Functional connectivity in the developing language network in 4-year-old children predicts future reading ability.

Understanding how pre-literate children's language abilities and neural function relate to future reading ability is important for identifying children who may be at-risk for reading problems. Pre-literate children are already proficient users of spoken language and their developing brain networks for language become highly overlapping with brain networks that emerge during literacy acquisition. In the present longitudinal study, we examined language abilities, and neural activation and connectivity within the language network in pre-literate children (mean age = 4.2 years). We tested how language abilities, brain activation, and connectivity predict children's reading abilities 1 year later (mean age = 5.2 years). At Time 1, children (n = 37) participated in a functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) experiment of speech processing (listening to words and pseudowords) and completed a standardized battery of language and cognitive assessments. At Time 2, children (n = 28) completed standardized reading assessments. Using psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analyses, we observed significant connectivity between the left IFG and right STG in pre-literate children, which was modulated by task (i.e., listening to words). Neural activation in left IFG and STG and increased task-modulated connectivity between the left IFG and right STG was predictive of multiple reading outcomes. Increased connectivity was associated later with increased reading ability.

Influences of digital media use on children and adolescents with ADHD during COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influences of digital media use on the core symptoms, emotional state, life events, learning motivation, executive function (EF) and family environment of children and adolescents diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHOD: A total of 192 participants aged 8-16 years who met the diagnostic criteria for ADHD were included in the study. Children scoring higher than predetermined cut-off point in self-rating questionnaires for problematic mobile phone use (SQPMPU) or Young's internet addiction test (IAT), were defined as ADHD with problematic digital media use (PDMU), otherwise were defined as ADHD without PDMU. The differences between the two groups in ADHD symptoms, EF, anxiety and depression, stress from life events, learning motivation and family environment were compared respectively. RESULTS: When compared with ADHD group without PDMU, the group with PDMU showed significant worse symptoms of inattention, oppositional defiant, behavior and emotional problems by Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Rating Scale (SNAP), more self-reported anxiety by screening child anxiety-related emotional disorders (SCARED) and depression by depression self-rating scale for children (DSRSC), more severe EF deficits by behavior rating scale of executive function (BRIEF), more stress from life events by adolescent self-rating life events checklist (ASLEC), lower learning motivation by students learning motivation scale (SLMS), and more impairment on cohesion by Chinese version of family environment scale (FES-CV). The ADHD with PDMU group spent significantly more time on both video game and social media with significantly less time spend on physical exercise as compared to the ADHD without PDMU group. CONCLUSION: The ADHD children with PDMU suffered from more severe core symptoms, negative emotions, EF deficits, damage on family environment, pressure from life events, and a lower motivation to learn. Supervision of digital media usage, especially video game and social media, along with increased physical exercise, is essential to the management of core symptoms and associated problems encountered with ADHD.

Encoding lexical tones in jTRACE: a simulation of monosyllabic spoken word recognition in Mandarin Chinese.

Despite its prevalence as one of the most highly influential models of spoken word recognition, the TRACE model has yet to be extended to consider tonal languages such as Mandarin Chinese. A key reason for this is that the model in its current state does not encode lexical tone. In this report, we present a modified version of the jTRACE model in which we borrowed on its existing architecture to code for Mandarin phonemes and tones. Units are coded in a way that is meant to capture the similarity in timing of access to vowel and tone information that has been observed in previous studies of Mandarin spoken word recognition. We validated the model by first simulating a recent experiment that had used the visual world paradigm to investigate how native Mandarin speakers process monosyllabic Mandarin words (Malins & Joanisse, 2010). We then subsequently simulated two psycholinguistic phenomena: (1) differences in the timing of resolution of tonal contrast pairs, and (2) the interaction between syllable frequency and tonal probability. In all cases, the model gave rise to results comparable to those of published data with human subjects, suggesting that it is a viable working model of spoken word recognition in Mandarin. It is our hope that this tool will be of use to practitioners studying the psycholinguistics of Mandarin Chinese and will help inspire similar models for other tonal languages, such as Cantonese and Thai.

[Effect of Homeobox A13 transfection on epithelial-mesenchymal transition and bone morphogenetic protein-7 expression in kidney tubular epithelial cells].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the transfection of Homeobox A13 (HOXA13) on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the expression of bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) induced by albumin-overload in human kidney tubular epithelial cells (HKCs). METHODS: The cultured HKCs were treated with 20 mg/mL human serum albumin (HSA) for 48 hours. Protein expression of cytokeratin (CK), vimentin and HOXA13 in the HKCs was assessed by Western blot. Protein expression of CK, vimentin, and BMP-7 was also detected in HKCs transfected with lipofectamine contained HOXA13 DNA. RESULTS: HSA induced EMT in HKCs, presented by decreased CK expression (P<0.01) and increased vimentin expression (P<0.01). The up-regulated expression of HOXA13 transfected by lipofectamine inhibited the level of EMT induced by HSA in HKCs (P<0.05). The decreased rate of BMP-7 protein expression induced by HSA was inhibited by over-expressed HOXA13 in HKCs (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Transfection of HOXA13 in HKCs could inhibit the degree of EMT induced by albumin-overload, possibly by increasing BMP-7 expression.

Executive function in children and adolescents with posttraumatic stress disorder 4 and 12 months after the Sichuan earthquake in China.

BACKGROUND: While several studies have found executive function deficits in adults and maltreated children with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there are few data on executive function in children and adolescents with PTSD related to natural disasters. The objective of this study was to test executive function changes over time in children and adolescents with PTSD after a magnitude 8.0 earthquake in Sichuan, China. METHOD: A sample of 34 children and adolescents with diagnosed PTSD following the Sichuan earthquake and 66 matched controls exposed to the same earthquake but without PTSD participated in the study. Executive function was assessed using a battery of interviewer-rated neuropsychological tests and the guardian-rated Behavior Rating Scale of Executive Function (BRIEF) at 4- and 12-month after the earthquake. RESULTS: Children and adolescents with PTSD performed similar to controls in executive function at 4-months after the earthquake. Both groups improved significantly in similar domains of cognition during the following 8 months. The PTSD group exhibited daily deficits in emotional control compared with the controls at the 4-month assessment, but the differences disappeared during the following 8 months. CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents with PTSD related to a natural disaster have deficits only in the emotional control domain of executive function compared with controls exposed to the same disaster, but even these deficits did not persist.

Language as an emergent group-level trait.

Following Smaldino's definition, we claim that language is also an emergent group-level trait, and propose two facets (human groups tend to organize in a way to efficiently trigger language and linguistic interactions can render formation of certain social organization) to verify this statement, both of which also provide a general framework to address the future work about group-level traits.

Noninvasive Transdermal Administration of mRNA Vaccines Encoding Multivalent Neoantigens Effectively Inhibits Melanoma Growth.

It is difficult to obtain specific tumor antigens, which is one of the main obstacles in the development of tumor vaccines. The vaccines containing multivalent antigens are thought to be more effective in antitumor therapy. In this study, a mRNA encoding three neoantigens of melanoma were prepared and encapsulated into the mannosylated chitosan-modified ethosomes (EthsMC) to obtain a multivalent mRNA vaccine (MmRV) for transcutaneous immunization (TCI). MmRV can effectively induce maturation of dendritic cells, with a better performance than mRNA of a single neoantigen. TCI patches (TCIPs) loading MmRV or siRNA against PDL1 (siPDL1) were prepared and applied to the skin of melanoma-bearing mice. The results showed that TCIPs significantly increase the levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-12 in both plasma and tumor tissues, inhibit tumor growth, as well as promote infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the tumor tissues. Furthermore, the combination of MmRV and siPDL1 showed much better antitumor effects than either monotherapy, suggesting a synergistic effect between the vaccine and PDL1 blocker. In addition, the treatment with the TCIPs did not cause damage to the skin, blood, and vital organs of the mice, showing good biosafety. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first to construct a noninvasive TCI system containing MmRV and siPDL1, providing a convenient and promising approach for tumor treatment.

[Expression of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and its clinical significance in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) concentration in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) and its clinical significance. METHODS: Thirty-four children newly diagnosed with INS received oral prednisone for 4 weeks. Patients whose urinary protein did not become negative were classified as steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) group, while those whose urinary protein did become negative were classified as steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) group. Morning midstream urine specimens were collected from all patients before use of prednisone and after 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks of treatment with prednisone. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the urinary NGAL concentration. Meanwhile, urinary creatinine (Cr) concentration was measured, and urinary NGAL concentration in a single urine collection was adjusted according to the urinary Cr excretion. The two groups were compared in terms of urinary NGAL/Cr ratio. RESULTS: Compared with the SRNS group, the SSNS group had significantly decreased urinary NGAL/Cr ratios after 3 and 4 weeks of prednisone treatment (P < 0.05). Compared with the SRNS group, the SSNS group had a significantly decreased urinary ß2-MG/Cr ratio after 4 weeks of prednisone treatment (P < 0.05). In both groups, urinary NGAL/Cr ratio was positively correlated with urinary protein/Cr ratio (r = 0.510, P < 0.01). The results of ROC curve analysis showed when diagnostic cut-off point of urinary NGAL/Cr was 0.043 by 3 weeks after treatment, sensitivity and specificity achieved 100% and 79.2% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary NGAL/Cr ratio remains high in children with SRNS, while this ratio decreases gradually during prednisone treatment in children with SSNS, and it falls ahead of urinary ß2-MG/Cr ratio. These results suggest that dynamic monitoring of urinary NGAL/Cr ratio is useful for early judgment of response to prednisone in patients with INS.

Using process features to investigate scientific problem-solving in large-scale assessments.

Introduction: This study investigates the process data from scientific inquiry tasks of fair tests [requiring test-takers to manipulate a target variable while keeping other(s) constant] and exhaustive tests (requiring test-takers to construct all combinations of given variables) in the National Assessment of Educational Progress program. Methods: We identify significant associations between item scores and temporal features of preparation time, execution time, and mean execution time. Results: Reflecting, respectively, durations of action planning and execution, and execution efficiency, these process features quantitatively differentiate the high- and low-performing students: in the fair tests, high-performing students tended to exhibit shorter execution time than low-performing ones, but in the exhaustive tests, they showed longer execution time; and in both types of tests, high-performing students had shorter mean execution time than low-performing ones. Discussion: This study enriches process features reflecting scientific problem-solving process and competence and sheds important light on how to improve performance in large-scale, online delivered scientific inquiry tasks.

Risk factors for renal outcomes in children with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: a nationwide retrospective study in China.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a life-threatening systemic vasculitis featured by liability to renal involvement. However, there are few studies on the risk factors and predictive models for renal outcomes of AAV in children. METHODS: Data from 179 AAV children in multiple centers between January 2012 and March 2020 were collected retrospectively. The risk factors and predictive model of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in AAV were explored. RESULTS: Renal involvement was the most typical manifestation (95.5%), and the crescent was the predominant pathological lesion (84.9%). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was evaluated in 114 patients, of whom 59.6% developed ESRD, and the median time to ESRD was 3.20 months. The eGFR [P = 0.006, odds ratio (OR) = 0.955, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.924-0.987] and the percentages of global glomerulosclerosis (pGGS; P = 0.018, OR = 1.060, 95% CI = 1.010-1.112) were independent risk factors for ESRD of renal biopsy. Based on the pGGS and eGFR at renal biopsy, we developed three risk grades of ESRD and one predictive model. The Kaplan‒Meier curve indicated that renal outcomes were significantly different in different risk grades (P < 0.001). Compared with serum creatinine at baseline, the predictive model had higher accuracy (0.86 versus 0.58, P < 0.001) and a lower coefficient of variation (0.07 versus 0.92) in external validation. CONCLUSIONS: Renal involvement is the most common manifestation of pediatric AAV in China, of which more than half deteriorates into ESRD. The predictive model based on eGFR at renal biopsy and the pGGS may be stable and accurate in speculating the risk of ESRD in AAV children. Supplementary file 2 (MP4 18937 KB).

Modelling the coevolution of joint attention and language.

Joint attention (JA) is important to many social, communicative activities, including language, and humans exhibit a considerably high level of JA compared with non-human primates. We propose a coevolutionary hypothesis to explain this degree-difference in JA: once JA started to aid linguistic comprehension, along with language evolution, communicative success (CS) during cultural transmission could enhance the levels of JA among language users. We illustrate this hypothesis via a multi-agent computational model, where JA boils down to a genetically transmitted ability to obtain non-linguistic cues aiding comprehension. The simulation results and statistical analysis show that: (i) the level of JA is correlated with the understandability of the emergent language; and (ii) CS can boost an initially low level of JA and 'ratchet' it up to a stable high level. This coevolutionary perspective helps explain the degree-difference in many language-related competences between humans and non-human primates, and reflects the importance of biological evolution, individual learning and cultural transmission to language evolution.

Comparative study of OROS-MPH and atomoxetine on executive function improvement in ADHD: a randomized controlled trial.

This study aimed to compare the effects of osmotic release oral system-methylphenidate (OROS-MPH) and atomoxetine (ATX) on executive function in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by a randomized controlled trial. Subjects who met DSM-IV ADHD criteria were randomized to receive either OROS-MPH or ATX treatment. The doses were titrated to achieve optimal response and then maintained for 4-6 wk. A battery of executive function tests and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) were administered to subjects who completed the dose titration (OROS-MPH, n=85; ATX, n=57) at the pre- and post-treatment periods. Forty-six children without ADHD were recruited as controls. Both OROS-MPH and ATX significantly improved scores in the Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT), digit span, and Stroop color-word task. The scores in RCFT and the reverse digit span were not significantly different from the control group at post-treatment assessment (OROS-MPH=ATX=control, p>0.05), whereas the word interference time of the Stroop test was still more than that of the control group (OROS-MPH=ATX>control, p>0.05). OROS-MPH also significantly improved the total correct response in the verbal fluency test to normal level, and the shifting time in the trail-making test to subnormal level. The current findings suggest both OROS-MPH and ATX improved executive function generally in children and adolescents with ADHD, and could return working memory back to normative performance level.

Segmented relations between online reading behaviors, text properties, and reader-text interactions: An eye-movement experiment.

Purpose: To investigate relations between abilities of readers and properties of words during online sentence reading, we conducted a sentence reading eye-movements study on young adults of English monolinguals from the US, who exhibited a wide scope of individual differences in standard measures of language and literacy skills. Method: We adopted mixed-effects regression models of gaze measures of early and late print processing stages from sentence onset to investigate possible associations between gaze measures, text properties, and skill measures. We also applied segmented linear regressions to detect the dynamics of identified associations. Results: Our study reported significant associations between (a) gaze measures (first-pass reading time, total reading times, and first-pass regression probability) and (b) interactions of lexical properties (word length or position) and skill measures (vocabulary, oral reading fluency, decoding, and verbal working memory), and confirmed a segmented linear dynamics between gaze measures and lexical properties, which was influenced by skill measures. Conclusion: This study extends the previous work on predictive effects of individual language and literacy skills on online reading behavior, enriches the existing methodology exploring the dynamics of associations between lexical properties and eye-movement measures, and stimulates future work investigating factors that shape such dynamics.

Significantly different noun-verb distinguishing mechanisms in written Chinese and Chinese sign language: An event-related potential study of bilingual native signers.

Little is known about: (a) whether bilingual signers possess dissociated neural mechanisms for noun and verb processing in written language (just like native non-signers), or they utilize similar neural mechanisms for those processing (due to general lack of part-of-speech criterion in sign languages); and (b) whether learning a language from another modality (L2) influences corresponding neural mechanism of L1. In order to address these issues, we conducted an electroencephalogram (EEG) based reading comprehension study on bimodal bilinguals, namely Chinese native deaf signers, whose L1 is Chinese Sign Language and L2 is written Chinese. Analyses identified significantly dissociated neural mechanisms in the bilingual signers' written noun and verb processing (which also became more explicit along with increase in their written Chinese understanding levels), but not in their understanding of verbal and nominal meanings in Chinese Sign Language. These findings reveal relevance between modality-based linguistic features and processing mechanisms, which suggests that: processing modality-based features of a language is unlikely affected by learning another language in a different modality; and cross-modal language transfer is subject to modal constraints rather than explicit linguistic features.

Dopamine ß-hydroxylase gene associates with stroop color-word task performance in Han Chinese children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

The cognitive deficits observed in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are candidate endophenotypes for genetic association studies. Dopamine ß-hydroxylase (DßH) converts dopamine to norepinephrine, and its activity is under strong genetic control. Prior studies suggest association between ADHD and DBH gene. The present study examined associations between a putative functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at DBH with performance on the Stroop task in patients with ADHD and in healthy control subjects. A total of 812 Han Chinese youths with DSM-IV ADHD and 233 unaffected controls were included in the study. Comprehensive phenotype data were collected, including performance on a series of Stroop interference tests examining inhibition of response to interfering stimuli. DBH SNP -1021C/T was genotyped using the 5'-exonuclease (TaqMan®) method. Compared to unaffected controls, children with ADHD performed significantly worse in all categories of the Stroop test. In ADHD cases, DBH genotype at -1021C/T significantly associates with reaction times of incongruent color word parts but not the interference times, with TT genotype performing significantly better in both reaction time and interference time than other two genotype groups. DBH genotype did not associate with cognitive performance in unaffected controls or in the combined group. DBH genotype at -1021C/T associates with differences in performance on the Stroop task in children with ADHD.

[Effects of huai qi huang on cytokines Th1, Th2 and Th17 and phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages in rats with asthma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of huai qi huang, a traditional Chinese medicine, on cytokines Th1, Th2 and Th17 levels and alveolar macrophage phagocytosis in asthmatic rats sensitized by ovalbumin (OVA). METHODS: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control, untreated asthma, budesonide-treated, huai qi huang-treated and budesonide+huai qi huang-treated asthma (n=8 each). Asthma was induced by OVA sensitization and challenge. The levels of IL-4, IFN-γ and IL-17 in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured using ELISA. The phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages which were isolated and purified from BALF was evaluated by the colorimetric assay. RESULTS: The levels of IL-4 and IL-17 increased, in contrast, the IFN-γ level decreased in plasma and BALF in the untreated asthma group compared with those in the normal control group. The IFN-γ level in the huai qi huang-treated asthma group was higher than that in the untreated asthma group. The IFN-γ level increased and the IL-17 level decreased more significantly in the budesonide+huai qi huang-treated asthma group when compared with the budesonide and huai qi huang alone treatment groups. The phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages in the untreated asthma group was lower than that in the normal control group. Huai qi huang alone or combined with budesonide increased the phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages compared with the normal control, untreated asthma and budesonid-treated asthma groups. The levels of IFN-γ in plasma and BALF were positively correlated with the phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of IL-4 and IL-17 increase and the IFN-γ level decreases in plasma and BALF, and the phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages decreases in asthmatic rats. Huai qi huang treatment may increase the IFN-γ expression in plasma and BALF and the phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages in asthmatic rats. There is a synergistic effect between huai qi huang and glucocorticoids.

Executive Function Training for Preschool Children With ADHD: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: This randomized controlled study explored the efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability of executive function training (EFT) for preschool children with ADHD. METHOD: The current study design was an 8 week randomized parallel groups, single-blinded trial, using EFT-P. A total of 96 children with an ADHD diagnosis at age 4 to 5 years old were randomized into the intervention group and waitlist group. In the intervention group, 46 out of 50 participants completed the 8-week program, compared with 39 out of 46 in the waiting group. The level of ADHD symptoms and the executive function (EF) were evaluated by both neuropsychological tests from NEPSY Second Edition (NEPSY-II) and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function Preschool version (BRIEF-P). RESULTS: The EFT is feasible to administer and is acceptable for preschool children, with a 93% retention rate. Results showed that following the intervention, the visual-motor precision (p = .024), ADHD diagnostic state (p = .01), and oppositional defiant symptoms (p = .023) improved significantly in preschool children. However, the symptoms of ADHD and other EF evaluations were found to be insignificant. CONCLUSION: The EFT is feasible, acceptable, and potentially effective to reduce symptoms and improve EF for preschool children with ADHD. The next step is to extend the program time and provide more frequent practice of activities between the children and the therapist and/or parent, to improve the effectiveness.

Online Learning Performances of Children and Adolescents With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

To investigate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) core symptoms that impair executive function (EF), emotional state, learning motivation, and the family and parenting environment of children and adolescents with ADHD, both with and without severe difficulties. This will be explored within an online learning environment during the period of COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 183 ADHD children diagnosed using DSM-V criteria were selected and divided into 2 groups high difficulties during online learning (HDOL) and low difficulties during online learning (LDOL) according to the answer of Home Quarantine Investigation of the Pandemic (HQIP). The participants filled out a set of questionnaires to assess their emotional state and learning motivation, and their parents also filled out the questionnaires about ADHD core symptoms, EF, and family and parenting environment. Compared with ADHD children in the LDOL group, the children in the HDOL group had significant symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, oppositional defiant, behavioral and emotional problems according to the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Rating Scale (SNAP). They also had more severely impaired EF according to the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), more difficulties and disturbances in the family by the Chinese version of Family Environment Scale (FES-CV), and lower parenting efficacy and satisfaction by Parenting Sense of Competence (PSOC). With regard to the self-rating questionnaires of children and adolescents, the HDOL group reported lower learning motivation according to the Students Learning Motivation Scale (SLMS). By Screening for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders and Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children (DSRSC), those in HDOL presented more negative emotions. The HDOL group spent significantly more time on both video games and social software per day and significantly less time on multiple activities per week, when compared to those in the LDOL group. This study demonstrated that ADHD children and adolescents with HDOL had more inattention-related behaviors, more severe emotional problems and EF impairment, weaker learning motivation, and poorer family and parenting environment. Meanwhile, digital media use should be supervised and appropriate extracurricular activities should be encouraged by parents and schools.

Callous-unemotional traits in Chinese preschool children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

BACKGROUND: Children with early onset of Callous-Unemotional (CU) traits are at a higher risk for long-term, persistent psychosocial problems. The current study aimed to explore the characteristics of CU in preschool children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the diagnostic significance of CU traits in ADHD. METHODS: A total of 176 preschool children (89 with ADHD and 87 Typically Developing Children [TDC]) aged 4-5 years old were recruited to the study. The participants were assessed for CU traits, emotional and behavioral problems, and how their executive functioning was associated with ADHD using multiple assessment scales. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to assess the incremental validity of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU), adjusting for possible covariates by child's sex, conduct problems, and oppositional defiant symptoms. RESULTS: The results showed that there was a significant difference of ICU scores between the ADHD and TDC groups (F = 30.12, P < 0.001). In terms of callousness, ADHD + Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) group showed a significant high score, and the ADHD only group scored significantly higher than the TDC group (F = 20.42, P < 0.001). The ICU was negatively associated with the prosocial behaviour subscale (γ = - 0.57, P < 0.01) and showed low to moderate positive correlations with emotional and behavioural problems, as well as executive function (γ = 0.24-0.67, P < 0.05). The ICU scores explained 6% of the incremental validity in ADHD symptoms. The diagnostic value of the ICU for ADHD was medium and acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: The current study indicated that early identification of CU traits may help clinicians better understand symptoms and behavioural problems in children with ADHD. CU traits therefore could be considered as a useful assessment tool for ADHD.

The acceptability judgment of Chinese pseudo-modifiers with and without a sentential context.

This paper investigates a particular type of non-canonical construction in Mandarin Chinese displaying an apparent semantics-syntax mismatch. We conducted an acceptability judgment experiment on native Mandarin speakers to evaluate whether such sequences could stand out of context as acceptable fragments. Analyses on experimental results revealed that: both semantic and syntactic acceptability of these sequences were significantly lower than those of canonical nominal classifier phrases; whereas if contextualized, the syntactic acceptability of those sequences became similar to that of canonical nominal phrases. This suggests that the non-canonical sequences are grammatically not on the same footing as canonical expressions; and it is the sentential context that makes these sequences appear structurally well-formed. These findings contribute to general discussions on relationship between constituency and grammaticality by demonstrating the gradient nature of grammaticality, and advocate a dynamic perspective in linguistic analysis that looks at a sequence of words in interaction with other elements in a sentence.