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Background: The aim of many interventions used by speech and language therapists (SLTs) is to change behaviours related to communication and interaction. Parent‐led language interventions for children in the early years (0–5 years) rely on SLTs supporting parents to change their behaviour in child‐focused interactions to effect a change in the child's communication. Therapeutic techniques used by SLTs in parent‐led language interventions are largely underspecified, impacting on intervention reporting, replication, trialling and development. The Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy Version 1 (BCTTv1) offers a method of describing intervention techniques developed for use in public health interventions, but with several examples of its application to speech and language interventions. Aims: To identify behaviour change techniques (BCTs) from the BCTTv1 occurring in parent‐led language interventions for children in the early years. Methods & Procedures: A literature search identified relevant descriptions of parent‐led language interventions. These were coded using the BCTTv1. A reliability check was carried out on 10% of the descriptions. To confirm the use of identified BCTs in clinical practice, results of the literature search were triangulated with an online survey of SLTs, and observations of SLTs delivering parent‐led language intervention. Outcomes & Results: A total of 84 papers containing descriptions of 45 interventions were coded; 62 SLTs responded to the survey and three SLTs were observed delivering parent‐led language intervention. A total of 24 BCTs were identified in the literature search, replicated in the observations and verified by SLTs in the survey. BCTs were identified at two levels: Level 1 SLT implemented to change parent interactive behaviour; and Level 2 parent implemented to change child communicative behaviour. Conclusions & Implications: The BCTTv1 is a useful starting place for describing parent‐led language interventions. With some additions and adjustments, BCTs identified in this study were immediately recognized by practitioners and can easily be adopted into practice. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on this subject: Techniques used in SLT interventions are often not clearly described. The BCTTv1 has been used to clarify technique descriptions with success in a small number of SLT disciplines, but not yet in parent‐led language interventions for preschoola children. What this paper adds to the existing knowledge: This paper constitutes the first research into quantifying the techniques used in parent‐led language interventions using the BCTTv1. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: This paper provides a clear list of techniques used by SLTs implementing interventions for preschool children, which can be immediately adopted and used in practice. It also highlights potential adjustments and gaps in the BCTTv1 in relation to SLT which can contribute to future iterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper describes the longitudinal change in sleep, functional, and behavioural characteristics in a cohort of children with Down syndrome, including the effect of sleep interventions in a subset. A prospective longitudinal cohort study was undertaken in children with Down syndrome aged 3–16 years comparing (1) children referred to a tertiary sleep medicine clinic who received sleep hygiene advice and an additional sleep treatment (DSref_I) with (2) children attending the same clinic who only received sleep hygiene advice (DSref_N) and (3) children recruited from the community who, were not receiving any treatment (DScomm). Data collected included demographic and medical history information, Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire‐Abbreviated (CSHQ‐A), Life‐Habits Questionnaire (Life‐H) and Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) at baseline and then 6‐monthly for a total of 18 months. Any sleep interventions during this time were recorded. A total of 57 children were included (DSref_I, n = 16; DSref_N, n = 25; DScomm, n = 16). At recruitment, the median CSHQ‐A total score was high (>41) in all three subgroups, but highest in the DSref_I subgroup (median [interquartile range] Dsref_I score 58 [53–66] versus DSref_N score 49 [43–53], p = 0.019). Although improved, 80% of participants in the DSref_I subgroup still had a CSHQ‐A total score >41 at the last assessment point. The median total Life‐H and total CBCL scores were not significantly different between groups at baseline and there was no significant time, group, or interaction effect seen through the study. Over an 18‐month period, sleep problems were seen to persist in children with Down syndrome. Treatment resulted in only modest improvements in sleep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic systems are warming and exceeding upper thermal limits (UTLs) for many fish species, yet understanding how they inform resilience to climate change is challenging. Using Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) as a model, we conducted a systematic review involving 168 papers investigating UTL in five species. We found considerable variation in UTL among species, within species and across life stages; largely attributed to methodological approaches (e.g. CTmax/UILT, Aerobic/Cardiac Scope, Thermal Migration Barriers, Rearing Mortality, Thermal Preference/Avoidance). Given that each method has strengths and weaknesses owing to logistics, time scale and ecological realism, we offer a new framework for assessing vulnerability to warming that stresses the importance of considering UTL metrics in the context of intended use (i.e. the development of management guidelines, projections of future persistence and survival) and what aspect (physiological or behavioural) of thermal response a metric investigates. Comparing studies with identical UTL approaches revealed that within species, UTL was higher for populations historically encountering higher temperatures—suggesting local thermal adaptation. Within populations, UTL differed across the lifecycle, being highest in fry and lowest in embryo and migrating adults, but this was not universal. For spawning Pacific salmon, UTL has not been assessed and few studies have examined estuarine and marine stages. Ultimately, this data gap limits the life‐history thermal perspectives that can be drawn and may indicate a broader gap for all fishes, given that Pacific salmon are among the most well‐studied species. Our framework illustrates the inherent and methodological inconsistencies in UTL and offers a guide for how thermal limits can best be used to assess the warming tolerance and vulnerability of fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices are influenced by many context‐ specific factors related to local food systems as well as social and cultural practices. Understanding these local contextual perspectives is essential for designing effective programs and policies. This paper uses focused ethnographic study methods to examine challenges experienced by mothers related to IYCF in two counties in Kenya, a country with considerable heterogeneity in agriculture, food systems, and cultures. A two‐phase qualitative study was undertaken in each of Kilifi County and West Pokot County, entailing interviews and rating activities with mothers, health workers, and vendors. Interviews were audio‐recorded, transcribed, translated into English, coded, and analysed by topic. Results show low levels of dietary diversity in both counties; in West Pokot, the level of adequate meal frequency is also low. Core foods in young child diets included maize porridge and family foods such as ugali (stiff maize porridge), vegetables, beans, fish, and plantains. Food safety, acceptability, and acquisition ease were the main drivers of food choice. Mothers generally felt that all core foods fed to young children are healthy and safe, but there was more variability regarding child acceptance, acquisition ease, cost, and convenience. Common barriers to feeding nutrient‐dense foods to children included child illness, economic constraints, and limited knowledge of modification strategies, skills, or tools to make the foods suitable for young children. Potential actions to address these barriers include sharing information on child‐appropriate recipes; raising awareness on local, affordable nutrient‐dense foods; and improving WASH practices to reduce illness frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Healthcare professionals have an important role in advocating for the adoption of a brain‐healthy lifestyle for optimal multiple sclerosis (MS) care. Nonetheless, studies to date have mainly focussed on the consumer perspective. Herein, we aimed to explore the current practices of how healthcare professionals support protective, lifestyle‐related behaviour changes to optimise brain health among people living with MS (plwMS), and their perspectives of professional roles. Methods: Australian healthcare professionals were recruited via study advertisements, purposive and snowball sampling, to participate in an online, semi‐structured and audio‐recorded interview. Clinicians were eligible if they had a minimum of a tertiary Bachelor's degree and 12‐months experience working with plwMS, access to the Internet and sufficient time to participant. An inductive, data‐driven form of reflexive thematic analysis was undertaken before thematic categorisation of the quotes from transcripts. Data analysis was guided by the methods of Braun and Clark and the study's underpinnings drew on the constructs of the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). Results: Six physicians, 10 MS nurses, 18 allied health professionals, one exercise therapist and one alternative therapist were interviewed. Three primary themes encompassing the perceived role of healthcare professionals in supporting a brain‐healthy lifestyle were identified: (1) the empowering role, (2) collaborative role and (3) communicative role. External factors/forces including time constraints, professional expertise, training and skill set, power dynamics, consumer readiness, health literacy, self‐efficacy and motivation are at play, and affect how/when healthcare professionals may support behaviour change to optimise lifelong brain health for plwMS. Conclusion: Healthcare professionals recognise their critical role in encouraging and supporting the adoption of a brain‐healthy lifestyle to optimise lifelong brain health for plwMS. However, discord is evident when they underestimate the complexity of translating knowledge of lifestyle‐related behaviour change(s) into action. Greater awareness must be made in recognising and addressing the bidirectionality of external factors such as those in the SCT, that may influence how behaviour change occurs. Public Contribution: Healthcare professionals volunteered to be interviewed as part of the data collection phase of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A high incidence of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) was found in Saudi Arabia (SA). International literature reports that children with CHD exhibit behavioural and emotional issues due to experiencing hospitalisation and clinical treatments combined with a dearth of qualitative understanding of the experiences of younger children with CHD. Therefore, the aim was to explore the behaviour and emotions of 4–10‐year‐olds with CHD in SA through children's accounts of their own experiences and parental proxy reports of children's behaviour and emotions. Methods: Charmaz's constructivist grounded theory (GT) approach was used. Twenty single semi‐structured interviews of 10 child/parent dyads were undertaken at a hospital clinic in SA. Children's interviews were combined with an arts‐based approach using drawings, pictures and faces of emotions (emojis). Constant comparison analysis was undertaken. Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines was followed in reporting this study. Findings: A substantive GT: children's behavioural and emotional reactions towards stressors related to living with CHD was developed and provides new insights into children's and parents' perceptions of the children's behavioural and emotional reactions to living with CHD in SA. The theory proposes that children's reactions to living with CHD relate to medical treatment stressors, sociocultural stressors and physical change stressors. Several further factors influenced children's responses to these stressors. Conclusion: Children and parents in SA contributed to a new understanding of the relationship between CHD and children's behavioural and emotional reactions. In addition, findings support the need for early assessment of behaviour and emotions among children with CHD and the application of preventative and supportive measures for the children and their families in SA. Patient or Public Contribution: Before the research commenced, the developmental appropriateness of the proposed arts‐based data collection tools was tested with three healthy children aged 6–9 years old; the tools were then revised accordingly before the interviews were undertaken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many individuals worldwide continue to take benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZRAs) long term (≥3 months). The aim of this study was to conduct a content analysis of the views and experiences of discontinuing long‐term BZRA use as documented in the free‐text responses of respondents to an online questionnaire examining mediators of behaviour change relating to the discontinuation of long‐term BZRA use. Design: The questionnaire was disseminated via online BZRA support groups to community‐based adults with either current or previous experience of long‐term BZRA use. The four free‐text questions focused on (1) barriers and (2) facilitators to discontinuing BZRA use; (3) additional supports required to discontinue BZRA use; and (4) additional comments regarding BZRA use. Response data were analysed using summative content analysis. Results: The most commonly reported barrier to BZRA discontinuation related to the consequences of stopping the medication, including withdrawal symptoms and the possibility of return of the original symptoms. The most common facilitator that respondents reported would help them in discontinuing BZRA use was support, primarily from medical professionals. Many respondents reported having been harmed or negatively affected in some way because of BZRA use. Several respondents expressed regret over ever taking BZRAs and/or reported that, with the benefit of hindsight, they should never have taken BZRAs in the first instance. Conclusion: The findings highlight the range of barriers faced by those attempting BZRA discontinuation and the importance of additional supports. Holistic and person‐centred approaches are needed to support discontinuation of long‐term BZRA use that considers an individual's personal circumstances and wider social context. Patient or Public Contribution: 'Experts by experience' with previous experience of long‐term BZRA use were involved in developing the questionnaire and writing the manuscript as collaborators. Individuals with lived experience of taking BZRAs completed the questionnaire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Trainability in dogs is affected by learning aptitude and memory capacity. While this trait has a heritable basis in canines, the specific genetic loci responsible for it remain unknown. Our previous results suggested that the BDNF, CCK and TAC1 genes are associated with learning and memory in canines. Experimental validation is crucial to confirm the effects of these candidate genes on trainability. Understanding the genetic foundation of this trait would offer insight into the inheritance pattern of complex behavioural characteristics. Objective: This study aimed to assess the genetic variations within candidate genes and explore their potential associations with behavioural phenotypes in dogs. Methods: The behavioural characteristics of 123 male Belgian Malinois dogs were assessed using a customised questionnaire. Target regions of candidate genes were screened for genetic variation by single‐strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP). Following that, SSCP banding patterns were sequenced, and putative transcription factor binding sites were predicted using bioinformatics tools. Quantitative association analysis between identified genetic variants and behavioural trait scores was performed using the general linear model (GLM). Results: Sequencing the coding and flanking regions revealed three mutations (c.‐89C>T, c.‐162G>C and c.*33T>A) in the dog TAC1 gene. Bioinformatics analysis predicted two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were located within the putative TAC1 promoter and could disrupt transcription factor binding sites. Statistical tests revealed that the c.‐89C>T was significantly associated with excitability (p < 0.01), while the c.‐162G>C was significantly associated with trainability level (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In summary, we identified two regulatory SNPs in the 5'‐UTR promoter region of the TAC1 gene that are associated with excitability and trainability in Belgian Malinois dogs. These genetic variations have the potential to alter the binding sites of transcription factors NRF1 and OTX1, consequently influencing TAC1 expression and related behavioural characteristics. Our findings implicate TAC1 polymorphisms as candidates influencing breed‐specific behavioural characteristics in canines. Further studies on diverse breeds of dogs are necessary to validate these SNPs' effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]