Development of 13 microsatellite loci in the spotted snow skink Niveoscincus ocellatus (Squamata: Scincidae)

Thirteen polymorphic tri- and tetra-nucleotide microsatellites are reported for the spotted snow skink (Niveoscincus ocellatus) from Tasmania. Variation was assessed among 40 individuals collected from a single locality. Most loci had 12–19 alleles, although one had more than 20 alleles, while observed heterozygosities ranged between 0.25 and 0.93. Eleven loci were also polymorphic in the congeneric species N. metallicus (N = 16 collected from a single locality).     

Temporal processing impairment in children with attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder

The current study aimed to investigate temporal processing in Chinese children with Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) using time production, time reproduction paradigm and duration discrimination tasks. A battery of tests specifically designed to measure temporal processing was administered to 94 children with ADHD and 100 demographically matched healthy children. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and a repeated measure MANOVA indicated that children with ADHD were impaired in time processing functions. The results of pairwise comparisons showed that the probands with a family history of ADHD performed significantly worse than those without family history in the time production tasks and the time reproduction task. Logistic regression analysis showed duration discrimination had a significant role in predicting whether the children were suffering from ADHD or not, while temporal processing had a significant role in predicting whether the ADHD children had a family history or not. This study provides further support for the existence of a generic temporal processing impairment in ADHD children and suggests that abnormalities in time processing and ADHD share some common genetic factors.     

Longitudinal correlates of the persistence of irregular eating from age 5 to 14 years

Aim:  To report the stability of parent-perceived child irregular eating from 6 months to 14 years of age and to investigate a predictive model inclusive of child and parent factors.
Methods:  Of the 7223 singleton children in a birth cohort, 5122 children were re-interviewed at 5 years and 4554 for the 14-year analysis. Information was obtained from structured interviews including questions answered by parents of the child at birth, 6 months, 5 years and 14 years; and by teenagers at age 14 years and from physical measures of the child. The mother's perception that the child was an irregular eater at age 14 years was the major outcome variable of interest.
Results:  Approximately 40% of irregular eaters at age 5 will still be irregular eaters at age 14 years. This was not related to maternal education or socio-economic class. Significant at multivariate analysis were infant feeding problems and the children's ability to regulate their sleep and mood. Significant maternal factors were greater age, not feeling positive about the baby and persistent maternal anxiety during the child's early years.
Conclusion:  Irregular eating behaviour displays considerable continuity from childhood to mid-adolescence. Independent contributions to this behavioural phenotype include child biological and psychological factors and maternal anxiety during the child's early years.