The Impact of Autistic Traits on Joint Attention in Young Children With Down Syndrome During Mother-Child and Father-Child Interactions.

Purpose: Joint attention predicts later language in Down syndrome (DS) and autism. The co-occurrence of autism in children with DS is 6%-19%, which is higher than in the general population. However, little is known about how co-occurring autism in DS impacts the development of joint attention.

Predicting modular functions and neural coding of behavior from a synaptic wiring diagram.

A long-standing goal in neuroscience is to understand how a circuit's form influences its function. Here, we reconstruct and analyze a synaptic wiring diagram of the larval zebrafish brainstem to predict key functional properties and validate them through comparison with physiological data. We identify modules of strongly connected neurons that turn out to be specialized for different behavioral functions, the control of eye and body movements.

Connectivity of toxigenic Pseudo-nitzschia species assemblages between the Northeast U.S. continental shelf and an adjacent estuary.

Pseudo-nitzschia harmful algal blooms have recently caused elevated domoic acid in coastal environments of the Northeast United States. In 2017, the toxigenic species P. australis was observed in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, a temperate estuarine ecosystem, for the first time since 2009 when DNA monitoring for Pseudo-nitzschia species began.

Assessment of background dose rate on non-human biota in a Mediterranean terrestrial ecosystem.

The assessment of radiological impact to the environment is usually carried out by the dose rate estimation to hypothetical entities named Reference Animals and Plants (RAPs). There are many codes to carry out this assessment, which requires the definition of a scenario and using site-specific transfer parameters when possible. Transfer parameters present a geographical bias, as they are mostly derived from temperate and arctic climate datasets, but there is a scarcity of data for Mediterranean climates.

Neuronal parts list and wiring diagram for a visual system.

A catalogue of neuronal cell types has often been called a 'parts list' of the brain, and regarded as a prerequisite for understanding brain function. In the optic lobe of Drosophila, rules of connectivity between cell types have already proven to be essential for understanding fly vision. Here we analyse the fly connectome to complete the list of cell types intrinsic to the optic lobe, as well as the rules governing their connectivity.

The complexity of opportunities to respond used by mothers and fathers of children with Down syndrome: A preliminary investigation.

Caregiver-child interactions are commonly used to examine children's language learning environment. However, few studies consider interaction configurations beyond dyadic interactions or explore the conceptual complexity of caregiver talk. Thus, we examined if the complexity of a caregiver's opportunities to respond (OTR) varied when sampled across three interaction configurations.

Short-term and Long-term Stability of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) Calibrated Comparison Scores (CCS) and Classification Scores in Youth with Down Syndrome or Fragile X Syndrome with Intellectual Disability.

Autism diagnosis in individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS) or Down syndrome (DS) with co-occurring intellectual disability is complex since clinicians often must consider other co-occurring behavioral features. Understanding how best to assess the features of autism in individuals with these conditions is crucial. In this study, we consider the short-term and long-term psychometric consistency of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2) calibrated comparison scores (CCSs) and ASD classifications in individuals with FXS or DS.

Language use predicts symptoms of fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome in men and women with the FMR1 premutation.

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder caused by a premutation of the FMR1 gene on the X chromosome. Despite the pervasive physical and cognitive effects of FXTAS, no studies have examined language in symptomatic males and females, limiting utility as an outcome measure in clinical trials of FXTAS. The goal of this work is to determine (a) the extent to which male and female FMR1 premutation carriers with FXTAS symptoms differ in their language use and (b) whether language production predicts FXTAS symptoms.

α-Amino bicycloalkylation through organophotoredox catalysis.

Bridged bicycloalkanes such as bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes (BCPs) and bicyclo[3.

Beyond Strain Release: Delocalization-Enabled Organic Reactivity.

The release of strain energy is a fundamental driving force for organic reactions. However, absolute strain energy alone is an insufficient predictor of reactivity, evidenced by the similar ring strain but disparate reactivity of cyclopropanes and cyclobutanes. In this work, we demonstrate that electronic delocalization is a key factor that operates alongside strain release to boost, or even dominate, reactivity.

Prevalence of Self-Reported COVID-19 Infection in Persons with Complicated Mild to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): A TBI Model Systems Study.

Objective: To describe the incidence of self-reported COVID-19 history in a longitudinal cohort of individuals with complicated mild to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and describe demographic, injury and functional differences based on history of COVID-19 infection.

Design: Individuals with complicated mild to severe TBI aged 16 or older at time of injury who were enrolled in the TBI Model Systems longitudinal cohort study, completed a baseline or follow-up interview between October 1, 2021-March 31, 2023, and provided information about COVID-19 history and timing of COVID-19 infection was collected.

Results: Of the 3,627 individuals included in the analysis, 29.

Self-determination in minoritized autistic adolescents and adults.

Self-determination plays an important role in outcomes in autism and shows intersectional disparities. Yet, little is known about the role of individual differences or social drivers of health in the development of self-determination. Understanding these factors is key for developing effective supports.

Neurotransmitter classification from electron microscopy images at synaptic sites in Drosophila melanogaster.

High-resolution electron microscopy of nervous systems has enabled the reconstruction of synaptic connectomes. However, we do not know the synaptic sign for each connection (i.e.

Opportunities to Respond During Dyadic Caregiver-Child and Naturalistic Family Interactions Among Children With Down Syndrome: A Preliminary Investigation.

Purpose: Dyadic caregiver-child interactions are commonly used to examine children's language learning environments. However, children frequently interact with multiple caregivers and/or siblings if they come from homes with multiple caregivers and siblings. Thus, we examined if and how caregiver opportunities to respond (OTRs) varied when sampled across three interaction configurations.

Chemical Bonding and the Role of Node-Induced Electron Confinement.

The chemical bond is the cornerstone of chemistry, providing a conceptual framework to understand and predict the behavior of molecules in complex systems. However, the fundamental origin of chemical bonding remains controversial and has been responsible for fierce debate over the past century. Here, we present a unified theory of bonding, using a separation of electron delocalization effects from orbital relaxation to identify three mechanisms [node-induced confinement (typically associated with Pauli repulsion, though more general), orbital contraction, and polarization] that each modulate kinetic energy during bond formation.

Recovery after moderate to severe TBI and factors influencing functional outcome: What you need to know.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a major cause of death and disability, significantly impacting the lives of 2.5 million people annually in the United States. Long-term natural history studies have clarified that functional recovery continues for up to a decade, even among those who sustain severe TBI.

Parental Responsivity and Child Communication During Mother-Child and Father-Child Interactions in Fragile X Syndrome.

Purpose: Past research shows that parentally responsive behavior toward the child positively influences language development in both neurotypical children and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including those with fragile X syndrome (FXS); however, most studies have focused exclusively on the mother-child relationship. The current study examined relationships between parent behavior (i.e.

Mechanistic Insights into the Origins of Selectivity in a Cu-Catalyzed C-H Amidation Reaction.

The catalytic transformation of C-H to C-N bonds offers rapid access to fine chemicals and high-performance materials, but achieving high selectivity from undirected aminations of unactivated C(sp)-H bonds remains an outstanding challenge. We report the origins of the reactivity and selectivity of a Cu-catalyzed C-H amidation of simple alkanes. Using a combination of experimental and computational mechanistic studies and energy decomposition techniques, we uncover a switch in mechanism from inner-sphere to outer-sphere coupling between alkyl radicals and the active Cu(II) catalyst with increasing substitution of the alkyl radical.