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Traffic noise is emerging as major challenge for cities in India. It affects human health in terms of annoyance and other major health problems. This study aims to develop a traffic noise model for mid-sized cities. Vehicle noise and spot speed of individual vehicles were studied to develop a reference energy mean emission level (REMEL) by using the sound level meter from a reference distance of 7.5 m from the centerline of a nearby lane under free flow condition. This urban traffic noise model is specific to different geographical regions and depends on vehicle categories and characteristics of in use vehicles. Subsequently, mid-block studies were conducted for measuring traffic noise Leq (in dB(A)), average speed, and traffic volumes of different vehicle categories. To develop the traffic noise prediction model, physical condition of the road, carriageway width, width of the footpath, median size, number of lanes, and ground cover (hard or soft) need to be accounted for. A modified traffic noise prediction model has been developed using REMEL models and different adjustment factors. Subsequently, the correlation analysis was performed between predicted and observed Leq (in dB(A)) to check the model fitness by correlation coefficient R2 = 0.76 and mean absolute percentage error is ranged from 0.8 to 1.2% for the predicted and observed Leq at all the selected sites of measurement periods for the Kanpur city. With this calibrated model, a noise map has been developed to identify noise hotspots during different time intervals within the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic noise has emerged as one major environmental concern, which is causing a severe impact on the health of urban dwellers. This issue becomes more critical near intersections in mid-sized cities due to poor planning and a lack of noise mitigation strategies. Therefore, the current study develops a precise intersection-specific traffic noise model for mid-sized cities to assess the traffic noise level and to investigate the effect of different noise-influencing variables. This study employs artificial neural network (ANN) approach and utilizes 342 h of field data collected at nineteen intersections of Kanpur, India, for model development. The sensitivity analysis illustrates that traffic volume, median width, carriageway width, honking, and receiver distance from the intersection stop line have a prominent effect on the traffic noise level. The study reveals that role of noise-influencing variables varies in the proximity of intersections. For instance, a wider median reduces the noise level at intersections, while the noise level increases within a 50-m distance from intersection stop line. In summary, the present study findings offer valuable insights, providing a foundation for developing an effective managerial action plan to combat traffic noise at intersections in mid-sized cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When deliberating, jurors may introduce misinformation that may influence other jurors' memory and decision-making. In two studies, we explored the impact of misinformation exposure during jury deliberation. Participants in both studies read a transcript of an alleged sexual assault. In Study 1 (N = 275), participants encountered either consistent pro-prosecution misinformation, consistent prodefense misinformation, or contradictory misinformation (pro-prosecution and pro-defense). In Study 2 (N = 339), prior to encountering either pro-prosecution or pro-defense misinformation while reading a jury deliberation transcript, participants either received or did not receive a judicial instruction about misinformation exposure during deliberation. Participants in both studies completed legal decisionmaking variables (e.g., defendant guilt rating) before and after deliberation, and their memory was assessed for misinformation acceptance via recall and source memory tasks. In Study 1, misinformation type did not influence legal decisionmaking, but pro-prosecution misinformation was more likely to be misattributed as trial evidence than pro-defense or contradictory misinformation. In Study 2, pro-defense misinformation was more likely to be misattributed to the trial than pro-prosecution misinformation, and rape myths moderated this. Furthermore, exposure to pro-defense misinformation skewed legal decision-making towards the defense's case. However, the judicial instruction about misinformation exposure did not influence memory or decision-making. Together, these findings suggest that misinformation in jury deliberations may distort memory for trial evidence and bias decision-making, highlighting the need to develop effective safeguards for reducing the impact of misinformation in trial contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempted to develop a computer-based software for monitoring the traffic noise under heterogeneous traffic condition at the morning peak (MP), off peak (OP), and evening peak (EP) periods of mid-block sections of mid-sized city in India. Traffic noise dataset of 776 (LAeq, 1hr) were collected from 23 locations of Gorakhpur mid-sized city in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. K-nearest neighbor (K-NN) algorithm was adopted for traffic noise prediction modeling. Moreover, principal component analysis (PCA) technique was used for the dimensionality reduction and to overcome the problem of multi-collinearity. The developed model exhibits R2 value of 0.81, 0.78, and 0.77 in the MP, OP, and EP, respectively, for Leq, and a value of 0.86, 0.80, and 0.84 for L10. The proposed model can predict more than 94% observations within an accuracy of ±3%. Ultimately, a user-friendly noise level calculator named “Traffic Noise Prediction Calculator for Heterogeneous Traffic (TNPC-H)” was developed for the benefit of field engineers and policy planners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

California bearing ratio (CBR) test is one of the comprehensive tests used for the last few decades to design the pavement thickness of roadways, railways and airport runways. Laboratory-performed CBR test is considerably rigorous and time-taking. In a quest for an alternative solution, this study utilizes novel computational approaches, including the kernel ridges regression, K-nearest neighbor and Gaussian process regression (GPR), to predict the soaked CBR value of soils. A vast quantity of 1011 in situ soil samples were collected from an ongoing highway project work site. Two data divisional approaches, i.e., K-Fold and fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering, were used to separate the dataset into training and testing subsets. Apart from the numerous statistical performance measurement indices, ranking and overfitting analysis were used to identify the best-fitted CBR prediction model. Additionally, the literature models were also tried to validate through present study datasets. From the results of Pearson's correlation analysis, Sand, Fine Content, Plastic Limit, Plasticity Index, Maximum Dry Density and Optimum Moisture Content were found to be most influencing input parameters in developing the soaked CBR of fine-grained plastic soils. Experimental results also establish the proficiency of the GPR model developed through FCM and K-Fold data division approaches. The K-Fold data division approach was found to be helpful in removing the overfitting of the models. Furthermore, the predictive ability of any model is considerably influenced by the geological location of the soils/materials used for the model development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper derives and validates an analytical model for acoustic boundary conditions on a can-annular gas turbine combustion system composed of discrete cans connected to an open annulus upstream of a turbine. The analytical model takes one empirical parameter: a connection impedance between adjacent cans. This impedance is extracted from time-marching computations of two-can sectors of representative combustors. The computations show that reactance follows the Rayleigh conductivity, while resistance takes a value of order 0.1 as a weak function of geometry. With a calibrated value of acoustic resistance, the analytical model reproduces can-to-can transfer functions predicted by full-annulus computations to within 0.03 magnitude at compact frequencies. Varying the combustor–turbine gap length, both model and computations exhibit a minimum in reflected energy, which drops by 63% compared to the datum gap. A parametric study yields a design guideline for gap length at the minimum reflected energy, allowing the designer to maximise transmission from the combustion system and reduce damping requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Emergency admissions in England for alcohol‐related liver disease (ArLD) have increased steadily for decades. Statistics based on administrative data typically focus on the ArLD‐specific code as the primary diagnosis and are therefore at risk of excluding ArLD admissions defined by other coding combinations. Aim: To deploy the Liverpool ArLD Algorithm (LAA), which accounts for alternative coding patterns (e.g., ArLD secondary diagnosis with alcohol/liver‐related primary diagnosis), to national and local datasets in the context of studying trends in ArLD admissions before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods: We applied the standard approach and LAA to Hospital Episode Statistics for England (2013–21). The algorithm was also deployed at 28 hospitals to discharge coding for emergency admissions during a common 7‐day period in 2019 and 2020, in which eligible patient records were reviewed manually to verify the diagnosis and extract data. Results: Nationally, LAA identified approximately 100% more monthly emergency admissions from 2013 to 2021 than the standard method. The annual number of ArLD‐specific admissions increased by 30.4%. Of 39,667 admissions in 2020/21, only 19,949 were identified with standard approach, an estimated admission cost of £70 million in under‐recorded cases. Within 28 local hospital datasets, 233 admissions were identified using the standard approach and a further 250 locally verified cases using the LAA (107% uplift). There was an 18% absolute increase in ArLD admissions in the seven‐day evaluation period in 2020 versus 2019. There were no differences in disease severity or mortality, or in the proportion of admissions with decompensation of cirrhosis or alcoholic hepatitis. Conclusions: The LAA can be applied successfully to local and national datasets. It consistently identifies approximately 100% more cases than the standard coding approach. The algorithm has revealed the true extent of ArLD admissions. The pandemic has compounded a long‐term rise in ArLD admissions and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ageing of asphalt mixes catalyses the occurrence of several pavement distresses. This study assessed the influence of the nature and quantity of the filler on the ageing susceptibility of asphalt concrete. The designed asphalt mixes containing control filler (stone dust) and four industrial wastes (copper tailing, glass powder, Kota stone dust, and red mud) were added in different amounts (4, 5.5, 7, and 8.5%). The ageing susceptibility of asphalt mixes was analysed by comparing the performance of un-aged and long-term aged asphalt mixes in terms of Marshall stability (MS), tensile strength ratio (TSR), indirect tensile strength (ITS), Marshall quotient (MQ), and Cantabro loss (CL) using ageing indices. The statistical analysis of the results was performed using multiple two-way ANOVA tests. The analysis inferred that the nature of filler and their amount in asphalt mixes had a statistically significant effect on their ageing susceptibility as observed from the changes in their TSR, CL, MQ, and MS. However, ageing susceptibility of asphalt mixes corresponding to their ITS values seemed to be significantly influenced only by the amount of the filler. The ageing susceptibility of asphalt concrete mixes is found to be greatly influenced by their apparent film thicknesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempts to recycle bauxite residue (red mud) as an alternative to conventional stone dust filler in asphalt concrete mix. For this, relevant physical, chemical and morphological properties of both fillers were determined. Subsequently, asphalt concrete mixes incorporating both fillers were prepared using Marshall mix design procedures, and their performances against primary aspects (strength, rutting resistance, cracking resistance, moisture susceptibility, ravelling resistance, long-term ageing, active and passive adhesion) were investigated. Although red mud mixes had higher optimum asphalt content than conventional mixes, they also delivered higher Marshall stability, rutting resistance and cracking resistance. This was majorly attributed to fineness and porosity of red mud which facilitates uniform distribution of filler and higher absorption of asphalt binder. Red mud was highly alkaline and hydrophobic in nature and had the presence of adhesion promoters like calcite in its composition. Hence, red mud mixes displayed satisfactory resistance against moisture permeation and had good active-passive adhesions. Although red mud mixes had marginally lower resistance against ravelling and long-term ageing than the conventional mix, red mud could effectively be utilised as a filler in asphalt concrete mixes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, researchers around the globe are looking for suitable alternatives of conventional fillers which can form flexible pavements with satisfactory engineering performance in an environmental friendly and cost-effective manner. This study investigated the engineering, economical, and environmental viability of recycling waste glass powder (GP) and glass-hydrated lime (GL) composite as alternative fillers, in place of stone dust (SD). All fillers were characterized, and asphalt concrete mixes incorporating them at different proportions (4–8.5%) were designed using the Marshall mix design method. The engineering performance of asphalt mixes was analyzed using the static creep analysis, indirect tensile fatigue test, Cantabro test, modified Lottman test, resilient modulus test, mixing time analysis, and boiling water test. Additionally, the design of single km of two-lane flexible pavements utilizing aforesaid mixes was done as per the mechanistically empirical method suggested in IRC 37 guideline. Finally, the economic and environmental analysis was done by comparing their material cost and global warming potential (GWP). GL and GP mixes exhibited better resistance against rutting, fatigue, and low temperature cracking at lower optimum asphalt content than SD mixes. However, GP mixes also displayed poor moisture resistance and adhesion due to the high amount of silica in GP. GL mixes had satisfactory moisture resistance up to 7% filler content due to the fine nature and anti-stripping properties of hydrated lime. The pavement containing GL and GP fillers also reduced material cost and GWP up to 35% while consuming up to 74 tons of GP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We quantify the sensitivity of turbine acoustic impedance to aerodynamic design parameters. Impedance boundary conditions are an influential yet uncertain parameter in predicting the thermoacoustic stability of gas turbine combustors. We extend the semi-actuator disk model to cambered blades, using non-linear time-domain computations of turbine vane and stage cascades with acoustic forcing for validation data. Discretising cambered aerofoils into multiple disks improves reflection coefficient predictions, reducing error by up to an order of magnitude compared to a flat plate assumption. A parametric study of turbine stage designs using the analytical model shows acoustic impedance is a weak function of degree of reaction and polytropic efficiency. The design parameter with the strongest influence is flow coefficient, followed by axial velocity ratio and Mach number. We provide the combustion engineer with improved tools to predict impedance boundary conditions, and suggest thermoacoustic stability is most likely to be compromised by change in turbine flow coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The loss of adhesion is one of the primary mechanisms of physical distress in asphalt mixes since it negatively affects the durability of asphalt mix. The effect of filler on this mechanism was explored by analyzing active and passive adhesions between the aggregates and the bitumen that constitute asphalt mix. As part of the analysis, the measurement of mixing times and Boiling Water Tests were conducted. Five types of fillers of different sources, constituting of conventional (natural stone dust) and waste fillers (glass powder from glass industry, bauxite residue from aluminum industry, Kota stone dust from dimension stone industry and copper tailings from mining industry) were added at variable compositions (4, 5.5, 7 and 8.5% by weight of aggregates) in mixes to generalise the conclusions. The statistical analysis of results confirmed that type of filler and their quantity in asphalt mixes, significantly affect both active and passive adhesion. The results also indicated that use of calcium-based fillers (natural stone dust and Kota stone dust) result in significant improvement in both adhesions. Whereas, use of silica-based glass powder filler results in the worst active and passive adhesions and should be used judiciously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the performance of asphalt concrete mixes containing five different wastes fillers [carbide lime (CL), copper tailings (CT), glass powder (GP), red mud (RM), and rice straw ash (RSA)] to a conventional mix containing stone dust (SD). The comparison was made using a novel ranking methodology, which is based on the various engineering properties of the asphalt mixes, and the priority assigned by the designer to each property. Various physical and chemical properties of the fillers were initially determined. Subsequently, the asphalt mixes were designed at their optimal binder contents and their stability, volumetric properties, cracking resistance, moisture susceptibility, rutting resistance, and active and passive adhesion were assessed based on various accepted standards. All mixes displayed satisfactory stability and volumetric properties, and the fillers having finer particles (RM, CT, CL, and GP) formed mixes with superior cracking and rutting resistance. Mixes containing calcium-based fillers (CL and SD) showed excellent adhesion and moisture resistance, while the GP mixes showed very poor moisture resistance. RM and RSA were determined as the best- and worst-performing fillers, respectively, based on the proposed ranking methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diets low in methionine extend lifespan of rodents, though through unknown mechanisms. Glycine can mitigate methionine toxicity, and a small prior study has suggested that supplemental glycine could extend lifespan of Fischer 344 rats. We therefore evaluated the effects of an 8% glycine diet on lifespan and pathology of genetically heterogeneous mice in the context of the Interventions Testing Program. Elevated glycine led to a small (4%–6%) but statistically significant lifespan increase, as well as an increase in maximum lifespan, in both males (p = 0.002) and females (p < 0.001). Pooling across sex, glycine increased lifespan at each of the three independent sites, with significance at p = 0.01, 0.053, and 0.03, respectively. Glycine‐supplemented females were lighter than controls, but there was no effect on weight in males. End‐of‐life necropsies suggested that glycine‐treated mice were less likely than controls to die of pulmonary adenocarcinoma (p = 0.03). Of the 40 varieties of incidental pathology evaluated in these mice, none were increased to a significant degree by the glycine‐supplemented diet. In parallel analyses of the same cohort, we found no benefits from TM5441 (an inhibitor of PAI‐1, the primary inhibitor of tissue and urokinase plasminogen activators), inulin (a source of soluble fiber), or aspirin at either of two doses. Our glycine results strengthen the idea that modulation of dietary amino acid levels can increase healthy lifespan in mice, and provide a foundation for further investigation of dietary effects on aging and late‐life diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wollastonite is abundantly available in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and Andhra Pradesh states of the Indian Union as a low-cost material. In this study, investigations were made on pastes and mortars to evaluate its potential as a new material for admixing with ordinary portland cement with or without microsilica. Its physical and chemical properties were analyzed. Wollastonite consists of 45.6% of CaO and 48% of SiO2, mostly in amorphous form. It has an average specific surface area of 842.7 m2/kg and retention on 45-micron sieve of 3.20%. When ground to fine powder, it attains an average particle size of 4 microns which is about 4.5 times finer than ordinary portland cement. Scanning electron microscope images show that wollastonite particles were solid, acicular in shape, and have rough surfaces. Several cementitious mix proportions of ordinary portland cement, wollastonite, and microsilica were investigated for normal consistency, initial and final setting time of paste, and compressive strength of mortar. Test results indicate that the mortar, which contains 82.5% cement, 10% wollastonite, and 7.5% microsilica, as cementitious material attains the highest compressive strength. The mortar, which contains 77.5% cement, 15% wollastonite, and 7.5% microsilica, as cementitious material achieves compressive strength higher than the conventional OPC mortar along with rendering maximum cement replacement for better economy of concrete work. It was observed that the compressive strength of mortar varied logarithmically with the days of moist curing and linearly with the proportion of admixing. Suitable predictive models are presented accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a project undertaken as part of a masters degree at Kingston University that looked at factors which influence adopters' decisions about the ages of children that they want to adopt. This subject is topical because currently many adoptive parents want to adopt very young children, but many of the children waiting for placements are older. Relevant literature is reviewed to place the project in context and to provide a theoretical perspective on adopters' decision-making on the preferred ages of children at the time of placement. The views of adopters and adoption social workers were sought using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The majority of adopters who responded wanted to adopt children who were as young as possible. Adoption social workers who responded reported difficulties finding placements for older children. Data obtained suggests that the strategies designed to encourage adopters to consider adopting older children may have limited effect. In the conclusion, tentative suggestions are made about the implications of this project for adoption practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Alcoholic hepatitis is associated with a high short term mortality. We aimed to identify those factors associated with mortally and define a simple score which would predict outcome in our population. Methods: We identified 241 patients with alcoholic hepatitis. Clinical and laboratory data were recorded on the day of admission (day 1) and on days 6-9. Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify variables related to outcome at 28 days and 84 days after admission. These variables were included in the Glasgow alcoholic hepatitis score (GAHS) and its ability to predict outcome assessed. The GAHS was validated in a separate dataset of 195 patients. Results: The GAHS was derived from five variables independently associated with outcome: age (p = 0.001) and, from day 1 results, serum bilirubin (p<0.001), blood urea (p = 0.019) and, from day 6-9 results, serum bilirubin (p<0.001), prothrombin time (p = 0.002), and peripheral blood white blood cell count (p = 0.001). The GAHS on day 1 hod an overall accuracy of 81% when predicting 28 day outcome. In contrast, the modified discriminant function had an overall accuracy of 49%. Similar results were found using information at 6-9 days and when predicting 84 day outcome. The accuracy of the GAHS was confirmed by the validation study of 195 patients The GAHS was equally accurate irrespective of the use of the international normalised ratio or prothrombin time ratio, or if the diagnosis of alcoholic hepatitis was biopsy proven or on the basis of clinical assessment. Conclusions: Using variables associated with mortality we have derived and validated an accurate scoring system to assess outcome in alcoholic hepatitis. This score was able to identify patients at greatest risk of death throughout their admission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Methods: Oxidant stress is proposed to be an important pathogenic factor in liver damage related to alcohol. The glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are a group of polymorphic enzymes that are important in protection against oxidant stress. As there is evidence for genetic susceptibility to alcohol-related liver disease we have compared the frequency of polymorphisms of GSTM1, M3, P1, T1 and A1 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on leucocyte DNA in patients from North Staffordshire, Birmingham and Liverpool with alcohol-related chronic liver disease heavy drinking and normal local controls. Results: There were no significant differences in GSTM 1, GSTM3 or GSTP 1 genotype frequencies among patients, drinking and non-drinking controls from the three centres. There was a significant increase in the GSTT1 null Liverpool alcoholic liver disease (ALD) patients compared with corresponding non-drinking controls (26.3 and 14.6%, respectively; P = 0.044, odds ratio (OR) = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.1-4.7) though this was not repeated in the Binningham and North Staffordshire cohorts. For GSTA1, the -69 CC genotype was associated with increased risk of ALD in the Liverpool group, but a reduced risk in the North Staffordshire group. Conclusions: We have failed to demonstrate within the limitation of a case-control study a reproducible significant association of GST polymorphisms with susceptibility to ALD but there are suggestions that GSTA1 and GSTT1 warrant further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights a number of the common problems that will confront a tax lawyer and suggests ways in which the interests of the client can be best protected in Australia. Importance of identifying the client; Details of the criminal responsibility provisions of the Criminal Code; Privilege against self incrimination and section 263 and section 264 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936.

A fast technique for deconvolving signals in a dispersive multipath shallow-water environment using inverse filters is compared with the more commonly used deconvolution technique of time reversal (also known as phase conjugation). The objective of such techniques is to improve the accuracy of sound transmission from a source array to some receiving space. Time reversal provides benefits in this regard but here the additional performance that can be gained from inverse filters is examined. Several strategies for obtaining a set of inverse filters are discussed, each aimed at improving the accuracy of the reconstruction of the desired time signals through inverse techniques. It will be shown that an 'optimal' inversion (in the sense of achieving a flat system response in the frequency domain) does not necessarily achieve a realizable time domain filter. A fast field model (using OASES) of the Giglio Basin shallow-water test facility is used as the basis for evaluating the various focusing strategies for single receiver locations. It will be seen that inverse filter arrays provide enhanced temporal and spatial focusing when compared to time reversal arrays. In addition, inverse filtering allows multiple receivers to be used, thereby increasing bandwidth or improving redundancy. © 2001 Acoustical Society of America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ambient noise model CANARY calculates noise coherence and array noise response by treating the noise sources as surface distributions rather than points. This assumption leads to simplification of the propagation, even in range-dependent environments, and by allowing variations in the source density one can represent distant storms or groups of ships. Included is a description of the numerical algorithms used to calculate coherence. Some recently developed analytical solutions for uniform source distributions and uniformly sloping seabed are used as test cases for CANARY. Some additional examples demonstrate CANARY's performance in more realistic environments and conditions including wind and shipping sources, and comparisons are made with the noise model RANDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A review of biliary tract complications was performed in 32 patients who underwent liver transplantation by the Western Australian Liver Transplantation Service during a 2-year period. Methods: A review was made of patient data collected prospectively, and confirmed by retrospective casenote review. Results: A total of 30 patients (31 grafts) survived more than 2 days after transplantation, and of these 28 had an end-to-end biliary anastomosis. Analysis of these 28 patients found that eight of 17 patients with T-tubes had complications: three leaks at T-tube removal; two strictures and leaks; and three strictures. Six of 11 patients without a T-tube had complications: one leak; three strictures and leaks; and two strictures. Predisposing factors were present in eight of the 14 patients with biliary tract complications: hepatic artery stenosis in three; and one each with hepatic artery thrombosis; biliary calculi; donor-recipient bile duct mismatch; severe cellular rejection; and prolonged postoperative hypotension. Acute rejection, steroid-resistant rejection and cytomegalovirus infection were all significantly more common in those patients with biliary tract complications compared with those without. There was no difference in cold ischaemic time or donor age. Twelve of the 14 patients with biliary complications required endoscopic stenting with or without balloon dilation, and eight patients required radiological percutaneous drainage of bile collections. Only one patient required biliary reconstruction and two patients required re-transplantation. One patient died of uncontrolled infection. Of three patients who underwent choledochojejunostomy, biliary leak developed in two... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To ascertain, from the published reports to date, whether or not a significantly increased risk of breast cancer is specifically attributable to a history of induced abortion, independent of spontaneous abortion and age at first full term pregnancy (or first live birth); to establish the relative magnitude of such risk increase as may be found, and to ascertain and quantify such risk increases as may pertain to particular subpopulations of women exposed to induced abortion; in particular, nulliparous women and parous women exposed before compared with after the first full term pregnancy. INCLUDED STUDIES: The meta-analysis includes all 28 published reports which include specific data on induced abortion and breast cancer incidence. Since some study data are presented in more than one report, the 28 reports were determined to constitute 23 independent studies. Overall induced abortion odds ratios and odds ratios for the different subpopulations were calculated using an average weighted according to the inverse of the variance. An overall unweighted average was also computed for comparison. No quality criteria were imposed, but a narrative review of all included studies is presented for the reader's use in assessing the quality of individual studies. EXCLUDED STUDIES: All 33 published reports including data on abortion and breast cancer incidence but either pertaining only to spontaneous abortion or to abortion without specification as to whether it was induced or spontaneous. These studies are listed for the reader's information. The overall odds ratio (for any induced abortion exposure; n = 21 studies) was 1.3 (95% confidence interval of 1.2, 1.4). For comparison, the unweighted overall odds ratio was 1.4 (1.3,1.6). The odds ratio for nulliparous women was 1.3 (1.0,1.6), that for abortion before the first term pregnancy in parous women was 1.5 (1.2,1.8), and that for abortion after the first term pregnancy was 1.3 (1.1,1.5). The results support the inclusion of induced abortion among significant independent risk factors for breast cancer, regardless of parity or timing of abortion relative to the first term pregnancy. Although the increase in risk was relatively low, the high incidence of both breast cancer and induced abortion suggest a substantial impact of thousands of excess cases per year currently, and a potentially much greater impact in the next century, as the first cohort of women exposed to legal induced abortion continues to age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To ascertain, from the published reports to date, whether or not a significantly increased risk of breast cancer is specifically attributable to a history of induced abortion, independent of spontaneous abortion and age at first full term pregnancy (or first live birth); to establish the relative magnitude of such risk increase as may be found, and to ascertain and quantify such risk increases as may pertain to particular subpopulations of women exposed to induced abortion; in particular, nulliparous women and parous women exposed before compared with after the first full term pregnancy. INCLUDED STUDIES: The meta-analysis includes all 28 published reports which include specific data on induced abortion and breast cancer incidence. Since some study data are presented in more than one report, the 28 reports were determined to constitute 23 independent studies. Overall induced abortion odds ratios and odds ratios for the different subpopulations were calculated using an average weighted according to the inverse of the variance. An overall unweighted average was also computed for comparison. No quality criteria were imposed, but a narrative review of all included studies is presented for the reader's use in assessing the quality of individual studies. EXCLUDED STUDIES: All 33 published reports including data on abortion and breast cancer incidence but either pertaining only to spontaneous abortion or to abortion without specification as to whether it was induced or spontaneous. These studies are listed for the reader's information. RESULTS: The overall odds ratio (for any induced abortion exposure; n = 21 studies) was 1.3 (95% confidence interval of 1.2, 1.4). For comparison, the unweighted overall odds ratio was 1.4 (1.3,1.6). The odds ratio for nulliparous women was 1.3 (1.0,1.6), that for abortion before the first term pregnancy in parous women was 1.5 (1.2,1.8), and that for abortion after the first term pregnancy was 1.3 (1.1,1.5). CONCLUSIONS: The results support the inclusion of induced abortion among significant independent risk factors for breast cancer, regardless of parity or timing of abortion relative to the first term pregnancy. Although the increase in risk was relatively low, the high incidence of both breast cancer and induced abortion suggest a substantial impact of thousands of excess cases per year currently, and a potentially much greater impact in the next century, as the first cohort of women exposed to legal induced abortion continues to age. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of infection with the newly described hepatitis G virus (HGV) in a liver transplant cohort, and to establish the frequency and nature of hepatitis in those with and without HGV infection. A reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction technique was employed to determine viraemia in the patients, and liver biopsies taken at different times after transplantation were assessed histologically. Hepatitis G virus RNA was detected in 47% of the liver transplant recipients investigated. Those positive for HGV had received significantly more blood or blood products than the HGV-negative patients. The frequency of abnormal liver function tests was similar in HGV-positive and HGV-negative recipients. Bile duct epithelial cell damage was more frequently seen in those with HGV viraemia. This study indicates that almost half of the liver transplant recipients in Northern England are positive for HGV, and that infection is associated with exposure to blood and blood products. It appears that, in the immunosuppressed patient, HGV does not cause clinically significant liver disease, at least up to 2 years after transplantation. If HGV infection is associated with hepatitis outside this clinical setting, it is likely that the liver damage is immunopathologically mediated rather than as a result of direct viral cytotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the implementation of Soviet Union policy in Northeast Africa. Emergence of governmental reform and a socialist revolution; Impact of the military regime on Ethiopia and Somalia; Limitations on Soviet Union foreign policies.