The Relationship between Context and Sensory Processing Patterns in Children with Autism

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between sensory processing and context for children with autism 3 to 11 years old. Researchers examined home and school contexts using the Sensory Profile (home) and the School Companion (school). Method Teachers of 49 students with autism completed the School Companion and parents completed the Sensory Profile. Researchers conducted correlational analyses using the Avoiding and Seeking Quadrant Scores from the School Companion and the corresponding Avoiding and Seeking Quadrant Scores from the Sensory Profile. Results The Avoiding Quadrant Score coefficient (.59) and the Seeking Quadrant Score coefficient (.45) were statistically significant (p = .01) with good and fair correlations respectively suggesting sensory processing patterns have both universal qualities and context specific qualities in children with autism. Conclusion Findings from this study provide initial evidence that there is a relationship between sensory processing and context for children with autism

Congenital Syphilis

Despite available prevention and treatment measures, congenital syphilis is on the rise again in the United States (Su et al, 2016). Congenital syphilis is caused by maternal infection during pregnancy with the bacteria Treponema pallidum, which is then transmitted to the fetus. Complications include miscarriage, fetal and neonatal death, premature birth, and other anomalies in the newborn. The leading factor in congenital syphilis infection is limited or no prenatal care (Dobson, 2016). If the syphilis-infected mother is treated during pregnancy, infection of the fetus can be prevented (Su et al, 2016). Nurses and health care providers need to be well informed on the risk factors and be able to rapidly diagnose congenital syphilis so that treatment can be initiated, leading to decreased fetal and neonatal mortality

The Leader of the Green Party, Natalie Bennett, on fixing our broken politics

Democratic Audit’s Sean Kippin recently interviewed the leader of the Green Party Natalie Bennett in advance of a talk she was giving in the Palace of Westminster about the future for political reform. In part one of a two part interview, they discussed what needs to be done to modernise our political and constitutional arrangements, and what specifically can be done to improve Parliament and the quality of our governance

The Green Party’s Natalie Bennett on UKIP, political disengagement, and the European and local elections

In part two of her recent two-part interview with Democratic Audit’s Sean Kippin, Natalie Bennett, the Leader of the Green Party, talks about her experiences of party leadership from outside of Parliament or local government, May’s Local and European elections, youth political engagement, and the rise of UKIP

The Iron-Type Nitrile Hydratase Activator Protein Is A GTPase

The Fe-type nitrile hydratase activator protein from Rhodococcus equi TG328-2 (ReNHase TG328-2) was successfully expressed and purified. Sequence analysis and homology modeling suggest that it is a G3E P-loop guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) within the COG0523 subfamily. Kinetic studies revealed that the Fe-type activator protein is capable of hydrolyzing GTP to GDP with a kcat value of 1.2 × 10−3 s−1 and a Km value of 40 μM in the presence of 5 mM MgCl2 in 50 mM 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-1-ethanesulfonic acid at a pH of 8.0. The addition of divalent metal ions, such as Co(II), which binds to the ReNHase TG328-2 activator protein with a Kd of 2.9 μM, accelerated the rate of GTP hydrolysis, suggesting that GTP hydrolysis is potentially connected to the proposed metal chaperone function of the ReNHase TG328-2 activator protein. Circular dichroism data reveal a significant conformational change upon the addition of GTP, which may be linked to the interconnectivity of the cofactor binding sites, resulting in an activator protein that can be recognized and can bind to the NHase α-subunit. A combination of these data establishes, for the first time, that the ReNHase TG328-2 activator protein falls into the COG0523 subfamily of G3E P-loop GTPases, many of which play a role in metal homeostasis processes

Cross-level Correspondence in Q Theory

This paper examines cross-level interactions in basic systems modeling segmental harmony in Q theory (Shih & Inkelas 2019, S&I; see also Inkelas & Shih 2015, 2017). Q theory is a theory of segmental representations that decomposes segments (Qs) into linear strings of subsegments (qs). The component qs can differ in feature values, resulting in Qs with contour tones. S&I present Q theory as an alternative to autosegmental representations and use Agreement-by-correspondence (ABC; Rose & Walker 2004, Hansson 2010, Bennett 2015) analyses to derive various kinds of harmony and dissimilation patterns, particularly those involving tones. This paper shows that while the Q theory typologies share the characteristic structures of ABC(D) systems (Bennett & DelBusso 2018, DelBusso & Bennett to appear) at both q and Q levels, these (sets of) properties interact in more complex embedded structures.

Building Fire-Adapted Colorado Communities: Investigating the Role of Community Wildfire Protection Plans and Other Drivers of Adaptive Capacity

Wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity and pose a threat to communities across the Western US. Creating communities that are &ldquo;fire adapted&rdquo; can help lower risks to those living in fire-prone areas and allow these communities to coexist with fire in a safe way. Community engagement and collaboration in wildfire risk reduction activities is critical to the development of fire adapted communities. Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) constitute an approach created by the federal government to help communities collaboratively plan for wildfire risks and take ownership of their risk reduction and adaptation actions. This project sought to understand the role of CWPPs in building adaptive capacity in at-risk communities in Colorado. Through interviews with public officials, community members, and other key stakeholders, it was found that CWPPs play a limited role in creating fire adapted communities. Rather, other drivers of adaptive capacity already present in communities, such as awareness of risk due to a past event or the presence of community champions, may create an enabling environment for CWPPs to be most effective. CWPPs may be used to demonstrate and articulate community characteristics to enable understanding and flexibility from public officials and external stakeholders in their efforts to support building adaptive capacity at the local scale.</p