A Guide to Preclinical Models of Zoster-Associated Pain and Postherpetic Neuralgia.

Reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes herpes zoster (HZ), which is commonly accompanied by acute pain and pruritus over the time course of a zosteriform rash. Although the rash and associated pain are self-limiting, a considerable fraction of HZ cases will subsequently develop debilitating chronic pain states termed postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). How VZV causes acute pain and the mechanisms underlying the transition to PHN are far from clear. The human-specific nature of VZV has made in vivo modeling of pain following reactivation difficult to study because no single animal can reproduce reactivated VZV disease as observed in the clinic. Investigations of VZV pathogenesis following primary infection have benefited greatly from human tissues harbored in immune-deficient mice, but modeling of acute and chronic pain requires an intact nervous system with the capability of transmitting ascending and descending sensory signals. Several groups have found that subcutaneous VZV inoculation of the rat induces prolonged and measurable changes in nociceptive behavior, indicating sensitivity that partially mimics the development of mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia seen in HZ and PHN patients. Although it is not a model of reactivation, the rat is beginning to inform how VZV infection can evoke a pain response and induce long-lasting alterations to nociception. In this review, we will summarize the rat pain models from a practical perspective and discuss avenues that have opened for testing of novel treatments for both zoster-associated pain and chronic PHN conditions, which remain in critical need of effective therapies.

Using qualitative behavior assessment to investigate the effect of tourist presence on the welfare in captive tigers (Panthera tigris) in three tourism facilities in Thailand.

Numerous facilities around the world offer tourists interactive experiences with captive tigers. Yet, the animal welfare implications of this practice have not been widely studied. This study aimed to investigate whether qualitative behavioral assessment (QBA) could: (i) provide a valid indicator of tiger's emotional state and (ii) be applied to assess whether unfamiliar human presence with hand-raised captive tigers had an impact on the emotional state of those tigers. To investigate this, QBA was applied to video clips of hand-raised captive tigers from three sites (two offering unfamiliar human interaction, Sites A and C, and one retirement site with no direct interactions, Site B) in Thailand. QBA allows inferences to be made about animal emotion on the basis of descriptions of behavioral expression. Analysis, using a free choice profiling methodology, was provided by observers (N = 38) split between three groups; tiger keepers and vets from the Thai venues (n = 12), UK-based animal behavior MSc and vet students (n = 16), and international tiger keepers (n = 10). Tigers (N = 35) were split between Sites A (n = 7), B (n = 18), and C (n = 10) and filmed at three time points; morning (0800-0930 h); midday, (1130-1230 h); and evening, (1630-1830h) totaling 105 clips. Using generalized procrustes analysis, a consensus profile was calculated for each observer group. Two meaningful dimensions of behavioral expression, explaining 75.0% of the variation, were observed across these groups: Dimension 1 (D1: "active"/"interested"/"agitated" to "relaxed"/"calm"/"chilled-out") and Dimension 2 (D2: "bored"/"stressed"/"frustrated" to "relaxed"/"curious"/"interested"). There was clear agreement between the three observer groups in terms of tiger emotional expression along D1. However, agreement was more variable on D2. The behavioral expression on D1 was not significantly affected by site but was significantly affected by an interaction between age and time of day. Time of day also affected scores on D2, with the Thai observer group also showing an effect of site. During the midday period, when unfamiliar humans were present, all tiger age groups showed more positive behavioral expressions on D1 (lower scores: "relaxed"/"calm"/"chilled-out") and more negative behavioral expressions on D2 (higher scores: "bored"/"stressed"/"frustrated"), which could indicate that the presence of unfamiliar humans was a stressor. However, tigers in the retirement Site C also displayed similar behavioral expressions, which could indicate a deeper welfare issue. With further development, QBA could be used as part of a valid tool for long-term measurement of behavioral expression in captive tigers.

Behavioral phenotypes of pediatric temporal lobe epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE: A broad spectrum of emotional-behavioral problems have been reported in pediatric temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), but with considerable variability in their presence and nature of expression, which hampers precise identification and treatment. The present study aimed to empirically identify latent patterns or behavioral phenotypes and their correlates. METHODS: Data included parental ratings of emotional-behavioral status on the Behavior Assessment System for Children, 2nd Edition (BASC-2) of 81 children (mean age = 11.79, standard deviation [SD] = 3.93) with TLE. The nine clinical subscales were subjected to unsupervised machine learning to identify behavioral subgroups. To explore concurrent validity and the underlying composition of the identified clusters, we examined demographic factors, seizure characteristics, psychosocial factors, neuropsychological performance, psychiatric status, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). RESULTS: Three behavioral phenotypes were identified, which included no behavioral concerns (Cluster 1, 43% of sample), externalizing problems (Cluster 2, 41% of sample), and internalizing problems (Cluster 3, 16% of sample). Behavioral phenotypes were characterized by important differences across clinical seizure variables, psychosocial/familial factors, everyday executive functioning, and HRQoL. Cluster 2 was associated with younger child age, lower maternal education, and higher rate of single-parent households. Cluster 3 was associated with older age at epilepsy onset and higher rates of hippocampal sclerosis and parental psychiatric history. Both Cluster 2 and 3 demonstrated elevated family stress. Concurrent validity was demonstrated through the association of psychiatric (i.e., rate of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) disorders and psychotropic medication) and parent-rated HRQoL variables. SIGNIFICANCE: Youth with TLE present with three distinct behavioral phenotypes that correspond with important clinical and sociodemographic markers. The current findings demonstrate the variability of behavioral presentations in youth with TLE and provide a preliminary framework for screening and targeting intervention to enhance support for youth with TLE and their families.

Turalio risk evaluation and mitigation strategy for treatment of tenosynovial giant cell tumor: framework and experience.

For drugs with enhanced serious safety risks, Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) may be required. Pexidartinib is approved for treatment of adult symptomatic tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) associated with severe morbidity or functional limitations and not amenable to improvement with surgery. Its approval was conditional on its prescription via a mandatory REMS due to serious and potentially fatal liver injury seen in clinical trials. Turalio® REMS aims to mitigate this risk by ensuring provider education on pexidartinib use and required REMS components, prescriber adherence to baseline and periodic monitoring, and enrolling patients in a registry to further assess safe use and acute, chronic and irreversible hepatotoxicity. Through Turalio REMS, benefits of treating patients with pexidartinib may be preserved.

For drugs with serious side effects, specific safety measures may be put in place to manage these serious side effects in the form of Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) programs. Pexidartinib (Turalio^®) is approved for treatment of adults who have symptoms of severe tenosynovial giant cell tumor or have limitations in function that do not improve with surgery. Turalio^® has an REMS program because liver injuries that can be serious or fatal were seen in Pexidartinib clinical trials. This program aims to decrease the seriousness of the liver injuries by assuring doctors and pharmacists are educated on how to use the drug, patients are advised of this potential risk and that baseline and periodic monitoring of patients are conducted.

Cognitive function and adaptive skills after a one-year trial of cannabidiol (CBD) in a pediatric sample with treatment-resistant epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE: Cannabidiol (CBD) is a nonpsychoactive derivative of cannabis. Studies indicate that it is safe and effective in treating certain types of epilepsy. The present study examined the presence of adverse or beneficial cognitive or functional adaptive effects associated with CBD in the treatment of children, adolescents, and teenagers with treatment-resistant epilepsy (TRE) as part of an ongoing prospective, open-label safety study. METHODS: Participants (N = 38) between the age of 3 and 19 years with TRE were enrolled in an open-label study of a pharmaceutical formulation of CBD (Epidiolex®; GW Research Ltd.) as an add-on treatment. In addition to baseline physical, neurological, and laboratory testing, cognitive assessment was completed prior to initiating CBD and after one year, both using the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB). Many participants were unable to complete the NIHTB-CB because of the magnitude of their cognitive impairment (n = 24), and in these cases, the participant's caregiver was asked to complete the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System - Second Edition (ABAS-II) as a measure of functional adaptive skills. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant changes in cognitive function, as measured by the NIHTB-CB, in those participants who were able to complete such testing, but there was a nonsignificant trend toward improvement in some cognitive domains. For participants who were unable to complete formal standardized cognitive testing because of the magnitude of their cognitive impairment, their functional adaptive skills, as measured by the ABAS-II, were unchanged after a one-year trial of CBD. SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings suggest that CBD, as an add-on drug for TRE in a pediatric sample, does not appear to cause adverse effects (AEs) involving cognition or adaptive function over one year of treatment.

Culture and the perceived organization of newborn behavior: A comparative study in Kenya and the United States.

The behavior of newborns is ambiguous. Cultural models-representations shared by members of a community-provide new parents and others with a cognitive and motivational structure to understand them. This study asks members of several cultural groups (total n = 100) to judge the "similarity" of behavioral items in the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS). Data were obtained from NBAS experts, mothers, and undergraduates in Massachusetts, and mothers and high-school students in rural Kenya. Multidimensional scaling of their judgments reveals that NBAS experts were especially attentive to a dimension of State Control-exactly as the scale emphasizes. Kenyan mothers focused on a dimension of motor responsiveness-in accord with their concern and practices regarding motor development, and the Massachusetts mothers organized their judgments around cognitive competence-abilities emphasized in contemporary discussions of early development. The US students appear to be more similar to US mothers than did the Kenya students to the Kenyan mothers. Each adult group's representation reflects their cultural values and goals, and helps them understand the newborn child in local terms.

Reliability and Validity of the Child and Adolescent Behavior Assessment (CABA): A Brief Structured Scale.

Use of valid, affordable, accessible, and brief measures facilitates the assessment of mental health outcomes. The Child and Adolescent Behavior Assessment Scale, a brief, structured scale, assesses problem behavior through patient and/or informant report. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the scale's psychometric properties. In the cross-sectional study presented, a large national sample of youth (aged 5-18) admitted for psychiatric treatment (N = 32,689) was examined. The two major domains of problem behavior assessed were Internalizing and Externalizing. Reliability was good to excellent with alpha levels ranging from 0.874 to 0.917. Additional items measured Risk Behavior (α = 0.648). Subscale total scores correlated well with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale for Children, 9-item version (BPRS-C-9). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported the three-factor, multidimensional model of problem behavior as satisfactory for child and adolescent use, although further research is required to refine some items for clarity and improved model fit.

SwarmSight: Measuring the temporal progression of animal group activity levels from natural-scene and laboratory videos.

We describe SwarmSight (available at https://github.com/justasb/SwarmSight ), a novel, open-source, Microsoft Windows software tool for quantitative assessment of the temporal progression of animal group activity levels from recorded videos. The tool utilizes a background subtraction machine vision algorithm and provides an activity metric that can be used to quantitatively assess and compare animal group behavior. Here we demonstrate the tool's utility by analyzing defensive bee behavior as modulated by alarm pheromones, wild-bird feeding onset and interruption, and cockroach nest-finding activity. Although more sophisticated, commercial software packages are available, SwarmSight provides a low-cost, open-source, and easy-to-use alternative that is suitable for a wide range of users, including minimally trained research technicians and behavioral science undergraduate students in classroom laboratory settings.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: From parents to children. / Trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad: de padres a hijos.

INTRODUCTION: Multiple studies of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have recognised a heritability factor in that a higher frequency of the disorder is observed in children with an affected relative. Our aim was to determine the association between ADHD symptoms in young children enrolled in five schools in Bogota and a history of ADHD symptoms in their parents using the Wender-Utah Rating Scale. METHODOLOGY: Case-control study of participants selected according to DSM-IV criteria for ADHD and the Behavioral Assessment System for Children (BASC) completed by parents and teachers; the WISC-IV scale was used to exclude children with cognitive deficit. Parents completed the Wender-Utah Rating Scale to retrospectively identify any ADHD symptoms in childhood. A score of 36 was used as a cutoff point. RESULTS: The study included 202 children: 117 cases and 85 controls. A positive history of ADHD symptoms in childhood was identified for 16% of 175 mothers and 20.6% of 141 fathers. The presence of symptoms in either parent, especially the mother, constitutes a significant risk factor for ADHD in children and this relationship persists after controlling for different variables. If both parents have the disorder, the risk tends to increase. CONCLUSION: Although ADHD has been linked to a genetic component, other environmental factors may be involved in the disorder.

Improved assessment of outcomes following transient global cerebral ischemia in mice.

Mouse models of global cerebral ischemia (GCI) allow experimental examination of cerebral pathophysiology in genetically modified mice and fast screening of new treatment strategies. Various surgical protocols of GCI-induction in mice have been published; however, many of these studies are hindered by limited neurological assessment protocols and present insufficient reporting of the cumulative survival rate. Therefore, we aim at developing a reproducible and easily implementable model of transient GCI in mice with minimal impact on normal mouse behavior. GCI was induced in male C57BL/6 mice by bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries for 10 min combined with isoflurane-induced hypotension which resulted in severe reduction in the cerebral blood flow of the forebrain. Sham operation served as a control. Exploratory behavior was evaluated in a home-cage environment the day before and again daily for up to 7 days after GCI or sham operation and was found to be significantly decreased 1-7 days after GCI compared to sham. Furthermore, we found delayed neuronal cell death in the frontal cortex and hippocampus 5 and 7 days after GCI but not at day 3 or after sham operation. The survival rate at day 7 was 100 % after sham operation and 42 % after GCI. The model of GCI in mice presented in this study compromises the exploratory behavior and resembles the cerebral damage and mortality rate seen after cardiac arrest and/or GCI in man, and is therefore a good model to use for studies of GCI pathophysiology.

Development and reliability of a Turkish version of the Short Form-Joint Protection Behavior Assessment (JPBA-S).

STUDY DESIGN: Clinical measurement. PURPOSE: To adapt the original JPBA-S to a Turkish version (TUR-JPBA-S) and to investigate its reliability in assessing patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Twenty-two participants with RA and 21 healthy people were videotaped while performing tasks listed in the TUR-JPBA-S. Two raters scored the video recordings for to evaluate inter-rater reliability. One rater re-analyzed the recordings at a different time point for intra-rater reliability. Participants with RA were asked to perform the same tasks after three to four weeks which was also recorded to evaluate test-retest reliability. RESULTS: Internal consistency (Cronbach's α value) was found to be high (0.89) for participants with RA. Our results demonstrate excellent intra-rater (ICC: 0.99, SEM 1.2) inter-rater (ICC: 0.99, SEM 1.7) reliability, apart from excellent test-retest reliability (ICC: 0.96). CONCLUSION: The TUR-JPBA-S is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing JP behavior in patients with RA in Turkey. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 2.

A review of research on direct-care staff data collection regarding the severity and function of challenging behavior in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs), it is direct care staff who are often required to collect data on individuals' behavior which is used as the basis for implementation of empirically based approaches for intervention and treatment. Due to limited resources, indirect and descriptive measures of challenging behaviors are employed to analyze the function of individuals' behaviors in place of the preferred method of multimodal assessment, which includes experimental functional analysis. To ensure the most effective services and support to individuals with IDDs, accurate and consistent data collection is critical. In this article, we highlight the importance of accurate data collection practices, conduct a comparison of data collection methods, and discuss limitations .… and barriers for staff. The article concludes with recommendations for best practices and future research.

Evaluation of pain in rats through facial expression following experimental tooth movement.

This study was carried out to evaluate pain in rats by monitoring their facial expressions following experimental tooth movement. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following five groups based on the magnitude of orthodontic force applied and administration of analgesics: control; 20 g; 40 g; 80 g; and morphine + 40 g. Closed-coil springs were used to mimic orthodontic forces. The facial expressions of each rat were videotaped, and the resulting rat grimace scale (RGS) coding was employed for pain quantification. The RGS score increased on day 1 but showed no significant change thereafter in the control and 20-g groups. In the 40- and 80-g groups, the RGS scores increased on day 1, peaked on day 3, and started to decrease on day 5. At 14 d, the RGS scores were similar in control and 20-, 40-, and 80-g groups and did not return to baseline. The RGS scores in the morphine + 40-g group were significantly lower than those in the control group. Our results reveal that coding of facial expression is a valid method for evaluation of pain in rats following experimental tooth movement. Inactivated springs (no force) still cause discomfort and result in an increase in the RGS. The threshold force magnitude required to evoke orthodontic pain in rats is between 20 and 40 g.

Are We on Course Yet? Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Plan Technical Adequacy in Schools.

It has been more than two decades since the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA; 1997) included language about the use of functional behavior assessments (FBAs) and behavior intervention plans (BIPs) to address the challenging behaviors of students with disabilities in schools. It has been more than ten years since three technical adequacy studies were published that evaluated school-based FBAs' and BIPs' inclusion of essential components and found them to be significantly lacking. The aims of this study were to expand upon the previous research by (a) establishing the psychometric properties of the FBA/BIP Technical Adequacy Evaluation Tool (TATE), (b) evaluating the technical adequacy of 135 completed FBAs and 129 BIPs from 13 school districts across a single state, and (c) comparing the findings to previous studies. The results showed that (a) the TATE has moderate but acceptable internal consistency, excellent inter-rater reliability, and good content validity, (b) the technical adequacy scores of the evaluated products ranged between 40% and 50% of the total components, and (c) most of the BIPs had similar flaws to those seen in the previous research; however, improvement was noted in the FBA components. The implications for practice and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Behavioral and physiological responses of horses to ground-based adaptive horsemanship lessons for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Little literature exists on horses in adaptive horsemanship (AH) despite concerns about their well-being. The study objective was to evaluate behavioral and physiological responses of horses to ground-based AH lessons for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Lessons were expected to alter horses' hormone concentrations, behavior, and muscle activity. Geldings were assigned to AH (n=6; 20.3 ± 1.9 yrs., mean ± SE) or control (CON; stall in arena, n=6; 13.8 ± 1.7 yrs.) conditions for 8-week sessions based on current occupation (AH = equine-assisted services; CON = recreational riding). Plasma cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and oxytocin concentrations from samples at 0 (start of lesson), 3, 5, 25, and 30 (end) min were determined using assays validated in horses. Surface electromyography (sEMG) (masseter and brachiocephalic; Noraxon, Scottsdale, AZ, USA) and video were recorded continuously. Average rectified values (ARV) and median frequency (MF) were calculated (100 ms) after sEMG data were normalized, rectified, and filtered. The number, number of unique, and duration of stress related behaviors (ethogram) were recorded by three trained (ĸ ≥ 0.7) observers. Data were analyzed with repeated measures ANOVAs (significance P ≤ 0.05) with fixed effects of treatment, time point, week, and their interactions as appropriate and random effect of horse. CON horses had elevated cortisol concentrations (P = 0.0023) at 25 and 30 min. AH horses displayed fewer (P ≤ 0.0491) stress related and unique behaviors. CON horses were described as more (P < 0.0001) anxious, nervous, and stressed than AH horses (calm, comfortable, patient, and relaxed) in qualitative behavior analysis (22 observers). AH horses were less stressed than CON horses.

Cooking at Home: Correlates of Frequency and Intention in Fifth Graders.

Cooking at home is associated with health benefits, and 10- and 11-year-old children are capable of participating in meal preparation. However, opportunities for children to cook at home have declined. This study aimed to identify determinants of the frequency and the intention to cook at home in fifth graders using the Theory of Planned Behavior as a framework with quantitative methodology. A total of 241 participants across five elementary schools of the Chaudière-Appalaches region (Quebec, Canada) took part in this correlational study. Data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. Regression analyses led to the identification of determinants of frequency and intention to cook at home. More than two-thirds of participants (69%) declared having cooked at home in the past 7 days. Intention was the only significant variable explaining 18% of the variance for frequency. Intention was determined by perceived behavioral control, attitude, descriptive norms, subjective norms, perceived barriers, being a girl, and normative beliefs, which explain 74% of the variance. Whereas other studies aiming at better understanding children's involvement in meal preparation at home focused on self-efficacy for cooking, this study highlights other behavioral determinants. For example, support from parents appears to be crucial to promote this behavior in this age group. Future research and interventions should be oriented toward determinants such as subjective norms and normative beliefs, and focus on children's autonomy.

Interrater Agreement between Bedside and Video Raters Using the CPOT-Neuro for Pain Assessment in Critically Ill Patients with a Brain Injury.

This study aimed to examine the interrater agreement of Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool-Neuro (CPOT-Neuro) scores as a newly developed tool for pain assessment in patients with critical illness and brain injury between raters using two methods of rating (bedside versus video) during standard care procedures (i.e., non-invasive blood pressure and turning). The bedside raters were research staff, and the two video raters had different backgrounds (health and non-health disciplines). Raters received standardized 45 min training by the principal investigator. Video recordings of 56 patient participants with a brain injury at different levels of consciousness were included. Interrater agreement was supported with an Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) > 0.65 for all pairs of raters and for each procedure. Interrater agreement was highest during turning in the conscious group, with ICCs ranging from 0.79 to 0.90. The use of video recordings was challenging for the observation of some behaviors (i.e., tearing, face flushing), which were influenced by factors such as lighting and the angle of the camera. Ventilator alarms were also challenging to distinguish from other sources for the video rater from a non-health discipline. Following standardized training, video technology was useful in achieving an acceptable interrater agreement of CPOT-Neuro scores between bedside and video raters for research purposes.

Implementation of the Prevent-Teach-Reinforce Model for Elementary School Students Needing Intensive Behavior Intervention.

This study evaluated the implementation of the school-based Prevent-Teach-Reinforce (PTR) model for elementary school students who engage in high levels of challenging behavior. Three students (one with speech or language impairment and two without disabilities) and their classroom teachers in two public schools participated in the team-based PTR process, which involved teaming and goal setting, functional behavior assessment, intervention, and evaluation. A multiple-baseline-across-participants design was used to evaluate the impact of PTR on student behaviors. Direct and indirect observations of student behaviors were conducted across target and generalization academic time periods. The findings indicated that the PTR intervention effectively improved the classroom behaviors of all three participating students in both target and generalization academic time periods, decreasing disruptive behavior and increasing on-task behavior. Social validity assessments with the participating teachers and one student indicated high levels of acceptability of and satisfaction with the PTR intervention goals, procedures, and outcomes.

A comparative effectiveness trial of functional behavioral assessment methods.

Clinicians report primarily using functional behavioral assessment (FBA) methods that do not include functional analyses. However, studies examining the correspondence between functional analyses and other types of FBAs have produced inconsistent results. In addition, although functional analyses are considered the gold standard, their contribution toward successful treatment compared with other FBA methods remains unclear. This comparative effectiveness study, conducted with 57 young children with autism spectrum disorder, evaluated the results of FBAs that did (n = 26) and did not (n = 31) include a functional analysis. Results of FBAs with and without functional analyses showed modest correspondence. All participants who completed functional communication training achieved successful outcomes regardless of the type of FBA conducted.

Impact of Applied Behavior Analysis on Autistic Children Target Behaviors: A Replication Using Repeated Measures.

INTRODUCTION: Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a primary evidence-based practice in treating autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Ongoing research is needed to report the results of ABA relative to attaining target behaviors. This study aims to replicate the results of previous research to determine the effectiveness of ABA of target behaviors in autistic children with a new timepoint sample of data.  Materials & methods: A repeated measures analysis tracked 98 autistic children, which included four adult participants, over three timepoints during a one-month snapshot period from 6/7/23 to 7/7/23. This study used a retrospective chart review to gather data on target behaviors to determine the effectiveness of ABA treatments across age categories. A mixed (between x within) analysis of variance (ANOVA) and subsequent post hoc and interaction contrasts were used to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: Mixed (between x within) ANOVA indicated statistical significance (sphericity assumed), F(2,160) = 32.893, and p < 0.05, across time. Using bootstrapped paired t-tests, multiple comparisons indicated p < 0.001 on all three multiple comparisons, with Bonferroni corrected α = 0.017. There was also a non-significant interaction effect (sphericity assumed) with (time) x (age category), F(8,160) = 0.333, p = 0.952, likely due to sizeable within-group variation resulting in a lowered statistical power.  Conclusions: This replication found that autistic children receiving the ABA intervention demonstrated statistically significant improvement in target behaviors over the one-month snapshot period.