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The aim of this research is to determine the antecedents that cause domestic disputes to devolve into high conflict domestic disputes (HCDs) in couples with children. Little is known about how antecedents can cause conflict to progress from low to high levels, comprehensive assessment of existing and potential conflicts, or the effectiveness of interventions that may help couples in HCDs. Using a qualitative, grounded theory approach, a theory that identifies the antecedents that cause regular conflict to devolve into a HCD was developed. This theory increases understanding of early identification of antecedents, and the use of proactive and targeted interventions to specifically address these antecedents could help reduce or eliminate HCDs by allowing the root cause of the conflict to be addressed before it escalates to high conflict. The purposes of this study were, therefore, to (1) explore the perceptions of family counselors about assessment of and interventions for antecedents that can cause conflicts to progress to HCDs in couples with children and (2) develop a conceptual framework and theory to explain how antecedents can create barriers to conflict resolution and describe a process for decreasing the potential for the development or continuation of HCDs in couples with children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The use of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) has become widespread due to its specificity, sensitivity and apparent ease of use. However, experimental error can be introduced at many stages during sample processing and analysis, and for this reason qPCR data are often normalised to an internal reference gene. The present study used three freely available algorithms (GeNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper) to assess the stability of hepatically expressed candidate reference genes (Hprt1, Tbp, Ef1α and β-tubulin) in two experiments. In the first, female Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) broodstock of different ages were reared at either 14 or 22°C for an entire reproductive season, therefore a reference gene that does not respond to thermal challenge or reproductive condition was sought. In the second, estrogen treated juvenile salmon were maintained at the same temperatures for 14 days and a reference gene that does not respond to temperature or estrogen was required. Additionally, we performed independent statistic analysis to validate the outputs obtained from the program based analysis. Results Based on the independent statistical analysis performed the stability of the genes tested was Tbp > Ef1α > Hprt1 > β-tubulin for the temperature/reproductive development experiment and Ef1α > Hprt1 > Tbp for the estrogen administration experiment (β-tubulin was not analysed). Results from the algorithms tested were quite ambiguous for both experiments; however all programs consistently identified the least stable candidate gene. BestKeeper provided rankings that were consistent with the independent analysis for both experiments. When an inappropriate candidate reference gene was used to normalise the expression of a hepatically expressed target gene, the ability to detect treatment-dependent changes in target gene expression was lost for multiple groups in both experiments. Conclusions We have highlighted the need to independently validate the results of reference gene selection programs. In addition, we have provided a reference point for those wishing to study the effects of thermal challenge and/or hormonal treatment on gene stability in Atlantic salmon and other teleost species.

The giant grouper Epinephelus lanceolatus is an ecologically vulnerable species with high market demand. However, efforts to improve larval husbandry are hindered by a lack of knowledge surrounding larval developmental physiology. To address this shortfall, a transcriptomic approach was applied to larvae between 1 and 14 days post hatch (dph) to characterise the molecular ontogenesis of genes that influence appetite and digestion. Appetite regulating factors were detected from 1 dph, including neuropeptide Y, nesfatin‐1, cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript, cholecystokinin and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide and the expression level of several genes changed sharply with the onset of exogenous feeding. The level of expression for proteases, chitinases, lipases and amylases typically followed one of two expression patterns, a general increase as development progressed, or an inverted U‐shape with maximal expression at c. 6 dph. Similarly, the tendency among both expression patterns was for the level of expression to increase around the time of mouth‐opening. There was also evidence to suggest the presence of putative isoforms for several digestion‐related genes. We have provided an insight into appetite‐regulation and digestive processes in groupers during early larval development and have developed a transcriptomic database that will aid future efforts to rear this species in an aquaculture setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]