Screaming, yelling, whining, and crying: Categorical and intensity differences in vocal expressions of anger and sadness in children's tantrums.

Young children's temper tantrums offer a unique window into the expression and regulation of strong emotions. Previous work, largely based on parental report, suggests that two emotions, anger and sadness, have different behavioral manifestations and different time courses within tantrums. Individual motor and vocal behaviors, reported by parents, have been interpreted as representing different levels of intensity within each emotion category. The present study used high-fidelity audio recordings to capture the acoustic features of children's vocalizations during tantrums. Results indicated that perceptually categorized screaming, yelling, crying, whining, and fussing each have distinct acoustic features. Screaming and yelling form a group with similar acoustic features while crying, whining, and fussing form a second acoustically related group. Within these groups, screaming may reflect a higher intensity of anger than yelling while fussing, whining, and crying may reflect an increasing intensity of sadness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prone position favors motor development of infants

OBJECTIVE: To determine the motor development in infants sleeping in the supine position compared to infants sleeping in the prone position, and to compare the levels of motor development of infants playing only in the supine position and of infants playing in the prone position as well. DESIGN: Prospective blinded comparing study. SETTING: Department of Physical Therapy, Maasziekenhuis, Boxmeer, the Netherlands. METHODS: Various measuring instruments were used in the home environment to determine the levels of motor development at the age of 5 months of 21 healthy infants born at term selected from a group of 160 infants attending the infant welfare clinic. RESULTS: Infants sleeping in the prone position (n = 8) showed a higher motor development than infants sleeping in the supine position (n = 13). Infants playing in the prone and supine position (n = 5) had a higher motor development than infants who played exclusively in the supine position (n = 15). CONCLUSION: Sleeping and playing in the prone position was accompanied by a higher motor development in healthy mature-born infants at the age of 5 months.     

Retinopathy of prematurity screening, stress related responses, the role of nesting

AIMS/BACKGROUND: In a prospective study the degree of distress caused by retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening in a cohort of preterm infants was assessed and the modifying effects of nesting in reducing their discomfort was evaluated. METHODS: 38 preterm infants were included in the study. 19 infants were placed in a nest with boundaries (intervention group) and 19 infants were placed on a cot blanket (control group). Observations were made 2 minutes before, throughout, and 2 minutes after ROP examination. The factors observed were crying responses, neurobehavioural activity, and physiological changes (heart rate, oxygen saturation). Recordings were made using a video camera for crying and neurobehavioural activity and an Oxypleth monitor for heart rate and oxygen saturation. RESULTS: During ROP screening, the total group of 38 infants (nested and non-nested combined) displayed increased neurobehavioural activity (p < 0.01) and crying (p < 0.01). The increased activity and crying coincided with the invasive part of the procedure. The distress caused by ROP screening was significantly less for the nested group compared with the non-nested group for both movement activity (p < 0.01) and crying (p < 0.01). The physiological data, heart rate, and oxygen saturation were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: ROP screening is distressing for preterm infants. Nesting can significantly reduce this discomfort. The findings in this study are of value in designing more optimal ROP examination schedules for infants.     

A caregiver report comparison of temperamental characteristics of Down Syndrome and normal infants.

The temperamental characteristics of Down's syndrome (DS) and nonhandicapped infants were compared using the Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ). 15 parents participating in a longitudinal study of their DS infants responded to a caregiver-report instrument, including the IBQ, at 3-mo intervals during the 1st yr of life. These data were compared to responses of a larger sample of parents of normal infants at 6, 9, and 12 mo of age. Differences at 2 or more ages were found for scales assessing smiling and laughter, duration of orienting, fear (distress and latency in approaching intense or novel stimuli), vocal activity, startle, and motor development. DS Ss had lower scores on smiling and laughter and higher scores on duration of orienting. DS Ss also had lower scores on scales measuring motor development and vocal activity and higher scores on fear and startle. No differences were found in activity level, distress to limitations, or soothability. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Subclinical prenatal iodine deficiency negatively affects infant development in Northern China

Although mild-to-moderate levels of iodine deficiency (ID) have been associated with poor cognitive outcomes in children, little is known about subclinical prenatal ID and infant development. In this study, the association between elevated cord blood thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH, thyrotropin) and infant development was examined in Northern China. Three groups of infants with elevated cord blood TSH were compared with infants with normal TSH levels on an information processing task at 7 mo, and in cognitive and motor developmental assessments at 13 mo. Infants with elevated TSH had poorer information processing skills and lower scores on the cognitive development index. There were no differences in motor abilities. Relationships between socioenvironmental factors and iodine status were assessed. Infants from more rural settings and those whose mothers had completed fewer years of schooling and had lower paying occupations had higher cord blood TSH levels. A regression analysis indicated that maternal education was predictive of cognitive performance among infants with elevated TSH but not control infants. The findings suggest that subclinical prenatal ID has negative effects on infant development and that, in some instances, maternal education may ameliorate these effects.     

Temperament ratings at 2 weeks, 2 months, and 1 year: Differential stablity of activity and emotionality.

To determine the usefulness of a temperament perspective in the study of young infants, the mothers of 36 newborns completed the Rothbart (1978) Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ) approximately at 2 weeks and at 2 months after their infants were born and, again, when their infants reached 1 year of age. Moreover, both mothers and infants were observed at home in interaction at 1 month. IBQ activity level, responsivity, and irritability exhibited stability from 2 weeks to 2 months and from 2 months to 12 months. However, only irritability was stable from 2 weeks to 12 months. Although stability of their rank ordering was apparent, IBQ ratings generally increased by the end of 1 year. Observed infant alertness and crying at 1 month were significantly related to IBQ irritability at the first two times of measurement. In contrast, maternal behaviors were associated with later IBQ estimates. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Systems in development: Motor skill acquisition facilitates three-dimensional object completion.

How do infants learn to perceive the backs of objects that they see only from a limited viewpoint? Infants’ 3-dimensional object completion abilities emerge in conjunction with developing motor skills—independent sitting and visual–manual exploration. Infants at 4.5 to 7.5 months of age (n = 28) were habituated to a limited-view object and tested with volumetrically complete and incomplete (hollow) versions of the same object. Parents reported infants’ sitting experience, and infants’ visual–manual exploration of objects was observed in a structured play session. Infants’ self-sitting experience and visual–manual exploratory skills predicted looking at the novel, incomplete object on the habituation task. Further analyses revealed that self-sitting facilitated infants’ visual inspection of objects while they manipulated them. The results are framed within a developmental systems approach, wherein infants’ sitting skill, multimodal object exploration, and object knowledge are linked in developmental time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Individual differences, daily fluctuations, and developmental changes in amounts of infant waking, fussing, crying, feeding, and sleeping

Measures of the amounts of time infants spent asleep, awake-content, feeding, fussing, and crying at 2, 6, 12, and 40 weeks of age were examined using multilevel analysis. This method enables the proportion of the variance in each behavior due to individual differences to be compared to the proportion due to age changes (development) and to day-to-day fluctuations at each age in the same infants. Day-to-day fluctuations were found to account for the largest proportion of the variance in amounts of sleeping, fussing, and crying (between 44% and 53%), testifying to the importance of instability in these behaviors as a characteristic of infancy. Against this background, both development and individual differences explained substantial proportions of the variance, with a somewhat different picture in each area of behavior. Amounts of waking and feeding were mainly accounted for by development, and no evidence of enduring individual differences was found. For sleeping, development and individual difference each contributed approximately a quarter of the variance, and the amounts infants slept remained moderately stable from 6 weeks to 9 months of age. Crying decreased linearly with age, with development accounting for 38% and individual difference 15% of the variance. Fussing proved a more stable characteristic than crying, and "high fussers" at 6 weeks of age were particularly likely to retain this characteristic at 9 months, whereas amount of crying in the first 3 months did not predict 9-month behavior. The study's clinical, conceptual, and methodological implications are discussed.     

Effect of zinc supplementation on growth and body composition of Ugandan preschool children: a randomized, controlled, intervention trial

BACKGROUND: Despite ample food supplies, the incidence of childhood underweight and stunting remains high in Uganda. Many factors contribute to this situation, but the role of low zinc intakes has not been adequately explored. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to study the effect of zinc supplementation on growth and body composition of preschool children by using the outcome measures of weight, height, and midupper arm circumference (MUAC). DESIGN: The study was randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel, and 8 mo long, and incorporated 6 mo of zinc supplementation. Children (n = 153) aged 55.8 +/- 11.2 mo from 3 randomly selected nursery schools of medium, low, and very low socioeconomic status in a suburb of Kampala took part. The intervention comprised 10 mg Zn (as ZnSO4) or placebo daily in freshly prepared fruit juice, Monday to Friday inclusive. RESULTS: Zinc supplementation increased MUAC by the end of the study (P = 0.029) and led to greater weight gain in children from the school of medium socioeconomic status at 3 and 8 mo (P = 0.019 and P = 0.038, respectively). There was no effect on weight gain of the children from the other schools. Zinc supplementation had no influence on height. Infection rates (of which 82% were recorded as malaria) were lower in the zinc-supplemented group than in control subjects (P = 0.063). CONCLUSIONS: Zinc supplementation may counter the age-related decrease in MUAC often observed in preschool children in developing countries. The study provides evidence that zinc may not be the most limiting nutrient for weight gain in children of poor nutritional status, but may become so as nutritional status improves.     

Daily zinc supplementation effect on zinc deficiency in rats during prolonged restriction of motor activity

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of 47 mg zinc supplementation on deficiency of zinc in rats during 98 d of restriction of motor activity (hypokinesia), which appeared by higher plasma zinc concentration. One Hundred 13-week-old Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 360-390 g were used to perform the studies: They were equally divided into four groups: 1. Unsupplemented control animals (UCA); 2. Unsupplemented hypokinetic animals (UHA); 3. Supplemented control animals (SCA); and 4. Supplemented hypokinetic animals (SHA). For the simulation of the effect of hypokinesia (HK), the UHA and SHA were kept in small individual cages made of wood, which restricted their movements in all directions without hindering food and water intake. The SCA and SHA received daily with their food an additional amount of zinc. Before and during the experimental period of 98 d, plasma, urinary and fecal zinc, balance of zinc, food intake, and body weight were determined at different intervals. In the SHA and UHA, the concentration of zinc in plasma, and the elimination of zinc in urine and feces increased significantly when compared with the SCA and UCA, whereas the balance of zinc was negative. The body weight and food intake decreased significantly in the SHA and UHA when compared with the SCA and UCA. The increased plasma concentration of zinc in both the SHA and UHA groups was in contrast to the observed hypozincnemia during prolonged immobilization as during prolonged hospitalization. This reaction suggests that there may be some other mechanisms that are affecting the process of control and regulation of zinc metabolism during prolonged HK. It was concluded that exposure to prolonged restriction of motor activity of rats induces significant increases in plasma concentration, fecal and urinary elimination of zinc in the presence of negative zinc balance and regardless the daily intake of large amounts of zinc with their food, leading to zinc deficiency.     

Daily dietary intake of copper, zinc, and selenium of exclusively breast-fed infants of middle-class women in Burundi, Africa

Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se) in human milk of middle-class Burundian women during the first 10 mo of lactation have been determined. Wet acid digestion, using nitric and perchloric acids, and atomic absorption spectrometric analysis have been used. Daily intakes have been calculated and proven to decrease from 0.39 +/- 0.05 (colostrum) to 0.16 +/- 0.02 (mature milk), 2.3 +/- 0.3 (colostrum), to 1.2 +/- 0.2 mg (mature milk) and 10.9 +/- 1.5 (colostrum) to 5.3 +/- 0.8 micrograms (mature milk) for Cu, Zn, and Se, respectively. Since values for this African country are nonexistent, intake levels are compared with literature data and found to be somewhat higher than those observed in other poorly nourished countries. The recommended safe and adequate daily intake for infants of 0-6 mo of age, as proposed by the National Research Council of the USA, is only met for Burundian infants < 1 mo of age. The function of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) as essential trace elements has been known for quite a number of years (1). Also, selenium (Se) is a trace element essential for the activity of glutathione peroxidase (2) and type I iodothyronine 5-deiodinase (3). For all three elements, an adequate intake is necessary for satisfactory infant growth and development (4). In view of the almost total lack of relevant data on Burundi (Africa), we have determined Cu, Zn, and Se in human milk of middle-class Burundian women during the first 10 mo of lactation (5). The aim of this study is to assess infants' elemental intake for this country and compare this with literature data on trace elemental intake of exclusively breast-fed infants.     

Attachment security in very low birth weight infants.

34 infants of very low birth weight (VLBW) and a comparison group of 40 full-term infants were observed in the Strange Situation of M. D. Ainsworth et al (1978) at 14 and 19 mo and observed in the home at 14 mo of age, using E. Waters's (1995) Attachment Q-set. Results indicated that at 14 mo VLBW infants were more likely than the full-term infants to be insecurely attached when rated using the Q-set but not when using the Strange Situation. However, at 19 mo VLBW infants were also more likely than full-term infants to be insecurely attached in the Strange Situation assessment. There were no associations between the Q-set and Strange Situation measures of attachment security. These results are discussed in terms of the social-emotional development of VLBW infants. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Infants' sensitivity to effects of gravity on visible object motion.

A preference method probed infants' perception of object motion on an inclined plane. Infants viewed videotaped events in which a ball rolled downward (or upward) while speeding up (or slowing down). The infants were tested with events in which the ball moved in the opposite direction with appropriate or inappropriate acceleration. Infants aged 7 mo, but not 5 mo, looked longer at the test event with inappropriate acceleration, suggesting emerging sensitivity to gravity. A further study tested whether infants appreciate that a stationary object released on an incline moves downward rather than upward; findings again were positive at 7 mo and negative at 5 mo. A final study provided evidence, nevertheless, that 5-mo-old infants discriminate downward from upward motion and relate downward motion in videotaped events to downward motion in live events. Sensitivity to certain effects of gravity appears to develop in infancy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effect of nonnutritive sucking on oxygenation in healthy, crying full-term infants

Crying in healthy, recently born infants has been associated with decreased oxygenation, which may prolong adjustment to extrauterine life. This research investigated the use of nonnutritive sucking (NNS) as an intervention to reduce crying and prevent any decreases in oxygenation that may occur in crying healthy term infants between 9 and 72 hours of life. Twenty-nine experimental group infants, who received a pacifier (NNS) immediately after crying was induced by a heelstick, had statistically significantly higher transcutaneous oxygen tensions (tcPO2S) compared with baseline values than 30 control (ONNS) infants who did not. Infants who received NNS also had higher tcPO2S after crying than infants who did not. NNS, which attenuates crying, may alleviate crying-induced oxygen decreases in healthy, transitional newborn infants.     

Smiling and laughter in infants as a function of level of arousal and cognitive evaluation.

Support was sought for the model developed by M. K. Rothbart (see record 1974-04312-001) to predict occurrences of infants' laughter. The procedure involved playing 10 games of peek-a-boo with 32 infants (10–14 mo). Ss were assigned to 4 conditions in an orthogonal design. Two levels of arousal were obtained by varying direction of movement, and 2 levels of familiarity were used to vary Ss' evaluation. Responses were scored using a continuous scale from crying to laughing. ANOVA showed a significant Arousal by Familiarity interaction, such that the difference between mother and experimenter was only significant with high arousal. Latencies were measured and analyzed with a least squares ANOVA. There was a significant main effect for familiarity, response to the experimenter taking longer. The predictive and heuristic value of Rothbart's model was supported. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hippocampal and cortical activity during sexual behavior in the female rat.

Studied hippocampal and cortical activity during sexual behavior in 6 female albino van Leeuwenhoek-Huis R-strain rats. Hippocampal theta appeared during S's soliciting behavior. High-frequency theta accompanying the male's pursuit slowed when the male mounted the female and then increased in frequency during the brief continuation of lordosis following mounts without vaginal penetration. During prolonged lordosis after intromissions and ejaculations, slow theta continued. No changes in cortical frequencies were observed during mounts, intromissions, or ejaculations. During immobility (standing, sitting, and lying down), hippocampal activity became slow and irregular. High-amplitude hippocampal and, eventually, cortical spindles developed during immobility as sexual exhaustion was approached. Immobility and its accompanying EEG spindling are interpreted as indicative of a sexual satiety or inhibitory process. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Urinary and kidney kallikrein in hypertensive rats

10 Patients with positive orthostatic dysregulation were investigated with regard to venous capacity, heart frequency and arterial blood pressure both lying down and sitting up. The venous capacity was reduced by 14% after dehydroergotamine (DHE) in the lying position, which is an expression of increased venous tone. There is no change in venous capacity following the administration of beta blockers in the lying position. Under orthostatic conditions beta blockers bring about an approximate normalization of the venous capacity reaction, whereas the abnormal response following placebo administration is only slightly altered by DHE.     

Mothers' emotional reactions to crying pose risk for subsequent attachment insecurity.

Links between maternal emotional reactions to crying (anger and anxiety) and infant attachment security were examined in 119 mother-infant dyads. Mothers rated the intensity of their emotional responses to videotapes of crying infants prenatally. Maternal sensitivity was observed during infant exposure to emotion eliciting tasks at six and 16 months postpartum and mothers' self-reported on their responses to their infant's negative emotions at 16 months. Infant attachment security was assessed using the Strange Situation at 16 months postpartum. Results indicated that observed sensitivity was associated with fewer avoidant and resistant behaviors and prenatal maternal anger and anxiety in response to infant crying predicted the developing attachment system independent of observed sensitivity, but in different ways. Maternal anxiety in response to crying was positively associated with resistant behaviors as a direct effect. Maternal anger in response to crying was associated with avoidant behaviors indirectly through mothers' self-reported punitive and minimizing responses to infant distress at 16 months. Theoretical, applied, and methodological implications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of calcium supplementation and lactation on iron status

Calcium has been shown to inhibit iron absorption. The consequences of chronic calcium supplementation on iron status are unclear, however. As part of a randomized calcium-supplementation trial in lactating and nonlactating women in the postpartum period, we determined whether long-term calcium supplementation and lactation status affected iron stores as measured by serum ferritin concentrations. Subjects (95 lactating and 92 nonlactating) were enrolled at approximately 6 mo postpartum and then randomly assigned to receive either 500 mg Ca as calcium carbonate or a placebo twice daily with meals for 6 mo. Lactating women weaned their infants approximately 2 mo after enrollment (ie, approximately 8 mo postpartum). Calcium supplementation had no effect on serum ferritin concentrations. At the end of the study, geometric mean serum ferritin concentrations were 28.4 microg/L in the calcium-supplemented group and 27.5 microg/L in the placebo group (P > 0.5). Lactation status was significantly related to serum ferritin concentrations. At baseline, serum ferritin concentrations were higher in lactating women than in nonlactating women (47.7 compared with 31.5 microg/L, P < 0.001). In lactating women, serum ferritin concentrations decreased by a mean of 17 microg/L after weaning. By 12 mo postpartum, mean serum ferritin concentrations in women who were previously lactating were not significantly higher than those of nonlactating women (30.5 compared with 25.5 microg/L). These findings provide reassurance that long-term calcium supplementation does not impair iron stores. Furthermore, lactation status should be considered when assessing iron nutriture of women and determinants of iron status in populations.     

PCR-RFLP pattern of three kinds of Metagonimus in Korea

Nicotinic acid has functional groups capable of forming complexes with trace metals. The present study examines the effect of nicotinic acid supplementation on absorption and utilization of zinc and iron. In vitro zinc uptake by human erythrocytes was studied using blood samples of 10 healthy subjects. It was found that 8 mumoles nicotinic acid or NADP increased 65Zn uptake by 38.9% and 43.1% in fasting, and by 70.9% and 28.1% in postprandial conditions. In animal experiments, nicotinic acid supplementation to finger millet based diet resulted in significant enhancement of percent zinc absorption, liver zinc and growth of weanling mice (P < 0.05). When mice were fed with nicotinic acid-deficient, -adequate and -excess synthetic diets for four weeks it was observed that, in comparison with the nicotinic acid-deficient diet, percent zinc absorption, intestinal zinc, percent haeomoglobin and liver iron increased significantly under nicotinic acid-adequate and -excess conditions. The results obtained suggested that nicotinic acid, in addition to its known effect on growth and metabolism, may be playing an important role in enhancing zinc and iron utilization.