Genetic parameters estimation of growth in Salmo trutta caspius as a function of body weight and length

There is no available adequate information on the biology and genetics of the Caspian salmon (salmo truta Caspiu) living in the Caspian Sea with other species such as common carp families, sturgeons and etc., therefore we are interested in knowing whether selection for rapid growth rate in salmo trutta Caspius will potentially lead to correlated genetic response in body weight and length. The potential for correlated responses was evaluated by the heritability estimation, estimating heritabilities of body weight and length. The genetic parameter estimations were obtained for different stages of growth from 5400 fish consisting 27 unrelated families that reached maturity at 36 months of age. The parent which used to produce separate family groups had been caught from the Caspian Sea and spawned during the autumn season. The estimated heritability of body weight and length was 0.42±0.13 and 0.49±0.01, respectively based on differential and selection response between parent pairs and their offsprings. Several factors may have affected the creation of this high level of estimation, dominant effect, inherited from different breeders to offspring

What is the suitability of clinical vignettes in benchmarking the performance of online symptom checkers? An audit study

Objective: Assess the suitability of clinical vignettes in benchmarking the performance of online symptom checkers (OSCs). Design: Observational study using a publicly available free OSC. Participants: Healthily OSC, which provided consultations in English, was used to record consultation outcomes from two lay and four expert inputters using 139 standardised patient vignettes. Each vignette included three diagnostic solutions and a triage recommendation in one of three categories of triage urgency. A panel of three independent general practitioners interpreted the vignettes to arrive at an alternative set of diagnostic and triage solutions. Both sets of diagnostic and triage solutions were consolidated to arrive at a final consolidated version for benchmarking. Main outcome measures: Six inputters simulated 834 standardised patient evaluations using Healthily OSC and recorded outputs (triage solution, signposting, and whether the correct diagnostic solution appeared first or within the first three differentials). We estimated Cohen’s kappa to assess how interpretations by different inputters could lead to divergent OSC output even when using the same vignette or when compared with a separate panel of physicians. Results: There was moderate agreement on triage recommendation (kappa=0.48), and substantial agreement on consultation outcomes between all inputters (kappa=0.73). OSC performance improved significantly from baseline when compared against the final consolidated diagnostic and triage solution (p<0.001). Conclusions: Clinical vignettes are inherently limited in their utility to benchmark the diagnostic accuracy or triage safety of OSC. Real-world evidence studies involving real patients are recommended to benchmark the performance of OSC against a panel of physicians

Concordance of multiple informant assessment of school-based social skills intervention and association with child outcomes: Results from a randomized trial

Background Fidelity, or the degree to which an intervention is implemented as designed, is essential for effective implementation. There has been a growing emphasis on assessing fidelity of evidence-based practices for autistic children in schools. Fidelity measurement should be multidimensional and focus on core intervention components and assess their link with program outcomes. This study evaluated the relation between intervention fidelity ratings from multiple sources, tested the relation between fidelity ratings and child outcomes, and determined the relations between core intervention components and child outcomes in a study of an evidence-based psychosocial intervention designed to promote inclusion of autistic children at school, Remaking Recess. Method This study extends from a larger randomized controlled trial examining the effect of implementation support on Remaking Recess fidelity and child outcomes. Schools were randomized to receive the intervention or the intervention plus implementation support. Observers, intervention coaches, and school personnel completed fidelity measures to rate completion and quality of intervention delivery. A measure of peer engagement served as the child outcome. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to determine concordance between raters. Two sets of hierarchical linear models were conducted using fidelity indices as predictors of peer engagement. Results Coach- and self-rated completion and quality scores, observer- and self-rated quality scores, and observer- and coach-rated quality fidelity scores were significantly correlated. Higher observer-rated completion and quality fidelity scores were predictors of higher peer engagement scores. No single intervention component emerged as a significant predictor of peer engagement. Conclusions This study demonstrates the importance of using a multidimensional approach for measuring fidelity, testing the link between fidelity and child outcomes, and examining how core intervention components may be associated with child outcomes. Future research should clarify how to improve multi-informant reports to provide “good enough” ratings of fidelity that provide meaningful information about outcomes in community settings

Clinical Characteristics of Youth with Autism or Developmental Disability during Inpatient Psychiatric Admission

Children with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities (ASD/DD) often experience severe co-occurring psychological and behavioral challenges, which can warrant inpatient psychiatric care. However, very little is known about the characteristics and clinical care of children with ASD/DD within the context of inpatient psychiatric settings. In this paper, we describe factors unique to inpatients with ASD or DD, by drawing on electronic health records from over 2300 children and adolescents ages 4–17 years admitted to a pediatric psychiatric inpatient unit over a 3-year period. Patients with ASD/DD accounted for approximately 16% of inpatients and 21% of admissions, were younger, more likely to be readmitted, more likely to be male, and more likely to have Medicaid insurance, as compared to patients without ASD/DD. Clinically, those with ASD/DD more frequently had externalizing concerns documented in their records, in contrast to more frequent internalizing concerns among other patients. Within the ASD/DD group, we identified effects of patient age, sex, and race/ethnicity on multiple dimensions of clinical care, including length of stay, use of physical restraint, and patterns of medication use. Results suggest the need for psychiatric screening tools that are appropriate for ASD/DD populations, and intentional integration of anti-racist practices into inpatient care, particularly with regard to use of physical restraint among youth

Randomized trial of peppermint gel, lanolin ointment, and placebo gel to prevent nipple crack in primiparous breastfeeding women

Background: Sore nipples are common during lactation and remain the major reason for failing to establish successful breastfeeding. To formulate a peppermint gel and to evaluate its effect on the prevention of nipple crack associated with breast-feeding, a randomized double-blinded clinical trial comparing the above formulation with modified lanolin and a neutral ointment was carried out. Material/Methods: Two hundred and sixteen primiparous participants were assigned randomly to three groups. Each group applied only one of the above three preparations on both breasts for 14 days. Each group consisted of 72 primiparous mothers and was seen for a maximum of four follow-up visits within 14 days and a final visit at week 6. The rate of nipple and areola crack and pain was evaluated. Results: The study groups were comparable in mean age and route of delivery. Nipple crack were less in mothers who received peppermint gel than in those who received lanolin ointment or placebo (?2=16.8, df=6, P=0.01). Relative risk of nipple crack in the lanolin group (RR: 2.41, 95%CI: 1.20–3.01) was higher than in the peppermint group (RR: 1.85, 95%CI: 1.64–3.10). Conclusions: Prophylactic peppermint gel in breastfeeding lactating women is associated with fewer nipple cracks and is more effective than lanolin and placebo. It could be recommended for preventing of nipple crack along with teaching better breastfeeding technique at the initiation of breastfeedin

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We present a novel approach for deriving analytical solutions to transport equations expressed in similarity variables. We apply a fixed-point iteration procedure to these transformed equations by formally solving for the highest derivative term and then integrating to obtain an expression for the solution in terms of a previous estimate. We are able to analytically obtain the Lipschitz condition for this iteration procedure and, from this (via requirements for convergence given by the contraction mapping principle), deduce a range of values for the outer limit of the solution domain, for which the fixed-point iteration is guaranteed to converge

Data_Sheet_1_“On an island by myself”: implications for the inclusion of autistic students in self-contained classrooms in public elementary schools.docx

IntroductionAutistic students have limited access to inclusive classes and activities in their schools. Principals and special education teachers who directly teach and administer programs for autistic elementary students can offer critical insight into factors, such as educators’ attitudes, that may impact inclusive opportunities in schools. These attitudes may serve as barriers to or facilitators of promoting an inclusive school setting.MethodsSemi-structured interviews with 26 elementary school principals and 26 special education teachers explored their experiences implementing evidence-based practices for autistic students (pivotal response training, discrete trial training, and visual schedules) in 26 self-contained classrooms in the United States. Autism-specific culture and inclusion emerged as a theme, which was analyzed for this paper.ResultsAn inductive approach to thematic analysis revealed principals’ and special education teachers’ perspectives regarding the “autism-specific culture” in the school, including attitudes towards and inclusion of autistic students in self-contained classrooms in the broader school environment. Analysis of text related to “autism-specific culture” detailed aspects of inclusion, factors (i.e., barriers and facilitators) affecting inclusion, principals’ and special education teachers’ attitudes towards autistic students placed in self-contained classrooms, attitudes of other school staff towards teachers in self-contained classrooms, and recommendations to support an inclusive school environment for autistic students.DiscussionResults suggest that valuing “equal” access to classes and activities for autistic students in self-contained classrooms may not be sufficient for promoting an inclusive school environment, Educators may benefit from targeted strategies to facilitate inclusion. Strategies range from supporting educators’ attitudes and knowledge of autism to shifting physical aspects of the school environment (e.g., location of classrooms). Additional implications for supporting the true inclusion (i.e., inclusion that goes beyond physical inclusion) involves of autistic students in self-contained classrooms schools are discussed.</p

A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial of an Enhanced Pivotal Response Treatment Approach for Young Children with Autism: The PRISM Model.

The symptoms of autism spectrum disorder are conceptualized to alter the quality of parent-children interactions, exposure to social learning exchanges, and ultimately the course of child development. There is evidence that modifying the procedures of Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) to explicitly target social motivation enhances child engagement and parent-child synchrony in moment-by-moment exchanges. However, it is unclear if these within session improvements ultimately yield favorable developmental outcomes over time. The current investigation presents feasibility, utility, and preliminary efficacy data of a pilot randomized clinical trial (RCT) of a Pivotal Response Intervention for Social Motivation (PRISM) model. Data on participant factors, treatment protocol acceptability, and outcome variance and effect size are highly favorable and support the pursuit of a future, large scale RCT

Neurodiversity and Autism Intervention: Reconciling Perspectives Through a Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention Framework.

Proponents of autism intervention and those of the neurodiversity movement often appear at odds, the former advocating for intensive treatments and the latter arguing that autism must be accepted as a form of diversity. The history of behavioral intervention has understandably outraged many in the Autistic community, though many still value supports focused on quality of life. This commentary argues that Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) hold promise for bridging the gap between early intervention and the neurodiversity movement. However, we recognize NDBIs have much room to grow and suggest multiple strategies for improvement. We believe these updates are not only feasible for clinicians and researchers to implement but will ultimately lead to improved quality of life for Autistic individuals