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Several institutional aspects within the U.S. public school system impede the delivery of adapted physical education (APE) services to disabled children, including a lack of understanding and prioritization of these services by the special education team and a lack of qualified APE professionals to deliver these services. Thus, we conducted a qualitative inquiry grounded in a critical-ableism perspective to explore special education gatekeepers' experiences and perspectives of APE. Gatekeepers included parents, physical educators, and school administrators. Using a reflexive thematic analysis, we developed four interrelated themes: (a) disregard, negative, and charity mindsets toward disability; (b) systemic challenges in valuing and prioritizing APE; (c) presence as inclusion: (un)intentional marginalization in physical education; and (d) physical education for my child was a nightmare. These findings illustrate the complexities around the provision of physical education and APE to disabled children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding population history and genetic connectivity is important for assessing the long-term viability of populations. The Atlantic surfclam (Spisula solidissima) has historically been subdivided into two subspecies: lesser-known S.s. simitis in the South Atlantic Bight and Gulf of Mexico, and commercially important S.s. solidissima mostly north of Cape Hatteras. Novel populations of the 'southern' S.s. similis subspecies were previously identified far north of their historical range limit. Here, to test a hypothesis of recency and isolation in the North, population samples from Southern New England S..s. similis were compared for the first time to a population sample from Georgia, as well as to S.s. solidissima. Population structure and demographic history were inferred using genetic variation at a combination of microsatellite, mtDNA, and nuclear intron loci. The Southern New England populations of S.s. similis had slightly lower nuclear DNA diversity than in Georgia. Genetic differentiation between Massachusetts and Georgia S.s. similis was weak and only significant for microsatellite markers. Consistent with weak differentiation, coalescent modeling of nuclear sequence variation indicated high levels of gene flow. All S.s. similis populations had extremely low mtDNA diversity, with only two mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I haplotypes found in contrast to 15 haplotypes in S.s. solidissima. Collectively, the population genetic patterns are more parsimoniously explained by the northern S.s. similis populations originating from a postglacial expansion rather than recent colonization. KEY WORDS: Spisula solidissima, population structure, gene flow, marine phylogeography, mitochondrial DNA, COI, intron, microsatellites, coalescent model, demographic history, INTRODUCTION It is valuable to assess the population history and genetic connectivity of populations to assess their long-term viability and threat of extinction (Allendorf & Luikart 2009, Hellberg 2009, Nance [...]

OBJECTIVE: Identify factors affecting the use of a community resource referral platform among local community-based organizations (CBOs) and test strategies to increase platform use. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING: Data sources included platform usage data and semi-structured interviews. The study took place in a small city in the Northeastern United States from 2020 to 2022. STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed platform data and conducted interviews with local organizations and organizations in other communities to understand barriers to CBOs use of the referral platform and identify strategies that might increase use. We then tested 4 strategies and assessed impacts via time trend analysis of platform usage and qualitative interviews. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: Platform usage data were obtained from the platform. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with staff and leaders of 36 local CBOs and 9 external organizations. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Four years after launch, platform use remained relatively low. None of the tested strategies (data insight reports, a referral hub, tailored training, and a communication campaign) noticeably increased platform use. The main barrier to the use of the platform was the lack of perceived usefulness, mostly because existing processes for identifying resources and referring clients worked well enough and because many organizations were already required to use a client management or referral tool. Additional barriers included the lack of comfort with and, in some cases, active dislike of e-referrals, and lack of comfort with technology tools overall. Organizations that were most likely to find the platform useful and to use it were those that provided referrals for a wide range of needs and whose staff were not already familiar with local resources. CONCLUSIONS: Organizations seeking to implement referral platforms should not assume that local CBOs will automatically take up these platforms. For these platforms to succeed, much more attention needs to be paid to ensuring the platforms provide value to the CBOs they seek to engage.

We discuss the use of two empirically validated behavior‐change methods—checklists and goal setting—and designed a checklist to assist behavior analysts in improving their behavioral services to be more culturally responsive and trauma informed. We also present pilot data evaluating the use of the checklist and goal setting on the inclusion of culturally responsive and trauma‐informed practices in behavior support plans designed for students in a public school. The training package was effective for both participants, and the participants' weekly goals corresponded to the observed changes in their behavior plans. Moreover, both participants strongly agreed that the checklist was valuable and easy to use and reported increases in their perceived abilities to implement culturally responsive and trauma‐informed practices posttraining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) account for the highest proportion of HIV diagnoses in the United States, with daily pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) significantly reducing transmission risk. Since 2021, the Affordable Care Act rules have required PrEP and accompanying care visits to be free for most Americans; nevertheless, insurers have found ways to circumvent no-cost PrEP and some employers are receiving exemptions from including it in their formularies. Despite this, perceived costs and indirect expenses still hinder PrEP adoption. This study examines the differences between perceived and actual costs among GBMSM who have and have not used PrEP. We conducted a one-time online survey with 692 adults from six New England states between May 2020 and October 2021. Participants who had never used PrEP estimated its cost, while those with prior PrEP experience reported their actual expenses. Bivariate analysis and multi-variable logistic regression were used to assess the data. Results showed a 60% difference between perceived ($48) and actual ($30) median monthly costs. Higher perceived costs among nonusers were linked to race and income, while high actual costs for prior users were associated with insurance type, income, wealth, race, and self-rated consumer credit. This significant disparity in PrEP cost perceptions highlights the need for targeted outreach and messaging to improve PrEP uptake among at-risk populations who have not yet accessed it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Health literacy is important while attending a residential college where daily decisions can impact one's physical and mental health and knowing who or what to trust for information is of the utmost importance in claiming more decision-making autonomy. Participants: A total of 189 students at a University in the Northeastern United States participated in this study. Methods: A cross-sectional survey assessment of shared beliefs around health behaviors was conducted. Results: Areas of high consensus center around knowledge of positive health behaviors. Consensus lessens as participants are faced with statements that require more independent thinking, more information, and more subjectivity. Gender differences are also prevalent. Conclusions: Exercising agency is needed when making a commitment to one health choice vs. another. Agency in emerging adulthood has been found to be positively correlated with commitment and deliberate decision-making both of which are needed as college students face independent health choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the United States, less than 5% of all adult cancer patients enroll in clinical trials. Few studies explore participation in cancer clinical trials at safety net hospitals, which disproportionately care for minoritized, low-income, uninsured, and underinsured populations. Our study aims to investigate disparities in clinical trial discussions and enrollment among lung cancer patients at Boston Medical Center, the largest safety net hospital in New England. Methods: We included 1121 patients diagnosed with lung cancer between January 2015 and December 2020. Electronic Medical Records (EMR) were queried, and patients were categorized into three groups: (1) clinical trial discussed and the patient enrolled, (2) clinical trial discussed but the patient not enrolled, and (3) clinical trial not discussed. Sociodemographic variables such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, city, primary language, median household income, medical insurance type, and education level were also collected. Chi-squared, t test, and multivariate regression analysis was done using SPSS version 26.0. Results: Of the 1121 patients, clinical trials were discussed in 141 patients (12.6%), of which 22 (15.6%) were enrolled. Clinical trial discussions were conducted more with younger patients (68.19 vs 71.37, p =.001), but on multivariate analysis there was no significant difference (OR = 1.023; 95% CI 0.998-1.048; p =.068). There was no significant difference in clinical trial discussion or enrollment between the other sociodemographic factors. Conclusion: Additional study of barriers to cancer clinical trial discussion and enrollment at safety net institutions can serve as a prerequisite to ameliorating racial disparities observed on a national scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the eighteenth century, Newport, Rhode Island stood at the centre of the Transatlantic slave trade, producing commodities like rum to be traded for African captives from Senegambia, the Gold Coast, the Bight of Biafra, and the Bight of Benin. These captive men, women and children were then transported to South America, the West Indies, the Chesapeake, Charleston, and Savannah. Those who were not sold in these markets, were labelled as 'refuse,' and endured a second or third voyage to the north to be sold in markets in New York, Newport, or Boston. Through an examination of a court case between prominent Newport merchant, John Banister and wigmaker, David Cummings, this article queries the life of a sick African girl, bought by David Cummings, but rendered useless because of her rapidly declining health due to the 'great pox,' also known as yaws. What conditions allowed for her enslavement? How did she become ill and how was she treated? Lastly, how did the law commodify her bonded existence? By examining the mechanisms that allowed for her enslavement, a young life that was reduced to a monetary value, and the bare labour she was forced to provide, is brought to the fore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Current measures of vaping behaviors in the U.S. do not distinguish what substances participants are vaping and to what extent they are dual-vaping nicotine and cannabis. This study describes the use of new survey questions that more specifically ask whether participants who vape are vaping nicotine, cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD), or another substance. Aims and Methods Adults, who reported any past 30-day tobacco use, from five New England states participated in an online survey from April 2021 to July 2022. Participants who vaped were asked, "Have you used any of the following vape substances in the past 30 days?" with the possible responses of nicotine, cannabis, CBD, other, and "don't know." Dual use of both nicotine and cannabis was defined as the vaping of both nicotine and cannabis and/or CBD in the past 30 days, operationalized as a dichotomous outcome. Data were collected in monthly, repeated cross-sectional waves. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine correlates of dual-vaping. Results The analytic sample included 1547 adults who reported past 30-day tobacco use (mean age 42.9 years, 62.8% female, 85.4% White, 48.5% income of less than $50 000). Over one-quarter (26.1%) reported dual-vaping in the past 30 days. Identifying as male (p  = .002) and self-rated anxiety (p  = .043) were associated with a higher odds of dual-vaping. Conclusions Our findings show that a sizable proportion of a sample of New England adults who have used tobacco in the past 30 days are dual-vaping nicotine and cannabis. Adequate survey measures for assessing the vaping of multiple substances can help in better screening and characterization of health behaviors around dual-use. Implications This study addresses a key gap in adequate survey measures for assessing vaping of multiple substances. We found that among adults with past 30-day tobacco use, dual-vaping was prevalent and associated with different correlates, such as self-reported anxiety and education level, compared to sole-vaping of nicotine or cannabis. Our findings may help in characterizing and targeting future population-level surveillance and intervention efforts for multiple substance use behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional study describes knowledge, perceived competence, and behaviors relative to intimate partner violence (IPV)-related brain injury (BI) among staff in residential domestic violence shelter programs across a New England state. A 23-item questionnaire was administered to registrants of an online IPV-related BI training series. Within this sample, knowledge about IPV-related BI was high, but relative to providing screening, accommodations, and specialized referrals to survivors with BI, perceived competence was low, and behaviors were infrequent. IPV shelter agencies should facilitate IPV-related BI training programs for staff and prioritize developing and implementing BI screening, accommodation, and referral policies and procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to determine clinical nurse and nurse manager perspectives on missed nursing care (MNC) during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Design: This study utilized a qualitative exploratory descriptive design. Methods: Data were obtained through focus groups and virtual interviews. Purposive sampling was used to select nurse and nurse manager participants in COVID‐19 units and the Emergency Department in one large healthcare organization in the northeastern United States of America. Results: A total of 15 nurses and nurse managers participated in the study. Results revealed five categories: medication delivery, turning patients, double checks, communication and rapport, and patient surveillance. Conclusions: A variety of factors contributed to the perceptions and experiences of MNC of COVID‐19 patients during the early stage of the pandemic. The COVID‐19 crisis put additional and unparalleled pressure on a strained nursing workforce. Hospital leaders are responsible for ensuring their frontline nurses have the resources they need to feel supported in their roles regardless of the presenting circumstances. Implications for the Profession: Nurse leaders should employ evidence‐based strategies such as promoting and championing teamwork to support staff and reduce incidences of MNC during crises. Our current work may serve as a basis for informing future revisions of pre‐pandemic measurement tools when applied in a pandemic‐specific context. Reporting Methods: This manuscript adheres to the standards for reporting qualitative research (SRQR); a synthesis of recommendations. Public Contribution: There was not patient or public contribution for this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical judgment is declining in new graduate nurses, which affects patient safety and is therefore tested on the Next Generation NCLEX. There is limited research describing barriers and facilitators impacting nursing faculty's experiences teaching clinical judgment. Aims: The purpose of this study was to explore barriers and facilitators affecting undergraduate nursing faculty's clinical judgment teaching methods. Methods: Sixteen qualitative interviews were conducted with full-time nursing faculty at seven universities in the Northeast and Southeast regions of the United States. Results: The findings revealed program, student, and faculty factors affecting clinical judgment teaching methods. Subthemes included time, class size, students' class preparation, critical thinking, task orientation, professional development, and faculty resistance. Conclusion: Minimizing barriers and strengthening facilitators based on participants' practices and previous research can support more effective clinical judgment pedagogy, which has the potential to achieve Next Generation NCLEX success and potentially increase patient safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Approximately one-half of all adults with HIV experience chronic pain. Needed are nonpharmacological approaches to improve pain management in this population. Methods: For this study, we conducted in-depth qualitative interviews (n = 20) with thirteen adults with HIV and 7 HIV care providers regarding their perceptions of Tai Chi for chronic pain management. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, double-coded, and analyzed using applied thematic analysis. Results: HIV patients had limited prior exposure to Tai Chi and had not previously considered this practice for pain management. However, after viewing a brief video demonstration of Tai Chi, patients recognized potential benefits, including relaxation, stress reduction, and pain lessening. Patients were surprised by the gentle nature of Tai Chi and expressed enthusiasm to learn more about Tai Chi. HIV healthcare providers similarly had limited knowledge of Tai Chi for pain management. HIV care providers shared several helpful insights on the potential implementation of Tai Chi with this population. Conclusions: Adults with HIV and healthcare providers were optimistic that Tai Chi would reduce stress and ease chronic pain. These data suggest that Tai Chi would be of interest to HIV patients and care providers as a novel pain management strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students with reading disabilities generally know fewer words (breadth) with less in-depth knowledge of those words (depth) than typical students. The present study examined the effects of a "moderately rich vocabulary instruction" in which both breadth and depth of vocabulary are addressed. Nineteen U.S. 4th- and 5th-grade students with reading disabilities learned 12 words in the moderate-encounter condition, where students practiced the target words six times in the context of rich vocabulary instructional activities. The results showed that students with reading disabilities remembered more taught word definitions and understood more sentences that contained taught words than those from the control condition. The findings suggest that providing moderately rich vocabulary instruction with a moderate number of rich vocabulary practices can yield good word learning and sentence comprehension containing target words for students with reading difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autistic individuals have significant social-communication challenges that commonly persist into adulthood and impact academic, social, and vocational pursuits. More than two decades of research have established video behavior modeling as a successful, cost-effective, and time-efficient intervention tool for autistic children; however, less research has investigated the use of video modeling with autistic adults, and only a handful of studies have assessed its effects in non-vocational community-based settings. This study examines the effects of video modeling on social-communication skills of autistic adults in a U.S. community-based fitness group using a multiple-baseline single-case design with replication across participants. Additional data on visual attention, generalization, and social validity were captured. Results show variable effects across participants and provide valuable information to guide individuals in choosing effective and practical evidence-based practices to support the social-communication success of autistic adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important symbolic and subsistence animal for many Native American Tribes, the moose (Alces alces; mos in Algonquin, Penobscot language) has been under consistent threat in the northeastern United States because of winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) parasitism over the past several decades, causing declines in moose populations throughout the region. This decline has raised concern for Tribes and agencies that are invested in moose. Given this concern, it is increasingly important to effectively monitor and develop strategies to manage winter ticks to address consistent population declines of moose due to winter ticks. The Penobscot Nation developed a novel strategy to sample questing winter ticks (i.e., ticks that are actively seeking hosts) using a plot‐based sampling protocol that may be suitable for heterogeneous habitats. We deployed this protocol in the northeastern United States in 2022 during the tick questing period (Sep–Dec) on Penobscot Nation sovereign trust lands, the White Mountain National Forest and Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, and western‐central Massachusetts, USA. We analyzed the data using occupancy and N‐mixture models. Detection probability peaked during mid‐October and tick occupancy and abundance were greatest at sites with intermediate understory vegetation height. The sampling protocol was successful at sampling ticks in Massachusetts, where abundances were expected to be low, indicating that it may be useful for studies planning to monitor winter tick distribution and abundance in areas with sub‐optimal moose habitat and where winter tick abundance is expected to be low. This approach may also benefit managers or researchers intending to monitor many species of hard ticks, and where imperfect detection is expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disparities in physical activity (PA) and PA antecedents, such as exercise self-efficacy, based on the intersection of gender and race/ethnicity among college students are poorly understood. This study aimed to examine differences in PA and exercise self-efficacy based on the intersection of gender and race/ethnicity. An online survey collected data on demographics (age, gender, race/ethnicity), PA, and exercise self-efficacy from students (n = 5341) enrolled in general health and wellness at a large Northeastern U.S. University. Differences in PA and exercise self-efficacy based on gender and race/ethnicity were examined using two-way ANOVAs. Analyses revealed significant differences in overall PA and exercise self-efficacy based on gender and race/ethnicity. A significant interaction between gender and race/ethnicity was found in relation to PA, but not exercise self-efficacy. Findings demonstrate the need for universities to tailor PA promotion efforts, and to consider how gender and race/ethnicity may intersect to influence PA participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glottalization in English has a rich history of research, most of it focusing on the origin, social characteristics, and change in the feature over time. Glottalization has been shown to be a robust variable, its form influenced by phontetic, social, and regional factors. The current study also explores these issues but with the advantage of two samples of speech: one from the 1930s comprising 17 speakers, and one from the 1990s, comprising 53 (31 females and 22 males). Most of the 1930s group, which represented all available speakers, were over 50; the 1990s sample ranged in age from childhood through old age, with the majority being 16 through 40. This time depth allows us to see the possible origin of this feature in an isolated rural area and its change over time as the regional demographics change. We present arguments that the phonetic and social factors surrounding glottalization interacted to produce a new form (glottal replacement) with newly evolving social meanings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As individuals age, changes in their health status and functional level may begin to require caregiving from family caregivers. The role of caregiver can be taxing, a well-established phenomenon known as caregiver burden. While many studies have examined the factors within the caregiver that can be predictive of caregiver burden (or burnout), relatively few have examined the factors of the care recipient that predict caregiver burden. Using a sample of individuals enrolled in the Department of Veteran's Affairs Home Based Primary Care program, we collected data on demographic, psychological (i.e. mood and cognitive) and nursing (e.g. ADL/IADL, fall risk, etc.) factors. Using stepwise regression modeling, we discovered that only care recipient's age, IADL impairment, and gender predicted caregiver burden. We discuss possible causes of the relationships and implications for nursing and homecare practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

College students often engage in multiple health-related behaviors simultaneously which can lead to negative outcomes and further risky behaviors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, college students reported decreased condom use, increased solitary cannabis use, and increased alcohol consumption. This current study aimed to (1) identify profiles of health-related behaviors (i.e., alcohol consumption, cannabis use, and sexual behaviors), and (2) determine if these profiles would differ in engagement and perceived effectiveness of COVID-19 preventative measures. Participants were 273 college students from a large Northeastern U.S. public university who completed surveys about health-related behaviors during the 2021 academic year. We used a latent profile analysis to identify distinct subgroups of college students based on their engagement in health-related behaviors. Based on fit indices a three-profile solution showed the best fit: low (N = 196), moderate (N = 54), and high (N = 23). Two one-way ANOVAs examined whether profile membership predicted engagement and perceived effectiveness of COVID-19 safety measures. Participants in the low health-related behaviors profile engaged in preventative measures more than students in the other two profiles. However, profile membership did not predict perceived effectiveness of preventative behaviors. Taken together, our results indicate that college students reporting lower levels of health-related behaviors engage in more preventative measures during a pandemic. Understanding distinct health-related behaviors profiles among college students, and their links with COVID-preventative health-related behaviors, can inform prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Intimate partner violence (IPV) victim advocates are exposed daily to the traumas of their clients, including the potential exposure to an intimate partner homicide (IPH). While research has examined the effects of daily secondary exposure to IPV on victim advocates, little is known about the specific effect of IPH. This study examined how the IPH of a client affected advocates' perception of and approach to their work. Methods: Nine advocates were recruited from the northeastern U.S. and interviewed about their experience of the IPH of a client. Advocate interviews were analyzed using The Listening Guide Analysis which systematically isolates and listens to the different, and often contradictory, voices that a participant uses. Results: Exposure to IPH changed participants' perception of their role, how they defined client, and how they interacted with future clients. At a macro-level, the IPH of a client motivated advocates to advance changes in agency protocol, multisector responses, and state policy based on what they had learned from the IPH. Opportunities to translate shifts in their worldview into tangible changes to protocol and policy were critical to advocate adjustment after the IPH. Conclusions: In order to support advocates after IPH, organizations should acknowledge the potentially transformative effect of IPH and create opportunities for meaning making to assist in advocate adjustment. It is imperative for advocacy organizations to support their employees to prevent advocate burnout and the loss of experienced staff, and to continue to provide effective services to vulnerable members of their communities after IPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The extent of past Indigenous cultural burning in the eastern US remains contested. Historical documents (e.g. early histories, journals, and reports) contain descriptions of burning. Scholars have summarised descriptions, but few have compiled them into databases. Aims: This paper presents efforts to compile descriptions of past Indigenous burning in the eastern US and early results from mapped descriptions. Methods: Utilising previously cited descriptions and those discovered from digitised historical texts, the current dataset mapped >250 descriptions of burning in the northeastern US. Most were historical summaries from 19th century authors, and fewer were firsthand observations. Descriptions are currently shared as a GIS data layer, a tabular file, and an interactive web map. Key results: Descriptions correspond with fire-adapted vegetation, and clusters of descriptions suggest burning over large extents (e.g. southern New England, western New York). Estimated dates of burning or initial Euro-American settlement show an east–west succession in Indigenous fire exclusion and replacement with early Euro-American burning. Conclusions: Historical descriptions suggest regional-extent influence of Indigenous burning upon past forested ecosystems, but the veracity of descriptions should be carefully evaluated. Implications: This study provides a dataset for further examination of Indigenous burning and comparison with other methodologies for historical cultural fire reconstruction. This study creates a dataset of historical descriptions of Indigenous wildland burning from digitised historical texts in the eastern US. The current version of the dataset contains >250 descriptions in the northeastern US, mainly from 19th century historians. Descriptions correspond with geographic patterns in past fire-adapted vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trends in Atlantic surfclam (Spisulu solidissima) population demographic parameters were analyzed using age and length observations obtained from NOAA stock surveys conducted from the 1980s to 2010s in six regions distributed along the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB) continental shelf. Atlantic surfclam asymptotic length and specific growth rate were estimated for each survey region and decade using the von Bertalanffy growth function. Specific mortality rates were estimated using a linearized negative exponential relationship and the maximum Atlantic surfclam age observed in each survey region for each decade. The estimated Atlantic surfclam mean length in the southern regions of the MAB decreased from 127 to 103 mm, about a 19% decrease, over the four decades. The mean length remained stable at about 130-135 mm in the central survey regions in contrast to the mean length of the Georges Bank Atlantic surfclam population which showed an increase from 101 to 135 mm over the four decades. The asymptotic length estimated for the southernmost survey region declined by 20% and remained relatively constant for the other survey regions over the four decades. Estimated specific growth rates remained unchanged for most of the survey regions, with the overall regional mean decreasing from about 0.25 [y.sup.-1] in the 1980s to 0.20 y~' by the 2010s. Specific mortality rates were not significantly different across the survey regions, although the maximum age estimated for the population in the southern survey region decreased by about 36%. This study provides a quantitative assessment of past and ongoing changes in MAB Atlantic surfclam population demographics that can be used to develop projections of responses to stresses imposed by climate change and commercial fishing. KEY WORDS: Atlantic surfclam Spisulu solidissima, population demographics, growth rale, mortality rate. Middle Atlantic Bight, INTRODUCTION The Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB) region, the portion of the Northwest Atlantic continental shelf from Cape Hatteras to Georges Bank (Fig. 1), is characterized by a productive benthic ecosystem [...]

CHRISTOPHER DAWSON was an English historian in the middle of the last century, one of those intellectuals prominent in his own day--T. S. Eliot called him 'the most powerful intellectual [...]

To determine the percentage of female adolescent patients (13-26 years old) who had HIV testing ordered within 90 days of incident sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnosis during an outpatient clinic visit. This was a retrospective chart review study evaluating 830 visits among 589 female patients 13 to 26 years who had an incident STI diagnosed in outpatient Adolescent Medicine or Pediatric Practices in an urban, nonprofit, academic, free-standing children's hospital at the main campus and a community site in the Northeast United States. Odds of HIV screening was greater at the community-based adolescent medicine practice (odds ratio [OR] = 3.17; 95% confidence interval [CI]: [1.92, 5.24]) and when seen by an adolescent medicine provider (OR = 1.44; 95% CI: [1.02, 2.03]). Only 33.5% (n = 283) of 844 clinical encounters had HIV screening obtained within 90 days of incident STI diagnosis. Overall, HIV screening rates within 90 days of STI diagnosis was low, and there is much room for improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmentally explicit models can improve model performance and our understanding of biological processes. However, these models must be retested over time, as the mechanisms influencing biological processes can change. The relationship between recently settled young‐of‐year (i.e., settlers) and pre‐recruit American lobsters was revisited to determine if our perception on post‐settlement lobster processes has changed. Analyses were focused within the southern region of the species' latitudinal range (Rhode Island, United States), where several environmental factors have been theorized to contribute to the Southern New England stock decline and continued depleted state. The inclusion of additional, recent years' data provided insight on how the density‐dependent nature of the settler–pre‐recruit lobster relationship has varied over time. Including both new and retested environmental drivers reaffirmed the importance of incorporating environmental data when describing this process. Specifically, modeling revealed the importance of epizootic shell disease, finfish predators, and Asian shore crabs in the settler–pre‐recruit relationship. Including disease, predation, and competition metrics in the lobster post‐settlement relationship has allowed for improved modeling and insight into settlement dynamics. This renewed analysis supports reevaluating environmentally explicit models over time and calls for further directed research regarding the biological processes we seek to model with time series data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shellfish aquaculture is a globally expanding industry, including in urban estuaries that support non‐breeding waterfowl. The effects of shellfish aquaculture on the spatial distribution of non‐breeding waterfowl, however, are poorly understood and depend on the ecology of waterfowl and cultivated shellfish species. We investigated how proximity to shellfish aquaculture influenced habitat selection and movement patterns of American black ducks (Anas rubripes) during the non‐breeding season (~Oct–May) in 2020–2023 in Rhode Island, USA. The extent to which proximity to aquaculture influenced habitat selection of black ducks depended on factors specific to individuals' primary non‐breeding sites, although proximity to aquaculture did not have biologically meaningful influences on black duck movement rates across all sites. Black ducks across sites consistently selected for areas better suited for aquaculture (i.e., areas of potential future development) relative to areas poorly suited for aquaculture (i.e., areas less likely to be developed). The continued expansion of aquaculture into preferred black duck habitats will increase black duck interactions with aquaculture and therefore should be considered in the decision‐making process for siting future aquaculture leases. Future studies should quantify the extent to which continued expansion of aquaculture in those preferred coastal habitats directly influences black ducks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long before kindergarten, many of us experimented with mud. Its squishiness, the fact that we could launch airborne blobs with a kick or a stomp--and the satisfying thwuuck sounds that [...]

Sea‐level change threatens the U.S. East Coast. Thus, it is important to understand the underlying causes, including ocean dynamics. Most past studies emphasized links between coastal sea level and local atmospheric variability or large‐scale circulation and climate, but possible relationships with local ocean currents over the shelf and slope remain largely unexplored. Here we use 7 years of in situ velocity and sea‐level data to quantify the relationship between northeastern U.S. coastal sea level and variable Shelfbreak Jet transport south of Nantucket Island. At timescales of 1–15 days, southern New England coastal sea level and transport vary in anti‐phase, with magnitude‐squared coherences of ∼0.5 and admittance amplitudes of ∼0.3 m Sv−1. These results are consistent with a dominant geostrophic balance between along‐shelf transport and coastal sea level, corroborating a hypothesis made decades ago that was not tested due to the lack of transport data. Plain Language Summary: Sea‐level rise is an imminent threat to coastal communities worldwide, including the U.S. East Coast. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the processes driving regional sea‐level change. While past studies documented how coastal sea level may be influenced by large‐scale ocean circulation, less attention has been paid to the role of more local currents over the shelf and slope. Here we explore the relationship between coastal sea level along the northeastern U.S. and the Shelfbreak Jet, a current that flows along the shelfbreak from the Labrador Sea to Cape Hatteras (North Carolina). From 7 years of in situ data of both current velocities and water levels, we see that as coastal sea level rises, Shelfbreak Jet transport increases westward (and vice versa) on timescales of days to weeks. Our results lay the groundwork for understanding relationships between coastal sea level and local ocean dynamics elsewhere. Key Points: Daily Shelfbreak Jet transports and Southern New England coastal sea levels are anti‐correlated during 2014–2022The observed relationship between these two variables is consistent with geostrophic balanceFor this region, coastal sea levels are more sensitive to local ocean dynamics than to large‐scale circulation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To characterize the impact of rural patients' travel time to obtain healthcare on their reported utilization of preventive healthcare services and personal health outcomes. Methods: Online survey data from rural adults ages 50+ years living in the Northeastern United States were collected from February to August 2021. Study measures included self-reported travel time to obtain healthcare, use of preventive healthcare, and health outcomes. The associations between travel time with use of preventive care and health outcomes were assessed using linear, Poisson, and logistic regression analyses controlling for demographic variables. Results: Our study population included 1052 rural adults, with a mean travel time of 18.5 min (range: 0-60). Travel time was greater for racial/ethnic minority participants and for higher-income participants (both P <.05), but it was not associated with use of preventive healthcare. Greater travel time was associated with poorer mental health and more comorbidities, including cancer and diabetes (all P <.05). Conclusions: Travel time varied by patient demographic factors, and it was associated with mental health and comorbidities. There was no association between travel time and preventive care use, suggesting that other barriers likely contribute to suboptimal use of these services within rural communities. Further research is needed to elucidate the causal pathways linking travel time to mental health and comorbidities within rural communities, as increased travel may exacerbate intrarural health disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Representation is an important role of the nonprofit sector as these organizations can give voice to the priorities of their constituents. This is particularly important for disadvantaged communities that may lack access to traditional democratic processes. What advocacy tactics are most utilized by nonprofit organizations serving disadvantaged populations? Given variation in nonprofit advocacy tactics, which tactics are perceived as most effective? To answer these questions, we look to the framework of tactical repertoires from sociological studies of social movements. Analysis of a survey of New England nonprofits (N = 656, 55 % response rate) indicates that nonprofits serving disadvantaged populations use similar tactics to organizations advocating for other constituencies but employ them at higher rates. These tactics cluster into three tactical repertoires, each a different combination of advocacy tactics. Perceptions of advocacy effectiveness are associated with the size and nature of tactical repertoires, client participation in advocacy, government funding, and perceptions of the policy environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is unknown to what extent medical researchers generalize study findings beyond their samples when their sample size, sample diversity, or knowledge of conditions that support external validity do not warrant it. It is also unknown to what extent medical researchers describe their results with precise quantifications or unquantified generalizations, i.e., generics, that can obscure variations between individuals. We therefore systematically reviewed all prospective studies (n = 533) published in the top four highest ranking medical journals, Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and the British Medical Journal (BMJ), from January 2022 to May 2023. We additionally reviewed all NEJM Journal Watch clinical research summaries (n = 143) published during the same time. Of all research articles reporting prospective studies, 52.5% included generalizations beyond specific national study populations, with the numbers of articles with generics varying significantly between journals (JAMA = 12%; Lancet = 77%) (p < 0.001, V = 0.48). There was no evidence that articles containing broader generalizations or generics were correlated with larger or more nationally diverse samples. Moreover, only 10.2% of articles with generalizations beyond specific national populations reported external validity strengthening factors that could potentially support such extrapolations. There was no evidence that original research articles and NEJM Journal Watch summaries intended for practitioners differed in their use of broad generalizations, including generics. Finally, from the journal with the highest citation impact, articles containing broader conclusions were correlated with more citations. Since there was no evidence that studies with generalizations beyond specific national study populations or with generics were associated with larger, more nationally diverse samples, or with reports of population similarity that may permit extensions of conclusions, our findings suggest that the generalizations in many articles were insufficiently supported. Caution against overly broad generalizations in medical research is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power systems exhibit nonlinearity. causing dynamic instability and complex power oscillations. This research proposes an innovative strategy using the Novel Bat Algorithm (NBA) to achieve ideal Power System Stabilizers (PSSs) in a multimachine power system. The approach shifts electromechanical modes to specific areas in the s-plane. Enhancing the multi-machine power system and establishing stabilizer parameters for dynamic performance. The study examines the designed approach aptitude for standard lead-lag PSSs configurations. In order to elevate the global search problem and transfer some static operators for the optimum optimization process. the chaos mapping. also known as CNBA. is introduced into NBA. Four different forms of chaos maps are compared in experiments to resolve unconstrained mathematical issues in order to illustrate CNBA performance. In any other case. the challenge of designing PSS under a wide range of loading situations is transformed into an optimization challenge with the damping ratio of electromechanical modes with low damping as the target function. The optimal stabilizers' gains are gotten by employing the CNBA algorithm. Second plan. an effective technique is astutely established to delineate the PSS location and quantity using CNBA and another side using participation factor. To examine the efficacy of the proposed CNBA-based PSS on a large system; it is tested on the interconnected of New-England/New-York (16 generators and 68 buses) power grid. and verified by comparative study with NBA through eigenvalue analysis and nonlinear simulation to provide evidence the algorithmic competence of CNBA. The CNBA approach yields a minimum damping ratio of 37%. which is consistent with the its eigenvalue. In contrast, the NBA approach achieves a minimum damping ratio of 31%. The simulation results reveal the fine performance of the proposed CNBA-PSS in a convincing manner and its capacity to provide an excellent damping for inter-area and local oscillations under diverse operating cases compared to NBA-PSS then in the case of PSS location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research which examined the perspectives of nursing home staff on the challenges in implementing dementia advance directives related to stopping feeding and drinking. The study surveyed views of physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistance on the acceptability and implementation of comfort feeding in persons with late stage dementia using the Dartmouth Dementia Directive and the End of Life Choices New York's Advance.

Learning and resolving uncertainty should be important components of management decisions, but not every type of uncertainty is equally important to resolve. For rare, threatened, and endangered species, information may be limited and there is often great urgency to halt potential population declines. Therefore, the most important uncertainties are those that would lead to different decisions intended to improve outcomes for species of interest. The New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) is an endemic species to the northeastern United States and is listed as a species of special concern, threatened, or endangered in all states in its current range. States within the historical New England cottontail range have made substantial investments in habitat management, captive breeding, and research, but considerable demographic, management, and monitoring uncertainties remain. Connecticut is the geographic core of the current range of the species and therefore has been the focus of many management efforts, including improving habitat, creating new habitat patches, removing eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus), and releasing captive‐bred New England cottontails. We used a value of information analysis to identify the optimal management decision given current uncertainty and to evaluate how sources of uncertainty might lead to changes in management decisions. Given the current understanding of the New England cottontail in Connecticut, we identified the optimal management decision as improving existing habitat patches without monitoring for the species and managers could expect a 3.4% increase in populations if decision‐making uncertainty could be fully resolved. Multiple sources of uncertainty influenced results, but variation in New England cottontail density and the response of the species to the removal of eastern cottontails were most likely to result in changes to management decisions. At lower New England cottontail densities, releasing captive‐bred individuals competed with improving habitat as the optimal management action. Accounting for the value of information benefits New England cottontail management by guiding research efforts toward information that is most beneficial for decision‐makers and providing insights into parameter thresholds that would lead to changes in management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to understand men's participation in action for gender equality as true societal change necessitates aid from allies. In the present study, we investigated whether critical consciousness (CC) may be a tool men use to combat sexism. CC entails three interrelated components: critical reflection, critical efficacy, and critical action. According to the theory, people will act to change unjust social systems if they have critically reflected on injustice and possess internal efficacy. Additionally, external efficacy may stymie action for those who also have greater reflection. Men (N = 680) attending a predominantly White, liberal arts college in the United States answered questions about two forms of critical reflection (perceived inequality and egalitarianism), internal and external efficacy, and their participation in action for gender equality. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the hypothesized model that men who engaged in critical reflection would act for gender equality if they also possessed higher internal and lower external efficacy. Internal efficacy mediated the connection between perceived inequality and action and the connection between egalitarianism and action. External efficacy did not mediate relations between perceived inequality or egalitarianism and action. Our findings indicate that men may act if they have critically reflected on gender inequality, hold egalitarian views, and possess internal efficacy. Results suggest CC may be a resource men can use to serve as allies and help create a more gender-equitable society. Public Significance Statement: Gender equality will not be achieved without men's participation in actions to dismantle sexist social structures. The findings from this study suggest that men may act for gender equality if they possess critical consciousness regarding sexism and gender equality. Experiences that allow men to reflect critically on gender inequality, develop more egalitarian views, and feel confident in their understanding of gender equality issues may empower them to act. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an alternative to the Frequentist p‐value, the Bayes factor (or ratio of marginal likelihoods) has been regarded as one of the primary tools for Bayesian hypothesis testing. In recent years, several researchers have begun to re‐analyze results from prominent medical journals, as well as from trials for FDA‐approved drugs, to show that Bayes factors often give divergent conclusions from those of p‐values. In this paper, we investigate the claim that Bayes factors are straightforward to interpret as directly quantifying the relative strength of evidence. In particular, we show that for nested hypotheses with consistent priors, the Bayes factor for the null over the alternative hypothesis is the posterior mean of the likelihood ratio. By re‐analyzing 39 results previously published in the New England Journal of Medicine, we demonstrate how the posterior distribution of the likelihood ratio can be computed and visualized, providing useful information beyond the posterior mean alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The central role of natriuretic peptides (NPs) in the complex cardio‐renal integrated physiology and organ failure has been revealed over the last four decades. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), the oldest representative of the NPs family, is produced through conversion of proANP to the mature peptide by corin, a trans‐membrane protease localized to the cardiac myocyte membrane. Similarly, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is generated by furin, which cleaves proBNP to BNP in myocytes. Though the components of NPs system, their synthesis and target organs are well established, understanding their role in the interplay between the heart and the kidney is steadily evolving. In this context, Feldman et al. (New England Journal of Medicine, 389, 1685) recently described patients with hypertension, cardiomyopathy, atrial arrhythmia and left atrial fibrosis, associated with a homozygous loss‐of‐function variant of the gene encoding corin (Cor−/−). Notably, reduced baseline urinary electrolyte and creatinine excretion have been observed in one of the studied patients. This renal excretory functional impairment could be attributed to the lack of cardiac‐derived ANP in these patients, as implied by Feldman et al. Yet, in this mini‐review we suggest that this aberrant renal manifestation may principally stem from lack of local ANP production at renal tissue, as corin is normally expressed in proximal tubules, Henle's loop and collecting ducts, with locally produced ANP provoking Na+ and water exertion. Collectively, it seems that beside the classic well‐established cardio‐renal axis, the renal NPs system functions as local endocrine machinery in the regulation of sodium excretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological theory predicts that kelp forests structured by trophic cascades should experience recovery and persistence of their foundation species when herbivores become rare. Yet, climate change may be altering the outcomes of top‐down forcing in kelp forests, especially those located in regions that have rapidly warmed in recent decades, such as the Gulf of Maine. Here, using data collected annually from 30+ sites spanning >350 km of coastline, we explored the dynamics of Maine's kelp forests in the ~20 years after a fishery‐induced elimination of sea urchin herbivores. Although forests (Saccharina latissima and Laminaria digitata) had broadly returned to Maine in the late 20th century, we found that forests in northeast Maine have since experienced slow but significant declines in kelp, and forest persistence in the northeast was juxtaposed by a rapid, widespread collapse in the southwest. Forests collapsed in the southwest apparently because ocean warming has—directly and indirectly—made this area inhospitable to kelp. Indeed, when modeling drivers of change using causal techniques from econometrics, we discovered that unusually high summer seawater temperatures the year prior, unusually high spring seawater temperatures, and high sea urchin densities each negatively impacted kelp abundance. Furthermore, the relative power and absolute impact of these drivers varied geographically. Our findings reveal that ocean warming is redefining the outcomes of top‐down forcing in this system, whereby herbivore removal no longer predictably leads to a sustained dominance of foundational kelps but instead has led to a waning dominance (northeast) or the rise of a novel phase state defined by "turf" algae (southwest). Such findings indicate that limiting climate change and managing for low herbivore abundances will be essential for preventing further loss of the vast forests that still exist in northeast Maine. They also more broadly highlight that climate change is "rewriting the rules" of nature, and thus that ecological theory and practice must be revised to account for shifting species and processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The use of humor in social work is an underrecognized and underexplored area of practice despite its potential to heal, harm, and complicate communication. To date, very minimal scholarship has been published on humor in social work. Therefore, this qualitative study sought to examine how social workers use, perceive, and experience humor. Data were gathered from 22 participants who identified as social workers via an online survey. Data also included learning artifacts (e.g., discussion board posts, humor therapy treatment plans) from 19 graduate-level social work students who completed a humor in social work course in the northeast region of the United States. Both datasets were analyzed thematically. Findings: Participants perceived social workers as using humor in clearly distinct ways, as a tool to promote generative growth, and as a weapon to harm already marginalized populations. In total, participant responses highlight the complexities of humor, including its subjective and dynamic nature, which can lead to multiple and sometimes conflicting experiences. Applications: The findings suggest that social workers view humor positively, yet they engage in its use without adequate training, strategy, and reflection, sometimes violating professional ethics. Results further indicate that social workers will continue to employ humor in their professional work to the benefit and detriment of those around them. To support reflective and informed practice, additional research is needed on the use and misuse of humor in social work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined parental romantic attachment security as a mediator of prospective associations between hostile interparental conflict and parental discipline (i.e., power-assertive, permissive, and inductive discipline) for mothers and fathers of young children. Furthermore, this study utilized a novel, automatic assessment of romantic attachment security in examining whether romantic attachment assessed at controlled (i.e., self-reported) and automatic (i.e., a rapid word-sorting task) levels of representation differentially serve as spillover mechanisms. Participants included 235 mothers (62% White), fathers (55% White), and a target child between the ages of 2 and 4 (Mage = 2.97; 55% girls) recruited from a moderate-sized metropolitan area in the Northeastern United States. Families were assessed annually across three waves of data collection. Results from autoregressive structural equation model analyses revealed that romantic attachment operated as spillover mechanism for mothers. In particular, hostile interparental conflict was associated with power-assertive discipline through changes in mothers' automatic romantic attachment security. We also found that hostile interparental conflict was associated with inductive discipline through changes in mothers' romantic attachment avoidance. Neither controlled nor automatic romantic attachment representations served as spillover mechanisms for fathers. Findings are discussed within family systems and attachment frameworks. Public Significance Statement: This study suggests that hostile interparental conflict can influence mothers' discipline practices by undermining the mother's ability to rely on the father for support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collegiate athletic trainers continue to report adherence to physical rehabilitation programs to be a problem in collegiate athletics, as rehabilitation adherence among collegiate athletes can range between 40% and 90%. Inconsistent appropriate adherence to these programs may limit patients' ability to successfully recover from their sports injuries. This study sought to understand if differences in perception of rehabilitation adherence existed between athletic trainers and collegiate athletes. A nonsignificant fair inverse correlation was found between the athletic trainer perceptions and patient self-perceptions of rehabilitation adherence after an examination of 19 separate physical rehabilitation programs led by 5 collegiate athletic trainers (R = −.48, p =.06). Given the found practitioner–patient disconnect, collegiate athletic trainers should consider further encouraging patient involvement within their rehabilitation programs through various tactics such as the use of patient-rated outcomes or conversations that minimize patient distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low uptake of social determinants of health (SDH) screening and referral interventions within neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) is partly due to limited understanding of the best procedures to integrate this practice into routine clinical workflows. Purpose: To examine the feasibility and acceptability of an SDH screening and referral intervention in the NICU from the perspective of neonatal nurses; and to identify factors affecting implementation outcomes. Methods: We conducted 25 semistructured interviews with NICU nurses. We used the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARiHS) framework to guide interview questions and codebook development for directed content analysis. Themes were mapped onto the 3 PARiHS domains of context, evidence, and facilitation. Findings: Analysis yielded 8 themes. Context: Nurses felt that stressors experienced by NICU families are magnified in a safety net environment. Nurses shared varying viewpoints of the roles and responsibilities for social care in the NICU, and feared that scarcity of community resources would make it difficult to address families' needs. Evidence: The intervention was perceived to increase identification of adverse SDH and provision of resources; and to potentially jump-start better caregiver and infant health trajectories. Facilitation: Procedures that improved acceptability included dynamic training and champion support, regular feedback on intervention outcomes, and strategies to reduce stigma and bias. Conclusion: We identified contextual factors, concrete messaging, and training procedures that may inform implementation of SDH screening and referral in NICU settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic placed unprecedented demands on hospitals around the globe, making timely crisis response critical for organizational success. One mechanism that has played an effective role in health care service management during large-scale crises is the Hospital Incident Command System. Purpose: The aim of this article was to understand the role of HICS in the management of a large academic medical center and its impact on relationships and communication among providers in the delivery of services during a crisis. Methodology: This mixed methods study was based on meeting observations, document reviews, semistructured interviews, and two measures of team performance within an academic medical center in the Northeast during the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were applied, and qualitative data were coded and analyzed for themes. Results: HICS provided a systematic information-sharing and decision-making process that increased communication and coordination among team members. Analyses indicate a correlation between dimensions of relational coordination and organizational mindfulness. Qualitative data revealed the importance of shared meetings and huddles and the evolution of HICS across multiple waves of the crisis. Conclusion: HICS facilitated organizational improvements during the crisis response and generated opportunities to maintain specific coordination practices beyond the crisis. The prolonged implementation of HICS during the COVID-19 pandemic created challenges, including the disruption of the routine leadership structure. Practical Implications: Applying relational coordination and organizational mindfulness frameworks may allow hospitals to leverage communications and relationships within a high-stakes environment to improve service delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much has been written on the skills and capabilities of a new generation raised with social media, smartphones, and immediate access to data and information via the Internet. Today's college students grew up using the Internet, where they both generate and consume data. But do incoming college students have the skills necessary to thrive in a digital world that requires the ability to generate, analyze, and share insights from data? This paper presents a study, performed at two small New England institutions each with a business focus, which examines the digital skill sets of first-year college students in relation to the skills they have developed before entering college. The authors also consider whether there is a "digital divide" among first-year college students in relation to their previous technology skills. When applying the Databilities framework for evaluating data literacy competencies, results show that teaching data literacy skills to first-year college students will be critical to their academic success as future information technology workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A follow-up cross-sectional study was conducted continuing to explore the experiences of older adults residing in cohousing communities in the United States (U.S.) during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the initial study (P1) most participants did not feel lonely or left out but did feel isolated. In the follow-up study (P2) similar results were obtained but a higher percentage of participants felt isolated and were more likely to have self-isolated at some point in time. Many reported that living in cohousing was beneficial to them, both in providing support and allaying stressors related to the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pain is a significant burden for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities but is difficult for clinicians to identify. No pain assessment tools for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities have been validated for use in pediatric intensive care units. The Individualized Numeric Rating Scale (INRS) is an adapted 0-to-10 rating that includes parents' input on their child's pain indicators. Objectives: To evaluate the reliability, validity, and feasibility and acceptability of use of the INRS for assessing pain in critically ill children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Methods: This observational study enrolled critically ill patients with neurodevelopmental disabilities aged 3 to 17 years in 2 pediatric intensive care units at a children's hospital using a prospective repeated-measures cohort design. Structured parent interviews were used to populate each patient's INRS. Bedside nurses assessed pain using the INRS throughout the study. The research team completed independent INRS ratings using video clips. Participating parents and nurses completed feasibility and acceptability surveys. Psychometric properties of the INRS and survey responses were evaluated with appropriate statistical methods. Results: For 481 paired INRS pain ratings in 34 patients, interrater reliability between nurse and research team ratings was moderate (weighted κ = 0.56). Parents said that creating the INRS was easy, made them feel more involved in care, and helped them communicate with nurses. Conclusions: The INRS has adequate measurement properties for assessing pain in critically ill children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. It furthers goals of patient- and family-centered care but may have implementation barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]