Observation Tool Research Articles

Visual Motor Assessment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Comparing Performance and Considerations for Assessment

ABSTRACT Standardized assessment of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can produce inaccurate results due to behaviors exhibited during assessment. This study developed the Occupational Therapy Observation Tool—Adjustment Support Details for children with autism (OTOT-ASD) to investigate the behaviors demonstrated, and the reasonable supports required, during administration of formal visual motor assessments. The OTOT-ASD was used to record student’s behaviors and accommodations necessary to support their assessment when completing the Beery Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration 6th Ed. (Beery VMI) and a new assessment, the Hartley Knows Writing Shapes Assessment Version 3 (HKWSA-V3). This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the HKWSA-V3 in the assessment of 15 children with ASD. Preliminary findings were promising, although further investigation with a larger sample is required. The OTOT-ASD enabled high incidences of behaviors disruptive to testing and supportive accommodations to be captured during assessment. As a new tool, the OTOT-ASD may improve the clinical utility of formal visual motor assessments via enabling the administering occupational therapist to accurately make and record reasonable adjustments to support the child’s true performance capacity. Further development of the OTOT-ASD is recommended to evaluate the generalizability of the tool for use with children with ASD.

Implementación del mini-CEX en el pregrado médico: Una experiencia con simulación

Evaluation is a systematic process that results in a judgment to make decisions. The instruments used to obtain data on student performance require a systematic and objective process for their implementation. The mini-CEX is a direct observation tool that has been used for the evaluation of clinical competence in undergraduate and postgraduate students since its invention in 1955. It has different validity evidence for use in different educational and clinical contexts. It allows rapid evaluations, accompanied by feedback and providing relevant information on the development of clinical competence.

Effective Classroom Management Training to Promote Better Education: Changes in Pre-service Teacher Strategies after Triad Debriefing

Throughout the world, training teachers in effective classroom management strategies is a major societal challenge. It is important for pre-service teachers to receive feedback on specific classroom management strategies from their trainers (supervisor and cooperating teacher), using an observation tool and ideally a video recording of their practice. Yet little is known about the evolution of pre-service teachers' actual classroom management practices during their internships and the feedback they receive from their trainers. This article therefore presents the evolution of the actual practices of pre-service French-speaking Belgian teachers observed on two occasions during their internships (Observation 1 and Observation 2). It also presents the link between the feedback given by the trainers and the intentions to act expressed by the pre-service teacher during the debriefing following the first observation (O1) and the strategies implemented by the pre-service teachers during the second observation (O2). To this end, an observation grid inserted into an observation software was used live in secondary school classrooms, and the debriefings were recorded and then analyzed. By comparing the feedback and intentions to act expressed during the debriefings with the actual strategies of the pre-service teachers, it was possible to identify which feedback and intentions to act were actually implemented by the pre-service teachers, on the basis of observable indicators. The results point to a number of positive developments in pre-service teachers' practices, and indicate certain avenues for improvement. They also show that pre-service teachers followed half the feedback given to them by their trainers. The results provide a basis for formulating ways of training teachers in effective classroom management.

Clinical utility of the standardized observation tool Autism Behavior Coding System for early intervention research in autism spectrum disorder.

The Autism Behavior Coding System (ABCS) was developed to help evaluating the effectiveness of early intensive interventions in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The video-based ABCS assesses eight core autistic behavioral variables during therapist-child interaction using standardized quantitative criteria, four behaviors according to their frequency of occurrence, four according to their duration. The present study focuses (1) on the correspondence of ABCS scores with scores on two standard clinical instruments (the ADOS-2 and an ASD-adaptation of the Children's Global Assessment Scale, DD-CGAS), (2) on the sensitivity to change of ABCS scores by the end of an intensive 18 days intervention period (EIP) and (c) on the predictability of short- and longer-term changes in social and repetitive behaviors from ABCS scores at baseline and EIP. Data from 51 children (42 M, 9 F; median age 45 months) followed over 1 year were available. There were significant correlations at baseline between several ABCS scores and ADOS-2 as well as DD-CGAS scores. Correlations at EIP between some ABCS and DD-CGAS scores were highly significant. Four ABCS scores reflected significant changes from baseline to EIP. Several baseline ABCS scores were predictive of DD-CGAS and ADOS-2 scores at EIP and Year 1. However, associations between ABCS score changes from baseline to EIP and the clinical scale changes by Year 1 were not significant. It is concluded that several ABCS scores have adequate clinical validity and sensitivity to change. The short-term changes in ABCS scores and their relationship to longer-term clinical changes need further study.

Joint task semi-supervised semantic segmentation for TRUS image

Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) is an important tool for prostate observation, playing a crucial role in medical processes such as multimodal image registration and surgical planning. However, TRUS images are often plagued by blurry boundary information and artifacts, making manual annotation a time-consuming and labor-intensive task, which results in insufficient pixel-labeled data for training neural networks. Therefore, this paper introduces a semi-supervised neural network based on joint tasks for TRUS image segmentation, which combines confidence information from target localization and semantic segmentation to generate pseudo-labels for collectively training unlabeled samples. Additionally, this method supports the generation of pseudo-labels using only location information for weakly supervised training of neural networks. Compared to other state-of-the-art models, our results show that this approach outperforms in segmentation performance with a smaller dataset, achieving an mean Dice similarity coefficient and mean Jaccard similarity coefficient of 92.8 % and 88.4 %, respectively. Furthermore, the experiments reveal that reducing the coupling of two decoders' parameters between the segmentation and detection tasks improves segmentation accuracy as dataset size decreases.

Implementation of the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (palliative version) on an inpatient palliative care unit

BackgroundThe Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale – Palliative version (RASS-PAL) tool is a brief observational tool to quantify a patient’s level of agitation or sedation. The objective of this study was to implement the RASS-PAL tool on an inpatient palliative care unit and evaluate the implementation process.MethodsQuality improvement implementation project using a short online RASS-PAL self-learning module and point-of-care tool. Participants were staff working on a 31-bed inpatient palliative care unit who completed the RASS-PAL self-learning module and online evaluation survey.ResultsThe self-learning module was completed by 49/50 (98%) of regular palliative care unit staff (nurses, physicians, allied health, and other palliative care unit staff). The completion rate of the self-learning module by both regular and casual palliative care unit staff was 63/77 (82%). The follow-up online evaluation survey was completed by 23/50 (46%) of respondents who regularly worked on the palliative care unit. Respondents agreed (14/26; 54%) or strongly agreed (10/26; 38%) that the self-learning module was implemented successfully, with 100% agreement that it was effective for their educational needs.ConclusionUsing an online self-learning module is an effective method to engage and educate interprofessional staff on the RASS-PAL tool as part of an implementation strategy.

Nurse practitioner led implementation of huddles for staff in long term care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundStaff working in long-term care (LTC) homes during COVID-19 frequently reported a lack of communication, collaboration, and teamwork, all of which are associated with staff dissatisfaction, health concerns, lack of support and moral distress. Our study introduced regular huddles to support LTC staff during COVID-19, led by a Nurse Practitioner (NP). The objectives were to evaluate the process of huddle implementation and to examine differences in outcomes between categories of staff (direct care staff, allied care and support staff, and management) who attended huddles and those who did not.MethodsAll staff and management at one LTC home (< 150 beds) in Ontario, Canada were included in this pre-experimental design study. The process evaluation used a huddle observation tool and focused on the dose (duration, frequency) and fidelity (NP’s adherence to the huddle guide) of implementation. The staff attending and non-attending huddles were compared on outcomes measured at post-test: job satisfaction, physical and mental health, perception of support received, and levels of moral distress. The outcomes were assessed with validated measures and compared between categories of staff using Bayesian models.ResultsA total of 42 staff enrolled in the study (20 attending and 22 non-attending huddles). Forty-eight huddles were implemented by the NP over 15 weeks and lasted 15 min on average. Huddles were most commonly attended by direct care staff, followed by allied care/support, and management staff. All huddles adhered to the huddle guide as designed by the research team. Topics most often addressed during the huddles were related to resident care (46%) and staff well-being (34%). Differences were found between staff attending and non-attending huddles: direct care staff attending huddles reported lower levels of overall moral distress, and allied care and support staff attending huddles perceived higher levels of support from the NP.ConclusionsNP-led huddles in LTC homes may positively influence staff outcomes. The process evaluation provided some understanding of why the huddles may have been beneficial: the NP addressed resident care issues which were important to staff, encouraged a collaborative approach to solving issues on the unit, and discussed their well-being.Trial registration numberNCT05387213, registered on 24/05/2022.

Dynamic Switching Control of Power-Split Hybrid Electric Vehicles Based on Time Delay Prediction and Interference Compensation

The deterioration of vehicle dynamics caused by the simultaneous action of time delay and interference is a key issue for the switching control system in a power-split hybrid electric vehicle (PS-HEV). This paper presents an innovative compound control method based on extended state observer (ESO) incorporating time delay during the mode transition process. First, the coupling effect of time-varying delay and external disturbance during the typical mode switching process is analyzed in depth, and the double deterioration mechanism of the two coupling effects on vehicle dynamics and ride comfort is revealed. To accurately estimate the system disturbance under the influence of time delay, an unconventional ESO is designed further by adopting the Markov chain time delay prediction model, and the main tool for interference observation is selected by comparing the practicability, reachable bandwidth and observation accuracy. Moreover, the stable mode switching performance and interference suppression are thoroughly investigated, and the smooth transmission of multi-power is realized through the multi-module fusion design of the compound coordinated controller. Finally, the hardware-in-the-loop test is implemented to validate the effectiveness of the control strategy, which also provides a novel idea and lays a theoretical foundation for the optimal design of the PS-HEV controller.

A Combined Assessment Tool of Teamwork, Communication, and Workload in Hospital Procedural Units

Teamwork, communication, and workload issues continue to contribute to patient safety events. The authors developed a diagnostic mixed methods toolkit combining a behavior observation tool, semistructured interview guide, and surveys to proactively identify relevant gaps. Applied across 14 units at three hospitals, this toolkit yielded 344 findings with 156 associated recommendations and took, on average, four days of observation. On a scale from 1 (not at all helpful) to 6 (substantially helpful), leaders indicated that the assessment and its recommendations were very helpful (median 5, interquartile range 5-6, 34 survey respondents, 47.9% individual-level response rate, 85.7% unit-level response rate). Integrating this tool into a broader safety strategy can help inform organizational improvement efforts.

Metamorphic layer properties with gradient microstructure distribution of 8Cr4Mo4V steel by grinding

In the grinding process, the metamorphic layer difference from the workpiece material is created on the grinding top surface, and its properties can greatly affect the bearing surface yield strength. In this study, the phase content and grain size distribution of 8Cr4Mo4V with the metamorphic layer were detected using advanced surface observation tools, and the influence of grinding process parameters on the microstructure of the metamorphic layer was considered at the same time. In addition, based on the modeling of the observed metamorphic layer with gradient microstructure distribution, tensile simulations of the metamorphic layer were performed by the crystal plasticity finite element method to investigate the effects of different grain size, phase content, and surface texture strength on its mechanical property like yield strength. Furthermore, the yield strength of the metamorphic layer was characterized by the nanoindentation technique. Finally, it was found that the grinding process parameters affected the microstructure and distribution of the metamorphic layer and thus changed its yield strength, and this study which combines the experiment and simulation aimed to quantitatively analyze the influence of different microstructures on the metamorphic layer.

Development of a systematic social observation tool for monitoring use of harm reduction supplies

BackgroundHarm reduction services such as safer injection supply distribution are essential to reducing morbidity and mortality among people who use drugs (PWUD); however, local use of harm reduction supplies (e.g., tourniquets, saline solution) is difficult to routinely and systematically monitor. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a systematic social observation tool designed to assess use of harm reduction supplies at the street block level. MethodsData collection took place on a random sample of 150 blocks located throughout the Kensington neighborhood of North Philadelphia from November 2021 to January 2022. We measured inter-rater reliability by two-way mixed-effects intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) with the consistency agreement definition and internal consistency reliability using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega. Exploratory factor analysis with principal component extraction and promax rotation assessed internal consistency. We validated scales against locations of public syringe disposal boxes, a proxy measure for areas of concentrated drug use, using logistic regression. ResultsNaloxone canisters, syringe caps, saline and sterile water solution bottles showed the highest reliability (ICC≥0.7). Items also showed high internal consistency (alpha, omega>0.7). Exploratory factor analysis identified one, three-item scale with high internal consistency: syringe caps, vials, and baggies (alpha = 0.85; omega = 0.85)—all supplies used concurrently with drug injection but not discarded in syringe disposal boxes. Drug use (OR = 1.78, 95 % CI = (1.48, 2.23)), harm reduction (OR = 3.53, 95 % CI = (2.20, 6.12)), and EFA scales (OR = 1.85, 95 %CI = (1.51, 2.34)) were significantly and positively associated with being within walking distance (≤0.25 miles or 0.4 km) of a syringe disposal box. ConclusionThis study provides an efficient tool with high reliability and validity metrics to assess community uptake of harm reduction supplies designed for use by community organizations, policy makers, or other groups providing resources to PWUD.

Social gradient in quality of life according to microscale neighbourhood features, Limassol, Cyprus

Abstract Background Beyond indices of socio-economic disadvantage (SED), not standard practice in Cyprus, neighbourhood audits provide information about environmental inequity not captured by other methods. Lack of spatial thinking often leads to attributing geographical differences to socio-demographic composition. Methods A random sample of 45 neighbourhoods along the SED continuum were audited using the Cyprus Neighborhood Observational Tool (CyNOTes). SED was defined according to a purposefully developed postcode level index (N = 124), by factor analyzing a set of census indicators. A sample of 10 residents aged 45-64 per neighborhood responded to a door-to-door SF-36 quality of life (QoL) survey (N = 450). Associations of QoL with SED and audit scores, organized in 9 domains, were explored in random-effect regression models adjusting for gender, age, education and income. Results The SED index captured a stepwise decrease across tertiles with increasing disadvantage in both Physical (-1.79 95% CI -2.84, -0.73; p &amp;lt; 0.001) and Mental (-1.42 95%CI -2.46, -0.59; p = 0.008) SF-36 Component Scores. Associations attenuated but remained statistically significant after adjusting for person-based social position. Re-classifying neighbourhoods according to audit ratings also revealed a social gradient for most CyNOTes domains. The domain with the strongest association with both Physical (-1.84 95%CI -2.88, -0.80; p &amp;lt; 0.001) and Mental SF-36 Scores (-1.88 95%CI -2.83, -0.93; p &amp;lt; 0.001) was “Pedestrian and Cycling Environment”. Associations persisted in adjusted models and appeared similar, if not stronger, to associations with the SED index. Conclusions The study depicted the social gradient in quality of life among late working-life residents across Limassol neighbourhoods. Other than the expected patterning according to SED, audit indicators of environmental inequity also captured a social gradient, linking micro-scale neighborhood features to the residents’ quality of life. Key messages • A social gradient in quality of life was demonstrated along the socio-economic and environmental disadvantage in Limassol. • Depicting neighborhood microenvironment inequity can trigger and contextualize conversations about health and place among the local Public Health research and policy community.

The localization of galaxy groups in close proximity to galaxy clusters using cosmic web nodes

ABSTRACT We investigate the efficacy of using the cosmic web nodes identified by the DisPerSE topological filament finder to systematically identify galaxy groups in the infall regions around massive clusters. The large random motions and infall velocities of galaxies in the regions around clusters complicate the detection and characterisation of substructures through normal group-finding algorithms. Yet understanding the co-location of galaxies within filaments and/or groups is a key part of understanding the role of environment on galaxy evolution, particularly in light of next-generation wide-field spectroscopic surveys. Here we use simulated massive clusters from TheThreeHundred collaboration and compare the derived group catalogues, (haloes with σv &amp;gt; 300 h−1 km s−1) with the critical points from DisPerSE, ran on haloes with more than 100 particles. We find that in 3D, 56 per cent of DisPerSE nodes are correctly identified as groups (purity) while 68 per cent of groups are identified as nodes (completeness). The fraction of matches increases with group mass and with distance from the host cluster centre. This rises to a completeness of 100 per cent for the most massive galaxy groups (M &amp;gt; 1014 M⊙) in 3D, or 63 per cent when considering the projected 2D galaxy distribution. When a perfect match occurs between a cosmic web node and a galaxy group, the DisPerSE node density (δ) serves as an estimate of the group’s mass, albeit with significant scatter. We conclude that the use of a cosmic filament finder shows promise as a useful and straightforward observational tool for disentangling substructure within the infall regions of massive clusters.

War media strategy and organizing the functions of the media center of the Ministry of Peshmerga in case of war

This research aims to strategize the Ministry of Peshmerga Media Center’s work in covering the battlefields and controlling the dissemination of news and information to address the media challenges of war (Armed Forces – Civil – Regional and Global Public Opinion). The scope of the study consists of the strategic planning of the mission of the Media Center in the Ministry of Peshmerga; Within the framework of the case study descriptive method, this was done through the interview and observation tool for the media tasks of the media center of the Ministry of Peshmerga. In light of the situation of the war media in the Ministry of Peshmerga, the researcher presents three measures as strategies to address the challenges facing the task of the war media in the Ministry of Peshmerga, which are: Media, legal, and human resource measures. The researcher concluded that the media center in the Ministry of Peshmerga needs to develop a comprehensive strategy to identify a roadmap for implementing the tasks of the war media and control the dissemination of news, information, and images of the battlefields. Therefore, This research recommends that the relevant parties in the Ministry of Peshmerga develop a comprehensive strategy considering the innovations in the tasks of the war media. They should provide legal support to control the dissemination of news, information, and images of the battlefield, and pay attention to the human resources of the Media Center to improve the level of war media of the Ministry of Peshmerga.

Psychometric properties of Autism Spectrum Disorders Screening Assessment Tools: Systematic Review.

Due to the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), these children must be screened as soon as possible and receive the necessary and appropriate treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine all the ASD screening tools and examine their psychometric properties in available languages. This was a systematic review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to review the articles published between 2000 and 2023 and were published in PubMed, EMBASE, ProQuest, and Scopus databases. English keywords were as follows: autism spectrum disorders (ASD), screening/screen, tools, psychometric properties, validity, reliability, translations, pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), and children. The COnsensus -based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist were used to investigate the psychometric properties of the studies. Among the 476 primary studies, 35 ASD screening tools (132 articles related to the psychometric properties of 35 ASD screening tools in different languages) were identified based on our criteria, and their psychometric properties were examined. Various tools, including performance-based, direct observation, interactive play, and parent and teacher reports tools, were included in the list of tools. Considering that each of these tools has advantages and limitations, they need to be selected and used according to the goals of the researchers and the therapists. Another important point is that many of these tools still need more extensive studies in relation to their psychometric properties.

Assessments Used for Summative Purposes during Internal Medicine Specialist Training: A Rapid Review

Assessments used for summative purposes of patient-facing clinical competency in specialist internal medicine training are high-stakes, both to doctors in training, as it is a prerequisite for qualification, as well as their community of prospective patients. A rapid review of the literature evaluated methods of assessments used for summative purposes of patient-facing clinical competency during specialist internal medicine training in Australia. Four online databases identified literature published since the year 2000 that reported on summative assessment in specialist medical training. Two reviewers screened and selected eligible studies and extracted data, with a focus on evidence of support for the criteria for good assessment as set out in the 2010 Ottawa Consensus framework for good assessment. Ten eligible studies were included. Four studied the mini-clinical evaluation exercise (mini-CEX), two the Royal Australasian College of Physicians short case exam, three a variety of Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) or summative entrustment and progression review processes, and one a novel clinical observation tool. The mini-CEX assessment demonstrated the most evidence in support of the Ottawa criteria. There was a paucity of published evidence regarding the best form of summative assessment of patient-facing clinical competency in specialist internal medicine training.

An empirical connection between line-emitting regions and X-rays heating the accretion disc in BH-LMXB MAXI J1820+070

ABSTRACT The recurring transient outbursts in low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) provide ideal laboratories to study the accretion process. Unlike their supermassive relatives, LMXBs are far too small and distant to be imaged directly. Fortunately, phase-resolved spectroscopy can provide an alternative diagnostic to study their highly complex, time-dependent accretion discs. The primary spectral signature of LMXBs are strong, disc-formed emission lines detected at optical wavelengths. The shape, profile, and appearance/disappearance of these lines change throughout a binary orbit, and thus, can be used to trace how matter in these discs behaves and evolves over time. By combining a Swift multiwavelength monitoring campaign, phase-resolved spectroscopy from the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) and Liverpool Telescope, and modern astrotomography techniques, we find a clear empirical connection between the line emitting regions and physical properties of the X-rays heating the disc in the black hole LMXB MAXI J1820+070 during its 2018 outburst. In this paper, we show how these empirical correlations can be used as an effective observational tool for understanding the geometry and structure of a LMXB accretion disc and present further evidence for an irradiation-driven warped accretion disc present in this system.

Variance Decomposition of the Continuous Assessment of Interpersonal Dynamics (CAID) system: Assessing sources of influence and reliability of observations of parent-teen interactions.

The Continuous Assessment of Interpersonal Dynamics (CAID) is an observational tool that measures warmth and dominance dynamics in real time and is sensitive to individual, dyadic, and contextual influences. Parent-adolescent interpersonal dynamics, which conceptually map onto parenting styles, are an integral part of positive adolescent adjustment and protect against risky outcomes. The current study's goal was to test the degree to which sources of influence on CAID data observed in a previous study of married couples generalize to a sample of parent-adolescent dyads. We examined data from ten raters who rated moment-to-moment warmth and dominance using CAID in a sample of 61 parent-adolescent dyads (N = 122) who were largely non-Hispanic White (62%) or African American (30%) based on parent report (adolescent M age = 14; 57% female). Dyads interacted in four different discussion segments (situations). We applied Generalizability Theory to delineate several sources of variance in CAID parameters and estimated within and between-person reliability. Results revealed a number of different influences, including the person, kinsperson (adolescent versus parent), dyad, rater, situation, and interactions among these factors, on ratings of parent-adolescent interpersonal behavior. These results largely replicate results from married couples, suggesting that the factors that influence ratings of interpersonal interactions largely generalize across sample types.

An information theory approach to identifying signs of life on transiting planets

ABSTRACT Can information theory provide insights into whether exoplanets are habitable? Here, we apply information theory to a range of simulated exoplanet transmission spectra as a diagnostic tool to search for potential signatures of life on Earth-analogue planets. We test the algorithms on three epochs of evolution for Earth-like planets orbiting a range of host stars. The JWST and upcoming ground- and space-based missions promise to achieve sufficient high-resolution data that information theory can be applied to assess habitability. This approach provides a framework and a tool for observers to assess whether an exoplanet shows signs of habitability.

Employing customizable digital observation tools to support classroom-focused pedagogical partnership

Employing customizable digital observation tools to support classroom-focused pedagogical partnership