Assessing Accessibility and Equity of Autism Spectrum Disorder Screening Tools

Introduction: Disparities to accessing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) screening tools have been demonstrated across race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and language. Additionally, there are concerns that existing screening tools are not as accurate for minoritized individuals. Thus, it is likely that level 1 screening tools must be adapted and developed for, and with, marginalized populations in the United States to promote increased levels of universal screening access and accuracy among minoritized populations. Methods: Using the PRISMA scoping review checklist, an initial search produced 1880 unique records. Following title and abstract review, 35 articles met criteria for full manuscript review. Finally, 7 articles met criteria for chart review. Inclusion criteria included: 1) original peer-reviewed research study, 2) level 1-behavioral screener; 3) for ASD; 4) must be either an adaptation or creation for a diverse population; and 5) research must have taken place in the United States. Results: Seven studies met full inclusion criteria. Preliminary data demonstrates multiple translations, into Spanish and Nepali, as well as the development of a pictorial-based screening tool, the Developmental Check-In (DCI). Adaptations and creations target language, parent education and literacy level. Conclusions: Preliminary conclusions demonstrate a paucity of level 1, ASD-specific, screening tools adapted or developed with or for marginalized populations in the United States – despite the demonstrated need for these tools. We conclude that more research in this area is necessary to address known barriers to access and accuracy of current level 1 screening tools for autism for the diverse population within the United States

Transformation of serum-susceptible Escherichia coli O111 with p16Slux plasmid to allow for real-time monitoring of complement-based inactivation of bacterial growth in bovine milk

peer-reviewedComplement activity has only recently been characterized in raw bovine milk. However, the activity of this component of the innate immune system was found to diminish as milk was subjected to heat or partitioning during cream separation. Detection of complement in milk relies on a bactericidal assay. This assay exploits the specific growth susceptibility of Escherichia coli O111 to the presence of complement. Practical application of the assay was demonstrated when a reduction in complement activity was recorded in the case of pasteurized and reduced-fat milks. This presented an opportunity to improve the functionality of the bactericidal assay by incorporating bioluminescence capability into the target organism. Following some adaptation, the strain was transformed by correctly integrating the p16Slux plasmid. Growth properties of the transformed strain of E. coli O111 were unaffected by the modification. The efficacy of the strain adaptation was correlated using the LINEST function analysis [r=0.966; standard error of prediction (SEy)=0.957] bioluminescence with that of bactericidal assay total plate counts within the range of 7.5 to 9.2 log cfu/mL using a combination of raw and processed milk samples. Importantly, the transformed E. coli O111 p16Slux strain could be identified in milk and broth samples using bioluminescence measurement, thus enabling the bactericidal assay–viability test to be monitored in real time throughout incubation

Co-Designing Sustainable Food Futures: Using Climathons to build shared agri-food visions for net zero

In this research project we experimented with an approach to bringing rural communities together to discuss net zero in the context of agriculture and food. We sought to create spaces for respectful dialogue, where people could discuss and deliberate topics that can sometimes be contentious and polarising. We selected two rural counties with a high proportion of land used for livestock farming (given that the pressure for change often falls on the ruminant livestock sector), yet geographically distant and with distinct features: Cornwall and Cumbria. This project generates new methodological insights through adapting a city-oriented approach for rural settings, and generates knowledge through co-producing local agri-food net zero solutions

Rural Climathon Playbook

This guide is based on lessons learned from organising two rural Climathons in spring 2022, as part of a British Academy-funded project about net zero futures. This document is intended for Local Organisers of rural Climathons, to provide inspiration and suggested principles to ensure a successful event

Towards local solutions for net zero: Using Climathons to vision food and farming futures

In this policy brief we discuss the need to embed the net zero agenda in small-scale regions, to allow citizens to co-create solutions that are locally relevant. We demonstrate this with evidence from a British Academy-funded project that used adapted “Climathons” as a method to debate food and farming solutions in two UK rural farming regions. This approach was effective in convening rural land use stakeholders, providing space for constructive dialogue, strengthening existing networks and partnerships, and generating locally relevant net zero solutions that are being progressed beyond the event

Farming on the edge: farmer attitudes to bovine tuberculosis in newly endemic areas

Defra's recent strategy to eradicate bovine tuberculosis (bTB) establishes three spatial zones: high-risk areas (HRAs) and low-risk areas, and an area referred to as ‘the edge’, which marks the areas where infection is spreading outwards from the HRA. Little is known about farmers in the edge area, their attitudes towards bTB and their farming practices. This paper examines farmers’ practices and attitudes towards bTB in standardised epidemiologically defined areas. A survey was developed to collect data on farmer attitudes, behaviours, practices and environmental conditions as part of an interdisciplinary analysis of bTB risk factors. Survey items were developed from a literature review and focus groups with vets and farmers in different locations within the edge area. A case-control sampling framework was adopted with farms sampled from areas identified as recently endemic for bTB. 347 farmers participated in the survey including 117 with bTB, representing a 70 percent response rate. Results show that farmers believe they are unable to do anything about bTB but are keen for the government intervention to help control the spread of bTB

Intrinsic activity in the fly brain gates visual information during behavioral choices

The small insect brain is often described as an input/output system that executes reflex-like behaviors. It can also initiate neural activity and behaviors intrinsically, seen as spontaneous behaviors, different arousal states and sleep. However, less is known about how intrinsic activity in neural circuits affects sensory information processing in the insect brain and variability in behavior. Here, by simultaneously monitoring Drosophila's behavioral choices and brain activity in a flight simulator system, we identify intrinsic activity that is associated with the act of selecting between visual stimuli. We recorded neural output (multiunit action potentials and local field potentials) in the left and right optic lobes of a tethered flying Drosophila, while its attempts to follow visual motion (yaw torque) were measured by a torque meter. We show that when facing competing motion stimuli on its left and right, Drosophila typically generate large torque responses that flip from side to side. The delayed onset (0.1-1 s) and spontaneous switch-like dynamics of these responses, and the fact that the flies sometimes oppose the stimuli by flying straight, make this behavior different from the classic steering reflexes. Drosophila, thus, seem to choose one stimulus at a time and attempt to rotate toward its direction. With this behavior, the neural output of the optic lobes alternates; being augmented on the side chosen for body rotation and suppressed on the opposite side, even though the visual input to the fly eyes stays the same. Thus, the flow of information from the fly eyes is gated intrinsically. Such modulation can be noise-induced or intentional; with one possibility being that the fly brain highlights chosen information while ignoring the irrelevant, similar to what we know to occur in higher animals

Anti-microbiota vaccines modulate the tick microbiome in a taxon-specific manner

The lack of tools for the precise manipulation of the tick microbiome is currently a major limitation to achieve mechanistic insights into the tick microbiome. Anti-tick microbiota vaccines targeting keystone bacteria of the tick microbiota alter tick feeding, but their impact on the taxonomic and functional profiles of the tick microbiome has not been tested. In this study, we immunized a vertebrate host model (Mus musculus) with live bacteria vaccines targeting keystone (i.e., Escherichia-Shigella) or non-keystone (i.e., Leuconostoc) taxa of tick microbiota and tested the impact of bacterial-specific antibodies (Abs) on the structure and function of tick microbiota. We also investigated the effect of these anti-microbiota vaccines on mice gut microbiota composition. Our results showed that the tick microbiota of ticks fed on Escherichia coli-immunized mice had reduced Escherichia-Shigella abundance and lower species diversity compared to ticks fed on control mice immunized with a mock vaccine. Immunization against keystone bacteria restructured the hierarchy of nodes in co-occurrence networks and reduced the resistance of the bacterial network to taxa removal. High levels of E. coli-specific IgM and IgG were negatively correlated with the abundance of Escherichia-Shigella in tick microbiota. These effects were not observed when Leuconostoc was targeted with vaccination against Leuconostoc mesenteroides. Prediction of functional pathways in the tick microbiome using PICRUSt2 revealed that E. coli vaccination reduced the abundance of lysine degradation pathway in tick microbiome, a result validated by qPCR. In contrast, the gut microbiome of immunized mice showed no significant alterations in the diversity, composition and abundance of bacterial taxa. Our results demonstrated that anti-tick microbiota vaccines are a safe, specific and an easy-to-use tool for manipulation of vector microbiome. These results guide interventions for the control of tick infestations and pathogen infection/transmission. © Copyright © 2021 Mateos-Hernández, Obregón, Wu-Chuang, Maye, Bornères, Versillé, de la Fuente, Díaz-Sánchez, Bermúdez-Humarán, Torres-Maravilla, Estrada-Peña, Hodžic, Šimo and Cabezas-Cruz