Search

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is an ongoing public health concern in the United States, and relatively little work has addressed how genetic background contributes to OUD. Understanding the genetic contributions to oxycodone‐induced analgesia could provide insight into the early stages of OUD development. Here, we present findings from a behavioral phenotyping protocol using several inbred strains from the Hybrid Rat Diversity Panel. Our behavioral protocol included a modified "up‐down" von Frey procedure to measure inherent strain differences in the sensitivity to a mechanical stimulus on the hindpaw. We also performed the tail immersion assay, which measures the latency to display tail withdrawal in response to a hot water bath. Initial withdrawal thresholds were taken in drug‐naïve animals to record baseline thermal sensitivity across the strains. Oxycodone‐induced analgesia was measured after administration of oxycodone over the course of 2 h. Both mechanical and thermal sensitivity are shaped by genetic factors and display moderate heritability (h2 = 0.23–0.40). All strains displayed oxycodone‐induced analgesia that peaked at 15–30 min and returned to baseline by 2 h. There were significant differences between the strains in the magnitude and duration of their analgesic response to oxycodone, although the heritability estimates were quite modest (h2 = 0.10–0.15). These data demonstrate that genetic background confers differences in mechanical sensitivity, thermal sensitivity, and oxycodone‐induced analgesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Marine Fisheries Service conducts fishery stock assessments to provide the best scientific information available for the U.S. regional fishery management councils. The assessment models applied in the United States are often region specific, although the models share similar mathematical and statistical attributes. However, comprehensive comparison studies identifying similarities and differences among these assessment models remain scarce. We developed a multi-model comparison framework to evaluate the reliability of 4 age-structured assessment models that are commonly used in the United States: the Assessment Model for Alaska, the Age Structured Assessment Program, the Beaufort Assessment Model, and Stock Synthesis. When applied to simulated data, all 4 models produced reliable estimates of assessment quantities of interest, such as fishing mortality, spawning biomass, recruitment, and biological reference points. Although there were differences among models in the calculation of the initial population numbers at age and in the bias adjustment of recruitment, their effects on model outputs were minor when estimation models were configured similarly. In addition, we provide guidelines for converting unfished recruitment and steepness between 2 methods of bias adjustment. We recommend that next-generation stock assessment models include recruitment bias adjustment and that more research be conducted to provide guidelines for which methods might be preferred under which situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of research demonstrates that U.S. politics has become increasingly polarized over the past few decades. In these polarized times, what potential roles might social movements play in bridging divides between, or perhaps further dividing, people across a variety of political and social groups? In this article, we propose a research agenda for social movement studies focused on the prosocial and antisocial outcomes of social movements. Although scholars commonly frame their work on the consequences of social movements in terms of social movements' political, economic, cultural, and biographical outcomes, we suggest a focus on two categories of social movement outcomes (prosocial and antisocial outcomes) that cut across prior theoretical categories, and we show how an emerging body of scholarship has documented such outcomes at micro, meso, and macro levels of analysis. We also consider how emerging scholarship has addressed the sociological question about the conditions under which social movements produce prosocial versus antisocial outcomes. As we argue, attention to prosocial and antisocial outcomes of social movements holds both theoretical implications for social movement research and practical implications for social movements navigating the United States' political and social divides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the relationships between perceived stigma and duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), demographic characteristics, and clinical and psychosocial functioning in persons with a first episode of psychosis (FEP). Method: A total of 399 participants with FEP presenting for treatment at 34 sites in 21 states throughout the United States were evaluated using standardized instruments to assess diagnosis, symptoms, psychosocial functioning, perceived stigma, wellbeing, and subjective recovery. Results: Perceived stigma was correlated with a range of demographic and clinical variables, including DUP, symptoms, psychosocial functioning, and subjective experience. After controlling for symptom severity, perceived stigma was related to longer DUP, schizoaffective disorder diagnosis, more severe depression, and lower wellbeing and recovery. The associations between stigma and depression, wellbeing, and recovery were stronger in individuals with long than short DUP, suggesting the effects of stigma on psychological functioning may be cumulative over the period of untreated psychosis. Conclusion: The findings suggest that independent of symptom severity, perceived stigma may contribute to delay in seeking treatment for FEP, and this delay may amplify the deleterious effects of stigma on psychological functioning. The results point to the importance of reducing DUP and validating interventions targeting the psychological effects of stigma in people with FEP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The application of skin bleaching products to inhibit melanogenesis is a common practice within the African diaspora. Despite the adverse health effects of skin bleaching, rigorous studies investigating skin bleaching behavior among these populations in the United States are limited. In our P30 pilot study, we explored predictors of skin bleaching practice intensity among African and Afro-Caribbean women. Methods: In collaboration with our Community Engagement Core, we conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the relationship between demographic and psychosocial predictors and skin-bleaching-related practice patterns among African and Afro-Caribbean women in New York City. Results: Among the 76 participants recruited, the median age at the initiation of skin bleaching was 19.5 (16–25) years, yielding a median duration of 13.5 (6–23) years. Although pregnant women were not actively recruited for the study, 13.2% (n = 10) of the participants used skin bleaching products while pregnant or possibly breastfeeding. Nativeness and education were associated with various components of skin bleaching practice intensity, including duration of skin bleaching, daily use of products, and bleaching of the entire body. Participants' perceived skin-color-related quality of life was not associated with skin bleaching practice intensity. Conclusion: Skin bleaching is a habitual practice that likely requires culturally sensitive interventions to promote behavioral change. The existence of prenatal and postnatal exposure to mercury, hydroquinone, and other potentially harmful chemicals in skin bleaching products highlights an urgent need to explore the adverse effects of skin bleaching practices on birth outcomes and the growth and neurodevelopment of young babies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article investigates the reason behind the billboards displayed in Greeley, Colorado, in April 2013, having an image that featured three men, dressed in Plains Indian attire holding a shotgun, another holding a hatchet, and the third with arms at his side. It looks at the various interpretation of the billboard caption , "Turn in your arms. The government will take care of you."

Background: Telementoring is a technique that has shown potential as a surgical training aid. Previous studies have suggested that telementoring is a safe training modality. This review aimed to review both the technological capabilities of reported telementoring systems as well as its potential benefits as a mentoring modality.Methods: A systematic review of the literature, up to July 2017, was carried out in accordance with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Study quality was assessed using the Oxford Levels of Evidence proforma. Data were extracted regarding technical capabilities, bandwidth, latency, and costs. Additionally, the primary aim and key results were extracted from each study and analyzed.Results: A total of 66 studies were identified for inclusion. In all, 48% of studies were conducted in general surgery; 22 (33%), 24 (36%), and 20 (30%) of studies reported telementoring that occurred within the same hospital, outside the hospital, and outside the country, respectively. Sixty-four (98%) of studies employed video and audio and 38 (58%) used telestration. Twelve separate studies directly compared telementoring against on-site mentoring. Seven (58%) showed no difference in outcomes between telementoring and on-site mentoring. No study found telementoring to result in poorer postoperative outcomes.Conclusions: The results of this review suggest that telementoring has a similar safety and efficacy profile as on-site mentoring. Future analysis to determine the potential benefits and pitfalls to surgical education through telementoring are required to determine the exact role it shall play in the future. Technological advances to improve remote connectivity would also aid the uptake of telementoring on a larger scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the history of the concept of initial disclosures in the U.S. with regard to the adversarial character of civil discovery. It mentions discovery that had been the hallmark of the new Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in 1938 and direction of early mandatory disclosures followed by tailored discovery and an adversarial process. It also mentions disclosure requirement in the Civil Rules Amendments Act of 1993.

As clinical researchers at academic medical institutions across the United States increasingly manage complex clinical databases and registries, they often lack the statistical expertise to utilize the data for research purposes. This statistical inadequacy prevents junior investigators from disseminating clinical findings in peer-reviewed journals and from obtaining research funding, thereby hindering their potential for promotion. Underrepresented minorities, in particular, confront unique challenges as clinical investigators stemming from a lack of methodologically rigorous research training in their graduate medical education. This creates a ripple effect for them with respect to acquiring full-time appointments, obtaining federal research grants, and promotion to leadership positions in academic medicine. To fill this major gap in the statistical training of junior faculty and fellows, the authors developed the Applied Statistical Independence in Biological Systems (ASIBS) Short Course. The overall goal of ASIBS is to provide formal applied statistical training, via a hybrid distance and in-person learning format, to junior faculty and fellows actively involved in research at US academic medical institutions, with a special emphasis on underrepresented minorities. The authors present an overview of the design and implementation of ASIBS, along with a short-term evaluation of its impact for the first cohort of ASIBS participants. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A substantial amount of healthcare and costs are attributable to arthritis, which is a very common chronic disease. This paper presents the results of a systematic review of arthritis cost studies published from 2008 to 2013. MEDLINE, Embase, EconLit databases were searched, as well as governmental and nongovernmental organization websites. Seventy-one reports met the inclusion/exclusion criteria, and 24 studies were included in the review. Among these studies, common methods included the use of individual-level data, bottom-up costing approach, use of both an arthritis group and a control group to enable incremental cost computation of the disease, and use of regression methods such as generalized linear models and ordinary least squares regression to control for confounding variables. Estimates of the healthcare cost of arthritis varied considerably across the studies depending on the study methods, the form of arthritis and the population studied. In the USA, for example, the estimated healthcare cost of arthritis ranged from $1862 to $14,021 per person, per year. The reviewed study methods have strengths, weaknesses and potential improvements in relation to estimating the cost of disease, which are outlined in this paper. Caution must be exercised when these methods are applied to cost estimation and monitoring of the economic burden of arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: Over 9.6 million ED visits occur annually for abdominal pain in the US, but little is known about the medical outcomes of these patients based on demographics. We aimed to identify disparities in outcomes among children presenting to the ED with abdominal pain linked to race and SES. Methods: Data from 4.2 million pediatric encounters of abdominal pain were analyzed from 43 tertiary US children’s hospitals, including 2.0 million encounters in the emergency department during 2004-2011. Abdominal pain was categorized as functional or organic abdominal pain. Appendicitis (with and without perforation) was used as a surrogate for abdominal pain requiring emergent care. Multivariate analysis estimated likelihood of hospitalizations, radiologic imaging, ICU admissions, appendicitis, appendicitis with perforation, and time to surgery and hospital discharge. Results: Black and low income children had increased odds of perforated appendicitis (aOR, 1.42, 95% CI, 1.32- 1.53; aOR, 1.20, 95% CI 1.14 – 1.25). Blacks had increased odds of an ICU admission (aOR, 1.92, 95% CI 1.53 - 2.42) and longer lengths of stay (aHR, 0.91, 95% CI 0.86 – 0.96) than Whites. Minorities and low income also had lower rates of imaging for their appendicitis, including CT scans. The combined effect of race and income on perforated appendicitis, hospitalization, and time to surgery was greater than either separately. Conclusions: Based on race and SES, disparity of health outcomes exists in the acute ED setting among children presenting with abdominal pain, with differences in appendicitis with perforation, length of stay, and time until surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose To our knowledge there are no studies reporting the use and short-term outcomes of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator ( IV- TPA) for the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke ( AIS) in people living with HIV. Methods The US Nationwide Inpatient Sample ( NIS) (2006-2010) was searched for HIV-infected AIS patients treated with IV- TPA. Results In the NIS, 2.2% (62/2877) of HIV-infected AIS cases were thrombolyzed with IV- TPA (median age 52 years, range 27-78, 32% female, 22% Caucasian) vs. 2.1% (19 335/937 896) of HIV-uninfected cases (median age 72 years, range 17-102 years, 50% female, 74% Caucasian; P = 0.77). There were more deaths in HIV-infected versus uninfected patients with stroke (220/2877, 7.6% vs. 49 089/937 547, 5.2%, P < 0.001) but no difference in the proportion of deaths amongst IV- TPA-treated patients. The age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio for death following IV- TPA administration in HIV-infected versus uninfected patients was 2.26 (95% CI 1.12, 4.58), but the interaction on mortality between HIV and IV- TPA use was not statistically significant, indicating no difference in risk of in-hospital death by HIV serostatus with IV- TPA use. A higher number of HIV-infected patients remained in hospital versus died or were discharged at both 10 and 30 days ( P < 0.01 at 10 and 30 days). No difference in the proportion of intracerebral hemorrhage in the two groups was found ( P = 0.362). Conclusions The in-hospital mortality is higher amongst HIV-infected AIS patients than HIV-uninfected patients. However, the risk of death amongst HIV-infected patients treated with IV- TPA is similar to HIV-uninfected groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the American Civil Justice System and its relevance in 21st century. Topics discussed include efforts for reducing the costs and delays associated with civil litigation in the U.S.; the study of the justice system done by the U.S. Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS) and the American College of Trial Lawyers Task Force; and the need of reform in rules that express incorporation of discovery and judicial case management.

Research about intoxicated witnesses and criminal suspects is surprisingly limited, considering the police believe that they are quite ubiquitous. In the present study, we assessed the involvement of intoxicated witnesses and suspects in the investigation of rape, robbery, and assault crimes by analyzing cases that were referred by the police to a prosecutor's office. Results indicated that intoxicated witnesses and suspects played an appreciable role in criminal investigations: Intoxicated witnesses were just as likely as sober ones to provide a description of the culprit and to take an identification test, suggesting criminal investigators treat intoxicated and sober witnesses similarly. Moreover, intoxicated suspects typically admitted to the police that they had consumed alcohol and/or drugs, and they were usually arrested on the same day as the crime. This archival analysis highlights the many ways in which alcohol impacts testimony during criminal investigations and underscores the need for additional research to investigate best practices for obtaining testimony from intoxicated witnesses and suspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The feasibility of using data from the NASA STEREO mission for variable star and asteroseismology studies has been examined. A data analysis pipeline has been developed that is able to apply selected algorithms to the entire data base of nearly a million stars to search for signs of variability. An analysis limited to stars of magnitude 10.5 has been carried out, which has resulted in the extraction of 263 eclipsing binaries (EBs), of which 122 are not recorded as such in the SIMBAD online data base. The characteristics of the STEREO observations are shown to be extremely well suited to variable star studies with the ability to provide continuous phase coverage for extended periods as well as repeated visits that allow both short- and long-term variability to be observed. This will greatly inform studies of particular stars, such as the pre-cataclysmic variable V471 Tau, as well as the entire classes of stars, including many forms of rotational variability. The high-precision photometry has also revealed a potentially substellar companion to a bright ( R= 7.5 mag) nearby star (HD 213597), detected with 5σ significance. This would provide a significant contribution to the exoplanet research if follow-up observations ascertain the mass to be within the planetary domain. Some particularly unusual EBs from the recovered sample are discussed, including a possible reclassification of a well-known star as an EB rather than a rotational variable (HR 7355) and several particularly eccentric systems, including very long period EBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study design:Post hoc analysis from a randomized controlled cellular therapy trial in acute, complete spinal cord injury (SCI).Objectives:Description and quantitative review of study logistics, referral patterns, current practice patterns and subject demographics.Setting:Subjects were recruited to one of six international study centers.Methods:Data are presented from 1816 patients pre-screened, 75 participants screened and 50 randomized.Results:Of the 1816 patients pre-screened, 53.7% did not meet initial study criteria, primarily due to an injury outside the time window (14 days) or failure to meet neurological criteria (complete SCI between C5 motor/C4 sensory and T11). MRIs were obtained on 339 patients; 51.0% were ineligible based on imaging criteria. Of the 75 participants enrolled, 25 failed screening (SF), leaving 50 randomized. The primary reason for SF was based on the neurological exam (51.9%), followed by failure to meet MRI criteria (22.2%). Of the 50 randomized subjects, there were no significant differences in demographics in the active versus control arms. In those participants for whom data was available, 93.8% (45 of 48) of randomized participants received steroids before study entry, whereas 94.0% (47 of 50) had spine surgery before study enrollment.Conclusion:The 'funnel effect' (large numbers of potentially eligible participants with a small number enrolled) impacts all trials, but was particularly challenging in this trial due to eligibility criteria and logistics. Data collected may provide information on current practice patterns and the issues encountered and addressed may facilitate design of future trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A logistic regression model (M4) was developed in the UK to predict the outcome for women with a pregnancy of unknown location (PUL) based on the initial two human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) values, 48 h apart. The purpose of this paper was to assess the utility of this model to predict the outcome for a woman (PUL) in a US population.Methods: Diagnostic variables included log-transformed serum hCG average of two measurements, and linear and quadratic hCG ratios. Outcomes modeled were failing PUL, intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) and ectopic pregnancy (EP). This model was applied to a US cohort of 604 women presenting with symptomatic first-trimester pregnancies, who were followed until a definitive diagnosis was made. The model was applied before and after correcting for differences in terminology and diagnostic criteria.Results: When retrospectively applied to the adjusted US population, the M4 model demonstrated lower areas under the curve compared with the UK population, 0.898 versus 0.988 for failing PUL/spontaneous miscarriage, 0.915 versus 0.981 for IUP and 0.831 versus 0.904 for EP. Whereas the model had 80% sensitivity for EP using UK data, this decreased to 49% for the US data, with similar specificities. Performance only improved slightly (55% sensitivity) when the US population was adjusted to better match the UK diagnostic criteria.Conclusions: A logistic regression model based on two hCG values performed with modest decreases in predictive ability in a US cohort for women at risk for EP compared with the original UK population. However, the sensitivity for EP was too low for the model to be used in clinical practice in its present form. Our data illustrate the difficulties of applying algorithms from one center to another, where the definitions of pathology may differ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonideal habitat selection occurs when preferred habitat attributes differ from those associated with increased fitness. These mismatches have been widely studied in open cup-nesting birds, but the relationship between habitat-associated preferences and fitness in cavity-nesting birds has received relatively little attention. We studied patterns of preference and fitness during 2006-2007 in an Idaho, USA, population of Red-naped Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus nuchalis S.F. Baird, 1858). Using a suite of nonparametric tests, we examined the associations between habitat attributes and both nesting-area preferences and nest productivity (number of fledglings per pair) across four spatial scales. Nest productivity was associated with tree- and cavity-scale attributes, whereas preference was associated with attributes of home ranges. Live trees and southeasterly oriented cavities had higher nest productivity but were not preferred. Microclimates in nests with these attributes may enhance nestling survival, whereas nonpreference for these attributes may be due to energetic constraints in some individuals. Additional studies comparing patterns of nonideal habitat selection between open-cup nesters and cavity nesters should advance our understanding of how life-history characteristics influence selection patterns. La sélection non idéale de l’habitat se produit lorsque les caractéristiques de l’habitat diffèrent des caractéristiques associées à un accroissement de la fitness. Ces désassortiments ont été bien étudiés chez les oiseaux qui nichent dans des cuvettes ouvertes, mais les relations entre les préférences associées à l’habitat et la fitness chez les oiseaux qui nichent dans des cavités ont été peu examinées. Nous avons étudié en 2006-2007 les patrons de préférence et la fitness dans une population de pics à nuque rouge (Sphyrapicus nuchalis S.F. Baird, 1858) d’Idaho, É.-U. À l’aide d’une série de tests non paramétriques, nous examinons les associations entre les caractéristiques de l’habitat et à la fois les préférences de site de nidification et la productivité des nids (nombre de petits à l’envol par couple) sur quatre échelles spatiales. La productivité des nids est associée aux caractéristiques à l’échelle de l’arbre et de la cavité, alors que la préférence est associée aux caractéristiques de l’aire vitale. Les arbres vivants et les cavités orientées vers le sud-est entraînent une productivité des nids supérieure, mais ils ne sont pas préférés. Les microclimats dans les nids qui possèdent ces caractéristiques améliorent peut-être la survie des petits au nid, alors que l’absence de préférence pour ces caractéristiques peut être due à des contraintes énergétiques chez certains individus. Des études supplémentaires qui compareraient les patrons de sélection non idéale des habitats chez les nidificateurs en cuvette et en cavité devraient améliorer notre compréhension de l’influence des caractéristiques du cycle biologique sur les patrons de sélection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the development and assessment of theater-as-education component which is considered as an effective tool for preventing risk-taking behaviors among youth in the U.S. It discusses research where four specific objectives for the theater-delivered intervention was delivered and notes that the decision to take a theater-as-education approach to tobacco and alcohol education was based on a research finding. Furthermore, it mentions that the program's impact on youth's attitudes and perceptions concerning risk-taking behaviors such as the use of tobacco and alcohol are presented.

Government agencies striving to make geospatial information systems interoperable and cost-effective often appear to function as a self-regulating network shaped only by internal trust and reciprocity. However, recent public management research suggests that external steering of a network, exercised by authoritative bodies through hierarchical means, may invigorate cross-agency coordination. The two case studies of federal geospatial coordination in Canada and the USA confirm this emerging theory of network-hierarchy dynamics. In these countries, the central budget agency (CBA) is influencing resource flows and accountabilities within a federal geospatial network of government agencies, which in turn affects how these agencies deliver 'joined up' services. The CBA relies upon three types of tools: the shaping of network governing structures, promotion of uptake of new management information systems, and the use of evaluation (scrutiny) to solidify accountabilities of the network. Since these tools cast a shadow of hierarchy upon the network, they may be viewed as counter to the voluntary ethos of networks. However, the case studies suggest that the CBA's actions appear to confer legitimacy to the network—resulting in a seeming contradiction—greater central control, more vigorous, distributed geospatial coordination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molten fluorides were initially developed for use in the nuclear industry as the high-temperature fluid fuel for the Molten Salt Reactor (MSR). The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy is exploring the use of molten salts as primary and secondary coolants in a new generation of solid-fueled, thermal-spectrum, high-temperature reactors. This paper provides a review of relevant properties for use in evaluation and ranking of salt coolants for high-temperature reactors. Nuclear, physical and chemical properties were reviewed, and metrics for evaluation are recommended. Chemical properties of the salt were examined to identify factors that affect materials compatibility (i.e., corrosion). Some preliminary consideration of economic factors for the candidate salts is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure of scientific collaboration networks of the publications of the Indian Institute of Science for a span of 11 years from 1996-2000 is investigated using Bibexcel software as an analytical tool for the data derived from the Web of Science database. The study analyses the author productivity, discipline-wise and institution-wise collaboration and national and international collaboration. It is observed from the analysis that large numbers of research publications are collaborative in nature. There is a steady growth in the collaboration during the study period. The top five countries with which IISc is collaborating is: USA, Japan, France, Germany and UK. Major disciplines in which collaboration is observed are: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering and Materials Science. The top five institutions with which IISc is collaborating are: Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Science Research, Indian Institute of Technology, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and University of Madras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African-American men die from prostate cancer (PC) nearly twice as often as white US men and consume about twice as much of the predominant US dietary heterocyclic amine, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), a genotoxic rat-prostate carcinogen found primarily in well-cooked chicken and beef. To investigate the hypothesis that PhIP exposure increases PC risk, an ongoing prospective clinic-based study compared PC screening outcomes with survey-based estimates of dietary PhIP intake among 40–70-year-old African-American men with no prior PC in Oakland, CA. They completed food-frequency and meat-cooking/consumption questionnaires and had a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and digital-rectal exam. Results for 392 men indicated a 17 (±17) ng/kg day mean (±1 s.d.) daily intake of PhIP, about twice that of white US men of similar age. PhIP intake was attributable mostly to chicken (61%) and positively associated (R2=0.32, P<0.0001) with saturated fat intake. An odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 31 (3.1–690) for highly elevated PSA 20 ng/ml was observed in the highest 15% vs lowest 50% of estimated daily PhIP intake (30 vs 10 ng/kg day) among men 50+ years old (P=0.0002 for trend) and remained significant after adjustment for self-reported family history of (brother or father) PC, saturated fat intake and total energy intake. PSA measures were higher in African-American men with positive family history (P=0.007 all men, P<0.0001 highest PSA quartile). These preliminary results are consistent with a positive association between PhIP intake and highly elevated PSA, supporting the hypothesis that dietary intervention may help reduce PC risk.Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases (2007) 10, 261–269; doi:10.1038/sj.pcan.4500941; published online 16 January 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Patients receiving cancer treatments commonly experience haematological adverse effects (AEs) related to chemotherapy or molecularly targeted therapies, which may be associated with high healthcare costs. The objective of this review was to summarise the published literature on the economic burden of neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and anaemia as AEs of cancer treatment. METHODS: A systematic search of the medical literature published between 1990 and 2006 was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOSIS, related article links and supplemental searches. References selected for inclusion were prospective or retrospective studies specifically designed to examine the burden of illness, direct medical costs, indirect costs and/or cost drivers associated with neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and anaemia in adult cancer patients. All costs are reported as originally published and adjusted to 2006 US dollars. RESULTS: In the US, the cost of neutropenia ranged from $US1893 (2006 value $US2632) per outpatient episode to $US38 583 ($US49 917) per febrile neutropenia hospitalisation. For countries outside the US, the cost of neutropenia appeared to be lower. The cost of thrombocytopenia ranged from $US1035 ($US1395) to $US5328 ($US7635) per cycle or episode in the US. Costs attributable to anaemia ranged from $US18 418 ($US22 775) to $US69 478 ($US93 454) per year in the US. The costs of AEs for patients with haematological malignancies appeared to be up to 2–3 times higher than those for patients with solid tumours. Economic studies of the cost of haematological AEs specific to new molecularly targeted treatments for haematological malignancy have not been published. CONCLUSIONS: Chemotherapy-related haematological AEs result in a substantial economic burden on patients, payers, caregivers and society in general. Because of their burden, the frequency and severity of these toxicities should be one of the key factors in the selection of optimal treatments for patients with cancer, especially those with haematological malignancies. Future research is needed to assess the economic burden of AEs associated with new molecularly targeted treatments for haematological malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the order of limitation for Lys, Thr, and Val in corn-soybean meal diets of lactating sows experiencing high BW loss during lactation. Plasma urea N (PUN) was used as the response criterion. Experimental diets used in all 3 experiments were derived from the basal diet (BSL) formulated to 0.51% Lys using corn and soybean meal as the only sources of AA. The BSL diet was formulated by diluting a reference corn-soybean meal diet (17.2% CP, 0.90% Lys, 0.65% Thr, 0.82% Val, and 0.28% Met) with cornstarch, sucrose, and soybean oil to maintain the same ratio of corn to soybean meal. Experiment 1 was conducted to determine whether PUN is sensitive to dietary Thr and Val levels and whether a 4-d feeding period was adequate to observe a PUN response. The results demonstrated that PUN could be used as the response criterion and that a 4-d feeding period was adequate. Experiment 2 was conducted to determine whether Thr or Val was most limiting in the BSL diet. Dietary treatments used in Exp. 2 consisted of 1) BSL supplemented with 0.09% L-Lys and 0.02% DL-Met, which served as the negative control (NC2); 2) NC2 plus 0.14% L-Thr (NC2 + T); 3) NC2 plus 0.17% L-Val (NC2 + V); and 4) NC2 plus 0.14% L-Thr and 0.17% L-Val (NC2 + T + V). The value for PUN was lower for the NC2 + T and NC + T + V treatments compared with the NC2 and NC2 + V treatments (5.18 and 5.33 vs. 6.43 and 6.62; P < 0.01), indicating that Thr was most limiting in the NC2 diet. Experiment 3 was conducted to determine whether Thr or Lys was most limiting in the BSL diet. Dietary treatments used in Exp. 3 consisted of 1) the BSL diet supplemented with 0.02% DL-Met only, which served as the negative control diet (NC3); 2) the NC3 diet supplemented with 0.20% L-Lys (NC3 + L); 3) the NC3 diet supplemented with 0.14% L-Thr (NC3 + T); and 4) the NC3 diet supplemented with 0.20% L-Lys and 0.14% L-Thr (NC3 + L + T). The value for PUN was lower for NC3 + L compared with NC3 and NC3 + T (7.45 vs. 9.11 and 8.45 mg/dL; P < 0.01), and PUN for NC3 + L + T was lower than the PUN measured for NC3 + L (5.94 vs. 7.45; P < 0.01). The results of Exp. 2 and 3 indicate that Lys was first-limiting and Thr second-limiting in the BSL diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is the predominant perennial cool-season grass grown in the USA. Typically, tall fescue is infected with the endophyte, Neotyphodium coenophialum Morgan- ones & Gams, which produces alkaloids that are toxic to grazing animals. Nontoxic endophyte-infected cultivars of tall fescue have been developed, but to maximize their utility for profitable livestock production a better understanding of conditions affecting seed and tiller transmission is needed to maintain endophytes in seed. Our understanding of mechanisms of endophyte transmission in planta is limited. Seasonal variations of endophyte in established tall fescue pastures in Watkinsville, GA, and seed fields near Salem, OR, were examined. Growth chamber experiments were conducted to examine temperature effects on plant and endophyte growth and to determine the cardinal minimum temperatures for each. Endophyte frequency varied over months in both Georgia and Oregon. Frequency averaged 93.4% when sampled April through December, but was 80.5% when sampled January through March in Georgia. Frequency averaged 64.5% when sampled February through April, but was 88.6% during other months in Oregon. Cardinal minimum temperature for plant growth was 5.2°C (± 0.5), but for endophyte was 10.3°C (± 0.7). Temperature appears to be a major variable affecting fluctuation of endophyte frequency in plant tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the following questions: What makes the community of practice concept an intriguing framework for developing library services for bioinformatics? What is the campus context and setting? What has been the Health Sciences Library's role in bioinformatics at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill? What are the Health Sciences Library's goals? What services are currently offered? How will these services be evaluated and developed? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The prevalence of asthma among children has been increasing in the United States and it is estimated that there are approximately 5 million children with asthma. This cross-sectional survey sought to estimate the prevalence of asthma and asthma symptoms and potential risk factors among children aged 16 and younger, in a largely rural population in the USA.Methods: This study was a telephone survey of 1500 households in the South Plains/Panhandle region of Texas. Parents of children were interviewed with a response rate of 64%. Having been diagnosed with asthma by a physician and a report of wheezing in the last 12 months were used as dependent variables in multivariate logistic regressions with several sociodemographic and environmental factors as potential confounders.Results: The age-adjusted prevalence of asthma and wheezing among children were approximately 15 and 18%, respectively. The prevalence of asthma was highest (20%) among children aged 11-16 (P < 0.001). Living in urban areas was associated significantly with asthma and wheezing. Non-Hispanic blacks reported significantly increased odds of asthma in their children (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.04, 95%CI 1.02-4.08), whereas Mexican-Americans reported significantly reduced odds of asthma (adjusted OR = 0.48, 95%CI 0.29-0.78) and wheezing (adjusted OR = 0.58, 95%CI 0.37-0.89) in their children. The odds of asthma (adjusted OR = 1.78, 95%CI 1.09-2.92) and wheezing (adjusted OR = 2.45, 95%CI 1.52-3.95) was highest among children in the highest body mass index quartile. No significant association with pet ownership and exposure to second-hand smoke with asthma and wheezing was observed in this study.Conclusion: Urban residence, non-Hispanic black and Mexican-American race/ethnicity, and being overweight were significantly associated with the increased risk of asthma and/or wheezing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A historical review of research on sea fog is presented. The period of interest is essentially the twentieth century, beginning with the celebrated work of G. I. Taylor in the aftermath of the Titanic tragedy. It has been argued that relative maxima in fog frequency over the North Atlantic (including the Brit-ish Isles and the Grand Banks of Newfoundland) and the North Pacific (including the U.S. West Coast) has led to major contributions by scientists in England and the United States. The early work (pre–World War II) tended to be phenomenological—that is, conceptual with broad inference from statistical summaries. Yet, this early work laid the foundation for the numerical modeling that came with the advent of computers in the postwar period. The subtleties associated with sea fog formation and maintenance are explored by analyzing some of the results from the numerical simulations. The essay ends with a speculative view on our prospects for a more complete understanding of sea fog in light of the earlier contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pilot-scale field simulation was conducted to estimate the air emissions from contaminated dredged material stored in a confined disposal facility (CDF). Contaminated dredged material with a variety of organic chemicals, obtained from Indiana Harbor Canal, was used in the study. It was placed in an outdoor CDF simulator (i.e., a lysimeter of dimensions 4 ft x 4 ft x 2 ft). A portable, dynamic flux chamber was used to periodically measure emissions of various polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). A weather station was set up to monitor and record the meteorological conditions during the experiment. The fluxes of several PAHs were monitored over time for 6 1/2 months. Initial 6-hr average fluxes varied from 2 to 20 ng/cm²/hr for six different PAHs. The flux values declined rapidly for all compounds soon after placement of the dredged material in the CDF. Chemical concentrations derived from flux values were generally of low magnitude compared with ambient standards. Data obtained from the experiment were compared against those predicted using models for air emissions. Model simulations showed that initially the flux was largely from exposed pore water from saturated (wet) sediment, whereas the long-term flux was controlled by diffusion through the pore air of the unsaturated sediment. Model predictions generally overestimated the measured emissions. A rainfall event was simulated, and the dredged material was reworked to simulate that typical of a CDF operation. Increased flux was observed upon reworking the dredged material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare indicators of heterocyclic amine (HCA) exposure with HCA concentrations in home-cooked meat samples.Methods: Pan-fried hamburger and steak samples were obtained from individuals stating a preference for medium, well done and very well done meat. Concentrations of DiMelQx, IFP, MeIQx and PhIP were determined by HPLC.Results: HCA concentrations at the three doneness levels were not significantly different using the participants' self-reported doneness preference to categorize samples. Using doneness levels determined at the time the meat was cooked and photograph analysis to categorize samples, HCA concentrations increased with doneness level and significant differences were observed between the very well done and lower doneness levels. When assigned to doneness levels by photograph analysis, mean concentrations (ng/g cooked meat) of DiMelQx, IFP, MelQx, and PhIP were 0.18, 0.16, 0.65 and 0.47 in well done hamburger and 0.61, 0.74, 1.88 and 2.04 in very well done hamburger. In steak, mean concentrations were 0.24, 0.10, 0.79 and 0.59 in well done steak and 0.45, 0.14, 1.87 and 0.62 in very well done steak.Conclusions: HCA levels in home-cooked meat samples were significantly different when samples were visually classified for doneness, but not when self-reported doneness preference was used to classify doneness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the mandate of the Clean Water Act to protectthe physical, chemical, and biological integrity ofthe USA's wetlands, the use of biota to assess wetlandcondition has not been well explored. During June,1996, we evaluated the response of macroinvertebrateassemblages to fill-culvert highway crossings in twobottomland forested wetlands in North Carolina. Ourobjective was to apply biological assessment methodsand metrics that have been effectively used in streamsto explore their applicability in forested wetlands.We found significant changes in several metrics as afunction of distance from the highway crossings. Arealand numerical taxon richness increased within at least40 m of highway when compared to control locations.Percent dominant taxon values were lowest within 10 mof the highway. Percent herbivores also increasedsignificantly within at least 40 m of the highway,reflecting the lower % crown closure and associatedshift in primary production from trees to herbaceousmacrophytes and algae. The North Carolina BioticIndex, a metric of tolerance, did not reflectassemblage changes near the highway. Ordination andpermutation tests revealed that assemblage compositionwas significantly different from controls at 10 and 40 mdistances from the highway crossings. In particular,algal grazers such as the mayflies Caenissp.and Callibaetissp. responded positively and thedamselflies Ischnuraspp. and the fingernailclams Sphaeriumspp. responded negatively to thecrossings. Favorable algal and herbaceous detritalresources, greater patchiness and habitat complexity,and overall high tolerance to natural stressorsprobably contributed to the increase in taxon richnessnear the highway. However, significant deviation fromcontrol locations indicated the highway was a sourceof perturbation. Our findings illustrate the potentialutility of macroinvertebrate assemblages for wetlandassessment, but suggest the importance of defining thereference condition as well as the need fordevelopment of metrics for specific classes ofwetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Employee Stress and Alcohol Project (ESAP) developed an interactive computer-based alcohol abuse prevention and early intervention program accessible to employees over the Internet. Behavioral health research recommends that specialists develop and provide comprehensive yet cost-effective approaches to alcohol abuse prevention, early intervention, and treatment within the context of workplace managed care. ESAP is implementing this web site for a diverse 8,567-employee work site. ESAP's web site enables employees to self-assess their stress levels, coping styles, and risk for alcohol-related problems. It provides personalized feedback, recommendations, mini-workshops, a drinking journal, links to other online resources, and an interactive forum for direct participant-to-participant communication. ESAP's web site provides resources for employees who are concerned about another individual's drinking as well as information about adolescent alcohol use. This article discusses the implications of incorporating the ESAP web site into worksite alcohol abuse prevention and early intervention programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Because there is no clear consensus as to the predictive value of K-ras gene mutation for survival in patients with lung cancer, we examined the occurrence of K-ras mutations in a large, prospective case series of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Our goals were to define the patient characteristics associated with K-ras mutation and to determine whether mutation of this gene might be a biomarker of patient prognosis.Methods: Consecutive, newly diagnosed patients with lung cancer treated with potentially curative resection over a 4-year period were recruited for study. The mutation status of K-ras codon 12 in each patient's tumor DNA was determined by means of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of archived pathology specimens. Analyses were restricted to adenocarcinoma.Results: There was a statistically significant association between female sex and K-ras mutation after adjustment for carcinogen exposures (odds ratio = 3.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3-7.9); mutations were found only in smokers. Comparison of Kaplan-Meier curves indicated a strong association between K-ras mutation and decreased patient survival (two-sided P =.009); analysis stratified by pathologic staging groups revealed that this association was statistically significant only for stage I tumors (two-sided P =.002). Cox proportional hazards modeling indicated that K-ras codon 12 mutation was a statistically significant predictor of patient survival, after adjustment for the effects of age, sex, and stage (risk ratio = 1.8; 95% CI = 1.1-3.1).Conclusions: After adjustment for environmental exposures, non-small-cell lung tumors in women appear to be more likely than those in men to harbor K-ras mutations, suggesting a possible role of estrogen exposure in either the initiation or the selection of K-ras mutant clones in adenocarcinoma. In addition, our data suggest that K-ras codon 12 mutation is a marker of aggressive NSCLC, as evidenced by its association with decreased patient survival, particularly for early-stage disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the impact of treatment strategies on children's drug refusal skills and drug-related information in the United States. Age of initial drug use; Components correlated with drug refusal; Distinction between the rehearsal-plus procedure from stress inoculation.

The article presents information on the effects of the Growth Management Act (GMA) on planning and administration. The article evaluates the fiscal effect of new growth management systems by examining the impact of the Florida Omnibus Growth Management Act of 1985 on comprehensive planning expenditures of local governments in south Florida. To improve upon earlier growth management programs, Florida established a comprehensive growth management system in 1985 and became the first state to do so. Similar statewide growth management systems were adopted later by New Jersey, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, Georgia and Washington. For past two decades, Florida has been a national leader in the effort to manage growth. The Florida legislature passed the Omnibus Growth Management Act to address the weakness of the earlier growth management laws. The previous empirical studies of the effect of growth management policies and programs can be categorized in two groups. The first group measured the effectiveness through the assessment of residents' satisfaction in growth management communities. The second group examined the effectiveness of growth management by evaluating certain measures on specific criteria.

Objective: To determine the seroprevalence and epidemiologic features of human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV I-II) among an emergency department patient population with a high rate of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection.Design: Prospective survey using identity-unlinked consecutive sampling during a 6-week period in 1988.Setting: Inner-city teaching hospital.Patients: Sequential sample of 2544 adult patients with sufficient excess sera for analysis.Measurements and Main Results: Twenty-eight (1.1%) (95% CI, 0.7% to 1.5%) serum samples were seropositive for HTLV I-II whereas 152 (6.0%) (CI, 5.1% to 6.9%) were seropositive for HIV-1. The age distribution of HTLV I-II was similar to the study population while HIV-1 was concentrated among younger (25 to 44 years) age groups (P less than 0.05). Only 16 (57.1%) HTLV I-II infected patients had identified risk factors; 11 were intravenous drug users, 4 received transfusions, and 1 had heterosexual exposure to a high-risk partner. None of 39 identified homosexual men had HTLV I-II antibodies although 29 (74.3%) were HIV-1 seropositive.Conclusion: HTLV I-II infection may be more prevalent among certain segments of the U.S. population than previously realized and appears to have a different demographic distribution than HIV-1 infection. Although HTLV I-II may represent a nosocomial risk to health care providers, the risk of occupational transmission is probably less than for hepatitis B virus and even HIV-1. Adherence to universal precautions should minimize the risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the purposes and effects of disclosing information to employees and trade union representatives in the U.S. The importance of well-designed control system to provide a feedback of information to an employee about own performance as a matter of routine. Collective bargaining takes place between trade union negotiations and employee representatives in many different sets of circumstances. The decision making in the context of collective bargaining and its potential focus outcomes.

Presents a report by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which summarizes the findings of an investigation of an outbreak of syphilis among men who have sex with men (MSM) in California. Indication of a substantial increase in the number of syphilis cases among MSM; Analysis of data.

Editorial. Observes the lax attitude of medical professionals in the United States regarding the diagnosis of acute HIV infection. Relegation of diagnosis and treatment to specialists; Difficulty of diagnosing acute HIV infection; Sensitivity and specificity rates of p24 antigen assay and HIV-1 plasma viral load assay.

During the summers of 1980 and 1981 Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 23% and Giardia lamblia was isolated from 8% of persons with diarrheal disease acquired in the area of Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. Campylobacter enteritis occurred most frequently in young adults who had been hiking in wilderness areas and was significantly associated with drinking untreated surface water in the week before illness (p less than 0.02 in 1980; p less than 0.005 in 1981). Penner serotype 4 was the commonest serotype isolated from humans and the only serotype isolated from an implicated mountain stream. These studies show that backcountry surface water can be an important source of C. jejuni and that infection with Campylobacter, as well as G. lamblia, should be considered as a cause of diarrhea in those who have recently returned from wilderness areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]