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Children with Autism often show difficulties in adapting to change. Previous studies of cortisol, a neurobiologic stress hormone reflecting hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity, in children with autism have demonstrated variable results. This study measured cortisol levels in children with and without Autism: (1) at rest; (2) in a novel environment; and (3) in response to a blood draw stressor. A significantly higher serum cortisol response was found in the group of children with autism. Analysis showed significantly higher peak cortisol levels and prolonged duration and recovery of cortisol elevation following the blood-stick stressor in children with autism. This study suggests increased reactivity of the HPA axis to stress and novel stimuli in children with autism.

The NOνA experiment is a two-detector, long-baseline neutrino experiment operating in the recently upgraded NuMI muon neutrino beam. Simulating neutrino interactions and backgrounds requires many steps including: the simulation of the neutrino beam flux using FLUKA and the FLUGG interface; cosmic ray generation using CRY; neutrino interaction modeling using GENIE; and a simulation of the energy deposited in the detector using GEANT4. To shorten generation time, the modeling of detector-specific aspects, such as photon transport, detector and electronics noise, and readout electronics, employs custom, parameterized simulation applications. We will describe the NOνA simulation chain, and present details on the techniques used in modeling photon transport near the ends of cells, and in developing a novel data-driven noise simulation. Due to the high intensity of the NuMI beam, the Near Detector samples a high rate of muons originating in the surrounding rock. In addition, due to its location on the surface at Ash River, MN, the Far Detector collects a large rate (˜ 140 kHz) of cosmic muons. We will discuss the methods used in NOνA for overlaying rock muons and cosmic ray muons with simulated neutrino interactions and show how realistically the final simulation reproduces the preliminary NOνA data.

  While there is considerable overlap in the geographical distribution of different NTDs at a national level [1], epidemiological differences of individual NTDs give rise to marked geographical variation at local levels. Since cost-effectiveness of intervention is greatest when targeted to areas having a high burden of multiple diseases, maps of the distribution of the different NTDs are essential for planning and implementing NTD interventions, as well as for providing visualization of program progress, so important for advocacy. [...]the NTD Mapping Tool includes data on STH, schistosomiasis, and trachoma, as well as health district maps of access to improved water and sanitation. [...]the NTD Mapping Tool provides an important new tool for the planning, implementation and evaluation of NTD control activities.

Distributed leadership has come to prominence in school management discourse as a means to achieve the participation and empowerment of teachers and to create democratic schools. In this paper I explore the contradictions between these claims and both the hierarchical power structure of schools and the use of distributed leadership to secure the commitment of teachers to government education agendas. I examine how the relationship between distributed leadership and managerial power is addressed in the discourse of education management theorists and the practice of headteachers. Examples of authentically democratic schools based on collective self-management provide the basis for questioning the hegemonic hierarchical model.

In shallow reservoirs, seasonal water drawdowns expose littoral areas and over time produce barren mudflats. When flooded, mudflats provide homogeneous substrates, turbid water, and eroding shorelines of limited ecological value. We hypothesized that in mudflats structurally complex habitats are occupied by more fish, smaller fish of a larger range in sizes, more species, and fish assemblages that are different from those in simpler habitats. We tested these hypotheses over two consecutive years with fish collections made in sites with varying structural complexity. Results indicated that structural complexity harbors more fish in transects and enclosures. Structural complexity did not influence median length, but length range increased with structural complexity. Average species richness increased with structural complexity. Fish assemblage composition changed as structural complexity increased. The ability of cover to provide survival, growth, and carrying capacity benefits is fundamental to programs aimed at increasing structural complexity. Results suggest observed effects on fish assemblages can lead to such benefits. Considering mudflats are a major component of reservoirs, expand as reservoirs age, and there is a potential to exert meaningful change on fish assemblages of impounded rivers by managing mudflats, we suggest additional attention is needed to develop practical habitat restoration options.

Gilbert syndrome is a condition of non-hemolytic hyperbilirubinemia without further sequelae or primary laboratory abnormalities. Gilbert syndrome represents the most common hereditary disorder of bilirubin metabolism and is frequently identified as the etiology of familial jaundice in clinical medicine. This disorder typically manifests as mild unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia of benign nature. The diagnosis of Gilbert syndrome entails clinical assessment corroborated by the laboratory findings above in the absence of hemolysis or other organic liver diseases. We report a case of a 17-year-old boy who presented to a pediatric clinic with dyspepsia for the management of digestive symptoms, with clinical findings of mild scleral icterus and laboratory findings of isolated indirect hyperbilirubinemia. This case is unique in its subtlety of presentation. It highlights to trainees and experienced physicians the importance of the physical examination and targeted laboratory workup to arrive at the diagnosis of Gilbert syndrome.

Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) has had a conservation status of vulnerable since the 1970s. Little research has focussed on the ecology and even less has examined its juvenile stages. For the first time, reliance on invertebrate prey for growth was assessed in seedling Venus flytrap by systematic elimination of invertebrates from the growing environment. Prey were experimentally removed from a subset of Venus flytrap seedlings within a laboratory environment. The amount of growth was measured by measuring trap midrib length as a function of overall growth as well as prey spectrum. There was significantly lower growth in prey-eliminated plants than those utilising prey. This finding, although initially unsurprising, is actually contrary to the consensus that seedlings (traps < 5 mm) do not catch prey. Furthermore, flytrap was shown to have prey specificity at its different growth stages; the dominant prey size for seedlings did not trigger mature traps. Seedlings are capturing and utilising prey for nutrients to increase their overall trap size. These novel findings show Venus flytrap to have a much more complex evolutionary ecology than previously thought.

Clinch Dace (Chrosomus sp. cf. saylori), discovered in 1998, is a species of fine-scaled dace confined to northern tributaries of the Upper Clinch River watershed. Only one previous study has documented spawning behavior of Clinch Dace. On June 4–6, 2014, we observed Clinch Dace exhibiting staging and possibly spawning behavior over a gravel nest constructed by either Campostoma or Semotilus. We recorded five video clips totaling over 1 h of spawning behavior. We quantified various behaviors, including: long duration chases, short duration chases, Clinch Dace chasing other species, other species chasing Clinch Dace, Clinch Dace benthic feeding, other species benthic feeding, and nest construction. Analysis revealed an increase in all recorded behaviors between 4 June and 6 June. We speculate 4 June was territorial prespawn behavior and 6 June represented mid spawn/post spawn behaviors. Comparison of spawning observations of all southern Chrosomus species indicates the Clinch Dace is similar to other Chrosomus species in that they seem to prefer pit style nests and exhibit similar spawning aggregation behavior. However, other Chrosomus species in some cases spawn without hosts and seem to spawn within a more specific temperature range than Clinch Dace.

OBJECTIVES. The purpose of this study was to evaluate condom use and the incidence of breakage and slippage during vaginal intercourse among female prostitutes in legal Nevada brothels, where use of condoms is required by law. METHODS. Forty-one licensed prostitutes in three brothels were enrolled in a prospective trial in August 1993. Used condoms were collected to verify reported breaks visually. Retrospective breakage and slippage rates were obtained in a standardized interview. RESULTS. Condoms were used for every act of vaginal intercourse with a brothel client during the study period, as well as in the previous year. In the prospective study phase, condoms were used in 353 acts of vaginal intercourse with clients. No condoms broke, and none fell off the penis during intercourse. Only twice (0.6%) did condoms completely fall off during withdrawal. Twelve times (3.4%) during intercourse and 15 times (4.3%) during withdrawal, condoms slipped down the penis but did not fall off. CONCLUSIONS. These findings, among the lowest breakage and slippage rates published, suggest that regular condom use may lead to condom mastery and the development of techniques to reduce the likelihood of breakage and slippage.