Behavioral Issues Research Articles

Unravelling the Clinical Co-Morbidity and Risk Factors Associated with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum.

Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (ACC) can result in multiple neurological deficits including social and behavioural issues. However, the underlying aetiology, clinical co-morbidity and the contributing risk factors remain elusive, resulting in inaccurate prognosis and delayed therapy. The main objective of this study was to comprehensively describe the epidemiology and clinical co-morbidity associated with patients diagnosed with ACC. The secondary objective was to identify the factors that contribute towards increased risk for ACC. For this, we analysed 22 years (1998-2020) of clinical data across the whole of Wales, UK collected through the Congenital Anomaly Register & Information Service (CARIS) and Public Health Wales (PHW). Our results demonstrate that complete ACC (84.1%) was the prevalent subtype, in comparison to partial ACC. Further, ventriculomegaly/hydrocephalus (26.37%) and ventricular septal defect (21.92%) were identified to be the most prevalent neural malformation (NM) and congenital heart disorder (CHD) in our cohort. Although 12.7% of subjects with ACC had both an NM and CHD, we found no significant association between them (χ2 (1, n = 220) = 3.84, p = 0.33). We found socioeconomic deprivation and increased maternal age contributed towards an increased risk for ACC. To the best of our knowledge, this study for the first time defines the clinical phenotypes and the factors that contribute to ACC within the Welsh population. These findings will be of value to both patients and healthcare professionals, who may take preventative or remedial measures.

A Comparative Evaluation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Behavioral Parent Training in Treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

The article summarizes the popular treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental disorder characterized as possessing two behavioral issues: inattentiveness and impulsiveness or hyperactivity. An individual with the first subtype of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is recognized as having six or more symptoms related to inattention and less than six symptoms of hyperactivity in a duration of six months or more. By comparing cognitive behavioral therapy and behavioral parent training in treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a validity and effectiveness declaration is drawn on both therapies. In the scope of this article, cognitive behavioral therapy, and parenting skills training on the consequences of childrens behaviors will be examined and compared. It also provides some aspects of the differences for further studies. Cognitive behavioral therapy and consequence-based behavioral parent training are two effective and adequate treatments for ADHD. While the former consists of the section of planning and organizing, reducing distractibility and applying adaptive thinking, the latter centralizes on the idea of positive reinforcement where parents can choose techniques such as the token economy and praising to motivate particular behaviors.

Association of Fragmented Readmissions and Electronic Information Sharing With Discharge Destination Among Older Adults

When an older adult is hospitalized, where they are discharged is of utmost importance. Fragmented readmissions, defined as readmissions to a different hospital than a patient was previously discharged from, may increase the risk of a nonhome discharge for older adults. However, this risk may be mitigated via electronic information exchange between the admission and readmission hospitals. To determine the association of fragmented hospital readmissions and electronic information sharing with discharge destination among Medicare beneficiaries. This cohort study retrospectively examined data from Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, syncope, urinary tract infection, dehydration, or behavioral issues in 2018 and their 30-day readmission for any reason. The data analysis was completed between November 1, 2021, and October 31, 2022. Same hospital vs fragmented readmissions and presence of the same health information exchange (HIE) at the admission and readmission hospitals vs no information shared between the admission and readmission hospitals. The main outcome was discharge destination following the readmission, including home, home with home health, skilled nursing facility (SNF), hospice, leaving against medical advice, or dying. Outcomes were examined for beneficiaries with and without Alzheimer disease using logistic regressions. The cohort included 275 189 admission-readmission pairs, representing 268 768 unique patients (mean [SD] age, 78.9 [9.0] years; 54.1% female and 45.9% male; 12.2% Black, 82.1% White, and 5.7% other race and ethnicity). Of the 31.6% fragmented readmissions in the cohort, 14.3% occurred at hospitals that shared an HIE with the admission hospital. Beneficiaries with same hospital/nonfragmented readmissions tended to be older (mean [SD] age, 78.9 [9.0] vs 77.9 [8.8] for fragmented with same HIE and 78.3 [8.7] years for fragmented without HIE; P < .001). Fragmented readmissions were associated with 10% higher odds of discharge to an SNF (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.10; 95% CI, 1.07-1.12) and 22% lower odds of discharge home with home health (AOR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.76-0.80) compared with same hospital/nonfragmented readmissions. When the admission and readmission hospital shared an HIE, beneficiaries had 9% to 15% higher odds of discharge home with home health (patients without Alzheimer disease: AOR, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.04-1.16]; patients with Alzheimer disease: AOR, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.01-1.32]) compared with fragmented readmissions where information sharing was not available. In this cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries with 30-day readmissions, whether a readmission is fragmented was associated with discharge destination. Among fragmented readmissions, shared HIE across admission and readmission hospitals was associated with higher odds of discharge home with home health. Efforts to study the utility of HIE for care coordination for older adults should be pursued.

Lived experiences of Special Needs Education Professionals in Handling Learners with Intellectual Disability

This research aims to explore the lived experiences of special needs education (SNED) professionals who work with children with intellectual disabilities (ID). The study recognizes the crucial role played by these professionals in supporting the different facets of the development and educational needs of children with ID. By examining their lived experiences, this research aims to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges, rewards, and perspectives that shape their professional journeys. Using a qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with a diverse sample of SNED professionals, including teachers, therapists, and support staff, who work directly with children with ID. The collected data was analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring themes and patterns within the narratives. Preliminary findings reveal that SNED professionals face numerous challenges, including navigating individualized education plans, addressing complex behavioral issues, and adapting instructional strategies to meet diverse learning needs. However, they also report significant rewards, such as witnessing the progress and growth of their students, building strong connections with families, and experiencing personal fulfillment in making a positive impact on childrens lives. This research contributes to the existing literature by shedding light on the multifaceted experiences of SNED professionals in the context of children with ID. The findings have implications for professional development, support systems, and policy initiatives aimed at enhancing the well-being and effectiveness of SNED professionals in their vital roles.

Knowledge and Awareness of Parents About Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Jeddah: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is relatively common in childhood and is characterized by repeated partial or complete blockages of the upper airway during sleep. Children affected by OSA can experience various symptoms including snoring, restless sleep, and behavioral issues such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, and aggression, which interfere with their quality of life. Additionally, OSA can result in serious conditions such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This study aims to determine the level of knowledge and awareness of OSA among parents in the Jeddah region. Methodology An observational cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the level of awareness of OSA among all parents in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Participants were recruited through social media platforms. The online survey assessed the knowledge regarding the OSA definition, risk factors, associated symptoms, and treatment. Results A total of 462 participants were included. Only 16% of participants had a good level of knowledge of OSA, while the remaining 84% had a poor level of knowledge. The mean knowledge score was 15.39 ± 5.8, with a significant difference between occupations (P=0.039). Conclusion Our study reveals that parents in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia have a low level of knowledge about pediatric OSA, with only 16% demonstrating good knowledge and less than half recognizing the definition of OSA. This lack of knowledge could lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment, negatively impacting children's health and academic performance. Common symptoms of OSA reported by parents were restless sleep, mouth breathing, and snoring, but bedwetting and hyperactivity were poorly recognized. Adenoids, allergic sinusitis, enlarged tonsils, asthma, and obesity were identified as risk factors for OSA. Improving parental awareness of OSA through public campaigns, doctor consultations, and education programs is crucial. Further studies are needed to assess the effectiveness of these interventions.

A Bayesian hierarchical approach to the joint modelling of Revealed and stated choices

Revealed and stated choice data are fundamental inputs to understanding individuals’ preferences. Owning to the distinctive characteristics and complementary nature of these two types of data, making joint inference based on their combined information content represents an attractive approach to preference studies. However, complications may arise from the different decision protocols under the two distinct choice contexts. In this study, a Bayesian hierarchical model is proposed to make joint inference from combined RP and SP data, with special attention paid to capturing the behavioural differences between the two choice contexts. In addition to the well-recognised issues of decision inertia and scale differences, the proposed model also takes into account other behavioural characteristics such as a decision-maker ignoring situation constraints, non-attending attributes, and misinterpreting attributes. An empirical analysis of a combined RP and SP dataset of travel mode choices is used to demonstrate the advantageous features of the model. Upon examining the empirical evidence, two main advantages emerge: the model provides direct measures of the effect of behavioural issues arising from ignoring situation constraints and non-attending attributes, as well as evidence for the misinterpretation of attributes.

A new neurodevelopmental disorder linked to heterozygous variants in UNC79

PurposeThe “NALCN channelosome” is an ion channel complex that consists of multiple proteins, including NALCN, UNC79, UNC80, and FAM155A. Only a small number of individuals with a neurodevelopmental syndrome have been reported with disease causing variants in NALCN and UNC80. However, no pathogenic UNC79 variants have been reported, and in vivo function of UNC79 in humans is largely unknown. MethodsWe used international gene-matching efforts to identify patients harboring ultrarare heterozygous loss-of-function UNC79 variants and no other putative responsible genes. We used genetic manipulations in Drosophila and mice to test potential causal relationships between UNC79 variants and the pathology. ResultsWe found 6 unrelated and affected patients with UNC79 variants. Five patients presented with overlapping neurodevelopmental features, including mild to moderate intellectual disability and a mild developmental delay, whereas a single patient reportedly had normal cognitive and motor development but was diagnosed with epilepsy and autistic features. All displayed behavioral issues and 4 patients had epilepsy. Drosophila with UNC79 knocked down displayed induced seizure-like phenotype. Mice with a heterozygous loss-of-function variant have a developmental delay in body weight compared with wild type. In addition, they have impaired ability in learning and memory. ConclusionOur results demonstrate that heterozygous loss-of-function UNC79 variants are associated with neurologic pathologies.

Exome sequence analysis of rare frequency variants in Late-Onset Alzheimer Disease

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a leading cause of dementia in elderly patients who continue to live between 3 and 11 years of diagnosis. A steep rise in AD incidents is observed in the elderly population in East-Asian countries. The disease progresses through several changes, including memory loss, behavioural issues, and cognitive impairment. The etiology of AD is hard to determine because of its complex nature. The whole exome sequences of late-onset AD (LOAD) patients of Korean origin are investigated to identify rare genetic variants that may influence the complex disorder. Computational annotation was performed to assess the function of candidate variants in LOAD. The in silico pathogenicity prediction tools such as SIFT, Polyphen-2, Mutation Taster, CADD, LRT, PROVEAN, DANN, VEST3, fathmm-MKL, GERP + + , SiPhy, phastCons, and phyloP identified around 17 genes harbouring deleterious variants. The variants in the ALDH3A2 and RAD54B genes were pathogenic, while in 15 other genes were predicted to be variants of unknown significance. These variants can be potential risk candidates contributing to AD. In silico computational techniques such as molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulation and steered molecular dynamics were carried out to understand the structural insights of RAD54B with ATP. The simulation of mutant (T459N) RAD54B with ATP revealed reduced binding strength of ATP at its binding site. In addition, lower binding free energy was observed when compared to the wild-type RAD54B. Our study shows that the identified uncommon variants are linked to AD and could be probable predisposing genetic factors of LOAD.

Trajectories of Screen Time across Adolescence and Their Associations with Adulthood Mental Health and Behavioral Outcomes

Excessive screen time among adolescents is discussed as a significant public health concern. Identifying adolescent longitudinal patterns of time spent on regularly-used media screens and understanding their young adulthood mental health and behavioral issue correlates may help inform strategies for improving these outcomes. This study aimed to characterize joint developmental patterns of time spent on videogames, surfing/chatting the Internet, and TV/DVDs during adolescence (at ages 11, 13, 15, 17) and their associations with mental health (i.e., depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and self-injury) and behavioral issues (i.e., substance use, delinquency, aggression) in early adulthood (at age 20). A parallel-process latent class growth analysis was used to model data from a diverse community-ascertained sample of youth in Zurich, Switzerland (n = 1521; 51.7% males). Results suggested that a five-class model best fitted the data: (1) low-screen use, 37.6%; (2) increasing chatting/surfing, 24.0%; (3) moderate-screen use, 18.6%; (4) early-adolescence screen use, 9.9%; and (5) increasing videogame and chatting/surfing, 9.9%. After adjusting for baseline levels of outcomes (primarily at age 11), the trajectory groups differed in their associations with adulthood outcomes of mental health and behavioral problems, indicating the importance of problematic screen usage patterns in predicting these outcomes. Future research to test the directionality of these associations will be important. These findings suggest which patterns of screen use may be a marker for later mental health and behavioral issues in different domains.

The impact of non-performing loans on bank lending behavior before and amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The main objective of this study is to assess the impact of non-performing loans on bank lending behavior before and amid the COVID-19 pandemic. To do this research we have chosen fifteen private commercial banks in Bangladesh and data were taken from the year 2012 to the year 2021. Credit growth as a component of bank lending behavior was selected as the dependent variable and independent variables are non-performing loans to total loans, provision for loan losses to total loans, gross domestic product (GDP) rate, inflation rate, unemployment rate, total loans to total customer deposit, total equity to total asset, tier 1 ratio, growth of customer deposits, the dummy variables are used for incorporating the effect of covid-19. The paper suggests that NPL to total loan, provision for loan losses to total loan, total equity to total asset, and dummy variables (effect of covid-19 on NPL) are found statistically significant and inversely related to credit growth. Another three variables namely total loan to total deposit, deposit growth, and inflation variables are statistically significant and positively related to credit growth. All of the significant variables are consistent with general economic theory except the case for total equity to the total asset. To reduce non-performing loans, the banks may concentrate on improving corporate governance, maintaining strong loan review, thoroughly reviewing the KYC form, must ensure safety principles before approving a loan, collecting information from the CIB, accepting adequate collateral, examining the five C’s, name lending and connected party lending should be strictly prohibited which are quite related with behavioral and judgmental issues, would be a matter of further research.

The Effects of the Student Success Skills Program on Academic Achievement and Social-Emotional Skills and Competence: A Meta-Analysis

ABSTRACT The rise of student mental health and behavioral issues increases the need for school counselors to identify effective interventions to maximize their direct services. This study investigated the effect of the Student Success Skills classroom and small group program on student affective (g = .55), behavioral (g = .20), and cognitive (g = .21) outcomes. Using the mean posttest scores for the treatment and comparison groups, the results revealed g = .37 for 13 studies conducted between 2005 and 2022. These findings indicate that students who received the SSS interventions experienced better outcomes than those who did not. Implications for practitioners and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Veterinary Behavioral Health Issues Associated with Disaster Response-Results of Global Survey

Introduction:Veterinarians have been identified as a professional group at elevated risk for behavioral health issues associated with an emergency response. Prior studies demonstrate the significant and long-lasting mental health effects experienced by veterinary responders. To examine the scale and scope of behavioral health issues exhibited by veterinary responders, an online anonymous survey was conducted.Method:A Qualtrics® survey was conducted to identify the scope and scale of behavioral health issues of veterinarians responding to disasters. Informed consent language and the survey included stress warnings for participants to stop the survey and seek support if needed. A link to the survey was sent to veterinarians from contact lists and the survey link was coded for reuse so it could be forwarded to others. Sending emails announcing the survey were sent and the survey was open for one month following the second notice. The results were tabulated and analyzed by the authors.Results:Fifty-one percent of respondents reported experiencing at least one behavioral health symptom during the disaster response and 34% reported at least one behavioral health symptom six months after the event. Milder symptoms such as loss of sleep and anxiety decreased significantly after six months, however more severe symptoms such as mood swings (24/22), depression (21/21), nightmares (18/20), and suicidal thoughts (5/5) did not significantly decrease. Sixteen percent reported support during the event and 13% reported support after.Conclusion:Survey analysis indicated that the scale and scope of veterinary responders’ behavioral health issues are significant, and the findings indicate that further study and action to improve health outcomes is warranted. Recommendations include developing standards and guidelines, incorporating behavioral health training into response activities, developing assessment and reporting protocols, collaborating with other professions to determine best practices, and providing funding for further research on behavioral health.

TO STUDY STRESS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING IN MOTHER OF INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED CHILDREN IN RURALAREA: A CROSS SECTIONAL OBSERVATION STUDY

Introduction: Intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) is a developmental impairment that has no known treatment. Children with intellectual disabilities are typically abandoned and excluded from society as a whole. The wellbeing of a family is inuenced by the mental and physical health of the parents, especially the women who are the centre of the family. They are the ones who must deal with issues related to their child's disability, such as delayed development, a higher incidence of child psychopathology, behavioural issues, and decisions about whether to seek out-of-home care for the child and therapeutic services while simultaneously maintaining the household. current study was conducted to determine stress and psychological well-being in mother of intellectually disabled children Materials and Methods: Present cross-sectional prospective study was conducted on 50 Caregiver mothers of intellectual disability (ID) child from rural area to determine their stress and psychological well-being. Children were classied into mild (IQ-55 to 79), moderate (IQ 35 to 54) and severe (IQ 20 to 35) intellectual disability (ID) based on IQ. Stress was assessed by Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and wellbeing by psychological wellbeing scale. Observations and Results: PSS score low (0 to 13), Moderate (14 to 26) and High (27 to 40) was found in 18 (36 %), 18 (36 %) and 14 (28 %) cases respectively. Result was statistically signicant (P=0.032). PWB score Very Low (50 to 58), Low (58 to 83), Moderate (83 to 217), High (217 to 242) and Very High (242 to 250) was found in 7 (14 %), 9 (18 %), 11 (22 %), 11 (22 %) and 12(24 %) cases respectively. Result was statistically signicant (P=0.034) Conclusion: Parents of intellectually disabled children should engage in therapies including psychotherapy, relaxation, and stressreduction strategies to improve their psychological health. Proper counselling services also assist the parent in leading a healthy life and in maintaining their psychological health

Medics, Mercenaries and Miscreants — A review of Canadian Medical Assistance Teams' EMT Type 1 response to the conflict in Ukraine

Introduction:On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, resulting in Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II. More than six million Ukrainians fled the country—half of these to Poland—and one-third of the population was internally displaced.Border points became bottlenecks where fatalities were reported—people risked their lives in long queues and subzero temperatures.Method:This presentation focuses on experiential information obtained during a 17-week deployment of EMT Type 1 both at border points (fixed) and in northwestern Ukraine (mobile). Quantitative and qualitative data were obtained after deployment by online survey with 75 medical, logistical and interpreter volunteers.Results:Initial teams experienced extremely fluid demands and numerous challenges with security, team adherence to COVID-19 protocols, behavioral issues with less experienced volunteers, and collaboration with novel governmental and non-governmental partners to achieve objectives.Conclusion:1. Deployment to a conflict setting requires adherence to the Incident Command System, with daily security briefings and structured handover between teams at the beginning of each deployment.2. Strict adherence to well-defined protocols for the prevention and management of emerging infectious risks such as COVID-19 is necessary, along with contingency plans to isolate infected team members.3. There is a need for standardized pre-deployment vetting, training and orientation of all volunteers—particularly team leaders.4. Identification of international partners should start pre-deployment and remain a continuous process during deployment.

94 Age and feeding behavior associated with dental disorders in Western horses

Dental disorders can lead to discomfort and chronic pain in horses, affecting their behavior, management, and athletic performance. There is a lack of research on equine management and epidemiology of dental problems in horses trained in Western disciplines. Our main goal is to investigate dental disorders in Western riding horses located in West Texas and their association with management and behavior. For each horse, a Texas Veterinary Board of Medical Examiner (TVBME) licensed Equine Dental Provider investigated the oral environment with a bright headlight, speculum, mirror, probe, and endoscope, assisted by veterinarians for sedation and health evaluation. All findings and pictures were documented through the Pimbury Dental App and approved by an equine dental veterinarian. We developed a dental scoring system to quantify the dental findings ranging from 0 (no abnormalities) to 120 (fractures, periodontal disease, severe pathologies such as hypercementosis, and oral ulcerations associated with all teeth), where higher dental scores indicated worse dental conditions. Horse owners filled out a survey for each horse, which included feeding, medical, riding, and behavioral history. Wecorrected for multiple testing using Bonferroni adjustment, and the significance level was set to α ≤ 0.01. Forty-seven horses with adult dentition (out of the same planned study with over 200 horses) were included in the preliminary correlation analyses. Dental scores ranged from 10 to 60 points (Mean = 32.89, SD ± 11.306). Older age is significantly correlated with increased dental scores (P < 0.001). Commonly reported hay-eating behavioral issues, such as several pauses (P < 0.01) and dropping hay (P < 0.001), show significant correlations to higher dental scores. Dental care history demonstrates a trend toward significance. Horses with no history of dental care scored on average 7.6 points higher than individuals with past dental care (P = 0.03). While we are still adding individuals to the analysis, the preliminary results demonstrate that disruptive hay-eating behaviors could be a sign of dental issues. Furthermore, age is a strong factor influencing dental problems, with a lack of previous dental care as a possible component in Western horses.

Informal carers’ information needs in managing behavioural and psychological symptoms of people with dementia and related mHealth applications: a systematic integrative review to inform the design of an mHealth application

ObjectiveTo review and synthesise the evidence on informal carers’ information needs in managing behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) of their care recipients and related mobile health (mHealth) applications...

Why Teaching History Is Difficult

History is important because it teaches useful lessons from the past that may be applied to today's world regardless of geographic or cultural barriers. It is essential that the topic be taught well in order for students to get a strong understanding of the importance of what they are studying. Most students despise studying history in school because they perceive it to be an uninspiring, slanted compilation of facts and data. This basic notion of the topic undermines the aim of teaching and mastering secondary-level History. In elementary and high school, it was one of the most despised topics. For students' enthusiasm for history to be reignited, drastic changes must be made to the way the subject is currently taught and presented in the classroom. It's critical to figure out what's causing pupils to lose interest in the topic on a daily basis. Some of the causes include the presentation of the topic, the teaching techniques employed, a lack of sufficient content understanding among many others. There have been a number of issues preventing students in Malaysian schools from receiving a solid education in history. In light of the paucity of research examining the issues instructors experience while teaching history in Malaysia, this study, which drew on the perspectives of five history teachers, sought to fill that gap. The research indicated that history teachers face a number of challenges, including instructional concerns, behavioural issues, views about pupils, and environmental variables. History teachers face a number of challenges based on the study's results. In light of this result, it was proposed that the syllabus material be merged to align with the time frame allowed for its execution among other things. Teachers should also be given the required tools to improve their teaching of the topic

Are Immature Neuromotor Skills Significant Factors in Educational Under-achievement and Special Educational Needs? Literature review of the role of Primitive Reflexes as Indicators and Measures of Neuromotor Immaturity

An overview of research carried out in the last eighteen years investigating the incidence of immature neuromotor skills in children of pre-school and school age; the impact of immature neuromotor status on educational achievement and the influence of daily movement programmes on neuromotor status. Based on published material and independently commissioned reports, the literature indicates that persistence of primitive reflexes is associated with a range of presenting difficulties which include: educational under-achievement; attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD); developmental language disorder; emotional and behavioural issues; visual perception and poverty related differences in physical literacy.Evaluation of intervention programmes indicated that specific developmental movement programmes can help to reduce signs of neuromotor immaturity improving the physical basis for motor related aspects of classroom learning and poverty related differences in physical literacy skills.

Users’ Perception Towards Cloud Computing: A Case of Department Statistic South Africa

This study was initiated as a result of the researcher’s concerns regarding computing infrastructure at the Department of statistic South Africa (Stats-SA). The concerns arise from issues observed on the physical infrastructure platform currently deployed within the organisation. It is therefore proposed to investigate the attitude and perceptions of users working in Stats-SA on cloud computing and their willingness to migrate from physical infrastructure to cloud. The issue of user behavior during the transition from traditional IT services to cloud services has been addressed in a lot of studies, but the perceptions of employees at Stats-SA have never been investigated. The study expounds on the technology acceptance model by incorporating factors such as availability, accessibility, security and reliability by investigating the perception of end-users. The investigation took the mixed research approach. A questionnaire was developed using three technology acceptance instruments: perceived ease of use, usefulness and attitude to measure the end-user’s intention to move to the cloud.

Dating Violence, Sexual Violence, and Bullying Victimization Among High School Students -Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2021.

Experiences of teen dating violence (TDV), sexual violence, and bullying during adolescence are all forms of interpersonal violence victimization (IVV) and are associated with health and behavioral issues during adulthood. Data from the nationally representative 2011-2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys were used to estimate the 2021 prevalence of IVV reported by U.S. high school students. IVV included past-year sexual TDV, physical TDV, sexual violence by anyone, electronic bullying, being bullied on school property, and lifetime forced sex and was analyzed by demographic characteristics and sex of sexual contacts. This report also explored trends in IVV over this 10-year period among U.S. high school students. In 2021, a total of 8.5% of students reported physical TDV, 9.7% reported sexual TDV, 11.0% reported sexual violence by anyone (with 59.5% of those also reporting sexual TDV), 15.0% reported bullying on school property, and 15.9% reported electronic bullying victimization during the past 12 months; 8.5% also reported experiencing forced sex in their lifetime. Disparities were observed for each form of IVV assessed for females and for most forms of IVV among racial and ethnic minority students; students who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning, or other (LGBQ+); and students who reported their sexual contacts as same sex only or both sexes. Trend analyses indicated that physical TDV, sexual TDV, any physical or sexual TDV, and both physical and sexual TDV victimization decreased from 2013 to 2021 (although sexual TDV increased from 2019 to 2021). Any bullying victimization decreased from 2011 to 2021. Lifetime forced sexual intercourse decreased from 2011 to 2015, then increased from 2015 to 2021. Being bullied on school property was unchanged from 2011 to 2017, then decreased from 2017 to 2021. Sexual violence by anyone increased from 2017 to 2021. This report highlights disparities in IVV and provides the first national estimates among Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander youths. Findings, including trend analyses indicating recent increases in certain forms of IVV, point to the continued urgency of violence prevention efforts for all U.S. youths and especially those who are disproportionately affected by IVV.