Atypical Behaviors Research Articles

The Effect of Preferable Enrichments in the Laboratory Minipigs

Miniature pig (minipig) has been considered as an important laboratory animal in the developmental biotechnology researches with respect to xenotransplantation, stem cell, somatic cell nuclear transfer and embryo transfer. Given that the laboratory minipigs are normally housed at an indoor facility, they pass the time with lying or sleeping unless it is feeding time. Therefore, it is necessary to provide environmental enrichments to satisfy their innate needs and to lessen atypical behaviors caused by stress, on the purpose of welfare. We quantitatively investigated the type of preferable enrichment for the laboratory minipigs as well as its effect on their daily life. They presented a great interest to the pliable pail but a rapid loss of attraction to non-preferable enrichments. When the daily life of the single housed minipigs was quantified based on duration of playing or resting, they were more actively engaged in lively activities in the presence of enrichments. In addition, the provision of enrichments could effectively alleviate the conflicts during group housing when new pen mate was introduced, resulting in reduction of wound cases. We believe the considerations of animal welfare are essential to the conduct of better research because animals in the non-stressful environment will be more physiologically stable and provide more reliable results in the animal experiments.

Understanding the innermost nature of genocidal rape: A community-based approach

Apart from massive participation of ordinary citizens in killings during the genocide against the Tutsi, another truth revealed by the Gacaca courts is that rape of Tutsi women had become an “ordinary” behavior praised by murderers. What is more shocking is that perpetrators relied on atypical behaviors such as the rape of neighbors‟ wives and children, the rape of mothers and daughters in the same place, the rape of old women by young boys, the mutilation of victims‟ genital organs, etc. Why did the perpetrators break such ordinarily existing references regarding such “sanctified” behavior in African cultures and did not feel guilty afterwards? This article shows that existing explanations of wartime rapes that are the biosocial, cultural and war strategy approaches do not capture sufficiently the innermost nature of genocidal rape. It proposes a new theoretical framework, the community-based approach, and confronts its premises with the real-life experiences of forty survivors. With regard to results, the uniqueness of genocidal rape is observed at three levels: the deliberate breaking of societal norms, values, rules and taboos making sense of normality in sexual intercourse, the refusal of any link with the victim recalling togetherness, and the dismissal of humanity characterized by a total lack of guilt. Key words : genocidal rape, normality, togetherness, humanity, community-based approach, Rwanda

Reinforcement Learning in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Early behavioral interventions are recognized as integral to standard care in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and often focus on reinforcing desired behaviors (e.g., eye contact) and reducing the presence of atypical behaviors (e.g., echoing others' phrases). However, efficacy of these programs is mixed. Reinforcement learning relies on neurocircuitry that has been reported to be atypical in ASD: prefrontal-sub-cortical circuits, amygdala, brainstem, and cerebellum. Thus, early behavioral interventions rely on neurocircuitry that may function atypically in at least a subset of individuals with ASD. Recent work has investigated physiological, behavioral, and neural responses to reinforcers to uncover differences in motivation and learning in ASD. We will synthesize this work to identify promising avenues for future research that ultimately can be used to enhance the efficacy of early intervention.

Effect of piezoelectric field on type II transition in InAlAs/InP (311) alloys with different substrate polarity

A ternary Indium-Aliminium-Arsenic (InAlAs) is grown, by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), on a substrate InP (311) with polarity A and B, doped with Fer (Fe) atomic. Their optical properties have been studied by photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) in the whole temperature range from 10 to 300 K. At low temperature region, power dependent analysis of the PL intensity reveals a conventional power law with an exponent n close to one, in agreement with the type II nature of the emission. A red shift of the type II transition has been observed from the sample with polarity A to B. The temperature-dependent PL measurements exhibit abnormal behaviors such as an S-shape in PL-peak energy, and an inverted N-shape in the full width at half maximum (FWHM). These atypical behaviors are linked to the exciton localization phenomenon, which it is more pronounced in the structure with polarity A of substrate orientation. Room temperature-PL spectra covers the both emissions of the 1.3 and the 1.55 μm for (311) A and (311) B InP oriented substrates, respectively. Our results indicate that the In0.513Al0.487As/InP (311) A/B is expected to be advantageous for their application in optical telecommunication.

Mirror, mirror on the wall: Reflections on speech‐language pathologists’ image as advocates, activists, and aides

AbstractTraditionally speech‐language pathology, along with other educational and rehabilitation‐based professions, has approached disability from a deficits‐based or medical‐model perspective with an aim toward normalizing or ameliorating a child's atypical behaviors or performance. However, an alternative perspective rooted in a social model of disability has been growing for several decades. This model argues that although an individual may experience challenges due to a specific impairment (motor, communication, social), their true disability results from the barriers to access and opportunity created by society, and seeks to identify ways to break down such barriers and capitalize on an individual's strengths to meet individual challenges. Although self‐advocates in the disability community first proposed the social model of disability in the 1970s, it remains unfamiliar to many clinicians and educators. As such, this paper aims to introduce clinicians to models of disability, with recognition of disability from a cultural lens, and acknowledgment of disability's intersectionality with ethnicity, social class, and gender. The role of speech‐language pathologists in promoting self‐advocacy, activism within the disability community, and the shifting role of teaching (aid) is then discussed through a strengths‐based lens.

Characteristics of Subgroups in the Adult Baby/Diaper Lover Community

BackgroundThere is a lack of research on adult baby/diaper lover (ABDL) behavior, particularly from community samples. Prior studies have not examined differences between the AB and DL subgroups in the ABDL community. AimTo explore whether endorsements of AB role-play enjoyment and ratings of sexual enjoyment during ABDL activity were related to parenting and attachment variables, negative mood states, and reported problems with ABDL and to explore differences by relationship status and by sexual orientation. MethodData from a larger survey of an online ABDL community were analyzed. The final sample included 1,795 men and 139 women. OutcomesParticipants completed questions about their ABDL interests, the short form of the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale, the Maternal and Paternal Relationship Scales designed for this study, the shortened version of the Profile of Mood States, and questions about problems with ABDL. ResultsGreater enjoyment of role playing was associated with being raised by a single female caregiver, a more negative paternal relationship, higher attachment anxiety, and more negative mood states. Differences based on relationship status and sexual orientation were minimal. Participants who most liked no sexual activity reported higher enjoyment of role playing and lower enjoyment of sexual activity in ABDL behavior compared with other groups. Regardless of sexual orientation, men rated sexual enjoyment in ABDL higher than role-play enjoyment. Ratings of sexual interest in diapers were generally not different from ratings of sexual interest in adults. Clinical ImplicationsABDL clients who enjoy role playing and want to understand their behaviors might wish to explore family-of-origin experiences more than clients who find diapers erotic. Clients who find diapers erotic are likely to have other sexual interests. ABDL subgroups are generally comfortable with their practices and might not have a need for therapy. Strengths and LimitationsDespite the lack of a comparison group, this study has a large, non-psychiatric sample of a marginalized sexual subculture and affirms that such individuals should not be readily pathologized. ConclusionIn contrast to persons who find diapers erotic, AB role playing is more likely to be an interpersonal, non-sexual behavior helping some individuals decrease attachment anxiety and negative mood states. Atypical behaviors are not troubling for some individuals, regardless of the origins and motivations of the behavior.Zamboni BD. Characteristics of Subgroups in the Adult Baby/Diaper Lover Community. J Sex Med 2017;14:1421–1429.

Motivational wheel running reverses cueing behavioural inflexibility in rodents.

Behavioural inflexibility and associated atypical learning behaviours are common clinical manifestations of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) phenotype. Despite advances in our understanding of ASD, little research has been devoted to experimental interventions that might help to circumvent behavioural inflexibility in ASD. The current paper suggests that motivational locomotion in the form of wheel running can reduce behavioural inflexibility and learning impairments in an ASD rat model, and discusses how the strategy of reward-coupled locomotor activity may lead to clinical interventions for children with ASD.

Pupil adaptation corresponds to quantitative measures of autism traits in children

The pupil is known to reflect a range of psychological and physiological variables, including cognitive effort, arousal, attention, and even learning. Within autism spectrum disorder (ASD), some work has used pupil physiology to successfully classify patients with or without autism. As we have come to understand the heterogeneity of ASD and other neurodevelopmental disorders, the relationship between quantitative traits and physiological markers has become increasingly more important, as this may lead us closer to the underlying biological basis for atypical responses and behaviors. We implemented a novel paradigm designed to capture patterns of pupil adaptation during sustained periods of dark and light conditions in a pediatric sample that varied in intellectual ability and clinical features. We also investigate the relationship between pupil metrics derived from this novel task and quantitative behavioral traits associated with the autism phenotype. We show that pupil metrics of constriction and dilation are distinct from baseline metrics. Pupil dilation metrics correlate with individual differences measured by the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), a quantitative measure of autism traits. These results suggest that using a novel, yet simple, paradigm can result in meaningful pupil metrics that correlate with individual differences in autism traits, as measured by the SRS.

The Early Origins of Autism.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental disorders whose core features of impaired social communication and atypical repetitive behaviors and/or restrictions in range of interests emerge in toddlerhood and carry significant implications at successive stages of development. The ability to reliably identify most cases of the condition far earlier than the average age of diagnosis presents a novel opportunity for early intervention, but the availability of such an intervention is disparate across US communities, and its impact is imperfectly understood. New research may transform the clinical approach to these conditions in early childhood.

Women Issues from the Point of View of Simin Behbahani, an Iranian Poet

Schematization of women's issues and atypical psychic and psychological situation are significant issues that are manifested in Simin Behbahani's poetries. In this contemporary poet's thought, women's issues have been expressed in a way that can reveal some kinds of feminist attitudes and trends. In other words, psychic and psychological situations of women, even their physical situation, are known as results of men's atypical behaviors. In terms of plotting of women issues and the solution of their psychic and spiritual problem, she expresses the issue of men's behavioral reformation. Although she does not recommend directly how men should behave, she portrays false behaviors of men in order to focus on the reverse of those behaviors. Therefore, Simin Behbahani's feminism wants a temperate (moderate) style for social reformation of both men and women.

Playing Goffman’s Information Game: A Classroom Activity Involving Student Interactions

Goffman’s dramaturgical approach is frequently used to introduce undergraduate students to the sociological understanding of human interaction. While a number of scholars have designed engaging student activities that highlight Goffman’s approach, most of these activities tend to involve atypical embarrassing interactions or norm-breaking behaviors that happen in front of a large public audience. In this way, they are unlike the mundane face-to-face interactions that were the focus of much of Goffman’s work. I have used Goffman’s notion of interactions as an “information game,” discussed at the start of The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, to create a stimulating in-class exercise that involves students having a routine one-on-one interaction with another student. Responses from 170 students in four Introduction to Sociology classes suggest that students found the activity engaging and believed it gave them a richer understanding of Goffman’s approach to human interaction.

Inactivity periods and postural change speed can explain atypical postural change patterns of Caenorhabditis elegans mutants

BackgroundWith rapid advances in genome sequencing and editing technologies, systematic and quantitative analysis of animal behavior is expected to be another key to facilitating data-driven behavioral genetics. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a model organism in this field. Several video-tracking systems are available for automatically recording behavioral data for the nematode, but computational methods for analyzing these data are still under development.ResultsIn this study, we applied the Gaussian mixture model-based binning method to time-series postural data for 322 C. elegans strains. We revealed that the occurrence patterns of the postural states and the transition patterns among these states have a relationship as expected, and such a relationship must be taken into account to identify strains with atypical behaviors that are different from those of wild type. Based on this observation, we identified several strains that exhibit atypical transition patterns that cannot be fully explained by their occurrence patterns of postural states. Surprisingly, we found that two simple factors—overall acceleration of postural movement and elimination of inactivity periods—explained the behavioral characteristics of strains with very atypical transition patterns; therefore, computational analysis of animal behavior must be accompanied by evaluation of the effects of these simple factors. Finally, we found that the npr-1 and npr-3 mutants have similar behavioral patterns that were not predictable by sequence homology, proving that our data-driven approach can reveal the functions of genes that have not yet been characterized.ConclusionWe propose that elimination of inactivity periods and overall acceleration of postural change speed can explain behavioral phenotypes of strains with very atypical postural transition patterns. Our methods and results constitute guidelines for effectively finding strains that show “truly” interesting behaviors and systematically uncovering novel gene functions by bioimage-informatic approaches.

Identification of Sensory Processing and Integration Symptom Clusters: A Preliminary Study.

Rationale This study explored subtypes of sensory processing disorder (SPD) by examining the clinical presentations of cluster groups that emerged from scores of children with SPD on the Sensory Processing 3-Dimension (SP-3D) Inventory. Method A nonexperimental design was used involving data extraction from the records of 252 children with SPD. Exploratory cluster analyses were conducted with scores from the SP-3D Inventory which measures sensory overresponsivity (SOR), sensory underresponsivity (SUR), sensory craving (SC), postural disorder, dyspraxia, and sensory discrimination. Scores related to adaptive behavior, social-emotional functioning, and attention among children with different sensory modulation patterns were then examined and compared. Results Three distinct cluster groups emerged from the data: High SOR only, High SUR with SOR, and High SC with SOR. All groups showed low performance within multiple domains of adaptive behavior. Atypical behaviors associated with social-emotional functioning and attention varied among the groups. Implications The SP-3D Inventory shows promise as a tool for assisting in identifying patterns of sensory dysfunction and for guiding intervention. Better characterization can guide intervention precision and facilitate homogenous samples for research.

Perioperative Interdisciplinary Intervention Contributes to Improved Outcomes of Adolescents Treated With Hip Preservation Surgery.

Adolescent hip preservation surgery (HPS) candidates typically present with chronic pain, which can negatively affect psychological function and surgical outcomes. A previous study demonstrated high rates of psychological symptoms and maladaptive behaviors in this population. This study quantified psychological and functional improvements in these patients from preoperative presentation to postoperative follow-up. An integrated interdisciplinary approach is also described. A total of 67 patients undergoing HPS were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at 1 year by staff psychologists. Perioperative psychological intervention consisted of education, counseling, and administration of self-report measures. Self-report measure scores were compared preoperatively and postoperatively, grouped by orthopaedic diagnoses. Frequency analysis, correlational analysis, and analysis of variance were conducted. Psychological function improved significantly at follow-up: decreased emotional symptomatology (46.1 to 43.6, P=0.013), anxiety (49.6 to 45.8, P<0.001), school problems (46.6 to 44.7, P=0.035), internalizing problems (46.3 to 44.1, P=0.015), social stress (44.5 to 42.3, P=0.024), sense of inadequacy (49.0 to 46.0, P=0.004), and increased self-concept (51.1 to 54.1, P=0.003). Resiliency factors also significantly improved: increased mastery (50.3 to 52.9, P=0.001) and resourcefulness (49.7 to 52.0, P=0.046), decreased emotional reactivity (46.3 to 42.9, P=0.001), and vulnerability (47.7 to 44.7, P=0.011). Physical function and return to activity also significantly improved (University of California-Los Angeles: 7.1 to 8.7, P=0.017; modified Harris Hip Score: 67.3 to 83.8, P<0.001). Return to activity positively correlated with optimism and self-efficacy (P=0.041). Femoroacetabular impingement and hip dysplasia patients consistently reported feeling less depressed (P=0.036), having fewer somatic complaints (P=0.023), fewer internalized problems (P=0.037), and exhibiting fewer atypical behaviors (P=0.036) at follow-up. Slipped capital femoral epiphysis patients did not demonstrate improvements in psychological functioning postoperatively. Perioperative psychological education and counseling, in combination with HPS, improved postoperative psychological and physical function. Patients reported reduced anxiety, school problems, and social stress, with marked increase in resilience. Increased mobility and return to activity significantly correlated with improved optimism and self-efficacy. Level II-therapeutic studies-investigating the results of treatment.

The Relationship Between Autistic Traits and Atypical Sensory Functioning in Neurotypical and ASD Adults: A Spectrum Approach.

Sensory processing atypicalities are a common feature in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and have previously been linked to a range of behaviours in individuals with ASD and atypical neurological development. More recently research has demonstrated a relationship between autistic traits in the neurotypical (NT) population and increased levels of atypical sensory behaviours. The aim of the present study is to extend previous research by examining specific patterns across aspects of autistic traits and sensory behaviours within both ASD and NT populations. The present study recruited 580 NT adults and 42 high-functioning ASD adults with a confirmed diagnosis to investigate the relationship between specific aspects of autistic traits and sensory processing using the subscales of the autism spectrum quotient (AQ) and adult/adolescent sensory profile (AASP). Results showed a significant relationship between all subscales except for attention to detail and imagination on the AQ and provided the first evidence that the strength and pattern of this relationship is identical between NT and ASD adults. These data also provided support for the broader autism phenotype, uncovering a clear progression of sensory atypicalities in line with an increase in autistic traits, regardless of diagnostic status, which has potential implications for the spectrum approach to ASD and how sensory behaviours across the whole of the neurotypical population are conceptualised.

Multiparametric characterization of scientometric performance profiles assisted by neural networks: a study of Mexican higher education institutions

Development of accurate systems to assess academic research performance is an essential topic in national science agendas around the world. Providing quantitative elements such as scientometric rankings and indicators have contributed to measure prestige and excellence of universities, but more sophisticated computational tools are seldom exploited. We compare the evolution of Mexican scientific production in Scopus and the Web of Science as well as Mexico's scientific productivity in relation to the growth of the National Researchers System of Mexico is analyzed. As a main analysis tool we introduce an artificial intelligence procedure based on self-organizing neural networks. The neural network technique proves to be a worthy scientometric data mining and visualization tool which automatically carries out multiparametric scientometric characterizations of the production profiles of the 50 most productive Mexican Higher Education Institutions (in Scopus database). With this procedure we automatically identify and visually depict clusters of institutions that share similar bibliometric profiles in bidimensional maps. Four perspectives were represented in scientometric maps: productivity, impact, expected visibility and excellence. Since each cluster of institutions represents a bibliometric pattern of institutional performance, the neural network helps locate various bibliometric profiles of academic production, and the identification of groups of institutions which have similar patterns of performance. Also, scientometric maps allow for the identification of atypical behaviors (outliers) which are difficult to identify with classical tools, since they outstand not because of a disparate value in just one variable, but due to an uncommon combination of a set of indicators values.

Typical visual search performance and atypical gaze behaviors in response to faces in Williams syndrome.

BackgroundEvidence indicates that individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) exhibit atypical attentional characteristics when viewing faces. However, the dynamics of visual attention captured by faces remain unclear, especially when explicit attentional forces are present. To clarify this, we introduced a visual search paradigm and assessed how the relative strength of visual attention captured by a face and explicit attentional control changes as search progresses.MethodsParticipants (WS and controls) searched for a target (butterfly) within an array of distractors, which sometimes contained an upright face. We analyzed reaction time and location of the first fixation—which reflect the attentional profile at the initial stage—and fixation durations. These features represent aspects of attention at later stages of visual search. The strength of visual attention captured by faces and explicit attentional control (toward the butterfly) was characterized by the frequency of first fixations on a face or butterfly and on the duration of face or butterfly fixations.ResultsAlthough reaction time was longer in all groups when faces were present, and visual attention was not dominated by faces in any group during the initial stages of the search, when faces were present, attention to faces dominated in the WS group during the later search stages. Furthermore, for the WS group, reaction time correlated with eye-movement measures at different stages of searching such that longer reaction times were associated with longer face-fixations, specifically at the initial stage of searching. Moreover, longer reaction times were associated with longer face-fixations at the later stages of searching, while shorter reaction times were associated with longer butterfly fixations.ConclusionsThe relative strength of attention captured by faces in people with WS is not observed at the initial stage of searching but becomes dominant as the search progresses. Furthermore, although behavioral responses are associated with some aspects of eye movements, they are not as sensitive as eye-movement measurements themselves at detecting atypical attentional characteristics in people with WS.

Effect of carriers localized in clusters on optical properties of In0.21Ga0.79As/GaAs multiple quantum wells

In0.21Ga0.79As multiple quantum wells MQW, with different well thickness L, are grown on [001] and [113] A GaAs growth directions by molecular beam epitaxy MBE. An asymmetric photoluminescence PL line shape denoted LEA and LEB in the lower energies side has been observed in both structures. These emissions of deep localized states can be related to the energy potential modulation associated to Indium cluster formation. Temperature dependence of photoluminescence properties has been reported. Localized state ensemble LSE model has investigated atypical behaviors of PL peak energies and the full width at half maximum FWHM of both emissions. These abnormal behaviors are explained by carriers captured by localized recombination centers. Competition processes between localized and delocalized excitons have been occurred to interpret the PL properties. The degree of localization induced by quantum-dot-like states and critical temperatures between different temperatures regions increase as far as away [001] growth direction.

The medicalization and demedicalization of kink: Shifting contexts of sexual politics

BDSM (also known as kink) has been stigmatized through medicalization since the late 19th century. However, the recent publication of the DSM-5 has significantly changed the definition of Paraphilia, which used to be the catch-all diagnostic category for atypical sexual behaviors. In this study, I examined multiple sources of qualitative data to tap into the ever-changing social contexts and power dynamics of the medicalization and demedicalization of kink. The analyses of this study reveal how both activist strategies as well as approaches to social control evolve in the context of increasing reflexivity cultivated amidst sexual politics of the past few decades.

Parents’ initial concerns about the development of their children later diagnosed with fragile X syndrome

ABSTRACTBackground Retrospective parental reports have often been used to identify the early characteristics of children later diagnosed with a developmental disorder.Method We applied this methodology to document 13 parents’ initial concerns about the development of their 17 children later diagnosed with fragile X syndrome (FXS). Parents were additionally asked about when they noticed the emergence of behavioural signs related to FXS.Results More than half of the parents reported initial concerns prior to the child’s first birthday, and in most cases it was atypical motor behaviours that caused the first concerns. Behavioural signs related to the FXS phenotype were also reported to be perceptible in the first year of the child’s life.Conclusions Due to limitations of retrospective parental questionnaires, we suggest that other methodologies, such as home video analysis, are needed to complement our understanding of the pathways of developmental disorders with late clinical onsets.