scholarly journals The Effects of Siblings and Twin Testosterone Transfer on Autistic Traits

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Monica de Wit ◽  
Sander Begeer ◽  
Michel Guillaume Nivard ◽  
Elsje van Bergen
Keyword(s):  
Neural Development ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
The Body ◽  
Prenatal Testosterone ◽  
Twin Sister ◽  
Twin Brother ◽  
Dizygotic Twins ◽  
High Heritability

Background: Having twin and non-twin siblings might influence autistic traits both prenatally and postnatally. The twin testosterone transfer hypothesis suggests that girls with a twin brother are exposed to higher levels of prenatal testosterone than girls with a twin sister. Prenatally, increased testosterone exposure could masculinize neural development and increase autistic traits. Postnatally, siblings may provide example behaviour, which could reduce autistic traits. Methods: We studied pre- and postnatal influences of twin and non-twin siblings on (mother and teacher-reported) autistic traits in 7,714 dizygotic twins. We examined the effect of gender of the proband child and of the siblings. We fitted regression models (for boys and girls separately) with as predictors sex of co-twin and having older and/or younger siblings. Results: Prenatally, girls’ (mother-reported) autistic traits were slightly lower for those with a twin brother than those with a twin sister, β = -.08, p = .001. This difference was not replicated in teacher-reported autistic traits, β = .01, p = .734. Boys’ (mother and teacher-reported) autistic traits were not related to the sex of their cotwin, p’s > .05. Postnatally, girls’ teacher-reported autistic traits were slightly higher if they had an older brother, β = .07, p = .013. Other than this small effect, girls’ autistic traits were not related to having siblings. Likewise, boys’ autistic traits were not related to having siblings. Conclusions: We do not find increased autistic traits in girls with a twin brother compared to a twin sister. This finding contributes to the body of literature that rejects the twin testosterone transfer hypothesis. In all, we find little evidence for pre- and postnatal sibling influences. Besides, our findings suggest that parent reports on autistic traits in twins might be slightly biased. Our findings align with ASD’s high heritability and absence of shared-environmental influences.

Beverage intake and obesity in early childhood: evidence form primary health care clients in Northwest Argentina

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 244-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Alderete ◽  
I. Bejarano ◽  
A. Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
The Body ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Dietary Recall ◽  
Northwest Argentina ◽  
Artificial Fruit

Sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) are thought to play an important role in weight gain. We examined the relationship between the intake of caloric and noncaloric beverages (SSB and water) and the nutritional status of children. In 2014, we randomly selected 16 public health clinics in four cities of Northwest Argentina and conducted a survey among mothers of children 0–6 years of age. Children’s beverage intake was ascertained by 24-h dietary recall provided by the mothers. Children’s weight and height measures were obtained from clinic’s registries. We calculated the body mass index using the International Obesity Task Force standards. The analysis included 562 children 25 months to 6 years of age with normal or above normal nutritional status. Children’s beverage consumption was as follows, water 81.8%, carbonated soft drinks (CSD) 49.7%, coffee/tea/cocoa 44.0%, artificial fruit drinks 35.6%, flavored water 17.9%, natural fruit juice 14.5%. In multivariate logistic regression models the likelihood of being obese v. being overweight or having normal weight doubled with an intake of one to five glasses of CSD (OR=2.2) and increased by more than three-fold with an intake of more than five glasses (OR=3.5). Drinking more than five glasses of water decreased the likelihood of being obese by less than half (OR=0.3). The percentage of children drinking more than five glasses of other beverages was low (3.3–0.9%) and regression models did not yield significant results. The study contributed evidence for reducing children’s CSD intake and for promoting water consumption, together with the implementation of comprehensive regulatory public health policies.

scholarly journals Body Composition in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Before and After SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Longitudinal Prospective Study in a Rural Village Struck by the Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 215013272110477
Author(s):  
Oscar H. Del Brutto ◽  
Robertino M. Mera ◽  
Denisse A. Rumbea ◽  
Pedro Pérez ◽  
Bettsy Y. Recalde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
The Body ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Background: Information on the body composition of inhabitants of remote communities during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is limited. Using a longitudinal population-based study design, we assessed the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and changes in body composition. Methods: Community-dwelling older adults living in a rural Ecuadorian village received body composition determinations before and 1 year after the pandemic as well as serological tests for detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The independent association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and abnormalities in body composition at follow-up was assessed by fitting linear mixed models for longitudinal data. Results: Of 327 enrolled individuals, 277 (85%) received baseline and follow-up body composition determinations, and 175 (63%) of them became SARS-CoV-2 seropositive. Overall, diet and physical activity deteriorated during the follow-up. Multivariate random-effects generalized least squares regression models that included the impact of time and seropositivity on follow-up body composition, showed that neither variable contributed to a worsening in body composition. Multivariate logistic regression models disclosed that the serological status at follow-up cannot be predicted by differences in body composition and other baseline covariates. Conclusions: Study results suggest no increased susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection among older adults with abnormal body composition and no significant changes as a result of worse physical activity and dietary habits or seropositivity during the length of the study. Together with a previous study in the same population that showed decrease in hand-grip strength after SARS-CoV-2, results confirm that dynapenia (and not sarcopenia) is associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in older adults.

scholarly journals Using Astragalus to Model Body Mass, Habitat Preference, and Population Density of Prehistoric Bovid Duboisia santeng (Dubois, 1891) in Eastern Java island in The Early Pleistocene

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andri Wibowo
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Habitat Preference ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
The Body ◽  
Early Pleistocene ◽  
Large Herbivores ◽  
Length Width ◽  
Fossil Records ◽  
The Relationship

Astragalus bone is one of the most important fossil records as it can reconstruct the prehistoric life. Respectively, this study aims to model the body mass, habitat preference, and population density of prehistoric bovid Duboisia santeng (Dubois 1891) in eastern Java island in the early Pleistocene. The astragali from 9 specimens were used to estimate the body mass and population density. Likewise regression models are used to analyze the relationship between astragalus lateral length, width, and body mass compared to the astragalus of extant Bovid species. The result revealed the body mass average was 60.3 kg (95%CI: 58.9-61.7) and this indicates the D. santeng belongs to large herbivores. While the population density was estimated at about 5.39 individuals per km2 (95% CI: 3.18-7.6).

Characteristics and Determinants of New Start-ups in Gujarat, India

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Ajay Kumar ◽  
Bhim Jyoti
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
New Products ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
The Body ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Annual Sale ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Start Ups

Purpose: This study examines the relationship of socio-economic characteristics of start-ups with their size in Gujarat, India. It also assesses the determinants affecting the annual sale of start-ups. Methods: It includes primary information based on a survey of 120 founders of start-ups. Linear and semi-log linear regression models have been applied to assess the determinants of start-ups. Probit regression models have been considered to assess the factors affecting the annual sale of the start-ups. Results: Stage of start-up, the participation of founders in conferences, educational qualification, and new products launched by start-ups, professional connections of founders, source of funding, and support from incubator/accelerator/supporting organizations are found crucial determinants of start-up size in Gujarat. The annual sales of the start-ups are positively associated with stage of start-up, support from a mentor, team members, founder's academic qualification, and collaboration with national or international organizations, unskilled workers. Implications: Technology transfer and commercialization, development of new products, government regulations, the requirement of costumers, free rights for entrepreneurs, appropriate financial support for new entrepreneurs, transparency and clarity in government policies, the establishment of high-tech start-ups, and development of digital infrastructure, increase in R&D spending in research academia, and association of research institutions with entrepreneurs would be conducive to create an appropriate start-ups ecosystem and to reduce regional development disparities across Indian states. Subsequently, it would be helpful to increase sustainable development in India.  Originality: This study has used primary information of 120 founders of start-ups to assess the determinants, and the factors affecting annual sales of start-ups using the regression model in, Gujrat, India. Thus, it has an empirical contribution to the body of knowledge. Limitations: This study could not provide rational justifications on most factors that show an insignificant impact on start-ups due to the small sample size. Further research, therefore, may be considered to identify the association of start-up size with the variables using a large sample size in India.  

Neural Development Through the Life Cycle

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajesh R. Tampi ◽  
Juan Young ◽  
Mohsina Ahmed ◽  
Raman Marwaha
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Brain Development ◽  
Neural Development ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Physical Development

This chapter reviews topics on neural development from infancy to late life. Topics reviewed include brain development, physical development and environmental influences on neural development

scholarly journals ASD Phenotype—Genotype Associations in Concordant and Discordant Monozygotic and Dizygotic Twins Stratified by Severity of Autistic Traits

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (15) ◽  
pp. 3804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hu ◽  
Devlin ◽  
Debski
Keyword(s):  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Significant Snps ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Genomic Variation ◽  
Association Analyses ◽  
Dizygotic Twins ◽  
Severity Scores ◽  
Control Association

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social communication coupled with stereotyped behaviors and restricted interests. Despite the high concordance rate for diagnosis, there is little information on the magnitude of genetic contributions to specific ASD behaviors. Using behavioral/trait severity scores from the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) diagnostic instrument, we compared the phenotypic profiles of mono- and dizygotic twins where both co-twins were diagnosed with ASD or only one twin had a diagnosis. The trait distribution profiles across the respective twin populations were first used for quantitative trait association analyses using publicly available genome-wide genotyping data. Trait-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were then used for case-control association analyses, in which cases were defined as individuals in the lowest (Q1) and highest (Q4) quartiles of the severity distribution curves for each trait. While all of the ASD-diagnosed twins exhibited similar trait severity profiles, the non-autistic dizygotic twins exhibited significantly lower ADI-R item scores than the non-autistic monozygotic twins. Case-control association analyses of twins stratified by trait severity revealed statistically significant SNPs with odds ratios that clearly distinguished individuals in Q4 from those in Q1. While the level of shared genomic variation is a strong determinant of the severity of autistic traits in the discordant non-autistic twins, the similarity of trait profiles in the concordantly autistic dizygotic twins also suggests a role for environmental influences. Stratification of cases by trait severity resulted in the identification of statistically significant SNPs located near genes over-represented within autism gene datasets.

scholarly journals Factors associated with parasite dominance in fishes from Brazil

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-230
Author(s):  
Cristina Fernandes do Amarante ◽  
Wagner de Souza Tassinari ◽  
Jose Luis Luque ◽  
Maria Julia Salim Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression Model ◽  
Mixed Effects ◽  
The Body ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Biological Aspects ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract The present study used regression models to evaluate the existence of factors that may influence the numerical parasite dominance with an epidemiological approximation. A database including 3,746 fish specimens and their respective parasites were used to evaluate the relationship between parasite dominance and biotic characteristics inherent to the studied hosts and the parasite taxa. Multivariate, classical, and mixed effects linear regression models were fitted. The calculations were performed using R software (95% CI). In the fitting of the classical multiple linear regression model, freshwater and planktivorous fish species and body length, as well as the species of the taxa Trematoda, Monogenea, and Hirudinea, were associated with parasite dominance. However, the fitting of the mixed effects model showed that the body length of the host and the species of the taxa Nematoda, Trematoda, Monogenea, Hirudinea, and Crustacea were significantly associated with parasite dominance. Studies that consider specific biological aspects of the hosts and parasites should expand the knowledge regarding factors that influence the numerical dominance of fish in Brazil. The use of a mixed model shows, once again, the importance of the appropriate use of a model correlated with the characteristics of the data to obtain consistent results.

An Investigation of Genetic and Environmental Influences Across the Distribution of Self-Control

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (9) ◽  
pp. 1163-1182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph A. Schwartz ◽  
Eric J. Connolly ◽  
Joseph L. Nedelec ◽  
Kevin M. Beaver
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Behavior ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Add Health ◽  
Negative Association ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Sibling Pairs ◽  
National Longitudinal Study ◽  
Nonlinear Pattern

Previous research illustrating a robust, negative association between self-control and various forms of delinquent and criminal behavior has resulted in a more concentrated focus on the etiological development of self-control. The current study aims to contribute to this literature using a sample of twin and sibling pairs from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) to examine genetic and shared environmental influences across levels of self-control. The results of modified DeFries–Fulker (DF) equations revealed that genetic and shared environmental influences were distributed in a nonlinear pattern across levels of self-control. Subsequent biometric quantile regression models revealed that genetic influences on self-control were maximized in the 50th and 60th percentiles, and minimized in the tails of the distribution. Shared environmental influences were nonsignificant at all examined quantiles of self-control with only one exception. The theoretical importance of utilizing genetically informed modeling strategies is discussed in more detail.

A Gendered Perspective on Local Economic Development: Differences in the Perceived Importance of Public Services in the Business Recruitment Process

2015 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dustin Read ◽  
Suzanne Marie Leland
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Local Economic Development ◽  
The Body ◽  
Recruitment Process ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Perceived Importance

This study uses data from a national survey of economic developers working in local government to explore gender differences in the perceived importance of public services in the business recruitment process. The results of a series of ordinal logistic regression models suggest women are more likely than men to believe public service quality and availability are important concerns for companies considering their region. These findings are consistent with the body of work examining gender gaps in the perceptions of both policymakers and the general public that may have important implications for local governments interested in promoting economic growth.

scholarly journals Influence of different types of loads on the cardiovascular and muscular systems in the process of physical education classes in the department of athletic gymnastics

2021 ◽  
pp. 128-132
Author(s):  
Svitlana Тymchik ◽  
Оleksandr Bryksin ◽  
Eugenia Omelyanchuk
Keyword(s):  
Physical Education ◽  
Musculoskeletal System ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Physical Activities ◽  
The Body ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Strong Increase ◽  
Regular Exercise ◽  
Internal Organs

In the modern world with the advent of devices that facilitate work (computer, technical equipment) has decreased sharply motor activity of people compared to previous decades. This, in the end, leads to a decrease in human functionality, as well as various diseases. Today, purely physical work does not play a significant role, it is replaced by mental. Intellectual work dramatically reduces the efficiency of the body. Lack of human energy expenditure leads to inconsistencies in the functioning of individual systems (muscular, skeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular) and the body as a whole with the environment, as well as reduced immunity and impaired metabolism. Exercise affects all muscle groups, joints, ligaments, which become strong, increase muscle volume, elasticity, strength and rate of contraction. Increased muscle activity forces the heart, lungs and other organs and systems of our body to work with additional load, thereby increasing the functional capabilities of man, his resistance to adverse environmental influences. Regular exercise primarily affects the musculoskeletal system, muscles. When you exercise, the muscles generate heat, to which the body responds by increased sweating. During exercise, blood flow increases: the blood brings oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, which in the process of life break down, releasing energy. When movements in the muscles additionally open reserve capillaries, the amount of circulating blood increases significantly, which causes an improvement in metabolism. In response to the reaction of the human body to exercise, the first place is occupied by the influence of the cerebral cortex on the regulation of the functions of the basic systems: there is a change in the cardiorespiratory system, gas exchange, metabolism, and others. Exercises enhance the functional restructuring of all parts of the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular and other systems, improve tissue metabolism. Under the influence of moderate physical activity increases the efficiency of the heart, hemoglobin and red blood cell count, increases the phagocytic function of the blood. Improves the function and structure of the internal organs, improves chemical processing and promotion of food in the intestine. The combined activity of muscles and internal organs is regulated by the nervous system, the function of which is also improved by regular exercise. If the muscles do not work - their nutrition deteriorates, volume and strength decrease, elasticity and resilience decrease, they become weak, sluggish. Restrictions in movement (hypodynamia), passive lifestyle lead to various pre-pathological and pathological changes in the human body. So, the American doctors, having deprived volunteers of movements by imposing of high plaster and having kept to them a normal diet, were convinced that in 40 days at them muscle atrophy began and fat has accumulated. At the same time increased the reactivity of the cardiovascular system and decreased basal metabolism. However, during the next 4 weeks, when the subjects began to move actively (with the same diet), the above phenomena were eliminated, the muscles were strengthened and hypertrophied. Thus, due to physical exertion, recovery was possible both in functional and structural terms. Exercise has a multifaceted effect on the human body, increasing its resistance to adverse environmental influences. For example, physically trained people have better tolerance to oxygen starvation than untrained people. High ability to work at increase of body temperature over 38 ° C during physical exertions is noted. It has been noticed that radiologists who exercise have a lower degree of influence of penetrating radiation on the morphological composition of the blood. Animal experiments have shown that regular muscle training slows the development of malignant tumors. Regular exercise in physical education promotes good health and affects the various physiological adaptations of the neuromuscular, cardiovascular and respiratory systems of the human body. Types of physical activities are considered: aerobic, anaerobic, interval and hypoxic physical activities.

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