Commentary: Advancing measurement of ASD severity and social competence: a reply to Constantino and Frazier (2013)

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/98257/1/jcpp12065.pd

Factors influencing scores on the social responsiveness scale

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/96433/1/j.1469-7610.2012.02589.x.pd

DSM-5 and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs): an opportunity for identifying ASD subtypes

The heterogeneous clinical presentations of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) poses a significant challenge for sample characterization and limits the interpretability and replicability of research studies. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria for ASD, with its dimensional approach, may be a useful framework to increase the homogeneity of research samples. In this review, we summarize the revisions to the diagnostic criteria for ASD, briefly highlight the literature supporting these changes, and illustrate how DSM-5 can improve sample characterization and provide opportunities for researchers to identify possible subtypes within ASD

Subdimensions of social-communication impairment in autism spectrum disorder

BACKGROUND: More refined dimensions of social-communication impairment are needed to elucidate the clinical and biological boundaries of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other childhood onset psychiatric disorders associated with social difficulties, as well as to facilitate investigations in treatment and long-term outcomes of these disorders. METHODS: The current study was intended to identify separable dimensions of clinician-observed, social-communication impairments by examining scores on a widely used autism diagnostic instrument. Participants included verbally fluent children ages 3 to 13 years, who were given a clinical diagnosis of ASD (n=120) or non-ASD (i.e., ADHD, language disorder, intellectual disability, mood or anxiety disorder; n=118) following a comprehensive diagnostic assessment. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis examined the factor structure of algorithm items from the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), Module 3. RESULTS: Results indicated that a three-factor model consisting of repetitive behaviors and two separate social-communication behavior factors had superior fit compared to a two-factor model that included repetitive behaviors and one social-communication behavior factor. In the three-factor model, impairments in ‘Basic Social-Communication’ behaviors (e.g., eye contact, facial expressions, gestures) were separated from impairments in ‘Interaction quality.’ Confirmatory factor analysis in an independent sample of children in the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC) further supported the division of social-communication impairments into these two factors. Scores in Interaction Quality were significantly associated with nonverbal IQ and male sex in the ASD group, and with age in the non-ASD group, while scores in basic social communication were not significantly associated with any of these child characteristics in either diagnostic group. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to conceptualize level, or severity, of social-communication impairment in children with neurodevelopmental disorders might be facilitated by separating the most basic (or proximal) social-communication impairments, from those that could arise from a range of other phenotypic variables. Identification of social-communication subdimensions also highlights potential avenues for measuring different types of social-communication impairments for different purposes (e.g., for differential diagnosis vs. response to treatment)

Death receptor 5 expression is inversely correlated with prostate cancer progression.

Prostate carcinoma (PCa) is one of the most common cancers in men. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has been widely used to predict the outcome of PCa and screening with PSA has resulted in a decline in mortality. However, PSA is not an optimal prognostic tool as its sensitivity may be too low to reduce morbidity and mortality. Consequently, there is a demand for additional robust biomarkers for prostate cancer. Death receptor 5 (DR5) has been implicated in the prognosis of several cancers and it has been previously shown that it is negatively regulated by Yin Yang 1 (YY1) in prostate cancer cell lines. The present study investigated the clinical significance of DR5 expression in a prostate cancer patient cohort and its correlation with YY1 expression. Immunohistochemical analysis of protein expression distribution was performed using tissue microarray constructs from 54 primary PCa and 39 prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) specimens. DR5 expression was dramatically reduced as a function of higher tumor grade. By contrast, YY1 expression was elevated in PCa tumors as compared with that in PIN, and was increased with higher tumor grade. DR5 had an inverse correlation with YY1 expression. Bioinformatic analyses corroborated these data. The present findings suggested that DR5 and YY1 expression levels may serve as progression biomarkers for prostate cancer

Quantifying the effects of temperature and noise on attention-level using EDA and EEG sensors

Most people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience atypical sensory modality and need help to self-regulate their sensory responses. Results of a pilot study are presented here where temperature, noise types and noise levels are used as independent variables. Attention-based tests (ABTs), Electrodermal Activity (EDA) and Electroencephalography (EEG) sensors are used as dependent variables to quantify the effects of temperature and noise. Based on the outcome of the analyses, it is feasible to use off-the-shelf sensors to recognize physiological changes, indicating a possibility to develop sensory management recommendation interventions to support people with ASD

Characterization of S3Pvac Anti-Cysticercosis Vaccine Components: Implications for the Development of an Anti-Cestodiasis Vaccine

Background: Cysticercosis and hydatidosis seriously affect human health and are responsible for considerable economic loss in animal husbandry in non-developed and developed countries. S3Pvac and EG95 are the only field trial-tested vaccine candidates against cysticercosis and hydatidosis, respectively. S3Pvac is composed of three peptides (KETc1, GK1 and KETc12), originally identified in a Taenia crassiceps cDNA library. S3Pvac synthetically and recombinantly expressed is effective against experimentally and naturally acquired cysticercosis.Methodology/ Principal Findings: In this study, the homologous sequences of two of the S3Pvac peptides, GK1 and KETc1, were identified and further characterized in Taenia crassiceps WFU, Taenia solium, Taenia saginata, Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis. Comparisons of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences coding for KETc1 and GK1 revealed significant homologies in these species. The predicted secondary structure of GK1 is almost identical between the species, while some differences were observed in the C terminal region of KETc1 according to 3D modeling. A KETc1 variant with a deletion of three C-terminal amino acids protected to the same extent against experimental murine cysticercosis as the entire peptide. on the contrary, immunization with the truncated GK1 failed to induce protection. Immunolocalization studies revealed the non stage-specificity of the two S3Pvac epitopes and their persistence in the larval tegument of all species and in Taenia adult tapeworms.Conclusions/ Significance: These results indicate that GK1 and KETc1 may be considered candidates to be included in the formulation of a multivalent and multistage vaccine against these cestodiases because of their enhancing effects on other available vaccine candidates

Intersections of race and gender in women's experiences of harassment.

Sexual harassment and racial harassment present significant problems for women in the U.S. Nevertheless, these two forms of interpersonal mistreatment have rarely been jointly examined. This dissertation simultaneously investigates women's exposure to harassment based on gender and race. Specifically, this study examined the relationships and outcomes of sexual and racial harassment, as well as those forms of harassment falling at the interface of gender and race. Data were collected via surveys of 459 college women. Racial minority women were well represented; the sample included 139 Latinas, 107 Black women, 103 White women, 74 Asian or Asian American women, 5 Middle Eastern, Arab or Arab American women, 2 Native American women and 28 women who identified as Other. Findings revealed sexual harassment, racialized sexual harassment, and racial harassment as unique, but related constructs. However, these relationships were much stronger for the racial minority women, suggesting that these forms of harassment co-occur more frequently for non-White women. Moreover, racial minority women experienced significantly more racial harassment and racialized sexual harassment than their White peers. Based on the scholarship on stress and multiple victimization, this work also identified a process model that outlines how experiences of harassment exert negative effects on individual outcomes. Structural equations modeling revealed that harassment had a strong, direct relationship with students' general satisfaction with their university. Harassment experiences were also indirectly linked to poor mental health via its negative association with school satisfaction. Dissatisfaction and poor psychological outcomes were associated with women's disengagement from work. Finally, the more disengagement that women reported, the worse their academic performance was. Notably, race was not found to moderate the relationship between harassment and student outcomes. However, in keeping with the literature on multiple victimization, outcomes were much worse when multiple forms of harassment are experienced. Thus, the racial minority women report the most psychological distress and lowest school satisfaction. The dissertation concludes with recommendations for clinical interventions and in higher education to ensure that university experiences are equitable for all women.Ph.D.Clinical psychologyPsychologySocial SciencesSocial psychologyWomen's studiesUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/126443/2/3253291.pd

Mayordomía de los zapotecas del Istmo en la Ciudad de México, cambio y continuidad 1940, 2009: instrumento para recrear la identidad de grupo

Tesis para optar por el grado de Licenciatura en Etnohistori