Eighth Circuit Revisits Restoration Exception to Domestic Violence Gun Ban and Says Restore Means Restore

Under the Eighth Circuit\u27s analysis and Missouri law, a person who did not go to jail following a domestic violence conviction may be forever barred from possessing a firearm, while a person who did serve jail time will be able to possess a firearm upon completion of the sentence.4 Several circuits have adopted the Eighth Circuit\u27s reasoning. Others have attempted to avoid similarly odd results.5 For example, the First and Sixth Circuits have held that persons who have not lost their civil rights under state law may, nevertheless, be treated as having them restored in order to qualify for the restoration exception. 6 In United States v. Kirchoff, the Eighth Circuit reaffirmed its position; as a result, application of the Domestic Violence Gun Ban, its restoration exception, and Missouri law continue to give firearms privileges to previously incarcerated domestic abusers while denying firearms privileges to domestic abusers whose behavior did not warrant a sentence of confinement.

Psychosocial experiences of parents of young children who use hearing devices: a scoping review

Objective: The purpose of this scoping review was to provide information about the research base related to psychosocial experiences of parents of young children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) and use hearing devices. A scoping review identifies trends and gaps in available evidence and this information can be used to inform practice and identify areas in need of further research. Design: A scoping review was conducted in June 2020 to identify English-language peer-reviewed journal articles published through May 31, 2020. Study sample: Nine articles were found that investigated psychosocial factors of parents of children birth through five years who are DHH and use a hearing device. Results: Four psychosocial areas were explored in the identified studies: stress (n=5), self-efficacy (n = 2), depression (n = 1), and one explored both depression and psychological flexibility. None of the studies investigated an intervention to address parent psychosocial factors interfering with treatment adherence. Conclusions: There is a scarcity of research related to psychosocial barriers parents of young children who use hearing devices experience. Research is needed to identify effective interventions and to demonstrate the effect of addressing parent psychosocial barriers on spoken language outcomes for children. Providers have opportunities to use validated screening tools to assess for parent barriers and to individualize support for parents within the care plan for children identified with hearing loss

eHealth Education and Support for Pediatric Hearing Aid Management: Parent Goals, Questions and Challenges

Purpose: To investigate parent goals, questions, and challenges that emerged during coaching phone calls in an eHealth program designed to provide education and support for hearing aid management. Methods: Coaching phone calls were audio-recorded, transcribed and qualitatively analyzed for emergent themes within the categories of goals, questions, and challenges. Results: Emergent themes revealed parent goals were focused on self-efficacy, routines, device care and child development. Emergent themes for questions revealed parents asked questions related to the device care, audiology appointments, confirmation of learning, and child development. For challenges emergent themes revealed parents’ own struggles (e.g., with emotions), issues related to working with their audiologist, child factors and anticipated challenges. Conclusion: The eHealth intervention allowed parents to raise questions and discuss their challenges in a supportive environment. Supportive accountability helped participants identify and address barriers to hearing aid management based on their priorities and current challenges. Providing supplemental learning support, in addition to routine audiology visits, can help parents develop more effective hearing aid management routines

Soy Phosphatidylinositol–Containing Lipid Nanoparticle Prolongs the Plasma Survival and Hemostatic Efficacy of B-domain–Deleted Recombinant Canine Factor VIII in Hemophilia A Dogs

Soy phosphatidylinositol (PI) containing lipid nanoparticles prolong plasma survival, improve hemostatic efficacy, and decrease immunogenicity of human B-domain deleted Factor VIII (BDD FVIII) in Hemophilia A (HA) mice. We hypothesize that PI associated BDD FVIII is more potent than the free protein, and using mathematical modeling, have projected that PI associated BDD FVIII could be used for once-weekly prophylactic dosing in patients. To facilitate translation to the clinic, comparative plasma survival and ex vivo efficacy of PI associated recombinant canine FVIII (PI-rcFVIII) were evaluated in HA dogs. 2 HA dogs were administered a 50 U/kg iv dose of free or PI-rcFVIII. rcFVIII activity measurements and ex vivo efficacy analyses like whole blood clotting time (WBCT) and thromboelastography (TEG) were conducted on recovered plasma and whole blood samples. PI association decreased clearance (~25%) and increased plasma exposure (~1.4 fold) of rcFVIII. PI-rcFVIII treated animals had prolonged improvements in WBCTs and TEG parameters compared to free rcFVIII treated animals. Since rcFVIII is a BDD form of FVIII, these studies provide proof-of-principle that observations with human BDD FVIII in mice translate to higher animal species. Additionally, PI-rcFVIII has potential applications in canine HA management and as a bypass therapy in inhibitor-positive HA patients

An evaluation of edge effects in nutritional accessibility and availability measures: a simulation study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This paper addresses the statistical use of accessibility and availability indices and the effect of study boundaries on these measures. The measures are evaluated via an extensive simulation based on cluster models for local outlet density. We define outlet to mean either food retail store (convenience store, supermarket, gas station) or restaurant (limited service or full service restaurants). We designed a simulation whereby a cluster outlet model is assumed in a large study window and an internal subset of that window is constructed. We performed simulations on various criteria including one scenario representing an urban area with 2000 outlets as well as a non-urban area simulated with only 300 outlets. A comparison is made between estimates obtained with the full study area and estimates using only the subset area. This allows the study of the effect of edge censoring on accessibility measures.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results suggest that considerable bias is found at the edges of study regions in particular for accessibility measures. Edge effects are smaller for availability measures (when not smoothed) and also for short range accessibility</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>It is recommended that any study utilizing these measures should correct for edge effects. The use of edge correction via guard areas is recommended and the avoidance of large range distance-based accessibility measures is also proposed.</p

Porcine and Canine von Willebrand Factor and von Willebrand Disease: Hemostasis, Thrombosis, and Atherosclerosis Studies

Use of animal models of inherited and induced von Willebrand factor (VWF) deficiency continues to advance the knowledge of VWF-related diseases: von Willebrand disease (VWD), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), and coronary artery thrombosis. First, in humans, pigs, and dogs, VWF is essential for normal hemostasis; without VWF bleeding events are severe and can be fatal. Second, the ADAMTS13 cleavage site is preserved in all three species suggesting all use this mechanism for normal VWF multimer processing and that all are susceptible to TTP when ADAMTS13 function is reduced. Third, while the role of VWF in atherogenesis is debated, arterial thrombosis complicating atherosclerosis appears to be VWF-dependent. The differences in the VWF gene and protein between humans, pigs, and dogs are relatively few but important to consider in the design of VWF-focused experiments. These homologies and differences are reviewed in detail and their implications for research projects are discussed. The current status of porcine and canine VWD are also reviewed as well as their potential role in future studies of VWF-related disorders of hemostasis and thrombosis

Blood Pressure, Internal Carotid Artery Flow Parameters, and Age-Related White Matter Hyperintensities

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are associated with hypertension. We examined interactions between blood pressure (BP), internal carotid artery (ICA) flow velocity parameters and WMH. We obtained BP measurements from 694 community-dwelling subjects at mean ages 69.6 (±0.8) and again at 72.6 (±0.7) years, plus brain MRI and ICA ultrasound at age 73±1 years. Diastolic and mean BP decreased and pulse pressure increased but systolic BP did not change between 70 and 73 years. Multiple linear regression, corrected for vascular disease and risk factors, showed that WMH at age 73 were associated with history of hypertension (β=0.13, p<0.001) and with BP at age 70 (systolic β=0.08, mean β=0.09, diastolic β=0.08, all p<0.05); similar but attenuated associations were seen for BP at age 73. Lower diastolic BP and higher pulse pressure were associated with higher ICA pulsatility index at age 73 (diastolic BP: standardized β, age 70=−0.24, p<0.001; pulse pressure age 70 β=0.19, p<0.001). WMH were associated with higher ICA pulsatility index (β=0.13, p=0.002) after adjusting for BP and correction for multiple testing. Therefore falling diastolic BP and increased pulse pressure are associated with increased ICA pulsatility index, which in turn is associated with WMH. This suggests that hypertension and WMH may either associate indirectly because hypertension increases arterial stiffness which leads to WMH over time, or co-associate through advancing age and stiffer vessels, or both. Reducing vascular stiffness may reduce WMH progression and should be tested in randomised trials, in addition to testing antihypertensive therapy