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This paper demonstrates the importance and role of authentic assessments, that replicate industry practice, within Higher Education marketing programmes. We answer the call from employers, that students need to gain much-needed employability skills, and we illustrate how such assessments can be created to enable the development of employability skills. We provide an overview of four case studies, to illustrate different forms of authentic assessments, the theory which was used to underpin the designs, the skills developed during the assessments, and the outcomes of the assessments. As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced a move to online assessments, it is timely that we reflect on the value of authentic assessments and adjust our practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore how health professionals provide information to informal carers during inpatient stroke rehabilitation and whether these practices align with adult learning principles. Methods: Informal carers and survivors of stroke who had completed inpatient rehabilitation, and health professionals working in inpatient stroke rehabilitation were interviewed. Directed qualitative content analysis was conducted using an adult learning model, to determine how closely reported practices aligned to adult learning principles. Results: 14 carers, 6 survivors of stroke and 17 health professionals participated. Carers (79% female, 57% spouse/partner) reported having incomplete knowledge during rehabilitation, lacking information about mechanisms of stroke recovery, rehabilitation processes, long-term effects of stroke, and navigating post-discharge services. Health professionals supported carers to address their learning needs related to safety of caring for stroke survivors. Carers indicated they were responsible for their own non-safety related learning. Health professionals tended not to check carers' understanding of information provided nor offer learning opportunities beyond written or verbal information. Conclusions: Health professionals consistently provide certain information to carers during inpatient rehabilitation, but adult learning principles are not routinely applied when information is provided. Fostering adult learning among informal carers may improve preparedness of carers to support stroke survivors after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Carers reported often being in a state of shock in the early post-stroke period, and may need extra support to remember, understand, and apply information. Carers are often highly motivated to acquire immediate and relevant information tailored to their situation. Interactions between health professionals and carers are learning opportunities that can assist the carer to commence their unexpected and significant learning journey. Health professionals should apply adult learning principles when communicating with carers on all topics, not just topics important to the healthcare team such as patient safety and requirements for discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nIMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONPersonal smart technologies are becoming increasingly interwoven into everyday life, yet the usability and usefulness for some of these off-the-shelf technologies for persons with disabilities has yet to be determined. Smart speakers with both their native and downloadable functionalities (skills) have great potential to support individuals with disabilities through communication functionalities, smart home integrations, and more. However, the potential for usefulness does not always translate to how something is actually perceived or used in the real-world. Therefore, the objective of this qualitative study was to gather insight from individuals with disabilities on their experiences with smart speakers and smart speaker skills. Participant feedback highlighted several primary themes: (1) external factors that might influence extent of, and advancement in smart speaker use, (2) Smart speaker use barriers, (3) Smart speaker use facilitators, and (4) Smart speaker uses specific to individuals with disabilities. Continued research and development is needed to help ensure that commercially available technologies are designed with universal design principles that will ensure accessibility for all potential users.Smart speaker skills are being used for smart home management by persons with disabilities, but these functionalities are not without barriers.Persons with various disabilities should be involved in the development and translation of smart speaker functions that are intended to, or that could, support the needs of this population.Smart speaker skills are being used for smart home management by persons with disabilities, but these functionalities are not without barriers.Persons with various disabilities should be involved in the development and translation of smart speaker functions that are intended to, or that could, support the needs of this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thiosalicylate anions are known for their complexing capacity towards a wide range of transition metals. We have used this important sulfur-containing anion to synthesize the task-specific ionic liquid dioctylimidazolium thiosalicylate [DOIM] [TS] via ion exchange method in two steps. For characterization of [DOIM] [TS] we have used, electron spray ionization mass spectroscopy (ESIMS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The sulfur-containing IL was investigated for the removal of heavy metals (Cr3+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+) from their aqueous solutions. The extraction efficiencies were determined through atomic absorption spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 has affected healthcare in profound and unprecedented ways, distorting the experiences of patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) alike. One area that has received little attention is how COVID-19 affected HCPs caring for dying patients. The goal of this study was to examine the experiences of HCPs working with dying patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between July 2020–July 2021, we recruited HCPs (N = 25) across Canada. We conducted semi-structured interviews, using a qualitative study design rooted in constructivist grounded theory methodology. The core themes identified were the impact of the pandemic on care utilization, the impact of infection control measures on provision of care, moral distress in the workplace, impact on psychological wellbeing, and adaptive strategies to help HCPs manage emotions and navigate pandemic imposed changes. This is the first Canadian study to qualitatively examine the experiences of HCPs providing care to dying patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Implications include informing supportive strategies and shaping policies for HCPs providing palliative care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Government health messaging is significant to the containment of public health crises. Such communication may benefit from using fear appeal, a message strategy for promoting health and preventing diseases. Yet little scholarly attention has been paid to how fear appeal is employed in government messaging to promote social media engagement through online actions including likes, shares, and comments. These actions play a meaningful role in addressing communication exigencies within the context of health crises. In this study, quantitative content analysis and corpus linguistics methods were employed to analyze fear appeal-related elements in COVID-19 messages sent by a state-owned media outlet on social media. The results show that when compared to messages without threat, messages conveying threat elicited significantly more comments, in which emotions and perceptions to threat and efficacy were exhibited, while messages containing both threat and efficacy generated more engagement in comparison to messages with threat alone. Moreover, while subdimensions under efficacy were positive predictors of engagement, those under threat were primarily found to have exerted negative effects. The findings provide insights into how fear appeal elements can be employed in government health crisis communication to engage the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The parametric and traditional CAD approaches are fundamental for pattern construction. This paper empirically analyses their geometric data entry, construction space, methods, workflow, and outputs, highlighting differences between the two. The results show that the traditional approach offers faster data entry but lacks editability, while the parametric approach prioritizes data modification efficiency despite requiring more time for initial entry. The traditional approach allows quicker construction but becomes time-consuming for significant pattern changes, whereas the parametric approach, although slower to construct, offers editable blocks for efficient modification. The parametric approach captures both geometric shapes and block logic, in contrast to the traditional approach's focus solely on geometric shapes. The parametric approach supports the creation of custom garments, reducing waste and promoting sustainability, while the traditional approach leads to static blocks necessitating recreation for each new wearer. Accordingly, educational institutions should spearhead the transition to the parametric approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article summarizes a global study of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on junior health professions students' outlook on medicine. The pandemic has significantly affected health professions education. There is limited understanding of how students' pandemic experiences will affect them, and what impact these events may have on their career paths or the future of the professions. This information is important as it impacts the future of medicine. In the Fall 2020 semester, 219 health professions students at 14 medical universities worldwide responded to the question: 'Has this experience (with COVID-19) changed your outlook on medicine as a profession?'. Short essay responses were semantically coded and organized into themes and subthemes using an inductive approach to thematic analysis. 145 responses were submitted. Themes were identified: (1) students reflected on the interaction between politics and healthcare; (2) reported becoming more aware of the societal expectations placed on healthcare professionals, including undertaking high risks and the sacrifices that healthcare professionals must make; (3) found reassurance from the recognized importance of healthcare professionals and expressed pride to be entering the profession; and (4) reflected on the current state of healthcare, including its limitations and future. Most students, independent of the extent of the pandemic in their respective countries, noted a change in their outlook regarding medicine. An overall positive outlook was noted in most junior students. Educators need to work on nurturing these sentiments and attitudes to help young students maintain a healthy relationship towards their chosen profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Search of new antibacterial, antifungal agents with improved potency, herein we report the synthesis of a series of new substituted 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-((1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methoxy)-4H-chromen-4-one derivatives (6a‐q), starting from acetophenone. All the synthesized compounds have been screened for in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity by using the agar well diffusion method. Among fifteen synthesized compounds, four chromone derivatives i.e. (6a-b), (6h), and (6i) have shown proficient antimicrobial activities. Compound (6a) showed powerful inhibitory activity against all bacterial pathogens but it was not that effective against fungal pathogens on the other hand compound (6b) showed satisfactory activity against fungal pathogens as well. The activity of compounds (6h) and (6i) against S. aureus was remarkable. Other compounds were found active against a few pathogens but activity was good. The compound (6b) was found very effective in inhibiting the growth of S. aureus ATCC 6538 at a low concentration with MIC 190 µg/ml. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of current sizing systems adopted by brands, for an athletic female population and try to identify areas of improvement in current sizing and grading methods used. This information can be used to engineer accurately fitting lower-body sports compression leggings for the target demographic. Size and shape data of sixty-three athletic females was collected using 3D body scanning. The data was compared to size charts of three commercially available sports compression leggings manufactured by different brands as well as Alvanon's UK sizing and grading standards. Results show that athletic females are not catered for by current products. 28 women (44.44%) fell between sizes for at least one measurement across the three brands. Participant's measurements indicate differing body shapes to the standard 'hourglass' shape presented by the Alvanon UK sizing standards, used by companies as a basis for their sizing systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews current mobile body scanning applications, exploring strengths and weaknesses and proposals to develop product development and selection approaches. Body scanning delivers a greater depth of data to support product development and advancements in mobile technology, bringing body scanning into the hands of the consumer. Detailed analysis of the human body is possible with mobile scanners; distances, girths, heights, width, surface area, body fat percentage and circumferences can be obtained on a personal smartphone. 3D body scanning apps offer contactless full-body scanning, while some scan body parts individually by identifying landmarking points required to extract body dimensions for product selection and development. The key application themes such as features, benefits, proposed solutions and mechanisms were identified and analysed comparatively after content analysis of eighteen 3D mobile scanner apps. Consequently, it is determined that the mobile scanning process is fast (maximum 5 min and minimum 30 sec), and image capture requirements for scanning use a front and side view image. However, for some applications, the scanning requirement is a back and side scan; front, back and side scan; multiple front and side scans and some apps require a 360-degree scan to generate a 3D personalised avatar and a list of measurements. The applications provide not only digital measurements for customisation but also offer advanced features of virtual try-on, virtual dressing room, body tracking (body fat monitoring/body surface area/BMI), size and fit visualisation and recommendation (Body fit, regular and loose fit preference in garment selection) for personalised online shopping. Therefore, the enhanced opportunities of mobile body scanning applications permit users to enjoy personalising, empowering the consumer to select or produce products to wear and enhance online shopping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conformity to masculinity ideology predicts men's meat consumption and willingness to reduce their meat intake, but it is unknown which specific masculine norms account for these relationships. This study investigated which traditional and non-traditional masculine norms predict meat consumption, red and processed meat consumption, and willingness to reduce meat consumption in 557 Australian and English males. Men who support the use of physical violence and place high importance on sex ate more meat. Willingness to reduce was highest among men with gender egalitarian views. Targeting these specific masculine norms may be important for mitigating men's overconsumption of meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study adopted Spence's (2016) theorization of small business social responsibility (SBSR) to investigate how small hospitality foodservice businesses express and implement their social responsibility through prioritization of their key stakeholders. Using an abductive research methodology, 38 semi-structured interviews were conducted with small foodservice businesses located in Sheffield, UK. The findings revealed that these businesses exhibited three distinct types of business orientation, growth, value, and social entrepreneurship, which led to different interpretations and expressions of their SBSR. Prioritization of employees was important to these small businesses as they are crucial pivots of the service experience and important in the implementation of their SBSR. This study has evolved the SBSR understanding for hospitality businesses, which enriches the corporate social responsibility (CSR) scholarship by encompassing a better understanding of how small businesses prioritize different domains of responsibility in their interpretation of SBSR, through explaining the influential role of business orientation. The findings can support new and existing small hospitality business owners in making purposeful organizational changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mainstream media and local health campaigns in Singapore racialize heart health disparities. Journalists and campaigners report differences in heart health outcomes from a model of race governance known as the Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Others (CMIO) model. This model is then used to frame heart health inequities as an outcome of poor cultural practices and behaviors tied to race. To (un)do the racializing frames of heart health as outcomes of cultural behaviors and practices, I instead center stories of heart health management by Malay participants from lower-income households, identifying the role information asymmetries play in incomplete heart health information retrieval during interactions with providers (social service providers, healthcare workers, doctors, nurses). Cultural and community resources were discussed as critical resources for alleviating urgent heart health episodes or assisting as guides for preventative heart health information. Health campaigners must delve deeper into these findings for more structurally responsive heart health interventions and move away from racializing health disparities based on the CMIO model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We integrate the existing detrital zircon data from multiple modern river sediment samples on Viti Levu, Fiji, with the most current available geological and topographic mapping of the respective river drainage basins to compare detrital populations with potential bedrock sources. The temporal and spatial variations in zircon geochemistry supplement what is known from igneous rocks and confirm the petrological differences between plutonic and volcanic rocks from the Eocene to early Oligocene (Yavuna age, >30 Ma), middle Oligocene to middle Miocene (Wainimala age, 30–12.5 Ma), late Miocene (Colo age, 12.5–6.5 Ma) and latest Miocene (Namosi age, 6.5–5 Ma). The >30 Ma Yavuna-age zircons are restricted to areas that drain the previously mapped Yavuna Group. The 30–12.5 Ma zircons are found across central Viti Levu from west to east, and the 30–15 Ma zircons have distinctively low U/Yb and high Dy/Yb ratios. They are the best radiometric evidence of widespread early to middle Miocene arc magmatism in Fiji that was relatively U-poor. Peak deconvolution of the Colo age zircons from individual basins suggests the following ages for undated or poorly dated plutons from central Viti Levu. The large Mavuvu pluton is probably composed of multiple intrusions in the 12–10 Ma range, the Waiqa pluton is probably ca 10 Ma, and the Noikoro pluton is probably ca 9 Ma. There are zircons from unknown plutonic or volcanic sources between 8 and 7 Ma in western Viti Levu that have distinct Eu/Eu* ratios. We attribute the highest U/Yb ratios in some Colo age zircons to crustal anatexis. Namosi-age zircons are abundant in the Medrausucu Group and can be found scattered across Viti Levu. Detrital zircon samples have aided geological mapping of the tropical and poorly exposed terrain in Fiji and elucidated the magmatic history. Detrital zircons indicate widespread early to middle Miocene arc magmatism across central Viti Levu. Detrital zircon ages have provided further constraints on the ages of 12-9 Ma plutons in central Viti Levu. Detrital zircon ages indicate that there is an unknown igneous source of 8-7 Ma zircons in western Viti Levu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Position statements from national organizations commonly vary in methodology for the evaluation of existing literature and the development of recommendations. Recent national recommendations have highlighted important components for evidence-based guidelines that can be feasibly incorporated in the creation of position statements and their resource documents. We describe the methodology developed to guide the creation of a compendium of 16 trauma-related position statements led by NAEMSP and partner organizations. Each position statement group developed trauma-related topic areas, primarily guided by the Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) framework. A structured literature search comprised of search terms aimed to identify relevant EMS and trauma-related scientific publications was performed for each topic area. Resource documents for each position statement included a description of the literature considered in forming recommendations, reported through evidence tables and a narrative description of the available literature. Where evidence was limited, consensus-based recommendations were developed using content experts and reviewed by the NAEMSP Standards and Clinical Practice Committee. We report a standardized methodology for literature review and development of recommendations as part of a compendium of trauma-related position statements from NAEMSP and partner organizations. This methodology can serve as a template for future position statements with ongoing refinement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young people have faced some of the hardest social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns. Taking a critical Youth Studies perspective, we draw on research with nearly 1000 16-to-30-year olds in North East England in order to rectify the 'structured absence' of young people's viewpoints in national media and political commentary about the pandemic. Our findings contradict narratives about young people as lockdown 'rule breakers' and demonstrated the immediate pressures that they faced vis-à-vis family and social life, well-being, and education and employment. Going further than most recent COVID-19 research – and in disagreement with the notion of a so-called COVID generation – we locate these pressures of the moment within the already hostile social-economic conditions that existed for young people in the UK pre-COVID and a discussion of the pressures to come, particularly in terms of longer-term labour market conditions and outcomes. Amidst very rapidly changing political and economic circumstances in the UK, continuing precarity for young people seems to be one certainty. We conclude by identifying some important priorities for youth research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research over many years indicates that individuals with problematic alcohol or drug use or gambling disorders can cause considerable burden on family members. And yet, affected family members (AFMs) are largely neglected in research, health and social care policy and provision. To address the needs of AFMs of people struggling with a substance use or gambling disorder, the 5-Step Method was developed. The goal of this study is to evaluate the routinely delivered 5-Step Method in the Netherlands using measures at baseline (N = 145), and end-of-treatment (N = 102). In addition, a subsample at three-month post intervention (N = 70) was included. The intervention was delivered via video-conferencing to half (47.6%) of the participants. Participants reported significantly lower rates of Total Family Burden after completing the 5-Step Method, when comparing measurements at baseline and end-of-treatment (d = 0.56), and measurements at baseline and three-month post intervention (d = 0.85). In addition, participants following the intervention via video-conferencing (N = 69) performed equally well or better compared to participants following the intervention face-to-face (N = 76). Following the 5-Step Method for AFMs results in lower Total Family Burden. In accordance with the Stress-Strain-Information-Coping-Support (SSICS) model, the effectiveness of the intervention could be improved by finding new ways of increasing support for AFMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first 1000 days (conception to 2 years postnatal) are crucial for parent and infant health. Visual art-based interventions are used to promote positive parental mental health, but currently, there are no comprehensive insights into how these interventions can support new parents during this critical perinatal period. To synthesise research on visual art-based interventions designed to promote parents' mental well-being during the first 1000 days to understand if and how these interventions made a difference and to identify any barriers or facilitators to parents' engagement. A keyword search of five databases (CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PsychInfo and Scopus), searches via Google Scholar and backward and forward chaining were undertaken. Quality appraisal was conducted using design appropriate tools, and a narrative thematic approach was used. 4417 hits were identified, and 10 studies met eligibility criteria and were included. Interventions were classified as art therapy (n = 8) or creative arts (n = 2), and overall, a lack of robust evidence was highlighted. Six themes were constructed that describe the psychosocial impacts and experiences of the interventions and relational and contextual factors that influenced parents' engagement. While both types of interventions had benefits, art therapy had the most profound impacts. Challenges regarding sustainability of impacts and facilitator skills were noted for creative arts, rather than art therapy interventions. While art therapy interventions promote positive parental mental health and well-being, high-quality evidence is needed. More robust evaluation designs to identify mechanisms of effectiveness in art therapy interventions are needed. In this study, we aimed to combine and summarise all available published research on visual art-based interventions (such as art therapy and creative arts) that had been designed to improve parents' mental health and well-being during pregnancy or up to two years after birth. We wanted to find out if and how these interventions made a difference to parents, and what helped or did not help parents to take part. We found 10 relevant studies that involved different art-based interventions – eight were art therapy interventions delivered by a trained art therapist and two interventions were creative arts interventions delivered by other professionals (e.g. specialist health visitor, arts officer). Most studies (80%) were undertaken in high-income countries, used different study designs, and often only included a small number of participants. Overall, there were benefits of both types of interventions for parents, but the most lasting and significant impacts were for art therapy. Parents in arts therapy studies felt the intervention had helped to increase awareness of their mental health issues, improved their confidence and self-esteem, helped them to build positive parent-baby connections and encouraged them to seek out further help. Group-based art therapy also helped parents to form connections and friendships and to reduce social isolation and loneliness. Some factors that influenced parent participation were positive relationships with the therapist and being provided with clear information. Barriers to engagement were generally reported in creative arts, rather than art therapy interventions. Overall, the evidence suggests that art therapy could be an important intervention for parents who have poor mental health. However, more research is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea is being grown on the gentle slopes of Himachal Pradesh located in the north-western region of mighty Himalaya, since 1850s. However, degrading soil health due to rampant usage of agrochemicals, and long-run tea cultivation adversely affects the productivity potential of the region. Analyzing soil-nutrient status is of great value to meet the crop nutrient demand. The research aimed to identify the vulnerable soil properties and their assessment for soil restoration under major tea estates of the North-western Himalaya. The study examined the physico-chemical and biological properties of soils of 37 tea estates. The large variation among different sites for physical parameters signifies the textural difference between the sites under study. Meanwhile, the soil pH of tea estates varied from extremely acidic to slightly acidic reaction, with an overall pH (H2O) of 5.33 in the top soils and 5.47 in the subsoils. High OC (13.35 g kg−1) under overall soil depth of tea estates presumably correlated with higher concentration of available nutrients, i.e. N (r = 0.641), K (r = 0.492), and S (r = 0.623) alongside exchangeable Ca (r = 0.724) and Mg (r = 0.718). The substrate carbon availability due to higher amount of organic matter in the top soils (16.1 g kg−1) leads to increased biological activity (MBC and DHA) in the surface soils as compared to subsoils. The unscientific approach of fertilizer application led to huge variability in green leaf yield across different tea estates. Thus, to achieve higher yield, it should be necessary to adopt nutrient application in a judicial manner in the tea plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coercive control is an ongoing pattern of abuse that is intended to isolate, humiliate, degrade, and micro-regulate the everyday life of a victim; often found amongst intimate partner violence (IPV) situations yet may not present with physical evidence. Police officers are called to respond to these conditions, yet are limited by training, legislation, and risk assessment tools that often concentrate primarily on the presence of physical violence alone. An online survey was distributed to police officers across Canada to understand how they explore, and respond to IPV and coercive control, and what they consider to be the most pertinent risk factors when assessing the severity of a situation. Findings reveal that police officers continue to emphasise perpetrator behaviours that involve physical violence and serious physical harm. As Canada is currently considering the possibility of criminalising coercive control, results highlight that further training and improved risk assessment tools will be necessary in order for police to be able to effectively respond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The initial aim of this research was to undertake an in-depth study to understand the impact of COVID-19 on early years practitioners. Following a survey and interviews with staff in Kids Planet Day Nurseries, an early years organisation in England, we used thematic analysis to analyse their responses. The findings were diverse, particularly highlighting the centrality of relationships in influencing how people responded to the anxiety caused by the pandemic, but the learning did not stop there. The research team was multidisciplinary, including university researchers and a manager from Kids Planet. It was discovered that the professional role of the interviewer influenced the response to the questions. Similarly, discussions within the research group highlighted the entanglement of knowledge acquisition and ethical practice, with consequent challenges. We discuss the value of explicitly supporting a relational worldview in Early Childhood Education and Care as the foundation for understanding and promoting improved ways of working together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractCompared to studying other forms of illegal violence, terrorism research faces unique data challenges. Notably, consistent police data are generally lacking, victims often have no direct knowledge of attacks and are sometimes killed, and perpetrators are difficult to interview and are often unreliable sources. In the face of these data challenges, the increasing availability of open source data on terrorist attacks and perpetrators has profoundly affected the scientific study of terrorism. Over time, a growing proportion of published academic research on terrorism—especially more heavily quantitative studies—relies on open source data. Moreover, the growing availability of individual-level terrorism data has allowed empirical tests of psychological and social-psychological theories of radicalization. In this paper, we assess the impact of open source data on the study of terrorism. We begin with an overview, providing a brief history of terrorist attack and perpetrator open source data bases. We then consider the major strengths and weaknesses of both types of open source data and suggest ways of countering the weaknesses. We close with observations about the impact of open source data on terrorism research and future opportunities for improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices can bridge the gap to transplant whilst awaiting a viable donor heart. The Realheart Total Artificial Heart is a novel positive-displacement MCS that generates pulsatile flow via bileaflet mechanical valves. This study developed a combined computational fluid dynamics and fluid-structure interaction (FSI) methodology for simulating positive displacement bileaflet valves. Overset meshing discretised the fluid domain, and a blended weak-strong coupling FSI algorithm was combined with variable time-stepping. Four operating conditions of relevant stroke lengths and rates were assessed. The results demonstrated this modelling strategy is stable and efficient for modelling positive-displacement artificial hearts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We sought to describe prehospital ultrasound (PHUS) use and trends in PHUS utilization over time using a national database. Using the 2018 – 2021 National Emergency Medical Services Information System databases, we identified those EMS activations where PHUS was performed. We evaluated the association between year and number of PHUS exams performed using univariable and multivariable regression analysis. Analysis was performed on the overall group and various subgroups. In total, there were 148,709,000 EMS activations by 13,899 agencies over the 4 years. Of these, 3,291 unique activations (0.002%) involved PHUS, performed by 71 EMS agencies (0.5%). The annual rate of ultrasound evaluations per 1 million EMS activations significantly increased over the study period: 5.2 in 2018, 14.8 in 2019, 18.6 in 2020, and 38.9 in 2021 (p < 0.01). The number of agencies performing PHUS each year increased over the study period from 11 in 2018 to 54 in 2021 (p < 0.05). Each year after 2018 had an increased odds of PHUS use demonstrated with logistic regression (p < 0.01). PHUS was used in each US census region, and paramedics performed most of the PHUS exams (75.5%). We identified 1,060 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, 820 trauma, and 427 respiratory PHUS cases. These three cohorts accounted for 70.1% of all PHUS cases. Prehospital ultrasound use in the United States increased significantly over the study period, but remains exceedingly rare. The performance of PHUS was recorded throughout the United States, with paramedics performing the majority of PHUS studies included in this database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research contributes to ongoing debate surrounding primary teachers' perceptions of key benefits, challenges and effective practice associated with whole-class teaching and learning in the primary school. A review of pre-existing literature relevant to the practice and perceptions of whole-class teaching and learning informed the scope and design of the study. A mixed methods exploratory approach was employed through the distribution of digital questionnaires and one-to-one semi-structured interviews, involving thirty-eight primary teachers employed across ten schools in the East Midlands and South East England. Statistical analysis and thematic, inductive and theoretical coding of the resulting data highlighted perceived social benefits alongside challenges surrounding whole-class adaptive teaching. The findings concluded that whole-class pedagogy may be most effective when diverse approaches to questioning and verbal discourse are collectively embedded within a shared directive for practice, and when the engagement of all pupils is continually promoted and sustained throughout teaching and learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The international sport psychology community is intricately interconnected with the broader geopolitical landscape. Therefore, our community can be a powerful agent, transforming political polarisation in sports into respectful conversations of differing opinions, valuing diversity, and promoting cultural safety, inclusivity, and ethical practices. The International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP) has been at the forefront in providing a comprehensive scientific review of pressing topics facing our communities, sharing the best scientific and applied practices, and inspiring sport psychology professionals to envision a more equitable future. The current heated debates about self-identity and gender expression, protecting women athletes' rights and opportunities, performance and mental health, and athlete activism, compel us to reaffirm our commitment to cultural praxis in sport psychology. This position stand demonstrates how cultural praxis can become a catalyst for genuine change, paving the way to a more culturally responsive, just, and inclusive future in sport psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this issue, we outline the central tenets of the culture-centered approach to health communication. What does the culture-centered approach address when suggesting the co-creation of voice infrastructures? What is the theory’s methodological emphasis for mobilizing and transforming structures that shape health inequalities for communities at the margins? Drawing on examples of culture-centered interventions in over fifty communities spread across 17 countries and three continents, a large number of them housed under the umbrella of the Center for Culture-centered Approach to Research and Evaluation (CARE) at Massey University in Aotearoa, New Zealand, we articulate the communicative processes (referring to actionable sources and targets of communicative action) that shape the building of voice infrastructures mobilizing toward structural transformation. For instance, African American communities organizing under the framework of the culture-centered approach, documented in Dutta, Collins, and colleagues study in 2019, discuss the building of voice infrastructures where community members participate in co-creating heart health information based on comparative effectiveness research, building an African American media ecosystem disseminating the information alongside community-led initiatives growing healthy food, community-led youth activities, and activism addressing the racist structural drivers that adversely impact African American heart health. In this essay, we describe the impact of culture-centered interventions reflected in the voice infrastructures within communities that witness and articulate the oppressions that threaten human health at the margins and in the transformations of these structures that organize various facets of life and livelihood at the global margins linked to health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In times of crisis it is even more important to ensure that political decisions have broad, popular and trusted support from a wide range of people than in normal, non-crisis times. We argue that the best way to achieve this is through the use of deliberative mini-publics, as leaving a crisis response only to our political leaders presents them with almost irresistible opportunities for the arrogation of power, possible corruption, and the use (or abuse) of emergency measures for partisan political point scoring. Having demonstrated the theoretical basis for our argument, which builds on the foundation of deliberative democratic theory, we then address the practical aspects of using informed deliberation within a mini-public during a crisis, when efficacy and speed are the most urgent and challenging aspects of decision making. The obvious solution, to us, is to institutionalize deliberative mini-publics in our democratic structures so that they are ready and able to rapidly address any crisis as it arises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper authentically represents the voices of non-verbal children with cerebral palsy using a case study design. Policy suggests that children should have the right to play and leisure opportunities, however non-verbal children with cerebral palsy have fewer choices. Additionally, children with communication, learning and mobility limitations are usually excluded from research. The aim of this research was to capture the voices of non-verbal children by exploring their well-being impact in terms of their experiences and choices about their level of participation in recreational activities. A qualitative case series study included interviews, observations, photographs and diaries. Where possible, the diaries were completed by both caregivers and children. Data were analysed thematically, and the lens of positioning theory applied. Seven children aged nine to sixteen years participated. The findings showed how equipment, people and environments enabled or hindered the children's participation. The children also advocated as champions for their own well-being. Positioning theory was applied across the data and was adapted offering a way to better understand the children's well-being responses. The findings demonstrate how these children were able to self-advocate, demonstrating their well-being by their intentional behaviours from their level of participation in a recreational activity. The voices of non-ambulant and non-verbal children are underrepresented in the literature. This study offers an innovative approach to highlight their voices using visual data. The images project the narrative about their choices for participation in recreational activities. The proposed kaleidoscope of well-being offers a way to demonstrate the fluctuations in their emotional responses from their participation. Choices for participation in recreational activities remains limited for non-ambulant and non-verbal children with cerebral palsy. Designers and policy makers should consider how equipment and environments can be adapted or created to increase the choices for non-ambulant and non-verbal children with cerebral palsy. Practitioners in health and social care should consider how to listen to the voices of non-verbal and non-ambulant children with cerebral palsy and their parents/guardians and work towards jointly setting participation goals to affirm their strengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As research on violent extremism continues to progress beyond some of the field's earlier challenges, new ways of gathering primary source data are becoming increasingly popular. One such data collection methodology implemented widely across parallel fields is crowdsourcing: the process of gathering information, or input, from large numbers of people, either for payment or not, online. In this research note, we present a brief introduction to crowdsourcing, highlight a popular platform for gathering samples online, Prolific, and present four studies conducted by the research team to demonstrate the unique benefits and challenges of crowdsourcing samples online for research on violent extremism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unhealthy product marketing drives non-communicable disease, and more research into the strategies that increase unhealthy product consumption is essential to improve regulation and disease prevention. This study's retail audits captured point-of-sale stock-keeping unit (SKU) price, pack and promotional details for leading brands across unhealthy product categories, including high-sugar junk food and drinks, alcohol, and tobacco, as well as a comparison sample of non-harmful products. Analysis and per-unit price-promotion differences across SKUs identified commonalities in unhealthy product brand strategies including dynamic price promotion and volume discounting, which was more prevalent for unhealthy compared with non-harmful brands. Interpreting findings in relation to consumer psychology and marketing theory exposed a widespread strategy specifically designed to encourage heightened consumption by punishing smaller SKU purchases with significantly higher per-unit prices, while rewarding larger SKU purchase with lower prices. Policy recommendations, including controlling unregulated price-promotion variables, are discussed along with this study's limitations and future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic's impact on older adults (55+) living at the mid-point of the shelter-care continuum, in seniors housing (SH) and assisted living (AL), remains largely unexplored. This study compares survey responses of SH and AL residents with those of age peers living in private conventional community-based dwellings (CD) in British Columbia, Canada. Despite more SH/AL residents reporting feelings of isolation and changes to social support access, the pandemic appears to have had a greater negative impact on the routines of CD older adults. AL residents were more likely to engage in advance care planning discussions before and since the COVID-19 outbreak. These data are important for improving response to current and future disasters across the shelter-care continuum, particularly in ways to reduce the psychosocial effects of isolation or routine disruption, and strategies to increase advance care planning engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The psychedelic psilocybin has shown promise both as treatment for psychiatric conditions and as a means of improving well-being in healthy individuals. In some jurisdictions (e.g., Oregon, USA), psilocybin use for both purposes is or will soon be allowed and yet, public attitudes toward this shift are understudied. We asked a nationally representative sample of 795 US Americans to evaluate the moral status of psilocybin use in an appropriately licensed setting for either treatment of a psychiatric condition or well-being enhancement. Showing strong bipartisan support, participants rated the individual's decision as morally positive in both contexts. These results can inform effective policy-making decisions around supervised psilocybin use, given robust public attitudes as elicited in the context of an innovative regulatory model. We did not explore attitudes to psilocybin use in unsupervised or non-licensed community or social settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micronutrients are critical for the development of plants and play major role in enhancing both quantitative and qualitative crop yield. To examine the impact of foliar fertilization with micronutrients on various crop growth attributes, an experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2020 and 2021. Foliar spray with different combinations of zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, and manganese sulfate was done at 20 and 40 days after sowing. Increased plant height, leaf area index, leaf weight ratio, leaf area ratio, specific leaf weight, specific leaf area, crop growth rate, relative growth rate, and net assimilation rate were observed. Positive effect of foliar spray was observed in all parameters through all treatments. But, the overall maximum effect was observed in the treatment of foliar spray with T9 (0.2% FeSO4 +0.5% ZnSO4) followed by T7 (0.2% FeSO4 +0.2% ZnSO4) and T8 (0.5% FeSO4 and 0.2% ZnSO4). Given the positive effect of zinc, iron and manganese micronutrients on leaf and crop growth attributes, these treatments are suggested to be applied for the development of sweet corn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smartwatches are a type of wearable device that enable continuous monitoring of an individual's activities and critical health metrics. As the number of older adults age 65+ continues to grow in the U.S. so does their usage of smartwatches, making it necessary to understand the real-world uptake and use of these devices to monitor health. In this study, older adults with a relatively high level of education and digital skills were provided with a smartwatch equipped with a mobile application (ROAMM) that was worn for a median of 14 days. Usability surveys were distributed, and a qualitative analysis was performed about participants' experience using the smartwatch and ROAMM application. Constructs from the Technology Acceptance Model and Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research were incorporated into in-depth interviews, which were recorded and transcribed. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative method. Interviews among 30 older adults revealed the following main themes: 1) familiarization with the device and adoption and acceptance, 2) factors encouraging usage, such as a doctor's endorsement or the appeal of tracking one's health, and 3) barriers to usage, such as insufficient education and training and the desire for additional functionality. Overall, participants found the smartwatch easy to use and were likely to continue using the device in a long-term study. Data generated from smartwatches have the potential to engage individuals about their health and could inspire them to participate more actively during clinical encounters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual assault is a form of violence disproportionately perpetrated against women by men; however, men also experience high rates of sexual victimization. While recent research exploring victimization of sexual assault among men does exist, little is known about situational characteristics and consequences surrounding men's assault experiences. Therefore, the current study examines narratives of men's sexual assault to further understand the unique experiences of men receiving a sexual assault medical forensic examination. To accomplish this, we conducted a retrospective medical chart review of sexual assault narratives from N = 45 men receiving a sexual assault medical forensic examination at a large academic medical institution in the southeastern United States. Three general constructs were identified within the records: a) Perpetrator use of coercive tactics, b) Memory loss, and c) Contextual factors. Nested within these constructs, five specific themes emerged, including: a1) Use of weapons and physical force; a2) Tactical administration of alcohol and drugs; b1) Difficulties remembering assault; c1) Consensual sexual activity turned non-consensual; c2) Incarceration. Findings from the present study common identified characteristics of sexual assaults among men receiving a sexual assault medical forensic examination, including coercive tactics used by perpetrators, consequences of sexual assault, and high-risk settings for male victimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To (i) determine whether accelerated long-term forgetting (ALF) can be found using standardized verbal memory test materials in children with genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE) and temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), and (ii) to establish whether ALF is impacted by executive skills and repeat testing over long delays. One hundred and twenty-three children aged 8 to 16, (28 with GGE, 23 with TLE, and 72 typically developing; TD) completed a battery of standardized tests assessing executive functioning and memory for two stories. Stories were recalled immediately and after a 30-min delay. To examine whether repeat testing impacts long-term forgetting, one story was tested via free recall at 1-day and 2-weeks, and the other at 2-weeks only. Recognition was then tested for both stories at 2-weeks. Children with epilepsy recalled fewer story details, both immediately and after 30-min relative to TD children. Compared to TD children, the GGE group, but not the TLE group, showed ALF, having significantly poorer recall of the story tested only at the longest delay. Poor executive skills were significantly correlated with ALF for children with epilepsy. Standard story memory materials can detect ALF in children with epilepsy when administered over long delays. Our findings suggest that (i) ALF is related to poor executive skills in children with epilepsy, and (ii) repeated testing may ameliorate ALF in some children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is taken by students in England aged 16–18, usually alongside A levels. It consists of an in-depth project in an area of students’ choosing. Students are required to plan the project, research and analyse sources of information, write up their analysis, draw conclusions and produce an evaluation of the processes involved. As such, it is promoted by exam boards as providing the skills required for university study or for work. Universities also seem to value the qualification, with many reducing their offers to students who have achieved a high grade in the EPQ. The main aim of this research was to use national data from England to investigate whether students taking the EPQ were better prepared for higher education (HE) than students not taking it. The results of logistic regression analyses showed that students taking EPQ were more likely to progress to HE, were less likely to drop out, and were more likely to achieve a good degree, than non-EPQ students. This was after controlling for a large number of covariates, including attainment. This provides further evidence that the skills learnt in undertaking an EPQ can be useful for preparing students for HE study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper, based on a primary survey, explores the inequalities in access and household investment on the market-based 'supplemental educational services' (SESs) in post-compulsory school education (i.e. secondary level of education) in Haryana, a northern state in India. We find that around 44% of students access SESs in secondary education in Haryana, and it varies considerably across socioeconomic groups such as class, caste and gender. Results from the two-step Heckman selection model suggest that access to and household investment in SESs is significantly determined by household factors and school characteristics. We also find that SESs in Haryana are not homogenous, vary widely in content delivery and private costs. Nearly 56% of the students (mainly from socio-economically underprivileged groups) attend the low-cost and low-quality private tuition centres, while their better-off counterparts attend the more organised medium- and high-cost tuition services, and this widens the already existing inequality in educational opportunities in the state. The study suggests to stringently regulate the flourishing commercial SESs market to minimise growing educational inequality in the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiencing bereavement as a child or young person (CYP) can have long-lasting effects. The societal and environmental burdens of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic exacerbated the experience of loss and grief for many CYP, who were unable to access their usual the support networks. However, it is still unclear what is currently known and not known about the experiences of CYP bereaved during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This review used the framework of Arksey and O'Malley and included five stages: (1) identifying the research question; (2) identifying relevant studies; (3) study selection; (4) charting the data; (5) collating, summarizing, and reporting the results. The methodological quality of the included studies was also assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool. The PRISMA framework was used for reporting the results. The electronic databases Medline, PsychINFO, CINAHL, and PubMed were searched for relevant articles. A total of three papers meeting the inclusion criteria were included in this review and two main themes identified: (1) support (which included sub-themes; social isolation and the impact on support; support from family and friends; wider support networks); (2) Emotional impact of bereavement during a pandemic. Access to support networks is crucial for CYP to understand and process their emotions relating to their bereavement experience. The pandemic meant that many usual support networks such as family and friends were inaccessible to CYP, who struggled to deal with their experience of grief during this time. Schools are a valuable support mechanism and can help CYP understand their emotions through open discussions about their bereavement. The limited empirical evidence currently available in this area of research demonstrates an important need to further understanding of the long-term impacts of dealing with pandemic-related loss in childhood [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a theoretical framework of policy assemblage, we analyse current primary mathematics teacher professional development in England, in the context of a transnational policy of mastery in mathematics influenced by East Asian practices. As well as the increased discourse of marketisation, and school and teacher autonomy, there has also been a paradoxical process of greater state influence over the content and form of professional learning. This paper maps the mathematics mastery market to show how marketisation and competition form a mirage that masks state-market assemblage. An analysis of these assemblages illuminates the state's role in fostering a market whilst also operating as an actor in this market, in this case in mastery professional development. Within the mastery market, tensions arise between the phenomena of replication and isomorphism and differentiation of 'offers' that develop affinity groups and networks. Thus, we extend previous descriptions of the hierarchy, markets, and networks, and the roles of state funded actors within teacher professional development by identifying the importance of multiplicity of logics, assemblage as a process of labour, and the dynamic nature of relationships and activity. Resources to support teacher professional learning are mobilised in competitive processes with apparent choice hiding state direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enslavers utilized various methods of physical and psychological violence to effect emotions of terror and fear in their African captives in order to create and maintain systems of enslavement throughout the Atlantic World. But these methods also produced emotions in the victims which could act against the systems of enslavement. One such emotion was anger and its visible display towards the enslavers was forbidden throughout the Atlantic World. But the extreme domination of enslavement also resulted in challenges to the system. In this article, I will document and analyse visible displays of the emotions of anger and vengeance by the enslaved in the colonies that became British Guiana. The emotion of vengeance in these cases was conducted through open insults which allowed slaves a way to assert themselves and belittle their enslavers. This study is based on documented complaints of the enslaved during the nineteenth century in the colony of British Guiana, housed at the National Archives of the United Kingdom. These documents are unique in the annals of British West Indian slavery as they give voice to the enslaved on a variety of topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do governments visually communicate policies, and what does this reveal about actors' political objectives? Governments strategically narrate their priorities, yet few studies examine this process through visual modes. We contribute to theoretical and empirical understanding in policy studies by focusing on the UK government's COVID-19 response through its daily press briefings during the first wave of 2020. Combining quantitative changepoint and content analysis with qualitative discourse analysis, we examine all 79 sets of slides when briefings occurred. We identify a reactive phase focused on communicating knowledge about the pandemic in a boundedly rational manner, and a proactive phase that created new policy-based narratives of the pandemic. Besides contributing to emerging pandemic-related policy scholarship, we argue that conceiving these visualizations as visual narrative assemblages is relevant more broadly because it shifts attention to the interaction and interdependence of multiple visualizations as they enable policymakers to perform their authority to govern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing from research on priming and identification theory, this study experimentally tests the differential effects of narratives featuring rewards and punishments on inclusive attitudes and behavioral intentions toward LGBTQ+ communities. The results of our experiment (N = 240) suggest a narrative depicting rewarded inclusive behaviors toward gay characters performed better than one portraying punished homophobic behaviors. We further tested various mechanisms through which narratives that portray tolerance and acceptance of a gay couple might lead to inclusive outcomes. The results suggested that positive feelings toward a gay character and identification with a role model character practicing rewarded good (versus punished bad) behaviors drove prosocial outcomes, including intentions to befriend gay characters in real life and support for social equality for gay individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various vital sign ranges for pediatric patients have differing utility in identifying children with serious illness or injury requiring immediate intervention. While commonly used ranges are derived from samples of healthy children, limited research has explored the utility of those derived from real-world encounters by emergency medical services (EMS). We first sought to externally validate pediatric vital sign ranges empirically derived from the prehospital setting. Second, we compared the proportion of children who received prehospital interventions using current common classification systems versus empirically derived vital sign ranges. We retrospectively reviewed pediatric (<18 years) prehospital records from the 2021 ESO Collaborative dataset. We compared the proportions of encounters having vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate, and systolic blood pressure) at the cutoffs of >99th, >95th, >90th, <10th, <5th and <1st centiles to previously reported centiles derived from EMS encounters in 2019–2020. We compared the deviation of mean Z-score by age between data sources. We identified the proportion of encounters with extreme (defined as <10th or >90th centile) vital signs who received prehospital interventions for the empirically derived criteria to six other classification criteria. 510,414 encounters were included, of which 66.9% were for medical indications and 70.7% resulted in hospital transport. The study sample had similar proportions of encounters identified at studied cutoffs compared to the previously published derivation sample, with all differences in proportions ≤1.1% between samples. All mean Z-scores were within 0.2 standard deviations of those from the derivation sample for each vital sign. Using empirically derived criteria, 34.2% had at least one extreme vital sign, compared to 69.1% with Pediatric Advanced Life Support criteria. Empirically derived extreme vital signs identified a higher proportion of children requiring most prehospital interventions compared to other vital signs criteria. Previously published empirically derived centiles for pediatric prehospital vital signs were replicated in this large multi-agency dataset. Compared to commonly used vital sign ranges, empirically derived criteria identified a higher proportion of children who received key prehospital interventions. Future steps include evaluating the role of these criteria in predictive models for in-hospital outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many parts of the world, emergency medical services (EMS) clinical care is traditionally delivered by different levels or types of EMS clinicians, such as emergency medical technicians and paramedics. In some areas, physicians are also included among the cadre of professionals administering EMS-based care. This is especially true in the interfacility transport (IFT) setting. Though there is significant overlap between the knowledge and skills necessary to safely and effectively provide care in the IFT and prehospital settings, the IFT care environment requires physicians to develop several additional competencies beyond those that are expected of traditional EMS clinicians. NAEMSP first published recommendations regarding what some of these competencies should be in 1983 and subsequently updated those recommendations in 2002. This document is an updated work, given the evolution of the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prehospital research and evidence-based guidelines (EBGs) have grown in recent decades, yet there is still a paucity of prehospital implementation research. While recent studies have revealed EMS agency leadership perspectives on implementation, the important perspectives and opinions of frontline EMS clinicians regarding implementation have yet to be explored in a systematic approach. The objective of this study was to measure the preferences of EMS clinicians for the process of EBG implementation and whether current agency practices align with those preferences. This study was a cross-sectional survey of National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians registrants. Eligible participants were certified paramedics who were actively practicing EMS clinicians. The survey contained discrete choice experiments (DCEs) for three EBG implementation scenarios and questions about rank order preferences for various aspects of the implementation process. For the DCEs, we used multinomial logistic regression to analyze the implementation preference choices of EMS clinicians, and latent class analysis to classify respondents into groups by their preferences. A total of 183 respondents completed the survey. Respondents had a median age of 39 years, were 74.9% male, 89.6% White, and 93.4% of non-Hispanic ethnicity. For all three DCE scenarios, respondents were significantly more likely to choose options with hospital feedback and individual-level feedback from EMS agencies. Respondents were significantly less likely to choose options with email/online only education, no feedback from hospitals, and no EMS agency feedback to clinicians. In general, respondents' preferences favored classroom-based training over in-person simulation. For all DCE questions, most respondents (66.2%–77.1%) preferred their survey DCE choice to their agency's current implementation practices. In the rank order preferences, most participants selected "knowledge of the underlying evidence behind the change" as the most important component of the process of implementation. In this study of EMS clinicians' implementation preferences using DCEs, respondents preferred in-person education, feedback on hospital outcomes, and feedback on their individual performance. However, current practice at EMS agencies rarely matched those expressed EMS clinician preferences. Collectively, these results present opportunities for improving EMS implementation from the EMS clinician perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatric prehospital encounters are proportionally low-frequency events. National pediatric readiness initiatives have targeted gaps in prehospital pediatric assessment and management. Regional studies suggest that pediatric vital signs are inconsistently obtained and documented. We aimed to assess national emergency medical services (EMS) data to evaluate completeness of assessment documentation for pediatric versus adult patients and to identify the documentation of condition-specific assessments. We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of EMS encounters from the National Emergency Medical Services Information System for 2019, including all 9-1-1 encounters resulting in transport. Our primary outcome was the proportion of encounters with complete vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate, and systolic blood pressure) documented by pediatric age category relative to adult encounters. Pediatric patients were considered as those less than 18 years old. Our secondary outcome was condition-specific assessments for encounters with respiratory emergencies, cardiac complaints, and trauma. We performed multivariable logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for vital signs documentation by age after adjusting for sex, injury status, transport type (advanced vs basic life support), census region, urbanicity, organization nonprofit status, and organization type. Of 18,918,914 EMS encounters, 6.4% involved pediatric patients. Documentation of complete vital signs was lowest in those <1 month old (30.8%) and rose with increasing age (highest in adults; 91.8%). Relative to adults, the adjusted odds of documented complete vital signs in patients <1 month old was 0.03 (95% CI 0.03–0.03) and increased with age to 0.76 (95% CI 0.75–0.77) in those 12–17 years old. Among those patients with respiratory, cardiac, and traumatic complaints, children had lower proportions of documented pulse oximetry, monitor use, and pain scores, respectively, compared to adults. Documentation of complete vital signs and condition-specific assessments occurs less frequently in children, especially in younger age groups, as compared to adults, which is a finding that exists across urbanicity, region, and level of response. These findings provide a benchmark for clinical care, quality improvement, and research in the prehospital setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]