Early childhood teachers' perspectives about evidence-based practices

Evidence-based practice (EBP) refers to actions or behaviors supported by empirical evidence when used as a noun, or a process that integrates the best-available research evidence with professional and family wisdom and values when used as a verb. Despite attention and efforts from policymakers, scholars, and advocates, research-to-practice gaps remain in early childhood, which has hindered the implementation of EBP for improved child outcomes. Implementation science scholars have identified practitioners' perspectives as an important factor that affects the implementation of EBP. Researchers in other fields have examined practitioners' perspectives about EBP since the early 2000s. Nevertheless, few empirical studies have been conducted in early childhood to investigate teachers' perspectives about EBP and factors associated with these perspectives. The primary purpose of the present study was to examine descriptively early childhood teachers' perspectives about EBP using the Early Childhood Teachers' Perspectives about Evidence-Based Practices (ECTP-EBP) questionnaire. This self-report questionnaire was developed by the student investigator for use with teachers working with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in early childhood (EC) classrooms. Following Institutional Review Board approval and using a non-experimental survey design, ECTP-EBP was distributed using QualtricsXM to 75 EC programs in North Central Florida. The study was conducted during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Questionnaire responses were received from 88 participants. Three research questions guided the present study to address teachers' perspectives about EBP and factors associated with their perspectives. Findings showed teachers demonstrated generally positive perspectives towards EBP, although their perspectives across eight dimensions of the questionnaire were somewhat varied. Results showed that teachers' perspectives about the social validity of EBP differed from their perspectives about professional development, organizational support, and time conflict. Program funding, teachers' role in the classroom, educational degree, discipline, experience, professional development, and obtained certifications explained 11.5% and 1.8% of ECTP-EBP and the Acquisition of Practices dimension variance, respectively. There was a statistically significant association between teachers' who received coaching professional development and their perspectives about EBP. Associations for the remaining characteristics and teachers' EBP perspectives were not statistically significant. Limitations of the present study are described. Implications for future research, practice, and policy are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Characterization of RNA G-quadruplexes in porcine epidemic diarrhea virus genome and the antiviral activity of G-quadruplex ligands.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), an enteropathogenic coronavirus, has catastrophic impacts on the global pig industry. However, there are still no anti-PEDV drugs with accurate targets. G-quadruplexes (G4s) are non-canonical secondary structures formed within guanine-rich regions of DNA or RNA, and have attracted great attention as potential targets for antiviral strategy. In this study, we reported two putative G4-forming sequences (PQS) in S and Nsp5 genes of PEDV genome based on bioinformatic analysis, and identified that S-PQS and Nsp5-PQS were enabled to fold into G4 structure by using circular dichroism spectroscopy and fluorescence turn-on assay. Furthermore, we verified that both S-PQS and Nsp5-PQS PQS could form G4 structure in live cells by immunofluorescence microscopy. In addition, G4-specific compounds, such as TMPyP4 and PDS, could significantly inhibit transcription, translation and proliferation of PEDV in vitro. Importantly, these compounds exert antiviral activity at the post-entry step of PEDV infection cycle, by inhibiting viral genome replication and protein expression. Lastly, we demonstrated that TMPyP4 can inhibit reporter gene expression by targeting G4 structure in Nsp5. Taken together, these findings not only reinforce the presence of viral G-quadruplex sequences in PEDV genome but also provide new insights into developing novel antiviral drugs targeting PEDV RNA G-quadruplexes.

Identification of niclosamide as a novel antiviral agent against porcine epidemic diarrhea virus infection by targeting viral internalization.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), an enteropathogenic coronavirus, has catastrophic impacts on the global pig industry. However, there remain no effective drugs against PEDV infection. In this study, we utilized a recombinant PEDV expressing renilla luciferase (PEDV-Rluc) to screen potential anti-PEDV agents from an FDA-approved drug library in Vero cells. Four compounds were identified that significantly decreased luciferase activity of PEDV-Rluc. Among them, niclosamide was further characterized because it exhibited the most potent antiviral activity with the highest selectivity index. It can efficiently inhibit viral RNA synthesis, protein expression and viral progeny production of classical and variant PEDV strains in a dose-dependent manner. Time of addition assay showed that niclosamide exhibited potent anti-PEDV activity when added simultaneously with or after virus infection. Furthermore, niclosamide significantly inhibited the entry stage of PEDV infection by affecting viral internalization rather than viral attachment to cells. In addition, a combination with other small molecule inhibitors of endosomal acidification enhanced the anti-PEDV effect of niclosamide in vitro. Taken together, these findings suggested that niclosamide is a novel antiviral agent that might provide a basis for the development of novel drug therapies against PEDV and other related pathogenic coronavirus infections.