October 21, 2009

A child witnessed violence in 22 percent of intimate partner violence cases filed in state courts, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) in the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, announced today. In another 14 percent of intimate partner violence cases, a child was present at the time of the incident but did not directly witness the violence. Intimate partner violence includes violence between spouses, ex-spouses, common-law spouses and current or former boyfriends or girlfriends. Forty-six percent of intimate partner violence cases involved a defendant with a prior history of abuse toward the same victim, and the victim had reported prior violence to police in 24 percent of all cases. A direct witness to the violence was present in more than 40 percent of intimate partner violence cases. Most intimate partner violence cases involved either aggravated (12 percent) or simple (78 percent) assault. Defendants were charged with intimidation (including stalking) in five percent of intimate partner violence cases, and another two percent were charged with rape or sexual assault. Most offenses occurred either at the victim's own residence (21 percent) or at a residence shared with the defendant (58 percent). Full release.

The Navy is reprimanding and forcing the retirement of a chief petty officer who oversaw and perpetrated a string of abuses against a gay sailor and others in a military working dog unit in Bahrain, the Associated Press is reporting today. After an investigation begun by Youth Radio, as well as Congressional and media attention resulting from Palm Center's efforts to publicize the story, the Navy conducted a review of complaints that Chief Petty Officer Michael Toussaint had harassed and abused Petty Officer 3rd Class Joseph Rocha and others, in part because of their sexual orientation. The incidents included forced simulation of homosexual acts, being fed dog food, and being hog-tied to a chair and rolled into a dog kennel full of feces. As a result of the investigation, the Secretary of the Navy is issuing a letter of censure faulting Toussaint's actions. "The Navy's actions in reviewing Joseph Rocha's case show how important accountability is in the chain of command," said Dr. Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Center at University of California, Santa Barbara. "The suffering of Rocha and others was exacerbated by the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy since it hampers the ability of abuse victims to hold leaders and perpetrators accountable. The results undermine discipline and order in the entire unit, not just for gays and lesbians." Full release.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement in support of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act, which passed the House of Representatives today by a vote of 408 to 9. The Senate passed the bill earlier this week so the bill now goes to President Obama for his signature into law. "As everyone knows, San Francisco was hit early and hard by the devastation of AIDS. But San Franciscans responded to the needs of our neighbors by developing a system of community-based care that became the model for the Ryan White CARE Act when it was first enacted in 1990. "Today, Ryan White-funded initiatives are a fundamental component of the systems of care upon which low-income individuals with HIV and AIDS rely. Declines in AIDS deaths are a direct result of the therapies and services that have been made more widely available through the Ryan White Act to large numbers of uninsured and under-insured people living with HIV and AIDS. "Each year, this legislation ensures access to lifesaving medical services, including pharmaceuticals, for more than 500,000 clients - almost half of the individuals living with HIV/AIDS in this country. Reauthorizing the Ryan White Act will continue to increase access to primary care and medications by providing additional resources and facilitating the transition to HIV reporting. Full release.

More than 400 companies and business organizations from across the United States this week urged Congress to approve legislation to strengthen and make permanent the R&D tax credit before it expires on December 31, 2009. Today, more than 70 percent of the benefits of the credit are attributable to the salaries of workers performing U.S. based research. President Barack Obama in recent months has called for the Credit to be made permanent. In a letter sent to Congressional leadership and every member of the U.S. Congress, the companies wrote: "The R&D tax credit encourages businesses of all sizes to undertake cutting-edge research projects in the United States. R&D is the very lifeblood of our knowledge economy. At a time when the American economy is weak, research and development across industry sectors makes it possible to create and maintain good, high-paying jobs at home and sharpens the ability of companies to compete in the global marketplace. Full release.

It's a Post Office on your phone. Customer convenience and product access are the focus of expanding the most popular online services onto web-enabled mobile devices. Some of the most popular functions currently available on usps.com are now available on cell phones and other mobile devices. The new features include Track & Confirm, Post Office locator, and the most popular application, ZIP Code lookup. With more than 232 million mobile communications devices in the United States -- a growing number of which can access the web -- the promise of internet access from virtually anywhere in the country is fast becoming a reality. "Our new mobile capability makes USPS services even more convenient for our customers," said Robert Bernstock, president, Mailing and Shipping Services. Full release.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the addition of four new Veterans Law Judges to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA), which will enable the board to increase the number of cases being decided. "Veterans have earned the right to prompt, exhaustive and professional review of their claims for benefits," Secretary Shinseki said. "This expansion of BVA will enable Veterans to receive more expeditious decisions on their appeals." BVA is an appeals body to which Veterans, their dependents or their survivors can go when they are not satisfied with decisions about claims for benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). BVA reviews decisions on benefit claims made by local VA offices and issues decisions on appeals. The board currently has 60 Veterans Law Judges. These law judges are attorneys experienced in Veterans law and in reviewing benefit claims. They are the only ones who can issue BVA decisions. Staff attorneys, also trained in Veterans law, review the facts of each appeal and assist the board members. Full release.

A new American Red Cross poll shows that while concerns about exposure to the H1N1 (swine flu) virus remain high, women are more likely than men to make extra efforts to cover coughs and sneezes with tissue, wash their hands more carefully and use hand sanitizer more often. Since it was first identified in April, the H1N1 virus has been spreading across the country and the world. The new Red Cross survey of 1,005 adults in the U.S., which was completed October 11th, found that 22 percent said they know someone who has had the H1N1 virus. The survey found significant differences in how men and women have reacted to the threat of the H1N1 flu. Full release.

All infant formulas, whether ready-to-feed, concentrated or organic, contain fluoride at levels which can discolor developing teeth, reports the October 2009 Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA)(1). Fluoride, added to some bottled and public water supplies ostensibly to prevent cavities, is also in many foods and beverages, including infant formula. Excessive fluoride discolors and/or weakens permanent teeth (moderate fluorosis). Researchers measured fluoride content of 49 infant formulas. See: http://www.freewebs.com/fluoridation/infantformulafluoride.htm The research team concludes, "Most infants from birth to age 12 months who consume predominantly powdered and liquid concentrate formula are likely to exceed the upper tolerable limit [of fluoride] if the formula is reconstituted with optimally fluoridated water (0.7 - 1.2 ppm)." Surprisingly, the study reveals that all 6-month-olds and younger will also exceed the lower "adequate intake" (0.01 mg/day) from all formulas (concentrated or not) risking moderate dental fluorosis from formula, alone.(2) Full release.

The current economic downturn is not sidetracking state-level efforts to make the most of energy efficiency as the cheapest, cleanest and quickest of all energy resources, according to a 50-state scorecard on energy efficiency policies, programs, and practices from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The 2009 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, which ranks states in six categories, concludes that the 10 states doing the most to implement energy efficiency are: California (1); Massachusetts (2); Connecticut (3); Oregon (4); New York (5); Vermont (6); Washington state (7); Minnesota (8); Rhode Island (9); and Maine (10). "By embracing a wide range of cost-effective energy efficiency strategies, the leading states are demonstrating that efficiency is their 'first fuel' to meet energy demands while growing their economies," said Maggie Eldridge, ACEEE research associate and lead author of the report. "States continue to raise the bar with comprehensive strategies to improve efficiency in their buildings, industry, and transportation systems. They are the 'living laboratories' of energy efficiency." Full release.

A new, first-of-its-kind diabetes algorithm created to help achieve glycemic (blood sugar) control in type 2 patients was published online today in the September/October edition of Endocrine Practice(1). This diabetes algorithm, which was released as a consensus statement from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and the American College of Endocrinology (ACE), is a simple one-page resource designed to assist primary care physicians, endocrinologists and others in the management of type 2 diabetes. "Depending on a patient's current A1C level, a physician will use the algorithm to determine whether a mono-, dual-, or triple combination therapy should be considered," Dr. Helena Rodbard, former AACE president and Co-Chair of the Algorithm Task Force said. "To minimize the risk of diabetic complications, the algorithm will help achieve a hemoglobin A1C value of 6.5 or less when appropriate." Full release.

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