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Health communication research has played a prominent role in the body of scholarship seeking to meaningfully increase the number of life-saving organs available to waitlisted patients. The current paper builds on earlier work in communication seeking to promote organ donation to individuals in community and organizational settings. The goal of this essay is to review health communication-based interventions seeking to meaningfully increase organ donation registrations in motor vehicles' offices (DMV) transactions in the USA. For convenience, I use the acronym DMV, although it is understood different states use different titles for this office. Before describing the nature and impact of communication interventions and their impact in DMV contexts, I will provide context for the problem and briefly review the role of DMV registrations in relation to demand for organs in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: The aim of the current study is to understand Americans' attitudes toward deceased organ donation and to assess their level of acceptance on positions toward organ donation. Methods: In summer and winter of 2023, 2 national samples completed measures of attitudes toward donation, reported their registration status, rated positions related to donation, and provided demographic information. Results: Data from 2 samples indicated registration estimates between 50% and 57% and a significant proportion of those unregistered reported reluctance to register. The believability of national registry estimates and ratings of acceptability of 9 organ donation positions differed by registration status. Conclusion: Mass media and motor vehicles interventions seeking to increase registration rates should take into consideration individual attitudes and support toward donation may not be as strong as once thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Objectives: As the emphasis on player safety in the national football league (NFL) has increased in recent years, numerous risk factors for injury have been closely scrutinized for their roles in placing players at increased risk. One such factor, the use of artificial turf football fields, has become a controversial topic, with many current and former players stating that turf fields place players at higher risk for injury while alternative sources have suggested there is no significant injury rate between artificial and natural grass surfaces. The purpose of this study was to quantify the rate of lower extremity injuries occurring in NFL players on artificial turf compared to natural grass surfaces and to characterize the degree of time missed with injury and the proportion of injuries requiring surgery. We hypothesized that major lower extremity injuries requiring surgical intervention occurred on artificial turf surfaces at a higher rate than on natural grass. Methods: Lower extremity Injury data for the 2021 and 2022 NFL seasons were obtained using publicly available records from the internet. All reported lower extremity injuries during the regular and playoff seasons were analyzed. Upper extremity, head, and back injuries were excluded. Preseason data was also excluded. Data collected included player position and age, playing surface of the field on which, the injury occurred, injury type, weeks missed with injury, and whether the patient underwent season-ending or minor surgery. Statistical analysis was performed using R Software (Rlabs). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data, including percentages and counts for categorical and ordinal data and means with interquartile ranges for continuous data. Incidences of injury on both grass and turf fields were calculated for the 2021 and 2022 seasons by taking a ratio of the number of injuries that occurred and the number of games played on respective fields. Additionally, injuries were stratified by subsequent number of games missed: 0 games missed, 1-2 games missed, >6 games missed. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the influence of field type on the risk of major surgery. A p-value less than 0.05 was statistically significant. Results: In total there were 327 (44.12%) lower extremity injuries in 2021 and 391 (54.45%) lower extremity injuries in 2022, resulting in a total of 718 lower extremity injuries. A demographic summary of these injuries by position, age, field, and history of previous injury is displaced in Table 1. Combining the 2021/2022 seasons, the incidence rate of lower extremity injury on natural grass surfaces was 1.22 injuries/game while for turf surfaces, the incidence rate was 1.42 injuries/game (Table 2). Injury severity was stratified by weeks missed. Odds of a season-ending surgery were found to be significantly higher on turf surfaces compared to natural grass surfaces (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.28-1.99, p<0.05), while additional variables, including weather, age, position, and week of injury occurrence and history of prior injury were not found to influence the odds of season-ending surgery. In total, there were 50 players injured on the grass who required lower extremity surgery and 83 players injured on turf who required lower extremity surgeries. The most common surgeries after a lower extremity on grass were ACL repair (17), Achilles repair (9), and ankle or syndesmosis ORIF (7). The most common surgeries after a lower extremity on turf were ACL repair (30), Achilles repair (12), patella ORIF, or patellar tendon repair (8) (Table 3). Conclusions: The debate about playing on artificial turf versus natural grass has persisted for several years; however, there is a discrepancy in data reported on these overall injury rates. Our study showed that NFL athletes were more likely to get injured on artificial surfaces and that turf dramatically increased the likelihood of suffering a serious injury requiring surgery. These findings support earlier research, highlighting the necessity of putting player safety first and reducing dangers on pitches with artificial turf. For players, coaches, and teams to make wise decisions about playing surfaces, the study offers useful information regarding playing safety. Overall, it indicates that there is a higher risk of lower extremity injuries on artificial grass in the NFL, confirming the continuing discussion about field safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are one of the most common knee injuries in pediatric patients in the United States. The patient's primary spoken language may affect outcomes after ACL reconstruction (ACLR). Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to identify differences in ACLR outcomes between patients whose primary, preferred spoken language was either English or Spanish. It was hypothesized that there would be a difference in retear rates between patients preferring English versus Spanish. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed on pediatric and adolescent patients who underwent ACLR at a single institution. Patients were divided into 2 cohorts based on their preferred spoken language: English or Spanish. All patients underwent either hamstring tendon or bone–patellar tendon–bone autograft ACLR performed by the same surgeon with the same postoperative rehabilitation protocols. Linear regression, chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine if outcomes, graft tear, revision surgery, and contralateral injury differed between groups. Results: A total of 68 patients were identified: 33 patients whose preferred language was English and 35 patients whose preferred language was Spanish. The overall mean age of the patients was 16.4 ± 1.4 years (range, 13.2-20.5 years), and the mean follow-up time was 3.26 ± 1.98 years (range, 0.53-8.13 years). Patients who preferred Spanish were more likely than those who preferred English to experience graft tears requiring revision surgery after ACLR (P =.02; odds ratio [OR] = 5.81; adjusted OR = 1.94), at a tear rate of 14.3%. Conclusion: Patients who preferred to speak Spanish experienced higher graft tear rates when compared with patients who preferred speaking English, even after adjusting for sex, sport played, graft type, type of insurance, and time to surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: Coracoclavicular (CC) ligament reconstruction is a commonly performed procedure for high-grade acromioclavicular (AC) joint separations. Although distal clavicle and coracoid process fractures represent potential complications, they have been described in only case reports and small case series. Purpose: To identify the incidence and characteristics of clavicle and coracoid fractures after CC ligament reconstruction. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: The US Military Health System Data Repository was queried for patients with a Current Procedural Terminology code for CC ligament repair or reconstruction between October 2013 and March 2020. The electronic health records, including patient characteristics, radiographs, operative reports, and clinical notes, were evaluated for intraoperative or postoperative clavicle or coracoid fractures. Initial operative technique, fracture management, and subsequent clinical outcomes were reviewed for these patients. Results: A total of 896 primary CC ligament repairs or reconstructions were performed during the study period. There were 21 postoperative fractures and 1 intraoperative fracture in 20 patients. Of these fractures, 12 involved the coracoid and 10 involved the clavicle. The overall incidence of fracture was 3.81 fractures per 1000 person-years. In 5 patients who sustained a fracture, bone tunnels were not drilled in the fractured bone during the index procedure. A total of 17 fractures were ultimately treated operatively, whereas 5 fractures had nonoperative management. Of the 16 active-duty servicemembers who sustained intraoperative or postoperative fractures, 11 were unable to return to full military duty after their fracture care. Conclusion: Fracture of the distal clavicle or coracoid process after CC ligament repair or reconstruction is a rare but serious complication that can occur independent of bone tunnels created during the index procedure. Fractures associated with CC ligament procedures occurred at a rate of 2.46 per 100 cases. Most patients were ultimately treated surgically with open reduction and internal fixation or revision CC ligament reconstruction. Although the majority of patients with intraoperative or postoperative fractures regained full range of motion, complications such as anterior shoulder pain, AC joint asymmetry, and activity-related weakness were common sequelae resulting in physical limitations and separation from military service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: Discrepancies in race, ethnicity, and sex among health care providers and their patients have been shown to affect the patient-provider relationship as well as the quality of care. Currently, minority and female representation among orthopaedic surgeons remains low. Given the large proportion of minority athletes and their degree of public visibility, professional sports serves as an important arena within which to analyze the diversity of health care providers. Purpose: To describe and evaluate the current level of diversity of head team physicians (HTPs) and head athletic trainers (ATCs), primarily in terms of race and sex, within men's professional sports leagues in the United States. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Five major US professional sports leagues were evaluated: National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, and Major League Baseball. Publicly available data were collected to identify the HTPs and head ATCs for each team within these leagues. Two independent observers analyzed photographs and names of these individuals to determine his or her perceived race and sex, with disagreements being resolved by a third independent observer. Other physician data collected included graduate degree(s), specialty, and number of years in practice. Kappa coefficients (κ) were employed to evaluate interobserver reliability. Chi-square, Fisher exact, and t tests were used for statistical comparisons across leagues. Results: The κ values for perceived race were 0.85 for HTPs and 0.89 for head ATCs, representing near-perfect interobserver agreement. Minorities comprised 15.5% of HTPs and 20.7% of ATCs (P =.24). Women comprised 3.9% of HTPs and 1.3% of head ATCs (P =.017). The majority of HTPs were orthopaedic surgeons with medical doctorates. Female HTPs had significantly fewer years in practice compared with male HTPs (15.0 ± 4.9 vs 23.1 ± 9.6; P =.04). Conclusion: The lead physicians and athletic training providers for men's professional sports teams demonstrated low rates of minority and female representation, denoting a highly visible area for discussing the role of increased diversity in health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: There is a lack of research investigating current practice trends in the treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears as well as common concomitant procedures and reoperations associated with ACL reconstruction (ACLR). Purpose: To analyze current practice patterns for ACLR as well as the frequency of concomitant and revision procedures with respect to patient characteristics in a cross-sectional population of the United States. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Patient data between 2010 and 2017 were queried using the Mariner PearlDiver database. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (in 2010-2014) and Tenth Revision (ICD-10; in 2015-2017), diagnosis codes were used to identify ACL tears, and Current Procedural Terminology codes were used to identify ACLR and concomitant surgical procedures. Patient characteristics were stratified by sex and age. Cases of subsequent knee surgery and conversion to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) within 2 years after ACLR were tracked using ICD-10 codes between 2015 and 2017 to ensure ipsilateral laterality. Results: Of 229,295 patients identified with an ACL tear diagnosis during the study period, 75% underwent ACLR. In patients aged 10 to 39 years, 84% to 92% underwent ACLR, while patients aged 50 to 59 (50%) and 60 to 69 (28%) years were less likely to have surgery after an ACL tear. Female and male patients underwent ACLR at a similar rate (75%). Within the patients who underwent ACLR, 44% underwent concomitant meniscal debridement as compared with 11% with concomitant meniscal repair. Male patients were more likely to undergo meniscal debridement (48% vs 40%; P <.0001). The frequency of meniscal repair increased from 9% in 2010 to 14% in 2017, while the frequency of meniscal debridement decreased from 47% to 41% (P <.0001). Within 2 years of ACLR, 6% of patients underwent revision ACLR; 4%, subsequent meniscal debridement; 1%, meniscal repair; and 1%, conversion to TKA. Conclusion: The frequency of ACLR for ACL tears has remained relatively stable in recent years and was similar between female and male patients in this cross-sectional population. The majority of patients aged 10 to 39 years underwent ACLR, while less than half of patients >50 years underwent surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The purpose of this cross-sectional, descriptive, pilot study was to examine the correlations in sleep between caregivers (≥18 years) and young (6–12 years) children with type 1 diabetes. Sleep was measured in both parent and child over 7 days using actigraphy and a sleep diary. Parents completed questionnaires on sleep, stress, depressive symptoms, and demographics. Children completed pediatric anxiety and fatigue questionnaires, and A1C (Hemoglobin A1c) was documented at clinic. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations were used to analyze data. Parents (N = 18, mean age: 39.3 ± 5.4 years, 100% Caucasian, 83% mothers) and children (N = 18, mean age: 9.6 ± 2.4 years, diagnosed for mean 3.0 ± 2.4 years, 66% female, mean A1C: 7.5 ± 0.8%) were recruited. Strong to moderate correlations were found for several measures including sleep measures based on actigraphy: mean sleep duration (hours; 7.6 ± 0.7 for parents and 8.8 ± 0.8 for children; r =.638, p =.004), mean sleep efficiency (r =.823, p <.001), and mean daily wake after sleep onset (minutes; r =.530, p =.024). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: Patients with posterior shoulder instability may have bone and cartilage lesions (BCLs) in addition to capsulolabral injuries, although the risk factors for these intra-articular lesions are unclear. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that patients with posterior instability who had a greater number of instability events would have a higher rate of BCLs compared with patients who had fewer instability episodes. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Data from the Multicenter Orthopaedic Outcomes Network (MOON) Shoulder Group instability patient cohort were analyzed. Patients aged 12 to 99 years undergoing primary surgical treatment for shoulder instability were included. The glenohumeral joint was evaluated by the treating surgeon at the time of surgery, and patients were classified as having a BCL if they had any grade 3 or 4 glenoid or humeral cartilage lesion, reverse Hill-Sachs lesion, bony Bankart lesion, or glenoid bone loss. The effects of the number of instability events on the presence of BCLs was investigated by use of Fisher exact tests. Logistic regression modeling was performed to investigate the independent contributions of demographic variables and injury-specific variables to the likelihood of having a BCL. Significance was defined as P <.05. Results: We identified 271 patients (223 male) for analysis. Bone and cartilage lesions were identified in 54 patients (19.9%) at the time of surgical treatment. A glenoid cartilage injury was most common and was identified in 28 patients (10.3%). A significant difference was noted between the number of instability events and the presence of BCLs (P =.025), with the highest rate observed in patients with 2 to 5 instability events (32.3%). Multivariate logistic regression modeling indicated that increasing age (P =.019) and 2 to 5 reported instability events (P =.001) were significant independent predictors of the presence of BCLs. For bone lesions alone, the number of instability events was the only significant independent predictor; increased risk of bone lesion was present for patients with 1 instability event (OR, 6.1; P =.012), patients with 2 to 5 instability events (OR, 4.2; P =.033), and patients with more than 5 instability events (OR, 6.0; P =.011). Conclusion: Bone and cartilage lesions are seen significantly more frequently with increasing patient age and in patients with 2 to 5 instability events. Early surgical stabilization for posterior instability may be considered to potentially limit the extent of associated intra-articular injury. The group of patients with more than 5 instability events may represent a different pathological condition, as this group showed a decrease in the likelihood of cartilage injury, although not bony injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Objective: The impact, positive or negative, of youth sport specialisation (YSS) on short-term and long-term performance is not fully understood; however, the desire to maximise performance goals is generally considered the primary reason children and adolescents specialise at a young age. We performed a systematic review of original research to establish the association of YSS and task-focused or career-focused performance outcomes.Design: Systematic review.Data Sources: Databases searched include PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus.Eligibility Criteria: We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to identify peer-reviewed research articles published in English between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 2018 that reported original findings on the association of YSS and performance outcomes. Studies without an explicit measure of sport specialisation, for example, volume measures without measuring sport specialisation, were excluded.Results: Twenty-two articles were included in the final review; 15 addressed career performance outcomes and 7 considered task performance outcomes. All identified studies were cross-sectional or retrospective in design. The proportion of elite athletes who specialised early ranged between 7% and 85%, depending on sport and definition of specialisation. Elite athletes often specialised between the ages of 14 and 15 compared with their non-elite or semi-elite peers who typically specialised prior to 13 years. In addition, neuromuscular control, anterior reach asymmetry and physical task outcomes did not differ by specialisation status.Conclusion: The volume and methodological rigour of published research in this field are limited. Our review suggests that YSS is not required to achieve success at elite levels. YSS also does not appear to improve task-related performance (eg, anterior reach, neuromuscular control) outcomes for specialised athletes when compared with non-specialised athletes during childhood and adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The article points organizational theory as an explanatory lens for understanding flaws in America's enforcement and adjudicative structures. It notes that the American system is characterized by decentralization and local variation, and argues that it is exceedingly difficult to hold officials accountable for their shortcomings. It concludes a need of adopting a new, more realistic baseline for criminal justice reform in the U.S. more...

Background: Shoulder instability is a common diagnosis among patients undergoing shoulder surgery. Purpose: To perform a descriptive analysis of patients undergoing surgery for shoulder instability through a large multicenter consortium. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: All patients undergoing surgery for shoulder instability who were enrolled in the MOON Shoulder Instability Study were included. Baseline demographics included age, sex, body mass index, and race. Baseline patient-reported outcomes (PROs) included the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Shoulder Activity Score, Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI), 36-Item Health Survey (RAND-36), and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE). The preoperative physician examination included active range of motion (ROM) and strength testing. Preoperative imaging assessments with plain radiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography were also included and analyzed. Results: Twenty-six surgeons had enrolled 863 patients (709 male, 154 female) across 10 clinical sites. The mean age for the cohort was 24 years (range, 12-63 years). Male patients represented 82% of the cohort. The primary direction of instability was anterior for both male (74%) and female (73%) patients. Football (24%) and basketball (13%) were the most common sports in which the primary shoulder injury occurred. No clinically significant differences were found in preoperative ROM between the affected and unaffected sides for any measurement taken. Preoperative MRI scans were obtained in 798 patients (92%). An anterior labral tear was the most common injury found on preoperative MRI, seen in 66% of patients, followed by a Hill-Sachs lesion in 41%. Poor PRO scores were recorded preoperatively (mean: ASES, 72.4; WOSI, 43.3; SANE, 46.6). Conclusion: The MOON Shoulder Instability Study has enrolled the largest cohort of patients undergoing shoulder stabilization to date. Anterior instability is most common among shoulder instability patients, and most patients undergoing shoulder stabilization are in their early 20s or younger. The results of this study provide important epidemiological information for patients undergoing shoulder stabilization surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Examination of efficacy of motor vehicle representative educational training and dissemination of promotional materials as a means to promote organ donation enrollments in New York State.~Context~Background~To increase the number of New York State residents who consent to donation through the department of motor vehicle transactions during project period.~Objective~Objective~County-run motor vehicle offices across New York State.~Setting~Methods~Customers who present to New York Department of Motor Vehicle offices and the representative who work at designated bureaus.~Participants~Methods~point-of-decision materials including promotional posters, brochures, website, and the motor vehicle representative training sessions.~Interventions~Methods~Reasons for enrollment decision, knowledge/experience with donation, monthly consent rates, enrollment in state organ, and tissue registry.~Main Outcome Measures~Methods~Customers who elected not to register reported no reason or uncertainty surrounding enrollment. The representatives reported experience with donation, discussion with customers, and need for additional education on organ donation. Enrollment cards were mailed to 799 project staff; counties where offices participated in intervention did not indicate significantly higher monthly enrollments when comparing pre- to postenrollment rates.~Results~Results~Use of point-of-decision materials and enrollment cards proved inexpensive method to register customers with a 3.6% return rate. Customers report low (27%) enrollment rate and reticence to consent to donation. Educational training sessions with representatives did not yield significant enrollment increases when evaluating data at county-level enrollment.~Conclusions~Conclusions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The current study applied a theory of newsworthiness to the topic of organ donation. Specifically, content analysis of newspaper stories published in the United States (N = 1,988) was performed to identify whether deviance and significance of a story predicted story prominence, measured as story length and placement in the newspaper. Results indicated support for study hypotheses: Longer stories and front-page stories pertaining to organ donation were more deviant and more significant in content. Analyses also indicated stories more negative in nature were more likely given front-page coverage, represented international events, and were high on deviance and significance. Higher circulating newspapers were more likely to publish stories recounting negative events in organ donation. Results indicated organ donation coverage represents a valid application of newsworthiness theory, and implications of study findings are discussed in relation to the agenda-setting function of news stories. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER] more...

The author discusses Law & Society Association (Association) leader Carroll Seron's 2015 Presidential Address which appears in a 2016 issue of the journal, and it mentions Seron's call for law and society scholars to devote some of their time to public service and to use their research skills to examine public policy-related issues. Legal rights in America are addressed, along with the nation's 1965 Civil Rights Act and the rule of law. Due process and American criminal justice are examined. more...

The article focuses on the rebirth of Detroit after the financial setback. It also talks about the current economic condition of the African-American residing in the Black Detroit area post 2008 financial crisis. The article also mentions about frauds done by Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick (2002-08), who saved the city millions by using variable interest swaps instead of fixed rates. more...

We proposed a conceptual model to predict binge-drinking behavior among college students, based on the theory of planned behavior and the stress-coping hypothesis. A two-wave online survey was conducted with predictors and drinking behavior measured separately over 2 weeks' time. In the Wave 1 survey, 279 students at a public university in the United States answered questions assessing key predictors and individual characteristics. In the Wave 2 survey, 179 participants returned and reported their drinking behavior over 2 weeks' time. After conducting a negative binomial regression, we found that more favorable attitude toward drinking and less perceived control of drinking at Wave 1 were associated with more binge drinking at Wave 2; subjective norm at Wave 1 was not a significant predictor of binge drinking at Wave 2; students with higher stress at Wave 1 engaged in more binge drinking at Wave 2, but those with higher loneliness did not. Implications of findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background. Freebirthing or unassisted birth is the active choice made by a woman to birth without a trained professional present, even where there is access to maternity provision. Aim. To integrate the findings of the current literature on the phenomenon of freebirthing, asking the question: ‘Why do some women choose to freebirth?' Design. A metasynthesis was carried out based upon Noblit and Hare’s (1988) meta-ethnography. Searches were carried out in March 2013 and updated in March 2014 using 15 key databases. Inclusion criteria were applied: primary qualitative work, in English, focusing upon women who had freebirthed intentionally. A quality appraisal was carried out. This paper reports the findings from international studies, as there were no studies based on a UK population. Findings and key conclusions. Four studies were found that incorporated data collected from 272 women. The studies identified were based in the US (n=3) and in Australia (n=l). Four key themes were generated: rejection of the medical and midwifery models of birth; faith in the birth process; autonomy; and agency. There was a prevailing sense of opting to freebirth in order to retain choice, control and autonomy over their bodies during the birth process. Implications for practice. For some, within their particular context of maternity provision, the biomedical model of childbirth is clearly not acceptable, therefore, it is important practitioners identify and address women's bio-psychosocial needs. Even the midwifery model of childbirth is apparently not satisfactory, suggesting the gulf between the midwifery philosophy of care and that which is currently practised needs attention. For some women, a previous negative experience with maternity care provision motivated their decision to freebirth. It is, therefore, important that maternity service providers improve the quality of care provision so women feel dignified, supported, and are participatory in the care that they receive. A UK-based study is being undertaken in order to establish the motivations of women who choose to freebirth in the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

This study examined the unique effects of three forms of enacted (i.e., received) support (emotional, unpaid assistance, financial) on well-being and tested the potential mediating role of perceived control. The analysis was based on a national sample collected through the second wave of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) survey conducted in 2004–2006. Findings revealed emotional support exhibited a positive effect direction on well-being, while unpaid assistance and financial support both showed negative effect directions. Perceived control was found to fully mediate the relationships between all three forms of enacted support and well-being: Emotional support boosted well-being through higher perceived control, while unpaid assistance and financial support reduced well-being through lower perceived control. Findings provide evidence that effects of social resources on well-being are mediated through psychological resources. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER] more...

In November 2011, Treasury issued final regulations governing the federal income tax treatment of a transaction in which a partnership issues a partnership interest to a creditor in satisfaction of the partnership's recourse or nonrecourse indebtedness to the creditor. The final regulations largely follow the approach taken in the proposed regulations on this subject issued in 2008 and are, at first blush, unfavorable to creditors--but, with proper tax planning, they do open up some avenues a creditor can take to recognize tax deductions and losses that are consistent with the creditor's economic loss. This article examines the regulations, with a particular focus on how they impact lenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The goal of this article is to help law school externship clinicians guide law students through for-profit field placements. First, this article discusses the outcomes sought in traditional non-profit field placements, and the methodologies that externship clinicians use to guide, enhance, and assess the students' experiences. Second, this article discusses educational benefits available in for-profit placements that may not be as readily available at non-profits. Third, using similar methodologies used for non-profit placements, the author suggests topics for reflection externship clinicians can use to help guide, enhance, and assess the for-profit experience for students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Responding to growing concerns regarding the safety, quality, and efficacy of cancer care in the United States, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences commissioned a comprehensive review of cancer care delivery in the US health care system in the late 1990s. The National Cancer Policy Board (NCPB), a 20-member board with broad representation, performed this review. In its review, the NCPB focused on the state of cancer care delivery at that time, its shortcomings, and ways to measure and improve the quality of cancer care. The NCPB described an ideal cancer care system in which patients would have equitable access to coordinated, guideline-based care and novel therapies throughout the course of their disease. In 1999, the IOM published the results of this review in its influential report, Ensuring Quality Cancer Care. The report outlined 10 recommendations, which, when implemented, would: 1) improve the quality of cancer care, 2) increase the current understanding of quality cancer care, and 3) reduce or eliminate access barriers to quality cancer care. Despite the fervor generated by this report, there are lingering doubts regarding the safety and quality of cancer care in the United States today. Increased awareness of medical errors and barriers to quality care, coupled with escalating health care costs, has prompted national efforts to reform the health care system. These efforts by health care providers and policymakers should bridge the gap between the ideal state described in Ensuring Quality Cancer Care and the current state of cancer care in the United States. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

An essay is presented that responds to Professor Richard Lempert's Law & Society Association Presidential Address which is published in the same issue. It discusses Lempert's personal response to racial injustice in the United States, it examines how the Law & Society Association has addressed and responded to racial injustice and explores the overall effectiveness of social policies designed to promote racial equality in the U.S. more...

Species migration in response to warming temperatures is expected to lead to ‘biotic attrition,’ or loss of local diversity, in areas where the number of species emigrating or going locally extinct exceeds the number immigrating. Biotic attrition is predicted be especially severe in the low-lying hot tropics since elevated temperatures may surpass the observed tolerances of most extant species. It is possible, however, that the estimated temperature niches of many species are inaccurate and truncated with respect to their true tolerances due to the absence of hotter areas under current global climate. If so, these species will be capable of persisting in some areas where future temperatures exceed current temperatures, reducing rates of biotic attrition. Here, we use natural history collections data to estimate the realized thermal niches of > 2000 plant species from the tropical forests of South America. In accord with the truncation hypothesis, we find that the thermal niches of species from hot lowland areas are several degrees narrower than the thermal niches of species from cooler areas. We estimate rates of biotic attrition for South American tropical forests due to temperature increases ranging from 1 to 5 °C, and under two niche assumptions. The first is that the observed thermal niches truly reflect the plant's tolerances and that the reduction in niche breadth is due to increased specialization. The second is that lowland species have the same mean thermal niche breadth as nonlowland and nonequatorial species. The differences between these two models are dramatic. For example, using observed thermal niches we predict an almost complete loss of plant diversity in most South American tropical forests due to a 5 °C temperature increase, but correcting for possible niche truncation we estimate that most forests will retain > 50–70% of their current species richness. The different predictions highlight the importance of using fundamental vs. realized niches in predicting the responses of species to global climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Abstract: The U.S. Department of Energy''s National Energy Technology Laboratory, under the Office of Fossil Energy''s Innovations for Existing Plants Program, carried out a comprehensive Hg research and development program for coal-fired power generation facilities since the mid-1990s. Working collaboratively with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Electric Power Research Institute, power plant operators, state and local agencies, and a host of research organizations and academic institutions, the Program identified the major factors that affect mercury speciation and capture in coal combustion flue gas and funneled this knowledge into the development of a suite of mercury control technologies for the diverse fleet of U.S. coal-fired power plants. The high performance observed during full-scale field testing has given coal-fired power plant operators the confidence to begin deploying technology. As of March 2009, more than 130 full-scale activated carbon injection systems have been ordered by the U.S. coal-fired power generators. These contracts include both new and retrofit installations and represent over 55 GW of coal-based electric generating capacity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier] more...

A meta-analysis was conducted on school-based interventions to reduce obesity in children. Sixty-six (k = 66, N = 31,059) comparisons from 40 published studies from 1997 through 2008 were included in analyses. Results indicated a significant effect for school-based interventions with an overall weighted effect size of r = .05. Several moderating factors were examined to explain the heterogeneity in study outcomes. Interventions that were universal (k = 37, r = .07), conducted in elementary schools (k = 41, r = .06), implemented collaboratively (k = 19, r = .12), primarily included children of Asian ethnicity (k = 5, r = .30), encouraged nutritional change (k = 28, r = .13), and sought to reduce sedentary behaviors (k = 17, r = .15) were identified as more successful in reducing students' obesity-related outcomes. Factors that resulted in negative effects for school-based programs included interventions of short duration (k = 11, r = -.04) and those that implemented system-wide changes in nutrition (k = 15, r = -.03). The variability in study effect sizes is discussed, and recommendations are made for future school-based interventions targeting children. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The author comments on the move by some states such as Maryland and New Jersey to adopt the National Popular Vote (NPV) that calls for a national rather than a federal election for the U.S. President. She says that an NPV legislation violates the Guarantee Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which protects federalism and provides the manner of electing a President through federal election. She states that the Judiciary should determine if a presidential national election can occur through a valid Fifth Article constitutional amendment. more...

The article presents a descriptive epidemiology study of the National Football League Training Camp injuries from 1998 to 2007, wherein football is one of the leading cause of athletic-related injuries in the U.S. Injuries were categorized according to its pattern and rates, as well as the period of time it happened such as training camp practices and preseason games. Results show that there were 72.8 (range, 58-209) injuries per year during training period, and the most common occurred on the first two weeks of training. Whereas, higher rate of injuries occurred during games. The most common injuries during training were knee pain, hamstring strains and contusions. In conclusion, injury rates and patterns varies between training camp practices and preseason games. more...

Abstract: Water availability represents a growing concern for meeting future power generation needs. In the United States, projected population growth rates, energy consumption patterns, and demand from competing water use sectors will increase pressure on power generators to reduce water use. Water availability and use also exhibit strong regional variations, complicating the nature of public policy and technological response. The US Department of Energy''s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is engaged in a research and development (R&D) program to reduce freshwater withdrawal (total quantity of water utilized) and consumption (portion of withdrawal not returned to the source) from existing and future thermoelectric power generating facilities. The Innovations for Existing Plants (IEP) Program is currently developing technologies in 5 categories of water management projects to reduce water use while minimizing the impacts of plant operations on water quality. This paper outlines the freshwater withdrawal and consumption rates for various thermoelectric power generating types and then estimates the potential benefits of IEP program technologies at both the national and regional levels in the year 2030. NETL is working to protect and conserve water resources while leveraging domestic fossil fuel resources, such as coal, to increase national energy security. [Copyright &y& Elsevier] more...

The article discusses several analysis concerning statutory reform and special interests of the collateral source rule on modern American tort law from a public choice perspective. It states that collateral source rule is a normative rule in the common law that applies to recoverable losses in tort actions including medical malpractice, personal injury and wrongly death. Accordingly, a victim can recover full damages from a tortfeasor after the victim has obtained full compensation for damages from the victim's own insurer for the same injurious event. It also notes that statutory reform of the collateral source rule appears to reflect the playing out of competing special interests and shows an excellent opportunity of empirical testing. more...

Numbers of the uninsured in America have risen in the past few years to more than 40 million people, yet relatively little is known about their health communication behaviors. Data from the 2003 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) were used to analyze the relationship among demographics, health status, health insurance status, online health seeking, and amount of attention paid to various media for health. A random sample of 6,369 Americans indicated several statistically significant differences between the insured and uninsured: the uninsured were more likely younger, less educated, and Hispanic. Findings also indicated that those without health insurance reported being less healthy and more distressed and hold a greater risk perception for cancer, compared with their insured counterparts. Health insurance, when controlling for demographics and health status, explained a statistically significant but small amount of variance in both online health seeking and attention to health messages in various other media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

A media agenda setting study was conducted to examine how newspaper stories frame the topic of organ and tissue donation. Seven hundred fifteen stories on organ and tissue donation from 20 newspapers dated 2002 or 2003 were content-analyzed for valence (i.e., positive, negative, or neutral toward organ donation) and topic (e.g., living donation, transplant process, celebrity donor/recipient). The 20 newspapers were chosen by circulation and electronic access of database. Four of the top 5 and 13 of the top 20 circulating newspapers were included and several combinations of search terms were used to identify relevant articles. Results indicate that the majority of articles were either positive (57%) or neutral (29%) regarding the topic of organ donation. The 4 most common topics covered in news articles included: (a) posttransplantation health and welfare, (b) information on the shortage of organ donors, (c) living donation, and (d) information about the transplantation process. Kidneys (n = 204) and hearts (n = 120) were the 2 most commonly mentioned organs in the sample of articles. Results are discussed and how news articles may shape laypersons' attitudes and intentions regarding organ donation is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The article explores the effects of personality and environment on the prevalence of white-collar crime in the United States. White-collar crime involves the abuse of power by upper-echelon businessmen in the service of their corporations. The implementation of Sarbanes-Oxley Act aims to incarcerate the most effective means of curbing white-collar crime in addition to the imposition of fines and criminal shaming. more...

Sunlight volcano is a dissected, but wellpreserved eruptive center in the eastern, high-K belt of the Absaroka volcanic province. On the basis of high-precision [sup 40]Ar/ [sup 39]Ar ages, magmatism at the volcano commenced prior to 49.6 Ma and continued until ca. 48.1 Ma. Stratigraphic relationships along with geochemical and [sup 40]Ar/[sup 39]Ar data distinguish three principal stages of effusive volcanism that are interpreted to reflect the inception, climax, and decay of a crustal magmatic system related to three major pulses of basalt and high eruptive rates. During the first two stages, shoshonitic and latitic lavas with small but distinct compositional ranges accumulated. The third stage included eruption of picritic basaltic lavas and intrusion and solidification of magmas in the volcanic edifice. As this stage produced magmas compositionally more evolved and diverse (basalts to trachytes) than in previous stages, it likely represents the terminal pulse of basalt to the system, followed by cooling, protracted differentiation, and cessation of eruptive activity. Petrographic, geochemical, and Sr and Nd isotope data for Sunlight igneous rocks indicate that crystallization differentiation was the dominant magma-evolution process, although phenocryst accumulation and crustal contamination also occurred. Evidence for phenocryst accumulation is most pronounced in final-stage rocks. This relationship is interpreted to reflect recharge of late magmas into mature chambers laden with crystals deposited during earlier stages. The importance of crystallization differentiation at Sunlight volcano contrasts with recent petrogenetic models for calc-alkaline magmas in the Absaroka volcanic province, which require a more important role for early magma mixing. The results presented here indicate that across-strike increases in K[sub 2]O contents of rocks in the field derive from variations in the conditions of crustal differentiation, rather than from mantle processes... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

In order better to understand the origin and significance of across-strike geochemical variations in the Eocene Absaroka volcanic province (AVP), this article compares compositional data for magmatic rocks from two eruptive centers that define type localities for major stratigraphic subdivisions of the Absaroka Volcanic Supergroup. Geochemical variations for evolved lavas indicate that the calc-alkaline differentiation trend at Washburn volcano results from mixing com-positionally diverse mafic and silicic magmas, whereas the shoshonitic trend at the more easternly Sunlight volcano reflects assimilation-fractional crystallization. The mantle source for both volcanoes is, as shown by incompatible trace element contents and radiogenic isotopic ratios of mafic lavas, largely within ancient depleted lithospheric mantle later enriched by a metasomatic event characterized by low Sm/Nd and Rb/Sr ratios. The approximate timing of the enrichment event, as calculated from Nd isotopic data (2.2-2.0 Ga), is similar to estimates from other magmatic fields in the Wyoming Province. Large variations in trace element ratios of mafic lavas involving large ion lithophile elements (LILE) and light rare earth element that are not obviously reflected in isotopic ratios also indicate a recent (<100 Ma) metasomatic enrichment event. Superficially, the mantle source for Sunlight volcano appears to contain larger amounts of the young metasomatic component, as measured by high LILE/high field strength element (HFSE) ratios. Parental magmas at both volcanoes have similar HFSE contents and HFSE/heavy rare earth element ratios, however, suggesting comparable degrees of source region melting and metasomatism. Rather than variable degrees of metasomatism and partial melting, the geochemical differences between the mafic rocks are best explained by compositional heterogeneity in metasomatic fluids inherited from breakdown of different phases in hydrous peridotite. A consistent geodynamic... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

New curricula designed to integrate basic sciences with clinical medicine have been instituted recently at medical schools across the United States. One evaluation approach that is now widely used to assess students' clinical skills is the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). The OSCE measures clinical competence in a structured, multi-stationed, objective fashion, often using standardized patients (SP). Most OSCE efforts measure clinical skills independent from basic science knowledge at separate stations in the examination. To date a measurement tool has not been documented that measures the integration of scientific knowledge and clinical communication skills in the standardized patient methodology. The article describes the development of an assessment tool to measure students' ability to integrate and apply their basic science knowledge during the clinical exam. Since this new tool measures integration using standardized patients, the instrument will be termed the I-OSCE. The State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in New York State instituted a new systems-based curriculum for first- and second-year medical students in fall 2001. The new curriculum emphasizes integration of basic and clinical sciences in the framework of patient-centered, case-based learning. Assessment of students' clinical skill acquisition was evaluated in a traditional OSCE format that included both interviews and physical examination with SP at the end of each semester. In-room faculty evaluated students using a traditional binary checklist and overall evaluation of the encounter by means of a four-point Likert scale. The I-OSCE merits attention for several reasons. It also represents a first effort to assess students' demonstrated ability to integrate their basic science knowledge and their clinical communication skills. more...

Assesses the knowledge levels of health risks of tobacco use among the Asian American community in the U.S. Association between smoking and increased risk of cancer and heart disease; Differences between the knowledge of different ethnic groups; Incidence of a higher awareness level among women and more educated respondents. more...

Examines the manner in which gender affects the decision to seek an elective position in the U.S. Equality of men and women in terms of political ambition and views on campaign environment; Factors contributing to the decision to run for office; Notion that broad patterns of sex-role socialization continue to impede women from full inclusion in the electoral process. more...

Investigates the natural history of kinships in the United States. Significance of ethnography in the study of the human family; Role of blood in establishing consanguinal affinities; Connection of `beaver' conceptions to social relations and genealogy; Influence of Indian geography and social order on Anglo-American colonists. more...

Describes a multiagency model of transition planning to meet the needs of deaf-blind students in Michigan. Teams involved in the project; Activities; Accomplishments; Challenges; Goals for the future. more...