Social competence in autism: A structural equation modeling approach

Autistic individuals present with difficulties in social competence (e.g., navigating social interactions and fostering relationships). Clinical interventions widely target social cognition and social behavior, but there is inconsistent understanding of the underlying components of social competence. The present study used structural equation modeling to examine social cognition and social behavior and explore the relationship between these latent constructs. Autistic youth (ages 10-17; n = 219) and their caregivers participated in this study. Constructs of social cognition and social behavior were captured using caregiver-report and self-report rating scales, as well as observational measures and direct clinical assessments (e.g., NEPSY-II). Measurement models of social cognition and social behavior demonstrated adequate to good fit. Correlational models demonstrated adequate to poor fit, indicating latent constructs of social cognition and social behavior are not closely related in autistic youth. Exploratory examination of a subsample of male youth (n = 157) evidenced improved model fit of social behavior, specifically. Findings tease apart social cognition and social behavior as cohesive and separable constructs; results do not support a structural relationship between social cognition and social behavior. Noted treatment implications include consideration of how targeting social cognition and social behavior together or separately may support autistic youth's progress toward reaching their identified therapeutic goals and supporting their self-directed social development.

Advances in dendritic cell-based vaccines for HIV

HIV remains one of the most important deadly infections today, due to the lack of a preventive vaccine and limited access to medical care in developing countries. In developed countries antiretroviral therapy is available but the regime is unable to eliminate the virus, implying that life-long therapy is necessary. Dendritic cells (DCs) are important mediators of cellular and humoral immune responses and hence offer a promising therapeutic vaccination strategy to attenuate disease progression. The current knowledge in DC subsets and their functional plasticity are prominent determinants in harnessing the full immunostimulatory potential of dendritic cells. Type of antigen, immunogen delivery method, optimal interaction of antigenic peptide and T cells, and avoidance of tolerogenic responses are some of the elements that need to be considered to develop an efficient immunotherapy. Novel strategies that modulate DC functions that eventually trigger a robust cellular response against a broad T cell repertoire are needed. This review focuses on current DC-based vaccine strategies for optimal induction of immune responses.

Ozone, acidic rain and soil magnesium effects on growth and foliar pigments of Pinus taeda L

Height and diameter growth, biomass accumulation and leaf pigment concentrations were measured in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings grown in soil containing 12 or 35 microg Mg g(-1) and exposed from May to October to subambient, ambient, or twice-ambient ozone (O(3)), and to simulated acidic rain with a pH of either 4.0 or 5.3. At the end of one growing season, height and diameter growth of seedlings exposed to twice-ambient O(3) were not statistically different from those of seedlings exposed to subambient O(3). Biomass of all plant parts was reduced by 7 to 16% in response to increasing O(3) concentration. No statistically significant growth responses to rain chemistry or soil magnesium status were observed, and there were no statistically significant interactive treatment effects. Needle pigment concentrations were not significantly affected by rain chemistry or soil Mg status and there were no visible signs of injury to needles that could be attributed to O(3) stress or Mg deficiency. Concentrations of chlorophyll a and b, and carotenes were 23, 30 and 21% higher (P </= 0.05) respectively, in seedlings exposed to twice-ambient O(3) than in seedlings from the other ozone treatments. There were no interactive treatment effects on needle pigment concentrations.