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The COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated depression, anxiety, and executive function (EF) difficulties in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). EF skills have been positively associated with mental health outcomes. Here, we probed the psychosocial impacts of pandemic responses in children with and without ASD by relating pre-pandemic EF assessments with anxiety and depression symptoms several months into the pandemic. We found that pre-pandemic inhibition and shifting difficulties, measured by the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, predicted higher risk of anxiety symptoms. These findings are critical for promoting community recovery and maximizing clinical preparedness to support children at increased risk for adverse psychosocial outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus atrophaeus HAB-5 is a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) that exhibits several biotechnological traits, such as enhancing plant growth, colonizing the rhizosphere, and engaging in biocontrol activities. In this study, we conducted whole-genome sequencing of B. atrophaeus HAB-5 using the single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing platform by Pacific Biosciences (PacBio; United States), which has a circular chromosome with a total length of 4,083,597 bp and a G + C content of 44.21%. The comparative genomic analysis of B. atrophaeus HAB-5 with other strains, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DSM7, B. atrophaeus SRCM101359, Bacillus velezensis FZB42, B. velezensis HAB-2, and Bacillus subtilis 168, revealed that these strains share 2,465 CDSs, while 599 CDSs are exclusive to the B. atrophaeus HAB-5 strain. Many gene clusters in the B. atrophaeus HAB-5 genome are associated with the production of antimicrobial lipopeptides and polypeptides. These gene clusters comprise distinct enzymes that encode three NRPs, two Transat-Pks, one terpene, one lanthipeptide, one T3PKS, one Ripp, and one thiopeptide. In addition to the likely IAA-producing genes (trpA, trpB, trpC, trpD, trpE, trpS, ywkB, miaA, and nadE), there are probable genes that produce volatile chemicals (acoA, acoB, acoR, acuB, and acuC). Moreover, HAB-5 contained genes linked to iron transportation (fbpA, fetB, feuC, feuB, feuA, and fecD), sulfur metabolism (cysC, sat, cysK, cysS, and sulP), phosphorus solubilization (ispH, pstA, pstC, pstS, pstB, gltP, and phoH), and nitrogen fixation (nif3-like, gltP, gltX, glnR, glnA, nadR, nirB, nirD, nasD, narl, narH, narJ, and nark). In conclusion, this study provides a comprehensive genomic analysis of B. atrophaeus HAB-5, pinpointing the genes and genomic regions linked to the antimicrobial properties of the strain. These findings advance our knowledge of the genetic basis of the antimicrobial properties of B. atrophaeus and imply that HAB-5 may employ a variety of commercial biopesticides and biofertilizers as a substitute strategy to increase agricultural output and manage a variety of plant diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the investigation was to evaluate the utility of ChatGPT, a state‐of‐the‐art language model developed by Open AI, in the context of civil engineering education. To achieve this objective, 44 civil engineering students from a large state university in the United States were recruited and asked to respond to three questions pertaining to Construction Surveying and Geomatics. The students were then introduced to ChatGPT and provided with guidelines on how the platform could be utilized for educational purposes, including obtaining answers to questions like those presented to them earlier. The students were then given the opportunity to leverage ChatGPT to obtain responses to questions they had been presented with earlier and any other related queries of interest. Subsequently, the students were asked to provide written responses to the same questions they were presented with earlier, but without access to ChatGPT or its response, to assess any knowledge gains. The investigation also captured the student's acceptance and perceived usability based on their experience of using ChatGPT. The findings indicated that the student's written responses were more thorough, detailed, and informative after utilizing ChatGPT. The results also revealed that ChatGPT was largely well‐received by the students and they held a positive perception of the AI platform. The findings can inform efforts targeted at successfully integrating AI tools for civil engineering education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper analyses the establishment and evolution of a public oversight body (POB) – the Egyptian Audit Oversight Unit (AOU) – and its implications for local auditing firms and practices. Design/methodology/approach: Primary data were gathered from 34 semi-structured interviews (including follow-up ones) between 2014 and 2020. Secondary data was obtained through publicly available documents and internal memos. Drawing on Debord's (1967) Society of the Spectacle, the insights focus on the POB's conception, materialisation and evolution in a context characterised by weak regulatory structures. Findings: Through a series of acts, the findings reveal how the AOU first accepted the image of "international best practice" oversight (the "metaphorical"), followed by the construction of the local structure and décor replicating a United States (US) style POB archetype (the "transformational") by primarily relying on visible processes/procedures. Yet, these mechanisms emphasised the spectacular nature of oversight, with little improvement for practice and limiting itself to "cracking down" on smaller local firms. A final stage (the "performative") reveals how the AOU seeks to expand its activities beyond its original mandate without challenging the image-driven nature of its oversight. Originality/value: The paper offers two key contributions. First, it reveals how actors, through a combination of symbolic and tangible measures, create a new performative reality of public oversight. Second, it advocates Debord's "spectacle" to complement other theoretical lenses, with a view to illuminating the materialisation stages that bridge the gap between proclaimed oversight policies and actual practices (including conscious and unconscious omissions) within a given political economy context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildfires are a widespread phenomenon that affects every corner of the world with the warming climate. Wildfires burn tens of thousands of square kilometres of forests and vegetation every year in the United States alone with the past decade witnessing a dramatic increase in the number of wildfire incidents. This research aims to understand the regions of forests and vegetation across the US that are susceptible to wildfires using spatiotemporal kernel heat maps and, forecast these wildfires across the United States at country-wide and state levels on a weekly and monthly basis in an attempt to reduce the reaction time of the suppression operations and effectively design resource maps to mitigate wildfires. We employed the state-of-the-art Neural Basis Expansion Analysis for Time Series (N-BEATS) model to predict the total area burned by wildfires by several weeks and months into the future. The model was evaluated based on forecasting metrics including mean-squared error (MSE)., and mean average error (MAE). The N-BEATS model demonstrates improved performance compared to other state-of-the-art (SOTA) models, obtaining MSE values of 116.3, 38.2, and 19.0 for yearly, monthly, and weekly forecasting, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although social disparities in morbidity and mortality are well-documented, little is known how socioeconomic status (SES) shapes diabetes-concordant comorbidity (DCC). This study examines socioeconomic inequalities in DCC among adults with diabetes in the United States. The study incorporated a cross-sectional nationally representative household health survey. This study used data from the National Health Interview Survey, 1997–2018. The analysis included 56,192 adults aged 30 or above with diabetes. Multinomial logistic regression was used to obtain relative risk ratios in gender-stratified models after adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. The multivariable-adjusted analyses suggest that across all SES indicators and in both men and women, individuals with lower SES had greater odds of DCC than individuals with higher SES. The associations of SES indicators with DCC were larger in magnitude among women than in men. For example, compared to individuals with a college or higher degree, men with less than a high school degree were 2.06 times (95% confidence interval = 1.76–2.41) and women with less than a high school degree were 3.19 times (95% confidence interval = 2.67–3.82) more likely to have 3 or more DCCs. Similar associations were observed for other indicators of SES. Study findings suggest strong social status and gender-based patterns in DCC. Identifying population groups with poor social status may be useful for informing interventions aiming to improve healthcare services of diabetes-related complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Research on substance use disorder (SUD) among Muslims in the United States (US) is limited. There are several unique factors, including denial and stigma, that make this population at risk of SUD. This study explored the prevalence, treatment utilization, and impact of SUD among Muslims in the US compared with a matched control group from general respondents. Methods: Data from 372 self‐identified Muslims were obtained from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions III. A matched non‐Muslim control group (N = 744) were selected based on demographics and other SUD‐related clinical variables. The impact of SUD was assessed using the 12‐Item Short Form Health Survey (SF‐12). Results: Among the 372 Muslims, 53 (10.85%) had lifetime alcohol/drug use disorder, while 75 (18.42%) had lifetime tobacco use disorder (TUD). With statistical significance, alcohol use disorder (AUD) was lower while TUD was higher in the Muslim group than in the control group. The rates of all other substances were not statistically different between the Muslim and control groups. The Muslim group have higher help‐seeking and a lower mean score on the SF‐12 emotional scale than the control group. Conclusion and Scientific Significance: Muslim Americans have higher prevalence of TUD, lower prevalence of AUD, and similar prevalence of other SUD compared to the public. Affected individuals have poor emotional functioning which may be exacerbated by the impact of stigma. This is the first study to estimate prevalence of variety of SUD in American Muslims from a national representative sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A long-standing shortage of critical care intensivists and nurses, exacerbated by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, has led to an accelerated adoption of telecritical care in the United States (US). Due to their complex and high-acuity nature, cardiac, cardiovascular, and cardiothoracic intensive care units (ICUs) have generally been limited in their ability to leverage tele-critical care resources. In early 2020, Houston Methodist Hospital (HMH) launched its tele-critical care program called Virtual ICU, or vICU, to improve its ICU staffing efficiency while providing high-quality, continuous access to inperson and virtual intensivists and critical care nurses. This article provides a roadmap with prescriptive specifications for planning, launching, and integrating vICU services within cardiac and cardiovascular ICUs—one of the first such integrations among the leading academic US hospitals. The success of integrating vICU depends upon the (1) recruitment of intensivists and RNs with expertise in managing cardiac and cardiovascular patients on the vICU staff as well as concerted efforts to promote mutual trust and confidence between in-person and virtual providers, (2) consultations with the bedside clinicians to secure their buy-in on the merits of vICU resources, and (3) collaborative approaches to improve workflow protocols and communications. Integration of vICU has resulted in the reduction of monthly night-call requirements for the in-person intensivists and an increase in work satisfaction. Data also show that support of the vICU is associated with a significant reduction in the rate of Code Blue events (denoting a situation where a patient requires immediate resuscitation, typically due to a cardiac or respiratory arrest). As the providers become more comfortable with the advances in artificial intelligence and big data-driven technology, the Cardiac ICU Cohort continues to improve methods to predict and track patient trends in the ICUs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snacking behavior may affect snack quality, overall diet quality, and body weight; however, the associations between these variables have not been studied among college students. The objective of this study was to associate snacking behaviors with snack quality, diet quality, and weight status among college students with overweight and obesity. We hypothesized that a higher snacking frequency, accessibility and availability of unhealthy snacks, and lack of knowledge would be associated with lower snack and diet quality, and higher weight. Participants (n = 140) completed a snack behavior questionnaire, three 24-hour dietary recalls to assess diet quality using Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015), and snack score using an algorithm based on the US DA Smart Snack guidelines and reported weight and height to calculate body mass index (BMI). Analysis of variance and Pearson correlation was used in the analyses. After adjusting for confounders, snack frequency was not associated with snack score, HEI-2015 score, or BMI, but evening snacks had a significantly lower snack score compared with late afternoon snacks (P =.017). Also, those with more accessibility and availability of unhealthy snacks had a lower snack score (P =.001), lower HEI-2015 score (P =.006), and higher BMI (P =.019). Snacking for pleasure was significantly associated with a lower snack score (P =.037). Snack score was positively correlated with HEI-2015 score but not with BMI. In conclusion, late snacking, unhealthy snack environment, and snacking for pleasure were associated with lower snack and diet quality. These findings could be used in future intervention strategies to improve snacking behaviors and the food environment. This study examined the association between snacking behavior with snack and diet quality and body mass index (BMI) in college students with overweight and obesity. Evening snacks and snacking for pleasure were significantly associated with a lower snack quality. Accessibility and availability of unhealthy snacks were significantly associated with lower snack and diet quality and higher BMI. Also, snack quality was positively associated with diet quality, which was inversely associated with BMI. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION E-cigarette use among youth and young adults remains of public health concern. Pod-based e-cigarettes, including JUUL, significantly changed the e-cigarette landscape in the US. Using an online survey, we explored the socio-behavioral correlates, predisposing factors, and addictive behaviors, among young adult pod-mod users within a University in Maryland, USA. METHODS In total, 112 eligible college students aged 18--24 years, recruited from a University in Maryland, who reported using pod-mods were included in this study. Participants were categorized into current/non-current users based on past- 30-day use. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze participants' responses. RESULTS The mean age of the survey participants was 20.5 ± 1.2 years, 56.3% were female, 48.2% White, and 40.2% reported past-30-day (current) use of pod-mods. The mean age of first experimentation with pod-mods was 17.8 ± 1.4 years, while the mean age of regular use was 18.5 ± 1.4 years, with the majority (67.9%) citing social influence as the reason for initiation. Of the current users, 62.2% owned their own devices, and 82.2% predominantly used JUUL and menthol flavor (37.8%). A significant proportion of current users (73.3%) reported buying pods in person, 45.5% of whom were aged <21 years. Among all participants, 67% had had a past serious quit attempt. Among them, 89.3% neither used nicotine replacement therapy nor prescription medications. Finally, current use (adjusted odds ratio, AOR=4.52; 95% CI: 1.76--11.64), JUUL use (AOR=2.56; 95% CI: 1.08-6.03), and menthol flavor (AOR=6.52; 95% CI: 1.38-30.89) were associated with reduced nicotine autonomy, a measure of addiction. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide specific data to inform the development of public health interventions targeted at college youth, including the need for more robust cessation support for pod-mod users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study coronary interventions and mortality among patients with ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) who were admitted with septic shock. Methods: Data from the national emergency department sample (NEDS) that constitutes 20% sample of hospital-owned emergency departments in the United States was analyzed for the septic shock related visits from 2016 to 2018. Septic shock was defined by the ICD codes. Results: Out of 1 375 507 adult septic shock patients, 521 300 had a primary diagnosis of septic shock (mean age 67.41 ±15.67 years, 51.1% females) in the national emergency database for the years 2016 to 2018. Of these patients, 2768 (0.53%) had STEMI recorded during the hospitalization. Mortality rates for STEMI patients were higher than patients without STEMI (52.3% vs 23.5%). Mortality rates improved with PCI among STEMI patients (43.8% vs 56.2%). Coronary angiography was performed among 16% of patients of which percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rates were 7.7% among patients with STEMI septic shock. PCI numerically improved mortality, however, had no significant difference than patients without PCI on multivariate logistic regression and univariate logistic regression post coarsened exact matching of baseline characteristics among STEMI patients. Among the predictors, STEMI was a significant predictor of mortality in septic shock patients (OR 2.87, 95% CI 2.37-3.49; P<.001). Age, peripheral vascular disease, were predominant predictors of mortality in STEMI with septic shock subgroup (P <.001). Pneumonia was the predominant underlying infection among STEMI (36.4%) and without STEMI group (29.5%). Conclusion: STEMI complicating septic shock worsens mortality. PCI and coronary angiography numerically improved mortality, however, had no significant difference from patients without PCI. More research will be needed to improve mortality in such a critically ill subgroup of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early life psychosocial adversities and developmental disorders are common among children in the United States. However, there is relatively little research on how family processes and neighborhood-level factors may promote well-being among children dually burdened with developmental disorders (DD) and adverse childhood experience (ACE). Using secondary analysis of the National Survey of Children's Health 2016–2018 (N = 56,831), we examined the associations of family resilience and other protective factors with flourishing and school engagement among subgroups of children with dual exposure to DD and ACE. Results indicate that family resilience, family meals, and mother's mental health promote flourishing and school engagement amid varying levels of exposure to ACE and DD. Social interventions designed to improve family and neighborhood resources can protect child well-being amid multiple adversities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been difficult to measure rural-urban differences in maternal mortality ratios (MMRs) in the United States in recent years because of the incremental adoption of a pregnancy status checkbox on the standard US death certificate. Using 1999–2017 mortality and birth data, we examined the impact of the pregnancy checkbox on MMRs according to urbanicity of residence (large urban area, medium/small urban area, or rural area), using log-binomial regression models to predict trends that would have been observed if all states had adopted the checkbox as of 1999. Implementation of the checkbox resulted in an average estimated increase of 7.5 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births (95% confidence interval (CI): 6.3, 8.8) in large urban areas (a 76% increase), 11.6 (95% CI: 9.6, 13.6) in medium/small urban areas (a 113% increase), and 16.6 (95% CI: 12.9, 20.3) in rural areas (a 107% increase), compared with MMRs prior to the checkbox. Assuming that all states had the checkbox as of 1999, demographic-factor–adjusted predicted MMRs increased in rural areas, declined in large urban areas, and did not change in medium/small urban areas. However, trends and urban-rural differences were substantially attenuated when analyses were limited to direct/specific causes of maternal death, which are probably subject to less misclassification. Accurate ascertainment of maternal deaths, particularly in rural areas, is important for reducing disparities in maternal mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how different uncertainty measures affect the unemployment level, inflow, and outflow in the U.S. across all states of the business cycle. We employ linear and nonlinear causality-in-quantile tests to capture a complete picture of the effect of uncertainty on U.S. unemployment. To verify whether there are any common effects across different uncertainty measures, we use monthly data on four uncertainty measures and on U.S. unemployment from January 1997 to August 2018. Our results corroborate the general predictions from a search and matching framework of how uncertainty affects unemployment and its flows. Fluctuations in uncertainty generate increases (upper-quantile changes) in the unemployment level and in the inflow. Conversely, shocks to uncertainty have a negative impact on U.S. unemployment outflow. Therefore, the effect of uncertainty is asymmetric depending on the states (quantiles) of U.S. unemployment and on the adopted unemployment measure. Our findings suggest state-contingent policies to stabilize the unemployment level when large uncertainty shocks occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Financial stressors such as wealth loss, indebtedness, and bankruptcy have gained the attention of public health scholars since the Great Recession. In this study, we extend this area of research by comparing the mental and physical impact of multiple financial stressors during midlife, a pivotal period in the life course for wealth accumulation and disease onset. Methods With data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (www.nlsinfo.org), an ongoing survey of adult men and women in the United States, we used logistic regression to estimate the associations between financial stressors and the risk of a psychiatric disorder or high blood pressure diagnosis from ages 31–39 in 1996 to ages 50–59 in 2016 (N = 7,143). Financial stressors include multiple types of wealth loss, debt, and bankruptcy. Results Even after adjusting for a comprehensive set of confounders, many of the financial stressors we considered had similar positive associations with the risk of a psychiatric disorder, whereas only debt and bankruptcy were associated with the risk of high blood pressure. The best-fitting models for both health outcomes included a simple indicator of indebtedness. Stock losses were not significantly associated with either health outcome. Discussion Given the recent volatility in the U.S. economy, our results highlight the potential loss of health that may occur if nothing is done to prevent economically vulnerable populations from sliding into financial crisis. Our results also emphasize the need for additional research to develop individual-level interventions to improve health among those already experiencing financial difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literature regarding trends of incidence, mortality, and complications of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the emergency departments (ED) is limited. What are trends of COPD exacerbation in ED? Data were obtained from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) that constitutes a 20% sample of hospital-owned EDs and inpatient sample in the US. All ED encounters were included in the analysis. Complications of AECOPD were obtained by using ICD codes. Out of 1.082 billion ED encounters, 5,295,408 (mean age 63.31 ± 12.63 years, females 55%) presented with COPD exacerbation. Among these patients, 353,563(6.7%) had AECOPD-plus (features of pulmonary embolism, acute heart failure and/or pneumonia) while 4,941,845 (93.3%) had exacerbation without associated features or precipitating factors which we grouped as AECOPD. The AECOPD-plus group was associated with statistically significantly higher proportion of cardiovascular complications including AF (5.6% vs 3.5%; p < 0.001), VT/VF (0.14% vs 0.06%; p < 0.001), STEMI (0.22% vs 0.11%; p < 0.001) and NSTEMI (0.65% vs 0.2%; p < 0.001). The in-hospital mortality rates were greater in the AECOPD-plus population (0.7% vs 0.1%; p < 0.001). The incidence of both AECOPD and AECOPD-plus had worsened (p-trend 0.004 and 0.0003) and the trend of mortality had improved (p-trend 0.0055 and 0.003, respectively). The prevalence of smoking for among all COPD patients had increased (p-value 0.004), however, the prevalence trend of smoking among AECOPD groups was static over the years 2010–2018. There was an increasing trend of COPD exacerbation in conjunction with smoking; however, mortality trends improved significantly. Moreover, the rising burden of AECOPD would suggest improvement in diagnostics and policy making regarding management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 outbreak has taken many governments by surprise. While the crisis unfolds, it is instructive to explore how different governments reacted to the onslaught of an unknown disease. This research, using very recently collected and open-source data, meets this objective. The research reveals that, regarding 7 most commonly adopted preventive measures, governments have varied notably concerning their actions in relation to infection rate, disease rate, and timing of measures. The research also illustrates variations between governments for 6 countries: Australia, New Zealand, Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy, and the United States. As revealed in the summary independent-samples t test and Hedges' g values, both Oceanian countries (Australia and New Zealand) reacted differently compared to the other countries, which may have played a role in their low death and infection rates to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barbie in a wheelchair has heralded a new era in the magical world of Barbie. Mattel, one of the biggest toy manufacturers, has redefined the way Barbie has been portrayed to the world by introducing their new Black Barbie in a wheelchair. After years of innovation and trial and errors, it has proved that Barbie is not just a make-believe plaything or a representation of a singular aspect of beauty standards. These dolls should be relevant and wholesome when it comes to creating a bridge between customers and the brand itself. Mattel realized not too long ago the significance of inclusion, and now it has ended up hoisting a sensation in all of the United States and globally through the Internet and social media such as Twitter. The IDIC (Identify, Differentiate, Interact and Customize) model, which is an effective customer relationship management (CRM) tool, has been deployed by Mattel to demonstrate how Mattel cares for its customers. Mattel's customer centrism, devotion towards innovation and inclusiveness are the key aspects which has rewarded the company with a whole new spectrum of acceptance from minority groups with a smile on their faces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus are mosquito vectors of more than 22 arboviruses that infect humans. OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to develop regional ecological niche models for Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus in the conterminous United States and Canada with current observed and simulated climate and land-use data using boosted regression trees (BRTs). METHODS: We used BRTs to assess climatic suitability for Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti mosquitoes in Canada and the United States under current and future projected climates. RESULTS: Models for both species were mostly influenced by minimum daily temperature and demonstrated high accuracy for predicting their geographic ranges under the current climate. The northward range expansion of suitable niches for both species was projected under future climate models. Much of the United States and parts of southern Canada are projected to be suitable for both species by 2100, with Ae. albopictus projected to expand its range north earlier this century and further north than Ae. aegypti. DISCUSSION: Our projections suggest that the suitable ecological niche for Aedes will expand with climate change in Canada and the United States, thus increasing the risk of Aedes-transmitted arboviruses. Increased surveillance for these vectors and the pathogens they carry would be prudent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA), degeneration of cartilage associated with aging, lifestyle, and trauma, is one of the most common diseases that leads to lower quality of life and socioeconomic burden in the United States. Clinically, OA is initially managed by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but eventually requires surgical intervention to reduce pain and increase function. Cartilage is a mechanotransductive tissue and requires a mechanical stimulus to sustain its mechanical and physiologic properties. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is a cyclic acoustic wave that can provide essential mechanical stimuli to activate molecular and cellular pathways leading to chondrocyte proliferation, differentiation and activity, as well as to inhibit inflammatory pathways associated with OA. The activation of chondrocyte proliferation and inhibition of anti-inflammatory cytokines make LIPUS a potential therapy for mild to moderate OA. Although a few review articles have described the effects of ultrasound on chondrocytes and cartilage, there remains a need for a comprehensive analysis of our current understanding of the basic science and clinical status of the effects of low-intensity ultrasound on chondrocytes and cartilage and the implications of these studies on LIPUS as a therapeutic option for OA. This review analyzes recent literature describing the results of LIPUS using in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical models and clinical studies, as well as future directions for research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sports team participation has myriad benefits for girls. We used the 1999-2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a nationally representative survey of US high school students, to examine time trends in sports team participation. Data from 2015 alone were examined for current differences in participation by sex, race/ethnicity, grade, and weight status. For both analyses, unadjusted and adjusted logistic regressions, with team participation as the dependent variable, were used. In 2015, 53% of US high school girls participated in team sports. Participation was higher among non-Hispanic white (60.7%) compared to Hispanic (40.7%) and Asian (35.6%) girls, and girls with normal-weight status (58.1%) compared to overweight (50.0%) and obese (36.5%) girls (P < .01 for all comparisons). From 1999 to 2015, the rate of increase in participation was higher among non-Hispanic black girls than non-Hispanic white girls. No increase was observed for Hispanic and Asian girls. Addressing the disparities found in team participation is imperative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a stress and social support framework, this study explored the trajectory of depression in 388 married Arab immigrant women. The women provided three panels of data approximately 18 months apart. Depression at Time 3 was regressed on Time 1 depression, socio-demographic variables, and rate of change over time in stress and social support. The regression model was significant and accounted for 41.16% of the variation in Time 3 depression scores. Time 1 depression, English reading ability, husband's employment status, changes over time in immigration demands, daily hassles, and social support from friends were associated with Time 3 depression. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Streptobacillus moniliformis is a pleomorphic, fastidious gram-negative bacillus that colonizes rodent respiratory tracts and causes rat-bite fever in humans. Rat-bite fever is associated with septic arthritis, usually monoarticular or pauciarticular. We report a rare case of polyarticular septic arthritis caused by S. moniliformis; the disease was initially misdiagnosed as inflammatory arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2002, a cross-sectional study designed to compare the serum dioxin toxic equivalent concentrations (TEQ) of a population-based sample of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana residents, to Lafayette Parish was conducted. The mono-ortho polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in order to calculate the TEQ. We compared the sum of lipid adjusted serum concentrations of 27 PCB congeners (total PCBs) in residents of these two parishes and also by their demographic characteristics. The geometric means (GM) [standard errors (SE)] of the concentrations (ng g −1 lipids) of total PCBs in participants from Calcasieu Parish and Lafayette Parish were 154 (11.8) and 168.6 (20.8) (T-test p = 0.54), respectively. Various percentiles of the distribution of serum total PCB concentrations were similar in the two parishes. After adjusting by age and race in the ANCOVA regression model, the adjusted GM for the lipid adjusted total PCBs was statistically higher in the residents in Lafayette than in Calcasieu Parish regardless of age or race ( P = 0.007). The adjusted GM of lipid adjusted total PCBs for African Americans was significantly higher than for Whites ( p < 0.001). Serum total PCB levels in residents of both parishes increased linearly with age ( P < 0.001). The congener profiles were similar in residents of both parishes. We also compared the GMs of a sum of 8 PCBs in Calcasieu and Lafayette Parish residents to those from a representative sample of the U.S. general population in 2001–2002 and they were not significantly different between parishes or between the parish data and the U.S. general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. We examined whether residence in neighborhoods with high levels of incarceration is associated with psychiatric morbidity among nonincarcerated community members. Methods. We linked zip code–linked information on neighborhood prison admissions rates to individual-level data on mental health from the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study (2008–2012), a prospective probability sample of predominantly Black individuals. Results. Controlling for individual- and neighborhood-level risk factors, individuals living in neighborhoods with high prison admission rates were more likely to meet criteria for a current (odds ratio [OR] = 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.7, 5.5) and lifetime (OR = 2.5; 95% CI = 1.4, 4.6) major depressive disorder across the 3 waves of follow-up as well as current (OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.0, 4.2) and lifetime (OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.2, 4.5) generalized anxiety disorder than were individuals living in neighborhoods with low prison admission rates. These relationships between neighborhood-level incarceration and mental health were comparable for individuals with and without a personal history of incarceration. Conclusions. Incarceration may exert collateral damage on the mental health of individuals living in high-incarceration neighborhoods, suggesting that the public mental health impact of mass incarceration extends beyond those who are incarcerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual violence is prevalent nationally and contributes to psychopathology in the general population. Despite elevated traumatic event exposure among economically disadvantaged urban-dwelling African-Americans, there is insufficient information on lifetime sexual violence exposure and associated psychopathology in this population. In 2008-2009, 1,306 African-Americans from a Detroit household probability sample reported on lifetime rape and sexual assault and past-month and lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Lifetime sexual violence prevalence was 26.3 % for women and 5.1 % for men. Relative to non-victims, sexual violence victims: reported more other traumatic events; had 4 times greater unadjusted odds of past-month and lifetime PTSD; had 1.6 times greater adjusted odds of lifetime PTSD only after controlling for other traumatic events. Sexual violence was associated with increased risk for lifetime PTSD and exposure to other traumas. Findings highlight a need to screen for sexual violence and PTSD among urban African-Americans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry conducted a study to evaluate body burden levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) among residents of highly industrialized Calcasieu Parish, LA, USA, in 2002. Blood VOC levels in a representative sample of participants in Calcasieu Parish were compared with a similar group of participants in the less-industrialized Lafayette Parish. Participants' ages ranged from 15 to 91 years, 46% were men, and 89% were Caucasian. VOC levels in these two populations were also compared at the national levels. Solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography mass spectrometry was used to measure levels of 30 VOCs in blood samples collected from 283 self-described non-smoking study participants. Of the 30 VOCs, 6 had quantifiable levels in at least 25% of the blood samples analyzed. The frequency of detection was >95% for benzene and m-/p-xylene, >60% for 1,4-dichlorbenzene and toluene, 27% for ethylbenzene, and 39% for styrene. Calcasieu and Lafayette Parish participants had similar distributions for six VOCs in key percentiles and geometric means. When compared with a representative sampling of the 1999-2000 US general population, no significant differences were found between the parish data and the US general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Journal of Clinical Investigation VIEWPOINT 1 The JCI Scholar experience strengthens physician-scientist training Chirag Vasavda, 1 Olivia Uddin, 2 and Michael S. Lee 3,4 1 The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA 2 Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Program in Neuroscience, 3 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and 4 Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. As a journal at the intersection of basic science and clinical medicine, JCI established the JCI Scholar Program to introduce future physician-scientists to the mechanics of the editorial and publishing process. [Extracted from the article]

The Doha Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, despite the passage of over a decade, remains inconclusive - rather in a stalemate. The progress continues to hinge on the resolution of issues pertaining to Agriculture, Non-Agriculture Market Access and Services as well as balancing of commitments and concessions by the WTO members. The strong positions taken by the US remain as the major hurdle. Considering the US presidential elections in November 2012, the possibility of country's entering in any meaningful dialogue anytime soon, is remote. The US legislation guaranteeing five-year subsidy to agriculture passed in 2008 is also a bottleneck in early resumption of Talks. The European Union is too stuck in the Euro crisis and may be reluctant to join the negotiations at this stage. While rounds of trade negotiators have lingered on in the past as well and then concluded successfully, the world leaders are so preoccupied with their domestic issues to have the courage and far sight to set aside their narrow interests. Therefore, an early and successful conclusion of the round seems quite difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study determining the validity of the qualitative and quantitative evaluations of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscales among patients with articular cartilage lesions to evidence their use in clinical trials. The study found that KOOS subscales showed excellent internal consistency reliability and test-retest reliability suggesting that concepts measured on the KOOS are important to patients with articular cartilage lesions.

Exposure to traumatic events is common, particularly among economically disadvantaged, urban African Americans. There is, however, scant data on the psychological consequences of exposure to traumatic events in this group. We assessed experience with traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among 1,306 randomly selected, African American residents of Detroit. Lifetime prevalence of exposure to at least 1 traumatic event was 87.2% (assault = 51.0%). African Americans from Detroit have a relatively high burden of PTSD; 17.1% of those who experienced a traumatic event met criteria for probable lifetime PTSD. Assaultive violence is pervasive and is more likely to be associated with subsequent PTSD than other types of events. Further efforts to prevent violence and increase access to mental health treatment could reduce the mental health burden in economically disadvantaged urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the multiwavelength observations of a flux rope that was trying to erupt from NOAA AR 11045 and the associated M-class solar flare on 12 February 2010 using space-based and ground-based observations from TRACE, STEREO, SOHO/MDI, Hinode/XRT, and BBSO. While the flux rope was rising from the active region, an M1.1/2F class flare was triggered near one of its footpoints. We suggest that the flare triggering was due to the reconnection of a rising flux rope with the surrounding low-lying magnetic loops. The flux rope reached a projected height of ≈0.15 R with a speed of ≈90 km s while the soft X-ray flux enhanced gradually during its rise. The flux rope was suppressed by an overlying field, and the filled plasma moved towards the negative polarity field to the west of its activation site. We found the first observational evidence of the initial suppression of a flux rope due to a remnant filament visible both at chromospheric and coronal temperatures that evolved a couple of days earlier at the same location in the active region. SOHO/MDI magnetograms show the emergence of a bipole ≈12 h prior to the flare initiation. The emerged negative polarity moved towards the flux rope activation site, and flare triggering near the photospheric polarity inversion line (PIL) took place. The motion of the negative polarity region towards the PIL helped in the build-up of magnetic energy at the flare and flux rope activation site. This study provides unique observational evidence of a rising flux rope that failed to erupt due to a remnant filament and overlying magnetic field, as well as associated triggering of an M-class flare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present and interpret observations of two morphologically homologous flares that occurred in active region (AR) NOAA 10501 on 20 November 2003. Both flares displayed four homologous Hα ribbons and were both accompanied by coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The central flare ribbons were located at the site of an emerging bipole in the centre of the active region. The negative polarity of this bipole fragmented in two main pieces, one rotating around the positive polarity by ≈ 110° within 32 hours. We model the coronal magnetic field and compute its topology, using as boundary condition the magnetogram closest in time to each flare. In particular, we calculate the location of quasi-separatrix layers (QSLs) in order to understand the connectivity between the flare ribbons. Though several polarities were present in AR 10501, the global magnetic field topology corresponds to a quadrupolar magnetic field distribution without magnetic null points. For both flares, the photospheric traces of QSLs are similar and match well the locations of the four Hα ribbons. This globally unchanged topology and the continuous shearing by the rotating bipole are two key factors responsible for the flare homology. However, our analyses also indicate that different magnetic connectivity domains of the quadrupolar configuration become unstable during each flare, so that magnetic reconnection proceeds differently in both events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's global marketplace, the Philippines provide a unique example of an Asian culture with established economic ties to the West. In this study, Philippine and United States undergraduate business students responded to 13 vignettes describing questionable ethical actions in business situations. Results reveal significant differences between groups for 9 of the 13 vignettes. For 4 vignettes, Philippine participants were more disapproving of the actions, and for another 5, United States participants were more disapproving. The study suggests that cultural differences continue and the implications of these differences should be considered in today's global economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the sensitivity of Magnaporthe oryzae isolates from perennial ryeglass to azoxystrobin systemic fungicide. The study involves 135 M.oryzae isolates gathered from golf courses in northeastern U.S. from 1995-2004. Several measures including medium components, temperature and incubation time were implied to highest degrees to figure out the sensitivity using in vitro spore germination assay. The results show zero difference between baseline and non-baseline isolates.

The study focuses on the construction of social necessity by both adults and children in an affluent section of urban Bangladesh. The study has improvised on a British poverty study by Gordon et al. (2000). The data for this study come from a sample survey of 360 respondents (for adult poverty) and 265 respondents (for child poverty) from Uttara, Dhaka in 2008. The normative deprivation index for Uttara shows that 40 items out of 48 appear significant as more than 50 percent respondents consider them as necessary. More than 90 percent respondents agree on the importance of 9 items for adult poverty: three meals a day, fan, celebrating special occasions, television, mobile, good job, medicine prescribed by doctor, refrigerator and household furniture. It is found that more than 90 percent respondents agree on the importance of 10 items for child poverty: three meals a day, major requirements prescribed by school, sufficient baby milk, warm/properly fitted shoes, toys, meat, fish or vegetarian equivalent at least once a day, celebrating birth day, bi-cycle and home computer. It is also found that the extent of adult and child normative deprivation is 30 percent and 26 percent respectively. The chi-square test shows that the deprivation index is significantly related to selected demographic and socio-economic variables like gender, age, marital status, occupation, education and household size. It is argued that the item-wise difference between Bangladesh and British normative deprivation is due to the cultural differences of two societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New opportunities for international migration, especially migration for employment, arose since Bangladesh gained independence in 1971. Temporary labor migration is mostly to countries in the Middle East and South-East Asia while the United Kingdom and the United States of America are the major destinations for permanent migration. The Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), the implementing arm of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, collects basic statistics on international labor migration. Aside from documenting labor outflows, BMET has started to develop a database on return migration. Some suggestions for collaborative work involving government agencies, academia and NGOs are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The active region NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) AR 10486 which appeared on the solar disc in 2003 October produced a lot of space weather related activity. Here, we report on the co-spatial evolution of the photospheric Doppler enhancements and the chromospheric Hα flare ribbons observed during the 4B/X17.2 class solar flare of 2003 October 28 in this active region. These velocity enhancements exactly match the Hα brightness enhancements in space, and are delayed by approximately 1 min in time. Hα brightness attains a maximum nearly at the same time as the peak seen in light curves in high-energy emission observed by KORONAS ( Kuznetsov et al. 2006 ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the ability of perennial ryegrass to accumulate silicon and the factors that may influence plant silicon accumulation. Plants were grown in the greenhouse in two soil types, peat:sand mix and Hagerstown-silt-loam, amended with two commercially available sources of silicon, calcium silicate slag and wollastonite at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 5 and 10 t/ha. Shoot tissue of nine-week-old perennial ryegrass plants was analyzed for silicon content (%) and found to reach a dry matter concentration of up to 4% in this study. Silicon accumulation in perennial ryegrass was influenced by the soil type and source, and was higher in plants grown in low-silicon peat:sand mix compared to Hagerstown-silt-loam. Silicon content (%) in the plants consistently increased with increasing rates of silicon in all four soil and source combinations. Acetic acid (HAc) extractable silicon and Ca increased in both soil types when amended with either of the silicon sources. Effects of silicon sources on soil pH varied with soil type. This study indicates that soil type, source of silicon, and rate of silicon application are important factors influencing the uptake of silicon by perennial ryegrass which is a widely used turfgrass species in golf courses, sports fields, and residential lawns in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gray leaf spot caused by Magnaporthe oryzae is a serious disease of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) turf in golf course fairways in the United States and Japan. Genetic relationships among M. oryzae isolates from perennial ryegrass (prg) isolates within and between the two countries were examined using the repetitive DNA elements MGR586, Pot2, and MAGGY as DNA fingerprinting probes. In all, 82 isolates of M. oryzae, including 57 prg isolates from the United States collected from 1995 to 2001, 1 annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) isolate from the United States collected in 1972, and 24 prg isolates from Japan collected from 1996 to 1999 were analyzed in this study. Hybridization with the MGR586 probe resulted in approximately 30 DNA fragments in 75 isolates (designated major MGR586 group) and less than 15 fragments in the remaining 7 isolates (designated minor MGR586 group). Both groups were represented among the 24 isolates from Japan. All isolates from the United States, with the exception of one isolate from Maryland, belonged to the major MGR586 group. Some isolates from Japan exhibited MGR586 fingerprints that were identical to several isolates collected in Pennsylvania. Similarly, fingerprinting analysis with the Pot2 probe also indicated the presence of two distinct groups: isolates in the major MGR586 group showed fingerprinting profiles comprising 20 to 25 bands, whereas the isolates in the minor MGR586 group had less than 10 fragments. When MAGGY was used as a probe, two distinct fingerprint types, one exhibiting more than 30 hybridizing bands (type I) and the other with only 2 to 4 bands (type II), were identified. Although isolates of both types were present in the major MGR586 group, only the type II isolates were identified in the minor MGR586 group. The parsimony tree obtained from combined MGR586 and Pot2 data showed that 71 of the 82 isolates belonged to a single lineage, 5 isolates formed four different lineages, and the remaining 6 (from Japan) formed a separate lineage. This study indicates that the predominant groups of M. oryzae associated with the recent outbreaks of gray leaf spot in Japan and the United States belong to the same genetic lineage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several pivotal clinical trials have generated new knowledge regarding drug therapy for heart failure. Thus, the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) and the American College of Cardiology-American Heart Association (ACCAHA) guidelines were updated in 2006 and 2005, respectively. We review the evidence from these trials and summarize the changes to the HFSA and ACCAHA guidelines. Based on data from these studies, the new guidelines include broader, stronger recommendations for β-blocker therapy, and strong recommendations for angiotensin II receptor blockers. The aldosterone antagonists, spironolactone and eplerenone, are also included in the guidelines. Pharmacists should have a basic level of familiarity with the new guidelines on heart failure and the evidence from recent clinical studies. They should be able to relate how this information contributes to the evolving understanding of treatment strategies for heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vehicle emissions from mobile sources are major contributors to air pollution and air quality degradation in the United States. The inventory of these emissions is a key component in ambient air quality assessment and air pollution abatement strategies. Procedures for preparing the mobile source emission inventory require complex data processing and calculations. This paper presents a simplified methodology for estimating vehicle emissions based on key parameters of vehicle model year, average vehicle speed, and air temperature, which have major effects on emission rates. Simplified multiple linear regression equations are developed from a database of the EPA’s MOBILE6 computations to calculate emission factors. The coefficient of determination (R2) values of the models range from 0.82 to 0.99. The methodology has been implemented in Mississippi and validated for rural areas in Ohio. The methodology is applicable to other areas in comparable geographical regions with similar traffic volume and fleet mix. The results of vehicle emissions show good correlation with daily ground-level ozone variations and can be effectively used for ozone modeling and air quality assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the establishment of the Gorilla Foundation by Francine Patterson, an American graduate student in developmental psychology. The foundation is a nonprofit organization that promotes the protection, preservation and the propagation of gorillas. It centered on the Project Koko which taught a modified form of American Sign Language to its gorilla named Koko. The said project was considered to be the longest project of its kind and had become well-known in America.

This essay discusses the possibilities and problems of canine citizenship and how contemporary dogs in the U.S. figure into an intimate public sphere. It examines the relationship of these animals to the bourgeois public sphere. It states that the bourgeois public sphere originated in the 18th century with the emergence of commercial capitalism and the circulation of printed information. It adds that the production of canine citizens may show the limitations of the Habermasian public sphere by stressing how its participants fail to meet its standards.

The Southwest Indiana Disaster Resistant Community Corporation (SWIDRCC) and Sandia National Laboratories formed a partnership in 1999 with the intent of developing and deploying a system that will significantly lessen the loss of human life and lower the cost of disaster recovery in a five-county region. Although this region currently has a response system in place that appears adequate to meet the challenges posed by a disaster, the partnership is considering substantial improvements that could significantly lessen the cost of disasters. As a result of the SWIDRCC-Sandia partnership, a policy portfolio for the SWIDRCC has been developed and a significant technology development activity has been structured using the virtual issue process (VIP). VIP is a strategic planning tool developed by Sandia to provide concise information from a community or group that can be used to resolve complex issues and problems. The disaster management system that was defined as the result of the VIP will integrate sensor technologies, modeling and simulation tools, telemetry systems, and computing platforms, in addition to nonautomated elements including increased community education and involvement. The system is expected to provide information (pre-event, during event, and in event recovery) to community leaders that will significantly enhance the ability of the community to manage disaster response. The value of the system will be manifest in both reducing the loss of human life and staying the economic well-being of the community. It is expected that the system will serve as a prototype for other communities throughout the country. To aid in system definition during the process, two dynamic simulation models were also developed: the policy portfolio analysis tool and the infrastructure modeling tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the important engineering features relating to the design and construction of a deep excavation for power canal, intake, and powerhouse structure of the Hudson Falls hydroelectric development on the Hudson River at Glens Falls, N.Y. The excavation is located in a medium hard shale with shallow dipping bedding, numerous intersecting joint sets, and several varieties of fractures. This paper presents the engineering evaluation of the slopes and identifies the importance of flexibility of construction contracts and division of responsibility between engineer and contractor to achieve a high level of cooperation in producing a very successful project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]