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Distrust and partisan identity are theorized to undermine health communications. We examined the role of these factors on the efficacy of discussion groups intended to promote vaccine uptake. We analyzed survey data from unvaccinated Facebook users (N = 371) living in the US between January and April 2022. Participants were randomly assigned to Facebook discussion groups (intervention) or referred to Facebook's COVID-19 Information Center (control). We used Analysis of Covariance to test if the intervention was more effective at changing vaccination intentions and beliefs compared to the control in subgroups based on participants' partisan identity, political views, and information trust views. We found a significant interaction between the intervention and trust in public health institutions (PHIs) for improving intentions to vaccinate (P =.04), intentions to encourage others to vaccinate (P =.03), and vaccine confidence beliefs (P =.01). Among participants who trusted PHIs, those in the intervention had higher posttest intentions to vaccinate (P =.008) and intentions to encourage others to vaccinate (P =.002) compared to the control. Among non-conservatives, participants in the intervention had higher posttest intentions to vaccinate (P =.048). The intervention was more effective at improving intentions to encourage others to vaccinate within the subgroups of Republicans (P =.03), conservatives (P =.02), and participants who distrusted government (P =.02). Facebook discussion groups were more effective for people who trusted PHIs and non-conservatives. Health communicators may need to segment health messaging and develop strategies around trust views. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Extant literature has seldom examined the naturalistic role of reaction to threat on downstream emotional distress while also considering buffers, such as perceived social support, to acute negative mental health outcomes. The present study examined how trauma symptoms, in reaction to a global stressor, predicted increased psychological distress via elevated emotional hostility and whether perceived social support modified such effects. We predicted a priori that increased exposure to trauma would be associated with increased hostility and global psychological distress, but that this path would be attenuated by greater levels of perceived social support, as individuals who report greater support exhibit greater emotional coping. Methods: We recruited 408 adults from a large university in the Midwestern United States to participate in a survey assessing past‐week trauma, hostility, distress, and perceived social support following the initial COVID‐19 lockdown. The survey was conducted in March 2020, directly after strict shelter‐in‐place orders were locally mandated. To test our hypotheses, we employed a moderated mediation analysis approach. Results: Results demonstrate that higher trauma predicted increased hostility, which in turn predicted increased distress, and trauma predicted distress via hostility (an indirect effect). As hypothesized, higher perceived social support attenuated the association between trauma and hostility. Conclusion: Results support a hostile emotional pathway that may increase distress in the context of increased traumatic impact; however, social support likely buffers these effects, particularly in the face of new or novel threats and stressors. Findings suggest broad application for understanding the relation between the introduction of stressors, psychological distress, and social support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: To determine the incidence of acute neuroimaging (NI) findings and comorbidities in the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID‐19)‐infected subjects in seven U.S. and four European hospitals. Methods: This is a retrospective study of COVID‐19‐positive subjects with the following inclusion criteria: age >18, lab‐confirmed COVID‐19 infection, and acute NI findings (NI+) attributed to COVID‐19 on CT or MRI brain. NI+ and comorbidities in total hospitalized COVID‐19‐positive (TN) subjects were assessed. Results: A total of 37,950 COVID‐19‐positive subjects were reviewed and 4342 underwent NI. NI+ incidence in subjects with NI was 10.1% (442/4342) including 7.9% (294/3701) in the United States and 22.8% (148/647) in Europe. NI+ incidence in TN was 1.16% (442/37,950). In NI (4342), incidence of ischemic stroke was 6.4% followed by intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) (3.8%), encephalitis (0.5%), sinus venous thrombosis (0.2%), and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) (0.2%). White matter involvement was seen in 57% of NI+. Hypertension was the most common comorbidity (54%) before cardiac disease (28.8%) and diabetes mellitus (27.7%). Cardiac disease (p <.025), diabetes (p <.014), and chronic kidney disease (p <.012) were more common in the United States. Conclusion: This multicenter, multinational study investigated the incidence and spectrum of NI+ in 37,950 hospitalized adult COVID‐19 subjects including regional differences in incidences of NI+, associated comorbidities, and other demographics. NI+ incidence in TN was 1.16% including 0.95% in the United States and 2.09% in Europe. ICH, encephalitis, and ADEM were common in Europe, while ischemic strokes were more common in the United States. In this cohort, incidence and distribution of NI+ helped characterize the neurological complications of COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While student loans play a large role in the financing of higher education, there has been relatively little qualitative work on how young adults understand their debt burdens and the debt's perceived future impact. We examine this topic utilizing a sample of 105 young people from working-, middle-, and upper middle-class backgrounds who experienced young adulthood during the Great Recession. While most respondents are accepting of debt at the time of postsecondary enrollment, their inability to meet the demands of their debt leads to frustration and anxiety. Further, many respondents are concerned that this debt will impact their ability to support themselves and transition into the role of a marital partner, although this varies across social class backgrounds and debt levels. We argue that this debt, and its corresponding repercussions, are likely to contribute to the continued bifurcation of family life in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been shown to offer improved postoperative outcomes compared with multiportal technique. Shorter operative time has rarely been described. Our objective was to compare operative time and clinical outcomes between uniportal and multiportal VATS approaches for lung resection. Methods: This is a retrospective review of patients that underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic lung resection at United States Veterans Affairs centers between 2008 and 2018 using the Veteran Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Cases were assigned to uniportal (single surgeon) or multiportal cohorts. Multivariable analysis of clinical outcomes was performed, adjusting for preoperative confounding covariates. Temporal trend in operative time in uniportal cohort was analyzed in the context of cumulative operative volume using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, rho (ρ). Results: In total, 8,212 cases were selected from 2008 to 2018 at Veterans Affairs centers: 176 (2.1%) uniportal and 8036 (97.9%) multiportal cases. Uniportal cohort was significantly associated with shorter operative time (1.7 hours versus 3.1 hours, P < .001), higher adjusted odds of surgical site infection (adjusted odds ratio = 2.76; P = .005), and longer length of stay (6 days versus 5 days; P = .04). Uniportal cohort operative time decreased over time (ρ = -0.474), with most significant change corresponding with increased cumulative operative volume from 25 to 44 cases. Conclusions: Uniportal technique offered shorter operative duration in veterans compared with multiportal approach, validating its technical advantages. Operative time decreased as cumulative operative volume increased, demonstrating a learning curve. Future studies should prospectively investigate any association between operative time and clinical outcomes after thoracoscopic lung resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the public health significance of overweight and obesity, weight management has remained a low priority for health-related programming on university campuses. Investigate the need for and feasibility of implementing university-based weight loss programs. The Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model (PRISM) was used as a framework. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with fifteen university staff and students from two large U.S. universities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Interviews aimed to assess readiness, preferences, characteristics, barriers and facilitators in each of the four adapted PRISM domains: (1) Organizational and Recipient (Student) Perspectives on the Intervention, (2) Recipient (Student) Characteristics, (3) Internal Environment (organizational characteristics and infrastructure), and (4) External Environment. Verbatim transcriptions were analyzed using inductive and deductive thematic analyses. Themes were extracted as outlined by Consensual Qualitative Research. Participants supported university-based weight loss programs, but recognized barriers of resources, coordination across entities, and competing health issues taking priority for school programming. Campus built environment and students' busy schedules were identified as barriers to maintaining healthy weight and participation in weight loss programs. Recommendations included designing weight loss programming with a positive and holistic approach, minimizing weight-stigma, ensuring support from university leaders and students, and securing external funding. The identified themes provide recommendations for universities looking to develop and implement weight loss programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using rich narratives provided by youth, this research examines the holistic role of mentors in the lives of young people coming of age in an impoverished and dangerous context (n = 44). Mentees experienced household adversities (e.g. parental separation, substance abuse, familial incarceration) and community violence (e.g. neighborhood shootings, gangs, and assaults). Mentors provided emotional support, educational support, and protection from harm. In addition, youths experienced mentor versatility. Mentors were perceived as effective in aiding the youths' resilience and at helping them navigate multiple levels of stressors and criminogenic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Current guidelines for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs) recommend vancomycin enemas for patients with adynamic ileus. There is significant variability in guideline recommendations for vancomycin dose and enema volume and whether a retention enema should be used. The most recent (2017) guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America/Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America recommend rectal instillation of 500 mg of vancomycin in 100 mL of physiologic saline every 6 hours as a retention enema. Methods: Published studies regarding vancomycin enema use in CDI (1990-present) were reviewed to compare drug dose, volume, and whether a retention enema was used in order to determine the efficacy and make recommendations for optimal dosing. Results: Case series with higher vancomycin dose, higher enema volume, and use of retention enema demonstrated greater efficacy. Use of smaller volumes and lower doses (100 mL; 125-250 mg q 6 hours) demonstrated no efficacy of intracolonic vancomycin. Conclusion: We recommend revision of the current CDI guideline recommendations for patients with adynamic ileus to the following: Vancomycin per rectum (500 mg in a volume of 500 mL q 6 hours) by retention enema (18F Foley catheter with 30-cc balloon inserted into the rectum, balloon inflated, solution instilled, and catheter clamped for 60 minutes) for optimal efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why do some people struggle with self-control (colloquially called willpower) whereas others are able to sustain it during challenging circumstances? Recent research showed that a person's implicit theories of willpower-whether they think self-control capacity is a limited or nonlimited resource-predict sustained self-control on laboratory tasks and on goal-related outcomes in everyday life. The present research tests the Implicit Theory of Willpower for Strenuous Mental Activities Scale (or ITW-M) Scale for measurement invariance across samples and gender within each culture, and two cultural contexts (the U.S. and Switzerland/Germany). Across a series of multigroup confirmatory factor analyses, we found support for the measurement invariance of the ITW-M scale across samples within and across two cultures, as well as across men and women. Further, the analyses showed expected patterns of convergent (with life-satisfaction and trait-self-control) and discriminant validity (with implicit theory of intelligence). These results provide guidelines for future research and clinical practice using the ITW-M scale for the investigation of latent group differences, for example, between gender or cultures. (PsycINFO Database Record [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The election of Donald Trump to the US Presidency has been linked to a decline of popular confidence in democratic institutions and to the emergence of a post-truth era. The President accuses unfavourable media outlets of spreading fake news, which he contrasts with opposing - and even unproven - stories. The present research considered Trump's statements about the media posted on the social network Twitter since his election. Following his tweets, articles and broadcast news issued by the media under attack and those published by more acquiescent press were collected in order to explore how the President's figure and policy were framed by the voice of political analysts. Texts were investigated from quantitative and qualitative perspectives, combining Corpus Linguistics and Critical Discourse Analysis to examine the topics and discourses exploited, the strategies enacted in the presentation of opinions, and to discuss their implications and contribution to the reproduction of ideologies. The study suggested that the liberal media tended to exploit scandals to construct Trump's presidency as chaotic and to depict his figure as unreliable. The right-leaning press seemed, instead, to reproduce the President's discourse about biased media and to spread any alternative opinions and facts which may prove useful to defend and support Trump. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper, based on three waves of qualitative data with middle-income families outside of Philadelphia, explores how families deal with the challenge of financing postsecondary education over time. Because of economic setbacks, these families adopt a variety of financial maneuvers to support their young adult children's postsecondary educational plans. In particular, families are driven to sacrifice familial savings accounts and retirement funds, take on significant student loan burdens, and downgrade children's college plans to cheaper, often less prestigious, options. These results highlight the financial vulnerability of families in the middle of the income distribution and the complicated relationship between family economics and postsecondary educational plans for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which discusses physical activity (PA) intervention research with a focus on sedentary behaviors, technology, and dissemination. Topics discussed include conducting randomized controlled trials to investigate sedentary behaviors and long-term outcomes, increase in sedentary behavior due to technology, and exploring social networking and innovative apps in PA technology research.

BACKGROUND: Partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide (...) monitoring in children is important to detect apnea or hypopnea early to intervene before hypoxemia develops. Monitoring ... in children without a tracheal tube is challenging. To improve ... measurement accuracy in a commercially available mask with a mainstream CO2 detector, we implemented design changes with deform-and-hold shaping technology and anterior-posterior adjustment of the expiratory gas flow cup. METHODS: Two sizes of redesigned face masks (small for 7-20 kg, medium for 10-40 kg) were evaluated. Initial bench testing used a simulator modeling a spontaneously breathing infant and child with a natural airway. An infant/child manikin head was connected to the breathing lung simulator. A mass flow controller provided expiratory CO2. Mask fit was then evaluated on healthy human subjects to identify anatomical features associated with good fit, defined as square shape capnography waveform during expiration. A 3-dimensional digital scan was used to quantify anatomical features. The gaps between face mask rims and facial surface were manually measured. RESULTS: Bench testing revealed a ... difference of 3.4 ± 1.5 mm Hg between a measured ... by the redesigned mask and CO2 concentration at trachea, as compared with 6.7 ± 6.2 mm Hg between ... measured by nasal cannula and trachea (P < .001). In the human mask fit study, 35 children (13 ± 4 kg) with the small mask and 38 (24 ± 8 kg) with the medium mask were evaluated. Capnography tracing was successfully obtained in 86% of the small and 100% of the medium masks. In children with small-size masks, the gap between the face mask rim and the child's face was not statistically different among those with good mask fit and without (1.0 ± 1.5 mm vs 1.4 ± 1.9 mm, P = .73). CONCLUSIONS: ... measurement by a redesigned open-system face mask with a mainstream CO2 detector was accurate in the bench setting. The redesigned face mask can attain good mask fit and accurate capnography tracings in the majority of infants and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the protections granted to freedom of thought and expression under U.S. Constitution and issues surrounding the same in the U.S. Topics discussed include freedom of speech as provided by the U.S. government; efforts taken by the government in eliminating hate speech; and Brandenburg v. Ohio court case on same.

The article presents the author's views on the U.S.' national security law and individual rights as of July 2014, highlighting the expansion of executive power which she considers unconstitutional. He provides a background of the Constitution and discusses the role of government in protecting individual natural liberties. Other topics include the right to due process, political persecutions, and the Espionage Act of 1917.

Mentoring programs may be contexts for building important intentional self-regulatory skills in adolescents. In this study, we provide data about the factor structure of new measures that assess youth intentional self-regulation (ISR) within such programs: the “GPS growth grids.” Using data from 409 mentor/youth dyads from 24 programs around the United States, we assess whether the resulting factor structure can be invariantly measured across mentor and mentee raters and three times of measurement. Results indicated that a single-factor structure best fit older and younger mentee age groups’ data. Older mentee and mentor data displayed measurement invariance across time and rater, while younger mentee and mentor data displayed invariance across time. Results also indicated differences in the factor correlations, means, and variances across rater and age group. These findings support using these measures for future longitudinal work assessing the role of youth, mentor, and program characteristics in promoting youth ISR skills. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Empirically based lifting criteria established by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to reduce the risk of overexertion injuries in the general US working population were evaluated for application to pregnant workers. This report proposes criteria to guide decisions by medical providers about permissible weights for lifting tasks performed at work over the course of an uncomplicated pregnancy. Our evaluation included an extensive review of the literature linking occupational lifting to maternal and fetal health. Although it has been 29 years since the American Medical Association's Council on Scientific Affairs published its report on the Effects of Pregnancy on Work Performance, these guidelines continue to influence clinical decisions and workplace policies. Provisional clinical guidelines derived from the NIOSH lifting criteria that account for recent evidence for maternal and fetal health are presented and aim to improve the standard of care for pregnant workers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Due to the rise in tornadoes in the United States, the built environment continues to suffer damage. Masonry buildings comprise a significant portion of the built heritage environment for most countries and are susceptible to natural hazards. However, research at the intersection of extreme wind loading and structural strengthening often neglects historic and aging infrastructure, particularly unreinforced masonry buildings, leading to their exclusion from the building code. This study aims to identify various factors that affect damages to unreinforced masonry structures during tornado loading. To begin, the structural performance of historic masonry constructions after the Mayfield, KY tornado in 2021 was evaluated, with multimodal data collected on-site, including aerial photographs, street-view imagery, and detailed field notes on observed damages. The on-site data included aerial photographs, street-view imagery, and detailed field notes for the observed damages. This data was supplemented by archival research and analyzed to identify the underlying relationships between building attributes and damage levels. The results indicate that damages in historic buildings were extensive and proportional to the year of construction and the distance from the tornado but not necessarily to the retrofit status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Safety and efficacy of a biologically active derivative of vitamin B5 (pantethine) on total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) metabolism was studied in North American subjects at conventional low to moderate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. A total of 120 subjects initiated a therapeutic lifestyle change (TLC) diet 4 weeks before randomization (baseline) and maintained the diet throughout a 16-week study period; at baseline, subjects were randomized in a triple-blinded manner to either pantethine (600 mg/d, baseline to week 8, and 900 mg/d, weeks 9-16) or identically labeled, nonbiologically active placebo (n = 60 per group). We hypothesized that pantethine would lower TC and low-density lipoprotein in low–CVD-risk North American subjects in a similar manner as reported in high–CVD-risk subjects studied mainly in Italy and Japan. While sustaining a TLC diet and in comparison with placebo, pantethine demonstrated significant (P < .005) and sustained reductions (from baseline to week 16) in TC (6 mg/dL, 0.16 mmol/L, 3%), LDL-C (4 mg/dL, 0.10 mmol/L, 4%), and apolipoprotein B (4 mg/dL, 0.04 g/L, 5%). Our data suggest that pantethine supplementation for 16 weeks (600 mg/d for weeks 1-8 then 900 mg/d for weeks 9-16) is safe and significantly lowers TC and LDL-C over and above the effect of TLC diet alone. Although the absolute magnitude of these effects was small in these low- to moderate-risk North Americans (4-6 mg/dL), the results are noteworthy as prior studies have shown that, for each 1 mg/dL (0.026 mmol/L) reduction in LDL-C, there is a concomitant 1% reduction in overall future CVD risk. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Medical products (devices, drugs, or biologics) contain information in their labeling regarding the manner in which the manufacturer has determined that the products can be used in a safe and effective manner. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves medical products for use for these specific indications which are part of the medical product’s labeling. When medical products are used in a manner not specified in the labeling, it is commonly referred to as off-label use. The practice of medicine allows for this off-label use to treat individual patients, but the ethical and legal implications for such unapproved use can be confusing. Although the responsibility and, ultimately, the liability for off-label use often rests with the prescribing physician, medical physicists and others are also responsible for the safe and proper use of the medical products. When these products are used for purposes other than which they were approved, it is important for medical physicists to understand their responsibilities. In the United States, medical products can only be marketed if officially cleared, approved, or licensed by the FDA; they can be used if they are not subject to or specifically exempt from FDA regulations, or if they are being used in research with the appropriate regulatory safeguards. Medical devices are either cleared or approved by FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. Drugs are approved by FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, and biological products such as vaccines or blood are licensed under a biologics license agreement by FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. For the purpose of this report, the process by which the FDA eventually clears, approves, or licenses such products for marketing in the United States will be referred to as approval. This report summarizes the various ways medical products, primarily medical devices, can legally be brought to market in the United States, and includes a discussion of the approval process, along with manufacturers’ responsibilities, labeling, marketing and promotion, and off-label use. This is an educational and descriptive report and does not contain prescriptive recommendations. This report addresses the role of the medical physicist in clinical situations involving off-label use. Case studies in radiation therapy are presented. Any mention of commercial products is for identification only; it does not imply recom-mendations or endorsements of any of the authors or the AAPM. The full report, containing extensive background on off-label use with several appendices, is available on the AAPM website (http://www.aapm.org/pubs/reports/). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the social issues associated with the prints of 19th century American painter Lily Martin Spenser. Her prints featured children in a variety of humorous situations and were created for print publisher William Schaus. The author argues that Spenser's prints appealed to the public because they presented non-threatening views of African American children and idealized representations of middle class white children during a period when urban slums threatened the middle class' feeling of safety and security.

Purpose: We reviewed the long-term outcomes in men undergoing permanent prostate brachytherapy with a focus on those presenting before age 60 years. Materials and Methods: Between 1992 and 2005 a total of 2,119 patients with clinical stage T1–T2, N0, M0 prostate cancer treated with permanent prostate brachytherapy were included in this study. Treatment regimens consisted of permanent prostate brachytherapy with or without hormone therapy, permanent prostate brachytherapy with external beam radiotherapy, or all 3 modalities. Biochemical recurrence was defined using the Phoenix definition. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine if age and/or other clinicopathological features were associated with disease progression. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate rates of freedom from progression with the log rank test to compare patients younger than 60 vs 60 years or older. Results: Median followup was 56.1 months. In the study population 237 patients were younger than 60 years at diagnosis (11%). The 5 and 10-year freedom from progression rates were 90.1% and 85.6%, respectively, for the entire population. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that prostate specific antigen (p <0.01), biopsy Gleason score (p <0.0001) and year of treatment (p <0.001) were associated with freedom from progression while age (p = 0.95) and clinical stage (p = 0.11) were not. There was no significant difference in freedom from progression between men younger than 60, or 60 years or older (log rank p = 0.46). In the younger cohort the 10-year freedom from progression for patients presenting with low, intermediate and high risk disease was 91.3%, 80.0% and 70.2% compared to 91.8%, 83.4% and 72.1%, respectively, for men 60 years or older. Conclusions: Our long-term results confirm favorable outcomes after permanent prostate brachytherapy in men younger than 60 years. Outcomes are impacted by disease related risk factors but not by age or clinical stage. Definitive treatment options for younger men with clinically localized prostate cancer should include permanent prostate brachytherapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background : Given the low rates of physical activity participation, innovative intervention approaches are needed to make a public health impact. Methods : The study was conducted at the Miriam Hospital/Brown Medical School in Providence, RI, and in communities of Southeastern Massachusetts from 2002 to 2005. Previously sedentary women (n =280; mean age=47.1; 94.6% Caucasian) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) Choose to Move, a self-help printed booklet (n =93), (2) Jumpstart, a motivationally tailored, print based intervention (n =95); or (3) Wellness, women''s health materials (n =92). Face-to-face contact at months 3 (M3) and 12 (M12) occurred within participants'' communities in local libraries. Results : At M3, participants in the Jumpstart condition reported significantly more minutes of physical activity per week (M=140.4, SE=14.82) than participants in the Wellness condition (M=98.1, SE=15.09), (t(275)=2.00, p <0.05). The Jumpstart arm showed a trend towards significance (t(275)=1.93, p =0.054) when compared with the CTM arm (M=99.5, SE=15.11); there was no significant difference between the CTM and Wellness arms (t(275)=0.07, p =NS). At M12, there were no significant differences (F(2,275)=0.147, p =NS) between any of the treatment arms. Conclusions : Results suggest that print-based programs for physical activity may be efficacious short-term, but more research is needed to find approaches that are effective long-term. It is possible to deliver print-based programs through existing community infrastructures, however these approaches need further evaluation to examine maintenance effects apart from the demand characteristics of a research study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Substance abuse among American youths continues to pose a serious public health concern. However, only a small segment of the adolescent subpopulation with alcohol and other substance use disorders (AOSUD), usually end up in treatment. Maintenance of treatment gains in the months after treatment has been problematic in youths with AOSUD. An approximately 60% relapse was reported during the first 3 months after treatment completion and an additional 20% relapse during the rest of the first year. Lack of continuity of care or aftercare programs for adolescents with AOSUD is the rule rather than the exception.

This study addresses a possible link between suicide and casino gambling. Resident suicide rates are analyzed for (a) a 1990 cross-section of 148 U.S. metropolitan areas and (b) before and after the advent of legalized casinos in five U.S. counties. Data are drawn from government and gaming industry sources. In cross-section, metro area suicide is strongly correlated with region, accidental death and homicide rates, age and race composition, and economic vitality, followed by a modest net positive correlation with casino presence. By contrast, the time series analysis yields no evidence of a gambling effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study that investigated the contamination of soils by petroleum hydrocarbons in many industrialized areas in the U.S. Application of thin-layer chromatography with flame ionization detection to analyze the soil extracts; Suggestions with regard to the use of the method; Discussion on the extraction and analysis of petroleum hydrocarbons.

The article focuses on the role of natural biota in the maintenance of human environment. It states that the relative impact of various natural species groups on the environment can be judged by their biomass per unit area. It examines vital processes that are carried out by natural biota as an integral part of the ecosystem. It states that natural biota from livestock husbandry and other human activities are produced in large amounts in the U.S. Most of the natural organic waste in the U.S. are burned and the rest is degraded by organisms of the ecosystem. It mentions the role of natural parasites and predators in controlling the pest population. It stresses that human activities interfere in maintenance of ecological balance, handled by natural biota.

Summarizes the results of the evaluation of the congenital syphilis (CS) surveillance system. Conducted by the Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention and Control Program of the New Jersey Department of Health during 1993-1994; Assessment of the accuracy and completeness of reporting using the new case definition; Analysis of the personal costs associated with identifying and classifying CS cases; Editorial note.

• Much public discourse on single-mother households focuses on children's risks. • Less research addresses how single mothers in urban areas help children succeed. • This paper explores promotive and protective strategies used by single mothers. • Policy centered around parenting strengths should be utilized to aid mothers and children. While much of the extant literature on single-mother households describes a host of risks that these children experience, much less research addresses how youth raised by single mothers living in resource strained neighborhoods achieve successes. This investigation explores the methods single mothers of color utilize to foster resilience and academic and personal success among a sample of college students and recent graduates who grew up in a crime ridden city. Through in-depth retrospective interviews that are part of a larger multi-methods study, a subsample of respondents (n = 40) shared their perceptions of the strategies used by their single mothers to help them become academically successful while also protecting them from the crime, drugs, and poverty within their homes and neighborhoods. Both Black and Latina single mothers used restrictive parenting techniques, provided educational and emotional supports, and exemplified prowess and creativity in accessing resources to fulfill the financial needs of their children in remarkably similar ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]