration of Neo-Terramycin nor the provision of water prior to feeding had a significant effect on BW gain. Male chicks from the young flocks provided with water prior to feed exhibited a significantly higher growth rate than did the males in any other treatment. These data suggest that parent age does influence chick weight. The use of water-soluble antibiotics and the provision of water prior to feed did not benefit chicks that are normally hydrated.

Gametic imprinting in maize in relation to the angiosperm life cycle

Differences in the activity of maternally and paternally derived genomes in maize endosperm have been observed at three levels of genetic manipulation. When the balance of entire chromosome sets departs from the standard ratio of two of maternal origin to one of paternal origin, development is impaired, often leading to seed failure. At the level of individual chromosomes, absence of a paternal representative for 8 of the 19 chromosome arms tested causes a marked reduction in kernel size. Replacement of the missing arms by ones of maternal origin does not complement this defect. At the gene level, some alleles of R confer solid coloration on the aleurone layer when transmitted maternally but patchy coloration (mottled) when transmitted via pollen. In contrast with the endosperm, no effect of parentage on R phenotype has been detected in embryonic and seedling tissues. Furthermore, gynogenetic and androgenetic haploid plants are viable in maize and are similar in appearance. The detection of parental effects in the endosperm, but not the embryo, points to the few cell divisions of the gametophytes as a critical stage in imprinting. Chromosomally based epigenetic variation originating at this stage would be reflected as imprinting effects. A separate fertilization establishes a line of genetic descent in the embryo that appears to be relatively free of imprinted genes.

Effects of Parentage and Competitor Phenology on the Growth of Larval Hyla Chrysoscelis

Larvae of four sibships (a 2 x 2 factorial cross) of Hyla chrysoscelis were raised in three competition regimens. These were competitors (larval Rana catesbeiana) absent, competitors introduced simultaneously with Hyla, and competitors introduced 11 d after Hyla. Hyla body mass at day 41 of growth was influenced by level of competition, timing of competitor introduction, and effects of male and female parent. Rana introduced simultaneously with Hyla reduced Hyla mass at day 41 more than did Rana introduced 11 d later. Female parentage affected body mass at day 41 additively. The effects of male parentage depended on the timing of competitor introduction: when Rana were introduced simultaneously with Hyla, offspring of male 2 were larger at day 41 than offspring of male 1. When Rana were introduced 11 d after Hyla, offspring of male 1 were larger at day 41 than offspring of male 2. This interaction between the effects of male parentage and timing of competitor introduction suggests that some genotypes may exhibit tradeoffs between maximum growth rate and competitive ability, and that phenological variation may lead to selection among genotypes in the natural population.

Effects of parentage on competitive ability and vulnerability to predation in Hyla chrysoscelis tadpoles.

Four sibships of Hyla chrysoscelis larvae were used to examine the effects of parentage on mass at day 23 of growth and on vulnerability to predation. The H. chrysoscelis larvae were raised alone, in competition with Rana clamitans larvae, and in competition with siblings. Vulnerability to predation by adult Notophthalmus viridescens dorsalis was evaluated for Hyla that had been raised in competition with siblings. Sibships differed in body mass and vulnerability to predation. Competition with Rana or with siblings resulted in a major reduction in body mass. There were no interactions between the effects of parentage and level of competition on body mass. Vulnerability to predation by newts appeared to be determined partially by body mass and partially by parental influences on factors other than body mass. If the differences observed between factors determining body mass and vulnerability to predation reflect negative genetic correlations among these determinants, tradeoffs between selection for increased competitive ability and reduced vulnerability to predators may partially account for the existence of genetic variation for growth rate in larval Hyla.

Evidence of genetic and environmental influences on meristic variation in the rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson

An investigation of the effect of parentage and temperature on the expression of selected meristic characters of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, reveals statistical differences in the number of vertebrae, dorsal fin rays and anal fin rays among test batches of progeny of different parentage. Batches of fertilized ova of the same stock or parentage, when incubated at 9.5 °C and 14.8 °C, produced lower mean dorsal and anal fin ray counts and a higher mean pectoral fin ray count at the higher temperature. Incubation temperature had no significant effect on the number of vertebrae.

Effect of Parentage on Egg Characteristics

Effect of Parentage on Egg Characteristics