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The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of embedding special interest areas (SIAs) in whole-group (WG) instruction on engagement and out-of-seat (OOS) behaviors for young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in general education classrooms. A multiple baseline across participants design was used to evaluate the functional relation between the SIA-embedded instruction and engagement and OOS behaviors of all three children. Non-targeted probes were conducted after every intervention session to investigate whether there was behavioral change when the SIAs were removed from instruction. Results indicated that embedding SIAs in WG instruction may increase the engagement behavior and decrease the OOS behavior of children with ASD; behavioral changes were maintained over time for all children.

This study examined the initial efficacy of World Generation (WorldGen), a Tier I social studies instructional approach for emergent bilingual (EB) students and their native English-speaking (non-EB) peers in Grades 6 and 7. WorldGen builds on prior research on instructional practices that have been associated with improved content knowledge and literacy outcomes for EBs in classes of students with varying English proficiency. Using a within-teacher design, middle grades world history teachers' classes were randomly assigned to WorldGen treatment (17) or comparison conditions (16) for three to four approximately two-week units. The student sample included 42% EBs. Students in the treatment condition (n = 373) scored higher, on average, on world history content (Hedges' g = 0.47) and vocabulary knowledge (Hedges' g = 0.41) than students in the comparison condition (n = 343) but no statistically significant findings were yielded regarding disciplinary literacy skills at the end of WorldGen instruction. Of primary interest, the statistically significant main effects indicated that world history content knowledge and vocabulary learning was similar for both current EB and non-EB students in the treatment condition. The findings provide initial support for the use of the WorldGen instructional practices for improving content acquisition and vocabulary in general education social studies classes with students with a range of English proficiency. Furthermore, teachers perceived the WorldGen instructional practices and materials as providing the information and learning experiences necessary to support students in meeting grade-level expectations.

Abstract Cancer-associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) have emerged as critical regulators of anti-tumour immunity, with both beneficial and detrimental properties that remain poorly characterised. To investigate this, we performed single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analysis, comparing head & neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) subgroups, which although heterogenous, can be considered broadly immune-hot and immune-cold (human papillomavirus [HPV]+ve and HPV-ve tumours respectively). This identified six fibroblast subpopulations, including two with immunomodulatory gene expression profiles (IL-11 + inflammatory [i]CAF and CCL19 + fibroblastic reticular cell [FRC]-like). IL-11 + iCAF were spatially associated with inflammatory monocytes and regulated in vitro through synergistic activation of canonical NF-κB signalling by IL-1β and TNF-α. FRC-like were enriched in immune-hot HPV+ve tumours, associated with CD4 + T-cells and B-cells in tertiary lymphoid structures and regulated through non-canonical NF-κB signalling via lymphotoxin. Pan-cancer analysis revealed several ‘iCAF’ subgroups present in both normal and cancer tissues; IL11 + iCAF were found in cancers from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and transcriptomically distinct from iCAFs previously described in pancreatic and breast cancers with greater inflammatory properties; FRC-like fibroblasts were present at low frequencies in all tumour types, and were associated with significantly better survival in patients receiving checkpoint immunotherapy. This work clarifies and expands current literature on immunomodulatory CAFs, highlighting links with important immunological niches.

Abstract We present an analysis of the lepton-flavor violating decay of the Higgs boson mediated by an ultralight gauge boson, $$\chi $$ χ . Our analysis matches a model generating the lepton flavor-violating interaction $$\bar{\ell }_i\ell _j\chi $$ ℓ ¯ i ℓ j χ at tree level with an effective field theory, safeguarding a physical massless $$\chi $$ χ -boson limit of the observables. By utilizing the upper bounds on $$H\rightarrow \ell _i {\bar{\ell }}_j$$ H → ℓ i ℓ ¯ j decays from CMS and ATLAS Collaborations, we establish an indirect upper limit on the nonstandard decay $$H\rightarrow \ell _i {\bar{\ell }}_j\chi $$ H → ℓ i ℓ ¯ j χ . The analysis encompasses various observables such as the lepton energy spectrum, Dalitz plot distribution, and Lepton Charge and Forward-Backward Asymmetries.

Background/Objectives: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in pediatric and young adult (YA) patients can lead to endotheliopathy, such as thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). Natriuretic peptides have been studied as markers of endotheliopathy and critical illness. We hypothesized that an elevation in NT-proBNP was associated with the development of endotheliopathy (DAH, SOS, or TMA) in the first 100 days following HSCT in pediatric and YA patients. Methods: IRB-exempt status was obtained. This retrospective case–control study reviewed HSCT at our institution from 2016 to 2020. Cases were selected based on an endotheliopathy diagnosis in the first 100 days after HSCT. Cases were matched with controls. Baseline and near-event NT-proBNP levels were compared between cases and matched controls. The effect of NT-proBNP levels on developing endotheliopathy was estimated using conditional logistic regression. Results: Sixty-two patients were included (31 cases, 31 controls). Near-event NT-proBNP was significantly higher in cases compared to controls (median: 473 vs. 187 pg/mL, p = 0.03, Wilcoxon rank–sum test), in contrast to comparison in baseline NT-proBNP (median: 86 vs. 86 pg/mL, p = 0.51). After adjusting for covariates, an association between near-event NT-proBNP and odds of developing endotheliopathy did not achieve statistical significance. However, trends from most common transplant indications suggested an association between an elevated near-event NT-proBNP level and endotheliopathy, particularly in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients. Conclusions: NT-proBNP should be studied further as a biomarker for endotheliopathy in pediatric and YA patients undergoing HSCT. This may be particularly relevant for patients undergoing HSCT for ALL.

The assessment of Intellectual Disability (ID) under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act 2004 (IDEIA; Public Law 108-446, 2004) requires the measurement of both intelligence and adaptive behavior (i.e., conceptual, social, and practical skills). This study expands past research by examining current state special education guidelines based on IDEIA and their alignment with best practices in assessment across all U.S. states and the District of Columbia (DC) for the assessment of ID. Aggregated and disaggregated data pertaining to special education guidelines and recommendations are examined, including cut-scores and confidence intervals, information specific to composite adaptive behavior scores versus domain scores, and multiple informants.

This article examines the role of sport as it pertains to Latino male faculty. Specifically, we offer a contribution to the dearth of scholarship at the intersections of sport and how Latino male faculty make sense of their identities and academic journeys. The use of sport as a reference for understanding Latinx faculty identity is for the most part non-existent within education research that is focused on Latino males. Drawing from this context, we offer this piece as a means by which to examine sport with links to family, community, faculty navigation and resistance skills.

Background Acute exacerbations of fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are associated with high mortality. We used prospective data from the INBUILD trial to investigate risk factors for acute exacerbations and the impact of these events in patients with progressive pulmonary fibrosis. Methods Patients with progressive fibrosing ILDs other than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) were randomised to receive nintedanib or placebo. Associations between baseline characteristics and time to first acute exacerbation were assessed using pooled data from both treatment groups using Cox proportional hazard models, firstly univariable models and then a multivariable model using forward stepwise selection. The risk of death was estimated based on the Kaplan−Meier method. Results Over a median follow-up of approximately 19 months, acute exacerbations were reported in 58 (8.7%) of 663 patients. In the risk factor analysis, the final model included diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) % predicted, treatment and age. Lower DLCO % predicted was associated with an increased risk of acute exacerbation with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.56 (95% CI 1.21–2.02) per 10 units lower (p

Special education researchers have for decades emphasized the importance of intervention effectiveness and procedural fidelity, but relatively little attention has been directed toward understanding intervention intensity. This review focused on extracting details of intervention intensity as reported in peer-reviewed studies of scripting and pivotal response training (PRT), two different evidence-based practices for learners with autism. We coded 24 scripting and 18 PRT studies and synthesized results according to four constructs of intervention intensity. Results indicated varied reporting of intervention intensity within and between studies. Only seven (29%) of scripting studies and one (6%) PRT study reported information sufficient to determine intervention intensity. Scripting and PRT researchers reported similar rates of opportunities to respond. Implications for researchers and professionals are discussed along with limitations and instructions for future study.

Given the nature of student affairs work, practitioners may be exposed to work-related stress that impacts their professional and personal well-being. In this phenomenological study, we examined the lived experiences of 9 professionals who worked with undocumented students and how they experienced and managed their compassion fatigue. Findings indicate that the predisposition to advocate and support along with expectations were prevalent triggers to compassion stress. Implications for professionals, their supervisors and institutions are discussed.

Abstract A model with fermion and scalar fields charged under a Peccei–Queen (PQ) symmetry is proposed. The PQ charges are chosen in such a way that they can reproduce mass matrices with five texture zeros, which can generate the fermion masses, the CKM matrix, and the PMNS matrix of the Standard Model (SM). To obtain this result, at least 4 Higgs doublets are needed. As we will see in the manuscript this is a highly non-trivial result since the texture zeros of the mass matrices impose a large number of restrictions. This model shows a route to understand the different scales of the SM by extending it with a multi-Higgs sector and an additional PQ symmetry. Since the PQ charges are not universal, the model predicts flavor-changing neutral currents (FCNC) at the tree level, a feature that constitutes the main source of restrictions on the parameter space. We report the allowed regions by lepton decays and compare them with those coming from the semileptonic decays $$K^{\pm }\longrightarrow \pi {\bar{\nu }}\nu $$ K ± ⟶ π ν ¯ ν . We also show the excluded regions and the projected bounds of future experiments for the axion–photon coupling as a function of the axion mass and compare it with the parameter space of our model.

Resumen: Introducción: Dadas las altas tasas de recurrencia, el hematoma subdural crónico (HSDC) es una condición que supone un reto para el clínico. La embolización endovascular de la arteria meníngea media (EeAMM) ha surgido como una alternativa para aquellos pacientes con problemas de salud o con varias recurrencias de su HSDC. A pesar de la publicación de algunos artículos prometedores referentes a esta técnica, el perfil de seguridad, las indicaciones y las limitaciones no están claramente establecidas. Desarrollo: Nuestro objetivo es evaluar la evidencia actual sobre la EeAMM en el HSDC. Se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura según las guías PRISMA. Nuestra búsqueda arrojó un total de 6 estudios, en los que 164 pacientes con HSDC se sometieron a EeAMM. La tasa de recurrencia entre todos los estudios fue del 6,7% y se produjeron complicaciones en hasta el 6% de los pacientes. Conclusión: La EeAMM es una técnica factible en el tratamiento del HSDC con una tasa de recurrencia relativamente baja y tasas aceptables de complicaciones. Se necesitan más estudios prospectivos y aleatorizados para establecer formalmente un perfil de seguridad claro y su efectividad. Abstract: Introduction: Chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH) represents a clinical challenge due to its high recurrence rate. Endovascular middle meningeal artery embolisation (eMMAE) has emerged as an alternative for those patients presenting health problems or multiple recurrences of CSDH. Despite several encouraging reports, the safety profile, indications, and limitations of the technique are not clearly established. Development: This study aimed to evaluate the current evidence on eMMAE in patients with CSDH. We performed a systematic review of the literature, following the PRISMA guidelines. Our search yielded a total of 6 studies, in which a total of 164 patients with CSDH underwent eMMAE. The recurrence rate across all studies was 6.7%, and complications occurred in up to 6% of patients. Conclusions: eMMAE is a feasible technique for treating CSDH, with a relatively low recurrence rate and an acceptable rate of complications. Further prospective and randomised studies are needed to formally establish a clear profile of the safety and effectiveness of the technique.

Abstract Breast cancer is the second most common diagnosed type of cancer in women. Chronic neuropathic pain after mastectomy occurs frequently and is a serious health problem. In our previous single-center, prospective, randomized controlled clinical study, we demonstrated that the combination of serratus anterior plane block (SAM) and pectoral nerve block type I (PECS I) with general anesthesia reduced acute postoperative pain. The present report describes a prospective follow-up study of this published study to investigate the development of chronic neuropathic pain 12 months after mastectomy by comparing the use of general anesthesia alone and general anesthesia with SAM + PECS I. Additionally, the use of analgesic medication, quality of life, depressive symptoms, and possible correlations between plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, and IL-10 collected before and 24 h after surgery as predictors of pain and depression were evaluated. The results showed that the use of SAM + PECS I with general anesthesia reduced numbness, hypoesthesia to touch, the incidence of patients with chronic pain in other body regions and depressive symptoms, however, did not significantly reduce the incidence of chronic neuropathic pain after mastectomy. Additionally, there was no difference in the consumption of analgesic medication and quality of life. Furthermore, no correlation was observed between IL-1 beta, IL-6, and IL-10 levels and pain and depression. The combination of general anesthesia with SAM + PECS I reduced the occurrence of specific neuropathic pain descriptors and depressive symptoms. These results could promote the use of SAM + PECS I blocks for the prevention of specific neuropathic pain symptoms after mastectomy. Registration of clinical trial: The Research Ethics Board of the Hospital Sirio-Libanes/Brazil approved the study (CAAE 48721715.0.0000.5461). This study is registered at Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clinicos (ReBEC), and ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT02647385.

The use of sensors to detect or measure ripening changes in fruit is a growing area of interest to the scientific community. Colorimeters are commonly employed for color and shade identification; however, their usage to measure the color parameters of fruit rinds based on image analysis can be expensive. This article presents a non-invasive and low-cost optoelectronic system for detecting color changes in oranges to predict the ripening stage. The system utilises a 1 W white LED as a light source, an RGB photodiode array, and two plastic optical fibres bundled in parallel to form the head of an extrinsic sensor. A microcontroller is employed for model integration and data acquisition. The evolution of the skin color of the fruit was monitored until over-ripeness was evident. The sensor was designed to detect the color changes; the CIE L*a*b* color difference between the optoelectronic device results and those obtained by colorimetry was 2.6–4.5. To predict the ideal conditions for fruit handling and determine the maturity level, a multilevel perceptron ANN was trained, achieving an accuracy of 96.4%. In addition, an overall precision of 96.6% was achieved when classifying fruit into three maturity categories (under-ripe, ripe, and over-ripe), and the error was 3.4%. The combination of the optoelectronic device and ANN improves considerably this fruit color classification accuracy, can facilitate the determination of the optimal time for consumption, and optimize the postharvest process efficiency.

Abstract A Peccei-Quinn (PQ) symmetry is proposed, in order to generate in the Standard Model (SM) quark sector a realistic mass matrix ansatz with five texture-zeros. Limiting our analysis to Hermitian mass matrices we show that this requires a minimum of 4 Higgs doublets. This model allows assigning values close to 1 for several Yukawa couplings, giving insight into the origin of the mass scales in the SM. Since the PQ charges are non-universal the model features Flavor-Changing Neutral Currents (FCNC) at the tree level. From the analytical expressions for the FCNC we report the allowed region in the parameter space obtained from the measurements of branching ratios of semileptonic meson decays.

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the technical quality performance of a remote onco-hematology laboratory facility (ROLF) in Brazil, with a focus on its crucial role in the diagnosis and monitoring of onco-hematology diseases. We specifically assessed the effectiveness of bone marrow cytogenetic analysis conducted on samples received from various onco-hematology services throughout the country. Furthermore, we examined the potential impact of implementing a ROLF for the diagnosis of blood and bone marrow cancers, placing particular emphasis on enhancing accessibility, ensuring sample stability, and improving karyotyping performance. Through this investigation, we aim to shed light on the valuable contributions and benefits offered by a remote laboratory setting in the field of onco-hematology diagnostics. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 554 bone marrow samples collected between January and May 2023. The samples were sent to the laboratory via our own logistics system, and the processing of the samples commenced within 24 hours of collection. Immunophenotyping classification was performed using a 13-parameter DxFLEX flow cytometer (Beckman Coulter). Cytogenetic analysis using G-banding was performed on cell cultures, which were incubated for 24-72 hours based on the cell type indicated in the immunophenotyping examination. The metaphases were analyzed, and the results were described following the guidelines of the International System for Human Cytogenomic Nomenclature (ISCN - 2020). Results: Cytogenetic analysis was successfully performed in 542 (97.8%) of the cases, while only 12 (2.2%) were classified as unsuccessful cytogenetics (UC). The comparison between karyotyping analysis and immunophenotyping classification revealed the absence of metaphases (UC) in specific neoplasia types: 3 samples (2.7%) out of 88 AML cases, 1 sample out of 39 MDS cases, 1 sample out of 67 myeloma cases, 1 sample out of 15 lymphoproliferative disease cases, and 2 samples (1.8%) out of 69 cases for measurable residual disease investigation. However, successful cytogenetics were obtained in all 39 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 33 cases of myeloproliferative disease. Four cases (3.52%) out of 204 normal bone marrow samples showed UC results. Discussion: The data indicates that the implementation of a ROLF for cytogenetics and immunophenotyping improves efficiency in achieving accurate diagnoses, with a high percentage of successful cytogenetic results (98%) when compared to previously published results in Brazil and Europe. The low rate of UC and the identification of karyotypic alterations in a significant number of cases highlight the reliability and improvement in cell culture techniques and the identification of clonal lineages, leading to reliable results in understanding and managing each diagnostic approach. Conclusion: Our remote laboratory for immunophenotyping, molecular biology, and cytogenetics has demonstrated excellent technical performance and operational efficiency. These results support the effectiveness of remote support in providing accurate and timely diagnoses for hematological malignancies, contributing to improved patient care and outcomes.

The authors have previously demonstrated the neutralising capacity of their nanoparticle vaccine, as well as showing protection of non-human primates from SARS-CoV-2 WA-1 infection. In this work, they investigate the ability of their vaccine candidate to neutralise SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, and protect animals from other sarbecoviruses.

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic marks the third coronavirus pandemic this century (SARS-CoV-1, MERS, SARS-CoV-2), emphasizing the need to identify and evaluate conserved immunogens for a pan-sarbecovirus vaccine. Here we investigate the potential utility of a T-cell vaccine strategy targeting conserved regions of the sarbecovirus proteome. We identified the most conserved regions of the sarbecovirus proteome as portions of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and Helicase proteins, both of which are part of the coronavirus replication transcription complex (RTC). Fitness constraints suggest that as SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve these regions may better preserve cross-reactive potential of T-cell responses than Spike, Nucleocapsid, or Membrane proteins. We sought to determine if vaccine-elicited T-cell responses to the highly conserved regions of the RTC would reduce viral loads following challenge with SARS-CoV-2 in mice using a rhesus adenovirus serotype 52 (RhAd52) vector. The RhAd52.CoV.Consv vaccine generated robust cellular immunity in mice and led to significant reductions in viral loads in the nasal turbinates following challenge with a mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2. These data suggest the potential utility of T-cell targeting of conserved regions for a pan-sarbecovirus vaccine.

Bones are the third most common location for solid tumor metastasis affecting up to 10% of patients with solid tumors. When the spine is involved, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae are frequently affected. Access to spinal lesions can be through minimally invasive surgery (MIS) or traditional open surgery (OS). This study aims to determine which method provides an advantage. Following the PRISMA (Preferred Inventory for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines, a systematic review was conducted to identify studies that compare MIS with OS in patients with spinal metastatic disease. Data were analyzed using Review Manager ver. 5.3 (RevMan; Cochrane, London, UK). Ten studies were included. Operative time was similar among groups at −35.23 minutes (95% confidence interval [CI], −73.36 to 2.91 minutes; p=0.07). Intraoperative bleeding was lower in MIS at −562.59 mL (95% CI, −776.97 to −348.20 mL; p