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Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) demonstrate delayed and atypical communication development. These deficits constitute a core criterion for the diagnosis of ASD, though information regarding gestural communication in toddlers with ASD remains limited. The present investigation implemented a robust gesture classification system in order to obtain quantitative measures of gesture production in a cohort of toddlers with ASD (n = 40) and controls (n = 40) during 10-min, play-based interactions with caregivers. Children with ASD produced fewer overall gestures and gesture subtypes compared to controls. The ASD group also displayed atypical patterns of gesture production. These findings highlight the need for evidence-based screening, assessment, and intervention protocols pertaining to gestural communication in toddlers with ASD.

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) demonstrate delayed and atypical communication development. These deficits constitute a core criterion for the diagnosis of ASD, though information regarding gestural communication in toddlers with ASD remains limited. The present investigation implemented a robust gesture classification system in order to obtain quantitative measures of gesture production in a cohort of toddlers with ASD (n = 40) and controls (n = 40) during 10-min, play-based interactions with caregivers. Children with ASD produced fewer overall gestures and gesture subtypes compared to controls. The ASD group also displayed atypical patterns of gesture production. These findings highlight the need for evidence-based screening, assessment, and intervention protocols pertaining to gestural communication in toddlers with ASD., Author(s): Avinash Mishra [sup.1] , Victoria Ceballos [sup.1] , Kelsey Himmelwright [sup.1] , Shannon McCabe [sup.1] , Lindsay Scott [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.262900.f, 0000 0001 0626 5147, Department of [...]

This article provides an update on the trends in Project Management Offices (PMOs) for the year 2024. The trends include building a PMO community of practice, focusing on efficiency and productivity, utilizing generative AI, incorporating project data analytics, developing the PMO as a profession, formalizing the definition of PMO, differentiating between service catalogues, handbooks, and playbooks, implementing structured frameworks for continuous improvement, incorporating practices that support sustainability, and increasing the presence of PMOs in organizations. Collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and clear communication are emphasized within PMOs. The PMO Handbook and PMO Playbook are resources that provide guidance and tools for project management practices. Continuous improvement, sustainability, and the new edition of the PMO Competency Framework are also highlighted. [Extracted from the article]

The article provides updates from the House of PMO in the UK. It announces that PMI has acquired the PMO Global Alliance, a global community of over 17,000 PMO practitioners known for its annual PMO award program. The article also highlights the launch of PMO: HE, a dedicated PMO community for higher education professionals. Additionally, it discusses the relationship between project controls and the PMO function and invites PMO practitioners to a discussion at the Houses of Parliament. The article concludes with information about the PMO Conference in Edinburgh and the House of PMO's role in bringing PMO professionals together. [Extracted from the article]

Sarcocystis neurona is the major agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. It infects several mammalian species in the Americas, where the definitive hosts, marsupials of the genus Didelphis (D. virginiana and D. albiventris) are found. Domestic cats are one of the confirmed intermediate hosts of the parasite; however, antibodies against S. neurona had never before been demonstrated in Brazilian cats. The aim of this study was to determine whether cats in Bahia, Brazil, are exposed to the parasite. A total of 272 feline serum samples (134 from feral and 138 from house cats) were subjected to an indirect fluorescent antibody test using cultured merozoites of S. neurona as antigen. Positivity was detected in 4.0% (11/272) of the tested samples, with titers ranging from 25 to 800. The feline sera were also tested for antibodies against the protozoan Neospora caninum, with an observed antibody frequency of 2.9%. To the author's knowledge, this is the first study to report antibodies against S. neurona in Brazilian cats. We conclude that cats are exposed to the parasite in the region of this study. Further investigations are needed to confirm the role of cats in the transmission cycle of S. neurona in Brazil.

Abstract Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora hughesi are coccidian protozoa that can cause neurological illness in horses in America. In this study we report seroprevalence of Neospora spp. andS. neurona in sera of 333 donkeys from the northeastern region of Brazil. Antibodies to Neospora spp. were detected in 2% (7 donkeys) of 333 sera tested by the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) with a cut-off dilution of 1:40. Antibodies to S. neurona were found in 3% (10 donkeys) of the samples tested by IFAT (cut-off ≥50) and 21% (69 donkeys) by the direct agglutination test (SAT ≥50). The SAT and IFAT results for S. neurona showed a poor concordance (value of Kappa=0.051). This is the first report ofNeospora spp. antibodies in Brazilian donkeys and the first detection of antibodies against S. neurona in this animal species.

Critical reflexivity, situated in a critical communication pedagogy framework, enables students and instructors to critique their identity positions alongside broader contextual structures enmeshed within the dynamics of intercultural conflict. This study therefore examines undergraduate students' discourses of critical reflexivity following a retreat workshop experience in an intercultural conflict course. After collecting data through reflection papers, we found uneven understandings and applications of critical reflexivity that reflect the potential of critical reflexivity in helping students to question various assumptions about themselves and others but also the challenges of disrupting dominant ideologies such as individualism to increase understanding of structural factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Case summary A 17-year-old female neutered domestic shorthair cat presented for several days of reduced faecal volume and a rectal prolapse. Physical examination revealed a 2 cm rectal prolapse, hepatomegaly and a low body condition score of 3/9. Haematology and biochemistry revealed a mild non-regenerative anaemia (haematocrit 24.5%; reference interval [RI] 30.3–52.3%), a mild mature neutrophilia (16.21 × 10 9 /l; RI 1.48–10.29 × 10 9 /l) and a mild increase in alanine aminotransferase activity (222 IU/l; RI 12–130 IU/l). Abdominal radiographs identified hepatomegaly. The rectal prolapse was reduced under general anaesthesia. Abdominal ultrasound identified a caecocolic intussusception and a large hepatic mass. Thoracic radiographs were unremarkable. Hepatic fine-needle aspirate cytology revealed well-differentiated hepatocytes. A typhlectomy was performed and the quadrate liver lobe, with mass, was resected. Gross examination of the caecum identified a focal polyp; histopathology showed moderate plasmacytic–lymphocytic typhlitis and reactive mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue. The hepatic mass was diagnosed as a well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma. Six weeks postoperatively the cat had gained 0.5 kg, had an improved body condition score of 5/9 and resolution of clinical signs. The cat died acutely 1 year later from an unknown cause. Relevance and novel information Caecocolic intussusception is rare in cats and uncommon in dogs. This is the third report in a cat and the first associated with a caecal polyp. As reported in dogs, the outcome following surgery was good. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a rarely reported feline neoplasm, which may have a good prognosis with surgical resection.

The auxetic sandwich panels for structures have been designed to provide impact protection. The aim of this work is to modify an auxetic (re-entrant) honeycomb cell to reduce the stress concentrations within the cell structure, and further enhancement of this design. The auxetic structure was filled to achieve a greater energy absorbance and enhance safety applications. Analytical and elastic three-dimensional finite element approaches were used to investigate the structural strength performance. The basic model (i.e. modified re-entrant strut cell design) consisted of the honeycomb auxetic polypropylene (PP) structure sandwiched between two steel plates (known as safety panels) which were placed under static compression loading. The cell geometry and size were then modified to reduce the stress concentration zones. The structure cells were filled with silly putty and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam. The effect of the filling the cells on the stress concentration and energy absorbance were analysed using elastic stress and deformation analysis methods. During the stress path analysis, it was found that an increase in Young's modulus of the filling was directly proportional to a decrease in internal stresses. It was concluded that while filling the basic model with soft materials reduced the stress concentration, but it led to a reduction in the energy absorbance capability. Further on, the lower stress produced by the enhanced could be useful to prevent significant penetration of the protective panel. Compared to similar structures of steel, auxetic foam panels have the advantage of having only a fraction of the weight and being corrosion resistant at the same time as keeping impact strength. Graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South American opossums are the definitive hosts of Sarcocystis neurona, Sarcocystis falcatula, Sarcocystis speeri and Sarcocystis lindsayi. The sporocysts of these species of Sarcocystis are morphologically similar and methods like infectivity and pathogenicity for intermediate hosts (immunodeficient mice and psittacine birds) and molecular tools are used for identification. Opossums are synanthropic wild animals, and widely distributed in Brazilian territory. Previous studies have shown high environmental contamination with S. neurona sporocysts in several Brazilian regions. This paper reviews information on Sarcocystis spp. shed by various opossum species and its occurrence in Brazil.

The pathogenicity of Felis catus gammaherpesvirus 1 (FcaGHV1), a common infection of domestic cats, is unknown. To explore an association between FcaGHV1 detection and feline lymphoma, a retrospective, cross-sectional, disease-association study was conducted. The infection status of all cats for feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukaemia virus was determined. Neither a molecular diagnosis of FcaGHV1 nor whole-blood FcaGHV1 load was related to outcome in 122 lymphoma cases compared with 71 controls matched for age and sex. Molecular analysis of lymphoma-derived DNA paired with autologous uninvolved tissue did not suggest restriction of FcaGHV1 DNA to tumour tissue. FcaGHV1 DNA detection was associated with significantly shorter survival in lymphoma cases, an observation that could not be adequately explained by treatment differences. In addition, regressive feline leukaemia virus infection was identified as a risk factor for lymphoma. A history of fighting or roaming was identified as a novel epidemiological risk factor for FcaGHV1 detection, lending support to intercat aggression as a potential route of transmission. Studies investigating the cellular location and expression of FcaGHV1 are indicated to assist in ruling out a lymphomagenic role for this virus. Prospective investigation of FcaGHV1 DNA detection as a prognostic marker in feline lymphoma is warranted.