A Pilot Feasibility Study of Neurofeedback for Children with Autism

Neurofeedback (NFB) is an emerging treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This pilot study examined the feasibility of NFB for children with ASD. Ten children ages 7–12 with high functioning ASD and attention difficulties received a NFB attention training intervention. A standardized checklist captured feasibility, including focus during exercises and academic tasks, as well as off-task behaviors. Active behaviors and vocalizations were the most frequent off-task behaviors. Positive reinforcement and breaks including calm breathing exercises were the most common supports. Low motivation was associated with higher feasibility challenges, yet parental involvement and accommodations were helpful. This pilot study shows that it is feasible to conduct NFB sessions with children with high functioning autism and attention difficulties.     

Drug-DNA interactions: spectroscopic and footprinting studies of site and sequence specificity of elliptinium.

The binding of the antitumoral ellipticine derivative 2-methyl-9-hydroxyellipticinium acetate (elliptinium; NMHE) to DNA was analyzed by the combined use of DNase I footprinting and spectroscopic methods. Using two fragments of pBR322 DNA, five discrete NMHE binding sites of 5-7 protected base pairs (bp) were detected by footprinting at 4 degrees C on the analyzed regions. These corresponded to alternating pyrimidines and purines. The inactive derivative 2-methyl ellipticinium acetate L(NME) lacking a hydroxy group failed to demonstrate DNA protection even at low temperature. Ultraviolet-absorption and 1H-nmr analysis was performed using two autocomplementary octanucleotides d(TGACGTCA) (I) and d(ACTGCAGT) (II). The uv-absorption titrations resulted in an intercalative binding mode for NMHE in the oligomers. Analysis of the derived biphasic Scatchard plots yielded two binding sites corresponding to approximately 6-bp and 2-bp sizes and characterized by apparent association constants K1 approximately 10(8) M-1 and K2 approximately 10(6) M-1, respectively. The 1H-nmr analysis of exchangeable (imino) protons and nonexchangeable protons performed in the one- and two-dimensional modes confirmed the intercalation of NMHE, and further revealed the existence of multiple sites on DNA. Assuming that imino resonance line width concerned the sole kinetic effects, 10-ms order lifetimes were estimated for the drug-oligonucleotide complexes at 7 degrees C, pH 7, and 0.1 ionic strength. Finally, examination of every drug-DNA spectra in the light of the footprinting results indicated that there was a preference for binding of NMHE to the CpG (octamer I) and TpG (octamers I and II) steps.     

Investigation of the Gracilaria gracilis (Gracilariales,Rhodophyta) proteome response to nitrogen limitation

Inorganic nitrogen has been identified as the major growth‐limiting nutritional factor affecting Gracilaria gracilis populations in South Africa. Although the physiological mechanisms implemented by G. gracilis for adaption to low nitrogen environments have been investigated, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of these adaptions. This study provides the first investigation of G. gracilis proteome changes in response to nitrogen limitation and subsequent recovery. A differential proteomics approach employing two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was used to investigate G. gracilis proteome changes in response to nitrogen limitation and recovery. The putative identity of 22 proteins that changed significantly (P < 0.05) in abundance in response to nitrogen limitation and recovery was determined. The identified proteins function in a range of biological processes including glycolysis, photosynthesis, ATP synthesis, galactose metabolism, protein‐refolding and biosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism and cytoskeleton remodeling. The identity of fructose 1,6 biphosphate (FBP) aldolase was confirmed by western blot analysis and the decreased abundance of FBP aldolase observed with two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis was validated by enzyme assays and western blots. The identification of key proteins and pathways involved in the G. gracilis nitrogen stress response provide a better understanding of G. gracilis proteome responses to varying degrees of nitrogen limitation and is the first step in the identification of biomarkers for monitoring the nitrogen status of cultivated G. gracilis populations.     

Plasma reactive oxygen metabolites and non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity are not affected by an acute increase of metabolic rate in zebra finches

Understanding the sources of variation in oxidative stress level is a challenging issue due to the implications of oxidative stress for late age diseases, longevity and life-history trade-offs. Reactive oxygen species that cause oxidative stress are mostly a by-product of energy metabolism and it is therefore often assumed that oxidative stress is proportional to energy consumption. In mammals, an increased metabolic rate induced by cold exposure generally increases oxidative stress. However, compared to mammals, birds generate fewer free radicals per ATP produced and hence it is not obvious that, in birds, a cold-induced increase of metabolic rate increase oxidative stress. We tested whether cold-induced increase in metabolic rate increased oxidative stress in zebra finches by exposing individuals to cold and warm overnight temperatures. We registered metabolic rate and plasma levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants and reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs), a measure of oxidative damage. Metabolic rate was on average 88 % higher in cold compared to warm temperature, with females being stronger affected than males. However, temperature had no effect on plasma antioxidants or our measure of oxidative damage. Middle-age birds had higher levels of plasma antioxidants than younger and older birds, but age was unrelated to ROMs. Birds showed repeatability of plasma ROMs across temperatures but not of non-enzymatic antioxidants. In contrast to similar studies in mammals, our results do not show evidence of increased oxidative stress in plasma after an acute cold-induced increase of metabolic rate but research in more bird species is needed to assess the generality of this pattern.     

Fouling and its control in heat exchangers in the dairy industry

Fouling of heat transfer equipment poses a major problem in the food and especially the dairy industry. A review of recent progress made in the study and understanding of fouling and cleaning mechanisms in relation to exchangers and heat exchange surfaces in contact with milk components is given.

The first part describes the different materials and methods used in the study of fouling and cleaning, from laboratory to pilot‐plant and industrial scale.

The second part concerns the different fouling dynamics observed with milk and dairy products, and gives an interpretation of the different behaviours which occur, on the basis of the most recent results on the composition and structure of the deposits and the biochemical mechanisms of fouling.

The last part is a complete review of cleaning of milk deposits, taking into account the chemical reaction approach to cleaning as a mass transfer phenomenon.     

Ascertaining the role of Taiwan as a source for the Austronesian expansion

Taiwanese aborigines have been deemed the ancestors of Austronesian speakers which are currently distributed throughout two‐thirds of the globe. As such, understanding their genetic distribution and diversity as well as their relationship to mainland Asian groups is important to consolidating the numerous models that have been proposed to explain the dispersal of Austronesian speaking peoples into Oceania. To better understand the role played by the aboriginal Taiwanese in this diaspora, we have analyzed a total of 451 individuals belonging to nine of the tribes currently residing in Taiwan, namely the Ami, Atayal, Bunun, Paiwan, Puyuma, Rukai, Saisiyat, Tsou, and the Yami from Orchid Island off the coast of Taiwan across 15 autosomal short tandem repeat loci. In addition, we have compared the genetic profiles of these tribes to populations from mainland China as well as to collections at key points throughout the Austronesian domain. While our results suggest that Daic populations from Southern China are the likely forefathers of the Taiwanese aborigines, populations within Taiwan show a greater genetic impact on groups at the extremes of the current domain than populations from Indonesia, Mainland, or Southeast Asia lending support to the “Out of Taiwan” hypothesis. We have also observed that specific Taiwanese aboriginal groups (Paiwan, Puyuma, and Saisiyat), and not all tribal populations, have highly influenced genetic distributions of Austronesian populations in the pacific and Madagascar suggesting either an asymmetric migration out of Taiwan or the loss of certain genetic signatures in some of the Taiwanese tribes due to endogamy, isolation, and/or drift. Am J Phys Anthropol 150:551–564, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Identification of a hybridization window that facilitates sizeable reductions of pollen-mediated gene flow in spring wheat

Transgenic wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with improved agronomic traits is currently being field-tested. Gene flow in space is well-documented, but isolation in time has not received comparable attention. Here, we report the results of a field experiment that investigated reductions in intraspecific gene flow associated with temporal isolation of flowering between T. aestivum conspecifics. Pollen-mediated gene flow (PMGF) between an imazamox-resistant (IR) volunteer wheat population and a non-IR spring wheat crop was assessed over a range of volunteer emergence timings and plant population densities that collectively promoted flowering asynchrony. Natural hybridization events between the two populations were detected by phenotypically scoring plants in F₁ populations followed by verification with Mendelian segregation ratios in the F_1:2 lines. Based on the examination of >545,000 seedlings, we identified a hybridization window in spring wheat approximately 125 growing degree-days (GDD) in length. We found a sizeable reduction (two- to four-fold) in gene flow frequencies when flowering occurred outside of this window. The hybridization window identified in this research also will serve to temporally isolate neighboring wheat crops. However, strict control of volunteer populations or spatial isolation of neighbouring crops emerging within a 125 GDD hybridization window will be necessary to maintain low frequencies of PMGF in spring wheat fields. The model developed herein also is likely to be applicable to other wind-pollinated species.