Publications by authors named "N N Dodge"
Exposure to lead, mercury, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been causally linked to spatial memory deficits and hippocampal changes in animal models. The Inuit community in Northern Canada is exposed to higher concentrations of these contaminants compared to the general population. This study aimed to 1) investigate associations between prenatal and current contaminant exposures and medial temporal brain volumes in Inuit late adolescents; 2) examine the relationship between these brain structures and spatial memory; and 3) assess the mediating role of brain structures in the association between contaminant exposure and spatial memory.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Ancestrally admixed populations, like the South African Cape Coloured (SACC), are underrepresented in genetic studies of complex diseases, which typically focus on European-descent populations, leading to a lack of understanding of their unique genetic features.
- The study examined the genetic admixture and its associations with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) in the SACC population, using data from two longitudinal birth cohorts that looked at prenatal alcohol exposure effects on development.
- Findings revealed a high prevalence of rare genetic variants and significant associations between ancestry profiles and FASD outcomes, suggesting that the SACC population could provide insights for identifying disease-associated genetic loci in FASD and potentially other conditions.
The looming climate crisis has prompted an ever-growing interest in cyanobacteria due to their potential as sustainable production platforms for the synthesis of energy carriers and value-added chemicals from CO and sunlight. Nonetheless, cyanobacteria are yet to compete with heterotrophic systems in terms of space-time yields and consequently production costs. One major drawback leading to the low production performance observed in cyanobacteria is the limited ability to utilize the full capacity of the photosynthetic apparatus and its associated systems, i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAncestrally admixed populations are underrepresented in genetic studies of complex diseases, which are still dominated by European-descent populations. This is relevant not only from a representation standpoint but also because of admixed populations' unique features, including being enriched for rare variants, for which effect sizes are disproportionately larger than common polymorphisms. Furthermore, results from these populations may be generalizable to other populations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Most research on prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) has assumed a linear dose-response relationship, but some studies indicate there might be specific levels where the effects become significantly stronger, influenced by drinking patterns.
- Using data from 2227 participants across different age groups, researchers analyzed cognitive function impacts of PAE, examining both overall alcohol intake and how the drinking frequency and amount per occasion affect cognition.
- Results showed that while total alcohol consumed per day had a limited nonlinear effect, the specific drinking patterns (more than 3 drinks per occasion for infrequent drinkers and heavy consumption for frequent drinkers) significantly influenced cognitive outcomes, highlighting the need for detailed analysis beyond just total alcohol intake.