The 24-hr. recall and its application with an elderly population

A study was conducted to test the validity of a common nutrition survey technique, the 24-hr. recall, with an elderly population. Three hypotheses were developed: 1) For a group of ¬elderly subjects, the 24-hr. dietary recall reflects actual caloric consumptions 2) Recall ability concerning dietary intake is affected by the preference of the respondent for the foods to be recalled; and 3) Recall ability is affected by certain non-dietary factors - age, sex, education, health status, and meal site. The actual food intake for one meal was observed for 50 individuals 60 years of age and older who participated in federally sponsored congregate meals programs at two sites. A representative serving of each food item on the menu was weighed and measured. The plate waste for each individual was collected and measured and this amount was subtracted from the representative serving to give the total amount consumed. Spilling, sharing, or saving of food during the meal was noted. The following day each subject was interviewed. Included in this interview were a 24-hr. recall and a food preference survey for foods found in the observed meal. Social, demographic, and health information was also collected. The 24-hr. recall asks each respondent to describe all food and beverages consumed in the preceding 24 hour period along with the approximate portion size. Food models were used to assist the respondent in estimating portion size

An evaluation of an intervention for HPV risk reduction among college-aged women

The goal of the study was to examine the effectiveness of a group intervention in reducing risk in relation to human papillomavirus (HPV) among sexually active, college-aged women. Using a randomized design, the current study examined the effectiveness of an HPV educational group intervention guided by previous sexual risk-reduction research and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB; Ajzen, 1991). The intervention was provided in a standard, in-person group format consisting of a single session. Measures were completed prior to the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and one month post-intervention (Fisher, 1997). Consistent with TPB (Ajzen, 2002), study outcomes included predicted changes in the following: 1) HPV knowledge, 2) attitudes towards risk-reduction behaviors (e.g., reducing new sexual partners, using barrier contraceptives, discussing STIs with partners, receiving HPV vaccine, seeking information on HPV, receiving a Pap smear, getting tested for HIV and other STIs), 3) subjective norms in association with the risk-reduction behaviors, 4) perceived behavioral control of the risk-reduction behaviors, 5) intention to perform the risk-reduction behaviors, and 6) the actual risk-reduction behaviors. Consistent with the hypotheses, the intervention was successful at increasing knowledge, behavioral intentions, HPV information-seeking and HIV testing and these changes were maintained over a one-month interval. Modest increases in attitudes toward risk-reduction behaviors, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control were obtained immediately after the intervention, but not at follow-up. Contrary to the hypothesized outcome, the intervention was also not successful at creating increases in social norms and many of the risk reduction behaviors (e.g., reducing new sexual partners, using barrier contraceptives, discussing STIs with partners, receiving HPV vaccine, receiving a Pap smear, getting tested for STIs). These findings do provide some empirical support for a brief one-time educational intervention in reducing the risk of an HPV infection

Factors affecting nontraditional African American students' participation in online world literature classes

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how communication preferences, learning preferences, and perceptions about online learning affect nontraditional African American students' participation in online world literature courses at a historically Black university (HBCU) in the southeastern United States. An instrumental case study was the research design used. Data were collected from individual interviews of participants and non-participatory observations of Blackboard course shells and analyzed through content analysis (Babbie, 2003). Chen's Learner-to-Learner Transactional Distance, Learner-to-Content Transactional Distance, and Learner-to-Interface Transactional Distance theory (2001), along with Moore's Theory of Transactional Distance (1996) informed the data analysis. Analysis occurred in two stages. Within-case analysis was used to understand the experiences of online learning with individual participants. Later, a cross-case analysis was used "to build abstractions across cases" (Merriam, 1998, p. 195) as well as to compare participants' experiences to ascertain a grander view of participation of African American nontraditional students in online world literature classes. The findings of the study explained nontraditional African American student preferences for frequent oral communication among students, preferably face-to-face. In addition, students wished to make oral contact with online instructors; however, they desired to have the instructor to communicate with them via email. In addition, findings also revealed how African American students could often be overwhelmed with long reading requirements. Their preferences were to have content condensed for learning. They also preferred to have study guides which highlighted key information to which one's focus should be placed. Furthermore, students preferred to work and learn in groups. In order to enhance their enjoyment and participation in the course, participants preferred to make connections with subject matter, topics, and peers. For the most part, participants were drawn to online learning for the convenience, though their learning preferences were not often met in the online learning environment. While many participants found learning to be accessible and convenient through online courses, many of them were frustrated by slow response and feedback by online instructors and technical problems which may have occurred due to lack of savvy with online learning or Blackboard technicalities. Implications for higher education administrators, university professors, and students as related to online learning are provided

Representations Of Women In Fin-de-siècle French Advertisements

This thesis analyzes the depictions of women as highly idealized, feminine, and/or seductive figures in Art Nouveau style advertisements in late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century France. Ultimately, I demonstrate how these advertisements developed the now widespread phenomenon of using idealized women and sexually appealing imagery in order to sell products. Specifically, lithographic posters created by male artists such as Jules Chéret, Alphonse Mucha, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and will be examined. My research will therefore encompass the works of various art historians to explore the representation of the female form in the Art Nouveau style and how artists used the female body to sell lifestyles and products to consumers. Furthermore, this thesis will analyze the cognitive strategies that such images deployed, many of which continue to appear in French advertisements today. Research regarding the use and effects of sexually appealing imagery in contemporary mainstream advertising is well documented. However, my research hopes to offer a nuanced analysis of the origins of such advertising strategies that can be found in French lithographic advertisements during the Art Nouveau movement

Early Recollections: An Adlerian technique with older people

Research on the success of life review therapy with older persons has been equivocal. This article suggests a related but less time consuming and possibly more productive alternative for facilitating ego integrity in late maturity. The Adlerian concept of Early Recollections is discussed in detail, with concrete suggestions for therapy and examples provided

Shifting suitability for malaria vectors across Africa with warming climates

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Climates are changing rapidly, producing warm climate conditions globally not previously observed in modern history. Malaria is of great concern as a cause of human mortality and morbidity, particularly across Africa, thanks in large part to the presence there of a particularly competent suite of mosquito vector species.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>I derive spatially explicit estimates of human populations living in regions newly suitable climatically for populations of two key <it>Anopheles gambiae </it>vector complex species in Africa over the coming 50 years, based on ecological niche model projections over two global climate models, two scenarios of climate change, and detailed spatial summaries of human population distributions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>For both species, under all scenarios, given the changing spatial distribution of appropriate conditions and the current population distribution, the models predict a reduction of 11.3–30.2% in the percentage of the overall population living in areas climatically suitable for these vector species in coming decades, but reductions and increases are focused in different regions: malaria vector suitability is likely to decrease in West Africa, but increase in eastern and southern Africa.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Climate change effects on African malaria vectors shift their distributional potential from west to east and south, which has implications for overall numbers of people exposed to these vector species. Although the total is reduced, malaria is likely to pose novel public health problems in areas where it has not previously been common.</p

Illness perceptions and explanatory models of viral hepatitis B & C among immigrants and refugees: a narrative systematic review.

© 2015 Owiti et al.; licensee BioMed Central. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B and C (HBV, HCV) infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Many countries with traditionally low prevalence (such as UK) are now planning interventions (screening, vaccination, and treatment) of high-risk immigrants from countries with high prevalence. This review aimed to synthesise the evidence on immigrants' knowledge of HBV and HCV that might influence the uptake of clinical interventions. The review was also used to inform the design and successful delivery of a randomised controlled trial of targeted screening and treatment. METHODS: Five databases (PubMed, CINHAL, SOCIOFILE, PsycINFO & Web of Science) were systematically searched, supplemented by reference tracking, searches of selected journals, and of relevant websites. We aimed to identify qualitative and quantitative studies that investigated knowledge of HBV and HCV among immigrants from high endemic areas to low endemic areas. Evidence, extracted according to a conceptual framework of Kleinman's explanatory model, was subjected to narrative synthesis. We adapted the PEN-3 model to categorise and analyse themes, and recommend strategies for interventions to influence help-seeking behaviour. RESULTS: We identified 51 publications including quantitative (n = 39), qualitative (n = 11), and mixed methods (n = 1) designs. Most of the quantitative studies included small samples and had heterogeneous methods and outcomes. The studies mainly concentrated on hepatitis B and ethnic groups of South East Asian immigrants residing in USA, Canada, and Australia. Many immigrants lacked adequate knowledge of aetiology, symptoms, transmission risk factors, prevention strategies, and treatment, of hepatitis HBV and HCV. Ethnicity, gender, better education, higher income, and English proficiency influenced variations in levels and forms of knowledge. CONCLUSION: Immigrants are vulnerable to HBV and HCV, and risk life-threatening complications from these infections because of poor knowledge and help-seeking behaviour. Primary studies in this area are extremely diverse and of variable quality precluding meta-analysis. Further research is needed outside North America and Australia

B2B e-marketplaces in the airline industry:process drivers and performance indicators

Competitive pressures are increasing within and between different strategically oriented groups of airlines. This paper focuses on the level of efficiency improvements gained by using e-Marketplaces in the procurement process. Findings from a survey among 88 international airlines reveal that the use of Business-to-Business (B2B) e-Marketplaces does play different roles across the various airline groupings. Airlines that are involved in strategic alliances show higher joint procurement activities than airlines that are not involved in strategic alliances. However, alliances are probably viewed as loose arrangements and thus airlines may be reluctant to share information on procurement prices and processes with another airline that could also be acting as a competitor. The financial involvement in or initiation of e-Marketplaces by airlines is very low. Low cost airlines show high use of e-Marketplaces, but demonstrate little financial involvement in contrast. Overall, the categories of spares and repairs, office supplies, tools and ground support equipment (GSE) show the greatest potential for reducing costs and increasing procurement process efficiencies. The intense competitive pressures facing carriers will make their search for tools to realise even incremental savings and efficiency gains ever more urgent. There is evidence that e-Marketplaces are one tool to improve such performance indicators

Structural insights into the transcriptional and translational roles of Ebp1.

Accepted versio