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Authors Kevin McCaughey and Rick Rosenberg demonstrate techniques for using board games to stimulate student-centered language practice that is flexible, productive, engaging, and fun. The article includes tips for efficient game play and for using games with a variety of levels and class sizes. The authors show that playing board games for language practice can be educational AND entertaining.

Teachers turn to many sources for support and professional learning, including social media-based communities that have shown promise to help teachers access resources and facilitate productive exchanges. Although such online communities show promise, questions about their quality for providing a suitable learning environment remain insufficiently answered. In this study, we examine how teachers' engagement on Twitter (now known as "X") may adhere to characteristics of high-quality professional development (PD) activities. In that, we employ advanced conversational analysis techniques that extend the primarily descriptive methods used in prior research. Specifically, we collected data from three Twitter communities related to Advanced Placement Biology (N = 2,040 tweets, N = 93 teachers). Qualitative two-cycle content analyses derived both tweet content and sentiment. Using epistemic network analyses, we examined the collaborative structures to examine how participation patterns can identify characteristics of high-quality online PD. Results indicate that some teachers use Twitter with a content focus and coherent to their individual contexts and prior knowledge. Notably, differences in collaboration and participation patterns by teachers' overall activity level hint at the existence of an online community of practice. More active teachers communicated more about how their individual contexts relate to instruction, whereas less active teachers exhibited more targeted engagement, for instance, related to sharing teaching resources and organizing learning opportunities. Overall, this study illustrates how Twitter may provide a meaningful learning environment to teachers so that it can serve as a relevant avenue for their professional learning.

Attracting, supporting, and retaining special education teachers of color (SETOCs) is critical in shaping a diverse special education teacher workforce in the United States. However, efforts to diversify this workforce are fraught with challenges at the federal, state, and local levels. This paper reviews what is currently known about efforts to attract, support, and retain SETOCs, and provides guidance for policy makers and researchers regarding what still needs to be done to realize a more diverse special education teacher workforce in the US. Four critical domains serve as the foundation for our guiding considerations: funding priorities, strategies to attract SETOCs, the role of educator preparation programs, and strategies to retain SETOCs.

This study investigated the prevalence, and the developmental, behavior and emotional outcomes of 675 preschoolers with ASD with or without a history of regression, who participated in the Study to Explore Early Development (SEED). The SEED project is a cross-sectional case-control study that collected data between 2007 and 2011. Children's history of regression, adaptive skills, and behavior problems were assessed using the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Second Edition (Vineland-2), and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), respectively; and children's developmental levels were assessed using the Mullen Scales of Learning (MSEL). Findings from this study indicated that 26% of children experienced social and language regression, and of those with regression, 76% had regained lost skills upon completion of the study. Compared to children without a history of regression, children with social regression demonstrated increased internalizing problems and decreased fine motor skills, and children with language regression demonstrated poorer language skills. Also, children with language and social regression displayed poorer adaptive communication skills than children without regression. Children who experienced regression in one area of development demonstrated better outcomes than those who experience regression in multiple areas. To conclude, children with regression are at risk for poorer outcomes during their preschool years.

Emerging research suggests that episodic memory challenges are commonly encountered by autistic individuals; however, the specific nature of these memory challenges remains elusive. Here, we address critical gaps in the literature by examining pattern separation memory, the ability to store distinct memories of similar stimuli, and its links to the core autistic trait of repetitive, restricted interests and behaviors. Utilizing a large sample of over 120 autistic children and well-matched non-autistic peers, we found that autistic children showed significantly reduced performance on pattern separation memory. A clustering analysis identified three distinct pattern separation memory profiles in autism, each characterized by reduced or increased generalization abilities. Importantly, pattern separation memory was negatively correlated with the severity of repetitive, restricted interest and behavior symptoms in autism. These findings offer new evidence for challenges in pattern separation memory in autism and emphasize the need to consider these challenges when assessing and supporting autistic individuals in educational and clinical settings.

Early Age Robotics (EAR) education has become extremely popular throughout the world. It has proven to be not only interesting and enjoyable, but also effective at helping even the youngest of children (aged 4-7) develop skills and reap educational benefits. But what about their families? Are parents as happy with EAR programs as are the children? What are their attitudes and beliefs regarding it? In this novel empirical study, we seek to answer these questions and succeed in refuting some commonly held beliefs. This study is based on a unique EAR program running since 2016 for over 2000 children. Using qualitative and quantitative research methods, we analyzed interviews with 29 parents and surveys submitted to 203 parents whose children (aged 4-7) studied technology and robotics as a compulsory component of their curriculum. We uncovered an interesting phenomenon of parents becoming transformed from being passive consumers of the educational system into new, twenty-first-century parents, more confident about their ability to learn and to help promote their children's abilities. They are more motivated and involved, and ready to invest in both their own and their children's learning. Also encouraging is the gender equality found in this technological area. We recommend introducing a new PEAR (Parents in EAR) model, offering practical proposals for enhancing and expanding robotics education. The study confirms parents' satisfaction with technology, their willingness to learn more about robotics, and their satisfaction with their children's participation in an EAR program. This transformation should be considered by EAR stakeholders.

Screening for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an essential early step in the identification process and inaccurate screening may lead to significant delays in the onset of treatment. Past research has highlighted discrepancies in the performance of ASD screening tools such as the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) among certain racial and ethnic groups. The current study explored the functioning of the SCQ among African American/Black and White respondents based on item level performance on the measure. Differential Item Functioning (DIF) analyses showed that 16 (41%) items of the SCQ functioned differently for African American/Black respondents when compared to White respondents. Implications, such as the potential for delayed diagnosis and treatment, and the influence on downstream outcomes, are discussed.

We examined relationships between measures of adaptive behavior, cognitive ability, and autism symptom severity in 1458 preschool-aged children with autism from the Study to Explore Early Development. While publications commonly describe autistic children as "low-" or "high-functioning" based on cognitive ability, relying solely on cognitive scores may obscure meaningful variation in functioning. We found significant heterogeneity in adaptive behavior scores of children with cognitive scores both above and below the threshold of two or more standard deviations below the population mean specified in the diagnostic criteria for intellectual disability (ID). Although cognitive and adaptive behavior scores were strongly associated in our sample, considerable variation in overall adaptive behavior and more than half in socialization and motor skills was unaccounted for by cognitive ability, autism symptom severity, and other covariates. Among children who could be designated "low-functioning" based on cognitive scores, 39.7% had composite adaptive behavior scores indicating no significant delays, while among those who might be designated "high-functioning," 9.0% had significant delays in overall adaptive behavior and 22.2% in socialization. These results suggest adaptive behavior scores capture variations in the autism phenotype not accounted for by other measures we considered.

Introduction. Pain is a universal human experience tied to an individual’s health but difficult to understand. It is especially important in health emergencies. We performed a two-step quality improvement project to assess pain management by the SAMU ambulance service in Kigali, Rwanda, examining how pain is assessed and treated by ambulance staff to facilitate development of standardized guidelines of pain management in the prehospital setting, which did not exist at the time of the study. Materials and Methods. Deidentified ambulance service records from December 2012 to May 2016 were analyzed descriptively for patient demographics, emergency conditions, pain assessment, and medications given. Then, anonymized, semistructured interviews of ambulance staff were conducted until thematic saturation was achieved. Data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Results. SAMU managed 11,161 patients over the study period, of which 6,168 (55%) were documented as reporting pain and 5,010 (45%) received pain medications. Men had greater odds of receiving pain medications compared to women (OR = 3.8, 95% CI (3.5, 4.1), p

Retrospective alcohol use data are prone to recall bias, a limitation that could be addressed with real-time ecological momentary assessment (EMA) tools. We aimed to (1) introduce a simple (single-click) EMA methodology for collecting real-time alcohol use data, and (2) investigate the EMA methodology's performance relative to established alcohol use data collection tools. In March-April 2021, we sampled undergraduate students (n = 84) and collected a week of alcohol use data. Participants entered their real-time drinking start times using our EMA methodology, self-reported their drinking details in daily surveys, and a subsample recorded their breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) using smart breathalyzers. We estimated the accuracy of our EMA methodology in collecting alcohol use data relative to data collected by daily surveys and breathalyzers. Overall, 199 drinking events were recorded with the EMA methodology. Numbers of drinks recorded with the EMA methodology were correlated with self-reported daily surveys (r = 0.82, p < 0.001) and BrAC readings (r = 0.69, p < 0.001). Sensitivity and specificity of the EMA methodology in detecting heavy drinking relative to daily surveys were 82% (95% CI [67%, 92%]) and 97% (95% CI [85%, 100%]), respectively. These were 74% (95% CI: [64%, 83%]) and 92% (95% CI: [85%, 96%]) for binge drinking. Similar results were found when we used breathalyzers as the reference standard test. We developed an EMA methodology for collecting real-time alcohol use data (alcohol drinking start-time, frequency, magnitude, patterns, and pace). Our findings support the utility of our EMA methodology in collecting alcohol use data among college students.

Sensitivity analysis, a statistical method crucial for validating inferences across disciplines, quantifies the conditions that could alter conclusions (Razavi et al., 2021). One line of work is rooted in linear models and foregrounds the sensitivity of inferences to the strength of omitted variables (Cinelli & Hazlett, 2019; Frank, 2000). A more recent approach is rooted in the potential outcomes framework for causal inference and foregrounds how hypothetical changes in a sample would alter an inference if such cases were otherwise observed (Frank et al., 2008, 2013; Frank & Min, 2007; Xu et al., 2019). One sensitivity measure is the "Impact Threshold of a Confounding Variable," or ITCV, which generates statements about the correlation of an omitted, confounding variable with both a predictor of interest and the outcome (Frank, 2000). The ITCV index can be calculated for any linear model. The "Robustness of an Inference to Replacement," RIR, assesses how replacing a certain percentage of cases with counterfactuals of zero treatment effect could nullify an inference (Frank et al., 2013). The RIR index is more general than the ITCV index.

* Context.--Quality measures that are supported by evidence-based clinical practice guidelines are preferred for assessing the quality of pathologists' practices. Careful testing of a measure ensures that scores obtained by that measure reflect the quality of a pathologist's practice. Objective.--To specify a new quality measure and to demonstrate through testing that it is suitable for measuring pathologists' appropriate incorporation of information regarding microsatellite instability (MSI) and/or mismatch repair (MMR) status in pathology reports for colorectal, endometrial, gastroesophageal, and small bowel carcinoma. Design.--The College of American Pathologists collaborated with the American Gastroenterological Association to specify and test the new measure. Face validity testing was used to investigate the validity of the measure. Feasibility testing was conducted to understand if data elements required by the measure specification were readily acces sible. Signal-to-noise analysis was used to characterize the measure's reliability. Results.--Guideline recommendations for MSI and/or MMR testing supported specifications for the measure. Face validity testing indicated that the measure could distinguish the quality of care provided. Data elements required by the measure specification were found to be accessible, which supported the measure's feasibility. Reliability testing showed that differences in measure score were attributable to real differences in performance rather than random variation in scoring. Conclusions.--The Mismatch Repair or Microsatellite Instability Biomarker Testing Status in Colorectal Carcinoma, Endometrial, Gastroesophageal, or Small Bowel Carcinoma measure was appropriately specified, and testing demonstrated that it is well suited for characterizing the quality of pathologists' communication of MMR and/or MSI status. (Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2024;148:728-734; doi: 10.5858/arpa.2022-0418-OA), The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 established the Quality Payment Program (QPP), which allowed for adjustments to reimbursement based on a provider's demonstration of quality and cost [...]

Despite increased advocacy and investments in mental health systems globally, there has been limited progress in reducing mental disorder prevalence. In this paper, we argue that meaningful advancements in population mental health necessitate addressing the fundamental sources of shared distress. Using a systems perspective, economic structures and policies are identified as the potential cause of causes of mental ill-health. Neoliberal ideologies, prioritizing economic optimization and continuous growth, contribute to the promotion of individualism, job insecurity, increasing demands on workers, parental stress, social disconnection and a broad range of manifestations well-recognized to erode mental health. We emphasize the need for mental health researchers and advocates to increasingly engage with the economic policy discourse to draw attention to mental health and well-being implications. We call for a shift towards a well-being economy to better align commercial interests with collective well-being and social prosperity. The involvement of individuals with lived mental ill-health experiences, practitioners and researchers is needed to mobilize communities for change and influence economic policies to safeguard well-being. Additionally, we call for the establishment of national mental wealth observatories to inform coordinated health, social and economic policies and realize the transition to a more sustainable well-being economy that offers promise for progress on population mental health outcomes. [phrase omitted] Malgre une meilleure sensibilisation et des investissements accrus dans A pesar del aumento de la promocion y las inversiones en sistemas de salud mental en todo el mundo, los avances en la reduccion de la prevalencia de los trastornos mentales han sido limitados. En este documento, sostenemos que para lograr avances significativos en la salud mental de la poblacion es necesario abordar las fuentes fundamentales de la angustia compartida. Mediante una perspectiva sistemica, las estructuras y politicas economicas se identifican como la posible causa de los problemas de salud mental. Las ideologias neoliberales, que priorizan la optimizacion economica y el crecimiento continuo, contribuyen al fomento del individualismo, la inseguridad laboral, el aumento de las exigencias a los trabajadores, el estres parental, la desconexion social y una gran variedad de manifestaciones bien reconocidas que perjudican la salud mental. Insistimos en la necesidad de que los investigadores y los defensores de la salud mental se impliquen cada vez mas en el discurso de la politica economica para atraer la atencion sobre las implicaciones para la salud mental y el bienestar. Pedimos un cambio hacia una economia del bienestar para alinear mejor los intereses comerciales con el bienestar colectivo y la prosperidad social. Para movilizar a las comunidades en favor del cambio e influir en las politicas economicas con el fin de salvaguardar el bienestar, es necesaria la participacion de personas que han padecido enfermedades mentales, profesionales e investigadores. Ademas, pedimos la creacion de observatorios nacionales de bienestar mental que sirvan de base a las politicas sanitarias, sociales y economicas coordinadas y permitan la transicion a una economia del bienestar mas sostenible, que ofrezca perspectivas de progreso en los resultados de salud mental de la poblacion. [phrase omitted] A pesar del aumento de la promocion y las inversiones en sistemas de salud mental en todo el mundo, los avances en la reduccion de la prevalencia de los trastornos mentales han sido limitados. En este documento, sostenemos que para lograr avances significativos en la salud mental de la poblacion es necesario abordar las fuentes fundamentales de la angustia compartida. Mediante una perspectiva sistemica, las estructuras y politicas economicas se identifican como la posible causa de los problemas de salud mental. Las ideologias neoliberales, que priorizan la optimizacion economica y el crecimiento continuo, contribuyen al fomento del individualismo, la inseguridad laboral, el aumento de las exigencias a los trabajadores, el estres parental, la desconexion social y una gran variedad de manifestaciones bien reconocidas que perjudican la salud mental. Insistimos en la necesidad de que los investigadores y los defensores de la salud mental se impliquen cada vez mas en el discurso de la politica economica para atraer la atencion sobre las implicaciones para la salud mental y el bienestar. Pedimos un cambio hacia una economia del bienestar para alinear mejor los intereses comerciales con el bienestar colectivo y la prosperidad social. Para movilizar a las comunidades en favor del cambio e influir en las politicas economicas con el fin de salvaguardar el bienestar, es necesaria la participacion de personas que han padecido enfermedades mentales, profesionales e investigadores. Ademas, pedimos la creacion de observatorios nacionales de bienestar mental que sirvan de base a las politicas sanitarias, sociales y economicas coordinadas y permitan la transicion a una economia del bienestar mas sostenible, que ofrezca perspectivas de progreso en los resultados de salud mental de la poblacion., Introduction Mental health systems are under-resourced, fragmented, inefficient and unable to meet the demands of the growing burden of mental and substance use disorders. Despite the intensive advocacy and action [...]

This qualitative study of the perceptions of pairs of faculty and community partners who worked together on service-learning projects, reveals a good deal of convergence on their understandings of the goals, work done, and products/outcomes of their projects. Significant divergence did exist on different aspects of these projects based on partner involvement with one side of the exchange or the other. Faculty emphasized impacts on students and often seemed unaware of the impacts on organizations and community, while community partners seemed more focused on their organizations and the community more broadly. As servicelearning practitioners are urged to create sustainable, egalitarian partnerships that incorporate the views of both parties, these results suggest that partners make explicit their goals so that each may benefit from students' work, and at the same time create a meaningful relationship. This seems to require extensive debriefing at the end of projects. Such a step would both enhance the value of participation for the partners and enrich students' and faculty views of the projects' worth, increasing sustainability of the relationship over time.