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Challenges in social communication is one of the core symptom domains in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Novel therapies are under development to help individuals with these challenges, however the ability to show a benefit is dependent on a sensitive and reliable measure of treatment effect. Currently, measuring these deficits requires the use of time-consuming and subjective techniques. Objective measures extracted from natural conversations could be more ecologically relevant, and administered more frequently—perhaps giving them added sensitivity to change. While several studies have used automated analysis methods to study autistic speech, they require manual transcriptions. In order to bypass this time-consuming process, an automated speaker diarization algorithm must first be applied. In this paper, we are testing whether a speaker diarization algorithm can be applied to natural conversations between autistic individuals and their conversational partner in a natural setting at home over the course of a clinical trial. We calculated the average duration that a participant would speak for within their turn. We found a significant correlation between this feature and the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales (VABS) expressive communication score (r = 0.51, p = 7 × 10–5). Our results show that natural conversations can be used to obtain measures of talkativeness, and that this measure can be derived automatically, thus showing the promise of objectively evaluating communication challenges in ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans can easily tune in to one talker in a multitalker environment while still picking up bits of background speech; however, it remains unclear how we perceive speech that is masked and to what degree non-target speech is processed. Some models suggest that perception can be achieved through glimpses, which are spectrotemporal regions where a talker has more energy than the background. Other models, however, require the recovery of the masked regions. To clarify this issue, we directly recorded from primary and non-primary auditory cortex (AC) in neurosurgical patients as they attended to one talker in multitalker speech and trained temporal response function models to predict high-gamma neural activity from glimpsed and masked stimulus features. We found that glimpsed speech is encoded at the level of phonetic features for target and non-target talkers, with enhanced encoding of target speech in non-primary AC. In contrast, encoding of masked phonetic features was found only for the target, with a greater response latency and distinct anatomical organization compared to glimpsed phonetic features. These findings suggest separate mechanisms for encoding glimpsed and masked speech and provide neural evidence for the glimpsing model of speech perception. When humans tune in to one talker in a "cocktail party" scenario, what do we do with the non-target speech? This human intracranial study reveals new insights into the distinct mechanisms by which listeners process target and non-target speech in a crowded environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an interview with Zoë Mann, a senior researcher at King's College London, England. She discusses how mitochondrial dynamics influence hair cell morphology in the inner ear, including the impact of mitochondrial fusion on cell growth, the relationship between cell metabolism and cell shape, and the ongoing research into protecting against hearing loss through metabolic strategies.

Several analyses are conducted to explain the mechanisms and the applications of the various missense mutations taking place in bestrophin-1, a retinal pigment epithelium protein. The results demonstrate that these mutations can easily lead to inherited retinal dystrophy in humans.

Background: Rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations can increase crop yields; however, it is poorly understood if plants require higher phosphorus (P) inputs to support increased production. In addition, soils with contrasting P‐sorption capacities may alter plant response to elevated CO2. Aims: We examined the effect of elevated CO2 on the critical concentrations of soil available P and shoot P for plant growth in soils with contrasting P‐sorption capacities. Methods: Response curves to P applications were generated for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in a low P‐sorption Sodosol and a high P‐sorption Ferrosol. Plants were grown for 5 weeks under ambient (400 ppm) and elevated (800 ppm) CO2 concentrations at nine P application rates. The concentrations of plant P and soil P extracted using Olsen, Bray and Resin methods were analysed. Results: Elevated CO2 increased biomass production in both soils. Plants grown in the Ferrosol but not in the Sodosol required higher P inputs to achieve maximum biomass production in response to elevated CO2. Elevated CO2 increased the critical Olsen‐P but decreased the critical Bray‐P concentrations for shoot biomass production in the Ferrosol. Elevated CO2 decreased the critical P concentration in shoots of plants grown in the Sodosol but not in the Ferrosol. Conclusions: The effect of P fertilisation on plant response to elevated CO2 depends on soil type. Elevated CO2 also potentially alters P acquisition mechanisms of plants, which requires adjustment of the critical P concentration in shoot and in soil depending on soil P‐sorption capacity and the analytical method used to assess P availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Jones fractures remain a challenging treatment entity in orthopaedics. Biomechanical stresses, including increased fifth metatarsal (5MT) lateral angle deviation (MLAD), are associated with increased fracture and refracture rates. Current fixation techniques produce good outcomes; however, they do not address metatarsal morphology, which can predispose to refracture. This study describes a novel surgical technique and case series utilizing intramedullary screw fixation and distal metatarsal corrective osteotomy for the management of Jones fractures. Methods: A retrospective case series was undertaken, including 22 consecutive Jones fracture patients operated on by a single surgeon. Patient demographics, imaging, and operative information were obtained, with return to sport/previous function and radiological outcomes, including fracture union being the outcomes of interest. The surgical technique utilizes a distal osteotomy of the 5MT followed by retrograde guidewire and drilling utilizing the osteotomy. A cannulated screw is passed antegrade along the entire length of the 5MT with manual MLAD correction. Autograft or bone substitute (Augment) was then injected at the fracture site. Results: Median age was 30 years (Q1, Q3: 18, 49 years). Median time from injury to operation was 13 weeks (Q1, Q3: 9, 30 weeks), and clinical follow-up period was 37 months (Q1, Q3: 14, 74 months). Radiological union was achieved at a median of 12 weeks (Q1, Q3: 8, 15 weeks) with clinical union at 11 weeks (Q1, Q3: 8, 14 weeks). All but one patient returned to preinjury functional levels, including 6 professional athletes who returned to preinjury national competition. No refractures were identified. Conclusion: The technique described in this study is a viable and safe means of managing Jones fractures. The technique may be particularly useful in patients with excessive MLAD. Levels of Evidence: Level IV: Retrospective case series [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]