This doesn\u27t happen here : Child sex trafficking in rural Oklahoma

The sex trafficking of minors is a hard-to-detect and underreported crime. Its insidiousness makes it exceedingly difficult to recognize, and treatment, once a victim is recovered, is long-term and costly. Urban areas are in the spotlight when it comes to the trafficking of minors. However, the unsuspecting rural context consists of specific dynamics that may make children in the countryside more vulnerable than in the city. Using the case of an Oklahoma town, the researchers conducted a presentation on child sex trafficking for school personnel at a K-8 rural school. They administered pre- and post-surveys and conducted follow-up interviews with a few of the school staff. Findings indicate that several factors influence the persistence of sex trafficking in rural areas, some of which are geographically specific, such as tight small-town networks and a lack of victim services. Another finding was that Oklahoma and other rural states lack comprehensive sex education, which leaves children more vulnerable to sexual predators. Anthony Down’s theory of rational ignorance and Bryan Caplan’s rational irrationality help explain the cost-benefit ratio that works to maintain the lack of comprehensive sex education and professional training on this issue. The researchers recommend a campaign to promote the benefits of comprehensive sex education while emphasizing the vulnerability of children’s safety without it, showing the ties between drug use, gangs, and sex trafficking

Efeitos da artrite reumatoide nas propriedades mecânicas e morfológicas do músculo quadríceps em mulheres com faixas etárias distintas

Introdução: A Artrite Reumatóide (AR) é uma doença inflamatória crônica, caracterizada pela presença de inflamação sinovial, destruição do osso e cartilagem. Com etiologia ainda desconhecida, a AR apresenta um padrão característico de acometimento articular, promovendo alterações do equilíbrio e da mobilidade funcional, provocados pela fraqueza muscular. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as propriedades mecânicas e morfológicas do músculo quadríceps de voluntárias portadoras de AR e voluntárias saudáveis. Métodos:A amostra foi dividida intencionalmente em dois grupos: controle (n=36) e AR (n=36). Realizamos uma avaliação do torque e arquitetura muscular. Um dinamômetro isocinético foi utilizado para a avaliação do torque dos músculos extensores do joelho e um aparelho de ultrassonografia colheu as imagens para a avaliação da arquitetura muscular. As voluntárias também passaram pela avaliação de testes funcionais (Teste Sentar-Levantar, Timed Up and Go), questionários e escalas auto-aplicados (International Physical Activity Questionnaire - IPAQ, Health Assessmant Questionnaire – HAQ, Medical Outcomes Study – 36 – Short from Health Survery: SF36 e Escala Visual Analógica – EVA), sendo comparados os dois grupos. A análise estatística seguiu o estudo de Schiottz- Christensen (2001) do torque isocinético para o tamanho amostral. Também foi utilizado estatística descritiva: média e desvio padrão, Testes de Shapiro-Wilk e Levene, Teste t de Student ou Teste U de Mann Whitney, Análise de variância, utilizando ANOVA de dois fatores, Teste post-hoc de Bonferroni, Teste de correlação linear de produto momento de Pearson, Teste Qui-Quadrado e Teste de Wilcoxon. Pacote estatístico utilizado foi SPSS versão 17.0 e o nível de significância de α ≤ 0,05. Resultados: Encontramos diferenças entre os torques o que consequentemente influencia a arquitetura muscular. As diferenças encontradas estão tanto no torque-velocidade (T-V), quanto no torqueângulo (T-A). Nas faixas etárias mais jovens (A e B) a perda de força muscular foi maior do que na faixa etária mais idosa (C). Talvez estes achados possam ser explicados pela fase aguda da AR ou pela capacidade de adaptação do sistema musculoesquelético ao longo da doença. Conclusão: A literatura nos mostra que mais estudos são necessários para entender os efeitos da AR no sistema musculoesquelético, como por exemplo o stress do tendão do (s) músculo(s) envolvido (s) e também o envolvimento muscular com as vias moleculares, como as citocinas pró inflamatórias. Concluímos que houve diferenças nas propriedades mecânicas e morfológicas do músculo quadríceps das voluntárias do grupo AR e grupo controle.Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease, characterized by the presence of synovial inflammation, bone and cartilage destruction. With its etiology still unknown, RA presents a distinctive joint involvement pattern, promoting balance and functional mobility alterations, caused by the muscular weakness. Objective: This study objective is to evaluate the mechanical and morphologic properties of the quadriceps muscle in volunteers with RA and without RA. Methods: The sample was willfully divided into two groups: control (n=36) and RA (n=36). A muscular torque and architecture evaluation was made. An isokinetic dynamometer was used for the knees extensors torque evaluation and an ultrasound took the pictures for the muscular architecture evaluation. The volunteers also passed through functional tests evaluation, questionnaires and self-assessment scales, being the two groups then compared. The statically analysis followed the study of Schiottz- Christensen (2001) for the isokinetic torque for the sample size. Also was used the descreptive analysis: mean and standard deviation, Shapiro- Wilk and Levene Tests, Test t of Student or Test U of Mann Whiney, variance analysis, using ANOVA of two factors, post-hoc Test of Bonferroni, linear correlation test of Pearson product moment, chi square test and Wilcoxon Test. Statistical pack used was SPSS version 17.0 and the significance level of α ≤ 0,05. Results: We found differences between torques what consequently influence the muscular architecture. The differences found are presented in the torque-velocity (T-V), as well as in torque-angle (T-A). In the younger age range (A and B) the muscular strength loss was bigger than in the older age range (C). Perhaps these findings could be explained by the RA acute phase or by the capacity of readaptation of the musculoskeletal system through the disease’s progress. Conclusions: Literature shows us that more studies are necessary to understand the effects of RA in the musculoskeletal, as for instance the stress of the tendon of the involved muscles and also the muscular involvement with the molecular via, like the proinflammatory cytokines. The importance in the regularity of physical activities practices, the disease control by medication and a balanced diet continue to be the best option for individuals with RA

Fungi on seeds of ornamentals

Estudou-se a ocorrência de fungos em sementes de nove espécies de plantas ornamentais herbáceas (Dahlia pinnata, Petunia x hybrida, Phlox drummondii, Rudbeckia hirta, Salvia farinacea, Salvia splendens, Tagetes patula, Viola tricolor e Zinnia elegans) costumeiramente plantadas no Distrito Federal. O método de detecção utilizado foi o de papel de filtro (“blotter-test”), sendo que uma subamostra, de 100 sementes, de cada espécie foi submetida a assepsia com álcool 70% e hipoclorito de sódio 1% e outra não. Das amostras de sementes analisadas foram detectados e isolados 32 fungos, sendo 88% representantes do grupo dos fungos mitospóricos, 6% do filo Ascomycota, 3% do filo Zygomycota e 3% de organismos semelhantes à fungos do filo Oomycota. Os gêneros mais frequentemente encontrados foram Alternaria, Cladosporium, Bipolaris, Curvularia, Exerohilum, Aspergillus e Penicillium. O maior número de fungos ocorreu nas sementes de D. pinnata, T. patula e P. drummondii. Alternaria alternata, Alternaria spp, Bipolaris spp., Curvularia lunata, C. protuberata, Exserohilum sp., Phoma glomerata, P. multirostrata, Pythium sp. e Ulocladium atrum podem, por indícios literários, ser um relato pioneiro em algumas das plantas de ornamentais. Possivelmente, no Brasil este é o primeiro relato de: Alternaria alternata em sementes de Dahlia pinnata, Salvia farinacea, S. splendens e Tagetes patula; Curvularia lunata em sementes de Rudbeckia hirta e T. patula; C. protuberata e Phoma glomerata em Zinnia elegans; Phoma multirostrata em Salvia splendens, e; Ulocladium atrum em semente de Viola tricolor.A study was made to detect the occurrence of fungi on seeds of nine species of herbaceous ornamental species (Dahlia pinnata, Petunia x hybrida, Phlox drummondii, Rudbeckia hirta, Salvia farinacea, S. splendens, Tagetes patula, Viola tricolor and Zinnia elegans) planted in the Federal District of Brazil. Subsamples of 100 seeds of each species, with or without desinfection with 70% alcohol and 1% sodium hypochlorite, were submitted to the blotter test on filter paper to detect fungi. Fungal species from these seeds were detected and isolated on PDA 32, with 88% of specimens identified as mitosporic fungi, 6% as Ascomycota, 3% as Zygomycota, and 3% as Oomycota. Alternaria, Cladosporium, Bipolaris, Curvularia, Exerohilum, Aspergillus and Penicillium were the most frequently detected genera. The highest number of fungi occurred on seeds of D. pinnata, T. patula and P. drummondii. Probably, Alternaria alternata, Alternaria spp., Bipolaris spp., Curvularia lunata, C. protuberata, Exserohilum sp., Phoma glomerata, P. multirostrata, Pythium sp., and Ulocladium atrum have been reported for the first time in the Federal District, Brazil, on seeds of ornamental plants. This appears to be the first report in Brazil of: Alternaria alternata on seeds of Dahlia pinnata, Salvia farinacea, S. splendens and Tagetes patula; Curvularia lunata on seeds of Rudbeckia hirta and T. patula; C. protuberata and Phoma glomerata on Zinnia elegans; Phoma multirostrata on Salvia splendens and Ulocladium atrum on seeds of Viola tricolor

Multinational survey of chiropractic patients: reasons for seeking care

This is the publisher's version, copyright by the Canadian Chiropractic Association.This study explores the extent to which consumers seek wellness care when choosing chiropractors whose practice methods are known to include periodic evaluative and interventional methods to maintain wellness and prevent illness. Methods: Using an international convenience sample of Sacro-Occipital Technique (SOT) practitioners, 1316 consecutive patients attending 27 different chiropractic clinics in the USA, Europe and Australia completed a one-page survey on intake to assess reason for seeking care. A forced choice response was obtained characterizing the patient’s reason for seeking chiropractic care. Results: More than 40% of chiropractic patient visits were initiated for the purposes of health enhancement and/or disease prevention. Conclusion: Although prudence dictates great caution when generalizing from this study, if confirmed by subsequent research among other similar cohorts, the present results may lend support to continued arguments of consumer demand for a more comprehensive paradigm of chiropractic care, beyond routine musculoskeletal complaints, that conceptualizes the systemic, nonspecific effects of the chiropractic encounter in much broader terms

India-US collaboration to prevent adolescent HIV infection: the feasibility of a family-based HIV-prevention intervention for rural Indian youth

Despite the centrality of family in Indian society, relatively little is known about family-based communication concerning sexual behaviour and HIV/AIDS in rural Indian families. To date, very few family-based adolescent HIV-prevention interventions have been developed for rural Indian youth. This study conducted formative research with youth aged 14 to18 years and their parents in order to assess the feasibility of conducting a family-based HIV-prevention intervention for rural Indian adolescents. Eight focus groups were conducted (n = 46) with mothers, fathers, adolescent females and adolescent males (two focus groups were held for each of the four groups). All focus groups consisted of same-gender participants. Adolescents aged 14 to18 years old and their parents were recruited from a tribal community in rural Maharashtra, India. Focus group transcripts were content analyzed to identify themes related to family perceptions about HIV/AIDS and participation in a family-based intervention to reduce adolescent vulnerability to HIV infection. Six primary thematic areas were identified: (1) family knowledge about HIV/AIDS; (2) family perceptions about adolescent vulnerability to HIV infection; (3) feasibility of a family-based programme to prevent adolescent HIV infection; (4) barriers to participation; (5) recruitment and retention strategies; and (6) preferred content for an adolescent HIV prevention intervention. Despite suggestions that family-based approaches to preventing adolescent HIV infection may be culturally inappropriate, our results suggest that a family-based intervention to prevent adolescent HIV infection is feasible if it: (1) provides families with comprehensive HIV prevention strategies and knowledge; (2) addresses barriers to participation; (3) is adolescent friendly, flexible and convenient; and (4) is developmentally and culturally appropriate for rural Indian families

Adenovirus-5-Vectored P. falciparum Vaccine Expressing CSP and AMA1. Part B: Safety, Immunogenicity and Protective Efficacy of the CSP Component

Background: A protective malaria vaccine will likely need to elicit both cell-mediated and antibody responses. As adenovirus vaccine vectors induce both these responses in humans, a Phase 1/2a clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of an adenovirus serotype 5-vectored malaria vaccine against sporozoite challenge.\ud \ud Methodology/Principal Findings: NMRC-MV-Ad-PfC is an adenovirus vector encoding the Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 circumsporozoite protein (CSP). It is one component of a two-component vaccine NMRC-M3V-Ad-PfCA consisting of one adenovector encoding CSP and one encoding apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA1) that was evaluated for safety and immunogenicity in an earlier study (see companion paper, Sedegah et al). Fourteen Ad5 seropositive or negative adults received two doses of NMRC-MV-Ad-PfC sixteen weeks apart, at 1x1010 particle units per dose. The vaccine was safe and well tolerated. All volunteers developed positive ELISpot responses by 28 days after the first immunization (geometric mean 272 spot forming cells/million[sfc/m]) that declined during the following 16 weeks and increased after the second dose to levels that in most cases were less than the initial peak (geometric mean 119 sfc/m). CD8+ predominated over CD4+ responses, as in the first clinical trial. Antibody responses were poor and like ELISpot responses increased after the second immunization but did not exceed the initial peak. Pre-existing neutralizing antibodies (NAb) to Ad5 did not affect the immunogenicity of the first dose, but the fold increase in NAb induced by the first dose was significantly associated with poorer antibody responses after the second dose, while ELISpot responses remained unaffected. When challenged by the bite of P. falciparum-infected mosquitoes, two of 11 volunteers showed a delay in the time to patency compared to infectivity controls, but no volunteers were sterilely protected.\ud \ud Significance: The NMRC-MV-Ad-PfC vaccine expressing CSP was safe and well tolerated given as two doses, but did not provide sterile protection