Welfare Reform and Substance Abuse: Innovative State Strategies

This issue brief highlights key facts about the impact of substance abuse on welfare reform and recipients of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, or TANF. After outlining some of the data on the incidence of substance abuse as well as its costs and treatment, it concludes by describing innovative state welfare programs attempting to lower barriers to employment and self-sufficiency

Doing It RIte: Exploring a Decade of Health Coverage Innovation (Rhode Island)

This site visit to the state of Rhode Island provided an opportunity to experience and understand the decade of health coverage innovation that has resulted in near universal coverage for children. Site visitors had the opportunity to interact with health care providers, state officials, and consumer advocates, as well as other leaders in health care community. The group also visited the Thundermist Health Center in Woonsocket; a school based health clinic at Woonsocket High School; the HELP Lead Safe Center in South Providence; and a local provider, St. Joseph’s Hospital for Specialty Care, that houses several preventive care clinics and is home to a large oral health care initiative

Theories of Recovery for Sexual Harassment: Going beyond Title VII

In this Article, Professors Dworkin, Ginger, and Mallor articulate and evaluate theories of recovery for sexual harassment outside of title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It initially reviews the development and expansion of the concept of sexual harassment. It then explores the reasons for plaintiffs to seek a cause of action outside of title VII. Finally, the Article presents a discussion of the application and advantages of each alternative theory of recovery. The authors conclude by noting that the opportunities for recovery have expanded well beyond title VII and will continue to expand

Grants Management Information System (GMIS)

In January of 2001, the Office of Justice Programs, Office of Highway Safety, Information Technology Office and the Grants/Accounting Division met to discuss the feasibility of investing in a Grants Management System. This paper describes that system

An Overview of EXPRESS Rack, Microgravity Science Glovebox, and Sub-rack Facilities for Materials Science Research

No abstract availabl

Comparative study of the persistence of anti-HIV activity of deoxynucleoside HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors after removal from culture

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Most in vitro assays of drug potency may not adequately predict the performance in vivo. Methods to assess the persistence of antiviral activity of deoxynucleoside analogs, which require intracellular activation to the active metabolites that can persist in cells, will be important for designing dosages, combination regimens, and assessing treatment compliance. Using an HIV-IIIB/TZM-bl indicator cell culture system, we assessed the ability of an inhibitor to protect cells from infection and to delay viral rebound after removal of inhibitor from culture.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The order of protection of cells from HIV-infection was 4'-Ed4T > LFD4C > DDI > D4T > 3TC > AZT > FTC > NVP. The fold-increase in EC₅₀to delay viral rebound was DDI < 4'-Ed4T < LFD4C < FTC < D4T < 3TC < NVP < AZT. The ranking of persistence of anti-HIV activity of the inhibitors based on the two-component assay was DDI > 4'-Ed4T > LFD4C > FTC = D4T > 3TC > NVP > AZT.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The persistence ranking was derived from assays based on measures of single viral replication-cycle and cumulative inhibition at multiple time-points. Therefore, a better indicator of the pharmacodynamic property of an inhibitor. The persistence of anti-HIV activity assay may complement in vitro potency assays to better predict in vivo performance of nucleoside analogs.</p

Oxidative stress in relation to diet and physical activity among premenopausal women

Abstract Higher levels of oxidative stress, as measured by F 2 -isoprostanes, have been associated with chronic diseases such as CVD and some cancers. Improvements in diet and physical activity may help reduce oxidative stress; however, previous studies regarding associations between lifestyle factors and F 2 -isoprostane concentrations have been inconsistent. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate whether physical activity and intakes of fruits/vegetables, antioxidant nutrients, dietary fat subgroups and alcohol are associated with concentrations of F 2 -isoprostane and the major F 2 -isoprostane metabolite. Urinary F 2 -isoprostane and its metabolite were measured in urine samples collected at enrolment from 912 premenopausal women (aged 35–54 years) participating in the Sister Study. Physical activity, alcohol consumption and dietary intakes were self-reported via questionnaires. With adjustment for potential confounders, the geometric means of F 2 -isoprostane and its metabolite were calculated according to quartiles of dietary intakes, alcohol consumption and physical activity, and linear regression models were used to evaluate trends. Significant inverse associations were found between F 2 -isoprostane and/or its metabolite and physical activity, vegetables, fruits, vitamin C, α -carotene, vitamin E, β -carotene, vitamin A, Se, lutein+zeaxanthin and long-chain n -3 fatty acids. Although trans fats were positively associated with both F 2 -isoprostane and its metabolite, other dietary fat subgroups including SFA, n -6 fatty acids, n -3 fatty acids, MUFA, PUFA, short-chain n -3 fatty acids, long-chain n -3 fatty acids and total fat were not associated with either F 2 -isoprostane or its metabolite. Our findings suggest that lower intake of antioxidant nutrients and higher intake of trans fats may be associated with greater oxidative stress among premenopausal women

Prospective memory intervention using visual imagery in individuals with brain injury [pre-print]

Prospective memory deficits are common after brain injury and can create impediments to independent living. Most approaches to management of such deficits are compensatory, such as the use of notebooks or electronic devices. While these can be effective, a restorative approach, in theory, could lead to greater generalisation of treatment. In the current study a metacognitive technique, using visual imagery, was employed under conditions of rote repetition and spaced retrieval. Treatment was provided in an AB-BA crossover design with A as the active treatment and B as a no-treatment attention control to 20 individuals with brain injury. A group of 20 healthy participants served to control for effects of re-testing. Individuals with brain injury demonstrated improvement on the main outcome measure of prospective memory, the Memory for Intentions Screening Test, only after the active treatment condition. In addition, some generalisation of treatment was measured in daily life. Moreover, treatment gains were maintained for one year after treatment was completed