Sensorimotor planning, integration, and execution processes in autism spectrum disorders

The focus of this thematic thesis was to conduct an examination into the autistic differences to underlying sensorimotor planning, integration, and execution processes. The distinct protocols in the current programme of work: imitation in upper-limb motor control (chapter two), upper-limb single and two-segment manual aiming (chapter three) and stepping behaviour in obstacle crossing (chapter four), provide independent, yet related, examinations of underlying autistic sensorimotor behaviour compared to typically developing controls. Chapter two revealed that autistic participants successfully imitated atypical biological motion kinematics when the imitation environment was structured to facilitate trial-by-trial processing, and interference in the inter-trial delay over time influenced consolidatory offline sensorimotor processes related to planning. Chapter three revealed that autistic adolescents show significant alterations to sensorimotor planning processes during single and two-segment manual aiming. Chapter four revealed significant sensorimotor integration differences during obstacle crossing in autistic participants who require substantial or very substantial support. Across all experimental chapters in the current thesis, there also appeared to be significant autistic variability increases across several key dependant variables, implicating altered sensorimotor feedforward planning processes. Additionally, there also appears to be evidence of intact sensorimotor feedback processes whereby autistic participants utilise the online integration of sensory information to compensate for earlier variabilities. This thesis will seek to synthesise, summarise, and appraise key findings between experimental chapters, relative to current literature, with both theoretical and wider implications for the motor control and autistic communities discussed and future directions identified

The properties of highly luminous IRAS galaxies

From a complete sample of 154 galaxies identified with IRAS sources in a 304 sq deg area centered on the South Galactic Pole, a subsample of 58 galaxies with L sub IR/L sub B > 3 was chosen. Low resolution spectra were obtained for 30% of the subsample and redshifts and relative emission line intensities were derived. As a class these galaxies are very luminous with = 2.9 x 10 to the 11th power L sub 0 and (L sub IR) max = 1.3 x 10 to the 12th power L sub 0. CCD images and JHK photometry were obtained for many of the subsample. The galaxies are for the most part newly identified and are optically faint, with a majority showing evidence of a recent interaction. Radio continuum observations of all galaxies of the subsample were recently obtained at 20 cm VLA with about 75% being detected in a typical integration time of about 10 minutes

Systematic review of the evidence on housing interventions for ‘housing-vulnerable’ adults and its relationship to wellbeing

Access to safe, good quality affordable housing is essential to wellbeing and housing related factors can have an important influence on neighbourliness and sense of community belonging. A recent scoping review on housing and wellbeing identified a lack of review-level evidence around the impact of housing interventions on wellbeing of people who are vulnerable to discrimination or exclusion in relation to housing (Preston et al., 2016). This systematic review was commissioned to address that gap. We synthesise and consider the quality of evidence on how housing interventions can contribute to improving the lives of adults who are vulnerable in relation to the security of their housing tenure (‘housing-vulnerable’ adults)

Supporting public involvement in interview and other panels: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Members of the public are increasingly being invited to become members of a variety of different panels and boards. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to systematically search the literature to identify studies relating to support or training provided to members of the public who are asked to be members of an interview panel. SEARCH STRATEGY: A systematic search for published and unpublished studies was carried out from June to September 2015. The search methods included electronic database searching, reference list screening, citation searching and scrutinizing online sources. INCLUSION CRITERIA: We included studies of any design including published and unpublished documents which outlined preparation or guidance relating to public participants who were members of interview panels or representatives on other types of panels or committees. DATA SYNTHESIS: Results were synthesised via narrative methods. MAIN RESULTS: Thirty-six documents were included in the review. Scrutiny of this literature highlighted ten areas which require consideration when including members of the public on interview panels: financial resources; clarity of role; role in the interview process; role in evaluation; training; orientation/induction; information needs; terminology; support; and other public representative needs such as timing, accessibility and support with information technology. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The results of the review emphasize a range of elements that need to be fully considered when planning the involvement of public participants on interview panels. It highlights potential issues relating to the degree of involvement of public representatives in evaluating/grading decisions and the need for preparation and on-going support

MMP-9 regulates both positively and negatively collagen gel contraction - A nonproteolytic function of MMP-9

peer reviewedaudience: researcher, professionalObjective: Constrictive remodeling accounts for lumen loss in postangioplasty restenosis. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has been shown to prevent constrictive remodeling in vivo. To investigate potential mechanisms for this observation, we investigated the role of MMP-9 in smooth muscle cell (SMC)-mediated collagen gel contraction, an in vitro model of constrictive remodeling. Methods: Fischer rat SMCs were stably transfected with a construct-expressing rat-MMP-9 under the control of a tetracycline (Tet)-off promoter. SMCs were seeded in type 1 collagen gels (2.4 mg/ml) in the presence or not of tetracycline (1 mu g/ml), and gel contraction was defined as the percentage of retraction of the collagen gel. The depletion of MMP-9 was obtained by using siRNA targeting MMP-9 mRNA or a blocking antibody. Results: Gel contraction was significantly reduced at all times when MMP-9 was overexpressed (Tet-) as compared with the control condition (Tet+). However, MMP-9 depletion of control (Tet+) SMCS (using siRNA or antibody) also inhibited gel contraction. To resolve the apparent discrepancy and determine if MMP-9 exerts a dose-dependent biphasic effect on gel contraction, conditioned medium and purified rat-MMP-9 were prepared. Gel contraction was significantly increased by addition of 0.8 mg/ml of MMP-9, while high concentrations of MMP-9 (>= 100 mg/ml) inhibited contraction. The addition of BB94 and TIMP-1 did not alter the inhibitory or stimulatory effect of MMP-9. Conclusions: Our data Suggest that MMP-9, independent of its proteolytic function, has a biphasic effect on SMC-mediated collagen gel contraction. Understanding the different roles of MMP-9 Should allow the development of better therapeutic strategies for restenotic vascular disease. (c) 2004 European Society of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Systematic identification of IRAS point sources

A large scale program was initiated to identify IRAS point sources. At ROE the ideal facilities are at hand to undertake such a large program, viz. the rapid scanning capabilities of the COSMOS measuring machine to exploit the depth and resolution of the U.K. Schmidt Telescope J survey plates. Sources in 44 Schmidt plate areas were identified including 1300 sources and covering 1100 square degrees. The identification comprise 700 galaxy identifications and 600 stellar identifications. There are also about 40 sources with no obvious identification but which can be most easily explained by cirrus, confusion between two sources or sources just outside the 2 sigma error box. A major aim with the galaxy identification is to provide a data base from which sound statistical analyses can be made. Accurate blue magnitudes and morphological classifications for each identification were produced

A Search for OH Megamasers at z > 0.1. III. The Complete Survey

We present the final results from the Arecibo Observatory OH megamaser survey. We discuss in detail the properties of the remaining 18 OH megamasers detected in the survey, including 3 redetections. We place upper limits on the OH emission from 85 nondetections and examine the properties of 25 ambiguous cases for which the presence or absence of OH emission could not be determined. The complete survey has discovered 50 new OH megamasers (OHMs) in (ultra)luminous infrared galaxies ([U]LIRGs) which doubles the sample of known OHMs and increases the sample at z>0.1 sevenfold. The Arecibo OH megamaser survey indicates that the OHM fraction in LIRGs is an increasing function of the far-IR luminosity (L_{FIR}) and far-IR color, reaching a fraction of roughly one third in the warmest ULIRGs. Significant relationships between OHMs and their hosts are few, primarily due to a mismatch in size scales of measured properties and an intrinsic scatter in OHM properties roughly equal to the span of the dataset. We investigate relationships between OHMs and their hosts with a variety of statistical tools including survival analysis, partial correlation coefficients, and a principal component analysis. There is no apparent OH megamaser ``fundamental plane.'' We compile data on all previously known OHMs and evaluate the possible mechanisms and relationships responsible for OHM production in merging systems. The OH-FIR relationship is reexamined using the doubled OHM sample and found to be significantly flatter than previously thought: L_{OH} ~ L_{FIR}^{1.2 +/- 0.1}. This near-linear dependence suggests a mixture of saturated and unsaturated masers, either within individual galaxies or across the sample.Comment: 28 pages, 14 figures, accepted by AJ. (AASTeX, includes emulateapj5 and onecolfloat5

Different strategies for pharmacological thromboprophylaxis for lower-limb immobilisation after injury: systematic review and economic evaluation

Background Thromboprophylaxis can reduce the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) during lower-limb immobilisation, but it is unclear whether or not this translates into meaningful health benefit, justifies the risk of bleeding or is cost-effective. Risk assessment models (RAMs) could select higher-risk individuals for thromboprophylaxis. Objectives To determine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of different strategies for providing thromboprophylaxis to people with lower-limb immobilisation caused by injury and to identify priorities for future research. Data sources Ten electronic databases and research registers (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Review of Effects, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Health Technology Assessment database, NHS Economic Evaluation Database, Science Citation Index Expanded, ClinicalTrials.gov and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform) were searched from inception to May 2017, and this was supplemented by hand-searching reference lists and contacting experts in the field. Review methods Systematic reviews were undertaken to determine the effectiveness of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis in lower-limb immobilisation and to identify any study of risk factors or RAMs for VTE in lower-limb immobilisation. Study quality was assessed using appropriate tools. A network meta-analysis was undertaken for each outcome in the effectiveness review and the results of risk-prediction studies were presented descriptively. A modified Delphi survey was undertaken to identify risk predictors supported by expert consensus. Decision-analytic modelling was used to estimate the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained of different thromboprophylaxis strategies from the perspectives of the NHS and Personal Social Services. Results Data from 6857 participants across 13 trials were included in the meta-analysis. Thromboprophylaxis with low-molecular-weight heparin reduced the risk of any VTE [odds ratio (OR) 0.52, 95% credible interval (CrI) 0.37 to 0.71], clinically detected deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) (OR 0.40, 95% CrI 0.12 to 0.99) and pulmonary embolism (PE) (OR 0.17, 95% CrI 0.01 to 0.88). Thromboprophylaxis with fondaparinux (Arixtra®, Aspen Pharma Trading Ltd, Dublin, Ireland) reduced the risk of any VTE (OR 0.13, 95% CrI 0.05 to 0.30) and clinically detected DVT (OR 0.10, 95% CrI 0.01 to 0.94), but the effect on PE was inconclusive (OR 0.47, 95% CrI 0.01 to 9.54). Estimates of the risk of major bleeding with thromboprophylaxis were inconclusive owing to the small numbers of events. Fifteen studies of risk factors were identified, but only age (ORs 1.05 to 3.48), and injury type were consistently associated with VTE. Six studies of RAMs were identified, but only two reported prognostic accuracy data for VTE, based on small numbers of patients. Expert consensus was achieved for 13 risk predictors in lower-limb immobilisation due to injury. Modelling showed that thromboprophylaxis for all is effective (0.015 QALY gain, 95% CrI 0.004 to 0.029 QALYs) with a cost-effectiveness of £13,524 per QALY, compared with thromboprophylaxis for none. If risk-based strategies are included, it is potentially more cost-effective to limit thromboprophylaxis to patients with a Leiden thrombosis risk in plaster (cast) [L-TRiP(cast)] score of ≥ 9 (£20,000 per QALY threshold) or ≥ 8 (£30,000 per QALY threshold). An optimal threshold on the L-TRiP(cast) receiver operating characteristic curve would have sensitivity of 84–89% and specificity of 46–55%. Limitations Estimates of RAM prognostic accuracy are based on weak evidence. People at risk of bleeding were excluded from trials and, by implication, from modelling. Conclusions Thromboprophylaxis for lower-limb immobilisation due to injury is clinically effective and cost-effective compared with no thromboprophylaxis. Risk-based thromboprophylaxis is potentially optimal but the prognostic accuracy of existing RAMs is uncertain. Future work Research is required to determine whether or not an appropriate RAM can accurately select higher-risk patients for thromboprophylaxis. Study registration This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42017058688. Funding The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme

Modular Type III Porous Liquids Based on Porous Organic Cage Microparticles

The dispersion of particulate porous solids in size-excluded liquids has emerged as a method to create Type III porous liquids, mostly using insoluble microporous materials such as metal–organic frameworks and zeolites. Here, the first examples of Type III porous liquids based on porous organic cages (POCs) are presented. By exploiting the solution processability of the POCs, racemic and quasiracemic cage microparticles are formed by chiral recognition. Dispersion of these porous microparticles in a range of size-excluded liquids, including oils and ionic liquids, forms stable POC-based Type III porous liquids. The flexible pairing between the solid POC particles and a carrier liquid allows the formation of a range of compositions, pore sizes, and other physicochemical properties to suit different applications and operating conditions. For example, it is shown that porous liquids with relatively low viscosities or high thermal stability can be produced. A 12.5 wt% Type III porous liquid comprising racemic POC microparticles and an ionic liquid, [BPy][NTf2], shows a CO2 working capacity (104.30 µmol gL−1) that is significantly higher than the neat ionic liquid (37.27 µmol gL−1) between 25 and 100 °C. This liquid is colloidally stable and can be recycled at least ten times without loss of CO2 capacity