Cross-cultural Comparison and Relationship of Motor Skills and Executive Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Taiwan and the United States

Early childhood is a crucial time for the holistic development of a child’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical needs to build a solid and broad foundation for lifelong wellbeing and learning (Irwin et al., 2007). During this critical period, there is an increased demand for motor skills and executive function (EF) among young children as they move from preschool or home-based care into a more formal school setting like kindergarten (McClelland & Cameron, 2012). However, this transition can be challenging for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who often experience deficits in motor skills and EF, in addition to their core characteristics (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; Demetriou et al., 2018; Staples & Reid, 2010). Recent evidence has indicated that motor skills and EF are interrelated among children without ASD (MacDonald et al., 2016; van der Fels et al., 2015). Since motor and EF development is influenced by the cultural context in which children grow up (Venetsanou & Kambas, 2010), a better understanding of cross-cultural similarities or differences in motor skills and EF might contribute to the global perspective regarding the motor skill and EF of children with ASD from western and eastern countries. Yet, no research has been conducted to examine the cross-cultural comparison and relationship of motor skills and EF between children with ASD in the US and Taiwan. Thus, the purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to compare the parent ratings of motor skills and EF in children with ASD in the US and Taiwan and (2) to examine the relationships between parent ratings of motor skills and EF in children with ASD in the US and Taiwan. One hundred and seventy-two parents/ legal guardians of children (4 to 6 years and 11 months old) with ASD were recruited from two countries, Taiwan (n = 100) and the US (n = 72). The parents or guardians of the child with ASD completed an internet-based survey including 66 questions anonymously, as a part of a cross-sectional survey-designed study. One-way multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and a series of hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted to answer the research questions in the present study. The findings of the current study indicated that children with ASD from the US were rated as having better fine and gross motor skills than their peers from Taiwan, while there was no difference in EF ratings. Further, results of hierarchical regression analyses revealed that parental ratings of total motor skills, fine motor skills, and gross motor skills were significantly associated with parental ratings of EF in both working memory and inhibition of children with ASD from Taiwan and the US. In addition, these associations were similar between the two countries. The present study represents an important first step in understanding the variability and relationship between parental perceptions of young children with ASD’s motor skills and EF cross-culturally. This study revealed parent ratings of motor skills differences observed in children with ASD from Taiwan and the US. Further, positive associations with specific aspects of parent ratings of fine motor and gross motor skills and working memory and inhibition were found in children with ASD from both countries. These findings have implications for future interventions and programs focused on improving early motor skills and EF development for young children with ASD from Taiwan and the US

The ACR11 encodes a novel type of chloroplastic ACT domain repeat protein that is coordinately expressed with GLN2 in Arabidopsis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The ACT domain, named after bacterial aspartate kinase, chorismate mutase and TyrA (prephenate dehydrogenase), is a regulatory domain that serves as an amino acid-binding site in feedback-regulated amino acid metabolic enzymes. We have previously identified a novel type of ACT domain-containing protein family, the ACT domain repeat (ACR) protein family, in <it>Arabidopsis</it>. Members of the ACR family, ACR1 to ACR8, contain four copies of the ACT domain that extend throughout the entire polypeptide. Here, we describe the identification of four novel ACT domain-containing proteins, namely ACR9 to ACR12, in <it>Arabidopsis</it>. The ACR9 and ACR10 proteins contain three copies of the ACT domain, whereas the ACR11 and ACR12 proteins have a putative transit peptide followed by two copies of the ACT domain. The functions of these plant ACR proteins are largely unknown.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The ACR11 and ACR12 proteins are predicted to target to chloroplasts. We used protoplast transient expression assay to demonstrate that the <it>Arabidopsis </it>ACR11- and ACR12-green fluorescent fusion proteins are localized to the chloroplast. Analysis of an <it>ACR11 </it>promoter-β-glucuronidase (GUS) fusion in transgenic <it>Arabidopsis </it>revealed that the GUS activity was mainly detected in mature leaves and sepals. Interestingly, coexpression analysis revealed that the <it>GLN2</it>, which encodes a chloroplastic glutamine synthetase, has the highest mutual rank in the coexpressed gene network connected to <it>ACR11</it>. We used RNA gel blot analysis to confirm that the expression pattern of <it>ACR11 </it>is similar to that of <it>GLN2 </it>in various organs from 6-week-old <it>Arabidopsis</it>. Moreover, the expression of <it>ACR11 </it>and <it>GLN2 </it>is highly co-regulated by sucrose and light/dark treatments in 2-week-old <it>Arabidopsis </it>seedlings.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study reports the identification of four novel ACT domain repeat proteins, ACR9 to ACR12, in <it>Arabidopsis</it>. The ACR11 and ACR12 proteins are localized to the chloroplast, and the expression of <it>ACR11 </it>and <it>GLN2 </it>is highly coordinated. These results suggest that the <it>ACR11 </it>and <it>GLN2 </it>genes may belong to the same functional module. The <it>Arabidopsis </it>ACR11 protein may function as a regulatory protein that is related to glutamine metabolism or signaling in the chloroplast.</p

Temperature Swing Adsorption Process for CO2 Capture Using Polyaniline Solid Sorbent

AbstractTo capture carbon dioxide from power plant flue gas which consists of 15% CO2 and 85% N2, with a temperature swing adsorption (TSA) by using polyaniline solid sorbent as the adsorbent, is explored experimentally and theoretically. First, single component adsorption equilibrium data of carbon dioxide on polyaniline solid sorbent is obtained by using Micro-Balance Thermo D-200. Then isotherm curves and the parameters are obtained by numerical method. The adsorption is expressed by the Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm. After accomplishment of isotherm curves, the breakthrough curve experiment is investigated with single adsorption column. The experiments test the change in adsorbed gas concentration at the outlet by adsorbed gas, CO2, and non-adsorbed gas, helium. Finally, this study accentuates the TSA experiments on CO2 purity and recovery by operation variable discussion which includes feed pressure, adsorption temperature and desorption temperature to find optimal operation condition. The results of optimal operation condition are CO2 purity of 47.65% with a 92.46% recovery

Antinociceptive Activities and the Mechanisms of Anti-Inflammation of Asiatic Acid in Mice

Asiatic acid (AA), a pentacyclic triterpene compound in the medicinal plant Centella asiatica, was evaluated for antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects. Treatment of male ICR mice with AA significantly inhibited the numbers of acetic acid-induced writhing responses and the formalin-induced pain in the late phase. In the anti-inflammatory test, AA decreased the paw edema at the 4th and 5th h after λ-carrageenan (Carr) administration and increased the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the liver tissue. AA decreased the nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels on serum level at the 5th h after Carr injection. Western blotting revealed that AA decreased Carr-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX-2), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) expressions at the 5th h in the edema paw. An intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection treatment with AA also diminished neutrophil infiltration into sites of inflammation as did indomethacin (Indo). The anti-inflammatory mechanisms of AA might be related to the decrease in the level of MDA, iNOS, COX-2, and NF-κB in the edema paw via increasing the activities of CAT, SOD, and GPx in the liver

Identification and characterization of a novel CASR mutation causing familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia

ContextAlthough a monoallelic mutation in the calcium-sensing receptor (CASR) gene causes familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH), the functional characterization of the identified CASR mutation linked to the clinical response to calcimimetics therapy is still limited.ObjectiveA 45-year-old male presenting with moderate hypercalcemia, hypocalciuria, and inappropriately high parathyroid hormone (PTH) had a good response to cinacalcet (total serum calcium (Ca2+) from 12.5 to 10.1 mg/dl). We identified the genetic mutation and characterized the functional and pathophysiological mechanisms, and then linked the mutation to calcimimetics treatment in vitro.DesignSanger sequencing of the CASR, GNA11, and AP2S1 genes was performed in his family. The simulation model was used to predict the function of the identified mutant. In vitro studies, including immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, a cycloheximide chase study, Calbryte™ 520 Ca2+ detection, and half-maximal effective concentration (EC50), were examined.ResultsThis proband was found to carry a de novo heterozygous missense I554N in the cysteine-rich domain of CASR, which was pathogenic based on the different software prediction models and ACGME criteria. The simulation model showed that CASR I554N mutation decreased its binding energy with Ca2+. Human CASR I554N mutation attenuated the stability of CASR protein, reduced the expression of p-ERK 1/2, and blunted the intracellular Ca2+ response to gradient extracellular Ca2+ (eCa2+) concentration. The EC50 study also demonstrated the correctable effect of calcimimetics on the function of the CASR I554N mutation.ConclusionThis novel CASR I554N mutation causing FHH attenuates CASR stability, its binding affinity with Ca2+, and the response to eCa2+ corrected by therapeutic calcimimetics

Interplay between the magnetic and electric degrees-of-freedom in multiferroic Co3TeO6

Neutron diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, and dielectric constant measurements of single crystal Co3TeO6 have been measured to study the interplay between the ferroelectricity and magnetic order. Long range incommensurate magnetic order develops below TM1=26 K, which is followed by three additional zero-field phase transitions at TM2=19.5 K, TM3=18 K, and TM4=16 K where the incommensurate order changes and commensurate order develops. In magnetic fields up to 14 T we find that the magnetic intensities and incommensurate wave vector are dramatically altered as ferroelectricity develops, with a fifth abrupt transition around 10 T. The overall behavior characterizes Co3TeO6 as a type-II multiferroic.Comment: Phys. Rev. B (in press

Static Magnetic Field Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation in Pulp Cells by Affecting Cell Membrane Stability

One of the causes of dental pulpitis is lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced inflammatory response. Following pulp tissue inflammation, odontoblasts, dental pulp cells (DPCs), and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) will activate and repair damaged tissue to maintain homeostasis. However, when LPS infection is too serious, dental repair is impossible and disease may progress to irreversible pulpitis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine whether static magnetic field (SMF) can attenuate inflammatory response of dental pulp cells challenged with LPS. In methodology, dental pulp cells were isolated from extracted teeth. The population of DPSCs in the cultured DPCs was identified by phenotypes and multilineage differentiation. The effects of 0.4 T SMF on DPCs were observed through MTT assay and fluorescent anisotropy assay. Our results showed that the SMF exposure had no effect on surface markers or multilineage differentiation capability. However, SMF exposure increases cell viability by 15%. In addition, SMF increased cell membrane rigidity which is directly related to higher fluorescent anisotropy. In the LPS-challenged condition, DPCs treated with SMF demonstrated a higher tolerance to LPS-induced inflammatory response when compared to untreated controls. According to these results, we suggest that 0.4 T SMF attenuates LPS-induced inflammatory response to DPCs by changing cell membrane stability

Efficacy of concurrent radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer and synchronous metastasis receiving systemic therapy

BackgroundNeoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by total mesorectal excision is the standard treatment for patients with nonmetastatic locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). However, for patients with LARC and synchronous metastasis, the optimal treatment strategy and sequence remain inconclusive. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of concurrent radiotherapy in patients with de novo metastatic rectal cancer who received chemotherapy and targeted therapy.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the data of 63 patients with LARC and synchronous metastasis who received intensive therapy at the study hospital between April 2015 and November 2018. The included patients were divided into two groups: RT-CT, those who received systemic chemotherapy with targeted therapy and concurrent radiotherapy (for primary rectal cancer), and CT, those who received only systemic chemotherapy with targeted therapy.ResultsTreatment response was better in the RT-CT group than in the CT group. The rate of primary tumor resection (PTR) was higher in the RT-CT group than in the CT group (71.4% and 42.9%, respectively; P = .0286). The RT-CT group exhibited considerably longer local recurrence-free survival (P = .0453) and progression-free survival (PFS; from 13.3 to 22.5 months) than did the CT group (P = .0091); however, the groups did not differ in terms of overall survival (OS; P = .49). Adverse events were almost similar between the groups, except frequent diarrhea, the prevalence of which was higher in the RT-CT group than in the CT group (59.5% and 23.8%, respectively; P = .0075).ConclusionsIn the era of biologics, radiotherapy may increase the resectability of primary rectal tumors, reducing the risk of locoregional failure and prolonging PFS. Concurrent pelvic radiotherapy may not substantially improve OS, which is indicated by metastasis. Hence, the resection of the distant metastases may be essential for improving long-term OS. To further determine the efficacy of concurrent radiotherapy, additional prospective, randomized studies must combine preoperative pelvic radiotherapy with PTR and metastectomy to treat patients with stage IV LARC

High-resolution spatial and genomic characterization of coral-associated microbial aggregates in the coral Stylophora pistillata

Bacteria commonly form aggregates in a range of coral species [termed coral-associated microbial aggregates (CAMAs)], although these structures remain poorly characterized despite extensive efforts studying the coral microbiome. Here, we comprehensively characterize CAMAs associated with Stylophora pistillata and quantify their cell abundance. Our analysis reveals that multiple Endozoicomonas phylotypes coexist inside a single CAMA. Nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging revealed that the Endozoicomonas cells were enriched with phosphorus, with the elemental compositions of CAMAs different from coral tissues and endosymbiotic Symbiodiniaceae, highlighting a role in sequestering and cycling phosphate between coral holobiont partners. Consensus metagenome--assembled genomes of the two dominant Endozoicomonas phylotypes confirmed their metabolic potential for polyphosphate accumulation along with genomic signatures including type VI secretion systems allowing host association. Our findings provide unprecedented insights into Endozoicomonas-dominated CAMAs and the first direct physiological and genomic linked evidence of their biological role in the coral holobiont