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Background: Schools are responsible for promoting LGBTQ+ students' academic success, yet many LGBTQ+ students contend with unsupportive learning environments. Gender-Sexuality Alliances (GSAs)--clubs that affirm students' sexual orientation and gender diversity--could promote academic engagement and protect against disaffection. Aims: We aimed to identify GSA meeting-to-meeting experiences that predicted students' ensuing academic engagement and disaffection over an eight-week weekly survey study. Sample: Participants were 92 LGBTQ+ GSA members (50% students of color, 51% trans/nonbinary, M[subscript age] = 15.83). Methods: Participants completed once-weekly surveys over an 8-week period on their experiences in their most recently attended GSA meeting and their current level of academic engagement and disaffection with learning. Results: Participants reported relatively lower disaffection on days after meetings where they had perceived greater advisor responsiveness, socialized with peers, and discussed academic issues. They reported relatively greater engagement on days after meetings where they took on more leadership. Participants who led more, on average, over the eight-week period reported less disaffection and greater engagement than others. Conclusions: GSAs may contribute partially to LGBTQ+ students' educational experiences by guarding against academic disaffection and, to a lesser extent, promoting their academic engagement from week to week. More research needs to consider how GSAs and other school-based resources promote learning among LGBTQ+ students.

The teaching of computing is becoming an essential addition to twenty-first-century learning. An important part of this new addition is the teaching of computing in earlier grades, starting as early as kindergarten in some countries. Yet, there is little research that reports on computing practices in earlier grades. The purpose of this study was to paint a broad picture of the teaching of computing in primary education from teachers' perspectives through a 20-min snowball survey sent out to elementary computing groups. This study reports on the teaching of over 300 teachers who are responsible for teaching computing to nearly 60,000 primary-aged students. The results principally represented teachers in the US and the UK, though smaller samples of teachers from 23 total countries are included. We report on teachers' responses by analyzing quantitative data and open-ended responses to questions about their experiences in teaching computing to children. Results highlight teachers' level of preparation to teach computing, the most commonly taught programming languages, teacher successes and challenges, and observations on how learning to program has affected students.

Poverty interferes with parents' breastfeeding, child-care, and employment options and ability to meet their parenting goals. This study—the first randomized controlled trial of early childhood poverty reduction in the United States—investigates how increased economic resources affect 1,000 low-income US mothers' breastfeeding, child-care, and employment practices and the ability to meet their intentions for these practices in the first year of their infant's life. The likelihood and length of breastfeeding, use of nonparental child care, and maternal employment did not statistically differ among mothers who received a high ($333) or low ($20) monthly unconditional cash gift. The higher monthly cash gift, however, delayed the starting age of child care by almost 1 month and increased mothers' ability to meet their breastfeeding intentions reported at birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This 3-year, longitudinal analysis examined the psychological and social correlates of adhering to gender-typed behaviors in friendships among boys during middle school in United States ("N" = 446, "M"[subscript age] = 11.37 years) and in China ("N" = 368, "M"[subscript age] = 12.20 years). Results indicated that boys did not differ by nationality in the mean levels or in the increase over time in adherence to gender-typed behaviors. Furthermore, adherence over time was associated with higher depressive symptoms, lower self-esteem, and lower friendship quality for boys in both countries. However, the associations between gender-typed behaviors and friendship quality and depressive symptoms were stronger for boys in the United States. Our study suggests that gender-typed behaviors play an important role in the well-being of youth in different parts of the world. (Contains 3 figures and 2 tables.)

This article considers the implications for prevention science of recent advances in research on family poverty and children's mental, emotional, and behavioral health. First, we describe definitions of poverty and the conceptual and empirical challenges to estimating the causal effects of poverty on children's mental, emotional, and behavioral health. Second, we offer a conceptual framework that incorporates selection processes that affect who becomes poor as well as mechanisms through which poverty appears to influence child and youth mental health. Third, we use this conceptual framework to selectively review the growing literatures on the mechanisms through which family poverty influences the mental, emotional, and behavioral health of children. We illustrate how a better understanding of the mechanisms of effect by which poverty impacts children's mental, emotional, and behavioral health is valuable in designing effective preventive interventions for those in poverty. Fourth, we describe strategies to directly reduce poverty and the implications of these strategies for prevention. This article is one of three in a special section (see also Biglan, Flay, Embry, & Sandler, 2012; Munoz, Beardslee, & Leykin, 2012) representing an elaboration on a theme for prevention science developed by the 2009 report of the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. (Contains 1 figure.)

Unauthorized immigrants account for approximately one-fourth of all immigrants in the United States, yet they dominate public perceptions and are at the heart of a policy impasse. Caught in the middle are the children of these immigrants--youth who are coming of age and living in the shadows. An estimated 5.5 million children and adolescents are growing up with unauthorized parents and are experiencing multiple and yet unrecognized developmental consequences as a result of their family's existence in the shadow of the law. Although these youth are American in spirit and voice, they are nonetheless members of families that are "illegal" in the eyes of the law. In this article, the authors develop a conceptual framework to systematically examine the ways in which unauthorized status affects the millions of children, adolescents, and emerging adults caught in its wake. The authors elucidate the various dimensions of documentation status--going beyond the binary of the "authorized" and "unauthorized." An ecological framework brings to the foreground a variety of systemic levels shaping the daily experiences of children and youth as they move through the developmental spectrum. The article moves on to examine a host of critical developmental outcomes that have implications for child and youth well-being as well as for our nation's future. (Contains 2 notes and 1 figure.)

This chapter provides an overview of nonfamily contexts that shape the development and adjustment of children and youth from immigrant families. It also describes the four chapters in this special issue that focus on peer, network, legal, and institutional contexts that influence the lives of immigrant parents and their children. Directions for future research on the social contexts of development in immigrant families are discussed.

Heartland bandavirus (HRTV) is an emerging tick-borne virus that is distributed in the United States and that causes febrile illness with thrombocytopenia and leukocytopenia. It is genetically close to Dabie bandavirus, which is well known as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus (SFTSV). The mortality rate of human HRTV infection is approximately 10%; however, neither approved anti-HRTV agents nor vaccines exist. An appropriate animal model should be developed to evaluate the efficacy of antiviral agents and vaccines against HRTV. The susceptibility of IFNAR−/− mice with HRTV infection was evaluated using subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, and retro-orbital inoculation routes. IFNAR−/− mice intraperitoneally infected with HRTV showed the most severe clinical signs, and the 50% lethal dose was 3.2 × 106 TCID50. Furthermore, to evaluate the utility of a novel lethal IFNAR−/− mice model, IFNAR−/− mice were orally administered favipiravir, ribavirin, or a solvent for 5 days immediately after a lethal dose of HRTV inoculation. The survival rates of the favipiravir-, ribavirin-, and solvent-administered mice were 100, 33, and 0%, respectively. The changes in bodyweights and HRTV RNA loads in the blood of favipiravir-treated IFNAR−/− mice were the lowest among the three groups, which suggests that favipiravir is a promising drug candidate for the treatment of patients with HRTV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is breastfeeding "success"? In this article, we challenge the traditional biomedical definition, instead centering visions of success described by breastfeeding mothers themselves. Using semi-structured interviews, quantitative surveys, and written narratives of 38 first-time mothers in the United States, we describe five common pathways through the first-year postpartum, a taxonomic distinction far more complex than a success–failure dichotomy: sustained breastfeeding, exclusive pumping, combination feeding, rapid weaning, and grinding back to exclusivity. We also explore the myriad ways in which mothers define and experience breastfeeding success, and in the process uncover the ways that cultural narratives—especially intensive mothering —color those experiences. Finally, we discuss how these experiences are shaped by infant feeding pathway. In doing so, we discover nuance that has gone unexplored in the breastfeeding literature. These findings have implications for supporting, promoting, and protecting breastfeeding in the United States and other high-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender & Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) are school‐based clubs that support youth of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. As identity‐centered spaces, GSAs could also foster discussions related to race and immigration (i.e., race and immigration talk). We conducted semi‐structured interviews from 2016 to 2018 with 38 GSA members (ages 13–20 years old) of diverse racial/ethnic, immigrant‐origin (first and second generations in the United States born of immigrant parents), sexual orientation, and gender identities. Race and immigration talk often occurred when discussing current events (e.g., the 2016 US Presidential Election). Students reported that race and immigration talk depended on representation (i.e., GSA demographics), if it was deemed personally relevant to members, and whether students perceived issues of race and immigration as part of the agenda of the GSA. Some students indicated motivation to discuss racism and nativism yet refrained from doing so due to discomfort or fear of misspeaking. Overall, youth primarily viewed the GSA as a space for LGBTQIA+‐oriented discussions and support yet expressed potential for fostering productive race and immigration talk in GSAs given the ongoing US sociopolitical climate. Discussions facilitated by advisors focusing on inter‐connected oppression (e.g., intersections of racism and heterosexism) and that leverage brave space discussion dynamics may help students develop competencies to engage in race and immigration talk. Highlights: Race and immigration talk are consistent with the support and advocacy functions of GSAs.Race and immigration talk are particularly relevant to youth of color and immigrant‐origin youth.Fear of misspeaking and discomfort can lead to silence on race and immigration topics in GSAs.Advisors play an important role in introducing and sustaining race and immigration talk in GSAs.Brave space dynamics and discussing current events could facilitate race and immigration talk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Persons living with dementia have an elevated risk of falling and chronic pain. This study investigates the relationship of pain medication use with falls among community-dwelling adults based on their cognitive status. Methods We analysed a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries (n  = 7,491) who completed cognitive assessments used for dementia classification in the 2015 US National Health and Aging Trends Study. We performed survey-weighted logistic regression to investigate differential associations between pain medication use and a recent fall by cognitive status: no dementia, possible dementia and probable dementia, controlling for sociodemographic and health characteristics. Results About 16.5% of the analytic sample was classified as possible dementia (8.3%) and probable dementia (8.2%). Pain medication use was associated with a recent fall among those with probable dementia [odds ratio (OR) = 1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14, 3.03], controlling for sociodemographic and health characteristics. Taking medication for pain 2 days a week or more (OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.20, 3.81) was associated with falls among those with probable dementia. Bothersome pain and worry about falling down were also associated with falls among participants with no dementia and possible dementia, respectively. Conclusion Differential risk factors for falls by cognitive status imply the need for tailored pain management and fall prevention strategies. The provision of fall prevention programmes stressing balance training and medication use is important regardless of cognitive status in community-dwelling older adults. Future research should explore other modifiable factors associated with the risk of falls among community-dwelling adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Findings: This study uses data from a comprehensive meta-analytic database of early childhood education (ECE) program evaluations published between 1960 and 2007 in the United States to examine the incremental effects of adding enhancement program components to ECE programs on children's cognitive abilities, pre-academic skills, behavioral, health, and socio-emotional outcomes. Preschool enhancement programs include parenting programs, skill-based curricula, and teacher professional development programming. Our findings suggest that the addition of parent programs and skill-based curricula to ECE programs can result in improvements to a range of children's ECE outcomes leading to better school readiness. We found no differences in the impacts of ECE programs with or without additional professional development enhancements. Practice or Policy: Designing fully-developed parent programs by explicitly targeting parents, developing academically focused and skill-based curricula, and providing additional teacher professional development enhancements to existing ECE programs can have a substantial impact on a range of children's ECE outcomes leading to better school readiness. Further research is needed in order to determine what conditions are essential to enhancement program success as well as what conditions have negligible effects on or inhibit children's school readiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the balance of trade between the United States and Japan in the pharmaceutical industry. A brief historical overview of the interplay between the Japanese and United States pharmaceutical markets is presented, and details related to the increasing technological competence and capabilities of the Japanese industry are discussed. Statistical data related to domestic market composition and concentration are provided, as well as factors affecting competitive positions and corporate responses.

Objective: The aim of this study was to clarify whether serum matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) levels are associated with an effect of iguratimod as add-on therapy to biological DMARDs (bDMARDs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Forty three patients with RA were treated with iguratimod as add-on therapy to bDMARDs. They were classified into remission and non-remission groups at 24 weeks of iguratimod therapy. Remission was defined as a state with a disease activity score (DAS) <2.6 in 28 joints (termed DAS remission) and total power Doppler ultrasound (US) score <3 (termed US remission). The serum MMP-3 levels at baseline and at 12 weeks were compared between these two groups. Results: There were no significant differences in the serum MMP-3 levels at baseline between the DAS and US remission groups and the non-remission group. The serum MMP-3 levels at 12 weeks in the US remission group were significantly lower than those in the non-remission group. The ratios of the serum MMP-3 levels at baseline to those at 12 weeks in both the DAS and US remission groups were significantly lower than those in the non-remission group. An MMP-3 ratio <0.86 was determined as the cut-off value to predict US remission at 24 weeks. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the ratios of the serum MMP-3 levels at baseline to those at 12 weeks could be used to predict remission in RA patients who are administered iguratimod as an add-on to bDMARDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Prognostic models for hospitalized heart failure (HHF) were developed predominantly for patients of European origin in the United States of America; it is unclear whether they perform similarly in other health care systems or for different ethnicities. We sought to validate published prediction models for HHF in the United Kingdom (UK) and Japan.Methods and Results: Patients in the UK (n =894) and Japan (n =3158) were prospectively enrolled and were similar in terms of sex (∼60% men) and median age (∼77 years). Models predicted that British patients would have a higher mortality than Japanese, which was indeed true both for in-hospital (4.8% vs. 2.5%) and 180-day (20.7% vs. 9.5%) mortality. The model c-statistics for the published/derivation (range 0.70-0.76) and Japanese (range 0.75-0.77) cohorts were similar and higher than for the UK (0.62-0.75) but models consistently overestimated mortality in Japan. For in-hospital mortality, the OPTIMIZE-HF model performed best, providing similar discrimination in published/derivation, UK and Japanese cohorts [c-indices: 0.75 (0.74-0.77); 0.75 (0.68-0.81); and 0.77 (0.70-0.83), respectively], and least overestimated mortality in Japan. For 180-day mortality, the c-statistics for the ASCEND-HF model were similar in published/derivation (0.70) and UK [0.69 (0.64-0.74)] cohorts but higher in Japan [0.75 (0.71-0.79)]; calibration was good in the UK but again overestimated mortality in Japan.Conclusion: Calibration of published prediction models appears moderately accurate and unbiased when applied to British patients but consistently overestimates mortality in Japan. Identifying the reason why patients in Japan have a better than predicted prognosis is of great interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper provides new empirical evidence on the educational backgrounds of US business and government leaders. Analyzing a sample of 3,990 senior executives drawn from 15 sectors, including government, we find significant industry variation. Industries whose products depend primarily on the manipulation of symbolic media were the most likely to recruit from elite colleges. By contrast, industries involved in the transformation of the material world recruited less often from elite colleges, and this was particularly true for industries that employed comparatively few workers with advanced degrees. We find a relatively low level of association between elite undergraduate origins and executive positions in economy and state but greater proportional concentration by graduate business or law school attended. We discuss the different selection criteria used by elite colleges looking for outstanding students and corporations looking for outstanding executives, as well as additional layers of affinity that may lie behind industry differences in recruitment to executive positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three groups of children from Mexico and Central America are vulnerable to effects of U.S. immigration policies: (1) foreign-born children who entered the United States with undocumented immigrant parents; (2) unaccompanied children who entered the United States alone; and (3) U.S.-born citizen-children of undocumented immigrant parents. Despite the recent demographic growth of these youth, scholarship on their strengths and challenges is under-theorized and isolated within specific disciplines. Hence, service providers, researchers, and policymakers have insufficient research to inform their efforts to support the children’s well-being. A group of scholars and service providers with expertise in immigrant children convened to establish consensus areas and identify gaps in knowledge of undocumented, unaccompanied, and citizen-children of undocumented immigrant parents. The primary goal was to establish a research agenda that increases interdisciplinary collaborations, informs clinical practice, and influences policies. This report summarizes key issues and recommendations that emerged from the meeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual minority (e.g. lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning; LGBQ) and gender minority (e.g. transgender) youth experience myriad health risks. Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) are school-based settings where they may have opportunities to discuss substance use, mental health, and sexual health issues in ways that are safe and tailored to their experiences. Attention to these topics in GSAs could aid in developing programming for these settings. Among 295 youth from 33 Massachusetts high-school GSAs (69% LGBQ, 68% cisgender female, 68% White, Mage = 16.06), we examined how often youth discussed these topics within their GSA and identified factors associated with having more of these discussions. Youth and GSAs as a whole varied in their frequency of discussing these topics. Youth who accessed more information/resources in the GSA and did more advocacy more frequently engaged in discussions around substance use, mental health and sexual health. Youth who reported greater victimization more often discussed substance use and mental health, but not sexual health. Finally, GSAs whose members collectively reported greater victimization more frequently discussed these topics. These findings can assist the development of health programming to be delivered within GSAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reinstatement of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Section on Ethnogeriatrics coincides with more rapid growth in older populations that are classified as ethnic and racial minorities in the United States than those classified as non‐Hispanic white. By 2060, 40% of older Americans are predicted to belong to a minority. Important needs for ethnogeriatric research and publication include: making sure research populations are meaningful and precise rather than using categories that include many unrelated groups; and increasing research among smaller ethnic populations of older adults. Topics in need of attention include epidemiology of common geriatric illness among the smaller populations, and social determinants for those in which disparities have been established; the extent and effectiveness of use of Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services Standards in geriatric care; examination of communication strategies used in provider/patient interaction, especially use of interpreters; ethnic differences in treatment of older patients; and models of use of community health workers from older patients' own cultural communities. Stresses related to caregiving in cultures emphasizing the importance of family care are important to understand acceptable models of long‐term care for diverse families. The new Ethnogeriatric Section opens the opportunity for geriatric researchers, especially those from diverse backgrounds, to explore important issues in cross‐cultural geriatric care; their findings can then form the basis of expanded ethnogeriatric curriculum for training future providers for the growing population of diverse older Americans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preschoolers’ inhibitory control and early math skills were concurrently and longitudinally examined in 255 Chinese, African American, Dominican, and Mexican 4-year-olds in the United States. Inhibitory control at age 4, assessed with a peg-tapping task, was associated with early math skills at age 4 and predicted growth in such skills from age 4 to age 6 among these ethnic minority children after adjusting for ethnic background. Chinese children outperformed other groups on inhibitory control at age 4 and early math skills across ages. Mediation analyses indicated that their advanced inhibitory control at age 4 partially accounted for their advantage in early math skills concurrently at age 4 and longitudinally at age 6, highlighting the role of inhibitory control in the early math skills of ethnic minority children. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Policy pressures in the USA to transition parents from public assistance to work and concerns about the effects of early maternal employment on children highlight the importance of studying predictors of the timing of postpartum maternal employment. Little attention has been given to postpartum employment patterns of low-income ethnic minorities and immigrants, whose working conditions and employment prospects are different from white, middle-class mothers. Using a sample of low-income Mexicans, Dominicans, and African-Americans (N= 310), we studied whether and when mothers start working the first year following childbirth, and what factors promote or delay postpartum employment. Using discrete-time survival analysis, we modeled the odds of working at each month and tested the influence of family context, mothers' work and family values and plans, maternity leave benefit, and instrumental support availability on the timing of employment. By 11 months, half of the mothers had started working. Having maternity leave, plans to work, childcare arrangements, and a strong work orientation increased the odds of working. Household earnings were related to postpartum employment, but this effect varied over time. For African-Americans, instrumental support availability predicted earlier returns to employment, whereas for Mexicans and Dominicans it related to later returns to employment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In line with evidence that variation in children's vocabulary size facilitates learning, we asked whether growth in Mexican and Dominican children's expressive vocabularies in English and/or Spanish would predict later cognitive skills. Children and mothers were video-recorded sharing wordless books at 2, 3, 4, and 5 years, and children were assessed on language, literacy, and math skills at 5 years. Growth in children's English and Spanish vocabularies, based on transcriptions of booksharing interactions, predicted specific cognitive skills and was associated with changes to mothers' language use across time. Mothers' years in the United States predicted children's English vocabulary growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy debates about undocumented immigration in the United States focus most often on adults and adolescents. Yet 5.5 million U.S. children currently reside with at least one undocumented immigrant parent, with 4.5 million of these children U.S.-born citizens. Given that children with undocumented parents constitute nearly one-third of all children with immigrant parents and about 8 percent of all U.S. children, their well-being holds important implications for U.S. society. This review summarizes the current evidence on whether and how parent undocumented status affects the cognitive, school attainment, and mental health outcomes of children and youth. Research on mechanisms through which these effects occur-including both removal and fear of removal; parent-child separation; lower access to public programs; psychological distress; "awakening" to one's own undocumented status; and work conditions and economic hardship-is also reviewed. Potential moderators include the chronicity of experienced undocumented status; large-scale economic changes such as the Great Recession; and neighborhood and network social capital. Both public policies and community-based organizations' practices may help reduce the developmental risks for children with undocumented parents. We conclude by discussing a range of such policies and practices, related to preschool and prekindergarten, work and employment, border enforcement, program enrollment and access, organizational and institutional partnerships, and a range of choices regarding a pathway to citizenship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly 5.5 million children in the United States grow up in the shadows of undocumented status. We review the ecological domains of influence in children's and adolescents' lives and briefly consider health, cognitive, socioemotional, educational, and labor market outcomes ripe for study. We also reflect upon the ethical policy implications of this growing demographic group and consider research strategies in conducting ethical research with this population. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

- There were roughly 4 million children of undocumented parents in the United States in 2008. This article describes the effects that parental undocumented status can have on developmental contexts experienced in early childhood, before formal school entry. It focuses on early childhood as a crucial but still overlooked period for the study of children in immigrant families, a developmental stage when foundational cognitive and social skills are developing and in which social and economic disadvantage has particularly potent effects. Moreover, 91% of children under 6 with at least 1 undocumented parent are themselves U.S. citizens, which highlights the role of parental documentation status in affecting contexts of development that children may have access to but cannot select themselves. This article focuses on 3 sets of developmental contexts that may be sensitive to documentation status of parents: immediate postmigration contexts, in areas of legal, local enforcement policy, and neighborhood characteristics; everyday social settings, including program use, housing quality, and work conditions; and family processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mato Grosso has emerged as the Brazilian state with the highest deforestation rate, and with the most dynamic changes in vegetation and land cover. In this article, we focus on the following two main objectives: (i) to quantitatively assess the extent of vegetation change over the past two decades for more accurate eco-climatic impact analysis; and (ii) to clarify the causes to the changes in this state, with special focus to agro-pastoral activities and roads networks. A set of four 5-year digital vegetation model maps was created for the 1981-2001 period, using the first components of the principal components analysis of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) multispectral data (Channels 1, 2 and 4). Vegetation and land cover changes are characterized by destruction of primary forests in the north and large-scale broad areas with intensive human activity and vast grasslands expanding from the south. Large-scale soybean production spreading over the central areas and vast herds of cattle in the north can be pointed to as the main causes of vegetation change in these areas. It is shown that 76.1% of the changes in land cover types occur within 30 km of paved and unpaved roads. This emphasizes the role not only of road building, but also of navigable rivers, in accelerating deforestation, especially over the sparsely populated and road-less north. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined whether the effects of employment-based policies on children's math and reading achievement differed for African American, Latino and Caucasian children of welfare receiving parents, and if so, why. Two kinds of employment policies were examined: education-first programs with an emphasis on adult education and job training; and work-first programs with an emphasis on immediate employment. With data from two- and five-year follow-ups in four experimental demonstrations in Grand Rapids, Michigan (N = 591) and Riverside County, California (N = 629), there was evidence of small positive effects of the Grand Rapids and Riverside education-first programs on African American and Latino children's school readiness and math scores. An opposite pattern of effects emerged among Caucasian children. In one of the two sites, we found that Latino parents' higher levels of goals for pursuing their own education appeared to explain why their children benefited to a greater degree from the program than their Caucasian counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direction of others’ eye gaze has important influences on how we perceive their emotional expressions. Here, we examined differences in neural activation to direct- versus averted-gaze fear faces as a function of culture of the participant (Japanese versus US Caucasian), culture of the stimulus face (Japanese versus US Caucasian), and the relation between the two. We employed a previously validated paradigm to examine differences in neural activation in response to rapidly presented direct- versus averted-fear expressions, finding clear evidence for a culturally determined role of gaze in the processing of fear. Greater neural responsivity was apparent to averted- versus direct-gaze fear in several regions related to face and emotion processing, including bilateral amygdalae, when posed on same-culture faces, whereas greater response to direct- versus averted-gaze fear was apparent in these same regions when posed on other-culture faces. We also found preliminary evidence for intercultural variation including differential responses across participants to Japanese versus US Caucasian stimuli, and to a lesser degree differences in how Japanese and US Caucasian participants responded to these stimuli. These findings reveal a meaningful role of culture in the processing of eye gaze and emotion, and highlight their interactive influences in neural processing. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The authors examined the effects of antipoverty programs on children's cumulative poverty-related risk and the relationship between cumulative poverty-related risk and child outcomes among low-income families. Samples included 419 children ages 3–10 years in the New Hope program and 759 children ages 2–9 years in the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), which tested 2 program approaches. Nine poverty-related risks made up the measure of cumulative risk. Both MFIP program approaches reduced cumulative poverty-related risk. New Hope reduced cumulative poverty-related risk among long-term welfare recipients. In both New Hope and MFIP, significant linear relationships between cumulative poverty-related risk and parent-reported behavior problems and school achievement were found. Cumulative poverty-related risk partially mediated the impacts of the MFIP programs on children's behavior problems. Among long-term welfare recipients, cumulative poverty-related risk partially mediated New Hope's impact on parent-reported school achievement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) assessment of coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) has been validated in Asian and European centers. This methodology has not gained acceptability in the United States due to the bias that coronary flow velocity (CFV) by TTDE might be difficult in an obese population with relatively poor acoustic windows. Methods: Baseline CFV in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) by TTDE was obtained in 67 nonselected American patients. A subset of 38/67 received adenosine infusion for measuring CFVR of the LAD. Purpose: The aim of this study was twofold: (1) to determine the feasibility of measuring CFV and CFVR in the LAD by TTDE in a relatively obese American population, and (2) to compare CFV and CFVR values in this population with those previously obtained in a group of Japanese patients. Results: The mean body mass index (BMI) of the American population (28± 6 kg/m2, range: 18–46 kg/m2) was significantly higher than that of the Japanese group (23± 4 kg/m2, range: 15–37 kg/m2). Twenty-five American patients were classified as obese (BMI>30kg/m2). Baseline CFV was obtained in 60/67 patients (feasibility: 90%) with a 10% need for intravenous contrast agent to enhance the delineation of the CFV envelope. The success rate in recording CFVR in American patients (92%) was nearly identical to that of a Japanese group (99%). The time-averaged peak diastolic coronary flow velocity increased from 15.6± 5.5 cm/sec at baseline to 47.1± 17.9 cm/sec during adenosine infusion, and CFVR was calculated to be 3.22± 1.15 (range: 0.94–5.69). Intraobserver and interobserver variability for the CFV recording was 4.7 and 6.2%, respectively. Conclusions: These results suggest that the noninvasive measurement of CFV and CFVR of the LAD is feasible even in a relatively obese American population. Furthermore, the success rates for recording CFV and CFVR are similar to those measured in a Japanese population. This methodology has the potential to provide useful physiological information on the coronary circulation in American patients.(ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 22, March 2005) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adults aged ≥65 years comprise the fastest-growing segment of the United States population, and older adults experience greater morbidity and mortality due to infection than do young adults. Although age is well established as a risk factor for infection, most clinical investigations of infectious diseases in older adults focus on microbiology and on crude end points of clinical success, such as cure rates or death; however, they often fall to assess functional status, which is a critical variable in geriatric care. Functional status can be evaluated either as a risk factor for infectious disease or as an outcome of interest after specific interventions using well-validated instruments. This article outlines the currently available data that suggest an association between infection, immunity, and impaired functional status in elderly individuals, summarizes the instruments commonly used to determine specific aspects of functional status, and provides recommendations for a new paradigm in which clinical trials that involve older adults include assessment of functional status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the influence of experiences of racism, homophobia, and anti-immigrant discrimination on depressive symptoms and HIV risk among Asian and Pacific Islander gay men in the U.S. Rates of depressive symptoms among homosexuals; Discussion of the implications for mental health and HIV prevention interventions for gay men; Exploration of the potential protective role of conversations about discrimination with family and friendship networks.

Few rigorously tested primary prevention programs have been developed to prevent HIV infection among immigrant communities in the United States. This is in part because of the lack of culturally specific behavioral theories that can inform HIV prevention for immigrant communities in the United States. This article aims to develop such theories for a population— Asian/Pacific Islanders (A/PIs) immigrant communities—who have been overlooked in theory development and program evaluation. Frontline community-based organization (CBO) peer educators, an underutilized source of expertise regarding cultural factors specific to HIV infection among A/PI communities, are the sample of study Asian/Pacific Islander peer educators working at an urban AIDS service organization devoted to health promotion for this population; (N = 35). They were interviewed to examine (1) detailed narratives describing instances of behavior change and (2) culturally anchored theories of behavior change which the narratives imply. Theories of the influence of positive cultural symbols on the taboo of HIV/AIDS, moderators of the effectiveness of social network influences on behavior change, and setting and community-level processes predicting HIV risk behavior were implicit in the peer educators' narratives. Implications for future research, methodology and prevention practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic disadvantage has often been associated with poorer performance on measures of early childhood development. However, the causal impacts of income on child development remain unclear. The present study uses data from the Baby's First Years randomized control trial to identify the causal impact of unconditional cash transfers on maternal reports of early childhood development. One thousand racially and ethnically diverse mothers residing in poverty were recruited from four U.S. metropolitan areas shortly after giving birth. Mothers were randomized to receive either a $333/month or $20/month unconditional cash transfer for the first several years of their child's life. Maternal reports of language and socioemotional development, concerns for developmental delay, and enrollment in early intervention services were collected annually at the time of the child's first, second, and third birthdays. In this registered report, we document no statistically detectable impacts of the high-cash gift on maternal reports of child development. We discuss the significance and implications of these findings. Public Significance Statement: This study investigates the impact of the first 3 years of an ongoing, 6-year monthly unconditional cash transfer intervention for families of newborns with low income. Findings show no effect on maternal reports of children's early language and socioemotional development. We discuss a range of plausible interpretations for these findings and directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the implications of philosopher Martin Buber's philosophy of dialogue in Japanese and American intercultural communication in the U.S. Description and analysis of Japanese and American modes of communicative styles; Cultural transformations and changes in the modes of communication; Details of the philosophy of dialogue.

The article discusses the issues underpinning the study on the interactions of oncogenic viruses and animal cells transformation in the U.S. It argues that the transformation of cells by oncogenic viruses in vitro is a model for carcinogenesis. Proponents of the study state that the information required for transformation is contained in the cell and that tumor viruses modify its expression. It outlines the initial steps of cell transformation by comparing the biochemical characteristics of oncogenic virus-infected cells and normal cells.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

See the Reply by Li et al. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a biography of the chairman of the Department of Medicine David H. Solomon at the ULCA Medical Center in Torrance, California. His educational background; Academic endeavors of David in the field of medicine; Contributions made by David to the success and development of the 'Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.'

This study sought to examine children's immigration status as predictors of immigration related psychological distress and poverty among household with unauthorized parents. Immigration related psychological distress included stressors associated with working in United States without legal working papers and living in constant fear of deportation. Poverty was assessed by looking into income-to-needs ratio. Children's immigration status accounted for unique significant variance for poverty. The results indicated that households with unauthorized children were more likely to experience poverty than households with mixed-status children. Similarly, household with mixed status children were more likely to experience poverty than household with documented children. Although immigration-related psychological distress initially differed by children's immigration status, these differences disappeared after accounting for the income-to-needs ratio, highlighting poverty as a key factor in this distress. The findings that households with unauthorized parents, regardless of their children's immigration status, face higher poverty rates and that poverty drives immigration-related distress highlights the need for policies like DAPA, which could alleviate economic hardship and mental health challenges for these families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the geriatric training program of the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Establishment of geriatric research, education and clinical centers; Funding of a post-residency fellowship program in geriatric medicine; Fellowship program in geriatric psychiatry; Associated health trainees in geriatrics; Future training initiatives in geriatrics; Training sites and research support.

Purpose The impact of de novo donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSA) on patients after lung transplantation remains controversial. We investigated various characteristics of de novo DSAs, such as timing of initial de novo DSA detection, its duration of existence, and its type of HLA classes, in living-donor lobar lung transplantation (LDLLT) and cadaveric lung transplantation (CLT) at a single institution in Japan. Methods We performed 88 LDLLTs and 113 CLTs at Kyoto University between 2008 and 2018. We experienced the first case of antibody-mediated rejection in 2010 (Chen F, et al. Surg Today 2012 and Transplant Int 2014). Since July 2010, anti-HLA antibodies had been prospectively screened periodically, using LAB Screen Mixed (One Lambda, CA, USA). In addition, they were also investigated when recipients presented symptoms or abnormal findings. When anti-HLA antibodies were detected, their specificities were identified using LAB Screen Single Antigen (One Lambda, CA, USA). Patients' records were retrospectively reviewed. Patients, in whom anti-HLA antibodies were measured both preoperatively and postoperatively, were included in this study. Patients who had preformed DSA were excluded from this study. Results 69 patients in LDLLT and 89 patients in CLT were included in this study. 20 patients (13%) had de novo DSAs. There were 3 patients in LDLLT (5%) and 17 patients in CLT (18%, p<0.01). In LDLLT, de novo DSAs were detected more than 10 months postoperatively in 2 patients (67%). Class II DSAs were seen in all patients and class I was not seen in any patients. These DSAs were against bilateral donors in all patients. DSAs did not vanish despite treatment. On the other hand, in CLT, de novo DSAs were detected within 1 month in 14 patients (82%). Class I DSAs were seen in 15 patients and class II were seen in 8 patients. DSAs vanished in 12 patients (71%). Conclusion We found that de novo DSAs were significantly more frequently detected in LDLLT than in CLT. Types and existing duration of de novo DSA seemed different between LDLLT than CLT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patterns of breastfeeding over time are not currently well understood. Limited qualitative and quantitative evidence suggests that there may be latent subgroups of mothers in the United States following very different trajectories of breast milk provision for their infants. This study used a quantitative modelling method (group‐based trajectory modelling) to identify and describe these subgroups. Using data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II (n = 3,023), the authors identified four distinct trajectories of breastfeeding intensity, each of which included a substantial subset of the total sample. A model with four groups fit the data well by objective and conceptual standards. Bivariate associations were analysed, and significant difference between trajectory group membership was found on an array of maternal and family determinants, including maternal demographics, hospital experience, and psychosocial resources, as well as on postweaning perceptions. These associations were used to create group profiles for each subgroup. Controlling for sociodemographic covariates, we also found that trajectory membership was significantly associated with several health outcomes for the target child 6 years later, including certain infections, picky eating, and health care utilization; trajectory group membership was also associated with maternal breastfeeding of subsequent children and maternal body mass index (BMI) at Year 6. Child BMI z‐score and maternal breast cancer diagnosis were not significantly different across trajectory groups after accounting for confounding covariates, nor was time missed from school for the target child. Though exploratory, the initial identification and description of these four subgroups suggest future directions using breastfeeding trajectory methods, with potential implications for measurement, intervention development, and targeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the changes in the 'Journal of the American Geriatrics Society' as of July 2001. Closure of editorial office under the editorial leadership of physician William Applegate; Implementation of online web-based submission; Features of the journal.

The author reflects on the construction of a U.S. military base in Henoko and Oura Bay in Japan. He warns that the opposing stance of the Japanese government and the people of Okinawa will escalate to a dangerous confrontation unless certain issues are clarified such as the position of the Japanese Ministry of Environment, and the legality of Okinawa Governor Nakaima Hirokazu's administrative decision. He believes that once such issues are clarified, the dynamics of the Okinawa saga may change.

Presents a tribute to the endocrinologist and chairman of the Department of Medicine David H. Solomon at the University of California at Los Angeles Center on Aging in California for his contributions to geriatrics and gerontology on his 80th birthday. Details of his birthday celebration; Tribute paid to him by the editors of the 'Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.'