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Objective. History of stroke increases risk for recurrent stroke, which is a significant issue faced by survivors. The Diabetes Prevention Program–Group Lifestyle Balance (DPP-GLB) program is an effective lifestyle modification intervention for ameliorating cardiovascular risk factors but has not been adapted to account for common stroke-related deficits. The purpose of this study was to determine appropriate adaptations to the DPP-GLB for adults with stroke. Design and Methods. In this phenomenological qualitative study, a total of 15 community-dwelling adults with stroke and 10 care-partners participated in 4 focus groups to review DPP-GLB curriculum materials and provide recommendations for adaptation. Focus groups were recorded and transcribed. Inductive content analysis was used to identify key themes. Results. Three themes were identified. First, physical, cognitive, sensory, and psychosocial stroke-related deficits could affect DPP-GLB participation. Second, existing DPP-GLB characteristics could facilitate participation by adults with stroke. Third, stroke-specific adaptations were recommended, including modified session content and format, adapted physical activity and dietary recommendations, and inclusion of care-partners. Conclusion. Current DPP-GLB content and structure may be insufficient to meet the unique needs of adults with stroke. The suggested adaptations should be incorporated into a stroke-specific curriculum and tested for preliminary efficacy for reducing recurrent stroke risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participants with low, medium, and high autistic traits completed a mental rotation task while their eye movements were recorded. Men were more accurate than women (F(1, 102) = 4.36, P = 0.04, η2p = 0.04), but there were no group differences in reaction time. In terms of eye movements, all participants tended to rely on top corners of cube figures for most angles of rotation, and bottom corners of cube figures for 0 and 90 degree rotations (duration: F(8, 816) = 21.70, P < 0.001, η2p = 0.18; count: F(8, 816) = 24.42, P < 0.001, η2p = 0.19) suggesting a shift in strategy with rotation angle. Eye movements to corners of cube figures also varied by autistic traits group and gender (duration: F(4, 204) = 2.44, P = 0.05, η2p = 0.05; count: F(4, 204) = 2.47, P = 0.05, η2p = 0.05). Participants with low and medium autistic traits tended to rely more often on the top corners, whereas women with high autistic traits relied on both the top and bottom corners and men with high autistic traits relied on all corners equally. These results suggest mental rotation strategies may vary by both gender and autistic traits. Autism Res 2018, 11: 1024–1037. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Lay Summary: The current study looked at eye movements to assess adults' strategies when mentally rotating three‐dimensional cube figures. Adults with varying levels of autistic traits differ in their mental rotation strategies. In addition, gender differences in strategies are observed in adults with the highest level of autistic traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Puzzle pieces have become ubiquitous symbols for autism. However, puzzle-piece imagery stirs debate between those who support and those who object to its use because they believe puzzle-piece imagery evokes negative associations. Our study empirically investigated whether puzzle pieces evoke negative associations in the general public. Participants’ (N = 400) implicit negative associations were measured with an Implicit Association Task, which is a speeded categorization task, and participants’ explicit associations were measured with an Explicit Association Task, which is a standard task for assessing consumers’ explicit associations with brands (and images of those brands). Puzzle pieces, both those used as autism logos and those used more generically, evoked negative implicit associations (t(399) = –5.357, p < 0.001) and negative explicit associations (z = 4.693, p < 0.001, d = 0.491). Participants explicitly associated puzzle pieces, even generic puzzle pieces, with incompleteness, imperfection, and oddity. Our results bear public policy implications. If an organization’s intention for using puzzle-piece imagery is to evoke negative associations, our results suggest the organization’s use of puzzle-piece imagery is apt. However, if the organization’s intention is to evoke positive associations, our results suggest that puzzle-piece imagery should probably be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autistic individuals often struggle developmentally, even in areas that are not explicit diagnostic criteria, such as motor skills. This study explored the relation between early motor skills, assessed retrospectively, and current pragmatic language skills. Caregivers of neurotypical and autistic children, matched on gender and age, completed assessments of their child's early motor development and current language abilities. Early motor skills were correlated with later pragmatic language skills, and autistic children exhibited fewer motor skills than neurotypical children. In fact, motor skills were a better predictor of an autism spectrum diagnosis than were scores on a measure of current pragmatic language. These results highlight the important role of motor skills in autism spectrum disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global precedence effect is a phenomenon in which global aspects of visual and auditory stimuli are processed before local aspects. Individuals with musical experience perform better on all aspects of auditory tasks compared with individuals with less musical experience. The hemispheric lateralization of this auditory processing is less well-defined. The present study aimed to replicate the global precedence effect with auditory stimuli and to explore the lateralization of global and local auditory processing in individuals with differing levels of musical experience. A total of 38 college students completed an auditory-directed attention task while electroencephalography was recorded. Individuals with low musical experience responded significantly faster and more accurately in global trials than in local trials regardless of condition, and significantly faster and more accurately when pitches traveled in the same direction (compatible condition) than when pitches traveled in two different directions (incompatible condition) consistent with a global precedence effect. In contrast, individuals with high musical experience showed less of a global precedence effect with regards to accuracy, but not in terms of reaction time, suggesting an increased ability to overcome global bias. Further, a difference in P300 latency between hemispheres was observed. These findings provide a preliminary neurological framework for auditory processing of individuals with differing degrees of musical experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many of the personality and behavioral traits (e.g., social imperviousness, directness in conversation, lack of imagination, affinity for solitude, difficulty displaying emotions) that are known to be sensitive to context (with whom?) and reference group (according to whom?) also appear in questionnaire-based assessments of autistic traits. Therefore, two experiments investigated the effects of specifying contexts and reference groups when assessing autistic traits in autistic and non-autistic participants. Experiment 1 (124 autistic and 124 non-autistic participants) demonstrated that context matters when assessing autistic traits (F(1,244) = 267.5, p < .001, η2p = .523). When the context of the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire was specified as the participants’ out-group (e.g., “I like being around non-autistic people” or “I like being around autistic people”), both autistic and non-autistic participants self-reported having more autistic traits; when the context was specified as the participants’ in-group, participants reported having fewer autistic traits. Experiment 2 (82 autistic and 82 non-autistic participants) demonstrated that reference group matters when assessing autistic traits (F(2,160) = 94.38, p < .001, η2p = .541). When the reference group on the Social Responsiveness Scale was specified as the participants’ out-group (e.g., “According to non-autistic people, I have unusual eye contact”), autistic participants reported having more autistic traits; when the reference group was their in-group, autistic participants reported having fewer autistic traits. Non-autistic participants appeared insensitive to reference group on the Social Responsiveness Scale. Exploratory analyses suggested that when neither the context nor the reference group is specified (for assessing autistic traits on the Autism-Spectrum Quotient), both autistic and non-autistic participants use the majority (“non-autistic people”) as the implied context and reference group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autistic individuals typically excel on spatial tests that measure abstract reasoning, such as the Block Design subtest on intelligence test batteries and the Raven’s Progressive Matrices nonverbal test of intelligence. Such well-replicated findings suggest that abstract spatial processing is a relative and perhaps absolute strength of autistic individuals. However, previous studies have not systematically varied reasoning level – concrete vs. abstract – and test domain – spatial vs. numerical vs. verbal, which the current study did. Autistic participants (N = 72) and non-autistic participants (N = 72) completed a battery of 12 tests that varied by reasoning level (concrete vs. abstract) and domain (spatial vs. numerical vs. verbal). Autistic participants outperformed non-autistic participants on abstract spatial tests. Non-autistic participants did not outperform autistic participants on any of the three domains (spatial, numerical, and verbal) or at either of the two reasoning levels (concrete and abstract), suggesting similarity in abilities between autistic and non-autistic individuals, with abstract spatial reasoning as an autistic strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT- Burack and Russo (2008 ) applaud our approach to understanding autistics' atypical joint attention ( Gernsbacher, Stevenson, Khandakar, & Goldsmith, 2008 ) but express some concerns about the evidence we drew upon to support our thesis. In response, we underscore the empirical nuance of our thesis-that autistics' atypical manifestations of joint attention arise from their atypical resistance to distraction, atypical parallel perception, and atypical execution of volitional actions. We recap how our hypothesis derives from fresh interpretations, well-replicated findings, and underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT- This essay answers the question of why autistic children are less likely to initiate joint attention (e.g., use their index finger to point to indicate interest in something) and why they are less likely to respond to bids for their joint attention (e.g., turn their heads to look at something to which another person points). It reviews empirical evidence that autistic toddlers, children, adolescents, and adults can attend covertly, even to social stimuli, such as the direction in which another person's eyes are gazing. It also reviews empirical evidence that autistics of various ages understand the intentionality of other persons' actions. The essay suggests that autistics' atypical resistance to distraction, atypical skill at parallel perception, and atypical execution of volitional actions underlie their atypical manifestations of joint attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cells selected for resistance to cisplatin (DDP) demonstrate cross-resistance to copper (Cu) suggesting one or more common mechanisms of cellular defense. We sought to determine whether cells selected for resistance to Cu are cross-resistant to DDP.Materials and Methods: Parental HuH7 human hepatoma cells and the CuR27 Cu-resistant subline were compared for sensitivity to Cu and DDP by clonogenic assay, and with respect to drug uptake and efflux by measuring cellular Cu and Pt content.Results: CuR27 cells were found to be 1.8-fold resistant to Cu and 8.6-fold cross-resistant to DDP. Changes in the cellular pharmacokinetics of Cu in the CuR27 cells were paralleled by changes in the kinetics of DDP. The accumulations of Cu and DDP measured at 1 min were, respectively, 36% and 26% of those in the parental HuH7 cells. The initial rate of efflux from the CuR27 cells was 6.2-fold faster for Cu and 2.5-fold faster for DDP than from the HuH7 cells. Cu reduced the accumulation of DDP in the HuH7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner and vice versa. DDP also reduced the efflux of Cu. Western blot analysis demonstrated that expression of the Cu exporter ATP7B was increased 3.9-fold in the CuR27 cells.Conclusions: In this model system, cross-resistance between Cu and DDP was bidirectional and accompanied by parallel changes in the cellular pharmacokinetics of both compounds. The results are consistent with the idea that transporters and chaperones that normally mediate Cu homeostasis also directly or indirectly modulate the accumulation of DDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews the article "Describing the brain in autism in five dimensions: magnetic resonance imaging-assisted diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder using a multiparameter classification approach," by C. Ecker and colleagues, which appeared in the periodical "Journal of Neuroscience."

Objective: History of stroke increases risk for diabetes, which is of great concern for stroke survivors. The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is an effective lifestyle modification intervention for ameliorating diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors. Participation in the DPP for stroke survivors could be challenging, however, due to stroke-related impairments. The purpose of this study was to determine appropriate adaptations to the DPP for stroke survivors. Design and Methods: Qualitative description using focus groups. Fifteen community-dwelling stroke survivors and 10 caregivers participated. Focus groups were recorded and transcribed. Inductive content analysis was used to identify key themes to inform appropriate DPP adaptations. Results: Three themes were identified. First, several stroke-specific impairments were identified that could influence DPP participation: hand and arm impairment, mobility impairment, impaired memory and attention, changes in taste and vision, and depression. Second, facilitators of existing group-based DPP models were identified and included small group discussion for peer support and physical activity and nutrition-related content repeated across sessions for reinforcement and repetition. Third, adaptations were suggested that included caregiver participation for the provision of physical and cognitive assistance; a need for stroke-specific physical activity and nutrition-related recommendations such as adapted gym and cooking equipment; and modified session content, including shorter, simplified session handouts and addition of online content to complement session handouts. Conclusion: Current DPP content and structure are insufficient to meet the unique needs of stroke survivors. The suggested adaptations should be incorporated into a stroke-specific curriculum and tested for efficacy and eventual implementation into community-based programs to promote lifestyle modification and diabetes risk reduction among stroke survivors. Disclosure: R.R. Bailey: None. J.L. Stevenson: None. N.H. Serrano: None. Funding: National Institutes of Health (P30DK092950, 5T32HL130357) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]