Isolation of Cellulose Nanowhiskers and Their Nanocomposites

Nanocellulose, as a natural polymeric nanomaterial, has been attractive due to its renewability, biodegradability, nontoxicity, high mechanical strength and surface reactivity. The chapter will focus on the isolation and characterization of cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs). The manufacturing methods including solvent casting, electrospinning, melt blending, and in situ polymerization of cellulose nanowhiskers reinforced polymer nanocomposite will be also reviewed in the chapter

Social Attention, Joint Attention and Sustained Attention in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Williams Syndrome: Convergences and Divergences

There is limited knowledge on shared and syndrome-specific attentional profiles in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Williams syndrome (WS). Using eye-tracking, we examined attentional profiles of 35 preschoolers with ASD, 22 preschoolers with WS and 20 typically developing children across social and non-social dimensions of attention. Children with ASD and those with WS presented with overlapping deficits in spontaneous visual engagement with the target of others’ attention and in sustained attention. Children with ASD showed syndrome-specific abnormalities in monitoring and following a person’s referential gaze, as well as a lack of preferential attention to social stimuli. Children with ASD and WS present with shared as well as syndrome-specific abnormalities across social and non-social dimensions of attention.No Full Tex