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Sterilization of females is considered one of the most prevalent contraceptive techniques among women in the United States. There are many surgical sterilization procedures including salpingectomy, tubal ligation, and hysteroscopic occlusion of the fallopian tubes. We provide an overview of these methods from the clinical data and latest studies available on this topic.In order to review the latest literature on the topic, we searched electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane library for all eligible studies from May 1st 2018 until May 1st 2022 using the following strategy: ("fallopian tube removal" OR Salpingectomy OR "fallopian tube excision" OR "tubal sterilization") AND ("tubal ligation" OR "bipolar coagulation" OR "tubal clip" OR "tubal ring" OR fimbriectomy). We reviewed every study that met our criteria and subjectively considered their results and methodology into this narrative review.In addition to reviewing major guidelines in the United States, 19 recent studies met our eligibility criteria and were included in this review. We grouped the findings under the following headings: anatomical and physiological considerations, sterilization, salpingectomy, tubal ligation, and hysteroscopic tubal occlusion.Bilateral salpingectomy and techniques of tubal ligation or occlusion continue to be effective procedures with good safety profiles. All techniques have similar surgical outcomes and long-term success rates. As salpingectomy has the advantage of reducing the risk of occurrence of ovarian cancer, this is preferential when feasible. Hysteroscopic occlusion techniques may be more minimally invasive but have the disadvantages of delayed efficacy, the need for a second invasive diagnostic procedure, and limited availability.

It has been suggested that pets play a critical role in the maintenance of methicillin-resistant (MR) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) Staphylococcus spp. in the household. We examined risk factors for carriage of antimicrobial-resistant coagulase-positive staphylococci, with particular attention to Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius isolated from pets living in households of people diagnosed with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) skin or soft-tissue infection. We analyzed data collected cross-sectionally from a study conducted in 2012 that evaluated the transmission of MRSA and other staphylococci from humans, their pets and the environment (Pets and Environmental Transmission of Staphylococci [PETS] study). We used unadjusted and adjusted stratified logistic regression analyses with household-clustered standard errors to evaluate the association between demographic, healthcare-related, contact-related and environmental risk factors and MDR Staphylococcus spp. isolated from dogs and cats. Staphylococcal isolates obtained from dogs (n = 63) and cats (n = 47) were included in these analyses. The use of oral or injectable antimicrobials by the pets during the prior year was the main risk factor of interest. Based on our results, 50% (12/24) of S. aureus, 3.3% (1/30) of S. pseudintermedius and 25% (14/56) of other coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS) were determined to be MDR. S. aureus isolates were more likely to be MDR compared with S. pseudintermedius. We did not find a significant statistical association between the use of oral or injectable antimicrobials in the prior year and the presence of MDR bacteria. The results suggest that drivers of antimicrobial resistance in household staphylococci may vary by bacterial species, which could have implications for one health intervention strategies for staphylococci and inform the investigation of other reverse zoonoses, such as COVID-19.

Household pets can carry meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) introduced to the home by their human companions. Specific factors promoting pet carriage of this pathogen have not been fully elucidated.This study evaluated MRSA cultured from pets and the home environment in households where a human infected with MRSA had been identified, and aimed to determine potential risk factors for pet MRSA carriage.Humans diagnosed with community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) skin or soft-tissue infection (SSTI) in the mid-Atlantic United States were identified. One hundred forty-two dogs and cats from 57 affected households were identified of which 134 (94.4%) pets and the household environment were sampled for bacterial culture, PCR confirmation and spa-typing for MRSA strain determination. Samples were obtained 3 months later from 86 pets.At baseline, 12 (9.0%) pets carried MRSA. Potential risk factors associated with carriage included pet bed (environmental) MRSA contamination, flea infestation and prior antimicrobial use in the pet. Pets tended to carry human-adapted MRSA strains and spa-types of MRSA isolates cultured from pets were concordant with strains cultured from the home environment in seven of eight homes (87.5%) at baseline.Results may inform risk-based veterinary clinical recommendations and provide evidence for selective pet testing as a possible alternative to early removal of pets from the homes of humans infected with MRSA. MRSA contamination of the home environment is likely an important risk factor for pet MRSA carriage, and household interventions should be considered to reduce risk of MRSA carriage in exposed pets.Les animaux domestiques peuvent être porteurs de Staphylococcus aureus résistant à la méticilline (SARM) introduit à la maison par leurs compagnons humains. Les facteurs spécifiques favorisant le portage de cet agent pathogène par les animaux de compagnie n'ont pas été entièrement élucidés.Cette étude a évalué le SARM cultivé à partir d'animaux de compagnie et de l'environnement domestique dans des ménages où une infection humaine à SARM avait été identifiée, et visait à déterminer les facteurs de risque potentiels de portage du SARM par les animaux de compagnie. MATÉRIELS ET MÉTHODES: Les humains diagnostiqués avec une infection de la peau ou des tissus mous (SSTI) à SARM d'origine communautaire (CA-MRSA) dans le centre de l'Atlantique aux États-Unis ont été identifiés. Cent quarante-deux chiens et chats de 57 foyers touchés ont été identifiés, dont 134 (94,4 %) animaux de compagnie et l'environnement domestique ont été échantillonnés pour la culture bactérienne, la confirmation par PCR et le typage spa pour la détermination de la souche de SARM. Des échantillons ont été prélevés trois mois plus tard sur 86 animaux de compagnie. RÉSULTATS: Au départ, 12 (9,0 %) animaux de compagnie étaient porteurs du SARM. Les facteurs de risques potentiels associés au portage comprenaient la contamination (environnementale) du lit de l'animal par le SARM, l'infestation par les puces et l'utilisation antérieure d'antimicrobiens chez l'animal. Les animaux de compagnie avaient tendance à être porteurs de souches de SARM adaptées à l'homme et les isolats de SARM de type spa cultivés à partir d'animaux de compagnie étaient concordants avec les souches cultivées à partir de l'environnement domestique dans sept des huit foyers (87,5 %) au départ.Les résultats peuvent éclairer les recommandations cliniques vétérinaires fondées sur les risques et fournir des preuves pour le dépistage sélectif des animaux de compagnie comme alternative possible au retrait précoce des animaux de compagnie des maisons des humains infectés par le SARM. La contamination par le SARM de l'environnement domestique est probablement un facteur de risque important pour le portage du SARM chez les animaux de compagnie, et des interventions domestiques doivent être envisagées pour réduire le risque de portage du SARM chez les animaux de compagnie exposés.INTRODUCCIÓN: las mascotas domésticas pueden portar Staphylococcus aureus resistente a la meticilina (MRSA) introducido en el hogar por sus compañeros humanos. Los factores específicos que promueven que las mascotas sean portadoras de este patógeno no se han dilucidado por completo. OBJETIVO: este estudio evaluó bacterias MRSA cultivadas de mascotas y del medio ambiente en hogares donde se identificó una infección humana por MRSA, y tuvo como objetivo determinar los factores de riesgo potenciales para el transporte de MRSA en mascotas. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: se identificaron humanos diagnosticados con infección de piel o tejidos blandos (SSTI) por MRSA comunitario (CA-MRSA) en la zona del Atlántico medio de los Estados Unidos. Se identificaron 142 perros y gatos de 57 hogares afectados, de los cuales se tomaron muestras de 134 (94,4 %) mascotas y del entorno del hogar para cultivo bacteriano, confirmación por PCR y tipificación por spa para determinar la cepa de MRSA. Se obtuvieron muestras tres meses después de 86 mascotas. RESULTADOS: al inicio del estudio, 12 (9,0 %) mascotas portaban MRSA. Los factores de riesgo potenciales asociados con el transporte incluyeron la cama de la mascota (ambiental), la contaminación por MRSA, la infestación por pulgas y el uso previo de antimicrobianos en la mascota. Las mascotas tendían a ser portadoras de cepas de MRSA adaptadas a humanos y los tipos de spa de aislados de MRSA cultivados a partir de mascotas coincidían con las cepas cultivadas del entorno doméstico en siete de ocho hogares (87,5 %) al inicio del estudio. CONCLUSIONES Y RELEVANCIA CLÍNICA: los resultados pueden aportar recomendaciones clínicas veterinarias basadas en el riesgo y proporcionar evidencia para pruebas selectivas en mascotas como una posible alternativa a la eliminación temprana de mascotas de los hogares de humanos infectados con MRSA. La contaminación de MRSA en el entorno del hogar probablemente sea un factor de riesgo importante para el transporte de MRSA en mascotas, y se deben considerar intervenciones domésticas para reducir el riesgo de transporte de MRSA en mascotas expuestas.Haustiere können einen Methicillin-resistenten Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) tragen, welcher durch die menschlichen Gefährten in den Haushalt gebracht wurde. Bisher wurden spezifische Faktoren, die dieses Tragen der Pathogene durch die Haustiere fördern, noch nicht vollständig untersucht. ZIEL: Diese Studie evaluierte MRSA, welcher von Haustieren kultiviert wurde, sowie die Räumlichkeiten in Haushalten, in denen eine humane MRSA-Infektion bestätigt worden war und zielte darauf ab, die möglichen Risikofaktoren für ein Auftreten von MRSA bei Haustieren festzustellen.Es wurden Menschen aus den Mittelatlantikstaaten der USA ausgesucht, die mit einem MRSA aus der Bevölkerung (CA-MRSA) oder einer Weichteilinfektion (SSTI) diagnostiziert worden waren. Einhundertzweiundvierzig Hunde und Katzen von 57 verschiedenen betroffenen Haushalten wurden identifiziert, wobei von 134 (94,4%) Haustieren sowie dem Wohnraum Proben für bakterielle Kulturen, PCR-Bestimmung und für eine Bestimmung der spa-Typisierung der MRSA-Stämme genommen wurden. Drei Monate später wurden von 86 Haustieren Proben genommen.Am Anfang wurde bei 12 Haustieren (9,0%) MRSA festgestellt. Mögliche Risikofaktoren dafür waren eine MRSA-Kontaminierung durch das Bett des Tieres (Umwelt), Flohbefall und vorherige antimikrobielle Behandlung beim Haustier. Die Haustiere tendierten zum Tragen von an den Menschen angepassten MRSA-Stämmen und die spa-Typen von MRSA-Isolaten, die von Tieren kultiviert worden waren, stimmten mit den Stämmen überein, die aus dem Wohnraum von sieben der acht Haushalte (87,5%) zum Ausgangszeitpunkt kultiviert worden waren.Diese Ergebnisse könnten für Risiko-basierte veterinärmedizinische klinische Empfehlungen Informationen liefern sowie Evidenz zur selektiven Untersuchung von Haustieren als mögliche Alternative zu einer frühzeitigen Entnahme der Haustiere aus Haushalten mit Menschen, die mit MRSA infiziert waren. Die MRSA-Kontaminierung des Wohnraums ist ein möglicher Risikofaktor dafür, dass Haustiere MRSA tragen und Interventionen im Haushalt sollten bedacht werden, um das Risiko von MRSA Trägern bei exponierten Haustieren zu reduzieren.背景:家庭宠物可以携带由其主人引入家庭的耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌 (MRSA)。促进宠物携带该病原体的具体因素尚未完全阐明。 目的:本研究评价了在已确定 MRSA 人类感染的家庭中，从宠物和家庭环境中培养的MRSA，旨在确定携带宠物 MRSA 的潜在风险因素。 材料和方法:确定在大西洋中部美国诊断为社交相关 MRSA(CA-MRSA) 皮肤或软组织感染 (SSTI) 的人类。鉴定57个发病家庭的142只犬猫，其中134只 (94.4%) 宠物和家庭环境采样进行细菌培养、PCR确认和 spa型 进行 MRSA 菌株测定。三个月后从86只宠物中采集样本。 结果:基础状态下，12只 (9.0%) 宠物携带MRSA。与携带相关的潜在风险因素包括宠物床(环境)MRSA污染、跳蚤感染和宠物先前使用抗菌药物。宠物往往携带人类适应的 MRSA 菌株，从宠物身上培养的 spa型 MRSA 分离株与八个家庭中七个家庭(87.5%)的家庭环境中培养的菌株基本一致。 结论和临床相关性:研究结果可能为基于风险的兽医临床建议提供信息，并为选择性宠物检测提供证据，作为早期将宠物从感染MRSA的人类家中移走的可能替代方法。家庭环境中的耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌污染可能是宠物携带耐甲氧西林金黄色酵母菌的一个重要风险因素，应考虑家庭干预措施，以降低暴露宠物携带耐假氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌的风险。.背景:家庭宠物可以携带由其主人引入家庭的耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌 (MRSA)。促进宠物携带该病原体的具体因素尚未完全阐明。 目的:本研究评价了在已确定 MRSA 人类感染的家庭中，从宠物和家庭环境中培养的MRSA，旨在确定携带宠物 MRSA 的潜在风险因素。 材料和方法:确定在大西洋中部美国诊断为社交相关 MRSA(CA-MRSA) 皮肤或软组织感染 (SSTI) 的人类。鉴定57个发病家庭的142只犬猫，其中134只 (94.4%) 宠物和家庭环境采样进行细菌培养、PCR确认和 spa型 进行 MRSA 菌株测定。三个月后从86只宠物中采集样本。 结果:基础状态下，12只 (9.0%) 宠物携带MRSA。与携带相关的潜在风险因素包括宠物床(环境)MRSA污染、跳蚤感染和宠物先前使用抗菌药物。宠物往往携带人类适应的 MRSA 菌株，从宠物身上培养的 spa型 MRSA 分离株与八个家庭中七个家庭(87.5%)的家庭环境中培养的菌株基本一致。 结论和临床相关性:研究结果可能为基于风险的兽医临床建议提供信息，并为选择性宠物检测提供证据，作为早期将宠物从感染MRSA的人类家中移走的可能替代方法。家庭环境中的耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌污染可能是宠物携带耐甲氧西林金黄色酵母菌的一个重要风险因素，应考虑家庭干预措施，以降低暴露宠物携带耐假氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌的风险。.Animais domésticos podem ser portadores de Staphylococcus aureus resistente à meticilina (MRSA) introduzidos em casa pelos seus contactantes humanos. Fatores específicos que promovem o carreamento deste patógeno pelos pets ainda não foram elucidados completamente.Este estudo avaliou MRSA cultivados de pets e seus domicílios em casas onde infecção humana por MRSA foi identificada, e teve como objetivo determinar os potenciais fatores de risco para carreamento de MRSA por pets. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Humanos diagnosticados com infecção cutânea ou de tecidos moles (SSTI) por MRSA comunitário (MRSA-C) na região do meio-atlântico dos Estados Unidos foram identificados. Cento e quarenta e dois cães e gatos de 57 domicílios identificados, dos quais 134 (94,4%) pets e o ambiente doméstico foram amostrados por cultura bacteriana, confirmação por PCR e tipificação de spa para determinação da cepa de MRSA. Três meses depois, amostras foram coletadas de 86 animais.No tempo 0, 12 (9,0%) pets eram portadores de MRSA. Os fatores de risco potenciais para o carreamento de MRSA incluíram contaminação das camas dos animais por MRSA, infestação por pulgas e uso prévio de antibióticos nos pets. Os pets apresentaram uma tendência de carrear cepas de MRSA adaptadas a humanos e os tipos de spa de isolados de MRSA cultivados de pets foram análogos às cepas cultivadas de seus domicílios em sete de oito casas (87,5%) no tempo 0. CONCLUSÕES E RELEVÂNCIA CLÍNICA: Os resultados podem fundamentar recomendações clínicas veterinárias baseadas nos riscos e fornecer evidências para testagem de pets selecionados como uma alternativa à remoção precoce de pets dos domicílios de humanos infectados por MRSA. A contaminação da casa por MRSA provavelmente é um fator de risco importante para o carreamento de MRSA por pets, e intervenções no ambiente doméstico devem ser consideradas para reduzir o risco de carreamento de MRSA em pets expostos.

Summary Background BNT162b2 mRNA and ChAdOx1 nCOV-19 adenoviral vector vaccines have been rapidly rolled out in the UK from December, 2020. We aimed to determine the factors associated with vaccine coverage for both vaccines and documented the vaccine effectiveness of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in a cohort of health-care workers undergoing regular asymptomatic testing. Methods The SIREN study is a prospective cohort study among staff (aged ≥18 years) working in publicly-funded hospitals in the UK. Participants were assigned into either the positive cohort (antibody positive or history of infection [indicated by previous positivity of antibody or PCR tests]) or the negative cohort (antibody negative with no previous positive test) at the beginning of the follow-up period. Baseline risk factors were collected at enrolment, symptom status was collected every 2 weeks, and vaccination status was collected through linkage to the National Immunisations Management System and questionnaires. Participants had fortnightly asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing and monthly antibody testing, and all tests (including symptomatic testing) outside SIREN were captured. Data cutoff for this analysis was Feb 5, 2021. The follow-up period was Dec 7, 2020, to Feb 5, 2021. The primary outcomes were vaccinated participants (binary ever vacinated variable; indicated by at least one vaccine dose recorded by at least one of the two vaccination data sources) for the vaccine coverage analysis and SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by a PCR test for the vaccine effectiveness analysis. We did a mixed-effect logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with vaccine coverage. We used a piecewise exponential hazard mixed-effects model (shared frailty-type model) using a Poisson distribution to calculate hazard ratios to compare time-to-infection in unvaccinated and vaccinated participants and estimate the impact of the BNT162b2 vaccine on all PCR-positive infections (asymptomatic and symptomatic). This study is registered with ISRCTN, number ISRCTN11041050, and is ongoing. Findings 23 324 participants from 104 sites (all in England) met the inclusion criteria for this analysis and were enrolled. Included participants had a median age of 46·1 years (IQR 36·0–54·1) and 19 692 (84%) were female; 8203 (35%) were assigned to the positive cohort at the start of the analysis period, and 15 121 (65%) assigned to the negative cohort. Total follow-up time was 2 calendar months and 1 106 905 person-days (396 318 vaccinated and 710 587 unvaccinated). Vaccine coverage was 89% on Feb 5, 2021, 94% of whom had BNT162b2 vaccine. Significantly lower coverage was associated with previous infection, gender, age, ethnicity, job role, and Index of Multiple Deprivation score. During follow-up, there were 977 new infections in the unvaccinated cohort, an incidence density of 14 infections per 10 000 person-days; the vaccinated cohort had 71 new infections 21 days or more after their first dose (incidence density of eight infections per 10 000 person-days) and nine infections 7 days after the second dose (incidence density four infections per 10 000 person-days). In the unvaccinated cohort, 543 (56%) participants had typical COVID-19 symptoms and 140 (14%) were asymptomatic on or 14 days before their PCR positive test date, compared with 29 (36%) with typical COVID-19 symptoms and 15 (19%) asymptomatic in the vaccinated cohort. A single dose of BNT162b2 vaccine showed vaccine effectiveness of 70% (95% CI 55–85) 21 days after first dose and 85% (74–96) 7 days after two doses in the study population. Interpretation Our findings show that the BNT162b2 vaccine can prevent both symptomatic and asymptomatic infection in working-age adults. This cohort was vaccinated when the dominant variant in circulation was B1.1.7 and shows effectiveness against this variant. Funding Public Health England, UK Department of Health and Social Care, and the National Institute for Health Research.

BackgroundA previous real-world study has reported the characteristics, treatment patterns and clinical outcomes of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who received abatacept in UK clinical practice.1,2 However, many of the eligible population received abatacept monotherapy rather than as indicated. A subgroup analysis of patients treated with abatacept in combination with methotrexate (ABA + MTX) was therefore undertaken to explore the treatment effect in this specific patient population.ObjectivesPresent a subgroup analysis describing the clinical outcomes of patients with RA treated with ABA + MTX in UK real-world clinical practice.MethodsA multi-centre, retrospective observational study was undertaken in patients with RA treated with abatacept at any line of therapy between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2017, across four UK centres. Data were collected from patient medical records from index date, defined as the date of first bDMARD initiation, to most recent RA clinic visit, death or end of study (31 December 2017). Clinical outcomes (disease activity and response to treatment) were measured using the 28-joint Disease Activity Score based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) and European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria. Patients that received abatacept outside indication (i.e., without concomitant methotrexate) were retrospectively excluded from the analysis dataset. Statistical analyses for the ABA + MTX subgroup were repeated in line with the methodology previously reported.1,2ResultsThis subgroup analysis included 133 patients, of 213 patients included in the original study, with RA that received ABA + MTX (mean age 54.6 years, 77.4% female, 7.5 years mean duration of RA at index date). At index date, 64.8% of patients were positive for both anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) and rheumatoid factor (RF), where data were available. In total, 77.8% of patients were categorised with high disease activity at index, with mean DAS28-ESR of 6.2 (SD 1.1).Irrespective of line of treatment (LOT), patients tended to have a more favourable distribution of good/moderate/no EULAR response when receiving ABA + MTX (31.8%/34.1%/34.1%; n=44) compared with receipt of other bDMARDs (12.7%/36.4%/50.9%; n=55) at 6 months. Similarly, a favourable distribution of good/moderate/no EULAR response in favour of those receiving ABA + MTX compared with other bDMARDs was observed at 12 months (30.6%/41.7%/27.8% versus 20.0%/35.0%/45.0%, respectively).Patients receiving ABA + MTX remained on treatment for significantly longer than patients in receipt of other bDMARDs as first LOT (median time on treatment 53.4 vs 18.1 months; pConclusionPatients with RA who received treatment with any bDMARDs, including ABA + MTX, experienced reduced disease activity. However, those receiving ABA + MTX persisted with treatment significantly longer than when receiving other bDMARDs.References[1]Choy, E. et al. Outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with abatacept: a UK multi-centre observational study. BMC Rheumatology5, 3, doi:10.1186/s41927-020-00173-0 (2021).[2]Henning, S. et al. AB0295 CHANGE IN DISEASE ACTIVITY AND TREATMENT RESPONSE AFTER ABATACEPT TREATMENT FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: REAL-WORLD EVIDENCE FROM THE UK. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases79, 1446-1447, doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-eular.1069 (2020).AcknowledgementsThis analysis was supported by Bristol-Myers Squibb.Disclosure of InterestsErnest Choy Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Amgen, Bristol Myer Squibbs, Chugai Pharma, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB, Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, Biocon, Chugai Pharma, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Janssen, Merck Serono, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, R-Pharm and Sanofi, Grant/research support from: Bio-Cancer, Biogen, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi and UCB, Sadie Henning Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Yes, Bristol Myers Squibb, Marie Brazil Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Currently an employee of Bristol Myers Squibb, Kevin Pollock Shareholder of: Yes - Bristol Myers Squibb, Speakers bureau: Yes - Merck Sharp & Dohme and Glaxo Smith Kline, Consultant of: Yes - Merck Sharp & Dohme, Employee of: Yes – currently employed by Bristol Myers Squibb, Lara Groves Grant/research support from: I am an employee of Health Economics and Outcomes Research Ltd., Cardiff, UK, who received fees from Bristol Myers Squibb in relation to this study, Daniel Sugrue Grant/research support from: I am an employee of Health Economics and Outcomes Research Ltd., Cardiff, UK, who received fees from Bristol Myers Squibb in relation to this study, John Houghton Grant/research support from: I am an employee of Health Economics and Outcomes Research Ltd., Cardiff, UK, who received fees from Bristol Myers Squibb in relation to this study

This article analyzes the panorama of published Spanish-language literature addressing protective factors and their role in the prevention of child maltreatment in Latino families. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the use of protective factors in English-language literature has been compared to their counterparts the Strengthening Families (SF) approach and Protective Factors Survey (PFS) frames our research process, which used reviewed literature to identify the presence of protective factors in seven Spanish-speaking countries: Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Spain, Venezuela and the United States. Our findings shed light on the importance of family functioning in Spanish-language studies to date and validate the inclusion of family functioning as a protective factor in the PFS. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

In the United States, many higher education institutions are experiencing decreasing enrollment due to shrinking numbers of traditional college-age students. From an international student perspective, the increasing competition among countries and higher education institutions means that they have more options to consider in their college choice process. This study seeks to develop a comprehensive college choice model uniquely suited for international students who have chosen American colleges and universities as their study destinations. Using a mixed methods case study methodology, this study reveals that the leading reasons for why international students begin to consider study abroad and finally choose their college destination were mainly explained by human capital theory and the concept of global cultural capital. The study also finds that the dynamic relationships among push and pull forces during the three-stage college choice model may significantly differ by students’ background characteristics (e.g., family income or parental education). This study has important policy and research implications for understanding the factors that influence international students that choose to study abroad in the United States.

Leadership must be a key element advancing for the engineering profession to remain relevant and connected in an era of heightened outsourcing and global competition. Companies intent on maintaining a competitive edge are calling upon educators to produce engineers capable of leading multidisciplinary teams, combine technical ingenuity with business acumen, and produce graduates who have a passion for lifelong learning. Industry is also challenging universities to broaden curricula beyond the intellectual endeavors of design and scientific inquiry to the greater domain of professional leadership and entrepreneurship. Managers in industry are similarly challenged to cultivate key leadership attributes in junior engineers. This article explores the changing nature of engineering in a globally competitive environment and addresses why leadership must become a key issue in the career progression of engineers. We will present a literature review of leadership models along with some proposed solutions for cultivating leadership skills as part of the career development process. Lastly, we will present specific recommendations on how to cultivate leadership attributes throughout an engineering career.

Capturing, transferring, and building upon knowledge in an organization is a difficult but necessary function to ensure the organization continues to learn and grow. This article discusses how a large organization with disparate operating elements can learn from experience. This is illustrated through a case study of the US Army enhancing learning for its organizations involved in developing base camps to support military forces worldwide. This was done through a series of workshops that led to the creation of a knowledge management system. Knowledge management provides useful methods and tools to improve learning in organizations, which can help facilitate change. The engineering manager can use this article and the lessons learned from our base camp experience as a framework to enhance learning in an organization whose functional elements are varied in terms of mission and location.

Cochlosoma anatis (Kotlan) is a flagellated protozoan that has been implicated in turkey enteritis. After sequencing and comparing a portion of the C. anatis 16S gene, species specific primers were previously developed and used for polymerase chain reaction detection of C. anatis DNA from house flies within 6 h after the flies had been collected in the field. In this study, filth flies were collected from six turkey production facilities in Arkansas during and between outbreaks of enteritis to determine the role of flies in the spread of C. anatis during 2002, 2003, and 2004 using C. anatis specific primers. Over the 3-yr-period we found that 181/1996 (9.1%) of the house flies collected from the farms were C. anatis-positive. There was a highly significant fly sex × month of collection interaction (X2 = 9.83, df = 2, P = 0.0073) indicating that greater percentages of males than females were found to be C. anatis-positive in August and October, 2002, and May and July in 2004 (X2 = 12.84, d...

In a study of the possible impact of leader and follower sex-similarity on leadership criteria, survey responses of 1,974 military cadets in 167 squads were analyzed at the completion of a month-long field training exercise. Analyses (which included a series of hierarchical linear models that explicitly accounted for the nested character of squad membership relative to a leader) yielded results that indicated that same-sex leader–subordinate pairings had more positive working relationships than different-sex pairings. However, leader ratings of subordinate performance did not yield clear evidence of such an effect. In addition, increases in the proportion of female members in a squad were not associated with differences in squad-level cohesion, while being associated with decreases in squad-level leader–member exchange (LMX). Subordinate reports of participation in decision making, although correlated positively with LMX, were not significantly different as a function of leader–subordinate sex-similarity. Implications are derived for managing demographic diversity in order to enhance within-unit functioning.

Muscidifurax zaraptor Kogan and Legner, M. raptorellus Kogan and Legner, and Spalangia cameroni Perkins were released bi-weekly in two facilities at a broiler-breeder egg production farm in Arkansas during 2003 and 2004. Of the recovered house fly, Musca domestica L., sentinel pupae, 18.8% were parasitized in 2003, with M. zaraptor being the dominant species (66.8%) and M. raptorellus contributing 6.9% of the parasitism. The release of M. raptorellus did not result in substantial parasitism in sentinel house fly pupae until the second year of study when M. raptorellus was the most dominant species, contributing approximately 61.9% parasitism. At the non-release farm, 13.9% of the sentinel house fly pupae were parasitized, with S. cameroni and M. zaraptor dominating in 2003. Parasitism at the control farm decreased to 3.4% in 2004. It appeared that sustained releases of parasitoids at the release farm over two years provided a significant increase in house fly pupal parasitism when compared to the...

Filth flies play a major role in the transmission of microbial organisms that cause disease in animals and humans. A procedure was developed using filter paper to collect filth fly fecal/regurgitation droplets at dairies and turkey production facilities that could be used to detect pathogen DNA carried by filth flies. Weekly fly fecal/regurgitation droplets were collected on 11 cm diameter filter paper that was either tacked to beams or stapled to 30 cm wooden stakes. Molecular diagnostics using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedures detected the presence of Escherichia coli H7, Campylobacter sp., and Cochlosoma anatis DNA in fecal/regurgitation droplets deposited by filth flies at two dairy and one turkey farm in Arkansas. This procedure provided a rapid and effective method to monitor pathogen presence in filth fly populations.

Aims To determine the threshold index of sweet and salty tastes in alcoholics undergoing treatment. Methods Taste threshold was assessed using type 3-Alternative Forced Choice in a control group (92 non-alcoholic volunteers) and a test group (92 alcoholics in therapy). The test group completed a structured questionnaire on lifestyle and habits. Results Significant difference were found between the threshold rates found in the test (3.78) and control groups (1.39). In the salty stimulus, no significant difference was noted in the threshold detection between the control (0.17) and test groups (0.30). A significant correlation was observed between the index Pearson's threshold to sweet taste in the test group and their reported alcohol consumption. The test group reported characteristics such as loss of appetite (93%), weight loss during consumption (62%) and weight gain after quitting drinking (72%). Conclusion That the alcoholic group reported less sensitivity to sweet taste suggests that drinking habits may influence choice of foods, with a greater preference for foods with higher sucrose concentration. This contribute to poor health, because excess consumption of sugar raises risk for several diseases. No conclusive results were found for the salty stimulus.

In a constructive replication of prior comprehensive tests of situational leadership theory, members of 86 squads of U.S. Military Academy cadets (total of 860 participants) provided data on leader consideration, leader structuring, follower readiness/maturity, follower satisfaction, follower performance, and leader-member exchange. Results of regression analyses and tests for mean differences within follower readiness/maturity level did not yield clear evidence of a predicted interaction among leader style and follower attributes. These results are in alignment with prior findings and suggest the theory may have little practical utility.

Runners Advantage (RA) creatine (Cr) serum has been marketed to increase running performance. To test this claim, cross-country runners completed baseline testing (BASE), an outdoor 5,000-m run followed by treadmill Vo(2)max testing on the same day. Subjects repeated testing after ingesting 5 ml of RA (n = 13) containing 2.5 g of Cr or placebo (n = 11). Heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and run time were recorded. With RA (56.48 +/- 8.93 ml.kg(-1.)min(-1)), Vo(2)max was higher (p = 0.01) vs. BASE (54.07 +/- 9.36 ml.kg(-1.)min(-1)), yet the magnitude of the increase was within the coefficient of variation of Vo(2)max. No effect of RA on maximal HR was exhibited, yet Vco(2)max and duration of incremental exercise were significantly higher (p < 0.025) vs. BASE. Vo(2)max was similar in PL (58.85 +/- 6.67 ml.kg(-1).min(-1)) and BASE (57.28 +/- 7.22 ml.kg(-1.)min(-1)). With RA, the 5,000-m time was unchanged, and RPE was lower (p < 0.025) vs. BASE. These data do not support the ergogenic claims of RA in its current form and dose.

There has been a relative absence of studies that have examined the neuropsychological profiles of potential lung transplant candidates. Neuropsychological data are presented for 134 patients with end-stage pulmonary disease who were being evaluated as potential candidates for lung transplantation. Neuropsychological test results indicated that a significantly greater proportion of the patients exhibited impaired performances on a number of Selective Reminding Test (SRT) tasks as compared to the expected population frequency distributions for these measures. The highest frequencies of impairment were observed on the SRT’s Immediate Free Recall (46.43%), Long-term Retrieval (41.67%), and Consistent Long-term Retrieval (51.19%) variables. On the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2)/Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent (MMPI-A), patients’ mean clinical profile revealed elevations on Scales 1 (Hypochondriasis) and 3 (Conversion Hysteria). This profile indicated that they were experiencing an array of symptomatology ranging from somatic complaints to lethargy and fatigue, and that they may have been functioning at a reduced level of efficiency. Findings are discussed in light of patients’ end-stage pulmonary disease and factors possibly contributing to their neuropsychological test performances. Implications for clinical practice and future research are also provided.

With the increased interest in the interactions of land use and transportation and their related impacts on global warming, there is now a warranted need for improved and quicker techniques for stimulating mobile source based, regional and sub-regional greenhouse gas emissions. The Bay Area Simplified Simulation of Travel, Energy, and Greenhouse Gases (BASTEGG) is a GIS-based tool for calculating automobile availability, vehicle usage, fuel consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions, by each household within the San Francisco Bay Area at the neighborhood level. There are three component models in the BASSTEGG, simulating auto ownership levels, vehicle usage levels, and carbon dioxide emissions. Socio-economic and elative transit-to-highway accessibility data at the travel analysis zone level is used to predict the distribution of household by vehicle availability level. Cross-classification models of vehicle miles of travel per household (VMT/HH) are applied based on urban density levels. Lastly, emissions per mile models, based on California Air Resources Board’s EMFAC models for various forecast years, are used to convert VMT per household into on-road mobile sources greenhouse gas emissions per household. The BASSTEGG model is intended to be used in land use alternatives scenarios testing at the regional level, and by city planners interested in the VMT and greenhouse gases produced and their communities.

There has been a relative absence of studies that have examined the neuropsychological profiles of potential lung transplant candidates. Neuropsychological data are presented for 134 patients with end-stage pulmonary disease who were being evaluated as potential candidates for lung transplantation. Neuropsychological test results indicated that a significantly greater proportion of the patients exhibited impaired performances on a number of Selective Reminding Test (SRT) tasks as compared to the expected population frequency distributions for these measures. The highest frequencies of impairment were observed on the SRT’s Immediate Free Recall (46.43%), Long-term Retrieval (41.67%), and Consistent Long-term Retrieval (51.19%) variables. On the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2)/Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent (MMPI-A), patients’ mean clinical profile revealed elevations on Scales 1 (Hypochondriasis) and 3 (Conversion Hysteria). This profile indicated that they were experiencing an array of symptomatology ranging from somatic complaints to lethargy and fatigue, and that they may have been functioning at a reduced level of efficiency. Findings are discussed in light of patients’ end-stage pulmonary disease and factors possibly contributing to their neuropsychological test performances. Implications for clinical practice and future research are also provided.

Consistent with the role of a long-term perspective in reducing the tendency of intergroup relations to be more competitive than interindividual relations in the context of noncorrespondent outcomes, an experiment demonstrated that anticipated future interaction reduced intergroup but not interindividual competitiveness. Further results indicated that the effect was present only for groups composed of members high in abstractness (Openness-Intellect on the Big 5 Inventory and Intuition on the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory) who trusted their opponents.

Microinjection of L-glutamic acid into the basal midbrain of the toad Bufo paracnemis induced a series of responses linked to antipredator behavior such as flight, backward locomotion and defensive postures. Furthermore, alerting/orientation occurred in 20% of the animals, a behavior which is probably important for the animal to achieve the above responses. Locomotion occurred in 18% of the toads. The existence of a mesencephalic premotor control for locomotion in these animals is discussed comparatively. All responses were accompanied by changes in arterial pressure, heart rate and intrabuccal pressure. In some animals which exhibited backward locomotion responses, defensive postures and alerting/orientation, bradycardia or cardiac arrest occurred, with no appreciable changes in arterial pressure. This fact is discussed on the basis of studies which have shown the occurrence of similar alterations in situations of fear in other vertebrates. Autonomic changes without other responses occurred in 16% of the animals. Flight behavior was usually observed as a consequence of stimulation of sites located in the anterodorsal tegmental nucleus and lateral portions of the midbrain tegmentum. In contrast, locomotion was obtained by stimulating basal sites of the tegmentum located in the anteroventral nucleus and in the reticular formation lateral to it. Sites related to the remaining behaviors were located more diffusely in the basal midbrain.

DNA probes to identify the genes encoding toxins in enteric bacteria have been developed. Use of these probes reduces the number of animals required for toxicity testing, as suspect bacteria can be directly tested for the presence of toxin. We have augmented the gene probes available by developing probes against the Escherichia coli enterotoxin LTII and shiga toxin from Shigella dysenteriae 1. The LTII gene from E. coli 357900 was identified and characterised and a suitable internal probe was obtained. The LTII gene was found not to be common among enterobacteriae from various geographical locations. Isolates predominately of animal origin from Nigeria and Thailand hybridized with the probe. The shiga toxin gene was isolated from S. dysenteriae 1 by a combination of in vivo and in vitro methods. An internal probe was identified and used against different serogroups of Shigella and E. coli isolates. The probe was found to hybridize with S. dysenteriae 1 isolates and also some S. flexneri and S. sonnei strains. Representatives were tested for toxin production and found to produce toxin at low levels.

The genetically engineered transposon TnPCB, contains genes (bph) encoding the biphenyl degradative pathway. TnPCB was stably inserted into the chromosome of two different rhizosphere pseudomonads. One genetically modified strain, Pseudomonas fluorescens F113pcb, was characterized in detail and found to be unaltered in important parameters such as growth rate and production of secondary metabolites. The expression of the heterologous bph genes in F113pcb was confirmed by the ability of the genetically modified microorganism to utilize biphenyl as a sole carbon source. The introduced trait remained stable in laboratory experiments, and no bph-negative isolates were found after extensive subculture in nonselective media. The bph trait was also stable in nonselective rhizosphere microcosms. Rhizosphere competence of the modified F113pcb was assessed in colonization experiments in nonsterile soil microcosms on sugar beet seedling roots. F113pcb was able to colonize as efficiently as a marked wild-type strain, and no decrease in competitiveness was observed. In situ expression of the bph genes in F113pcb was found when F113pcb bearing a bph'lacZ reporter fusion was inoculated onto sugar beet seeds. This indicates that the bph gene products may also be present under in situ conditions. These experiments demonstrated that rhizosphere-adapted microbes can be genetically manipulated to metabolize novel compounds without affecting their ecological competence. Expression of the introduced genes can be detected in the rhizosphere, indicating considerable potential for the manipulation of the rhizosphere as a self-sustaining biofilm for the bioremediation of pollutants in soil. Rhizosphere bacteria such as fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. are ecologically adapted to colonize and compete in the rhizosphere environment. Expanding the metabolic functions of such pseudomonads to degrade pollutants may prove to be a useful strategy for bioremediation.