Early Head Research Articles

Plant growth regulator effects on red fescue seed crops in diverse production environments

AbstractStrong creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L. spp. rubra Gaudin) is a cool‐season perennial turfgrass widely used in temperate and subalpine regions around the globe. Although creeping red fescue turf is tolerant of shade, low fertility acidic soils, and drought conditions, creeping red fescue seed crops grown in optimal growing environments can lodge, ultimately reducing yield in regions where this important turfgrass is grown for seed. To address this issue, we investigated the effects of two plant growth regulators (PGRs), chlormequat chloride (CCC) and trinexapac‐ethyl (TE), on plant height, lodging, and seed yield of strong creeping red fescue over 9 site‐years in the Peace River region of western Canada. The study encompassed 6 site‐years with first‐year stands and 3 site‐years with second‐year stands. The PGRs were applied alone and in a TE + CCC mixture at the two‐node (BBCH 32–33, where BBCH is Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and Chemische Industrie) and early head emergence (BBCH 51–52) growth stages in first‐ and second‐year stands, respectively. The application of TE, CCC, and their mixture resulted in a differential decrease in lodging and an increase in seed yield in first‐year stands. However, PGRs applied at BBCH 51–52 on second‐year stands had no effect on seed yield but reduced plant height and lodging. This study found a negative correlation between seed yield and lodging. Among the PGR treatments, the CCC + TE mixture was the most effective in reducing lodging and increasing seed yield of strong creeping red fescue.

Possibilities and power during early Head Start Home visits: Comparing family- and home visitor-opened decision-making.

Decision-making by families and professionals about how to support children's development is an integral aspect of home visits. This study investigated home visit decision-making in a US program for families experiencing poverty, Early Head Start (EHS), through the following questions: What types of decisions do home visitors and families make about children's development during EHS home visits? How and to what extent do home visitors and families participate during these decisions? A convergent mixed methods research design was implemented to investigate participation through frequency counts and discourse analysis of home visit transcripts. Home visitor participants were four women, three white and one Black. Twelve families participated (12 mothers, 2 fathers). Parents identified as white (n=8), Black (n=3), and multiracial (n=3; Black and white). One parent was a bilingual Arabic and English speaker. A total of 66 decisions about children's development were identified, with 49 decisions initiated by home visitors and 17 initiated by families. Although families talked more and took on active roles when they initiated (i.e., opened) decisions, home visitors predominantly controlled decision-making. Quantitative and qualitative participation differed only in the beginning of family-opened decisions, and home visitors gradually took more control.

Impaired head circumference growth and behavioural problems in childhood: Longitudinal findings from the MINA-Brazil birth cohort.

Previous evidence on the relation between early head circumference (HC) growth and behavioural outcomes in preschoolers has been inconsistent. We aimed to investigate whether HC growth from birth to 5 years of age was related to internalising or externalising behavioural problems at 5 years of age in a sex-specific manner. Among 303 girls and 318 boys from the MINA-Brazil birth cohort, we examined the associations between changes in HC from birth to 5 years of age and internalising and externalising behaviour problem scores at 5 years according to the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire for parents. HC values were transformed into sex- and age-specific z-scores (HCZ) using World Health Organisation standards, and the differences between values at 5 years of age and birth were classified into quintiles. We estimated adjusted mean differences with 95% confidence intervals in behavioural problem scores between HCZ change quintiles using multivariable linear regression by sex. To examine nonlinear associations, we included cubic spline terms. Head circumference growth from birth to 5 years of age was inversely and nonlinearly associated with internalising problems in girls. Compared with girls at the lowest quintile of HC growth, those above had an adjusted 1.27 (95% confidence interval 0.28, 2.27) points lower mean internalising problems score. This association was mostly driven by HC growth during the first 2 years. We found no association between HC growth and externalising behaviour in either sex. Impaired HC growth was related to higher mean internalising problem scores at 5 years of age in girls but not in boys. HC growth was not associated with externalising problems.

Multimodal radiomics and deep learning models for predicting early femoral head deformity in LCPD

PurposeTo develop a predictive model combining clinical, radiomic, and deep learning features based on X-ray and MRI to identify risk factors for early femoral head deformity in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD). MethodsThis study involved 152 patients diagnosed with early unilateral LCPD across two centers between January 2013 and December 2023, and included an independent external validation set to assess generalizability. Four machine learning methods, including logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), were employed to develop radiomics deep learning signatures. The clinical-radiomics model (Clinic + Rad), clinical-deep learning model (Clinic + DL), and clinical-radiomics-deep learning model (Clinic + Rad + DL) were developed by integrating radiomics deep learning signatures with clinical variables. The best model, integrated into a nomogram for clinical application, was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). ResultsAmong the four machine learning methods, XGBoost demonstrated superior performance in our patient dataset: radiomic (Rad) model (AUC, 0.786) and deep learning (DL) model (AUC, 0.803). Clinical variables such as age at onset and JIC classification were associated with early femoral head deformity (p < 0.05). The combined model incorporating clinical, radiomic, and deep learning signatures demonstrated better predictive ability (AUC, 0.853). The nomogram can assist clinicians in effectively assessing the risk of early femoral head deformity. ConclusionThe Clinic + Rad + DL integrated model may be beneficial for prognostic assessment of early LCPD femoral head deformity, which is crucial for tailoring personalized treatment strategies for individual patients.

Adverse impact of female reproductive signaling on age-dependent neurodegeneration after mild head trauma in Drosophila.

Environmental insults, including mild head trauma, significantly increase the risk of neurodegeneration. However, it remains challenging to establish a causative connection between early-life exposure to mild head trauma and late-life emergence of neurodegenerative deficits, nor do we know how sex and age compound the outcome. Using a Drosophila model, we demonstrate that exposure to mild head trauma causes neurodegenerative conditions that emerge late in life and disproportionately affect females. Increasing age-at-injury further exacerbates this effect in a sexually dimorphic manner. We further identify sex peptide signaling as a key factor in female susceptibility to post-injury brain deficits. RNA sequencing highlights a reduction in innate immune defense transcripts specifically in mated females during late life. Our findings establish a causal relationship between early head trauma and late-life neurodegeneration, emphasizing sex differences in injury response and the impact of age-at-injury. Finally, our findings reveal that reproductive signaling adversely impacts female response to mild head insults and elevates vulnerability to late-life neurodegeneration.

Little Talks: Building Home Visiting’s Capacity to Promote Communication and Language Skills for Children under Three Years of Age

Poverty continues be most prevalent among young children under three years of age, when development, particularly in communication and language skills, is rapid and vulnerable to socioeconomic impacts. Home visiting was intentionally formulated to support parents in promoting children’s development and health, offsetting poverty’s threats. Little Talks, a parent-mediated intervention to promote children’s communication and language growth, was designed for implementation in home visiting programs. Developed through community-partnership research methods, Little Talks is a modular intervention that is tailored to parents’ styles and preferences for interacting with their children. A randomized control trial of Little Talks’ effectiveness in attaining outcomes aligned with the two-generational processes inherent in home visiting was undertaken. Situated in an Early Head Start program, home visitors and the families they served were randomly assigned to receive EHS with Little Talks and typical EHS services. Assessed across four time points during a 10-month period, Little Talks was demonstrated to significantly enhance the quality of home visits and parents’ involvement in their children’s early learning experiences. In addition, parents’ depressive symptoms did not increase as noted for the comparison condition. Communication and language growth improved for EHS Little Talks children, although statistical significance was not attained. Moreover, parenting outcomes were greatest for families who were less acculturated to US either by immigration status and/or language preferences. Implications advancing Little Talks as a feasible and effective addition to home visiting programs are offered.

Stable early heading in photoperiod-insensitive rice varieties results from an extremely short photoperiod-sensitive phase and weak temperature sensitivity

The transition from vegetative to reproductive growth in rice (Oryza sativa) is mainly regulated by photoperiod and temperature; however, it remains unclear how photoperiod-insensitive (photo-In) early heading rice varieties make this transition. Vegetative growth consists of a basic vegetative phase (BVP) and a photoperiod-sensitive phase (PSP). A certain duration of the BVP is required prior to the PSP, which varies according to daylength conditions. PSP duration is conventionally used as a parameter of photoperiod sensitivity, but this is not applicable to photo-In rice varieties. Here, we aimed to characterize the PSP in photo-In rice varieties. We examined four photo-In varieties and photoperiod-sensitive (photo-Se) varieties grown in four controlled environments, evaluating the lengths of their growth phases based on the turning point of the interval of leaf emergence and panicle initiation (PI). The photo-In varieties had an extremely short PSP, regardless of daylength, compared with the photo-Se varieties. Low temperature uniformly prolonged all growth stages in the photo-In varieties but led to a much longer PSP in the photo-Se varieties. The photo-In varieties, each carrying a non-functional allele of Ghd7, lost the ability to suppress PI, resulting in early heading. Hemi-knockout plants at the Ghd7 locus demonstrated the earlier heading than the wild-type plant due to shortening of PSP. Our results suggest that the photo-In varieties begin PI immediately after the end of the BVP, but their flowering is not a temperature-dependent process.

Etiology, pathology, and treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head in adolescents: A comprehensive review.

Femoral head necrosis is a common refractory disease in orthopedics, and shows a trend of getting younger. The occurrence of femoral head necrosis in adolescents is related to the use of glucocorticoids, autoimmune diseases, trauma, and other factors. Because adolescent patients are in the period of physical development, high activity requirements, and have fertility needs in the future, treatment is relatively difficult. Early artificial joint replacement may have problems such as wear and loosening, so total hip replacement is not the preferred treatment for adolescent patients with femoral head necrosis. This article will elaborate the research progress of femoral head necrosis in adolescents from 3 aspects, and summarize the benefits and side effects of core decompression combined with autologous stem cell transplantation in the treatment of early femoral head necrosis, so as to provide clinical ideas for the treatment of femoral head necrosis in adolescents.

Analysis of influencing factors of early femoral head necrosis after femoral neck fracture and construction of nomogram prediction model

To explore the risk factors of early femoral head necrosis in patients with femoral neck fracture after operation, and to establish a nomogram prediction model. A total of 167 patients with femoral neck fracture from January 2020 to April 2022 were selected and divided into necrosis group and non-necrosis group according to whether femoral head necrosis occurred in the early postoperative period. There were 21 males and 17 females in the necrosis group, aged from 33 to 72 years old, with an average of (53.49±10.96) years old, and the time from injury to operation ranged from 40 to 67 hours, with average time of(53.46±7.23) hours. There were 72 males and 57 females in the non-necrosis group, aged from 18 to 83 years, with an average of (52.78±12.55) years old, and the time from injury to operation was 18 to 65 hours, with an average time of(39.88±7.79) hours. The potential influencing factors, including patient gender, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic liver disease, posterior inclination angle of the femoral head, operation mode, fracture displacement, fracture line location, preoperative braking traction, screw arrangement mode, reduction quality, age, body mass index(BMI), and injury to operation time were subjected to single factor analysis. Logistic multivariate regression analysis was conducted for factors with a significance level of P<0.05. The incidence of femoral head necrosis in 167 patients with femoral neck fracture was 22.76%. The following factors were identified as independent risk factors for early postoperative femoral head necrosis in patients with femoral neck fractures:coexisting diabetes[OR=5.139, 95%CI(1.405, 18.793), P=0.013], displaced fracture [OR=3.723, 95%CI(1.105, 12.541), P=0.034], preoperative immobilization[OR=3.444, 95%CI(1.038, 11.427), P=0.043], quality of reduction [OR=3.524, 95%CI(1.676, 7.411), P=0.001], and time from injury to surgery[OR=1.270, 95%CI(1.154, 1.399), P=0.000]. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test(χ2=3.951, P=0.862), the area under the receiver operator characteristic(ROC) curve was 0.944[P<0.001, 95%CI(0.903, 0.987)], with a sensitivity of 89.50%, the specificity was 88.40%, the maximum Youden index was 0.779, and the overall trend of the model correction curve was close to the ideal curve. Model regression equation was Z=1.637 × diabetes + 1.314× fracture displacement+1.237 × preoperative braking traction+1.260 × reduction quality + 0.239×injury to operation time-18.310. The occurrence of early femoral head necrosis in patients with femoral neck fracture postoperatively is affected by multiple factors. The risk early warning model established according to the factors has good predictive efficacy.

&lt;i&gt;SiDREB2&lt;/i&gt;-based SNAP Marker-Assisted and Multi-Trait Selection in The Early Generation of Foxtail Millet (&lt;i&gt;Setaria italica&lt;/i&gt; L. Beauv.)

Setaria italica L. or foxtail millet is known for its nutritious grains and adaptability to unfavorable environmental conditions. High productivity, early heading, medium stature, and tolerance to drought- or salinity stress are among the breeding objectives for foxtail millet. The objective of this study was to select F3 families of foxtail millet from the cross of Botok-10xICERI-6 by weighted selection index and assisted by SiDREB2-based SNAP marker. Genotyping of 178 F3 families using the SiDREB2-based SNAP marker resulted in 29 A/A genotypes, 121 A/G genotypes, and 28 G/G genotypes. Further evaluation was conducted on 48 F3 families consisting of 27 A/A genotypes and 21 A/G genotypes in an augmented randomized complete block design together with their parental genotypes (Botok-10xICERI-6) and three check genotypes (Mauliru-2, NTB-1, and Toraja). Plant height and heading time had high broad-sense heritability, whereas grain weight per plant had a moderate broad-sense heritability. Ten potential F3 families were selected based on a weighted selection index with 20% intensity, comprised of seven A/G genotypes and three A/A genotypes with a weighted selection index ranging from 0.84 to 3.76. The F3 family with pedigree numbers B10I6-15-136, B10I6-15-161, and B10I6-15-70 with A/A genotypes are considered putative transgressive segregants and could be continued to the next generation for further breeding process.

PLATELET RİCH PLASMA RESULTS IN THE TREATMENT OF FEMUR HEAD AVASCULAR NECROSIS

Purpose: It has been observed that the number of patients with hip avascular necrosis who applied to our clinic after Covid-19 and steroid treatment in Covid-19 treatment has increased. It is emphasized in the literature that core decompression therapy is effective in early stage femoral head avascular necrosis. Core It has been emphasized in many publications that the results of intraoperative platelet- rich plasma (PRP) application after decompression are effective. However, intraoperative The method of application of platelet- rich plasma (PRP) and its effectiveness in the post-Covid-19 period are not emphasized enough in the literature. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of local platelet-rich plasma (PRP) administered using the new technique after core decompression to patients diagnosed with avascular necrosis. Materials and methods: Local platelet- rich plasma (PRP) was applied to 15 hips diagnosed with femoral head avascular necrosis after core decompression with a new technique. Early results of the patients were evaluated with Ficat and Harris hip scores. Results: An improvement was detected in the early clinical and Magnetic resonance (MR) findings of a total of 15 hip avascular necrosis patients . Local treatment in patients with avascular necrosis with a medical history of Covid-19 The feasibility of PRP was demonstrated. Conclusion: This study shows the importance of the intraoperative application method of platelet- rich plasma (PRP) and that platelet- rich plasma (PRP) can also be applied to Covid-19 patients. But we believe long-term results are needed.

Sexual Dimorphism in Age-Dependent Neurodegeneration After Mild Head Trauma in Drosophila : Unveiling the Adverse Impact of Female Reproductive Signaling.

Environmental insults, including mild head trauma, significantly increase the risk of neurodegeneration. However, it remains challenging to establish a causative connection between early-life exposure to mild head trauma and late-life emergence of neurodegenerative deficits, nor do we know how sex and age compound the outcome. Using a Drosophila model, we demonstrate that exposure to mild head trauma causes neurodegenerative conditions that emerge late in life and disproportionately affect females. Increasing age-at-injury further exacerbates this effect in a sexually dimorphic manner. We further identify Sex Peptide (SP) signaling as a key factor in female susceptibility to post-injury brain deficits. RNA sequencing highlights a reduction in innate immune defense transcripts specifically in mated females during late life. Our findings establish a causal relationship between early head trauma and late-life neurodegeneration, emphasizing sex differences in injury response and the impact of age-at-injury. Finally, our findings reveal that reproductive signaling adversely impacts female response to mild head insults and elevates vulnerability to late-life neurodegeneration.

Pathways between parental depressed mood and child cognition in economically marginalized populations

Research supports parental depressed mood, negative parenting, and family conflict as risk factors for poorer cognition in early childhood. The current study is the first to examine bidirectional associations between maternal and paternal depressed mood, negative maternal and paternal parenting, family conflict, and child cognition. Data was drawn from the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation study using interviews, self-report, and performance-based measures completed by parents when children were age 14 months, age 2 years, and age 3 years. Results showed bidirectional pathways between maternal depressed mood and child cognition, but a unidirectional pathway from child cognition to paternal depressed mood. Family conflict mediated links between greater maternal depressed mood and poorer child cognition, but negative maternal parenting mediated links between poorer child cognition and negative maternal depressed mood. Results highlight transactional relations among parents and children as well as the salience of family conflict and negative parenting in exacerbating this transaction.

Lessons from the field: Jail experiences of pregnant incarcerated women in a home visiting program

AbstractObjectiveIn this report, we share results of a qualitative study of the experiences of pregnant incarcerated women (PIW), released women (RW), and home visitors who participated in an Early Head Start Home‐Based Option (EHS‐HBO) program that was delivered in a jail. We discuss the challenges of researching and supporting PIW's experiences and offer lessons learned.BackgroundCarceral environments such as jails present challenges for PIW that can compromise pregnancy outcomes. Research supports the efficacy of targeted interventions, such as EHS‐HBO, for other populations (e.g., people who use substances); however, these interventions have not yet reached incarcerated populations.MethodThrough separate focus groups for PIW (n = 6) and home visitors (n = 5), and semistructured interviews with RW (n = 3), study participants shared their experiences as PIW and the carceral context.ResultsThemes, determined inductively through thematic analysis, included (a) emotional pain from postdelivery separation, (b) struggles accessing help, (c) lack of faith in medical care, and (d) social support in and out of jail.ConclusionResults from this study elucidate recommendations for home visitors visiting PIW in jail and training jail personnel about maternal health.ImplicationsOur study highlights the need to further develop home visiting programs and support for PIW and RW. Opportunities for training of jail and home visiting personnel were identified through the focus groups and interviews conducted. The information shared will help professionals working with PIW learn about remarks, attitudes, challenges, and standards of care impacting PIW and maternal mental health.

P.108 Rate and clinical utility of early postoperative CT head in adult craniotomy

Background: Postoperative cranial neurosurgical imaging practices are highly variable. We evaluated the rate and utility of early postoperative computed tomography (EPCT, defined as a CT head scan within 24h of surgery) in consecutive adult craniotomies. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive adult craniotomies at the University of Alberta Hospital over a 45-day period (17/09/2022 to 01/11/2022). Electronic medical records were reviewed to extract data on the rate, timing, and utility of EPCT as well as the rate of neurologic deterioration and repeat surgical intervention. Results: A total of 56 patients (27 female; 55.5 ± 2.1 yrs, range: 19-84 years) were identified. All patients underwent EPCT, including 10/56 (17.9%) on POD0 and 46/56 (82.1%) on POD1. Surgical complications (bleeding, extensive pneumocephalus, edema, ischemia) were identified in 8/56 (14.3%) of the EPCT, of which 6 (10.7%) were reported to have neurologic deterioration and 2 (3.6%) underwent further surgical intervention (hematoma evacuation). Clinical and radiological postoperative changes were highly related (p=5.16e-06), and the rate of EPCT being adverse without neurologic deficit, managed surgically, was 1/56 (1.8%). Conclusions: EPCT is routine practice. Given the low rate (1.8%) of repeat surgical intervention in the absence of neurologic deficit despite abnormal EPCT, omitting EPCT in neurologically intact patients may be warranted.

Regional Brain Net Water Uptake in Computed Tomography after Cardiac Arrest – A Novel Biomarker for Neuroprognostication

BackgroundSelective water uptake by neurons and glial cells and subsequent brain tissue oedema are key pathophysiological processes of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) after cardiac arrest (CA). Although brain computed tomography (CT) is widely used to assess the severity of HIE, changes of brain radiodensity over time have not been investigated. These could be used to quantify regional brain net water uptake (NWU), a potential prognostic biomarker. MethodsWe conducted an observational prognostic accuracy study including a derivation (single center cardiac arrest registry) and a validation (international multicenter TTM2 trial) cohort. Early (<6 h) and follow-up (>24 h) head CTs of CA patients were used to determine regional NWU for grey and white matter regions after co-registration with a brain atlas. Neurological outcome was dichotomized as good versus poor using the Cerebral Performance Category Scale (CPC) in the derivation cohort and Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) in the validation cohort. ResultsWe included 115 patients (81 derivation, 34 validation) with out-of-hospital (OHCA) and in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA). Regional brain water content remained unchanged in patients with good outcome. In patients with poor neurological outcome, we found considerable regional water uptake with the strongest effect in the basal ganglia. NWU >8% in the putamen and caudate nucleus predicted poor outcome with 100% specificity (95%-CI: 86–100%) and 43% (moderate) sensitivity (95%-CI: 31–56%). ConclusionThis pilot study indicates that NWU derived from serial head CTs is a promising novel biomarker for outcome prediction after CA. NWU >8% in basal ganglia grey matter regions predicted poor outcome while absence of NWU indicated good outcome. NWU and follow-up CTs should be investigated in larger, prospective trials with standardized CT acquisition protocols.

Identification of the causal mutation in early heading mutant of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using MutMap approach.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-024-01478-5.

Turn-over and Retention Among Head Start Educators

AbstractEducators shape the quality of early education programs and are essential to children’s learning and healthy development. However, the early childhood education field is often challenged in retaining educational staff. Using a descriptive research design this study explores turnover and retention through the voices of Head Start and Early Head Start education staff. Education staff identified retention factors to be, holding a job with meaning and purpose that made a positive difference for children, families and communities, access to professional development opportunities, and positive connections with colleagues. While, low wages, high volumes of paperwork, complex caseloads, lack of recognition, weak onboarding, teacher preparation practices, and lack of voice in program changes, were identified as turnover factors. Despite low wages educators voiced they are more likely to stay when their growth and relatedness needs are being met. Overall turnover and retention were influenced by an organization’s systems, practices, and working conditions and how well these met the human core needs of its staff.

QTL mapping reveals malt barley quality improvement in two dryland environments associated with extended grain fill and seminal root traits

AbstractTo achieve malt grade and receive full price, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) crops must meet standards for certain quality traits including percent plump and protein. Terminal drought stress reduces quality and is projected to worsen in barley cultivation areas, underscoring the need for varieties that maintain good malt production with unreliable precipitation. The stay‐green trait extends the grain fill phase between heading and maturity and has been linked to stable quality under dry conditions. However, this relationship can be inconsistent and is not well understood. To effectively leverage a longer grain fill phenotype for drought adaptation, a better grasp of its genetics and environmental interaction is needed. Stay‐green root system differences have been observed and could be at play. We performed correlation and quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis on grain fill duration, grain quality, and seminal root traits using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population segregating for stay‐green. Agronomic data were collected in four field trials at two distinct semiarid locations, and roots were measured in a greenhouse assay. Earlier heading and later maturity led to improved quality in both locations and more consistent quality between locations. Earlier heading had a greater influence on quality in the drier environment, while later maturity was more impactful in the less dry environment. We observed co‐locations of seminal root trait QTLs with grain fill duration and grain quality. These QTLs lay the groundwork for further investigation into root phenotypes associated with stay‐green and the deployment of these traits in breeding for drought adaptation.

Examining the interplay of teacher well-being, executive function, and adaptability in virtual instruction during COVID-19 disruptions

The documented challenges of the early care and education (ECE) workforce include poor well-being, inadequate compensation, and high turnover rates. The COVID-19 pandemic not only exacerbated these issues, but also imposed additional demands such as virtual instruction, highlighting the need to understand how teachers’ well-being relates to their adaptability in teaching. The present study examined whether early childhood teachers’ well-being is directly and indirectly related to adaptability to virtual instruction via teachers’ executive function during the COVID-19 pandemic. With a research-practice partnership project in a Head Start program in a metropolitan area in the central United States, data were collected from the Early Head Start/Head Start annual teacher survey (n = 148). Mediation analysis showed that teachers who demonstrated higher well-being displayed higher levels of executive function, which in turn was associated with greater adaptability in virtual instruction. Beyond the pandemic, findings highlight the importance of supporting teachers’ well-being and executive functions to promote adaptability, which is critical not only in virtual instruction, but also in successfully navigating other challenges of the teaching profession.