270 research outputs found
Heritability of autistic traits in the general population.
Item does not contain fulltextObjective: To explore genetic and environmental influences on individual differences in autistic traits in early adulthood and to test if there is assortative mating (non-random partner choice) for autistic traits in the general population. Design: Twin family study using structural equation modeling. Setting: Population-based twin family sample from the Netherlands. Participants: Twins aged 18 years (n=370) and their siblings (n=94); parents of twins (128 couples). Main Outcome Measure: Self-reported Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) scores, a quantitative measure of autistic traits. Results: Autistic traits were continuously distributed in the population. Twins and siblings did not significantly differ in AQ scores; men obtained significantly higher AQ scores than women (in twin-sibling sample, P <.001; twin-parent sample, P=.02). Individual differences in endorsement on autistic traits show substantial heritability (57%). No significant shared environmental influences were detected. The genes affecting autistic traits appear to be the same across the sexes. The correlation in AQ score between spouses was low and not significant (Pearson r=.05; P=.59). Conclusions: Previous general population twin studies reported high heritability for autistic traits in childhood and early adolescence. This study extends these findings to late adolescence and yields no evidence for sex-specific genetic influences on autistic traits in later stages of development. As autistic traits show substantial variation in the general population, future genetic studies may be facilitated by measuring autistic traits on a continuous scale like the AQ. No evidence for assortative mating for autistic traits was found, suggesting that, in the general population, there is no passive or active partner selection for autistic traits.6 p
A spot-size transformer for fiber-chip coupling in sensor applications at 633 nm in silicon oxynitride
A mode-size adapter was designed, fabricated in SiON/SiO2 and tested. It consists of a laterally tapered SiON waveguide having a step-wise decrease in thickness towards the taper point which may have up to 0.5 ¿m residual widt
Challenges and opportunities to improve autism services in low-income countries: lessons from a situational analysis in Ethiopia
Background.
Little has been reported about service provision for children with autism in low-income countries. This study explored the current service provision for children with autism and their families in Ethiopia, the existing challenges and urgent needs, and stakeholders’ views on the best approaches to further develop services.
Methods.
A situational analysis was conducted based on i) qualitative interviews with existing service providers; ii) consultation with a wider group of stakeholders through two stakeholder workshops; and iii) information available in the public domain. Findings were triangulated where possible.
Results.
Existing diagnostic and educational services for children with autism are scarce and largely confined to Ethiopia’s capital city, with little provision in rural areas. Families of children with autism experience practical and psychosocial challenges, including severe stigma. Informants further raised the lack of culturally and contextually appropriate autism instruments as an important problem to be addressed. The study informants and local stakeholders provided several approaches for future service provision expansion, including service decentralisation, mental health training and awareness raising initiatives.
Conclusions.
Services for children with autism in Ethiopia are extremely limited; appropriate care for these children is further impeded by stigma and lack of awareness. Ethiopia’s plans to scale up mental healthcare integrated in primary healthcare provides an opportunity to expand services for children with autism and other developmental disorders. These plans and additional strategies outlined in this paper can help to address the current service provision gaps and may also inform service enhancement approaches in other low-income countries
Педагогическая эвристика в структуре личностно ориентированного образования
Цель статьи: провести анализ различных трактовок педагогической эвристики, определить ее задачи, основные структурные элементы и уровни в системе личностно ориентированного образования.This article is devoted to the pedagogical heurist in the personal oriented education that is the analyses of different approaches to the interpretation of pedagogical heurist is done, the tasks, methods and the main structural elements are determined. The peculiarities of theoretical, methodological, individual-practical levels of pedagogical heurist are examined. The functions of personality are determined on every level, principles of government with heuristic activity are revealed. Important conclusions are done
Attention Problems, Inhibitory Control, and Intelligence Index Overlapping Genetic Factors: A Study in 9-, 12-, and 18-Year-Old Twins
It is assumed that attention problems (AP) are related to impaired executive functioning. We investigated the association between AP and inhibitory control and tested to what extent the association was due to genetic factors shared with IQ. Data were available from 3 independent samples of 9-, 12-, and 18-year-old twins and their siblings (1,209 participants). AP were assessed with checklists completed by multiple informants. Inhibitory control was measured with the Stroop Color Word Task (Stroop, 1935), and IQ with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (Wechsler et al., 2002) or Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (Wechsler, 1997). AP and inhibitory control were only correlated in the 12-year-old cohort (r =.18), but appeared non-significant after controlling for IQ. Significant correlations existed between AP and IQ in 9- and 12-year olds (r = -.26/-.34). Inhibitory control and IQ were correlated in all cohorts (r=-.16, -.24 and -.35, respectively). Genetic factors that influenced IQ also influenced inhibitory control. We conclude that the association between AP and inhibitory control as reported in the literature may largely derive from genetic factors that are shared with IQ
Expressing the equation of state parameter in terms of the three dimensional cosmic shear
We study the functional dependence of the spin-weighted angular moments of
the two-point correlation function of the three dimensional cosmic shear on the
expansion history of the universe. We first express the redshift dependent
total equation of state parameter in terms of the growing mode of the gauge
invariant metric perturbation in the conformal-Newtonian gauge for the case of
adiabatic perturbations. We then express the redshift dependent angular moments
of the shear two-point correlation function as an integral in terms of the
metric perturbation. We present the final explicit expression for the case of a
Harrison-Zeldovich spectrum of primordial perturbations. Our analysis is
restricted to the linear regime. We use our results to make a preliminary study
of the required sensitivity that will allow cosmic shear observations to add
significant information about the expansion history of the universe.Comment: Final version to appear in JCAP. Substantial improvements include
added preliminary numerial results and a realistic transfer functio
Paraganglioma and pheochromocytoma upon maternal transmission of SDHD mutations
The SDHD gene encodes a subunit of the mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid cycle enzyme and tumor suppressor
SKU classification: A literature review and conceptual framework
Purpose - Stock keeping unit (SKU) classifications are widely used in the field of production and operations management. Although many theoretical and practical examples of classifications exist, there are no overviews of the current literature, and general guidelines are lacking with respect to method selection for classifying SKUs. The purpose of this paper is to systematically synthesise the earlier work in this area, and to conceptualise and discuss the factors that influence the choice of a specific SKU classification. Design/methodology/approach - The paper structurally reviews existing contributions and synthesises these into a conceptual framework for SKU classification. Findings - How SKUs are classified depends on the classification aim, the context and the method that is chosen. In total, three main production and operations management aims were found: inventory management, forecasting and production strategy. Within the method three decisions are identified to come to a classification: the characteristics, the classification technique and the operationalisation of the classes. Research limitations/implications - Drawing on the literature survey, the authors conclude with a conceptual framework describing the factors that influence SKU classification. Further research could use this framework to develop guidelines for real-life applications. Practical implications Examples from a variety of industries and general directions are provided which managers could use to develop their own SKU classification. Originality/value - The paper aims to advance the literature on SKU classification from the level of individual examples to a conceptual level and provides directions on how to develop a SKU classification
Indirect search for dark matter: prospects for GLAST
Possible indirect detection of neutralino, through its gamma-ray annihilation
product, by the forthcoming GLAST satellite from our galactic halo, M31, M87
and the dwarf galaxies Draco and Sagittarius is studied. Gamma-ray fluxes are
evaluated for the two representative energy thresholds, 0.1 GeV and 1.0 GeV, at
which the spatial resolution of GLAST varies considerably. Apart from dwarfs
which are described either by a modified Plummer profile or by a
tidally-truncated King profiles, fluxes are compared for halos with central
cusps and cores. It is demonstrated that substructures, irrespective of their
profiles, enhance the gamma-ray emission only marginally. The expected
gamma-ray intensity above 1 GeV at high galactic latitudes is consistent with
the residual emission derived from EGRET data if the density profile has a
central core and the neutralino mass is less than 50 GeV, whereas for a central
cusp only a substantial enhancement would explain the observations. From M31,
the flux can be detected above 0.1 GeV and 1.0 GeV by GLAST only if the
neutralino mass is below 300 GeV and if the density profile has a central cusp,
case in which a significant boost in the gamma-ray emission is produced by the
central black hole. For Sagittarius, the flux above 0.1 GeV is detectable by
GLAST provided the neutralino mass is below 50 GeV. From M87 and Draco the
fluxes are always below the sensitivity limit of GLAST.Comment: 14 Pages, 7 Figures, 3 Tables, version to appear on Physical Review
- …