Supporting Students with an Autism Spectrum Disorder in Engineering: K-12 and Beyond

Individuals with disabilities, including individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. With the importance of STEM skills in future employment and other disciplines, effective instructional strategies must be identified to enhance early and sustained access to STEM for students with ASD. However, the literature identifying effective STEM-specific supports and practices for this population of students is sparse and regarding engineering, there are no empirical studies that focus on teaching engineering skills to students with ASD. Therefore, the article aims to provide an overview of the available literature on the perspectives of engineering educators and suggested strategies aimed at supporting students with ASD in K-12 instruction and higher education. Additionally, recommendations regarding employment preparation and shifting the workplace environment to support individuals with ASD are presented. The available literature reveals limitations and implications for future research including the presentation of the voices of individuals with ASD across the spectrum. Furthermore, there continues to be work that must be done to prepare educators, employers, peers, and colleagues to better understand the disability and support individuals with ASD in all contexts

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF POINT-OF-VIEW VIDEO MODELING IN TEACHING SOCIAL INITIATION SKILLS TO CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

Deficits in social communication and interaction have been identified as distinguishing impairments for individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As a pivotal skill, the successful development of social communication and interaction in individuals with ASD is a lifelong objective. Point-of-view video modeling has the potential to address these deficits. This type of video involves filming the completion of a targeted skill or behavior from a first-person perspective. By presenting only what a person might see from his or her viewpoint, it has been identified to be more effective in limiting irrelevant stimuli by providing a clear frame of reference to facilitate imitation. The current study investigated the use of point-of-view video modeling in teaching social initiations (e.g., greetings). Using a multiple baseline across participants design, five kindergarten participants were taught social initiations using point-of-view video modeling and video priming. Immediately before and after viewing the entire point-of-view video model, the participants were evaluated on their social initiations with a trained, typically developing peer serving as a communication partner. Specifically, the social initiations involved participants’ abilities to shift their attention toward the peer who entered the classroom, maintain attention toward the peer, and engage in an appropriate social initiation (e.g., hi, hello). Both generalization and maintenance were tested. Overall, the data suggest point-of-view video modeling is an effective intervention for increasing social initiations in young students with ASD. However, retraining was necessary for acquisition of skills in the classroom environment. Generalization in novel environments and with a novel communication partner, and generalization to other social initiation skills was limited. Additionally, maintenance of gained social initiation skills only occurred in the intervention room. Despite the limitations of the study and variable results, there are a number of implications moving forward for both practitioners and future researchers examining point-of-view modeling and its potential impact on the social initiation skills of individuals with ASD

Evaluation of four plants compost teas against fungi responsible for Corn damping-off in Côte d’Ivoire

Corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important cereals in Côte d'Ivoire. However, Corn seeds and seedlings are susceptible to infection by a number of soilborne fungi which caused seeds decay before or after germination. The objective of this study is to evaluate the suppressive effect of Four plants compost teas (Chromolaena odorata, Ricinus communis, Nicotiana tabacum, Azadiracta indica) on Corn damping off. In vitro assays showed a most suppressive effect of C. odorata and R. communis compost teas on mycelial growth of pathogenic fungi. Results of in vivo trials showed significant reduction of Corn seedlings diseases incidence and high seed germination percent after treatment with C. odorata, R. communis and A. indica compost teas. No efficiency effect was noted with N. tabacum compost tea. This study demonstrated the usefulness of compost tea as an efficient biological tool for the control of fungi responsible of corn damping-off

Understanding the Impact of Professional Development for a Cohort of Teachers with Varying Prior Engineering Teaching Experience

Engineering for US All (e4usa) is a National Science Foundation-funded first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at making engineering more inclusive and accessible to underrepresented populations. The ‘‘for us all’’ mission of e4usa encompasses both students and teachers. Paramount to the success of e4usa was the construction of professional development (PD) experiences to prepare and support teachers with different levels of engineering teaching experience as they implemented the e4usa yearlong course. The perspectives of nine teachers with varying degrees of engineering teaching experience were examined during two PD opportunities to compare experiences and dynamics between the teachers. Data sources consisting of focus groups and artifacts created during the PD were analyzed using inductive coding and the constant comparative method. The distinct themes that emerged included teachers redefining engineering, growing confidence to teach engineering, benefiting from the PD, receiving support from other teachers, experiencing imposter syndrome, and renewing a passion for engineering education. The results provide implications for how engineering education PD may be developed to allow for reciprocal support and mentoring that supports all teachers regardless of engineering teaching experience. The results also inform future e4usa efforts and aim to change the structure of high school engineering education

Trafficking of High Avidity HER-2/neu-Specific T Cells into HER-2/neu-Expressing Tumors after Depletion of Effector/Memory-Like Regulatory T Cells

Cancer vaccines are designed to activate and enhance cancer-antigen-targeted T cells that are suppressed through multiple mechanisms of immune tolerance in cancer-bearing hosts. T regulatory cell (Treg) suppression of tumor-specific T cells is one barrier to effective immunization. A second mechanism is the deletion of high avidity tumor-specific T cells, which leaves a less effective low avidity tumor specific T cell repertoire available for activation by vaccines. Treg depleting agents including low dose cyclophosphamide (Cy) and antibodies that deplete CD25-expressing Tregs have been used with limited success to enhance the potency of tumor-specific vaccines. In addition, few studies have evaluated mechanisms that activate low avidity cancer antigen-specific T cells. Therefore, we developed high and low avidity HER-2/neu-specific TCR transgenic mouse colonies specific for the same HER-2/neu epitope to define the tolerance mechanisms that specifically affect high versus low avidity tumor-specific T cells.High and low avidity CD8(+) T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice specific for the breast cancer antigen HER-2/neu (neu) were developed to provide a purified source of naïve, tumor-specific T cells that can be used to study tolerance mechanisms. Adoptive transfer studies into tolerant FVB/N-derived HER-2/neu transgenic (neu-N) mice demonstrated that high avidity, but not low avidity, neu-specific T cells are inhibited by Tregs as the dominant tolerizing mechanism. High avidity T cells persisted, produced IFNγ, trafficked into tumors, and lysed tumors after adoptive transfer into mice treated with a neu-specific vaccine and low dose Cy to deplete Tregs. Analysis of Treg subsets revealed a Cy-sensitive CD4(+)Foxp3(+)CD25(low) tumor-seeking migratory phenotype, characteristic of effector/memory Tregs, and capable of high avidity T cell suppression.Depletion of CD25(low) Tregs allows activation of tumor-clearing high avidity T cells. Thus, the development of agents that specifically deplete Treg subsets should translate into more effective immunotherapies while avoiding autoimmunity

Influenza A Virus (H3N8) in Dogs with Respiratory Disease, Florida

Genetic and antigenic characterization established the uniqueness of this virus circulating in dogs

Influenza A Virus (H3N8) in Dogs with Respiratory Disease, Florida

Genetic and antigenic characterization established the uniqueness of this virus circulating in dogs

Higher placental anti-inflammatory IL-10 cytokine expression in HIV-1 infected women receiving longer zidovudine prophylaxis associated with nevirapine

Placental cytokine balance may be critical for the control of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV. We assessed whether the type and duration of antiretrovirals used for prevention of HIV-1-MTCT modified the inflammatory cytokine profile. We investigated the levels of cytokine expression in the placentas of 61 HIV-1-infected women who received zidovudine (ZDV) plus single dose nevirapine (SD-NVP) or ZDV only for prevention of MTCT. Placentas of 38 HIV-1-uninfected women were included as controls. All placentas were obtained after vaginal delivery. Levels of mRNA and cytokine expression were quantified using real-time PCR and ELISA, respectively, in placental explants and 24-hour culture supernatants and analyzed in relation to the women's characteristics and the type and duration of antiretroviral prophylaxis. HIV-1-infected and uninfected women did not show any differences in the expression of placental cytokine secretion except for a trend toward lower TNF-10 mRNA levels in HIV-1-infected women. Within the HIV-1-infected group, women who were exposed to a long duration of ZDV (>72 days) or received SD-NVP less than 5h prior to delivery, more frequently expressed detectable levels of IL-10 in their placentas (32% versus 7% (p = 0.01) and 32% versus 5% (p = 0.02), respectively). No infant was found to be HIV-1-infected. Our results showed a normalization of the placental cytokine balance in HIV-1-infected women receiving antiretroviral prophylaxis. Furthermore, the type and duration of antiretroviral prophylaxis have an impact on the placental anti-inflammatory IL-10 expression level, which may contribute to controlling HIV replication at the placental level, thus reducing MTCT of HIV-1.Fil: Pornprasert, Sakorn. Chiang Mai University; TailandiaFil: Mary, Jean-Yves. Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7; FranciaFil: Faye, Albert. Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale; FranciaFil: Leechanachai, Pannee. Chiang Mai University; TailandiaFil: Limtrakul, Aram. Health Promotion Center Region; TailandiaFil: Rugpao, Sungwal. Chiang Mai University; TailandiaFil: Sirivatanapa, Pannee. Chiang Mai University; TailandiaFil: Gomuthbutra, Vorapin. Nakornping Hospital; TailandiaFil: Matanasaravoot, Wanmanee. Lamphun Hospital; TailandiaFil: Le Coer, Sophie. Institut National d’Etudes Démographiques; FranciaFil: Lallemant, Marc. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement; FranciaFil: Barré-Sinoussi, Françoise. Instituto Pasteur; FranciaFil: Menu, Elisabeth. Instituto Pasteur; FranciaFil: Ngo Giang Huong, Nicole. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement; FranciaFil: Ayouba, Ahidjo. Instituto Pasteur; FranciaFil: Chailert, Sanupong. Chiang Mai University; Tailandia. Instituto Pasteur; FranciaFil: Chaouat, Gérard. Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale; FranciaFil: Derrien, Muriel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Dolcini, Guillermina Laura. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Sanidad Animal y Medicina Preventiva. Laboratorio de Virología; Argentina. Instituto Pasteur; Francia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comision de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil; ArgentinaFil: Eteki, Nicole. Hôpital Central de Yaoundé. Maternité Principale; CamerúnFil: Kfutwah, Anfumbom Jude. Instituto Pasteur; FranciaFil: Kouo, Odette. Instituto Pasteur; FranciaFil: Lemen, Brigitte. Instituto Pasteur; FranciaFil: Abal, Facundo Juan Pablo. Instituto Pasteur; FranciaFil: Nerrienet, Eric. Instituto Pasteur; FranciaFil: Njinku, Bernadette. Instituto Pasteur; FranciaFil: Scarlatti, Gabriella. Suan Dok Hospital; TailandiaFil: Tejiokem, Mathurin. Centre Pasteur du Cameroun; CamerúnFil: Téné, Gilbert. No especifíca