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• 911. [Article] The assessment of service providers' attitudes toward working with older clients in an urban social service system

  This study investigates attitudes toward working with older clients held by service providers in an urban social service system. Four samples were involved: three of providers (Interview Panel, n = 22; ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The assessment of service providers' attitudes toward working with older clients in an urban social service system Author: Petersen, Marilyn Diane Year: 1981 This study investigates attitudes toward working with older clients held by service providers in an urban social service system. Four samples were involved: three of providers (Interview Panel, n = 22; Pretest Sample, n = 89; and Survey Sample, n = 428) and one of providers and their older clients (Encounter Sample, n = 52 providers, 147 clients). The first time samples included 13 provider types: hospital doctors, nurses, and nurses aides; in-home nurses and aides; nursing home nurses and aides; mental health practitioners; and income, nutrition, transportation, housing, and interaction personnel. The Encounter Sample included: in-home nurses and aides, and interaction personnel. All samples came from the Portland (Oregon) SMSA. Data were collected during May 1977 to August 1978. Results are of three types: an analytical model, a set of measurement scales, and research findings. The model consists of elements from the general literature on attitudes which are made specific to the study of providers' attitudes toward working with older clients. Its aim is to promote comprehensiveness and comparability of research in this area, and to suggest research questions. Two kinds of scales were developed: "general attitude" scales (measuring providers' attitudes toward working with older clients in the abstract) and "specific attitude" scales (measuring providers' attitudes toward individual older clients). For general attitudes, 10 scales operationalize cognitions of older clients, 9 scales operationalize cognitions of the job situation, 3 scales operationalize affect toward older clients, 1 scale operationalizes affect toward the job globally, and 1 scale operationalizes behavioral predispositions toward older clients. For specific attitudes, four scales operationalize cognitions of older clients. The scales' internal consistency reliability coefficients range from .50 to .89. The findings address six research questions, focusing on attitude valence, attitude uniformity across provider type, and the relationships between: cognition, affect, and behavioral predisposition; attitudes toward older clients versus the job situation; attitudes and choices of clients; and antecedents (e.g., providers' age) and attitudes. Major findings included: on the average, providers reported moderate positiveness toward both older clients and the job situation; and, across types, providers reported attitudes that were non-uniform in valence. Title: The assessment of service providers' attitudes toward working with older clients in an urban social service system Author: Petersen, Marilyn Diane Year: 1981 This study investigates attitudes toward working with older clients held by service providers in an urban social service system. Four samples were involved: three of providers (Interview Panel, n = 22; Pretest Sample, n = 89; and Survey Sample, n = 428) and one of providers and their older clients (Encounter Sample, n = 52 providers, 147 clients). The first time samples included 13 provider types: hospital doctors, nurses, and nurses aides; in-home nurses and aides; nursing home nurses and aides; mental health practitioners; and income, nutrition, transportation, housing, and interaction personnel. The Encounter Sample included: in-home nurses and aides, and interaction personnel. All samples came from the Portland (Oregon) SMSA. Data were collected during May 1977 to August 1978. Results are of three types: an analytical model, a set of measurement scales, and research findings. The model consists of elements from the general literature on attitudes which are made specific to the study of providers' attitudes toward working with older clients. Its aim is to promote comprehensiveness and comparability of research in this area, and to suggest research questions. Two kinds of scales were developed: "general attitude" scales (measuring providers' attitudes toward working with older clients in the abstract) and "specific attitude" scales (measuring providers' attitudes toward individual older clients). For general attitudes, 10 scales operationalize cognitions of older clients, 9 scales operationalize cognitions of the job situation, 3 scales operationalize affect toward older clients, 1 scale operationalizes affect toward the job globally, and 1 scale operationalizes behavioral predispositions toward older clients. For specific attitudes, four scales operationalize cognitions of older clients. The scales' internal consistency reliability coefficients range from .50 to .89. The findings address six research questions, focusing on attitude valence, attitude uniformity across provider type, and the relationships between: cognition, affect, and behavioral predisposition; attitudes toward older clients versus the job situation; attitudes and choices of clients; and antecedents (e.g., providers' age) and attitudes. Major findings included: on the average, providers reported moderate positiveness toward both older clients and the job situation; and, across types, providers reported attitudes that were non-uniform in valence. Close

• 912. [Article] Peer Network Emergence and Change in the Classroom: A Multiple Systems Perspective

  This study examined peer group processes in the classroom that can potentially explain how motivationally "rich" children get "richer" whereas motivationally "poor" children get "poorer." In contrast to ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Peer Network Emergence and Change in the Classroom: A Multiple Systems Perspective Author: Sage, Nicole Ann Year: 2009 This study examined peer group processes in the classroom that can potentially explain how motivationally "rich" children get "richer" whereas motivationally "poor" children get "poorer." In contrast to research on group processes which focuses on socialization from group to individual, this study focuses on contributions from the individual to his/her group. The viewpoint taken for this study is that children actively choose group members based on their own self-system state, thereby creating their own peer environments in which they develop.Viewed as open complex systems, children's natural peer groups were examined using data collected from students and their teachers at five measurement points across a school year in four grade 4/5 classrooms. Out of 112 students, data were obtained for 94 (51 male, 43 female) children regarding their classroom engagement, peer network affiliations, and associative preferences ("ideal groups" of classmates with whom they would like to hang out). In an effort to overcome some of the challenges that group researchers face, methodologies argued to reliably capture children's networks and to measure the network's psychological characteristics were used. In addition, a hierarchical systems framework was applied whereby the underlying group processes could be examined across time. Two of seven hierarchical perspectives were used to examine influences from the individual to his/her network. Focusing first on the changing nature of a child's network, findings revealed a pattern of robust equilibrium. Networks showed an initial period of rapid change in member turnover (approximately 45%) during the first few months and then evolved quickly toward a stable (attractor) state of approximately 25% turnover the remainder of the year. Focusing next on the proximal processes by which the peer network emerges--selection and elimination--children were found to be more similar to those whom they would like to select than those whom they would like to eliminate. Taken together, the findings suggest that the child creates a peer context in the classroom that is stimulating and compatible to his/her own changes in engagement across the school year, thereby providing a possible explanation for how the motivationally "rich" get "richer" and the "poor" get "poorer". Title: Peer Network Emergence and Change in the Classroom: A Multiple Systems Perspective Author: Sage, Nicole Ann Year: 2009 This study examined peer group processes in the classroom that can potentially explain how motivationally "rich" children get "richer" whereas motivationally "poor" children get "poorer." In contrast to research on group processes which focuses on socialization from group to individual, this study focuses on contributions from the individual to his/her group. The viewpoint taken for this study is that children actively choose group members based on their own self-system state, thereby creating their own peer environments in which they develop.Viewed as open complex systems, children's natural peer groups were examined using data collected from students and their teachers at five measurement points across a school year in four grade 4/5 classrooms. Out of 112 students, data were obtained for 94 (51 male, 43 female) children regarding their classroom engagement, peer network affiliations, and associative preferences ("ideal groups" of classmates with whom they would like to hang out). In an effort to overcome some of the challenges that group researchers face, methodologies argued to reliably capture children's networks and to measure the network's psychological characteristics were used. In addition, a hierarchical systems framework was applied whereby the underlying group processes could be examined across time. Two of seven hierarchical perspectives were used to examine influences from the individual to his/her network. Focusing first on the changing nature of a child's network, findings revealed a pattern of robust equilibrium. Networks showed an initial period of rapid change in member turnover (approximately 45%) during the first few months and then evolved quickly toward a stable (attractor) state of approximately 25% turnover the remainder of the year. Focusing next on the proximal processes by which the peer network emerges--selection and elimination--children were found to be more similar to those whom they would like to select than those whom they would like to eliminate. Taken together, the findings suggest that the child creates a peer context in the classroom that is stimulating and compatible to his/her own changes in engagement across the school year, thereby providing a possible explanation for how the motivationally "rich" get "richer" and the "poor" get "poorer". Close

• 913. [Article] The transition to Nazism, the history of the German town of Pfungstadt, 1928 to 1935

  Pfungstadt is a small German town which to date has not earned a footnote in the histories of either the Weimar Republic or the Third Reich. Based upon the efforts of men in towns like Pfungstadt (and ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The transition to Nazism, the history of the German town of Pfungstadt, 1928 to 1935 Author: Arns, David E. Year: 1972 Pfungstadt is a small German town which to date has not earned a footnote in the histories of either the Weimar Republic or the Third Reich. Based upon the efforts of men in towns like Pfungstadt (and towns which were not like Pfungstadt) the members of the Nazi party built a political structure which reached to the pinnacle upon which Adolf Hitler stood. Researching the growth of the Nazi party, the intense struggles that occurred with democratic forces, the seizure of power and the installation of a workable system of government is the problem. This thesis in no way purports to be more than a study of the history of the town of Pfungstadt between 1928 and 1935. Such a research problem demands field research. During a period of four months (September, 1971, to January, 1972) I lived in Pfungstadt. The main sources of the date which I gathered during that time were the town's newspaper, the Pfungstädter Anzeige, and the SPD newspaper, which was published in Darmstadt, the Hessischer Volksfreund. Daily accounts of the political and social events in Pfungstadt were carried in the Anzeiger; the Volksfreund contained a predominate amount of SPD party activities. Also consulted were various records from the town hall's archives. Supplementing, putting some flesh on the bones of the written records of Pfungstadt's history, were personal interviews with all of the living political leaders of the age, plus a broad cross-section of the general populace. The backbone of Pfungstadt's society was the middle class. Imbedded within that class were the seeds of Nazism. The working class was divided along political lines between the SPD (Social Democrats) and the KPD (Communists). The working class and the middle class (the bürgerlich), political competitors since the 1890's, grew wider and wider apart in political outlook with the advent of the depression in 1929. Ignoring their old association with liberalism, first a small portion, and then, by 1932, nearly the entire middle class fell into the Nazi's hands. The working class fought a double-barreled battle of its own. The KPD constantly scored the SPD for losing its “class identity” and took a sizable portion of the SPD's traditional electorate. The SPD, not desiring the radical programs of the KPD, formulated a liberal set of objectives, but was not able to stem the tide which was running for a "change." Democracy died in Pfungstadt because of the shortsighted vision of the middle class, a shortsightedness brought on by the seemingly insolvable depression. Faced with a choice, in their minds, between losing their social and political significance and voting for a change (any change) the middle class succumbed to an overwhelming political immaturity and voted for the Nazis. On March 7, 1933, with the middle class support assured, the Nazis seized power with the assistance of SA members from Darmstadt. Once in physical control of the town, a systematic series of measures assisted the Nazis in coordinating the town into their system. Everyone in Pfungstadt then was forced to pay an exorbitant price for the political blindness of the bürgerlich. Title: The transition to Nazism, the history of the German town of Pfungstadt, 1928 to 1935 Author: Arns, David E. Year: 1972 Pfungstadt is a small German town which to date has not earned a footnote in the histories of either the Weimar Republic or the Third Reich. Based upon the efforts of men in towns like Pfungstadt (and towns which were not like Pfungstadt) the members of the Nazi party built a political structure which reached to the pinnacle upon which Adolf Hitler stood. Researching the growth of the Nazi party, the intense struggles that occurred with democratic forces, the seizure of power and the installation of a workable system of government is the problem. This thesis in no way purports to be more than a study of the history of the town of Pfungstadt between 1928 and 1935. Such a research problem demands field research. During a period of four months (September, 1971, to January, 1972) I lived in Pfungstadt. The main sources of the date which I gathered during that time were the town's newspaper, the Pfungstädter Anzeige, and the SPD newspaper, which was published in Darmstadt, the Hessischer Volksfreund. Daily accounts of the political and social events in Pfungstadt were carried in the Anzeiger; the Volksfreund contained a predominate amount of SPD party activities. Also consulted were various records from the town hall's archives. Supplementing, putting some flesh on the bones of the written records of Pfungstadt's history, were personal interviews with all of the living political leaders of the age, plus a broad cross-section of the general populace. The backbone of Pfungstadt's society was the middle class. Imbedded within that class were the seeds of Nazism. The working class was divided along political lines between the SPD (Social Democrats) and the KPD (Communists). The working class and the middle class (the bürgerlich), political competitors since the 1890's, grew wider and wider apart in political outlook with the advent of the depression in 1929. Ignoring their old association with liberalism, first a small portion, and then, by 1932, nearly the entire middle class fell into the Nazi's hands. The working class fought a double-barreled battle of its own. The KPD constantly scored the SPD for losing its “class identity” and took a sizable portion of the SPD's traditional electorate. The SPD, not desiring the radical programs of the KPD, formulated a liberal set of objectives, but was not able to stem the tide which was running for a "change." Democracy died in Pfungstadt because of the shortsighted vision of the middle class, a shortsightedness brought on by the seemingly insolvable depression. Faced with a choice, in their minds, between losing their social and political significance and voting for a change (any change) the middle class succumbed to an overwhelming political immaturity and voted for the Nazis. On March 7, 1933, with the middle class support assured, the Nazis seized power with the assistance of SA members from Darmstadt. Once in physical control of the town, a systematic series of measures assisted the Nazis in coordinating the town into their system. Everyone in Pfungstadt then was forced to pay an exorbitant price for the political blindness of the bürgerlich. Close

• 914. [Article] Paths of Heritable Mitochondrial DNA Mutation and Heteroplasmy in Reference and Gas-1 Strains of Caenorhabditis Elegans

  Heteroplasmy—the presence of more than one mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence type in a cell, tissue, or individual—impacts human mitochondrial disease and numerous aging-related syndromes. Understanding ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Paths of Heritable Mitochondrial DNA Mutation and Heteroplasmy in Reference and Gas-1 Strains of Caenorhabditis Elegans Author: Wernick, Riana I., Estes, Suzanne, Howe, Dana K., Denver, Dee R. Year: 2016 Heteroplasmy—the presence of more than one mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence type in a cell, tissue, or individual—impacts human mitochondrial disease and numerous aging-related syndromes. Understanding the trans-generational dynamics of mtDNA is critical to understanding the underlying mechanisms of mitochondrial disease and evolution. We investigated mtDNA mutation and heteroplasmy using a set of wild-type (N2 strain) and mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) mutant (gas-1) mutant Caenorhabditis elegans mutation-accumulation (MA) lines. The N2 MA lines, derived from a previous experiment, were bottlenecked for 250 generations. The gas-1 MA lines were created for this study, and bottlenecked in the laboratory for up to 50 generations. We applied Illumina-MiSeq DNA sequencing to L1 larvae from five gas-1 MA lines and five N2 MA lines to detect and characterize mtDNA mutation and heteroplasmic inheritance patterns evolving under extreme drift. mtDNA copy number increased in both sets of MA lines: three-fold on average among the gas-1 MA lines and five-fold on average among N2 MA lines. Eight heteroplasmic single base substitution polymorphisms were detected in the gas-1 MA lines; only one was observed in the N2 MA lines. Heteroplasmy frequencies ranged broadly in the gas-1 MA lines, from as low as 2.3% to complete fixation (homoplasmy). An initially low-frequency (gas-1 progenitor was observed to fix in one gas-1 MA line, achieve higher frequency (37.4%) in another, and be lost in the other three lines. A similar low-frequency heteroplasmy was detected in the N2 progenitor, but was lost in all five N2 MA lines. We identified three insertion-deletion (indel) heteroplasmies in gas-1 MA lines and six indel variants in the N2 MA lines, most occurring at homopolymeric nucleotide runs. The observed bias toward accumulation of single nucleotide polymorphisms in gas-1 MA lines is consistent with the idea that impaired mitochondrial activity renders mtDNA more vulnerable to this type of mutation. The consistent increases in mtDNA copy number implies that extreme genetic drift provides a permissive environment for elevated organelle genome copy number in C. elegans reference and gas-1 strains. This study broadens our understanding of the heteroplasmic mitochondrial mutation process in a multicellular model organism. Title: Paths of Heritable Mitochondrial DNA Mutation and Heteroplasmy in Reference and Gas-1 Strains of Caenorhabditis Elegans Author: Wernick, Riana I., Estes, Suzanne, Howe, Dana K., Denver, Dee R. Year: 2016 Heteroplasmy—the presence of more than one mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence type in a cell, tissue, or individual—impacts human mitochondrial disease and numerous aging-related syndromes. Understanding the trans-generational dynamics of mtDNA is critical to understanding the underlying mechanisms of mitochondrial disease and evolution. We investigated mtDNA mutation and heteroplasmy using a set of wild-type (N2 strain) and mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) mutant (gas-1) mutant Caenorhabditis elegans mutation-accumulation (MA) lines. The N2 MA lines, derived from a previous experiment, were bottlenecked for 250 generations. The gas-1 MA lines were created for this study, and bottlenecked in the laboratory for up to 50 generations. We applied Illumina-MiSeq DNA sequencing to L1 larvae from five gas-1 MA lines and five N2 MA lines to detect and characterize mtDNA mutation and heteroplasmic inheritance patterns evolving under extreme drift. mtDNA copy number increased in both sets of MA lines: three-fold on average among the gas-1 MA lines and five-fold on average among N2 MA lines. Eight heteroplasmic single base substitution polymorphisms were detected in the gas-1 MA lines; only one was observed in the N2 MA lines. Heteroplasmy frequencies ranged broadly in the gas-1 MA lines, from as low as 2.3% to complete fixation (homoplasmy). An initially low-frequency (gas-1 progenitor was observed to fix in one gas-1 MA line, achieve higher frequency (37.4%) in another, and be lost in the other three lines. A similar low-frequency heteroplasmy was detected in the N2 progenitor, but was lost in all five N2 MA lines. We identified three insertion-deletion (indel) heteroplasmies in gas-1 MA lines and six indel variants in the N2 MA lines, most occurring at homopolymeric nucleotide runs. The observed bias toward accumulation of single nucleotide polymorphisms in gas-1 MA lines is consistent with the idea that impaired mitochondrial activity renders mtDNA more vulnerable to this type of mutation. The consistent increases in mtDNA copy number implies that extreme genetic drift provides a permissive environment for elevated organelle genome copy number in C. elegans reference and gas-1 strains. This study broadens our understanding of the heteroplasmic mitochondrial mutation process in a multicellular model organism. Close

• 915. [Article] Assessing Transit Fare Equity in Utah Using a Geographic Information System

  The goal of this study is to develop and apply a new method for assessing social equity impacts of distance-based public transit fares. Shifting to a distance-based fare structure can disproportionately ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Assessing Transit Fare Equity in Utah Using a Geographic Information System Author: Farber, Steven, Batholomew, Keith, Li, Xiao, Paez, Antonio, Nurul Habib, Khandker M. Year: 2014 The goal of this study is to develop and apply a new method for assessing social equity impacts of distance-based public transit fares. Shifting to a distance-based fare structure can disproportionately favor or penalize different subgroups of a population based on variations in settlement patterns, travel needs, and most importantly, transit use. According to federal law, such disparities must be evaluated by the transit agency, but the area-based techniques identified by the Federal Transit Authority for assessing discrimination fail to account for disparities in distances travelled by transit users. This means that transit agencies currently lack guidelines for assessing the social equity impacts of replacing flat fare with distance-based fare structures. Our solution is to incorporate a joint ordinal-continuous model of trip generation and distance travelled into a GIS Decision Support System. The system enables a transit planner to visualize and compare estimated distances travelled and transit-cost maps for different population profiles and fare structures. We apply the method to a case study in the Wasatch Front, Utah, where the Utah Transit Authority is exploring a switch to a distance-based fare structure. The analysis reveals that overall distance-based fares benefit low-income, elderly, and non-white populations. However, the effect is geographically uneven, and may be negative for members of these groups living on the urban fringe. The research discusses a potential conflict between policies designed to promote equity and those intended to increase discretionary ridership. For example, increasing fares for longdistance discretionary riders travelling from suburban light-rail stations to the central business district may have a negative impact on ridership, despite being economically more efficient through cost-recapturing. At the same time, reducing fares for short-distance trips that are currently too expensive compared to private automobile travel may attract new riders. A full cost-benefit analysis sensitive to heterogeneous price elasticity is recommended for future research. It is also noted that the research findings are dependent on the current spatial distributions of population segments and travel patterns. The equity benefits of distance-based fares are primarily derived from residential clustering of low-income and minority groups in more compact urban areas near the center of the city. Demographic trends, such as inner-city gentrification and suburban aging-in-place, may impose increased travel demands on low income and elderly riders, nullifying future equity gains made by a transition to distance-based fares. Title: Assessing Transit Fare Equity in Utah Using a Geographic Information System Author: Farber, Steven, Batholomew, Keith, Li, Xiao, Paez, Antonio, Nurul Habib, Khandker M. Year: 2014 The goal of this study is to develop and apply a new method for assessing social equity impacts of distance-based public transit fares. Shifting to a distance-based fare structure can disproportionately favor or penalize different subgroups of a population based on variations in settlement patterns, travel needs, and most importantly, transit use. According to federal law, such disparities must be evaluated by the transit agency, but the area-based techniques identified by the Federal Transit Authority for assessing discrimination fail to account for disparities in distances travelled by transit users. This means that transit agencies currently lack guidelines for assessing the social equity impacts of replacing flat fare with distance-based fare structures. Our solution is to incorporate a joint ordinal-continuous model of trip generation and distance travelled into a GIS Decision Support System. The system enables a transit planner to visualize and compare estimated distances travelled and transit-cost maps for different population profiles and fare structures. We apply the method to a case study in the Wasatch Front, Utah, where the Utah Transit Authority is exploring a switch to a distance-based fare structure. The analysis reveals that overall distance-based fares benefit low-income, elderly, and non-white populations. However, the effect is geographically uneven, and may be negative for members of these groups living on the urban fringe. The research discusses a potential conflict between policies designed to promote equity and those intended to increase discretionary ridership. For example, increasing fares for longdistance discretionary riders travelling from suburban light-rail stations to the central business district may have a negative impact on ridership, despite being economically more efficient through cost-recapturing. At the same time, reducing fares for short-distance trips that are currently too expensive compared to private automobile travel may attract new riders. A full cost-benefit analysis sensitive to heterogeneous price elasticity is recommended for future research. It is also noted that the research findings are dependent on the current spatial distributions of population segments and travel patterns. The equity benefits of distance-based fares are primarily derived from residential clustering of low-income and minority groups in more compact urban areas near the center of the city. Demographic trends, such as inner-city gentrification and suburban aging-in-place, may impose increased travel demands on low income and elderly riders, nullifying future equity gains made by a transition to distance-based fares. Close

• 916. [Article] Morinda Citrifolia L. (noni) Improves the Quality of Life in Adults with Osteoarthritis

  Background: Morinda citrifolia Linn (noni), as a “pain killer”, has been used as a traditional medicine by Polynesians for over 2000 years. It was reported to have a broad range of therapeutic effects ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Morinda Citrifolia L. (noni) Improves the Quality of Life in Adults with Osteoarthritis Author: Wang, Mian-Ying, Lutfiyya, M. Nawal, Weidenbacher-Hoper, Vicki, Peng, Lin, Lipsky, Martin S., Anderson, Gary Year: 2011 Background: Morinda citrifolia Linn (noni), as a “pain killer”, has been used as a traditional medicine by Polynesians for over 2000 years. It was reported to have a broad range of therapeutic effects including analgesic and anti-inflammation. The in-vitro and in vivoanti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of noni juice (NJ) suggest that NJ may be a useful adjunctive treatment for osteoarthritis (OA). In this pilot study we explored whether NJ improves the symptoms and Quality of Life (QoL) for adults with OA. We also sought to evaluate the tolerability and safety of NJ for patients with OA in a primary care setting. Methods: This was an open label three-month intervention pilot study. Data were collected by pre/post intervention survey and laboratory testing. Inclusion criteria were: adults of both sexes aged 40 to 75, with a diagnosis of OA on the hip or knee by x-ray examination provided by their primary care physician, not on prescription medicine for OA, and who were willing to drink 3 oz of NJ a day for 90 days. Results: Of the 64 questions measuring different aspects of QoL asked on the pre/post survey, 49 (77%) had significant pre/post mean scale differences as measured by independent t-test. The OA patients reported being significantly more satisfied with their current health conditions including mobility, walking and bending, hand, finger, and arm functions, household tasks, social activity, arthritis pain, work ability, level of tension, and mood. The study participants were also more positive about their future health and reported taking less over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers. Pre/post laboratory testing including: lipid panel, liver and kidney functions were in the normal ranges. High Sensitive C Reactive Protein (hsCRP), an inflammatory biomarker, was reduced by 10% after the intervention. Title: Morinda Citrifolia L. (noni) Improves the Quality of Life in Adults with Osteoarthritis Author: Wang, Mian-Ying, Lutfiyya, M. Nawal, Weidenbacher-Hoper, Vicki, Peng, Lin, Lipsky, Martin S., Anderson, Gary Year: 2011 Background: Morinda citrifolia Linn (noni), as a “pain killer”, has been used as a traditional medicine by Polynesians for over 2000 years. It was reported to have a broad range of therapeutic effects including analgesic and anti-inflammation. The in-vitro and in vivoanti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of noni juice (NJ) suggest that NJ may be a useful adjunctive treatment for osteoarthritis (OA). In this pilot study we explored whether NJ improves the symptoms and Quality of Life (QoL) for adults with OA. We also sought to evaluate the tolerability and safety of NJ for patients with OA in a primary care setting. Methods: This was an open label three-month intervention pilot study. Data were collected by pre/post intervention survey and laboratory testing. Inclusion criteria were: adults of both sexes aged 40 to 75, with a diagnosis of OA on the hip or knee by x-ray examination provided by their primary care physician, not on prescription medicine for OA, and who were willing to drink 3 oz of NJ a day for 90 days. Results: Of the 64 questions measuring different aspects of QoL asked on the pre/post survey, 49 (77%) had significant pre/post mean scale differences as measured by independent t-test. The OA patients reported being significantly more satisfied with their current health conditions including mobility, walking and bending, hand, finger, and arm functions, household tasks, social activity, arthritis pain, work ability, level of tension, and mood. The study participants were also more positive about their future health and reported taking less over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers. Pre/post laboratory testing including: lipid panel, liver and kidney functions were in the normal ranges. High Sensitive C Reactive Protein (hsCRP), an inflammatory biomarker, was reduced by 10% after the intervention. Close

• 917. [Article] Factors Associated with Pruritic Papular Eruption of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in the Antiretroviral Therapy Era

  Background—Pruritic papular eruption (PPE) of HIV is common in HIV-infected populations living in the tropics. Its aetiology has been attributed to insect bite reactions and it is reported to improve with ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Factors Associated with Pruritic Papular Eruption of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in the Antiretroviral Therapy Era Author: Chua, S. L., Amerson, E. H., Leslie, K. S., McCalmont, T. H., Leboit, P. E., Martin, J. N., Bangsberg, David, Maurer, T. A. Year: 2013 Background—Pruritic papular eruption (PPE) of HIV is common in HIV-infected populations living in the tropics. Its aetiology has been attributed to insect bite reactions and it is reported to improve with antiretroviral therapy (ART). Its presence after at least 6 months of ART has been proposed as one of several markers of treatment failure. Objectives—To determine factors associated with PPE in HIV-infected persons receiving ART. Methods—A case–control study nested within a 500-person cohort from a teaching hospital in Mbarara, Uganda. Forty-five cases and 90 controls were enrolled. Cases had received ART for ≥ 15 months and had an itchy papular rash for at least 1 month with microscopic correlation by skin biopsy. Each case was individually matched with two controls for age, sex and ART duration. Results—Twenty-five of 45 cases (56%) had microscopic findings consistent with PPE. At skin examination and biopsy (study enrolment), a similar proportion of PPE cases and matched controls had plasma HIV RNA < 400 copies mL–1 (96% vs. 85%, P = 0·31). The odds of having PPE increased fourfold with every log increase in viral load at ART initiation (P · 0.02) but not at study enrolment. CD4 counts at ART initiation and study enrolment, and CD4 gains and CD8 T-cell activation measured 6 and 12 months after ART commencement were not associated with PPE. Study participants who reported daily insect bites had greater odds of being cases [odds ratio (OR) 8.3, P < 0.001] or PPE cases (OR 8.6, P = 0.01). Conclusions—Pruritic papular eruption in HIV-infected persons receiving ART for ≥ 15 months was associated with greater HIV viraemia at ART commencement, independent of CD4 count. Skin biopsies are important to distinguish between PPE and other itchy papular eruptions. Title: Factors Associated with Pruritic Papular Eruption of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in the Antiretroviral Therapy Era Author: Chua, S. L., Amerson, E. H., Leslie, K. S., McCalmont, T. H., Leboit, P. E., Martin, J. N., Bangsberg, David, Maurer, T. A. Year: 2013 Background—Pruritic papular eruption (PPE) of HIV is common in HIV-infected populations living in the tropics. Its aetiology has been attributed to insect bite reactions and it is reported to improve with antiretroviral therapy (ART). Its presence after at least 6 months of ART has been proposed as one of several markers of treatment failure. Objectives—To determine factors associated with PPE in HIV-infected persons receiving ART. Methods—A case–control study nested within a 500-person cohort from a teaching hospital in Mbarara, Uganda. Forty-five cases and 90 controls were enrolled. Cases had received ART for ≥ 15 months and had an itchy papular rash for at least 1 month with microscopic correlation by skin biopsy. Each case was individually matched with two controls for age, sex and ART duration. Results—Twenty-five of 45 cases (56%) had microscopic findings consistent with PPE. At skin examination and biopsy (study enrolment), a similar proportion of PPE cases and matched controls had plasma HIV RNA < 400 copies mL–1 (96% vs. 85%, P = 0·31). The odds of having PPE increased fourfold with every log increase in viral load at ART initiation (P · 0.02) but not at study enrolment. CD4 counts at ART initiation and study enrolment, and CD4 gains and CD8 T-cell activation measured 6 and 12 months after ART commencement were not associated with PPE. Study participants who reported daily insect bites had greater odds of being cases [odds ratio (OR) 8.3, P < 0.001] or PPE cases (OR 8.6, P = 0.01). Conclusions—Pruritic papular eruption in HIV-infected persons receiving ART for ≥ 15 months was associated with greater HIV viraemia at ART commencement, independent of CD4 count. Skin biopsies are important to distinguish between PPE and other itchy papular eruptions. Close

• 918. [Article] The Kynurenine Pathway of Tryptophan Catabolism and AIDS-associated Kaposi's Sarcoma in Africa

  Background—Other than Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus and CD4+ T cell lymphopenia, the mechanisms responsible for KS in the context of HIV are poorly understood. One recently explored pathway ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Kynurenine Pathway of Tryptophan Catabolism and AIDS-associated Kaposi's Sarcoma in Africa Author: Byakwaga, Helen, Hunt, Peter W., Laker-Oketta, Miriam, Glidden, David V., Huang, Yong, Bwana, Bosco M., Mocello, Rain, Bennett, John, Walusansa, Victoria, Dollard, Sheila C., Bangsberg, David, Mbidde, Edward K., Martin, Jeffrey N. Year: 2015 Background—Other than Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus and CD4+ T cell lymphopenia, the mechanisms responsible for KS in the context of HIV are poorly understood. One recently explored pathway of HIV pathogenesis involves induction of the enzyme indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase-1 (IDO), which catabolizes tryptophan into kynurenine and several other immunologically active metabolites that suppress T cell proliferation. We investigated the role of IDO in the development of KS in HIV disease. Methods—In a case-control study among untreated HIV-infected Ugandans, cases were adults with KS and controls were without KS. IDO activity was assessed by the ratio of plasma kynurenine to tryptophan levels (KT ratio), measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Results—We studied 631 HIV-infected subjects: 222 KS cases and 409 controls. Non-KS controls had a higher median plasma KT ratio (130, IQR: 90 to190 nM/μM) than cases (110, IQR: 90 to 150 nM/μM) (p = 0.004). After adjustment for age, sex, CD4 count and plasma HIV RNA level, subjects with the highest (fourth quartile) plasma KT ratios had a 59% reduction (95% CI: 27% to 77%) in the odds of KS compared to those with the lowest (first quartile) levels. KS was also independently associated with lower CD4+ count, higher plasma HIV RNA, and men. Conclusions—Among HIV-infected individuals, greater activity of the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan catabolism, as evidenced by higher levels of plasma KT ratio, was associated with lower occurrence of KS. Some consequences of immune activation in HIV infection might actually suppress certain cancers. Title: The Kynurenine Pathway of Tryptophan Catabolism and AIDS-associated Kaposi's Sarcoma in Africa Author: Byakwaga, Helen, Hunt, Peter W., Laker-Oketta, Miriam, Glidden, David V., Huang, Yong, Bwana, Bosco M., Mocello, Rain, Bennett, John, Walusansa, Victoria, Dollard, Sheila C., Bangsberg, David, Mbidde, Edward K., Martin, Jeffrey N. Year: 2015 Background—Other than Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus and CD4+ T cell lymphopenia, the mechanisms responsible for KS in the context of HIV are poorly understood. One recently explored pathway of HIV pathogenesis involves induction of the enzyme indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase-1 (IDO), which catabolizes tryptophan into kynurenine and several other immunologically active metabolites that suppress T cell proliferation. We investigated the role of IDO in the development of KS in HIV disease. Methods—In a case-control study among untreated HIV-infected Ugandans, cases were adults with KS and controls were without KS. IDO activity was assessed by the ratio of plasma kynurenine to tryptophan levels (KT ratio), measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Results—We studied 631 HIV-infected subjects: 222 KS cases and 409 controls. Non-KS controls had a higher median plasma KT ratio (130, IQR: 90 to190 nM/μM) than cases (110, IQR: 90 to 150 nM/μM) (p = 0.004). After adjustment for age, sex, CD4 count and plasma HIV RNA level, subjects with the highest (fourth quartile) plasma KT ratios had a 59% reduction (95% CI: 27% to 77%) in the odds of KS compared to those with the lowest (first quartile) levels. KS was also independently associated with lower CD4+ count, higher plasma HIV RNA, and men. Conclusions—Among HIV-infected individuals, greater activity of the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan catabolism, as evidenced by higher levels of plasma KT ratio, was associated with lower occurrence of KS. Some consequences of immune activation in HIV infection might actually suppress certain cancers. Close

• 919. [Article] State Experiences with Affordable Housing Plus Services: Report to Seniors and Persons with Disabilities, On The Move

  Housing developers, providers, policy makers, and advocates, increasingly recognize that for some groups of individuals, access to affordable housing alone is "not enough." That is, some individuals require ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: State Experiences with Affordable Housing Plus Services: Report to Seniors and Persons with Disabilities, On The Move Author: Carder, Paula C., Zoller, Erika Year: 2009 Housing developers, providers, policy makers, and advocates, increasingly recognize that for some groups of individuals, access to affordable housing alone is "not enough." That is, some individuals require more than shelter. Examples include individuals who have chronic health conditions (e.g., HIV/AIDS), those with physical or cognitive limitations (e.g., persons with developmental disabilities, adults with physical disabilities), and those who have a combination of health conditions or who cannot thrive in traditional housing (e.g., persons who have been homeless, individuals with chronic mental illness). Increasingly, housing providers, social service agencies, advocates, states, and federal agencies have recognized the need to combine housing with supportive services designed to address the health and social needs of such groups and individuals. Older adults want to remain in their homes as long as possible (Bayer & Harper, 2000), and providing supportive services to them in their homes is one approach to preventing or delaying unnecessary institutionalization in an acute or long-term care facility (Gibson et. al., 2003). Increasingly, policy makers and advocates recognize that "homes" includes subsidized rental units occupied by older persons and adults with disabilities. There are a variety of affordable housing and service models across the United States, and they fall under a range of categories and terms (e.g., permanent supportive housing, enriched housing, affordable housing plus services). Whether or not some combination of housing and services can meet the needs of individuals transitioning out of nursing homes remains a question of interest to current nursing home residents, advocates, and policy makers. The purpose of this report is to describe examples of affordable housing plus services (AHPS) that might serve as models for Oregon’s On the Move demonstration project (a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Money Follows the Person project). For this analysis, we reviewed existing reports and articles and collected information about policies and programs in several states in order to learn whether older adults and persons with disabilities, including those discharged from nursing homes, might be served by AHPS programs. Given that Oregon has a long history of providing home and community-based services, we focused primarily on unlicensed housing models rather than licensed residential settings such as assisted living and adult foster care. It is important to note that other states do not have as well-developed a home-and community based care network as does Oregon. Thus, for some states, assisted living is being promoted as a relatively new, and less expensive, alternative to institutionalization. In Oregon, one goal of creating nursing home alternatives is to expand individuals' choices to include affordable housing plus service options. Title: State Experiences with Affordable Housing Plus Services: Report to Seniors and Persons with Disabilities, On The Move Author: Carder, Paula C., Zoller, Erika Year: 2009 Housing developers, providers, policy makers, and advocates, increasingly recognize that for some groups of individuals, access to affordable housing alone is "not enough." That is, some individuals require more than shelter. Examples include individuals who have chronic health conditions (e.g., HIV/AIDS), those with physical or cognitive limitations (e.g., persons with developmental disabilities, adults with physical disabilities), and those who have a combination of health conditions or who cannot thrive in traditional housing (e.g., persons who have been homeless, individuals with chronic mental illness). Increasingly, housing providers, social service agencies, advocates, states, and federal agencies have recognized the need to combine housing with supportive services designed to address the health and social needs of such groups and individuals. Older adults want to remain in their homes as long as possible (Bayer & Harper, 2000), and providing supportive services to them in their homes is one approach to preventing or delaying unnecessary institutionalization in an acute or long-term care facility (Gibson et. al., 2003). Increasingly, policy makers and advocates recognize that "homes" includes subsidized rental units occupied by older persons and adults with disabilities. There are a variety of affordable housing and service models across the United States, and they fall under a range of categories and terms (e.g., permanent supportive housing, enriched housing, affordable housing plus services). Whether or not some combination of housing and services can meet the needs of individuals transitioning out of nursing homes remains a question of interest to current nursing home residents, advocates, and policy makers. The purpose of this report is to describe examples of affordable housing plus services (AHPS) that might serve as models for Oregon’s On the Move demonstration project (a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Money Follows the Person project). For this analysis, we reviewed existing reports and articles and collected information about policies and programs in several states in order to learn whether older adults and persons with disabilities, including those discharged from nursing homes, might be served by AHPS programs. Given that Oregon has a long history of providing home and community-based services, we focused primarily on unlicensed housing models rather than licensed residential settings such as assisted living and adult foster care. It is important to note that other states do not have as well-developed a home-and community based care network as does Oregon. Thus, for some states, assisted living is being promoted as a relatively new, and less expensive, alternative to institutionalization. In Oregon, one goal of creating nursing home alternatives is to expand individuals' choices to include affordable housing plus service options. Close

• 920. [Article] Green Roofs and Urban Biodiversity: Their Role as Invertebrate Habitat and the Effect of Design on Beetle Community

  With over half the world's population now living in cities, urban areas represent one of earth's few ecosystems that are increasing in extent, and are sites of altered biogeochemical cycles, habitat fragmentation, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Green Roofs and Urban Biodiversity: Their Role as Invertebrate Habitat and the Effect of Design on Beetle Community Author: Gonsalves, Sydney Marie Year: 2016 With over half the world's population now living in cities, urban areas represent one of earth's few ecosystems that are increasing in extent, and are sites of altered biogeochemical cycles, habitat fragmentation, and changes in biodiversity. However, urban green spaces, including green roofs, can also provide important pools of biodiversity and contribute to regional gamma diversity, while novel species assemblages can enhance some ecosystem services. Green roofs may also mitigate species loss in urban areas and have been shown to support a surprising diversity of invertebrates, including rare and endangered species. In the first part of this study I reviewed the literature on urban invertebrate communities and diversity to better understand the role of green roofs in providing habitat in the context of the larger urban mosaic. My review concluded that, while other factors such as surrounding land use and connectivity are also important to specific invertebrate taxa, local habitat variables contribute substantially to the structure and diversity of urban invertebrate communities. The importance of local habitat variables in urban green spaces and strong support for the habitat complexity hypothesis in a number of other ecosystems has led to proposals that "biodiverse" roofs--those intentionally designed with varied substrate depth, greater plant diversity, or added elements such as logs or stones--would support greater invertebrate diversity, but there is currently limited peer reviewed data to support this. In order to address the habitat complexity hypothesis in the context of green roofs, in the second part of this study I surveyed three roofs designed primarily for stormwater management, three biodiverse roofs, and five ground-level green spaces, from March until September of 2014 in the Portland metropolitan area. Beetles (Coleoptera) were sampled bi-weekly as representatives of total species diversity. Biodiverse roofs had greater richness, abundance, and diversity of beetle species compared to stormwater roofs, but were not more diverse than ground sites. Both biodiverse roofs and ground sites had approximately 20% native beetle species while stormwater roofs had only 5%. Functional diversity was also higher on biodiverse roofs with an average of seven trophic groups represented, while stormwater roofs averaged only three. Ground sites, biodiverse roofs, and stormwater roofs each grouped distinctively in terms of beetle community composition and biodiverse roof communities were found to be positively correlated with roof age, percent plant cover, average plant height, and plant species richness. These results support the findings of previous studies on the importance of local variables in structuring urban invertebrate communities and suggest that biodiverse design can reliably increase greenroof diversity, with the caution that they remain no replacement for ground level conservation. Title: Green Roofs and Urban Biodiversity: Their Role as Invertebrate Habitat and the Effect of Design on Beetle Community Author: Gonsalves, Sydney Marie Year: 2016 With over half the world's population now living in cities, urban areas represent one of earth's few ecosystems that are increasing in extent, and are sites of altered biogeochemical cycles, habitat fragmentation, and changes in biodiversity. However, urban green spaces, including green roofs, can also provide important pools of biodiversity and contribute to regional gamma diversity, while novel species assemblages can enhance some ecosystem services. Green roofs may also mitigate species loss in urban areas and have been shown to support a surprising diversity of invertebrates, including rare and endangered species. In the first part of this study I reviewed the literature on urban invertebrate communities and diversity to better understand the role of green roofs in providing habitat in the context of the larger urban mosaic. My review concluded that, while other factors such as surrounding land use and connectivity are also important to specific invertebrate taxa, local habitat variables contribute substantially to the structure and diversity of urban invertebrate communities. The importance of local habitat variables in urban green spaces and strong support for the habitat complexity hypothesis in a number of other ecosystems has led to proposals that "biodiverse" roofs--those intentionally designed with varied substrate depth, greater plant diversity, or added elements such as logs or stones--would support greater invertebrate diversity, but there is currently limited peer reviewed data to support this. In order to address the habitat complexity hypothesis in the context of green roofs, in the second part of this study I surveyed three roofs designed primarily for stormwater management, three biodiverse roofs, and five ground-level green spaces, from March until September of 2014 in the Portland metropolitan area. Beetles (Coleoptera) were sampled bi-weekly as representatives of total species diversity. Biodiverse roofs had greater richness, abundance, and diversity of beetle species compared to stormwater roofs, but were not more diverse than ground sites. Both biodiverse roofs and ground sites had approximately 20% native beetle species while stormwater roofs had only 5%. Functional diversity was also higher on biodiverse roofs with an average of seven trophic groups represented, while stormwater roofs averaged only three. Ground sites, biodiverse roofs, and stormwater roofs each grouped distinctively in terms of beetle community composition and biodiverse roof communities were found to be positively correlated with roof age, percent plant cover, average plant height, and plant species richness. These results support the findings of previous studies on the importance of local variables in structuring urban invertebrate communities and suggest that biodiverse design can reliably increase greenroof diversity, with the caution that they remain no replacement for ground level conservation. Close