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In the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic has become highly politicized and highly moralized. The current study explored whether participants' (N = 118) endorsements of binding (promoting group cohesion) versus individualizing (promoting care for individuals) moral foundations explained partisan differences in views and behaviors regarding COVID-19. Participants completed the Moral Foundations Questionnaire before they indicated how morally permissible they thought it was to violate COVID-19 mandates, report others' violations, or not get vaccinated. Additionally, they indicated their own prevention behaviors. Results show that endorsement of both individualizing and binding foundations explain partisan differences in moral permissibility ratings. Political conservatism predicted greater endorsement of binding foundations which in turn predicted seeing COVID-19 violations and not getting vaccinated as more morally permissible, and predicted fewer self-reported prevention behaviors. Endorsement of individualizing foundations predicted seeing violations as less morally permissible and reporting others' violations as more morally permissible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae are a major threat to global public health. Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) is the most commonly identified carbapenemase in the United States and is frequently found on mobile genetic elements including plasmids, which can be horizontally transmitted between bacteria of the same or different species. Here we describe the results of an epidemiological investigation of KPC-producing bacteria at two healthcare facilities. Using a combination of short-read and long-read whole-genome sequencing, we identified an identical 44 kilobase plasmid carrying the bla KPC–2 gene in four bacterial isolates belonging to three different species (Citrobacter freundii , Klebsiella pneumoniae , and Escherichia coli). The isolates in this investigation were collected from patients who were epidemiologically linked in a region in which KPC was uncommon, suggesting that the antibiotic resistance plasmid was transmitted between these bacterial species. This investigation highlights the importance of long-read sequencing in investigating the relatedness of bacterial plasmids, and in elucidating potential plasmid-mediated outbreaks caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory research investigates how American public libraries have addressed the issue of media literacy in their communities from 2016 to 2018, including programs, partnerships, and other initiatives. The authors selected this period because events, such as the 2016 U.S. presidential election, contributed to an increased national concern about media literacy. This study fills a research gap by providing a broader assessment of public library responses to this issue, as most of the published literature thus far stems from academic libraries. An electronic survey solicited data from both a stratified purposive sample and a self-selecting sample of public libraries throughout the United States (U.S.). Analysis of qualitative and quantitative data from sixty-five public libraries revealed several key themes related to media literacy initiatives, including types of initiatives developed, initiatives deemed most successful by staff, community response to initiatives, and reasons for not pursuing initiatives. Findings denote the current state of how public libraries address media literacy and offer practical guidance for those developing media literacy initiatives. Key findings are as follows: lack of staff time is the reason most often cited for not engaging in media literacy initiatives; more effective measurements are needed to assess both community needs and outcomes of library initiatives; "fake news" is a topic of interest in the community and among library staff; and there appears to be a relationship between staff interest in the topic and perceived interest on the part of the public, which may impact efforts to address the issue. Implications for practice resulting from those findings include engaging in initiatives that maximize service while minimizing staff time involvement; measuring and assessing community interests as well as outcomes of initiatives; using trending topics such as "fake news" to increase interest in library services; and continuing to increase staff awareness of and training in issues deemed important by the library community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildfires are becoming larger and more frequent across much of the United States due to anthropogenic climate change. No studies, however, have assessed fire prevalence in lake watersheds at broad spatial and temporal scales, and thus it is unknown whether wildfires threaten lakes and reservoirs (hereafter, lakes) of the United States. We show that fire activity has increased in lake watersheds across the continental United States from 1984 to 2015, particularly since 2005. Lakes have experienced the greatest fire activity in the western United States, Southern Great Plains, and Florida. Despite over 30 years of increasing fire exposure, fire effects on fresh waters have not been well studied; previous research has generally focused on streams, and most of the limited lake‐fire research has been conducted in boreal landscapes. We therefore propose a conceptual model of how fire may influence the physical, chemical, and biological properties of lake ecosystems by synthesizing the best available science from terrestrial, aquatic, fire, and landscape ecology. This model also highlights emerging research priorities and provides a starting point to help land and lake managers anticipate potential effects of fire on ecosystem services provided by fresh waters and their watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determined whether the incidence of injuries would increase with advancing age and whether the participation in cross-training would be related to a decreased rate of injuries and healthcare costs in Masters swimmers. A total of 499 swimmers (55 ± 14 years of age) belonging to US Masters Swimming completed a comprehensive questionnaire that included questions regarding their medical history as well as their training history. In average, swimmers had been training for 13 ± 12 years, and 35, 40, and 47 % participated in running, cycling, and dryland resistance training, respectively. According to the logistic regression, prevalence of injuries increased significantly but modestly with advancing age (p < 0.05). Linear regression analysis showed that for every 1 month increase in the length of injury, healthcare costs increased by 7.4 % (p < 0.05). Linear regression and logistic regression analyses determined that overall volume of swimming training was not related to age or incidence of injuries, respectively. Multinomial logistic regression analyses using age and sex as predictors demonstrated that the odds of reporting a swim-related injury were significantly lower for individuals who participated in any number of cross-training activities compared with those who do not cross-train (p < 0.05). Regular participation in any cross-training modality was inversely related to age (p < 0.05). We concluded that the diversification of the overall training program by incorporating cross-training may be an important strategy to reduce sport-specific injuries among Masters athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age-related decreases in performance are thought to be driven by decreases in exercise training stimuli. We determined the influence of changes in training stimuli with advancing age on swimming performance using cross-sectional and longitudinal data analyses. Totals of 692 and 98 competitive swimmers belonging to the US Masters Swimming Association were analyzed in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Swimming times increased with advancing age, and age was the strongest predictor of swimming performance, followed by training volume, in both the cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. In the cross-sectional data analyses, an increase in training volume by 10 km/month, was associated with improved performance by 0.69 s regardless of age. In the longitudinal analyses, training volume was not a significant predictor for younger swimmers. In middle-aged swimmers, however, increases in training volume resulted in faster swimming times, and its effect was more pronounced in older swimmers. We concluded that there was a graded positive relationship between yearly increases in training volume and improved swimming performance, and that such effects were greater with advancing age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its policy goal of increasing health insurance coverage across the United States, particularly for low income populations, rests in part on community-based outreach activities focused on consumer education and strategies to encourage sign–up. This paper draws on focus group data collected to evaluate and learn from one such community effort, located in a two-state region with significant political opposition to the ACA. Specifically, the research objectives were to better understand low income consumers’ experiences with ACA marketplaces during the initial sign–up period, both barriers and facilitators, and to learn what improvements they recommend for future outreach efforts. Focus group results show very limited knowledge of basic insurance concepts as well as the ACA. Participants reported numerous technological and related access barriers, which further complicated sign–up and caused them to lose confidence and become suspicious of the process. When asked how best to provide information and assistance to individuals such as themselves, participants pointed to several reasons conventional outreach might not be effective and suggested alternative strategies. Although public attention has focused on technical aspects of ACA sign–up, our findings suggest that future obstacles for those who remain uninsured are also likely to be related to perceptions and culturally–based understandings of “Obamacare” and how insurance works. This study underscores the importance of incorporating trusted, community relationships into efforts to expand coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study examines demographic and attitudinal predictors of parents reported ownership of baby DVDs among a national sample of US parents with children under age three. Results indicate few associations with demographic variables. Fathers report greater ownership of baby videos/DVDs, and parents with more videos/DVDs report more satisfaction with these products. Parent attitudes toward early childhood education are related to owning more videos/DVDS, while promotion-focused orientation (i.e., propensity to pursue possible rewards when outcomes are uncertain) predicts satisfaction with baby videos/DVDs. Furthermore, results indicate that parents' belief in the educational value of media for young children is a strong predictor of both ownership and satisfaction with these products. In light of the controversy surrounding baby videos/DVDs and growing number and variety of screen media for infants and toddlers, implications of these findings for policy and further research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper examines the probabilities of first marriage dissolution in Canada, using the marital history data collected from a national sample of women in their reproductive years. It is found that age at marriage, year of marriage, cohabitation before marriage, a premarital birth or conception, urban-rural place of residence, and religiosity are all significantly correlated with marriage dissolution. Religion and education, on the other hand, do not seem to affect the marriage dissolution probabilities when other factors are controlled. Canadian patterns are not too different from patterns in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children who start school with strong language skills initiate a trajectory of academic success, while children with weaker skills are likely to struggle. Research has demonstrated that media and parent–child interactions, both characteristics of the home literacy environment, influence children's language skills. Using a national sample of American parents of children aged 8–36 months (n = 500), the current study evaluated how media and parent–child interactions are associated with children's language skills. Results indicated a positive association between literacy-based parent–child interactions and children's language production. The association between access to radios and children's books was mediated by parent–child interactions. These results offer important implications for creating home interventions to boost the language abilities of children before entering school. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses the relationship between sociologist Max Weber and U.S. political modernity, noting that American social scientists and political theorists have used Weber's thought to seek stability and moderation in the context of modern bureaucratic society. It is said that Weber viewed modernization, which involved by rationalization and bureaucratization, as a context that called for the responsibility and tragic work of alienated intellectuals. Other topics include the interpretation of Weber by American sociologist Talcott Parsons, the influence of Weber on American thought after World War II, and Weber's thought on democracy.

Children who possess less self-regulatory skill are at a disadvantage when compared to children who demonstrate greater skill at regulating their emotions, cognitions and behavior. Children with these regulatory deficits have difficulty connecting with peers, generating relationships with teachers, negotiating their social world, and succeeding academically. By understanding the correlates of self-regulatory abilities, interventions can be developed to ensure that children at-risk for poor self-regulation receive the support necessary to enhance their regulatory skills. Using data from a nationally representative survey of English-speaking American parents with children between the ages of two and eight ( n = 1,141), we evaluated a host of demographic and parenting variables to isolate the correlates of self-regulation. Older children were found to have fewer regulatory problems than younger children while children from low-income homes and male children were found to have greater problems with self-regulation. Minority status, household composition (single vs multi-parent), and parental education were not significant correlates of self-regulation. Findings also illustrate the powerful relationship between parenting style and self-regulation. Parents who rely on nurturing parenting practices that reinforce the child's sense of autonomy while still maintaining a consistent parenting presence (i.e., authoritative parenting) have children who demonstrate stronger self-regulatory skills. Parents who exert an excess of parental control (i.e., authoritarian parents) have children with weaker self-regulatory skills. And lastly, parents who have notable absence of control (i.e., permissive parents) are more likely to have children with considerable regulatory deficits. Results offer implications for both practitioners and scholars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the mechanisms through which marital status exerts long-term effects on depressive symptoms among women and to evaluate the relative importance of psychological, social and financial resources in mediating this relationship. Methods: Data came from 6107 female respondents to a nationally representative longitudinal data set from the USA (National Survey of Families and Households 1987e1988/1992e1994). Mediation was investigated using semi-longitudinal structural equation modelling and bias-corrected bootstrapped CIs. Latent constructs with multiple indicators were used to measure depressive symptoms, primary and secondary social integration and self-esteem. Results: The total effect of marital status on subsequent depressive symptoms was statistically significant for all marital statuses relative to those in first marriages controlling for age, education, race, number of children younger than 5 in the household, T1 depressive symptoms and marital status transitions between waves; all groups experienced higher levels of depressive symptoms than those in first marriages. These effects were completely mediated for never-married women and partially mediated for separated/divorced, widowed and cohabiting women. Adjusted household income was the largest mediator for the separated/divorced, widowed and never-married, but primary social integration also played a role. Self-esteem was the only significant mediator for the remarried and cohabiting and was also important in explaining differences between the first-married and separated/divorced. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the reasons why marital status has an influence on subsequent depressive symptoms varies depending on the specific marital status being compared with the married. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the ways that the Holocaust (Shoah) has been memorialized in Europe, the United States, and Israel. The author examines the ways that the social construction of this genocide as "particular" has made it a model for other groups to utilize in trying to remember other crimes against humanity. However, the construction of the memory of the Shoah is also controversial, according to the author, among critics who evoke the possibility of a competition among victims of genocides.

Describes the remnants of the northern Sierra Nevada Paleozoic island arc in Western Nevada. Geology of the Black Dike Formation; Isotopic data; Permian volcanic arcs; Comparison of all field, petrological and chemical data from igneous rocks of the Black Dike.

Presents general strategies for health risk assessment and communication that proved successful from experiences of relocatable classrooms in a school district in California. Concerns about the safety and health risk of portable classrooms; Evaluation of indoor air quality; Interactions with stakeholders.

Introduction: The evidence on the association between anthropometric measures quantifying body fatness and prostate cancer (PCa) risk is not entirely consistent. Associations among waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio, body mass index (BMI), and PCa risk were assessed in a population-based case-control study.Patients and Methods: The study included 1933 incident PCa cases diagnosed between 2005 and 2009. Population controls were 1994 age-matched (±5y) Montreal residents selected from electoral lists. Information on sociodemographics, medical history including PCa screening, height, weight, and waist and hip circumferences was collected through interviews. Logistic regression was used to assess odds ratios (ORs) for the association between anthropometric measures, and overall and grade-specific PCa.Results: After adjustment for BMI, an excess risk of high-grade PCa (Gleason≥7) was associated with a WC ≥102cm (OR = 1.47 [1.22-1.78]) and with a waist-hip ratio >1.0 (OR = 1.20 [1.01-1.43]). Men with a BMI≥30kg/m(2) had a lower risk of PCa, regardless of grade. Restricting to subjects recently screened for PCa did not alter findings.Conclusion: Elevated BMI was associated with a lower risk of PCa, regardless of grade. Contrastingly, abdominal obesity, when adjusted for BMI, yielded results in the opposite direction. Taken together, our observations suggest that the specific body fat distribution (abdominal), for a given BMI, is a predictor of PCa risk, whereas BMI alone is not. BMI and abdominal obesity, especially when measured by the WC, should be examined conjointly in future studies on this issue and may require consideration at patient counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]