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Motivation is a crucial aspect of learning, particularly in the field of music. For decades, motivation for learning music has been a much-discussed subject, and yet its influence still remains a convoluted issue. This study systematically analyses peer-reviewed English language studies, according to PRISMA guidelines, in order to understand how children's and adolescents' motivation to learn a musical instrument has been studied, the theories that have been adopted to frame this research, the types of quantitative instruments that have been designed or adopted within the research designs, and the types of findings that have documented. A search on "Web of Science," Education Resources Information Center, and "Scopus" was conducted, using the following terms: music, instrument, learn, education, study, and motivation. The initial search identified 447 studies. Twenty of these met the inclusion criteria for investigating any music-related aspect of motivation that was based on the analysis of quantitative data. Results show a limited number of studies that have explored children's motivation in the context of learning a musical instrument and report a special focus on the central role of parents and social background. Implications of these results for music education and the adequacy of questionnaires to children are discussed.

From the year 2000, the United States Fire Administration (USFA) has been recording all line‐of‐duty deaths in the fire service. Stress or overexertion caused 1096 out of 2598 total line‐of‐duty deaths in the United States from 2000 to 2021. Those deaths due to stress or overexertion were further classified as myocardial infarction (90%), cerebrovascular accident (6.8%), other (2.6%), and heat exhaustion (0.6%). Environmental heat exposure is a concern in firefighting, as firefighters work in extreme conditions, such as high ambient temperatures, while wearing protective clothing. Heat stress is not only hazardous to the cardiovascular system, but may accentuate muscle fatigue and overexertion. In addition, overexertion itself is related to increased incidence of musculoskeletal injuries, usually to the lower extremities. Further, there is a strong physiological mechanistic link to suggest that the increased occupational heat exposure and thermoregulatory strain firefighters experience may be a stressor that increases the risk of injuries. This commentary hopes to show the need for further research on the effects of occupational exposures and physiological strain in the fire service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute, the demand for edible oils and fats is growing. Tucumã is a native Amazonian fruit with high lipids content in the pulp and kernel. The pulp oil has a high content of unsaturated fatty acids and carotenoids, mainly β‐carotene, a pro‐vitamin A. Kernel fat has high oxidative stability as it is rich in saturated fatty acids, with a predominance of lauric acid. Tucumã pulp oil and kernel fat can formulate functional fats due to their physicochemical, nutritional, and sensory properties. This paper aims to provide an overview of intellectual property and academic production about tucumã oil and fat. The increase in scientific production from 2001 to 2020 indicates that the research institutes have expanded interest in tucumã fruit. However, intellectual property using tucumã oil and fat for industrial applications is still modest. Using the selected keyword combinations, nineteen and ten papers related to pulp oil and kernel fat are met, respectively. The United States leads the patents publications related to tucumã fruit, oil, and fat (45%). Most patents are directed to the cosmetic and pharmaceutical sectors (59%), demonstrating the necessity for studies focused on applications in the food industry. Practical Applications: Tucumã pulp oil and kernel fat can be used to formulate functional fats due to their physicochemical, nutritional, and sensory properties. The tucumã pulp oil has a high content of unsaturated fatty acids and carotenoids, mainly β‐carotene, a pro‐vitamin A. The tucumã kernel fat presents high oxidative stability as it is rich in saturated fatty acids, with a predominance of lauric acid. Most patents are directed to the cosmetic and pharmaceutical sectors, which demonstrate the need for studies focused on the food industry. The small number of patents favors promising partnerships between companies and scientific institutions for the transfer of academic knowledge of new technologies applied in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Government and health organizations in the United States and the United Kingdom have taken different stances on e-cigarettes policy. To explore the potential effects of these policies, we describe e-cigarette user characteristics, intentions to quit, and perceived attitudes toward vaping.Methods: We used the online crowdsourcing platform Prolific to conduct a cross-sectional survey of current vapers in both countries. Measures were drawn from international surveys.Results: The sample included 1044 vapers (524 United Kingdom; 520 United States) with a mean age of 34. Samples differed by gender (United States: 57% male vs 45% in United Kingdom), race (United States: 79% White vs 90% in United Kingdom) and employment (United States: 73% employed vs 79% in United Kingdom). UK respondents were more likely than US respondents to be ever smokers (89% vs 71%, p < .0001); be daily vapers (69% vs 53%, p < .0001) and to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking (75% vs 65%, p < .0007). Most vapers in the United Kingdom and the United States want to stop vaping (62% vs 61%; p < .9493), but US respondents plan to quit significantly sooner (odds ratio 0.47, p < .0004). Attitudes differed as well. Over half (56%) of UK respondents reported their government-approved e-cigarette use, and 24% felt health care providers had positive views on e-cigarettes versus 29% and 13% from the United States, respectively (p < .0004 for both).Conclusions: Plans for quitting and perceptions regarding e-cigarettes differ markedly between demographically similar groups of vapers in the two countries. Future research should determine whether e-cigarette cessation for adults should be a public health goal, and if so, identify effective ways to stop.Implications: The contribution of this study is that it describes differences in behaviors and attitudes of vapers recruited through the same research platform and adjusted to account for minor demographic differences across country samples. For clinicians, these findings suggest that most vapers would welcome assistance in quitting. For researchers and policymakers, findings suggest that government policy regarding nicotine devices might influence behaviors and attitudes related to use and also that future research is needed to determine effective ways to quit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbiome is critical for host survival and fitness, but gaps remain in our understanding of how this symbiotic community is structured. Despite evidence that related hosts often harbor similar bacterial communities, it is unclear whether this pattern is due to genetic similarities between hosts or to common ecological selection pressures. Here, using herbivorous rodents in the genus Neotoma, we quantify how geography, diet, and host genetics, alongside neutral processes, influence microbiome structure and stability under natural and captive conditions. Using bacterial and plant metabarcoding, we first characterized dietary and microbiome compositions for animals from 25 populations, representing seven species from 19 sites across the southwestern United States. We then brought wild animals into captivity, reducing the influence of environmental variation. In nature, geography, diet, and phylogeny collectively explained ~50% of observed microbiome variation. Diet and microbiome diversity were correlated, with different toxin-enriched diets selecting for distinct microbial symbionts. Although diet and geography influenced natural microbiome structure, the effects of host phylogeny were stronger for both wild and captive animals. In captivity, gut microbiomes were altered; however, responses were species specific, indicating again that host genetic background is the most significant predictor of microbiome composition and stability. In captivity, diet effects declined and the effects of host genetic similarity increased. By bridging a critical divide between studies in wild and captive animals, this work underscores the extent to which genetics shape microbiome structure and stability in closely related hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors examine U.S.-based evidence that connects characteristics of the social environment with outcomes across the psychosis continuum, from psychotic experiences to schizophrenia. The notion that inequitable social and economic systems of society significantly influence psychosis risk through proxies, such as racial minority and immigrant statuses, has been studied more extensively in European countries. While there are existing international reviews of social determinants of psychosis, none to the authors' knowledge focus on factors in the U.S. context specifically-an omission that leaves domestic treatment development and prevention efforts incomplete and underinformed. In this review, the authors first describe how a legacy of structural racism in the United States has shaped the social gradient, highlighting consequential racial inequities in environmental conditions. The authors offer a hypothesized model linking structural racism with psychosis risk through interwoven intermediary factors based on existing theoretical models and a review of the literature. Neighborhood factors, cumulative trauma and stress, and prenatal and perinatal complications were three key areas selected for review because they reflect social and environmental conditions that may affect psychosis risk through a common pathway shaped by structural racism. The authors describe evidence showing that Black and Latino people in the United States suffer disproportionately from risk factors within these three key areas, in large part as a result of racial discrimination and social disadvantage. This broad focus on individual and community factors is intended to provide a consolidated space to review this growing body of research and to guide continued inquiries into social determinants of psychosis in U.S. contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional study was designed to develop normative functional fitness standards for the Portuguese older adults, to analyze age and gender patterns of decline, to compare the fitness level of Portuguese older adults with that of older adults in other countries, and to evaluate the fitness level of Portuguese older adults relative to recently published criterion fitness standards associated with maintaining physical independence. A sample of 4,712 independent-living older adults, age 65-103 yr, was evaluated using the Senior Fitness Test battery. Age-group normative fitness scores are reported for the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles. Results indicate that both women and men experience age-related losses in all components of functional fitness, with their rate of decline being greater than that observed in other populations, a trend which may cause Portuguese older adults to be at greater risk for loss of independence in later years. These newly established normative standards make it possible to assess individual fitness level and provide a basis for implementing population-wide health strategies to counteract early loss of independence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

United States (U.S.) veterans are substantially older than their non-veteran counterparts. However, nationally representative, population-based data on the unique health needs of this population are lacking. Such data are critical to informing the design of large-scale outreach initiatives, and to ensure the effectiveness of service care delivery both within and outside of the Veterans Affairs healthcare system. The National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS) is a contemporary, nationally representative, prospective study of two independent cohorts (n = 3,157 and n = 1,484) of U.S. veterans, which is examining longitudinal changes, and key risk and protective factors for several health outcomes. In this narrative review, we summarize the main findings of all NHRVS studies (n = 82) published as of June 2020, and discuss the clinical implications, limitations, and future directions of this study. Review of these articles was organized into six major topic areas: post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidality, aging, resilience and post-traumatic growth, special topics relevant to veterans, and genetics and epigenetics. Collectively, results of these studies suggest that while a significant minority of veterans screen positive for mental disorders, the majority are psychologically resilient. They further suggest that prevention and treatment efforts designed to promote protective psychosocial characteristics (i.e., resilience, gratitude, purpose in life), and social connectedness (i.e., secure attachment, community integration, social engagement) help mitigate risk for mental disorders, and promote psychological resilience and post-traumatic growth in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Movimenta is the property of Universidade Estadual de Goias and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Military sexual trauma (MST) is associated with a range of negative mental and physical health outcomes. Investigations of potential sex-based differences in outcomes in MST survivors have been inconsistent with little work evaluating psychosocial correlates of resilience (e.g., social support, humor, capacity to adapt to change). Data were analyzed from 115 U.S. Veterans reporting a history of MST who participated in the nationally representative National Health and Resilience Veterans Study (NHRVS) to examine sex-based correlates of risk and resilience. Compared with female MST survivors (n = 56; 42.9%), male MST survivors (n = 59; 57.1%) reported increased lifetime traumatic events, hostility, and history of drug use disorder, whereas female veterans reported increased lifetime PTSD symptoms. There were no differences in past-month PTSD symptom severity, physical health, suicidal ideation/attempts, resilience factors, or rates of mental health treatment utilization. Results suggest male and female MST survivors may have differential risk for drug use disorder, hostility, and PTSD symptoms. Results further underscore the importance of considering sex differences in the assessment and treatment of MST survivors. Improved understanding of outcomes and factors of risk and resilience in MST survivors may facilitate tailored intervention, treatment, outreach, and possibly prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Saúde e Sociedade is the property of Universidade de Sao Paulo, Faculdade de Saude Publica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A 74‐year‐old Caucasian woman presented with a 2‐week history of multiple nodules in both lips and perioral region that caused her mild discomfort while eating. The patient reported hyaluronic acid infiltration on both lips 5 months prior to presentation. The examination revealed multiple, well‐defined, millimetric, and firm nodules on both lips and oral mucosa. An excisional biopsy of one of the nodules was performed under local anesthesia. Histopathological analysis demonstrated acute eosinophilic inflammation, fibrosis, and granulomas on mucoid material, positive for colloidal iron stain and Alcian blue stain, alongside a minor salivary gland showed mild atrophy, fibrosis, and fat infiltration. Enhancement of the aged lip using hyaluronic acid, to restore the bulkiness and elasticity that have been lost with age, is very common. Nevertheless, soft tissue fillers are used in a wide age range. Hyaluronic acid represents 78% of the dermal filler injections in the United States, been the second most popular nonsurgical cosmetic procedure after botulinum toxin injection. Foreign body granulomatous reaction is a rare delayed complication that has been well documented elsewhere and it has been associated with poor injection technique. Although it also has been related to hypersensitivity reactions that may be caused by impurities developed during the bacterial fermentation process, treatment of granulomatous reactions with hyaluronidase is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concerns the application of fuzzy clustering methods and fuzzy validity measures for decision support in agricultural environment. Data clustering methods, namely, K-Means, Fuzzy C-Means, Gustafson-Kessel, and Gath-Geva, are briefly reviewed and considered for analyses. The efficiency of the methods is determined by indices such as the Xie-Beni criterion, Partition Coefficient, and Partition and Dunn indices. In particular, fuzzy classifiers are developed to assist decision making regarding the control of variables such as bed moisture, temperature, and bed aeration in compost bedded pack barns. The idea is to identify interactive factors, promote cattle welfare, improve productivity indices, and increase property value. Data from 42 CBP barns in the state of Kentucky, US, were considered. Six classes related to the degree of efficiency of the composting process were identified. The GG method was the most accurate followed by the GK method. The main reason for the best results is the use of maximum-likelihood and Mahalanobis distance measures. A remark on the use of the Dunn validation index for different cluster geometries is given. Fuzzy models and linguistic information have shown to be useful to help decision making in cattle containment systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physical punishment of children is an important public health concern. Yet, few studies have examined how physical punishment is related to other types of child maltreatment and violence across the lifespan. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to examine if harsh physical punishment (i.e., being pushed, grabbed, shoved, hit, and/or slapped without causing marks, bruises, or injury) is associated with an increased likelihood of more severe childhood maltreatment (i.e., physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, and exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV)) in childhood and perpetration or victimization of IPV in adulthood.Methods: Data were drawn from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions collected in 2004 to 2005 (n = 34,402, response rate = 86.7%), a representative United States adult sample.Results: Harsh physical punishment was associated with increased odds of childhood maltreatment, including emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, and exposure to IPV after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, family history of dysfunction, and other child maltreatment types (range 1.6 to 26.6). Harsh physical punishment was also related to increased odds of experiencing IPV in adulthood (range 1.4 to 1.7).Conclusions: It is important for parents and professionals working with children to be aware that pushing, grabbing, shoving, hitting, or slapping children may increase the likelihood of emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, and exposure to IPV in childhood and also experiencing IPV victimization and/or perpetration in later adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper engages with the security dynamics underlying the use of drones and their impact on security subjects – individuals and groups that are the ultimate recipients of specific security policies, regardless of whether these have beneficial effects on them. Using Mark Duffield’s distinction between the insured Global North and the non-insured Global South, this paper discusses how drones generate a radical dissociation between the intervener and the intervened that ultimately produces new security environments at the margins of the international system. These new security environments are defined by the articulation between space, technologies and bodies: bodies of invisible subjects; bodies that are uninsurable. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aims To analyze data from a large, contemporary, nationally representative sample of US veterans to evaluate: (1) the prevalence of life-time alcohol use disorder (AUD) and past-year AUD; (2) common psychiatric comorbidities associated with life-time AUD; and (3) correlates of life-time and past-year probable AUD. Design Data were analyzed from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS), a web-based survey of a random probability sample of a contemporary, nationally representative sample of US military veterans. Setting United States. Participants Nationally representative sample of 3157 US veterans aged 21 years and older. Measurements Life-time alcohol abuse and dependence were assessed according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, and combined into a single variable: AUD. Past-year probable AUD was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C). Correlates of AUD, including psychiatric comorbidities, suicidality and demographic characteristics, were also assessed. Findings The prevalence of life-time AUD and past-year probable AUD was 42.2% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 40.5-43.9%)] and 14.8% (95% CI = 13.6-16.0%), respectively. Compared with veterans without AUD, those with life-time AUD had substantially elevated rates of life-time and current mood and anxiety disorders [odds ratios (ORs) = 2.6-4.1], drug use disorder (OR = 10.7), life-time suicide attempt (OR = 4.1) and current suicidal ideation (OR = 2.1). Younger age, male sex, lower education, lower annual household income and greater number of life-time traumatic events were associated independently with life-time AUD. Younger age, male sex, unpartnered marital status and a life-time diagnosis of major depressive disorder were associated independently with past-year probable AUD. Conclusions More than 40% of US military veterans have a life-time history of alcohol use disorder. Veterans with a life-time history of alcohol use disorder have substantial comorbid psychiatric burden, including elevated rates of suicidal ideation and attempts. Certain socio-demographic (e.g. younger age, male sex, lower education) and clinical (e.g. trauma burden, history of depression) characteristics are associated with increased risk of AUD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Suicidal thoughts and behaviors among U.S. military veterans are a major public health concern. To date, however, scarce data are available regarding the nature and correlates of suicidal ideation (SI) among U.S. veterans. This study evaluated the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation in a contemporary, nationally representative, 2-year prospective cohort study.Method: Data were analysed from a total of 2157 U.S. veterans who participated in the National Health and Resilience Veterans Study (NHRVS; Wave 1 conducted in 2011; Wave 2 in 2013). Veterans completed measures assessing SI, sociodemographic characteristics, and potential risk and protective correlates.Results: The majority of veterans (86.3%) denied SI at either time point, 5.0% had SI onset (no SI at Wave 1, SI at Wave 2), 4.9% chronic SI (SI at Waves 1 and 2), and 3.8% had remitted SI (SI at Wave 1, no SI Wave 2). Greater Wave 1 psychiatric distress was associated with increased likelihood of chronic SI (relative risk ratio [RRR]=3.72), remitted SI (RRR=3.38), SI onset (RRR=1.48); greater Wave 1 physical health difficulties were additionally associated with chronic SI (RRR=1.64) and SI onset (RRR=1.47); and Wave 1 substance abuse history was associated with chronic SI (RRR 1.57). Greater protective psychosocial characteristics (e.g., resilience, gratitude) at Wave 1 were negatively related to SI onset (RRR=0.57); and greater social connectedness at Wave 1, specifically perceived social support and secure attachment style, was negatively associated with SI onset (RRR=0.75) and remitted SI (RRR=0.44), respectively.Limitations: Suicidal ideation was assessed using a past two-week timeframe, and the limited duration of follow-up precludes conclusions regarding more dynamic changes in SI over time.Conclusions: These results indicate that a significant minority (13.7%) of U.S. veterans has chronic, onset, or remitted SI. Prevention and treatment efforts designed to mitigate psychiatric and physical health difficulties, and bolster social connectedness and protective psychosocial characteristics may help mitigate risk for SI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Because of pervasive poor general medical and mental health status among patients receiving Medicaid, there has been substantial debate about whether Medicaid, as currently financed and delivered, is better than no insurance. The study aimed to address whether insurance status is associated with the subsequent incidence and persistence of common mental disorders.Methods: Data came from a nationally representative U.S. population-based longitudinal survey that assessed mental disorders at two time points three years apart. Propensity score methods were used to adjust for potential confounding and to assess the association between three mutually exclusive insurance status groups (no insurance, private insurance only, and Medicaid only) and the subsequent incidence and persistence of mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders for persons ages 18-65 (N=26,410).Results: Compared with private insurance, lack of insurance was associated with higher odds of both the incidence and persistence of substance use disorders and with higher odds of persistence of any mood or anxiety disorder. Compared with having private insurance, having Medicaid insurance was associated with increased odds of persistent mood and anxiety disorders during follow-up. Overall, findings did not significantly differ between the uninsured and Medicaid groups.Conclusions: The findings do not support prior reports that U.S. adults with Medicaid have worse mental health outcomes than uninsured adults. Lacking insurance may put individuals at higher risk of developing substance use disorders, and uninsured individuals with preexisting mental conditions were more likely to have mood, anxiety, and substance use problems that persist over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is increasingly recognized as an important psychosocial phenomenon, but few studies have evaluated the longitudinal course of PTG. This study identified courses of PTG over a 2-year period in a contemporary, nationally representative sample of U.S. military veterans, and examined sociodemographic, military, trauma, medical, and psychosocial predictors of PTG course.Methods: Data were based on a Web-based survey of a nationally representative sample of 1,838 U.S. veterans who reported at least one potentially traumatic event and provided data at two time points (October-December 2011 and September-October 2013).Results: Five different courses of PTG were identified--Consistently Low (33.6%), Moderately Declining (19.4%), Increasing PTG (16.8%), Dramatically Declining (15.7%), and Consistently High (14.5%). More than half (59.4%) of veterans who reported at least "moderate" PTG maintained that level of PTG 2 years later. Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, medical conditions, purpose in life, altruism, gratitude, religiosity, and an active reading lifestyle predicted maintenance or increase in PTG.Conclusions: PTG has a heterogeneous course and is not only common, but can persist over time especially in the presence of posttraumatic stress and certain psychosocial factors. Clinicians and researchers should consider the personal growth that can result from trauma and help trauma survivors find ways to maintain this growth over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine mental health service utilization and barriers among female veterans, this study examined the prevalence of U.S. female veterans who identified the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as their main source of health care.Methods: This observational study used data from a nationally representative sample of 1,202 veterans who completed a Web-based survey. The analysis compared sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, mental health service use, and perceived barriers to mental health care among female veterans who do and do not use the VA as their main source of health care and male veterans who mainly use VA health care.Results: By gender, 23.4% of female veterans and 19.6% of male veterans identified the VA as their main source of health care, which was not significantly different. Compared with male VA patients, women were more likely to be single, younger, and from a racial-ethnic minority group and to screen positive for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but they were less likely to have a substance use disorder. Compared with female veterans who did not mainly use VA care, female VA patients were more likely to be on a low income, not employed, from racial-ethnic minority groups, and combat veterans, and they were more likely to have a disability, to screen positive for PTSD, and to report poorer mental health-related functioning. There were no group differences in mental health service use, and the most frequently endorsed barriers to using mental health care across veteran groups were "high treatment costs" and "being seen as weak."Conclusions: These findings highlight the health care needs of female VA service users and support efforts to dispel misconceptions and stigma related to mental health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Policymakers and researchers seek answers to how liberalized drug policies affect people who inject drugs (PWID). In response to concerns about the failing "war on drugs," Mexico recently implemented drug policy reforms that partially decriminalized possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use while promoting drug treatment. Recognizing important epidemiologic, policy, and socioeconomic differences between the United States--where possession of any psychoactive drugs without a prescription remains illegal--and Mexico-- where possession of small quantities for personal use was partially decriminalized, we sought to assess changes over time in knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and infectious disease profiles among PWID in the adjacent border cities of San Diego, CA, USA, and Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Methods Based on extensive binational experience and collaboration, from 2012-2014 we initiated two parallel, prospective, mixed methods studies: Proyecto El Cuete IV in Tijuana (n = 785) and the STAHR II Study in San Diego (n = 575). Methods for sampling, recruitment, and data collection were designed to be compatible in both studies. All participants completed quantitative behavioral and geographic assessments and serological testing (HIV in both studies; hepatitis C virus and tuberculosis in STAHR II) at baseline and four semi-annual follow-up visits. Between follow-up assessment visits, subsets of participants completed qualitative interviews to explore contextual factor relating to study aims and other emergent phenomena. Planned analyses include descriptive and inferential statistics for quantitative data, content analysis and other mixed-methods approaches for qualitative data, and phylogenetic analysis of HIV-positive samples to understand cross-border transmission dynamics. Results Investigators and research staff shared preliminary findings across studies to provide feedback on instruments and insights regarding local phenomena. As a result, recruitment and data collection procedures have been implemented successfully, demonstrating the importance of binational collaboration in evaluating the impact of structural-level drug policy reforms on the behaviors, health, and wellbeing of PWID across an international border. Conclusions Our prospective, mixed methods approach allows each study to be responsive to emerging phenomena within local contexts while regular collaboration promotes sharing insights across studies. The strengths and limitations of this approach may serve as a guide for other evaluations of harm reduction policies internationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. We investigated the links between homelessness associated with serious mental and physical healthy disparities and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in nationally representative data, with Axis I and II disorders as potential mediators. Methods. We examined data from the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions in 2001-2002 and 2004-2005, and included 34 653 participants representative of the noninstitutionalized US population who were 20 years old or older. We studied the variables related to 4 classes of Axis I disorders, all 10 Axis II personality disorders, a wide range of ACEs, and a lifetime history of homelessness. Results. Analyses revealed high prevalences of each ACE in individuals experiencing lifetime homelessness (17%-60%). A mediation model with Axis I and II disorders determined that childhood adversities were significantly related to homelessness through direct effects (adjusted odd ratios = 2.04, 4.24) and indirect effects, indicating partial mediation. Population attributable fractions were also reported. Conclusions. Although Axis I and II disorders partially mediated the relationship between ACEs and homelessness, a strong direct association remained. This novel finding has implications for interventions and policy. Additional research is needed to understand relevant causal pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to show how, over one hundred years of Mexican migration to the United States, the Mexican government has had a different institutional response level, under the political, economic and social both Mexico American Union, from ignorance of the problem and its consequent public inaction, to the development of a strategy for action that could be defined as public policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 1990s, anti-globalization movements began contesting the effects of neoliberal policies and their social consequences, organizing several protests in Seattle (1999), Genoa (2001), New York (2002), targeting institutions such as the G-8 group or the World Trade Organization (WTO). After the financial crisis of 2008 in the United States, other social movements of resistance to capitalism began to protest in the streets of the U.S. and Europe, among which are the Indignados (Spain), Occupy Wall Street (USA) and Geração à Rasca (Portugal). The purpose of this article is to perform a theoretical analysis, based on contemporary social science authors, of the social movements that emerged after the financial crisis of 2008, placing them in the context of contemporary capitalism. It concludes that, despite the increased incidence of such social movements worldwide, the present context of economic recession still causes high unemployment rates in the countries most affected by the crisis, the environment remains threatened and most political parties suffer a big crisis of representation within civil society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the U.S. Supreme Court judgment in Golan v. Holder in which the court extracted millions of foreign copyrighted works out of the public domain in the U.S. It discusses the restoration of copyrights protection to foreign works of the public domain under the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement. It mentions that restoration of copyrights can be done only if it does not violate the Copyright Clause or the First Amendment.

Non-traditional trademarks have been emerging as a new paradigm in the Industrial Property Law, since they represent an adaptation to innovation and competitiveness which has been growing among economic agents over the past years. However, the registration of these types of marks is not without problems, given the difficulty of adapting them to the registration requirements attributed to traditional trademarks, namely the graphic representation and the ability of distinguishing the source of the products and services covered by them. This article aims to demonstrate the contingencies in the registration of non-traditional trademarks, particularly singe color trademarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The use of physical punishment is controversial. Few studies have examined the relationship between physical punishment and a wide range of mental disorders in a nationally representative sample. The current research investigated the possible link between harsh physical punishment (ie., pushing, grabbing, shoving, slapping, hitting) in the absence of more severe child maltreatment (ie, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, exposure to intimate partner violence) and Axis I and II mental disorders. METHODS: Data were from the National Epidemiologie Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions collected between 2004 and 2005 (W= 34 653). The survey was conducted with a representative US adult population sample (aged >20 years). Statistical methods included logistic regression models and population-attributable fractions. RESULTS: Harsh physical punishment was associated with increased odds of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug abuse/ dependence, and several personality disorders after adjusting for sociodemographic variables and family history of dysfunction (adjusted odds ratio: 1.36-2.46). Approximately 2% to 5% of Axis I disorders and 4% to 7% of Axis II disorders were attributable to harsh physical punishment. CONCLUSIONS: Harsh physical punishment in the absence of child maltreatment is associated with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance abuse/dependence, and personality disorders in a general population sample. These findings inform the ongoing debate around the use of physical punishment and provide evidence that harsh physical punishment independent of child maltreatment is related to mental disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Documented age, gender, race and socio-economic disparities in total joint arthroplasty (TJA), suggest that those who need the surgery may not receive it, and present a challenge to explain the causes of unmet need. It is not clear whether doctors limit treatment opportunities to patients, nor is it known the effect that patient beliefs and expectations about the operation, including their paid work status and retirement plans, have on the decision to undergo TJA. Identifying socio-economic and other determinants of demand would inform the design of effective and efficient health policy. This review was conducted to identify the factors that lead patients in need to undergo TJA. Methods: An electronic search of the Embase and Medline (Ovid) bibliographic databases conducted in September2011 identified studies in the English language that reported on factors driving patients in need of hip or knee replacement to undergo surgery. The review included reports of elective surgery rates in eligible patients or, controlling for disease severity, in general subjects, and stated clinical experts' and patients' opinions on suitability for or willingness to undergo TJA. Quantitative and qualitative studies were reviewed, but quantitative studies involving fewer than 20 subjects were excluded. The quality of individual studies was assessed on the basis of study design (i.e., prospective versus retrospective), reporting of attrition, adjustment for and report of confounding effects, and reported measures of need (self-reported versus doctor-assessed). Reported estimates of effect on the probability of surgery from analyses adjusting for confounders were summarised in narrative form and synthesised in odds ratio (OR) forest plots for individual determinants. Results: The review included 26 quantitative studies-23 on individuals' decisions or views on having the operation and three about health professionals' opinions-and 10 qualitative studies. Ethnic and racial disparities in TJA use are associated with socio-economic access factors and expectations about the process and outcomes of surgery. In the United States, health insurance coverage affects demand, including that from the Medicare population, for whom having supplemental Medicaid coverage increases the likelihood of undergoing TJA. Patients with post-secondary education are more likely to demand hip or knee surgery than those without it (range of OR 0.87-2.38). Women are as willing to undergo surgery as men, but they are less likely to be offered surgery by specialists than men with the same need. There is considerable variation in patient demand with age, with distinct patterns for hip and knee.Paid employment appears to increase the chances of undergoing surgery, but no study was found that investigated the relationship between retirement plans and demand for TJA. There is evidence of substantial geographical variation in access to joint replacement within the territory covered by a public national health system, which is unlikely to be explained by differences in preference or unmeasured need alone. The literature tends to focus on associations, rather than testing of causal relationships, and is insufficient to assess the relative importance of determinants. Conclusions: Patients' use of hip and knee replacement is a function of their socio-economic circumstances, which reinforce disparities by gender and race originating in the doctor-patient interaction. Willingness to undergo surgery declines steeply after the age of retirement, at the time some eligible patients may lower their expectations of health status achievement. There is some evidence that paid employment independently increases the likelihood of operation. The relative contribution of variations in surgical decision making to differential access across regions within countries deserves further research that controls for clinical need and patient lifestyle preferences, including retirement decisions. Evidence on this question will become increasingly relevant for service planning and policy design in societies with ageing populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the changes in U.S. patent law and their implications. This process of changing is due to four landmark patent cases in U.S. Supreme Court which include Bilski v. Kappos on June 28, 2010, Global-tech Appliances, Inc. v. SEB S.A on May 2011, Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University v. Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., and Microsoft Corp. v. i4i Limited Partnership. The America Invents Act and Supreme Court jurisprudence are also discussed.

A helicopter model has been identified and validated for flight conditions defined by altitudes, speeds, loadings and centre of gravity positions. To identify the helicopter models, 2-3-1-1 multistep control inputs were performed by the pilot to excite all helicopter modes. Then, each estimated signal has to remain in tolerance margins defined by the Federal Aviation Administration. Three methods were used to observe the system outputs from its states: a fuzzy logic method, a linear method optimised with a neural network algorithm and a classical method. Because of random effects when gathering data, classical method did not give good enough results. The fuzzy logic method was not robust enough so that output plots showed peaks that could be felt by the pilot. Then, because the model could be implemented in a simulator for the pilot training, the pilot feedback is very useful in order to compare the reality with the results of the mathematical model. When the outputs are obtained from the measured state variables, the linear method gave the best results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum: Agronomy is the property of Universidade Estadual de Maringa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is commonly observed among trauma survivors. However, few studies have treated PTG as multi-dimensional and examined how different PTG dimensions may be protective against the negative effects of future trauma.Methods: Using a nationally representative web-based survey of 1057 U.S. military veterans followed for two years, we examined whether different PTG dimensions had a protective effect on the severity and diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the face of new traumatic life events.Results: Greater scores on the Personal Strength domain of the PTG Inventory-Short Form at baseline was associated with reduced severity (β=-.05, p<.05) and incidence (OR=.68, 95% CI=.50-.93) of PTSD at a two-year follow-up.Limitations: Results are associational and causality cannot be inferred so replication is needed.Conclusions: This study highlights the multi-dimensional nature of PTG and demonstrates a salubrious effect of trauma-related gains in personal strength on incident PTSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rise in foodborne outbreaks in the United States associated with fresh produce has resulted in increased concerns with the importation of fruits and vegetables. Mexico is a major exporter of produce to the United States, particularly tomatoes and bell peppers. A quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) was conducted to evaluate the public health impact of protozoanladen water irrigating produce in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. Specifically, a QMRA was conducted to address the human health impact associated with consumption of tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, and lettuce irrigated with water contaminated with Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Yearly infection risks were estimated and assumed a 120-day exposure in a given year. Annual risks range from 9 x 10-6 for Cryptosporidium at the lowest concentration associated with bell peppers to almost 2 x 10-1 for exposure to Giardia on lettuce at the highest detected concentration. With the relatively high number of illnesses resulting from produce-related outbreaks, addressing pre- and postharvest points of contamination for fruits and vegetables consumed raw should be a food industry priority. This research shows how QMRA can be used to interpret microbial contamination data for public health significance and subsequently provide the foundation for guideline development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Motricidade is the property of Silabas Didaticas LDA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article reports on the broad-spectrum insecticides resistance which was discovered for codling moth. It discusses that the resistance to azinphosmethyl, methoxyfenozide and lambda-cyhalothrin was related with reduced residual action in the field. It infers that the codling moth is one of the primary pests in the world. It is also inferred that the broad-spectrum resistance introduces serious problems for management of the codling moth in Michigan. In addition, apple plots were dealt with marked field rate doses of four insecticides.

Most Bursaphelenchus species are fungal feeding nematodes that colonize dead or dying trees. However, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the pine wood nematode, is also a pathogen of trees and is the causal agent of pine wilt disease. B. xylophilus is native to North America and here it causes little damage to trees. Where it is introduced to new regions it causes huge damage. The most severely affected areas are found in the Far East but more recently B. xylophilus has been introduced into Portugal and the potential for damage here is also high. As incidence and severity of pine wilt disease are linked to temperature we suggest that climate change is likely to exacerbate the problems caused by B. xylophilus and, in addition, will extend (northwards in Europe) the range in which pine wilt disease can occur. Here we review what is currently known about the interactions of B. xylophilus with its hosts, including recent developments in our understanding of the molecular biology of pathogenicity in the nematode. We also examine the potential developments that could be made by more widespread use of genomics tools to understand interactions between B. xylophilus, bacterial pathogens that have been implicated in disease and host trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 1996 and 2002, the Brazilian government established independent regulatory agencies (IRAs) for electricity, telecommunications, oil, gas, and other infrastructure sectors as part of a very ambitious privatization program. Following the formulas advocated internationally, Brazilian IRAs have institutional guarantees of independence, such as fixed and staggered terms of office for commissioners, congressional approval of presidential nominations, and alternative sources of funds to ensure their financial autonomy. This Article analyzes the design of IRAs in Brazil and asks whether their institutional guarantees of independence were effective in insulating them from the political sphere. The Author's general conclusion is that these guarantees--typical of developed countries, especially the United States--failed to insulate Brazilian agencies. The Article indicates a number of episodes of political influence over agencies, and it applies detailed institutional analysis to explain what went wrong. The Brazilian experience illuminates the difficulties that many developing countries face in trying to realize the ideal of regulatory independence and the benefits that would supposedly flow from this. Thus, it might serve as a cautionary tale for policymakers and for developing countries contemplating similar reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the ability of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), the organization that administers U.S. intercollegiate athletics, to help its member institutions conform to the Title IX that prohibits sex discrimination against students and staff. Title IX is the Education Amendments of 1972, the first comprehensive federal law that forbids discrimination by sex in any education program or activity that receives federal funds. Its Policy Interpretation guides the recertification gender equity plan.

The article examines the means taken by the U.S. Supreme Court to apply secondary liability for copyright infringement to emerging technologies. Direct and secondary copyright infringement are discussed. An examination of the A&M Records Inc. versus Napster Inc. This paper has concluded with implications of the landmark 2005 Grokster decision.

Discusses how the U.S. Supreme Court addressed the Child Online Protection Act and the Child Pornography Prevention Act in several cases in 2002. Key stipulations of the law and their application in the cases; Analysis of pertinent topics and relevant issues; Implications on federal communications and the law.

The article presents information on some of the comparative impact caused by education and technology. Every boy and girl of the future will be disadvantaged if they do not understand and have access to information technology. It has been evident for some time that access to information is one of the major sources of advantage. In countries such as the fifteen member nations of the European Union, the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, as well as several Asian nations, students are taught from an early age how to be able to use computers and integrate their usage into their academic and everyday life. This also implies an acceptance by the developed countries that technology will continue to be an important part of society.

Presents the author's views about academic English language as second language for students in the U.S. Arguments of critics and supports of academic English language; Experience of the author as a Spanish bilingual teacher for third grade students; Discussion on studies about English as a second language; Importance of allowing students express their feelings freely in classroom.

The author reflects on the study conducted by Emily Brignone and colleagues on how to prevent the risk for homelessness among U.S. veterans by reducing military sexual trauma (MST). According to the study, the incident rate of homeless veterans with history of MST for five years has increased compared to those without history of MST.

This article responds to the paper "Lead Screening: Patient Profiles and Rules of Thumb," by L. Fleming Fallon, Jr. According to the author, Fallon articulately describes the hazards of lead poisoning and the potential dangers of applying rules of thumb. She explores the policy being imposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding the issue. The author endorses a recommendation made by Fallon that rules of thumb should provide general guidance.