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Despite dropping crime rates and prison muster, pretrial population rates in New Zealand are growing faster than in other OECD nations, risking negative impacts on defendants and communities. Fourteen defendants and 18 stakeholders were interviewed about a bail support service's strengths and weaknesses. Officer‐training quality, communication between stakeholders and access to practical and cultural resources were crucial to success. Defendants reported that professional staff support and having access to services were the most helpful aspects. Changes were positive overall, but the programme's implementation, resources (especially lack of housing suitable for bail), and structure (within changing pretrial legislation) were of concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Baseball's Wildest Season: Three Leagues, Thirty-Four Teams and the Chaos of 1884" by William J. Ryczek is a comprehensive examination of the sport in 1884, a time when professionalism in baseball was still being debated. The book delves into the three major leagues of the era - the American Association (AA), the Union Association (UA), and the National League (NL) - and explores the challenges faced by teams, players, and owners. Ryczek provides extensive background information and uses quotes from the era to highlight the cultural and business aspects of the game. The book concludes with chapters on pitchers, minor leagues, and the precursor to the World Series. Overall, the book offers a detailed and informative account of a tumultuous season in baseball history. [Extracted from the article]

Background: This is the first study, to our knowledge, to assess uptake of oral antiviral treatment (OAV) for COVID-19 in the US and assess whether it is reaching recommended groups. Objective: The study evaluated uptake among persons of all ages, with emphasis on utilization among individuals ages 65 + who comprise 75% of all COVID-19 deaths. To maximize public health outreach and benefit, we sought to understand reasons for use and non-use of OAV among individuals 65 + with at least mild COVID-19 symptoms. Design: Data were collected from phase 3.5 of the US Census Household Pulse Survey, during three 2022 time periods: June 1–13, June 29–July 11, and July 27–August 8. Participants: Respondents (n = 12,299) were ages 18 + with active or resolved COVID-19 within the last 4 weeks of their survey participation. Main Measure(s): Comparisons of demographic variables were made for OAV uptake using the chi-square test of independence. A logistic regression was conducted to identify characteristics of participants independently associated with receipt of an OAV. Comparisons were made with chi-square testing, between those ages 65 + with at least mild symptoms who endorsed one of a number of specific reasons for not using OAV. Key Results: Utilization was low—17.9% of all respondents, 20.5% of respondents ages 50–64, and 33.9% of respondents 65 years and older received guideline-concordant treatment for their infection. Receipt did not differ by income or sex. The average response across the three phases was 5.4%. Most common reasons for not receiving treatment included having minimal symptoms, not thinking that they needed treatment, and not receiving a recommendation from their healthcare provider. Conclusions: A minority of increased-risk US residents have accessed early therapy for COVID-19 despite being made available without cost. Responses suggest that efforts to improve patient and provider knowledge could improve utilization to mitigate future COVID-19 hospitalizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clinical impact of coadministration of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir among vaccinated populations is uncertain. This study emulated a clinical trial to assess whether nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir reduces risk for hospitalization or death among outpatients with early COVID-19 in the setting of prevalent SARS-CoV-2 immunity and immune-evasive SARS-CoV-2 lineages. Visual Abstract. Nirmatrelvir Plus Ritonavir for Early COVID-19 in a Large U.S. Health System.: The clinical impact of coadministration of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir among vaccinated populations is uncertain. This study emulated a clinical trial to assess whether nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir reduces risk for hospitalization or death among outpatients with early COVID-19 in the setting of prevalent SARS-CoV-2 immunity and immune-evasive SARS-CoV-2 lineages. Background: In the EPIC-HR (Evaluation of Protease Inhibition for Covid-19 in High-Risk Patients) trial, nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir led to an 89% reduction in hospitalization or death among unvaccinated outpatients with early COVID-19. The clinical impact of nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir among vaccinated populations is uncertain. Objective: To assess whether nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir reduces risk for hospitalization or death among outpatients with early COVID-19 in the setting of prevalent SARS-CoV-2 immunity and immune-evasive SARS-CoV-2 lineages. Design: Population-based cohort study analyzed to emulate a clinical trial using inverse probability–weighted models to account for anticipated bias in treatment. Setting: A large health care system providing care for 1.5 million patients in Massachusetts and New Hampshire during the Omicron wave (1 January to 17 July 2022). Patients: 44 551 nonhospitalized adults (90.3% with ≥3 vaccine doses) aged 50 years or older with COVID-19 and no contraindications for nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir. Measurements: The primary outcome was a composite of hospitalization within 14 days or death within 28 days of a COVID-19 diagnosis. Results: During the study period, 12 541 (28.1%) patients were prescribed nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir, and 32 010 (71.9%) were not. Patients prescribed nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir were more likely to be older, have more comorbidities, and be vaccinated. The composite outcome of hospitalization or death occurred in 69 (0.55%) patients who were prescribed nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir and 310 (0.97%) who were not (adjusted risk ratio, 0.56 [95% CI, 0.42 to 0.75]). Recipients of nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir had lower risk for hospitalization (adjusted risk ratio, 0.60 [CI, 0.44 to 0.81]) and death (adjusted risk ratio, 0.29 [CI, 0.12 to 0.71]). Limitation: Potential residual confounding due to differential access to COVID-19 vaccines, diagnostic tests, and treatment. Conclusion: The overall risk for hospitalization or death was already low (1%) after an outpatient diagnosis of COVID-19, but nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir reduced this risk further. Primary Funding Source: National Institutes of Health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing awareness of the importance of civic engagement in higher education. Service-learning activities in undergraduate programs, in particular, have been linked to positive academic outcomes and gains in various forms of self-efficacy. Exercise Science students at our university complete two service-learning courses as part of the curriculum, each of which involves implementing a structured 12-week individualized fitness training program with a community member client. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of these service-learning experiences on Exercise Science students' self-efficacy for fitness assessment and exercise prescription. Students completed a seven-item self-efficacy questionnaire administered at both the beginning and end of each servicelearning course and reflected on their experience using an end-of-course survey. Our results showed significant improvements in self-efficacy from pretest to posttest for each of the two service-learning experiences, with the second experience producing additional gains in self-efficacy over and above the first. Students also reported improved confidence in their fitness assessment and exercise prescription skills in the end-of-course survey. Community members involved in the fitness training program reported a positive experience with students' knowledge of fitness assessment and exercise prescription as well as their own progression to independence in a home exercise program. Our findings highlight the benefits of including a structured service-learning experience in the Exercise Science curriculum. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study was done to investigate the effect of a structured fitness training experience on Exercise Science students' self-efficacy for fitness assessment and exercise prescription. Our results indicate a significant improvement in self-efficacy from pretest to posttest. Students also reported improved confidence in their fitness assessment and exercise prescription skills. Community members reported a positive experience with students' knowledge of fitness assessment and exercise prescription and their progression to independence in a home exercise program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are limited data for the clinical efficacy of bebtelovimab in preventing severe coronavirus disease 2019. Among outpatients unable to take nirmatrelvir-ritonavir at a large health system, 10 of 377 (2.7%) patients who received bebtelovimab and 17 of 377 (4.5%) matched untreated patients were hospitalized or died. The 43% observed risk reduction with bebtelovimab was not statistically significant (P = 0.14). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Unbiased assessment of the risks associated with acquisition of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is critical to informing mitigation efforts during pandemics. The objective of our study was to understand the risk factors for acquiring coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a large prospective cohort of adult residents in a large US metropolitan area. Methods We designed a fully remote longitudinal cohort study involving monthly at-home SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serology self-testing and monthly surveys. Results Between October 2020 and January 2021, we enrolled 10 289 adults reflective of the Boston metropolitan area census data. At study entry, 567 (5.5%) participants had evidence of current or prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. This increased to 13.4% by June 15, 2021. Compared with Whites, Black non-Hispanic participants had a 2.2-fold greater risk of acquiring COVID-19 (hazard ratio [HR], 2.19; 95% CI, 1.91–2.50; P <.001), and Hispanics had a 1.5-fold greater risk (HR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.32–1.71; P <.016). Individuals aged 18–29, those who worked outside the home, and those living with other adults and children were at an increased risk. Individuals in the second and third lowest disadvantaged neighborhood communities were associated with an increased risk of acquiring COVID-19. Individuals with medical risk factors for severe disease were at a decreased risk of SARS-CoV-2 acquisition. Conclusions These results demonstrate that race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status are the biggest determinants of acquisition of infection. This disparity is significantly underestimated if based on PCR data alone, as noted by the discrepancy in serology vs PCR detection for non-White participants, and points to persistent disparity in access to testing. Medical conditions and advanced age, which increase the risk for severity of SARS-CoV-2 disease, were associated with a lower risk of COVID-19 acquisition, suggesting the importance of behavior modifications. These findings highlight the need for mitigation programs that overcome challenges of structural racism in current and future pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concreteness and levels of processing (LOP) effects have been attributed to the differential availability of visual images for concrete words, and at deeper levels of processing, respectively. Interestingly, the concreteness effect has been shown to disappear under conditions involving dynamic visual noise (DVN), which is thought to suppress the generation of visual images from long-term memory. The present study further investigated the role of visual imagery in concreteness and LOP effects. Across four experiments, DVN was manipulated during study, and participants' memory for concrete and abstract words was measured using recall and recognition tests. Although some support for dual-coding was found, concreteness and LOP effects were not fully explained by visual imagery because they were present under DVN conditions. We conclude that concreteness and LOP effects may be better explained by an "extended dual-coding theory" that incorporates the role of context availability in accounting for this pattern of results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In fall 2020, the Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization for monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies for outpatients with COVID-19. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts issued guidance outlining the use of a reserve system with a lottery for allocation of mAbs in the event of scarcity that would prioritize socially vulnerable patients for 20% of the infusion slots. The Mass General Brigham health system subsequently implemented such a reserve system.Research Question: Can a reserve system be deployed successfully in a large health system in a way that promotes equitable access to mAb therapy among socially vulnerable patients with COVID-19?Study Design and Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the operation of the reserve system for allocation of mAb therapies to identify how referrals moved through the allocation process and what proportion of patients who were offered and received mAb therapies were socially vulnerable.Results: Notwithstanding multiple operational challenges, the reserve system for allocation of mAb therapy worked as intended to enhance the number of socially vulnerable patients who were offered and received mAb therapy. A significantly higher proportion of patients offered mAb therapy were socially vulnerable (27.0%) than would have been the case if the infusion appointments had been allocated using a pure lottery system without a vulnerable reserve (19.8%), and a significantly higher proportion of patient who received infusions were socially vulnerable (25.3%) than would have been the case if the infusion appointments had been allocated using a pure lottery system (17.6%) INTERPRETATION: Our health system experience demonstrates that a reserve system with a lottery for tiebreaking is a viable way to distribute scarce therapeutics when enhancing access for certain groups is desirable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection leads to blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction that does not resolve despite viral suppression on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. In preclinical models, cannabis restores BBB integrity. Methods We studied persons with HIV (PWH) and HIV-negative (HIV−) individuals who had used cannabis recently. We assessed 2 biomarkers of BBB permeability: the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to serum albumin ratio (CSAR) and CSF levels of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), a receptor for uPA, a matrix-degrading proteolytic enzyme that disrupts the BBB. A composite index of the BBB markers was created using principal components analysis. Neural injury was assessed using neurofilament light (NFL) in CSF by immunoassay. Results Participants were 45 PWH and 30 HIV− individuals of similar age and ethnicity. Among PWH, higher CSF suPAR levels correlated with higher CSAR values (r  = 0.47, P  < .001). PWH had higher (more abnormal) BBB index values than HIV− individuals (mean ± SD, 0.361 ± 1.20 vs −0.501 ± 1.11; P  = .0214). HIV serostatus interacted with cannabis use frequency, such that more frequent use of cannabis was associated with lower BBB index values in PWH but not in HIV− individuals. Worse BBB index values were associated with higher NFL in CSF (r  = 0.380, P  = .0169). Conclusions Cannabis may have a beneficial impact on HIV-associated BBB injury. Since BBB disruption may permit increased entry of toxins such as microbial antigens and inflammatory mediators, with consequent CNS injury, these results support a potential therapeutic role of cannabis among PWH and may have important treatment implications for ART effectiveness and toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Changes in gut microbiota composition are implicated in disease. • Gut microbiota composition impacts immune system function. • Extrinsic and intrinsic factors govern relative abundance of gut microbiota commensals. • Manipulation of gut microbiota could impact anti-tumor immunity. Numerous independent studies link gut microbiota composition and disease and imply a causal role of select commensal microbes in disease etiology. In the gut, commensal microbiota or pathobionts secrete metabolites that underlie pathological conditions, often impacting proximal tissues and gaining access to the bloodstream. Here we focus on extrinsic and intrinsic factors affecting composition of gut microbiota and their impact on the immune system, as key drivers of anti-tumor immunity. In discussing exciting advances relevant to microbiome-tumor interaction, we note existing knowledge gaps that need to be filled to advance basic and clinical research initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When Ring Lardner penned the first piece of baseball literature, he humanized the Busher and accomplished what both Bouton and Nathanson achieved: walking the fine line between revealing frailties and simply dishing dirt and complaining (196). By Mitchell Nathanson (review) Scott D. Peterson NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture, Volume 28, Numbers 1-2, Fall-Spring 2019-2020, pp. 223-224 (Review) Published by University of Nebraska Press DOI: For additional information about this article [ Access provided at 25 Feb 2021 04:29 GMT from Ebsco Publishing ] https://doi.org/10.1353/nin.2019.0049 https://muse.jhu.edu/article/781973 Reviews 223 Mit chel l N a thans o n. . Both made comebacks at advanced ages: Jim with the Braves in 1978 at age thirty- nine and Henry somewhere near forty in Harris's fourth and last book in the series It Looked Like For Ever (1979), which might have been inspired by Bouton. [Extracted from the article]

Diabetes is a chronic systemic disease that affects nearly one in eight adults worldwide. Ocular complications, such as cataract, can lead to significant visual impairment. Among the worldwide population, cataract is the leading cause of blindness, and patients with diabetes have an increased incidence of cataracts which mature earlier compared to the rest of the population. Cataract surgery is a common and safe procedure, but can be associated with vision-threatening complications in the diabetic population, such as diabetic macular edema, postoperative macular edema, diabetic retinopathy progression, and posterior capsular opacification. This article is a brief review of diabetic cataract and complications associated with cataract extraction in this population of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is an exploratory study of sporting news in selected issues of Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper from 1885 to 1895. Asking how the illustrated press portrayed sports and sporting events in the last decades of the nineteenth century, the authors analyzed pictorial content to understand how the ethos of realism was employed in pictorial representations of sports. During this period in journalism history, visual journalism was in transition. Photographic reproduction in newspapers was still being developed and perfected, so illustrating pictorial news content was still widely practiced. Using Thomas Connery's "paradigm of actuality" thesis, the researchers developed an "actuality" scale to help identify how realism was used to report on both amateur and professional sports in illustrated news reporting. In this exploratory study, the authors attempt to reveal how pictorial news about sports changed over time and suggest how connections between actuality and the cultural messages found in late nineteenth-century pictorial sports reporting can provide clues to intended audiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The expansion of combination antiretroviral treatment (ART) in southern Africa has dramatically reduced mortality due to AIDS-related infections, but the impact of ART on cancer incidence in the region is unknown. We sought to describe trends in cancer incidence in Botswana during implementation of the first public ART program in Africa. Methods: We included 8479 incident cases from the Botswana National Cancer Registry during a period of significant ART expansion in Botswana, 2003–2008, when ART coverage increased from 7.3% to 82.3%. We fit Poisson models of age-adjusted cancer incidence and counts in the total population, and in an inverse probability weighted population with known HIV status, over time and estimated ART coverage. Findings: During this period 61.6% of cancers were diagnosed in HIV-infected individuals and 45.4% of all cancers in men and 36.4% of all cancers in women were attributable to HIV. Age-adjusted cancer incidence decreased in the HIV infected population by 8.3% per year (95% CI -14.1 to -2.1%). However, with a progressively larger and older HIV population the annual number of cancers diagnosed remained constant (0.0% annually, 95% CI -4.3 to +4.6%). In the overall population, incidence of Kaposi’s sarcoma decreased (4.6% annually, 95% CI -6.9 to -2.2), but incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (+11.5% annually, 95% CI +6.3 to +17.0%) and HPV-associated cancers increased (+3.9% annually, 95% CI +1.4 to +6.5%). Age-adjusted cancer incidence among individuals without HIV increased 7.5% per year (95% CI +1.4 to +15.2%). Interpretation: Expansion of ART in Botswana was associated with decreased age-specific cancer risk. However, an expanding and aging population contributed to continued high numbers of incident cancers in the HIV population. Increased capacity for early detection and treatment of HIV-associated cancer needs to be a new priority for programs in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botswana was one of the first African countries to transition from WHO Option A to Option B for prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (MTCT). We evaluated the impact of this transition on projected MTCT risk through review of 10,681 obstetric records of HIV-infected women delivering at 6 maternity wards. Compared with Option A, women receiving antenatal care under Option B were more likely to receive combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.59 (95% confidence interval: 2.25 to 2.98), but they were also more likely to receive no antenatal antiretrovirals, aOR: 2.10 (95% confidence interval: 1.74 to 2.53). Consequently, initial implementation of Option B was associated with increased projected MTCT at 6 months of age, 3.79% under Option A and 4.69% under Option B (P, 0.001). Successful implementation of Option B or B+ may require that ART can be initiated within antenatal clinics, and novel strategies to remove barriers to rapid ART initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Less than one-third of HIV-infected pregnant women eligible for combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) globally initiate treatment prior to delivery, with lack of access to timely CD4 results being a principal barrier. We evaluated the effectiveness of an SMS-based intervention to improve access to timely antenatal ART. Methods: We conducted a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial of a low-cost programmatic intervention in 20 antenatal clinics in Gaborone, Botswana. From July 2011-April 2012, 2 clinics were randomly selected every 4 weeks to receive an ongoing clinic-based educational intervention to improve CD4 collection and to receive CD4 results via an automated SMS platform with active patient tracing. CD4 testing before 26 weeks gestation and ART initiation before 30 weeks gestation were assessed. Results: Three-hundred-sixty-six ART-naïve women were included, 189 registering for antenatal care under Intervention and 177 under Usual Care periods. Of CD4-eligible women, 100 (59.2%) women under Intervention and 79 (50.6%) women under Usual Care completed CD4 phlebotomy before 26 weeks gestation, adjusted odds ratio (aOR, adjusted for time that a clinic initiated Intervention) 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI]0.47–1.63, P = 0.67). The SMS-based platform reduced time to clinic receipt of CD4 test result from median of 16 to 6 days (P<0.001), was appreciated by clinic staff, and was associated with reduced operational cost. However, rates of ART initiation remained low, with 56 (36.4%) women registering under Intervention versus 37 (24.2%) women under Usual Care initiating ART prior to 30 weeks gestation, aOR 1.06 (95%CI 0.53–2.13, P = 0.87). Conclusions: The augmented SMS-based intervention delivered CD4 results more rapidly and efficiently, and this type of SMS-based results delivery platform may be useful for a variety of tests and settings. However, the intervention did not appear to improve access to timely antenatal CD4 testing or ART initiation, as obstacles other than CD4 impeded ART initiation during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the extent to which college students are exposed to methamphetamine use and the effects of this exposure on their collegiate experience and overall quality of life. Topics discussed include the use of prevalence estimates for monitoring the usage of methamphetamine and the search for data on the consequences of drug use. The perception of severe negative effects on various aspects of life and the large amount of time spent in treatment are also mentioned.

Background: Prophylactic cotrimoxazole is recommended for infants born to HIV-infected mothers. However, cotrimoxazole may increase the risk of severe anemia or neutropenia. Methods: We compared the proportion of HIV-exposed uninfected (HIV-EU) infants experiencing incident severe anemia (and separately, severe neutropenia) between a prospective cohort receiving prophylactic cotrimoxazole from 1 to 6 months vs. infants from two prior trials who did not receive cotrimoxazole. Infants were from rural and urban communities in southern Botswana. Results: A total of 1705 HIV-EU infants were included. Among these 645 (37.8%) were fed with iron-supplemented formula from birth. Severe anemia developed in 87 (5.1%) infants, and severe neutropenia in 164 (9.6%) infants. In an analysis stratified by infant feeding method, there were no significant differences in the risk of severe anemia by prophylactic cotrimoxazole exposure–risk difference, −0.69% (95% confidence interval [CI] −2.1 to 0.76%). Findings were similar in multivariable analysis, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.35 (95% CI 0.07 to 1.65). There were also no significant differences observed for severe neutropenia by cotrimoxazole exposure, risk difference 2.0% (95% CI −1.3 to 5.2%) and aOR 0.80 (95% CI 0.33 to 1.93). Conclusions: Severe anemia and severe neutropenia were infrequent among HIV-exposed uninfected infants receiving cotrimoxazole from 1–6 months of age. Concerns regarding hematologic toxicity should not limit the use of prophylactic cotrimoxazole in HIV-exposed uninfected infants. ClinicalTrials.gov Registration Numbers: NCT01086878 (http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01086878), NCT00197587 (http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00197587), and NCT00270296 (http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00270296). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental decay is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide. A variety of factors, including microbial, genetic, immunological, behavioral and environmental, interact to contribute to dental caries onset and development. Previous studies focused on the microbial basis for dental caries have identified species associated with both dental health and disease. The purpose of the current study was to improve our knowledge of the microbial species involved in dental caries and health by performing a comprehensive 16S rDNA profiling of the dental plaque microbiome of both caries-free and caries-active subjects. Analysis of over 50,000 nearly full-length 16S rDNA clones allowed the identification of 1,372 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the dental plaque microbiome. Approximately half of the OTUs were common to both caries-free and caries-active microbiomes and present at similar abundance. The majority of differences in OTU’s reflected very low abundance phylotypes. This survey allowed us to define the population structure of the dental plaque microbiome and to identify the microbial signatures associated with dental health and disease. The deep profiling of dental plaque allowed the identification of 87 phylotypes that are over-represented in either caries-free or caries-active subjects. Among these signatures, those associated with dental health outnumbered those associated with dental caries by nearly two-fold. A comparison of this data to other published studies indicate significant heterogeneity in study outcomes and suggest that novel approaches may be required to further define the signatures of dental caries onset and progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Studies using Posner’s spatial cueing paradigm have demonstrated that participants can allocate their attention to specific target locations based on the predictiveness of preceding cues. Four experiments were conducted to investigate attentional orienting processes operating in a high probability condition (cues 75% predictive) as compared to a low probability condition (cues 50% predictive) using various types of centrally-presented cues. Spatially-informative cues (arrows and circles with gaps) resulted in cueing effects (CEs) for both probability conditions, with significantly larger CEs in the high probability conditions than the low probability conditions. Participants in the high probability conditions reported little or no awareness of cue–target probabilities after task completion. Our results provide support for an implicit learning account of the proportion valid effect under experimental conditions involving spatially-informative central cues and relatively short stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Few studies have compared the programmatic effectiveness of the recommended strategies of antenatal highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and zidovudine for prevention of mother-to-child transmission. We prospectively followed infants (93% formula fed) whose mothers who took either HAART (258 infants) or zidovudine (170 infants) during pregnancy in the Botswana national program. Overall, 10 infants (2.5%) acquired HIV—9 infants in the zidovudine group (5.5%, 95% confidence interval: 2.6% to 10.2%) and 1 infant in the HAART group (0.4%, 95% confidence interval: 0.0% to 2.2%). Maternal HAART was associated with decreased prevention of mother-to-child transmission (P = 0.001) and improved HIV-free survival (P = 0.040) compared with zidovudine (with or without single-dose nevirapine) in a programmatic setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal highly-active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) reduces mother-to-child HIV transmission but may increase the risk for infant anemia.The incidence of first severe anemia (grade 3 or 4, Division of AIDS 2004 Toxicity Table) was assessed among HIV-uninfected infants in the Mashi and Mma Bana mother-to-child HIV transmission prevention trials in Botswana. Severe anemia rates were compared between 3 groups: infants exposed to maternal HAART in utero and during breastfeeding (BF) and 1 month of postnatal zidovudine (ZDV) (HAART-BF); infants exposed to maternal ZDV in utero, 6 months of postnatal ZDV, and BF (ZDV-BF); and infants exposed to maternal ZDV in utero, 1 month of postnatal ZDV, and formula-feeding (ZDV-FF).A total of 1719 infants were analyzed-691 HAART-BF, 503 ZDV-BF, and 525 ZDV-FF. Severe anemia was detected in 118 infants (7.4%). By 6 months, 12.5% of HAART-BF infants experienced severe anemia, compared with 5.3% of ZDV-BF (P < 0.001) and 2.5% of ZDV-FF infants (P < 0.001). In adjusted analysis, HAART-BF infants were at greater risk of severe anemia than ZDV-BF or ZDV-FF infants (adjusted odds ratios 2.6 and 5.8, respectively; P < 0.001). Most anemias were asymptomatic and improved with iron/multivitamin supplementation and cessation of ZDV exposure. However, 11 infants (0.6% of all infants) required transfusion for symptomatic anemia. Microcytosis and hypochromia were common among infants with severe anemia.Exposure to maternal HAART starting in utero was associated with severe infant anemia. Confirmation of this finding and possible strategies to mitigate hematologic toxicity warrant further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) may become part of the transportation fleet on time scales of a decade or two. We calculate the electric grid load increase and emissions due to vehicle battery charging in PJM and NYISO with the current generation mix, the current mix with a 550/tonne CO2 price, and this case but with existing coal generators retrofitted with 80% CO2 capture. We also examine all new generation being natural gas or wind+gas. PHEV fleet percentages between 0.4 and 50% are examined. Vehicles with small (4 kWh) and large (16 kWh) batteries are modeled with driving patterns from the National Household Transportation Survey. Three charging strategies and three scenarios for future electric generation are considered. When compared to 2020 CAFE standards, net CO2 emissions in New York are reduced by switching from gasoline to electricity; coal-heavy PJM shows somewhat smaller benefits unless coal units are fitted with CCS or replaced with lower CO2 generation. NOx is reduced in both RTOs, but there is upward pressure on SO2 emissions or allowance prices under a cap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effects of combined driving and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) usage on the lifetime performance of relevant commercial Li-ion cells were studied. We derived a nominal realistic driving schedule based on aggregating driving survey data and the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule, and used a vehicle physics model to create a daily battery duty cycle. Different degrees of continuous discharge were imposed on the cells to mimic afternoon V2G use to displace grid electricity. The loss of battery capacity was quantified as a function of driving days as well as a function of integrated capacity and energy processed by the cells. The cells tested showed promising capacity fade performance: more than 95% of the original cell capacity remains after thousands of driving days worth of use. Statistical analyses indicate that rapid vehicle motive cycling degraded the cells more than slower, V2G galvanostatic cycling. These data are intended to inform an economic model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We examine the potential economic implications of using vehicle batteries to store grid electricity generated at off-peak hours for off-vehicle use during peak hours. Ancillary services such as frequency regulation are not considered here because only a small number of vehicles will saturate that market. Hourly electricity prices in three U.S. cities were used to arrive at daily profit values, while the economic losses associated with battery degradation were calculated based on data collected from A123 Systems LiFePO4/Graphite cells tested under combined driving and off-vehicle electricity utilization. For a 16kWh (57.6MJ) vehicle battery pack, the maximum annual profit with perfect market information and no battery degradation cost ranged from ∼US$140 to $250 in the three cities. If the measured battery degradation is applied, however, the maximum annual profit (if battery pack replacement costs fall to $5000 for a 16kWh battery) decreases to ∼$10–120. It appears unlikely that these profits alone will provide sufficient incentive to the vehicle owner to use the battery pack for electricity storage and later off-vehicle use. We also estimate grid net social welfare benefits from avoiding the construction and use of peaking generators that may accrue to the owner, finding that these are similar in magnitude to the energy arbitrage profit. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A mild and efficient library synthesis technique has been developed for the synthesis of ureas and carbamates from carbamic acids derived from the DBU-catalyzed reaction of amines and gaseous carbon dioxide. Carbamic acids derived from primary amines reacted with Mitsunobu reagents to generate isocyanates in situ which were condensed with primary and secondary amines to afford the desired ureas. Similarly, carbamic acids from secondary amines reacted with alcohols activated with Mitsunobu reagents to form carbamates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A literary criticism of the book "You Know Me Al" by Ring Lardner is presented. It examines Lardner's use of vernacular humor and the work's place in baseball fiction of the early 20th century. It also addresses the series of emblematic and problematic aspects of the book and how these illustrate how baseball fiction published in a mass-market magazine can offer resistance to contemporary culture.

Attitudes toward science may develop as early as middle school and often differ between genders. Do these gender-based differences in attitude persist into the college years? In a survey of 376 university students, male students reported a stronger self-concept, more motivation, and more enjoyment of science than did female students, and female students reported more anxiety toward science than did male students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the increase of juvenile justice programs or youth courts. It notes that youth courts offers opportunity for communities to provide immediate responses for first-time youth offenders and a peer-sentencing system which allow adolescents to be held accountable and make indemnity for crimes committed. It offers an overview on the function of youth courts which involve several agencies and organizations including police, probation, and juvenile and family courts. Further, it emphasizes the need for youth courts to pose a positive experience for any of the youths involved.

Natural genetic transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae is controlled in part by a quorum-sensing system mediated by a peptide pheromone called competence-stimulating peptide (CSP), which acts to coordinate transient activation of genes required for competence. To characterize the transcriptional response and regulatory events occurring when cells are exposed to competence pheromone, we constructed DNA microarrays and analysed the temporal expression profiles of 1817 among the 2129 unique predicted open reading frames present in the S. pneumoniae TIGR4 genome (84%). After CSP stimulation, responsive genes exhibited four temporally distinct expression profiles: early, late and delayed gene induction, and gene repression. At least eight early genes participate in competence regulation including comX , which encodes an alternative sigma factor. Late genes were dependent on ComX for CSP-induced expression, many playing important roles in transformation. Genes in the delayed class (third temporal wave) appear to be stress related. Genes repressed during the CSP response include ribosomal protein loci and other genes involved in protein synthesis. This study increased the number of identified CSP-responsive genes from approximately 40 to 188. Given the relatively large number of induced genes (6% of the genome), it was of interest to determine which genes provide functions essential to transformation. Many of the induced loci were subjected to gene disruption mutagenesis, allowing us to establish that among 124 CSP-inducible genes, 67 were individually dispensable for transformation, whereas 23 were required for transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent and dramatic increase in the use of automation has not yielded comparable improvements in performance. Researchers have found human operators often underutilize (disuse) and overly rely on (misuse) automated aids (Parasuraman and Riley, 1997). Three studies were performed with Cameron University students to explore the relationship among automation reliability, trust, and reliance. With the assistance of an automated decision aid, participants viewed slides of Fort Sill terrain and indicated the presence or absence of a camouflaged soldier. Results from the three studies indicate that trust is an important factor in understanding automation reliance decisions. Participants initially considered the automated decision aid trustworthy and reliable. After observing the automated aid make errors, participants distrusted even reliable aids, unless an explanation was provided regarding why the aid might err. Knowing why the aid might err increased trust in the decision aid and increased automation reliance, even when the trust was unwarranted. Our studies suggest a need for future research focused on understanding automation use, examining individual differences in automation reliance, and developing valid and reliable self-report measures of trust in automation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Bacillus anthracis is an endospore-forming bacterium that causes inhalational anthrax. Key virulence genes are found on plasmids (extra-chromosomal, circular, double-stranded DNA molecules) pXO1 (ref. 2) and pXO2 (ref. 3). To identify additional genes that might contribute to virulence, we analysed the complete sequence of the chromosome of B. anthracis Ames (about 5.23 megabases). We found several chromosomally encoded proteins that may contribute to pathogenicity-including haemolysins, phospholipases and iron acquisition functions-and identified numerous surface proteins that might be important targets for vaccines and drugs. Almost all these putative chromosomal virulence and surface proteins have homologues in Bacillus cereus, highlighting the similarity of B. anthracis to near-neighbours that are not associated with anthrax. By performing a comparative genome hybridization of 19 B. cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis strains against a B. anthracis DNA microarray, we confirmed the general similarity of chromosomal genes among this group of close relatives. However, we found that the gene sequences of pXO1 and pXO2 were more variable between strains, suggesting plasmid mobility in the group. The complete sequence of B. anthracis is a step towards a better understanding of anthrax pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the use of DNA microarrays to estimate the evolution of mRNA levels for all known competence operons during induction of competence in a culture exposed to competence-stimulating peptide. Events of competence induction in Streptococcus pneumoniae at the mRNA level; Effect of ComX deficiency on expression patterns of CSP-inducible genes.

Provides information on a study which used a computational modeling approach to test one possible explanation for the limited capacity of the subitizing phenomenon. Experiments; Methods; Results and discussion; General discussion.

Looks at a study that used a global transposon mutagenesis to identify nonessential genes in an effort to learn whether the naturally occurring gene complement is a true minimal genome under laboratory growth conditions. Positions of 2209 transposon insertions in the genomes of Mycoplasma genitalium and Mycoplasma pneumoniae; What these junctions define; What the analysis suggests.

Provides information on a study which demonstrated how flufenamic acid (Flu) inhibits the conformational changes of transthyretin (TTR) associated with amyloid fibril formation. Theoretical background; Materials and methods; Results and discussion.

Focuses on visualizing Ku and DNA-PK in association with DNA. Purification of Ku and DNA-PKs from HeLa cells; Association of loops with Ku DNA binding; Preparation of DNA substrates; Electron and atomic force microscopy; Statistical analysis; DNA-PK components; Gel filtration chromatography results.

Presents a genetic map of the Mycoplasma genitalium chromosome. Properties of genome; Mapping; Sequence tag sites; Comparison with other bacterial chromosomes; Application.