A Qualitative Study Exploring Parental Perceptions of Telehealth in Early Intervention.

Using telehealth as a mode of service delivery has the potential to address some long-standing challenges in early intervention (EI) services such as waiting lists to access services. Yet, little is known about parent perceptions of telehealth in EI based on their lived experiences partnering with EI practitioners. The purpose of this study was to explore parent perceptions on using telehealth, especially on family-professional partnerships and coaching. Interviews were conducted with 15 parents of children receiving EI services via telehealth from June to August of 2021. Almost half of the participants reflected under-represented racial and ethnic backgrounds. Constant comparative analysis and emergent coding were used for data analysis. The findings showed that the advantages outnumbered the disadvantages regarding telehealth. Participants reported that telehealth provided a safe and flexible option and eliminated the wait to access EI services. However, participants identified some disadvantages to telehealth including telehealth precluded substantive interactions with therapists and limited access to technology. The findings also indicated that telehealth enhanced family-professional partnerships. Nearly all participants valued coaching during telehealth. Participants suggested initial supports to facilitate EI via telehealth, including stable internet access, telehealth training, and an initial in-person visit. Implications for research and practice are discussed. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10882-022-09853-w.

Classifying sensory profiles of children in the general population.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to subtype groups of children in a community sample with and without developmental conditions, based on sensory processing patterns. METHODS: We used latent profile analysis to determine the number of sensory subtypes in a sample of n = 1132 children aged 3-14 years with typical development and developmental conditions, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and learning disabilities. RESULTS: A five-subtype solution was found to best characterize the sample, which differed on overall degree and differential presentation of sensory processing patterns. Children with and without developmental conditions presented across subtypes, and one subtype was significantly younger in age than others (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that sensory subtypes include both children with typical development and those with developmental conditions. Sensory subtypes have previously been investigated in ASD only, and our results suggest that similar sensory subtypes are present in a sample reflective of the general population of children including those largely with typical development. Elevated scores on sensory processing patterns are not unique to ASD but rather are reflections of children's abilities to respond to environmental demands.

Fiber-based lidar for atmospheric water-vapor measurements.

The design and evaluation of a prototype fiber-based lidar system for autonomous measurement of atmospheric water vapor are presented. The system components are described, along with current limitations and options for improvement. Atmospheric measurements show good agreement with modeled signal returns from 400 to 1000 m but are limited below 400 m as a result of errors in signal processing caused by violation of the assumptions used in the derivation of the differential absorption lidar equation.

Screening for childhood physical and sexual abuse among outpatient substance abusers.

Research demonstrates that substance-abusing individuals report substantially higher rates of childhood sexual and physical abuse than the general population. This study sought to test a method of identifying substance-abusing clients with histories of childhood sexual and/or physical abuse and to explore the differences between those reporting childhood abuse and those not. Files of substance abusing clients from two distinct time periods were examined for reports of childhood abuse. At Time 1 (n = 399) clients were not systematically asked about experiences of childhood abuse, and at Time 2 (n = 305) clients were routinely asked about this issue. Results indicate that significantly more male and female clients disclosed childhood abuse at Time 2. Additionally, male clients reporting childhood abuse appeared more distressed than those not reporting abuse; female clients reporting childhood abuse did not appear more distressed than their counterparts.

Comparison of a latex agglutination procedure with the microimmunofluorescence test for Rickettsia typhi.

Sera submitted to the Texas Department of Health for the serodiagnosis of Rickettsia typhi were tested by the microimmunofluorescent antibody technique and a new latex agglutination procedure. Results indicated that the latex agglutination test was sensitive and specific and would serve well as a first-line screening test for murine typhus.

Comparative evaluation of commercial rubella virus antibody kits.

Comparative evaluation of six commercial rubella virus antibody kits is described. A set of serum samples skewed toward nonreactive and low-positive rubella antibody levels was used because the goal of an immunity screening test is the detection of susceptible individuals. The M. A. Bioproducts Rubastat and the Hynson, Westcott and Dunning Rubascan were superior in achieving high sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility. They also were the easiest and fastest tests to perform, and they require equipment available in most laboratories.

Immunoprecipitating human antigens associated with vesicular stomatitis virus grown in HeLa cells.

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) preparations made in HeLa cells, VSV(HeLa), appeared to contain non-viral structural proteins. This was suggested by neutralization of the virus with homologous and heterologous antisera made against VSV prepared in different cells. Antisera against uninfected HeLa cells failed to neutralize VSV(HeLa) but did immunoprecipitate the virus in the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. These immunoprecipitated VSV(HeLa) retained their infectivity, despite the presence of antibody and bacteria. The anti-HeLa cell serum did not react with VSV grown in rodent cells nor did anti-Vero cells serum immunoprecipitate VSV(HeLa). When the anti-HeLa cell serum was absorbed with whole HeLa cells, it no longer specifically precipitated VSV(HeLa). Because over 98% of infectious VSV(HeLa) was neutralizable by anti-VSV serum and immunoprecipitable by anti-HeLa serum, these virions were called mosaics. Physical identification of HeLa cell determinants on the mosaics was accomplished by further purification and radioiodination followed by selective immunoprecipitations with antisera. Two to three major bands with molecular weights around 75,000 Da were identified as HeLa cell determinants associated with the mosaic VSV(HeLa).

Identity of HeLa cell determinants acquired by vesicular stomatitis virus with a tumor antigen.

Growth of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in HeLa cells results in progeny containing non-VSV antigens with a molecular weight around 75,000. The non-VSV antigens were detected by antiserums to HeLa cell determinants. These antiserums precipitate whole virions but do not neutralize them. Because one of the antiserums is directed to a tumor-specific surface antigen of HeLa cells, it appears that VSV specifically acquires such antigens during its passage through human tumor cells.

Pathogenesis of rotavirus infections.

Signs of clinical disease, viral antigen in infected intestines, and infectious virus excreted in feces were assessed in infant mice nursed by mothers with or without pre-existing rotavirus antibody. Less viral antigen in intestinal tissue was observed and was cleared earlier, and less infectious virus was excreted and disappeared earlier, in infants nursed by mothers with pre-existing antibody. Nevertheless, the course of diarrhea was the same in both groups. In another experiment, viral antigen was cleared earlier from the intestines of congenitally athymic (nude) infant mice given spleen cells from syngeneic immunocompetent adult mice than from nude mice not given spleen cells. It is suggested that passively transferred immunity contributes to resolution of rotavirus infection in mice once their intestinal epithelium has matured sufficiently.

Pathogenesis of rotavirus infection in mice.

Three parameters of rotavirus infection, i.e., clinical disease, viral antigen in infected intestines, and infectious virus in feces, were assessed in infant mice nursed by mothers with or without preexisting rotavirus antibody. Diarrhea was the only consistent sign of clinical disease, and its course followed that of infection by about 1 day. Infected intestinal epithelial cells, except crypt cells, were observed by immunofluorescence microscopy in the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon. Infection progressed in a proximal-to-distal direction with time. Viral antigen appeared in intestinal tissue later, was present in lower amounts, and disappeared sooner from infants nursed by mothers with preexisting rotavirus antibody, indicating that protection was passively transferred to these infants although the course of clinical disease was not changed.