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Objective: Patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are advised to refrain from alcohol consumption. A questionnaire was developed to measure concepts associated with alcohol use for individuals with HCV Method: Subjects with HCV (N = 527) completed a telephone survey. Eligible respondents had screened negative for current abuse/dependence disorders (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test [AUDIT] < 10). Measures of personality, self-efficacy, knowledge, readiness, coping styles, stigma, and symptoms were examined for associations with alcohol use. Results: Factor analysis supported a measurement structure of 105 items in 35 subdomains. A total of 26 subdomains had significant bivariate associations with alcohol use. Higher self-efficacy for resisting drinking in social situations was associated with lower alcohol use (r = -.68, p < .001), as was knowledge of alcohol and HCV (r = -.27, p < .001). Although agreeableness and marital status are typically associated with lower current drinking in samples of those with alcohol use problems, in our study agreeableness (P = .13, p < .01) and marital status (P = .08, p < .05) were modestly associated with higher current drinking. The final multivariate R2 was .55. Conclusions: The pattern of associations suggests the importance of the social aspects of drinking for drinking decisions. Existing brief interventions will need to be tailored to a contextualized psychosocial model for medical patients with HCV and AUDIT scores < 10 to optimize effectiveness. Such future interventions should emphasize the potential medical hazards of drinking for persons with HCV, the maintenance of social relationships in the absence of alcohol use, and strategies for building confidence for resisting drinking in specific situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ernst Lubitsch's (1892-1947) historical costume film Madame Dubarry (Germany, 1919; American release title: Passion) was an overwhelming success, leading ultimately to his departure for Hollywood in 1922. Many leftist critics saw it as a trivialization of the French Revolution. Kracauer wrote that the film "reduces the Revolution to a derivative of private passions" (49). But the film's psycho-sexual dynamics do have a politics: they are very much connected to the politics of class, gender, ethnicity, and race. And, like many of Lubitsch's comedies, this film is about an outsider's drive for upward mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In December 1983, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin gave a lecture at Fordham University in which, for the first time, he presented what he called «The coherent ethics in life». During the following four years, he delivered up to nine speeches in which he developed his thought. The author of this article goes back to the topic, clarifies it, explains the threats that menace the catholic conception, and points out seven objectives, so that, the catholic group for sanitary responsibilities may exercise a leadership with respect to a seriously faulty health system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Completed suicides over a one year period of time were reported from a nationwide survey of Department of Veteran Affairs medical centers. Of a total of 248 completed suicides, 11 occurred in outpatient substance abuse programs, and an additional 5 occurred among patients receiving combined outpatient substance abuse and psychiatric treatment. There were no inpatient suicides. During this time, there were 7 suicide attempts on inpatient units and 37 suicide attempts in outpatient chemical dependency treatment. The majority of suicides were committed by males who had a primary alcohol addiction (63%). Thirty-eight percent of the sample had a comorbid mood disorder and 38% had a comorbid personality disorder. Risk factors relating to the potential for suicide in chemical dependency programs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the issues involved in the German film 'BeFreier und Befreite' directed by Helke Sander. Overview of the film; Use of montage, irony and reflexivity; Controversy over historical contextualizations.

Presents an interview with German filmmaker Jutta Bruckner on the issue of feminist cinema. Bruckner's biography; Career background; State of feminism in Germany; Difference between German and American feminism; Filmmakers' survival amidst cultural climate inimical to feminism and non-commercial filmmaking; Need to preserve feminist films.

Attempts both to illustrate the male fantasies at work in a number of important Weimar films and to go beyond that focus on the male psyche to demonstrate the social and political dimensions of these fantasies as well as the stakes their deployment posed for women. Feminist film theory and Weimar cinema; Robert Wiene's 1919 film `The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari'; Male anxiety in the political and literary culture of Weimar; F.W. Murnau's 1924 film `The Last Laugh'; More.

Presents an essay based on eight books. Among others, `Explorations in Film Theory: Selected Essays from `Cine-Tracts',' edited by Ron Burnett; `Psychoanalysis and Cultural Theory: Thresholds,' edited by James Donald; `His Other Half: Men Looking at Women through Art,' by Wendy Lesser; `Close Encounters: Film, Feminism, and Science Fiction,' edited by Constance Penley, Elizabeth Lyon, Lynn Spigel and Janet Bergstrom.

Presents an overview of moral theology from 1940 to 1989. Theologians who contributed to moral theology; Perspectives and cultural context of pre-Vatican II moral theology; Significant developments in moral theology; Present status of moral theology.

Reports on developments on issues concerning moral theology in the United States, as of 1986. Dissent in moral theology and its implications; Sanctity of life, quality of life and social justice; Virtue, American culture and moral issues; U.S. bishops' pastoral letter on the economy.

Discusses several moral theological literature dealing with four general areas. Fundamental moral theology; Use of Scripture in moral theology; Ethics of sexuality and the theology of marriage; Morality of nuclear deterrence.

Presents articles on moral theology-related developments in the United States, as of 1984. Cardinal Joseph Bernardin's proposal for a consistent ethic of respect for life; Policies that should direct the protection of human life in its earliest development; Preservation of peace and freedom against the threat of nuclear holocaust; Maintenance of life and dignity in the operations of the economy.

Presents a study on whether the leucine zipper will induce electrophoretic mobility anomalies without DNA bending. DNA template construction and protein constructs; Circular permutation analyses; Gel electrophoretic affinity studies.

The human person makes great demands on the physician and calls for unique attention. Hence the doctor-patient relationship calls for the highest ideals of kindness, patience, trustworthiness, generosity and skill. The Catholic physician brings to these demands a specific meaning: ministering to the sick is to see Christ in them and to show Him to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determines the extent of regional differences in remodeling response of the extracellular matrix (ECM) to myocardial infarction (MI). Differences in left ventricular (LV) collagen accumulation and mature cross-linking after myocardial infarction in rats; Inclusion of collagen as principal element in remodeling LV collagen accumulation.

This essay approaches Gustafson's work through his two-volume Ethics from a Theocentric Perspective. It puts questions to Gustafson in four areas of concern in religious ethics: anthropocentrism, christology, revelation-inspiration, and practical ethics. The essay suggests that in Gustafson's magnum opus, both far more and far less is known about God than is warranted, and it concludes by questioning the truly Christian character of such theocentrism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports that pre-bending of a promoter sequence enhances the affinity for the TATA-binding factor. Factors determining DNA topology; Importance of DNA topology in control of transcription.

Investigates the Ordinance of 1784, a scheme identified with Thomas Jefferson for the government of the West. Confederation congress.

Reviews early journalistic, episcopal and scholarly reactions to the papal encyclical `Veritatis Splendor.' Critical issues concerning the encyclical; Positive value of the encyclical; Meaning of the object; Ecclesiology.

This article presents a study, which presents data on a sample of 70 pathological gamblers, 70 alcoholics in treatment, and 70 medical/surgical controls on the California Personality Inventory. Gamblers and alcoholics differed significantly from hospitalized controls on a number of scales, particularly on measures of socialization, ego control, and flexibility. The California Personality Inventory differs importantly from the MMPI in its general purpose, standardization groups, and theoretical foundation. While the MMPI picks out serious psychopathology typically found in disturbed and institutionalized populations, the CPI yields a picture of personality that uses dimensions found in all adults.

Presents a rejoinder to A. Robertson's arguments on cloning's ethical acceptability in the March 1994 issue of the `Hastings Center Report.' Background on cloning under blastomere separation; Discussions on life, wholeness and individuality.

Cropland fallowing is choosing not to plant a crop during a season when a crop is normally planted. It is an important component of many crop rotations and can improve soil moisture and health. Knowing which fields are fallow is critical to assess crop productivity and crop water productivity, needed for food security assessments. The annual spatial extent of cropland fallows is poorly understood within the United States (U.S.). The U.S. Department of Agriculture Cropland Data Layer does provide cropland fallow areas; however, at a significantly lower confidence than their cropland classes. This study developed a methodology to map cropland fallows within the Northern Great Plains region of the U.S. using an easily implementable decision tree algorithm leveraging training and validation data from wet (2019), normal (2015), and dry (2017) precipitation years to account for climatic variability. The decision trees automated cropland fallow algorithm (ACFA) was coded on a cloud platform utilizing remotely sensed, time-series data from the years 2010-2019 to separate cropland fallows from other land cover/land use classes. Overall accuracies varied between 96%-98%. Producer's and user's accuracies of cropland fallow class varied between 70-87%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To test separatel the efficacy of a web‐based and a peer‐based brief intervention (BI), compared with an expanded usual care control (EUC) group, among military reserve component members using alcohoI in a hazardous and harmful manner. Design: In the randomized controlled trial, participants were assigned to: [1] web‐based BI with web‐based boosters (BI + web), [2] web‐based BI with peer‐based boosters (BI + peer) or [3] enhanced usual care (EUC). Setting: Michigan, USA. Participants: A total of 739 Michigan Army National Guard members who reported recent hazardous alcohol use; 84% were male, the mean age was 28 years. Intervention: The BI consisted of an interactive program guided by a personally selected avatar. Boosters were delivered either on the web or personally by a trained veteran peer. A pamphlet, given to all participants, included information on hazardous alcohol use and military‐specific community resources and served as the EUC condition. Measurements The primary outcome measure was binge drinking episodes in the past 30 days, measured at 12 months after the BI. Findings All randomized participants were included in the outcome analyses. In adjusted analyses, BI + peer [beta = −0.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) = −0.56 to −0.31, P < 0.001] and BI + web (beta = −0.34, 95% CI = −0.46 to −0.23, P < 0.001) reduced binge drinking compared with EUC. Conclusion: This satudy was a web‐based brief intervention for hazardous alcohol use, with either web‐ or peer‐based boosters, reduced binge alcohol use among Army National Guard members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity during human pregnancy predisposes offspring to obesity and cardiovascular disease in postnatal life. In a sheep model of maternal overnutrition/obesity we have previously reported myocardial inflammation and fibrosis, as well as cardiac dysfunction in late term fetuses, in association with chronically elevated blood cortisol. Significant research has suggested a link between elevated glucocorticoid exposure in utero and hypertension and cardiovascular disease postnatally. Here we examined the effects of maternal obesity on myocardial inflammation and fibrosis of their adult offspring. Adult male offspring from control (CON) mothers fed 100% of National Research Council (NRC) recommendations (n = 6) and male offspring from obese mothers (MO) fed 150% NRC (n = 6), were put on a 12-week ad libitum feeding challenge then necropsied. At necropsy, plasma cortisol and left and right ventricular thickness were markedly increased (P<0.05) in adult male MO offspring. Myocardial collagen content and collagen-crosslinking were greater (P<0.05) in MO offspring compared to CON offspring in association with increased mRNA and protein expression of glucocorticoid receptors (GR). No group difference was found in myocardial mineralocorticoids receptor (MR) protein expression. Further, mRNA expression for the proinflammatory cytokines: cluster of differentiation (CD)-68, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were increased (P < 0.05), and protein expression of CD-68, TGF-β1, and TNF-α tended to increase (P<0.10) in MO vs. CON offspring. These data provide evidence for MO-induced programming of elevated plasma cortisol and myocardial inflammation and fibrosis in adult offspring potentially through increased GR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the case of a woman with Huntington's disease. Views on the obligations to promote the well-being of others; Factors affecting obligations of charity; Reaction on the genetic aspect of the disease.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article on increased number of veterinarian competing for fewer job openings available in the U.S.

A letter to the editor is presented regarding the expectations on the expertise in clinical medicine and surgery of new veterinary graduates.