Man/Hombre/Homme: Meeting male reproductive health care needs in Latin America

This edition of Quality/Calidad/Qualité answers the following question: how can family planning programs understand and better serve the interests of men? The proposals in the article are derived from the experience of PRO-PATER, in São Paulo, Brazil, and briefly, from the activities of the Profamilia Men’s Clinic in Colombia. The experiences of both PRO-PATER and Profamilia suggest that, although the reproductive health needs of men may be different from those of women, they are still very interested. It is clear that there is abundant demand for high-quality services that offer convenience, confidentiality, information, attentive providers, and attention to reproductive health needs beyond contraception

Sola no eres nada, juntas flotamos: El Movimiento Manuela Ramos

This edition of Quality/Calidad/Qualité discusses the Manuela Ramos Movement and its efforts to improve women’s health and well-being through a range of empowerment strategies in rural Peru. A joint project with USAID, named Reprosalud, demonstrates how combining the resources of an international donor with local women’s organizations allows a more organic and multifaceted family planning program to develop. Such programs can produce impressive improvements on a number of indicators, including contraceptive use

Man/Hombre/Homme: Respuestas a las necesidades de la salud reproductiva masculina en América Latina

Esta edición de Quality/Calidad/Qualité responde a la siguiente pregunta: ¿cómo pueden los programas de planificación familiar entender y atender mejor a los intereses de los hombres? Las propuestas del artículo se derivan de la experiencia de PRO-PATER, en São Paulo, Brasil, y brevemente, de las actividades de la Clínica para el Hombre de Profamilia en Colombia. Las experiencias de tanto PRO-PATER como Profamilia sugieren que, aunque las necesidades de salud reproductiva de los hombres pueden ser distintas a las que expresan las mujeres, de todas maneras ellos están muy interesados. Queda claro que existe una abundante demanda para servicios de alta calidad, que ofrezcan conveniencia, confidencialidad, información, proveedores atentos, y atención a las necesidades de salud reproductiva más allá de la anticoncepción. This edition of Quality/Calidad/Qualité answers the following question: how can family planning programs understand and better serve the interests of men? The proposals in the article are derived from the experience of PRO-PATER, in São Paulo, Brazil, and briefly, from the activities of the Profamilia Men’s Clinic in Colombia. The experiences of both PRO-PATER and Profamilia suggest that, although the reproductive health needs of men may be different from those of women, they are still very interested. It is clear that there is abundant demand for high-quality services that offer convenience, confidentiality, information, attentive providers, and attention to reproductive health needs beyond contraception

Nonlinear viscoelastic characterization of polymer materials using a dynamic-mechanical methodology

Polymer materials retrieved from LDEF exhibit nonlinear constitutive behavior; thus the authors present a method to characterize nonlinear viscoelastic behavior using measurements from dynamic (oscillatory) mechanical tests. Frequency-derived measurements are transformed into time-domain properties providing the capability to predict long term material performance without a lengthy experimentation program. Results are presented for thin-film high-performance polymer materials used in the fabrication of high-altitude scientific balloons. Predictions based upon a linear test and analysis approach are shown to deteriorate for moderate to high stress levels expected for extended applications. Tests verify that nonlinear viscoelastic response is induced by large stresses. Hence, an approach is developed in which the stress-dependent behavior is examined in a manner analogous to modeling temperature-dependent behavior with time-temperature correspondence and superposition principles. The development leads to time-stress correspondence and superposition of measurements obtained through dynamic mechanical tests. Predictions of material behavior using measurements based upon linear and nonlinear approaches are compared with experimental results obtained from traditional creep tests. Excellent agreement is shown for the nonlinear model

Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: Australian Experience with Genetic Testing

Linkage analysis has been performed in four pedigrees with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN 2A) or familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) using pericentromeric chromosome 10 probes. Important information regarding carrier status has been provided in 10 individuals, many of whom would not have been identified by pentagastrin stimulation testing. We have also used pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to link the probes H4JRBP and pMCK2 to a 150 kb fragment. Using PFGE, no evidence was found in DNA from lymphocytes of a major DNA rearrangement in two individuals affected with MEN 2A and an individual with MEN 2B compared with normals. Metastatic MTC from one patient has been used to generate a cDNA library which will be used to screen for candidate MEN 2A and MEN 2B gen

Documented Chromosome Numbers 1990: 1. Miscellaneous North American Vascular Plants

The following meiotic chromosome counts are documented by specimens deposited in Herbarium of Arizona State University (ASU). Previously uncounted taxa are represented by an asterisk (*). A double asterisk (**) indicates a new number for the species

Understanding stigma as a barrier to accessing cancer treatment in South Africa: implications for public health campaigns

Introduction: Cancer contributes to significant illness burden in South Africa, with delayed diagnosis resulting from limited knowledge of cancer, lack of biomedical treatment and stigma. This study examines ways in which people are identified as having cancer through perspectives of traditional healing or the biomedical model. Additionally, we sought to understand the stigma associated with cancer, including stereotypes, anticipated discrimination and coping styles. Methods: Livestrong Foundation conducted 11 semi-structured focus groups with key community stakeholders in three South African townships. Interviews examined the negative consequences of being labeled with a cancer diagnosis as well as causes of, possible prevention of and barriers and methods to improve access to cancer treatment. Analyses were completed using directed content analysis. Results: Revealed three main labeling mechanisms: physical appearance of perceived signs/symptoms of cancer, diagnosis by a traditional healer, or a biomedical diagnosis by a Western physician. Being labeled led to anticipated discrimination in response to prevalent cancer stereotypes. This contributed to delayed treatment, use of traditional healers instead of biomedical treatment and secrecy of symptoms and/or diagnosis. Further, perceptions of cancer were commonly conflated with HIV/TB owing to prior educational campaigns. Conclusion: Our study deepens the understanding of the cancer labeling process in South Africa and the resulting negative effects of stigma. Future anti-stigma interventions should partner with traditional healers due to their respected community status and consider how previous health interventions may significantly impact current understandings of illness

USCID fourth international conference

Presented at the Role of irrigation and drainage in a sustainable future: USCID fourth international conference on irrigation and drainage on October 3-6, 2007 in Sacramento, California.Includes bibliographical references.A In order to promote irrigation sustainability through reporting by irrigation water managers around Australia, we have developed an adaptive framework and methodology for improved triple-bottom-line reporting. The Irrigation Sustainability Assessment Framework (ISAF) was developed to provide a comprehensive framework for irrigation sustainability assessment and integrated triple-bottom-line reporting, and is structured to promote voluntary application of this framework across the irrigation industry, with monitoring, assessment and feedback into future planning, in a continual learning process. Used in this manner the framework serves not only as a "reporting tool", but also as a "planning tool" for introducing innovative technology and as a "processes implementation tool" for enhanced adoption of new scientific research findings across the irrigation industry. The ISAF was applied in case studies to selected rural irrigation sector organisations, with modifications to meet their specific interests and future planning