Nature Of Interactions Research Articles

Improving Depth Perception in Immersive Media Devices by Addressing Vergence-Accommodation Conflict.

Recently, immersive media devices have seen a boost in popularity. However, many problems still remain. Depth perception is a crucial part of how humans behave and interact with their environment. Convergence and accommodation are two physiological mechanisms that provide important depth cues. However, when humans are immersed in virtual environments, they experience a mismatch between these cues. This mismatch causes users to feel discomfort while also hindering their ability to fully perceive object distances. To address the conflict, we have developed a technique that encompasses inverse blurring into immersive media devices. For the inverse blurring, we utilize the classical Wiener deconvolution approach by proposing a novel technique that is applied without the need for an eye-tracker and implemented in a commercial immersive media device. The technique's ability to compensate for the vergence-accommodation conflict was verified through two user studies aimed at reaching and spatial awareness, respectively. The two studies yielded a statistically significant 36% and 48% error reduction in user performance to estimate distances, respectively. Overall, the work done demonstrates how visual stimuli can be modified to allow users to achieve a more natural perception and interaction with the virtual environment.

Representing the dynamics of natural marmoset vocal behaviors in frontal cortex.

Here, we tested the respective contributions of primate premotor and prefrontal cortex to support vocal behavior. We applied a model-based generalized linear model (GLM) analysis that better accounts for the inherent variance in natural, continuous behaviors to characterize the activity of neurons throughout the frontal cortex as freely moving marmosets engaged in conversational exchanges. While analyses revealed functional clusters of neural activity related to the different processes involved in the vocal behavior, these clusters did not map to subfields of prefrontal or premotor cortex, as has been observed in more conventional task-based paradigms. Our results suggest a distributed functional organization for the myriad neural mechanisms underlying natural social interactions and have implications for our concepts of the role that frontal cortex plays in governing ethological behaviors in primates.

Design and Validation of a Modular, Backdrivable Ankle Exoskeleton.

Partial-assist ankle exoskeletons have been limited by inherent trade-offs between favorable characteristics including high torque capacity, high control bandwidth, back-drivability, compliance, and low mass. Emerging quasi-direct drive actuators have a rigid transmission with a low gear ratio, enabling inherent backdrivability and compliance with accurate torque and position control. Our existing modular, backdrivable exoskeleton system (M-BLUE) uses quasi-direct drive actuators at the hip and/or knee to deliver high assistive torques alongside low dynamic backdrive torques, enabling natural interaction with users with remnant voluntary motion. This paper extends our modular system with the design and validation of a back-drivable ankle exoskeleton module to assist both plantarflexion and dorsiflexion. The bi-directional torque capabilities enable the study of control methods and gait outcomes for able-bodied users and users with gait impairments. Benchtop tests of the actuator performance and control bandwidth indicate that the position, voltage, and current control modes can provide assistance to the ankle joint across activities of daily living (ADLs). We also implement an optimal task-agnostic energy shaping controller for an experiment with a single human subject to validate the ability of the ankle exoskeleton to provide biomimetic torque assistance across a circuit of ADLs.

Cognitive evaluation based on regression and eye-tracking for layout on human–computer multi-interface

ABSTRACT The human–computer cooperation process guided by natural interaction, intelligent interaction, and human–computer integration is gradually becoming a new trend in human–computer interaction. Cooperative scenarios of human–computer interaction systems often contain multi-interface and multi-device results in edges often interrupt the cognitive ergonomics of interface layout. This research takes typical areas as an example to establish a stepwise regression model to predict reaction time at an arbitrary position on the left interface. It uses a foveal region to position the starting point of attention and a parafoveal region to calculate the radius of each objective area, and design 10 similar tasks to analyze eye-tracking indexes through physiological assessment. Unlike fixed thinking such as spatial proximity on multi-interfaces, this research summarises cognitive features of layout based on the positive and negative effects of edge impact through eye-tracking analysis. It analyzes cognition including input, process, and output in human–computer cooperation from human intelligence and artificial intelligence respectively, and visualises the mapping relationship between these indexes and specific stages of cognition. Besides, the quantitative evaluation of the regression equation and qualitative analysis of the eye-tracking indexes provide a reference for other interfaces around the front interface.

Crafting copper complexes of variable nuclearity and coordination geometry through solvent tailoring: Unveiling novel structure, magnetic insight and computational marvels

The solvent tuning technique has been employed to synthesize two new copper complexes [Cu3(L)(NO3)2(DMSO)4] (1) and [Cu6(L)2(NO3)2(DMF)4(H2O)2(µ-HCOO)2] (2) which display variable nuclearity and coordination geometries. The synthesized complexes further characterized by using spectroscopic, single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction techniques. Supramolecular assembly of the complexes in the solid state is stabilized by a range of intermolecular interactions including O-H⋅⋅⋅O, C-H⋅⋅⋅O, π⋅⋅⋅π and C-H⋅⋅⋅π. Magnetic susceptibility measurements (χT vs T curves) over a wide range of temperature indicate dominant antiferromagnetic interactions between the Cu(II) centres in both complexes, while DFT calculations reveal the nature and amplitude of the main magnetic interactions. Theoretical study further shows strong antiferromagnetic interactions inside the trimeric units of both complexes as well as both weak ferro- and antiferromagnetic interactions among the trimers. The so-obtained J values have been employed to fit the χT vs T curves, using simplified spin models which correctly reproduce the main features of the experimental curves. Thus, this combined experimental and theoretical study provides insight into the magnetic structure of the copper complexes.

Assessing the physiological responses and uptake patterns of lanthanum and yttrium in rice and Phytolacca americana L.

The effects of rare earth elements (REEs) on plant physiology and bioaccumulation characteristics vary significantly. As a result, considerable attention has been directed towards the effects and toxicity of REEs on plants. REEs migrate and transform in the environment and are absorbed by plant roots. However, different plants exhibit varying capacities to absorb REEs, leading to diverse impacts on their growth. In our study, we subjected seedlings of rice and Phytolacca americana L. to a gradient of lanthanum and yttrium (La + Y) concentrations to evaluate the physicochemical effects and uptake patterns of these elements. We meticulously measured variables such as biomass, root length, and elemental concentrations of La and Y, as well as macronutrients (P, Na, K, Mn, Fe, Mg, Ca) and micronutrients (Cu, Zn) to decode the physiological responses to varying levels of La + Y exposure. Based on the known dualistic nature of REEs interaction with plants, our results reveal that the threshold of REEs to different plants is different, and this conclusion can serve well for the formulation of rare earth pollution remediation strategies. Importantly, the accumulation of La and Y in P. americana L. roots was significantly greater than in rice roots, by an order of magnitude, reflecting the unique uptake capacities of hyperaccumulators. Additionally, this research found that nutrient dynamics and the absorption patterns of La and Y within the plants diverged, suggesting that La uptake in P. americana L. may occur via Ca2+ ion channels. These insights enhance our understanding of REE-plant interactions and have broader implications for agriculture and environmental health.

Sharing and comparing languages – how teachers and pupils co-construct language comparison interactions

ABSTRACT By focusing on differences and similarities between languages, pupils can increase their learning of abstract principles, metalinguistic awareness and language learning strategies (Duarte, J., & Günther-Van der Meij, M. (2018). A holistic model for multilingualism in education. EuroAmerican Journal of Applied Linguistics and Languages, 5(2), 24–43; Star, J. R., & Rittle-Johnson, B. (2009). It pays to compare: An experimental study on computational estimation. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 102(4), 408–426). However, research has demonstrated that the possible benefits of multilingual approaches, such as language comparison, might be limited due to the nature of the classroom interaction in which these approaches are implemented (Rabbidge, M. (2019). The effects of translanguaging on participation in EFL classrooms. The Journal of AsiaTEFL, 16(4), 1305–1322). By using conversation analysis, the current study aimed to gain more insight into how teachers and pupils co-construct language comparison interactions in whole class conversations. Both the conversational structure and the teachers’ practices to stimulate pupils’ active contribution to the interactions were analysed, demonstrating a dominant conversational structure consisting of two key components. Dialogic and non-dialogic participation frameworks could be identified with the first providing pupils more opportunities to actively participate and contribute their own language comparisons than the latter. This study provides interactional evidence for the role of language comparison in making use of pupils’ diverse languages and has direct implications for teachers’ ways of shaping participation frameworks to stimulate home language use in the classroom.

The Buddy System: African American Women with Self-Reported Hypertension and Their Experiences in a Peer (Dyadic) Support Intervention

INTRODUCTION: Hypertension is the leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and it disproportionately affects African American women, who face increased risks of heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet effectively reduces blood pressure, but African American women often face challenges with adhering to it. Peer support, a proven mechanism for improving health behaviors through social connections and community resources, may help these women better manage their diet and hypertension. This qualitative study explored the experiences of African American women participating in an eight-week peer (dyadic) support intervention to improve DASH diet adherence and lowering systolic blood pressure, with an emphasis on understanding the dyadic relationship. METHODS: A purposive sample of 40 African American women (20 dyads) was recruited for five focus groups that were conducted both online and in person. Content analysis was used to identify themes related to the nature and quality of peer interactions and relationships from the perspectives of the 34 women who completed the intervention (Mean age = 71.38 years; SD = 8.38). RESULTS: Four subthemes emerged: emotional support, shared experiences, informational/inspirational support, and accountability. The participants reported forming strong, supportive relationships that were crucial in improving diet and blood pressure management. CONCLUSION: This study underscores the benefits of peer support in managing hypertension among older African American women, suggesting the need for future randomized controlled trials to examine the effectiveness of the DASH diet with and without peer support.

Digital game-based learning in architecture education: Consolidating visual design principles in freshmen

Using games as educational tools has been a captivating subject in the academic domain. There is an increasing number of digital games designed to support architectural education. This paper introduces a serious game aimed at enhancing basic design knowledge for first-year architecture students. The game focuses on teaching and testing visual design principles such as emphasis, balance, and rhythm. Based on these principles, it allows students to create 2D compositions on a grid pattern by placing and manipulating simple shapes in terms of color, shape, and size. The final composition is evaluated by an artificial intelligence (AI) tool integrated into the game. This AI tool predicts the design principles present in the composition, providing three possible outcomes with associated percentages. The game, currently in the testing phase, has been played by 126 first-year students, and user experience has been assessed through questionnaires, surveys, and basic game metrics. The use of this game to teach visual design principles has proven to be an effective method for engaging students in active learning and enhancing their understanding and application of design concepts. The innovative use of AI to provide real-time feedback and the interactive nature of the game have fostered a deeper, experiential learning process. Additionally, students have proposed various innovative ideas to improve the gaming experience, suggesting potential enhancements that could lead to a more refined and enjoyable gameplay. These insights highlight the potential of digital game-based learning (DGBL) and AI-enhanced tools in creating an engaging and effective educational environment.

Preschool and elementary school teachers’ stereotypes and views of older adults

ABSTRACT The stereotyping of older adults shapes our society and has significant implications for our future as an aging population. While considerable research addresses negative stereotypes across various contexts, a notable gap exists regarding teachers’ stereotypes. Given teachers’ unique role as agents of change, this quantitative study utilized a survey method to investigate the stereotypes and views of 236 preschool and elementary school teachers concerning older adults, along with factors influencing these stereotypes, such as age, gender, frequency, and nature of interaction with older adults, and aging anxiety. The Older Adult Stereotypes Questionnaire and the Anxiety about Aging Scale, supplemented with custom questions, were employed. Findings revealed that the participants generally exhibited a tendency to hold negative stereotypes about older adults. Positive stereotypes and views were linked to the perceived importance of interactions and coherence of views with older adults, while high aging anxiety correlated with negative stereotypes and views. Notably, the older teachers and the female teachers with high aging anxiety displayed more negative views regarding older adults. These findings suggest that age and gender should be considered when designing interventions to address teachers’ negative stereotypes and reduce their anxiety about aging. Also, with new educational policies, more opportunities for intergenerational interaction should be provided to build meaningful relationships among generations to promote a more inclusive and positive view of aging within the school environment. Addressing these issues is crucial for fostering an age-inclusive education system and preparing future generations to value and respect older adults.

Unraveling the Origin of the Repulsive Interaction between Hydrogen Adsorbates on Platinum Single-Crystal Electrodes.

Hydrogen adsorption on platinum (Pt) single-crystal electrodes has been studied intensively in both experiments and computations. Yet, the precise origin and nature of the repulsive interactions observed between hydrogen adsorbates (Hads) have remained elusive. Here, we use first-principles density functional theory calculations to investigate in detail the interactions between Hads on Pt(111), Pt(100), and Pt(110) surfaces. The repulsive interaction between Hads on Pt(111) is deconvoluted into three different physical contributions, namely, (i) electrostatic interactions, (ii) surface distortion effect, and (iii) surface coordination effect. The long-range electrostatic interaction, which is generally considered the most important source of repulsive interactions in surface adsorption, was found to contribute less than 30% of the overall repulsive interaction. The remaining >70% arises from the other two contributions, underscoring the critical influence of surface-mediated interactions on the adsorption process. Surface distortion and coordination effects are found to strongly depend on the coverage and adsorption geometry: the effect of surface distortion dominates when adsorbates reside two or more Pt atoms apart; the effect of surface coordination dominates if hydrogen is adsorbed on neighboring adsorption sites. The above effects are considerably less pronounced on Pt(100) and Pt(110), therefore resulting in weaker interactions between Hads on these two surfaces. Overall, the study highlights the relevance of surface-mediated effects on adsorbate-adsorbate interactions, such as the often-overlooked surface distortion. The effect of these interactions on the hotly debated adsorption site for the adsorbed hydrogen intermediate in the hydrogen evolution reaction is also discussed.

Origin of Dopant-Carrier Exchange Coupling and Excitonic Zeeman Splitting in Mn2+-Doped Lead Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals.

Low-dimensional metal halide perovskites have unique optical and electrical properties that render them attractive for the design of diluted magnetic semiconductors. However, the nature of dopant-exciton exchange interactions that result in spin-polarization of host-lattice charge carriers as a basis for spintronics remains unexplored. Here, we investigate Mn2+-doped CsPbCl3 nanocrystals using magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy and show that Mn2+ dopants induce excitonic Zeeman splitting which is strongly dependent on the nature of the band-edge structure. We demonstrate that the largest splitting corresponds to exchange interactions involving the excited state at the M-point along the spin-orbit split-off conduction band edge. This splitting gives rise to an absorption-like C-term excitonic MCD signal, with the estimated effective g-factor (geff) of ca. 70. The results of this work help resolve the assignment of absorption transitions observed for metal halide perovskite nanocrystals and allow for a design of new diluted magnetic semiconductor materials for spintronics applications.

Toward an Explainable Large Language Model for the Automatic Identification of the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Literature.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) stands as a significant concern in drug safety, representing the primary cause of acute liver failure. Identifying the scientific literature related to DILI is crucial for monitoring, investigating, and conducting meta-analyses of drug safety issues. Given the intricate and often obscure nature of drug interactions, simple keyword searching can be insufficient for the exhaustive retrieval of the DILI-relevant literature. Manual curation of DILI-related publications demands pharmaceutical expertise and is susceptible to errors, severely limiting throughput. Despite numerous efforts utilizing cutting-edge natural language processing and deep learning techniques to automatically identify the DILI-related literature, their performance remains suboptimal for real-world applications in clinical research and regulatory contexts. In the past year, large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and its open-source counterpart LLaMA have achieved groundbreaking progress in natural language understanding and question answering, paving the way for the automated, high-throughput identification of the DILI-related literature and subsequent analysis. Leveraging a large-scale public dataset comprising 14 203 training publications from the CAMDA 2022 literature AI challenge, we have developed what we believe to be the first LLM specialized in DILI analysis based on LLaMA-2. In comparison with other smaller language models such as BERT, GPT, and their variants, LLaMA-2 exhibits an enhanced out-of-fold accuracy of 97.19% and area under the ROC curve of 0.9947 using 3-fold cross-validation on the training set. Despite LLMs' initial design for dialogue systems, our study illustrates their successful adaptation into accurate classifiers for automated identification of the DILI-related literature from vast collections of documents. This work is a step toward unleashing the potential of LLMs in the context of regulatory science and facilitating the regulatory review process.

A novel Co(II) complex with sulfamethoxazole ligand: Isostructuralism, non-covalent interactions, Hirshfeld surfaces, crystal voids and energy calculations

The crystal structure of [Co(H2O)6][Co(SMX)3]2 complex (SMX = sulfamethoxazole), hereafter CoSMXW, has been solved by X-ray diffraction methods. The complex CoSMXW was characterized by Infrared (IR), Raman, and UV-Vis spectroscopies. A comparison with the analogous Mn(II) complex, [Mn(H2O)6][Mn(SMX)3]2 (CSD refcode AJIFUW), indicates 3D isostructurality and packing similarity, as evident from X-ray diffraction and geometric descriptors such as dissimilarity index (X = 2.0 from XPac) and packing similarity (PSab = 0.3070 from CrystalCMP), respectively. This represents the first case of isostructurality observed among eleven metal complexes of sulfamethoxazole reported in the literature. A study of non-covalent interactions shows presence of structural motifs involving N-H…O and N-H…S (Motif I), N-H…O (Motif II), O-H…O and O-H…N (Motif III) H-bonds, as well as C-H…π contacts (Motif IV) for [Co(H2O)6][Co(SMX)3]2 and AJIFUW. Energy analysis using CrystalExplorer indicates that the strongest dimer involves Motifs I and II with total energy of -70.3 kcal/mol for CoSMXW, which is only 2.1 kcal/mol longer than that for AJIFUW. Hirshfeld surface (HS) analysis reveals meaningless effect of metal replacement on the intermolecular contacts, confirming the energetic results. The volume of the crystal voids and the percentage of free space were calculated as 862.35 Å3 and 11.8 % for CoSMXW, and 911.42 Å3 and 12.2 % for AJIFUW. 3D topology and hierarchy of interactions were analyzed with energy framework diagrams. Further, structural motifs, HS, crystal voids and intermolecular energies for the SMX free ligand (CSD refcode SLFNMB08) were also studied. Finally, the present study was complemented with DFT calculations to evaluate the strength and nature of the non-covalent interactions by using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) and NCIplots computational tools. In addition, we have used the potential energy density predictor obtained from QTAIM analysis to investigate the relative contribution of each interaction to the formation of the assemblies.

Heat shock protein (Hsp27)-ceramide synthase (Cers1) protein-protein interactions provide a new avenue for unexplored anti-cancer mechanism and therapy

Hsp27 is a member of the small heat-shock proteins (sHSPs) – the known cellular line of defence against abnormal protein folding behaviors. Nevertheless, its upregulation is linked to a variety of pathological disorders, including several types of cancers. The ceramide synthases (CerS) mediate the synthesis of ceramide, a critical structural and signaling lipid. Functionally, downstream ceramide metabolites are implicated in the apoptosis process and their abnormal functionality has been linked to anticancer resistance. Studies showed that CerS1 are possibly inhibited by Hsp27 leading to biochemical anticancer effects in vitro. Nevertheless, the nature of such protein-protein interaction (PPI) has not been considerably investigated in molecular terms, hence, we present the first description of the dynamics CerS1-Hsp27 interaction landscapes using molecular dynamics simulations. Time-scale molecular dynamics simulation analysis indicated a system-wide conformational events of decreased stability, increased flexibility, reduced compactness, and decreased folding of CerS1. Analysis of binding energy showed a favorable interaction entailing 56 residues at the interface and a total stabilizing energy of −158 KJ/mol. The CerS1 catalytic domain experienced an opposite trend compared to the protein backbone. Yet, these residues adopted a highly compact conformation as per DCCM and DSSP analysis. Furthermore, conserved residues (SER 212, ASP 213, ALA 240, GLY 243, ASP 319) comprising the substrate shuttling machinery showed notable rigidity implying a restrained ceramide precursor access and assembly; hence, a possible inhibitory mechanism. Findings from this report would streamline a better molecular understanding of CerS1-Hsp27 interactions and decipher its potential avenue toward unexplored anti-cancer mechanisms and therapy.

A short-term impact of enriched CO2 [eCO2] on select growth performance of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and its host plant Gossypium barbadense L. (Malvaceae)

Natural interactions between herbivorous insect pests and their host plants are expected to be altered significantly as atmospheric CO2 concentrations (aCO2) continue to rise according to climate change scenario. The possible effect of enriched CO2 (eCO2) environments on these interactions is under attention. To better understand such effects on select insect growth parameters; early (3rd) and penultimate (6th) instar larvae of the Cotton Leaf Worm Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), reared on the cotton plant leaves Gossypium barbadense L. (Malvacae) grown under either ambient (aCO2 = 350 ppm) or enriched (eCO2 = 700 ppm) atmospheres were investigated.

Electronic Force Density Fields: Insights into Partial Bonds, Transition States, and Chemical Structure Evolution.

This paper presents the quantum-topological binding approach, in which the electrostatic and total static force density fields, Fes(r) and , together with the electron density gradient field ∇ρ(r), are simultaneously analyzed to elucidate the chemical structure of transition states and the nature of interatomic interactions for semibroken semiformed partial chemical bonds. The approach attributes the discrepancies between the force fields and Fes(r) to the nonclassical electron-electron interaction effects. The internuclear gap between the zero-flux boundaries of Fes(r) and ∇ρ(r) indicates the interatomic charge transfer phenomenon (ICT) that occurs upon the formation of a system from free atoms. Concomitantly, the mismatch of the zero-flux surfaces defined in and ∇ρ(r) can be interpreted as a phenomenon of the electron-transfer-induced quantum chemical response (QCR), which originates from the electron exchange correlation. Our study permits the assertion of parallels between partial bonds and noncovalent interactions, as both typically exhibit incomplete QCRs, indicating the partial electron sharing of the transferred density. The changes in atomic and pseudoatomic charges are employed to describe the evolution of the chemical structure upon the substitution reaction. It is observed that the acquired difference in the actual atomic electronegativity causes polarization upon the heterolytic breaking of virtually nonpolar bonds. It is further proposed that the proximity of closely related stationary states along the reaction path on a potential energy hypersurface implies their similarity in the manifestation of the ICT and sympathetic QCR. Furthermore, the involvement of an electron pair in a partial bond facilitates its delocalization through the attraction by the static forces and Fes(r) to a neighboring nucleus and through the smearing by the Pauli kinetic force FP(r).

Search for epistatically interacting genetic variants that are associated with vasovagal syncope within biallelic combinations

The most common cause of transient loss of consciousness is vasovagal syncope (VVS), which occurs due to hypoperfusion of the brain due to the interruption of vegetative blood circulation control leading to arterial hypotension. It is known that there is a genetic predisposition to VVS, but the data on the role of individual genes are quite inconsistent. Using APSampler software,which based on a Markov chain Monte Carlo technique and Bayesian nonparametric statistics, we identified biallelic combinations associated with VVS and investigated the nature of interaction between their components. We used the previously obtained results of genomic typing of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 5 genes, the products of which are involved in neurohumoral regulation, and 4 SNPs within locus 2q32.1, supplemented with data for new individuals included in the study. The total sample included 175 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of VVS and 200 control individuals without a history of syncope. Eleven pairwise combinations of SNPs of different genes were found to be associated with VVS. Five of these combinations were epistatic, four of which included SNPs at the 2q32.1 locus located within or near noncoding RNA genes. It is suggested that genes of noncoding RNAs localized on chromosome 2 may directly or indirectly (through cascades of interactions) participate in the regulation of the activity of genes forming epistatic combinations with them.

Neomycin Intercalation in Montmorillonite: The Role of Ion Exchange Capacity and Process Conditions.

The study examined the possibility of intercalation of montmorillonite with neomycin in an aqueous drug solution and the factors influencing the effectiveness of this process, such as the ion exchange capacity and process conditions, including the time and temperature of incubation with the drug. X-ray diffractometry (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal analysis (DSC/TG), and Zeta potential measurement were used to confirm drug intercalation as well as to investigate the nature of clay-drug interactions. The obtained conjugates with the most favorable physicochemical properties were also tested for antibacterial response against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) to confirm that the bactericidal properties of neomycin were retained after intercalation and UV-VIS spectrophotometry was used to examine the kinetics of drug release from the carrier. The results of the conducted research clearly indicate the successful intercalation of neomycin in montmorillonite and indicate the influence of process parameters on the properties of not only the conjugates themselves but also the properties of the intercalated drug, particularly its bactericidal activity. Ultimately, a temperature of 50 °C was found to be optimal for effective drug intercalation and the conjugates obtained within 2 h showed the highest antibacterial activity, indicating the highest potential of the thus-obtained montmorillonite conjugates as neomycin carriers.

Equal Ground: Meaningful Collaboration with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families of Children with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities

ABSTRACT Despite increased attention and research during the past three decades, systemic barriers continue to hamper meaningful collaboration between school personnel (e.g. teachers, consultants) and culturally and linguistically diverse families of children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD). In this critical review of recent research, we address both the ideal of culturally responsive family-professional partnerships and the frequent reality of persistent systemic barriers, adversarial interactions, and the expectation of advocacy (rather than participation) by families. We highlight the cultural mismatch and inherently hierarchical nature of formal interactions with school personnel. Framed by a life span approach and drawing from our research and first-hand experiences shared as testimonios, we provide descriptive examples and make recommendations for structural change to improve family-school collaboration and outcomes for children with I/DD.