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Designing an effective K-12 alternate English language proficiency assessment (ELP) for English learners with significant cognitive disabilities (ELSCDs) is a substantial undertaking, particularly given the absence of design models for such an assessment and limited empirical research to guide test design teams. These challenges emphasized the need to follow a rigorous and principled approach in order to establish an appropriate design. This paper describes how Evidence-Centered Design (ECD) -- a comprehensive and flexible assessment design framework -- was applied throughout the design process of such an assessment. By extending the principles of ECD, a maximally accessible alternate ELP assessment was designed and implemented, and evidence was collected to support validity. Implications for this assessment design effort include findings for the education and assessment of ELSCDs, the application of ECD to the assessment of diverse test takers, and to a general movement in the field toward more personalized assessments.

Standardizing accessible test design and development to meet students' individual access needs is a complex task. The following study provides one approach to accessible test design and development using participatory design methods with school community members. Participatory research provides opportunities to empower collaborators by co-creating knowledge that is useful for assessment development. In this study, teachers of students who are visually impaired, students who are blind or are visually impaired, English language teachers, and test administrators provided feedback at critical stages of the development process to explore the construct validity of English language proficiency (ELP) assessments. Students who are blind or visually impaired need to be able to show what they know and can do without impact from construct-irrelevant variance like language acquisition or disability characteristics. Building on our iterative accessible test design, development, and delivery practices, and as part of a large project on English-learner proficiency test accessibility and usability, we collected rich observation and interview data from 17 students who were blind or visually impaired and were enrolled in grades kindergarten through Grade 12. We examined the ratings and item metadata, including assistive technology preferences and interactions, while we used grounded theory approaches to examine qualitative thematic findings. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

ABSTRACTSurface waters are considered ecological habitats where Salmonella enterica can persist and disseminate to fresh produce production systems. This study aimed to explore the genomic profiles of S. enterica serotypes Typhimurium, Newport, and Infantis from surface waters in Chile, Mexico, and Brazil collected between 2019 and 2022. We analyzed the whole genomes of 106 S. Typhimurium, 161 S. Newport, and 113 S. Infantis isolates. Our phylogenetic analysis exhibited distinct groupings of isolates by their respective countries except for a notable case involving a Chilean S. Newport isolate closely related to two Mexican isolates, showing 4 and 13 single nucleotide polymorphisms of difference, respectively. The patterns of the most frequently detected antimicrobial resistance genes varied across countries and serotypes. A strong correlation existed between integron carriage and genotypic multidrug resistance (MDR) across serotypes in Chile and Mexico (R > 0.90, P < 0.01), while integron(s) were not detected in any of the Brazilian isolates. By contrast, we did not identify any strong correlation between plasmid carriage and genotypic MDR across diverse countries and serotypes.IMPORTANCEUnveiling the genomic landscape of S. enterica in Latin American surface waters is pivotal for ensuring public health. This investigation sheds light on the intricate genomic diversity of S. enterica in surface waters across Chile, Mexico, and Brazil. Our research also addresses critical knowledge gaps, pioneering a comprehensive understanding of surface waters as a reservoir for multidrug-resistant S. enterica. By integrating our understanding of integron carriage as biomarkers into broader MDR control strategies, we can also work toward targeted interventions that mitigate the emergence and dissemination of MDR in S. enterica in surface waters. Given its potential implications for food safety, this study emphasizes the critical need for informed policies and collaborative initiatives to address the risks associated with S. enterica in surface waters.

Alexander disease (AxD) is a devastating leukodystrophy caused by gain-of-function mutations in GFAP, and the only available treatments are supportive. Recent advances in antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy have demonstrated that transcript targeting can be a successful strategy for human neurodegenerative diseases amenable to this approach. We have previously used mouse models of AxD to show that Gfap-targeted ASO suppresses protein accumulation and reverses pathology; however, the mice have a mild phenotype with no apparent leukodystrophy or overt clinical features and are therefore limited for assessing functional outcomes. In this report, we introduce a rat model of AxD that exhibits hallmark pathology with GFAP aggregation in the form of Rosenthal fibers, widespread astrogliosis, and white matter deficits. These animals develop normally during the first postnatal weeks but fail to thrive after weaning and develop severe motor deficits as they mature, with about 14% dying of unknown cause between 6 and 12 weeks of age. In this model, a single treatment with Gfap-targeted ASO provides long-lasting suppression, reverses GFAP pathology, and, depending on age of treatment, prevents or mitigates white matter deficits and motor impairment. In this report, we characterize an improved animal model of AxD with myelin pathology and motor impairment, recapitulating prominent features of the human disease, and use this model to show that ASO therapy has the potential to not only prevent but also reverse many aspects of disease.

Reactive astrocytes are astrocytes undergoing morphological, molecular, and functional remodeling in response to injury, disease, or infection of the CNS. Although this remodeling was first described over a century ago, uncertainties and controversies remain regarding the contribution of reactive astrocytes to CNS diseases, repair, and aging. It is also unclear whether fixed categories of reactive astrocytes exist and, if so, how to identify them. We point out the shortcomings of binary divisions of reactive astrocytes into good-vs-bad, neurotoxic-vs-neuroprotective or A1-vs-A2. We advocate, instead, that research on reactive astrocytes include assessment of multiple molecular and functional parameters-preferably in vivo-plus multivariate statistics and determination of impact on pathological hallmarks in relevant models. These guidelines may spur the discovery of astrocyte-based biomarkers as well as astrocyte-targeting therapies that abrogate detrimental actions of reactive astrocytes, potentiate their neuro- and glioprotective actions, and restore or augment their homeostatic, modulatory, and defensive functions.

Purpose: Children with cancer experience low quality of life (QOL), yet heterogeneity underscores a need to understand how risk and resilience factors interact. This study evaluated if family functioning relates to QOL differentially depending on diagnosis and treatment intensity. Methods: Participants included children (ages 8–14) who completed treatment within six months for either brain tumor (BT; n = 42) or non-central nervous system solid tumor (ST; n = 29). Caregivers and children rated QOL and family functioning. Treatment intensity was categorized as low, moderate, or high. Cross-informant moderation models tested hypothesized interactions. Results: Child-reported family functioning significantly interacted with diagnosis and treatment intensity in models of caregiver-reported QOL. More maladaptive family functioning was associated with reduced QOL for children with BT and moderately-intense treatments. Conclusions: Children with BT and moderate treatment intensities are sensitive to family functioning, highlighting an at-risk group to target for family-level intervention. Future work should evaluate these associations longitudinally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Medieval-Post-Medieval transition in England was an important shift in the human biocultural environment. With urbanization and industrialization came resultant changes in living and working conditions and subsequent effects on the skeleton. In addition, the Post-Medieval period ushered in changes in footwear and activity patterns, with potential consequences on foot bone morphology. The objective of this study is to compare calcaneal and talar lengths between the Medieval and Post-Medieval periods to determine whether there are quantifiable differences that correspond to shifting footwear and activity patterns. T-tests and ANCOVAs (and their non-parametric equivalents) were used to compare calcaneal and talar lengths of 1086 adults from 14 London cemeteries (Medieval n = 8, Post-Medieval n = 6), available in the Oracle Wellcome Osteological Research Database (WORD) curated by the Museum of London. Males and females were also analyzed separately. In the total sample, tali and calcanei are longer in the Medieval period (p < 0.001 for both tarsals). When males and females are analyzed separately, male talar length is greater in the Post-Medieval period (p < 0.001). The difference in talar length between periods is not statistically significant for females (p = 0.093). These differences in talar and calcaneal lengths between periods likely reflect differences in footwear between the Medieval and Post-Medieval periods. The magnitude of these differences varies according to sex, indicating that the change in footwear had differential impacts on men and women. Together, these results suggest that Medieval and Post-Medieval tarsals physically incorporated their respective cultural environments and gendered differences in cultural practice, particularly related to the footwear characteristic of each period.

The UC Davis Campus Travel Survey is a joint effort by the Transportation Services and the Sustainable Transportation Center, part of the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis. Since 2007 the survey has been administered each fall by a graduate student at the Institute of Transportation Studies. The main purpose of the survey is to collect annual data on how the UC Davis community travels to campus, including mode choice, vehicle occupancy, distances traveled, and carbon emissions. Over the past ten years, the travel survey results have been used to assess awareness and utilization of campus transportation services and estimate demand for new services designed to promote sustainable commuting at UC Davis. Data from the campus travel survey have also provided researchers with valuable insights about the effects of attitudes and perceptions of mobility options on commute mode choice. This year’s survey is the eleventh administration of the campus travel survey. The 2017-18 survey was administered online in October and November 2017, distributed by email to a stratified random sample of 19,796 students, faculty, and staff (out of an estimated total population of 47,450). Over 20 percent (4,059 individuals) of those contacted responded to this year’s survey, with 18.9 percent actually completing it. For the statistics presented throughout this report, weighs the responses by role (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, Master’s student, PhD student, faculty, and staff) and gender so that the proportion of respondents in each group reflects their proportion in the campus population.

One of the challenges in developing a consensus around the goal of sustainable transportation is a lack of consensus around the terms used to define and describe sustainable transportation. The goal in this project was to assemble a list of relevant terms and provide clear and simple definitions. Because it is not uncommon to find multiple terms used to refer to the same concept, the report also aims to differentiate the preferred terms from less preferred terms and terms that should not be used for various reasons. Terms were identified based on a review of documents from transportation agencies, websites and publications from transportation organizations, and papers published by the academic community, and refined the list in consultation with Ellen Greenberg, Deputy Director of Sustainability at the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Terms are grouped into categories based on purpose, mode, destinations, community type, and others. The intent of this work is to create a useful resource for those working to advance sustainable transportation

Abstract Background Uterine artery embolization in the treatment of uterine leiomyoma has been rarely associated with dislodgement and expulsion of infarcted uterine fibroids through the vagina, peritoneum, or bowel wall, predominantly occurring within 6 months of uterine artery embolization. Case presentation We present the case of a 54-year-old African American woman who underwent uterine artery embolization 11 years prior and developed mechanical small bowel obstruction from the migration of fibroid through a uteroenteric fistula with ultimate impaction within the distal small bowel lumen. Small bowel resection and hysterectomy were curative. Conclusions Uteroenteric fistula with small bowel obstruction due to fibroid expulsion may present as a delayed finding after uterine artery embolization and requires heightened awareness.

On‐orbit close proximity operations involve robotic spacecraft maneuvering and making decisions for a growing number of mission scenarios demanding autonomy, including on‐orbit assembly, repair, and astronaut assistance. Of these scenarios, on‐orbit assembly is an enabling technology that will allow large space structures to be built in situ, using smaller building block modules. However, like many of these scenarios, robotic on‐orbit assembly involves several technical hurdles, such as changing system models. For instance, grappled modules moved by a free‐flying "assembler" robot can cause significant changes in the combined system inertia, which have cascading impacts on motion planning and control portions of the autonomy stack. Further, on‐orbit assembly and other scenarios require collision‐avoiding motion planning, particularly when operating in a "construction site" scenario of multiple assembler robots and structures. Multiple key technologies that address these complicating factors for autonomous microgravity close proximity operations are detailed in this work, in particular: (1) application of global long‐horizon planning, accomplished using offline and online sampling‐based planner options that consider the system dynamics; (2) adaptation of the recently proposed RATTLE information‐aware planning framework for on‐orbit reconfiguration model learning; and (3) connection with robust control tools to provide low‐level control robustness using current system knowledge. These approaches were demonstrated for an autonomous on‐orbit assembly use case by the RElative Satellite sWarming and Robotic Maneuvering (ReSWARM) experiments using NASA's Astrobee robots on the International Space Station. Results of the ReSWARM experiments are provided along with significant operational and implementation detail discussing the practicalities of hardware implementation and unique aspects of working with the Astrobee free‐flyer robots in microgravity. ReSWARM provides a base set of planning and control tools for robotic close proximity operations, demonstrates them in microgravity, and outlines some of the important hardware aspects that future autonomous free‐flyers will need to consider. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Alexander disease (AxD) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder that is caused by dominant mutations in the gene encoding glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), an intermediate filament that is primarily expressed by astrocytes. In AxD, mutant GFAP in combination with increased GFAP expression result in astrocyte dysfunction and the accumulation of Rosenthal fibers. A neuroinflammatory environment consisting primarily of macrophage lineage cells has been observed in AxD patients and mouse models. Methods To examine if macrophage lineage cells could serve as a therapeutic target in AxD, GFAP knock-in mutant AxD model mice were treated with a colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) inhibitor, pexidartinib. The effects of pexidartinib treatment on disease phenotypes were assessed. Results In AxD model mice, pexidartinib administration depleted macrophages in the CNS and caused elevation of GFAP transcript and protein levels with minimal impacts on other phenotypes including body weight, stress response activation, chemokine/cytokine expression, and T cell infiltration. Conclusions Together, these results highlight the complicated role that macrophages can play in neurological diseases and do not support the use of pexidartinib as a therapy for AxD.

Abstract Purpose To describe trends in emergency medicine faculty demographics, examining changes in the proportion of historically underrepresented groups including female, Black, and Latinx faculty over time. Methods Data from the Association of American Medical Colleges faculty roster (1990–2020) were used to assess the changing demographics of full‐time emergency medicine faculty. Descriptive statistics, graphic visualizations, and logistic regression modeling were used to illustrate trends in the proportion of female, Black, and Latinx faculty. Odds ratios (OR) were used to describe the estimated annual rate of change of underrepresented demographic groups. Results The number of full‐time emergency medicine faculty increased from 214 in 1990 to 5874 in 2020. Female emergency medicine faculty demonstrated increases in representation overall, from 35 (16.36%) in 1990 to 2247 (38.25%) in 2020, suggesting a 3% estimated annual rate of increase (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.03–1.04) and within each academic rank. A very small positive trend was noted among Latinx faculty (n = 3, 1.40% in 1990 to n = 326, 5.55% in 2020; OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.01–1.02), whereas an even smaller, statistically insignificant increase was observed among Black emergency medicine faculty during the 31‐year study period (N = 9, 4.21% in 1990 and N = 266, 4.53% in 2020; OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.99–1.00). Conclusions Although female physicians have progressed toward equitable representation among academic emergency medicine faculty, no meaningful progress has been made toward racial parity. The persistent underrepresentation of Black and Latinx physicians in the academic emergency medicine workforce underscores the need for urgent structural changes to address contemporary manifestations of racism in academic medicine and beyond.