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| 2. |
- Samuelsson, Stefan, et al.
(author)
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Genetic and environmental influences on prereading skills and early reading and spelling development in the United States, Australia, and Scandinavia
- 2007
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In: Reading and writing. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0922-4777 .- 1573-0905. ; 20:1-2, s. 51-75
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Genetic and environmental influences on prereading skills in preschool and on early reading and spelling development at the end of kindergarten were compared among samples of identical and fraternal twins from the U.S. (Colorado), Australia, and Scandinavia. Mean comparisons revealed significantly lower preschool print knowledge in Scandinavia, consistent with the relatively lower amount of shared book reading and letter-based activities with parents, and lack of emphasis on print knowledge in Scandinavian preschools. The patterns of correlations between all preschool environment measures and prereading skills within the samples were remarkably similar, as were the patterns of genetic, shared environment, and non-shared environment estimates: in all samples, genetic influence was substantial and shared environment influence was relatively weak for phonological awareness, rapid naming, and verbal memory, genetic influence was weak, and shared environment influence was relatively strong for vocabulary and print knowledge. In contrast, for reading and spelling assessed at the end of kindergarten in the Australian and U.S. samples, there was some preliminary evidence for country differences in the magnitude of genetic and environmental influences. We argue that the apparently higher genetic and lower shared environment influence in the Australian sample was related to a greater emphasis on formal reading instruction, resulting in more advanced reading and spelling skills at the end of kindergarten, and thus there was greater opportunity to observe genetic influences on response to systematic reading instruction among the Australian twins. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2007.
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| 3. |
- Suzuki, Toshiyasu, et al.
(author)
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b-Catenin Drives Butyrophilin-like Molecule Loss and gd T-cell Exclusion in Colon Cancer
- 2023
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In: CANCER IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH. - : AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH. - 2326-6066. ; 11:8, s. 1137-1155
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) expressing y8 T-cell receptors (y8TCR) play key roles in elimination of colon cancer. However, the precise mechanisms by which progressing cancer cells evade immu-nosurveillance by these innate T cells are unknown. Here, we investigated how loss of the Apc tumor suppressor in gut tissue could enable nascent cancer cells to escape immunosurveillance by cytotoxic y8IELs. In contrast with healthy intestinal or colonic tissue, we found that y8IELs were largely absent from the micro-environment of both mouse and human tumors, and that butyr-ophilin-like (BTNL) molecules, which can critically regulate y8IEL through direct y8TCR interactions, were also downregulated in tumors. We then demonstrated that 13-catenin activation through loss of Apc rapidly suppressed expression of the mRNA encoding the HNF4A and HNF4G transcription factors, preventing their binding to promoter regions of Btnl genes. Reexpression of BTNL1 and BTNL6 in cancer cells increased y8IEL survival and activation in coculture assays but failed to augment their cancer-killing ability in vitro or their recruitment to orthotopic tumors. However, inhibition of 13-catenin signaling via genetic deletion of Bcl9/Bcl9L in either Apc-deficient or mutant 13-catenin mouse models restored Hnf4a, Hnf4g, and Btnl gene expression and y8 T-cell infiltration into tumors. These observations highlight an immune-evasion mechanism specific to WNT-driven colon cancer cells that disrupts y8IEL immunosurveillance and furthers cancer progression.
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| 4. |
- Byrne, Brian, et al.
(author)
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Teacher Effects in Early Literacy Development: Evidence From a Study of Twins
- 2010
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In: Journal of Educational Psychology. - : Apa American Psychological Association. - 0022-0663 .- 1939-2176. ; 102:1, s. 32-42
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- It is often assumed that differences in teacher characteristics area major source of variability in childrens educational achievements. We examine this assumption for early literacy achievement by calculating the correlations between pairs of twin children who either shared or did not share a teacher in kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2. Teacher effects-or, more strictly, classroom effects-would show up as higher correlations for same-class than for different-class twin pairs. Same-class correlations were generally higher than different-class correlations.. though not significantly so on most occasions. On the basis of the results, we estimate that the maximum variance accounted for by being assigned to the same or different classrooms is 8%. This is an upper-bound figure for a teacher effect because factors other than teachers may contribute to variation attributable to classroom assignment. We discuss the limitations of the study and draw out some of its educational implications.
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| 5. |
- Friend, A, et al.
(author)
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Heritability of high reading ability and its interaction with parental education
- 2009
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In: Behavior Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0001-8244 .- 1573-3297. ; 39, s. 427-436
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Moderation of the level of genetic influence on children’s high reading ability by environmental influences associated with parental education was explored in two independent samples of identical and fraternal twins from the United States and Great Britain. For both samples, the heritability of high reading performance increased significantly with lower levels of parental education. Thus, resilience (high reading ability despite lower environmental support) is more strongly influenced by genotype than is high reading ability with higher environmental support. This result provides a coherent account when considered alongside results of previous research showing that heritability for low reading ability decreased with lower levels of parental education.
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| 6. |
- Fujisawa, Keiko K., et al.
(author)
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A multivariate twin study of early literacy in Japanese kana
- 2013
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In: Learning and individual differences. - : Elsevier. - 1041-6080 .- 1873-3425. ; 24, s. 160-167
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This first Japanese twin study of early literacy development investigated the extent to which genetic and environmental factors influence individual differences in prereading skills in 238 pairs of twins at 42 months of age. Twin pairs were individually tested on measures of phonological awareness, kana letter name/sound knowledge, receptive vocabulary, visual perception, nonword repetition, and digit span. Results obtained from univariate behavioral-genetic analyses yielded little evidence for genetic influences, but substantial shared-environmental influences, for all measures. Phenotypic confirmatory factor analysis suggested three correlated factors: phonological awareness, letter name/sound knowledge, and general prereading skills. Multivariate behavioral genetic analyses confirmed relatively small genetic and substantial shared environmental influences on the factors. The correlations among the three factors were mostly attributable to shared environment. Thus, shared environmental influences play an important role in the early reading development of Japanese children.
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| 7. |
- Murphy, Patrick J., et al.
(author)
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Sexual counselling for patients with cardiovascular disease: protocol for a pilot study of the CHARMS sexual counselling intervention
- 2016
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In: BMJ Open. - : BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP. - 2044-6055. ; 6:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction Sexual problems are common with cardiovascular disease, and can negatively impact quality of life. To address sexual problems, guidelines have identified the importance of sexual counselling during cardiac rehabilitation, yet this is rarely provided. The Cardiac Health and Relationship Management and Sexuality (CHARMS) intervention aims to improve the provision of sexual counselling in cardiac rehabilitation in Ireland. Methods and analysis This is a multicentre pilot study for the CHARMS intervention, a complex, multilevel intervention delivered within hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation programmes. The intervention includes (1) training in sexual counselling for staff, (2) a staff-led patient education and support intervention embedded within the cardiac rehabilitation programme, (3) a patient information booklet and (4) an awareness raising poster. The intervention will be delivered in two randomly selected cardiac rehabilitation centres. In each centre 30 patients will be recruited, and partners will also be invited to participate. Data will be collected from staff and patients/partners at T1 (study entry), T2 (3-month follow-up) and T3 (6-month follow-up). The primary outcome for patients/partners will be scores on the Sexual Self-Perception and Adjustment Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes for patients/partners will include relationship satisfaction; satisfaction with and barriers to sexual counselling in services; sexual activity, functioning and knowledge; physical and psychological well-being. Secondary outcomes for staff will include sexuality-related practice; barriers to sexual counselling; self-ratings of capability, opportunity and motivation; sexual attitudes and beliefs; knowledge of cardiovascular disease and sex. Fidelity of intervention delivery will be assessed using trainer self-reports, researcher-coded audio recordings and exit interviews. Longitudinal feasibility data will be gathered from patients/partners and staff via questionnaires and interviews. Ethics and dissemination This study is approved by the Research Ethics Committee (REC) of the National University of Ireland, Galway. Findings will be disseminated to cardiac rehabilitation staff, patients/partners and relevant policymakers via appropriate publications and presentations.
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| 8. |
- Murphy, Patrick J., et al.
(author)
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The CHARMS pilot study: a multi-method assessment of the feasibility of a sexual counselling implementation intervention in cardiac rehabilitation in Ireland
- 2018
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In: Pilot and Feasibility Studies. - : BioMed Central. - 2055-5784. ; 4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Many people living with cardiovascular disease (CVD) are affected by sexual problems associated with the condition. International guidelines recommend all patients with CVD should receive sexual counselling, yet this is rarely provided by health professionals. The current study piloted the Cardiac Health and Relationship Management and Sexuality (CHARMS) intervention, a complex multi-level intervention designed to increase the implementation of sexual counselling guidelines in hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in Ireland.
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| 9. |
- Olson, Richard, et al.
(author)
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Genetic and Environmental Influences on Vocabulary and Reading Development
- 2011
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In: SCIENTIFIC STUDIES OF READING. - : Taylor and Francis. - 1088-8438 .- 1532-799X. ; 15:1, s. 26-46
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Genetic and environmental relations between vocabulary and reading skills were explored longitudinally from preschool through Grades 2 and 4. At preschool there were strong shared-environment and weak genetic influences on both vocabulary and print knowledge but substantial differences in their source. Separation of etiology for vocabulary and reading continued for word recognition and decoding through Grade 4, but genetic and environmental correlations between vocabulary and reading comprehension approached unity by Grade 4, when vocabulary and word recognition accounted for all of the genetic and shared environment influences on reading comprehension.
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| 10. |
- Ungvari, Zoltan, et al.
(author)
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Resistance to Genotoxic Stresses in Arctica islandica, the Longest Living Noncolonial Animal : Is Extreme Longevity Associated With a Multistress Resistance Phenotype?
- 2013
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In: The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences. - : Oxford University Press. - 1079-5006 .- 1758-535X. ; 68:5, s. 521-529
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Bivalve molluscs are newly discovered models of successful aging. Here, we test the hypothesis that extremely long-lived bivalves are not uniquely resistant to oxidative stressors (eg, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, as demonstrated in previous studies) but exhibit a multistress resistance phenotype. We contrasted resistance (in terms of organismal mortality) to genotoxic stresses (including topoisomerase inhibitors, agents that cross-link DNA or impair genomic integrity through DNA alkylation or methylation) and to mitochondrial oxidative stressors in three bivalve mollusc species with dramatically differing life spans: Arctica islandica (ocean quahog), Mercenaria mercenaria (northern quahog), and the Atlantic bay scallop, Argopecten irradians irradians (maximum species life spans: >500, >100, and ~2 years, respectively). With all stressors, the short-lived A i irradians were significantly less resistant than the two longer lived species. Arctica islandica were consistently more resistant than M mercenaria to mortality induced by oxidative stressors as well as DNA methylating agent nitrogen mustard and the DNA alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate. The same trend was not observed for genotoxic agents that act through cross-linking DNA. In contrast, M mercenaria tended to be more resistant to epirubicin and genotoxic stressors, which cause DNA damage by inhibiting topoisomerases. To our knowledge, this is the first study comparing resistance to genotoxic stressors in bivalve mollusc species with disparate longevities. In line with previous studies of comparative stress resistance and longevity, our data extends, at least in part, the evidence for the hypothesis that an association exists between longevity and a general resistance to multiplex stressors, not solely oxidative stress. This work also provides justification for further investigation into the interspecies differences in stress response signatures induced by a diverse array of stressors in short-lived and long-lived bivalves, including pharmacological agents that elicit endoplasmic reticulum stress and cellular stress caused by activation of innate immunity.
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