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Sexuality and relationship education (SRE) occurs in many formats. In order to inform best practices, current trends of SRE sources must be characterized. Using an online survey of autistic and neurotypical adults in the United States, we compared eleven potential sources of SRE across nine content areas. Source use did not differ significantly across five of the content areas. Same-aged peers were consulted less often by the autistic adults for flirting, dating, and consent. For partnered sexual behavior, neurotypical adults reported consulting romantic partners significantly more often than autistic adults. Across all groups, use of the internet as a source of information was high. The need for improving SRE access based on existing trends is discussed.

This qualitative and exploratory study aimed to understand the experience of adolescents during visits outside the school context in science museums and centres, and how the free-choice learning processes are constructed in this context. We analyzed the visits of four adolescents groups, from public schools, to Maloka (Bogotá, Colombia), and observed the relations of the visitors with their peers, with the exhibits, and with the explainers. For this objective, we examine video and audio recordings in terms of types of interaction and conversational content, seeking to answer: Is the explainer a necessary component of a visit to promote sustained cognitive engagement, or do non-guided activities also create enough interest to promote and sustain cognitive engagement? Active meaning-making was observed during the interactions with exhibits and explainers. In the latter case, the presence of the explainer appears to lead to refinement and complexification were in the sense making and activity of adolescents. In accordance with their sustained engagements and motivations, they mobilized knowledge and previous experiences in the relation with exhibits, in an engaged and autonomous manner, creating learning opportunities based on free-choice, which was reflected in their discussions about scientific themes or in the manual, mental and cultural interactions.

The present study investigated the effect of supplementing a multi-carbohydrase enzyme complex (MCE) in corn–soy-based diets of Pekin ducks. The treatments were as follows: positive control (PC, 2980 and 3120 kcal/kg for starter and grower, respectively); negative control (NC, −132 kcal/kg energy reduction to PC achieved by reduction of fat and wheat middlings as filler); NC + MCE at 75 ppm (E75); 100 ppm (E100); and 125 ppm (E125) randomly distributed in 10 replicate pens with 25 birds each. Performance was evaluated after 14 and 35 d. On day 36 of the trial, five ducks/pen were processed to evaluate carcass traits. During days 1–14, the PC had a lower (p < 0.01) feed intake compared to all other treatments. At 14 and 35 d of age the NC decreased (p < 0.001) the body weight (BW) of the ducks compared to the PC by −8.3% and −5.3%, respectively. The NC BW was lower (p < 0.001) compared to all MCE-supplemented treatments at 14 and 35 d. The BW of E75, E100, and E125 treatments was not different (p > 0.05) from the PC at both evaluation periods. Cumulatively (1–35 d), the NC resulted in a weight-adjusted FCR increase (p = 0.001) of 9.9% compared to the PC, and the FCR of E75, E100, and E125 were able to recover 72.3%, 66.4%, and 63.5%, respectively, compared to the PC. The carcass and breast weights were lower (p < 0.001) in the NC compared to all other treatments, and no differences (p > 0.05) were observed between the MCE-supplemented treatments and the PC. In conclusion, these results suggest that the MCE supplementation can maintain duck growth performance with no negative effects on carcass traits in energy-reduced corn–soybean meal-based diets. From the results of the trial, 75 ppm MCE delivered the best performance recovery and 125 ppm MCE supplementation had the best % breast yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial "Inclusion in non-formal education places for children and adults with disabilities" discusses the importance of recognizing and including people with disabilities in scientific and cultural contexts. The research topic focuses on improving accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities in non-formal education spaces. Studies from Brazil, Egypt, Italy, and Spain highlight diverse experiences and approaches to enhancing accessibility and addressing challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in educational settings. The research emphasizes the need for varied strategies, human resources training, and technology to promote accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities in non-formal learning environments. [Extracted from the article]

Simple Summary: The use of water supplements, such as phytogenics and organic acids, in poultry research, especially in Pekin ducks, has been very limited. Due to commercial Pekin ducks consuming a higher amount of water compared to chickens, it is hypothesized that water supplementation may prove more beneficial than standard feed supplementation. Oregano oils and organic acids have been popular feed additives in poultry diets due to their antimicrobial properties and gut health benefits. This study found significant benefits with both water additives mentioned for improving duck production, gut health, and reducing stress susceptibility. Therefore, water supplementation with either oregano oils or organic acid provides a possible alternative to antibiotic use in commercial Pekin ducks to improve production and animal well-being. This study evaluated duck growth, health, and welfare in response to water supplementation with organic acid (OA) and oregano oils (OOs) in Pekin duck. The treatments used in this study included a control (CON) treatment with no water additives given, an OA treatment (ProPhorce Exclusive NC®), and an OO treatment (Nubiotic 4X Concentrate®). The OA and OO improved the feed conversion ratio (FCR) and body weight (BW) (p < 0.01) compared to the control (CON). Both OA and OO showed differences (p < 0.05) in villus height and crypt depth compared to the CON. But only OA showed an increase (p < 0.01) in villus height and villus height/crypt depth ratio. On D 35, the total plasma corticosterone levels, heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratios, and asymmetry scores for OA and OO were decreased (p < 0.05) compared to CON, indicating lower stress susceptibility. The pH levels of OA ceca and jejunum were lower (p < 0.05) compared to CON. Tibia breaking strength was increased (p = 0.02) for OA compared to CON, while no differences were found with OO (p > 0.05). In conclusion, these experiments indicate that OA and OO can be used to improve duck growth, feed efficiency, stress susceptibility, and bird welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Science museums are key locations for informal education. They also enable research that explores how families structure their activities and conversations and how these contribute to learning experiences. The aim of this exploratory study, using qualitative and quantitative methodologies, was to analyse the process of family interactions during visits to a Brazilian science museum focused on microbiology and how their conversations mediated their learning experiences. Four groups, each consisting of a single family with children, participated in the study. Their visits were recorded using a subjective camera, and the audiovisual data were analysed regarding types of interactions and conversational content, based on an analysis protocol. The results reveal that the interactions and social dynamics that family groups engaged in during their visit provided cognitive and social learning experiences. The study also offers evidence on the role of children, the importance of conversations with adults during the visits, and the relevance of objects on exhibition in promoting learning conversations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study analyses conversations among teens during a visit to AquaRio, the Marine Aquarium of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, aiming to elucidate how they engage, participate and what interests them the most when having this experience. Twenty teenagers, divided into groups, were invited to visit the aquarium in an out-of-school context and answer pre- and post-visit questionnaires to characterize their sociocultural profiles, interest in Science and Technology issues, opinions on their experiences during the visit. Their visits were recorded with a subjective camera, and the videos were later coded using a research protocol focused on conversation content. We found that the most frequent conversations revolved around: the exhibit itself (function, design, and experience); their visit and observation of the animals and tanks with links drawn to the teens' universe; and associations with prior or personal knowledge. They commented on the experience while observing exhibit elements, lighting, and signage texts. Movies, cartoons, related fictional characters, and elements of daily life came up repeatedly during their conversations. According to our findings, there is evidence that the adolescents enjoyed the visit and were highly engaged, as expressed in their delight over the animals and the exhibit environment. Finally, we argue that a great challenge for aquariums staff is to design circulation paths, exhibits, and activities that meet adolescents' interests and thus provide conservation education experiences that are perceived as enjoyable and engaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented significant challenges and implications for the sports community. Thus, this study aimed to describe the prevalence of COVID-19 in Brazilian athletes and identify the epidemiological, clinical, athletic, life and health factors associated with the disease in these individuals. A cross-sectional study was performed involving 414 athletes from 22 different sports using an online questionnaire from August to November 2020. The association between the athletes' characteristics and COVID-19 was evaluated using a logistic regression model. The prevalence of COVID-19 was 8.5%, although only 40% of athletes reported having been tested. Being under 27 years of age (3-fold), having children (~ 5-fold), having a teammate test positive for COVID-19 (2.5-fold), and smoking (14-fold) were associated with a possible higher risk of disease. Almost 20% of athletes self-reported musculoskeletal injuries during the period of the pandemic that was studied. Athletes with a university education (P = 0.02), a profession other than sports (P < 0.001), those from a low-income family (P = 0.01), and public health system users (P = 0.04) were significantly less frequently tested for COVID-19, whereas international competitors, athletes who received a wage, and athletes who had a teammate who tested positive for COVID-19 were 2-, 3-, and 15-fold more likely to be tested for COVID-19, respectively. Approximately 26% of the athletes who tested negative or were untested reported more than three characteristic COVID-19 symptoms, and 11% of athletes who tested positive for COVID-19 were asymptomatic. The identification of modifiable (have children, smoking, and teammates positively tested) and non-modifiable (age under 27 years) factors related to COVID-19 in athletes can contribute to implementing surveillance programmes to decrease the incidence of COVID-19 in athletes and its negative impacts in sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines findings of a nationwide survey of community colleges conducted to identify the cooperative arrangements which exist between local colleges and community and business organizations. Provides tables grouping findings by name and nature of the cooperating agency and indicating the average number of persons served per cooperative arrangement. (JP)

Produced water (PW) is the largest waste stream generated in oil and gas industries. The drilling and extraction operations that are aimed to maximize the production of oil may be counterbalanced by the huge production of contaminated water (called PW) with pollutants, such as heavy metals, dissolved/suspended solids, and organic compounds. PW is conventionally treated through different physical, chemical, and biological methods. In offshore platforms, because of space constraints, compact physical and chemical systems are used. However, major research efforts are being developed with innovative technologies for treating PW in order to comply with reuse and discharge limits. Among them, electrochemical technologies have been proposed as a promising alternative for the treatment of this kind of wastewaters. Then, this paper presents a minireview of efficient electrochemical technologies used until now for treating PW generated by petrochemical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Review: 38 refs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Science museums are powerful places not only for science communication, informal science teaching, and leisure but also for promoting science and technology in an equitable, diverse, and inclusive mode. The paper presents an overview of accessibility in Latin American science museums and centers, based on a questionnaire comprised of open and closed questions in Portuguese and Spanish. The answers received from directors and other personnel responsible for 109 institutions in twelve countries were analyzed using an accessibility indicator tool. The findings suggest that these institutions generally offer some physical accessibility resources and fewer communicational and attitudinal accessibility resources. Data also show that there is an absence of institutional practices that might underpin any endeavor to take into consideration the inclusion of people with disabilities. More funding must be made available for practices and research in this area. We also recommend that persons with disabilities play a greater role as protagonists and professionals and likewise as a research public in the realm of science communication and at the region's science museums and centers.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of variables age, educational status and sex in the occurrence of pauses after the standard time in the dichotic sentence identification test., Methods: This investigation included 200 right-handed subjects divided into four groups according to age: group I - from 13 to 19 years old, group II - from 20 to 29 years old, group III - from 30 to 39 years old and group IV - from 40 to 49 years old. Each group contained 50 subjects (25 men and 25 women) matched by educational level. The following eligibility criteria was adopted: Brazilian Portuguese mother language, listeners, and fluent readers independent of the educational level. It was applied the dichotic sentence identification test in the steps of binaural integration, directed listening, and it was noted the need for pauses in the test after the standard time. The descriptive and inferential statistics were performed., Results: For the binaural integration stages there was a positive association between age and pause occurrence. The educational variable presented a negative association with the occurrence of pauses in all stages of the DSI test. The gender variable showed no association with the occurrence of pause in any of the test steps., Conclusion: With increasing age, there is an increase in the incidence of pauses in the binaural integration stages of the test. The more years of study the less chance that the individual will need breaks to perform the test at all stages of presentation. The variable gender did not influence the occurrence of pauses.

Objective: This purpose of this report was to examine the perceptions of medical students about the strengths, limitations, and recommendations for improvement of the first known student-run HIV/AIDS educational campaigns in the Dominican Republic (DR), as they relate to the added value applied to their educational training., Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on evaluation reports completed by five medical students who coordinated the implementation of three annual HIV/AIDS educational campaigns in five DR communities, between 2012 and 2014. Thematic analysis was used to identify emerging themes related to perceived strengths, limitations, and recommendations for improvement and develop an acronym related to program strengths as value added to medical education., Results: Students highlighted that program strengths were the use of social media technology to facilitate communication and culture-based creativity to capture the attention of target audiences; and limitations were inadequate financial support and HIV-related cultural stigma, due to lack of disease knowledge and awareness or perceived contrasts between the federal system and faith-based community. Recommendations for program improvement, such as comprehensive event preparation and knowing the target audience, were described as key to maximizing the delivery of health messages., Conclusions: Our results highlighted that medical students gained expertise in the effective use of social media technology, culture-based creativity, and team synergy to disseminate HIV/AIDS health information across five DR communities. Students participated in these extracurricular community health campaigns, strengthening skills in communication, health advocacy, and leadership for their medical training. They served as human resources for health and can pave the way as future clinicians and indispensable health educators in local and national health collaborations.