This systematic review evaluates the implementation of treatment integrity procedures in outcome studies of youth interventions targeting behavioral problems. The Implementation of Treatment Integrity Procedures Scale (ITIPS), developed by Perepletchikova, Treat, and Kazdin (2007), was adapted (ITIPS-A) and used to evaluate 32 outcome studies of evidence-based interventions for youths with externalizing behavioral problems. Integrity measures were found to be still rare in these studies. Of the studies that took integrity into account, 80% approached adequacy in implementing procedures for treatment integrity. The ITIPS-A is recommended as an instrument to guide development of integrity instruments and the implementation of treatment integrity procedures in youth care.
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This study meta-analytically examined the effect of treatment integrity on client outcomes of evidence-based interventions for juveniles with antisocial behavior. A total of 17 studies, from which 91 effect sizes could be retrieved, were included in the present 3-level meta-analysis. All included studies, to a certain level, adequately implemented procedures to establish, assess, evaluate and report the level of treatment integrity. A moderator analysis revealed that a medium-to-large effect of evidence-based interventions was found when the level of treatment integrity was high (d = 0.633, p < 0.001), whereas no significant effect was found when integrity was low (d = 0.143, ns). Treatment integrity was significantly associated with effect size even when adjusted for other significant moderators, indicating the specific contribution of high levels of treatment integrity to positive client outcomes. This implies that delivering interventions with high treatment integrity to youth with antisocial behavior is vital.
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Mycelium biocomposites (MBCs) are a fairly new group of materials. MBCs are non-toxic and carbon-neutral cutting-edge circular materials obtained from agricultural residues and fungal mycelium, the vegetative part of fungi. Growing within days without complex processes, they offer versatile and effective solutions for diverse applications thanks to their customizable textures and characteristics achieved through controlled environmental conditions. This project involves a collaboration between MNEXT and First Circular Insulation (FC-I) to tackle challenges in MBC manufacturing, particularly the extended time and energy-intensive nature of the fungal incubation and drying phases. FC-I proposes an innovative deactivation method involving electrical discharges to expedite these processes, currently awaiting patent approval. However, a critical gap in scientific validation prompts the partnership with MNEXT, leveraging their expertise in mycelium research and MBCs. The research project centers on evaluating the efficacy of the innovative mycelium growth deactivation strategy proposed by FC-I. This one-year endeavor permits a thorough investigation, implementation, and validation of potential solutions, specifically targeting issues related to fungal regrowth and the preservation of sustained material properties. The collaboration synergizes academic and industrial expertise, with the dual purpose of achieving immediate project objectives and establishing a foundation for future advancements in mycelium materials.
