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Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the greatest contributor to lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in children less than 5 years of age and the leading cause for infant hospitalizations in the United States (US). The burden of severe disease disproportionately impacts racial and ethnic minority groups, highlighting the need for interventions that promote health equity. Recent advancements in effective prophylactic agents have the potential to drastically alter the landscape of RSV disease among all young children. The effectiveness of prophylaxis, however, will rely on a clear understanding of RSV epidemiology. The purpose of this review is to discuss key aspects of RSV epidemiology while focusing on efforts to support equitable distribution of prophylactic agents to mitigate existing health disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undergraduate lab sessions play a crucial role in building and reinforcing conceptual understanding in STEM education. In third and fourth year higher education, lab sessions can be challenging to incorporate into the curriculum due to cost, safety, or difficulty in realizing abstract concepts. Mixed reality (MR) systems provide a novel solution due to their ability to nurture collaboration and tactile interaction. In this work, an MR system designed for use in chemical kinetics undergraduate curriculum is described. This system combines the principles of student-driven, investigative learning with tactile feedback and simulation-based teaching. A small-scale study was conducted to explore students' use of a prototype MR system as compared to a traditional "pen-and-paper" cooperative learning activity. Differences in student engagement and learning outcomes were analyzed. Results indicate that students working with MR demonstrated slightly more accurate and nuanced conceptual understandings, conducted faster and more cycles of inquiry, expressed more clarity when articulating thoughts, and engaged in less risk aversion when presenting their ideas as compared to their peers in the control condition.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a substantial cause of infant morbidity and mortality due to seasonal peaks of bronchiolitis across the United States. Clinical and viral surveillance plays a pivotal role in helping hospital systems prepare for expected surges in RSV bronchiolitis. Existing surveillance efforts have shown a geographic pattern of RSV positivity across the United States, with cases typically starting in the southeast and spreading north and west. Public health measures implemented due to the COVID‐19 pandemic disrupted viral transmission across the nation and altered the expected seasonality of RSV. The impact of these changes on the geographic progression of infant RSV bronchiolitis across the United States has not been described. Methods: Here, we used clinical and viral surveillance data from four health care systems located in different regions of the United States to describe the geographic progression of infant RSV bronchiolitis across the country from 2015 to 2023. Results: Prior to widespread circulation of SARS‐CoV‐2, infant RSV bronchiolitis followed an established geographic pattern associated with seasonal epidemics originating in Florida and spreading north (North Carolina and New York) and later westward (Nevada). Although public health and social measures implemented during the COVID‐19 pandemic disrupted the seasonality of RSV disease, infant RSV bronchiolitis epidemics progressed across the nation in a pattern identical to the prepandemic era. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of ongoing clinical and viral surveillance to optimally track the onset of RSV epidemics and allow health care systems to prepare for expected RSV bronchiolitis surges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of learners’ alcohol and other drug (AOD) use have far-reaching implications for educators and the teaching environment. The Schools Act 84 of 1996 describes the consequences of misconduct, with its revisions stipulating the conditions and procedures for searching, testing, and drug possession in an attempt to reduce learner substance use. There seem to be inconsistencies in the implementation of guidelines and the current practices at the school level. This research aimed to explore the response by schools to alcohol and other drug use among learners, and the guidelines to identify and address substance use. The study employed a qualitative approach and sampled 14 high schools located in seven municipality clusters in the Cape Town metropole. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with teaching and management personnel. A total of 23 personnel from 11 high schools were interviewed. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes and patterns. Three themes emerged from the data, namely Practices of educators in response to AOD use; Policy-implementation gap; and Lack of agency to effect change. There is a lack of cohesive guidelines for educators to address substance use in schools. Consequently, schools use their own discretion to handle the situation; given their resources and social capital. Educators feel uninformed and ill-equipped to assist learners beyond referral. Further, there is a dearth of knowledge on aftercare and relapse in the contexts of the school/learning environment, both of which are critical components of effectively managing substance use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]