Study Of Developmental Changes Research Articles

Interpersonal emotion regulation in children: Age, gender, and cross-cultural differences using a serious game.

Interpersonal emotion regulation entails a wide array of strategies aimed at influencing others' emotions. Despite its importance for successful social interactions, only a few studies have evaluated interpersonal emotion regulation in children. In detail, the study of developmental changes in the use of emotion regulation strategies overlooked age, gender and cultural differences across different emotions. To address this gap, the present study used the serious game Emodiscovery, a simulation game targeted at 8-10-year-olds, which measures the strategies selected by children to improve the emotions of anger, sadness, and fear displayed by 3D virtual characters. One-hundred British (M = 9.10 years; 39% girls) and 108 Spanish (M = 9.04, 44% girls) 8-10-year-olds played 3 different levels or scenarios of the game. In each level, the character displayed a negative emotion (i.e., sadness, anger, and fear, respectively) and children were first asked to indicate what emotion the character was feeling and afterward to interact three times with the character to improve his or her mood. In each interaction, 4 possible regulation strategies (2 adaptive and 2 maladaptive) were displayed for children to select. Results showed that in the scenario where the character was displaying sadness, 8-year-olds chose significantly less adaptive strategies than 10-years-olds. In the scenario where the character was angry, boys who accurately recognized the emotion of anger chose more adaptive strategies than those who did not recognize the emotion. For the scenario depicting fear, boys chose less adaptive strategies than girls. The obtained results highlight the importance of looking at specific emotions when researching interpersonal emotion regulation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

A stereological study of developmental changes in hepatocyte ultrastructure of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Histopathology can reveal toxicant-induced changes in the structure of a tissue or organ. A prerequisite for histopathological studies is a sound knowledge of the morphology of the anatomical structure in the normal or healthy state. Zebrafish larvae can provide a tool for studies focused on hepatotoxicity at early stages of development; therefore, the fine structure of the organ should be well characterised. To date, liver structure at 72 and 120hr post-fertilisation (hpf) has not been reported in detail and this study aimed to fill this scientific gap. A stereological approach allowed for quantitative description of the liver and revealed ultrastructural alterations occurring with time of development. These included a significant increase in the absolute volume of hepatocytes, mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) during the period of study. The surface area of rER, and of outer and inner mitochondrial membranes also increased. There was no change in the absolute volume of the nuclei. This study provides a quantitative spatial and temporal framework for future research aiming to detect early developmental changes in the liver.

The 'dance' of life: visualizing metamorphosis during pupation in the blow fly Calliphora vicina by X-ray video imaging and micro-computed tomography.

The dramatic metamorphosis from larva to adult of insect orders such as Diptera cannot usually be witnessed because it occurs within an opaque structure. For the cyclorrhaphous dipterans, such as blow flies, this structure is the puparium, formed from the larval cuticle. Here, we reveal metamorphosis within the puparium of a blow fly at higher temporal resolution than previously possible with two-dimensional time-lapse videos created using the X-ray within a micro-computed tomography scanner, imaging development at 1 min and 2 min intervals. Our studies confirm that the most profound morphological changes occur during just 0.5% of the intrapuparial period (approx. equivalent to 1.25 h at 24°C) and demonstrate the significant potential of this technique to complement other methods for the study of developmental changes, such as hormone control and gene expression. We hope this will stimulate a renewed interest among students and researchers in the study of morphology and its astonishing transformation engendered by metamorphosis.

Domain-Specific and Stage-Intrinsic Changes in Tcrb Conformation during Thymocyte Development.

Considerable cross-talk exists between mechanisms controlling genome architecture and gene expression. AgR loci are excellent models for these processes because they are regulated at both conformational and transcriptional levels to facilitate their assembly by V(D)J recombination. Upon commitment to the double-negative stage of T cell development, Tcrb adopts a compact conformation that promotes long-range recombination between Vβ gene segments (Trbvs) and their DβJβ targets. Formation of a functional VβDβJβ join signals for robust proliferation of double-negative thymocytes and their differentiation into double-positive (DP) cells, where Trbv recombination is squelched (allelic exclusion). DP differentiation also is accompanied by decontraction of Tcrb, which has been thought to separate the entire Trbv cluster from DβJβ segments (spatial segregation-based model for allelic exclusion). However, DP cells also repress transcription of unrearranged Trbvs, which may contribute to allelic exclusion. We performed a more detailed study of developmental changes in Tcrb topology and found that only the most distal portion of the Trbv cluster separates from DβJβ segments in DP thymocytes, leaving most Trbvs spatially available for rearrangement. Preferential dissociation of distal Trbvs is independent of robust proliferation or changes in transcription, chromatin, or architectural factors, which are coordinately regulated across the entire Trbv cluster. Segregation of distal Trbvs also occurs on alleles harboring a functional VβDβJβ join, suggesting that this process is independent of rearrangement status and is DP intrinsic. Our finding that most Trbvs remain associated with DβJβ targets in DP cells revises allelic exclusion models from their current conformation-dominant to a transcription-dominant formulation.

Quantitative tract-based white matter heritability in twin neonates

Studies in adults indicate that white matter microstructure, assessed with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), has high heritability. Little is known about genetic and environmental influences on DTI parameters, measured along fiber tracts particularly, in early childhood. In the present study, we report comprehensive heritability data of white matter microstructure fractional anisotropy (FA), radial diffusion (RD), and axial diffusion (AD) along 47 fiber tracts using the quantitative tractography in a large sample of neonatal twins (n=356). We found significant genetic influences in almost all tracts with similar heritabilities for FA, RD, and AD as well as positive relationships between these parameters and heritability. In a single tract analysis, genetic influences along the length of the tract were highly variable. These findings suggest that at birth, there is marked heterogeneity of genetic influences of white matter microstructure within white matter tracts. This study provides a basis for future studies of developmental changes in genetic and environmental influences during early childhood, a period of rapid development that likely plays a major role in individual differences in white matter structure and function.

An anatomical study of developmental changes in maturing root tissues of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) and formation of a unique type of periderm

Roots of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), belonging to Punicaceae, were investigated anatomically to record changes in tissue development from growth to maturity. When roots start secondary growth, a protective tissue called polyderm composed of alternating suberized and non-suberized cell layers, develop beyond the endodermis in certain families of plants including Myrtaceae. Punicaceae family is not known to develop a polyderm. However, new layers formed beyond the endodermis during secondary growth and biopolymer deposition was observed in their cell walls. The present study aims to gather more knowledge on this tissue discovered in pomegranate roots and cross check whether it is a polyderm or a unique type of periderm. Root specimens were sectioned freehand or with an ultramicrotome after embedding in Technovit 7100 resin. After staining with berberine hemisulfate-aniline blue-safranin O, the root sections were observed under fluorescent or optical microscopes. Unlike the polyderm in Myrtaceae roots, in pomegranate roots, ligno-suberic material accumulated in every cell layer beyond the endodermis. The alternating suberized and non-suberized layers that define the polyderm were absent. Lignin accumulation in the cell wall was pronounced in every cell layer of this outermost tissue and suberin-like autofluorescence was also observed in the same layer. We considered this to be a unique feature typical in pomegranate periderm. It is possible that accumulating both lignin and suberin in the same cell layer instead of alternative layers is more efficient because metabolic energy is not spent in forming a separate cell layer. Further experiments are underway to acknowledge changes in such biopolymer accumulation in the outermost tissue in abiotic stress conditions.

Using EEG to Study Cognitive Development: Issues and Practices

Developmental research is enhanced by use of multiple methodologies for examining psychological processes. The electroencephalogram (EEG) is an efficient and relatively inexpensive method for the study of developmental changes in brain–behavior relations. In this review, we highlight some of the challenges for using EEG in cognitive development research. We also list best practices for incorporating this methodology into the study of early cognitive processes. Consideration of these issues is critical for making an informed decision regarding implementation of EEG methodology.

Interrelations between self‐efficacy and learning approaches: a developmental approach

Two major theoretical frameworks in educational psychology, namely student approaches to learning (SAL) and self‐efficacy have been used extensively to explain and predict students’ learning and academic achievement. There is a substantial body of research studies, for example, that documents the positive interrelations between individuals’ self‐efficacy beliefs and their approaches to learning. In particular, evidence ascertained from structural equation analyses suggests both a positive sense of academic self‐efficacy and deep learning approach combined to influence students’ academic achievement. More recently, albeit limited, research has focused on the study of developmental changes of these two constructs over time. As a contribution to this approach, we used latent growth curve modelling (LGM) to explore the initial states and trajectories of self‐efficacy and the two major learning approaches – surface and deep – over a two‐year period. Furthermore, we regressed both gender and academic experience as possible external correlates that could account for the change in the two theoretical frameworks. Two hundred and fifty‐two (116 females, 136 males) university students were administered Likert‐scale inventories on three occasions. SPSS AMOS showed a few major findings – notably, for example, the negative impact of academic experience on the change in self‐efficacy and the positive impact of academic experience on the initial states of self‐efficacy and surface learning approach.

Functional building blocks: Resting state functional connectivity-based partitioning of lateral prefrontal cortex

Event Abstract Back to Event Functional building blocks: Resting state functional connectivity-based partitioning of lateral prefrontal cortex F X Castellanos1, 2, C. Kelly1*, M P Milham1, M. Petrides2 and Z. Shehzad3 1 NYU Child Study Center , Phyllis Green and Randolph Cowen Institute for Pediatric Neuroscience, United States 2 Nathan S Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, United States 3 Yale University, Department of Psychology, United States One of the innovative applications of resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) is the detection of boundaries among functionally distinct brain regions using data-driven partitioning (clustering) analyses. We used spectral clustering to partition lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) in 54 healthy adults (mean age 29.2yrs). We computed the similarity between the whole-brain RSFC maps associated with each voxel within two ROIs comprising left and right lateral PFC using the eta2 statistic, and applied a spectral clustering algorithm to the resultant eta2 matrix. To determine the optimal number of clusters (K), we used a permuted-groups split-half comparison procedure and assessed the consistency of cluster assignment across groups. For left lateral PFC, these metrics suggested that K=5 and K=10 were consistently similar across the permuted groups. These solutions appear to be consistent with known architectonic and functional boundaries within lateral PFC (see Figure). For example, the K = 10 solution for left PFC appeared to differentiate among Brodmann’s areas 10, 9, and 46, although further work is needed to clarify these clusters. Such analyses offer exciting possibilities for the study of developmental changes in functional topography, as well as the impact of psychiatric disorders on the brain’s functional organization. Conference: The 20th Annual Rotman Research Institute Conference, The frontal lobes, Toronto, Canada, 22 Mar - 26 Mar, 2010. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Abstracts Citation: Castellanos F, Kelly C, Milham M, Petrides M and Shehzad Z (2010). Functional building blocks: Resting state functional connectivity-based partitioning of lateral prefrontal cortex. Conference Abstract: The 20th Annual Rotman Research Institute Conference, The frontal lobes. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2010.14.00081 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 29 Jun 2010; Published Online: 29 Jun 2010. * Correspondence: C. Kelly, NYU Child Study Center, Phyllis Green and Randolph Cowen Institute for Pediatric Neuroscience, New York, United States, amclarekelly@gmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers F X Castellanos C. Kelly M P Milham M. Petrides Z. Shehzad Google F X Castellanos C. Kelly M P Milham M. Petrides Z. Shehzad Google Scholar F X Castellanos C. Kelly M P Milham M. Petrides Z. Shehzad PubMed F X Castellanos C. Kelly M P Milham M. Petrides Z. Shehzad Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Developmental changes in the activities of enzymes of free multienzyme complexes involved in the Benson-Calvin cycle

The electrophoretically homogenous preparations of free multienzyme complexes involved in the Benson-Calvin cycle with mol wt of 520 ± 20 and 240 ± 10 kD were isolated from 15–25-day-old cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) leaves of the same story (the third and the fourth upper leaves). Enzyme preparations were obtained at three stages of plant development: at the stage of 6–8 true leaves, during flower-bud formation, and during flowering. Comparison studies of developmental changes in activities of ribose phosphate isomerase (RPI), phosphoribulokinase (PRK), and Rubisco were carried out. RPI and PRK activities of multienzyme complexes differed insignificantly (by 2.3% on the average). Significant changes were observed in Rubisco activity (by 30% on the average). The optimum enzymatic activities of these complexes as well as the highest photosynthetic rate were revealed at the stage of reproductive organ formation. This correlation indicates the major role of multienzyme complexes involved in the Benson-Calvin cycle in the developmental control of photosynthesis and epigenesis.

Windows Into the Mind

Windows Into the Mind

Changing phenotypes of hematopoietic stem cells.

Identification of the surface phenotypes of hematopoietic stem cells is an important subject in both clinical stem cell transplantation and basic research in hematopoiesis. Transplantation of pure populations of stem cells should eliminate the occurrence of graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) in allogeneic transplantation and may reduce the recurrence rate of malignancies in autologous transplantation. Availability of highly enriched populations of stem cells should facilitate investigations in a number of areas such as in vitro expansion, cryogenic storage, and gene therapy using stem cells. An ultimate goal is to develop a method to quantitate the number of living stem cells based on their surface characteristics. During the last two decades, investigators identified a number of surface molecules, which, in combinations, were thought to provide exact definition of murine and human stem cells. Recent studies of murine stem cells, however, clearly demonstrated that expression of the surface antigens of stem cells is under the influence of developmental stages and the kinetic state of the stem cells. This review summarizes the concept of the changing phenotypes of hematopoietic stem cells.

The decade 1989-1998 in Spanish psychology: an analysis of research in development and educational psychology.

In this study, we identified 67 research trends that meet the criteria of this special issue. In the following pages, all the research trends will be reviewed, grouped into five categories: personal and social development, cognitive and linguistic development, developmental and educational contexts, cognition and instruction, and development and learning disabilities. A general overview of the area is obtained by dividing each category into subcategories, thus arranging the identified research trends in a four-level hierarchical structure. Taking into account this analysis, in our Conclusions section, we note the regularities with regard to the issues that have been studied the most, the predominant type of works, and, more important, the most noteworthy imbalances. We reached six conclusions: (1) Research on educational changes predominates over the study of developmental changes; (2) the study of formal education is predominant over informal education; (3) cognitive-linguistic aspects predominate over personal and social aspects; (4) application of knowledge predominates over the generation of new knowledge; (5) new educational-practice proposals predominate over the study of these educational practices; and (6) the study of change is not related to the proposals that promote change.

Study of developmental changes on hexoses metabolism in rat cerebral cortex.

We have studied the developmental changes of glucose, mannose, fructose and galactose metabolism in rat cerebral cortex. As the animals aged, glucose, mannose and fructose oxidation to CO2 increased, whereas galactose oxidation decreased. Lipid synthesis from glucose and fructose also increased with age, that from mannose decreased and galactose did not change. Cytochalasin B, a potent non-competitive inhibitor of sodium-independent glucose transport, significantly impaired glucose, mannose and galactose metabolism, but had no effect on fructose metabolism. Both galactose or fructose did not change, whereas mannose declined the glucose metabolism. Glucose decreased fructose, galactose and mannose metabolism. Our results show that besides glucose, the metabolism of mannose, galactose and fructose present developmental changes from fetal to adult age, and reinforce the literature data indicating that mannose and galactose are transported by glucose carriers, while fructose is not.

3′ IgH Enhancer Elements Shift Synergistic Interactions During B Cell Development

IgH gene expression is tightly controlled over the course of B cell development, B cell activation, and the subsequent differentiation of these cells into Ig-secreting plasmacytes. There are several transcriptional enhancers that map within and downstream of the IgH locus, and some of these have been clearly implicated in the developmental regulation of IgH gene assembly and expression. While some of the individual enhancers from this locus have been studied extensively, the functional interactions possible among this group of enhancers have been largely unexplored. In the present study, we have measured the transcriptional activities of combinations of enhancers introduced into B-lineage cell lines at several different developmental stages. We detected a developmental progression in which the 3' enhancers are initially inactive, then become strongly active through synergistic interactions, and finally achieve a strong level of activity with little interdependency. The relative contributions of E mu (the intron enhancer) and of the 3' enhancers also change as a function of developmental stage. We discuss these results in light of parallel studies of developmental changes in transcription factor requirements.

Ret proto-oncogene product is a useful marker of lineage determination in the development of the enteric nervous system in rats

Detailed study of developmental changes in the enteric nervous system is necessary to disclose the pathogenesis of Hirschsprung's and allied disease, some of which have hypoplastic ganglia. Therefore experiments were undertaken to study the fate of neural crest cells that develop in the rat gut during ontogeny. A polyclonal antibody against ret proto-oncogene product (c-Ret protein) and various monoclonal antibodies against neural markers (tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine beta hydroxylase, microtubule-associated protein 5, microtubule-associated protein 2 and 160-kd neurofilaments) were used to identify neural creast-derived cells in rat embryos (10.5 to 15.5 days' gestation) and adult rats using a double immunostaining method. C-Ret protein was an early marker of lineage determination in the development of the enteric nervous system (11.5-day embryo: E 11.5). C-Ret-positive cells transiently coexpressed tyrosine hydroxylase, which also was observed in the vagal crestderived precursors of enteric neurons (days E 11.5 to E 13.5). These cells also coexpressed other neural markers in the proximal gut. Expression of neural markers migrated to the distal intestine during development. This study found a discrepancy between the time when these markers appeared in the cranial and when they appeared in the caudal intestine. Tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells did not appear in the postumbilical gut. The formation of the primitive neural network in the entire myenteric plexus at day E 15.5 was demonstrated by c-Ret protein. Other neural markers were lost or had decreased immunoreactivity throughout the entire intestine of the E 15.5 and adult animals. In conclusion, (1) c-Ret protein is one of the earliest markers of lineage determination in the development of the enteric nervous system, (2) each neural marker is expressed at its own time and differs in spatial developmental lineage, (3) c-Ret protein and other neural markers are transiently expressed by a particular group of neural cells during the embryonic period, (4) there is a subpopulation of cells that has never transiently expressed tyrosine hydroxylase in the postumbilical gut, which may have originated from tissue other than the vagal crest, and (5) the primitive neural network in the myenteric plexus was completed at day E 15.5.

Developmental changes in neutral glycosphingolipids of mouse placenta.

The mammalian placenta is a unique organ for the study of developmental changes. Placentas of laboratory animals such as the mouse allow for the determination of the exact stage of pregnancy, which cannot be achieved with human placenta. In this study, neutral glycosphingolipids were isolated from mouse (inbred strain C57BL/6) placentas, from day 10 to day 18 of gestation, and were separated by high performance thin layer chromatography. Densitometric measurements after orcinol staining showed, at day 10 of gestation, the presence of mono-, tetra-, tri- and dihexosylceramide in decreasing quantities, as well as four unidentified spots. On day 12, the glycosphingolipid composition changed with the disappearance of the unidentified spots and the appearance of an orcinol positive migrating similarly to the Forssman antigen; no further changes occurred between days 12 and 18 of gestation. The identity of the Forssman-like glycosphingolipid with the Forssman antigen was established by binding of 125I labelled Helix pomatia agglutinin (alpha-GalNAc specific) to glycosphingolipids separated on high performance thin layer chromatography plates, and by the reaction of the isolated glycosphingolipid with a monoclonal anti-Forssman antibody. The appearance of the Forssman antigen at day 12 of gestation coincided with the day of final maturation of the mouse placenta and subsequent cessation of growth, suggesting a possible role of the glycosphingolipid during embryonic development.

An electrophysiological study of developmental changes in the innervation of the guinea-pig taenia coli.

A sucrose-gap technique was used to study the development of neuromuscular transmission in the taenia coli of fetal, 1- to 2-day-old, 3- to 4-week-old and 3-month-old guinea-pigs. In addition, the effects of exogenous, alpha,beta-methylene adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), noradrenaline, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and carbachol were examined. Taking the response to a single pulse of electrical field stimulation as the index of a developed neuromuscular junction, it was apparent that the non-adrenergic inhibitory system arose before, and matured more quickly than, the cholinergic system. The inhibitory system was present by 8 weeks of gestation in some fetuses, but, in contrast, excitatory cholinergic transmission was not seen until birth. As evidenced by responses to carbachol, alpha,beta-methylene ATP and VIP, cholinergic, purinergic and VIP receptors were present on the smooth muscle at the earliest ages studied. No changes in sensitivity to these agents were noted throughout development, although in adults the level of the maximum responses increased.

Dil tracing in combination with immunocytochemistry for analysis of connectivities and chemoarchitectonics of specific neural systems in a teleost, the atlantic salmon

An important goal in neuroanatomical research is to identify the neurotransmitters in specific neural pathways. One step towards this goal is to combine experimental neuronal tracing with immunocytochemistry. Unfortunately, optimal procedures for nerve tracing and immunocytochemistry are not always compatible. Carbocyanine compounds have recently been shown to be efficient tracers both in vivo and in paraformaldehyde-prefixed neural tissue. The possibility to apply them to prefixed tissue make them suitable for tracing of neural pathways that are not easily accessible in vivo. We have optimized the procedures for neural tracing with one carbocyanine compound, Dill (1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate), in the CNS of a teleost fish, and evaluated its compatibility with different immunocytochemical protocols. We have compared several immunocytochemical protocols, taking into account cryostat and vibratome sectioning, glutaraldehyde post-fixation to stabilize Dil, antibodies with different capacity for tissue penetration and the use of detergents, and antibodies with different sensitivity to prolonged paraformaldehyde fixation. We have also evaluated the choice of marker for immunoreactivity and compared indirect immunofluorescencc techniques using different fluorophores, and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) technique with or without nickel enhancement of the diaminobenzidine reaction product. It appears that Dil tracing of neural connections in the teleost CNS yields very consistent results and that the combination with immunocytochemistry is very reliable. We present four different basic protocols for combined Dil tracing and immunocytochemistry, with notes on their specific applicability. Owing to their reliability, the protocols may prove useful in comparative neuroanatomical studies of other vertebrates, particularly fish and amphibians, as well as in studies of developmental changes and neural plasticity in fish and amphibians.

Methylation changes in the apolipoprotein AI gene during embryonic development of the mouse.

We report here a detailed study of developmental changes in the methylation status of specific sites in a single-copy tissue-specific gene, from the germ cell through the early embryo to adult tissues. Two sites at the 5' end of the mouse apolipoprotein AI gene were unmethylated in the ovulated unfertilized oocytes and methylated in the sperm. In contrast, a third site, located upstream of the gene, was methylated and a CpG island within the gene was unmethylated in both oocyte and sperm. The methylated sites, regardless of maternal or paternal origin, underwent demethylation in the early embryo (8-16 cells) and stayed unmethylated through the late blastocyst stage. During gastrulation, non-CpG island sites underwent methylation, followed by gradual demethylation at specific sites in tissues parallel to expression of the gene (liver and intestine). The formation of the mature tissue-specific methylation pattern of the apolipoprotein AI gene, therefore, involves the following three major events: (i) erasure of the germ-cell methylation pattern (at the 8- to 16-cell stage), (ii) formation of a new methylation pattern by de novo methylation of non-CpG island sites (during gastrulation), and (iii) tissue-specific demethylation associated with the onset of expression of the gene.