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Abstract The spatial variability of moist static energy (MSE) and its column‐integral (CMSE) around tropical cyclones (TCs) are known to help prognose TC development. Though limited in number and spatial coverage per TC, modeling work suggests that dropsondes, when strategically deployed, can reliably capture radial MSE and CMSE variability. This study uses North Atlantic upper‐level reconnaissance dropsondes from 1996 to 2021 to produce the most extensive observational analysis of MSE structure in TCs to date. MSE and CMSE decrease with distance from the TC center. MSE spatial variability is larger in Category 1 and 2 hurricanes compared to tropical storms, and generally largest after a TC's lifetime maximum intensity. Moisture dominates the MSE spatial variability but temperature contributes in the upper levels near the TC center. While differences in MSE spatial variability between weakening and intensifying TCs are less clear, raw MSE tends to be greater in intensifying TCs at most radii and vertical levels.

Abstract Background People with different types of dementia may have distinct symptoms and experiences that affect their quality of life. This study investigated whether quality of life varied across types of dementia and over time. Methods The participants were 1555 people with mild-to-moderate dementia and 1327 carers from the IDEAL longitudinal cohort study, recruited from clinical services. As many as possible were followed for up to 6 years. Diagnoses included were Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, mixed Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, Parkinson’s disease dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia. Self- and informant-rated versions of the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease scale were used. A joint model, incorporating a mixed effects model with random effects and a survival model to account for dropout, was used to examine whether quality of life varied by dementia type at the time of diagnosis and how trajectories changed over time. Results The strongest associations between dementia type and quality of life were seen around the time of diagnosis. For both self-ratings and informant ratings, people with Parkinson’s disease dementia or dementia with Lewy bodies had lower quality of life scores. Over time there was little change in self-rated scores across all dementia types (− 0.15 points per year). Informant-rated scores declined over time (− 1.63 points per year), with the greatest decline seen in ratings by informants for people with dementia with Lewy bodies (− 2.18 points per year). Conclusions Self-rated quality of life scores were relatively stable over time whilst informant ratings showed a steeper decline. People with Parkinson’s disease dementia or dementia with Lewy bodies report particularly low levels of quality of life, indicating the importance of greater attention to the needs of these groups.

Abstract During the Covid-19 pandemic, accurate PCR tests were augmented by the cheap, rapid, and logistically convenient, yet less sensitive antigen tests. In Israel, a testing policy shift was implemented due to limited availability of PCR tests during the Omicron surge. Thus, both PCR and antigen tests were used, as this was the only alternative for mass testing and surveillance at the time. Yet, evidence-based surveillance requires a robust understanding of the expected consequences of changing the testing policy. Using 41,065 paired tests performed by trained staff between January and April 2022 in Israel, we estimate how the sensitivity of antigen tests changes as a function of Ct value and other key covariates. The results reveal a logarithmic relationship between antigen detection probability and viral load, as quantified by Ct-values of the PCR tests. Further analysis shows a statistically significant association with an odds ratio of approximately 0.76 with each unit of Ct-value. The analysis suggests that in spite of their compromised sensitivity, antigen tests are a natural solution for routine use, while PCR tests should be considered in situations where a false negative result could have serious consequences. These findings are the foundations of policies that will utilize the strengths of the different tests, and achieve enhanced hybrid surveillance.

Purpose: Early detection and diagnosis of cancer is critical for achieving positive therapeutic outcomes. Biomarkers that can provide clinicians with clues to the outcome of a given therapeutic course are highly desired. Oxygen is a small molecule that is nearly universally present in biological tissues and plays a critical role in the effectiveness of radiotherapies by reacting with DNA radicals and subsequently impairing cellular repair of double strand breaks.Techniques for measuring oxygen in biological tissues often use blood oxygen saturation to approximate the oxygen partial pressure in surrounding tissues despite the complex, nonlinear, and dynamic relationship between these two separate oxygen populations. Methods and materials: We combined a directly oxygen-sensitive, tumor-targeted, chemical contrast nanoelement with the photoacoustic lifetime-based (PALT) oxygen imaging technique to obtain image maps of oxygen in breast cancer tumors in vivo. The oxygen levels of patient-derived xenografts in a mouse model were characterized before and after a course of radiotherapy. Results: We show that, independent of tumor size, radiotherapy induced an increase in the overall oxygenation levels of the tumor. Further, this increase in the oxygenation of the tumor significantly correlated with a positive response to radiotherapy, as demonstrated by a reduction in tumor volume over the twenty-day monitoring period following therapy and histological staining. Conclusion: Our PALT imaging presented here is simple, fast, and non-invasive. Facilized by the PALT approach, imaging of tumor reoxygenation may be utilized as a simple, early indicator for evaluating cancer response to radiotherapy. Further characterization of the reoxygenation degree, temporal onset, and possible theragnostic implications are warranted.

Functional communication training (FCT) is an evidence-based intervention that has been widely used and implemented to reduce problem behavior and teach replacement behavior in a variety of settings. Specific procedures have been researched and documented to ensure correct implementation. Functional communication training can be broken into three steps: (a) identifying the function of the problem behavior through a functional behavior assessment (FBA); (b) selecting an appropriate replacement communicative response; and (c) building new skills acquisition through teaching and rehearsal while using reinforcements and extinction.

Abstract Intravenous ketamine is posited to rapidly reverse depression by rapidly enhancing neuroplasticity. In human patients, we quantified gray matter microstructural changes on a rapid (24-h) timescale within key regions where neuroplasticity enhancements post-ketamine have been implicated in animal models. In this study, 98 unipolar depressed adults who failed at least one antidepressant medication were randomized 2:1 to a single infusion of intravenous ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) or vehicle (saline) and completed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) assessments at pre-infusion baseline and 24-h post-infusion. DTI mean diffusivity (DTI-MD), a putative marker of microstructural neuroplasticity in gray matter, was calculated for 7 regions of interest (left and right BA10, amygdala, and hippocampus; and ventral Anterior Cingulate Cortex) and compared to clinical response measured with the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms-Self-Report (QIDS-SR). Individual differences in DTI-MD change (greater decrease from baseline to 24-h post-infusion, indicative of more neuroplasticity enhancement) were associated with larger improvements in depression scores across several regions. In the left BA10 and left amygdala, these relationships were driven primarily by the ketamine group (group * DTI-MD interaction effects: p = 0.016–0.082). In the right BA10, these associations generalized to both infusion arms (p = 0.007). In the left and right hippocampus, on the MADRS only, interaction effects were observed in the opposite direction, such that DTI-MD change was inversely associated with depression change in the ketamine arm specifically (group * DTI-MD interaction effects: p = 0.032–0.06). The acute effects of ketamine on depression may be mediated, in part, by acute changes in neuroplasticity quantifiable with DTI.

COVID vaccination can reduce virus levels in breakthrough infections, which in turn may reduce transmission of the virus. By using qRT-PCR cycle threshold as a surrogate of virus levels, the authors here show that this positive effect of vaccination wanes relatively quickly for Omicron breakthrough infection.

I Can Succeed-Elementary School (ICS-ES) is the first social-emotional learning (SEL) program based on interpersonal psychotherapy for adolescents (IPT-A). We hypothesized that fourth graders participating in ICS-ES over two school years would show improvements in interpersonal/social, emotional, and academic functioning. 419 fourth-grade students (204 girls and 215 boys, ages 9-10) were non-randomly assigned either to participating in ICS-ES (n=283) or to not participating in any SEL programs, i.e. treatment as usual (TAU; n=136). At the end of the second year, analyses showed significant improvement in assertiveness and significant reductions in internalizing symptoms and bullying among the ICS-ES group. The groups did not differ in cooperation, responsibility, hyperactivity, empathy, self-control, and externalizing symptoms. In addition, academic achievements in their first language (Hebrew) significantly improved only among ICS-ES students, while there were no changes in their second language (English) achievements. In contrast, TAU students showed a decrease in their second-language achievements. There were no differences between the groups in mathematics achievements. Teachers reported overall high satisfaction with the training and implementation. These results suggest that ICS-ES is a feasible and promising program for reducing internalizing symptoms and enhancing interpersonal skills and specific areas of academic functioning.

The current randomized control trial evaluated the effectiveness of a new social-emotional learning (SEL) program, I Can Succeed for Preschools (ICS-PS). ICS-PS aims to improve preschoolers' social/interpersonal, emotional, and academic skills in an integrative way, focusing on children's core executive functions (EFs). The various components of the program are delivered sequentially throughout the school year via stories, physical activity, games, and role-playing. Six preschools were randomly assigned to either intervention (N = 49, mean age 66.37 months, 39% boys and 61% girls) or treatment as usual (TAU; N = 43, mean age 64.28 months, 56% boys and 44% girls). ICS-PS was delivered from November 2016 until May 2017. EF, emotional competence, social skills, behavior problems, and academic functioning were measured before and after the intervention. "Research Findings": Only children in the intervention group significantly improved in their EFs, receptive emotion knowledge, and emergent literacy, as well as in reducing internalizing problems. No change was found in social skills, indicating the need for more direct and explicit social skills training throughout the year. "Practice or Policy": These results, along with high treatment fidelity and program satisfaction, suggest that ICS-PS is a feasible and effective program for preschoolers. The research highlights the importance of prevention in early childhood.

The spatial variability of moist static energy (MSE) and its column‐integral (CMSE) around tropical cyclones (TCs) are known to help prognose TC development. Though limited in number and spatial coverage per TC, modeling work suggests that dropsondes, when strategically deployed, can reliably capture radial MSE and CMSE variability. This study uses North Atlantic upper‐level reconnaissance dropsondes from 1996 to 2021 to produce the most extensive observational analysis of MSE structure in TCs to date. MSE and CMSE decrease with distance from the TC center. MSE spatial variability is larger in Category 1 and 2 hurricanes compared to tropical storms, and generally largest after a TC's lifetime maximum intensity. Moisture dominates the MSE spatial variability but temperature contributes in the upper levels near the TC center. While differences in MSE spatial variability between weakening and intensifying TCs are less clear, raw MSE tends to be greater in intensifying TCs at most radii and vertical levels. Plain Language Summary: Moist static energy (MSE) is a thermodynamic variable combining contributions from temperature, water vapor, and gravity. MSE has been useful in describing processes important for atmospheric convection and tropical cyclone (TC) development. This study investigates the average MSE structure of observed Atlantic TCs using measurements from dropsondes, which are instruments dropped into TCs from Hurricane Hunter aircraft. MSE decreases with distance from the TC center, largely due to reduced moisture at large radii, though reduced temperature is important at higher altitudes. Further analysis was performed according to TC intensity and the rate of TC intensity change. MSE decreases more quickly from the TC center in Category 1 and 2 hurricanes compared to tropical storms. Intensifying and weakening TCs do not show substantial differences in how MSE varies in space. Instead, the MSE itself is larger in intensifying storms at most altitudes and distances, especially farther from the TC center. Key Points: Moist static energy (MSE) and its column integral decrease with distance from the TC center in observationsMoisture dominates the spatial variability of MSE but temperature contributes at upper levels near the TC centerMSE spatial variability is larger in Category 1–2 hurricanes than tropical storms and MSE itself is larger in more rapidly intensifying TCs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium has many vital and diverse roles in the human body, including maintaining the cellular pH, generating action potential, and regulating osmotic pressure. In cancer, sodium dysregulation has been correlated with tumor growth, metastasis, and immune cell inhibition. However, most in vivo sodium measurements are performed via Na23 NMR, which is handicapped by slow acquisition times, a low spatial resolution (in mm), and low signal-to-noise ratios. We present here a plasticizer-free, ionophore-based sodium-sensing nanoparticle that utilizes a solvatochromic dye transducer to circumvent the pH cross-sensitivity of most previously reported sodium nano-sensors. We demonstrate that this nano-sensor is non-toxic, boasts a 200 μM detection limit, and is over 1000 times more selective for sodium than potassium. Further, the in vitro photoacoustic calibration curve presented demonstrates the potential of this nano-sensor for performing the in vivo chemical imaging of sodium over the entire physiologically relevant concentration range.

Many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have problem behaviors that interfere with learning and social interaction. This randomized controlled trial compared treatment with functional communication training (FCT) to "treatment as usual" for young children with ASD (n=38, ages 21-84 months). FCT was conducted by parents with training and real-time coaching provided by behavioral consultants using telehealth. FCT treatment via telehealth achieved a mean reduction in problem behavior of 98% compared to limited behavioral improvement in children receiving "treatment as usual" during a 12-week period. Social communication and task completion also improved. For children with ASD and moderate to severe behavior problems, parent-implemented FCT using telehealth significantly reduced problem behavior while ongoing interventions typically did not.

This study explores the relationship between emotion regulation and psychosocial difficulties among adolescents with a specific learning disorder (SLD) and examines the role of the sense of school belonging in this connection. Participants were 249 seventh- and eighth-grade students diagnosed with SLD (146 boys, 103 girls) from 11 urban public schools. The analysis indicated that the total effect of students' emotion regulation on the degree of psychosocial difficulties was significant: the better the students' ability to regulate emotions, the lower their degree of psychosocial difficulties. This association was significantly mediated by a student's sense of school belonging. Furthermore, the better the student's ability to regulate emotions, the higher their sense of school belonging, which was in turn linked with fewer psychosocial difficulties. The article concludes with a discussion of theoretical and applied implications of the findings.

The use of telehealth technologies to provide clinical services to families of children with autism and other developmental disabilities is a rapidly growing area of research. In particular, remote training of caregivers via video conferencing appears to be a promising approach for disseminating behavior-analytic interventions (Neely et al. in "J Dev Phys Disabil" 29:849-874, 2017. 10.1007/s10882-017-9550-4; Tomlinson et al. in "J Behav Educ" 27:172-222, 2018. 10.1007/s10864-018-9292-0). Although remote training offers a number of advantages, it brings a variety of challenges that are unique to this modality. The field would benefit from information on problems that practitioners may encounter when providing these services and how to train caregivers effectively. In this paper, we report on the experiences of 18 practitioners who provided caregiver training via telehealth from four different sites across a 4-year period. We describe a variety of technical and clinical issues that arose during service delivery, suggest strategies for preventing and remediating problems, and include case descriptions and data to illustrate our experiences. This information may help prepare practitioners to deliver telehealth services and guide further research in this area.

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of psychoactive substance use by adolescents from public schools. This is a cross-sectional study that used a random sample of adolescents from five public schools located in a municipality in the central-west region of the São Paulo Metropolitan Area, Brazil. Information on demographic, socioeconomic, and drug use was collected using self-report questionnaires. The sample consisted of 1,460 students, 716 (49%) males, aged 10-19 years (13.19±2.04 years). The prevalence of psychoactive substance use in the last month was 51% for analgesics; 48.8% for alcohol; 37.3% for tobacco; 30.8% for tranquilizers; 23.1% for marijuana; 22.6% for anabolic steroids; 21.6% for ecstasy; 15.3% for amphetamines/stimulants; 13.4% for phencyclidine; 12.9% for cocaine/crack; 12.6% for inhalants/solvents; 11.5% for opiates; 11.4% for hallucinogens; and 16.2% for other unclassified drugs. Elementary and middle school students were more likely to consume tobacco (OR = 2.306; 95%CI: 1.733-3.068; p < 0.001), and male students were more likely to consume any type of substance. We identified a high use of psychoactive substances among this study participants, with a higher prevalence among male students.

Background. Recent reports have confirmed the improving trends in colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and outcomes. Still, disparities in incidence and mortality in CRC continue to persist between major ethnic groups despite the provision of widespread screening and improved care. We aimed to outline, from an endoscopic point of view, ethnic disparities in major endoscopic measures concerned with CRC screening and detection and track their impact on patients’ outcomes. Methods. We reviewed electronic reports of patients referred for colonoscopy procedures over 20 years. We compared demographic, clinical, and endoscopic findings between major ethnic population groups in Israel. In addition, trends of screening utilization, bowel preparation, and polyp detection rates were tracked, and the incidence of CRC diagnosis was followed. Results. A total of 51307 patients had undergone colonoscopies, of whom 16% were Arabs, and 84% were Jewish. The procedures performed for CRC screening throughout the study period were significantly lower in Arabs (5% vs. 13.1%; P