Absence of contagious yawning in children with autism spectrum disorder

This study is the first to report the disturbance of contagious yawning in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Twenty-four children with ASD as well as 25 age-matched typically developing (TD) children observed video clips of either yawning or control mouth movements. Yawning video clips elicited more yawns in TD children than in children with ASD, but the frequency of yawns did not differ between groups when they observed control video clips. Moreover, TD children yawned more during or after the yawn video clips than the control video clips, but the type of video clips did not affect the amount of yawning in children with ASD. Current results suggest that contagious yawning is impaired in ASD, which may relate to their impairment in empathy. It supports the claim that contagious yawning is based on the capacity for empathy

Influence of Pt-Ba Proximity on NO x Storage-Reduction Mechanisms: A Space- and Time-Resolved In Situ Infrared Spectroscopic Study

The influence of Pt-Ba proximity on the performance and mechanism of NO x storage-reduction (NSR) was investigated by a comparative study of Pt-Ba/CeO2, Pt/CeO2 and mechanically mixed Pt/CeO2-Ba/CeO2. NO x storage capacity, regeneration activity and selectivity to nitrogen and ammonia during periodic lean (NO+O2)-rich (H2) cycles were evaluated and the chemical gradients along the axial direction of the catalyst beds were monitored by space- and time-resolved in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). The presence of Ba and its proximity to Pt greatly influenced the NSR process. In particular, the proximity was crucial to achieve better utilization of bulk Ba components as well as enhancing selectivity to N2. The space-resolved approach is shown to be a powerful tool to understand the impact of the proximity of Pt and Ba constituents on the final NSR performanc

Kinematic characteristics of barefoot sprinting in habitually shod children

Background. Anecdotally, a wide variety of benefits of barefoot running have been advocated by numerous individuals. The influence of the alterations in the properties of the shoe on the running movement has been demonstrated in adults at submaximal jogging speeds. However, the biomechanical differences between shod and barefoot running in children at sprinting speeds and the potential developmental implications of these differences are still less examined. The purpose was to determine the potential differences in habitually shod children's sprint kinematics between shod and barefoot conditions. Methods. Ninety-four children (51 boys and 43 girls; 6-12 years-old; height, 135.0 ± 0.12 m; body mass, 29.0 ± 6.9 kg) performed 30 m maximal sprints from standing position for each of two conditions (shod and barefoot). To analyze sprint kinematics within sagittal plane sprint kinematics, a high-speed camera (300 fps) was set perpendicular to the runway. In addition, sagittal foot landing and take-offimages were recorded for multiple angles by using five high-speed cameras (300 fps). Spatiotemporal variables, the kinematics of the right leg (support leg) and the left leg (recovery leg), and foot strike patterns: rear-foot strike (RFS), mid-foot strike (MFS), and forefoot strike (FFS) were investigated. The paired t -test was used to test difference between shod and barefoot condition. Results. Barefoot sprinting in habitually shod children was mainly characterized by significantly lower sprint speed, higher step frequency, shorter step length and stance time. In shod running, 82% of children showed RFS, whereas it decreased to 29% in barefoot condition. The touch down state and the subsequent joint movements of both support and recovery legs during stance phase were significantly altered when running in condition with barefoot. Discussion. The acute effects of barefoot sprinting was demonstrated by significantly slower sprinting speeds that appear to reflect changes in a variety of spatiotemporal parameters as well as lower limb kinematics. It is currently unknown whether such differences would be observed in children who typically run in bare feet and what developmental benefits and risks may emerge from increasing the proportion of barefoot running and sprinting in children. Future research should therefore investigate potential benefits that barefoot sprinting may have on the development of key physical fitness such as nerve conduction velocity, muscular speed, power, and sprinting technique and on ways to minimize the risk of any acute or chronic injuries associated with this activity. © 2018 Mizushima et al

Visual Place Recognition From Eye Reflection

The cornea in the human eye reflects incoming environmental light, which means we can obtain information about the surrounding environment from the corneal reflection in facial images. In recent years, as the quality of consumer cameras increases, this has caused privacy concerns in terms of identifying the people around the subject or where the photo is taken. This paper investigates the security risk of eye corneal reflection images: specifically, visual place recognition from eye reflection images. First, we constructed two datasets containing pairs of scene and corneal reflection images. The first dataset is taken in a virtual environment. We showed pre-captured scene images in a 180-degree surrounding display system and took corneal reflections from subjects. The second dataset is taken in an outdoor environment. We developed several visual place recognition algorithms, including CNN-based image descriptors featuring a naive Siamese network and AFD-Net combined with entire image feature representations including VLAD and NetVLAD, and compared the results. We found that AFD-Net+VLAD performed the best and was able to accurately determine the scene in 73.08% of the top-five candidate scenes. These results demonstrate the potential to estimate the location at which a facial picture was taken, which simultaneously leads to a) positive applications such as the localization of a robot while conversing with persons and b) negative scenarios including the security risk of uploading facial images to the public

High-density and low-roughness anodic oxide formed on SiC in highly concentrated LiCl aqueous solution

The wide bandgap and high carrier mobility of silicon carbide (SiC), as well as its physical and chemical stability, make it a promising material for a number of applications. One of the key requirements for these applications involves oxide formation on SiC. The usefulness of the oxide produced by anodizing is, however, limited since the anodic oxide formed on SiC in the usual dilute aqueous solution has a low density and high surface roughness. Here, we consider a new parameter in anodic oxide formation by focusing on the concentration of free water in the electrolyte, using a highly concentrated aqueous solution. In a concentrated solution, oxygen evolution, which results in a reduction in the density of the oxide, is suppressed, and the rate of formation of anodic oxide at defect sites effectively decreases to reduce the surface roughness. Furthermore, an interfacial layer with a higher density than SiO₂ is formed between SiC and SiO₂, buffering the difference in density between them. As a result, we successfully obtained an anodic oxide with a relatively high density and low surface roughness. This study provides a new approach to improving the properties of the anodic oxide formed on SiC

Cloning of an isoform of mouse TGF-β type II receptor gene

AbstractA variant of transforming growth factor-β type II receptor (TGF-βRII) cDNA was isolated from a mouse brain cDNA library. The predicted receptor is identical to previously reported mouse TGF-βRII except that the isoform has an insertion sequence of 25 amino acids in the predicted ligand-binding domain. By the use of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), transcripts for both isoforms were detected in all tissues and developing embryos examined. The isoform transiently expressed in COS cells showed a similar ligand-binding specificity to authentic TGF-βRII. These results suggest that the mouse TGF-βRII gene generates multiple isoforms, possibly by alternative splicing, as reported for activin type IIB receptor; and an isoform which has the extra sequence in the ligand-binding domain is also involved in the TGF-β signal transduction

The gene regulatory system for specifying germ layers in early embryos of the simple chordate

動物胚の遺伝子発現を数式で表現 --動物の胚葉形成システムをまるごと理解--.京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-06-10.In animal embryos, gene regulatory networks control the dynamics of gene expression in cells and coordinate such dynamics among cells. In ascidian embryos, gene expression dynamics have been dissected at the single-cell resolution. Here, we revealed mathematical functions that represent the regulatory logics of all regulatory genes expressed at the 32-cell stage when the germ layers are largely specified. These functions collectively explain the entire mechanism by which gene expression dynamics are controlled coordinately in early embryos. We found that regulatory functions for genes expressed in each of the specific lineages contain a common core regulatory mechanism. Last, we showed that the expression of the regulatory genes became reproducible by calculation and controllable by experimental manipulations. Thus, these regulatory functions represent an architectural design for the germ layer specification of this chordate and provide a platform for simulations and experiments to understand the operating principles of gene regulatory networks

Axillary artery injury combined with delayed brachial plexus palsy due to compressive hematoma in a young patient: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Axillary artery injury in the shoulder region following blunt trauma without association with either shoulder dislocation or fracture of the humeral neck has been previously reported. Axillary artery injury might also be accompanied with brachial plexus injury. However, delayed onset of brachial plexus palsy caused by a compressive hematoma associated with axillary injury after blunt trauma in the shoulder region has been rarely reported. In previous reports, this condition only occurred in old patients with sclerotic vessels. We present a case of a young patient who suffered axillary artery injury associated with brachial plexus palsy that occurred tardily due to compressive hematoma after blunt trauma in the shoulder region without association of either shoulder dislocation or humeral neck fracture.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 16-year-old male injured his right shoulder in a motorbike accident. On initial physical evaluation, the pulses on the radial and ulnar arteries in the affected arm were palpable. Paralysis developed later from 2 days after the injury. Functions in the right arm became significantly impaired. Angiography showed complete occlusion of the axillary artery. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a mass measuring 4 × 5 cm that was suspected to be a hematoma compressing the brachial plexus in a space between the subscapular muscle and the pectoralis minor muscle. Surgery was performed on the third day after injury. In intraoperative observations, the axillary artery was occluded with thrombus along 5 cm; a subscapular artery was ruptured; the brachial plexus was compressed by the hematoma. After evacuation of the hematoma, neurolysis of the brachial plexus, and revascularization of the axillary artery, the patient had an excellent functional recovery of the affected upper limb, postoperatively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Surgeons should be aware that axillary artery injuries may even occur in young people after severe blunt trauma in the shoulder region and can be associated with secondary brachial plexus injury due to a hematoma. For treatment in cases with progressive nervous deficit after trauma, not only reconstruction of the injured artery but also immediate evacuation of the hematoma, and exploration of the brachial plexus are necessary to avoid irreversible neurological damage.</p

Perioperative Management of Hemophilia A Using Recombinant Factor VIII in Patients Undergoing Major or Minor Surgery

Among the surgical treatments performed in patients with hemophilia, joint surgery for intra-articular bleeding is the most time-consuming. Previous reports describe the perioperative management of hemophiliacs undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting or of those undergoing cystectomy for treatment of hematuria. In the former study, the patient was elderly; in the latter study, the authors concluded that cystectomy in hemophiliacs is safe if monitored appropriately and that urinary diversion using the intestine should be avoided because anastomotic hemorrhaging may occur. In this study, we discuss coagulation factor replacement therapy for patient with hemophilia A undergoing major or minor surgery