A multivariate approach was used to determine the pattern of predictors associated with engaging in dating violence. Predictors were selected whose relationship to dating violence has been established by earlier research: attitudes toward violence, sex-role attitudes, romantic jealousy, general levels of interpersonal aggression, verbal aggression, and verbal and physical aggression received from one’s partner. Participants included 305 introductory psychology student volunteers (227 females and 78 males) who completed a set of scales related to dating relationships. Expecting different patterns of predictors to emerge for men and women, we performed separate multiple regression analyses for each. Of the set of predictors employed, receipt of physical violence from one’s partner emerged as the largest predictor of expressed violence for both men and women. In addition, higher scores on attitudes toward violence and verbal aggression, and less traditional sex-role attitudes emerged as significant predictors of expressed violence formen. For women, less accepting attitudes toward violence, more traditional sex-role attitudes, feelings of romantic jealousy, higher general levels of interpersonal aggression, and verbal aggression were predictive of expressed violence. The implications of our findings for future research are discussed.

Background-Recent reports suggest that off-label use of drug-eluting stents is associated with an increased incidence of adverse events. Whether the use of bare-metal stents would yield different results is unknown. Methods-We analyzed data from 6551 patients in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Dynamic Registry according to whether they were treated with drug-eluting stents or bare-metal stents and whether use was standard or off-label. Patients were followed for 1 year for the occurrence of cardiovascular events and death. Off-label use was defined as use in restenotic lesions, lesions in a bypass graft, left main coronary artery disease, or ostial, bifurcated, or totally occluded lesions, as well as use in patients with a reference-vessel diameter of less than 2.5 mm or greater than 3.75 mm or a lesion length of more than 30 mm. Results-Off-label use occurred in 54.7% of all patients with bare-metal stents and 48.7% of patients with drug-eluting stents. As compared with patients with bare-metal stents, patients with drug-eluting stents had a higher prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, renal disease, previous percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary-artery bypass grafting, and multivessel coronary artery disease. One year after intervention, however, there were no significant differences in the adjusted risk of death or myocardial infarction in patients with drug-eluting stents as compared with those with bare-metal stents, whereas the risk of repeat revascularization was significantly lower among patients with drug-eluting stents. Conclusions-Among patients with off-label indications, the use of drug-eluting stents was not associated with an increased risk of death or myocardial infarction but was associated with a lower rate of repeat revascularization at 1 year, as compared with bare-metal stents. These findings support the use of drug-eluting stents for off-label indications. IN 2003, THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRAtion (FDA) approved drug-eluting stents for the treatment of coronary artery disease. This decision was based on the results of clinical trials that compared a baremetal stent with a drug-eluting stent in highly selected patients. 1-10 Because of the magnitude of the treatment effect of drug-eluting stents in suppressing the recurrence of lesions, consistent

Two mechanisms that play important roles in cell fate decisions are control of a “core transcriptional network” and repression of alternative transcriptional programs by antagonizing transcription factors. Whether these two mechanisms operate together is not known. Here we report that GATA-1, SCL, and Klf1 form an erythroid core transcriptional network by co-occupying >300 genes. Importantly, we find that PU.1, a negative regulator of terminal erythroid differentiation, is a highly integrated component of this network. GATA-1, SCL, and Klf1 act to promote, whereas PU.1 represses expression of many of the core network genes. PU.1 also represses the genes encoding GATA-1, SCL, Klf1, and important GATA-1 cofactors. Conversely, in addition to repressing PU.1 expression, GATA-1 also binds to and represses >100 PU.1 myelo-lymphoid gene targets in erythroid progenitors. Mathematical modeling further supports that this dual mechanism of repressing both the opposing upstream activator and its downstream targets provides a synergistic, robust mechanism for lineage specification. Taken together, these results amalgamate two key developmental principles, namely, regulation of a core transcriptional network and repression of an alternative transcriptional program, thereby enhancing our understanding of the mechanisms that establish cellular identity.

Application of biochar as a soil amendment could be a significant approach for carbon sequestration to possibly control climate change for energy and environmental sustainability. However, more studies are needed in a number of research areas, including the development of clean biochar materials free of any harmful substances, before this approach could be implemented at a global scale. In this study, biochar water-extractable substances were tested for their potential harmful effects on the growth of aquatic photosynthetic microorganisms including both blue−green alga (cyanobacteria Synechococcus) and eukaryotic green alga (Desmodesmus) that represent the primary photosynthetic producers of the aquatic environment. The water extracts from three different biomass-derived biochar materials varied widely in their dissolved organic and inorganic contents, as well as in their characteristics including their pH values. Bioassays with pinewood-derived biochar water extract showed a significant inhibitory effect on aquatic photosynthetic microorganism growth in a dose-dependent manner, while chicken litter and peanut shell-derived biochar water extracts showed no signs of growth inhibition. The pinewood-derived biochar water-extracted substances were further separated into three fractions based on their molecular sizes and electric charges through an electrodialysis separation process using a cellulose− acetate membrane with a 500-delta cutoff pore size. Our analysis showed that the active component of pinewood-derived biochar water-extracted substances that are toxic to both blue−green alga (cyanobacteria Synechococcus) and eukaryotic green alga (Desmodesmus) is likely a 500-delta (or smaller) organic chemical species that carries at least one carboxyl group. This finding is important to engineering a high-tech biochar that can be free of any undesirable substances for its soil applications toward agricultural and environmental sustainability.

Introduction Nasoalveolar molding (NAM) is a treatment option available for early cleft care. Despite the growing debate about NAM’s efficacy, questions remain regarding its prevalence and demographic characteristics of families undergoing this technique prior to traditional cleft surgery. Objectives To determine the number of teams currently offering NAM, and to identify salient clinical and sociodemographic variables in infants and families who choose NAM compared with those who choose traditional cleft care across three well-established cleft centers. Results 89% of US cleft teams contacted using phone surveys reveal that NAM is available at 39% of these centers. Chart reviews and phone correspondence with caregivers indicate that the average distance to the cleft center was 65.5 miles and caregiver age averaged 30.9 (SD=5.7) years. 85% of families who chose NAM received total or partial insurance coverage. No difference in caregiver education, income, or distance to the clinic between treatment groups was found. On average, infants receiving NAM and cleft surgery had larger clefts and had more clinic visits than infants receiving traditional cleft surgery. Infants who were first-born and those who did not have other siblings were more likely to receive NAM than infants who were residing with other siblings. Conclusions Currently over one-third of US cleft centers offer NAM. While the cleft size was larger in the NAM group, no treatment group differences in education, income, and distance to the clinic were found.