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Purpose: The "July effect" refers to the phenomenon of a higher complication incidence and lower survival rate for patients treated at academic institutions during the beginning of the academic medical calendar. To date, no multi-center study has examined the presence of a "July effect" in a large cohort of trauma patients. We sought to determine if there is a by-month effect on survival and length of stay (LOS) for trauma patients in large academic centers. Methods: We performed a multicenter, retrospective cohort study between 2010 and 2020 from five high-volume academic trauma centers in the United States. We included all adult motor vehicle collision (MVC) traumas evaluated at all centers in the study population (age >16 years, mechanism of injury classified as "motor vehicle collision"). Data included date and time of injury, injury severity score (ISS), LOS, and mortality. Each injury was classified as minor (ISS 1–8), moderate (9–15), severe (16–24), and very severe (>25). The mortality and LOS for each range over the entire epoch was calculated by month for each ISS classification. Results: We analyzed 39,668 MVC traumas (mean age 41.83, range 39.9–43.3 among sites, 58.9% male and range 56.1–60.4%, 67.4% white range 42.3–84.7%). Survival for the "very severe" traumas ranged from 86.7–90.3%. Across the five sites, there was no significant change in survival (either increased or decreased mortality) or LOS for MVC patients in July or August for any injury classification level. Both age and ISS had a significant effect on survival (OR 0.02 for ISS >25, 0.22 for patients >65 years-old, both p < 0.05). Conclusions: In five high-volume centers, there was no significant effect of the July transition on survival or LOS of MVC trauma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder are prevalent and persistent but also treatable. Little is known about how and why parents of such children seek help for sleep disturbance. Via an online survey (n = 244 respondents), we gathered information about parents' attributions about children's sleep problems and beliefs about causes and on sources of information about, and their decisions regarding, help-seeking. Eighty-two percent of parents reported seeking some kind of help for their child's sleep disturbance, and the average parent had tried six different treatment strategies, most commonly medical. Alignment of parents' treatment choices with empirical evidence about treatment efficacy was poor, but belief in effectiveness was closely related to frequency of use of a treatment. In a Principal Components Analysis, parental attributions loaded on two factors: one which suggests the sleep problems are viewed as intrinsic to autism and stable (factor one) and the other as located within the child, stable, and treatment resistant (factor two). These findings have important implications for parental education and clinical practice in the treatment of sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Introduction: The World Health Organization has reported submersion injuries as the third most common cause of death due to unintentional injury in the world. Greater detail in the rates, risk factors, and healthcare associated costs of submersion injuries could be instrumental in demonstrating the need for further funding and intervention. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative dataset of inpatient and emergency department (ED) encounters between 2006 and 2015 in the United States (US). Healthcare utilization costs were provided within the datasets and adjusted to reflect actual charges and provider fees. Lastly, the final cost values were adjusted to the 2020 US dollar (USD) and summarized using a log adjusted mean. Results: On average, there were 11,873 submersion injuries per year that presented to the ED in the US. Resulting in a rate where approximately 9 out of every 100,000 ED visits were associated with a submersion injury. Slightly more than 6% died in the ED, 24.2% were admitted, and 69.3% were discharged from the ED. In total, annual cost of submersion injuries in the US for ED care is approximately $12.5 million, inpatient care is approximately $27.5 million, and total annual healthcare cost exceeds $40 million. Discussion: While these results only represent a fraction of the total cost associated with submersion injuries, it remains substantial and unchanged over the 10-year study period. Certain demographic groups showed higher rates of injury and disease burden, thus bearing a greater amount of the cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Journalists and news archivists are natural allies. Journalists require previously published reporting as context for their new stories. Archivists ensure that material is preserved for future retrieval. Local news archives serve as a cultural, legal, economic, and genealogical resource for their communities. Now, the archiving function in news organizations is relegated to information vendors with little input from journalists. Rarely are journalism and archiving coupled in programs that train future professionals. This article explores the current state of journalism and library science education globally and suggests ways to strengthen education in news archiving in these programs.

The present study piloted Innovation Change Lab (ICL), a novel intervention to promote antiracism and human-centered design (HCD) in a rural community. Data included (1) a pre- and post-survey of antiracist attitudes; (2) post-workshop feedback surveys, and (3) a focus group at the end of the training. Participants (n = 14) identified their race as White (n = 7), Latine (n = 3), Multiracial (n = 1); and their genders as cisgender women (n = 12) and cisgender men (n = 2). Attitude change was analyzed using one-tailed t-tests. Qualitative analysis of open-ended survey questions and focus group data was conducted using content analysis. Participants reported that, with some exceptions, the curriculum was feasible and acceptable. They reported increasing their knowledge about antiacism concepts and critical racial consciousness. ICL showed evidence of shifting individual attitudes toward antiracism and increasing one's confidence in taking action on social justice. Learning about microaggressions, cross-group discussions about socialization and race, and conducting empathy interviews with folks impacted by racism were the most impactful aspects of the curriculum. Challenges arose around taking action to change systems implicated in sustaining racism. Despite challenges, findings suggest HCD may offer strategies to support intra- and inter-personal change necessary to move toward antiracist action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) continues to be a public health challenge. The prevalence of experiencing CSA is higher among men who have sex with men (MSM) than the general population. CSA has been linked to compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) among varying populations but has not been examined among MSM who were newly diagnosed with HIV. Therefore, the aims of this study were to assess the direct association between CSA and CSB among newly diagnosed MSM living with HIV, and to identify the potential mediating roles of depressive symptoms and emotion regulation in the association between CSA and CSB. The study was a secondary data analysis using data obtained from 2012 to 2017 from two community HIV clinics in New York City (n = 202). CSA was operationalized with questions asking about sexual abuse during childhood/adolescence. CSB was measured using the 13-item Compulsive Sexual Behavior Inventory (CSBI). Depressive symptoms were measured using the 20-item Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale and emotion regulation was measured using a 36-item Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Path analysis was conducted to determine the mediating role of depressive symptoms and emotion regulation in the association between CSA and CSB. There was a statistically significant association between CSA and CSB (β = 0.160; p = 0.019). There were statistically significant indirect associations between CSA, depressive symptoms, emotion regulation, and CSB (depressive symptoms β = 0.0.071; p = 0.010; DERS: β = 0.080; p = 0.006). Depressive symptoms were also correlated with emotion regulation (r = 0.596; p < 0.001). The relationship between CSA and CSB was significantly mediated by depressive symptoms and emotion regulation. Trauma-informed interventions addressing depressive symptoms and difficulties in emotion regulation may help to reduce CSB among MSM living with HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teachers are uniquely positioned to mitigate ableism and address disability in the classroom; however, many hesitate to do so. This silence perpetuates bias and may teach children that difference is negative. Situated within the field of Disability Studies in Education, this investigation of PK-12 teachers (n = 256) aims to broadly characterise the types of discussions that occur in classrooms as well as identify obstacles and facilitators associated with disability discussions. Data reveal 71.9% of participants currently discuss disability with their students, mostly in relation to students' own learning needs. Findings indicate that internal, rather than external, factors drive teachers' decisions to discuss disability, laying the groundwork for pre-service and in-service programming to increase disability-related conversation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The legacy of intentional freshwater fish introductions across the western United States has fostered social tensions over the control of nonnative species in some contexts. Overcoming tensions and implementing effective control programs is important for mitigating impacts to native species. We modeled the efficacy of incentivized harvest for controlling nuisance smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) using empirical responses measured during fishing tournaments on two reservoirs that are sources of nonnative predators to critical habitat of native species. Simulations demonstrated that anglers could suppress adult smallmouth bass by 90%–99% in under 30 years, but were contingent on program participation and density dependence in harvest efficiency (i.e., catchability) and population demographics. Catchability differed between systems and varied temporally within the same system, thereby suggesting tournament structure could be adapted to increase harvest rates. Incentivized harvest should not be dismissed as a viable control strategy alone or in tandem with other methods in small lentic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Previous studies demonstrate that exclusive breastfeeding has positive long-term health effects on the mother and infant, but research has shown that nearly 50% of mothers do not breastfeed for the recommended amount of time. OBJECTIVE: This article systematizes previous quantitative research on the impact of work on breastfeeding practices to identify the factors that correlate to the cessation of breastfeeding in working mothers. METHODS: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statements, we performed a systematic review that screened PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Academic Search Complete databases for articles relating to maternal employment and breastfeeding. RESULTS: Of the 13,106 articles assessed for eligibility, 21 studies met all requirements and were included in this systematic review. The 21 articles were divided into study type and methods, participant demographics, study outcomes, and additional factors that included stressors and stress levels, factors that increased or decreased rates of breastfeeding, and feeding methods. Articles outside of the United States were excluded due to differences in maternity leave policies of other countries impacting the data. CONCLUSION: Cessation of breastfeeding and breastfeeding outcomes were seen to have a strong association with maternal employment, specifically with the policies and employer support in the workplace. Other factors such as race, level of education, and stress were also shown to relate to breastfeeding outcomes and are important to consider in future public health interventions and workplace policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a comparative reflection on how two nations, the U.S. and Lithuania, are implementing inquiry-based science in elementary classrooms. The qualitative study explored how fourth grade teachers in Southern California and in Lithuania employed effective inquiry-based strategies in their classrooms. A teacher's use of questioning strategies to guide critical thinking and the role of inquiry-based pedagogy plays in promoting student engagement were commonalities in both countries. "Exercise moments", resource conservation, and "voyeuristic investigations" were noted in Lithuanian inquiry practices while pacing guides and standards coverage were prevalent issues in US inquiry practices.

The United States hydropower fleet has faced increasing environmental and regulatory pressures over the last half century, potentially constraining total generation. Here we show that annual capacity factor has declined at four fifths of United States hydropower plants since 1980, with two thirds of decreasing trends significant at p < 0.05. Results are based on an analysis of annual energy generation totals and nameplate capacities for 610 plants (>5 megawatt), representing 87% of total conventional hydropower capacity in the United States. On aggregate, changes in capacity factor imply a fleetwide, cumulative generation decrease of 23% since 1980 before factoring in capacity upgrades—akin to retiring a Hoover Dam once every two to three years. Changes in water availability explain energy decline in only 21% of plants, highlighting the importance of non-climatic drivers of generation, including deterioration of plant equipment as well as changes to dam operations in support of nonpower objectives. The US hydropower fleet has faced environmental and regulatory changes that could have eroded generation over decades. Turner et al. (2024) analyze 43 years of plant output, revealing long-term decline in capacity factor at 80% of plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research indicates that sleep problems are fairly common in childhood. However, the relationship between child sexual abuse (CSA) and sleep problems and how sleep issues influence psychological symptoms in children presenting for treatment remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the presence of sleep problems and the association between sleep problems and psychological symptoms in youth presenting to treatment following CSA. Participants included 276 non-offending caregiver-child dyads at pre-treatment and 106 dyads at post-treatment. Youth were 6 to 19 years old and predominately female (82.9%). Caregivers were 23 to 72 years old and predominately female (87.4%). Youth and caregivers identified as predominately European American (76.6% and 86.0%, respectively). Results indicated that caregiver endorsement of a particular youth sleep problem (as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist sleep items) at pre-treatment ranged between 17.9 and 51.4%. Sleep problems were positively associated with psychological symptoms per caregiver- and youth self-report. Interestingly, a substantial proportion of youth reported decreased sleep problems at the end of treatment even though the treatment did not target sleep issues. This study highlights the commonality of sleep problems in children who experienced sexual abuse. Findings suggest that CSA interventions that do not directly address sleep may be missing a component that can contribute to successful recovery. The results provide preliminary evidence that sleep problems and mental health concerns among youth who experienced CSA are associated, indicating a need for further investigation into the association and potential implications for treatment. Other implications for future research and treatment following CSA are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fourth wave of the United States overdose crisis—driven by the polysubstance use of fentanyl with stimulants and other synthetic substances—has driven sharply escalating racial/ethnic inequalities in drug overdose death rates. Here the authors present a detailed portrait of the latest overdose trends and synthesize the literature to describe where, how, and why these inequalities are worsening. By 2022 overdose deaths among Native and Black Americans rose to 1.8 and 1.4 times the rate seen among White Americans, respectively. This reflects that Black and Native Americans have been disproportionately affected by fentanyl and the combination of fentanyl and stimulants at the national level and in virtually every state. The highest overdose deaths rates are currently seen among Black Americans 55–64 years of age as well as younger cohorts of Native Americans 25–44 years of age. In 2022—the latest year of data available—deaths among White Americans decreased relative to 2021, whereas rates among all other groups assessed continued to rise. Moving forward, Fundamental Cause Theory shows us a relevant universal truth of implementation science: in socially unequal societies, new technologies typically end up favoring more privileged groups first, thereby widening inequalities unless underlying social inequalities are addressed. Therefore, interventions designed to reduce addiction and overdose death rates that are not explicitly designed to also improve racial/ethnic inequalities will often unintentionally end up worsening them. Well-funded community-based programs, with Black and Native leadership, providing harm reduction resources, naloxone, and medications for opioid use disorder in the context of comprehensive, culturally appropriate healthcare and other services, represent the highest priority interventions to decrease inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Are certain citizens more likely to feel entitled to evaluate the quality of democratic institutions in their country? Previous studies show that women are more likely than men to answer "don't know" when asked to express their views about the state of democracy. This article analyzes how political knowledge and internal efficacy contribute to such a gender gap in item non-response rates in research on democratic evaluations. Based on an original survey in the United States (N = 1,093), we do not find that respondents' political knowledge is associated with a higher probability of expressing their views about democracy. However, we do find that this is the case for internal efficacy and that these effects are largely driven by women. These findings suggest that gendered social roles about who is entitled or expected to express their views about democracy lie behind the gender gap in item non-response rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon sequestration in the forests of the eastern United States is an important offset to the country's CO2 emissions. Much of the eastern forestland is the product of reforestation of abandoned agricultural land or recovery following clear‐cutting over a century ago. This has led to concerns that eastern forests are even‐aged and that rates of carbon sequestration will decline as forests increase in carbon. Our objective was to examine the successional dynamics of forest carbon sequestration—using live tree carbon stocks as a proxy for successional status—for the six broadly defined forest types present in the region. We used datasets from the National Forest Inventory (NFI) for the 31 US states from Minnesota south to Louisiana and eastward and analyzed live tree net carbon increment for 2007–2021, the period for which NFI plot remeasurement data were available for all 31 states. Spruce–fir and southern pines were the only forest types for which carbon increment declined even modestly over a significant fraction of the range of live tree carbon observed in the region, and southern pine–hardwood forests were the only forests in which predicted sequestration in live tree carbon declined to zero within the range of carbon stocks observed in the region. Northern hardwood–conifer forests, oak–hickory forests, and lowland forests experienced either no decline or a slight increase in sequestration in live tree carbon across the range of successional status observed in the region. Thus, the average stocks of live tree carbon per unit area increased steadily over the study period. At some point in succession, rates of mortality are expected to increase and balance gross growth, leading to zero net sequestration in live tree carbon. Mature and old‐growth stands, however, are rare in all six forest types, and mortality as a fraction of live tree carbon for all six forest types declined across the range of successional status present in the region. Our results thus provide no support for the hypothesis that the successional dynamics of forests in this region can be expected to lead to near‐term declines in net carbon sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on school health policy implementation are limited due to the absence of a validated measurement tool. The purpose of this study was to create and pilot a school health policy implementation survey. A modified, four-round Delphi process was used to achieve consensus on content and format of the survey. The final 76-item survey was piloted in 655 schools with a return rate of 57.1% (n = 378). Seven schools participated in environmental audits. Based on the audits, survey responses represented an accurate description of school practices for 84.2% (n = 64) of questions. The remaining 15.8% (n = 12) of survey items were eliminated or revised. This measurement tool begins to fill the research gap between the evaluation of written school health policy and implementation. Further, this tool may be used by school nurses in alignment with the Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a methodology to estimate impulse response functions via Bayesian techniques with the goal of providing a bridge between a linear vector autoregressive specification and a high-order polynomial local projection, namely flexible local projection. We label this methodology Bayesian Flexible Local Projection (BFLP). We assess the properties of BFLP in a Monte Carlo framework considering both linear and non-linear models as data generating processes. We also empirically illustrate how BFLP can be used with standard identification strategies. In particular, we show how to use external instruments to identify the effects of the monetary policy shock in the United States. Furthermore, exploiting the time-varying nature of the impulse response functions based on BFLP, we assess the zero lower bound irrelevance hypothesis and find no strong evidence that monetary policy was less effective in influencing output and inflation during the recent ZLB period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the effect of in-person schooling on youth suicide in the United States. We show that youth suicide rates historically declined during summers and rose again earlier in counties with an August school starting date. We document a departure from this pattern at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic: youth suicides fell 25 percent in March 2020, when schools closed, and remained low throughout summer. Leveraging county variation in the timing of reopening, we find that returning to in-person instruction increased youth suicides by 12–18 percent. Analysis of Google search data suggests that bullying is a likely mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder posing a global threat to health. Many scholars are dedicated to developing non-pharmacological therapies, and mindfulness intervention is among the potentially effective approaches. Due to the rapid increase in relevant research in recent years, along with the diverse focus and interventions used in studies, it has become challenging for practitioners to quickly comprehend the key features of this field and the directions worth paying attention to. Bibliometric analysis, in response, can help scholars understand this field and identify points of interest. Methods: Publications related to mindfulness intervention in diabetes from the establishment of the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) to September 2023 were searched. We employed four bibliometric techniques: General Analysis of Publications, Collaborative Network Analysis, Co-citation Analysis, and Keyword Analysis. The CiteSpace 6.1.R was used to analyze the literature with the strongest citation bursts, while VOSviewer 1.6.13 was used to provide visualizations of publicly available data by analyzing co-citations or co-authorship affiliations. Results: We found a total of 387 articles. The results indicate that research on this topic has been steadily increasing over time. The United States is the top producer of relevant publications, with Tilburg University being the institution that publishes the most articles. The journal "Mindfulness" has the highest publication count. In the collaborative network analysis, the United States emerged as the main hub for global cooperation in this research field, contributing 182 articles with a total of 5872 citations. The journal "Diabetes Care" was frequently cited and played a central role. The keyword analysis revealed that researchers have shown a strong interest in how mindfulness interventions affect the mental health of diabetic individuals. Additionally, there is a focus on studying elderly diabetic groups and exploring how mindfulness interventions impact metabolic diseases. These areas are currently the main research priorities. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate the current trend and hotspots in mindfulness intervention and offer some directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To provide an effective, multidimensional, and psychometrically valid measure to screen for distress among people with HIV, we developed and assessed the psychometric properties of HIV Support Source, a distress screening, referral, and support program designed to identify the unmet needs of adults with HIV and link them to desired resources and support. Development and testing were completed in three phases: (1) item generation and initial item pool testing (N = 375), (2) scale refinement via exploratory factor analysis (N = 220); external/internal item quality, and judging theoretical and practical implications of items, and (3) confirmatory validation (N = 150) including confirmatory factor analysis along with reliability and validity analyses to corroborate dimensionality and psychometric properties of the final measure. Nonparametric receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses determined scoring thresholds for depression and anxiety risk subscales. The final measure comprises 17-items representing four domains of concern: emotional well-being, financial and practical needs, physical well-being, and HIV treatment and sexual health, plus one screening item assessing tobacco and substance use. Our analyses showed strong internal consistency reliability, a replicable factor structure, and adequate convergent, discriminant, and known groups validity. Sensitivity of 2-item depression and 2-item anxiety risk subscales was 0.90 and 0.79, respectively. HIV Support Source is a reliable and valid multidimensional measure of distress that also screens for risk for clinically significant depression and anxiety. It can be implemented within a distress screening, referral, and follow-up program to rapidly assess and support the unmet needs of adults with HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory study investigated the use of concepts related to families, parents, and the home in 51 state-level early learning and development standards documents. Guidelines from six national family involvement, engagement, and school-partnership models were used to create the Family Involvement Models Analysis Chart (FIMAC), which served as this study's analysis tool. Results showed that the vast majority of units examined did not align with family involvement guidelines from the six national models. In addition, the small percentage of units that aligned with national models--as well as the units related to family concepts that were not aligned with these models--tended to incorporate family concepts in the contextual narrative of the standards documents and not within the letter of the standards in their strict sense (the statements describing what students are supposed to know and be able to do). States desiring to implement early learning and development standards congruent with research-based practices should integrate families into standards documentation.

Background: Phenibut is a drug similar in structure to gabapentin and pregabalin. It is available online without prescription, often marketed as a dietary supplement or amino acid derivative. Little is known about phenibut use despite its increased popularity in the United States over the last decade. Objective: To clarify reasons for taking phenibut, circumstances, and effects of use. Methods: Reports of phenibut, gabapentin, and pregabalin use were downloaded from a publicly-available database, Erowid.org. A mixed methods approach utilizing qualitative content analysis was used. Results: Of 229 reports, 211 were from male authors. People usually purchased phenibut online and reportedly used it for recreation, to manage a medical or psychiatric problem (primarily insomnia, anxiety), as a substitute for other drugs (especially benzodiazepines), to manage withdrawal from another substance (including benzodiazepines, opioids), and/or for performance enhancement. While it shared many reported effects with pregabalin and gabapentin such as anxiolysis, increased talkativeness, and impaired motor coordination, reports of gastrointestinal distress and sedation were more commonly attributed to phenibut. Several people reported difficulty in restricting their use and managing withdrawal. Conclusions: Phenibut reports suggest that phenibut may have some benefits for some people. Use also, however, carries risks of adverse effects, a potentially dangerous withdrawal syndrome, and addiction. Not dissimilar to unprescribed gabapentin or pregabalin, self-medication is a common motive for phenibut use. Physicians should continue to ask their patients about use of any non-prescribed medications, dietary supplements, or "amino acid derivatives."Abbreviation: PWUPh: people who use phenibut; PWUG: people who use gabapentin; PWUPr: people who use pregabalin [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While many adults in the United States view explicit sexual imagery (e.g., pornography), some feel conflicted or out-of-control regarding these behaviors and seek mental health services. Interventions which address these concerns include 12-step support groups, sex addicts anonymous recovery groups, sexual health group therapy, and individual therapies such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). In this study, we outline a group therapy approach based in ACT and demonstrate how psychological flexibility processes are utilized in the group. Qualitative analyses are presented for one such group approach involving seventeen current, previous, and prospective group members, along with four group leaders. Collaborative hermeneutic interpretation was used to understand the experience of participants in these groups, resulting in five main themes: Shift in the Therapeutic Focus, Confronting Sexual Avoidance, Spirituality, Interpersonal Relationships, and Self-Perception. We also discuss limitations of this study and implications for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The #MeToo movement has brought heightened attention to issues of sexual harassment and assault in the United States since it burst onto the scene in 2017. Because sexual harassment is an issue that often affects women differently than men, we find a gender gap in support for the #MeToo movement in the contemporary period. Yet, given the polarized nature of our times, a more complete picture of this issue requires that we consider the impact of political party as well. With this approach, we are able to examine several important aspects of these attitudes—differences between women and men, diversity within gender groups, and gender gaps within each party. In doing so, we are also able to identify whether some individuals experience cross-pressures because of their gender and partisan identities. Using American National Election Studies data from 2018 to 2020, we find that partisanship is a significant influence on opinion on this highly gender-salient issue, identifying partisan differences that are larger than the differences between women and men. At the same time, we find that women are more polarized in their attitudes toward #MeToo than are men and that Republican women and Democratic men can exhibit the impact of cross-pressured identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What leads to peaceful and enjoyable solitude? Little is known about which personality and mindset qualities benefit individuals during time spent alone. The current study was designed to build a foundation for future quantitative and qualitative research making a priori predictions about well‐being (e.g., relaxation) or ill‐being (e.g., loneliness) when individuals are in solitude. Semi‐structured interviews of n = 60 participants, aged 19–80, were analyzed into themes. Exposure to the benefits of solitude early in life and personality characteristics that cross life's domains (capacity for introspection and self‐reflection and optimism) were associated with enjoying solitude. Mindsets recognizing that solitude benefits self‐connection, as well as in situ factors of creativity and curiosity, appeared to play important roles. In a final theme, self‐compassion, a present focus and perspective taking helped to alleviate discomfort during difficult moments of solitude. These findings deepen our understanding of which qualities individuals bring forward to enhance their moments of solitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective is to update recommendations for prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid‐induced osteoporosis (GIOP) for patients with rheumatic or nonrheumatic conditions receiving >3 months treatment with glucocorticoids (GCs) ≥2.5 mg daily. Methods: An updated systematic literature review was performed for clinical questions on nonpharmacologic, pharmacologic treatments, discontinuation of medications, and sequential therapy. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach was used to rate the certainty of evidence. A Voting Panel achieved ≥70% consensus on the direction (for or against) and strength (strong or conditional) of recommendations. Results: For adults beginning or continuing >3 months of GC treatment, we strongly recommend as soon as possible after initiation of GCs, initial assessment of fracture risks with clinical fracture assessment, bone mineral density with vertebral fracture assessment or spinal x‐ray, and Fracture Risk Assessment Tool if ≥40 years old. For adults at medium, high, or very high fracture risk, we strongly recommend pharmacologic treatment. Choice of oral or intravenous bisphosphonates, denosumab, or parathyroid hormone analogs should be made by shared decision‐making. Anabolic agents are conditionally recommended as initial therapy for those with high and very high fracture risk. Recommendations are made for special populations, including children, people with organ transplants, people who may become pregnant, and people receiving very high‐dose GC treatment. New recommendations for both discontinuation of osteoporosis therapy and sequential therapies are included. Conclusion: This guideline provides direction for clinicians and patients making treatment decisions for management of GIOP. These recommendations should not be used to limit or deny access to therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diet-related metabolic syndrome is the largest contributor to adverse health in the United States. However, the study of gene-environment interactions and their epigenomic and transcriptomic integration is complicated by the lack of environmental and genetic control in humans that is possible in mouse models. Here we exposed three mouse strains, C57BL/6J (BL6), A/J, and NOD/ShiLtJ (NOD), to a high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet, leading to varying degrees of metabolic syndrome. We then performed transcriptomic and genome-wide DNA methylation analyses for each strain and found overlapping but also highly divergent changes in gene expression and methylation upstream of the discordant metabolic phenotypes. Strain-specific pathway analysis of dietary effects revealed a dysregulation of cholesterol biosynthesis common to all three strains but distinct regulatory networks driving this dysregulation. This suggests a strategy for strain-specific targeted pharmacologic intervention of these upstream regulators informed by epigenetic and transcriptional regulation. As a pilot study, we administered the drug GW4064 to target one of these genotype-dependent networks, the Farnesoid X receptor pathway, and found that GW4064 exerts strain-specific protection against dietary effects in BL6, as predicted by our transcriptomic analysis. Furthermore, GW4064 treatment induced inflammatory-related gene expression changes in NOD, indicating a strain-specific effect in its associated toxicities as well as its therapeutic efficacy. This pilot study demonstrates the potential efficacy of precision therapeutics for genotype-informed dietary metabolic intervention and a mouse platform for guiding this approach. Author summary: Metabolic syndrome is a major contributor to worldwide morbidity and mortality. This disorder is influenced by both genetics and environmental exposures, particularly diet. Such an effect, known as a "gene-by-diet" interaction, suggests that optimal dietary recommendations and therapeutic interventions for treating metabolic syndrome may differ dramatically between genetic sub-populations. Here, we have analyzed genetically distinct mouse strains which exhibit varying degrees of metabolic syndrome in response to a high-fat, high-carbohydrate American diet. While similar biological processes were affected by the change in diet in all three strains, we observed a strain-unique disruption of epigenetic and transcriptional regulation of certain molecular pathways, allowing for a strain-specific therapeutic platform aimed to re-establish normal functionality of one of these disrupted molecular pathways. Indeed, application of the chosen drug significantly decreased the observed metabolic effects of the American diet in only the predicted strain while the other tested strain exhibited increased activity of inflammatory response genes, demonstrating the strain-specificity of this drug's efficacy as well as its associated toxicities. This pilot study highlights the value of precision therapeutics in the treatment of metabolic syndrome and underscores the advantage of using multiple genetically distinct strains of mice in preclinical drug trials to help identify genetic dependencies in efficacy and toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed an opioid hazard awareness module for inclusion in required miner safety refresher training. The module was disseminated throughout the United States and post-training surveys showed improved knowledge and positive response to the training. Clinicians can improve care of high-risk worker patients by recommending employer support for such training. Objective: In response to elevated risk factors, an opioid hazard awareness training for the sand, stone, and gravel mining sector was developed and embedded in annual safety training. Methods: After positive results from a prior study among Massachusetts workers, a revised training was disseminated across the United States. Two hundred post-training surveys were obtained and compared with results from the Massachusetts cohort. Results: Participants' knowledge about opioid-based medications, confidence in talking to a doctor about opioids and/or to a coworker about their own use of opioids, and ability to refer struggling coworkers to resources improved. Massachusetts respondents had slightly more favorable responses. Both cohorts had strong positive views of the training. Conclusions: These results highlight the feasibility and effectiveness of opioid hazard prevention training for a high-risk worker population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opioids are a leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Methadone used as medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) reduces drug cravings and promotes abstinence. However, individuals in methadone-based MOUD treatment commonly report subjective sleep complaints and are at risk for respiratory depression from opioids. We investigated nighttime sleep and respiratory function in eight individuals (six women, two men; ages 31-68 years) in their first 90 days of methadone-based MOUD treatment. Participants underwent overnight cardiorespiratory polysomnography. Sleep and respiratory variables were characterized with descriptive statistics for comparison to reference data from similarly aged healthy adults. Although participants spent 8.1 ± 0.3 hours (mean ± SD) in bed, their total sleep time was only 6.8 ± 1. 3 hours. They exhibited longer sleep latency and intermittent wakefulness. Sleep structure was irregular, with disrupted sleep cycles. Participants also displayed a decreased amount of N1 sleep and an increased amount of N3 sleep, compared with reference data. Participants showed respiratory depression, with an average apnea-hypopnea index of 16.5 ± 8.9 events per hour. Central sleep apneas comprised 69.1% ± 20.9% of the respiratory events. A Cheyne-Stokes-like breathing pattern, consisting of 30-second cycles of three central sleep apneas, was observed in 75% of participants. Our results suggest that individuals early in methadone-based MOUD treatment experience disordered sleep and respiratory disturbances. Such nighttime physiological changes may have serious long-term health consequences and contribute to unintended overdose rates. Identifying and treating MOUD individuals with sleep apnea could reduce risk of death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though it is well documented that antidepressants are associated with an increased risk of falls in older adults at the drug class level, the comparative risk between individual antidepressants for fall injury in older adults with depression is unknown. Currently, clinicians are making decisions at the drug class level without consideration of the potential that there could be safer choices within classes. We compared the risk of fall injury among initiators of bupropion, duloxetine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, and venlafaxine to those of (es)citalopram and, separately, sertraline. We performed a retrospective cohort study using the MarketScan® Medicare Supplemental claims from 2007 to 2019. Individuals had incident depression (washout in previous continually enrolled year) with a first antidepressant claim up to three months after depression diagnosis. Individuals were followed for the first three months of antidepressant use until the first occurrence of fall injury, change/discontinuation of antidepressant, discontinued insurance coverage, or end of study. Propensity score inverse probability of treatment-weighted Cox proportional hazards models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals for each antidepressant comparison and fall injury. We identified 114,505 individuals (mean age 76.6 years, 68% female, 97% without prior fall). A higher risk of fall injury was associated with initiating bupropion (HR 1.20 to 1.61), duloxetine (HR 1.27 to 1.36), paroxetine (HR 1.14 to 1.22), and venlafaxine (HR 1.22 to 1.34) when compared to (es)citalopram or sertraline. New use of duloxetine, bupropion, paroxetine, and venlafaxine was associated with a higher risk of fall injury compared to (es)citalopram and sertraline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite broad public support, investment in US infrastructure has not kept pace with growth, population shifts, and rising exposure to climate change risks. One explanation lies in politicians' electoral incentives: because, in the short term, voters see only the costs of investment and not its benefits, politicians have incentive to pander and spend less than what they or their fully informed constituents would prefer. Local newspapers could help reduce this constraint by increasing politicians' confidence that voters will receive information that justifies higher spending. In a survey experiment, we found that informing US city and county elected officials about news coverage of infrastructure failures increased support for a costly investment for those in competitive electoral settings. When motivated by reelection, politicians need the benefits of investment to be visible in order to justify its costs. Our results demonstrate the political importance of the nonpolitical news covered in local newspapers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased water scarcity and drought frequency are creating water management challenges for many communities in the western U.S. In response, the Western Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors sponsored a virtual summit in August 2020 to develop a framework for identifying and addressing the most pressing water issues in the western United States (the West). Summit attendees were research scientists, university extension specialists and professionals, and federal/state agency representatives with knowledge and expertise of water management in the West. The summit elicited opinions from 54 experts on pressing water issues and possible methods for addressing them. A follow‐on survey of 49 individuals increased the depth and breadth of perspectives collected. Summit and survey results show that water scarcity is a growing concern among water scientists and other experts. Increased water scarcity is leading to overallocated river basins, depleted aquifers, and elevated tensions between water use sectors. Summit and survey participants emphasized the need for increased integration—across research, extension, and education efforts; across the social and physical sciences; across uses (including ecological); and across surface and groundwater systems. These results serve as a sensing of what many of our colleagues believe to be the major western water issues over the next 30 years and, in some cases, possible solutions for addressing them. The expert opinions elicited through the summit and survey informed the creation of the Western Water Network, whose mission is to advance collaborative, proactive, science‐based water decision‐making that supports dynamic human and natural systems in the West. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Video conferencing has much potential to enrich international social work education. In this educational initiative, video conferencing was used to deliver a joint foundation social work practice class to students attending an MSW degree program both in the United States and in Ireland. Student feedback indicated that they gained an appreciation of the global nature of social work practice. They reported a deeper understanding of shared theoretical perspectives in relation to client engagement, and of the differences in many fields of practice. Students recommended additional opportunities for international discourse using both synchronous and asynchronous distance education methods.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) affect approximately 1 in 110 children in the United States. This report profiles fetal-brain reactive autoantibodies of a large cohort of mothers of children with autism and controls, yielding significant associations between the presence of IgG reactivity to fetal brain proteins at 37 and 73 kDa and a childhood diagnosis of full autism (p = 0.0005), which also correlated with lower expressive language scores (p = 0.005). Additionally, we report on reactivity to proteins at 39 and 73 kDa, which correlated with the broader diagnosis of ASD (p = 0.0007) and increased irritability on the Aberrant Behavioral Checklist (p = 0.05). This study provides evidence of multiple patterns of reactivity to fetal brain proteins by maternal antibodies associated with ASD and specific childhood behavioral outcomes.

This article provides an extended, comprehensive example of how teachers, schools, districts, and external factors (e.g., parental pressure and policy mandates) shape curriculum research in the U.S. It retrospectively examines how three different middle school curriculum units were implemented and scaled-up in a large, diverse school system. The curriculum materials were cognitively based, hands-on, guided inquiry units; each focused on a different "big idea" in science. The units met some criteria for instructional strategies rated by the Project 2061 Curriculum Analysis. Using evidence-based decisions, two of the units were found to be effective and equitable, and went to scale, but one was not effective. However, the course of scale-up was also affected by a changing policy climate, and proceeded in unpredictable ways, with small scale effects not found at large scale, and experienced teachers less effective than inexperienced teachers. Four years after funding ended, none of the units were sustained within the school district. The interactions between the demands of the units and of the school district's policy environment suggests reasons why this occurred, despite evidence that two of the units were successful with diverse learners. (Contains 5 figures and 1 table.)

This article examines six years of ethnographic research in Robyn Davis's pre-kindergarten classroom in the USA. Using a theoretical framework to embed writing within a social semiotic that is multimodal and has social intent (Street, 2003), the authors show how children used interactions during writing to create various written products. Three themes emerged from their findings: (1) interactions among children challenge their writing identities; (2) interactions among children introduce new possibilities in their writing; and (3) interactions among children with more knowledgeable peers help push writers forward with their writing acquisition. Through these findings, the authors conclude that peer interactions among four- and five-year-old children are influential in their writing processes and products. (Contains 14 figures.)

Collaboration and the appreciation for multiple perspectives have become increasingly important. The current political and economic condition in the United States and globally has exemplified the urgency for people of many different backgrounds and ideologies to work together to find solutions to world problems such as climate change and economic recession. The English language arts classroom lends itself to teaching collaborative skills through fostering meaningful discussion and encouraging group authorship, group inquiry, and cooperative problem solving. Today's students need not only to be able to understand and interpret what they read, but they also need to be able to create and negotiate meaning and realize that different backgrounds, cultures, orientations, and experiences shape their interpretations. Literature can be used as a springboard to help students develop all these collaborative and interpretive skills. In this article, the authors suggest a variety of creative group activities to engage students in literature that explores several geographic areas of the United States. Advice for managing the group activities and lists of short stories are provided. (Contains 3 figures.)

Students in the United States spend much less time in school than do students in most other industrialized nations, and the school year has been essentially unchanged for more than a century. This is not to say that there is no interest in extending the school year. While there has been little solid evidence that doing so will improve learning outcomes, the idea is often endorsed. Researchers have recently begun to learn more about the effects of time spent on learning from natural experiments around the country. This new body of evidence suggests that extending time in school would in fact likely raise student achievement. In this article, the authors review past research on this issue and then describe the new evidence and the additional insights it provides into the wisdom of increasing instructional time for American students. They also discuss the importance of recognizing the role of instructional time, explicitly, in accountability systems. Whether or not policymakers change the length of the school year for the average American student, differences in instructional time can and do affect school performance as measured by No Child Left Behind. Ignoring this fact results in less-informative accountability systems and lost opportunities for improving learning outcomes. (Contains 3 figures.)

This biographical piece is based on a conversation involving Bob Yager, Geeta Verma, and Lisa Martin-Hansen which took place at the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST) conference in March, 2008. The unique aspect of this autobiographical piece is that it highlights Dr. Yager's account about the emergence of the science education field of study and his engagement with the field over a period of more than 50 years. The piece is organized using conversation topics through a biographical narrative format that starts at the beginning of Dr. Yager's career, establishing science education at The University of Iowa, the emergence of Science, Technology, and Society (STS) ideas, existing intersections between STS and Socioscientific Issues (SSI) ideas, his reflections on work with doctoral students, and a consideration of the goals and aims for future directions in the field.

Many people rightly consider John Dewey a distinctively American thinker. He was born into a time-honored New England culture. He was educated in American schools. He lived and worked virtually his entire life in the United States. He had a lifelong respect for American traditions in poetry, literature, philosophy, and more. He was active in political and cultural movements, ranging from the protection of free speech to the right of teachers to unionize. For over a century his educational philosophy has influenced educators across the fifty states. He has had a wide-ranging impact on several streams of American thought, among them pragmatism. There is at least one other Dewey, however, fused with his familiar American avatar. This Dewey expressed in his writing a deep and abiding interest in the world writ large. This Dewey enunciated ideas and points of view as a philosopher in and of the world: as if the provenance of his thought had no national or otherwise predetermined boundaries, and as if the meanings in his thought were not preshaped by wherever his desk and typewriter happened to be. This Dewey was cosmopolitan. In this article, the author sketches some aspects of this claim. After providing a brief account of cosmopolitanism, the author focuses upon Dewey's philosophy of education where many of his cosmopolitan impulses come most generatively alive. (Contains 32 notes.)

This study examined changes in the effect of socioeconomic status (SES) on reading achievement at individual and school levels between 1991 and 2001. Data from 9 countries that participated in both the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) Reading Literacy Study 1991 and the Trend Study in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2001 were included in the analyses. The hypotheses of increased between-school differences of reading achievement and a higher SES effect on reading were tested by applying a 2-level 2-group structural equation modelling technique and a factor score approach. The hypotheses were partially confirmed by the empirical evidence from Greece, Singapore, and the USA. The explanations of these results may be the insufficient data and low statistic power. A refined hypothesis may be needed for further investigation. (Contains 8 tables and 1 figure.)

The authors summarize the presentations and discussions contributed to the symposium "International Perspectives on Career Development" by members of Group 5, who considered the topic of the structure and organization of career development programs in different nations. A capsule picture of the national setting, primary goals, components, objectives, and implementation strategies is presented. Papers fell largely into 4 categories: (1) national programs with several components; (2) large, but more specific programs, serving a national population; (3) smaller programs serving diverse populations; and (4) focused programs. One theme emerged strongly from virtually every presentation: There is a gap, often profound, between policy or vision and reality. Although every nation about which participants heard had laudable policies and had made genuine attempts to assist its people with life career development, many individuals do not have access to quality, or even any, services.

Invasive neuromonitoring is a bedrock procedure in neurosurgery and neurocritical care. Intracranial hypertension is a recognized emergency that can potentially lead to herniation, ischemia, and neurological decline. Over 50,000 external ventricular drains (EVDs) are performed in the United States annually for traumatic brain injuries (TBI), tumors, cerebrovascular hemorrhaging, and other causes. The technical challenge of a bedside ventriculostomy and/or parenchymal monitor placement may be increased by complex craniofacial trauma or brain swelling, which will decrease the tolerance of brain parenchyma to applied procedural force during a craniostomy. Herein, we report on the implementation and safety of a disposable power drill for bedside neurosurgical practices compared with the manual twist drill that is the current gold standard. Mechanical testing of the drill's stop extension (n = 8) was conducted through a calibrated tensile tester, simulating an axial plunging of 22.68 kilogram (kg) or 50 pounds of force (lbf) and measuring the strength-responsive displacement. The mean displacement following compression was 0.18 ± 0.11 mm (range of 0.03 mm to 0.34 mm). An overall cost analysis was calculated based on the annual institutional pricing, with an estimated $64.90 per unit increase in the cost of the disposable electric drill. Power drill craniostomies were utilized in a total of 34 adult patients, with a median Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of six. Twenty-seven patients were male, with a mean age of 50.7 years old. The two most common injury mechanisms were falls and motor vehicle/motorcycle accidents. EVDs were placed in all subjects, and additional quad-lumen neuromonitoring was applied to 23 patients, with no incidents of plunging events or malfunctions. One patient developed an intracranial infection and another had intraparenchymal tract hemorrhaging. Two illustrative TBI cases with concomitant craniofacial trauma were provided. The disposable power drill was successfully implemented as an option for bedside ventriculostomies and had an acceptable safety profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Although many people who are incarcerated have risk factors for hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection, the proportion of hepatitis A cases among people with a recent incarceration is unknown. We examined the relationship between recent incarceration and HAV infection during community-based, person-to-person outbreaks to inform public health recommendations. Methods: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveyed health departments in 33 jurisdictions reporting person-to-person HAV outbreaks during 2016-2020 on the number of outbreak-associated cases, HAV-infected people recently incarcerated, and HAV-associated hospitalizations and deaths. Results: Twenty-five health departments reported 18 327 outbreak-associated hepatitis A cases during January 11, 2016–January 24, 2020. In total, 2093 (11.4%) HAV-infected people had been recently incarcerated. Of those with complete data, 1402 of 1462 (95.9%) had been held in a local jail, and 1513 of 1896 (79.8.%) disclosed hepatitis A risk factors. Eighteen jurisdictions reported incarceration timing relative to the exposure period. Of 9707 cases in these jurisdictions, 991 (10.2%) were among recently incarcerated people; 451 of 688 (65.6%) people with complete data had been incarcerated during all (n = 55) or part (n = 396) of their exposure period. Conclusions: Correctional facilities are important settings for reaching people with risk factors for HAV infection and can also be venues where transmission occurs. Providing HAV vaccination to incarcerated people, particularly people housed in jails, can be an effective component of community-wide outbreak response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]