Quantitative electroencephalographic profiles for children with autistic spectrum disorder.

The present study examined quantitative electroencephalographic (QEEG) profile for children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Five-minute QEEG data were obtained from 90 normal controls (NCs) and 66 children with ASD. Spectrum analyses revealed that ASD children showed significantly less relative alpha and more relative delta than NC. Specifically, 26% of ASD children and 2% of NCs showed 1.5 SDs of relative alpha below the normative mean. Children with this QEEG profile had 17 times the risk of having ASD than those without such a profile. Sensitivity and specificity of relative alpha were 91% and 73%, respectively. Split-half cross-validation yielded a sensitivity of 76%. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

EuroPriSe Trust Certification

Trust marks are well known arbiters of trust. To be successful, sustainable and trustworthy the underlying certification scheme ought to implement specific requirements including transparent criteria and procedures verifying the actual trustworthiness of the recipient by an independent certification authority. The concept of an explicit trust certification scheme is set forth in this article using the example of EuroPriSe, the European Privacy Seal for IT products and IT-based services.     

The development of language and abstract concepts: The case of natural number.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 137(2) of Journal of Experimental Psychology: General (see record 2008-05019-011). The DOI for the supplemental materials was printed incorrectly. The correct DOI is as follows: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0096-3445.137.1.22.supp] What are the origins of abstract concepts such as "seven," and what role does language play in their development? These experiments probed the natural number words and concepts of 3-year-old children who can recite number words to ten but who can comprehend only one or two. Children correctly judged that a set labeled eight retains this label if it is unchanged, that it is not also four, and that eight is more than two. In contrast, children failed to judge that a set of 8 objects is better labeled by eight than by four, that eight is more than four, that eight continues to apply to a set whose members are rearranged, or that eight ceases to apply if the set is increased by 1, doubled, or halved. The latter errors contrast with children's correct application of words for the smallest numbers. These findings suggest that children interpret number words by relating them to 2 distinct preverbal systems that capture only limited numerical information. Children construct the system of abstract, natural number concepts from these foundations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Integrität und genetische Veränderung von Nutztieren

In discussing problems of genetic engineering animal ethicists frequently use the concept of animal integrity besides the concept of dignity. Integrity in general refers to the physical aspect of bodily intactness. But beyond that, the integrity of an animal comprises also a dynamic and an active-directed aspect. Within the framework of the integrity approach no fundamental difference can be found between genetic modification of farm animals by means of genetic engineering or selective breeding. Nevertheless genetic engineering is of particular importance for animal ethics because it evokes strong public reactions that may lead to a change in our attitude towards animals in our care. In the following text I will argue for this thesis using the example of genetic reduction of an animal’s essential capacities.     

Expression Profiles of ASIC1/2 and TRPV1/4 in Common Skin Tumors

The acid-sensing ion channels ASIC1 and ASIC2, as well as the transient receptor potential vanilloid channels TRPV1 and TRPV4, are proton-gated cation channels that can be activated by low extracellular pH (pH_e), which is a hallmark of the tumor microenvironment in solid tumors. However, the role of these channels in the development of skin tumors is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the expression profiles of ASIC1, ASIC2, TRPV1 and TRPV4 in malignant melanoma (MM), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and in nevus cell nevi (NCN). We conducted immunohistochemistry using paraffin-embedded tissue samples from patients and found that most skin tumors express ASIC1/2 and TRPV1/4. Striking results were that BCCs are often negative for ASIC2, while nearly all SCCs express this marker. Epidermal MM sometimes seem to lack ASIC1 in contrast to NCN. Dermal portions of MM show strong expression of TRPV1 more frequently than dermal NCN portions. Some NCN show a decreasing ASIC1/2 expression in deeper dermal tumor tissue, while MM seem to not lose ASIC1/2 in deeper dermal portions. ASIC1, ASIC2, TRPV1 and TRPV4 in skin tumors might be involved in tumor progression, thus being potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets.     

Home Dissolution: What Happens After Separation?

Building a home and creating a family are highly interconnected processes. So what happens to the home when people separate or divorce? This paper addresses this question using both a quantitative and a qualitative approach. Based on an extensive database with socio-economic background data of 42 000 separated Danish couples in 2002, the housing careers of both partners were followed to see how the housing situation of different types of people was affected by the separation. In the qualitative approach, nine interviews with couples who had parted shed light on the emotions and practical problems of dissolving a home: how to decide who should stay? Who should move? What was it like to stay alone in, or to leave, the matrimonial home?     

The Energy Concept Adviser—A tool to improve energy efficiency in educational buildings

Educational buildings such as kindergartens, schools and universities display many similar design, operation and maintenance features in most countries. The two most noteworthy similarities amongst these building types are the high energy consumption and the necessity for retrofitting many buildings within this sector. However, studies have shown that during retrofit, energy saving measures are only rarely applied, because the decision-makers lack knowledge of investments and the efficiency of potential energy saving measures. The main goal of the International Energy Agency ECBCS Annex 36 is to provide the educational building decision-makers with sufficient data, information and tools to improve their learning and teaching environments by improving the energy efficiency of their buildings.     

In vivo bioactivity of herbal‐drug‐incorporated nanofibrous matrixes

Aloe‐vera‐incorporated polycaprolactone nanofibrous matrixes were prepared by an electrospinning method. These developed matrixes were evaluated for their water absorption capacity, water vapor permeability, and contact angle, and, in an in vivo animal model, wound‐healing ability. The incorporation of the herbal drug made the matrixes hydrophilic with improved water retention and permeability properties. The in vivo studies were carried out in a rat model and showed improved results with respect to healing. Thus, this study confirmed that the developed matrixes could be used for wound‐healing applications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42178.     

Novel Furin Inhibitors with Potent Anti‐infectious Activity

New peptidomimetic furin inhibitors with unnatural amino acid residues in the P3 position were synthesized. The most potent compound 4‐guanidinomethyl‐phenylacteyl‐Arg‐Tle‐Arg‐4‐amidinobenzylamide (MI‐1148) inhibits furin with a K_i value of 5.5 pM . The derivatives also strongly inhibit PC1/3, whereas PC2 is less affected. Selected inhibitors were tested in cell culture for antibacterial and antiviral activity against infectious agents known to be dependent on furin activity. A significant protective effect against anthrax and diphtheria toxin was observed in the presence of the furin inhibitors. Furthermore, the spread of the highly pathogenic H5N1 and H7N1 avian influenza viruses and propagation of canine distemper virus was strongly inhibited. Inhibitor MI‐1148 was crystallized in complex with human furin. Its N‐terminal guanidinomethyl group in the para position of the P5 phenyl ring occupies the same position as that found previously for a structurally related inhibitor containing this substitution in the meta position, thereby maintaining all of the important P5 interactions. Our results confirm that the inhibition of furin is a promising strategy for a short‐term treatment of acute infectious diseases.