Management Policy for Greater Computer Benefits: Friendly Software, Computer Literacy, or Formal Training

Using data from over 3,000 public employees in 46 U.S. cities in 1988, this article in vestigates three classes of factors commonly thought to affect computer use: training, friendliness of software, and user computer background. Computer use is analyzed as 11 specific tasks (such as programming, record searching) and is further broken down by organizational role of user, for example, manager and street-level employee. Some findings are that (1) the computer literacy or prior coursework of employees is more important to their computer use than how many years an employee has used computers; and (2) for most employees the user friendliness of programs is relevant, and weakly so, only for generic tasks such as searching a file or entering data. More generally, the data lead us to highlight training because it can be used to compensate for weaknesses in present software as well as in the computer literacy and experience of users. Keywords: computing benefits, friendly software, computer literacy, training. © 1994, Sage Publications. All rights reserved

Analyses of expressed sequence tags from the maize foliar pathogen Cercospora zeae-maydis identify novel genes expressed during vegetative, infectious, and reproductive growth

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The ascomycete fungus <it>Cercospora zeae-maydis </it>is an aggressive foliar pathogen of maize that causes substantial losses annually throughout the Western Hemisphere. Despite its impact on maize production, little is known about the regulation of pathogenesis in <it>C. zeae-maydis </it>at the molecular level. The objectives of this study were to generate a collection of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from <it>C. zeae-maydis </it>and evaluate their expression during vegetative, infectious, and reproductive growth.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 27,551 ESTs was obtained from five cDNA libraries constructed from vegetative and sporulating cultures of <it>C. zeae-maydis</it>. The ESTs, grouped into 4088 clusters and 531 singlets, represented 4619 putative unique genes. Of these, 36% encoded proteins similar (E value ≤ 10^-05) to characterized or annotated proteins from the NCBI non-redundant database representing diverse molecular functions and biological processes based on Gene Ontology (GO) classification. We identified numerous, previously undescribed genes with potential roles in photoreception, pathogenesis, and the regulation of development as well as <it>Zephyr</it>, a novel, actively transcribed transposable element. Differential expression of selected genes was demonstrated by real-time PCR, supporting their proposed roles in vegetative, infectious, and reproductive growth.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Novel genes that are potentially involved in regulating growth, development, and pathogenesis were identified in <it>C. zeae-maydis</it>, providing specific targets for characterization by molecular genetics and functional genomics. The EST data establish a foundation for future studies in evolutionary and comparative genomics among species of <it>Cercospora </it>and other groups of plant pathogenic fungi.</p

Impact of Stepping Stones on incidence of HIV and HSV-2 and sexual behaviour in rural South Africa: cluster randomised controlled trial

Objective To assess the impact of Stepping Stones, a HIV prevention programme, on incidence of HIV and herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2) and sexual behaviour

Analyses of expressed sequence tags from the maize foliar pathogen Cercospora zeae-maydis identify novel genes expressed during vegetative, infectious, and reproductive growth

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The ascomycete fungus <it>Cercospora zeae-maydis </it>is an aggressive foliar pathogen of maize that causes substantial losses annually throughout the Western Hemisphere. Despite its impact on maize production, little is known about the regulation of pathogenesis in <it>C. zeae-maydis </it>at the molecular level. The objectives of this study were to generate a collection of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from <it>C. zeae-maydis </it>and evaluate their expression during vegetative, infectious, and reproductive growth.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 27,551 ESTs was obtained from five cDNA libraries constructed from vegetative and sporulating cultures of <it>C. zeae-maydis</it>. The ESTs, grouped into 4088 clusters and 531 singlets, represented 4619 putative unique genes. Of these, 36% encoded proteins similar (E value ≤ 10^-05) to characterized or annotated proteins from the NCBI non-redundant database representing diverse molecular functions and biological processes based on Gene Ontology (GO) classification. We identified numerous, previously undescribed genes with potential roles in photoreception, pathogenesis, and the regulation of development as well as <it>Zephyr</it>, a novel, actively transcribed transposable element. Differential expression of selected genes was demonstrated by real-time PCR, supporting their proposed roles in vegetative, infectious, and reproductive growth.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Novel genes that are potentially involved in regulating growth, development, and pathogenesis were identified in <it>C. zeae-maydis</it>, providing specific targets for characterization by molecular genetics and functional genomics. The EST data establish a foundation for future studies in evolutionary and comparative genomics among species of <it>Cercospora </it>and other groups of plant pathogenic fungi.</p

Gender Inequity Norms Are Associated with Increased Male-Perpetrated Rape and Sexual Risks for HIV Infection in Botswana and Swaziland

There is limited empirical research on the underlying gender inequity norms shaping gender-based violence, power, and HIV risks in sub-Saharan Africa, or how risk pathways may differ for men and women. This study is among the first to directly evaluate the adherence to gender inequity norms and epidemiological relationships with violence and sexual risks for HIV infection.Data were derived from population-based cross-sectional samples recruited through two-stage probability sampling from the 5 highest HIV prevalence districts in Botswana and all districts in Swaziland (2004-5). Based on evidence of established risk factors for HIV infection, we aimed 1) to estimate the mean adherence to gender inequity norms for both men and women; and 2) to model the independent effects of higher adherence to gender inequity norms on a) male sexual dominance (male-controlled sexual decision making and rape (forced sex)); b) sexual risk practices (multiple/concurrent sex partners, transactional sex, unprotected sex with non-primary partner, intergenerational sex).A total of 2049 individuals were included, n = 1255 from Botswana and n = 796 from Swaziland. In separate multivariate logistic regression analyses, higher gender inequity norms scores remained independently associated with increased male-controlled sexual decision making power (AORmen = 1.90, 95%CI:1.09-2.35; AORwomen = 2.05, 95%CI:1.32-2.49), perpetration of rape (AORmen = 2.19 95%CI:1.22-3.51), unprotected sex with a non-primary partner (AORmen = 1.90, 95%CI:1.14-2.31), intergenerational sex (AORwomen = 1.36, 95%CI:1.08-1.79), and multiple/concurrent sex partners (AORmen = 1.42, 95%CI:1.10-1.93).These findings support the critical evidence-based need for gender-transformative HIV prevention efforts including legislation of women's rights in two of the most HIV affected countries in the world

Intimate partner violence among women with HIV infection in rural Uganda: critical implications for policy and practice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health problem in Africa and worldwide. HIV infected women face increased IPV risk. We assessed the prevalence and factors associated with IPV among HIV infected women attending HIV care in Kabale hospital, Uganda.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This cross-sectional study was conducted among 317 HIV infected women attending Kabale regional hospital HIV treatment centre, from March to December 2010. Participants were interviewed using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data was collected on socio-demographic variables, social habits, and IPV (using the abuse assessment screen and the Severity of Violence against Women Scale to identify physical, sexual and psychological violence). Characteristics of the participants who reported IPV were compared with those who did not. Multivariate logistic-regression analysis was conducted to analyze factors that were independently associated with IPV.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean age of 317 respondents was 29.7 years. Twenty two (6.9%) were adolescents and 233 (73.5%) were married or cohabiting. The mean age of the spouse was 33.0 years.</p> <p>One hundred and eleven (35.0%) were currently on antiretroviral therapy. Lifetime prevalence of IPV (physical or sexual) was 36.6%. In the preceding 12 months, IPV (any type) was reported by 93 respondents (29.3%). This was physical for 55 (17.6%), and sexual /psychological for 38 (12.1%). On multivariate multinomial logistic regression analysis, there was a significant but inverse association between education level and physical partner violence (adjusted relative risk (ARR) 0.50, confidence limits (95% CI) 0.31-0.82, p-value = 0.007). There was a significant but inverse association between education level of respondent and sexual/psychological violence (ARR 0.47 95%CI (0.25-0.87), p-value = 0.017) Likewise, there was a significant inverse association between the education level of the spouse and psychological/sexual violence (ARR 0.57, 95% CI 0.25-0.90, p-value = 0.018). Use of antiretroviral therapy was associated with increased prevalence of any type of violence (physical, sexual or psychological) with ARR 3.04 (95%CI 1.15-8.45, p-value = 0.032).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Almost one in three women living with HIV had suffered intimate partner violence in the preceding 12 months. Nearly one in five HIV patients reported physical violence, and about one in every seven HIV patients reported sexual/psychological violence. Likewise, women who were taking antiretroviral drugs for HIV treatment were more likely to report any type of intimate partner violence (physical, sexual or psychological). The implication of these findings is that women living with HIV especially those on antiretroviral drugs should be routinely screened for intimate partner violence.</p

The Mechanisms of RNA SHAPE Chemistry

The biological functions of RNA are ultimately governed by the local environment at each nucleotide. Selective 2′-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) chemistry is a powerful approach for measuring nucleotide structure and dynamics in diverse biological environments. SHAPE reagents acylate the 2′-hydroxyl group at flexible nucleotides because unconstrained nucleotides preferentially sample rare conformations that enhance the nucleophilicity of the 2′-hydroxyl. The critical corollary is that some constrained nucleotides must be poised for efficient reaction at the 2′-hydroxyl group. To identify such nucleotides, we performed SHAPE on intact crystals of the E. coli ribosome, monitored the reactivity of 1490 nucleotides in 16S ribosomal RNA, and examined those nucleotides that were hyper-reactive towards SHAPE and had well-defined crystallographic conformations. Analysis of these conformations revealed that 2′-hydroxyl reactivity is broadly facilitated by general base catalysis involving multiple RNA functional groups and by two specific orientations of the bridging 3′-phosphate group. Nucleotide analog studies confirmed the contributions of these mechanisms to SHAPE reactivity. These results provide a strong mechanistic explanation for the relationship between SHAPE reactivity and local RNA dynamics and will facilitate interpretation of SHAPE information in the many technologies that make use of this chemistry