Developing A Novel Measure of Theory of Mind: The Friendship Game

Advanced tests of Theory of Mind (ToM) have offered support for the ToM model of ASD with adults with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (HF ASD). Other support for the ToM model of ASD has arisen from research incorporating video and audio elements to improve the real-life applicability of ToM tests for adults with HF ASD. Building upon this research, the current study develops a new measure of Theory of Mind (ToM) that adopts a game-like design that is both challenging and engaging for adults with HF ASD: The Friendship Game (TFG). The thesis documents the initial development of TFG, followed by an exploratory quantitative and qualitative validation of TFG. Eight participants with HF ASD were recruited to the study. Their individual performances on TFG were compared to their performances on Cognitive and Social Cognitive Assessments and self-report measures, relative to UK norms. The participants’ verbal responses in TFG were explored to assess perceived evidence of ToM application and accuracy. The participants also provided feedback on the testing experience to further assess TFG’s validity and relevance to the adult HF ASD population. The results provided initial support for TFG’s validation as a new measure of ToM for adults with HF ASD. Exploration of the participants’ verbal responses suggest that there was no evidence of floor or ceiling effects in TFG. Participant feedback also indicated that the TFG is both an engaging and challenging test of ToM. Whilst they reflected that social interaction is more complex in everyday life, TFG helped to identify and prompt a discussion around these difficulties. Ideas for how TFG could be developed into an intervention to support adults with HF ASD were also discussed. The findings of the study were discussed in relation to previous research and ideas for future directions. The study’s methodological and theoretical limitations were also explored. For example, the impact of the small participant size on the conclusions that can be draw from of the study. Also, the contextual challenges involved in the validation of a new measure of ToM

Using Ontology Research in Semantic Web Applications

In the light of improving the World Wide Web, researchers are working towards the Semantic Web. Ontologies and ontology-based applications are its basic ingredients. Several ontological environments, categorizations and methodologies can be found in the literature. This paper shows how we have investigated the state of the art in these areas in an ontology building process that is the basis for an application developed at the later stage in an events organisation domain

Superconducting and structural properties of plasma sprayed YBaCuO layers deposited on metallic substrates

The properties of plasma sprayed Y-Ba-Cu-O coatings deposited on metallic substrates are studied. Stainless steel, nickel steels and pure nickel are used as substrate. Y-Ba-Cu-O deposited on stainless steel and nickel steel reacts with the substrate. This interaction can be suppressed by using an yttria-stabilized zirconia (YsZ) diffusion barrier. However, after heat treatment the Y-Ba-Cu-O layers on YsZ show cracks perpendicular to the surface. As a result the critical current density is very low. The best results are obtained for Y-Ba-Cu-O deposited on pure nickel; here no cracks perpendicular to the surface are observed. The critical current increases with the anneal temperature but annealing for longer than 10 h does not seem to improve the superconducting properties any further

Transitions in coral reef accretion rates linked to intrinsic ecological shifts on turbid-zone nearshore reefs

Nearshore coral communities within turbid settings are typically perceived to have limited reef-building capacity. However, several recent studies have reported reef growth over millennial time scales within such environments and have hypothesized that depth-variable community assemblages may act as equally important controls on reef growth as they do in clear-water settings. Here, we explicitly test this idea using a newly compiled chronostratigraphic record (31 cores, 142 radiometric dates) from seven proximal (but discrete) nearshore coral reefs located along the central Great Barrier Reef (Australia). Uniquely, these reefs span distinct stages of geomorphological maturity, as reflected in their elevations below sea level. Integrated age-depth and ecological data sets indicate that contemporary coral assemblage shifts, associated with changing light availability and wave exposure as reefs shallowed, coincided with transitions in accretion rates at equivalent core depths. Reef initiation followed a regional ∼1 m drop in sea level (1200–800 calibrated yr B.P.) which would have lowered the photic floor and exposed new substrate for coral recruitment by winnowing away fine seafloor sediments. We propose that a two-way feedback mechanism exists where past growth history influences current reef morphology and ecology, ultimately driving future reef accumulation and morphological change. These findings provide the first empirical evidence that nearshore reef growth trajectories are intrinsically driven by changes in coral community structure as reefs move toward sea level, a finding of direct significance for predicting the impacts of extrinsically driven ecological change (e.g., coral-algal phase shifts) on reef growth potential within the wider coastal zone on the Great Barrier Reef

Protein kinase C-dependent signaling controls the midgut epithelial barrier to malaria parasite infection in anopheline mosquitoes.

Anopheline mosquitoes are the primary vectors of parasites in the genus Plasmodium, the causative agents of malaria. Malaria parasites undergo a series of complex transformations upon ingestion by the mosquito host. During this process, the physical barrier of the midgut epithelium, along with innate immune defenses, functionally restrict parasite development. Although these defenses have been studied for some time, the regulatory factors that control them are poorly understood. The protein kinase C (PKC) gene family consists of serine/threonine kinases that serve as central signaling molecules and regulators of a broad spectrum of cellular processes including epithelial barrier function and immunity. Indeed, PKCs are highly conserved, ranging from 7 isoforms in Drosophila to 16 isoforms in mammals, yet none have been identified in mosquitoes. Despite conservation of the PKC gene family and their potential as targets for transmission-blocking strategies for malaria, no direct connections between PKCs, the mosquito immune response or epithelial barrier integrity are known. Here, we identify and characterize six PKC gene family members--PKCδ, PKCε, PKCζ, PKD, PKN, and an indeterminate conventional PKC--in Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles stephensi. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses of the anopheline PKCs support most subfamily assignments. All six PKCs are expressed in the midgut epithelia of A. gambiae and A. stephensi post-blood feeding, indicating availability for signaling in a tissue that is critical for malaria parasite development. Although inhibition of PKC enzymatic activity decreased NF-κB-regulated anti-microbial peptide expression in mosquito cells in vitro, PKC inhibition had no effect on expression of a panel of immune genes in the midgut epithelium in vivo. PKC inhibition did, however, significantly increase midgut barrier integrity and decrease development of P. falciparum oocysts in A. stephensi, suggesting that PKC-dependent signaling is a negative regulator of epithelial barrier function and a potential new target for transmission-blocking strategies

What clinical and laboratory parameters determine significant intra abdominal pathology for patients assessed in hospital with acute abdominal pain?

Background: Abdominal pain is a common cause for emergency admission. While some patients have serious abdominal pathology, a significant group of those patients have no specific cause for the pain. This study was conducted to identify those who have non-specific abdominal pain who can be either admitted short term for observation or reassured and discharged for outpatient management. Patients and methods: A prospective documentation of clinical and laboratory data was obtained on a consecutive cohort of 286 patients who were admitted to a surgical unit over a nine month period with symptoms of abdominal pain regarded severe enough for full assessment in the casualty department and admission to a surgical ward. The patients were followed until a definite diagnosis was made or the patient\u27s condition and abdominal pain improved and the patient discharged. The hospital where the study took place is a small peripheral general hospital draining a population of 120,000 people in a rural area in New Zealand. Results: There were 286 admissions to the emergency department. Logistic regression multivariate statistical analysis showed that guarding raised white cells count, tachycardia and vomiting were the only variables associated with significant pathology. Conclusion: Patients with no vomiting, no guarding, who have normal pulse rates and normal white cell counts are unlikely to have significant pathology requiring further active intervention either medical or surgical

The Will to Prevail: Inside the Legal Battle to Save Sweet Briar

Despite the school‘s storied past and deep historical roots, on March 3, 2015, the Sweet Briar Board of Directors announced its intention to shut down the college—permanently—the following summer. The Board cited insurmountable financial challenges, including falling enrollment, a lack of unrestricted funds in its endowment, and the century-old school‘s lack of appeal to modern generations of students. The Board claimed the school was no longer financially viable, because though its $84 million endowment was sizeable by most measures, the school needed an endowment three times that size to stay open. Students, faculty, staff, and alumnae were blindsided by the news that their college would abruptly shut its doors. Unanswered questions led to controversy and distrust, and groups of Sweet Briar supporters were galvanized to take action. Immediately following the announcement, a movement to halt the school‘s closure arose and quickly gained momentum, leading to a hotly contested legal battle that went from the circuit court to the Supreme Court of Virginia and back again. Amherst County Attorney, Ellen Bowyer, boldly brought the principal lawsuit in the name of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The lawsuit alleged the College had violated the Virginia Charitable Solicitations Act by using charitable funds, raised to operate the school, for the purpose of closing it instead. The lawsuit also claimed violations of the Virginia Uniform Trust Code. In the end, the supporters of Sweet Briar won. This is their story. Part I provides an in-depth factual overview, beginning with the college‘s founding in the early 1900s. The commentary then turns to the controversial decision to close and discusses the facts and legal theories of the case, the decisions by the circuit court and the Supreme Court of Virginia, and the eventual settlement that kept the school alive. In Part II, the discussion shifts to the landmark nature of this case, not only for Sweet Briar College, but also for other Virginia colleges and non-profits around the country. The essay analyzes the legal questions arising from the case, including whether a Virginia corporation could also be a trustee, and, what were the Board‘s legal obligations in this case

Time scales and modes of reef lagoon infilling in the Maldives and controls on the onset of reef island formation

Faro are annular reefs, with reef flats near sea level and lagoons of variable depth, characteristic of both the perimeter and lagoons of Maldivian (Indian Ocean) atolls. Their geomorphic development remains largely unknown, but where faro lagoons (termed velu in Maldivian) have infilled and support reef islands, these provide precious habitable land. Understanding the timing and modes of velu infilling is thus directly relevant to questions about reef island development and vulnerability. Here we use a chronostratigraphic data set obtained from a range of atoll-interior faro with partially to fully filled velu (including those with reef islands) from Baa (South Maalhosmadulu) Atoll, Maldives, to determine time scales and modes of velu infilling, and to identify the temporal and spatial thresholds that control reef island formation. Our data suggest a systematic relationship between faro size, velu infilling, and island development. These relationships likely vary between atolls as a function of atoll lagoon depth, but in Baa Atoll, our data set indicates the following faro-size relationships exist: (1) faros <∼0.5 km2 have velu that were completely infilled by ca. 3000 calibrated years B.P. (cal yr B.P.) with islands having established on these deposits by ca. 2.5 cal kyr B.P.; (2) faros >0.5 km2 but <∼1.25 km2 have velu in late stages of infill, may support unvegetated sand cays and, given sufficient sand supply, may evolve into larger, more permanent islands; and (3) faros >∼1.25 km2 have unfilled (deeper) velu which might only infill over long time scales and which are thus unlikely to support new island initiation. These new observations, when combined with previously published data on Maldivian reef island development, suggest that while the velu of the largest faro are unlikely to fill over the next few centuries (at least), other faro with near-infilled velu may provide important foci for future reef-island building, even under present highstand (and slightly rising) sea levels

Are existing biodiversity conservation strategies appropriate in a changing climate?

Many countries have conservation plans for threatened species, but such plans have generally been developed without taking into account the potential impacts of climate change. Here, we apply a decision framework, specifically developed to identify and prioritise climate change adaptation actions and demonstrate its use for 30 species threatened in the UK. Our aim is to assess whether government conservation recommendations remain appropriate under a changing climate. The species, associated with three different habitats (lowland heath, broadleaved woodland and calcareous grassland), were selected from a range of taxonomic groups (primarily moths and vascular plants, but also including bees, bryophytes, carabid beetles and spiders). We compare the actions identified for these threatened species by the decision framework with those included in existing conservation plans, as developed by the UK Government's statutory adviser on nature conservation. We find that many existing conservation recommendations are also identified by the decision framework. However, there are large differences in the spatial prioritisation of actions when explicitly considering projected climate change impacts. This includes recommendations for actions to be carried out in areas where species do not currently occur, in order to allow them to track movement of suitable conditions for their survival. Uncertainties in climate change projections are not a reason to ignore them. Our results suggest that existing conservation plans, which do not take into account potential changes in suitable climatic conditions for species, may fail to maximise species persistence. Comparisons across species also suggest a more habitat-focused approach could be adopted to enable climate change adaptation for multiple species

Biodiversity’s contributions to sustainable development

International concern to develop sustainably challenges us to act upon the inherent links between 23 our economy, society and environment, and is leading to increasing acknowledgement of 24 biodiversity’s importance. This Review discusses the breadth of ways in which biodiversity can 25 support sustainable development. It uses the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a basis for 26 exploring scientific evidence of the benefits delivered by biodiversity. It focuses on papers that 27 provide examples of how biodiversity components (i.e. ecosystems, species and genes) directly 28 deliver benefits that may contribute to the achievement of individual SDGs. It also considers how 29 biodiversity’s direct contributions to fulfilling some SDGs may indirectly support the achievement of 30 other SDGs to which biodiversity does not contribute directly. How the attributes (e.g. diversity, 31 abundance or composition) of biodiversity components influence the benefits delivered is also 32 presented, where described by the papers reviewed. While acknowledging potential negative 33 impacts and trade-offs between different benefits, the study concludes that biodiversity may 34 contribute to fulfilment of all SDGs