Foster Mothers Research Articles

A Missense Mutation in the Loss-of-Function Intolerant Actr2 Gene Suppresses Thrombosis Via Multiple Mechanisms

Susceptibility to venous thromboembolism (VTE) is increased by inheritance of Factor V Leiden (F5L). However, only ~10% of people inheriting F5L develop VTE, illuminating the need to identify genes that modify VTE risk. We recently reported a dominant, p.R258G missense mutation in the Actr2 gene (Actr2+/G) as a major thrombosuppressor of perinatal lethal thrombosis in mice homozygous for F5L (F5L/L) and hemizygous for tissue factor pathway inhibitor (Tfpi+/-). The Actr2 gene encodes the Actin-Related Protein 2 (ARP2), an essential member of the Arp2/3 complex. Arp2/3 is ubiquitously expressed and is necessary for actin cytoskeletal regulation in all eukaryotic cells, including platelets.We recently attempted to generate independent Actr2Gand Actr2- (knockout)alleles in mice using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. The failure to produce any mice carrying the Actr2- allele suggested that even hemizygosity (Actr2+/-) is incompatible with embryonic survival. To further investigate this unexpected finding, ES cells (Clone: EPD0727_2_H12) containing the targeted Actr2tm1a(KOMP)Wtsi “Knockout First” allele were obtained. Transfer of 79 injected blastocysts into foster mothers yielded five males with 20-90% chimerism. Successful germline transmission occurred from only the 20% chimera. Actr2 locus targeting was confirmed by 5‘ and 3‘ long range PCR from tail DNA in the four non-transmitting chimeras. However, long range PCR analysis of the 20% chimera and its progeny revealed only mistargeting outside of the Actr2 locus. This demonstrates that the KOMP ES cells were heterogeneous for correct/incorrect Actr2 targeting and confirms that a 50% reduction of Actr2 function is incompatible with survival.To characterize the Actr2G mice, heterozygous Actr2+/G mice were backcrossed several generations to the wildtype C57BL6/J background and Actr2+/G x Actr2+/G crosses were performed. Analysis of 303 progeny revealed significant departures from expected Mendelian frequencies as only 36 Actr2G/G mice were obtained (p=0.005). Also, all surviving Actr2G/G mice developed progressive kyphosis and had significantly reduced (~six month) lifespan (N=303; p <0.0001). In contrast, Actr2+/G mice were born at the expected frequency and were morphologically indistinguishable from wildtype, demonstrating that the Actr2G allele retains sufficient functionality for normal survival of Actr2+/G mice.To investigate the ability of Actr2G to alter coagulation factor expression, we performed RT-qPCR on whole liver samples derived from Actr2+/G and Actr2+/+ mice (N=6). While we found no significant alteration in F5, Tfpi or Actr2 expression, we observed significant downregulation in F10 and dramatic upregulation in the expression of Actb and the thrombin inhibitor Serpine2 relative to wildtype. Liver ARP2 protein levels were unaffected. Interestingly, when investigating whether these effects were the result of loss of ARP2 function, we found that treatment of Neuro-2a cells with the Arp2/3 complex inhibitor CK-666 resulted in significant downregulation in Serpine2 and Actb expression without affecting Actr2 expression or ARP2 protein levels. Analysis of platelet ARP2 levels revealed a significant 50% reduction in comparison to wildtype. Functional analysis of Actr2+/+ (n=7) and Actr2+/G (n=10) platelets revealed a decrease in the ability of the mutant platelets to aggregate upon collagen stimulation in whole blood (p=0.0431) with no significant alteration in platelet number between genotypes. Further, we found that Actr2+/G whole blood had a significantly decreased ability to form a thrombus on collagen at flow rates of 1500s-1 with occlusion speeds of 22.5 ± 2.7 and 7.7 ± 3.0 kPA/min for Actr2+/+ and Actr2+/G mice respectively (Actr2+/+= Actr2+/G=3; p=0.0215).In summary, our attempts to generate Actr2- mice illustrate the importance of meticulously screening for correct/incorrect vector incorporation in gene targeting experiments. This is especially relevant for loss-of-function intolerant genes such as Actr2, because targeting these genes results in negative selection. Our analyses of coagulation factor expression and platelet function suggest that Actr2G operates as a hypomorphic and/or gain-of-function mutation to suppress thrombosis via multiple mechanisms. These findings illustrate the particular importance of Actr2G in maintaining hemostatic balance. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Perspectives of unaccompanied refugee children, their foster carers and guardians on placement success: Which factors predict multi-informant discrepancies?

This study examined multi-informant discrepancies (between child, carer, and guardian perspectives) regarding placement success of 39 foster placements, as well as possible factors associated with these discrepancies. We also examined whether these discrepancies in placement success at baseline measurement (T0) are related to placement breakdown at second measurement (T1). The results showed that when placements are rated with a high average placement success score (looking at child-carer and child-guardian dyads), the child and carer, as well as the child and guardian generally agree on the success of the foster placement, showing low discrepancy. In contrast, placements with a low average score on placement success show large discrepancies between the perspectives, which may also lead to breakdown. Results of the multilevel analyses showed that discrepancies regarding placement success were mainly associated with differences in perspectives regarding fostering factors (i.e., quality of the caregiving environment, child-carer and child-guardian relationship) and child factors (i.e., conduct problems, emotional problems). The results indicate that children and their carers or guardians disagree more on the success of the placement if they disagree on the quality of the caregiving environment, the child's conduct and emotional problems, and the quality of the child-carer and child-guardian relationship. The outcomes of our study might be especially helpful for guardians in shaping their guidance practices.

Long‐Term Effects of Institutional Care and Enhanced Attachment Relationships on Close Adolescent Friendships

This study examined whether early institutional rearing and attachment security influence the quality and quantity of friendships at age 16 in 138 participants, including children abandoned to institutions in Bucharest, Romania, who were randomized to care as usual (n=45, 26 female), or foster care (n=47, 25 female), and a never-institutionalized group (n=46, 18 female). Adolescents in the foster care group with secure attachment to their foster mothers at 42months were comparable to never-institutionalized adolescents in having more friends and more positive behaviors with their friend during dyadic interactions, compared to the foster care group with insecure attachment and care as usual group. Interventions targeting early child-caregiver attachment relationships may help foster the ability to build positive friendships in adolescence.

EFEKTIVITAS PROGRAM USAHA PENINGKATAN PENDAPATAN KELUARGA SEJAHTERA (UPPKS) UNTUK PEMBERDAYAAN MASYARAKAT MISKIN

BKKBN as an organizer of family empowerment of the government to create a program Families Economic Empowerment by forming a group container (UPPKS), which is in its implementation in the city of Padang Panjang still encountered a number of problems. The purpose of this research is to determine the level of program effectiveness (UPPKS) in empowering the poor in Padang Panjang city, here are also seen what obstacles are encountered during program implementation and what efforts can be made to overcome these obstacles. The method used in this research is mixed methods were used to measure the effectiveness of the UPPKS program using the model of evaluation CIPO by Stufflebeam, then to get deeper conclusions regarding the results of the study used qualitative methods through observation and interviews. The research findings indicate that the effectiveness program (UPPKS) for empowerment of the poor in Padang Panjang been effective with 70.55% good category. Although the implementation of the program UPPKS in accordance with existing procedures but has not been fully able to improve the welfare of its members. This can be seen with still found some constraints in implementation, obstacles encountered can be categorized into two forms of internal constraints and external constraints. Internal constraints such as: weak supervision of the program, the lack of capital coming from the government, coaching is not evenly distributed. External constraints such as: the use of aid funds is not maximized, the lack of creativity and innovation groups in finding and utilizing financial resources, delays in repayment of the loan. Efforts are made to overcome these obstacles is to involve family welfare III acted as a foster father in group, guidance, and constraints derived from program participants made efforts such as mentoring, conducting proactive system for members jammed in payments.

854 Sexsomnia in a Divorce Proceeding and its Custody Implications

Abstract Introduction Sexsomnia is a NREM parasomnia under the subtype of Confusional Arousals, defined as abnormal sexual behaviors emerging from partial arousals during slow-wave sleep. Case reports suggest that is more common in men. Precipitating factors include Obstructive Sleep Apnea, insufficient sleep, alcohol and fatigue/stress and history of NREM parasomnias. Report of case(s) A 37-year-old male with bruxism (using mouth guard) and anxiety for 7 years, who presented to the sleep clinic for a second opinion to discuss concerns around the safety of his children due to his sleep related sexual behavior. Sexsomnia was first noted with the stressors related to becoming a parent (fostering children and having biological children). Sexual behavior reported by the couple was mostly provoked with spouse’s touch during sleep. Behaviors ranging from fondling to aggressive sexual intercourse were reported to occur 1 to 3 times/week. There were no injuries during episodes which only occurred in the bedroom with the spouse and the patient was amnestic of his behavior. Due to marital discord provoked by other stressors, he began to sleep alone in the basement. A video-polysomnogram revealed no parasomnia, sleep apnea, or other sleep arousal disorders. Normal REM with atonia was observed. The patient was treated with Duloxetine 20mg for anxiety after the initial sleep visit. His condition contributed to marital separation. In the divorce proceedings, the spouse argued for denial of visitation rights related to his sleep-sexual behaviors noting that the children may be at risk. After separation, his anxiety and stress levels lowered in conjunction with therapy and medication. Follow up after 2 months found the patient asymptomatic. He placed an alarm on his bedroom door, to alert him and others during sleep. There are no published reports to provide a prediction as to whether his condition would-be supporting restrictions in overnight visitation by the foster and biological children. Conclusion In this case, there was a precedent condition (bruxism) and precipitating stress and anxiety, known to provoke NREM parasomnia. The absence of polysomnographic evidence is not unusual. Forensic repercussions, in particular prospective calculations of risk, are poorly described in the literature. Support (if any):

Mouse Modeling of Small for Gestational Age with Obese Metabolic Phenotypes in Adult Stage

Background Small for gestational age (SGA) in human is defined as the newborns with birth weight below the 10th percentile, whose prevalence continues to increase due to advanced maternal age. SGA children have a higher risk of developing metabolic disorders including obesity and diabetes later in adult life. Reliable SGA mouse models are needed to study their pathophysiology. Previous reports have suggested various SGA mouse models through dietary restriction of pregnant dams, but their low reproducibility is no small limitation. Therefore, we attempted to improve SGA mouse models with high reproducibility by modifying the dietary restriction. We aimed to model SGA with a smaller height and weight at birth followed by phenotypes of metabolic disorders including glucose tolerance and fatness in adult stages. Methods The 8-week-old C57BL6/J mice were given a normal Chow diet and protein-restricted diet (PRD, 6% protein by kcal) during pregnancy or pregnancy plus lactation. In the PRD group, frequent cannibalism and neglect occurred, so the foster mother system was introduced to minimize the mortality rate. Body weight and nasal-anal length were measured to define SGA. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test and body composition (fatness) were measured as metabolic variables. Results By PRD during pregnancy (~3 week), significantly smaller height (30.1±0.2 vs 22.4±0.4 mm, p<0.0001) and weight [1.42±0.02 vs 0.83±0.02 g, p<0.0001 (n=19~37)] and weight at birth were achieved. However, the survival rate in PRD group after postnatal day (PND) 1 was very low (38.1%) due to cannibalism and neglect from dams. We supposed that a golden time exists to rescue newborns to the foster mother to increase the survival, and the survival rate of PND 1 was increased up to 70% by rigorous care before 9am on e19.5 day (plus 1pm and 5pm if needed): fast delivery to the foster mother immediately after birth was most important for the survival. Most PRD group caught up with the height and weight of control group in the first week (PND 7), and there was no difference in body fat mass or glucose tolerance tests in 32 weeks of age. To induce metabolic phenotypes and failure of catch-up growth, PRD period was extended from pregnancy to even lactation period (~6 week). With this extended protocol, the differences in height were maintained until 12 weeks of age and there was a significant difference in body mass index (BMI) [male 0.30±0.01 vs 0.36±0.01 g/cm2, p<0.0001 (n=6~10); female 0.25±0.01 vs 0.31±0.01 g/cm2, p<0.0001 (n=7 for each)] in 12 weeks of age. Conclusion Sufficient duration of protein restriction (pregnancy ~ lactation) yields better phenotype of SGA with high adult BMI with improved survival rate of SGA pups by the rigorous care. Various metabolic parameters are regularly being measured further to confirm metabolic derangement, and if appropriate, this method can be effectively used in future studies.

Present as a partner and a parent: Mothers' and fathers' perspectives on father participation in prenatal care.

Supportive father involvement during pregnancy can positively impact maternal and child outcomes. Father participation in prenatal care is increasing, yet little research exists to understand how mothers and fathers experience father participation in prenatal care and their preferences for father participation. We interviewed expectant first-time mothers (N=22) and fathers (N=20) to learn about fathers' participation in prenatal care, perceptions of providers' treatment of fathers, and preferences for father participation. Interviews were coded using principles of grounded theory. Father participation ranged from attendance at visits considered "important" (e.g., ultrasounds) to attendance at every appointment. Experiences of father participation varied, with many describing it as both an important act of support for the mother and part of assuming the role of father. Most participants saw great value in father participation in prenatal care as an opportunity for fathers to learn how to support a healthy pregnancy, bond with their developing baby, and share joy and/or worries with mothers. Participants generally felt that fathers were made to feel welcome and wanted providers to be inclusive of fathers during appointments. Results of this study suggest that father participation presents an opportunity for prenatal care providers to foster fathers' positive involvement in pregnancy, support for mothers, and preparation to parent.

Implementasi Program Usaha Peningkatan Pendapatan Keluarga Sejahtera (UPPKS) Untuk Pemberdayaan Masayarakat Miskin di Kota Padang Panjang

This study aims to determine how the process of implementing a business program to increase the income of a prosperous family in the city of Padang Panjang, identify the obstacles encountered and determine the efforts taken to overcome the obstacles in implementing the program. This research is motivated by not all people from the poor who are included, efforts are not carried out collectively, the lack of participation from the III plus prosperous family group to want to act as a foster father, the amount of capital provided by the government is insufficient in carrying out UPPKS activities and frequent capital. in the wrong use for consumptive purposes. The method used in the research is qualitative using descriptive methods because the research provides a description of the situation as it should be. The selection of informants was carried out by purposive sampling. The types of data are primary data and secondary data which are collected through observation, interview and documentation study. The validity test was carried out through source triangulation. Then the data analysis techniques used can be grouped into 3 stages, namely data reduction, presentation and drawing conclusions. The findings of the study indicate that the implementation of the UPPKS program is in accordance with existing procedures but has not been fully able to improve the welfare of its members and has not been optimal. This can be seen from the fact that constraints are still found in implementation, the obstacles faced in implementing the UPPKS program in the City of Padang Panjang can be categorized into two forms, namely internal constraints and external constraints. Internal constraints include weak supervision of the program, lack of capital sourced from the government, uneven coaching. And external obstacles include the use of aid funds that have not been maximized, the lack of creativity and innovation of several groups in finding and utilizing sources of funds, delays in repaying loans. To overcome obstacles in the process of implementing the UPPKS program, efforts were made, including prosperous families III as foster fathers in groups, providing guidance, and obstacles originating from program participants, such as guidance regarding the real goals of the UPPKS program, implementing a ball pick-up system. against members who are stuck in payment.

Parents Role in Growing an Interest in Reading

This research are aiming to describe how the role of parents in fostering children’s reading interest in Anggrek Early Childhood Education Adiarsa Timur and children’s reading interest in Anggrek Early Childhood Education Adiarsa Timur. This research uses a qualitative approach with a case study method. This research was conducted in Anggrek Early Childhood Education Adiarsa Timur. The subject of the research is the source od information consisting of three parents of student, and the source of infomant consisting of one principal and one educator. Determination of research subjects using porposive sampling techniques. Research data obtained through observation, interviews, documentation studies, and triangulation. The research stages consist of orientation phase, exploration stage, and member check stage. Data analysis consists of data collection, data reduction, data display, and final conclusions. The result of research showed that parents have an important role as the first and foremost educator in fostering children’s interest in reading early on. The thing that parents can do at home is to give an example to children that reading is important, give special time to read together, and buy books that children love with reading materials that are appropriate to the age of the child. And the children’s interest in reading in Pre-school Anggrek Adiarsa Timur is very high, students in Anggrek Early Childhood Education Adiarsa Timur have a high sense of curiosity which makes them eager to learn to read. High interest needs support from several aspects such as learning resources, learning environment, dan learning facilities. Developed intererst will greatly influence behavior not only during the childhood period, but also afterwards, because it is very important for parents to foster children’s interest in reading early on.Keywords: The role of parents, Interest in reading, Early Childhood Education

Children’s Rights, Deinstitutionalisation and the Development of Foster Care Services across the World

In many countries, foster care is an established system for looking after children who cannot live with their birth families. It is accepted as a preferable form of provision when compared to institutional arrangements. Deinstitutionalisation is founded upon theories of child development, most particularly attachment theory, which suggest that children are more likely to flourish in family settings as opposed to institutions. The implementation of a foster care system accords with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the associated recommendations. But is it feasible to apply these rights and recommendations across the world? How transferable is the system of foster care? By making use of the literature, this paper draws attention to some of the challenges and complexities that accompany attempts at implementing this child care strategy in some of the world’s regions.

Father’s Bonding With an Infant Born Prematurely: A Qualitative Meta-synthesis

There is no current theory that explains the process of a fathers' bonding with their infants born prematurely. Through meta-synthesis of 19 qualitative studies, we developed a conceptual framework to illustrate how fathers perceive the relationship with their premature infant formed over the first 18 months of life. It details the contextual factors that contribute to that process. Findings reveal a complex process comprised of five stages, derived from five core themes and related subthemes. Fathers progress through five sequential stages to establish their role as fathers and form emotional connections with their child. Stages include: (a) feeling alien and lacking emotional connection to the infant, (b) caregiving engagement and claiming the role as a father, (c) claiming the infant as their own, (d) adjusting to having the infant home, and (5) normalizing family life. This conceptual framework can inform future research and clinical interventions designed to foster father-infant bonding.

Parental Structuring in Response to Toddler Negative Emotion Predicts Children's Later Use of Distraction as a Self-Regulation Strategy for Waiting.

Structuring is a parental response to young children's behavior that may foster children's attempts to use cognitive skills to engage in self-regulation. Using a rural, economically strained sample, parental structuring in response to 127 eighteen-month-olds' negative emotion was observed during a home visit. Children's distraction, a useful cognitive strategy when waiting for a reward, was assessed during a laboratory wait task at 18, 24, 36, and 48months. More frequent parental structuring at child age 18months predicted more developmental growth in children's use of distraction between 18 and 48months, in contrast with parental directives. Consistent with Kopp's (1989) framework, parental structuring may capitalize on children's cognitive development to play a unique role in fostering children's self-regulation of negative emotion.

Validation of a conceptual framework aimed to standardize and compare care integration initiatives: the project INTEGRATE framework

ABSTRACT The development of integrated care initiatives to overcome service delivery fragmentation has become a global concern. Yet, the lack of guidance in their design and delivery has led to a high risk of project failure. Several authors have proposed driving ideas and strategies to foster care integration but a comprehensive conceptual framework building on the evidence and different perspectives of scientific contributions is still needed. The objective of this article is to explain the process of development and validation of a comprehensive framework that could be used either to standardize descriptions of existing care integration initiatives or as a conceptual basis for reflecting on the effective design of new programs or projects. In an initial phase, we used a comprehensive list of 175 items resulting from a literature review in order to identify a 'core set' of relevant framework items. subsequent phases, we validated the newly developed framework. External experts supported the validation phases. The iteration process resulted in a framework of 40 items grouped into seven dimensions: Person-centered care, Clinical integration, Professional integration, Organizational integration, Systemic integration, Functional integration, and Normative integration. The validated framework proved to be understandable and relevant to identify analytical aspects fostering care integration. It could be adapted as a useful tool to inform the design and implementation of new integrated care interventions as well as to generate standardized description of initiatives to perform insightful comparisons.

‘The Enthroned Virgin and Child with Six Saints from Santo Stefano castle’, Apulia, Italy

A seven-panel work entitled The Monopoli Altarpiece is displayed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. It is considered to be a Cretan-Venetian creation from the early fifteenth century. This article discusses the accounts of what has been written on this topic, and endeavors to bring field-changing evidence about its stylistic and iconographic aspects, the date, the artists who created it, the place it originally came from, and the person who had the idea of mounting an altarpiece. To do so, a comparative study on Byzantine and early-Renaissance painting is carried out, along with more attention paid to the history of Santo Stefano castle. The aim is to shed more light on an artwork which stands as a witness from the twilight of the Middle Ages and the dawn of Renaissance; as a messenger from the Catholic and Orthodox pictorial traditions and collaboration; finally as a fosterer of the triple Byzantine, Gothic, Renaissance expression.

Maternal overnutrition before and during pregnancy induces DNA damage in male offspring: A rabbit model

Using a rabbit model, we investigated whether maternal intake of a high-fat and high-carbohydrate diet (HFCD) before and during pregnancy induces an increase in micronuclei frequency and oxidative stress in offspring during adulthood. Female rabbits received a standard diet (SD) or HFCD for two months before mating and during gestation. The offspring from both groups were nursed by foster mothers fed SD until postnatal day 35. After weaning, all the animals received SD until postnatal day 440. At postnatal day 370, the frequency of micronuclei in peripheral blood reticulocytes (MN-RETs) increased in the male offspring from HFCD-fed mothers compared with the male offspring from SD-fed mothers. Additionally, fasting serum glucose increased in the offspring from HFCD-fed mothers compared with the offspring from SD-fed mothers. At postnatal day 440, the offspring rabbits were challenged with HFCD or continued with SD for 30 days. There was an increase in MN-RET frequency in the male rabbits from HFCD-fed mothers, independent of the type of challenging diet consumed during adulthood. The challenge induced changes in serum cholesterol, LDL and HDL that were influenced by the maternal diet and offspring sex. We measured malondialdehyde in the liver of rabbits as an oxidative stress marker after diet challenge. Oxidative stress in the liver only increased in the female offspring from HFCD-fed mothers who were also challenged with this same diet. The data indicate that maternal overnutrition before and during pregnancy is able to promote different effects depending on the sex of the animals, with chromosomal instability in male offspring and oxidative stress and hypercholesterolemia in female offspring. Our data might be important in the understanding of chronic diseases that develop in adulthood due to in utero exposure to maternal diet.

Impact of prenatal and postnatal nutritional manipulation on bone quality in adult Wistar rats offspring

Background and aimsWe aimed to evaluate the impact of perinatal food manipulation on skeletal characteristics and insulin levels of Wistar rats at the age of 1 year.MethodsSixty-seven first-time pregnant rats were randomized, to either normally fed (Control Diet, CD), food-restricted (FR), or fat-fed (FF), from the 12th gestational day, and gave birth on the 21st day of pregnancy. Pups born to FR-mothers were divided into: fetal growth restricted (FGR) and non-FGR, based on their birth weight. Maternal food manipulation continued through the lactation period. Following delivery, all neonates were cross-fostered until the 25th day postpartum; the offspring of normally-fed mothers were lactated by FR-, FF- or CD-fed mothers. A similar process was followed for the offspring of mothers FF- or FR-during pregnancy. On the 26th day postpartum, all pups were weaned to the diet of their foster mother until one year old. Bone density was assessed by peripheral quantitative computed tomography.ResultsFF/FF rats had lower values of total bone density and total/subcortical area compared to CD/CD. FF/FR showed lower subcortical density compared to FF/FF group. FGR/CD showed lower values of all assessed skeletal parameters compared to those receiving CD throughout the experiment. Non-FGR/FF rats had higher values of all assessed skeletal parameters compared to those food restricted postnatally. FGR-pups that were fat-fed postnatally had higher insulin vs rats FF/FR. Similar insulin levels were identified in rats fat-fed postnatally, irrespective of prenatal food-restriction or high-fat diet.ConclusionsPerinatal food manipulation is associated with distinct skeletal acquisition and insulin levels’ profiles in Wistar rats at the first year of life. We aimed to evaluate the impact of perinatal food manipulation on skeletal characteristics and insulin levels of Wistar rats at the age of 1 year. Sixty-seven first-time pregnant rats were randomized, to either normally fed (Control Diet, CD), food-restricted (FR), or fat-fed (FF), from the 12th gestational day, and gave birth on the 21st day of pregnancy. Pups born to FR-mothers were divided into: fetal growth restricted (FGR) and non-FGR, based on their birth weight. Maternal food manipulation continued through the lactation period. Following delivery, all neonates were cross-fostered until the 25th day postpartum; the offspring of normally-fed mothers were lactated by FR-, FF- or CD-fed mothers. A similar process was followed for the offspring of mothers FF- or FR-during pregnancy. On the 26th day postpartum, all pups were weaned to the diet of their foster mother until one year old. Bone density was assessed by peripheral quantitative computed tomography. FF/FF rats had lower values of total bone density and total/subcortical area compared to CD/CD. FF/FR showed lower subcortical density compared to FF/FF group. FGR/CD showed lower values of all assessed skeletal parameters compared to those receiving CD throughout the experiment. Non-FGR/FF rats had higher values of all assessed skeletal parameters compared to those food restricted postnatally. FGR-pups that were fat-fed postnatally had higher insulin vs rats FF/FR. Similar insulin levels were identified in rats fat-fed postnatally, irrespective of prenatal food-restriction or high-fat diet. Perinatal food manipulation is associated with distinct skeletal acquisition and insulin levels’ profiles in Wistar rats at the first year of life.

Effect of Postnatal Nutritional Environment Due to Maternal Diabetes on Beta Cell Mass Programming and Glucose Intolerance Risk in Male and Female Offspring

Besides the fetal period, the suckling period is a critical time window in determining long-term metabolic health. We undertook the present study to elucidate the impact of a diabetic suckling environment alone or associated with an in utero diabetic environment on beta cell mass development and the risk of diabetes in the offspring in the long term. To that end, we have compared two experimental settings. In setting 1, we used Wistar (W) rat newborns resulting from W ovocytes (oW) transferred into diabetic GK rat mothers (pGK). These oW/pGK neonates were then suckled by diabetic GK foster mothers (oW/pGK/sGK model) and compared to oW/pW neonates suckled by normal W foster mothers (oW/pW/sW model). In setting 2, normal W rat newborns were suckled by diabetic GK rat foster mothers (nW/sGK model) or normal W foster mothers (nW/sW model). Our data revealed that the extent of metabolic disorders in term of glucose intolerance and beta cell mass are similar between rats which have been exposed to maternal diabetes both pre- and postnatally (oW/pGK/sGK model) and those which have been exposed only during postnatal life (nW/sW model). In other words, being nurtured by diabetic GK mothers from birth to weaning was sufficient to significantly alter the beta cell mass, glucose-induced insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis of offspring. No synergistic deleterious effects of pre-and postnatal exposure was observed in our setting.

Women and Evacuation in the Second World War: Femininity, Domesticity and Motherhood by Maggie Andrews

Reviewed by: Women and Evacuation in the Second World War: Femininity, Domesticity and Motherhood by Maggie Andrews Wendy Ugolini Andrews, Maggie –Women and Evacuation in the Second World War: Femininity, Domesticity and Motherhood. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2019. Pp. 222. In 2017, a new memorial dedicated to Second World War evacuees was opened at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire following a campaign by the Evacuees Reunion Association (ERA). Analyzing this commemorative tribute, Maggie Andrews notes the ERA's tendency to privilege "negative myths of evacuation and the view that evacuees were victims of war." This narrative of victimhood is evident within the memorial design by Maurice Blik, which portrays figures of several children with "deliberately distorted" bodies. From this, Andrews concludes that the most common representation of evacuee experience in Second World War Britain can become one "in which maternal care is absent" (p. 176). Andrews sets out with the ambitious task to interrogate this assumption by reinstating women to the heart of Britain's evacuation story and exploring "the multiple, contradictory and messy histories of evacuation for mothers and women" who have tended to "slip out of focus" (p. 161). Andrews identifies the following core groups for analysis: birth mothers whose children were evacuated without them, women who were evacuated with their children, foster mothers, and paid and voluntary carers of evacuees (p. 5). This is a refreshing approach, not just because it turns the lens from the traditional focus on children's experiences to their mothers' experience, but also because it employs a broad definition of motherhood to recover a vast array of female wartime experience. At the same time, Andrews acknowledges that this is a regionally specific study, grounded in oral testimonies from Staffordshire and the West Midlands, thus ultimately providing "very English stories of evacuation" (p. 5). Andrews underlines how women were positioned as "natural" carers of children during the Second World War: "It was unquestioned that women had a biological imperative to 'mother' whether in homes or schools and hostels." [End Page 175] Overall, she argues that by incorporating ideas of biological, foster and social mothering, the practices of motherhood and domesticity were "stretched" by the demands of evacuation in wartime British society (p. 2). Evacuation began two days before war broke out and continued in waves throughout the six years of the conflict, ranging from the early days of the government's Operation Pied Piper scheme through the 1942 Baedeker raids on places of cultural significance and the appearance of VI and V2 flying bombs in the summer of 1944. The book provides a useful and detailed overview of evacuation planning, process, and implementation. It evaluates evacuation as a form of "nationalizing" hundreds and thousands of women as "motherhood increasingly came under surveillance," unpacking the new wartime relationship "between the nation and domestic homes" (pp. 31–32). The book examines the delicate relationship between billeting officers and potential hosts in reception areas, noting how complaints and resistance toward the idea of evacuation illuminated class prejudices. Indeed, Andrews goes as far as to argue that "portrayals of evacuees and their mothers as dirty, polluting, diseased with unclean habits, fuelled a discourse of towneyism, which has much in common with the racism of the 1960s and 1970s" (p. 34). She also illuminates the collapse of boundaries between the public and domestic spaces, noting how representatives of the state were making decisions that were once the prerogative of mothers and housewives (pp. 42–43). A fascinating chapter reflects upon the women who made the "tortuous decision" to send their children away from home to places of safety, demitting day-to-day responsibility for their children's welfare (p. 51). A survey carried out on mothers in Liverpool in the early months of the war indicated that "54% of women with all their children away are definitely made unhappy" (p. 57). Andrews sensitively considers the emotional impact of these decisions, showing how some women "determinedly battled to retain intimacy with, and control of, their offspring" (p. 52). She notes how some mothers sought work close to where their children were evacuated while others moved to reception areas to live "incognito," staying separately from their children. Other mothers were...

Социально-перцептивные образы как регуляторы детско-родительских отношений в приемных семьях

Objective. Definition of communications of I-images of mothers with He-images of the own children, I-images of the foster mothers with He-images of foster children became the purpose of our research; establishment of communications of I-images of the foster mothers with the child parental relation and interaction. Background. The problem of social and perceptual reflection is current because the number of families with receptions and the sponsored children grows. Quite often adoptive parents aren’t ready to adequate interaction with nonnative children and return them in the system of guardianship, putting to children a severe psychological injury. One of the most important reasons of it is the discrepancy of ideal fixations on need of children for family and real perception of specific children by adoptive parents, rigidity of their attitudes — social installations. In this regard studying mechanisms and regularities of perception of the child in family since how the child is perceived in family, formation of his “Ya-concept”, formation of the personality, the relation with relatives, peers, teachers, with surrounding people directly depends is of particular importance. To minimize emergence of such psychoinjuring situations the in-depth study of mechanisms and regularities of social perception in the replacing families is necessary. Study design. Links between the structures of I-images of mothers and He-images of their native and adoptive children were investigated; links between socio-perceptual images and child-parental attitude (interaction) in foster families. Participants. Sample: 18 women from 29 to 59 years (M=48,05; SD=7,77) with only foster children and 20 women aged 37 to 48 years (M=39,85; SD=3,93) having only their biological children. Measurements. The technique “The structure of the image of a person (hierarchical),” developed by V.L. Sitnikov; two versions of the VRR questionnaire by I.M. Markovskaya, to study the interaction of parents with children and adolescents. Results. I- and He-images are indicators of child-parental relations in foster families. At the replacing mothers the controlling behavior in relation to the child is expressed. And high control can be shown in petty guardianship, persistence, to lead to restrictions and the bans. Conclusions. Reliable connections of socio-perceptual images of members of substitute families and child-parental relations were revealed, proving that these images are indicators of child-parental relations. The images children have similarity on structural characteristics both at foster, and at biological mothers. In representations of the foster mothers when forming an image of the foster child the orientation to the I-concept and ideas of what has to be the child is noted. The foster mothers identify themselves with foster children in the present and the future, more close relations with the foster child seek to establish. In comparison with foster, biological mothers are more open in communication with the children.

Debating and Extending “Covert Progression” and Dual Dynamics: Rejoinders to Scholars

Debating and Extending “Covert Progression” and Dual Dynamics: Rejoinders to Scholars