Review of Cognitive Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Performance on Six Subtests on Four Versions of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children.

This study was a systematic review of research using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to examine cognitive characteristics of children with ASD beyond the impact of revisions based on WISC and diagnostic criteria changes. The classic "islets of ability" was found in individuals with full-scale IQs < 100. The "right-descending profiles" were observed among high IQ score individuals. High levels on the Block Design and low Coding levels were consistently found regardless of the variation in intellectual functioning or diagnosis. This review identified patterns of cognitive characteristics in ASD individuals using empirical data that researchers may have previously been aware of, based on their experiences, owing to the increased prevalence of ASD.

Chemical state of boron in coal fly ash investigated by focused-ion-beam time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (FIB-TOF-SIMS) and satellite-transition magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (STMAS NMR).

The chemical states of boron in coal fly ash, which may control its leaching into the environment, were investigated by focused-ion-beam time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (FIB-TOF-SIMS) and satellite-transition magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (STMAS NMR) spectroscopy. The distribution of boron on the surface and in the interior of micron-sized fly ash particles was directly observed by FIB-TOF-SIMS. Coordination numbers of boron and its bonding with different atoms from particles of bulk samples were investigated by STMAS NMR. Boron in coal fly ash with relatively poor leaching characteristics appears as trigonal BO(3) and coexists with Ca and Fe at the outer layer of every particle and inside CaO-MgO particles. In contrast, boron in coal fly ash with better leaching characteristics appears as CaO- or MgO-trigonal BO(3) and tetragonal BO(4), and it is distributed only on the outer surface of each ash particle without showing any correlation with a particular element.

Anti-ice nucleation activity in xylem extracts from trees that contain deep supercooling xylem parenchyma cells.

Boreal hardwood species, including Japanese white birch (Betula platyphylla Sukat. var. japonica Hara), Japanese chestnut (Castanea crenata Sieb. et Zucc.), katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum Sieb. et Zucc.), Siebold's beech (Fagus crenata Blume), mulberry (Morus bombycis Koidz.), and Japanese rowan (Sorbus commixta Hedl.), had xylem parenchyma cells (XPCs) that adapt to subfreezing temperatures by deep supercooling. Crude extracts from xylem in all these trees were found to have anti-ice nucleation activity that promoted supercooling capability of water as measured by a droplet freezing assay. The magnitude of increase in supercooling capability of water droplets in the presence of ice-nucleation bacteria, Erwinia ananas, was higher in the ranges from 0.1 to 1.7 degrees C on addition of crude xylem extracts than freezing temperature of water droplets on addition of glucose in the same concentration (100 mosmol/kg). Crude xylem extracts from C. japonicum provided the highest supercooling capability of water droplets. Our additional examination showed that crude xylem extracts from C. japonicum exhibited anti-ice nucleation activity toward water droplets containing a variety of heterogeneous ice nucleators, including ice-nucleation bacteria, not only E. ananas but also Pseudomonas syringae (NBRC3310) or Xanthomonas campestris, silver iodide or airborne impurities. However, crude xylem extracts from C. japonicum did not affect homogeneous ice nucleation temperature as analyzed by emulsified micro-water droplets. The possible role of such anti-ice nucleation activity in crude xylem extracts in deep supercooling of XPCs is discussed.

Accumulation of theanderose in association with development of freezing tolerance in the moss Physcomitrella patens.

Mosses are known to have the ability to develop high degrees of resistance to desiccation and freezing stress at cellular levels. However, underlying cellular mechanisms leading to the development of stress resistance in mosses are not understood. We previously showed that freezing tolerance in protonema cells of the moss Physcomitrella patens was rapidly increased by exogenous application of the stress hormone abscisic acid (ABA) [Minami, A., Nagao, M., Arakawa, K., Fujikawa, S., Takezawa, D., 2003a. Abscisic acid-induced freezing tolerance in the moss Physcomitrella patens is accompanied by increased expression of stress-related genes. J. Plant Physiol. 160, 475-483]. Herein it is shown that protonema cells with acquired freezing tolerance specifically accumulate low-molecular-weight soluble sugars. Analysis of the most abundant trisaccharide revealed that the cells accumulated theanderose (G6-alpha-glucosyl sucrose) in close association with enhancement of freezing tolerance by ABA treatment. The accumulation of theanderose was inhibited by cycloheximide, an inhibitor of nuclear-encoded protein synthesis, coinciding with a remarkable decrease in freezing tolerance. Furthermore, theanderose accumulation was promoted by cold acclimation and treatment with hyperosmotic solutes, both of which had been shown to enhance cellular freezing tolerance. These results reveal a novel role for theanderose, whose biological function has been obscure, in high freezing tolerance in moss cells.

Role of intracellular contents to facilitate supercooling capability in beech (Fagus crenata) xylem parenchyma cells.

In order to find the possible role of intracellular contents in facilitating the supercooling capability of xylem parenchyma cells, changes in the temperature of supercooling levels were compared before and after the release of intracellular substances from beech xylem parenchyma cells by DTA. Various methods were employed to release intracellular substances from xylem parenchyma cells and all resulted in a reduction of supercooling ability. It was concluded that the reduction of supercooling ability primarily resulted from changes of intracellular conditions, including the release of intracellular contents or their mixing with extracellular solutions, rather than due to changes of cell wall structures. It is therefore suggested that any unidentified intracellular contents may function to facilitate supercooling capability in xylem parenchyma cells.

Acute heat stress induces jumping escape behavior in mice.

A new heat escape behavior was revealed in mice (ddY mice) under acute heat stress conditions. Mice in a fully covered cage were exposed to 24, 34, 37 and 38.5 degrees C for 60 min. Rectal temperature increased in conditions above 34 degrees C. Furthermore, serum osmolality and body weight loss also increased in conditions above 37 degrees C. At above 37 degrees C, a large number of mice attempted to escape from the partially covered cage, and so exhibited jumping behavior during a period of 60 min. However, mice exposed to 24 and 34 degrees C did not exhibit such behavior. These results indicated that acute heat stress above 37 degrees C induced evaporative water loss and jumping escape behavior in mice.

Smoking habits in Japanese patients with schizophrenia.

Studies from North America and Western Europe have observed a marked increase of smoking in schizophrenia. This preliminary study investigated smoking habits in Japanese patients with schizophrenia (n=137). The prevalence of smokers (34%) was not higher than in the general Japanese population (37%). Variables associated with smoking were also different from those reported in the Western literature. Different cultural backgrounds may underlie the differing results in Western and Japanese populations.