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Objective Background Method Results Conclusion Implications The goal was to assess how cohesive parents perceive their stepfamilies to be and to explain how cohesion relates to aspects of stepfamily structure.Cohesion is important to study as it can bolster the well‐being of stepfamily members. Prior research has mostly considered relationship qualities as predictors of cohesion. Little is known about differences in cohesion by family structure (i.e., whether parents have a shared child, whether the stepfamily is simple or complex, and in which households the respective children live).We analyzed data from a sample of Dutch divorced parents (N = 3,056) using linear regression.Parents perceived their stepfamilies as very cohesive. Having a shared child with the current partner was associated with higher perceptions of cohesion, whereas having a stepchild was associated with lower perceptions of cohesion. Non‐ or part‐time residency of parents' biological child from their previous relationship or their potential stepchild was associated with lower perceptions of cohesion. Cohesion was lowest in complex stepfamilies in which parents' biological children and potential stepchildren followed nonaligning residence arrangements.Aspects of stepfamily structure appear to affect perceptions of stepfamily cohesion. These findings imply that well‐being of stepfamily members in complicated stepfamily structures might be lower.To understand stepfamily cohesion and design therapeutic approaches for stepfamilies, it is crucial to look beyond relationship qualities and explicitly consider the role of stepfamily structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Introduction Methods Results Conclusions Research on parenting stress in adoptive parents during the early years post‐placement reveals significant variability, yet few studies examine both parent‐ and child‐related factors. This study investigates the role of the personality dimension of self‐criticism and perceived negative child emotionality in relation to parenting stress during the first four years after transnational adoption. Additionally, it explores the moderating effect of child age at placement, a key factor associated with early adversity.Drawing upon a longitudinal five‐wave dataset in the first 4 years after the child arrived in the adoptive family, this study used multi‐informant data of 96 adoptive mothers and fathers of transnationally adopted children (mean child age at placement = 13.48 months). Data were analyzed using a multilevel structural equation modeling approach.Parents' self‐criticism was positively associated with parenting stress at the between‐parent level. At the within‐parent level, year‐to‐year fluctuations in both parents' self‐criticism and perceived child's negative emotionality were positively associated with corresponding fluctuations in parenting stress. Child age at placement did not moderate any of these associations.Overall, this study yielded convincing evidence for the dynamic nature of parenting stress in the first years after child placement, the role of parental self‐criticism, and the child's perceived negative emotionality herein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined gene–environment correlation (rGE) in intellectual and academic development in 561 U.S.‐based adoptees (57% male; 56% non‐Latinx White, 19% multiracial, 13% Black or African American, 11% Latinx) and their birth and adoptive parents between 2003 and 2017. Birth mother intellectual and academic performance predicted adoptive mother warmth at child age 6 (β =.14, p =.038) and 7 (β =.12, p =.040) but not 4.5 years, and adoptive father warmth at 7 (β =.18, p =.007) but not 4.5 or 6 years. These rGE effects were not mediated by children's language. Contrary to theory that rGE accounts for increasing heritability of intellectual ability, parenting did not mediate genetic effects on children's language or academic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feeling loved by one's parents is critical for children's health and well‐being. How can such feelings be fostered? A vital feature of loving interactions is reciprocal self‐disclosure, where individuals disclose intimate information about themselves. In a proof‐of‐concept experiment, we examined whether encouraging reciprocal self‐disclosure in parent‐child dyads would make children feel more loved during the conversation. Participants were 218 children (ages 8–13, 50% girls, 94% Dutch) and one of their parents (ages 28–56, 62% women, 90% Dutch). Parent‐child dyads received a list of 14 questions and took turns asking them each other for 9 min. Dyads were assigned randomly to engage in self‐disclosure (questions invoking escalated intimacy) or small talk (questions invoking minimal intimacy). Before and after, children reported how loved they felt by their parent during the conversation. Self‐disclosure made children feel more loved during the conversation than did small talk. Compared to small talk, self‐disclosure did not instigate conversations that were lengthier or more positive; rather, it instigated conversations that were more emotionally charged (reflecting anger, anxiety, and sadness), social (discussing family and friends), reflective (creating insight), and meaningful (addressing deeply personal topics, including the passing of loved ones). The dyad's gender composition did not significantly moderate these effects. Our research suggests that reciprocal self‐disclosure can make children feel more loved in the moment, uncovers linguistic signatures of reciprocal self‐disclosure, and offers developmental scientists a tool to examine causal effects of reciprocal self‐disclosure in parent‐child dyads. Future work should examine long‐term effects in everyday parent‐child interactions. Research Highlights: How can parents make children feel more loved by them in the moment? We theorize that these feelings can be cultivated through reciprocal self‐disclosure.In a proof‐of‐concept experiment, we examined effects of reciprocal self‐disclosure versus small talk in 218 parent‐child dyads, with children aged 8−13.Self‐disclosure (vs. small talk) made children feel more loved during the conversation. Linguistically, self‐disclosure instigated conversations that were more emotionally charged, social, reflective, and meaningful.This research provides an experimental method to study self‐disclosure in parent‐child dyads and suggests that self‐disclosure can make children feel more loved in the moment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) affects up to one in five mothers and birthing parents, yet just 10% receive evidence‐based care. This randomized controlled trial aimed to determine if a synchronous online 9‐week group cognitive‐behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention delivered by mothers who have recovered from postpartum depression (i.e., peers) could effectively improve PPD and its comorbidities. Methods: Participants (n = 183) in this study lived in Ontario, Canada, were ≥18 years‐old, had an infant <12 months, were fluent in English, and scored ≥10 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). They were randomized to experimental (received intervention plus treatment as usual (TAU)) or waitlist control (TAU plus the intervention after a 9‐week wait) groups. Depression, anxiety, social support, mother‐infant bonding, and infant temperament were assessed at baseline and 9 weeks later. Outcomes were assessed in the experimental group 3 months post‐intervention to assess stability. Results: Statistically significant reductions were observed in EPDS (B = 5.99; p < 0.001; d = 1.32) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire‐7 scores (B = 5.94; p < 0.001; d = 1.22), improvements that remained stable 3 months post‐intervention in the experimental group. Maternal social support (p = 0.02; d = 0.40), infant‐focused anxiety (p = 0.02; d = 0.54), and infant negative emotionality (p < 0.01; d = 0.23) also improved post‐intervention and remained stable 3 months later. Conclusion: Online peer‐delivered group CBT for PPD can effectively treat PPD and anxiety, and improve social support, infant‐focused anxiety, and negative emotionality in infants. This intervention could provide the means to increase access to treatment for those experiencing PPD and improve outcomes for mothers, birthing parents, and families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key recommendations A combination of mifepristone and a prostaglandin preparation should usually be recommended as the first‐line intervention for induction of labour (Grade B). A single 200 milligram dose of mifepristone is appropriate for this indication, followed by: 24+0–24+6 weeks of gestation – 400 micrograms buccal/sublingual/vaginal/oral of misoprostol every 3 hours; 25+0–27+6 weeks of gestation – 200 micrograms buccal/sublingual/vaginal/oral of misoprostol every 4 hours; from 28+0 weeks of gestation – 25–50 micrograms vaginal every 4 hours, or 50–100 micrograms oral every 2 hours [Grade C]. There is insufficient evidence available to recommend a specific regimen of misoprostol for use at more than 28+0 weeks of gestation in women who have had a previous caesarean birth or transmural uterine scar [Grade D]. Women with more than two lower segment caesarean births or atypical scars should be advised that the safety of induction of labour is unknown [Grade D]. Staff should be educated in discussing mode of birth with bereaved parents. Vaginal birth is recommended for most women, but caesarean birth will need to be considered for some [Grade D]. A detailed informed discussion should be undertaken with parents of both physical and psychological aspects of a vaginal birth versus a caesarean birth [Grade C]. Parents should be cared for in an environment that provides adequate safety according to individual clinical circumstance, while meeting their needs to grieve and feel supported in doing so (GPP). Clinical and laboratory tests should be recommended to assess maternal wellbeing (including coagulopathy) and to determine the cause of fetal death, the chance of recurrence and possible means of avoiding future pregnancy complications [Grade D]. Parents should be advised that with full investigation (including postmortem and placental histology) a possible or probable cause can be found in up to three‐quarters of late intrauterine fetal deaths [Grade B]. All parents should be offered cytogenetic testing of their baby, which should be performed after written consent is given (GPP). Parents should be advised that postmortem examination can provide information that can sometimes be crucial to the management of future pregnancy [Grade B]. A single 200 milligram dose of mifepristone is appropriate for this indication, followed by: 24+0–24+6 weeks of gestation – 400 micrograms buccal/sublingual/vaginal/oral of misoprostol every 3 hours; 25+0–27+6 weeks of gestation – 200 micrograms buccal/sublingual/vaginal/oral of misoprostol every 4 hours; from 28+0 weeks of gestation – 25–50 micrograms vaginal every 4 hours, or 50–100 micrograms oral every 2 hours [Grade C]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Parents of twins appear to be at increased risk of postpartum depression (PPD), yet little is known about the magnitude and timing of onset in the postpartum period compared to singleton parents.We conducted a cohort study using the Danish nationwide health registers. We defined a study population of parents that is, mothers and fathers of all twin and singleton livebirths between 1997 and 2019. Postpartum depression was defined as incident depression diagnosis or a redeemed antidepressant prescription from childbirth through 365 days postpartum. We performed a parametric time‐to‐event analysis based on Poisson regression. The time scale was time since birth, modeled using restricted cubic splines. From this we estimated the hazard ratio (HR) representing the momentary risk, and the cumulative risk ratio (RR) over the first year postpartum, in twin compared to singleton parents.The study population was based on 27,095 twin and 1,350,046 singleton births. In adjusted analyses, the HR of twins compared to singletons was highest around 2 months postpartum (HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.10–1.49) for mothers, and around 6 months (1.20, 95% CI 1.02–1.42) for fathers. The 6 months adjusted cumulative RR of PPD in twins compared to singletons was 1.24 (95% CI 1.10–1.40) for mothers and 1.11 (95% CI 0.95–1.30) for fathers.Twin mothers had increased risk of PPD compared to singleton mothers, which was driven by an immediate increase after childbirth. The risk among twin fathers was not increased immediately after childbirth, but we found slightly elevated risk around 6 months postpartum. This could suggest diverse patterns of PPD symptomatology in twin parents compared to singleton parents and between mothers and fathers. Our findings underline parents of twins as a potentially vulnerable group to PPD and emphasize the need for increased awareness of their mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Background Method Results Conclusion Implications This qualitative study aimed to gain an in‐depth understanding of mothers' experiences of uncertainty in parenting 13‐ and 17‐month‐old toddlers.The transition to parenthood is universally acknowledged as a challenging period, particularly for first‐time mothers, with societal expectations emphasizing perfection in childcare. This study explores specific uncertainties faced by Czech mothers in caring for toddlers.A thematic analysis was conducted after individual semistructured interviews conducted during home visits between 2016 and 2018 with 90 Czech women whose children were aged between 13 and 17 months.Five overarching themes and 13 subthemes reflecting how Czech mothers experienced feelings of uncertainty in parenting their toddlers were identified: (a) uncertainties connected to a purposefulness in parenting, (b) uncertainties connected to fulfilling physical needs, (c) dealing with current parenting issues, (d) uncertainties connected to the mother's characteristics and her family relationships, (e) uncertainties connected to developing the child.This study contributes to early motherhood literature by detailing uncertainties experienced by Czech mothers during the toddlerhood phase.Our study illuminates the uncertainties experienced by Czech mothers during early toddlerhood, emphasizing the need for counsellors to renegotiate societal ideals of motherhood, foster resilience in parent–child relationships, and embrace uncertainties as natural aspects of parenting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caring for the extremely premature infant born in the grey zone of viability is the most difficult area of neonatal medicine. Little research has been done on antenatal communication between neonatologists and parents anticipating the birth of a periviable infant. This article analyses 25 antenatal consultations between neonatologists and parents in one Midwestern hospital in the United States of America. It explores how neonatologists position comfort care as one of two predominant care trajectories for extremely premature infants born into the grey zone of viability. We found comfort care featured minimally in and was often marginalised by neonatologists’ language. The two dominant discourses contributing to this were acute medicine’s life‐saving capacity and a limited temporal window marked by gestational age where comfort measures were deemed appropriate. Antenatal consultations framed by shared decision‐making could be approached as a form of care characterised by a relational openness and responsiveness to parents’ views on care. This asks neonatologists to enter antenatal consultations for periviability without knowing ahead of time which care trajectory will necessarily call one’s attention or the particular response one should take, thus highlighting the skills of reflexivity in addition to an attentiveness and openness towards those receiving care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Background Method Results Conclusion This study aims to illuminate the dynamic interplay among subsystems within the family context to understand how mother and father involvement in their adolescent children's lives may be related.Consistent with different predictions offered by family spillover and by compensatory conceptual models, whether there is an association between mother and father involvement, as well as the direction of the association, is unclear thus far in the empirical literature. Whether more proximal dyadic relationships, such as parent–adolescent relationships, may mediate the association between mother and father involvement has also been underexamined.This study was conducted using the adolescent subsample drawn from Wave 3 of the Welfare, Children, and Families Project. A total of 463 ethnically diverse adolescents from low‐income households living with two biological parents were involved in this study.Results of a structural equation modeling analysis indicated that the total effect from mother involvement to father involvement was significant, but a direct association between them was not significant; closeness in parent–adolescent and coparental relationships mediated the relationship between the two. Study results also indicated that model fits and associations were roughly the same across adolescent sex and ethnicity groups.This study advanced the understanding of the father involvement process. The findings support that parental involvement interventions for parents from low‐income families should focus on developing culturally responsive strategies for promoting their parenting beliefs and healthy functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This study examines a representative sample of adults in California (USA) and Norway, and their attitudes toward adoption versus foster care in a child protection case. The results show that a majority of people favour adoption for a child who has been removed due to maltreatment and cannot be reunified with birth parents. The study examines if people's rights orientation, favouring children or adults, or favouring birth parents or adoptive parents, or their institutional context explain their preferences about long‐term care options. Data material consist of representative samples of the population in California (USA) and Norway (n = 2222), using a vignette survey design. Findings suggest that individuals with a child rights position favour adoption, but attitudes about birth parents' and adoptive parents' rights are not related to care option choices. Institutional context, anchored in policy feedback literature, partly explains the preference for adoption and the population's rights orientation. Further studies are necessary to confirm the role of rights attitudes and institutional context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Children of parents with psychiatric illness have a higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders. This is particularly the case for psychoses and the evolution of these disorders could likely differ. The aim of this study was to study the impact of a first‐degree and second‐degree family history of psychiatric disorders (FHPD) on the characteristics of patients with early psychosis in a specialized programme. Method: This research is a prospective study based on 408 patients aged 18–35 years enrolled in the Treatment and Early Intervention in Psychosis Program (TIPP) with a three‐years follow‐up. Various characteristics were compared between patients with first‐degree‐FHPD and those without, then between patients with 2nd degree‐FHPD and those without. The influence of the number of parents with first or second degree FHPD on clinical characteristics was also studied. Results: Our results showed an influence of FHPD on the characteristics of patients presenting a first episode of psychosis. Over the 3 years of follow‐up, patients with at least one second‐degree relative showed more negative and depressive symptoms and poorer general functioning than patient who did not. The number of parents with first or second degree FHPD was also negatively associated with several clinical variables. Conclusion: The results of this study confirm the existence of a distinct premorbid profile and a different evolution in patients with FHPD, which is not limited to first‐degree relatives. This suggests the importance of specific needs that should be addressed during treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conducting two‐dimensional electron gas (2DEG) behavior in LaAlO3 (LAO)/SrTiO3 (STO) and their associated mechanisms from various aspects have brought tremendous attention in the concerned area of research. To correlate the 2DEG behavior with their compositions, we have performed time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF‐SIMS) depth profile analysis of thin films of Cr‐doped LAO/STO system as LaAl1‐xCrxO3 (x = 0, 0.2, 0.6 and 1) deposited over TiO2 terminated STO substrate, which includes two parent compounds LAO/STO (metallic) and LCO/STO (insulating). The uniform decrease of La and Al concentration at the interface of LAO/STO (metallic) system and in the contrary the nonuniformity of La and Cr concentration in LCO/STO (insulating) system have been highlighted. The uniform variation of ionic concentration at the interface of LAO/STO may increase the career concentrations to make the system metallic. The upward and downward diffusion at the interfaces of intermediate compositions varies differently from their parent ones due to the mixing of Al and Cr. Our results may help to understand the conducting nature of LAO/STO system for future developments and applications in such system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Background Method Results Conclusion The goal of this brief report is to analyze parent‐adult child contact frequency in intact and non‐intact families by focusing on parent and child gender and the type of contact.Parental separation increases gender differences in parent–child relationships, with separated fathers having less frequent contact with their adult children compared to separated mothers. We investigate whether the father–mother gap in post‐separation contact varies according to parent–child gender mismatch and the type of contact, that is, face‐to‐face, phone, or digital (e.g., via video calls).We use data on Italian families from the Family and Social Subjects survey to examine parent–child contact frequency among 6770 adult children aged 30–55 (11,041 parent–child dyads). We estimate random and fixed effects models on the probability of having frequent contact with biological parents in intact and non‐intact families (parental separation before age 18).Fathers' reduced contact frequency compared to mothers is particularly evident with daughters, more pronounced in face‐to‐face and phone contact than in digital contact, and greater among younger daughters at the time of separation. Gender differences in phone and digital contact are larger for fathers who have also less frequent face‐to‐face contact compared to mothers.We interpret these findings by focusing on the centrality of mother–daughter ties and the loyalty that children have with the same‐gender parent. We also suggest that different types of contact reinforce gender differences between parents and may lead to a polarization of older parents with “strong” and “weak” family ties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Methods Results Conclusion Mutations associated with HIV drug resistance (DR) affect clinical outcomes. Understanding the prevalence of HIV DR and its association with viral suppression and survival in the paediatric population is key to inform patient care and health policies.We used Brazilian monitoring systems to identify genotyping tests performed in children living with HIV aged ≤18 months between 2009 and 2020. We categorized HIV DR using three criteria: any HIV DR (R1), DR to nevirapine or efavirenz (R2), and DR to at least one antiretroviral recommended for children with HIV in Brazilian guidelines (R3). We investigated factors associated with HIV DR, viral suppression, and survival up to 3 years old using multivariable models. Lastly, we describe the annual prevalence of each type of HIV DR in Brazilian children with HIV between 2009 and 2020.We included 1152 children with HIV with a median age of 5 months at genotype testing; 57% were females. R1 was observed in 30%, R2 in 17%, and R3 in 21%. Children with HIV whose birth parents were exposed to nevirapine or efavirenz before delivery had higher odds of R2 (odds ratio 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–10.8). Children with HIV with R1 or R3 had higher rates of death than those with HIV with no HIV DR in the adjusted models (adjusted hazard ratios 4.7 [95% CI 1.6–13.9] and 4.1 [95% CI 1.4–12.4], respectively). The prevalence of resistance to nevirapine and efavirenz peaked in 2015. Over time, the prevalence of genotyping tests with no detected resistance varied between 57% and 87%.HIV DR is highly prevalent in children with HIV and is associated with lower survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic relatedness figures heavily in contemporary ethical debates on egg freezing, although the arguments lack empirical‐based evidence. Rather than adding another theoretical view on the moral relevance of genetic connections, this paper instead proposes an empirically grounded perspective based on two independent qualitative interview‐based studies conducted in Belgium and France. Three themes emerge from our empirical data: (1) prioritizing family building; (2) centering the gestational experience of motherhood; and (3) identifying the complexities and limitations of adoption. These themes suggest that the relationship between egg freezing, genetics, biological motherhood, and adoption is highly complex and less straightforward than what is often assumed in the egg freezing debate. Our study provides more detailed insights into women's ambivalent experiences regarding those reproductive options. We discuss the ethical implications of our empirical findings and hold that pursuing genetic desire is not necessarily the main moral reason why women freeze their eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a sample of linked adopted children, adoptive and birth parents (N = 561), and biological siblings residing in the birth parent home (N = 191), we examined the role of genetics within family stress processes. We tested parental hostility (7 years) as a mediator of the associations between socioeconomic strain and rearing parent psychopathology (4 years) and adolescent externalizing behaviors (11 years) in adoptive and biological parent homes. Next, we examined parent social support (4 years) as a moderator of paths from socioeconomic strain and parent psychopathology to parental hostility. Parental hostility significantly mediated effects of socioeconomic strain and parent psychopathology on adolescent externalizing behaviors in biological and adoptive parent homes, respectively. Equivalence testing of the paths to adolescent externalizing behaviors across family types indicated a negligible role of passive gene–environment correlation. Parent social support significantly attenuated the effect of parent psychopathology on parental hostility in biological families. Birth parent externalizing behaviors were not significantly associated with adoptee externalizing behaviors nor adoptive parent hostility, suggesting negligible heritable risk or evocative gene–environment processes. Full‐ and half‐sibling correlations indicated that children's unique rearing contexts contributed to the parenting they received and the externalizing behavior they exhibited. Implications for intervention are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This brief report examines differences in step‐ versus biological family support between White, Black, and Hispanic families in the United States. Background: The increasing share of stepfamilies reflects a potential shift in family relationships. Although research finds that stepfamilies are generally less likely to engage in instrumental support than biological families, recent work suggests that the relationship between family structure and family behaviors may vary across racial/ethnic groups. Method: Using data from the 2015 to 2017 Add Health Parent Study, this report examines racial/ethnic differences in step‐ versus biological family support between parents and adult children. Specifically, parents' likelihood of and hours of providing instrumental support to adult children are assessed. Results: Findings from this report indicate that for Black and White families, stepfamilies are less likely to provide instrumental support to their adult children than biological families. Among Hispanic families, however, stepfamilies are not more or less likely to provide support than biological families. When hours of instrumental support are examined, White stepfamilies provide fewer hours of support than biological families, whereas no difference is found for Black or Hispanic families. Conclusion: Findings from this study contribute to broader work that calls for a more nuanced understanding of the differential effects of family structure across social groups. Future research should consider applying within‐race/ethnicity analyses when examining the association between family structure and intergenerational support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research develops a brief, and preliminary, parent‐report screener to assess gender identity alignment/distress in children. The increasing prevalence of children not identifying with their sex at birth, the length and outdated language of existing gender identity measures, and the need to assess gender identity among children (as opposed to adolescent/adult measures) motivate a screener. A survey containing 14 items from existing instruments was administered to a diverse set of 1110 parents of children ages 3–12. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, followed by multiple indicators and multiple causes (MIMIC) modelling, were used to develop a 5‐item, unidimensional screener that may assess gender identity alignment/distress. The screener may be suitable to identify children who experience misalignment between their gender and sex assigned at birth and parents or children for whom this misalignment causes distress. These families may benefit from additional resources and conversations between paediatric staff and children about their gender identity, including education for parents, and/or referrals for specialty care. Future research should further streamline and validate this preliminary screener, examine its convergence with gender identity and distress measures and explore including children's perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A first‐generation college student is typically defined as a student whose biological parent(s) or guardian(s) never attended college or who started but did not finish college. However, "first‐generation" can represent diverse family education situations. The first‐generation student community is a multifaceted, and intersectional group of individuals who frequently lack educational/financial resources to succeed and, consequently, require supportive environments with rigorous mentorship. However, first‐generation students often do not make their identity as first‐generation students known to others due to several psychosocial and academic factors. Therefore, they are often "invisible minorities" in higher education. In this paper, we describe the diverse family situations of first‐generation students, further define "first‐generation," and suggest five actions that first‐generation trainees at the undergraduate/graduate stages can engage in to succeed in an academic climate. We also provide suggestions for mentors to accommodate first‐generation students' unique experiences and equip them with tools to deliver intentional mentoring practices. We hope that this paper will help promote first‐generation student success throughout the academic pipeline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spinocerebellar ataxia 29 (SCA29) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by early‐onset ataxia, gross motor delay, and infantile hypotonia, and is primarily associated with variants in the ITPR1 gene. Cases of SCA29 in Asia are rarely reported, limiting our understanding of this disease. Methods: A female Korean infant, demonstrating clinical features of SCA29, underwent evaluation and rehabilitation at our outpatient clinic from the age of 3 months to the current age of 4 years. Trio‐based genome sequencing tests were performed on the patient and her biological parents. Results: The infant initially presented with macrocephaly, hypotonia, and nystagmus, with nonspecific findings on initial neuroimaging. Subsequent follow‐up revealed gross motor delay, early onset ataxia, strabismus, and cognitive impairment. Further neuroimaging revealed atrophy of the cerebellum and vermis, and genetic analysis revealed a de novo pathogenic heterozygous c.800C>T, p.Thr267Met missense mutation in the ITPR1 gene (NM_001378452.1). Conclusion: This is the first reported case of SCA29 in a Korean patient, expanding the genetic and phenotypic spectrum of ITPR1‐related ataxias. Our case highlights the importance of recognizing early‐onset ataxic symptoms, central hypotonia, and gross motor delays with poor ocular fixation, cognitive deficits, and isolated cerebellar atrophy as crucial clinical indicators of SCA29. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel fluorinated foldamers based on aminomethyl‐1,4‐triazolyl‐difluoroacetic acid (1,4‐Tz−CF2) units were synthesized and their conformational behaviour was studied by NMR and molecular dynamics. Their activity on the aggregation of the human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) amyloid protein was evaluated by fluorescence spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The fluorine labelling of these foldamers allowed the analysis of their interaction with the target protein. We demonstrated that the preferred extended conformation of homotriazolamers of 1,4‐Tz−CF2 unit increases the aggregation of hIAPP, while the hairpin‐like conformation of more flexible heterotriazolamers containing two 1,4‐Tz−CF2 units mixed with natural amino acids from the hIAPP sequence reduces it, and more efficiently than the parent natural peptide. The longer heterotriazolamers having three 1,4‐Tz−CF2 units adopting more folded hairpin‐like and ladder‐like structures similar to short multi‐stranded β‐sheets have no effect. This work demonstrates that a good balance between the structuring and flexibility of these foldamers is necessary to allow efficient interaction with the target protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parents confront multiple aspects of offspring demands and need to coordinate different parental care tasks. Biparental care is considered to evolve under circumstances where one parent is not competent for all tasks and cannot efficiently raise offspring. However, this hypothesis is difficult to test, as uniparental and biparental care rarely coexist. Chinese penduline tits (Remiz consobrinus) provide such a system where both parental care types occur. Here, we experimentally investigated whether parents in biparental nests are less capable of caring than parents in uniparental nests. We monitored parenting efforts at (1) naturally uniparental and biparental nests and (2) biparental nests before and during the temporary removal of a parent. Given the relatively small sample sizes, we have employed various statistical analyses confirming the robustness of our results. We found that total feeding frequency and brooding duration were similar for natural uniparental and biparental nests. Feeding frequency, but not brooding duration, contributed significantly to nestling mass. In line with this, a temporary parental removal revealed that the remaining parents at biparental nests fully compensated for the partner's feeding absence but not for brooding duration. This reflects that the manipulated parents are confronted with a trade‐off between feeding and brooding and were selected to invest in the more influential one. However, such a trade‐off may not occur in parents of natural uniparental care nests. The different capabilities of a parent independently coordinating feeding and brooding tasks suggest that parents from biparental and uniparental nests were exposed to different resource conditions, thereby foraging efficiency may differ between care types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laying a strong foundation for emotional development in children birth to 5 is of critical importance, but the extent to which this is considered following child abuse and/or neglect, foster care placement, reunification, and potential re‐entry into foster care remains unclear. Using a convergent mixed methods design, we investigated perceptions among child welfare professionals given the contributing role they could play in both initiating provider–parent dialogue and connecting families with timely resources to better support early emotional development post‐abuse/neglect. Fifty eight child welfare professionals in an urban, Northeastern County of the USA participated (73% response rate). Survey data and focus group insights shed light on satisfaction with and roadblocks to supporting foster and biological parents in promoting emotional development. A low proportion of respondents offered advice on emotional development, referred families to relevant parent education, or perceived biological or foster parents as extremely prepared. Self‐reported likelihood of providing advice to families was positively associated with access to information on emotional development, years employed, and job satisfaction. Multilevel roadblocks were identified. Results inform systems‐level, family‐centred initiatives and information sharing to better support emotional development post‐abuse and/or neglect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Knee support, frequently made from sponge, is used to reduce injury. Sponge has less elasticity and durability compared with natural rubber. To our knowledge, there was no study that demonstrated the effectiveness of natural rubber and sponge in prevention of injury in children with bleeding disorders. The study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness and satisfaction of natural rubber knee support compared with sponge knee support among children with bleeding disorders. Methods: The study consisted of three phases: (I) measuring reduced compression force, (II) producing size‐appropriate knee support prototypes, and (III) conducting a randomized crossover trial, including 8 weeks wearing natural rubber knee support and sponge knee support with a 4‐week wash‐out period. The number of knee bleeds and user satisfaction were recorded. Results: A better compression force reduction in natural rubber (60%) than sponge (12%) was demonstrated. Knee support comprised a body part, made from natural‐stretchable cotton and a protection part, made from either natural rubber or sponge. They were produced in four sizes: S, M, L, and XL and appropriately applied to 42 patients (21 hemophilia, 21 platelet disorders) with a mean (SD) age of 7.0 (2.9) years. The results from randomization showed no significant difference in the number of knee bleeds between the two knee support groups (10 vs. 7, p = 0.37). In terms of satisfaction score, the natural rubber knee supports were more durable (45.2% vs. 23.8%, p = 0.04) and easier to use (28.5% vs. 14.3%, p = 0.03). In addition, a higher percentage of parents chose natural rubber knee support when compared with sponge knee supports (71.0% vs. 29.0%, p = 0.006). Conclusion: Natural rubber knee support showed comparable effectiveness in the prevention of knee bleeding but was superior to sponge knee support in compression force reduction and satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study explored communication about children's origins among same‐gender parent adoptive families. Background: Although this topic has been widely researched among different‐gender parent adoptive families, communication about origins among those with same‐gender parents, as well as sexual minority identity dynamics relevant to this crucial task, remain unexplored. Method: A sample of same‐gender adoptive couples (N = 31) from Belgium, France, and Spain with children aged between 4 and 18 years (Mage = 8.9 years) participated in a semistructured interview and a graphic projective test aimed at explore their feelings and communication process about their adopted child's birth family. Results: Inductive thematic analysis yielded a continuum of three main stances conveyed by adoptive parents regarding their child's origins: (a) critical/minimization, (b) cautious/uncertainty, and (c) open/validation. The first (critical/minimization) was associated with experiences of sexual minority stigma and poorer communication about children's origins and sexual minority family‐related issues, while the second (cautious/uncertainty) was characterized by mixed feelings (i.e., at times open, at times critical) in communicating about origins and parents' sexual minority experiences. The third (open/validation) was associated with positive feelings toward adoptive and sexual minority family statuses, as well as identity integration as a lesbian or gay parent and low internalized sexual stigma. Conclusion: Our findings underline the importance of sexual minority identity issues in relation to communication about children's origins in same‐gender parent adoptive families. Implications: These findings have important implications for both adoption assessment and therapeutic work with same‐gender adoptive parent families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to document birth parents' commitment from a systemic perspective. Characteristics of birth parent's mental health (depressive symptoms), placement characteristics (family reunification, parent–child contact), and systemic characteristics (parent's perception of the foster parent's opinion on parent–child contact) are examined. Background: Foster placement creates a highly vulnerable situation within families of origin. Moreover, birth parents are liable to have been exposed to multiple risk factors. Foster placement comes with many challenges that are not without consequences on the parenting experience, including loss of parenting responsibilities and redefinition of the parenting role. Method: Parents (n = 59) participated for 70 parent–child dyads in 90‐minute home visits where data on sociodemographic characteristics, mental health status, experience of the placement measure and parent–child contact, as well as level of parental commitment were gathered. Results: Three‐step hierarchical regression models were used to examine the independent contribution of the parent's perception of the foster parent's opinion on contact on parental commitment after accounting for the birth parent's mental health and placement characteristics. Results suggest that parent–child contact and parent's perception of foster parent's opinion on contact have a significant contribution to parental commitment. Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of addressing parenthood in placement situations and the relevance of examining parental commitment from a systemic perspective. Implications: A deeper understanding of this vulnerable population would require reflecting on the psychosocial practices in Child Protective Services while accounting for the needs of birth parents in the placement system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narrative inquiry, narrative conflict resolution, and auto/duoethnography can be seen as sources of agency, fostering emancipatory processes. Autoethnography is a method that can elicit constructive social change by cultivating narrative coherency. These generative methods and practices have the ability to enkindle a cultural shift. We need new stories to initiate transformational processes, resetting individual life trajectories and humanities' course. Writing Homing In: An Adopted Child's Story Mandala of Connecting, Reunion, and Belonging, provided an autoethnographic exploration that encompassed notions of the good life in an autoethnographic process akin to spiritual journey. This adoption and reunion story gave rise to concepts and transformational learning pedagogies that can be used to engender resolution processes that can be understood as "lines of flight" or flyways. The homing in mechanism that was found in cases of adopted children that were able to find their birth parents, is shown to work as a compass, guiding individual life trajectories. Auto/duoethnography are methods that elicit relational transformation while contributing to the development of conflict wisdom. Transformagram Portfolios incorporating these approaches were designed to teach courses within the Cultural and Social Department at Creighton University. Writing conflict and illness narratives elevated personal questing to art form by using future forming research methods to beautify story mandalas. Auto/duoethnography can be developed as an effective conflict resolution tool in response to current "glocal" challenges. Transformational pedagogies have facetted a holistic lens by creating reflexive space. In this context, mediatorship is a vessel of exploration that transports conflict resolution practices, while orienting experiential learning that interconnects the inner and outer journey. Transformagram Portfolios use auto/duoethnography to nurture narrative coherency, living wisdom, and generativity by scaffolding learning processes that provide an innovative pedagogical instrument for conflict resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores whether the frequency and diversity of behaviours observed during contact visits may be used as indicators of visit quality. We observed 20 contact visits and quantified the frequency and diversity of behaviours for both parent and child, classified as positive or negative with respect to the child's well‐being. Quality of visits was classified based on a list of parent and child behaviours and two indicators (diversity and frequency), to create two observational checklists and calculate an overall quality index. This observational tool will enable identification of areas where birth parents or their child require additional support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the profound effect of fluorine‐containing groups in improving the chemical, physical, and biological properties of the parent compound, the fluorine‐containing groups were receiving increasing attention in the medicinal, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and material sciences. Unlike well‐developed trifluoromethylation and difluoromethylation reactions, the efficient and mild methods for rapid introduction of CF2Me are still underdeveloped, despite their important applications in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. This concept describes recent progress in difluoroethylation functionalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Despite the emphasis on sensory dysfunction phenotypes in the revised diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there has been limited research, particularly in the field of neurobiology, investigating the concordance in sensory features between individuals with ASD and their genetic relatives. Therefore, our objective was to examine whether neurobehavioral sensory patterns could serve as endophenotypic markers for ASD. Methods: We combined questionnaire‐ and lab‐based sensory evaluations with sensory fMRI measures to examine the patterns of sensory responsivity in 30 clinically diagnosed with ASD, 26 matched controls (CON), and 48 biological parents for both groups (27 parents of individuals with ASD [P‐ASD] and 21 for individuals with CON [P‐CON]). Results: The ASD and P‐ASD groups had higher sensory responsivity and rated sensory stimuli as more unpleasant than the CON and P‐CON groups, respectively. They also exhibited greater hemodynamic responses within the sensory cortices. Overlapping activations were observed within these sensory cortices in the ASD and P‐ASD groups. Using a machine learning approach with robust prediction models across cohorts, we demonstrated that the sensory profile of biological parents accurately predicted the likelihood of their offspring having ASD, achieving a prediction accuracy of 71.4%. Conclusions: These findings provide support for the hereditary basis of sensory alterations in ASD and suggest a potential avenue to improve ASD diagnosis by utilizing the sensory signature of biological parents, especially in families with a high risk of ASD. This approach holds promising prospects for early detection, even before the birth of the offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Filicide is defined as the killing of children from birth to age 18 by a natural or step‐parent. The legal definition of filicide in Korea does not impose such age limits. Although families in contemporary Korea are nuclear in structure, they were multigenerational prior to the industrialisation that occurred during the second half of the twentieth century. While psychiatric and evolutionary theories have been predominantly used in the filicide literature, prior works have neglected to examine how culture shapes violence against one's offspring. This paper explores the offence, offender, and victim characteristics in South Korean filicides (1948–1962) through a content analysis of a major newspaper (Chosun Ilbo). Results indicate that filicides occur in one‐on‐one contexts, primarily carried out by biological parents against their offspring while adoptive children appeared as victims due to the genealogical customs practiced in Korean society. Results indicate that more than 12% of filicide victims are adults. The implications of our findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We examined how adult (step)parent–child closeness is associated to the quality of other ties in the family network (i.e., parent–child dyads, parent–parent dyads). Background: Although stepfamily scholars often assume that there are associations between all dyads within a family unit, more research needs to examine this premise empirically. Method: We used survey data on adult children and their relationships with mothers, fathers, stepfathers, and stepmothers (N = 1,022). Two methods—non‐recursive structural equation modeling (SEM), and cross‐lagged SEM—were applied to consider the bidirectionality between ties. Results: Those who are close to their biological parent are often also close to the new partner/stepparent, which is interpreted as a household effect. Moreover, the tie between the divorced parents is strongly associated to father–child closeness but less to mother–child closeness. We also found that mother–stepmother closeness and stepmother–child closeness are correlated, as are father–stepfather closeness and stepfather–child closeness. Our findings suggested weak substitution between father–child and stepfather–child closeness (a small but significant negative association). Gender differences are visible, as ties between biological mothers and adult children seemed more independent of the family system than other parent–child ties. Conclusions: Shifts in one (step)family dyad seem to create a spillover effect, also affecting other family dyads. Implications: For family practitioners or counselors, it is more efficient to consider the embeddedness of parent–child closeness within the family system than to focus on one constituent member or dyad of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to examine whether child genetic risk for obesity and temperament (i.e., negative affectivity, effortful control) accounted for stability versus lability in children's weight status (BMI z score) over time. Methods: A total of 561 adopted children (42% female; 56% Caucasian, 13% African American, 11% Latino, and 20% other) and their birth and adoptive parents were followed from birth to age 9 years. The multilevel location‐scale model was used to examine whether child genetic risk for obesity and temperament were related to differences in level and lability in child BMI z scores over time. Results: For the full sample, higher levels of child negative affectivity were associated with greater BMI z score lability, whereas higher levels of effortful control and children's mean‐level BMI z scores were related to less lability across childhood. Additional analyses examined associations within groups of children with healthy versus overweight/obesity weight statuses. Within the healthy weight status group only, better effortful control was associated with more stable BMI z scores, whereas genetic risk for higher BMI was associated with more labile BMI z scores. Conclusions: These findings provide insights into factors that can be harnessed to redirect unhealthy trajectories as well as factors that may challenge redirection or maintain a healthy trajectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A heightened sensitivity to unpredictable threat has been identified as a potential transdiagnostic mechanism of psychopathology. The majority of supporting research has been conducted in adults, and it is unclear whether psychophysiological indicators of sensitivity to unpredictable threat are comparable in youth during developmental periods associated with increased risk for psychopathology. In addition, no studies have examined whether sensitivity to unpredictable threat is correlated between parents and their offspring. The present study examined defensive motivation (startle reflex) and attentional engagement (probe N100, P300) in anticipation of predictable and unpredictable threat in a sample of 15‐year‐old adolescents (N = 395) and a biological parent (N = 379). Adolescents, compared to their parents, demonstrated greater startle potentiation and probe N100 enhancement in anticipation of unpredictable threat. In addition, overall startle potentiation in anticipation of threat was correlated between the adolescents and their parents. Adolescence is a key developmental period characterized by heightened defensive motivation and attentional engagement in anticipation of both predictable and unpredictable threat. Sensitivity to threat might index is one mechanism of vulnerability that is at least partially shared between parents and their offspring. This is the first family study to compare multiple psychophysiological indicators of sensitivity to unpredictable threat between adolescents and their biological parents. Adolescents, relative to their parents, demonstrate greater defensive motivation and early attentional engagement in anticipation of unpredictable threat. Moreover, the study provides novel evidence that defensive motivation in anticipation of threat is positively correlated between adolescents and their parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tryptophan (Trp) plays a unique role in peptides and proteins as its indole ring possesses an electron‐rich character and an N1−H hydrogen‐bond donor. Because of its non‐rotationally symmetric structure, synthetic alterations of the orientation of the indole ring would modulate the intrinsic structures and functions of peptides and proteins. Here we developed synthetic routes to the five Trp isomers in which the C3‐substitution of the indole ring was changed to the C2/4/5/6/7‐substitutions, and applied the five monomers to Fmoc‐based solid‐phase peptide synthesis. Specifically, the five monomers were prepared via Negishi cross‐coupling reactions of C2/4/5/6/7‐iodoindoles. To demonstrate the applicability of the monomers to the solid‐phase synthesis, the five Trp isomers of macrocyclic antibiotic lysocin E were selected as target molecules and synthesized through peptide elongation, on‐resin macrocyclization, and global deprotection. The Trp isomers displayed markedly weaker antibacterial activity than the parent natural product, revealing the biological importance of the precise three‐dimensional shape of the original Trp residue of lysocin E. The present methods for the preparation and application of these five Trp isomers provide a new strategy for analyzing and modifying the specific functions of numerous Trp‐containing peptides and proteins beyond this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libertarianism enshrines individual autonomy as its central political principle, but it has been criticized for applying this principle selectively. Reproductive decisions can stress the concept of individual autonomy by placing into conflict the claimed rights of each biological parent to choose. Two studies (N1 = 296; N2 = 580) show that among U.S. participants, libertarianism is associated with opposition to women's reproductive autonomy and support for men's. Libertarianism was associated with opposition to abortion rights and support for men's right both to prevent women from having abortions (male veto) and to withdraw financial support for a child when women refuse to terminate the pregnancy (financial abortion). Adjusting for the association between libertarianism and conservatism, only the relationship with opposition to abortion rights was rendered nonsignificant. Mediation analyses suggest that hostile sexism may account for libertarians' selective support for men's and not women's reproductive autonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building Blocks (BB) is a psychoanalytically‐informed mentalization‐based dyadic approach addressing attachment deficits in birth parents and their children in the foster care system. Research shows that secure attachment depends on the caregiver's emotional availability and sensitivity to be a secure base for the child. Typically, different approaches are offered to improve parent behavior without focusing on building more securely attached relationships. In order to heal disrupted attachment between children in care and biological parents many didn't "know," attention to unconscious processes and trauma was needed. I describe how BB came to be a preferred treatment by caseworkers and clinicians working in a foster care agency. Having articulated our relationship‐based, non‐didactic approach, and having funding for it, was not enough to bring this method into a system that focused on external behavior over internal processes. A larger systems approach was utilized including meeting with foster care personnel, providing training and supervision to clinicians, and getting parents to commit to the "new" dyadic therapy. Two cases are presented highlighting the impact that Nested Mentalization and Reflective Supervision had on the agency, the families, and its therapists and caseworkers. The BB Program has helped scores of families to better know each other, develop more secure attachments and interrupt the transmission of trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was undertaken to characterize the relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and cognitive function as well as clinical, sociodemographic, and family factors in children with new onset idiopathic epilepsy and healthy controls. Methods: Research participants were 288 children aged 8–18 years with recent onset epilepsy (CWE; n = 182; mean age = 12.2 ±3.2 years), healthy first‐degree cousin controls (HC; n = 106; mean age = 12.5±3.0), and one biological or adopted parent per child (n = 279). All participants were administered a comprehensive neuropsychological battery (reasoning, language, memory, executive function, motor function, and academic achievement). Family residential addresses were entered into the Neighborhood Atlas to determine each family's Area Deprivation Index (ADI), a metric used to quantify income, education, employment, and housing quality. A combination of parametric and nonparametric (χ2) tests examined the effect of ADI by group (epilepsy and controls) across cognitive, academic, clinical, and family factors. Results: Disadvantage (ADI) was equally distributed between groups (p =.63). For CWE, high disadvantage was associated with lower overall intellectual quotient (IQ; p =.04), visual naming/expressive language (p =.03), phonemic (letter) fluency (p <.01), passive inattention (omission errors; p =.03), delayed verbal recall (p =.04), and dominant fine motor dexterity and speed (p <.01). Cognitive status of the HC group did not differ by level of disadvantage (p =.40). CWE exhibited greater academic difficulties in comparison to HC (p <.001), which were exacerbated by disadvantage in CWE (p =.02) but not HC (p <.05). High disadvantage was associated with a threefold risk for academic challenges prior to epilepsy onset (odds ratio = 3.31, p =.024). Significance: Socioeconomic hardship (increased neighborhood disadvantage) exerts a significant adverse impact on the cognitive and academic status of youth with new and recent onset epilepsies, an impact that needs to be incorporated into etiological models of the neurobehavioral comorbidities of epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 2000 and 2015, the U.S. deported unprecedented numbers of Mexican immigrants. During the same period, the population of U.S.‐born children living in Mexico doubled in size. This study estimates the number of U.S.‐born children who emigrated to Mexico from the United States in order to accompany a deported parent: de facto deported children. The data come from the Mexican National Survey of Demographic Dynamics (ENADID), a national probability sample of households in Mexico collected in 2014 and 2018. About one in six U.S.‐born children living in Mexico in 2014/2018, amounting to an estimated 80,000–100,000 U.S.‐born children, were there because the U.S. government deported one or both of their parents. De facto deported U.S.‐born children are socioeconomically disadvantaged in Mexico compared to U.S.‐born children whose parents migrate to Mexico for other reasons. Women are overrepresented among deported people who bring their U.S.‐born children to Mexico, and when deported mothers bring their children, they are far less likely to do so with a partner than are deported fathers. U.S. policy should consider the interests of U.S. citizen children forced to live abroad when redesigning immigration and child welfare policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ko143 is a tetracyclic, synthetic analog of the fungal metabolite fumitremorgin C. Ko143 is a potent and specific inhibitor of the membrane‐bound efflux transporter ABCG2, and it reverses ABCG2‐mediated drug resistance in cancer cells. Here, we describe an improved synthesis of Ko143 that relies on the highly selective, substrate‐controlled reduction of an imine that is formed in a Bischler–Napieralski reaction with the amide derived from 6‐methoxy‐l‐tryptophan methyl ester and isovaleric acid as a key step. We have also developed a new route to 6‐methoxy‐l‐tryptophan methyl ester from Cbz‐l‐aspartic acid methyl ester, m‐anisidine and differently substituted benzaldehydes. With p‐nitrobenzaldehyde as one of the starting materials, this route gave access to 6‐methoxy‐l‐tryptophan methyl ester in five steps and 20 % overall yield; however, it is less efficient than a previously reported synthesis of 6‐methoxy‐l‐tryptophan methyl ester from 6‐methoxy indole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study used a screen‐based perceptual matching task to see how non‐parents, people trying to get pregnant, and those who had given birth prioritised shapes and labels relating to self or infant conditions. Methods: The study took place at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark from December 2016 to November 2021. Recruitment methods included family planning clinics, social media, online recruitment systems and local bulletin boards. The modified perceptual matching task linked five shapes to five labels, including self and infant. Results: We found that 67 males and females with a mean age of 24.4 ± 3 years, who had no plans to become parents in the near future, reacted faster and more accurately to self‐shapes and labels (p < 0.001), which validated the experiment. The 56 participants aged 27.1 ± 4.4 years who were actively trying to become parents showed no statistically significant prioritisation. A subset of 21 participants aged 28.7 ± 4.4 years showed faster response times to infant than self‐shapes and labels 1 year after giving birth (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Healthy first‐time parents showed faster reactions to infant than self‐conditions 1 year after giving birth, in contrast to the other two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Correction to The effect of fathers' involvement and supportive coparenting partnership on Taiwanese new mothers' postpartum adjustment" by Wu, Chou, Cheng, and Tu discusses a correction in Table 2 regarding the correlations reported for Parenting self-efficacy and Postpartum depressed mood. The correction clarifies that the placement of columns in the table was switched, and provides the accurate correlations for the variables. This correction ensures the accuracy of the study's findings on the impact of fathers' involvement and coparenting partnership on Taiwanese new mothers' postpartum adjustment. [Extracted from the article]

Difficulty learning to read presents many struggles for children and their families, and evaluation of parental perspectives of the dyslexia assessment process within the United States represents an under‐researched area. This study sought to investigate how parental perspectives change during their child's dyslexia assessment. Six hundred one parents of children experiencing reading difficulties provided both Likert scale and open‐ended responses to an online survey regarding their experiences throughout the dyslexia assessment and diagnosis process. Participants' responses were analyzed through thematic coding, sentiment analysis, and regression analysis. Parent perspectives were largely positive but revealed three important areas for investigation: shift in parental perspectives and lifestyles, assessment timelines, and parental advocacy and support. The assessment timeline predicted parental satisfaction. Results indicate a desire for clarity in the assessment process and ongoing needs for advocacy, support, and intervention. Implications for educational assessments, parent/family support, and suggestions for future research are discussed. Practitioner points: Parent perceptions of the dyslexia diagnosis process were largely positive and improved with diagnosis.Negative parent perceptions and dissatisfaction were related to the timeline and stress involved with the process.Dyslexia diagnosis was related to significant lifestyle changes for the child and family, indicating a need for advocacy and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic studies show that children's reading achievement is in part genetically influenced, and intervention studies show that reading achievement can be increased by environmental interventions. However, correlational and mean‐level analytic strategies are rarely integrated into achievement research, potentially leading to misinterpretation of results. The parent‐offspring adoption design offers a novel opportunity to examine the independent and joint roles of genetic and rearing environmental contributions. The sample included 344 adopted children in first grade and their biological and adoptive parents. Results indicated that adoptees' reading scores were correlated with their biological parents' scores, but not with their adoptive parents' scores, suggesting genetic influences. In addition, examination of mean scores indicated that adoptees' scores were significantly greater than their biological parents' (p's <.001) for all subtests, suggesting promotive effects of the rearing environment. This pattern was present even when biological parents scored >1 standard deviation below the biological parent mean on achievement. We investigated reading achievement in first‐grade adopted children. Adoptees with higher reading scores had biological parents with higher reading achievement, but this association between parent and child was not present between adoptee and adoptive parents. However, adoptees' reading scores were more similar in mean value to their adoptive parents' scores than to their biological parents'. The findings underscore that childhood reading is genetically influenced, while also showing that one's rearing environment has an important effect that transcends genetic predispositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adoption is the preferred form of permanence for young children in care in England who are unable to live with their birth family or relatives. However, there have been growing concerns about the use of adoption, particularly in cases where birth parents have not given their consent. Despite concerns, there has been little research into birth parents' views of consent in adoption. This article reports on the experiences of 12 birth mothers and 2 birth fathers whose children were adopted from care in England. Birth parents' views on consent changed throughout the adoption process. They reported that care proceedings could be traumatic, and they did not always understand what was happening. There was a disparity in the quality of legal advice and social work support that birth parents received. The findings raise questions for practice around the level of support birth parents receive during and after care proceedings and highlight the importance of good quality support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) were legitimized in Iran through the rulings (fatwa) of some of the Shia Islamic jurists, who, in allowing third‐party gamete donation, specified that the resulting child will belong to its biological parent from whom it will take its lineage and inherit. However, three decades on and in practice, the recipients of gamete are increasingly resorting to seeking third‐party gamete from anonymous donors, an act which defies the above rulings. Currently, a proposal including legalizing anonymous gamete donation is examined by the parliament and the question of anonymity remains in flux. This article examines the factors leading to the emergence of the preference by both the infertile couples and the practitioners for anonymous donation. It further examines the implications of anonymous gamete donation for lineage and biological relatedness, which form the cornerstone of family and kinship, and which are paramount in Islam and in Iranian culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 17–22 July 2021, Henan Province experienced the most severe torrential rainfall event since 1975 with a maximum hourly precipitation of 201.9 mm appeared in Zhengzhou, which was the largest hourly rainfall thus far observed by meteorological observation stations over the Chinese Mainland. The appearance of a long‐lived (21‐hr) northwestward‐moving mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) and its interaction with its parent mesoscale convective system (MCS) was crucial to produce the extremely strong heavy rainfall in Zhengzhou. The backward trajectory analysis indicates that air particles in the lower troposphere beneath the MCS over Henan contributed mostly to the MCV's formation. These air particles experienced notable ascending motions and condensation with their strong cyclonic vorticity mostly produced 1‐hr before the MCV's formation. Vorticity budget denotes that strong upward transport of cyclonic vorticity and convergence‐related vertical stretching, both of which were mainly due to convection associated with the parent MCS, acted as dominant factors for the MCV's formation. After formation, the MCV first coupled with its parent MCS, during which its intensity, thickness, and precipitation were all maximized; then, it moved northwestward and decoupled from the MCS, during which it weakened rapidly and finally dissipated. Convection‐related upward cyclonic vorticity transport and inward horizontal advection of cyclonic vorticity associated with an inverted trough over the Henan Province dominated the vortex's development/maintenance in the coupling stage; whereas outward horizontal advection of cyclonic vorticity dominated the MCV's dissipation after it completely decoupled from its parent MCS. These differ notably from the findings documented in previous MCV‐related literature. Key Points: A long‐lived mesoscale vortex was crucial to produce the hourly precipitation of 201.9 mm that appeared in Zhengzhou on 20 July 2021The extremely strong hourly precipitation appeared in the stage when the vortex interacted with its parent mesoscale convective systemConvection‐related upward and net‐import horizontal transport of cyclonic vorticity dominated the vortex's development [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For parents, rearing offspring together is far from a purely cooperative exercise, as a conflict of interest ('sexual conflict') exists over their optimum level of care. Recent theory emphasizes that sexual conflict can be evolutionarily resolved, and complete parental cooperation can occur, if parents directly respond ('negotiate') to each other and coordinate their level of care. Despite numerous experiments showing that parents are responsive to each other, we still lack empirical evidence of the behavioural mechanisms by which this negotiation occurs.In this study, we investigated the spatio‐temporal coordination of parental provisioning behaviour as a possible mechanism of negotiation over parental care.We deployed an automated radiotracking technology to track the provisioning activity of wild great tit Parus major pairs during chick rearing. Our analyses represent the first detailed spatial and temporal description of foraging coordination in songbird parents in a natural context.We demonstrate that the foraging behaviour of the two parents is highly coordinated in space and time, with parents changing their foraging locations in conjunction with their partners' movements.Therefore, foraging coordination could be a mechanism by which parents directly monitor and respond to each other's level of investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple attempts have been made to address the perspectives of biological parents in cases of foster care. Despite this, there is a lack of research that adequately reflects these parents' perspectives on parenthood following an out‐of‐home placement. In addition, Western welfare systems tend to be primarily concerned with the rights of children and their foster parents. As we know little about how parenthood takes shape in the day‐to‐day practice of foster care, this study addresses what can be a possible (new) role for biological parents when an out‐of‐home placement is required. Qualitative research was performed by means of an interview guide, divided in (sub)themes, with 13 biological parents whose children were still in foster care. The thematic analysis of the interviews revealed three main topics: the sudden entry into foster care, the foster care process and feeling like a parent. Our analysis revealed that parents, despite their own reservations or objections about foster care, tend to commemorate or redefine their parenting role after their child(ren) have been placed out of home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]