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Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of copper nanoparticles (CuNp) on the clinical performance of a universal adhesive system used as an etch-and-rinse or self-etch strategy., Methods: A total of 216 class V (non-carious lesions) restorations were randomly placed in 36 subjects according to the following groups: ERcu, adhesive in etch-and-rinse with 0.1% CuNp; ERct, adhesive in etch-and-rinse without CuNp; SEcu, adhesive in self-etch with 0.1% CuNp; and Sect, adhesive in self-etch without CuNp. Restorations were evaluated at baseline and at 6, 12, 18, 36, and 48 months, using the FDI and USPHS criteria. Appropriate statistical analyses were performed (α = 0.05)., Results: After 48 months, 14 restorations were lost (two for ERcu, five for SEcu, and seven for SEct) and the retention rates (95% confidence interval [CI]) were 74.1% for ERcu (95% CI 61.1-83.8); 81.5% for ERct (95% CI 69.2-89.6); 64.8% (95% CI 51.5-76.2) for SEcu; and 64.8% (95% CI 51.5-76.2) for SEct, with statistical differences between SEct vs. ERct and SEcu vs. ERct (p < 0.05). No significant differences between the groups were observed when the secondary parameters were evaluated (p > 0.05). Nineteen restorations (two for ERcu, two for ERct, six for SEcu, and nine for SEct) showed minor marginal staining, and 44 restorations (7 for ERcu, 8 for ERct, 14 for SEcu, and 15 for SEct) presented minimal marginal adaptation defects., Significance: This is the first long-term clinical trial to show that the addition of CuNp to a universal adhesive system does not affect clinical performance., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To explore the nature and extent of peer-reviewed literature related to the use of diagnostic imaging by nurse practitioners (NPs) to inform future practice and research., Background: Nurse practitioners undertake advanced assessment, diagnosis, and management of patients, including requesting and interpretation of diagnostic imaging. It is unclear what evidence exists related to the quality use of radiological investigations by NPs in recent years., Design: A scoping review based on the steps suggested by the Joanna Briggs Institute., Methods: A structured review of the databases Medline, CINAHL and Embase was undertaken using the keywords and MESH terms 'nurse practitioner', 'medical imaging', 'diagnostic imaging', 'scan' and 'radiography'. Only English language articles were included, and no date limit was applied. Database review was completed on 30 May 2021., Results: Eight themes were identified-country and clinical context, requesting diagnostic imaging, performing diagnostic imaging, image-guided interventions, interpreting diagnostic imaging, training education and knowledge, impact on resource usage and comparison with medical practitioners. There were more studies across a greater breadth of clinical specialties and imaging modalities in the United States than in other countries. Nurse practitioner practice is frequently benchmarked against that of medical colleagues. There is a paucity of studies focusing on educational preparation and the lack of relevant university curricula for NPs around diagnostic imaging., Conclusion: There are significant gaps in the evidence outside of the United States across several of the identified themes. Further studies are needed to explore NP access to and use of diagnostic imaging and to understand the barriers and facilitators to this., Relevance to Clinical Practice: Studies from four countries were included in this review. The evidence suggests that, where studied, nurse practitioners (NPs) can safely and appropriately request and interpret plain x-rays in the emergency and minor injuries setting. Further research is needed to evaluate the educational needs of NPs in relation to diagnostic imaging and their use of advanced imaging techniques, particularly outside of the United States., Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: To evaluate the influence of the sonic device on the clinical performance of one‐step self‐etch adhesive systems in non‐carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) after 18 months. Materials and methods: Forty patients participated in this study. Eighty restorations were assigned to two groups (n = 40): Sonic application and Manual application. After the adhesive application (iBond Self‐Etch, Kulzer, Hanau, Germany), NCCLs were restored using composite resin (Charisma, Kulzer, Hanau, Germany). The restorations were evaluated at baseline and after 18 months both according to the Word Dental Federation (FDI) and the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria. Friedman repeated measures analysis of variance by rank and Wilcoxon test for significance in each pair were applied (α = 0.05). Results: After 18 months, 38 patients were evaluated. Twenty‐three restorations were lost (19 for manual vs. 4 for sonic application). The retention rates (95% confidence interval) were 50% (CI 34.8%–65.1%) for manual application and 84.2% (CI 69.6%–92.6%) for sonic application (p < 0.05). Twelve restorations showed marginal staining (nine for manual vs. three for sonic application; FDI, p < 0.05) and nine some marginal discrepancy (seven for manual vs. two for sonic application; FDI, p < 0.05). No restorations showed postoperative sensitivity and caries recurrence at the time. Conclusion: The sonic application increases the retention rate of iBond Self‐Etch after 18 months of clinical evaluation in NCCLs. Clinical relevance: The application of a simplified self‐etch adhesive (iBond Self‐Etch) associated to a sonic device seems to be an alternative to improve the clinical behavior in NCCLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly 100 million of the 170 million composite and amalgam restorations placed annually in the United States are replacements for failed restorations. The primary reason both composite and amalgam restorations fail is recurrent decay, for which composite restorations experience a 2.0–3.5‐fold increase compared to amalgam. Recurrent decay is a pernicious problem—the standard treatment is replacement of defective composites with larger restorations that will also fail, initiating a cycle of ever‐larger restorations that can lead to root canals, and eventually, to tooth loss. Unlike amalgam, composite lacks the inherent capability to seal discrepancies at the restorative material/tooth interface. The low‐viscosity adhesive that bonds the composite to the tooth is intended to seal the interface, but the adhesive degrades, which can breach the composite/tooth margin. Bacteria and bacterial by‐products such as acids and enzymes infiltrate the marginal gaps and the composite's inability to increase the interfacial pH facilitates cariogenic and aciduric bacterial outgrowth. Together, these characteristics encourage recurrent decay, pulpal damage, and composite failure. This review article examines key biological and physicochemical interactions involved in the failure of composite restorations and discusses innovative strategies to mitigate the negative effects of pathogens at the adhesive/dentin interface. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B:2466–2475, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Parents' beliefs, practices, and goals for children vary across cultures in the extent to which they promote dimensions of independence and interdependence. Parental preferences also vary within cultures according to nativity, generation status, and education level. Yet, within-culture studies of parenting among Mexican Americans are extremely scarce, especially among parents of young children. Methods: In this study, 103 Mexican American mothers of one- to six-year-old children (M = 4.6 years) completed two questionnaires measuring (1) beliefs about the importance of socialization practices with young children, and (2) long-term goals and values for children as adults. We investigated differences in seven scales across three dimensions of independence and interdependence: agency, conformity, and relatedness. Results: Practice beliefs and long-term goals varied according to mother's generation status, controlling for maternal education. Later generation mothers were more concerned with promoting autonomy (agency) (F2,97 = 6.85, partial eta squared =.12), and less with teaching obedience and manners (conformity) (F2,97 = 7.33, partial eta squared =.13), than earlier generation mothers. While they continued to value close relationships (relatedness), third generation mothers attached somewhat less importance to this long-term goal than earlier generation mothers (F2,97 = 4.89, partial eta squared =.09). Finally, generation status moderated relations between maternal education and teaching obedience and manners: maternal education level was more strongly negatively associated with the belief in teaching obedience and manners in third generation than in second-generation mothers (b = −.123, F3,99 = 16.911, R2 =.346, p <.001). Conclusions: Despite these intergenerational trends, across all generations, Mexican-origin mothers highly valued aspects of both agency and conformity as well as relatedness, providing further support for the emotional interdependence cultural model of parenting. This study increases our knowledge of Mexican American mothers' beliefs and goals, and may inform the design of evidence-based, culturally-sensitive interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Drug injection initiation is often assisted by a person who injects drugs (PWID). How often PWID provide this assistance has not been examined. We examine frequency of injection initiation assistance and factors associated with high (4+) and low frequency (1–3) initiation assistance as compared to no initiation assistance among PWID. Methods: Participants were 979 Californian PWID. PWID were interviewed about providing injection initiation assistance in the last 6 months among other items. Multinomial regression analysis was used to examine factors associated with levels of frequency of injection initiation assistance. Results: Among participants, 132 (14%) had initiated 784 people into injection (mean = 5.94 [standard deviation = 20.13]; median = 2, interquartile range = 1,4) in the last 6 months. PWID engaged in high frequency initiation (26% of sample) assisted 662 new initiates (84% of total). Using multinomial regression analysis with no initiating as the referent group, we found that high frequency initiating was statistically associated with higher injection frequency, having a paying sex partner, taking someone to a shooting gallery, and providing injection assistance. Lower frequency initiation was statistically associated with having a paying sex partner, illegal income source, and providing injection assistance. Conclusion: Differences between high and low frequency initiators were not found. Sex work and assisting with drug injection were linked to initiating others. Individual-level interventions that reduce this behavior among PWID and structural interventions such as safe consumption sites and opioid medication treatments that interrupt the social process of injection initiation should be considered as ways to reduce injection initiations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allegations of bias in administrative environmental decisions are common and seemingly increasing because of the significant economic and political interests in many disputes. From high profile national oil spills to local land use matters, parties to environmental proceedings allege conflicts of interest, favoritism, prejudgment of outcomes, comingling of prosecutorial and adjudicatory functions, ex parte communications, and improper political influence. Where bias occurs, it can significantly impact the implementation and enforcement of environmental laws. Biased proceedings can undermine the goals of environmental laws by causing prejudiced decisions not grounded in law or fact, ultimately harming public health and the environment. The mere perception of unfair proceedings can undermine the credibility of environmental agencies and erode support for and compliance with environmental programs. Despite the prevalence of allegations of bias and their impacts, there has been no systematic effort to address the types of improprieties that arise in environmental proceedings and the application of legal rules governing bias in those proceedings. This Article addresses that gap through both a doctrinal and empirical examination. It examines the basic principles governing fairness in administrative proceedings and illustrates how environmental cases have dealt with allegations of biased decision makers. It then provides the results of the first comprehensive empirical study of cases dealing with bias in environmental proceedings, finding that while courts do not often find agency decisions unlawful on grounds of bias, claims have increased over the last four decades and, in some types of cases, have reasonable rates of success. The Article concludes with observations on addressing bias and suggests refoims that would provide greater fairness in the handling of potential bias issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The collateral order doctrine is perhaps the most significant exception to the general rule that only final judgments are appealable. The doctrine is particularly important in antitrust litigation when a defendant asserts state action immunity, often referred to as Parker immunity. However, the circuit courts have struggled with the question of whether a denial of Parker immunity is immediately appealable as a collateral order. This unsettled procedural issue is further complicated by the fact that the substantive law on Parker immunity differs depending on the entity asserting state action. This Article argues that a governmental entity that is deemed part of a state should be able to use the interlocutory appeal process to obtain review of an order denying Parker immunity. On the other hand, government defendants deemed not part of the state, as well as private entities, should not be able to immediately appeal an adverse state action determination under the collateral order doctrine. In addition, this Article explores the collateral order doctrine's applicability in FTC adjudicatory proceedings. Cases such as North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners v. FTC and FTC v. Phoebe Putney Health System, Inc. demonstrate the Supreme Court's renewed interest in the scope of state action immunity. However, the question of whether a denial of Parker immunity is immediately appealable under the collateral order doctrine is also an important issue and is addressed in this Article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on private regulation skepticism in the U.S. Topics include the private due process doctrine, the mandatory discretionary distinction, and the challenges that come with private regulation. Information is provided on non-delegation and antitrust challenges, remedies for antitrust violations, and state action immunity.

This study was designed to describe multicultural training practices in occupational therapy programs. A survey was sent to occupational therapy programs in the United States to gather information on multicultural content, skills, and teaching methods as well as diversity context and challenges. The response rate was 54%%. The most frequently covered multicultural content was related to cultural background and sociopolitical factors. Multicultural skills covered most often were practice oriented and interpersonal skills. Teaching methods reported as used most often differed from the methods thought by the respondents to be most effective. Programs reported multiple challenges to multicultural training including lack of time and lack of diversity in the student body, faculty, and environment. Results suggest that educators may need to expand multicultural content and skills to prepare occupational therapy students for providing care in increasingly diverse practice settings. In addition, increased use of teaching methods that focus on exposure to diverse populations and reflection may be needed to improve the effectiveness of multicultural training in occupational therapy programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relocation cases … present some of the knottiest and most disturbing problems that our courts are called upon to resolve… the court must weigh the paramount interests of the child, which may or may not be in irreconcilable conflict with those of one or both of the parents.[1] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses clarifications of the U.S. state action and Noerr-Perrington doctrine exemptions in March 2004. Issues with regard to the Noerr doctrine; Interpretation of the clear articulation requirement; Elaboration of the standards for the active supervision requirement; Consideration on the explicit recognition of a market participant exception to the state action doctrine.

Points out that the common law governing the employment of labor in the U.S. makes the distinction between employees and independent contractors and between employees characterized as servants and agents. Use of written contracts to support the granting of decision-making authority or agency to workers; Clauses and characteristics of employment contracts; Establishment of employment relationships.

US analysts and decision-makers interested in comparative health policy typically turn to European perspectives, but Brazil--notwithstanding its far smaller gross domestic product and lower per capita health expenditures and technological investments--offers an example with surprising relevance to the US health policy context. Not only is Brazil comparable to the United States in size, racial/ethnic and geographic diversity, federal system of government, and problems of social inequality. Within the health system the incremental nature of reforms, the large role of the private sector, the multitiered patchwork of coverage, and the historically large population excluded from health insurance coverage resonate with health policy challenges and developments in the United States. (Am J Public Health. 2003;93: 44-48) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]