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Purpose: Research has consistently demonstrated that psychological capital (PsyCap) is an important predictor of various employee outcomes. Despite this, there is a paucity of knowledge regarding antecedents of PsyCap and the boundary conditions that influence PsyCap relationships. This study aimed to address these gaps by investigating how ethical leadership (EL) influences employee PsyCap, and in turn, predicts a range of desirable and undesirable employee attitudes. Furthermore, the study examined the moderating role of length of the leader-follower relationship (LLR) and organisational identification in these relationships in a novel moderated-mediation model. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from 269 full-time employees in Australia via an online survey across two time-points. Findings: The results show that PsyCap mediates the relationship between EL and employee attitudes. The results also indicate that LLR moderates these relationships, whereby these relationships are strengthened as LLR increases. Originality/value: This study responds to calls for further investigation of antecedent and outcome variables related to PsyCap, as well as moderators of the relationships between PsyCap and antecedent and outcome variables. The findings also extend the application of social exchange theory to the context of EL and PsyCap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the US, end-of-life health care (EOLHC) is often intensive and invasive, and at times may involve care that is inconsistent with patient values. US Muslims may not receive appropriate religious support, experience uncertainty around end-of-life decision-making, and under-utilize palliative and hospice care. As technological advancements and treatment options rise in EOLHC, Muslim American patients and their families need to understand more about the treatment options that are consistent with their beliefs. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of a pilot mosque-based educational workshop focused on increasing Muslim Americans' religious bioethics knowledge about end-of-life healthcare. Intervention sites were four mosques with racially and ethnically diverse members, two in the Chicago metropolitan area and two in the Washington, D.C. area. Eligible participants were self-reported Muslims, aged 18 years or older, who were proficient in English. The intervention included a pre and post-test survey and a workshop focused on the Islamic bioethical perspectives on EOLHC. Knowledge was measured with six true-false questions. Baseline and post-intervention scores were analyzed by McNemar's test and bivariate correlation. Overall, the analysis showed a significant improvement in post-intervention participant knowledge. There was increased knowledge of Islamic bioethical views on the moral status of seeking healthcare, brain death controversies, and religious perspectives on withholding or withdrawing life support near the end of life. Our pilot intervention successfully increased participant knowledge and underscores the need to improve the Muslim community's knowledge about the bioethical dimensions of EOLHC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores online participatory culture from the early 1990s to the present, highlighting three trends that exemplify its development and eventual co-option by corporate and political movements. In the 1990s, a participatory culture around baseball analytics emerged online, characterized by a challenge to traditional notions of knowledge in the sport. By the 2000s, online participatory cultures began populating social media platforms that were searching for new ways to increase user engagement. One such culture, the self-tracking fitness movement, focused on individual self-improvement via quantifying the body’s activity, while promoting a relocation of expert knowledge to the online technology and fitness platforms that housed the movement. During the COVID-19 pandemic, notions of expert knowledge and individualized approaches to the body, aspects of the first two trends, were manipulated by far-right rhetoric and transformed by mis- and disinformation disseminated on the now-ubiquitous social media platforms. The study concludes by analyzing philosopher Giorgio Agamben’s condemnation of COVID-19 public health mandates, exploring how the theories underlying both baseball analytics and self-tracking were used to valorize individualistic health freedom over collective well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives A multifaceted construct called occupational communion (OC), defined as a sense of belonging based on social interaction at work, has been proposed to understand why care workers were positively engaged in their jobs over time, even though they were very demanding. Rich qualitative data on the multiple aspects of OC in care work exist, but a valid measure does not. Research Design and Methods We applied a mixed-method systematic scale development process to measure OC. Aged and dementia care workers in Australia (76%) and other countries participated in a focus group and online surveys (N = 2,451). We also used interview data from our prior study. The study involved 3 components: (1) scale development and design; (2) pilot test validation with exploratory factor analysis; and (3) confirmatory validation via confirmatory factor analysis. The third component assessed convergent and discriminant validity using measures of communion, self-efficacy, work engagement, job and life satisfaction, intention to leave, positive and negative affect, and mood. Results We developed a 28-item Occupational Communion Scale (OCS) with good internal consistency (composite reliability = 0.75–0.91) across 6 factors: (1) "natural" carer, (2) psychological need to care, (3) connection with clients, (4) connection with coworkers, (5) desire for more connection, and (6) blurred boundaries. All validity measures correlated with OC and work engagement, self-efficacy, and positive affect showed the strongest association. Discussion and Implications The OCS can be used to design and evaluate interventions addressing aged care workforce engagement, social connections and well-being, and care outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporal disruptions in narrative structure are increasingly common, with even the most mainstream films utilizing increasingly complex relations between plot and story. However, at the level of the image popular narrative cinema has remained wedded to a resolutely forward-moving temporality. Tenet’s use of reverse motion offers the potential for rethinking the ethical relationship between image and narrative by linking temporal rationality to militarism, while simultaneously opening spaces for a reimagining of how we perceive time in cinema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In association football (soccer), the position of goalkeeper is the most specialised position in the sport and has the primary objective of stopping the opposing team from scoring. While previous studies have highlighted differences in physiological and match performance profiles between goalkeepers and outfield players 1 , surprisingly little research has focused on whether goalkeepers differ in terms of their perceptual-cognitive abilities. Given that goalkeepers use multiple sensory cues and are often required to make rapid decisions based on incomplete multisensory information to fulfil their role 2 , we hypothesised that professional goalkeepers would display enhanced multisensory temporal processing relative to their outfield counterparts. To test this hypothesis, we measured the temporal binding windows — the time window within which signals from the different senses are integrated into a single percept — of professional goalkeepers, professional outfield players, and a control group with no professional football experience using the sound-induced flash illusion 3. Our results indicated a marked difference in multisensory processing between the three groups. Specifically, we found that the goalkeepers displayed a narrower temporal binding window relative to both outfielders and control participants, indicating more precise audiovisual timing estimation. However, this enhanced multisensory temporal processing was accompanied by a general reduction in crossmodal interactions relative to the other two groups that could be attributed to an a priori tendency to segregate sensory signals. We propose that these differences stem from the idiosyncratic nature of the goalkeeping position that puts a premium on the ability of goalkeepers to make quick decisions, often based on partial or incomplete sensory information. A new study by Quinn et al. shows that professional goalkeepers display distinct signatures of multisensory processing to both outfield players and control participants. Specifically, goalkeepers show enhanced audiovisual timing estimation and a reduced tendency to integrate sensory signals, possibly due to their idiosyncratic role in football. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This sub-study of the Australian Genomics Cardiovascular Genetic Disorders Flagship sought to conduct the first nation-wide audit in Australia to establish the current practices across cardiac genetics clinics. An audit of records of patients with a suspected genetic heart disease (cardiomyopathy, primary arrhythmia, autosomal dominant congenital heart disease) who had a cardiac genetics consultation between 1st January 2016 and 31 July 2018 and were offered a diagnostic genetic test. This audit included 536 records at multidisciplinary cardiac genetics clinics from 11 public tertiary hospitals across five Australian states. Most genetic consultations occurred in a clinic setting (90%), followed by inpatient (6%) and Telehealth (4%). Queensland had the highest proportion of Telehealth consultations (9% of state total). Sixty-six percent of patients had a clinical diagnosis of a cardiomyopathy, 28% a primary arrhythmia, and 0.7% congenital heart disease. The reason for diagnosis was most commonly as a result of investigations of symptoms (73%). Most patients were referred by a cardiologist (85%), followed by a general practitioner (9%) and most genetic tests were funded by the state Genetic Health Service (73%). Nationally, 29% of genetic tests identified a pathogenic or likely pathogenic gene variant; 32% of cardiomyopathies, 26% of primary arrhythmia syndromes, and 25% of congenital heart disease. We provide important information describing the current models of care for genetic heart diseases throughout Australia. These baseline data will inform the implementation and impact of whole genome sequencing in the Australian healthcare landscape. • We describe the current models of care for genetic heart diseases throughout Australia • Genetic testing identified a causative variant in 29% of cases • Data will inform the implementation and impact of whole genome sequencing in Australian healthcare [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is a common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Outcomes are highly variable and predicting risk of disease progression at an individual level is challenging. Accurate risk stratification is important to identify individuals most likely to benefit from treatment. The Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE) has been extensively validated in CKD populations and predicts the risk of ESRD at 2 and 5 years using non-invasive tests; however, its predictive performance in IgAN is unknown. The Oxford classification (OC) describes pathological features demonstrated on renal biopsy that are associated with adverse clinical outcomes that may also inform prognosis. The objective of this systematic review is to compare the KFRE with the OC in determining prognosis in IgAN. Methods: A systematic review will be conducted and reported in line with PRISMA guidelines (PRISMA-P checklist attached as Additional file 1). Inclusion criteria will be cohort studies that apply the KFRE or OC to determine the risk of CKD progression or ESRD in individuals with IgAN. Multiple databases will be searched in duplicate to identify relevant studies, which will be screened first by title, then by abstract and then by full-text analysis. Results will be collated for comparison. Risk of bias and confidence assessments will be conducted independently by two reviewers, with a third reviewer available if required. Discussion: Identifying individuals at the highest risk of progression to ESRD is challenging in IgAN, due to the heterogeneity of clinical outcomes. Risk prediction tools have been developed to guide clinicians; however, it is imperative that these aids are accurate and reproducible. The OC is based on observations made by specialist renal pathologists and may be open to observer bias, therefore the utility of prediction models incorporating this classification may be diminished, particularly as in the future novel biomarkers may be incorporated into clinical practice. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42022364569 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on life savings by purchasing shares of GameStop, an aging mall-based video game retailer. Topics include Wall Street practices of short selling and options trading or market manipulation by large investment firms and brokers; and subcultures generating and traffic in a language of memes, inside jokes, and stories, a language reminiscent of previous media environments.

The temporal dynamics of groundwater–surface water interaction under the impacts of various water abstraction scenarios are presented for hydraulic fracturing in a shale gas and oil play area (23 984.9 km2), Alberta, Canada, using the MIKE-SHE and MIKE-11 models. Water-use data for hydraulic fracturing were obtained for 433 wells drilled in the study area in 2013 and 2014. Modelling results indicate that water abstraction for hydraulic fracturing has very small (<0.35%) negative impacts on mean monthly and annual river and groundwater levels and stream and groundwater flows in the study area, and small (1–4.17%) negative impacts on environmental flows near the water abstraction location during low-flow periods. The impacts on environmental flow depend on the amount of water abstraction and the daily flow over time at a specific river cross-section. The results also indicate a very small (<0.35%) positive impact on mean monthly and annual groundwater contributions to streamflow because of the large study area. The results provide useful information for planning long-term seasonal and annual water abstractions from the river and groundwater for hydraulic fracturing in a large study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: There is a global increase in chronic, degenerative illnesses that require long-term intervention and support as a result of the aging population. The majority of support needs are met by informal family caregivers. While there have been three decades of research focusing on caregivers in general, the extent to which research has focused on Indigenous caregivers is unclear. Worldwide, Indigenous peoples face severe economic and health disadvantages that may make them even more vulnerable to the negative aspects of informal caregiving. The current systematic review aimed to synthesize the extant literature on Indigenous caregiver functioning and the interventions that are efficacious in alleviating Indigenous caregiver distress.Methods: Systematic review Inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed quantitative studies examining Indigenous caregiver functioning or evaluating Indigenous caregiver interventions.Results: 1172 unique records were located in the final search undertaken; only 7 articles, representing 6 unique studies, met the full inclusion criteria. Most studies contained numerous methodological weaknesses that compromised the reliability and validity of findings. Available studies suggest poor health and high burden among Indigenous relative to non-Indigenous caregivers. However, high levels of positive aspects of caregiving were reported in one study. A single intervention study suggests that poor health outcomes among Indigenous caregivers can be alleviated, though the quality and focus of this study was sub-optimal.Conclusions: Overall, there is very little quality evidence around Indigenous caregiver functioning. Future research in this area would benefit from greater adherence to the standards of research that contribute to a strong and reliable evidence base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body compassion bridges together the constructs of body image and self-compassion and refers to the relationship people have with their bodies, encompassing defusion, common humanity and acceptance. The purpose of the current study was to validate the 23-item Body Compassion Scale (BCS), in a female sample, and to determine the distinctiveness of body compassion from the similar construct of self-compassion. A total of 513 females completed an online cross-sectional survey examining body compassion, self-compassion, body image, and psychological health. Results supported the validation of the three-factor structure of the BCS, with the subscales of defusion and acceptance being more strongly associated with measures of body image than self-compassion. The BCS subscale of common humanity revealed lower associations with body image compared to self-compassion. The findings suggest that body compassion is a body-specific construct relating to body image concerns and while related, is distinct, from the construct of self-compassion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this paper is to locate indirect legislation within Bentham’s art of legislation, and to distinguish it, as far as possible, from direct legislation. Along the way, some parallels are drawn between indirect legislation on the one hand, and the Nudge theory of Thaler and Sunstein on the other. It will be argued that many expedients categorized by Bentham as indirect legislation are simultaneously exercises of direct legislation. Another set of indirect expedients act on knowledge, and involve efforts to eliminate asymmetries of information between potential offender and potential victim by providing official standards and disseminating a plethora of factual information. Other forms of indirect legislation threaten the coherence of Bentham’s theory of law, firstly by regarding all government actions as exercises in legislation, and secondly by turning the formers of public opinion into legislators. Insofar as some forms of indirect legislation operate by sleight of hand, they conflict with Bentham’s commitment to transparency in the exercise of public power, reflecting a tension between reality and appearance which runs through his thought. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: To determine if a counseling intervention using the principles of motivational interviewing (MI) would impact uptake of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) after abortion.Methods: We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial comparing an MI-based contraception counseling intervention to only non-standardized counseling. Sixty women 15-29 years-old were randomized.Primary Outcome: uptake of LARC within four weeks of abortion.Secondary Outcomes: uptake of any effective contraceptive, contraceptive use three months after abortion and satisfaction with counseling. Bivariate analysis was used to compare outcomes.Results: In the intervention arm, 65.5% of participants received a long-acting method within four weeks compared to 32.3% in the control arm (p=0.01). Three months after the abortion, differences in LARC use endured (60.0% vs. 30.8%, p=0.05). Uptake and use of any effective method were not statistically different. More women in the intervention arm reported satisfaction with their counseling than women in the control arm (92.0% vs. 65.4%, p=0.04).Conclusion: Twice as many women in the MI-based contraception counseling intervention initiated and continued to use LARC compared to women who received only non-standardized counseling.Practice Implications: A contraception counseling session using the principles and skills of motivational interviewing has the potential to impact LARC use after abortion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes efforts to bridge the gap between the existing research and proposed recreation access management for public lands in southwestern Alberta, Canada. Recreation access management has been identified as a complex problem and public consultation is one element in addressing the complexity. An Internet-based survey (n = 945) examined the acceptability and desirability of public consultation processes to assist with access management planning. Non-parametric tests indicate significant differences in desirability of public consultation types existed for all variables except gender. Respondents expressed the desire for a diversity of public consultation approaches with a strong preference for face-to-face field visits. Mechanisms for engagement in access management planning should be based on public consultation preferences to ensure broad, on going engagement and subsequent user acceptance and compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Cyclophosphamide was widely used as a single agent prior to the advent of platinum-based regimens for epithelial ovarian cancer, and, in combination with platinum, prior to the adoption of platinum and paclitaxel as standard first-line therapy. As cyclophosphamide currently has no defined role in ovarian cancer we aimed to assess its activity in women with recurrent disease. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of patients from three centers in Melbourne, Australia who had received oral cyclophosphamide treatment for recurrent ovarian cancer. The primary end-point was response rate to oral cyclophosphamide (150 mg p.o. day 1-14) based on Gynecologic Cancer InterGroup ( GCIG) CA125 and/or Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors ( RECIST) criteria. Secondary end-points included overall and progression-free survival and toxicity. Results In all, 26 patients were identified and 23 patients were evaluable for response. The median number of prior chemotherapy regimens was three (range 1-6). The response rate to oral cyclophosphamide was 44% with 10 of the 23 patients achieving a partial response ( PR) based on GCIG ( CA125) criteria. The median number of cycles received was three (range 1-16). Cyclophosphamide showed activity both in patients with platinum-sensitive (seven of 13 PR) and resistant or refractory disease (three of 10 PR). There was no grade 3 or 4 toxicity but two patients ceased cyclophosphamide due to less severe non-hematological toxicity. Conclusion Single agent oral cyclophosphamide is active and well tolerated in recurrent ovarian cancer. Further investigation of oral cyclophosphamide in patients with platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant disease is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many western countries, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has achieved celebrity status, such that it probably no longer requires introduction. The disorder is a global phenomenon, spreading rapidly as result of the increasing dominance internationally of US psychiatric models, the need for new markets for major pharmaceutical companies, increasing use of the internet by parents and professionals and changing approaches to schooling. There is a broad consensus among international experts and organisations that ADHD is a genuine neurodevelopmental disorder based on empirical research. However, many critics have questioned the legitimacy of ADHD. This paper reviews the arguments for and against the ADHD construct. First, the review examines the literature and research endorsing ADHD as a 'real' disorder. Second, the criticisms levelled against the ADHD construct are examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) has been suggested to act as a tumour suppressor gene in various human cancers, yet its role in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) has not yet been investigated. We previously observed that IGFBP7 was one of several genes found significantly upregulated in an EOC cell line model rendered non-tumourigenic as consequence of genetic manipulation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of IGFBP7 in high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSC), the most common type of EOC. Methods: We analysed IGFBP7 gene expression in 11 normal ovarian surface epithelial cells (NOSE), 79 high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSC), and seven EOC cell lines using a custom gene expression array platform. IGFBP7 mRNA expression profiles were also extracted from publicly available databases. Protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry of 175 HGSC and 10 normal fallopian tube samples using tissue microarray and related to disease outcome. We used EOC cells to investigate possible mechanisms of gene inactivation and describe various in vitro growth effects of exposing EOC cell lines to human recombinant IGFBP7 protein and conditioned media. Results: All HGSCs exhibited IGFBP7 expression levels that were significantly (p = 0.001) lower than the mean of the expression value of NOSE samples and that of a whole ovary sample. IGFBP7 gene and protein expression were lower in tumourigenic EOC cell lines relative to a non-tumourigenic EOC cell line. None of the EOC cell lines harboured a somatic mutation in IGFBP7, although loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the IGFBP7 locus and epigenetic methylation silencing of the IGFBP7 promoter was observed in two of the cell lines exhibiting loss of gene/protein expression. In vitro functional assays revealed an alteration of the EOC cell migration capacity. Protein expression analysis of HGSC samples revealed that the large majority of tumour cores (72.6%) showed low or absence of IGFBP7 staining and revealed a significant correlation between IGFBP7 protein expression and a prolonged overall survival (p = 0.044). Conclusion: The low levels of IGFPB7 in HGSC relative to normal tissues, and association with survival are consistent with a purported role in tumour suppressor pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considerable research has focused on whether or not immigrants' health declines to match that of comparable native-born people. This immigrant health convergence is hypothesized to be driven by immigrants' acculturation to American society and habits. This is particularly problematic for a country such as the United States which combines a high number of immigrants, bad health habits among the native born, and an expensive health care system. Previous research in this literature uses the duration of an immigrant's current stay in the United States as the measure of exposure to acculturation. Using the duration of the immigrant's current stay in the United States implicitly assumes one long-term move. However, the largest immigrant group in the United States (Mexicans) is characterized by a pattern of repeated migration trips. This paper separates out the effects of migration duration and lifetime cumulative experience for Mexican immigrants to the United States. The empirical analysis is carried out using data from the Mexican Migration Project. The Mexican Migration Project has been collecting data on Mexican immigrants to the United States since the mid- 1980s. Empirical results find that while overall time spent in the United States supports the acculturation hypothesis, single-trip migration duration has the opposite effect. The positive impact of single-trip duration on health is likely caused by recovery time needed to compensate for difficult crossings into the United States which have an even harsher effect on health if the individual undertakes short, repeated migrations. We also find that having Latino friends improves health while Anglo friends cause faster convergence and worse long-term health impacts. Both support the acculturation hypothesis. Results suggest that researchers need to focus on the cumulative impact of time spent in the United States rather than relying on just the duration of the latest trip. This suggests a much larger negative effect of migration on health than studies relying solely on migration duration. In the case of repeated migration patterns, this imposes costs on both the health care systems of the destination (USA) and source (Mexico) countries. Repeated immigration to the United States can result in acculturation which causes bad health habits to be brought back to Mexico, along with the accompanying costs these incur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) has been suggested to act as a tumour suppressor gene in various human cancers, yet its role in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) has not yet been investigated. We previously observed that IGFBP7 was one of several genes found significantly upregulated in an EOC cell line model rendered non-tumourigenic as consequence of genetic manipulation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of IGFBP7 in high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSC), the most common type of EOC. Methods: We analysed IGFBP7 gene expression in 11 normal ovarian surface epithelial cells (NOSE), 79 high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSC), and seven EOC cell lines using a custom gene expression array platform. IGFBP7 mRNA expression profiles were also extracted from publicly available databases. Protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry of 175 HGSC and 10 normal fallopian tube samples using tissue microarray and related to disease outcome. We used EOC cells to investigate possible mechanisms of gene inactivation and describe various in vitro growth effects of exposing EOC cell lines to human recombinant IGFBP7 protein and conditioned media. Results: All HGSCs exhibited IGFBP7 expression levels that were significantly (p = 0.001) lower than the mean of the expression value of NOSE samples and that of a whole ovary sample. IGFBP7 gene and protein expression were lower in tumourigenic EOC cell lines relative to a non-tumourigenic EOC cell line. None of the EOC cell lines harboured a somatic mutation in IGFBP7, although loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the IGFBP7 locus and epigenetic methylation silencing of the IGFBP7 promoter was observed in two of the cell lines exhibiting loss of gene/protein expression. In vitro functional assays revealed an alteration of the EOC cell migration capacity. Protein expression analysis of HGSC samples revealed that the large majority of tumour cores (72.6%) showed low or absence of IGFBP7 staining and revealed a significant correlation between IGFBP7 protein expression and a prolonged overall survival (p = 0.044). Conclusion: The low levels of IGFPB7 in HGSC relative to normal tissues, and association with survival are consistent with a purported role in tumour suppressor pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconstitution of CMV-specific immunity after transplant remains a primary clinical objective to prevent CMV disease, and adoptive immunotherapy of CMV-specific T cells can be an effective therapeutic approach. Because of viral persistence, most CMVspecific CD8+ T cells become terminally differentiated effector phenotype CD8+ T cells (TEFF). A minor subset retains a memorylike phenotype (memory phenotype CD8+ T cells [TM]), but it is unknown whether these cells retain memory function or persist over time. Interestingly, recent studies suggest that CMV-specific CD8+ T cells with different phenotypes have different abilities to reconstitute sustained immunity after transfer. The immunology of human CMV infections is reflected in the murine CMV (MCMV) model. We found that human CMV- and MCMV-specific T cells displayed shared genetic programs, validating the MCMV model for studies of CMV-specific T cells in vivo. The MCMV-specific TM population was stable over time and retained a proliferative capacity that was vastly superior to TEFF. Strikingly, after transfer, TM established sustained and diverse T cell populations even after multiple challenges. Although both TEFF and TM could protect Rag-/- mice, only TM persisted after transfer into immune replete, latently infected recipients and responded if recipient immunity was lost. Interestingly, transferred Tm did not expand until recipient immunity was lost, supporting that competition limits the Ag stimulation of TM. Ultimately, these data show that CMV-specific TM retain memory function during MCMV infection and can re-establish CMV immunity when necessary. Thus, TM may be a critical component for consistent, long-term adoptive immunotherapy success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) has been suggested to act as a tumour suppressor gene in various human cancers, yet its role in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) has not yet been investigated. We previously observed that IGFBP7 was one of several genes found significantly upregulated in an EOC cell line model rendered non-tumourigenic as consequence of genetic manipulation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of IGFBP7 in high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSC), the most common type of EOC. Methods: We analysed IGFBP7 gene expression in 11 normal ovarian surface epithelial cells (NOSE), 79 high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSC), and seven EOC cell lines using a custom gene expression array platform. IGFBP7 mRNA expression profiles were also extracted from publicly available databases. Protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry of 175 HGSC and 10 normal fallopian tube samples using tissue microarray and related to disease outcome. We used EOC cells to investigate possible mechanisms of gene inactivation and describe various in vitro growth effects of exposing EOC cell lines to human recombinant IGFBP7 protein and conditioned media. Results: All HGSCs exhibited IGFBP7 expression levels that were significantly (p = 0.001) lower than the mean of the expression value of NOSE samples and that of a whole ovary sample. IGFBP7 gene and protein expression were lower in tumourigenic EOC cell lines relative to a non-tumourigenic EOC cell line. None of the EOC cell lines harboured a somatic mutation in IGFBP7, although loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the IGFBP7 locus and epigenetic methylation silencing of the IGFBP7 promoter was observed in two of the cell lines exhibiting loss of gene/protein expression. In vitro functional assays revealed an alteration of the EOC cell migration capacity. Protein expression analysis of HGSC samples revealed that the large majority of tumour cores (72.6%) showed low or absence of IGFBP7 staining and revealed a significant correlation between IGFBP7 protein expression and a prolonged overall survival (p = 0.044). Conclusion: The low levels of IGFPB7 in HGSC relative to normal tissues, and association with survival are consistent with a purported role in tumour suppressor pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The prognostic significance of oestrogen and progesterone receptors ( ER/ PR) in endometrial stromal sarcoma ( ESS) has conflicting reports in the literature, and the routine use of adjuvant progestogen is of uncertain efficacy. Aims To examine the prognostic significance of ER/ PR positivity and of primary adjuvant progestogen use with outcome in ESS. Materials and Methods All women with a diagnosis of ESS in our tertiary institution and associated private practices over the last 23 years were included. Primary variables were ER/ PR positivity and adjuvant progestogen use. Other variables included high-grade disease and extrauterine disease. The primary outcome was survival, and the secondary outcome was recurrence-free survival (both overall and at 5 years). Survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate analyses were performed with t-test for means and chi-squared test for proportions, and multivariate analysis was used to control for age. Results 35 women were included. ER/ PR positivity was associated with a survival benefit ( OR death 0.22, P = 0.02), but primary adjuvant progestogen was not. High-grade disease ( OR 13, P = 0.02) and extrauterine disease ( OR 8.7, P = 0.04) were associated with decreased survival. No variable significantly affected recurrence-free survival. Eight of ten cases of recurrence treated with progestogen have survived more than 3 years. Conclusions ER/ PR positivity appears to be useful for prognosis, but routine administration of primary adjuvant progestogen is not supported. There may be a role for progestogen in ER/ PR positive tumours with recurrence or incomplete surgical clearance, but further research is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citizen science programs that record wildlife observations on and along roads can help reduce the underreporting of wildlife-vehicle collisions and identify and prioritize road sections where mitigation measures may be required. It is important to evaluate potential biases in opportunistic citizen science data. We investigated whether the opportunistic observations of live animals by volunteers along a 46-km section of Highway 3 in the Crowsnest Pass area (“Road Watch in the Pass” data collection program) in Alberta, Canada, had a similar spatial pattern as systematically collected data by the researchers along the same road section. A permutation modeling process that compared the number of observations between the two datasets for each 1-km segment, a randomization method that tested for and compared hotspot observation locations, and a bivariate Ripley's L 1.2-function analysis along a continuum of spatial scales all showed spatial agreement between the two datasets. There was spatial agreement at a scale between 1 and 4 km, and three clear hotspots of wildlife observation activity were identified for both processes. This suggests that the data collected by the volunteers are reliable and robust enough to be used to help identify road sections that may require mitigation measures. In addition, volunteers proved to be able to collect a sufficient number of observations relatively quickly. Within one year, 24 volunteers collected 640 wildlife observations, and we found that using only 150 or more of these observations always resulted in spatial similarity with the systematic observations collected by the researchers. We conclude with recommendations for other citizen science data collection programs and for further research. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background For select women with early endometrial cancer, particularly nulliparous women, nonsurgical options may be considered. There is increasing experience using progestogens, but little is known about the long-term outcomes and safety of such treatment. Aims To present the cancer and pregnancy outcomes of women with greater than five years follow-up after progestogen treatment for early endometrial cancer. Methods Ten women who underwent greater than six months of continuous progestogen therapy for early endometrial cancer were included in the study. All were managed by a gynaecological oncologist at a major tertiary centre in Melbourne, Australia. The histology of each subsequent curette was recorded, as was the timing and histology of hysterectomy (if relevant), and the results of any subsequent pregnancies. Results All ten women showed histological regression of cancer with no cases of recurrence on follow-up curette. Four of ten women have undergone hysterectomy with one case of occult disease persistence in a woman noncompliant with therapy. The mean follow-up time was 89 months (range 62-142 months), there were no deaths and no woman was lost to follow-up. All four women attempting pregnancy were successful. There were eight pregnancies and five live births. Conclusions This form of treatment appears to be successful and safe in the long term with good pregnancy outcomes. However, it is not standard and should be supervised in a specialised gynaecological oncology unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts first to explain Bentham's distinction between a fiction and the name of a fictitious entity, and to relate that distinction to his rationale for the critique of legal fictions. A second goal of the paper is to investigate the tensions involved in Bentham's ontology and epistemology, and more specifically the tension between the objectivist and subjectivist Bentham. It is argued that Bentham's objections to legal fictions were traceable to their use in deceptive or fallacious argument, whilst his logic provided a means of rehabilitating the use of the names of those fictitious entities which could be explicated through his technique of paraphrasis (that is, explained in terms of real entities), in relation to which both meaning and truth might be exchanged. This realist perspective differs markedly from that of Fuller, who, following Vaihinger, rejects the attempt to replace fiction with truth. There are significant areas of agreement between Bentham and Fuller, on the figurative nature of much language, and even, in certain contexts, on the utility of the self-conscious deployment of fictions. However, in the context of law and morality, it appears that his development of a route to truth through paraphrasis makes Bentham the enemy of fictions, since, in this field at least, truth and utility stand or fall together. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The migration of Mexican immigrants to the U.S. is one of the largest bilateral migration flows in the world and remittances from these immigrants represent a crucial source of income for Mexican households. As the United States tightens controls on illegal migration, this may impact both migration durations and remittances. Tighter borders increase crossing costs, often because migrants need to pay smugglers (coyotes). Using data from the Mexican Migration Project, we find that higher crossing costs increase the probability of remitting, the remittance rate and the duration of stay as undocumented workers pay off the crossing debt. If immigrants did not incur these crossing debts then more of their earnings could be spent in the United States or by their households in Mexico on productive activities and durations in the U.S. might be lessened at the margin. This suggests some potential gain to both the U.S. and Mexican economies through expanding guest worker programs and consequently reducing the hiring of coyotes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains the most lethal of all the gynaecological malignancies with drug resistance and recurrence remaining the major therapeutic barrier in the management of the disease. Although several studies have been undertaken to understand the mechanisms responsible for chemoresistance and subsequent recurrence in EOC, the exact mechanisms associated with chemoresistance/recurrence continue to remain elusive. Recent studies have shown that the parallel characteristics commonly seen between embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) are also shared by a relatively rare population of cells within tumors that display stem cell-like features. These cells, termed 'cancer initiating cells' or 'cancer stem cells (CSCs)' have been shown not only to display increased self renewal and pluripotent abilities as seen in ESCs and iPSCs, but are also highly tumorigenic in in vivo mouse models. Additionally, these CSCs have been implicated in tumor recurrence and chemoresistance, and when isolated have consistently shown to express the master pluripotency and embryonic stem cell regulating gene Oct4. This article reviews the involvement of Oct4 in cancer progression and chemoresistance, with emphasis on ovarian cancer. Overall, we highlight why ovarian cancer patients, who initially respond to conventional chemotherapy subsequently relapse with recurrent chemoresistant disease that is essentially incurable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cell line models have proven to be effective tools to investigate a variety of ovarian cancer features. Due to the limited number of cell lines, particularly of the serous subtype, the heterogeneity of the disease, and the lack of cell lines that model disease progression, there is a need to further develop cell line resources available for research. This study describes nine cell lines derived from three ovarian cancer cases that were established at initial diagnosis and at subsequent relapse after chemotherapy. Methods: The cell lines from three women diagnosed with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (1369, 2295 and 3133) were derived from solid tumor (TOV) and ascites (OV), at specific time points at diagnosis and relapse (R). Primary treatment was a combination of paclitaxel/carboplatin (1369, 3133), or cisplatin/topotecan (2295). Second line treatment included doxorubicin, gemcitabine and topotecan. In addition to molecular characterization (p53, HER2), the cell lines were characterized based on cell growth characteristics including spheroid growth, migration potential, and anchorage independence. The in vivo tumorigenicity potential of the cell lines was measured. Response to paclitaxel and carboplatin was assessed using a clonogenic assay. Results: All cell lines had either a nonsense or missense TP53 mutations. The ability to form compact spheroids or aggregates was observed in six of nine cell lines. Limited ability for migration and anchorage independence was observed. The OV3133(R) cell line, formed tumors at subcutaneous sites in SCID mice. Based on IC50 values and dose response curves, there was clear evidence of acquired resistance to carboplatin for TOV2295(R) and OV2295 (R2) cell lines. Conclusion: The study identified nine new high-grade serous ovarian cancer cell lines, derived before and after chemotherapy that provides a unique resource for investigating the evolution of this common histopathological subtype of ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the presence of boron trihalides, aryl aldehydes couple readily with allylmetals to afford haloallylated products. The reactions tolerate a variety of functional groups. Simple aqueous workup of haloallylation reactions, followed by treatment with 1,8- diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene, provides a straightforward route to synthetically useful (E)-1,3-dienes. The mild reaction conditions, readily available starting materials, and high stereoselectivity make this two-step (E)-1,3-diene synthesis quite attractive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interactions with coyotes are a growing management concern in urban North America. We conducted a content analysis of 453 articles addressing coyote events reported in the Canadian print media between 1995 and 2010. There were 119 articles about human–coyote interactions: 32 involved a coyote biting (26) or attempting to bite (6) a person. The first record of a coyote-caused human mortality in Canada occurred in 2009. Ninety-one incidents involved dogs, including 38 cases of coyote-caused dog mortality, of which 34 were small dogs. Eighteen small dogs were attacked in yards and eight attacks were preempted if a person intervened. Dogs were off leash in 92.3% of encounters; larger dogs were most frequently attacked while chasing coyotes. There were 32 reports of attacks on cats, and all were fatal. Avoiding food conditioning of coyotes, educating the public, and managing human behavior are discussed as means to facilitate coexistence with urban coyotes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background The utilisation of healthcare resources by prevalent haemodialysis patients has been robustly evaluated with regard to the provision of outpatient haemodialysis; however, the impact of hospitalisation among such patients is poorly defined. Minimal information is available in the UK to estimate the health and economic burden associated with the inpatient management of prevalent haemodialysis patients. The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of hospitalisation among a cohort of haemodialysis patients, before and following their initiation of haemodialysis. In addition the study sought to assess the impact of their admissions on bed occupancy in a large tertiary referral hospital in a single region in the UK. Methods All admission episodes were reviewed and those receiving dialysis with the Belfast City Hospital Programme were identified over a 5 year period from January 2001 to December 2005. This tertiary referral centre provides dialysis services for a population of approximately 700 000 and additional specialist renal services for the remainder of Northern Ireland. The frequency and duration of hospitalisation, and contribution to bed day occupancy of haemodialysis patients, was determined and compared to other common conditions which are known to be associated with high bed occupancy. In addition, the pattern and timing of admissions in dialysis patients in relation to their dialysis initiation date was assessed. Results Over the 5 year study period, 798 haemodialysis patients were admitted a total of 2882 times. These accounted for 2.5% of all admissions episodes; the median number of admissions for these patients was 3 (2 -- 5) which compared with 1 (1 -- 2) for non-dialysis patients. The majority of first hospitalisations (54%) were within 1QQ days before or after commencement of maintenance dialysis therapy. In all clinical specialties the median length of stay for haemodialysis patients was significantly longer than for patients not on haemodialysis (p=Q.QQ4). In multivariate analysis with adjustment for age, gender, and other clinically relevant diagnostic codes, maintenance haemodialysis patients stayed on average 3.75 times longer than other patient groups (ratio of geometric means 3.75, IQR 3.46 -- 4.06). Conclusions Maintenance haemodialysis therapy is an important risk factor for prolonged hospitalisation regardless of the primary reason for admission. Such patients require admission more frequently than the general hospital population, particularly within 100 days before and after initiation of their first dialysis treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. CKD as defined by KDIGO/KDOQI has been shown to affect ~ 8.5% of the UK population. The prevalence of CKD in the UK is similar to that in the USA, yet incident dialysis rates are dramatically different. This retrospective cohort study investigates the association between reduced kidney function and mortality in a large UK population.Methods. All serum creatinine results covering Northern Ireland’s 1.7 million population were collected between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2002. Estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) were calculated for all serum creatinine measurements using four-variable MDRD equation (IDMS aligned). Patients were followed up for both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality data until the end of December 2006. Patients on renal replacement therapy were excluded. Subgroup analysis in the 75 345 subjects enrolled within a parallel primary care study permitted additional survival analysis with adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors.Results. A total of 1 967 827 serum creatinine results from 533 798 patients were collected. During the period of follow-up, 59 980 deaths occurred. In multivariate survival analysis, using eGFR as a time-varying covariate, a graded association between CKD (defined by eGFR) and all-cause mortality was identified. Compared with participants with an eGFR of > 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, the adjusted hazard ratios (and 95% confidence intervals) for participants with an eGFR of 45–59 mL/min/1.73 m2 was 1.02 (0.99–1.04), an eGFR of 30–44 mL/min/1.73 m2 was 1.44 (1.40–1.47), an eGFR of 15–29 mL/min/1.73 m2 was 2.12 (2.05–2.20) and an eGFR of < 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 was 3.46 (3.24–3.70). Significantly, increased all-cause mortality was associated with an eGFR < 45 mL/min/1.73 m2 following adjustment for age and gender. The association between cardiovascular mortality and reduced renal function continued to be significant for participants with an eGFR of 45–65 mL/min/1.73 m2. Subgroup analysis in 75 345 individuals with more detailed clinical information available confirmed this association following adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors in addition to age and gender.Conclusions. This study demonstrates a graded association between reduced renal function as represented by eGFR and mortality in a UK population. The all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk increases sharply when estimated GFR falls < 45 mL/min/1.73 m2. The association between an eGFR measured between 45 and 65 mL/min/1.73 m2 and cardiovascular mortality persists in this cohort and highlights the ongoing uncertainty in accurately categorizing renal dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transabdominal cervical cerclage has been performed via laparotomy for over four decades. A laparoscopic approach has recently been developed and offers the potential for lower morbidity. Aims: The experience of one operator with transabdominal cervical cerclage via laparotomy is reviewed to establish a baseline with which to compare results from the laparoscopic approach. Methods: Transabdominal cervical cerclage was performed with Mersilene tape. The pregnancy outcome prior to transabdominal cervical cerclage was compared with the outcomes after its insertion. Results: Prior to transabdominal cervical cerclage, there were 58 pregnancies of which 18 ended with a first trimester pregnancy loss. Twenty-eight of the 36 pregnancies delivering between 13- and 26-week gestation resulted in a pregnancy loss. Three of the four children delivered after 26-week gestation survived. Following transabdominal cervical cerclage, there were no first trimester pregnancy losses. Of the 23 pregnancies after transabdominal cerclage, one was terminated at 18-week gestation for spina bifida and the remaining 22 babies were delivered at a mean gestation of 36.2 weeks. Maternal morbidity was limited to a single wound infection. Respiratory distress was the only significant neonatal morbidity with all babies recovering completely. Conclusions: Transabdominal cervical cerclage via laparotomy is a safe and successful method of treating women who need a cervical cerclage but are unable to have a vaginal suture. A baseline has been established with which to compare the results from laparoscopic transabdominal cervical cerclage in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth of rural residential development in the southern foothills of Alberta is leading to a more heterogeneous rural population and environment. Human encroachment into cougar habitat may lead to increased instances of cougar-human interactions. Surveys (n = 1,508) were sent to foothills residents in the urban-rural fringe of Calgary, Alberta to determine risk perceptions and attitudes toward cougars. Risk perceptions were analyzed for seven discrete variables: gender, age, education, livestock ownership, community of residence, years at residence, and level of experience with cougars. Results showed overall positive attitudes toward the presence of cougars in the foothills. Females, communities closest to the City of Calgary, livestock owners, and individuals with high levels of experience with cougars felt most at risk from cougars. Residents indicated a low level of knowledge concerning cougars and wished to be more directly involved in wildlife decision-making. Recommended strategies to lessen the perceived risk toward cougars include increasing the awareness of cougars through targeted education and public involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors are involved in regional land use planning and water management in the Calgary region of Southwestern Alberta in Western Canada. Calgary exists in a semi-arid temperate region with significant water availability constraints. Over the last three years we have been involved in a growth management- focused regional land use policy and planning process for the Calgary region. Our involvement has been related to regional hydrologic cycle management and the link between regional water use and land use policy. We have an ongoing research relationship with the 'Calgary Regional Partnership' a voluntary municipal government organization. The paper addresses both the social-spatial dimensions of ecological infrastructure and a theoretical interdisciplinary framework for resilience assessment and adaptive ecological governance. Our theoretical framework is informed by the recent literature in integrative theory, social learning theory, resilience theory, ecohydrology theory, cascade theory, social-ecological systems theory, complexity theory, network theory, political ecology theory, landscape ecology theory, decision-making theory, spatial planning theory and scale theory. This work has been selected and synthesized in the context of our practice experience and research applications interests in the Calgary region. The methodological challenges facing the implementation of sustainable development goals and objectives include the need to effectively deal with complex human-ecological process interconnections involving uncontrolled variables operating across multiple spatial and temporal scales. This relationship between landscape pattern and socio-ecological process is important in both the natural and social sciences (Wu, Jones, Li and Louks, 2006). The kind of social-ecological research necessary to support urban regional land and water use planning and policy must be capable of spatially linking long term ecosystem behaviour with human activity systems. In this 'real world' context of applied ecology, practitioners and theorists both need to understand the behaviour of large scale socio-ecological systems. We use the term 'ecological infrastructure' to represent the characteristic spatial landscape patterns and processes that structurally and functionally enable the delivery of ecological goods and services (such as water) in a social-ecological system context. In this sense, ecological infrastructure is analogous to municipal (local government) engineered infrastructure services which spatially distribute energy, water and wastewater, material goods and communications within the built human environment. By analogy, ecological systems distribute a variety of biotic and abiotic processes including the flow of water, energy, nutrients and biotic organisms though structural, functional and spatial networks in the regional landscape. While the fiscal concept of 'infrastructure debt' is well understood by municipal governments, there is a greater risk of 'ecological infrastructure debt' unless the importance of ecological goods and services is explicitly incorporated into long term regional land use planning and development policies and practices. Unfortunately, unlike municipal infrastructure debt, money is not a solution to or substitute for ecological debt. Once ecological function is lost, it cannot be replaced by money and money cannot substitute for ecological processes. We use the term 'ecological governance' to represent the formal and informal institutional, private and community partnerships involved in the management of regional ecological infrastructure and the land use planning and policy frameworks which affect the regional delivery of ecological goods and services such as water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is increasingly prevalent but the inpatient costs associated with this condition are poorly defined due to limitations with data extraction and failure to differentiate between hospitalisation for renal and non-renal disease reasons. The impact of admissions primarily for the management of ESRD on hospital bed utilisation was assessed over a 5-year period in a large teaching hospital. Methods: All admission episodes were reviewed and the ESRD group was identified by a primary International Classification of Diseases code for ESRD or a non-specific primary renal failure code with a secondary code for ESRD. The frequency and duration of hospitalisation and contribution to bed day occupancy of this group with ESRD was determined. Results: There were 70,808 patients responsible for a total of 116,915 admissions and 919,212 bed days over the study period. Of these, 988 (1.4%) patients were admitted for the management of ESRD, accounting for 2,387 (2.0%) of admissions and utilisation of 23,011 (2.5%) bed days. After adjustment for age and gender, those admitted for ESRD management were significantly more likely to have a prolonged admission exceeding 30 days (odds ratio 1.46, 95% confidence interval 1.23–1.72, p < 0.001). When the admission was an emergency rather than an elective event, the patient was 4.6 times more likely to be hospitalised for over 30 days. Conclusions: Persons admitted for ESRD management are hospitalised more frequently and for longer than the overall inpatient population, occupying a substantial number of bed days. Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth of international migration and remittances has led to a wealth of research examining these trends. One of these lines of research attempts to determine the relationship between migration, remittances and the adoption of "Green Revolution" high yield variety (HYV) seeds. This literature proposes that migration and remittances may increase HYV use by reducing household risk and credit constraints. Given the large scale of both migration and remittances, getting an accurate measurement of these impacts is crucial to designing and implementing policies in rural areas. This paper examines the relationship between migration, remittances and agricultural technology. The credit and risk hypotheses are tested using data from the Mexican Migration Project. The main focus of the paper is examining the issue of endogeneity with respect to migration and remittances. When the probit approach is tested, evidence of endogeneity bias with respect to migration and remittances is found. The risk and credit hypotheses are then tested with two-stage and three-stage analyses, in order to address the problem of endogeneity. The results are found to be significantly different when methodologies are employed to deal with endogeneity; suggesting this is an issue that needs to be addressed. Overall, the results find some evidence to support both the credit and risk hypotheses; although the results for the risk hypothesis are more mixed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Above-ground pipelines for in situ oil sands development are potentially significant vectors of habitat fragmentation for large mammals. We evaluated the use of elevated pipeline clearances (distance between the ground and the bottom of the pipeline) and pipeline crossing structures, the two primary methods of mitigating the barrier effect of above-ground pipelines on large mammals, with a particular emphasis on moose (Alces alces), in northern Alberta, Canada. Winter snow tracking and remote cameras were employed for one year to monitor large mammal interactions with a 5.5km stretch of pipeline mitigated with five pipeline crossing structures and a 1.6km control area of unmitigated pipeline. A minimum threshold pipeline clearance of 140cm was critical in allowing adult moose to cross underneath the pipeline. Pipeline crossing structures facilitated movement across the pipeline and were used more than sections of elevated pipelines by all species. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) is used in numerous wildlife toxicity studies, however no published reports could be located that mention the measurement of reproductive behavior in this species. Changes in reproductive behavior can be potentially more sensitive to environmental contaminant exposures and less resilient than more traditional physiological responses. Male bobwhite copulatory behaviors were measured similarly to those that are well established for use in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). Time to initiate mating, time to achieve a successful copulation, the number of mating attempts, and the number of successful copulations were recorded daily for four consecutive days over a period of 3 min for each male/female pair of birds per day. When females were introduced to male cages, males were more occupied with shows of aggression towards neighboring males than attempts to mate with the female sharing their space. Only one male successfully mated with a female over the entire 4 days of the test. Future attempts at assessing reproductive behavior in this species may be more successful if birds are separated from the rest of the group when paired. The Japanese quail seems to be a more appropriate species for overall reproductive tests due to: willingness of males to copulate in the presence of other males, consistent egg laying ability, and the short time required for embryonic development and reproductive maturity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: This study investigates how shared decision-making (SDM) is defined by African-American patients with diabetes, and compares patients’ conceptualization of SDM with the Charles model. Methods: We utilized race-concordant interviewers/moderators to conduct in-depth interviews and focus groups among a purposeful sample of African-American patients with diabetes. Each interview/focus group was audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and imported into Atlas.ti software. Coding was done using an iterative process and each transcription was independently coded by two members of the research team. Results: Although the conceptual domains were similar, patient definitions of what it means to “share” in the decision-making process differed significantly from the Charles model of SDM. Patients stressed the value of being able to “tell their story and be heard” by physicians, emphasized the importance of information sharing rather than decision-making sharing, and included an acceptable role for non-adherence as a mechanism to express control and act on treatment preferences. Conclusion: Current instruments may not accurately measure decision-making preferences of African-American patients with diabetes. Practice Implications: Future research should develop instruments to effectively measure decision-making preferences within this population. Emphasizing information-sharing that validates patients’ experiences may be particularly meaningful to African-Americans with diabetes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study was conduced to assess the effects of a one time embryonic exposure to p,p′-DDE (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene; DDE) on the reproductive development and function in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). Embryos were exposed at day one of incubation to either 20 or 40 μg DDE or a sesame oil vehicle control (injection volume=20 μl). Onset of puberty, gonadal histopathology, sperm motility, cloacal gland size, and male copulatory behavior were assessed in adults. DDE accelerated onset of puberty in females and reduced male reproductive behaviors. Gonadal morphology and sperm motility appeared to be unaffected. Results from this study provide evidence that the neuroendocrine system may be more sensitive and less resilient to embryonic exposure to contaminants than traditional measures of reproductive success following contaminant exposure in adults. This study further supports the inclusion of behavioral assessments in toxicity tests. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: To examine techniques used by community health center (HC) providers to care for patients with limited health literacy (LHL). Methods: Survey mailed to 803 HC providers in 10 Midwestern states. Response rate was 47.5%. Associations between variables were examined using generalized estimating equations (GEE) models to account for clustering of respondents within HCs. Results: The average provider estimates of LHL prevalence among English- and Spanish-speaking patients were 41±24% (mean±S.D.) and 48±30%, respectively. Those with training in health literacy were more likely to have patients repeat instructions back to check understanding (OR=2.05 and p =0.04) and were more likely to give out health education materials designed for patients with LHL (OR=2.80 and p =0.0002). Providers differed by type in encouraging patients to bring friends or family members to appointments (p =0.02). Conclusion: Providers estimate LHL to be highly prevalent in their HCs, and use various techniques to assist patients. Practice implications: Training in health literacy is associated with increased usage of evidence-based techniques to assist patients with LHL. Providers at all levels would likely benefit from LHL training. Most providers believe providing health education materials designed specifically for patients with LHL would be very helpful. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Military activities associated with training have resulted in soil residues of munition compounds and their breakdown products. Often, these areas are valuable habitats used by birds. To evaluate the possibility of adverse effects in birds, the effects from oral exposures of 2,6-dinitrotoluene (2,6-DNT) and 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) were tested using a controlled dosing regime in northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). Nine groups of birds of mixed sex received either corn oil or 50, 100, 190, or 350 mg 2,6-DNT/kg body weight/d or 20, 80, 125, or 180 mg RDX/kg body weight/d mixed in corn oil via gavage for 14 d. Etiology of disease was markedly different between compounds. Increased RDX exposure caused an inverse relationship to time of death, symptoms including clonic followed by tonic convulsions, and death shortly thereafter. Brain concentrations of RDX postmortem, however, were relatively consistent (mean ± standard error, 20.5 ± 2.9 mg/kg tissue). Observations of 2,6-DNT effects included gastrointestinal distress, dehydration, and a reduction in body mass and feed consumption. Together, these data suggest that RDX is more toxic from short, repeated exposures than 2,6-DNT, resulting in central nervous system—related effects, whereas 2,6-DNT causes gastrointestinal disturbances at higher exposures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study was conducted to assess the effects of a one time embryonic exposure to trenbolone acetate on reproductive development and function in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). Embryos were exposed to either 0.05, 0.5, 5, or 50μg trenbolone or a sesame oil vehicle control at embryonic day 4. Onset of puberty, gonadal histopathology, sperm motility, cloacal gland size, and male copulatory behavior were assessed in adults. Trenbolone delayed onset of puberty in males, inhibited cloacal gland development, and reduced male reproductive behaviors. Industry laboratories have shown trenbolone acetate to be non-teratogenic in mammalian studies. Our study, however, shows that this one time in ovo exposure delayed onset of puberty in and suppressed adult copulatory behavior in quail males. These results suggest that this one time embryonic exposure to trenbolone may have disrupted development of either the central nervous system or the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. This is the first study to demonstrate a demasculinizing effect on copulatory behavior in Japanese quail from embryonic exposure to a non-aromatizable androgenic chemical. More studies are needed to determine the mechanisms behind the observed effects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this article, the authors highlight the benefits and challenges of offering cross-border, interdisciplinary academic experiences for students and faculty. The enterprise of interdisciplinary environmental management is largely an act of transcending boundaries. In particular, the authors focus on lessons learned from an annual transboundary field course offered jointly to Canadian and U.S. students from Alberta and Montana. They offer reflections based on their experiences with the aim of promoting further collaboration and the development of similar initiatives.

We hypothesized that immunosuppression in birds that is caused by exposure to antiandrogenic chemicals occurs mainly through disruption of the development of the androgen-sensitive avian lymphoid organ, the bursa of Fabricius. Injections of 20.0 or 40.0 μg of p,p'-DDE [ethylene, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)], an antiandrogen, were administered at embryonic day 1. Bursas from only chicks treated with DDE were larger than, had fewer follicles, and exhibited vacuolization within follicles compared with controls; spleens were unaffected. No differences in either immune response test were observed. This study demonstrates that the bursa may play a role in androgen-active endocrine disrupting chemical-induced immunosuppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The positive impact of education on earnings, wages, and economic growth is well documented; however, the issue of education-occupation matching in developing countries has been largely ignored. Since workers’ levels of schooling and their occupations’ required level of education both affect wages, policymakers may find it useful to note if such mismatches exist, if they impact wages, and if they can be avoided. Empirical results from Mexico suggest that in order to obtain the maximum economic benefits from increases in educational attainment levels, a developing country needs to take steps to assure increases in occupational levels also occur. Additional evidence of the positive link between educational attainment and wages is also provided. Due to the multi-period nature of the data; a new method of measuring required education is developed which opens up the education-occupation matching literature to data sets which are not cross sectional in nature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The author has surveyed a quarter of the accredited undergraduate computer science programs in the United States. More than half of these programs offer a "social and ethical implications of computing" course taught by a computer science faculty member, and there appears to be a trend toward teaching ethics classes within computer science departments. Although the decision to create an "in house" computer ethics course may sometimes be a pragmatic response to pressure from the accreditation agency, this paper argues that teaching ethics within a computer science department can provide students and faculty members with numerous benefits. The paper lists topics that can be covered in a computer ethics course and offers some practical suggestions for making the course successful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]