Publications by authors named "S Brothers"

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most prevalent primary intraocular malignancy in adults, which preferentially metastasizes to the liver in approximately half of all cases. Metastatic UM is notoriously resistant to therapy and is almost uniformly fatal. UM metastasis is most strongly associated with mutational inactivation of the tumor suppressor gene.

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Youth with epilepsy (YWE) are at elevated risk for anxiety, yet anxiety is often undetected and understudied in this population. Most research on anxiety in YWE is based on parent proxy-report and broad-band measures with limited sensitivity. The aim of the current study was to: 1) examine rates of anxiety symptoms in YWE using a diagnosis-specific, self-report measure of anxiety symptoms, 2) assess differences in anxiety symptoms by sociodemographic and medical variables, and 3) evaluate changes in anxiety symptoms following a brief behavioral health intervention delivered within an interdisciplinary epilepsy clinic visit.

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Objective: Extensive research shows that tests of executive functioning (EF) predict instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) but are nevertheless often criticized for having poor ecological validity. The Modified Six Elements Test (MSET) is a pencil-and-paper test that was developed to mimic the demands of daily life, with the assumption that this would result in a more ecologically valid test. Although the MSET has been extensively validated in its ability to capture cognitive deficits in various populations, support for its ability to predict functioning in daily life is mixed.

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Article Synopsis
  • The term "ecological validity" (EV) refers to how well test scores can predict real-world functioning, but its correlation with real-world tasks is often confused with rigorous validation.
  • A systematic review analyzed 32 articles claiming EV for new tests of executive functions (EF), revealing that only 60% of studies based their claims on actual test scores predicting functional outcomes.
  • Most studies (especially those focusing on "naturalistic" tests) showed significant methodological flaws, such as small sample sizes and inadequate controls, highlighting the need for improved scientific rigor in this research area.
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