Background: Maternal postnatal depression (MPND) has been associated with child emotional, behavioural and cognitive problems, placing them at greater risk for later psychopathology. Therefore research into mechanisms of risk transmission is important. This longitudinal study considers the emotional quality of the mother-child relationship, using a measure of Expressed Emotion (EE), as a potential mechanism explaining the link between MPND and child emotional and behavioural problems in the postnatal period. It was predicted mothers with higher depressive symptoms at 3-months would show more negative EE and their child would have more internalising and externalising problems at 2-years, with maternal EE acting as a mediator. Methods: Data from the longitudinal Oxford Father’s Project for 130 (of 192 originally recruited) mother-child dyads was used. Mother’s depressive symptoms were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at 3-months. Maternal EE, specifically critical and positive comments, was coded from the Preschool Five Minute Speech Sample measured at 2-years. Maternal, paternal and independently rated child outcomes were measured at 2-years using the Child Behaviour Checklist for ages 1.5-5. Results: Mothers, fathers and “others” rated child problems similarly. EE-positive comments showed stability from 1-2 years. Mothers with more depressive symptoms at 3-months showed more EE-criticism at 2-years especially towards boys and rated their children higher in internalising and externalising problems. Maternal EE-criticism predicted child internalising and externalising problems at 2-years. EE was not a significant mediator between maternal depressive symptoms and child problems. Conclusions: Children of mothers with more depressive symptoms 3-months post-birth experience more maternal EE-criticism and show more internalising and externalising problems aged 2-years. Given the long-term consequences of early childhood problems, postnatal depression should be screened and treated early to reduce EE-criticism and negative child outcomes. Research should consider why mothers experiencing postnatal depression may be more critical of male children and how this may impact on development.

Siu Shu Shun. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 100-106). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Contents --- p.ii / Abstract / 摘要 --- p.iv / Abbreviations --- p.vi / List of figures --- p.vii / List of tables --- p.x / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- "Human EST sequencing project, the role and goal" --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Human liver cDNA sequencing --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- The role of membrane-associated proteins in hepatocellular functions --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Outline of the liver function --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Basic structure of hepatocyte --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Category of membrane associated proteins --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4 --- Identification of human OAT2 gene --- p.7 / Chapter 1.5 --- The multispecific transporter family --- p.8 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Classification --- p.8 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- The human OAT family --- p.9 / Chapter 1.6 --- The characteristics of rat multispecific OAT2 --- p.11 / Chapter 1.7 --- Clinical significance of organic anion transport proteins --- p.14 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Materials and Methods / Chapter 2.1 --- Human liver EST sequencing project --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Plating out the adult human liver phage library --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- PCR detection and amplification of the cDNA clone --- p.17 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Automatic cDNA sequencing --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2 --- Cloning of hOAT2 gene into TA cloning vector pT-Adv --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Amplification of hOAT2 by PCR --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Ligation reaction --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Transformation of recombinant plasmid into competent cells --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3 --- Sequence analysis and structural prediction --- p.20 / Chapter 2.4 --- Cloning of the hOAT2 gene into the pQE30 expression vector --- p.21 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- PCR amplification and restriction endonuclease cutting --- p.21 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Gene clean --- p.22 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Preparation of bacterial competent cells --- p.23 / Chapter 2.5 --- Small scale synthesis of plasmid DNA --- p.24 / Chapter 2.6 --- Large scale synthesis of plasmid DNA --- p.25 / Chapter 2.7 --- Cloning of the hOAT2 gene into the pSecTag2B mammalian expression vector --- p.26 / Chapter 2.8 --- Cloning of the hOAT2 gene into the pEGFP-C2 fluorescent vector --- p.27 / Chapter 2.8.1 --- Tissue culture and transfection --- p.27 / Chapter 2.8.2 --- Fluorescence microscopy examination --- p.28 / Chapter 2.9 --- Chromosomal mapping of the hOAT2 gene --- p.29 / Chapter 2.9.1 --- Somatic cell hybrids mapping --- p.29 / Chapter 2.9.2 --- Radiation hybrids mapping --- p.29 / Chapter 2.10 --- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) --- p.30 / Chapter 2.11 --- Western hybridization --- p.32 / Chapter 2.11.1 --- Preparation of anti-hOAT2 antibodies --- p.32 / Chapter 2.11.1.1 --- Synthetic peptide conjugation --- p.32 / Chapter 2.11.1.2 --- Immunizing rabbit polyclonal antibodies for human OAT2 --- p.32 / Chapter 2.11.1.3 --- Purification of the rabbit polyclonal IgG antibodies --- p.33 / Chapter 2.11.2 --- Western blot analysis --- p.33 / Chapter 2.11.2.1 --- Protein isolation from rat liver --- p.33 / Chapter 2.11.2.2 --- Prote in preparation from cell lysate --- p.34 / Chapter 2.11.2.3 --- Quantitation of total proteins by Bradford protein assay --- p.35 / Chapter 2.11.2.4 --- Blotting and hybridization --- p.35 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Results / Chapter 3.1 --- Catalogue of the 500 liver ESTs --- p.37 / Chapter 3.2 --- Nomenclature of human NLT gene --- p.47 / Chapter 3.3 --- Cloning and characterization of the hOAT2 sequence --- p.48 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Isolation of hOAT2 cDNA from human liver cDNA library --- p.48 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- The primary and secondary structural analysis of hOAT2 --- p.53 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Motif search and prediction --- p.61 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Homology alignment --- p.64 / Chapter 3.4 --- Chromosomal mapping of hOAT2 gene --- p.67 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Somatic cell hybrid mapping of hOA T2 gene --- p.67 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Radiation hybrid mapping of hOA T2 gene --- p.69 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Identification of partial human genomic sequence --- p.73 / Chapter 3.5 --- Detection of the hOAT2 gene expression in human tissues by RT- PCR assay --- p.76 / Chapter 3.6 --- Detection of subcellular localization of hOAT2 protein by conjugating fluorescence protein --- p.81 / Chapter 3.7 --- Immunodetection of protein extracts from cultured cells --- p.83 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Discussion / Chapter 4.1 --- Characterization of the hepatocellular ESTs --- p.85 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Classification and frequency distribution of the 500 ESTs --- p.85 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- The expression pattern of membrane associated proteins --- p.87 / Chapter 4.2 --- Tissue distribution and expression profiles of hOAT2 --- p.88 / Chapter 4.3 --- HOAT2 in fetal development --- p.89 / Chapter 4.4 --- Predicting the topology of membrane proteins --- p.90 / Chapter 4.5 --- Chromosomal mapping of human OAT2 --- p.91 / Chapter 4.6 --- Possible functions of hOAT2 --- p.93 / Chapter 4.6.1 --- Hepato-renal relation --- p.93 / Chapter 4.6.2 --- Substrate diversity --- p.95 / Chapter 4.7 --- Fluorescence detection for subcellular localization --- p.96 / Chapter 4.8 --- Conclusion --- p.97 / Chapter 4.9 --- Further aspects --- p.99 / References --- p.100 / Appendix --- p.107

Although schizophrenia is a biologically-based disorder, environmental stress (including stress within familial relationships) plays a major role in the onset and maintenance of symptoms. This study examined family variables that have implications for psychotherapeutic treatment of schizophrenia. Previous research has found Communication Deviance (CD), Expressed Emotion (EE), and family cohesion (FC) to be related to symptom severity. However, the exact nature of the relationship between these constructs is unclear. The current study tested a model whereby the tone and content of family member’s communication (EE) and the sense of family unity (FC) are hypothesized to mediate the relationship between CD and psychiatric symptoms. This model stems from the theory that high CD is likely to be experienced as frustrating because it hinders relatives’ communication goals. Thus, relatives may resort to more critical and hostile methods of expressing their thoughts (High EE). Simultaneously, inability to share experiences in a clear manner may lead patients and family members to feel more disconnected (low FC). High EE and low FC in turn were hypothesized to lead to increased symptoms. This study did not find support for the above model. Communication Deviance was not related to severity of psychiatric symptoms, and Expressed Emotion and family cohesion were also unrelated to communication deviance and psychiatric symptoms in the larger model. Higher family cohesion was related to fewer psychiatric symptoms when looking at individual correlations, but this relationship disappeared once other variables were included in analyses. The largely null study findings may be due to limited variance in many of our primary study variables (e.g., CD, family cohesion). Other explanations are also entertained.

The progress of studies on genes concerning the development and differentiation of early swine embryos have been delayed by limited paucity material. In order to identify the porcine ESTs associates with promoting its breeding efficiency, a cDNA library and ESTs database from oocytes of high reproductive swine is established. Oocytes were obtained from Duroc pig by superovulation which was performed by Taiwan Livestock Research Institute, Council of Agriculture. Total RNA was isolated from 50 mature oocytes, reverse transcription is then performed, followed by PCR based amplification of the cDNA. The amplified cDNA size ranges from 0.4 to 5 kb. The derived cDNA were ligated to a pCR2.1 vector, and the library has complexities of about 5.26¡Ñ104 independent clones. A total of 320 clones was picked and sequenced. By BLASTx analysis, among the 123 sequences, more than 43.07%¡]53/123¡^ mitochondrial proteins are found, 56.91¢H¡]70/123¡^ of the sequence were homologous to known transcripts from human, mouse, Drosophila. In nucleotide level analysis, 82.11¢H¡]101/123¡^ matched with the mitochondrial, ribosome genes and 17.89¢H¡]22/123¡^matched with other homologous genes by BLASTn. PCR analysis of the oocyte library for specific genes revealed transcripts for genes including homologous genes¡]2 pairs highly abundance and 2 pairs low abundance genes¡^, housekeeping genes¡]ACT£] and G3PDH¡^ and developmental genes¡]NEK2 and ZP1¡^. However, novel genes of swine are supposed to be the candidates for high productive phenotypes of swine. The library is a valuable resource for the isolation of clones representing genes active at the early stage. The ability to construct cDNA expression library from a few cells will allow gene expression analysis from oocyte biopsies and derived by nuclear transfer procedures.

No description available.

INDETERMINATE DOMAIN (IDD) genes encode a large family of putative transcription factors characterized by four different zinc finger motifs in a conserved arrangement. In Arabidopsis thaliana there are 16 IDD genes designated AtIDD1-AtIDD16. Microarray database expression resources show that AtIDD1 transcripts are present at high levels in dry seed and in response to abscisic acid. Transcripts present in dry seed at high levels have previously been shown to play roles in later stages of seed development or as provisions necessary for the resumption of metabolic activity following seed dormancy. Here I show that lines with constitutive expression of AtIDD1 have decreased and increased sensitivity to the phytohormones abscisic acid and gibberellic acid, respectively, when applied exogenously. Additionally, plants overexpressing AtIDD1 have altered mucilage extrusion and seed coat morphology. Altered seed coat morphology was also observed In constitutive AtIDD1 knock down lines. Therefore, these phenotypes could indicate that AtIDD1 plays a regulatory role in seeds during seed development and/or germination.

Historically, “playing hard-to-get” or unclearly expressing interest in a potential romantic partner has been regarded as an effective means to elicit a potential partner’s interest and attraction. This study examined the effects of gender and expressed interest (clear or unclear) on returned interest in potential long-term romantic partners. Male (N = 54) and female (N = 63) undergraduate students were administered a vignette, in which the person expressed either clear or unclear romantic interest in the participant. Results indicated that men were not influence by expressed interest in either condition. In contrast, women responded with significantly greater returned interest in the clearly-expressed interest condition than in the unclearly-expressed interest. This effect may be due to the greater assumed supportiveness and lower relative social-status of the person in the clearly-expressed interest vignette. Implications for gender differences in long-term partner preferences are discussed.

Submitted by Chaylane Marques (chaylane.marques@ufpe.br) on 2015-03-12T19:50:41Z No. of bitstreams: 2 JoaoPacificoBezerraNeto_Dissertação_Mestrado_PPGG2012.pdf: 5337016 bytes, checksum: dd95563c1fc978c7a83bb7ff2526ef28 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-12T19:50:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 JoaoPacificoBezerraNeto_Dissertação_Mestrado_PPGG2012.pdf: 5337016 bytes, checksum: dd95563c1fc978c7a83bb7ff2526ef28 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / CAPES; CNPQ; FACEPE; BNB; FINEP / O feijão-caupi é uma das mais antigas leguminosas cultivadas, com destacada importância em áreas tropicais e subtropicais. No Brasil, é uma das principais fontes de nutrientes para a dieta humana e animal, representando 80% da produção de grãos nas regiões norte e nordeste. Entretanto, fatores como seca e salinidade (as duas principais adversidades ambientais em regiões semiáridas) têm prejudicado tanto a quantidade quanto a qualidade da produção do feijão-caupi. Neste sentido, o estudo de proteínas que agem como facilitadoras da passagem de água entre as membranas biológicas e na prevenção da passagem de íons e outros solutos na célula é fundamental para o entendimento de como algumas plantas respondem a tais adversidades. Entre estas proteínas as aquaporinas merecem atenção, tratandose de uma família de pequenas proteínas transmembranas (24-30 kDa), dividida em quatro subfamílias, incluindo as Proteínas de Membrana Plasmática (PIP), Proteínas de Membrana de Tonoplasto (TIP), Proteínas de Membrana de Nódulos (NIP) e Pequenas Proteínas Básicas Intrínsecas de Membrana (SIP). Apesar da grande quantidade de dados sobre aquaporinas nos vegetais, nada se sabe sobre estes transportadores em algumas culturas de importância econômica, como o feijãocaupi. Utilizando dados de EST (Expressed Sequence Tags), 37 transcritos candidatos a aquaporinas foram identificados em feijão-caupi por meio de buscas com ferramentas de bioinformática, onde 27 apresentavam o domínio íntegro e 10 encontravam-se incompletas. Análises fenéticas das sequências de aminoácidos dividiram esta família nas quatro subfamílias já conhecidas para outras espécies vegetais, sendo 11 PIPs (cinco PIP1 e seis PIP2), 10 TIPs (quatro TIP3 e seis TIP), quatro NIPs e duas SIPs. Os alinhamentos múltiplos gerados a partir das sequências com domínio MIP completo, indicaram que as regiões ar/R das aquaporinas do feijão-caupi, em sua maioria, são similares às presentes em Arabidopsis, milho e arroz, apontando para afinidades com o mesmo tipo de soluto transportado. A expressão dos transcritos foi observada em todos os tecidos vegetais, estando associadas ao transporte de diferentes tipos de solutos nos compartimentos celulares. As aquaporinas identificadas neste estudo representam um importante recurso genético, fornecendo alvos em potencial para modificar as propriedades do uso de água em feijão-caupi ou em outras leguminosas relacionadas.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a medical diagnosis that is conceptualized as existing on a continuum between normal cognitive aging and dementia. While a growing body of research has established the impact of this condition on family members' emotional well-being, as well as the quality of family relationships, the reciprocal impact of family dynamics and the family environment on illness course has received much less attention. Expressed emotion (EE) is a measure of the family emotional climate that has been established as being highly predictive of relapse and symptom exacerbation for a variety of mental health disorders. The recent integration of attribution theory with EE has offered new insights into the underlying attitudes and beliefs that give rise to it. This mixed methods study applied the attribution model of EE to test the validity of EE in predicting the illness course of MCI, and to identify family members' attributions regarding MCI-related behaviors and symptoms that underlie their EE status. The study sample included 57 family dyads consisting of a person with MCI and a family member providing primary care or assistance. The results of the ANCOVA did not support the hypothesis that EE status would predict changes in the non-cognitive features of MCI over time. However, methods of thematic analysis revealed four major themes, or care partner attributional stances: (a) non-blaming, (b) blaming, (c) variable, and (d) no identified. The analysis also revealed three subthemes, or attributional styles, within the variable stance: (a) ambivalent, (b) mixed, and (c) complex. These attributional stances and styles intersected with family EE status in notable ways and form the basis for future research in this area, as well as clinical interventions with these families that promote adaptation to the illness. / Ph. D.

The main aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a brief psycho-educational intervention for the key relatives of schizophrenic patients, on perceived expressed emotion of patients, and the expressed emotion and burn out of their key relatives. Seventy five schizophrenic patients and their key relatives were included in the study. They were assigned into three groups randomly. The key relatives in the first experimental group were given a one-day psychoeducational workshop and written material package about schizophrenia were provided for them. In the second experimental group, key relatives were only given the written material package about schizophrenia which was the same as that of the Experimental Group I. The third group was the control group received no intervention or any material. All of the participants including patients and key relatives were given the instruments of the study as pre-test. Two weeks after pre-test, the relatives in Experimental Group I and Experimental Group II were invited to the hospital without their patients. The first group participated in the psychoeducational workshop and they were given written material package and the second group was only given the written material package. Pre test was given to Control Group without any intervention. Two months later, the post&ndash / tests were applied to all of the key relatives and their patients. Overall the results indicated that a one day intensive psycho-educational workshop enriched with audiovisual components, written material package about schizophrenia and an interactive discussion part has a positive impact on the key relatives&rsquo / burnout levels, expressed emotion levels and knowledge about schizophrenia. Furthermore, although no direct intervention was conducted with the patients, the results showed that patients&rsquo / perceived expressed emotion levels were reduced as well. The results also showed that simply providing written material about schizophrenia does not have an effect on burnout levels, expressed emotion levels and knowledge of relatives and the perceived expressed emotion of their patients.