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Key Points: Question: Is administration of antenatal corticosteroids to individuals at risk of late preterm delivery, originally shown to improve short-term neonatal respiratory outcomes but with an increased rate of hypoglycemia, associated with adverse childhood neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 6 years or older? Findings: There were no statistically significant differences in the primary outcome, a General Conceptual Abilities score of less than 85, between the betamethasone (17.1%) and placebo (18.5%) groups. No differences in any secondary outcomes were observed. Meaning: In this follow-up study of a randomized clinical trial, antenatal corticosteroids in persons at risk of late preterm delivery were not associated with adverse effects on childhood neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 6 years or older. Importance: The Antenatal Late Preterm Steroids (ALPS) trial changed clinical practice in the United States by finding that antenatal betamethasone at 34 to 36 weeks decreased short-term neonatal respiratory morbidity. However, the trial also found increased risk of neonatal hypoglycemia after betamethasone. This follow-up study focused on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes after late preterm steroids. Objective: To evaluate whether administration of late preterm (34-36 completed weeks) corticosteroids affected childhood neurodevelopmental outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants: Prospective follow-up study of children aged 6 years or older whose birthing parent had enrolled in the multicenter randomized clinical trial, conducted at 13 centers that participated in the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network cycle from 2011-2016. Follow-up was from 2017-2022. Exposure: Twelve milligrams of intramuscular betamethasone administered twice 24 hours apart. Main Outcome and Measures: The primary outcome of this follow-up study was a General Conceptual Ability score less than 85 (−1 SD) on the Differential Ability Scales, 2nd Edition (DAS-II). Secondary outcomes included the Gross Motor Function Classification System level and Social Responsiveness Scale and Child Behavior Checklist scores. Multivariable analyses adjusted for prespecified variables known to be associated with the primary outcome. Sensitivity analyses used inverse probability weighting and also modeled the outcome for those lost to follow-up. Results: Of 2831 children, 1026 enrolled and 949 (479 betamethasone, 470 placebo) completed the DAS-II at a median age of 7 years (IQR, 6.6-7.6 years). Maternal, neonatal, and childhood characteristics were similar between groups except that neonatal hypoglycemia was more common in the betamethasone group. There were no differences in the primary outcome, a general conceptual ability score less than 85, which occurred in 82 (17.1%) of the betamethasone vs 87 (18.5%) of the placebo group (adjusted relative risk, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.73-1.22). No differences in secondary outcomes were observed. Sensitivity analyses using inverse probability weighting or assigning outcomes to children lost to follow-up also found no differences between groups. Conclusion and Relevance: In this follow-up study of a randomized clinical trial, administration of antenatal corticosteroids to persons at risk of late preterm delivery, originally shown to improve short-term neonatal respiratory outcomes but with an increased rate of hypoglycemia, was not associated with adverse childhood neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 6 years or older. This prospective follow-up study of a randomized clinical trial evaluates whether antenatal corticosteroids administered to birthing parents at risk of late preterm delivery were associated with adverse neurodevelopmental effects on their offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health professionals who identify as immigrants encounter personal and professional barriers that can impact overall wellbeing. The current study conducted a survey of 108 licensed mental health professionals who identify as immigrants practicing in the United States. The survey included demographics as well as assessments of burnout, social support, and migratory grief and loss. The results of this study highlighted that a combination of higher migratory grief and lower perceived social support significantly predicted higher levels of burnout in mental health professionals. Implications for mental health programs, supervisors, and mentors and suggestions for future research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To understand patients' strabismus surgery experience, including its impact on patients' appearance and psychosocial factors such as anxiety and depression, via trends on popular social media platforms. Methods: TikTok and Instagram were searched for the following post hashtags: "#strabismus," "#strabismussurgery," "#crosseyed," and "#lazyeye." Data regarding date of post, username, gender, city, state, United States or international location, surgical status (preoperative, perioperative, or postoperative), tone (positive or negative), place of treatment, type of post (photo or video), number of likes/views, and number of followers were recorded for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 790 posts (400 TikTok, 390 Instagram) were included. The majority (87.8%) had a positive tone, particularly for Instagram (Instagram = 97.7%, TikTok = 78.3%, P <.01). TikTok had significantly more likes/follower (P <.01), as did negative posts (P <.01). #Lazyeye gained significantly more traction than other hashtags (range: P <.001 to.006). There were no differences in likes/follower for treatment phase (preoperative/perioperative/postoperative), gender, or relative age of poster (adult/parent/child). Conclusions: These findings demonstrated that TikTok and Instagram users tend to share positive strabismus surgical experiences; however, negative posts were associated with more interactive responses from viewers. Colloquial hashtags (eg, #lazyeye) were more likely to gain traction than medical terms. TikTok posts were associated with more engagement than Instagram, which suggests TikTok may be a better platform going forward for patient outreach. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2023;60(6):402–405.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alcohol use has been linked to worse human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) immunologic/virologic outcomes, yet few studies have explored the effects of alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study assessed whether AUD severity is associated with HIV viral suppression and CD4 count in the three cohorts of the Uganda Russia Boston Alcohol Network for Alcohol Research Collaboration on HIV/AIDS (URBAN ARCH) Consortium. Methods: People with HIV (PWH) in Uganda (n = 301), Russia (n = 400), and Boston (n = 251), selected in‐part based on their alcohol use, were included in analyses. Logistic and linear regressions were used to assess the cross‐sectional associations between AUD severity (number of DSM‐5 diagnostic criteria) and (1) HIV viral suppression, and (2) CD4 count (cells/mm3) adjusting for covariates. Analyses were conducted separately by site. Results: The proportion of females was 51% (Uganda), 34% (Russia), and 33% (Boston); mean age (SD) was 40.7 (9.6), 38.6 (6.3), and 52.1 (10.5), respectively. All participants in Uganda and all but 27% in Russia and 5% in Boston were on antiretroviral therapy. In Uganda, 32% met criteria for AUD, 92% in Russia, and 43% in Boston. The mean (SD) number of AUD criteria was 1.6 (2.4) in Uganda, 5.6 (3.3) in Russia, and 2.4 (3.1) in Boston. Most participants had HIV viral suppression (Uganda 92%, Russia 57%, Boston 87%); median (IQR) CD4 count was 673 (506, 866), 351 (201, 542), and 591 (387, 881), respectively. In adjusted models, there were no associations between AUD severity and HIV viral suppression: adjusted odds ratios (AOR) (95%CI) per 1 additional AUD criterion in Uganda was 1.08 (0.87, 1.33); Russia 0.98 (0.92, 1.04); and Boston 0.95 (0.84, 1.08) or CD4 count: mean difference (95%CI) per 1 additional criterion: 5.78 (−7.47, 19.03), −3.23 (−10.91, 4.44), and −8.18 (−24.72, 8.35), respectively. Conclusions: In three cohorts of PWH, AUD severity was not associated with HIV viral suppression or CD4 count. PWH with AUD in the current era of antiretroviral therapy can achieve virologic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines sample characteristics of articles published in "Journal of Applied Psychology" ("JAP") from 1995 to 2008. At the individual level, the overall median sample size over the period examined was approximately 173, which is generally adequate for detecting the average magnitude of effects of primary interest to researchers who publish in "JAP". Samples using higher units of analyses (e.g., teams, departments/work units, and organizations) had lower median sample sizes ("Mdn" [approximately equal to] 65), yet were arguably robust given typical multilevel design choices of "JAP" authors despite the practical constraints of collecting data at higher units of analysis. A substantial proportion of studies used student samples ([image omitted]40%); surprisingly, median sample sizes for student samples were smaller than working adult samples. Samples were more commonly occupationally homogeneous ([image omitted]70%) than occupationally heterogeneous. U.S. and English-speaking participants made up the vast majority of samples, whereas Middle Eastern, African, and Latin American samples were largely unrepresented. On the basis of study results, recommendations are provided for authors, editors, and readers, which converge on 3 themes: (a) appropriateness and match between sample characteristics and research questions, (b) careful consideration of statistical power, and (c) the increased popularity of quantitative synthesis. Implications are discussed in terms of theory building, generalizability of research findings, and statistical power to detect effects. (Contains 6 footnotes, 3 tables, and 1 figure.)

Introduction: Like all United States physicians, ophthalmologists may be implicated in lawsuits claiming fraudulent medical practice. In order to educate, raise awareness, and mitigate fraudulent practice, we reviewed a legal database and analyzed fraud claims in ophthalmology lawsuits. Methods: A retrospective legal literature review was performed on jury verdicts and settlements from the online legal database LexisNexis Academic from 1985 through 2020 that were filed by or against an ophthalmologist, involved a fraud claim, and included a final decision or settlement. Cases were evaluated for factors including demographics of plaintiffs and defendants, type of fraud claim, ophthalmologist party status (plaintiff or defendant), decision outcome, and amount awarded (when applicable). Results: Of the 27 cases analyzed, all ophthalmologist defendants involved were male and the most common sub-specialty for an ophthalmologist defendant was refractive surgery. The most common fraud type was a fraud claim involving a malpractice lawsuit (12 of 27), followed by contract fraud and billing fraud. While the ophthalmologists in malpractice-related fraud cases experienced more rulings in favor of the defendant on the fraud claims (8 of 12), ophthalmologists in billing fraud cases experienced fewer rulings in their favor (0 of 5). Discussion: Ophthalmology lawsuits involving fraud claims occurred in various settings, including malpractice lawsuits, contract cases, and Medicare and Medicaid billing. Defendants were all male and most commonly refractive surgeons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and alcohol use predispose to autonomic/sensory neuropathy, imbalance symptoms, and cognitive impairment—conditions associated with a greater risk of falls—yet it is unclear how to identify people with HIV (PWH) whose drinking is associated with falls. Research on alcohol and falls using the same instruments in different countries could help to specify the level of alcohol use associated with fall risk. We examined whether a consumption‐based measure (the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test‐Consumption [AUDIT‐C]) and/or a symptom‐based measure (DSM‐5 criteria for alcohol use disorder [AUD]) are associated with sustaining a fall among PWH in St Petersburg, Russia and Boston, Massachusetts in the United States. Methods: Separate multivariate logistic regressions were used for each cohort to examine cross‐sectional associations for each alcohol measure predicting fall. Potential confounders included physical functioning, depressive symptoms, and other substance use (measured with the Addiction Severity Index). Results: A fall was reported by 35% (87/251) of the sample in Boston and 12% (46/400) in St Petersburg. Each additional AUD criterion—but not higher AUDIT‐C score—was significantly associated with a fall in both Boston (odds ratio [OR] = 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02, 1.18) and St Petersburg (adjusted OR AOR = 1.10; 95% CI 1.02, 1.18). Heavy alcohol use (>6 drinks/occasion, any vs. none) was associated with more than twice the odds of a fall (AOR = 2.24; 95% CI 1.21, 4.13) in Boston. Conclusions: These findings suggest that while fall risk may vary by setting and population, heavy alcohol use and AUD symptom severity are potential targets for interventions to prevent falls. Studies in diverse global settings advance our understanding of the relationship between alcohol and falls in PWH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Sleep behaviour is an important contributing factor in healthy human ageing and cognitive function. Previous studies have linked sleep deficiency with cognitive decline in older adults. However, there is need for more prospective investigations that focus on specific domains of cognitive function. The present study analysed cross‐sectional and prospective associations between self‐reported sleep and cognitive function in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. Weekday and weekend sleep duration and habitual sleep quality were obtained via questionnaire data. Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone was conducted to assess overall cognitive function, as well as episodic memory and executive function. We found significant trend for both long weekday and weekend sleep (>8 hr) and lower episodic memory scores in the overall sample. Sex‐specific cross‐sectional analysis demonstrated men with longer weekend sleep duration have lower overall cognitive function scores, and a negative association between weekend sleep and episodic memory scores. Women demonstrated a positive association between weekend sleep duration and executive function scores. There was no prospective significance for overall or sex‐specific analysis. Our present results suggest that sleep duration may contribute to cognitive function, and future studies should include objective sleep measurements and focus on the potential cognitive benefits of improving sleep to further elucidate this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The State–Trait Inventory of Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA) is a commonly administered self-report instrument of state–trait cognitive and somatic anxiety. Extant research has consistently supported the intended oblique two-factor scoring structure for the STICSA. However, this model assumes that population-level data have (or approximate) a simple structure and that item-level variance is unidimensional. These assumptions may not be tenable and have unintended consequences for STICSA subscore interpretation. Consequently, we tested these assumptions by fitting confirmatory and exploratory structural equation models to STICSA scores for a diverse sample of college students enrolled at a large Southwestern university in the United States (n = 635). Results indicated that cognitive and somatic factors are not equally robust and that STICSA items appear to measure a nonnegligible mixture of both latent cognitive and somatic anxiety. It is recommended that future research use exploratory structural equation model in tandem with CFA to directly model data complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting stay-at-home orders created a need for assessing elementary, middle, and high school students' experienced stressors associated with the coronavirus situation. In collaboration with a school district wanting information about their students' well-being during the pandemic school shut-down, the current study investigated students' reported types and levels of COVID-19 stressors. Data were collected from 2,738 students from fourth through 12th grade in a suburban Midwestern school district in the United States following school closure related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic were gathered from students via an online survey using Qualtrics. The students rated 20 items (e.g., not motivated to do schoolwork, not going to my school) on stress level. Stressor categories found included Social Isolation, Schoolwork Stress, Fear of COVID-19 Illness, and Missing Events. Middle and high school students reported higher schoolwork stress than did elementary students, and overall, females had higher reported stress on several stressors. The current study has implications for school psychologists including utilizing a tool to assess pandemic-related stressors, using prepandemic normative data in schools with caution, promoting education about COVID-19 to reduce fear, supporting teachers regarding addressing schoolwork stress experienced by students, and teaching students anxiety-reducing strategies such as mindfulness or coping strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have evaluated whether pandemic‐related stressors, worries, and social distancing have affected the mental health of pregnant women during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods: Data came from an online survey of United States pregnant women (n = 715), conducted in May 2020. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale were used to assess depressive symptoms, thoughts of self‐harm, and moderate or severe anxiety. Multiple logistic regressions were used to examine the associations of COVID‐19 experiences with mental health outcomes. Results: Participants were racially diverse. The prevalence of adverse mental health outcomes was 36% for probable depression, 20% for thoughts of self‐harm, and 22% for anxiety. Women who reported family members dying from COVID‐19 had four times higher odds of having thoughts of self‐harm than women who did not experience family death. Depression was more prevalent among women who canceled or reduced medical appointments. Women were more likely to have worse mental health outcomes if they expressed worry about getting financial or emotional/social support, about their pregnancy, or about family or friends. Strict social distancing was positively associated with depression. A higher proportion of adults working from home was inversely associated with depression and thoughts of self‐harm. Conclusion: High percentages of pregnant women had symptoms of depression or anxiety, suggesting an urgent need to screen and treat mental health conditions among pregnant women during the pandemic. Pandemic‐related risks and protective factors are relevant to developing tailored interventions to address the mental health of pregnant women during pandemic circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A large portion of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States have occurred in nursing homes; however, current literature including the frontline perspective of staff working in nursing homes is limited. The objective of this qualitative assessment was to better understand what individual and facility level factors may have contributed to the impact of COVID-19 on Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and Environmental Services (EVS) staff working in nursing homes. Methods: Based on a simple random sample from the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), 7,520 facilities were emailed invitations requesting one CNA and/or one EVS staff member for participation in a voluntary focus group over Zoom. Facility characteristics were obtained via NHSN and publicly available sources; participant demographics were collected via SurveyMonkey during registration and polling during focus groups. Qualitative information was coded using NVIVO and Excel. Results: Throughout April 2021, 23 focus groups including 110 participants from 84 facilities were conducted homogenous by participant role. Staffing problems were a recurring theme reported. Participants often cited the toll the pandemic took on their emotional well-being, describing increased stress, responsibilities, and time needed to complete their jobs. The lack of consistent and systematic guidance resulting in frequently changing infection prevention protocols was also reported across focus groups. Conclusions: Addressing concerns of low wages and lack of financial incentives may have the potential to attract and retain employees to help alleviate nursing home staff shortages. Additionally, access to mental health resources could help nursing home staff cope with the emotional burden of the COVID-19 pandemic. These frontline staff members provided invaluable insight and should be included in improvement efforts to support nursing homes recovering from the impact of COVID-19 as well as future pandemic planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nested within a 5-year examination of Teach for America (TFA) corps members' experiences with learning to teach, this article focuses on the salient theme of "Reform Models" found in data collected when a highly publicized testing cheating scandal was breaking in this urban district. Using constructivist grounded theory, researchers analyzed 5,897 daily reflections written during a year-long, initial certification course. Rigorous, comprehensive, and collaborative data analysis utilizing a multirater/multistage/multiyear process, including ATLAS.ti, researchers' memos, audit trails, and emic perspectives of participant–researchers, assured trustworthiness. Analysis revealed federal accountability policies and education reforms that had profound and negative influences on literacy curriculum, pedagogy, teaching, learning, and classroom practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Texas AVCs tend to occur in dark conditions and on roadways with low ADT. • Wild AVCs cluster near San Antonio while domestic AVCs cluster near border towns. • Wildlife fencing returns the highest benefit to cost ratio of any mitigation strategy. • Significant factors in predicting AVC rates are lane-miles/capita and VMT/capita. Animal-vehicle collisions (AVCs) are a growing problem in the United States, resulting in countless loss of animal life and considerable human injury and death every year, especially to motorcyclists. Due to underreporting, collision data generally provide a very low (highly biased) estimate of actual AVC counts and often lack key details, such as the species of animals involved. However, AVC reports cover entire states and nations, and can illuminate differences in wild versus domestic animal-vehicle collisions through statistical and spatial analysis. 51,522 animal-related crashes were reported to Texas police from 2010 through 2016, at a total cost over $1.3 billion annually to Texas motorists – not including the value of lost animal lives. AVC reports jump twice a day: between 5 and 8 AM and between 5 and 10 PM. Motorists are also significantly more likely to collide with a wild animal during the months of October, November, and December. Wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC) are 64% of total reports, events involving domestic animals (like dogs and cattle) are 31%, and the remaining 5% of reports are unspecified. Most AVCs in the state occur at night in unlit locations, usually on rural roads with very low traffic volumes. Using ordinary least-squares (OLS) regression analysis across Texas' n = 254 counties, this work finds that less densely populated counties, marked as rural, and those with fewer vehicle-miles traveled (VMT) per capita but more lane-miles per capita, tend to experience the greatest number of AVCs per VMT, after controlling for county average rainfall, share of VMT onsystem roadways, job densities, and vehicle ownership (vehicles per capita). Intervention options for the mitigation of animal-vehicle collisions are numerous and diverse. For wildlife collisions specifically, this work finds that large crossing structures (underpasses and overpasses) at the highway link level return benefit-to-cost ratios near 3.0, while their lower-cost counterparts (wildlife fencing and animal detection systems) deliver ratios up to 30. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Q fever is a zoonotic bacterial infection caused by Coxiella burnetii. Chronic Q fever comprises less than five percent of all Q fever cases and, of those, endocarditis is the most common presentation (up to 78% of cases), followed by vascular involvement. Risk factors for chronic Q fever with vascular involvement include previous vascular surgery, preexisting valvular defects, aneurysms, and vascular prostheses. The most common symptoms of chronic Q fever with vascular involvement are nonspecific, including weight loss, fatigue, and abdominal pain. Criteria for diagnosis of chronic Q fever include clinical evidence of infection and laboratory criteria (antibody detection, detection of Coxiella burnetii DNA, or growth in culture). Treatment of chronic Q fever with vascular involvement includes a prolonged course of doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine (≥18 months) as well as early surgical intervention, which has been shown to improve survival. Mortality is high in untreated chronic Q fever. We report a case of chronic Q fever with vascular involvement in a 77-year-old man with prior infrarenal aortic aneurysm repair, who lived near a livestock farm in the southeastern United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Multiple congestion pricing and tolling strategies are investigated. • Different scenarios are considered for an AV-oriented world and an SAV-oriented world. • An agent-based model is adopted for simulations of the Austin, Texas region. • Effects of policies on traffic conditions and social welfare are measured. • More complex and advanced strategies perform better, depending on the studied scenario. Abstract The introduction of autonomous (self-driving) and shared autonomous vehicles (AVs and SAVs) will affect travel destinations and distances, mode choice, and congestion. From a traffic perspective, although some congestion reduction may be achieved (thanks to fewer crashes and tighter headways), car-trip frequencies and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) are likely to rise significantly, reducing the benefits of driverless vehicles. Congestion pricing (CP) and road tolls are key tools for moderating demand and incentivizing more socially and environmentally optimal travel choices. This work develops multiple CP and tolling strategies in alternative future scenarios, and investigates their effects on the Austin, Texas network conditions and traveler welfare, using the agent-based simulation model MATSim. Results suggest that, while all pricing strategies reduce congestion, their social welfare impacts differ in meaningful ways. More complex and advanced strategies perform better in terms of traffic conditions and traveler welfare, depending on the development of the mobility landscape of autonomous driving. The possibility to refund users by reinvesting toll revenues as traveler budgets plays a salient role in the overall efficiency of each CP strategy as well as in the public acceptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the demographic characteristics and geographic distribution of neuro-ophthalmologists practicing in the United States. A cross-sectional study. Neuro-ophthalmologists across the United States. In this cross-sectional study, public databases from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, North American Neuro-ophthalmology Society, American Neurological Association, and American Academy of Neurology were used to identify neuro-ophthalmologists in the United States as of April 2023. Providers' office locations were geocoded using ArcGIS pro, version 2.9 (Esri). Data on age, sex, and residency and fellowship training were collected. Analysis was performed using SPSS 28.0 (IBM Corp.). Neuro-ophthalmologists' demographics, and information about their medical education, postgraduate education, residency training, fellowship training, years in practice, practice environment, and geographic distribution of neuro-ophthalmologists across the United States. A total of 635 neuro-ophthalmologists (436 male, 68.7%) were identified. The majority (599, 94.3%) graduated from an allopathic medical school. Most of the 85 physicians who held a secondary graduate degree had a PhD (54, 63.5%). Although approximately three-quarters (429, 67.6%) completed their residency in ophthalmology, 159 (25%) had residency positions in neurology and 47 (7.4%) had residency positions in both. Approximately one-third (191, 30.0%) were trained in more than 1 fellowship, including oculoplastics (78, 12.3%) or pediatric ophthalmology (53, 8.3%). The average post-fellowship years of experience was 23.7 ± 13.7 years, with 134 (21.1%) in their early career (< 10 years), 120 (18.9%) in their mid-careers (10–19 years), and 381 (60.0%) in their late careers (> 20 years). Male neuro-ophthalmologists had 10.5 ± 1.1 more years of experience than female neuro-ophthalmologists (P < 0.001). Three states (Maine, South Dakota, Wyoming) and 2897 counties (93.2%) had no neuro-ophthalmologists. Counties without a neuro-ophthalmologist had lower median income (P < 0.001), lower access to a vehicle (P = 0.024), and lower rates of health insurance (P = 0.012). Practicing neuro-ophthalmologists are mostly male and often are trained in more than 1 subspecialty. More than half of the practicing neuro-ophthalmologists are in their late careers, which may further exacerbate the existing geographic and socioeconomic disparities in access to neuro-ophthalmology. The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on laws governing suspension and debarment under the U.S. Federal Acquisition Regulation, and Non-Procurement Common Rule. Topics discussed include reformation of regulations that have led to more individuals facing exclusion actions; enactment of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and False Claims Act for addressing corrupt practices of government officials; and role of officials in conducting business with responsible contractors.

Background: There is no clear consensus between pediatric and adult providers about the treatment of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL).Methods: Failure-free survival (FFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared between 114 patients ages 17 to 21 years with HL who were treated on the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-American College of Radiology Imaging Network Intergroup adult E2496 study and 391 similarly patients ages 17 to 21 years with HL who were treated on the pediatric Children's Oncology Group (COG) AHOD0031 study.Results: Comparing AYAs from the COG and E2496 studies, there were no significant differences in extralymphatic disease, anemia, or hypoalbuminemia. More AYAs in the E2496 trial had stage III and IV disease (63% vs 29%; P < .001) and B symptoms (63% vs 27%; P < .001), and fewer had bulk disease (33% vs 77%; P < .001). More AYAs on the COG trial received radiotherapy (76% vs 66%; P = .03), although in smaller doses. E2496 AYA The 5-year FFS and OS rates were 68% and 89%, respectively in the E2496 AYAs and 81% and 97%, respectively, in the COG AYAs, indicating a statistically superior compared in the COG AYAs (P = .001). In stratified multivariable analyses, E2496 AYAs had worse FFS than COG AYAs in all strata except patients who had stage I and II HL without anemia. Propensity score analysis (based on stage, anemia, and bulk disease) confirmed inferior FFS for E2496 AYAs compared with COG AYAs (P = .004). On the E2496 study, FFS was significantly divergent across age groups (P = .005), with inferior outcomes for those ages 17 to 21 years versus 22-44 years. There was no difference across age on the COG study.Conclusions: Younger AYA patients with HL appear to have better outcomes when treated on a pediatric trial than patients of similar age on an adult trial. Prospective studies examining these differences are warranted. Cancer 2018;124:136-44. © 2017 American Cancer Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Specialty addictions treatment can improve outcomes for patients with alcohol use disorders (AUD). Thus, initiation of and engagement with specialty addictions treatment are considered quality care for patients with AUD. Previous studies have demonstrated racial/ethnic differences in alcohol-related care but whether differences exist in initiation of and engagement with specialty addictions treatment among patients with clinically recognized alcohol use disorders is unknown. We investigated racial/ethnic variation in initiation of and engagement with specialty addictions treatment in a national sample of Black, Hispanic, and White patients with clinically recognized alcohol use disorders (AUD) from the US Veterans Health Administration (VA).Methods: National VA data were extracted for all Black, Hispanic, and White patients with a diagnosed AUD during fiscal year 2012. Mixed effects regression models estimated the odds of two measures of initiation (an initial visit within 180days of diagnosis; and initiation defined consistent with Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) as a documented visit ≤14days after index visit or inpatient admission), and three established measures of treatment engagement (≥3 visits within first month after initiation; ≥2 visits in each of the first 3months after initiation; and ≥2 visits within 30days of HEDIS initiation) for Black and Hispanic relative to White patients after adjustment for facility- and patient-level characteristics.Results: Among 302,406 patients with AUD, 30% (90,879) initiated treatment within 180days of diagnosis (38% Black, 32% Hispanic, and 27% White). Black patients were more likely to initiate treatment than Whites for both measures of initiation [odds ratio (OR) for initiation: 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-1.4; OR for HEDIS initiation: 1.1, 95% CI: 1.1-1.1]. Hispanic patients were more likely than White patients to initiate treatment within 180days (OR: 1.2, 95% CI 1.2-1.3) but HEDIS initiation did not differ between Hispanic and White patients. Engagement results varied depending on the measure but was more likely for Black patients relative to White for all measures (OR for engagement in first month: 1.1, 95% CI: 1.0-1.1; OR for engagement in first three months: 1.2, 95% CI: 1.1-1.2; OR for HEDIS measure: 1.1, 95% CI: 1.0-1.1), and did not differ between Hispanic and White patients.Conclusions: After accounting for facility- and patient-level characteristics, Black and Hispanic patients with AUD were more likely than Whites to initiate specialty addictions treatment, and Black patients were more likely than Whites to engage. Research is needed to understand underlying mechanisms and whether differences in initiation of and engagement with care influence health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a study which examined the views of educational providers to understand the difficulties in rural school districts in western New York. Topics include the opinions of special education directors on high school transition practices, the involvement of special education teachers with the transition services, and the involvement of parents in transition planning.

As a result of the upcoming Federal reauthorization of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), practitioners and researchers have begun vigorously debating what constitutes evidence-based assessment for the identification of specific learning disability (SLD). This debate has resulted in strong support for a method that appraises an individual's profile of cognitive test scores for the purposes of determining cognitive processing strengths and weaknesses, commonly referred to as patterns of strengths and weaknesses (PSW). Following the Fuchs and Deshler model, questions regarding the psychometric and conceptual integrity of the PSW model are addressed. Despite the strong claims made by many PSW proponents, the findings by this review demonstrate the need for additional information to determine whether PSW is a viable alternative to existing eligibility models and worthy for large scale adoption for SLD identification. Implications for public policy and future SLD research are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first paper to study the impact of long‐term tariff reductions on capital spending by US manufacturers. We investigate fluctuations in investment for approximately 400 different four‐digit industries during the period 1974–2005. Our results indicate that the dismantling of tariff and quota protection has had a stimulatory effect on US manufacturing investment, despite the relatively low average tariff rate that existed at the start of our sample period. However, our findings reveal that reductions in input tariffs rather than output tariffs were the source of this effect, suggesting that better access to foreign inputs rather than increased foreign competition at the output level served as the primary stimulus for increased US manufacturing investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children today are surrounded by and immersed in media, but the vast majority of young children's media diet is spent with television. One way of enhancing the benefits and reducing the harm of television is through parental mediation. However, existing measures of mediation are in need of an updated evaluation. The present study sought to fill this gap by investigating the validity of the most significant measure of television mediation. A survey was conducted with 701 parents of children between the ages of 6 and 12. Parents responded to closed-ended scales of mediation and genre-specific scenarios for television, as well as assessments of children's aggression, prosocial behavior, academic achievement, and multiple intelligences. Television mediation scenarios revealed that there are significant weaknesses in the ability of Valkenburg's television mediation scale to accurately capture parents' mediation behaviors across television genres. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Motorcycles are an important form of personal transportation used by many Americans. They provide an enjoyable recreational opportunity for many and a convenient, functional mode of transportation for others. However, U.S. motorcycle crash rates are 68% higher (per vehicle-mile traveled [VMT]) than those for other vehicles, and their fatal crash rates are more than 28 times higher. This investigation examines the riding and crash experiences and safety perceptions and recommendations of 238 U.S. motorcyclists. Top rider recommendations to other motorcyclists are to wear a helmet, to avoid riding under the influence (of alcohol or drugs), and to obtain motorcycle training. Ordered probit model results for helmet-use prediction suggest that those who ride on a daily or weekly basis and have received formal motorcycle training are more likely to wear a helmet. Other results show that rider training is most common among those who wear a helmet, ride on a weekly or monthly basis, and ride to and from work, school, and/or errands. Negative binomial model results for crash count experiences suggest that long-distance riders and those with criminal convictions are at greater risk of crashing than others, whereas those who have not received motorcycle training are less likely to have been involved in a crash at some point in their riding history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estate owners in Greens Farms in Westport, Connecticut, and on the North Shore of Long Island doggedly fought inclusive, state-sponsored public recreation in the 1910s and 1920s. Private land-use goals shaped localism and, in turn, exploited home rule governance to control public land use. This study of local politics in the New York metropolis contributes to the ongoing regionalization of urban history. These home rule fights against state parks reveal the extent to which elite local interests systematically exploited ineffective county government to block Progressive-era regionalism. For all the interest shared by urban historians on the topic of real estate, there is surprisingly little cross-jurisdictional analysis on the competing pressures of local and regional property interests on city planning decisions. The empowerment of private property interests in local government in Westport and on the North Shore illuminate the potential for seeing the emergence of greater New York in a new light. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study examines the practices utilized by TFA from its inception in 1990 to create its brand and how these practices have transformed TFA into a cultural icon within the national landscape of teacher education. Wellfunded through both philanthropic foundations, corporate sponsorships, and federal monies, TFA's use of its organizational and political networks, as well as the media, has enabled it to position itself discursively as a leader in the preparation of teachers in the U.S, resulting not only in transforming state and national discussions about teacher preparation, but in establishing a network of elites with a particular ideology of schooling for poor students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The U.S. Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program provides workers who have lost their jobs due to increased trade with income support and training, job search, and relocation benefits. This paper uses data collected by the Department of Labor on TAA beneficiaries to provide the most recent econometric evaluation of the effectiveness of the TAA program. Summary statistics suggest that the TAA program successfully targets displaced workers who have a greater difficulty finding new employment. However, using propensity score matching techniques we find that while the required training component of the program improves the employment outcomes of beneficiaries, on average the TAA program has no discernible impact on the employment outcomes of the participants. ( JEL F16) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past 30 years, the average age of biomedical researchers has steadily increased. The average age of an investigator at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) rose from 39 to 51 between 1980 and 2008. The aging of the biomedical workforce was even more apparent when looking at first-time NIH grantees. The average age of a new investigator was 42 in 2008, compared to 36 in 1980. To determine if the rising barriers at NIH for entry in biomedical research might impact innovative ideas and research, we analyzed the research and publications of Nobel Prize winners from 1980 to 2010 to assess the age at which their pioneering research occurred. We established that in the 30-year period, 96 scientists won the Nobel Prize in medicine or chemistry for work related to biomedicine, and that their groundbreaking research was conducted at an average age of 41—one year younger than the average age of a new investigator at NIH. Furthermore, 78% of the Nobel Prize winners conducted their research before the age of 51, the average age of an NIH principal investigator. This suggested that limited access to NIH might inhibit research potential and novel projects, and could impact biomedicine and the next generation scientists in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the export reform initiative started by U.S. President Barack Obama to reform country's export controls, economic sanctions regulatory, and enforcement bureaucracy. It mentions that the reform focuses on interagency working group that develops objective criteria for evaluating controlled technologies and restructuring the U.S. Munitions List (USML) and Commerce Control List (CCL) into a single list. It investigates the role of Single Enforcement Agency (SEA).

Abstract: Long-combination vehicles (LCVs) have significant potential to increase economic productivity for shippers and carriers by decreasing the number of truck trips, thus reducing costs. However, size and weight regulations, triggered by safety concerns and, in some cases, infrastructure investment concerns, have prevented large-scale adoption of such vehicles. Information on actual crash performance is needed. To this end, this work uses standard and heteroskedastic ordered probit models, along with the United States’ Large Truck Crash Causation Study, General Estimates System, and Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey data sets, to study the impact of vehicle, occupant, driver, and environmental characteristics on injury outcomes for those involved in crashes with heavy-duty trucks. Results suggest that the likelihood of fatalities and severe injury is estimated to rise with the number of trailers, but fall with the truck length and gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). While findings suggest that fatality likelihood for two-trailer LCVs is higher than that of single-trailer non-LCVs and other trucks, controlling for exposure risk suggest that total crash costs of LCVs are lower (per vehicle-mile traveled) than those of other trucks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the change in the level of competition in rural banking markets after the deregulation that occurred following passage of the Riegle-Neal Act of 1994. Using an empirical model that utilizes both the number of banks and the value of deposits in a cross-section of 278 rural markets, we decompose the impact of the entry of new banks into resulting changes in per capita demand and the costs/profits of local banks in 1994 and 2004. The results support the view that local banking markets have become more competitive since the mid-1990s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Vehicle externality costs include emissions of greenhouse and other gases (affecting global warming and human health), crash costs (imposed on crash partners), roadway congestion, and space consumption, among others. These five sources of external costs by vehicle make and model were estimated for the top-selling passenger cars and light-duty trucks in the US. Among these external costs, those associated with crashes and congestion are estimated to be the most practically significant. When crash costs are included, the worst offenders (in terms of highest external costs) were found to be pickups. If crash costs are removed from the comparisons, the worst offenders tend to be four pickups and a very large SUV: the Ford F-350 and F-250, Chevrolet Silverado 3500, Dodge Ram 3500, and Hummer H2, respectively. Regardless of how the costs are estimated, they are considerable in magnitude, and nearly on par with vehicle purchase prices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

While there has been considerable interest in recent years in the role of macroeconomic determinants of antidumping actions by the United States and other traditional users, on the one hand, and the determinants of the growing global usage of this trade policy instrument, on the other, there has to date been no systematic exploration of the motivations for the significant number of foreign antidumping cases filed against US exporters. Several observers have remarked that the growing number of foreign users of antidumping might threaten US exporters, but the determinants of these actions have not been examined. That is the purpose of this study. We find that these actions are in part explained by macroeconomic forces and as a response to US export superiority in particular sectors, however a significant role (and larger than found for global antidumping more generally) is played by retaliation for US trade policy actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article investigates how accurately event studies and financial markets predict the benefits associated with a new law. It specifically utilizes a change in U.S. antidumping law known as the Byrd Amendment to compare the benefits predicted by event study methodology with the actual benefits accruing to individual firms under the law. It is argued that passage of the Amendment was completely unanticipated; thus, the expected increase in profits should be reflected in the change in security prices in days following passage of the law.

The article represents the U.S. Supreme Court's limitation on an employee's claim to discriminatory pay under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In an example intended to demonstrate the workplace realities of discriminatory pay, the high court states that the plaintiffs must meet the one-hundred eighty days limit specified in the Act of 1964 in submitting discriminatory pay claims.

The article focuses on a provision of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) in Article 2(a)(10) that expands the UCMJ jurisdiction to persons serving with or accompanying an armed force in the field during contingency operations. It states that the provision was introduced on October 17, 2006 when the U.S. Congress passed the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act. It states that the expansion exposes employees of government contractors, who are not members of the military, to prosecution by court-martial for violation of military crimes defined in the Punitive Articles of the UCMJ. It discusses the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA), that provides prosecution for a felony committed abroad by civilian Department of Defense (DoD) employees and DoD contractors.

Over the past decade, the worldwide use of antidumping has become very widespread—41 WTO-member countries initiated antidumping cases over the 1995–2003 period. From another perspective, U.S. exporters were subjected to 139 antidumping cases during this period, by enforcement agencies representing 20 countries. In this context, it is natural to consider whether antidumping filings may be motivated as retaliation against similar measures imposed on a country's exporters. This is the focus of our study, though we also control for the bilateral export flows involved and nonretaliatory impacts of past cases, with other motivations—macroeconomic, industry-specific, and political considerations—dealt with through fixed effects. Applying probit analysis to a WTO database on reported filings, we find strong evidence that retaliation was a significant motive in explaining the rise of antidumping filings over the past decade, though interesting differences emerge in the reactions to traditional and new users of antidumping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Urinary tract infections (UTI) are common bacterial infections that may occur as a part of foodborne outbreaks. Salmonella, a less common cause of UTI, has been identified during foodborne outbreaks, but the epidemiology and pathogenesis are poorly understood. Methods PulseNet, the United States national molecular subtyping network for foodborne disease surveillance, was used to identify Salmonella isolates associated with outbreaks from 2004 to 2013 containing at least one urine and one stool isolate in which the duration was ≤1 year and a food vehicle was suspected or confirmed. We standardized isolation dates across outbreaks by calculating the mean date for stool isolation within an outbreak and subtracting this from the date of each stool/urine isolate in that outbreak. A linear-mixed model with random effect for stool/urine was used to estimate the difference in incubation periods between stool/urine isolates. We also surveyed patients from a 2012 Salmonella Cubana outbreak with many urinary isolates and associated with sprouts, to ask about diarrhea, UTI symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Results Urine isolates had later isolation dates than stool isolates for 102 of the 110 outbreaks identified. The average difference between stool and urine isolates was 10.6 days (95% CI: 6.0, 15.2). Seven women from the Salmonella Cubana outbreak were reached. All women were diagnosed with either a UTI (6/7 = 86%) and/or kidney infection (2/7 = 29%) and were treated with antibiotics (7/7 = 100%). All six women completing the survey reported multiple signs and/or symptoms including frequency, urgency, dysuria, and hematuria with only two women reporting diarrhea prior to UTI. Conclusion Salmonella UTI seen during foodborne outbreaks are symptomatic foodborne infections not associated with diarrhea and appear to have a longer incubation period than Salmonella gastrointestinal (GI) illness. A 13- to 16-day incubation period for Salmonella UTI may be more appropriate, calculated by adding a 3- to 4-day GI illness incubation period plus delay in obtaining a stool isolate. Foodborne UTI investigation may need to change as the current method of obtaining a food history for the 6–72 hours prior to illness does not accurately reflect the incubation period for Salmonella UTI. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reading level of patient education material form selected current health care journals. Ten patient education pages from a variety of health care journals were entered into a Microsoft Word program. Applying the Flesch-Kincaid readability formula available from Microsoft Word, a reading level for each page was established and compared to recommended standards. Only 2 of 10 patient education pages fell within the recommended reading levels for health-related materials, and 5 of 10 were above the estimated mean U.S. reading level of 8th grade. A 5th to 6th grade level is recommended for patient education materials. This study suggests that although it is known that low health literacy is a widespread problem, it is not always considered when patient-targeted materials are developed. Health care professionals need to become more active in addressing the literacy needs of the intended receiver of written health-related information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the problems and abuses underlying class adjudication of claims and expresses why defendants are starting to seek such injunctive relief in the U.S. It offers an assessment of the doctrinal justifications for such injunctions through analyzing whether a denial of certification satisfies the requirements for issue preclusion. It also highlights the Bridgestone II decision and examines how other courts have ignored such a remedy.

Evaluates the changes brought into effect by Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, namely, the prohibition of insider trades during 401(k) pension blackout periods and the required advance notice of blackout periods in the United States. Effectiveness of the section in truly protecting the employee-investor; Congressional response to corporate scandal; Federal governance of pension plans before Sarbanes-Oxley.

Objective: To identify rates of fetal autopsy in the United States as well as demographic and clinical characteristics related to consent to autopsy after stillbirth.Methods: This is a population-based retrospective cohort study using U.S. fetal death certificates for stillborn fetuses (20 weeks of gestation or more) delivered between January 2014 and December 2016. Multiple gestations were excluded. Fetal autopsy rates were calculated by gestational age, maternal age, self-reported race and ethnicity, education, and having at least one living child. Multivariate logistic regression to adjust for potential confounders was performed.Results: There were 60,328 stillbirths meeting inclusion criteria. Overall, fetal autopsy was performed in 20.9% of stillbirths. Non-Hispanic Black women had the highest rate of fetal autopsy (22.9%, 95% CI 22.3-23.6%), compared with non-Hispanic White women (20.4%, 95% CI 20.0-20.9%) and Hispanic women (19.6%, 95% CI 19.0-20.3%) ( P <.001). After adjusting for potential confounders, maternal non-Hispanic Black race (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.22, 95% CI 1.16-1.29), higher education (graduate degree: aOR 1.62, 95% CI 1.47-1.79), and higher gestational age (term: aOR 2.08, 95% CI 1.95-2.23) were associated with increased aORs for fetal autopsy. Maternal age 40 years or older (aOR 0.77 95% CI 0.63-0.92) and having at least one living child (aOR 0.74, 95% CI 0.71-0.78) were associated with a decreased aOR of having a fetal autopsy. Women of American Indian or Alaska Native decent had decreased uptake of fetal autopsy compared with non-Hispanic White women (aOR 0.72, 95% CI 0.58-0.90).Conclusion: Fetal autopsy rates are low throughout the United States. The reasons for low autopsy rates warrant further exploration to inform strategies to increase availability and uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The offers information on the predictable failure of the health care reform in the 103rd U.S. Congress. It mentions that the failure of the health care legislation was blamed to the Health Care Task Force for its secretiveness, rigidity, and unwillingness to promote bipartisanship, the stalling and delaying tactics of the Republican, and special interests which mislead Americans with negative advertising campaigns. It states that the proposals made by Presidential candidate Bill Clinton and the U.S. Congress members were too far from the critical voters preferences in both the Senate and House. It says that the conservative Democrats mainly from the southern and border state dominated the median voters in the Senate.

The article discusses the evolution of the U.S. Army Hearing Program which centered on strategies to maximize a soldier's operational and combat capabilities. It notes that auditory awareness were achieved through the elements of the program such as hearing readiness, hearing services, and hearing conservation. It adds that the expanded preventive medicine afforded every deployed soldier like noise surveillance, education and hearing protection had prevented the noise-induced hearing injury.