Identification. The missing link between joint attention and imitation

In this paper we outline our hypothesis that human intersubjective engagement entails identifying with other people. We tested a prediction derived from this hypothesis that concerned the relation between a component of joint attention and a specific form of imitation. The empirical investigation involved “blind” ratings of videotapes from a recent study in which we tested matched children with and without autism for their propensity to imitate the self-/other-orientated aspects of another person's actions. The results were in keeping with three a priori predictions, as follows: (a) children with autism contrasted with control participants in spending more time looking at the objects acted upon and less time looking at the tester; (b) participants with autism showed fewer “sharing” looks toward the tester, and although they also showed fewer “checking” and “orientating” looks, they were specifically less likely to show any sharing looks; and, critically, (c) within each group, individual differences in sharing looks (only) were associated with imitation of self–other orientation. We suggest that the propensity to adopt the bodily anchored psychological stance of another person is essential to certain forms of joint attention and imitation, and that a weak tendency to identify with others is pivotal for the developmental psychopathology of autism

Neuroenhancement of exposure therapy in anxiety disorders

Although exposure-based treatments and anxiolytic medications are more effective than placebo for treating anxiety disorders, there is still considerable room for further improvement. Interestingly, combining these two modalities is usually not more effective than the monotherapies. Recent translational research has identified a number of novel approaches for treating anxiety disorders using agents that serve as neuroenhancers (also known as cognitive enhancers). Several of these agents have been studied to determine their efficacy at improving treatment outcome for patients with anxiety and other psychiatric disorders. In this review, we examine d-cycloserine, yohimbine, cortisol, catecholamines, oxytocin, modafinil, and nutrients such as caffeine and amino fatty acids as potential neuroenhancers. Of these agents, d-cycloserine shows the most promise as an effective neuroenhancer for extinction learning and exposure therapy. Yet, the optimal dosing and dose timing for drug administration remains uncertain. There is partial support for cortisol, catecholamines, yohimbine and oxytocin for improving extinction learning and exposure therapy. There is less evidence to indicate that modafinil and nutrients such as caffeine and amino fatty acids are effective neuroenhancers. More research is needed to determine their long term efficacy and clinical utility of these agents.R34 MH086668 - NIMH NIH HHS; R01 AT007257 - NCCIH NIH HHS; R21 MH101567 - NIMH NIH HHS; R34 MH099311 - NIMH NIH HHS; R21 MH102646 - NIMH NIH HHS; K23 MH100259 - NIMH NIH HHS; R01 MH099021 - NIMH NIH HH

Structure and chemistry of Orion S

We present interferometric observations of the SiO J = 2-1, H^(13)CO^+ J = 1-0, HC_3N J = 11-10, CH_3OH J_K = 2_0-1_0, and SO_2 J(K_pK_0) = 8_(17)-8_(08) transitions along with the λ = 3.1 mm continuum toward the young stellar object Orion S. The HC_3N and H^(13)CO^+ emission trace similar spatial and velocity distributions which are extended and follow the Orion molecular ridge. The SiO emission is more spatially confined, peaking to the west of the λ = 3.1 mm continuum source, while the CH_3OH emission peaks to the southwest. Weak SO_2 emission was detected southeast of the continuum source position. Column densities and fractional abundances are derived for each species at different positions in the region. In general, the molecular abundances near the continuum source are similar to those in the quiescent material near IRc 2, but the abundances decrease toward the continuum source position indicating localized depletions of at least a factor of three. The presence of strong SiO emission with much weaker SO_2 emission is interpreted as resulting from high-velocity shock interactions between the outflow from Orion S and the surrounding cloud. The apparent molecular depletions directly toward Orion S, and the similarity of abundances between the Orion S region and quiescent ridge material, suggest that Orion S is at an early stage of chemical evolution, prior to when substantial chemical differentiation occurs

The Cosmochemistry of Protostellar Matter

The different processes that can affect the chemical composition of matter as it evolves from quiescent molecular clouds into protostellar regions is discussed. Millimeter observations of molecules at high angular resolution in cold, dark clouds such as TMC-1 and L134N reveal large chemical gradients on scales of a few tenths of a pc, which are not well understood. Further, the abundances of the dominant oxygen- (H_2O, O_2, O), and nitrogen-bearing (N_2, N) species are ill determined, both observationally and theoretically, and little is known about some important carbon-bearing molecules such as CH_4, CO_2 and C_2H_2 . Observations of the distribution of molecular material in disks surrounding newly-formed low-mass stars such as IRAS 16293 -2422 are just starting to become available, and reveal a complex chemistry on scales of 500-10,000 AU. Remarkable similarities are found with the chemistry observed in the highmass star forming region Orion/KL, despite a factor of 1000 difference in stellar luminosity. A brief comparison with the chemical composition comets is made

Research and Training of Private Transportation Providers for the Efficient and Effective Provision of Public Transportation Services

A considerable portion of urban public transportation is provided by private transportation operators. Overall, 1.8% of urban transportation research/training are spent on research and training needs of the privately provided public transportation sector. The imbalance is striking considering the amount and type of urban public transportation service offered by the private sector. Private providers offer most of the service for special sporting events and the majority of the tourism transportation, and they also generate significant employment when all aspects are taken into consideration. The objectives of this project were to undertake research and training programs that support more efficient and effective public transportation services from both the public and private sectors with the purpose of sharing findings and providing recommendations to the large number of private transportation officials engaged in providing public transportation

IRAS 16293-2422: A very young binary system?

We present 4".5 x 2".5 resolution millimeter wavelength observations of the young far-infrared source IRAS 16293-2422 which resolve the continuum emission into two sources, MM 1 and MM 2. These sources coincide with known radio continuum sources and may constitute a very young binary system with a projected separation of 840 AU. Flux measurements from 18 cm to 25 μm show that the majority of the millimeter wavelength emission arises from dust within 300 AU of the individual central objects. The total dynamical mass of 1.1-1.3 M_⊙, coupled with our mass estimates for MM 1 and MM 2, suggests that the mass in circumstellar material is comparable to that of the central stellar cores. Since the stellar masses are constrained to be ≤ 0.5 M_⊙ each, it is likely that the bolometric luminosity of 30-40 L_⊙ is derived mainly from accretion of the observed circumstellar material. Maps of the J = 2, 3-1, 2 transition of SO obtained simultaneously show that this emission is centered on MM 1, with weaker emission in a clumpy distribution to the east and west. No SO emission is detected toward MM 2, indicating an upper limit to the fractional abundance which is a factor of 10 below that toward MM 1. We propose that the SO emission toward MM 1 is a result of the outflow activity associated with this source and that the outlying emission clumps trace regions of mild interaction between the outflow and the ambient cloud

Structure and chemistry in the northwestern condensation of the Serpens molecular cloud core

We present single-dish and interferometric observations of gas and dust in the core of the Serpens molecular cloud, focusing on the northwestern condensation. Single-dish molecular line observations are used to probe the structure and chemistry of the condensation while high-resolution images of CS and CH_(3)0H are combined with continuum observations from λ = 1.3 mm to λ = 3.5 cm to study the subcondensations and overall distribution of dust. For the northwestern condensation, we derive a characteristic density of 3 x 10^5 cm^(-3) and an estimated total mass of approximately 70 M_⊙. We find compact molecular emission associated with the far-infrared source S68 FIRS 1, and with a newly detected subcondensation named S68 N. Comparison of the large-and small-scale emission reveals that most of the material in the northwest condensation is not directly associated with these compact sources, suggesting a youthful age for this region. CO J = 1 approaches 0 observations indicate widespread outflow activity. However, no unique association of embedded objects with outflows is possible with our observations. The SiO emission is found to be extended with the overall emission centered about S68 FIRS 1; the offset of the peak emission from all of the known continuum sources and the coincidence between the blueshifted SiO emission and blueshifted high-velocity gas traced by CO and CS is consistent with formation of SiO in shocks. Derived abundances of CO and HCO^(+) are consistent with quiescent and other star-forming regions while CS, HCN, and H2CO abundances indicate mild depletions within the condensation. Spectral energy distribution fits to S68 FIRS 1 indicate a modest luminosity (50-60 L_⊙), implying that it is a low-mass (0.5-3 M_⊙) young stellar object. Radio continuum observations of the triple source toward S68 FIRS 1 indicate that the lobe emission is varying on timescales ≤ 1 yr while the central component is relatively constant over ~14 yr. The nature of a newly detected compact emission region, S68 N, is less certain due to the absence of firm continuum detections; based on its low luminosity (<5 L_⊙) and strong molecular emission, S68 N may be prestellar subcondensation of gas and dust

Mathematical modelling of the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma-induced bone disease

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common haematological malignancy and results in destructive bone lesions. The interaction between MM cells and the bone microenvironment plays an important role in the development of the tumour cells and MM-induced bone disease and forms a 'vicious cycle' of tumour development and bone destruction, intensified by suppression of osteoblast activity and promotion of osteoclast activity. In this paper, a mathematical model is proposed to simulate how the interaction between MM cells and the bone microenvironment facilitates the development of the tumour cells and the resultant bone destruction. It includes both the roles of inhibited osteoblast activity and stimulated osteoclast activity. The model is able to mimic the temporal variation of bone cell concentrations and resultant bone volume after the invasion and then removal of the tumour cells and explains why MM-induced bone lesions rarely heal even after the complete removal of MM cells. The behaviour of the model compares well with published experimental data. The model serves as a first step to understand the development of MM-induced bone disease and could be applied further to evaluate the current therapies against MM-induced bone disease and even suggests new potential therapeutic targets

Airport Drop-Off and Pick-Up Charges in Great Britain: Will They Come to the United States?

As transportation network companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft drive a change in modern transport behaviors, fewer passengers pay for services such as parking or commercial vehicle drop-off at airports, meaning that what once was a primary revenue source for airports now has a tenuous future. Therefore, airports must find a way to counterbalance the revenue losses created by these changes. One such solution has been on the rise in Great Britain. With airport drop-off and pick-up charges, private vehicles must pay for the convenience of loading or unloading passengers at the airport entrance. Not only does this practice have the potential to generate millions of dollars in annual revenue, but it also offers a remedy for other maladies such as congestion and safety issues on airport roads. This report examines the effects that drop-off and pick-up charges have had in Great Britain and explores what US airports might expect should they too adopt the practice

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENTS FACING TOBACCO FARMERS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES

This paper discusses the context within which educational programs tailored to tobacco producers and related rural communities have developed. Discussion is expanded by examining current program approaches employed by various organizations. Many of these organizations have a manual stake in helping producers in tobacco communities develop their management capacity. A range of initiatives aimed at facilitating economic adjustment is compared, including the major issues addressed and expected outcomes. Many of the initiatives have made useful contributions; however, gaps and limitations remain. These are considered as future educational efforts and issues are discussed.educational programs, tobacco producers, Community/Rural/Urban Development,