Nutritional and metabolic status of children with autism vs. neurotypical children, and the association with autism severity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The relationship between relative metabolic disturbances and developmental disorders is an emerging research focus. This study compares the nutritional and metabolic status of children with autism with that of neurotypical children and investigates the possible association of autism severity with biomarkers.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>Participants were children ages 5-16 years in Arizona with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (n = 55) compared with non-sibling, neurotypical controls (n = 44) of similar age, gender and geographical distribution. Neither group had taken any vitamin/mineral supplements in the two months prior to sample collection. Autism severity was assessed using the Pervasive Development Disorder Behavior Inventory (PDD-BI), Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC), and Severity of Autism Scale (SAS). Study measurements included: vitamins, biomarkers of vitamin status, minerals, plasma amino acids, plasma glutathione, and biomarkers of oxidative stress, methylation, sulfation and energy production.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Biomarkers of children with autism compared to those of controls using a t-test or Wilcoxon test found the following statistically significant differences (p < 0.001): Low levels of biotin, plasma glutathione, RBC SAM, plasma uridine, plasma ATP, RBC NADH, RBC NADPH, plasma sulfate (free and total), and plasma tryptophan; also high levels of oxidative stress markers and plasma glutamate. Levels of biomarkers for the neurotypical controls were in good agreement with accessed published reference ranges. In the Autism group, mean levels of vitamins, minerals, and most amino acids commonly measured in clinical care were within published reference ranges.</p> <p>A stepwise, multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated significant associations between several groups of biomarkers with all three autism severity scales, including vitamins (adjusted R²of 0.25-0.57), minerals (adj. R²of 0.22-0.38), and plasma amino acids (adj. R²of 0.22-0.39).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The autism group had many statistically significant differences in their nutritional and metabolic status, including biomarkers indicative of vitamin insufficiency, increased oxidative stress, reduced capacity for energy transport, sulfation and detoxification. Several of the biomarker groups were significantly associated with variations in the severity of autism. These nutritional and metabolic differences are generally in agreement with other published results and are likely amenable to nutritional supplementation. Research investigating treatment and its relationship to the co-morbidities and etiology of autism is warranted.</p

The Severity of Autism Is Associated with Toxic Metal Body Burden and Red Blood Cell Glutathione Levels

This study investigated the relationship of children's autism symptoms with their toxic metal body burden and red blood cell (RBC) glutathione levels. In children ages 3–8 years, the severity of autism was assessed using four tools: ADOS, PDD-BI, ATEC, and SAS. Toxic metal body burden was assessed by measuring urinary excretion of toxic metals, both before and after oral dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA). Multiple positive correlations were found between the severity of autism and the urinary excretion of toxic metals. Variations in the severity of autism measurements could be explained, in part, by regression analyses of urinary excretion of toxic metals before and after DMSA and the level of RBC glutathione (adjusted R2 of 0.22–0.45, P < .005 in all cases). This study demonstrates a significant positive association between the severity of autism and the relative body burden of toxic metals

Absolute configuration of clemateol

The present study reports the determination of absolute stereochemistry of clemateol, an irregular monoterpene containing an epoxy group, which was isolated as the main component from the essential oil of Calea clematidea (Asteraceae). Its absolute stereochemistry was unambiguously established on the basis of detailed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic evidence (3JH-H analysis, derivatization as Mosher's esters and nuclear Overhauser effect (NOESY) spectrum) and also by resonance scattering effects in the single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) resolution of its (R)-mandelic acid ester derivative.Fil: Pedroso, Marcelo. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria; BrasilFil: Gehn, Adriana Z.. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria; BrasilFil: Stivanin, Mateus L.. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria; BrasilFil: Larghi, Enrique Leandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Química Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Química Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Burrow, Robert A.. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria; BrasilFil: Resende, Jackson A. L. C.. Universidade Federal Fluminense; BrasilFil: Da Silva, Ubiratan F.. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria; BrasilFil: Mostardeiro, Marco A.. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria; BrasilFil: Dalcol, Ionara I.. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria; BrasilFil: Morel, Ademir F.. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria; Brasi

Effect of a vitamin/mineral supplement on children and adults with autism

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Vitamin/mineral supplements are among the most commonly used treatments for autism, but the research on their use for treating autism has been limited.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled three month vitamin/mineral treatment study. The study involved 141 children and adults with autism, and pre and post symptoms of autism were assessed. None of the participants had taken a vitamin/mineral supplement in the two months prior to the start of the study. For a subset of the participants (53 children ages 5-16) pre and post measurements of nutritional and metabolic status were also conducted.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The vitamin/mineral supplement was generally well-tolerated, and individually titrated to optimum benefit. Levels of many vitamins, minerals, and biomarkers improved/increased showing good compliance and absorption. Statistically significant improvements in metabolic status were many including: total sulfate (+17%, p = 0.001), S-adenosylmethionine (SAM; +6%, p = 0.003), reduced glutathione (+17%, p = 0.0008), ratio of oxidized glutathione to reduced glutathione (GSSG:GSH; -27%, p = 0.002), nitrotyrosine (-29%, p = 0.004), ATP (+25%, p = 0.000001), NADH (+28%, p = 0.0002), and NADPH (+30%, p = 0.001). Most of these metabolic biomarkers improved to normal or near-normal levels.</p> <p>The supplement group had significantly greater improvements than the placebo group on the Parental Global Impressions-Revised (PGI-R, Average Change, p = 0.008), and on the subscores for Hyperactivity (p = 0.003), Tantrumming (p = 0.009), Overall (p = 0.02), and Receptive Language (p = 0.03). For the other three assessment tools the difference between treatment group and placebo group was not statistically significant.</p> <p>Regression analysis revealed that the degree of improvement on the Average Change of the PGI-R was strongly associated with several biomarkers (adj. R²= 0.61, p < 0.0005) with the initial levels of biotin and vitamin K being the most significant (p < 0.05); both biotin and vitamin K are made by beneficial intestinal flora.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Oral vitamin/mineral supplementation is beneficial in improving the nutritional and metabolic status of children with autism, including improvements in methylation, glutathione, oxidative stress, sulfation, ATP, NADH, and NADPH. The supplement group had significantly greater improvements than did the placebo group on the PGI-R Average Change. This suggests that a vitamin/mineral supplement is a reasonable adjunct therapy to consider for most children and adults with autism.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p><b>Clinical Trial Registration Number: </b><a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01225198">NCT01225198</a></p

Interpretation mehrdeutiger Eingabedaten auf Infrarot-basierten Multitouchdisplays

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschreibt die Evaluation einer Infrarotgitter-basierten Multitouchhardware in Hinblick auf ihre Eignung für eine natürlich wirkende gestenbasierte Interaktion. Es wird eine Analyse der Hardware durchgeführt um die Eigenschaften der Hardware bezüglich der Eingabe zu untersuchen. Die Analyse erfolgt mit Hilfe einer Testworkbench welche die Grundlage für alle weiteren Betrachtungen bildet. Im Anschluss wird ein Verfahren vorgestellt, mit dem die während der Analyse erkannten problematischen Eigenschaften der Hardware kompensiert werden sollen. Das erarbeitete Verfahren wird im Rahmen einer Testanwendung eingesetzt und durch einen Usability-Test auf seine praktischen Auswirkungen auf die Eingabequalität für den Anwender untersucht. Abschließend werden die Ergebnisse des Tests ausgewertet sowie mögliche Verbesserungen für zukünftige Arbeiten diskutiert.This thesis describes the evaluation of an infrared grid-based multitouch-hardware in regard to suitability for a natural and gesture-based interaction. An analysis is conducted to determine the properties of the hardware in regard to input handling. The analysis is based on a test-workbench that also serves as a foundation for all further examinations throughout this thesis. After the analysis a method is presented which tries to compensate for the problematic hardware properties that were discovered. The developed method is used in the context of a testing-application and reviewed for its impact on practical input quality by conducting a usability test. The thesis concludes by evaluating the results of the usability test as well as giving an outlook on possible future improvements

SaaS with Spring and Docker

Ziel dieser Bachelorarbeit ist die Entwicklung einer Software as a Service Anwendung für Modelagenturen. Im Verlauf der Arbeit werden sowohl die Anforderungen als auch das darauf aufbauende Konzept behandelt. Auf diesem basierend werden die Umsetzung wichtiger Komponenten und der Betrieb in Docker erläutert, um eine lau ähige SaaS Anwendung zu erstellen. Die Arbeit setzt hierbei grundlegende Kenntnis über die Software Entwicklung und Architektur voraus.Target of this bachelor thesis is the development of a Software as a Service application for model agencies. Throughout this thesis the requirements will be discussed as well as the concept build upon it. Based on this, the implementation of important components and the operation with Docker to create a working SaaS application will be explained. The paper requires basic knowledge of software development and architecture

High Velocity Oxy-Fuel (HVOF) as a materials test method for simulating aerothermal effects

High Velocity Oxygen-Fuel (HVOF) is a member of the thermal spray process family in which a mixture of oxygen, fuel, and compressed air are continuously combusted and the resulting flame is accelerated through a nozzle to achieve high gas velocities. HVOF is most commonly used to heat (to the point of melting) and accelerate powder particles towards a substrate to apply coatings. Here, HVOF is presented as a method for simulating high-speed aerothermodynamic effects. With gas velocities in the low Mach regime and gas temperatures exceeding 2000°C in an oxidative environment, HVOF is a promising low- cost test method for screening high temperature materials and components. Three examples of experiments based on using HVOF as a test method are presented, including low thermal conductivity thermal barrier coatings, thermal protection system materials for solid rock motor exhaust environments, and evaluation of high temperature ceramics and glass-ceramic composites

International Research Fellowship with the Charles Darwin Research Station: Sustainable Ecological Restoration in the Galápagos Islands

Color poster with text, images, maps, photographs and graphs.The Galápagos Islands, a volcanic archipelago located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, are home to ecosystems and endemic species found nowhere else in the world. Historically, human populations here have been very low, but recent increases in tourism and related urbanization have directly increased introduced species to the islands, which are the single largest threat to the unique biodiversity of the Galápagos. Endemic and native plant species, as well as the animal species that depend on them, are experiencing rapid declines throughout the islands due to the direct effects of these invasive species and island urbanization. The Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galápagos Islands (CDF) is an international, non-profit scientific organization that has worked closely with the Galápagos National Park Directorate (GNPD) since 1959 to oversee the safeguarding of the islands’ natural resources. Through the CDF, Galápagos Verde 2050 was formed. This project aims to restore the islands to their native and endemic states by the year 2050 through conservation management practices and the implementation of sustainable growing technologies in both natural and agricultural settings.University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Program

Effects of Substrate and Water Depth on Lotus Nelumbo lutea and Wild Rice Zizania aquatica Frequency in Mississippi River Lower Pool 4, 1998-2015

Color poster with text, charts, photographs, maps, and graphs.Observable trends in MN DNR data indicate Lake Pepin is gradually filling in, increasing sedimentation in lower pool 4, a 15-milestretch of river extending from the bottom of Lake Pepin to Lock and Dam No. 4 at Alma, WI. Lake Pepin acts as an enormous filter, slowing water and allowing sediment to drop out. Vegetation levels and water clarity rise dramatically below the lake, especially during low-flow years. High-flow years, such as the Great Floods of 1993 and 2001, result in extremely low vegetation levels due to limited sunlight and the inability of plants to establish a root system in deep and turbid water. Historically, high water levels invariably drown out wild rice and are linked to poor yields. Locations in our sampling area that have historically been lotus beds appear to be shifting toward emergent-type vegetation such as wild rice. From 1998-2010, wild rice had nearly disappeared in lower Pool 4. A threshold level of plants was able to establish a solid root system during recent low flow years and the population now appears to be thriving. This study examined the frequency of lotus and wild rice in lower pool 4 backwater and side channels from 1998-2015, which until now have not been systematically studied. It was hypothesized that over time, frequency of lotus decreased and frequency of wild rice increased. It was our objective to verify the hypothesis and place these frequency changes in the context of water depth and substrate type.University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Program