Exploring the role of eye contact in everyday interactions: joint engagement, caregiver input, and language development in infant siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder

The present study examined early interactions between infants at heightened risk (HR) for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their caregivers in order to better understand the social-communicative environment and its relation to language outcomes in this population. Joint engagement (JE) in HR infants (i.e., younger siblings of children with ASD) has primarily been studied in structured experimenter-infant interactions with a focus on eye contact (i.e., coordinated JE). However, recent work suggests JE without eye contact (i.e., supported JE) in naturalistic interactions is particularly important for language development. Videotaped toy play interactions in the home between 12- and 18-month old infants (at high and low risk for ASD) and their caregivers were coded into mutually exclusive engagement states, and contingent caregiver utterances and labels were coded and examined in relation to language in toddlerhood. HR infants were evaluated for diagnostic outcome at 36 months and classified into three groups: ASD, language delay but no ASD (HR-LD), and no diagnosis (HR-ND). Supported JE was prevalent in the interactions across outcome groups, while both HR-LD and HR-ASD infants spent less time in coordinated JE than their typically developing peers by 18 months. HR infants as a group spent more time solely engaged with objects and less time unengaged than their low risk peers. While caregivers provided similar rates of contingent input and labels across outcome groups, an increase in labels during coordinated JE from 12 to 18 months was apparent for HR-LD and HR-ASD infants. Furthermore, higher rates of labels during coordinated JE were associated with lower toddlerhood language scores for these groups. Findings suggest that parents may pick up on subtle differences in the second year of life and increase the number of labels they provide, but that this simply may not be enough to bolster language development for infants already on a path to communicative delays. This research highlights supported JE as a potential context for early interventions with HR infants, and a critical goal for future research will be to determine what aspects of caregiver input, at what points in development, are most effective for language learning in this population

Restrictive Breathing Mask Reduces Total Repetitions in Resistance-Trained Males: An Ongoing Study

Recently a popular exercise training device has been developed, which has been promoted by companies as a training aid, known as a restrictive breathing mask (RBM).The RBM is designed to simulate training at higher altitudes and has become commonplace for individuals to utilize during resistance-training sessions. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a RBM on muscle performance and perceptual measures in resistance-trained males. METHODS: A cross-over study design was utilized in 9 resistance-trained males with performance trials separated by 7 days. A baseline strength testing session was completed for 12RM for squat, leg press, and leg extension. Participants completed the lower body workout with no mask or RBM. After the initial warm up, participants completed 4 sets of reps to failure of squats, leg press, and leg extension with 2 minutes rest between sets and 3 minutes between exercises. Heart rate was collected immediately post set. Participants completed a 10cm visual stress scale immediately post resistance training session and Session RPE (SRPE) was collected 10 minutes post. Paired T-tests were utilized to analyze total session reps, SRPE, average post set session heart rate, and session stress scale. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in total session reps during the RBM trial compared to the no mask trial (p\u3c 0.001). SRPE was significantly higher during the RBM trial compared to the no mask trial (p= 0.003). There was a significant elevation in perceived stress during the RBM trial (p= 0.01). Finally, there was a statistically significant increase in post set heart rate during the RBM session (p=0.04) CONCLUSION: Based on the performance variables, it appears that a RBM reduces the total repetitions that an individual can complete during an acute bout of resistance training, while also increasing the perceived difficulty and stressfulness of the bout. Subsequently, a reduction in mechanical stimuli could result in a diminished hypertrophic response over time

Synthesis of porous high-temperature superconductors via a melamine formaldehyde sacrificial template

Nanostructured high-temperature superconductors YBa(2)Cu(3)O(6+δ) and Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8+δ) were synthesised using a melamine formaldehyde sponge as a sacrificial template, via three solution-based approaches. In the case of YBa(2)Cu(3)O(6+δ), a modified Pechini method produced a material with a superconducting transition at 92 K and a specific surface area of 4.22 m(2) g(−1). Further analysis with Hg porosimetry determined that the sponge exhibited a porosity of 82%. In the case of Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8+δ), this method produced a material that exhibited superconductivity at 86 K with a specific surface area of 9.62 m(2) g(−1). Hg-porosimetry determined that the BSCCO sponge exhibited a porosity of 78%

Searching for serial refreshing in working memory:Using response times to track the content of the focus of attention over time

One popular idea is that, to support maintenance of a set of elements over brief periods of time, the focus of attention rotates among the different elements thereby serially refreshing the content of Working Memory (WM). In the research reported here, probe letters were presented between to-be-remembered letters. Response times to these probes were used to infer the status of the different items in WM. If the focus of attention cycles from one item to the next, its content should be different at different points in time and this should be reflected in a change in the response time patterns over time. Across a set of four experiments, we demonstrate a striking pattern of invariance in the response time patterns over time, suggesting that either the content of the focus of attention did not change over time or that response times cannot be used to infer the content of the focus of attention. We discuss how this pattern constrains models of WM, attention, and human information processing

Measurement of the top quark forward-backward production asymmetry and the anomalous chromoelectric and chromomagnetic moments in pp collisions at √s = 13 TeV

Abstract The parton-level top quark (t) forward-backward asymmetry and the anomalous chromoelectric (d̂ t) and chromomagnetic (μ̂ t) moments have been measured using LHC pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected in the CMS detector in a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1. The linearized variable AFB(1) is used to approximate the asymmetry. Candidate t t ¯ events decaying to a muon or electron and jets in final states with low and high Lorentz boosts are selected and reconstructed using a fit of the kinematic distributions of the decay products to those expected for t t ¯ final states. The values found for the parameters are AFB(1)=0.048−0.087+0.095(stat)−0.029+0.020(syst),μ̂t=−0.024−0.009+0.013(stat)−0.011+0.016(syst), and a limit is placed on the magnitude of | d̂ t| < 0.03 at 95% confidence level. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

MUSiC : a model-unspecific search for new physics in proton-proton collisions at root s=13TeV

Results of the Model Unspecific Search in CMS (MUSiC), using proton-proton collision data recorded at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb(-1), are presented. The MUSiC analysis searches for anomalies that could be signatures of physics beyond the standard model. The analysis is based on the comparison of observed data with the standard model prediction, as determined from simulation, in several hundred final states and multiple kinematic distributions. Events containing at least one electron or muon are classified based on their final state topology, and an automated search algorithm surveys the observed data for deviations from the prediction. The sensitivity of the search is validated using multiple methods. No significant deviations from the predictions have been observed. For a wide range of final state topologies, agreement is found between the data and the standard model simulation. This analysis complements dedicated search analyses by significantly expanding the range of final states covered using a model independent approach with the largest data set to date to probe phase space regions beyond the reach of previous general searches.Peer reviewe

Search for new particles in events with energetic jets and large missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

A search is presented for new particles produced at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at root s = 13 TeV, using events with energetic jets and large missing transverse momentum. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 101 fb(-1), collected in 2017-2018 with the CMS detector. Machine learning techniques are used to define separate categories for events with narrow jets from initial-state radiation and events with large-radius jets consistent with a hadronic decay of a W or Z boson. A statistical combination is made with an earlier search based on a data sample of 36 fb(-1), collected in 2016. No significant excess of events is observed with respect to the standard model background expectation determined from control samples in data. The results are interpreted in terms of limits on the branching fraction of an invisible decay of the Higgs boson, as well as constraints on simplified models of dark matter, on first-generation scalar leptoquarks decaying to quarks and neutrinos, and on models with large extra dimensions. Several of the new limits, specifically for spin-1 dark matter mediators, pseudoscalar mediators, colored mediators, and leptoquarks, are the most restrictive to date.Peer reviewe

Measurement of prompt open-charm production cross sections in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

The production cross sections for prompt open-charm mesons in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13TeV are reported. The measurement is performed using a data sample collected by the CMS experiment corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 29 nb(-1). The differential production cross sections of the D*(+/-), D-+/-, and D-0 ((D) over bar (0)) mesons are presented in ranges of transverse momentum and pseudorapidity 4 < p(T) < 100 GeV and vertical bar eta vertical bar < 2.1, respectively. The results are compared to several theoretical calculations and to previous measurements.Peer reviewe

Combined searches for the production of supersymmetric top quark partners in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

A combination of searches for top squark pair production using proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the CERN LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb(-1) collected by the CMS experiment, is presented. Signatures with at least 2 jets and large missing transverse momentum are categorized into events with 0, 1, or 2 leptons. New results for regions of parameter space where the kinematical properties of top squark pair production and top quark pair production are very similar are presented. Depending on themodel, the combined result excludes a top squarkmass up to 1325 GeV for amassless neutralino, and a neutralinomass up to 700 GeV for a top squarkmass of 1150 GeV. Top squarks with masses from 145 to 295 GeV, for neutralino masses from 0 to 100 GeV, with a mass difference between the top squark and the neutralino in a window of 30 GeV around the mass of the top quark, are excluded for the first time with CMS data. The results of theses searches are also interpreted in an alternative signal model of dark matter production via a spin-0 mediator in association with a top quark pair. Upper limits are set on the cross section for mediator particle masses of up to 420 GeV

Search for Physics beyond the Standard Model in Events with Overlapping Photons and Jets

Results are reported from a search for new particles that decay into a photon and two gluons, in events with jets. Novel jet substructure techniques are developed that allow photons to be identified in an environment densely populated with hadrons. The analyzed proton-proton collision data were collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC, in 2016 at root s = 13 TeV, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb(-1). The spectra of total transverse hadronic energy of candidate events are examined for deviations from the standard model predictions. No statistically significant excess is observed over the expected background. The first cross section limits on new physics processes resulting in such events are set. The results are interpreted as upper limits on the rate of gluino pair production, utilizing a simplified stealth supersymmetry model. The excluded gluino masses extend up to 1.7 TeV, for a neutralino mass of 200 GeV and exceed previous mass constraints set by analyses targeting events with isolated photons.Peer reviewe