Effects of vergence findings on prepresbyopic near spectacle prescriptions

Our study investigated effects of vergence findings on both prepresbyopic and presbyopic near spectacle prescriptions. It is possible that individuals with inadequate convergence abilities, maintain excessive accommodative effort for long periods of time to compensate for the convergence problem. This may result in a greater accommodative amplitude than one would expect based on age alone. If true, perhaps vision therapy programs utilizing sustained positive accommodative techniques, may delay the onset of presbyopia and the need for bifocals or reading glasses. We hypothesize that 36 - 50 year olds with convergence deficits will have larger accommodative amplitudes than an age matched control group. Five hundred forty clinic records were sampled from age 36 - 50 from the Pacific University Family Vision Facilities between October 25, 1998 and January 26, 1999. Data from completed vision examinations were collected and analyzed using the Statview Analysis Systems. A significant correlation was found between age and the add prescription, distance phoria and the add prescription, and the fused cross cylinder and the add prescription. No significant correlation was found between any of the near vergence findings (Base Out, Base In phoria, and NPC) amount of add, however, additional studies are needed to further investigate the role distance phoria plays in the amount of add given to patients

OBJECTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE KNOWLEDGE: IMPACTS ON CONSUMER DEMAND FOR GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE EUROPEAN UNION

In the growing body of literature on consumer acceptance of genetically modified (GM) foods, there are significant differences on the impact of knowledge on acceptance of GM foods. One potential explanation is the manner in which knowledge is measured. The goal of this study is to differentiate and examine the impact of both subjective and objective knowledge related to acceptance of genetically modified foods. Data from surveys collected in the United States, England, and France is used.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction by M(bpy-R)(CO)4 (M = Mo, W; R = H, tBu) complexes. Electrochemical, spectroscopic, and computational studies and comparison with group 7 catalysts

The tetracarbonyl molybdenum and tungsten complexes of 2,2′-bipyridine and 4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine (M(bpy-R)(CO)4; R = H, M = Mo (1), W (2); R = tBu, M = Mo (3), W (4)) are found to be active electrocatalysts for the reduction of CO2. The crystal structures of M(bpy-tBu)(CO)4 (M = Mo (3), W (4)), the singly reduced complex [W(bpy)(CO)4][K(18-crown-6] (5) and the doubly reduced complex [W(bpy-tBu)(CO)3][K(18-crown-6)]2 (6) are reported. DFT calculations have been used to characterize the reduced species from the reduction of W(bpy-tBu)(CO)4 (4). These compounds represent rare examples of group 6 electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction, and comparisons are made with the related group 7 complexes that have been studied extensively for CO2 reduction

Mid-gestation Angiogenic Biomarker Levels are Increased in Women at High Risk for Preeclampsia

Background: Pre-pregnancy hypertension and diabetes mellitus, multiple gestations, prior preeclampsia, are significant risk factors for preeclampsia. Whether altered maternal levels of angiogenic factors contribute to increased preeclampsia risk in these conditions is unknown. Our objective was to compare maternal serum angiogenic biomarker levels in women with major risk factors for preeclampsia and healthy controls. Methods: Women presenting for prenatal care were enrolled if they had one of the following preeclampsia risk factors: pre-pregnancy hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus, nulliparity with pre-pregnancy BMI\u3e30, multiple gestations, or prior preeclampsia. Healthy control pregnancies without these risk factors were enrolled for comparison. Maternal serum samples were collected at 3 pre-specified gestational windows between 23 and 36 weeks gestation. sFlt1, sEng, and PlGF were measured by ELISA. The (sFlt1+sEng):PlGF ratio was calculated and compared for each risk group at each gestational window. Results: Gestational patterns of angiogenic biomarkers differed in high-risk groups vs. healthy control subjects. The angiogenic ratio (sFlt1+sEng):PlGF was higher for all high risk groups except obesity/nulliparity as compared with healthy control subjects after 28 weeks gestation. Biomarker ratio levels were highest in subjects with MG and prior PE, and differences from the health control group became more pronounced as gestation progressed. Women with hypertension/diabetes had more subtle differences as compared with healthy control subjects. Conclusion: Women with preeclampsia risk factors had higher angiogenic ratios compared with healthy control women. This study illuminates the interplay between risk factors and placental angiogenic biomarkers in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia

School Psychologists’ Knowledge and Self-Efficacy in Working with Students with TBI

Approximately 145,000 U.S. children experience lasting effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that manifest in social, behavioural, physical, and cognitive challenges in the school setting. School psychologists have an essential role in identifying students who need support and in determining eligibility under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and perception of abilities related to TBI in a sample of school psychologists currently working in public schools. We surveyed school psychologists and found persistently low levels of knowledge and of perceived preparedness to work with these students. School psychologists with more experience working with students with TBI rated themselves significantly higher on their perceived ability to perform nearly all key duties of a school psychologist. To meet the academic and behavioural needs of students with TBI, all school psychologists need effective training in working with and evaluating students with TBI

Single molecule analysis reveals reversible and irreversible steps during spliceosome activation

The spliceosome is a complex machine composed of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) and accessory proteins that excises introns from pre-mRNAs. After assembly the spliceosome is activated for catalysis by rearrangement of subunits to form an active site. How this rearrangement is coordinated is not well-understood. During activation, U4 must be released to allow U6 conformational change, while Prp19 complex (NTC) recruitment is essential for stabilizing the active site. We used multi-wavelength colocalization single molecule spectroscopy to directly observe the key events in Saccharomyces cerevisiae spliceosome activation. Following binding of the U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNP, the spliceosome either reverses assembly by discarding tri-snRNP or proceeds to activation by irreversible U4 loss. The major pathway for NTC recruitment occurs after U4 release. ATP stimulates both the competing U4 release and tri-snRNP discard processes. The data reveal the activation mechanism and show that overall splicing efficiency may be maintained through repeated rounds of disassembly and tri-snRNP reassociation

Promoting the Health of Parents & Children: Addressing Perinatal Mental Health by Building Medical Provider Capacity Through Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs

Mental health conditions are the most common obstetric complications of the perinatal period, impacting 1 in 5 individuals during pregnancy and the year following pregnancy. Perinatal mental health (PMH) conditions have deleterious effects on the health of perinatal individuals and their children, and are a leading and preventable cause of maternal mortality. Nevertheless, PMH conditions are underrecognized, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. To address these gaps, Massachusetts created the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program (MCPAP) for Moms to build the capacity of frontline medical providers to address PMH conditions by providing education, consultation, and resources and referrals. MCPAP for Moms has emerged as a successful and scalable model with at least 25 states or organizations implementing or developing similar Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs. This report summarizes the Perinatal Psychiatry Access Program model and its individual and national impact

Exposure to celebrity- endorsed small cigar promotions and susceptibility to use among young adult cigarette smokers

Small cigar smoking among young adult cigarette smokers may be attributed to their exposure to its advertisements and promotions. We examined the association between exposure to a celebrity music artist’s endorsement of a specific brand of small cigars and young adult cigarette smokers’ susceptibility to smoking that brand. Venue-based sampling procedures were used to select and survey a random sample of 121 young adult cigarette smokers, aged 18–35. Fourteen percent reported exposure to the artist’s endorsement of the small cigar and 45.4% reported an intention to smoke the product in the future. The odds of small cigar smoking susceptibility increased threefold for those who reported exposure to the endorsement compared to those not exposed (OR = 3.64, 95% CI 1.06 to 12.54). Past 30-day small cigar use (OR = 3.30, 95% CI 1.24 to 8.74) and past 30-day cigar use (OR = 5.08, 95% CI 1.23, 21.08) were also associated with susceptibility to smoke a small cigar. An association between young adult cigarette smokers’ exposure to the music artist’s small cigar endorsement and their susceptibility to smoke small cigars was found. This association underscores the importance of monitoring small cigar promotions geared toward young people and their impact on small cigar product smoking

Treatment and Management of Depression Symptoms in Pregnant Veterans: Varying Experiences of Mental Health Care in the Prenatal Period

Depression screening is recommended for all pregnant veterans; however, little is known on how often symptomatic women receive care, how depression treatment presents in practice, and whether women veterans are utilizing treatment during the appreciable perinatal period. Our sample included 142 pregnant veterans from 15 Veterans Health Administration (VA) medical facilities with Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores \u3e/=10. Sociodemographic characteristics, military service, health utilization, and pregnancy related factors were collected as part of a telephone survey. A majority of our sample (70%) had 1 or more mental health visits or antidepressant prescriptions during pregnancy. Women with a history of depression had more mental health visits and a higher percentage of antidepressant use before and during pregnancy than women without a history of depression. Pregnant women veterans without a history of depression may be less likely to receive care for depression during pregnancy. However, the majority of our veterans showing depression symptoms prenatally had at least one mental health visit or an antidepressant medication fill during their pregnancy window, suggesting that mental health care is readily available for women veterans

Aromatic Structure in Simulates Titan Aerosol

Observations of Titan by the Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) between 560 and 20 per centimeter (approximately 18 to 500 micrometers) have been used to infer the vertical variations of Titan's ice abundances, as well as those of the aerosol from the surface to an altitude of 300 km [1]. The aerosol has a broad emission feature centered approximately at 140 per centimeter (71 micrometers). As seen in Figure 1, this feature cannot be reproduced using currently available optical constants from laboratory-generated Titan aerosol analogs [2]. The far-IR is uniquely qualified for investigating low-energy vibrational motions within the lattice structures of COITIDlex aerosol. The feature observed by CIRS is broad, and does not likely arise from individual molecules, but rather is representative of the skeletal movements of macromolecules. Since Cassini's arrival at Titan, benzene (C6H6) has been detected in the atmosphere at ppm levels as well as ions that may be polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) [3]. We speculate that the feature may be a blended composite that can be identified with low-energy vibrations of two-dimensional lattice structures of large molecules, such as PAHs or nitrogenated aromatics. Such structures do not dominate the composition of analog materials generated from CH4 and N2 irradiation. We are performing studies forming aerosol analog via UV irradiation of aromatic precursors - specifically C6H6 - to understand how the unique chemical architecture of the products will influence the observable aerosol characteristics. The optical and chemical properties of the aromatic analog will be compared to those formed from CH4/N2 mixtures, with a focus on the as-yet unidentified far-IR absorbance feature. Preliminary results indicate that the photochemically-formed aromatic aerosol has distinct chemical composition, and may incorporate nitrogen either into the ring structure or adjoined chemical groups. These compositional differences are demonstrated in the aerosol mass spectra shown in Figure 2. The aromatic aerosol also demonstrates strong chemical reactivity when exposed to laboratory air, indicating substantial stored chemical potential. Oxidatoin and solubility studies wil be presented and implicatoins for prebiotic chemistry o nTitan will be discussed