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Abstract: Previous studies have reported that infants selectively reproduce observed actions and have argued that this selectivity reflects understanding of intentions and goals, or goal-directed imitation. We reasoned that if selective imitation of goal-directed actions reflects understanding of intentions, infants should demonstrate stability across perceptually and causally dissimilar imitation tasks. To this end, we employed a longitudinal within-participants design to compare the performance of 37 infants on two imitation tasks, with one administered at 13months and one administered at 14months. Infants who selectively imitated goal-directed actions in an object-cued task at 13months also selectively imitated goal-directed actions in a vocal-cued task at 14months. We conclude that goal-directed imitation reflects a general ability to interpret behavior in terms of mental states. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In vitro monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMac) and synovial fluid macrophages from inflamed joints differ from monocytes in their responses to interleukin 4 (IL-4). While IL-4 can suppress LPS-induced interleukin β (IL-β) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) production by monocytes, IL-4 can suppress LPS-induced IL-1β, but not TNFα production by the more differentiated cells. Recently we reported a correlation between the ability of IL-4 to regulate TNFα production by monocytes and the expression of the IL-4 receptor gamma chain or gamma common (γc chain). Like MDMac, interferon α (IFNα)-treated monocytes expressed less IL-4 receptor γc chain, reduced levels of IL-4-activated STAT6 and IL-4 could not suppress LPS-induced TNFα production. In addition, like monocytes and MDMac, IFNα-treated monocytes expressed normal levels of the IL-4 receptor α chain and IL-4 significantly suppressed LPS-induced IL-1β production. With addition of IFNα-neutralizing antibodies, the ability of IL-4 to suppress LPS-induced TNFα production with prolonged monocyte culture was restored. Detection of IFNα in synovial fluids from inflamed joints further implicates IFNα in the inability of IL-4 to suppress TNFα production by synovial fluid macrophages. This study identifies a mechanism for the differential expression of γc and varied responses to IL-4 by human monocytes compared with MDMac. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Preterm birth (<37 weeks’ gestation) is sometimes associated with poorer outcomes in adulthood (e.g., poorer health, fewer intimate relationships, and lower income). However, few studies have examined how these adults felt about their lives or how personality affected these associations. 11,592 preterm and 51,460 full term adults completed online surveys measuring their subjective well-being (life, relationship and job satisfaction, and health). Adults born preterm reported similar levels of relationship satisfaction, but poorer health, life satisfaction and job satisfaction. Adults who reported having long hospital stays at birth also reported poorer health, life, relationship and job satisfaction, and this poorer well-being appeared to be accounted for, in part, by factors such as their personality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]