Atypical Behavior Research Articles

First Evidence of Individual Sharks Involved in Multiple Predatory Bites on People

ABSTRACTIt is widely accepted that populations of terrestrial predators sometimes contain “problem individuals” that repeatedly attack humans, yet this phenomenon has never been demonstrated in sharks. Here, we present photographic and genetic evidence of individuals in populations of tiger Galeocerdo cuvier and oceanic whitetip Carcharhinus longimanus sharks that (1) demonstrated atypical behavior compared to the rest of the population, (2) engaged in repeated agonistic behavior directed toward humans, and (3) bit, or attempted to bite humans in probable foraging attempts. These case studies provide some of the first evidence for the existence of “problem individuals” among sharks. The percentage of fatalities due to the same shark individual are not known, so we recommend systematic swabbing of shark bite victims wounds to better understand the importance of this phenomenon and the possibility of identifying these animals. Environmentally conscientious management options for problem individuals range from prohibiting ocean activities (e.g., swimming and surfing) in their habitats to selectively removing the individual, although the latter would be challenging in the marine environment.

Sustained carbon import supports sugar accumulation and anthocyanin biosynthesis during fruit development and ripening in blueberry (Vaccinium ashei)

Fruit ripening is a highly coordinated process involving molecular and biochemical changes that collectively determine fruit quality. The underlying metabolic programs and their transitions leading to fruit ripening remain largely under-characterized in blueberry (Vaccinium sp.), which exhibits atypical climacteric behavior. In this study, we focused on sugar, acid and anthocyanin metabolism in two rabbiteye blueberry cultivars, Premier and Powderblue, during fruit development and ripening. Concentrations of the three major sugars, sucrose (Suc), glucose (Glc), and fructose (Fru) increased steadily during fruit development leading up to ripening, and increased dramatically by around 2-fold in ‘Premier’ and 2- to 3-fold in ‘Powderblue’ during the final stage of fruit ripening. Starch concentration was very low throughout fruit development in both cultivars indicating that it does not serve the role of a major transitory carbon (C) storage form in blueberry fruit. Together, these patterns indicate continued import of C, likely in the form of Suc, throughout blueberry fruit development. Concentrations of the predominant acids, malate and quinate, decreased during ripening, and may contribute to increased shikimate biosynthesis which, in-turn, allows for downstream phenylpropanoid metabolism leading to anthocyanin synthesis. Consistently, anthocyanin concentrations were highest in fully ripened blue fruit. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed using a ‘Powderblue’ fruit ripening transcriptome and targeted fruit metabolite concentration data. A ‘dark turquoise’ module positively correlated with sugars and anthocyanins, and negatively correlated with acids (malate, quinate), was identified. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of this module identified transcripts related to sugar, acid, and phenylpropanoid metabolism pathways. Among these, increased transcript abundance of a VACUOLAR INVERTASE during ripening was consistent with sugar storage in the vacuole. In general, transcript abundance of the glycolysis pathway genes was upregulated during ripening. The transcript abundance of PHOSPHOENOLPYRUVATE (PEP) CARBOXYKINASE increased during fruit ripening and was negatively correlated with malate concentration, suggesting increased malate conversion to PEP, which supports anthocyanin production during fruit ripening. This was further supported by the co-upregulation of several anthocyanin biosynthesis-related genes. Together, this study provides insights into important metabolic programs, and their underlying gene expression patterns during fruit development and ripening in blueberry.

Pica in sickle cell disease: nutritional management and implications

Background: Individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) frequently experience nutritional disturbances, including deficiencies in essential micronutrients. Iron and zinc deficiency anemia has been specifically associated with pica, an atypical eating behavior. Aims: This systematic review aimed to characterize pica among individuals with SCD, focusing on potential nutritional causes. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across the MEDLINE (PubMed), Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information (Bireme), and Google Scholar databases from July 2017 to January 2024. Eligible articles included original observational studies, interventions, and case reports involving individuals with SCD across all age groups. Literature reviews, doctoral or master's theses, unrelated studies, and duplicate publications were excluded. Results: Ten studies were selected that described the occurrence of pica episodes in the SCD population and explored potential associated nutritional causes. The most prevalent genotype was Hb SS, with ages ranging from 2 to 23 years. Males were more predominant than females in the included studies. Approximately 51.05% of the studied population exhibited pica behavior. Some studies observed that children with pica behavior had low weight and/or height and abnormal laboratory test results. The most commonly consumed objects were paper, foam, fabric, dust, soil, clay, and rubber, although the quantity and frequency of object consumption were not reported in most studies. The most reported symptoms associated with pica behavior included abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, vaso-occlusive events, dizziness, and fatigue. Clinical interventions in the studies were pain medication, intestinal cleansing, intestinal resection, intravenous hydration, antibiotic therapy, gastric "bezoar" removal, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. The majority of the studied population was monitored by health centers, with frequent return visits. In all studies, physicians were responsible for clinical care. Conclusion: A significant association between SCD and pica was evident in the reviewed studies. Iron and zinc deficiencies emerged as potential contributing factors to this atypical eating behavior. Keywords: Pica, sickle cell disease, iron, zinc, eating disorders.

Constitutive sodium permeability in a C. elegans two-pore domain potassium channel

Two-pore domain potassium (K2P) channels play a central role in modulating cellular excitability and neuronal function. The unique structure of the selectivity filter in K2P and other potassium channels determines their ability to allow the selective passage of potassium ions across cell membranes. The nematode C. elegans has one of the largest K2P families, with 47 subunit-coding genes. This remarkable expansion has been accompanied by the evolution of atypical selectivity filter sequences that diverge from the canonical TxGYG motif. Whether and how this sequence variation may impact the function of K2P channels has not been investigated so far. Here, we show that the UNC-58 K2P channel is constitutively permeable to sodium ions and that a cysteine residue in its selectivity filter is responsible for this atypical behavior. Indeed, by performing in vivo electrophysiological recordings and Ca2+ imaging experiments, we demonstrate that UNC-58 has a depolarizing effect in muscles and sensory neurons. Consistently, unc-58 gain-of-function mutants are hypercontracted, unlike the relaxed phenotype observed in hyperactive mutants of many neuromuscular K2P channels. Finally, by combining molecular dynamics simulations with functional studies in Xenopus laevis oocytes, we show that the atypical cysteine residue plays a key role in the unconventional sodium permeability of UNC-58. As predicting the consequences of selectivity filter sequence variations in silico remains a major challenge, our study illustrates how functional experiments are essential to determine the contribution of such unusual potassium channels to the electrical profile of excitable cells.

Exploring the Experiences of Parents Caring for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Nepal

This study aimed to explore the experiences of parents caring for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Ten parents (three males, seven females) with at least seven years of ASD caregiving experience were purposively sampled. In-depth interviews, recorded with consent, were conducted and transcribed, supplemented by phone interviews. Manual analysis of the data revealed common themes and patterns, offering insights into the challenges and experiences of ASD caregiving in Nepal. Parents in Nepal invest significant time and resources into their children's well-being, but identifying atypical behavior, particularly in children with ASD, might lead to stress and complications. Challenges in effective parenting stem from cultural, economic, and knowledge gaps in ASD caregiving. While sharing culture and essential caregiving knowledge aids in stress management, it's insufficient. Local governments and community groups might be offered accessible resources. Similarly, comprehensive support networks, stress management courses, instructional materials, and targeted interventions are necessary to address family-related stress effectively.

Identification of short term Fast-Slow patterns using the Nasdaq-100 future through a technical analysis application

In recent decades, the analysis of atypical behavior in asset prices has become relevant, since participants in financial markets recognize that the idea of perfect markets is distanced from reality. The purpose of this research is to present a trading strategy through the identification of short-term chart patterns, based on anomalies in the future price of the Nasdaq-100 index. The historical backtesting methodology will be used in the technical analysis of the asset to quantify the performance of the identified patterns. It will be verified that the anomalies in the stock index are not temporary; rather, they persist and recur on a recurring basis, especially in intraday events. Additionally, the best performing trading session will be determined. This work will provide retail traders with trading guidelines to approach the markets with a statistically profitable strategy.

Quasi-one-dimensional hydrogen bonding in nanoconfined ice

The Bernal-Fowler ice rules stipulate that each water molecule in an ice crystal should form four hydrogen bonds. However, in extreme or constrained conditions, the arrangement of water molecules deviates from conventional ice rules, resulting in properties significantly different from bulk water. In this study, we employ machine learning-driven first-principles simulations to identify a new stabilization mechanism in nanoconfined ice phases. Instead of forming four hydrogen bonds, nanoconfined crystalline ice can form a quasi-one-dimensional hydrogen-bonded structure that exhibits only two hydrogen bonds per water molecule. These structures consist of strongly hydrogen-bonded linear chains of water molecules that zig-zag along one dimension, stabilized by van der Waals interactions that stack these chains along the other dimension. The unusual interplay of hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions in nanoconfined ice results in atypical proton behavior such as potential ferroelectric behavior, low dielectric response, and long-range proton dynamics.

Grin1 Y 647 S/+ Mice: A Preclinical Model of GRIN1 -Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder.

GRIN1 -related neurodevelopmental disorder ( GRIN1 -NDD) is characterized by clinically significant variation in the GRIN1 gene, which encodes the obligatory GluN1 subunit of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs). The identified p.Tyr647Ser (Y647S) variant - carried by a 33-year-old female with seizures and intellectual disability - is located in the M3 helix in the GluN1 transmembrane domain. This study builds upon initial in vitro investigations of the functional impacts of the GRIN1 Y647S variant and examines its in vivo consequences in a mouse model. To investigate in vitro functional impacts of NMDARs containing GluN1-Y647S variant subunits, GluN1-Y647S was co-expressed with wildtype GluN2A or GluN2B subunits in Xenopus laevis oocytes and HEK cells. Grin1 Y647S/+ mice were created by CRISPR-Cas9 endonuclease-mediated transgenesis and the molecular, electrophysiological, and behavioural consequences of the variant were examined. In vitro , NMDARs containing GluN1-Y647S show altered sensitivity to endogenous agonists and negative allosteric modulators, and reduced cell surface trafficking. Grin1 Y647S/+ mice displayed a reduction in whole brain GluN1 levels and deficiency in NMDAR-mediated synaptic transmission in the hippocampus. Behaviourally, Grin1 Y647S/+ mice exhibited spontaneous seizures, altered vocalizations, muscle strength, sociability, and problem-solving. The Y647S variant confers a complex in vivo phenotype, which reflects largely diminished properties of NMDAR function. As a result, Grin1 Y647S/+ mice display atypical behaviour in domains relevant to the clinical characteristics of GRIN1 -NDD and the individual carrying the variant. Ultimately, the characterization of Grin1 Y647S/+ mice accomplished in the present work expands our understanding of the mechanisms underlying GRIN1 -NDD and provides a foundation for the development of novel therapeutics.

Attaining Tailored Wicking Behavior with Additive Manufacturing.

Additive manufacturing (AM) has opened a new pathway to create customized wicking materials. With lower manufacturing costs and a larger design space than many alternatives for wicking, AM is of particular value in fields such as thermal management and microfluidics. Fluid propagation during wicking in porous media, however, has largely remained limited to Washburnian () behavior, and optimizing these materials for wicking in a variety of use cases presents a challenge. In this work, we present a method of tailoring wicking behavior to an arbitrary target function of propagation distance versus time, achieved through the use of AM to create nonuniform porous materials. Layers of parallel lines, each successive layer rotated 90° from the last, form a gridded structure with a spatially varying unit cell size for which analytical models for the capillary pressure and solid fraction and a semianalytical model for permeability were found. These models were validated with capillary rise experiments for spatially uniform porous materials over a range of solid fractions from 0.4 to 0.9. Leveraging these models and representing a nonuniform porous material as a series of Ohmic fluidic resistors, we created an inverse design algorithm that generates a wicking material with spatially varying parameters to achieve a specified target function for fluid propagation as a function of time. These materials can exhibit atypical wicking behavior, including fluid propagation displaying simple linear and piecewise linear relationships with time rather than the conventional Washburn relationship.

ANÁLISES DA EXECUÇÃO ORÇAMENTÁRIA DO ESTADO DO AMAZONAS (2016 – 2023) SOB A ÓTICA DA TEORIA DO EQUILÍBRIO PONTUADO

This study aims to examine budget execution in the State of Amazonas between 2016 and 2023, using the Punctuated Equilibrium Theory as a basis to identify periods of stability and abrupt changes. The methodology used was quantitative, with analyzes conducted based on data updated until December 31, 2023. To assess the normality of the distributions, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests were applied, with a confidence level of 5%. The results indicated that budget decisions, both in expenses by nature groups and by government functions, showed atypical behavior. The presence of periods of stability with interruptions was observed, which validates the central hypothesis that the Punctuated Equilibrium Theory is applicable to the analysis of budget variations in Amazonas. It was found that, although budgets are prepared incrementally, their execution reveals an interrupted pattern of stability. This research advances the literature on the execution of budgetary policies by including the analysis of total revenue and expenses paid by personnel group.Theoretical contributions cover discussions on budget preparation in Brazil, the impacts of party changes on budget execution and financial imbalance.

Code 1583 - preliminary steps for studies to assess the safety of an earth dam in terms of use and lowering the reservoir level for public supply during the water crisis

The spring 2021 climate forecast report from the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) and the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) indicated an increased possibility of below-average rainfall in almost the entire region of the state of Paraná, which is consistent with the historical trend of decreasing rainfall in the Paraná River basin since the 1990s, with an intensification in the 2000s. This led to a water emergency situation in Paraná, which was decreed by the state government in 2020 and 2021. The Curitiba region depends on the Curitiba and Metropolitan Region Integrated Supply System (SAIC). Due to the intense drought in 2020 and 2021, SAIC's reservoirs suffered a significant reduction in stored water levels and volumes, reaching 28% of their total capacity in August 2020. This was the biggest water crisis in the last 90 years in the history of the state of Paraná, with several reservoirs reaching levels close to historic lows, but maintaining constant discharges in order to maintain power generation or public supply. In these cases, with the reservoirs at lower levels and with a smaller volume, the variation in the water level on the upstream slope of the earth dam varies differently from the levels when the dam and reservoir are in normal operation or outside of a water crisis. In view of the atypical behavior of reservoir levels, and based on good dam engineering practice, when the operating regime changes or the reservoir water level drops, the safety aspects of these structures should be reassessed through geotechnical analyses for conditions of rapid lowering, in order to learn how these structures behave under these conditions. This article sheds light on the important stages of this thorough technical investigation of the extensive documentation of a project like this, data on instrumentation and performance, how they were built and behaved during the construction and filling of the reservoir, knowledge of geotechnical parameters of the materials of the dam massif and foundation, recorded field observations made at the time of preliminary investigation during the design, project and construction phase; obtaining hydro-meteorological data from the region, in order to obtain the "as-built" geometry of the structure, with the aim of modeling the typical section reliably to the structure in the field in order to infer this numerical model and vice versa, and obtain results on its performance during this atypical period.

Atypical characteristics and behavior of GIST

Abstract Amyloidosis is a rare disease that consists of the extracellular deposition of insoluble protein subunits known as fibrils, resistant to proteolytic degradation. It can occur in any organ of the body, causing its slow and gradual failure. Specific involvement of the gastrointestinal tract interferes with its structure and function, most commonly in the liver and small intestine, with esophageal involvement being a rare entity, and whose main clinical manifestation is reflux. On the other hand, presentation in the form of dysphagia is highly uncommon.

Extreme events in SQUID trimer

The formation of distinct intermittent large-amplitude dynamics has been investigated in three magnetically coupled Superconducting QUantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs). The proposed model manifests abrupt large-amplitude events from a bounded region at sporadic time intervals. The unforeseen deviation occurs from either regular or chaotic motion via different dynamical processes of interior crisis-induced intermittency, Pomeau–Manneville intermittency, and quasiperiodic intermittency. The advent of extremely large-amplitude dynamics and their transition are evaluated, using appropriate dynamical and statistical analyses. Our observation enlightened the possibility of utilizing the SQUIDs more efficiently and harmlessly in distinct applications while taking note of the emergence of atypical behavior in the system.

Central neurocytoma of atypical behavior. Case report and literature review

Central neurocytomas are central nervous system (CNS) tumors that typically show benign behavior and progression. These tumors usually occur in the lateral ventricles of young individuals. We present the case of a 36-year-old male patient who presented with an intraventricular expansive lesion causing hydrocephalus and seizures. The patient underwent an incomplete resection of the lesion but developed persistent postoperative hydrocephalus, requiring a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. The progression was favorable, and the patient was discharged for outpatient follow-up. Anatomic pathology examination revealed central neurocytoma, confirmed through immunohistochemistry. This report aims to present a case of this rare neoplasm, review the literature, and highlight its significance, given the favorable prognosis.

Pollinator-mediated selection on Krameria oil flowers: a flower-pollinator fit adaptation to an atypical oil-collecting behaviour?

Spatial variation in plant-pollinator interactions is a key driver of floral trait diversification. A so far overlooked qualitative aspect of this variation is the behavioural component on flowers that relates to the pollinator fit. We tested the hypothesis that variation in pollinator behaviour influences the geographical pattern of phenotypic selection across the distribution range of the oil-producing Krameria grandiflora (Krameriaceae). This variation mainly involves the presence or absence of flag petal grasping, which is only performed by representatives of Centris (Centridini, Apidae), an oil-collecting bee group highly associated with Krameriaceae pollination. We quantified variation in floral traits and fitness and estimated pollinator-mediated selection in five populations at a large geographical scale comprising the entire species range. In each population, we sampled individual pollen arrival and germination as a fitness measure, indicating pollination success and pollination performance, which was then relativized and regressed on standardized flower-pollinator fit (flag-stigma distance), advertisement (sepal length) and reward (oil volume) traits. This generated mean-scaled selection gradients used to calculate geographical selection dispersion. Unexpectedly, stronger selection was detected on the flower-pollinator fit trait in populations highly associated with the absence of flag petal grasping. Geographical variation in selection was mainly attributed to differential selection on the flag-stigma distance generating a selection mosaic. This may involve influences of a spatial variation in pollinator behaviour as well as composition and morphology. Our results show the adaptive significance of the specialized flag petals of Krameria in the absence of the grasping behaviour and highlight the contribution of geographical variation in pollinator behaviour on flowers in driving selection mosaics, with implications for floral evolution, adaptation to pollinator fit and phenotypic diversity in specialized systems.

Aerodynamic Study of Velopharyngeal Insufficiency in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome.

We aim to verify velopharyngeal sphincter function in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome patients (22q11.2DS) to establish correlations between aerodynamic and perceptual measures of nasality, and to identify aerodynamic measures differentiating typical from atypical velopharyngeal behavior. Eleven subjects with 22q11.2DS and twenty similar-age control subjects were recruited. The aerodynamic measures were mean Sound Pressure Level, air pressure peak, pressure wave duration, airflow pattern and nasal airflow during the sequence /pi/. The nasality perceptual measures were rhinolalia, rhinophony and nasal air escape. Airflow patterns and perceptual measures were statistically different in the two groups. Pressure wave duration and air pressure peak were lower in study subjects than in controls. Air pressure peak and nasal airflow were negatively correlated with rhinolalia; pressure wave duration was negatively correlated with nasal air escape and rhinolalia in 22q11.2DS patients. This aerodynamic study identified velopharyngeal qualitative and quantitative dysfunctions, suggesting heterogeneous models of velopharyngeal function in syndromic subjects as compared to controls.

Forecasting Hourly Wildfire Risk: Enhancing Fire Danger Assessment Using Numerical Weather Prediction

Abstract Wildfire agencies use fire danger rating systems (FDRSs) to deploy resources and issue public safety measures. The most widely used FDRS is the Canadian fire weather index (FWI) system, which uses weather inputs to estimate the potential for wildfires to start and spread. Current FWI forecasts provide a daily numerical value, representing potential fire severity at an assumed midafternoon time for peak fire activity. This assumption, based on typical diurnal weather patterns, is not always valid. To address this, we developed an hourly FWI (HFWI) system using numerical weather prediction. We validate HFWI against the traditional daily FWI (DFWI) by comparing HFWI forecasts with observation-derived DFWI values from 917 surface fire weather stations in western North America. Results indicate strong correlations between forecasted HFWI and the observation-derived DFWI. A positive mean bias in the daily maximum values of HFWI compared to the traditional DFWI suggests that HFWI can better capture severe fire weather variations regardless of when they occur. We confirm this by comparing HFWI with hourly fire radiative power (FRP) satellite observations for nine wildfire case studies in Canada and the United States. We demonstrate HFWI’s ability to forecast shifts in fire danger timing, especially during intensified fire activity in the late evening and early morning hours, while allowing for multiple periods of increased fire danger per day—a contrast to the conventional DFWI. This research highlights the HFWI system’s value in improving fire danger assessments and predictions, hopefully enhancing wildfire management, especially during atypical fire behavior.

The hidden nature of sibling sexual abuse: when sexually harmful behaviour masquerades as consensual sexual experimentation

Whilst the majority of sibling relationships are generally benign in providing an additional secure attachment figure and source of comfort in which they can grow and flour- ish, some are highly competitive, full of envy, rivalry, and resentment, which can lead to physical and sexual violence. It is estimated that sibling sexual abuse (SSA) is three to four times more common than adult to child sexual abuse (CSA) in the family. Lack of knowl- edge, research, and discourse on psychosexual development in children and the nature of SSA has led both parents, child protection professionals, and clinicians to normalise sexual interactions between siblings, and to minimise these as less harmful than generational CSA. To ensure that sibling sexual interactions, their impact, and long-term effects are fully understood, it is essential that parents and practitioners understand what constitutes harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) between siblings and be able to distinguish between developmentally typical sexual behaviour and developmentally atypical sexual behaviour in children. In recognising the nature, concomitant risk factors, impact, and long-term effects of SSA, parents and professionals will be more able to bear witness to the lived experience of SSA and facilitate the healing process.

Evaluating the use of the AMBIANCE-Brief measure in clinical settings: Assessing acceptability, feasibility, and utility of the AMBIANCE-Brief.

Community agencies and practitioners around the globe seek opportunities to learn various assessment tools and interventions rooted in attachment theory. However, information regarding the feasibility of implementation and sustainability of these tools once participants have been trained to use them, is limited. This study investigated the perceived acceptability, feasibility, utility, relevance, fidelity, and sustainability of the Atypical Maternal Behavior Instrument for Assessment and Classification-Brief (AMBIANCE-Brief) among practitioners who had taken a training. Practitioners (N=59) who attended a virtual AMBIANCE-Brief training originating from Canada between June 2020 and November 2021 completed an online follow-up survey. Practitioners reported that they primarily used the AMBIANCE-Brief for case conceptualization (68%). Additionally, 95% agreed that the AMBIANCE-Brief was relevant to their clinical practice, 98% agreed it was useful for their clinical work, 76% agreed that it was feasible to implement into their clinical work, and 59% found it easy to incorporate into their treatment planning with clients. Findings suggest that the AMBIANCE-Brief may be acceptable, feasible, and useful for practitioners. Avenues for continuing to evaluate the AMBIANCE-Brief include cross-cultural validity, coder drift, and booster sessions. Additional work clarifying how practitioners integrate the measure into practice would be valuable.

Healthcare Students' Perceptions and Attitudes Towards Peers with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The present study investigates healthcare students' affective, behavioral, and cognitive attitudes toward hypothetical peers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the effect of the ASD label on their attitudes. The MAS scale for ASD persons in the postsecondary education (Matthews et al., 2015) was translated and adapted in Greek according to the guidelines of World Health Organization (2016). Participants (n = 444) were randomly divided into three equal groups and completed their demographic information. Each participant read the three vignettes of the Greek-adapted MAS scale describing a communicative interaction with one hypothetical fellow student with autistic characteristics in three different social situations but in each group, the vignette's character was labeled differently (High-functioning, typical college student, and no-label). Students in the High-functioning group demonstrated more positive affective, behavioral, and cognitive attitudes toward the vignette characters than students in the no-label condition. Furthermore, students in the typical student group reported more rejective behaviors toward the vignette characters than students in the high-functioning group, implying that atypical behavior evokes rejection and stigmatization, while the label did not. Male students presented more positive cognitive attitudes across study groups in comparison to female students, while previous contact with individuals with ASD did not seem to impact significantly attitudes. The findings of the study indicate that knowledge of an ASD diagnosis leads to greater acceptance and have important implications for future research, disability policy makers, and university support services.