Multiple regression models examined socio-demographic,

clinical, and child’s executive functioning as predictors of parent stress. Differences in parenting stress based on child’s level of executive functioning were evaluated.

Results Parent stress was significantly associated with both performance-based and parent report measures of child executive functioning. Child executive functioning significantly predicted parent stress even after controlling for socio-demographic and clinical factors, and the final model accounted for 42% of the variance in parent stress levels. Significant differences in parent stress were found when comparing higher versus lower levels of child executive functioning. The nature of the executive 3-deazaneplanocin A research buy difficulties, however, appears important, as we found increased parenting stress among children with behavioral regulation problems rather than metacognitive difficulties.

Conclusions The associations between parenting stress and neurocognitive problems found in this study suggest the need for further research, along with professional monitoring and appropriate intervention. this website Copyright (c) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.”
“Probiotics are emerging as functional food supplements that

are known to promote specific health benefits beyond basic nutritional functions. The current study evaluated the ability of Lactobacillus acidophilus LAFTI L10 in modulating gut immune responses in mice. Mice were orally fed with L. acidophilus for 14 days, during which they were immunized twice with 10 mu g of cholera toxin (CT). The immunoglobulin (Ig)-A response to CT in intestinal fluid and serum were significantly enhanced by L. acidophilus. Mice fed with L. acidophilus increased the number of interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 producing cells in the small intestine. Microarray analysis is known to be more sensitive and predictive than functional assays.

For this reason, gene expression analysis was chosen as an alternative approach in determining the immunomodulatory effects of L. acidophilus. Gene expression profiles in small intestine of mice fed with L. acidophilus did not uncover the effects related to immune functions that were detected through functional assays. ATM signaling pathway Therefore, functional assays are superior in predicting the immunomodulatory responses of probiotic bacteria. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanocomposites were mixed by masterbatch blending technique in a single screw extruder machine. The concentrations of Fe3O4 in the iPP/Fe3O4 nanocomposites were 0.5, 1, 2, and 5% by weight. The influence of Fe3O4 nanoparticles on the effectiveness of nucleation, morphology, mode of crystallization, and crystallinity of iPP were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized light microscopy (PLM).