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This interpretive qualitative study explores the lived experience of intimate partner violence (IPV) among 12 older Mexican–American women aged 55–85 with past experiences of IPV to understand how it shaped their lives. Sociocultural factors that influenced the IPV experience and sustained health amidst adversity were explored. Denzin's interpretive interactionism along with Antonovsky's salutogenic theory guided this study. These women survived IPV and discovered ways to foster health and thrive in later years. They all vowed to break the cycle of violence for future generations. Their wisdom offers hope and has implications for healthcare professionals, future research, and advocacy efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess HIV risk, perceptions of risk, and potential adherence to preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for the prevention of HIV infection among people who inject drugs (PWID), who self-report HIV negative status and access mobile outreach intravenous drug use (IVDU) services. Methods/Sample: Participants (N = 93) were non-Hispanic White (59.1%) and Hispanic (36.6%), between the ages of 18 and 63 years, primarily male (58.1%), who reported a length of IVDU between 1 and >20 years and accessed mobile outreach IVDU services in a metropolitan area of the Southwestern United States; all self-reported HIV-negative status. Self-report questionnaires completed via iPad included HIV risk behavior, perceived risk of HIV, and beliefs about medicines. Results: PWID perceived themselves at a low risk for HIV with minimal concerns about contracting HIV. High levels of comorbidities (schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, hepatitis, diabetes, and hypertension), substance use, and limited HIV protective behavior and social support existed; women reported significantly more risk behaviors and comorbidities. Positive attitudes toward and interest in use of medication for HIV prevention were present, however, with concurrent concerns regarding long-term medication use and the potential to forget medications Conclusions: PrEP adherence for PWID presents challenges for clinicians. Addressing perceptions of PrEP, perceived and actual risk for contracting HIV, potential barriers to PrEP adherence, social support, and treatment of comorbidities in primary care and IVDU outreach services potentially enhances PrEP maintenance among PWID, notably women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural America is often viewed as bereft of social problems facing urban America. Rural families, however, experience stressors due to low employment rates, fewer educational opportunities, a relatively increased incidence of poverty and limited access to mental health care. These families are at increased risk for substance use, violence and associated psychological distress that occurs when failing to cope with stress. Rural children, experiencing these stressors and affected by barriers of culture, poverty and remote access to mental health care, are at higher risk for these negative health outcomes. The need for culturally appropriate intervention tailored to the target population, rural Mexican-American adolescent women, is consistently supported by evidence. A one-size-fits-all approach most likely will not effectively impact behavior and health outcomes. The fact that few studies evaluated effects of mental health interventions on multiple outcomes including substance use, violence, unintended pregnancy and STI is problematic given previously noted associations. Evidence is needed to evaluate associations between mental health interventions and these outcomes. This manuscript presents results of preliminary studies, conducted using a multi-method research approach for development, pre-testing and feasibility testing of interventions for rural primary care settings. This methodology is appropriate when dealing with the complexity of social phenomena. It provides a look at an issue from all angles and thereby the cultural context and perspective informing intervention development. These multi-component interventions are critical for mental health promotion among Mexican-American adolescent women living in rural America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At any time, a medical crisis could result in an individual too sick to make one's own health care decisions. Advance care planning (ACP) is an important step to ensure that each person receives themedical care desired. Despite its significant importance and proven benefits, the completion rate for advance directive is approximately one-third among the general population in the United States and lower among Chinese Americans. This study explored Chinese Americans' knowledge and attitudes about ACP following completion of a web-based culturally tailored health education program. Ninety-six individuals completed the study between October 1 and December 31, 2020. Prestudy-poststudy outcomes measured included the Advance Directive Knowledge Survey and Advance Directive Attitude Scale administered before and after completion of the education program. Each measure has 9 questions and 16 questions, respectively. Participants' Advance Directive Knowledge Survey scores (pre: mean, 6.04 [SD, 2.28]; post: mean, 8.75 [SD, 0.53]; P < .01) and Advance Directive Attitude Scale scores (pre: mean, 47.31 [SD, 5.69]; post: mean, 53.59 [SD, 4.37]; P < .01) increased significantly following program completion. Findings indicated feasibility for integration of web-based technology and culturally tailored approaches to promote ACP knowledge and attitudes among Chinese Americans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paternal perinatal depression can occur in approximately one out of ten fathers. However, research within this population is limited. A previous systematic review suggested that United States had higher rates of paternal perinatal depression compared to other countries. Therefore, this systematic review identified psychosocial factors for depression during the perinatal period in fathers who live in the United States. A literature search was conducted from multiple databases using keywords and MeSH terms to retrieve articles up to the year 2019. Twenty five articles were included in this review. A social-ecological framework was applied to identify psychosocial factors associated with paternal depression. Individual factors include prior history of depression, having maladaptive cognitive coping styles, fathers who self-identified as African-American or Hispanic, parenting stress, substance use, and history of criminal conviction. Interpersonal factors include lack of social support, quality of relationship with the mother of the baby, coparenting conflict, quality of current and childhood relationships with their own parents, and maternal depression. Community factors include frequent daily experiences with racism, and limited access to transportation and housing. These findings underscore the importance of assessing depression and developing father-inclusive interventions that address the psychological needs of fathers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The top 100 largest area‐averaged, multiday precipitation events in the U.S. historical record for the period 1949–2018 were identified by calculating box‐average precipitation using a network of observing stations with minimal missing data. Hurricane Harvey was the single largest event for an area sized 50,000 km2 and a duration of 4 days. Rainfall associated with Hurricane Florence ranked seventh. Almost all of the top 100 events occurred in the southeastern United States or along the Pacific coast. The predominant meteorological cause (in 59% of the events) was fronts associated with extratropical cyclones, including 15% that were also associated with atmospheric rivers. Tropical cyclones were a significant cause, representing 25% of all events. The spatial locations, the seasonal distribution, and the spectrum of meteorological causes of these events are characteristics of the precipitation climatology that could be used as metrics to evaluate climate models. Plain Language Summary: Hurricanes Harvey and Florence caused devastating flood damages from torrential rainfall lasting a few days over areas of tens of thousands square kilometers. A comparison of rainfall from these events with historical events of a similar size and duration indicate that Harvey is the largest event in the historical record since 1949 in the United States, while Florence ranked seventh. The largest events preferentially occur near the Gulf and Pacific coasts. Most events occur near fronts, while hurricanes and tropical storms are responsible for about ¼ of them. These very large precipitation accumulation events have become more common. Key Points: The top 100 precipitation events in the coterminous United States for a 4‐day duration and 50,000 km2 area for 1949–2018 were identifiedRainfall for Hurricanes Harvey and Florence was ranked first and seventh, respectivelyThe primary meteorological causes for the largest 100 events were extratropical cyclone fronts (59%) and tropical cyclones (25%) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are examining the impact of a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) at a land-grant, Hispanicserving institution in the southwestern United States. Students in our CURE completed one or two extended research projects over a single semester. Our CURE enrolled a high proportion of underrepresented minority students (70.3%), including 60.2% Hispanic students. One year after CURE completion, 31.5% of CURE students had graduated with a STEM degree, and 54.3% were enrolled in a STEM major. Pre- and postcourse surveys of indicators of persistence including scientific selfefficacy, scientific identity, valuing scientific community objectives, and intention to persist showed positive shifts. Impacts on STEM persistence have implications for the role of our CURE in diversifying the STEM pipeline, particularly for students historically underrepresented in STEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African-American adolescents with mental health disorders are more likely to experience higher rates of depressive moods but are less likely to utilize mental health resources. Mental healthcare providers inform caregivers of adolescents with mental health issues about appropriate resources to facilitate appropriate treatment decisions. Although we understand rates of utilization of services, little understanding exists concerning socio-ecological barriers African-American caregivers experience when seeking mental health care for their adolescents. This study explores African-American caregiver perceptions of barriers to mental health care for adolescents with mental health disorders. We sought to understand how these perceptions influence African-American caregiver mental health-seeking behavior. This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews using a grounded theory approach to identify common themes describing experiences of African-American caregivers accessing mental health care for their adolescents. Previous caregiver experiences with mental illness, perceptions of social support, early intervention by educators and extrinsic behavior requiring medication compliance affected caregiver decision-making. Stigma associated with mental illness was a potential barrier to access to mental health care. Financial barriers that prevent access to care and an overall belief that mental health may not be as important as other issues was not identified as affecting health-seeking behaviors for mental health care. Caregivers who struggled with mental health issues themselves recognized these in adolescents and sought mental healthcare services. Caregiver previous experiences with mental healthcare services influenced their decision-making. Healthcare provider ability to engage adolescents, caregivers, and support systems increases the possibilities for positive experiences and continuation of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Family caregivers of advanced colorectal cancer patients may be at increased risk for psychological distress. Yet their key challenges in coping with the patient's illness are not well understood. Soliciting both patient and caregiver perspectives on these challenges would broaden our understanding of the caregiving experience. Thus, the purpose of this research was to identify caregivers' key challenges in coping with their family member's advanced colorectal cancer from the perspective of patients and caregivers.Methods: Individual, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 23 advanced colorectal cancer patients and 23 primary family caregivers. Interview data were analyzed via thematic analysis.Results: In nearly all cases, patient and caregiver reports of the caregiver's key challenge were discrepant. Across patient and caregiver reports, caregivers' key challenges included processing emotions surrounding the patient's initial diagnosis or recurrence and addressing the patient's practical and emotional needs. Other challenges included coping with continual uncertainty regarding the patient's potential functional decline and prognosis and observing the patient suffer from various physical symptoms.Conclusions: Findings suggest that eliciting the perspectives of both patients and caregivers regarding caregivers' challenges provides a more comprehensive understanding of their experience. Results also point to the need to assist caregivers with the emotional and practical aspects of caregiving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present findings from a preliminary analysis of transcript data in the High School Longitudinal Study (HSLS:09), a large-scale longitudinal investigation of academic achievement among U.S. high school students. Using proportional flow diagrams of course-taking patterns, we illustrate differences in calculus completion associated with non-malleable student characteristics such as ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status (SES), as well as malleable student characteristics, such as knowledge of mathematics in ninth grade, the level of mathematics course they take in ninth grade, and self-efficacy. Confirming and extending findings from prior literature, we conclude that “tracks” through high school mathematics curriculum, together with students' ethnicity, SES, and self-efficacy, converge as important factors associated with which of the approximately 19% of high school students complete calculus in high school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: This systematic review explores relationships between advanced practice registered nurses' (APRN) job satisfaction and intent to leave. There exists a dearth of APRN providers compared with the ever- growing need for their services. Furthermore, the organizational costs associated with the APRN turnover are ex- tremely high. It, therefore, behooves practice administrators to understand what factorsmost contribute to APRN job satisfaction and retention. Methods: A search of research databases CINAHL, PubMed, and PsycINFO, using keywords "Advanced Practice Registered Nurse," "job satisfaction," "intent to leave," "anticipated turnover," and "Nurse Practitioner" to yield articles included in this review. Conclusions: The strength of existing evidence for this topic is weak. Studies have found that extrinsic factors, such as administrative support and salary, significantly contribute to job dissatisfaction, whereas intrinsic factors, such as autonomy and finding work meaningful, most significantly contribute to job satisfaction. Additional research is needed to better understand the factors relating to APRN job satisfaction and dissatisfaction, and how those factors infiuence practitioners' intent to leave. Implications for practice: Efforts to improve APRN job satisfaction will have positive implications for provider retention, practices, and patients. Administrators should consider the job satisfaction factors identified herein when implementing practice improvement and retention efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present new sanidine 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages and paleomagnetic data for pre- and post-caldera rhyolites from the second volcanic cycle of the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field, which culminated in the caldera-forming eruption of the Mesa Falls Tuff at ca. 1.3 Ma. These data allow for a detailed reconstruction of the eruptive history of the second volcanic cycle and provide new insights into the petrogenesis of rhyolite domes and flows erupted during this time period. 40 Ar/ 39 Ar age data for the biotite-bearing Bishop Mountain flow demonstrate that it erupted approximately 150 kyr prior to the Mesa Falls Tuff. Integrating 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages and paleomagnetic data for the post-caldera Island Park rhyolite domes suggests that these five crystal-rich rhyolites erupted over a centuries-long time interval at 1.2905 ± 0.0020 Ma (2σ). The biotite-bearing Moonshine Mountain rhyolite dome was originally thought to be the downfaulted vent dome for the pre-caldera Bishop Mountain flow due to their similar petrographic and oxygen isotope characteristics, but new 40 Ar/ 39 Ar dating suggest that it erupted near contemporaneously with the Island Park rhyolite domes at 1.2931 ± 0.0018 Ma (2σ) and is a post-caldera eruption. Despite their similar eruption ages, the Island Park rhyolite domes and the Moonshine Mountain dome are chemically and petrographically distinct and are not derived from the same source. Integrating these new data with field relations and existing geochemical data, we present a petrogenetic model for the formation of the post-Mesa Falls Tuff rhyolites. Renewed influx of basaltic and/or silicic recharge magma into the crust at 1.2905 ± 0.0020 Ma led to [1] the formation of the Island Park rhyolite domes from the source region that earlier produced the Mesa Falls Tuff and [2] the formation of Moonshine Mountain dome from the source region that earlier produced the biotite-bearing Bishop Mountain flow. These magmas were stored in the crust for less than a few thousand years before being erupted contemporaneously along a 30 km long, structurally controlled vent zone related to extracaldera Basin and Range faults. These data highlight the rapidity with which magma can be generated and erupted over large distances at Yellowstone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perinatal depression is a health concern among pregnant and postpartum adolescents as it may negatively impact fetal development and result in complications such as preterm delivery, low infant birth weight, and poor maternal-infant attachment. The purpose of this systematic review is to examine psychosocial risk factors for depression among adolescents during pregnancy and postpartum. A literature search was conducted from five databases from 1995 to 2016. A total of 17 studies matched the inclusion criteria. Lack of social support, perceived stress, prior history of depression, and a history of sexual or physical violence were most frequently identified as potential risk factors for perinatal depression. Additional risk factors include the adolescent's perception of her pregnancy, family criticism, self-efficacy, self-esteem, substance use, parental stress, community violence, anxiety, and African-American ethnicity. Research and clinical implications are indicated for adolescents at risk for perinatal depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The third National Climate Assessment (NCA3) included goals for becoming a more timely, inclusive, rigorous, and sustained process, and for serving a wider variety of decision makers. In order to accomplish these goals, it was necessary to deliberately design an information management strategy that could serve multiple stakeholders and manage different types of information - from highly mature government-supported climate science data, to isolated practitioner-generated case study information - and to do so in ways that are consistent and appropriate for a highly influential assessment. Meeting the information management challenge for NCA3 meant balancing relevance and authority, complexity and accessibility, inclusivity and rigor. Increasing traceability of data behind figures and graphics, designing a public-facing website, managing hundreds of technical inputs to the NCA, and producing guidance for over 300 participants on meeting the Information Quality Act were all aspects of a deliberate, multi-faceted, and strategic information management approach that nonetheless attempted to be practical and usable for a variety of participants and stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To review recent findings on the epidemiology, burden, diagnosis, comorbidity, and treatment of depression, particularly in general medical settings; to delineate barriers to the recognition, diagnosis, and optimal management of depression in general medical settings; and to summarize efforts under way to reduce some of these barriers.Design: MEDLINE searches were conducted to identify scientific articles published during the previous 10 years addressing depression in general medical settings and epidemiology, co-occurring conditions, diagnosis, costs, outcomes, and treatment. Articles relevant to the objective were selected and summarized.Conclusions: Depression occurs commonly, causing suffering, functional impairment, increased risk of suicide, added health care costs, and productivity losses. Effective treatments are available both when depression occurs alone and when it co-occurs with general medical illnesses. Many cases of depression seen in general medical settings are suitable for treatment within those settings. About half of all cases of depression in primary care settings are recognized, although subsequent treatments often fall short of existing practice guidelines. When treatments of documented efficacy are used, short-term patient outcomes are generally good. Barriers to diagnosing and treating depression include stigma; patient somatization and denial; physician knowledge and skill deficits; limited time; lack of availability of providers and treatments; limitations of third-party coverage; and restrictions on specialist, drug, and psychotherapeutic care. Public and professional education efforts, destigmatization, and improvement in access to mental health care are all needed to reduce these barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The risk of possible transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the United States is a substantial public health concern.Objective: To systematically review the current scientific literature and discuss legislation and regulations that have been implemented to prevent the disease.Methods: Literature review using the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Lexis/Nexis databases for 1975 through 1997 on the terms bovine spongiform encephalopathy, prion diseases, prions, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob syndrome. The Internet was used to identify regulatory actions and health surveillance.Data Extraction: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Lexis/Nexis databases were searched from 1975 through 1997 for English-language articles that provided information on assessment of transmission risk.Results: Unique circumstances in the United Kingdom caused the emergence and propagation of BSE in cattle, including widespread use of meat and bonemeal cattle feed derived from scrapie-infected sheep and the adoption of a new type of processing that did not reduce the amount of infectious prions prior to feeding. Many of these circumstances do not exist in the United States. In the United Kingdom, new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease probably resulted from the ingestion of BSE-contaminated processed beef. The United Kingdom and the European Union now have strong regulations in place to stop the spread of BSE. While BSE has not been observed in the United States, the US government has surveillance and response plans in effect.Conclusions: Current risk of transmission of BSE in the United States is minimal because (1) BSE has not been shown to exist in this country; (2) adequate regulations exist to prevent entry of foreign sources of BSE into the United States; (3) adequate regulations exist to prevent undetected cases of BSE from uncontrolled amplification within the US cattle population; and (4) adequate preventive guidelines exist to prevent high-risk bovine materials from contaminating products intended for human consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the context of anal sex behavior among ethnic minority adolescent women has public health implications for behavioral sexual health promotion and risk reduction interventions. African-American ( n = 94) and Mexican-American ( n = 465) women (14-18 years of age) enrolled in a clinical trial completed semi-structured interviews to assess psychosocial and situational factors and relationships to sexual risk behavior, substance use, sexually transmitted infection/HIV acquisition, and violence. Bivariate analyses with comparisons by anal sex experiences identified differences by ethnicity and higher self-reported histories of sexual risk behaviors, substance use, violence, and stressful psychosocial and situational factors among adolescent women experiencing anal sex. Predictors of anal sex identified through logistic regression included Mexican-American ethnicity, ecstasy use, methamphetamine use, childhood sexual molestation, oral sex, and sex with friends for benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study examined barriers to mental health service use and preferences for addressing emotional concerns among lung cancer patients ( N = 165) at two medical centers in the Midwestern United States. Methods Lung cancer patients completed an assessment of anxiety and depressive symptoms, mental health service use, barriers to using these services, and preferences for addressing emotional concerns. Results Only 45% of distressed patients received mental health care since their lung cancer diagnosis. The most prevalent patient-reported barriers to mental health service use among non-users of these services ( n = 110) included the desire to independently manage emotional concerns (58%) and inadequate knowledge of services (19%). In addition, 57% of distressed patients who did not access mental health services did not perceive the need for help. Seventy-five percent of respondents (123/164) preferred to talk to a primary care physician if they were to have an emotional concern. Preferences for counseling, psychiatric medication, peer support, spiritual care, or independently managing emotional concerns also were endorsed by many patients (range = 40-50%). Older age was associated with a lower likelihood of preferring to see a counselor. Conclusions Findings suggest that many distressed lung cancer patients underuse mental health services and do not perceive the need for such services. Efforts to increase appropriate use of services should address patients' desire for autonomy and lack of awareness of services. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tested the accuracy of an invasive aquatic plant risk assessment system in the United States that we modified from a system originally developed by New Zealand's Biosecurity Program. The US system is comprised of 38 questions that address biological, historical, and environmental tolerance traits. Values associated with each response are summed to produce a total score for each species that indicates its risk of invasion. To calibrate and test this risk assessment, we identified 39 aquatic plant species that are major invaders in the continental US, 31 species that have naturalized but have no documented impacts (minor invaders), and 60 that have been introduced but have not established. These species represent 55 families and span all aquatic plant growth forms. We found sufficient information to assess all but three of these species. When the results are compared to the known invasiveness of the species, major invaders are distinguished from minor and non-invaders with 91% accuracy. Using this approach, the US aquatic weed risk assessment correctly identifies major invaders 85%, and non-invaders 98%, of the time. Model validation using an additional 10 non-invaders and 10 invaders resulted in 100% accuracy for the former, and 80% accuracy for the latter group. Accuracy was further improved to an average of 91% for all groups when the 17% of species with scores of 31-39 required further evaluation prior to risk classification. The high accuracy with which we can distinguish non-invaders from harmful invaders suggests that this tool provides a feasible, pro-active system for pre-import screening of aquatic plants in the US, and may have additional utility for prioritizing management efforts of established species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of obesity continues to escalate in the USA; however, there is no consensus regarding the optimal therapy for obesity. For the vast majority of severely obese patients, conventional medical therapies (i.e., diet, exercise, behavioral counseling) often fail over the long term. Existing pharmacotherapy adjunctive to behavioral therapy has limited effectiveness and an imperfect safety record. In contrast, bariatric surgery has a high degree of weight loss efficacy, yet only a small fraction of the qualifying obese population undergoes these procedures because of the associated perioperative risks and potential late complications. In addition, the role of bariatric surgery is unclear in certain patient populations, such as patients with lower body mass index (BMI, 30-35 kg/m), the high-risk super-super obese patients (BMI > 60), the morbidly obese adolescent, and obese patients requiring weight reduction in preparation for other procedures, such as orthopedic, transplant, or vascular surgeries. In these circumstances, there is a need for an effective but less invasive treatment to bridge the gap between medical and surgical therapy. This review examines current treatment outcomes, identifies prominent areas of unmet clinical needs, and provides an overview of two minimally invasive 'temporary procedures for weight loss' that may eventually address some of the unmet needs in obesity management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study compared the development of essential elements of narrative skill in children from African American English (AAE)- and general American English (GAE)-speaking communities using an innovative elicitation and evaluation protocol consisting of four key indices of narrative language: (a) reference contrasting, (b) temporal expressions, (c) mental state descriptions, and (d) understanding of behavior based on false belief. Method: Participants were 291 AAE speakers and 238 GAE speakers, 4 to 9 years of age. Approximately one-third of both dialect groups were identified as having language impairments. Children generated 2 stories based on short picture sequences. Their stories were coded for the 4 key indices of narrative language. Analyses of variance were performed with subsets of the measures and a composite index with all measures combined as outcomes; and with age, dialect group, and clinical status as predictors. Results: Age and clinical status had statistically significant effects on the subset measures and the composite score. Variation between AAE and GAE dialect was not a significant factor. Conclusion: By focusing on dialect-neutral elements of narratives -- creating links across sentences and providing mental state interpretations -- this study adds to our knowledge of development and impairment in narrative production among both AAE- and GAE-background children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the ethical controversies of local ordinances related to deport illegal aliens. It mentions that the immigration of Chinese in 1880's helped in the foundation of deportation laws. It offers information on the growing concerns over immigration concerns related to the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (INA).

This study measured the reliability and construct validity of the Criminal Entitlement (CE) scale. The CE instrument was developed in order to provide a measurement of criminality based on several dimensions of anti-social belief systems and includes elements of narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narrative psychology. In this study, 302 undergraduate male and female participants completed a nascent CE scale and an Acceptance of Interpersonal Violence (AIV) scale. The results supported a statistically significant positive relationship between CE and Acceptance of Interpersonal Violence. Further research that applies the CE scale to other populations for different self-reported offenses or other attitudinal measures associated with criminality is needed to more fully determine the viability of the CE perspective of criminal behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Expressive Vocabulary Test (EVT) has recently been found culturally fair for an economically mixed sample of African American children, and others have argued that it is fairer for such participants than the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-III (PPVT-III). In this study, the authors sought to replicate these findings with an exclusively low-income group in the southeastern United States and to analyze errors. An African American graduate student administered the EVT and the PPVT-III to 53 African American children ages 5 years 4 months to 12 years 3 months (kindergarten through fourth grade) receiving free lunch. Contrary to prior research, children performed significantly below the norm on both the EVT and the PPVT-III. Neither test seemed easier. An item analysis of 785 errors revealed that approximately 75% were strong associates of target words and/or accurate descriptions of EVT pictures. African American children from low-income backgrounds appear to interpret EVT instructions differently from the official instructions, which led to compromised performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about the international forum on the problems with irradiators is presented. The irradiation of cell concentrates in Japan is due to the high risk of transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Agencies or manufacturers find it difficult to repair and obtain new irradiators when it break down. The phase-out of Cs-137 irradiators is recommended by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Task force to prevent terrorists from the use of isotopes.

BACKGROUND: There have been few recent systematic studies of blood recipients for direct evidence of blood safety, especially for emerging pathogens that may pose a threat to the blood supply. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Recipients who would likely require transfusion from multiple donors were recruited and a blood specimen was collected before their first study transfusion and at intervals after their study transfusion(s). Blood samples associated with the units that were transfused to enrolled recipients were also collected. Part of each recipient specimen and selected donor specimens was tested for the targeted blood-borne agents, parvovirus B19 (B19) and Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cp), that were piloted in this study, and the remaining material was kept in a repository. RESULTS: Between April 2004 and December 2006, a total of 120 recipients were recruited with 4047 subsequent donor exposures. On average, each recipient was followed up seven times. Of recipients who were adequately followed up and were initially immunoglobulin G antibody negative, one in 31 and one to two in 49 seroconverted to B19 and Cp after a total of 922 and 1413 evaluable transfusions, respectively. The detection of seroconversion was complicated by passively acquired donor antibodies for these two seroprevalent agents. Negative results for nucleic acids of the agents limited our ability to further clarify the relationship of these seroconversions to transfusion-transmitted infection. CONCLUSION: The risk of transfusion-associated B19 infection appears to be low but no conclusion of transfusion transmission can be made for Cp. The approach piloted through this study offers added value beyond the current hemovigilance strategy in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on sports antitrust exemptions in which the U.S. Supreme Court has a history of misinterpretation of handling relevant cases. It highlights the case of Curt Flood against Bowie Kuhn. It notes that this case was considered an antitrust action based on baseball's failure to allow St. Louis Cardinals' outfielder Curt Flood to arrange his own contract with another team on the basis that free agency in any form was not allowed under the reserve system.

Ovarian germ cell cancer is a rare tumor. Approximately 1000 to 2000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian germ cell cancer in 2007. When it occurs, it is usually diagnosed before age 20 and is highly responsive to therapy. Most patients live a full life span. The 5-year relative survival rate is 95%. This article describes differences in quality of life issues between ovarian germ cell cancer survivors and young women who have not experienced cancer and were matched to survivors on age, education, and race (by the acquaintance control method). Survivors and controls completed mail and phone surveys. A multivariable logistic regression model was adjusted for age, education, household income, marital status, and perception of fertility. Compared to controls, germ cell cancer survivors expressed more reproductive concerns and reported worse sexual functioning, but they also experienced greater appreciation of life and more affective (i.e., emotional) social support. Future research is suggested to test interventions to enhance quality of life for ovarian germ cell cancer survivors in the areas of sexual functioning and reproductive concerns, but only for survivors who are in distress or in need of the support. Potential screening questions are offered for clinicians, but further research is needed to assess their validity as screening tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the author examines the intelligence tactic of employing commercial businesses as fronts to conceal espionage activities. He cites a number of such instances occurring in ancient history and as recorded in the Bible. Also discussed are a number of factors including the use of itinerant traders as spies, the espionage element of the American Revolution and British military intelligence of the 18th century.

Objective: The authors examined the clustering of health-risk behaviors among college students who reported date fight involvement. Participants and Methods: The authors administered a Web-based survey to a stratified random sample of 3,920 college students from 10 universities in North Carolina. Results: Among men, 5.6% reported date fight victimization, and 1% reported date fight perpetration. Victimization among men was associated with (1) first drink at age 15 years or younger, (2) a recent threat of violence by someone who had been drinking, (3) smoking, (4) amphetamine use, and (5) older age. Among women, 6.7% reported date fight victimization, which was associated with (1) older age, (2) assault from a student who had been drinking, (3) sex with 2 or more persons, (4) consumption of alcohol in high school, (5) illegal drug use, (6) nonsexual assault requiring medical treatment, and (7) living off campus. Of the women, 4.2% reported date fight perpetration, which was associated with (1) minority race/ethnicity, (2) older age, (3) frequency of sexual intercourse, and (4) alcohol and marijuana use. Conclusions: Date fight experiences were associated with multiple health-risk behaviors among this sample of college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Injury has long been identified as the number one killer of Americans under the age of 34, and establishment of regional trauma systems and centers incorporating primary, secondary, and tertiary care and injury-prevention strategies has proved to be a vital element in reducing injury-related sequelae, deaths, and even costs. Despite these facts, trauma system development has not been given priority for funding in many local and state governments and only intermittently at the federal level. Consequently, many of the nation’s trauma centers are strapped for funds to provide emergency care to their patients. Study design: In response to a 2002 Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) report, which identified public support as a key element in the success of trauma system development in states and communities across the United States, a Harris Interactive study was undertaken in the fall of 2004 to determine the public’s attitudes, awareness, and knowledge concerning the nature and availability of trauma care and systems of trauma care. Results of the poll were contrasted with current data on the state of US trauma systems to determine the degree of correspondence. Results: Results of the poll indicated that fully 61% of the American public does not know that injury is the leading cause of death for those aged 1 to 34, and most believe that a trauma system is in place in every state. Almost two-thirds of the American public is confident of receiving the best medical care in the event of serious injury and would be seriously concerned if no trauma center were nearby. But only eight states have fully developed trauma systems, and most states have no federal funding or infrastructure in place for managing the aftermath of a natural disaster or terrorist event. These and other objective data reveal the mismatch between public perceptions and reality. Conclusions: Although almost 90% of Americans believe that state trauma systems and hospitals should have a coordinated trauma response, this has not been made a national priority. Trauma systems must be adequately developed and supported to fulfill the public’s expectation to receive the best possible care if seriously injured, and to ensure readiness for mass casualty and terrorist incidents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Using data collected from an online internet-based assessment, we explored condom use rates and the characteristics of condom users among sexually active, unmarried heterosexual college students within a stratified random sample of 2,645 students from 10 universities in North Carolina. Of 1,417 students who fit the inclusion criteria, 39% were male and 61% were female. Half reported consistent condom use. Using correlated logistic regression, consistent condom use was associated with being male (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 1.47; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.16‘1.86); underclassman academic classification (AOR = 0.87 per year increase, 95%CI = 0.78–0.96); being involved in performing arts (AOR = 1.63, 95%CI = 1.10–2.42); not smoking within the past 30 clays (AOR = 1.38, 95%CI = 1.09–1.75); and not having a steady boy/girlfriend (AOR = I .42, 95%CI = 1.09–1.85). These findings underscore the importance of tailoring HIV prevention strategies and intervention activities to student characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that the investigations of the 9/11 terrorist attacks highlighted a series of lapses in intelligence-sharing within the federal government regarding terrorist operations. One area minutely examined by Congress, and the judiciary is the appropriate scope of intelligence collection within the United States concerning foreign threats to the nation's security. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) governs the conduct of electronic surveillance and physical searches carried out for foreign intelligence purposes within the United States.

Automatic Crash Notification (ACN) Systems provide rapid notification with accurate location of automobile crashes. Advanced ACN systems also provide additional information on the nature and severity of the crash. To take advantage of this crash information to improve triage, transport, and treatment decisions, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration developed a predictive algorithm called URGENCY. The purpose of URGENCY is to identify, instantly and automatically, the approximately 250,000 crashed vehicles with serious injuries occurring each year from the 28,000,000 crashed vehicles with minor or no injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the work being done at the Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan to address the lack of mathematical preparation by prospective mathematics teachers. Need of prospective mathematics teachers for mathematics courses that will develop their understanding of mathematical concepts that they will teach; Overview of the university's project and its goals; Inclusion of grades kindergarten-12 activities in college-level mathematics courses.

In 2002, the American Cancer Society estimated that 203,500 new cases of breast cancer would be diagnosed among women in the U.S., making it the most commonly diagnosed female cancer. Despite advances in detection and treatment, the gap between breast cancer mortality rates for African-American and Caucasian women is increasing compared to previous years. Compared with Caucasian women, African-American women are 12% less likely to be diagnosed at a localized stage of the disease, 6% more likely to be diagnosed with regional metastases, and 3% more likely to be diagnosed with distant metastases. In efforts to increase the use of mammography, researchers continue to refine interventions based on theoretical frameworks, such as the health belief model. The primary aim of the present study was to use the health belief model as the theoretical basis for examining health beliefs related to screening mammography among African-American and Caucasian women. The results of the study indicate that African-American women and Caucasian women may differ with respect to health beliefs that are most influential in determining whether they obtain mammograms.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Although regular screening can decrease morbidity and mortality from CRC, screening rates nationwide are very low. This descriptive study assessed beliefs associated with fecal occult blood test and colonoscopy use among participants of a worksite colon cancer screening program. Randomly selected employees, aged 40 and older, were mailed a survey on CRC screening-related beliefs. Instruments were tested for reliability and validity. Results indicated that fecal occult blood test use was significantly associated with being female, Caucasian, having low perceived barriers, and provider recommendation. Colonoscopy use was significantly associated with higher knowledge, lower barriers, higher benefits, higher self-efficacy, and provider recommendation. Findings may be used to develop interventions designed to improve CRC screening rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of adolescent risk and protective behaviors have focused on identifying modifiable psychosocial variables that predict differential outcomes for subsequent intervention efforts. Research has been scarce in studies of rural minority adolescent women. This study examined the protective and risk behaviors of these women and their relationship to physical or sexual abuse. Rural minority adolescent women endured high levels of psychological distress and many high risk behaviors, yet experienced many protective behaviors. Barriers to health care included access and confidentiality. Physically or sexually abused adolescents endured relatively greater risk and fewer protective behaviors than nonabused adolescents. The prevalence of risk behaviors and abuse among rural minority adolescent women presents a need for development of psychotherapeutic interventions as part of behavioral interventions for risk reduction. These women may benefit from confidential identification and assessment of abuse history and risk and protective behaviors so that appropriate psychological treatment can accompany accessible medical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the history of California during World War II as depicted in the works of writer Chester Himes. Migration of African Americans to regions with more freedom; Emergence of racial animosity and discrimination; Depiction of racism in most of Himes' work.

Describes the link between the stages of mammography adherence and perceptions of susceptibility of getting breast cancer risks, barriers and benefits to breast cancer screening among low-income African American women in the United States. Differences in specific barriers by stage; Importance of understanding the stages of adherence in promoting mammography use.

Presents a study which focused on the progression of abusive relationships from childhood to courtship and intimacy among Mexican American adolescents in the United States. Cultural expectations for intimacy, family and sex roles; Patterns of violence; Sex-role identification with abusive behavior.

Discusses the general education program implemented at the University of Chicago Hutchins College. Recurrence of concern for the state of the collegiate function; Importance of early entrance to the success of the four-year program of general studies; College leadership during the term of Professor Robert Maynard Hutchins.

The article examines the significance of motion picture utilization inside the classroom to improveme student performance in the U.S. These type of films cover everything imaginable and illustrates how to accomplish various kinds of tasks, hobbies and project as well as coping with social and psychological problems and dilemmas. They were used to highlight particular topics and issues for better understanding and will serve as an aid to teaching because it will stimulate greater response from the students. It is then proven that motion pictures can give wider range of knowledge on the real social psychological and emotion of the student.