Search

In recent years, the U.S. public has become increasingly concerned about the immigration issue. Criminological research and group threat theory suggest that harsh immigration policy preferences may be driven by perceived criminal threat of immigrants. More research is needed to understand how to reduce perceived immigrant criminality and negative attitudes toward immigrants. Using intergroup contact theory and an American adult sample (N = 1,037), the current study tests if cross-group friendship with foreign-born immigrants may reduce negative immigration attitudes both directly, and indirectly by lowering perceived criminal threat of immigrants. Results from regression analyses showed that perceived criminal threat was positively related to negative immigration attitudes. Cross-group friendship was directly related to less perceived criminal threat and less negative immigration attitudes. However, results from mediation analyses showed that cross-group friendship did not further reduce negative immigration attitudes indirectly via lowered perceived criminal threat. The results highlight the importance of meaningful cross-group friendship in mitigating negative immigrant perceptions and call for future research to further investigate ways to correct criminal typification of immigrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess rates of traversing barriers to care to access optimal clinical outcomes in people with migraine internationally. Background: People in need of medical care for migraine should consult a health care professional knowledgeable in migraine management, obtain an accurate diagnosis, and receive an individualized treatment plan, which includes scientific society guideline-recommended treatments where appropriate. Methods: The Chronic Migraine Epidemiology and Outcomes-International (CaMEO-I) Study was a cross-sectional, web-based survey conducted from July 2021 through March 2022 in Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States (US). Respondents who met modified International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition, criteria for migraine and had Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) scores of ≥ 6 (i.e., mild, moderate, or severe disability) were deemed to need medical care and were included in this analysis. Minimally effective treatment required that participants were currently consulting a health care professional for headache (barrier 1), reported an accurate diagnosis (barrier 2), and reported use of minimally appropriate pharmacologic treatment (barrier 3; based on American Headache Society 2021 Consensus Statement recommendations). Proportions of respondents who successfully traversed each barrier were calculated, and chi-square tests were used to assess overall difference among countries. Results: Among 14,492 respondents with migraine, 8,330 had MIDAS scores of ≥ 6, were deemed in need of medical care, and were included in this analysis. Current headache consultation was reported by 35.1% (2926/8330) of respondents. Compared with the US, consultation rates and diagnosis rates were statistically significantly lower in all other countries except France where they were statistically significantly higher. Total appropriate treatment rates were also statistically significantly lower in all other countries compared with the US except France, which did not differ from the US. All 3 barriers were traversed by only 11.5% (955/8330) of respondents, with differences among countries (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Of people with migraine in need of medical care for migraine, less than 15% traverse all 3 barriers to care. Although rates of consultation, diagnosis, and treatment differed among countries, improvements are needed in all countries studied to reduce the global burden of migraine. Trial registration: NA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children and youth in foster care and their caregivers often experience mental health challenges. Rural settings introduce barriers that prevent these youth from accessing such services. Nevertheless, rural area school personnel, and particularly special educators, are positioned to help improve access to mental health services for foster care students, who often qualify for special education services. In this article, we explore ways U.S. school personnel can support this vulnerable population through psychoeducation, mental health screenings and referrals, evidence-based therapies (EBTs), and supportive infrastructure to help students and their foster families access mental health services through schools. With such services, school personnel can help these students improve stability within home life, increase positive life-long outcomes for school performance, decrease incarceration, and reduce drug and alcohol abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Knee replacement (KR) rates are increasing exponentially in the US and straining insurance budgets. This study was undertaken to investigate how many KRs would be prevented at different levels of pain improvement, a major target of osteoarthritis (OA) trials. Methods: We used data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) to emulate a trial of knee pain interventions on KR risk changes. We modeled hypothetical 1‐, 2‐ or 3‐unit reductions of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain subscale whenever a person reported a pain score of ≥5 (of 20) in an affected knee at any clinic visit. We used causal inference–based targeted learning to estimate treatment effects for hypothesized pain intervention strategies adjusted for time‐dependent confounding. Sensitivity analyses assessed interventions at WOMAC pain scores of ≥4 and ≥7. Results: Of the 9,592 knees studied (n = 4,796 participants; 58.5% female; baseline age 61.2 years), 40.7% experienced WOMAC pain scores of ≥5. The estimated knee‐level (reference) risk of a KR, adjusted for loss to follow‐up and death, was 6.3% (95% confidence interval 5.0, 7.7%) in the OAI. Reductions of WOMAC pain scores by 1, 2, or 3 units decreased the KR risk from 6.3% to 5.8%, 5.3%, and 4.9%, respectively. Larger reductions in KR risk were achieved when interventions were applied at a WOMAC pain score of ≥4. Conclusion: Modest pain reductions from OA interventions would substantially reduce the number of KRs, with greater reductions achieved when pain decreased more and when interventions were introduced at lower pain levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In the last two decades, our understanding of the therapeutic utility and medicinal properties of cannabis has greatly changed. This change has been accompanied by widespread cannabis use in various communities and different age groups, especially within the United States. With this increase, we should consider the potential effects of cannabis–hemp on general public health and how they could alter therapeutic outcomes. Material and Methods: The present investigation examined cannabis use for recreational and therapeutic use and a review of pertinent indexed literature was performed. The focused question evaluates "how cannabis or hemp products impact health parameters and do they provide potential therapeutic value in dentistry, and how do they interact with conventional medicines (drugs)." Indexed databases (PubMed/Medline, EMBASE) were searched without any time restrictions but language was restricted to English. Results: The review highlights dental concerns of cannabis usage, the need to understand the endocannabinoid system (ECS), cannabinoid receptor system, its endogenous ligands, pharmacology, metabolism, current oral health, and medical dilemma to ascertain the detrimental or beneficial effects of using cannabis–hemp products. The pharmacological effects of pure cannabidiol (CBD) have been studied extensively while cannabis extracts can vary significantly and lack empirical studies. Several metabolic pathways are affected by cannabis use and could pose a potential drug interaction. The chronic use of cannabis is associated with health issues, but the therapeutic potential is multifold since there is a regulatory role of ECS in many pathologies. Conclusion: Current shortcomings in understanding the benefits of cannabis or hemp products are limited due to pharmacological and clinical effects not being predictable, while marketed products vary greatly in phytocompounds warrant further empirical investigation. Given the healthcare challenges to manage acute and chronic pain, this review highlights both cannabis and CBD‐hemp extracts to help identify the therapeutic application for patient populations suffering from anxiety, inflammation, and dental pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Texting plays an increasingly important role in romantic relationships. Along with the increased use and impact of technology in and on relationships, technology provides new approaches to observe and study relationships. This study demonstrates the potential for using unobtrusive measures of texting obtained through mobile data donation for the study of communication behaviors during relationship development. In particular, we examine how texting behaviors change prior to relationship formation and during a relationship transition. Our analysis of 1+ million text messages that 41 college-age romantic couples sent to each other during their first year of dating demonstrates (a) the utility of digital trace data for studying romantic relationship development, (b) the importance of obtaining and analyzing actual texting behaviors when observing interpersonal communication that is frequent, fast, and variable, and (c) the need for more theoretical specificity in how and why different kinds of communication behaviors change as relationships develop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildfires represent a fundamental and profound disturbance in many ecosystems, and their frequency and severity are increasing in many regions of the world. Fire affects soil by removing carbon in the form of CO2 and transforming remaining surface carbon into pyrolyzed organic matter (PyOM). Fires also generate substantial necromass at depths where the heat kills soil organisms but does not catalyze the formation of PyOM. Pyronema species strongly dominate soil fungal communities within weeks to months after fire. However, the carbon pool (i.e., necromass or PyOM) that fuels their rise in abundance is unknown. We used a Pyronema domesticum isolate from the catastrophic 2013 Rim Fire (CA, United States) to ask whether P. domesticum is capable of metabolizing PyOM. Pyronema domesticum grew readily on agar media where the sole carbon source was PyOM (specifically, pine wood PyOM produced at 750°C). Using RNAseq, we investigated the response of P. domesticum to PyOM and observed a comprehensive induction of genes involved in the metabolism and mineralization of aromatic compounds, typical of those found in PyOM. Lastly, we used 13C-labeled 750°C PyOM to demonstrate that P. domesticum is capable of mineralizing PyOM to CO2. Collectively, our results indicate a robust potential for P. domesticum to liberate carbon from PyOM in post-fire ecosystems and return it to the bioavailable carbon pool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: An oxymetazoline 0.1% ophthalmic solution was recently approved for treatment of acquired blepharoptosis in adults. This study's objective was to evaluate the safety profile of oxymetazoline 0.1% when administered once daily for 14– 84 days. Patients and Methods: Pooled analysis examined safety outcomes from four randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trials conducted at 6, 16, 27, and 35 sites, respectively, in the United States. In total, 568 participants with acquired blepharoptosis were evaluated. Median age was 66 years and 74.8% of participants were female. Overall, 375 participants self-administered oxymetazoline 0.1% to both eyes once/day and 193 self-administered placebo (vehicle) daily. Treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) rates, severity, and causality were evaluated in the overall population and within participant subgroups defined based on age, race, and ethnicity. Vital signs and ophthalmic findings were evaluated at predefined study visits. Patient-reported treatment tolerability was recorded at study end. Results: TEAE incidence was similar among participants using oxymetazoline 0.1% (31.2%) or vehicle (30.6%). Nearly all TEAEs were mild-to-moderate, and most were not suspected of being treatment related. Serious TEAEs occurred in four participants receiving oxymetazoline 0.1% and one participant receiving vehicle. Nine and two participants in the oxymetazoline 0.1% and vehicle groups, respectively, discontinued due to a TEAE. Ocular TEAEs occurring in ≥ 2% of participants receiving oxymetazoline 0.1% were punctate keratitis, conjunctival hyperemia, dry eye, blurred vision, instillation site pain, and corneal vital dye staining, with none occurring in > 3.5% of participants. TEAE rates were similar across subgroups based on age, race, and ethnicity. No clinically significant mean changes in vital signs or ophthalmologic findings occurred, and > 98% of participants rated oxymetazoline 0.1% as causing no/mild discomfort. Conclusion: Once-daily oxymetazoline 0.1% was safe and well tolerated in participants with acquired blepharoptosis when used for 14– 84 days. Safety did not appear to differ based on age, race, or ethnicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies of seasonal effects on sleep have yielded unclear results, likely due to methodological differences and limitations in data size and/or quality. We measured the sleep habits of 216 individuals across the U.S. over four seasons for slightly over a year using objective, continuous, and unobtrusive measures of sleep and local weather. In addition, we controlled for demographics and trait-like constructs previously identified to correlate with sleep behavior. We investigated seasonal and weather effects of sleep duration, bedtime, and wake time. We found several small but statistically significant effects of seasonal and weather effects on sleep patterns. We observe the strongest seasonal effects for wake time and sleep duration, especially during the spring season: wake times are earlier, and sleep duration decreases (compared to the reference season winter). Sleep duration also modestly decreases when day lengths get longer (between the winter and summer solstice). Bedtimes and wake times tend to be slightly later as outdoor temperature increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Approximately 18,000 Syrian refugees have resettled to the United States. Half of these refugees are children, whose age and refugee status jeopardize their abilities to attain quality healthcare. Information on Syrian refugees' health in the U.S. is limited. This qualitative study sought to explore Syrian refugee parents' beliefs, perspectives, and practices regarding their children's health through in-depth interviews. Methods: Eighteen Syrian refugee parents residing in Cincinnati, Ohio were interviewed in Arabic by bilingual researchers using semi-structured in-depth interviews. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and translated. Three members of the research team independently coded each interview using an inductive thematic analysis approach. Results: Analysis identified four salient themes: stressors preclude health seeking behaviors, parents perceive health barriers, parents are dissatisfied with the healthcare system, and parents use resilience behaviors to overcome barriers. Stressors included poor housing and neighborhoods, reliving traumatic experiences, depression and anxiety, and social isolation. Dissatisfaction included emergency room wait times, lack of testing and prescriptions. Health barriers included missed appointments and inadequate transportation, translation services, health literacy and care coordination. Parents reported resilience through faith, by seeking knowledge, use of natural remedies, and utilizing community resources. Conclusion: This qualitative study provides information on the beliefs, practices, and behaviors of Syrian refugee parents related to health care utilization of pediatric refugees in the United States. Psychosocial and environmental stressors as well as perceived systemic health barriers, hinder health seeking behaviors in Syrian refugee parents. Culturally relevant care targeting perceived barriers and incorporating resilience behaviors may improve parental satisfaction and parental health seeking behaviors. Further study is needed to implement and evaluate interventions that target identified barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart disease is widely recognized as a major cause of death worldwide and is the leading cause of mortality in the United States. Centuries of research have focused on defining mechanistic alterations that drive cardiac pathogenesis, yet sudden cardiac death (SCD) remains a common unpredictable event that claims lives in every age group. The heart supplies blood to all tissues while maintaining a constant electrical and hormonal feedback communication with other parts of the body. As such, recent research has focused on understanding how myocardial electrical and structural properties are altered by cardiac metabolism and the various signaling pathways associated with it. The importance of cardiac metabolism in maintaining myocardial function, or lack thereof, is exemplified by shifts in cardiac substrate preference during normal development and various pathological conditions. For instance, a shift from fatty acid (FA) oxidation to oxygen-sparing glycolytic energy production has been reported in many types of cardiac pathologies. Compounded by an uncoupling of glycolysis and glucose oxidation this leads to accumulation of undesirable levels of intermediate metabolites. The resulting accumulation of intermediary metabolites impacts cardiac mitochondrial function and dysregulates metabolic pathways through several mechanisms, which will be reviewed here. Importantly, reversal of metabolic maladaptation has been shown to elicit positive therapeutic effects, limiting cardiac remodeling and at least partially restoring contractile efficiency. Therein, the underlying metabolic adaptations in an array of pathological conditions as well as recently discovered downstream effects of various substrate utilization provide guidance for future therapeutic targeting. Here, we will review recent data on alterations in substrate utilization in the healthy and diseased heart, metabolic pathways governing cardiac pathogenesis, mitochondrial function in the diseased myocardium, and potential metabolism-based therapeutic interventions in disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: The accuracy of current screening instruments for identification of substance use in pregnancy is unclear, particularly given methodological shortcomings in existing research. This diagnostic accuracy study compared five existing instruments for ability to identify illicit drug, opioid and alcohol use, under privacy expectations consistent with applied practice and using a gold standard incorporating toxicological analysis. Design Prospective cross‐sectional screening accuracy study. Setting: Three sites encompassing four prenatal care clinics in the United States. Participants: Convenience sample of 1220 racially, ethnically and socio‐economically diverse pregnant women aged 18 years and over. Measurements In Phase I, participants completed the five screening instruments in counterbalanced order. Instruments included the Substance Use Risk Profile—Pregnancy (SURP‐P), CRAFFT (acronym for five‐item screener with items related to car, relax, alone, forget, friends and trouble), 5Ps (parents, peers, partner, pregnancy, past), Wayne Indirect Drug Use Screener (WIDUS) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Quick Screen. In Phase II, participants provided a urine sample and completed a calendar recall‐based interview regarding substance use. These screeners were tested, using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and accuracy statistics, against a reference standard consisting of substance use in three classes (illicit drugs, opioids and alcohol), considered positive if use was evident via 30‐day calendar recall or urine analysis. Findings Three hundred and fifteen of 1220 participants (26.3%) met reference standard criteria for positivity. The single‐item screening questions from the NIDA Quick Screen showed high specificity (0.99) for all substances, but very poor sensitivity (0.10–0.27). The 5Ps showed high sensitivity (0.80–0.88) but low specificity (0.35–0.37). The CRAFFT, SURP‐P and 5Ps had the highest area under the curve (AUC) for alcohol (0.67, 0.66 and 0.62, respectively), and the WIDUS had the highest AUC for illicit drugs and opioids (0.70 and 0.69, respectively). Performance of all instruments varied significantly with race, site and economic status. Conclusions: Of five screening instruments for substance use in pregnancy tested (Substance Use Risk Profile—Pregnancy (SURP‐P), CRAFFT, 5Ps, Wayne Indirect Drug Use Screener (WIDUS) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (Quick Screen), none showed both high sensitivity and high specificity, and area under the curve was low for nearly all measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Lung motion phantoms used to validate radiotherapy motion management strategies have fairly simplistic designs that do not adequately capture complex phenomena observed in human respiration such as external and internal deformation, variable hysteresis and variable correlation between different parts of the thoracic anatomy. These limitations make reliable evaluation of sophisticated motion management techniques quite challenging. In this work, we present the design and implementation of a programmable, externally and internally deformable lung motion phantom that allows for a reproducible change in external–internal and internal–internal correlation of embedded markers. Methods: An in‐house–designed lung module, made from natural latex foam was inserted inside the outer shell of a commercially available lung phantom (RSD, Long Beach, CA, USA). Radiopaque markers were placed on the external surface and embedded into the lung module. Two independently programmable high‐precision linear motion actuators were used to generate primarily anterior–posterior (AP) and primarily superior–inferior (SI) motion in a reproducible fashion in order to enable (a) variable correlation between the displacement of interior volume and the exterior surface, (b) independent changes in the amplitude of the AP and SI motions, and (c) variable hysteresis. The ability of the phantom to produce complex and variable motion accurately and reproducibly was evaluated by programming the two actuators with mathematical and patient‐recorded lung tumor motion traces, and recording the trajectories of various markers using kV fluoroscopy. As an example application, the phantom was used to evaluate the performance of lung motion models constructed from kV fluoroscopy and 4DCT images. Results: The phantom exhibited a high degree of reproducibility and marker motion ranges were reproducible to within 0.5 mm. Variable correlation was observed between the displacements of internal–internal and internal–external markers. The SI and AP components of motion of a specific marker had a correlation parameter that varied from −11 to 17. Monitoring a region of interest on the phantom's surface to estimate internal marker motion led to considerably lower uncertainties than when a single point was monitored. Conclusions: We successfully designed and implemented a programmable, externally and internally deformable lung motion phantom that allows for a reproducible change in external–internal and internal–internal correlation of embedded markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoestrogens are naturally plant-derived compounds that could bind to estrogen receptors and mimic estrogenic effects. Previous studies showed a positive association between phytoestrogens and hypothyroidism; however, little is known on phytoestrogens and thyroid hormones. This study was designed to investigate the associations between urinary phytoestrogens and thyroid hormone levels. Based on the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2010, 4103 participants were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Linear regression models and multiple linear regressions models were applied to examine the relationships between urinary phytoestrogens and thyroid hormone levels. Urinary O-desmethylangolensin (O-DMA) was found to be correlated with serum FT 4 levels in the female 20-60-year-of-age group (β=0.018, 95% CI: 0.006, 0.031). Higher enterolactone (ENT) levels were significantly positively associated with TSH levels in the 12-19-year-of-age female group (β=0.196, 95% CI: 0.081, 0.311). In the male group, enterodiol (END) was significantly positively correlated with TSH and TT 3 in the 12-19-year-of-age group, respectively (TT 3 : β=3.444, 95% CI: 0.150, 6.737; TSH: β=0.104, 95% CI: 0.005, 0.203). However, equol (EQU) levels were negatively associated with TT 4 (12-19-year-of-age: β=- 0.166, 95% CI: - 0.279, - 0.034; 20-60-year-of-age: β=- 0.132, 95% CI: - 0.230, - 0.034). Our study provided epidemiological evidence that urinary phytoestrogens were powerfully associated with thyroid hormone levels. The results also supported that phytoestrogens acted as endocrine disruptors. It is imperative and important to pay attention to the intake of phytoestrogens., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Recent evidence suggests that police victimization is widespread in the USA and psychologically impactful. We hypothesized that civilian-reported police victimization, particularly assaultive victimization (i.e., physical/sexual), would be associated with a greater prevalence of suicide attempts and suicidal ideation. Data were drawn from the Survey of Police-Public Encounters, a population-based survey of adults (N = 1615) residing in four US cities. Surveys assessed lifetime exposure to police victimization based on the World Health Organization domains of violence (i.e., physical, sexual, psychological, and neglect), using the Police Practices Inventory. Logistic regression models tested for associations between police victimization and (1) past 12-month suicide attempts and (2) past 12-month suicidal ideation, adjusted for demographic factors (i.e., gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, income), crime involvement, past intimate partner and sexual victimization exposure, and lifetime mental illness. Police victimization was associated with suicide attempts but not suicidal ideation in adjusted analyses. Specifically, odds of attempts were greatly increased for respondents reporting assaultive forms of victimization, including physical victimization (odds ratio = 4.5), physical victimization with a weapon (odds ratio = 10.7), and sexual victimization (odds ratio = 10.2). Assessing for police victimization and other violence exposures may be a useful component of suicide risk screening in urban US settings. Further, community-based efforts should be made to reduce the prevalence of exposure to police victimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By modeling macro-economical indicators using digital traces of human activities on mobile or social networks, we can provide important insights to processes previously assessed via paper-based surveys or polls only. We collected aggregated workday activity timelines of US counties from the normalized number of messages sent in each hour on the online social network Twitter. In this paper, we show how county employment and unemployment statistics are encoded in the daily rhythm of people by decomposing the activity timelines into a linear combination of two dominant patterns. The mixing ratio of these patterns defines a measure for each county, that correlates significantly with employment ( $0.46\pm0.02$ ) and unemployment rates ( $-0.34\pm0.02$ ). Thus, the two dominant activity patterns can be linked to rhythms signaling presence or lack of regular working hours of individuals. The analysis could provide policy makers a better insight into the processes governing employment, where problems could not only be identified based on the number of officially registered unemployed, but also on the basis of the digital footprints people leave on different platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal models with high translational validity are essential tools in understanding disease pathogenesis and in the development of therapeutic strategies. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system characterized by progressive neurological deficits and socioeconomic burden. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the most extensively utilized animal model of MS, with well-characterized rodent and non-human primate variants. The EAE model is typically induced by either active immunization with myelin-derived proteins or peptides in adjuvant or by passive transfer of activated myelin-specific CD4 + T lymphocytes. To date, the EAE model has been an essential tool in the development of at least seven U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved immunomodulatory drugs for the treatment of MS, including glatiramer acetate, fingolimod, and natalizumab. However, the translational validity of the EAE model is frequently compromised due to poor study design, inconsistent clinical scoring endpoints, and inappropriate statistical calculations. No single animal model accurately reflects the complexity of human MS pathogenesis. Beyond EAE, multiple additional animal models are described, including Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus and cuprizone-induced demyelination, which facilitate the study of pathogen-induced CNS autoimmunity and remyelination, respectively. This overview summarizes several of the most frequently used animal models of MS and highlights key factors that significantly influence the experimental outcome and affect translational validity. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

This study traces the route by which the city of Los Angeles came to be called by that name. Late in life St. Francis retired to a tiny hut on "a little piece of property," una porziuncola near Assisi. Because angels were frequently heard singing there, the area around his hut was known as "La Valle di Nostra Donna degli Angeli." Here, Francis experienced two appearances of Mary and her Son, during which he obtained the revolutionary plenary indulgence known as Il Perdono d'Assisi. The Porziuncola became a pilgrims' shrine, and Francis's hut was transformed into a huge basilica dedicated to Santa Maria degli Angeli. Reception of the indulgence slowly spread throughout Europe, and most particularly in Spain. Columbus, who was a Franciscan Tertiary, after a stay in the monastery of Our Lady of the Angels at La Rábida, set sail on his momentous journey on the feast of the Perdono (2 August). The indulgence was carried to the New World by the Franciscans where the devotion developed a wide-spread cult. Three hundred years later, the Spanish king's army, accompanied by Franciscan friars, journeyed up the western coast and came upon a clear stream, which they called la Porciúncula. In 1781, the New World City of the Angels was founded in the cult's honor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prompted by the prominence of incest themes in the U.S. literary canon, the author raises and explores the idea of a “democratic theory of incest.” To that end, the paper uncovers, tracks, and documents the interest in incest throughout the Western canon of political thought. It then presents and addresses a “standoff” in theoretical circles today: whereas many nonliberal political theorists have continued and developed the canonical interest in the politics of incest, contemporary liberals have largely dropped out of that extended discussion. By way of a re-reading of Freud’s Totem and Taboo along with an analysis of John Sayles’s 1996 film, Lone Star, the paper outlines a possible way out of a poststructuralist versus liberal theory impasse over incest, thus proposing movement in the direction of a democratic understanding of incest concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The moral dilemma created by violence, warfare, and coercive power has vexed the Christian tradition for centuries. While institutional forms of Christianity have routinely justified violence by appealing to Just War ethics, the historic peace churches have rejected this justification, believing instead that violence and warfare are not compatible with Christian morality. Although these issues have been examined within the context of other peace churches, less critical attention has been paid to the Moravians with regard to the question of violence. Giving due emphasis to the teachings of Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, this article seeks to provide a nuanced and primarily theological treatment of Moravian pacifism that acknowledges the complexity and tensions that existed as Moravians navigated the challenges of a violent frontier and the American Revolution. It argues that eighteenth- century Moravians operated with a strong peace ethic, but allowed for flexibility and freedom of conscience. In short, Moravians fostered a religious culture that rejected needless conflict as well as rigid absolutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rivalry between two centers of German Pietism, Halle and Herrnhut, shaped the development of both the Lutheran Church and the Moravian Church in America. The conflict began in Germany, but Pennsylvania became a major battleground in the 1740s. After years of sometimes violent controversy, the Moravians and Lutherans eventually developed as separate denominations. The most famous episode was the encounter on December 30, 1742, between Zinzendorf and Henry Melchior Mühlenberg, but that was just the first skirmish. Mühlenberg continued to oppose the Moravians after Zinzendor's departure for Europe. In Philadelphia, Lancaster, and Tulpehocken Mühlenberg fought publicly with the Moravians over who would supervise Lutheran ministry in America. Mühlenberg intervened in several Lutheran congregations that had pastors friendly to the Moravians and asserted his own authority over them. Both sides used law courts and the press to assert their claim to be considered true Lutherans and convince the public that the others were heterodox "Pietists." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic conditions place a significant burden on the Australian health care system, and this burden continues to increase. This literature review examines the concepts of chronic illness and chronic condition self-management (CCSM), particularly in the context of asthma. It explores the implementation of, and barriers to, CCSM in the modern health care system with a focus on CCSM in children and adolescents, and the differences that need to be recognized when dealing with Indigenous Australian children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasma gondii oocysts are environmentally resistant and can survive outdoors for many months in dry and cold climates. In the present study, sporulation and survival of T. gondii oocysts was studied in different types of cat litters commercially available in the United States. Oocysts sporulated within 2-3 days in all types of cat litters and occasionally remained viable for 14 days. Results indicate that cat litter should be changed daily to prevent sporulation and infectivity to people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The importance of genetic diversity in successful biological invasions is unclear. In animals, but not necessarily plants, increased genetic diversity is generally associated with successful colonization and establishment of novel habitats. The Oleander aphid, Aphis nerii, though native to the Mediterranean region, is an invasive pest species throughout much of the world. Feeding primarily on Oleander (Nerium oleander) and Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) under natural conditions, these plants are unlikely to support aphid populations year round in the southern US. The objective of this study was to describe the genetic variation within and among US populations of A. nerii, during extinction/recolonization events, to better understand the population ecology of this invasive species. Methodology/Principal Findings: We used five microsatellite markers to assess genetic diversity over a two year period within and among three aphid populations separated by small (100 km) and large (3,700 km) geographic distances on two host plant species. Here we provide evidence for A. nerii ''superclones''. Genotypic variation was absent in all populations (i.e., each population consisted of a single multilocus genotype (MLG) or ''clone'') and the genetic composition of only one population completely changed across years. There was no evidence of sexual reproduction or host races on different plant species. Conclusions/Significance: Aphis nerii is a well established invasive species despite having extremely low genetic diversity. As this aphid appears to be obligatorily asexual, it may share more similarities with clonally reproducing invasive plants, than with other animals. Patterns of temporal and geographic genetic variation, viewed in the context of its population dynamics, have important implications for the management of invasive pests and the evolutionary biology of asexual species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trypanosoma cruzi is the most important parasitic infection in Latin America and is also genetically highly diverse, with at least six discrete typing units (DTUs) reported: Tc I, IIa, IIb, IIc, IId, and IIe. However, the current six-genotype classification is likely to be a poor reflection of the total genetic diversity present in this undeniably ancient parasite. To determine whether epidemiologically important information is ''hidden'' at the sub-DTU level, we developed a 48-marker panel of polymorphic microsatellite loci to investigate population structure among 135 samples from across the geographic distribution of TcI. This DTU is the major cause of resurgent human disease in northern South America but also occurs in silvatic triatomine vectors and mammalian reservoir hosts throughout the continent. Based on a total dataset of 12,329 alleles, we demonstrate that silvatic TcI populations are extraordinarily genetically diverse, show spatial structuring on a continental scale, and have undergone recent biogeographic expansion into the southern United States of America. Conversely, the majority of human strains sampled are restricted to two distinct groups characterised by a considerable reduction in genetic diversity with respect to isolates from silvatic sources. In Venezuela, most human isolates showed little identity with known local silvatic strains, despite frequent invasion of the domestic setting by infected adult vectors. Multilocus linkage indices indicate predominantly clonal parasite propagation among all populations. However, excess homozygosity among silvatic strains and raised heterozygosity among domestic populations suggest that some level of genetic recombination cannot be ruled out. The epidemiological significance of these findings is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pigs are considered to be the most important meat source of Toxoplasma gondii for humans in the United States. In the present study, 168 T. gondii isolates (designated TgPgUs15-182) from various sources were genotyped using 10 polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) markers (SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico). Genotyping data from an additional 14 isolates collected from T. gondii-infected pigs in Maryland were included for analysis. Nine genotypes (1-9) were recognized from the 182 T. gondii isolates. Most (56%, 102) isolates were clonal Type II (genotypes 1 and 2) and 27% (49) were clonal Type III (genotype 3) strains. Genotype 4 had Type II alleles, with the exception of Type I alleles at loci Apico and L358. Eight isolates (genotype 5) from Iowa had a combination of alleles I, II, and III at different loci. The remaining 6 isolates were divided into genotypes 6-9 and had a combination of different alleles. Eight of the 9 genotypes were previously reported in different animal species and geographic regions. In conclusion, along with the predominance of clonal Type II and III strains, a few diverse, previously unrecognized T. gondii lineages were found circulating in domestic pigs used for human consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasma gondii infections in zoo animals are of interest because many captive animals die of clinical toxoplasmosis and because of the potential risk of exposure of children and elderly to T. gondii oocysts excreted by cats in the zoos. Seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies in wild zoo felids, highly susceptible zoo species, and feral cats from 8 zoos of the midwestern United States was determined by using the modified agglutination test (MAT). A titer of 1:25 was considered indicative of T. gondii exposure. Among wild felids, antibodies to T. gondii were found in 6 (27.3%) of 22 cheetahs (Acynonyx jubatus jubatus), 2 of 4 African lynx (Caracal caracal), 1 of 7 clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa), 1 of 5 Pallas cats (Otocolobus manul), 12 (54.5%) of 22 African lions (Panthera leo), 1 of 1 jaguar (Panthera onca), 1 of 1 Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis), 1 of 1 Persian leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor), 5 (27.8%) of 18 Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica), 1 of 4 fishing cats (Prionailurus viverrinus), 3 of 6 pumas (Puma concolor), 2 of 2 Texas pumas (Puma concolor stanleyana), and 5 (35.7%) of 14 snow leopards (Uncia uncia). Antibodies were found in 10 of 34 feral domestic cats (Felis domesticus) trapped in 3 zoos. Toxoplasma gondii oocysts were not found in any of the 78 fecal samples from wild and domestic cats. Among the macropods, antibodies were detected in 1 of 3 Dama wallabies (Macropus eugenii), 1 of 1 western grey kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus), 1 of 2 wallaroos (Macropus robustus), 6 of 8 Bennett's wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus), 21 (61.8%) of 34 red kangaroos (Macropus rufus), and 1 of 1 dusky pademelon (Thylogale brunii). Among prosimians, antibodies were detected in 1 of 3 blue-eyed black lemurs (Eulemur macaco flavifrons), 1 of 21 ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta), 2 of 9 red-ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata rubra), and 2 of 4 black- and white-ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata variegata). Among the avian species tested, 2 of 3 bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) were seropositive. Among 7 possible risk factors, sex, freezing meat temperature (above -13 C vs. below -13 C), washing vegetables thoroughly, frequency of feral cat sightings on zoo grounds (occasionally vs. frequently), frequency of feral cat control programs, capability of feral cats to enter hay/grain barn, and type of animal exhibit, exhibiting animals in open enclosures was the only factor identified as a significant risk (OR 3.22, P - 0.00). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This research sought neurobiological features common to psychotic states displayed by patients with different clinical diagnoses. Method: Cluster analysis with quantitative electroencephalographic (QEEG) variables was used to subtype drug-naïve, non-medicated, and medicated schizophrenic, depressed and alcoholic patients with psychotic symptoms, from the USA and Germany. QEEG source localization brain images were computed for each cluster. Results: Psychotic patients with schizophrenia, depression and alcoholism, and drug- naïve schizophrenic patients, were distributed among six clusters. QEEG images revealed one set of brain regions differentially upregulated in each cluster and another group of structures downregulated in the same way in every cluster. Conclusion: Subtypes previously found among 94 schizophrenic patients were replicated in a sample of 390 non-schizophrenic as well as schizophrenic psychotics, and displayed common neurobiological abnormalities. Collaborative longitudinal studies using these economical methods might improve differential understanding and treatment of patients based upon these features rather than clinical symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The American electric utility industry is entering a moment of transition. Once viewed as a stable and secure consortium of publicly regulated monopolies that produce and distribute electricity, the industry has weathered market restructuring only to face the ever-present risk of natural disasters, price fluctuations, terrorist attacks, and blackouts. This paper uses five criteria—technical feasibility, cost, negative externalities, reliability, and security—to evaluate the broad portfolio of energy technologies available to American electricity policymakers. Upon close inspection, energy efficiency practices, renewable energy systems, and small-scale distributed generation technologies appear to offer many advantages over large and centralized nuclear and fossil fueled generators. Contrary to the mimetic commentary produced by the media, these three approaches would present policymakers a superior alternative for curbing electricity demand, minimizing the risk of fuel interruptions and shortages, helping improve the fragile transmission network, and reducing environmental harm [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the costs of European migration to colonial and early republican period in the U.S. European migration to the U.S. was expensive, which exceeds half or sometimes a whole year's income for many adult migrants, while unattached individuals bear the entire burden of financing their own migration. In the late eighteen and early nineteenth centuries, majority of the migrants entered servant labor contracts to finance their passage labor, while some of the German parents have opted to selling their children into servitude to for the family's passage debt.

Background: In December 2001, a fatal case of pneumococcal meningitis in a Marine Corps recruit was identified. As pneumococcal vaccine usage in recruit populations is being considered, an investigation was initiated into the causative serotype. Case presentation: Traditional and molecular methods were utilized to determine the serotype of the infecting pneumococcus. The pneumococcal isolate was identified as serotype 38 (PS38), a serotype not covered by current vaccine formulations. The global significance of this serotype was explored in the medical literature, and found to be a rare but recognized cause of carriage and invasive disease. Conclusion: The potential of PS38 to cause severe disease is documented in this report. Current literature does not support the hypothesis that this serotype is increasing in incidence. However, as we monitor the changing epidemiology of pneumococcal illness in the US in this conjugate era, PS38 might find a more prominent and concerning niche as a replacement serotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term psychological effects of war-related stress were assessed with the Rorschach 3 years after the Persian Gulf War. Rorschach data are presented for 30 U.S. Marine reservists at a 3-year follow-up who reported experiencing symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS) initially after Operation Desert Storm (ODS), and for 25 Marine reservist controls who did not participate in ODS. Results showed significant differences over time between the initial evaluation data and follow-up, and between initial evaluation and the control group on selected Rorschach variables associated with coping ability and PTS. Scores associated with acute distress, capacity for coping and control, and feeling overwhelmed all were found to significantly decrease over time. These findings are discussed in relation to the assessment and understanding of PTS symptomatology over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]