Motor functioning in autism spectrum disorders

Motor impairment is consistently reported in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and may be an early risk factor for core ASD symptomatology. This chapter provides an overview of empirical motor studies in ASD and considers clinical, behavioral, neurophysiological, and neuroimaging studies of motor impairment in ASD. The association between motor impairment and core social communication disturbance is also explored, as well as the high comorbidity between ASD, motor impairment, and other neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Future research which aims to understand the specific motor pattern that may characterize ASD is suggested.

Alongside the core diagnostic features of autism, research has highlighted the significant and pervasive impact of motor dysfunction in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) (Fournier et al., J Autism Dev Disord 40(10):1227–40, 2010). Motor difficulties are commonly associated with ASD and potentially may be considered a “cardinal feature” (Fournier et al., J Autism Dev Disord 40(10):1227–40, 2010) of the disorder. Indeed, there has been an increase in the trajectory of motor research over the past decade, with greater understanding of the underlying neurobiological disruption that characterizes the disorder (Mostofsky et al., Brain 132:2413–25, 2009). This chapter will illustrate the importance of neuromotor assessment as a routine part of the diagnostic process and provide an overview of empirical research in the field.

Effect of cooling rate on phase transformations in a high-strength low-alloy steel studied from the liquid phase

The phase transformation and precipitation in a high-strength low-alloy steel have been studied over a large range of cooling rates, and a continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagram has been produced. These experiments are unique because the measurements were made from samples cooled directly from the melt, rather than in homogenized and re-heated billets. The purpose of this experimental design was to examine conditions pertinent to direct strip casting. At the highest cooling rates which simulate strip casting, the microstructure was fully bainitic with small regions of pearlite. At lower cooling rates, the fraction of polygonal ferrite increased and the pearlite regions became larger. The CCT diagram and the microstructural analysis showed that the precipitation of NbC is suppressed at high cooling rates, and is likely to be incomplete at intermediate cooling rates.

Exploring behavioral sleep problems in children with ADHD and comorbid Autism Spectrum Disorder

OBJECTIVE: This study (a) compared behavioral sleep problems in children with comorbid ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with those with ADHD and (b) examined child/family factors associated with sleep problems. METHOD: Cross-sectional study comparison of 392 children with a confirmed ADHD diagnosis (ADHD+ASD, n=93, ADHD, n=299) recruited from 21 peadiatric practises in Victoria, Australia. Data were collected from parents. Key measures included the Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). RESULTS: Children with ADHD + ASD experienced similar levels and types of behavioral sleep problems compared with those with ADHD. In both groups, the presence of co-occurring internalizing and externalizing comorbidities was associated with sleep problems. Sleep problems were also associated with parent age in the ADHD + ASD group and poorer parent mental health in the ADHD group. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest comorbid ASD is not associated with increased behavioral sleep problems in children with ADHD and that co-occurring internalizing and externalizing comorbidities may flag children in these groups with sleep problems.

Low genetic diversity in pygmy blue whales is due to climate-induced diversification rather than anthropogenic impacts

Unusually low genetic diversity can be a warning of an urgent need to mitigate causative anthropogenic activities. However, current low levels of genetic diversity in a population could also be due to natural historical events, including recent evolutionary divergence, or long-term persistence at a small population size. Here, we determine whether the relatively low genetic diversity of pygmy blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) in Australia is due to natural causes or overexploitation. We apply recently developed analytical approaches in the largest genetic dataset ever compiled to study blue whales (297 samples collected after whaling and representing lineages from Australia, Antarctica and Chile). We find that low levels of genetic diversity in Australia are due to a natural founder event from Antarctic blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia) that occurred around the Last Glacial Maximum, followed by evolutionary divergence. Historical climate change has therefore driven the evolution of blue whales into genetically, phenotypically and behaviourally distinct lineages that will likely be influenced by future climate change.

Childhood obesity and cognitive achievement

 Obese children tend to perform worse academically than normal-weight children. If poor cognitive achievement is truly a consequence of childhood obesity, this relationship has significant policy implications. Therefore, an important question is to what extent can this correlation be explained by other factors that jointly determine obesity and cognitive achievement in childhood? To answer this question, we exploit a rich longitudinal dataset of Australian children, which is linked to national assessments in math and literacy. Using a range of estimators, we find that obesity and body mass index are negatively related to cognitive achievement for boys but not girls. This effect cannot be explained by sociodemographic factors, past cognitive achievement or unobserved time-invariant characteristics and is robust to different measures of adiposity. Given the enormous importance of early human capital development for future well-being and prosperity, this negative effect for boys is concerning and warrants further investigation.

Incident delirium in the acute general medical setting

 Delirium is a serious neuro‐cognitive disorder that affects many people admitted to hospital. Results of this research have contributed valuable knowledge regarding the risk factors, health outcomes and management of medical patients with who developed incident delirium during hospitalisation.

Microstructure development and solute behaviour in Fe-C and Fe-C-V alloys during strip casting and secondary processing

 Strip casting is a rapid, environment friendly technology for manufacturing thin sheets of steel directly from molten metal. Research presented in this thesis examines the effect of atomic location, cluster size and composition on internal microstructure development during strip casting. Current research potentially leads to green manufacturing of steel.

A monster that lives in our lives: experiences of caregivers of people with motor neuron disease and identifying avenues for support

BACKGROUND: A developing body of evidence has provided valuable insight into the experiences of caregivers of people with motor neuron disease; however, understandings of how best to support caregivers remain limited. AIM: This study sought to understand concepts related to the motor neuron disease caregiver experience which could inform the development of supportive interventions.

DESIGN: A qualitative thematic analysis of a one-off semistructured interview with caregivers was undertaken.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Caregivers of people with motor neuron disease were recruited from a progressive neurological diseases clinic in Melbourne, Australia.

RESULTS: 15 caregivers participated. Three key themes were identified: (1) The Thief: the experience of loss and grief across varied facets of life; (2) The Labyrinth: finding ways to address ever changing challenges as the disease progressed; (3) Defying fate: being resilient and hopeful as caregivers tried to make the most of the time remaining.

CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers are in need of more guidance and support to cope with experiences of loss and to adapt to changeable care giving duties associated with disease progression. Therapeutic interventions which target these experiences of loss and change are worth investigation.

Cathodal transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to the right cerebellar hemisphere affects motor adaptation during gait

The cerebellum appears to play a key role in the development of internal rules that allow fast, predictive adjustments to novel stimuli. This is crucial for adaptive motor processes, such as those involved in walking, where cerebellar dysfunction has been found to increase variability in gait parameters. Motor adaptation is a process that results in a progressive reduction in errors as movements are adjusted to meet demands, and within the cerebellum, this seems to be localised primarily within the right hemisphere. To examine the role of the right cerebellar hemisphere in adaptive gait, cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was administered to the right cerebellar hemisphere of 14 healthy adults in a randomised, double-blind, crossover study. Adaptation to a series of distinct spatial and temporal templates was assessed across tDCS condition via a pressure-sensitive gait mat (ProtoKinetics Zeno walkway), on which participants walked with an induced 'limp' at a non-preferred pace. Variability was assessed across key spatial-temporal gait parameters. It was hypothesised that cathodal tDCS to the right cerebellar hemisphere would disrupt adaptation to the templates, reflected in a failure to reduce variability following stimulation. In partial support, adaptation was disrupted following tDCS on one of the four spatial-temporal templates used. However, there was no evidence for general effects on either the spatial or temporal domain. This suggests, under specific conditions, a coupling of spatial and temporal processing in the right cerebellar hemisphere and highlights the potential importance of task complexity in cerebellar function.

Evolução molecular Darwiniana nas proteínas relacionadas à patogênese (PRs) em plantas

Um total de 201 seqüências de DNA, de 50 espécies pertencentes a 32 gêneros e 12 famílias, foi investigado através do método da máxima verossimilhança para identificar, nas proteínas respectivas, possíveis códons nos quais estivesse ocorrendo seleção positiva. Foram considerados 15 tipos de proteínas relacionadas à patogênese (PR1-PR15), quanto a 14 modelos diferentes de seleção. Tanto quanto se possa avaliar, não há qualquer estudo disponível na literatura que tenha examinado de maneira homogênea tal número de seqüências de forma tão abrangente.