Aberrant Behavior Research Articles

THU121 Dopamine Regulates Neuroendocrine Cell Expansion In The Developing Lung

Abstract Disclosure: T. Watanabe: None. M. Stupnikov: None. Y. Zhou: None. X. Ke: None. J. Qien: None. A. Ozawa: None. M. Horigome: None. M. Yamada: None. M. Mori: None. W.V. Cardoso: None. Pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNECs) are rare airway epithelial cells in the lung that have function as neurosensory and endocrine cells. They arise from naive epithelial progenitor cells in mice on embryonic day (E) 12.5, migrate to branch point of proximal airway and rare found as solitary or in clusters of 5 to 20 cells termed neuroepithelial bodies (NEBs). PNECs can be aberrantly increased in a variety of human diseases, including asthma, neuroendocrine hyperplasia of infants (NEHI) and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Ascl1, an Achaete-Scute family bHLH transcriptional factor is the earliest marker and master regulator of PNEC fate specification. No PNECs form in Ascl1 null mice. In an effort to identify Ascl1 downstream targets involved in PNEC specification and expansion, we performed transcriptional analysis of E14.5 lungs from Ascl1 null mouse. Gene Ontology analysis showed a number of genes associated with the catecholamine pathway downregulated in mutants, compared to WT. These included tyrosine hydroxylase (Th) dopa decarboxylase (Ddc), dopamine beta-hydroxylase (Dβh). To gain initial insights into how catecholamine signaling influence PNEC development, we cultured E12.5 lung explants with various inhibitors of the catecholamine biosynthesis pathway and examined the effects on cell differentiation and proliferation. Treatment with Metyrosine (Met) and Benserazide (Benz) which inhibits dopamine production, resulted in a striking increase in PNEC number in NEBs as seen by expansion in Ascl1+ cells, without affecting cell proliferation. By contrast, no effect was observed with Zamicastat (Zami) which inhibits norepinephrine production. To examine whether dopamine regulated PNEC differentiation, we used the D1-like receptor antagonist, SCH-23390 and the D2-like receptor antagonist, Haloperidol in lung explant cultures, as before. Only Haloperidol increased PNECs in cultured lungs. This effect was similarly observed by maternal administration of Haloperidol intraperitoneally from E9.5 to 13.5 and analysis of harvested embryos at E14.5 and 18.5. Current studies mapping expression of other components of the dopamine pathway in the developing airway epithelium suggests a complex interaction of PNECs with neighbor cells in the regulation of the proper number of NEBs and solitary NE cells. These observations may provide a link between catecholamine signaling and aberrant PNEC behavior in the pathogenesis of human conditions affecting these cells. Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023

Performance of Nonparametric Person-Fit Statistics with Unfolding versus Dominance Response Models

ABSTRACT Person-fit analyses are commonly used to detect aberrant responding in self-report data. Nonparametric person fit statistics do not require fitting a parametric test theory model and have performed well compared to other person-fit statistics. However, detection of aberrant responding has primarily focused on dominance response data, thus the effectiveness of person-fit statistics in detecting different aberrant behaviors in ideal point data is unclear. This study compares the performance of nonparametric person-fit statistics in unfolding and dominance model contexts. Results for dominance data indicate that increases in detection rates depend, among other factors, on type of aberrant responding and person-fit statistic used. The detection of aberrant responses in ideal point data was ineffective using four nonparametric person-fit statistics, with slightly higher type I error and power less than 0.25. Additional research is needed to identify or develop nonparametric or parametric person-fit statistics effective for aberrant behavior exhibited in ideal point data.

Amyloid-beta and tau protein beyond Alzheimer's disease.

The aggregation of amyloid-beta peptide and tau protein dysregulation are implicated to play key roles in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis and are considered the main pathological hallmarks of this devastating disease. Physiologically, these two proteins are produced and expressed within the normal human body. However, under pathological conditions, abnormal expression, post-translational modifications, conformational changes, and truncation can make these proteins prone to aggregation, triggering specific disease-related cascades. Recent studies have indicated associations between aberrant behavior of amyloid-beta and tau proteins and various neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, as well as retinal neurodegenerative diseases like Glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. Additionally, these proteins have been linked to cardiovascular disease, cancer, traumatic brain injury, and diabetes, which are all leading causes of morbidity and mortality. In this comprehensive review, we provide an overview of the connections between amyloid-beta and tau proteins and a spectrum of disorders.

발달장애인의 도전적 행동(Challenging Behavior) 완화를 위한 작업치료 중재에 대한 체계적 고찰

Objective: This study aimed to find the effects of occupational therapy (OT) as a way to alleviate challenging behaviors for persons with developmental disabilities. Methods: Literature published from January 2000 to July 2022 was searched in Pubmed, CINAHL, ERIC, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and RISS. The search terms were “Behavioral disturbance” OR “Problem behavior” OR “Maladaptive behavior” OR “Aberrant behavior” OR “Behavioral abnormalities” OR “Challenging behavior” AND “Occupational therapy” AND “Developmental disability” OR “Autism” OR “Intellectual disability.” Both Korean and English were used. The searched literature was systematically analyzed according to the PICO format. Results: A total of 14 papers were selected for review. Sensory therapy, play therapy, and therapeutic mediation therapy approaches were shown to be effective in alleviating challenging behaviors, but demonstrated no improvements in other functions. A cognitive learning approach and a positive behavior support approach were effective in alleviating challenging behaviors and improving the school performance. In addition, parental education was effective in alleviating the challenging behaviors in children, although there was a limit in extending the therapeutic effects on improving their daily life functions. Conclusions: It was found that various OT approaches have been used to mediate challenging behaviors. Future research should highlight the generalized effects in daily life and school performance rather than emphasizing only the mitigation of challenging behaviors.

The Effect of Perceived External Prestige on Deviant Workplace Behavior: Mediating The Role of Job Commitment

The objective of this research is to investigate the influence of job devotion on the association between perceived external status and deviant conduct inside the workplace. Furthermore, the objective of this study is to investigate the function of external prestige as a mediator in relation to these impacts. Perceived external prestige encompasses the subjective evaluation of an organization's reputation as perceived by its employees, customers, and other external stakeholders. Aberrant workplace behaviour, on the other hand, pertains to behaviours that deviate from the established rules and regulations of the business. It analyses the level of commitment shown by employees towards their work or employment.

The role of interoception in age-related obesity: A structural equation modelling study

The obesity pandemic and its adverse effect on health and quality of life are well established. In younger populations, interoception and aberrant eating behaviour contribute to overconsumption and being overweight. Although the incidence of obesity is higher in older individuals, they remain under-researched in the obesity literature. Therefore, the present study considered the role of general (interoceptive sensibility) and appetite-specific (hunger drive and satiety responsiveness) interoception and obesogenic eating behaviour (food responsivity, emotional eating, enjoyment of eating) in the association between age and BMI. A total of 1006 female adults (aged 18 to 80) completed the Adult Eating Behaviour Questionnaire and the Interoceptive Attention and Accuracy scales. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) in AMOS was used to explore the data for multiple serial mediation effects. Despite being more overweight, older adults reported lower interoceptive attention, hunger drive, emotional overeating, food responsivity, and enjoyment of food. In contrast, compared to younger adults, older adults reported a higher interoceptive accuracy, and a similar responsivity to satiety. Importantly, two indirect pathways positively mediated the link between age and BMI: (1) age ➤(−)➤ interoceptive attention ➤(+)➤ satiety responsivity ➤(−)➤ emotional eating ➤(+)➤ BMI and (2) age ➤(−)➤ interoceptive attention ➤(+)➤ satiety responsivity ➤(−)➤ food responsivity ➤(+)➤ BMI. However, a stronger antagonistic indirect pathway was also present: age ➤(−)➤ interoceptive attention ➤(+)➤ hunger drive ➤(+)➤ emotional eating ➤(+)➤ BMI. The present findings suggested that overall reduced interoceptive attention in older adults may protect against weight gain by lowering hunger and the propensity towards obesogenic eating behaviours. These findings have implications for the design of appetite interventions in older populations.

Adaptive, behavioral, and cognitive outcomes in individuals with fragile X syndrome with varying autism severity.

This study aimed to determine the association between severity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and cognitive, behavioral, and molecular measures in individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS). Study inclusion criteria included individuals with FXS and (1) age 6-40 years, (2) full-scale IQ < 84, and (3) language ≥3-word phrases. ASD symptom severity was determined by Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2). Other measures identified non-verbal IQ, adaptive skills, and aberrant behaviors. Molecular measures included blood FMR1 and CYFIP1 mRNA levels, FMRP and MMP9 levels. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Spearman's correlations were used to compare ASD severity groups. Data from 54 individuals was included with no/mild (N= 7), moderate (N= 18), and severe (N= 29) ASD. Individuals with high ASD severity had lower adaptive behavior scores (47.48 ± 17.49) than the no/mild group (69.00 ± 20.45, p= 0.0366); they also had more challenging behaviors, lethargy, and stereotypic behaviors. CYFIP1 mRNA expression levels positively correlated with the ADOS-2 comparison score(r2 =0.33, p= 0.0349), with no significant correlations with other molecular markers. In conclusion, autism symptom severity is associated with more adverse cognitive and adaptive skills and specific behaviors in FXS, whereas CYFIP1 mRNA expression levels may be a potential biomarker for severity of ASD in FXS.

Multimodal Data Fusion to Detect Preknowledge Test-Taking Behavior Using Machine Learning.

In various fields, including college admission, medical board certifications, and military recruitment, high-stakes decisions are frequently made based on scores obtained from large-scale assessments. These decisions necessitate precise and reliable scores that enable valid inferences to be drawn about test-takers. However, the ability of such tests to provide reliable, accurate inference on a test-taker's performance could be jeopardized by aberrant test-taking practices, for instance, practicing real items prior to the test. As a result, it is crucial for administrators of such assessments to develop strategies that detect potential aberrant test-takers after data collection. The aim of this study is to explore the implementation of machine learning methods in combination with multimodal data fusion strategies that integrate bio-information technology, such as eye-tracking, and psychometric measures, including response times and item responses, to detect aberrant test-taking behaviors in technology-assisted remote testing settings.

Effect of Recreational Physical Activity Program on Aberrant Behaviors of Adolescents with Mild Intellectual Disabilities

ABSTRACT This study investigated the effect of the Recreational Physical Activity Program (RPAPP) on problem behaviors of adolescents with mild intellectual disabilities. The experimental group (n=17) involved the parents of adolescents with mild intellectual disabilities who were studying at the School for the Mildly Mentally Handicapped, within the Meram Melike Hatun Special Education Vocational High School affiliated to the Ministry of National Education in Konya. The parents who remained after the exclusion of the lost data constituted the control group (n=17). The Personal Information Form developed by the researchers and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist were used to collect data. The sample of the study consisted of 34 participants. To measure the aberrant behaviors of the adolescents, an evaluation was made through the parents. The study had a pretest-posttest experimental design with a control group. A 16-session RPA was implemented in the experimental group for 8 weeks, two sessions a week and each session lasting for about an hour. The results of the study revealed no statistically significant difference between the Aberrant Behavior Checklist pre-test and post-test total and factor scores of the experimental and control groups (p.05). the application of a recreational physical activity program in 16 sessions is not sufficient to reduce aberrant behaviors; therefore, longer-term programs are necessary for behavior change.Keywords: Aberrant Behaviors, Adolescent, Intellectual Disability, Therapeutic Recreation Program

Increasing Provider Self-Efficacy to Manage Chronic Cancer Pain

BackgroundAims: Pain is a significant problem for those with a cancer diagnosis. Oncology providers often use opioid therapy to manage cancer-related pain. Accessing opioid therapy has grown increasingly difficult because of the opioid epidemic. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) released guidelines to optimize pain management for patients with oncologic diagnoses. The goal of this quality improvement project was to create an educational session and evaluate self-efficacy in providers who manage chronic cancer pain. DesignThe Plan-Do-Study-Act was used as the framework for this quasi-experimental study with a pre/post education survey design. SettingsLevel 1 Trauma Center in Upstate, NY. Participants/SubjectsFamily Nurse Practitioners and Physicians Assistants in a local cancer institute. MethodsThere was a voice over PowerPoint educational intervention used to discuss key points of the guidelines, which included addressing aberrant behaviors, safe opioid prescribing, and interdisciplinary pain management. A convenience sample size of 18 advanced practice providers (APP) were recruited from a level 1-trauma center in Upstate, New York. Participants reviewed the educational intervention and completed a series of surveys to assess tool satisfaction and self-efficacy scores. ResultsData analysis revealed a significant increase in the mean self-efficacy scores on the post-education Jackson Opioid Therapy Self-Efficacy tool. The educational intervention was associated with improved perceptions of self-efficacy when managing chronic cancer pain. ConclusionsBased on the study's results, the guidelines released by ASCO should be reviewed and used to optimize pain management and self-efficacy in providers who work with oncologic patients. Furthermore, future research is recommended to evaluate the effect of evidence-based guidelines on patient outcomes and morbidity.

Regulation of Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas (EMP) Pathway and Tricarboxylic Acid (TCA) Cycle Concerning Aberrant Chilling Injury Behavior in Postharvest Papaya (Carica papaya L.).

Postharvest abnormal chilling injury (CI) behavior in papaya (Carica papaya L.) fruit is a rare phenomenon that may be associated with respiratory metabolism. This study thus aimed to investigate the impacts of storage temperatures (1 and 6 °C) on the respiratory metabolism of postharvest papaya and its impact on CI development. Results demonstrated that 1 °C storage reduced the activities of hexokinase (HK), phosphofructokinase (PFK), pyruvate kinase (PK), citrate synthase (CS), and α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (α-KGDH) and regulated the expression of corresponding enzymes in the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas (EMP) pathway and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle compared with 6 °C storage, resulting in a lower respiration rate of the EMP-TCA pathway and mitigating the development of CI. Meanwhile, lower contents of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (hydrogen) (NAD(H)) were observed in papaya fruit stored at 1 °C. Notably, papaya fruit stored at 1 °C maintained higher activity and transcriptional levels of SDH and IDH during the whole storage period. These findings suggest that 1 °C storage reduced the respiration rate of the EMP-TCA pathway by reducing the expression level and activity of related enzymes, which is conducive to the reduction of respiration substrate consumption and finally alleviating the occurrence of CI.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Children with Severe or Moderate Intellectual Disability: A Study Using the Diagnostic Interview Trauma, Stressors – Severe/Moderate ID

No research has been conducted on PTSD manifestation in children with severe or moderate intellectual disability (SID; IQ 20 – 49) and no PTSD measurement instrument was available. This pilot explores the psychometric properties of a new diagnostic instrument to investigate trauma and to classify PTSD in children with SID. The Diagnostic Interview Trauma and Stressors-Severe Intellectual Disabilities (DITS-SID), Aberrant Behavior Checklist and Child and Adolescent Trauma Screener 3-6 were administered to parents and residential caregivers of fifteen children with SID. The inter-rater reliability of the DITS-SID is good to excellent. There are indications of a good convergent validity. PTSD prevalence seems high at 27%-33%. Self-injurious behavior was one of the most commonly reported PTSD symptoms. There is evidence that the PTSD manifestation of children with SID does not differ from that of children without SID. PTSD is probably underdiagnosed in this target group. In understanding challenging behavior, it is important to consider an underlying PTSD in order to provide appropriate treatment. The DITS-SID is potentially suitable for diagnosing PTSD. Follow-up research in a larger sample is needed.

Using item scores and response times in person-fit assessment.

The use of joint models for item scores and response times is becoming increasingly popular in educational and psychological testing. In this paper, we propose two new person-fit statistics for such models in order to detect aberrant behaviour. The first statistic is computed by combining two existing person-fit statistics: one for the item scores, and one for the item response times. The second statistic is computed directly using the likelihood function of the joint model. Using detailed simulations, we show that the empirical null distributions of the new statistics are very close to the theoretical null distributions, and that the new statistics tend to be more powerful than several existing statistics for item scores and/or response times. A real data example is also provided using data from a licensure examination.

Improving Data Transmission Rate with Self Healing Activation Model for Intrusion Detection with Enhanced Quality of Service

Several types of attacks can easily compromise a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN). Although not all intrusions can be predicted, they may cause significant damage to the network and its nodes before being discovered. Due to its explosive growth and the infinite scope in terms of applications and processing brought about by 5G, WSN is becoming more and more deeply embedded in daily life. Security breaches, downed services, faulty hardware, and buggy software can all cripple these enormous systems. As a result, the platform becomes unmaintainable when there are a million or more interconnected devices. When it comes to network security, intrusion detection technology plays a crucial role, with its primary function being to constantly monitor the health of a network and, if any aberrant behavior is detected, to issue a timely warning to network administrators. The current network's availability and dependability are directly tied to the efficacy and timeliness of the Intrusion Detection System (IDS). An Intrusion-Tolerant system would incorporate self-healing mechanisms to restore compromised data. System attributes such as readiness for accurate service, supply identical and correct data, confidentiality, and availability are necessary for a system to merit trust. In this research, self-healing methods are considered that can detect intrusions and can remove with intellectual strategies that can make a system fully autonomous and fix any problems it encounters. In this study, a new architecture for an Intrusion Tolerant Self Healing Activation Model for Improved Data Transmission Rate (ITSHAM-IDTR) is proposed for accurate detection of intrusions and self repairing the network for better performance, which boosts the server's performance quality and enables it to mend itself without any intervention from the administrator. When compared to the existing paradigm, the proposed model performs in both self-healing and increased data transmission rates..

Probiotic and intra-nasal oxytocin combination therapy on autonomic function and gut-brain axis signaling in young children and teens with autism spectrum disorder

Autonomic dysfunction has been widely studied in individuals with autism spectral disorder (ASD); however, the autonomic response to probiotic and oxytocin (OT) combination intervention has not yet been explored. We conducted the present study that includes 35 individuals with ASD aged 3–20 years to explore autonomic responses to daily Lactobacillus plantarum probiotic supplementation and OT nasal spray treatment both alone and in combination. We identified significant improvements in autonomic indices from subjects receiving combination treatment relative to those receiving placebo. Parameters that were observed to improve following combination treatment are time domain metrics of heart rate variability (HRV), including the root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats (RMSSD), standard deviation of normal-to-normal R–R intervals (SDNN), and proportion of the number of pairs of adjacent NN intervals that differ by more than 50ms (pNN50, p < 0.05). Furthermore, individuals that received either probiotics or OT alone demonstrated fewer changes in RMSSD, pNN50, and SDNN. Several parameters that demonstrated significant improvements in combination therapy were found to be correlated with baseline levels of OT (LF power: r = −0.86, p = 0.024; mean HR: r = 0.89, p = 0.012). Additionally, Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) raw total scores (mean HR, r = 0.86, p = 0.024) and Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) raw total scores (mean HR r = 0.94, p = 0.017) were correlated with mean heart rate (HR) and HRV-derived parameters. These results provide further evidence of synergy of probiotic and OT combination and help us gain a better understanding of the role of the gut-brain axis in ASD phenotypes and pathogenesis.

Otizm Spektrum Bozukluğu Olan Çocuklarda Gastrointestinal Sistem ve Uyku Sorunları: Bunların Problemli Davranışlarla İlişkisi

Objective: The purpose of this research is to investigate sleep and gastrointestinal problems in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their relationship with each other, autism severity and problematic behavior. Material and Methods: The children who were admitted to outpatient clinics of child psychiatry at our hospital in a 3-months period and had diagnosis of ASD according to DSM-5 were included. The parents filled Aberrant Behavior Checklist (AbBC), Rome-3 Diagnostic Questionnaire for Pediatric Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Parent Report Form (QPGS-RIII), Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ), Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) and sociodemographic data form. The clinician applied Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Results: Ninety-seven children with ASD were included. According to QPGS-RIII, 38.1% of the cases had probable functional gastrointestinal problems. Those were 26.8% (n=26) functional constipation, 8.2% (n=8) nonretentive fecal incontinence, 2.1% (n=2) aerofaji, 3.1% (n=3) rumination syndrome, 4.1% (n=4) irritable bowel syndrome, 1% (n=1) functional abdominal pain syndrome, 1% (n=1) functional dyspepsia, 3.1% (n=3) functional abdominal pain, 1% cyclic vomiting and 1% (n=1) abdominal migraine. According to CSHQ 58.8% of the cases had sleep problems. ASD patients with functional gastrointestinal problems, had higher total scores of CSHQ, ABC and AbBC, compared to children with no functional gastrointestinal problems. Conclusion: Our findings revealed that frequency of gastrointestinal and sleep problems were high in children with ASD. It is appropriate to evaluate patients with ASD in terms of gastrointestinal and sleep problems especially if behavioral problems accompanies. And treating gastrointestinal and sleep problems might decrease challenging behaviors that seen in ASD.

L -carnitine adjunct to risperidone for treatment of autism spectrum disorder-associated behaviors: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of l-carnitine as an adjuvant agent to risperidone in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-associated behaviors. In this study, 68 children with confirmed ASD were randomly allocated to receive either l-carnitine (150 mg/day) or matched placebo in addition to risperidone. We utilized the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community Edition scale (ABC-C) and a checklist of potential adverse effects to assess changes in behavioral status and safety profile at weeks 0, 5 and 10 of the trial. The primary outcome was defined as a change in the irritability subscale score. Sixty patients with similar baseline characteristics completed the trial period. Although scores of ABC-C subscales significantly decreased in both groups over the trial period, the combination of l-carnitine and risperidone resulted in more reduction on the irritability and hyperactivity subscales compared to the combination of risperidone and placebo ( P = 0.033 and P < 0.001, respectively). However, changes in lethargy, stereotypic behavior and inappropriate speech subscales were similar between groups. In conclusion, l-carnitine adjuvant to risperidone could improve irritability and hyperactivity features in children with ASD. Results of this study should be considered preliminary and further clinical trials with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are warranted.

Randomised controlled trials of antipsychotics for people with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and a meta-analysis.

Despite unclear evidence to support the long-term use of antipsychotics to treat challenging (problem) behaviours in people with autism in the absence of a psychiatric disorder, this practice is common. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving antipsychotics for people with autism of all ages, irrespective of the outcomes assessed. We searched seven databases and hand-searched ten relevant journals. Two authors independently screened titles, abstracts and full papers and extracted data using the Cochrane Handbook template. We conducted meta-analyses of outcomes and the rate of adverse events. We included 39 papers based on 21 primary RCTs that recruited 1482 people with autism. No RCT assessed any psychiatric disorder outcome, such as psychoses or bipolar disorder. A meta-analysis of ten placebo-controlled RCTs showed a significantly improved Aberrant Behaviour Checklist-Irritability score in the antipsychotic group with an effect size of -6.45 [95% confidence interval (CI) -8.13 to -4.77] (low certainty). Pooled Clinical Global Impression data on 11 placebo-controlled RCTs showed an overall effect size of 0.84 (95% CI 0.48 to 1.21) (moderate certainty). There was a significantly higher risk of overall adverse effects (p = 0.003) and also weight gain (p < 0.00001), sedation (p < 0.00001) and increased appetite (p = 0.001) in the antipsychotic group. There is some evidence for risperidone and preliminary evidence for aripiprazole to significantly improve scores on some outcome measures among children with autism but not adults or for any other antipsychotics. There is a definite increased risk of antipsychotic-related different adverse effects.

Psychometric validation of concerning behavior scale in Iranian children and young people with autism spectrum disorder.

Assessment of Concerning Behavior (ACB) was introduced by Tarver et al. (2021) to evaluate mental health and problematic/risky behaviors in children and young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study examined the psychometric validation of the Assessment of Concerning Behavior (ACB) in an Iranian sample of parents of children and young people with ASD. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine the structure of ACB in a sample of 303 parents. The data supported the two factor structure, all factor loadings were significant and scale structure was confirmed similar to the original scale. The results supported the two-factor structure for ACB that included internalizing and externalizing problems scales. The two factors of ACB are positively correlated with Aberrant Behavior Checklist scores which showed that the validity of two factors is satisfactory. The reliability of the two subscales was reasonable as well. The study suggests that the ACB could be an operational tool to assess the mental health and problematic/risky behaviors in Iranian children and young people with ASD.

Sanguinarine exposure induces immunotoxicity and abnormal locomotor behavior in zebrafish.

Sanguinarine (C20H14NO4+), a plant alkaloid and pesticide, works well a fungicidal and insecticidal applications. The prospect that sanguinarine may have potentially toxic effects on aquatic organisms has been brought to light by its use in agriculture. The first evaluation of the immunotoxic and behavioral effects of sanguinarine exposure on larval zebrafish was done in this work. Firstly, zebrafish embryos exposed to sanguinarine had shorter body length, larger yolk sacs, and slower heart rates. Secondly, the number of innate immune cells was significantly reduced. Thirdly, alterations in locomotor behavior were observed as exposure concentrations increased. Total distance travelled, travel time, and mean speed were all reduced. We also found significant changes in oxidative stress-related indicators and a significant increase in apoptosis in the embryos. Further studies revealed aberrant expression of some key genes in the TLR immune signaling pathway including CXCL-c1c, IL8, MYD88, and TLR4. At the same time, the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ was upregulated. To sum up, our results suggest that sanguinarine exposure may cause immunotoxicity and aberrant behavior in larval zebrafish.