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Background: Body image is the mental representation of the body and can be influenced by cognitive, biological, behavioral, sociocultural, and environmental factors. University students often encounter challenges related to it. Objective: This systematic review examined interventions aimed at holistically developing a positive body image within this population. Methods: The PRISMA 2020 guidelines and the PICO method were employed to identify, select, assess, and synthesize studies. The consulted databases included Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO, with inclusion criteria targeting body image interventions for university students aged 18 to 39. Study quality was evaluated using the QATSDD tool. Results: Twenty-one relevant studies were identified, primarily from the United States, mostly employing quantitative methods, with a focus on female participants. Various intervention strategies were utilized, including cognitive-behavioral approaches, media literacy, and physical/resistance training, with a growing use of technology like mobile applications. The majority of studies reported effective outcomes, such as reduced body dissatisfaction and increased self-esteem following interventions. Nevertheless, literature gaps were identified, such as the scarcity of formative interventions and limited use of qualitative approaches. Conclusion: While technology in interventions offers promising opportunities, careful assessments and judicious selection of evaluation instruments are fundamental for reliable results. Future research should focus on addressing identified gaps, such as exploring more formative interventions and incorporating qualitative methodologies to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness of body image interventions among university students. Highlights: • The majority of studies reported effective outcomes, such as reduced body dissatisfaction and increased self-esteem following interventions. • Nevertheless, literature gaps were identified, such as the scarcity of formative interventions and limited use of qualitative approaches. • While technology in interventions offers promising opportunities, careful assessments and judicious selection of evaluation instruments are fundamental for reliable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines the role of Supplemental Instruction in assisting students at a small Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) in the Southwest United States to improve their final grades in a required statistics course for criminal justice majors. Data collected over three semesters were analyzed using multivariate regression to test if participation in Supplemental Instruction moderates the relationship between race, ethnicity, and final grades earned, with Latinx students and students from other historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups especially benefitting from SI participation. We find positive interactions for race, ethnicity, and final grades; however, the interaction term is only statistically significant for students from other, non-Latinx underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. These students attended SI most frequently, derived the most benefits from their participation, and were also notably the most underrepresented in the institution and the course. We go on to discuss evidence-based recommendations that SI and other collaborative learning programs may consider if their goal is to move toward servingness by improving equity in performance and academic success outcomes across students from diverse backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social science students are often uninterested in studying statistics, and only take these courses because they are required. This disinterest can lead to lower performance. We employ regression analysis to examine the impact of attending Supplemental Instruction sessions on final grades earned in a required social sciences statistics course at a small, regional public Hispanic-serving institution in the Southwest United States. We find that attending voluntary Supplemental Instruction sessions is an effective way to help our predominantly Latinx and female student body improve their final grades. Collaborative learning programs can be important tools for improving academic outcomes for undergraduate students of diverse backgrounds taking required statistics courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)–associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) requires distinguishing it from acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and may affect clinical management. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, we applied the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention case definition to identify adults hospitalized with MIS-A at 6 academic medical centers from 1 March 2020 to 31 December 2021. Patients MIS-A were matched by age group, sex, site, and admission date at a 1:2 ratio to patients hospitalized with acute symptomatic COVID-19. Conditional logistic regression was used to compare demographic characteristics, presenting symptoms, laboratory and imaging results, treatments administered, and outcomes between cohorts. Results Through medical record review of 10 223 patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2–associated illness, we identified 53 MIS-A cases. Compared with 106 matched patients with COVID-19, those with MIS-A were more likely to be non-Hispanic black and less likely to be non-Hispanic white. They more likely had laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 ≥14 days before hospitalization, more likely had positive in-hospital SARS-CoV-2 serologic testing, and more often presented with gastrointestinal symptoms and chest pain. They were less likely to have underlying medical conditions and to present with cough and dyspnea. On admission, patients with MIS-A had higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and higher levels of C-reactive protein, ferritin, procalcitonin, and D-dimer than patients with COVID-19. They also had longer hospitalization and more likely required intensive care admission, invasive mechanical ventilation, and vasopressors. The mortality rate was 6% in both cohorts. Conclusions Compared with patients with acute symptomatic COVID-19, adults with MIS-A more often manifest certain symptoms and laboratory findings early during hospitalization. These features may facilitate diagnosis and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High bacterial loads within chronic wounds increase the risk of infection and complication. Detection and localization of bacterial loads through point‐of‐care fluorescence (FL) imaging can objectively inform and support bacterial treatment decisions. This single time‐point, retrospective analysis describes the treatment decisions made on 1000 chronic wounds (DFUs, VLUs, PIs, surgical wounds, burns, and others) at 211 wound‐care facilities across 36 US states. Clinical assessment findings and treatment plans derived from them, as well as subsequent FL‐imaging (MolecuLight®) findings and any associated treatment plan changes, were recorded for analysis. FL signals indicating elevated bacterial loads were observed in 701 wounds (70.8%), while only 293 (29.6%) showed signs/symptoms of infection. After FL‐imaging, treatment plans changed in 528 wounds as follows: more extensive debridement (18.7%), more extensive hygiene (17.2%), FL‐targeted debridement (17.2%), new topical therapies (10.1%), new systemic antibiotic prescriptions (9.0%), FL‐guided sampling for microbiological analysis (6.2%), and changes in dressing selection (3.2%). These real‐world findings of asymptomatic bacterial load/biofilm incidence, and of the frequent treatment plan changes post‐imaging, are in accordance with clinical trial findings using this technology. These data, from a range of wound types, facilities, and clinician skill sets, suggest that point‐of‐care FL‐imaging information improves bacterial infection management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest ecosystems provide a suite of goods and services, including wood products as well as an array of ecosystem services and other non-timber goods and services. Despite an increasing emphasis on managing forests as holistic systems providing a portfolio of goods and services, silvicultural research has focused on maximizing production of commodities, particularly wood products. Although there has been investment in understanding how silviculture affects wildlife habitat, water resources, recreation, and other non-timber objectives, the emphasis has been on understanding these impacts as side-effects of a silviculture predicated on the production of wood. Commoditization theory provides a lens through which to understand the selection pressures that drive this emphasis on wood production. This article briefly reviews the historical role of commoditization in influencing how modern American silviculture has developed and highlights research needed to create silvicultural knowledge useful in managing for both commodity and noncommodity products. (Contains 1 note.)

Heat acclimation (HA) is the foremost method of preventing exertional heat illness during exercise in hot and humid environments. However, the prevalence of HA training and its associated knowledge is not currently known in recreational running populations. The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge of recreational runners toward HA. A survey consisting of 38 questions that required approximately 10–15 min to complete was disseminated to running clubs throughout the Southeastern United States. Questions were designed to collect data on participant demographics, yearly training habits, and HA knowledge. Recreational runners (N = 125) demonstrated a lack of knowledge toward proper HA training and its associated benefits. Participants largely received HA advice from their peers (31.2%) and reported no professional guidance in their training (79.2%). Finally, participants' beliefs toward proper HA training differed among training groups with moderate and high groups perceiving greater frequency, miles/wk, and min/wk as appropriate for HA compared to the low group (p ≤ 0.05). Due to the warmer temperatures and higher relative humidity experienced in the southeastern, southwestern, and mid-Atlantic locations of the United States and throughout certain regions of the European Union, governing bodies in sport and exercise science should develop more educational initiatives to convey the importance and advantages of HA, especially when runners are training for major marathons that are typically held in the late spring and early fall seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there is a large literature on how individual homeowners perceive location‐specific wildfire hazard, there is only one study specific to U.S. family forest owners. Using respondents from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service's National Woodland Owner Survey of family forest ownerships in the United States, we investigate the relationship between landowners' wildfire concerns and biophysical wildfire hazard across the contiguous United States. As a measure of long‐term conditions for high intensity wildfire, we use the USDA Forest Service's Wildfire Hazard Potential Index as our key variable of interest. We test six ways of aggregating Wildfire Hazard Potential using 1‐, 10‐, and 100‐mile (1.6, 16, and 160 km) radii buffers with linear and logistic specifications for hazard potential. Results show the log of Wildfire Hazard Potential is the best fit for modeling wildfire hazard concerns. Respondents in the western United States have a higher baseline level of concern but are not necessarily more sensitive to the hazard spectrum compared to respondents in the north. Respondents in the southern United States have a lower sensitivity to the hazard spectrum compared to respondents in the north and west. Using predicted probabilities at the means, we also compute regional prevalence ratios to compare the impact of biophysical wildfire hazard to the relative impact of other important variables. Various property and owner characteristics not related to biophysical hazard potential, such as emotion, receiving information about wildfire, and the presence of a house on the property are determinants of wildfire concern in some, but not all regions of the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently there has been an expansion of the literature on creative arts therapy (CAT) interventions in the United States (U.S.) school system. However, findings across studies in the field have yet to be systematically investigated on a national level. The present review is an integrative systematic review of empirically evaluated CAT intervention studies in U.S. schools from the past decade. This synthesis seeks to advance CATs in schools' evidence base and increase research and practice throughout the U.S. Three online databases were searched alongside a manual review of relevant journals. Inclusion criteria required studies to feature a CAT modality, implementation in a U.S. K‐12 school during the school day, and an empirical methodology. The systematic search yielded a total qualifying sample of six studies. General findings indicated that across studies, targeted improvement in psychosocial and behavioral domains was achieved, suggesting that CATs hold major promise due to their ecological responsiveness and versatility. Although the current scope of empirically evaluated CAT interventions in U.S. schools is minimal, findings suggest encouraging avenues for formulating a useful research trajectory and advancing practice. Further research recommendations for the promotion of CATs in schools are provided and situated within the school mental health literature. Highlights: There is a growing body of literature on the implementation of creative arts therapies (CATs) in schools throughout the United States (U.S.). This integrative systematic review investigates findings from published empirical studies examining effectiveness of CATs in U.S. schools between 2009‐2019.Findings across qualifying studies suggest that CATs in U.S. schools have demonstrated positive improvements in psychosocial and behavioral domains among students.Although the current evidence base is minimal, it provides an encouraging foundation. Recommendations are offered to expand the empirical research base of CATs in U.S. schools and further discussed within the context of the school mental health literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the use of botanical dietary supplements in the United States has increased, yet their safety and efficacy against COVID-19 remains underexplored. The Quave Natural Product Library is a phylogenetically diverse collection of botanical and fungal natural product extracts including popular supplement ingredients. Evaluation of 1867 extracts and 18 compounds for virus spike protein binding to host cell ACE2 receptors in a SARS-CoV-2 pseudotyped virus system identified 310 extracts derived from 188 species across 76 families (3 fungi, 73 plants) that exhibited ≥ 50% viral entry inhibition activity at 20 µg/mL. Extracts exhibiting mammalian cytotoxicity > 15% and those containing cardiotoxic cardiac glycosides were eliminated. Three extracts were selected for further testing against four pseudotyped variants and infectious SARS-CoV-2 and were then further chemically characterized, revealing the potent (EC50 < 5 µg/mL) antiviral activity of Solidago altissima L. (Asteraceae) flowers and Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn (Dennstaedtiaceae) rhizomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research was to examine the immediate impacts of quarantine restrictions on movement and dietary patterns in a small community in the southeastern United States. A sample of individuals (N = 209) completed an online survey indicating levels of physical activity and satisfaction with eating habits before and during the COVID-19 quarantine. Of those surveyed, 46.2% of adults indicated physical activity decreased during quarantine, while 53.3% indicated satisfaction with eating habits decreased. Despite these results, individuals did not indicate a desire to change current habits. An important limitation of this study was a lack of distinction in study design between decreased levels of physical activity (PA) and increased sedentary behaviour (SB). An additional limitation was the design of survey questions to address behaviours affected by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Future research should include changes to study questions reflecting updated knowledge of COVID-19. This study demonstrated the immediate adverse effects of COVID-19 on habits and attitudes toward behaviour change. Providing participant educational infographics offering healthy lifestyle tips for behaviour change during the COVID-19 pandemic may be of benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An estimated 10 million families, individuals, trusts, and estates own 39 percent of the forestland in the United States, excluding interior Alaska. Using segmented regression, the relationships between size of forest holdings and the attitudes and behaviors of these family forest ownerships were tested using data from the 2018 iteration of the USDA Forest Service's National Woodland Owner Survey. All 16 variables tested have significant relationships with size of forest holdings, and 13 have one or more breakpoints, ranging from 40 to 5,854 ac, where the relationships between the variables change. Timber as a reason for owning, timber harvesting activities, management plan, advice received, land certified, tax program participation, cost share, recreation, land tenure, recreation, taxes and heirs as concerns, land transfer, and income from forestland have positive relationships with size of forest holdings; resident ownership has a negative relationship; and wildlife as a reason for owning and owner age have mixed relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many studies have examined contemporary increases in parent-adult child coresidence, questions about what this demographic shift means for the well-being of parents remain. This article draws on insights from the life course perspective to investigate the relationship between parent-adult child coresidence and parental mental health among U.S. adults ages 50+, distinguishing between parents stably living with and without adult children and those who transitioned into or out of coresidence with an adult child. Based on analyses of the 2008 to 2012 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 11,277), parents with a newly coresidential adult child experienced an increase in depressive symptoms relative to their peers without coresidential adult children. Further analyses suggest that transitions to coresidence that occurred in the southern United States or involved out-of-work children were particularly depressing for parents. These findings highlight the significance of evolving intergenerational living arrangements for the well-being of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses issues concerning the use of solar energy in large central power plants in the U.S. The decision to use or not to use solar-thermal-electric power plants on a large scale will be made on the basis of its total social acceptability to the society in relation to the alternatives. For widespread acceptance of net benefits for solar energy, which is the benefits less the combination of direct consumer costs and the perceived social costs due to anticipated health effects, federal research costs, environmental impacts and other social costs, it must be greater than the net benefits perceived for nuclear- or fossil-fueled power plants. Ways to overcome the apparent regional constraint of using solar energy are discussed.

Introduction: In 2017, the Standardized Video Interview (SVI) was required for applicants to emergency medicine (EM). The SVI contains six questions highlighting professionalism and interpersonal communication skills. The responses were scored (6-30). As it is a new metric, no information is available on correlation between SVI scores and other application data. This study was to determine if a correlation exists between applicants’ United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and SVI scores. We hypothesized that numeric USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) scores would not correlate with the SVI score, but that performance on the Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) portion may correlate with the SVI since both test communication skills. Methods: Nine EM residency sites participated in the study with data exported from an Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS®) report. All applicants with both SVI and USMLE scores were included. We studied the correlation between SVI scores and USMLE scores. Predetermined subgroup analysis was performed based on applicants’ USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK scores as follows: (≥ 200, 201-220, 221-240, 241-260, >260). We used linear regression, the Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test for statistical analyses. Results: 1,325 applicants had both Step 1 and SVI scores available, with no correlation between the overall scores (p=0.58) and no correlation between the scores across all Step 1 score ranges, (p=0.29). Both Step 2 CK and SVI scores were available for 1,275 applicants, with no correlation between the overall scores (p=0.56) and no correlation across all ranges, (p=0.10). The USMLE Step 2 CS and SVI scores were available for 1,000 applicants. Four applicants failed the CS test without any correlation to the SVI score (p=0.08). Conclusion: We found no correlation between the scores on any portion of the USMLE and the SVI; therefore, the SVI provides new information to application screeners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aedes albopictus is a tropical invasive species which in the last decades spread worldwide, also colonizing temperate regions of Europe and US, where it has become a public health concern due to its ability to transmit exotic arboviruses, as well as severe nuisance problems due to its aggressive daytime outdoor biting behaviour. While several studies have been carried out in order to predict the potential limits of the species expansions based on eco-climatic parameters, few studies have so far focused on the specific effects of these variables in shaping its micro-geographic abundance and dynamics. The present study investigated eco-climatic factors affecting Ae. albopictus abundance and dynamics in metropolitan and sub-urban/rural sites in Rome (Italy), which was colonized in 1997 and is nowadays one of the most infested metropolitan areas in Southern Europe. To this aim, longitudinal adult monitoring was carried out along a 70 km-transect across and beyond the most urbanized and densely populated metropolitan area. Two fine scale spatiotemporal datasets (one with reference to a 20m circular buffer around sticky traps used to collect mosquitoes and the second to a 300m circular buffer within each sampling site) were exploited to analyze the effect of climatic and socio-environmental variables on Ae. albopictus abundance and dynamics along the transect. Results showed an association between highly anthropized habitats and high adult abundance both in metropolitan and sub-urban/rural areas, with “small green islands” corresponding to hot spots of abundance in the metropolitan areas only, and a bimodal seasonal dynamics with a second peak of abundance in autumn, due to heavy rains occurring in the preceding weeks in association with permissive temperatures. The results provide useful indications to prioritize public mosquito control measures in temperate urban areas where nuisance, human-mosquito contact and risk of local arbovirus transmission are likely higher, and highlight potential public health risks also after the summer months typically associated with high mosquito densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study an office-based strategy for increasing influenza vaccine delivery to high-risk patients at a university hospital general medicine practice.Design: Historically controlled study of physician practices in an outpatient general medicine setting.Setting: A group practice with two separate offices: a fee-for-service (FFS) office, where the patients pay the cost of immunizations, and a health maintenance organization (HMO)-styled office, where the costs for immunizations are fully covered by the insurer.Patients: All outpatients seen at each practice setting from October to December, 1991.Intervention: For each patient visit, a simple reminder data sheet was completed by the clinician detailing the vaccination eligibility (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria) and status of the patient, the reasons for failure to vaccinate eligible patients, and 1990 vaccination information.Results: During the study period, 511 patients were seen by the practice (353 in the FFS office, 158 in the HMO office). 297 patients (58%) were eligible for vaccination; 219 in the FFS office, 78 in the HMO office (p < 0.01). At the end of the study period, 73% of all the eligible patients were vaccinated: 67% of the FFS patients vs 90% of the HMO patients (p < 0.01). 22% of the eligible patients refused vaccination: 27% in the FFS office vs 9% in the HMO office (p < 0.01). 11% of the eligible FFS patients vs 0% of the eligible HMO patients refused vaccination due to vaccine cost (p < 0.05). Of the eligible patients seen at the two offices in both 1990 and 1991. 50% were vaccinated in 1990 (preintervention) vs 66% in 1991 (postintervention) (p < 0.01).Conclusions: As shown in this study, a simple, low-cost office-based reminder system can significantly increase the influenza vaccination rate for high-risk outpatients and can help meet national vaccination rate goals. Vaccine cost to patients may be a barrier to vaccine acceptance, in some cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the proliferation of studies documenting the relationship between physical limitation and depressive symptoms in the United States, we currently do not know (1) whether physical impairment is associated with other dimensions of emotional well-being and (2) if these associations differ for men and women as well as married and nonmarried adults. We use panel data from two national samples to examine gender and marital status variations in the impact of physical limitation on four indicators of mental health. We find that physical limitation is associated with increases in depressive symptoms and negative feelings as well as decreases in positive emotions. Although the patterns are complex, we also find gender and marital status differences in these associations. Our results provide additional support for Aneshensel’s (1992; Aneshensel, Rutter, and Lachenbruch 1991) argument about the highly contingent nature of stress reactivity and contribute to theory about both gender and marital status differences in the impact of stress on mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Academic Emergency Medicine is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Background: The debate on the quality of health care provided in the United States has continued to be waged as concerns have grown over the years. Stress, sleep deprivation, poor diet, and lack of exercise may lead to inadequate work performance by physicians. Objective: This study was undertaken to determine whether Emergency Medicine (EM) residents satisfy daily recommendations for total number of steps taken per day set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Surgeon General in a 12-h shift. Methods: An observational prospective cohort study was conducted between August 2009 and November 2009 at an urban Level I trauma center with an annual census of over 165,000 Emergency Department (ED) visits per year. The mean number of steps taken by EM residents during 12-h shifts was measured. Results: Mean steps taken during a shift were 7333 (95% confidence interval 6901–7764). Only nine (9.9%) pedometer readings reached the target level of 10,000 (10K) steps or above. A t-test was used to compare steps with the hypothesized 10K steps target. Recordings of 10K steps or greater were not correlated with ED sections (p =0.60) shift (medical vs. surgical, p =0.65) or ED census (r 2 <0.0017). Conclusion: A majority of residents (90%) did not meet the target number of steps for shifts. More rigorous charting needs, overcrowding, or even spatial limitations may explain this. This warrants further investigation to determine if some daily physical activity regimens may help improve the overall well-being of EM residents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses a study of the level of psychological commitment to exercise, through the Scale of Dedication to Exercise (SDE), of athletes that participate in pan-American school games and its correlation with body dissatisfaction through a Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). The results show that dissatisfaction with self-image was observed in 21.5% of the 65 teenage participants and it influenced only 12% of the level of psychological commitment to exercise.

The article presents information on the customer claims in the liquidations of the Securities Investor Protection Act of the U.S. with reference to the impact of the standards of bankruptcy regarding the post-bar date claims. The transfer of the customer accounts to a brokerage firm that is facilitated by the funding advances of the Securities Investor Protection Corp. is authorized by the Act. Information on the immutable deadlines for filing the claims is also presented.

Through extended discussion of the 2005 FDA approval hearings for BiDil, the first drug approved to treat a medical condition in a population determined by the racial self-identification of its members, this paper probes question of boundary work delimiting "good science" within the context of racialformation. The BiDil debate took stock of two specific historical factors: wide disparities in healthcare access and outcomes between African Americans and whites, and the protracted naturalization of biological differences between these two groups. The paper's contention is that the boundaries of "good science" should be understood as part of a project of racial formation. Moreover, it argues that future medical research, in designing studies that involve race-based variables, must be cognizant of these intersections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines unconditional basic income schemes proposed by Philippe Van Parijs and by Ross Zucker in light of Karl Polanyi's analysis of the 1795 Speenhamland Law and of Esping-Andersen's use of decommodification as a signifier of social provisioning in welfare states. It discusses tradeoffs between productive advantages of market-based economies and dehumanizing disadvantages of commodified labor. Contemporary redistributive schemes such as those of Van Parijs and of Zucker extol the productive virtues of market economies well beyond what Polanyi, who advocated for subjecting markets to social purposes, would consider acceptable. Further, Van Parijs's and Zucker's basic income schemes extol capitalism, perhaps mistakenly, as a means of achieving a more egalitarian social order of which Polanyi would in all likelihood approve, if such economies functioned as portrayed and were properly implemented to de-commodify labor, that is at a level considered adequate and acceptable to the society in which one lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a sample (n = 6,407) from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979 cohort, this study found a sizable majority (69.1%) of support to replace a portion of Social Security with Private Retirement Accounts. Logistic regression analysis showed that SES was a robust predictor of PRA support, particularly for upper class vs. lower class respondents. Findings suggested that there may be less support for a major pillar of welfare state social provisioning, despite successful Congressional attempts to block related legislation to date, especially since the opinions of more affluent persons tend to have greater resonance with policymakers than those of lower income individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses ways for an orchestral educator to meet standards three and nine of the National Standards, which influences music instruction in the U.S. Program one selection on an upcoming concert that would allow string students to perform jazz in the big band tradition. To be able to develop a vocabulary and interpret what is on the printed page, students and directors must listen to the varied jazz.

Data from the 1997 cohort of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth were used to assess the association between family, self, proximate extra-familial, and distal extra-familial system factors and abstinence/virginity and age of first sexual intercourse (N=1,854). In addition to family, findings point to the robustness of sociodemographic correlates of gender, race/ethnicity, and SES on abstinence and timing of sexual initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taxable income from dividends, capital gains, and wages & salaries in the United States are examined in light of the major tax reform efforts of the Reagan administration in 1986 and that of the G.W. Bush administration in 2001. Since affluent citizens are more likely to benefit from capital gains and dividends, questions are raised regarding the fair distribution of the tax burden between capital and labor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The current practice in medical education is to place students at off-site locations. The effectiveness of these students attending remote lectures using interactive videoconferencing needs to be evaluated. Purpose: To determine whether lecture content covering clinical objectives is learned by medical students located at remote sites. Methods: During the University of Vermont medicine clerkship, 52 medical students attended lectures both in person and via 2-way videoconferencing over a telemedicine network. The study used a crossover design, such that all students attended half of the lectures in person and half using videoconferencing. At the end of the clerkship, students were assessed via a Clinical Practice Examination (CPX), with each student completing 1 exam for material learned in person and 1 for material learned over telemedicine. Results: Exam scores did not differ for the 2 lecture modes, with a mean score of 76% for lectures attended in person and a mean score of 78% for lectures attended via telemedicine (p = 0.66). Conclusions: Students learn content focused on clinical learning objectives as well using videoconferencing as they do in the traditional classroom setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An exhaustive comparative statics analysis of a general price taking cost-minimizing model of the firm operating under the influence of price-induced technical progress is carried out from a dual vista. The resulting refutable implications are observable and thus amenable to empirical verification, and take on the form of a symmetric and negative semidefinite matrix. Using data from individual cotton gins in California’s San Joaquin Valley, we empirically test the complete set of implications of the price-induced technical progress theory using both classical and Bayesian statistical procedures. We find that the data are fully consistent with the atemporal, cost-minimizing, price-induced microeconomic theory of technical progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on a study that examined the influence of religiousness on adolescent behaviors. Recent studies suggest that measures of religiosity such as church attendance and importance of religious faith were inversely related to juvenile drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, and to delinquency. At the same time such measures were inversely related to thoughts of suicide, attempted suicide, and actual suicides among youth in the U.S. It informs that data came from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1997 Cohort, a nationally representative sample of youth born between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1984. The sample of the study included only those adolescents who had a responding parent in the household in survey year 1997 and who reported valid values for all study variables. The article informs that to assess the influence of religiousness on adolescent outcomes ordinary Least Squares regression analyses were used. To show the relative influence of parental religiosity and religious affiliation on adolescent outcomes when accounting for background/baseline, religious, family processes, and other control measures standardized estimates were used.

Focuses on civic engagement programs in the U.S. universities and colleges and efforts to broaden its implementation. Reason behind the difficulty in measuring the outcomes of the approaches used in increasing civic engagement; Factors that hinder advocates of civic engagement from achieving their goals; Need for research on the outcome of undergraduate experiences in civic engagement; Outlook for the civic engagement movement in the country.

Physicians in rural communities have limited access to continuing medical education (CME) opportunities. We hypothesized that CME could be delivered via a telemedicine network as effectively as in-person. Our institution delivers CME lectures and grand rounds in Burlington, Vermont, for in-person attendees, and also via a telemedicine network that links 14 hospitals in Vermont and rural northeastern New York. All participants complete an evaluation questionnaire to receive CME credit. We compared the questionnaire responses of those attending in person with those attending via the telemedicine network. From October 1, 2000 to June 30, 2003, there were 4733 CME sessions, 650 of which had both in-person and telemedicine attendees. Responses from these 650 sessions were compared. Most questions relating to lecture quality scored higher for in-person attendees. Compared to having the presenter in the room, telemedicine attendance was judged to be "more effective" in 19% (n = 334), "as effective" in 60%, (n = 1074), and "less effective" in 21% (n = 367). Eighteen percent of telemedicine attendees said they would have traveled to attend the session. Telemedicine-delivered CME was considered at least as effective as in-person CME 79% of the time. Travel was avoided for 18% of the remote attendees. CME was delivered where it would not have been obtained for 82% of the remote attendees. Telemedicine systems can be used to deliver CME, in spite of lower overall ratings compared to in-person attendance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author argues that moral values in U.S. politics predate the 2004 presidential election, animate contemporary public policy discussions among people with varying viewpoints within and across political and religious persuasions, and permeate broader issues of social justice and cultural correctness. Liberal institutions, based on moral principles shown to be consistent with J. Dewey's pragmatic philosophy, afford persons of faith protections and opportunities to engage in public debate and thereby shape legitimate policies thought to be in the public interest. On the whole, the author contends that governmental institutions in the United States are highly resilient, enabling coexistence of proponents of competing accounts of excellence (i.e., virtue and character) on terms of mutual respect. Finally, the author addresses how the present political climate might affect policy and clinical practice and what social workers should do about it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduces a series of articles on challenges of aging on the families in the U.S.

Copyright of DISKURS is the property of Julius Beltz GmbH & Co. KG Beltz Juventa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study examined the role of assets in economic mobility within a youth cohort (N = 4,467) between 1985 and 1997. Increasing percentages of poor and affluent youth resided in families with no change in economic status while increasing percentages of middle-class youth resided in families experiencing downward economic mobility. The rate of economic stasis of youth living in affluent families was about three times that of those in poor families. Length of time of asset ownership influenced economic mobility beyond that of background, sociodemographic, psychological, and other cumulative correlates, in particular, IRAs and tax-deferred annuities were related to positive economic mobility. Robust indicators of positive economic mobility included being a college graduate, number of siblings in family of origin, number of years of full-time employment, number of years living in households where someone received either AFDC/TANF or SSI, and locus of control. Robust indicators of downward economic mobility included age of respondent, number of years married, and being Catholic. Finally, neither sex nor race/ethnicity increased the explanatory power of positive economic mobility beyond that of other correlates regardless of asset ownership. Discussion also includes public and private initiatives to expand IRAs into Individual Development Accounts and to encourage employers to offer (and workers to take advantage of) tax-deferred annuities, particularly for low-income workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]