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This study aims to compare teachers' self-efficacy across Turkish and American in-service middle-school mathematics teachers. The samples consist of 379 Turkish and 245 American in-service middle-school mathematics teachers. The self-efficacy questionnaire of the Middle-school Mathematics and the Institutional Setting of Teaching (MIST) scale was used in the study. The exploratory factor analysis revealed two dimensions of the self-efficacy measures across the American and Turkish teachers, such as classroom management and student support strategies. The measurement invariance property of the scale was evaluated before comparing the means of the groups. Despite the differences between the education systems, teachers' efficacy beliefs function quite similarly across the countries. The statistically significant mean differences in the subscale scores of efficacy measures between Turkish and American samples have no practical value. In both countries, teachers reported high level of confidence in efficacy beliefs in classroom management and student support strategies.

The Existential Model of Perfectionism and Depressive Symptoms (EMPDS) is a promising integrative model. According to the EMPDS, self-oriented perfectionism and socially prescribed perfectionism indirectly influence depressive symptoms through rumination and difficulty accepting the past. Yet, the extent to which self-oriented perfectionism, socially prescribed perfectionism, rumination, and difficulty accepting the past uniquely and collectively influence depressive symptoms is unestablished. Likewise, supporting evidence derives from relatively healthy university students, rendering the generalizability of the EMPDS to more distressed individuals unclear. Our study addressed these important limitations. Data were obtained from 393 depressed individuals. Congruent with the EMPDS, bias-corrected bootstrapped tests of mediation indicated that socially prescribed perfectionism indirectly predicted depressive symptoms through rumination and difficulty accepting the past. In contrast, self-oriented perfectionism indirectly predicted depressive symptoms through rumination, but not difficulty accepting the past. Overall, the current findings highlight similarities and differences between trait perfectionism dimensions in mechanisms that link them with depression.

Climate change is impacting the Pacific Islands first and most drastically, yet few native islanders are trained to recognize, analyze, or mitigate the impacts in these islands. To understand the reasons why low numbers of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders enter colleges, enroll in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses, or undertake life sciences/STEM careers, 25 representatives from colleges and schools in seven U.S.-affiliated states and countries across the Pacific participated in a 2-day workshop. Fourteen were indigenous peoples of their islands. Participants revealed that: (1) cultural barriers, including strong family obligations and traditional and/or religious restrictions, work against students leaving home or entering STEM careers; (2) geographic barriers confront isolated small island communities without secondary schools, requiring students to relocate to a distant island for high school; (3) in many areas, teachers are undertrained in STEM, school science facilities are lacking, and most island colleges lack STEM majors and modern labs; and (4) financial barriers arise, because many islanders must relocate from their home islands to attend high school and college, especially, the costs for moving to Guam, Hawai'i, or the U.S. mainland. Most solutions depend on financial input, but mechanisms to increase awareness of the value of STEM training are also important.

The number of refugees and asylum seekers admitted to the United States has grown, with significant numbers arriving from sub-Saharan Africa. Given this reality, it is important that mental health professionals are equipped to provide culturally relevant services. This article describes the development and implementation of a group treatment model for African male forced migrants in a large urban hospital. Therapeutic techniques that draw on African cultural traditions in order to rebuild lives, reduce symptoms, recreate familial and community connections, and support adjustment are discussed. Suggestions for future treatment and research to address African refugee mental health needs are highlighted.

The purpose of this study was to examine family communication within the core and balance model of family leisure functioning. The study was conducted from a youth perspective of family leisure and family functioning. The sample consisted of youth (N= 95) aged 11 - 17 from 25 different states in the United States. Path analyses indicated that family communication mediated a positive relationship between family leisure variables and family functioning variables. Implications and recommendations are discussed. The addition of communication in the Core and Balance Model is recommended.

This article presents the results of a large-scale study of the characteristics of 156 individuals with Asperger Syndrome (AS) ages 12 to 18. Specifically, cognitive (intellectual, empathizing, systemizing), adaptive behavior, behavior, temperament, and sensory profiles of study participants are overviewed. These characteristics are discussed as they relate to diagnostic criteria and instructional planning for adolescents with AS. (Contains 7 tables.) [This work was supported by the Organization for Autism Research.]

information is also provided regarding additional factors that might contribute to the development of voice disorders.Over 3 million teachers in the United States use their voice as a primary tool of trade and are thought to be at higher risk for occupation-related voice disorders than the general population. However, estimates regarding the prevalence of voice disorders in teachers and the general population vary considerably. To determine the extent that teachers are at greater risk for voice disorders, 2,531 randomly selected participants from Iowa and Utah (1,243 teachers and 1,288 nonteachers) were interviewed by telephone using a voice disorder questionnaire. Prevalence--the number of cases per population at risk at a specific time--was determined. The prevalence of reporting a current voice problem was significantly greater in teachers compared with nonteachers (11.0% vs. 6.2%), [chi square](1) = 18.2, p < .001, as was the prevalence of voice disorders during their lifetime (57.7% for teachers vs. 28.8% for nonteachers), [chi square](1) = 215.2, p < .001. Teachers were also significantly more likely than nonteachers to have consulted a physician or speech-language pathologist regarding a voice disorder (14.3% vs. 5.5%), [chi square](1) = 55.3, p < .001. Women, compared with men, not only had a higher lifetime prevalence of voice disorders (46.3% vs. 36.9%), [chi square](1) = 20.9, p < .001, but also had a higher prevalence of chronic voice disorders (>4 weeks in duration), compared with acute voice disorders (20.9% vs. 13.3%), [chi square](1) = 8.7, p = .003. To assess the association between post voice disorders and possible risks, adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were estimated using multiple logistic regression. The results identified that being a teacher, being a woman, being between 40 and 59 years of age, having 16 or more years of education, and having a family history of voice disorders were each positively associated with having experienced a voice disorder in the past. These results support the notion that teaching is a high-risk occupation for voice disorders. Important

Analysis of matched samples of Swiss (n=443) and U.S. (n=740) women found important differences. Labor force participation of the Swiss was more strongly influenced by family configuration. Associations between educational credentials and occupational sex typing was more persistent in Switzerland. Results show how cultural, institutional, and governmental factors constrain career choices. (Contains 86 references.) (SK)

The American diet has undergone substantial changes, a fact that has negatively impacted the dental health of children. Primary prevention is the ideal method to address the current increased incidence of tooth decay. Educating kids, and their parents, about the qualities of snacks as well as the role of frequency of snacking could help to reduce the disparities that exist in oral health in this country. Interventions are particularly effective when initiated at the 5th grade level. Between the ages of 10 and 13, children lose the final deciduous (baby) teeth and develop a full permanent dentition. At this age, children have the aptitude to evaluate different food and drink choices. This skill will have a lifelong impact on dental health and consequently overall health. The activities contained in this teaching technique will provide children with the information and experience to make sound decisions about snacks on their own.

Summarizes the differences between American and Canadian government structures, and discusses the Constitution Act of 1982, the Meech Lake Accord, and other recent developments in Canada. Three government issues of interest to special librarians are described: the Free Trade Agreement; an amendment to the Copyright Act; and an amendment dealing with pornography. (Nine references) (MES)

This essay explores the ways in which presidential candidates respond when the news media frame their religious beliefs as subversive to American democratic values. Using John F. Kennedy's "Address to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association" and Barack Obama's "A More Perfect Union" speech as case studies for analysis, we argue that Kennedy and Obama employed what Kenneth Burke referred to as familial and dialectical substance to overcome their respective controversies. While Kennedy reaffirmed his national allegiance by associating religious freedom with American values, Obama created dialectical tension to frame the controversy surrounding his candidacy from an alternative perspective, which simultaneously provided Americans an opportunity to interrogate the importance of religious pluralism. Kennedy and Obama's speeches provide a valuable framework for examining the rhetorical strategies that presidential candidates may use to transcend the "religious issue". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1952, Hildegard Peplau published her textbook Interpersonal Relations in Nursing: A Conceptual Frame of Reference for Psychodynamic Nursing. This was the same year the American Psychiatric Association (APA) published the first edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (1st ed.; DSM-I; APA). These events occurred in the context of a rapidly changing policy and practice environment in the United States after World War II, where the passing of the National Mental Health Act in 1946 released vast amounts of funding for the establishment of the National Institute of Mental Health and the development of advanced educational programs for the mental health professions including nursing. This article explores the work of two nurse leaders, Hildegard Peplau and Dorothy Mereness, as they developed their respective graduate psychiatric nursing programs and sought to create new knowledge for psychiatric nursing that would facilitate the development of advanced nursing practice. Both nurses had strong ideas about what they felt this practice should look like and developed distinct and particular approaches to their respective programs. This reflected a common belief that it was only through nurse-led education that psychiatric nursing could shape its own practice and control its own future. At the same time, there are similarities in the thinking of Peplau and Mereness that demonstrate the link between the specific social context of mental health immediately after World War II and the development of modern psychiatric nursing. Psychiatric nurses were able to gain significant control of their own education and practice after the war, but this was not without a struggle and some limitations, which continue to impact on the profession today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Pain is the most prevalent problem among veterans, who receive pain diagnoses 5 times more frequently than the general population. Opioids are commonly prescribed for pain, but they have potential for misuse and serious adverse events. The study objective was to evaluate opioid dispensing patterns and predictors for overlap in veterans who are eligible for Medicare Part D benefits.Methods: A sample of male and all female veterans aged 66 years and older without cancer in 2005-2009 was included. Overlapping days' supply of opioids were evaluated within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), within Part D, and in cross-system users of VA and Part D-reimbursed pharmacies during 2007-2009. Dispensing patterns were analyzed with t tests and chi-square tests. Predictors of overlap were identified with general estimating equations.Results: At least 1 opioid was dispensed to 88.5% of the sample. In 2006 after Part D implementation, 55.2% of opioids were dispensed by VA, decreasing to 44.3% in 2009 (P <0.0001). Opioids dispensed from Part D-reimbursed pharmacies had a higher frequency of overlap compared to those filled at a VA facility (P <0.0001). While overlapping days' supply for opioids filled at VA decreased, overlap increased for prescriptions filled at Part D-reimbursed pharmacies (P <0.0001). There was minimal overlap in opioids between systems, but cross-system use increased over the study period. Predictors for overlap include females, Part D enrollment, no VA medication copay, sleep disorders, psychiatric diagnoses, and substance or alcohol abuse (all P <0.01). Veterans who were Hispanic, older, and had higher incomes had lower overlap odds (all P <0.0001).Conclusions: Opioids dispensed from Part D-reimbursed pharmacies had a higher frequency of overlapping days' supply as compared to those filled by the VA, but there was minimal overlap between systems. While overlapping opioid prescriptions filled by the VA decreased from 2007 to 2009, overlap increased for prescriptions filled at Part D-reimbursed pharmacies. Tools, such as drug monitoring programs, should be used by VA and non-VA providers to decrease opioid-related harms and misuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the equal justice under law in the U.S. justice system and the equal access to the judicial process is the sin qua non of a just society. It mentions that Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment requires equal access with the right to apply to a federal court for a writ of habeas corpus. It also mentions that the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in the case Gideon v. Wainwright on the right to legal counsel for indigent defendants.

Background: Access to health information is crucial to persons living with a spinal cord injury or disorder (SCI/D). Although previous research has provided insights on computer and Internet use among persons with SCI/D, as well as how and where persons with SCI/D gather health information, few studies have focused on U.S. veterans with SCI/D.Objective: To characterize health information seeking among veterans with SCI/D and to examine the association between technology use and the characteristics of veterans with SCI/D.Design: Cross-sectional.Setting: Veterans Health Administration (VHA).Participants: Sample of 290 veterans with SCI/D who utilize services at 2 VHA SCI/D Centers.Methods: Postal mail survey.Main Outcome Measurements: Extent of computer, Internet, and text messaging use, information source use, and e-Health literacy rates.Results: The survey response rate was 38%. The majority of respondents were male (97.2%), younger than 65 years (71.0%), and white (71.7%). Of the respondents, 64.8% indicated that they use a computer, 62.9% reported use of the Internet, and 26.2% reported use of text messaging. The mean overall e-Health Literacy Scale score was 27.3 (standard deviation = 7.2). Similar to findings reported in studies focused outside the veteran population, the most frequent source that veterans turned to for information about SCI/D was a health professional (85.1%); this was also the most frequent source that veterans indicated they would turn to first to get information about SCI/D (75.9%). Other frequently reported sources of information included other persons with SCI/D (41.0%), Internet resources (31.0%), and family and friends (27.9%).Conclusions: Fairly high levels of computer and Internet use exist among veterans with SCI/D. Veterans with SCI/D also have a strong preference for people-particularly health professionals, and to a lesser extent peers and family and friends-as sources of information about SCI/D. These findings highlight the importance of combining technology and human interaction to meet the information needs of this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Current information on the prevalence and sociodemographic and clinical profiles of individuals in the general population with DSM-5 drug use disorder (DUD) is limited. Given the present societal and economic context in the United States and the new diagnostic system, up-to-date national information is needed from a single uniform data source.Objective: To present nationally representative findings on the prevalence, correlates, psychiatric comorbidity, disability, and treatment of DSM-5 DUD diagnoses overall and by severity level.Design, Setting, and Participants: In-person interviews were conducted with 36,309 adults in the 2012-2013 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III, a cross-sectional representative survey of the United States. The household response rate was 72%; person-level response rate, 84%; and overall response rate, 60.1%. Data were collected April 2012 through June 2013 and analyzed from February through March 2015.Main Outcomes and Measures: Twelve-month and lifetime DUD, based on amphetamine, cannabis, club drug, cocaine, hallucinogen, heroin, nonheroin opioid, sedative/tranquilizer, and/or solvent/inhalant use disorders.Results: Prevalences of 12-month and lifetime DUD were 3.9% and 9.9%, respectively. Drug use disorder was generally greater among men, white and Native American individuals, younger and previously or never married adults, those with lower education and income, and those residing in the West. Significant associations were found between 12-month and lifetime DUD and other substance use disorders. Significant associations were also found between any 12-month DUD and major depressive disorder (odds ratio [OR], 1.3; 95% CI, 1.09-1.64), dysthymia (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.09-2.02), bipolar I (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.06-2.05), posttraumatic stress disorder (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.27-2.10), and antisocial (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.11-1.75), borderline (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.41-2.24), and schizotypal (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.18-1.87) personality disorders. Similar associations were found for any lifetime DUD with the exception that lifetime DUD was also associated with generalized anxiety disorder (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.06-1.49), panic disorder (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.06-1.59), and social phobia (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.09-1.64). Twelve-month DUD was associated with significant disability, increasing with DUD severity. Among respondents with 12-month and lifetime DUD, only 13.5% and 24.6% received treatment, respectively.Conclusions and Relevance: DSM-5 DUD is a common, highly comorbid, and disabling disorder that largely goes untreated in the United States. These findings indicate the need for additional studies to understand the broad relationships in more detail; estimate present-day economic costs of DUDs; investigate hypotheses regarding etiology, chronicity, and treatment use; and provide information to policy makers about allocation of resources for service delivery and research. Findings also indicate an urgent need to destigmatize DUD and educate the public, clinicians, and policy makers about its treatment to encourage affected individuals to obtain help. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Laws and attitudes toward marijuana in the United States are becoming more permissive but little is known about whether the prevalence rates of marijuana use and marijuana use disorders have changed in the 21st century.Objective: To present nationally representative information on the past-year prevalence rates of marijuana use, marijuana use disorder, and marijuana use disorder among marijuana users in the US adult general population and whether this has changed between 2001-2002 and 2012-2013.Design, Setting, and Participants: Face-to-face interviews conducted in surveys of 2 nationally representative samples of US adults: the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (data collected April 2001-April 2002; N = 43,093) and the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (data collected April 2012-June 2013; N = 36,309). Data were analyzed March through May 2015.Main Outcomes and Measures: Past-year marijuana use and DSM-IV marijuana use disorder (abuse or dependence).Results: The past-year prevalence of marijuana use was 4.1% (SE, 0.15) in 2001-2002 and 9.5% (SE, 0.27) in 2012-2013, a significant increase (P < .05). Significant increases were also found across demographic subgroups (sex, age, race/ethnicity, education, marital status, income, urban/rural, and region). The past-year prevalence of DSM-IV marijuana use disorder was 1.5% (0.08) in 2001-2002 and 2.9% (SE, 0.13) in 2012-2013 (P < .05). With few exceptions, increases in the prevalence of marijuana use disorder between 2001-2002 and 2012-2013 were also statistically significant (P < .05) across demographic subgroups. However, the prevalence of marijuana use disorder among marijuana users decreased significantly from 2001-2002 (35.6%; SE, 1.37) to 2012-2013 (30.6%; SE, 1.04).Conclusions and Relevance: The prevalence of marijuana use more than doubled between 2001-2002 and 2012-2013, and there was a large increase in marijuana use disorders during that time. While not all marijuana users experience problems, nearly 3 of 10 marijuana users manifested a marijuana use disorder in 2012-2013. Because the risk for marijuana use disorder did not increase among users, the increase in prevalence of marijuana use disorder is owing to an increase in prevalence of users in the US adult population. Given changing laws and attitudes toward marijuana, a balanced presentation of the likelihood of adverse consequences of marijuana use to policy makers, professionals, and the public is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports the decision of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in the case 'McBride v. Estis Well Service LLC.' in which the court held that the unseaworthiness punitive damages are unavailable. Topics discussed include the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case 'Atlantic Sounding Co. Inc. v. Townsend;' scope of admiralty jurisdiction; and the remedies available to seamen under the general maritime common law.

Although peanut allergy is among the most common food allergies, no study has comprehensively described the epidemiology of the condition among the general pediatric population. Our objective was to better characterize peanut allergy prevalence, diagnosis trends, and reaction history among affected children identified from a representative sample of United States households with children. A randomized, cross sectional survey was administered to parents from June 2009 to February 2010. Data from 38,480 parents were collected and analyzed in regard to demographics, allergic symptoms associated with food ingestion, and methods of food allergy diagnosis. Adjusted models were estimated to examine association of these characteristics with odds of peanut allergy. Of the 3218 children identified with food allergy, 754 (24.8%) were reported to have a peanut allergy. Peanut allergy was reported most often among 6- to 10-year-old children (25.5%), white children (47.7%), and children from households with an annual income of $50,000-$99,999 (41.7%). Although peanut allergy was diagnosed by a physician in 76% of cases, significantly more peanut allergy reactions were severe as compared with reactions to other foods (53.7% versus 41.0%, p < 0.001). Parents were significantly less likely to report tolerance to peanut as compared with the odds of tolerance reported for other foods (odds ratio 0.7, 95% confidence interval: 0.5-0.9). Childhood peanut allergy, which represents nearly a quarter of all food allergy, presents more severe reactions and is least likely to be outgrown. Although it is diagnosed by a physician in nearly three-fourths of all cases, socioeconomic disparities in regard to diagnosis persist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe a potential future role of the community pharmacist in public health using virtual centers that provide immediate feedback to patients regarding behavior changes. Summary: Community pharmacists would provide a comprehensive standardized patient-centered interview to collect pertinent information regarding patients that, together with a computerized body scan of the individual, would be fed into the virtual center to create a baseline likeness of the person. The virtual center then would predict the person's appearance and overall body health at a predetermined interval in the future, as well as provide feedback to the patient, engaging multiple senses and using an advanced body suit to represent changes in body mass and exercise tolerance as the person moves in the center. Pharmacists would work with the patient to identify patient-centered behavior changes, which would be programmed into the virtual center to demonstrate to the person how their new lifestyle goal may change their future appearance and health. Achievements and social networking in the virtual world would be incorporated to motivate patients to continue to make positive decisions regarding their health. Conclusion: Virtual reality technology can be a powerful motivational tool that community pharmacists can use in a variety of ways to help patients implement and sustain positive lifestyle changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Six national-scale, or near national-scale, geochemical data sets for soils or stream sediments exist for the United States. The earliest of these, here termed the ‘Shacklette’ data set, was generated by a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) project conducted from 1961 to 1975. This project used soil collected from a depth of about 20 cm as the sampling medium at 1323 sites throughout the conterminous U.S. The National Uranium Resource Evaluation Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (NURE-HSSR) Program of the U.S. Department of Energy was conducted from 1975 to 1984 and collected either stream sediments, lake sediments, or soils at more than 378,000 sites in both the conterminous U.S. and Alaska. The sampled area represented about 65% of the nation. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), from 1978 to 1982, collected samples from multiple soil horizons at sites within the major crop-growing regions of the conterminous U.S. This data set contains analyses of more than 3000 samples. The National Geochemical Survey, a USGS project conducted from 1997 to 2009, used a subset of the NURE-HSSR archival samples as its starting point and then collected primarily stream sediments, with occasional soils, in the parts of the U.S. not covered by the NURE-HSSR Program. This data set contains chemical analyses for more than 70,000 samples. The USGS, in collaboration with the Mexican Geological Survey and the Geological Survey of Canada, initiated soil sampling for the North American Soil Geochemical Landscapes Project in 2007. Sampling of three horizons or depths at more than 4800 sites in the U.S. was completed in 2010, and chemical analyses are currently ongoing. The NRCS initiated a project in the 1990s to analyze the various soil horizons from selected pedons throughout the U.S. This data set currently contains data from more than 1400 sites. This paper (1) discusses each data set in terms of its purpose, sample collection protocols, and analytical methods; and (2) evaluates each data set in terms of its appropriateness as a national-scale geochemical database and its usefulness for national-scale geochemical mapping. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To describe the early results of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) screening program for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to identify patient and facility characteristics associated with receiving a TBI screen and results of the screening. Design: National retrospective cohort study. Setting: VA Medical facilities. Patients: A total of 170,681 Operation Enduring Freedom and/or Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Veterans who sought care at VA medical facilities from April 2007 to September 30, 2008. Methods: Data were abstracted from VA administrative and operational databases, including patient demographics, facility characteristics, and outcomes. Main Outcome Measurements: The main outcomes were receipt of and results of the TBI screen. Results: The majority of veterans eligible received the TBI screen (91.6%). Screening rates varied by patient and facility characteristics. In all, 25% of screened veterans had probable TBI exposure, in which the majority of the exposures were blasts (85.0%). The rate of a positive TBI screen was 20.5% for the screened cohort. Male gender, service in the army, multiple deployments, and mental health diagnoses in the previous year were associated with a positive screen. Conclusions: TBI screening rates are high in VA; concomitant mental health diagnoses were highly prevalent in individuals with positive TBI screens. These data indicate that there will be a significant need for long-term health care services for veterans with TBI symptomatology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the rates and factors to consider in the 30-day readmission of patients who are enrolled under the U.S. Medicaid program and with systolic heart failure. It states that their readmission rates are criticized by the public since these are covered by other payers. According to the author, Medicaid patients with this condition had reduced readmission rates compared to commercially insured patients.

The article discusses management of aging survivors living with and at risk for lymphedema (LE). The leading cause of secondary LE in developed countries is cancer treatment; many cancer survivors are at risk for developing LE. Therefore, rehabilitation professionals caring for older cancer patients should be knowledgeable about LE risks assessment, identification, and management to ensure early referral and enhance quality of life throughout survivorship.

The incorporation of a city is a complex geographic event, yet the geography of newly incorporated municipalities (NIM) has been understudied. This paper first explores the highly uneven spatial distribution of NIMs in the United States, arguing that one potential explanation for the underlying geographic concentration of NIMs to a select few states may lie with the varied annexation standards of each state. However, it is also argued that the concentration of NIMs in particular "hotspots" within specific states suggests that something more is at play, and the localized clustering effect seems to be stimulated by a process of knowledge spillover and social networks of learning. Second, little research has been conducted that empirically compares the socio-economic characteristics of NIMs to a set of nearby cohort cities. It is argued that while race, income, population size, and population density are key differentiating variables between NIMs and cohort cites, nuanced differences and similarities exist that make it difficult to support sweeping generalizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a proposed modeling framework to allow estimation of conservation program and practice effects on different ecosystem services at various temporal and spatial scales in the U.S. The modeling approach offers a wide view needed by decision-makers to prevent unintended negative environmental outcomes. The development of the Conservation Effects Assessment Projects-Wetlands National Component (CEAP-Wetlands) is discussed.

The article discusses the impacts of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation practices which influence playas and surrounding catchments to ecosystem functions and related services provided by wetlands in the High Plains. It examines implications of agricultural cultivation and effectiveness of USDA conservation programs on ecosystem functions and related services of playas. It considers the critical role of playas in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts.

Abstract: A study of factors affecting the number of visitors to Hawaii during the period 1993–2007 prompted by an observed waning of the U. S. mainland to Hawaii visitor market was conducted. Both time series and cross section analyses revealed that Log Gross State Product, Log Chained Airfare and Log Distance to Orlando, Florida were the most important predictor variables. A mixed model which modeled Log Chained Gross State Product, Log Chained Airfare, two recessions plus the September 11, 2001 effect in addition to other fixed effects and random state effects was used. Cross section (spatial) airfare elasticities on an annual basis were high and growing over time, but those estimated from the time series analysis (temporal) were much lower. Elasticities derived from Gross State Product were moderately high and very stable over time. To counteract the distance effect, stopovers in existing mainland resort cities when en route to Hawaii and other promotions to develop a stronger presence of a Hawaii image were recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticides have been implicated in widespread amphibian declines. We assessed acute and chronic toxicity of two widely used herbicides to larval New Mexico (Spea multiplicata) and Plains (S. bombifrons) spadefoots from cropland and native grassland playas. Roundup WeatherMAX® (WM) toxicity estimates (48- and 216-h LC50; 48-h LC1) for both species were similar to environmental concentrations expected from accidental overspray. Chronic (30-day) exposure to WM at predicted environmental concentrations (2.0 and 2.8 mg glyphosate acid equivalents/L) reduced survival of both species. Ignite® 280 SL (IG) toxicity estimates (48-h LC50 and LC1) for both species were above predicted environmental concentrations of 1.0 mg glufosinate/L. Chronic exposure to predicted environmental concentrations of IG did not reduce survival of either species. Toxicity test results suggest that at predicted environmental concentrations IG would not cause extensive mortalities among larval New Mexico and Plains spadefoots. However, WM may cause extensive mortality among larvae of these species. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: To characterize the current model of pharmacy services in free clinics, identify the extent to which free clinics serve as training sites for student pharmacists and residents, elucidate pharmacy service gaps in free clinics, and compare results to a 2001 survey. Design: Descriptive, nonexperimental, cross-sectional study. Setting: Free medical clinics in the United States in early 2008. Participants: Clinics registered at www.freeclinicfoundation.org. Intervention: A 26-point questionnaire addressed clinic and pharmacy demographics, pharmacy services, medication storage and distribution processes, and systems management. Survey invitations were sent via postal mail, with responses submitted via hardcopyor online (Survey Monkey). Nonresponders received a second mailing 4 weeks later. Main outcome measures: Characteristics determined by survey responses. Results: 42% of clinics responded (216 of 518). The median annual clinic budget was $145,000, with 1 % to 20% spent on medications. Of responding clinics, 30% had a licensed pharmacy that was staffed on average by 3.4 pharmacist volunteers and 0.1 pharmacist employees. Of the 83.5% (177 of 212) that dispensed drugs, clinics filled 67 prescriptions per day with cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and anti-infective agents as top classes. Pharmacy personnel provided mainly traditional (e.g., distributive) services (61.1%), and 19.3% of clinics trained student pharmacists. Since 2001, the number of clinics (355 vs. 518) and prescriptions dispensed (29 vs. 67 per day) increased but the percentage with a licensed pharmacy (33% vs. 30%) and mean number of pharmacist volunteers/employees (3.8/0.1 vs. 3.4/0.1) remained constant. Conclusion: The model of free clinic pharmacy services is a modified community practice. Pharmacy personnel have the opportunity to expand their roie and pharmacy practice in free clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Congress has authorized the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide industry sponsors with a 6-month extension of drug marketing rights under the Pediatric Exclusivity Provision if FDA-requested pediatric drug trials are conducted. The cost and economic return of pediatric exclusivity to industry sponsors has been shown to be highly variable. We sought to determine the cost of performing pediatric exclusivity trials within a single therapeutic area and the subsequent economic return to industry sponsors.Methods: We evaluated 9 orally administered antihypertensive drugs submitted to the FDA under the Pediatric Exclusivity Provision from 1997 to 2004 and obtained key elements of the clinical trial designs and operations. Estimates of the costs of performing the studies were generated and converted into after-tax cash outflow. Market sales were obtained and converted into after-tax inflows based on 6 months of additional patent protection. Net economic return and net return-to-cost ratios were determined for each drug.Results: Of the 9 antihypertensive agents studied, an average of 2 studies per drug was performed, including at least 1 pharmacokinetic study and a safety and efficacy study. The median cost of completing a pharmacokinetic trial was $862,000 (range $556,000 to 1.8 million). The median cost of performing safety and efficacy trials for these agents was $4.3 million (range $2.1-12.9 million). The ratio of net economic return to cost was 17 (range 4-64.7).Conclusion: We found that, within a cohort of antihypertensive drugs, the Pediatric Exclusivity Provision has generated highly variable, yet lucrative returns to industry sponsors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the implementation of the No Child Left Behind assessment program and the use of proficiency levels as a means of evaluating Annual Yearly Progress, there is a renewed interest in the consistency of classification decisions based on scale scores from achievement test and state-wide proficiency standards. Many of the current methods described in the literature (Huynh, 1976; Hanson and Brennan, 1990; and Livingston and Lewis, 1995) are based on assumptions about the distribution of the conditional errors. Although recent methods (Brennan and Wan, 2004) make no assumptions about the distribution, these methods have one compelling disadvantage: the decision consistency calculated is based on the entire set of data and are not conditional on the location of the cut scores, the student measure and the conditional standard errors of measurement for the students. The decision consistency for a student scoring right at the cut score will be much lower that the decision consistency for a student with a score 5 points above or below that cut score. The standard error method described in this article is based solely on the asymptotic standard error of measurement derived from the appropriate Rasch measurement model, and the location of the cut score used to make the classification decision. This classification can be easily modified to accommodate multiple classification categories. This is a conditional decision consistency statistic that can be applied to each person ability estimate (raw score) and provides information that can be used to calculate the likelihood that a person with that measure will receive the same classification if retested. The decision consistency for the entire sample can be calculated by simply summing the likelihood of the same classification over all of the examinees. The results of retest simulations using data that fit the Rasch model suggest that the standard error method provides a better estimate of the resulting classification consistency than the true score methods or the bootstrap method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the study conducted to determine the motives of college students for smoking cigarette in the United States. By completing an electronic diary for fourteen days, college student smokers recorded the motives they feel every time they smoke cigarette. The result of the study reveals several motives of smoking, which includes smoking to reduce craving, habit or automatic processes, and dealing with negative emotions. Tobacco dependence and daily smoking are recorded, having different pattern of similar motives.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been demonstrated to be an effective heart failure (HF) therapy. All pivotal trials of CRT to date have used atrial-synchronous biventricular pacing wherein there is no or minimal atrial pacing. In clinical practice, however, physicians often program CRT devices to have atrial rate support pacing, either by increasing the lower rate limit or by activating the rate sensor. Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of empiric atrial support pacing in patients with HF who have received a CRT defibrillator (CRT-D) device. Methods: PEGASUS CRT is a multicenter, 3-arm, randomized clinical trial of approximately 1200 patients receiving a CRT-D device. For the first 6 weeks after implant, devices are programmed to DDD with a lower rate limit of 40 beats/min. At 6 weeks, patients are randomized to DDD-40, DDD-70, or DDDR-40. All randomized patients are followed for 1 year, and at each visit, mortality, HF events, quality of life, New York Heart Association class, and atrial and ventricular arrhythmic episodes are evaluated. An exercise substudy will also be conducted, enrolling a minimum of 375 patients. Patients in this substudy will complete 2 cardiopulmonary exercise tests to evaluate the effect pacing mode has on exercise capacity. This randomized controlled trial will address whether empiric atrial support pacing is of clinical benefit to patients with HF who receive a CRT-D device. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a discussion of the interplay between the U.S. federal tax code section 501(c)(3) and churches. A background on the history of the tax exemption for churches and the judicial holdings relative to such exemption is provided. The historical development of the separation between church and state, section 501(c)(3), and tax exemptions is explored. It presents an analysis of section 501(c)(3) under the free speech and religion clauses of the Constitution.

Quantifies the rates of sediment yield between the treated and control microwatersheds at the Bandelier National Monument in north-central New Mexico. Effects of slash treatment on soil loss as a function of rainfall erosivity; Comparison of the pre-slash treatment ground cover within the control and treatment watersheds to post-slash treatment ground cover for each microwatershed during the study period.

This article describes ways to develop a Case Management System that includes the principles of care planning by using an interdisciplinary team across the continuum of health services. Copyright © 2002 by Aspen Publishers, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the response invertebrates to moist-soil management in playa wetlands on the Southern High Plains in the U.S. It states that moist-soil management technique is used to increase seed production for migratory birds, and mentions analysis of variables like invertebrate density, and diversity. It notes that invertebrates were more abundant in moist-soil managed wetlands than in unmanaged wetlands.

Studies the effects of sedimentation on playa wetland volume in Texas. Comparison of playas with watersheds; Greater sedimentation in playas in the medium-texture soil zone and fine-texture soil zone; Focus on the coarser soil areas to prevent the greatest sedimentation rates; Permanent vegetative cover for the prevention of degradation.

This article presents a discussion related to issues, problems, and opportunities in assessment of communication programs in the U.S. Ideally, assessment is defined as an appraisal of the value of the student's educational experience. Practically, assessment is the new appraisal from which program reviews, resource allocation decisions, and other matters of departmental survival are judged. The intent of assessment is to show program quality rather than quantity. For programs funded primarily on enrollment growth, assessment is truly an opportunity to reward achievement levels over generating massive numbers of credit hours. These opportunities include more demanding curriculum, restrictive program entrance requirements, and comprehensive expectations based on the student's total achievement within the major. Capstone courses and senior seminars have exploded as one response to comprehensive evaluation of the student's grasp of the discipline. The intent of assessment is also to reward teaching.

The article presents a discussion related to the outcome assessment and the prospects for communication programs in the U.S. Assessment is an appraisal of the value of the student's educational experience. As a result, assessment is student-centered, learning-measured, and accomplishment-focused. Assessment reverses the usual evaluation model. Instead of the student's test results being a reflection of the student's ability, the results are used to reflect on the program's ability to educate. The particular uses made of assessment results depend on the motivation of interested constituents. For faculty, assessment has meant a means of determining the effectiveness of their teaching. For academic administrators I assessment has been a verification of the program's mission. For legislators, assessment has been a means of establishing accountability for the funds spent on education. For accreditation councils, assessment has verified that an institution's degree means something happened while the student was in college.