Memory in autism spectrum disorder: a meta-analysis of experimental studies

To address inconsistencies in the literature on memory in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), we report the first ever meta-analysis of short-term (STM) and episodic long-term (LTM) memory in ASD, evaluating the effects of type of material, type of retrieval and the role of inter-item relations. Analysis of 64 studies comparing individuals with ASD and typical development (TD) showed greater difficulties in ASD compared to TD individuals in STM (Hedges’ g=-0.53 [95%CI -0.90; -0.16], p=.005, I²=96%) compared to LTM (g=-0.30 [95%CI -0.42; -0.17], p<.00001, I²=24%), a small difficulty in verbal LTM (g=-0.21, p=.01), contrasting with a medium difficulty for visual LTM (g= -0.41, p=.0002) in ASD compared to TD individuals. We also found a general diminution in free recall compared to cued recall and recognition (LTM, free recall: g=-0.38, p<.00001, cued recall: g=-0.08, p=.58, recognition: g=-0.15, p=.16; STM, free recall: g=-0.59, p=.004, recognition: g=-0.33, p=.07). We discuss these results in terms of their relation to semantic memory. The limited diminution in verbal LTM and preserved overall recognition and cued recall (supported retrieval) may result from a greater overlap of these tasks with semantic long-term representations which are overall preserved in ASD. By contrast, difficulties in STM or free recall may result from less overlap with the semantic system or may involve additional cognitive operations and executive demands. These findings highlight the need to support STM functioning in ASD and acknowledge the potential benefit of using verbal materials at encoding and broader forms of memory support at retrieval to enhance performance

Homogeneous gold catalysis using complexes recovered from waste electronic equipment

Despite the greater awareness of elemental sustainability and the benefits of the circular economy concept, much waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is still destined for landfill. Effective methods for valorizing this waste within our society are therefore imperative. In this contribution, two gold(III) complexes obtained as recovery products from WEEE and their anion metathesis products were investigated as homogenous catalysts. These four recovery products were successfully applied as catalysts for the cyclization of propargylic amides and the condensation of acetylacetone with o-iodoaniline. Impressive activity was also observed in the gold-catalyzed reaction between electron-rich arenes (2-methylfuran, 1,3-dimethoxybenzene, and azulene) and α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds (methyl vinyl ketone and cyclohexenone). These recovered compounds were also shown to be effective catalysts for the oxidative cross-coupling reaction of aryl silanes and arenes. When employed as Lewis acid catalysts for carbonyl-containing substrates, the WEEE-derived gold complexes could also be recovered at the end of the reaction and reused without loss in catalytic activity, enhancing still further the sustainability of the process. This is the first direct application in homogeneous catalysis of gold recovery products sourced from e-waste

Exploring the Event-Related Potentials' Time Course of Associative Recognition in Autism

Behavioral data on episodic recollection in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) point limited relational memory functioning. However, the involvement of successive memory processes in the profile of episodic memory in ASD needs more study. Here, we used event-related potentials (ERP) to investigate the time course of episodic recollection with an associative recognition paradigm with picture pairs. Twenty-two participants with ASD and 32 with typical development (TD), all right-handed, were included. Behavioral results confirmed difficulties in correctly recognizing identical pairs in the ASD relative to TD group. We found an unexpected amplitude decrement on the P2 (220-270 msec) and FN400 (350-470 msec) potentials, suggesting diminished priming and familiarity effects in the ASD relative to TD group. However, ERP data revealed that the recognition of associative information relies on the same electrophysiological process (old/new effect in the 600-700-msec late positive component) in ASD participants as in TD ones, with a parietal extension in the ASD group. These results suggest that the electrophysiological processes of associative recognition are qualitatively similar in individuals with and without ASD but may differ quantitatively. This difference may be driven by the reduced early processing of picture pairs that may in turn lead to their diminished integration into the semantic memory system, being partially compensated by a greater involvement of associative memory during the recollection process. Other studies would be useful to go further in identifying these cognitive processes involved in atypical recognition in ASD and their neural substrates. LAY SUMMARY: We identified diminished performance on the associative recognition of picture pairs in adolescents and young adults with autism when compared to typical development. Electrophysiological data revealed qualitative similarities but quantitative differences between-group, with diminished priming and familiarity processes partially compensated by an enhanced parietal recollection process

A stage-structured model to predict the effect of temperature and salinity on glass eel Anguilla anguilla pigmentation development

The pigmentation development process of glass eels Anguilla anguilla from stage V-B to VIA3 was modelled by gamma cumulative functions. These functions varied with respect to the factors temperature and salinity whose effects were adjusted by beta functions. Temperature was shown to accelerate pigmentation, while salinity acted as a secondary factor slowing down the pigmentation. The model fits the development of 15 samples kept at various temperatures and salinities in the Vilaine River, as well as samples monitored at other dates and places in Europe. It allows the prediction of the duration of estuarine residency for glass eels, in winter and spring, in the Atlantic estuaries

Production et abondance de la civelle en France au début des années 90

La pêche de la civelle se pratique en France sur les façades de la Manche et de l'Atlantique, dans les cours d'eau affluant à la mer et sur certaines zones côtières adjacentes. Cette activité a commencé à s'intensifier à la fin des années 60 avec l'apparition de la technique du drossage et l'augmentation du nombre de pratiquants, professionnels et non-professionnels, liée à l'augmentation des prix d'achat de la civelle par les Espagnols. Les enregistrements statistiques de capture et d'effort de pêche des administrations sont souvent fragmentaires et peu fiables. Ce travail a donc consisté à réaliser, à partir des données officielles disponibles et des résultats des enquêtes et systèmes de suivi des pêcheries de civelles développés par l'IFREMER et le CEMAGREF depuis la fin des années 70, un bilan de l'exploitation pour l'année de référence 1989 et un diagnostic sur les tendances de l'abondance des civelles. 4360 pêcheurs dont 1160 pêcheurs professionnels (27 %) et 3200 non-professionnels (73 %) ont débarqué 520 tonnes de civelles en 1989, réalisant un chiffre d'affaires de plus de 200 millions de francs. La part des non-professionnels était de 33 % soit 170 tonnes et 68 millions de francs. L'analyse des séries chronologiques d'indicateurs halieutiques obtenues sur les bassins de la Vilaine, de la Loire et de la Gironde, autorise à penser qu'on a assisté au début des années 80, à une chute de l'abondance des flux de civelles, qui ne s'est pas démentie depuis. La pertinence et les limites des résultats sont discutées et un certain nombre de mesures concernant la ressource et l'activité de pêche sont proposées

Production et abondance de la civelle en France au début des années 90

La pêche de la civelle se pratique en France sur les façades de la Manche et de l'Atlantique, dans les cours d'eau affluant à la mer et sur certaines zones côtières adjacentes. Cette activité a commencé à s'intensifier à la fin des années 60 avec l'apparition de la technique du drossage et l'augmentation du nombre de pratiquants, professionnels et non-professionnels, liée à l'augmentation des prix d'achat de la civelle par les Espagnols. Les enregistrements statistiques de capture et d'effort de pêche des administrations sont souvent fragmentaires et peu fiables. Ce travail a donc consisté à réaliser, à partir des données officielles disponibles et des résultats des enquêtes et systèmes de suivi des pêcheries de civelles développés par l'IFREMER et le CEMAGREF depuis la fin des années 70, un bilan de l'exploitation pour l'année de référence 1989 et un diagnostic sur les tendances de l'abondance des civelles. 4360 pêcheurs dont 1160 pêcheurs professionnels (27 %) et 3200 non-professionnels (73 %) ont débarqué 520 tonnes de civelles en 1989, réalisant un chiffre d'affaires de plus de 200 millions de francs. La part des non-professionnels était de 33 % soit 170 tonnes et 68 millions de francs. L'analyse des séries chronologiques d'indicateurs halieutiques obtenues sur les bassins de la Vilaine, de la Loire et de la Gironde, autorise à penser qu'on a assisté au début des années 80, à une chute de l'abondance des flux de civelles, qui ne s'est pas démentie depuis. La pertinence et les limites des résultats sont discutées et un certain nombre de mesures concernant la ressource et l'activité de pêche sont proposées

Self-representation in Kleine-Levin syndrome: a single case fMRI study

International audienceKleine-Levin syndrome (KLS) is characterized by recurrent episodes of hypersomnia, compulsive hyperphagia, disinhibition, hypersexuality and self modifications. To investigate the Self, we used afunctional magnetic resonance imaging paradigm evaluating Self-reference processing (SRP) and Self-reference effect (SRE) in a17-year-old male adolescent at the end of an episode. We observed enhanced activations in right hemisphere and posterior areas- associated with physical Self representations- during the SRP condition, while during the SRE condition, enhanced activations in bilateral but prevailing left frontal areas- associated with the conceptual Self. These results suggest amodified Self during aKLS episode being more physically grounded

Surface-dependent oxidation of H 2 on CeO 2 surfaces

International audienc

Intact memory storage but impaired retrieval in visual memory in autism: New insights from an electrophysiological study

In a recent study on visual episodic memory (Desaunay, Clochon, et al., 2020), we have shown event-related potentials (ERPs) differences associated with priming (150–300 msec), familiarity (350–470 msec), and recollection (600–700 msec), in young people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) compared with typical development (TD). To go further into the study of the processes of storage and retrieval of the memory trace, we re-analyzed Desaunay, Clochon, et al's data using time-frequency analysis, that is, event-related synchronization and desynchronization (ERS/ERD). This allows a decomposition of the spectral power within frequency bands associated with these ERPs. We focused both on the same time windows and the same regions of interest as previously published. We mainly identified, in ASD compared with TD, reduced ERS in low-frequencies (delta, theta) in early time-windows, and non-significant differences in ERD in higher frequencies (alpha, beta1) in all time-windows. Reduced ERS during recognition confirmed previously reported diminution of priming effects and difficulties in manipulation and retrieval of both semantic and episodic information. Conversely, preserved ERD corroborates a preservation of memory storage processes. These observations are consistent with a cognitive model of memory in ASD, that suggests difficulties in cognitive operations or executive demand at retrieval, subsequent to successful long-term storage of information. Lay Summary We assessed the EEG synchronization and desynchronization, during visual episodic recognition. We observed, in youth with Autism, reduced synchronization in low-frequencies (delta, theta), suggesting reduced access to and manipulation of long-term stored information. By contrast, non-significant differences in desynchronization at higher frequencies (alpha, beta frequency bands), that support long-term stored semantic and episodic information, suggested preserved memory traces

Homogeneous Gold Catalysis Using Complexes Recovered from Waste Electronic Equipment

Despite the greater awareness of elemental sustain-ability and the benefits of the circular economy concept, much waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is still destined for landfill. Effective methods for valorizing this waste within our society are therefore imperative. In this contribution, two gold(III) complexes obtained as recovery products from WEEE and their anion metathesis products were investigated as homogenous catalysts. These four recovery products were successfully applied as catalysts for the cyclization of propargylic amides and the condensation of acetylacetone with o-iodoaniline. Impressive activity was also observed in the gold-catalyzed reaction between electron-rich arenes (2-methylfuran, 1,3-dimethoxybenzene, and azulene) and alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds (methyl vinyl ketone and cyclohexenone). These recovered compounds were also shown to be effective catalysts for the oxidative cross-coupling reaction of aryl silanes and arenes. When employed as Lewis acid catalysts for carbonyl-containing substrates, the WEEE-derived gold complexes could also be recovered at the end of the reaction and reused without loss in catalytic activity, enhancing still further the sustainability of the process. This is the first direct application in homogeneous catalysis of gold recovery products sourced from e-waste