250 research outputs found
Impaired neural discrimination of emotional speech prosody in children with autism spectrum disorder and language impairment
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by deficient social and communication skills, including difficulties in perceiving speech prosody. The present study addressed processing of emotional prosodic changes (sad, scornful and commanding) in natural word stimuli in typically developed school aged children and in children with ASD and language impairment. We found that the responses to a repetitive word were diminished in amplitude in the children with ASD, reflecting impaired speech encoding. Furthermore, the amplitude of the MMN/LDN component, reflecting cortical discrimination of sound changes, was diminished in the children with ASD for the scornful deviant. In addition, the amplitude of the P3a, reflecting involuntary orienting to attention-catching changes, was diminished in the children with ASD for the scornful deviant and tended to be smaller for the sad deviant. These results suggest that prosody processing in ASD is impaired at various levels of neural processing, including deficient pre-attentive discrimination and involuntary orientation to speech prosody. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe
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The visibility of environmental rights in the EU legal order: eurolegalism in action?
The current article responds to a key puzzle and a question. First, why, given the potential for ‘rights talk’ that has been seen in other countries and other policy areas, have environmental rights in the EU legal order been relatively invisible until recently? And second, with Daniel Kelemen’s influential work on Eurolegalism arguing that the EU has become much more reliant on US-style adversarial legalism, including a shift towards rights-based litigation, do EU environmental rights fit the picture Kelemen has painted, or are they an exception? The article explores the visibility of EU environmental rights at EU level and then seeks to explain the possible reasons for visibility/invisibility
Injection of Radioactivities into the Forming Solar System
Meteorite studies have revealed the presence of short-lived radioactivities
in the early solar system. The current data suggests that the origin of at
least some of the radioactivities requires contribution from recent
nucleosynthesis at a stellar site. This sets a strict time limit on the time
available for the formation of the solar system and argues for the theory of
the triggered origin of the solar system. According to this scenario, the
formation of our planetary system was initiated by the impact of an
interstellar shock wave on a molecular cloud core. The shock wave originated
from a nearby explosive stellar event and carried with it radioactivities
produced in the stellar source. In addition to triggering the collapse of the
molecular cloud core, the shock wave also deposited some of the freshly
synthesized radioactivities into the collapsing system. The radioactivities
were then incorporated into the first solar system solids, in this manner
leaving a record of the event in the meteoritic material. The viability of the
scenario can be investigated through numerical simulations studying the
processes involved in mixing shock wave material into the collapsing system.
The high-resolution calculations presented here show that injection occurs
through Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities, the injection efficiency is
approximately 10%, and temporal and spatial heterogeneities in the abundances
of the radioactivities existed at the time of their arrival in the forming
solar system.Comment: 13 pages, including 3 figures. Better-quality figures available at
http://www.public.asu.edu/~hvanhal/pubs
Metabolomic Profiling of Statin Use and Genetic Inhibition of HMG-CoA Reductase
Background Statins are first-line therapy for cardiovascular disease prevention, but their systemic effects across lipoprotein subclasses, fatty acids, and circulating metabolites remain incompletely characterized. Objectives This study sought to determine the molecular effects of statin therapy on multiple metabolic pathways. Methods Metabolic profiles based on serum nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics were quantified at 2 time points in 4 population-based cohorts from the United Kingdom and Finland (N = 5,590; 2.5 to 23.0 years of follow-up). Concentration changes in 80 lipid and metabolite measures during follow-up were compared between 716 individuals who started statin therapy and 4,874 persistent nonusers. To further understand the pharmacological effects of statins, we used Mendelian randomization to assess associations of a genetic variant known to mimic inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase (the intended drug target) with the same lipids and metabolites for 27,914 individuals from 8 population-based cohorts. Results Starting statin therapy was associated with numerous lipoprotein and fatty acid changes, including substantial lowering of remnant cholesterol (80% relative to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C]), but only modest lowering of triglycerides (25% relative to LDL-C). Among fatty acids, omega-6 levels decreased the most (68% relative to LDL-C); other fatty acids were only modestly affected. No robust changes were observed for circulating amino acids, ketones, or glycolysis-related metabolites. The intricate metabolic changes associated with statin use closely matched the association pattern with rs12916 in the HMGCR gene (R2 = 0.94, slope 1.00 ± 0.03). Conclusions Statin use leads to extensive lipid changes beyond LDL-C and appears efficacious for lowering remnant cholesterol. Metabolomic profiling, however, suggested minimal effects on amino acids. The results exemplify how detailed metabolic characterization of genetic proxies for drug targets can inform indications, pleiotropic effects, and pharmacological mechanisms
Multi-frequency study of supernova remnants in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Confirmation of the supernova remnant status of DEM L205
We present new X-ray and radio data of the LMC SNR candidate DEM L205,
obtained by XMM-Newton and ATCA, along with archival optical and infrared
observations. We use data at various wavelengths to study this object and its
complex neighbourhood, in particular in the context of the star formation
activity, past and present, around the source. We analyse the X-ray spectrum to
derive some remnant's properties, such as age and explosion energy. Supernova
remnant features are detected at all observed wavelengths: soft and extended
X-ray emission is observed, arising from a thermal plasma with a temperature kT
between 0.2 keV and 0.3 keV. Optical line emission is characterised by an
enhanced [SII]/Halpha ratio and a shell-like morphology, correlating with the
X-ray emission. The source is not or only tentatively detected at near-infrared
wavelengths (< 10 microns), but there is a detection of arc-like emission at
mid and far-infrared wavelengths (24 and 70 micron) that can be unambiguously
associated with the remnant. We suggest that thermal emission from dust heated
by stellar radiation and shock waves is the main contributor to the infrared
emission. Finally, an extended and faint non-thermal radio emission correlates
with the remnant at other wavelengths and we find a radio spectral index
between -0.7 and -0.9, within the range for SNRs. The size of the remnant is
~79x64 pc and we estimate a dynamical age of about 35000 years. We definitely
confirm DEM L205 as a new SNR. This object ranks amongst the largest remnants
known in the LMC. The numerous massive stars and the recent outburst in star
formation around the source strongly suggest that a core-collapse supernova is
the progenitor of this remnant. (abridged)Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in A&
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A typology of loss and damage perspectives
Loss and Damage (L&D) has been the subject of contentious debate in international climate policy for several decades. Recently, formal mechanisms on L&D have been established, but arguably through unclear language. This ambiguity is politically important, but researchers and practitioners require clearer understandings of L&D. Here we report on the first in-depth empirical study of actor perspectives, including interviews with 38 key stakeholders in research, practice, and policy. We find points of agreement and also important distinctions in terms of: the relationship between L&D and adaptation, the emphasis on avoiding versus addressing L&D, the relevance of anthropogenic climate change, and the role of justice. A typology of four perspectives is identified, with different implications for research priorities and actions to address L&D. This typology enables improved understanding of existing perspectives and so has potential to facilitate more transparent discussion of the options available to address L&D
The problem of obesity among adolescents in Hong Kong: a comparison using various diagnostic criteria
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Obesity is now a global epidemic. In this study, we aimed to assess the rates of obesity using several major diagnostic criteria in Chinese school adolescents in Hong Kong.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This is a cross-sectional study. Using a computer-generated coding system, we randomly selected schools from different geographical regions in Hong Kong to obtain a representative sample. Subjects aged 11–18 years of age were randomly selected from different class of the schools. Their rates of obesity according to four different international and local criteria were compared [International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) 2000 criterion; the Group of China Obesity Task Force (COTF) 2004 criterion; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2000 Growth Charts and the Hong Kong Growth Survey (HKGS) charts in 1993].</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 2098 adolescents [982 (46.8%) boys and 1116 (53.2%) girls], the mean age (± SD) was 15.1 ± 1.8 years (range: 11–18 years; median: 15.0 years). The crude rates of obesity were similar based on IOTF, COTF or CDC criteria (boys: 3.9–6.0%, girls: 1.8–3.7%), however, the rate increased to 11–27% if the HKGS charts were used. Obesity rate varied markedly according to age. It decreased from 8–10% among those aged 12–13 years to 2–4% among those aged 17–18 years.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The prevalence of obesity in Hong Kong adolescents using various diagnostic criteria were similar except for the 1993 HKGS criteria, which gave an exceeding high figure. Using the IOTF, COTF or CDC criteria, the adolescent obesity in Hong Kong varied from 1.8% to 6.0%.</p
HST/ACS H-alpha Imaging of the Carina Nebula: Outflow Activity Traced by Irradiated Herbig-Haro Jets
We report the discovery of new Herbig-Haro (HH) jets in the Carina Nebula,
and we discuss the protostellar outflow activity of a young OB association.
These are the first results of an HST/ACS H-alpha imaging survey of Carina.
Adding to the one previously known example (HH666), we detect 21 new HH jets,
plus 17 new candidate jets, ranging in length from 0.005 to 3 pc. We derive jet
mass-loss rates ranging from 8e-9 to 1e-6 Msun/yr, but a comparison to the
distribution of jet mass-loss rates in Orion suggests that we may be missing a
large fraction of the jets below 1e-8 Msun/yr. A key qualitative result is that
even some of the smallest dark globules with sizes of 0.01pc are active sites
of ongoing star formation because we see HH jets emerging from them, and that
these offer potential analogs to the cradle of our Solar System because of
their proximity to dozens of imminent supernovae that will enrich them with
radioactive nuclides like 60Fe. HST images reveal proplyd structures in the
core of the Tr14 cluster, only 0.1-0.2 pc from several O-type stars. Many
examples of bent jets serve as "wind socks"; strong photoevaporative flows can
shape the jets, competing with the direct winds and radiation from massive
stars. Finally, even allowing for a large number of jets that may escape
detection, we find that HH jets are negligible to the global turbulence of the
surrounding region, which is driven by massive star feedback.Comment: 37 journal pages, 34 figures, accepted by MNRA
Radio emission from Supernova Remnants
The explosion of a supernova releases almost instantaneously about 10^51 ergs
of mechanic energy, changing irreversibly the physical and chemical properties
of large regions in the galaxies. The stellar ejecta, the nebula resulting from
the powerful shock waves, and sometimes a compact stellar remnant, constitute a
supernova remnant (SNR). They can radiate their energy across the whole
electromagnetic spectrum, but the great majority are radio sources. Almost 70
years after the first detection of radio emission coming from a SNR, great
progress has been achieved in the comprehension of their physical
characteristics and evolution. We review the present knowledge of different
aspects of radio remnants, focusing on sources of the Milky Way and the
Magellanic Clouds, where the SNRs can be spatially resolved. We present a brief
overview of theoretical background, analyze morphology and polarization
properties, and review and critical discuss different methods applied to
determine the radio spectrum and distances. The consequences of the interaction
between the SNR shocks and the surrounding medium are examined, including the
question of whether SNRs can trigger the formation of new stars. Cases of
multispectral comparison are presented. A section is devoted to reviewing
recent results of radio SNRs in the Magellanic Clouds, with particular emphasis
on the radio properties of SN 1987A, an ideal laboratory to investigate
dynamical evolution of an SNR in near real time. The review concludes with a
summary of issues on radio SNRs that deserve further study, and analyzing the
prospects for future research with the latest generation radio telescopes.Comment: Revised version. 48 pages, 15 figure
Metabolic Signatures of Adiposity in Young Adults: Mendelian Randomization Analysis and Effects of Weight Change
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