Few studies have focused on how nutrition affects the bioavailability and investment of protein during the metamorphosis of tephritids. Our study allowed us to observe how the type and particle size of the bulking agent affected the protein composition in the hemolymph of the larva and adult of Anastrepha obliqua. Results indicated that, true protein bioavailability and protein profile was greatly modified by the bulking agent and its particle size. The physical structure of the food matrix affected the content of crude fiber (F), crude protein (P), F/P ratio, non-protein nitrogen, ammoniacal nitrogen, and α-amylase and trypsin inhibitors. Results from SDS-PAGE revealed 45 fractions with well-defined bands ranging from ~28 to ~401 kDa in larvae and adults, we found the main differences between the samples from different food matrices within the 75–100 kDa range. Hemolymph of adults from the coarse coconut fiber food matrix treatment showed a single band with a molecular weight close to 250 kDa, probably associated with a storage protein such as lipophorins. The food matrix with a coarse bulking agent had a high concentration of ammoniacal nitrogen, suggesting high microbial activity. In conclusion, the particle size of the bulking agent of the food matrix changes the bioavailability of protein in hemolymph in the adult regardless of the total concentration of protein. Also, when the particle size of the bulking agent favored the F/P ratio, higher larval density resulted in higher individual larval weight, larval yield, and adult emergence.

This longitudinal study investigated the development of oral narrative skills in monolingual Swedish-speaking children (N = 17). The MAIN Cat/Dog stories were administered at four timepoints between age 4 and 9. Different narrative aspects were found to develop differently. In story comprehension, the children performed high already at T1 (4;4) and were at ceiling at T2 (5;10), whereas story structure developed significantly until T4 (9;4). Narrative length and syntactic complexity reached a plateau at T3 (7;4). Referent introduction was not mastered until T4. The results suggest that general conclusions regarding the development of narrative skills depend on the specific aspects studied.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an intervention program to promote active text-processing strategies (main-idea identification and summarization) at two developmental levels (12- and 16-year-olds). The independent variables were training condition (experimental and control) and school level (7th and 10th grades). Several measures were taken as dependent variables: reading span, reading time, construction of macrostructure, and structural recall. The hypothesis claimed that training would increase comprehension and recall significantly. Furthermore, as a result of the training program, a reduction in developmental differences in the experimental groups at posttest was also expected. Results supported the predictions, showing a significant improvement in the experimental groups' reading comprehension and recall. These results are discussed in terms of the importance of active and self-controlled strategies for text comprehension and recall.