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Background: Valid and reliable instruments for measuring emotional development are critical for a proper diagnostic assignment in individuals with intellectual disabilities. This exploratory study examined the psychometric properties of the items on the Scale of Emotional Development--Short (SED-S). Method: The sample included 612 adults with intellectual disabilities (M[subscript age = 37.35, SD[subscript age] = 13.27; 59.8% males). Item validity analysis comprising sensitivity and specificity rates and discriminatory power were determined. Results: The relative mean frequency of 'yes' answers to all 200 items was 29.5%. The mean sensitivity rate was 67.5% and the mean specificity rate was 79.3%. Most items (85.0%) showed good discriminatory power with the adjacent stage(s), especially between SED-1, SED-2, SED-3 and SED-4. Particularly in SED-4 some items showed weaknesses in the differentiation between these stages. Discussion: This study adds to previous validation studies by showing that most SED-S items have psychometrically sound properties.

Context.-The Nottingham Grading System (NGS) developed by Elston and Ellis is used to grade invasive breast cancer (IBC). Glandular (acinar)/tubule formation is a component of NGS. Objective.-To investigate the ability of pathologists to identify individual structures that should be classified as glandular (acinar)/tubule formation. Design.-A total of 58 hematoxylin-eosin photographic images of IBC with 1 structure circled were classified as tubules (41 cases) or nontubules (17 cases) by Professor Ellis. Images were sent as a PowerPoint (Microsoft) file to breast pathologists, who were provided with the World Health Organization definition of a tubule and asked to determine if a circled structure represented a tubule. Results.-Among 35 pathologists, the [kappa] statistic for assessing agreement in evaluating the 58 images was 0.324 (95% CI, 0.314-0.335). The median concordance rate between a participating pathologist and Professor Ellis was 94.1% for evaluating 17 nontubule cases and 53.7% for 41 tubule cases. A total of 41% of the tubule cases were classified correctly by less than 50% of pathologists. Structures classified as tubules by Professor Ellis but often not recognized as tubules by pathologists included glands with complex architecture, mucinous carcinoma, and the "inverted tubule" pattern of micropapillary carcinoma. A total of 80% of participants reported that they did not have clarity on what represented a tubule. Conclusions.-We identified structures that should be included as tubules but that were not readily identified by pathologists. Greater concordance for identification of tubules might be obtained by providing more detailed images and descriptions of the types of structures included as tubules. (Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2024;148:1119-1125; doi: 10.5858/arpa.2023-0163-OA), Histologic grading of invasive breast carcinoma (IBC) represents a morphologic assessment of the degree of tumor differentiation and is routinely reported in the pathologic assessment of IBC. Histologic grade is [...]

This study draws upon faculty interviews conducted in 2019 and 2021 to document dramatic shifts in primary source instruction of undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Synthesizing these data, it analyzes how faculty cultivated pedagogical practice, developed practical approaches to teaching with primary sources, and adjusted goals for student learning outcomes. The study also identifies lessons that may be learned from the pivot to remote and hybrid instruction, including ways to support new and emerging instruction practices; developing instructor training programs; better showcasing collections of digital primary sources; and adopting a trauma-informed approach to outreach in the years to come.

Abstract Background Limited information is available about functioning and related impairments of children and adolescents with Cerebral Palsy (CP) in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) like Brazil. The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics, functioning, and impairments of Brazilian children and adolescents with CP. Methods Cross-sectional preliminary study as part of the PartiCipa Brazil multicentered cohort study. Families of children and adolescents with CP from Brazil, 4 months to 15 years, were enrolled. They responded to an online survey with questions about their child’s health condition, impairments, contextual factors, and functioning according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS). Data were described as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, according to age bands. Results Of the 404 participants (6.5±3.6 years) enrolled in this preliminary analysis, 54.7% are male, 90.4% under 12 years of age, 77.7% have bilateral CP, 49% in GMFCS levels IV and V, and 50.7% in MACS levels II and V. Most participants are from Southeast (63.4%) and Centre-west (19.5%) of Brazil. Regarding the impairments and functioning limitations: 1 in 2 did not talk; 1 in 2 has epilepsy; 2 of 5 reports pain, 1 of 4 has visual impairments, 3 out of 5 did not feed themselves, 1 out of 20 has a hearing impairment and 1 of 4 did not go to school. Conclusion This first preliminar Brazilian study shows a high prevalence of children at MACS levels II and V and GMFCS levels IV and V, representing almost half of the group, indicating more impairments and limitations than children/adolescents from high-income countries. This study provides a preliminary deeper understanding of the key impairments and limitations in activities among children and adolescents with CP from various Brazilian regions.

Abstract The replication of RNA viruses relies on the activity of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps). Despite large variations in their genomic sequences, viral RdRps share a common architecture generally known as a closed right hand. The P2 polymerase of cystovirus φ6 is currently among the best characterized viral RdRps. This polymerase is responsible for carrying out both replication and transcription of the viral double-stranded RNA genome using de novo initiation. Despite the extensive biochemical and structural studies conducted on φ6 P2, further structural information on other cystoviral RdRps is crucial to elucidate the structural and functional diversity of viral RdRps. Here, we have determined the atomic X-ray structure of the RdRp P2 from the φ6-related cystovirus φ8 at 3Å resolution. This structure completes the existing set of structural information on the φ8 polymerase complex and sheds light on the difference and similarities with related cystoviral RdRps.

Background: Mentalising and stress regulation pose challenges for adults with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities (MBID), emphasising the importance of an intervention program. The study examined the effectiveness and social validity of the serious game 'You & I' in enhancing mentalising and stress regulation among adults with MBID. Method: A randomised controlled superiority trial with experimental and waitlist-control groups was conducted with 159 adults with MBID (M[subscript age] = 36) at baseline, post-test, and follow-up. Analyses investigated the effects on aspects of mentalising, stress regulation, and social validity. Results: The experimental group showed decreased stress from negative interpersonal relations, while the control group experienced increased stress (d = 0.26). There were no significant effects on mentalising, but positive user expectations and experiences were reported. Conclusions: This initial study on 'You & I' provides limited evidence of its effectiveness for people with MBID, warranting further examination of the potential of serious games.

This position paper examines the intersectionality of race and disability and the impact on inclusive postsecondary educational (PSE) opportunities at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Based on a history of segregation and oppression those who are Black and those who have an intellectual disability (ID) share many of the same experiences. HBCUs continue to play a substantial role in the Black communities and higher education by providing educational opportunities, but also a cultural experience. Black students with ID have limited opportunities for an inclusive PSE experience at an HBCU therefore, forego this cultural experience. A closer is look is taken at the lack of inclusive PSE programs for Black students with ID. It is said that society is measured by how it treats those on the margin, living in the shadows. Can society commit to fundamental changes that will make inclusive PSE programs at HBCUs more of a reality for Black students with ID or continue to support attitudes and practices that deny opportunities to those who are already marginalized in today's society?

Drawing on Bachrach and Baratz's first and second faces of interest group power, we explore the relationship between teachers' union power and reopening decisions during the fall 2020 semester in 250 large districts around the United States. We leverage a self-collected panel data set of reopening decisions coupled with measures of teachers' union first face power (drawn from social media postings on teachers' unions' Facebook pages) and second face power (operationalized as district size, whether the school district negotiates a collective bargaining agreement with the teachers' union, the length of the collective bargaining agreement, and the amount of revenue raised by the union). We found that school districts where teachers' unions exhibit strong second face power (but not first face power) were less likely to start the school year with in-person instruction, were less likely to ever open during fall semester with in-person instruction and spent fewer weeks in in-person learning.

Objective: Serious games can serve as easily accessible interventions to support siblings of children with disabilities, who are at risk of developing mental health problems. The Dutch serious game ‘Broodles’ was developed for siblings aged 6–9 years. The current study aims to assess the cultural applicability, desirability, feasibility, and acceptability of ‘Broodles’ in Norway. Methods: Norwegian siblings (N = 16) aged 6–13 years and parents (N = 12) of children with intellectual disabilities assessed the game. Their feedback data from interviews and questionnaires were sorted using a model of engagement factors in serious games. Results: At pre-use, participants showed interest in the game, and after initial use the participants were overall positive about the format, content and objectives, including validation of emotions and recognition. The participants had suggestions for improved engagement and feasibility. Conclusion: The game was found to be culturally applicable, desirable and acceptable, although Norwegian translation is necessary for further evaluation. Recommendations to enhance engagement were provided, including suggestions to play the game with parents or in a group. Innovation: This initial assessment of the serious game Broodles in a non-Dutch setting shows promise for an innovative way of supporting siblings of children with disabilities.

BackgroundEffective infection prevention and control (IPC) was central to keeping healthcare workers (HCWs) safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as the pandemic continued, the maintenance of high-quality IPC practices waned, placing HCWs at increased risk of infection. A COVID-19 Safety Officer (SO) program was piloted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Reaching Impact, Saturation and Epidemic Control (RISE) project across two health facilities in Ethiopia, which trained clinical and non-clinical HCWs on IPC protocols to promote safe practices in patient care areas. We sought to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of the SO program in improving IPC practices within the clinical setting.MethodsThis is a post-implementation evaluation of the SO program, implemented in two hospitals in Ethiopia between May 2022 and December 2022. Participants completed a 4-day course on COVID-19 epidemiology, IPC, safety communication, and learning theory as a part of the Training of Trainers component (n = 23), and were posted in clinical wards to provide staff training and support to maintain IPC protocols. The program was evaluated at 6 months using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. Effectiveness was measured using direct observation of IPC practices across intervention sites. Implementation outcomes were measured using surveys and qualitative interviews to capture training cascade, knowledge, comfort, acceptability, and maintenance.ResultsParticipants were able to cascade training to an additional 167 clinical (67.6%) and 80 non-clinical (32.3%) staff across both sites. Direct observation of clinical staff at 6 months showed that 95% (59/62) wore at least a surgical mask with patients and were compliant with masking and/or distancing protocol. Clinical interviews revealed that SOs contributed to increased perceived comfort with screening and isolation procedures and environmental cleaning procedures.ConclusionThe SO training program was widely adopted, and effective in improving the implementation and comfort of maintaining IPC practices in clinical settings.

Background: Sensitive responsiveness is an important aspect in affect-regulation of people with severe to profound intellectual disabilities. Aim: This randomized controlled trial evaluated the Attune & Stimulate-checklist, a tool for detecting subtle and idiosyncratic communicative behaviours and responding adequately. Methods: Effects on the sensitive responsiveness of professional caregivers and the arousal and valence of adults with severe to profound intellectual disabilities were investigated. Video recordings of 102 interactions were analysed with several observation instruments. Results: Although no significant effect was found on the checklist-suggestions of responsive behaviours (d = 0.33, p = 0.052), the intervention increased caregivers' sensitive responsive and affective behaviour (d = 0.94 - 1.10, p < 0.001) and clients' optimal arousal (d = 0.48, p = 0.019) and interactive engagement (d = 0.40 - 0.48, p = 0.018 - 0.050). Conclusion: This low-intensity intervention had a medium to large immediate effect on the interaction. Future research should investigate medium- and long-term effects.

Abstract The Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) are one of the most used probes to understand the accelerated expansion of the Universe. Traditional methods rely on fiducial model information within their statistical analysis, which may be a problem when constraining different families of models. This work aims to provide a method that constrains $$\theta _{BAO}$$ θ BAO through a model-independent approach using the covariance matrix from the galaxy sample from thin redshift bins, later validated with a mock sample covariance matrix. We used widths of $$\delta z = 0.002$$ δ z = 0.002 separation for all samples as the basis for a sample covariance matrix weighted by the statistical importance of the redshift bin. Each sample belongs to the Sloan Digital Sky Survey: BOSS1, BOSS2, and eBOSS, with effective redshift $$z_{eff}$$ z eff : 0.35, 0.51, 0.71, and different numbers of bins with 50, 100, and 200. To get $$\theta _{BAO}$$ θ BAO , we correct the angular separation from the polynomial fit ( $$\theta _{fit}$$ θ fit ) by comparing each bin correlation function with the correlation function of the whole set, a parameter named $$\tilde{\alpha }$$ α ~ . We also tested such correction by choosing the bin at $$z_{eff}$$ z eff and found that for eBOSS $$\theta _{BAO}$$ θ BAO is in $$1 \sigma $$ 1 σ agreement with the Planck 18 model. Finally, we found that the sample covariances are noisy compared to the mocks for lower z samples, something expected due to nonlinear effects. Such noise impact can be seen in the parameter constraints but does not affect the eBOSS covariance sample. It is shown that mocks’ results do tend to its chosen fiducial cosmology $$\theta _{BAO}$$ θ BAO . BOSS1 and BOSS2 showed agreement with Planck 18 and an agreement with Pantheon + S $$H_0$$ H 0 ES when $$\tilde{\alpha }$$ α ~ is based on the bin $$z=z_{eff}$$ z = z eff .

This article outlines how a team of academics, professional staff and students from a Scottish University in the United Kingdom worked with voluntary sector partners to achieve civic and 'social purpose' goals, through setting up a project called The Collaborative. This is a reflective paper that draws on collaborative autoethnography and is written collaboratively by that team of academics, professional staff and students. We explore how universities can achieve their civic engagement goals by serving as anchor institutions, and we develop a conceptual framework for how anchor institutions can enact their institutional mission of 'social purpose'. We uncover important considerations for university initiatives aiming to improve academic and student engagement with community partners for social change, with three learning points around building relationships, building capacity, and barriers to engagement. Service-learning can be used as a pathway to becoming a civic university, however, there are structural barriers that need to be overcome. This is an account of an ethical fact-finding project, reflecting on our experience of working with the local voluntary sector, designed to facilitate the University's better engagement with such collaborative 'social purpose' ventures. [The page range (71-88) cited in the .pdf is incorrect. The correct page range is p71-86.]