The effect of cognitive rehabilitation therapy (CRT) on the executive functions of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

BACKGROUND: Executive functions (EF) impairments are considered as central deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation therapy (CRT) on EFs of children with high-functioning ASD (HFA).METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design and control group. The study population included all children with HFA referred to the comprehensive Arman Shayan Rehabilitation Center in Tehran, Iran. Using the high-functioning Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) and clinical diagnostic interviews by two clinical psychologists, 24 children with HFA were selected purposefully and were randomly assigned to experimental or control groups. Subjects in both groups completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) in pretest and posttest. The experimental group received 1-2 sessions (1 hour) per week of CRT for 6 months. Data analysis was performed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS.RESULTS: Data analysis showed that the use of CRT resulted in a significant difference between groups in terms of the total EFs score, which was 88.5%, as well as the components of inhibition (57%), orientation (46%), emotional control (42%), initiate (43%), working memory (55%), planning (56%), organizing (36%),and monitoring (36%).CONCLUSION: CRT, as an evidence-based intervention, seems to be effective in improving neuropsychological functions in children with HFA

Effect of operational parameters and internal recycle on rhenium solvent extraction from leach liquors using a mixer-settler

AbstractThe extraction of rhenium from molybdenite roasting dust leach solution was performed using a mixer-settler extractor by tributyl phosphate (TBP) diluted in kerosene as the extractant. In the single-stage extraction experiments, effect of the aqueous to organic phase ratios, Qa/Qo, and the number of extraction stages, N, on the rhenium extraction was studied. It was found that using the phase ratio of 1:1 in a two-stage extraction, 87.5% depletion of rhenium was obtained. The comparison of experimental results with the continuous co-current extraction showed a good agreement. The effect of internal recycle of organic phase was investigated in the phase ratio of 1:1 by changing the flow rate ratio of recycle-to-fresh organic phase, Qro/Qfo. The optimum performance was achieved in the phase ratio, Qro/Qfo, equal to 3:7. It was found that improvement in the performance of the mixer-settler for the rhenium-TBP system can be obtained in the phase ratio of 1:1when Qro/Qfo = 3:7

TWO-EPOCH OPTIMAL DESIGN OF DISPLACEMENT MONITORING NETWORKS

In the traditional method of optimal design of displacement monitoring networks a higher precision, √2 times better than the desired accuracy of displacements, is considered for the net points in such a way that the accuracy of the detected displacements meets the desired one. However, in this paper, we develop an alternative method by considering the total number of observations in two epochs without such a simple assumption and we call it two-epoch optimisation. This method is developed based on the Gauss-Helmert adjustment model and the variances of the observations are estimated instead of the weights to optimise the observation plan. This method can deliver the same results as the traditional one, but with less required observations in each epoch

Theoretical study of structural effects on reactivity and stability of isomeric pyrano-, thiopyrano- and selenopyranopyrroles

1311-1318In this study we have calculated global and local DFT reactivity descriptors for isomeric pyrano-, thiopyrano- and selenopyranopyrroles. The geometric optimization of the obtained structures have been realized with the density functional theory (DFT, B3LYP) at the level of 6-311G(d,p) and show these isomers have planar configurations. The structural properties such as dipole moments, bond lengths and bond angles of these isomers have been calculated. The heats of formation have also been calculated based on the optimized geometry. The energies of HOMO and LUMO molecular orbitals have been used to determine several global descriptors as a measure of their electronic properties, relative stabilities and chemical reactivities. These include total energy (E), ionization potential (I), electron affinity (A), chemical hardness (η), chemical softness (S), electronic chemical potentials (μ) and electrophilicity (ω). Selenopyrano[2,3-c]pyrrole possesses the highest electrophilicity and minimum chemical hardness among the calculated isomeric structures. The largest calculated dipole moment belongs to pyrano[2,3-c]pyrrole, while thiopyrano[3,4-b]pyrrole has the lowest

The Role of The A2A Receptor in Cell Apoptosis Caused by MDMA

OBJECTIVE: Ecstasy, also known as 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), is a psychoactive recreational hallucinogenic substance and a major worldwide recreational drug. There are neurotoxic effects observed in laboratory animals and humans following MDMA use. MDMA causes apoptosis in neurons of the central nervous system (CNS). Withdrawal signs are attenuated by treatment with the adenosine receptor (A2A receptor). This study reports the effects of glutamyl cysteine synthetase (GCS), as an A2A receptor agonist, and succinylcholine (SCH), as an A2A receptor antagonist, on Sprague Dawley rats, both in the presence and absence of MDMA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, we used seven groups of Sprague Dawley rats (200-250 g each). Each group was treated with daily intraperitoneal (IP) injections for a period of one week, as follows: i. MDMA (10 mg/kg); ii. GCS (0.3 mg/kg); iii. SCH (0.3 mg/kg); iv. GCS + SCH (0.3 mg/kg each); v. MDMA (10 mg/kg) + GCS (0.3 mg/kg); vi. MDMA (10 mg/kg) + SCH (0.3 mg/kg); and vi. normal saline (1 cc/kg) as the sham group. Bax (apoptotic protein) and Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic protein) expressions were evaluated by striatum using RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in Bax protein expression in the MDMA+SCH group and a significant decrease in Bcl-2 protein expression in the MDMA+SCH group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: A2A receptors have a role in the apoptotic effects of MDMA via the Bax and Bcl-2 pathways. An agonist of this receptor (GCS) decreases the cytotoxcity of MDMA, while the antagonist of this receptor (SCH) increases its cytotoxcity