Perception of Perceived Source Credibility as a Function of Physical Attractiveness in Print Advertisements

This thesis investigated perceptions of physical attractiveness and source credibility along the five dimensions of competence, character, composure, competence and sociability. The McCroskey and McCain Interpersonal Attraction Scale (1972) was used to determine levels of physical attractiveness in the advertisements used for the study. The McCroskey, Jensen and Valencia Source Credibility Scale (1973) was also used. Results indicated no significance between the perceived physical attractiveness or perceived physical unattractiveness of the sources and credibility except along one dimension of character. Those sources perceived as physically unattractive were perceived as having more character than those perceived physically attractive. Discussion, interpretation of results and future issues for research on physical attractiveness and source credibility are explored

Young women's experiences of unintended pregnancy and abortion: key findings

This document reports on the key findings of a mixed methods study to investigate different aspects of young women’s (aged 16-24) pregnancy experiences of one or more unintended pregnancies ending in abortion. Following an abortion at one of Marie Stopes’ main centres, a total of 430 women completed a quantitative telephone survey between June 2012 and May 2013. In addition, thirty six young women were interviewed qualitatively following their abortion. These interviews took place between February 2013 and April 2014. Seventeen of these participants were then interviewed for a second time approximately five to eight months later. Women were asked about their contraceptive use at the time of pregnancy, their experience of the abortion consultation and service, their post abortion contraception decision making, their attitudes towards pregnancy and abortion, and their perception of contraceptive risk taking. The women who had experienced a previous abortion were also asked about their contraceptive use between their two most recent abortions

"I thought i was protected" Abortion, contraceptive uptake and use among young women: a quantitative survey

In 2012, when this research study began, the total number of abortions in England and Wales was 185,122. This was 2.5% fewer than in 2011 (189,931) [1]. The latest government abortion statistics show that there was a total of 185,331 abortions in 2013 which is 0.1% more than in 2012 [1]. The percentage of women undergoing an abortion who have had one or more previous abortions is increasing, with more than one in three abortions in the UK (37%) being a subsequent episode, an increase from 34% in 2010 and 31% in 2002. Among women under 25 years, 27% had a previous abortion in 2012, a slight increase since the previous year (26%). This proportion was also the same for under-25 year old women in 2013. This increase may indicate a gap between provision of abortion care and effective post abortion contraception use among this population. Reasons for unintended pregnancy are well documented, and include non-use of contraception, failure of a contraceptive method, poor knowledge of methods, cultural or religious barriers, fear or misconceptions of side effects, and relationship changes [2-6]. Factors associated with why some women who have an abortion go on to have a subsequent abortion are less evidence based. It has been acknowledged that increasing access to contraceptive information and services is too simplistic a solution [7]. There are no known UK studies that provide quantitative data about post abortion contraceptive practices among young women. While post-abortion contraceptive services for young women have become a government policy priority, more needs to be understood about why some young women struggle to exercise reproductive control, and do not use contraception effectively; as well as about service provider and other factors that may influence its initiation and continuation. Marie Stopes International (MSI) is one of the UK’s leading reproductive health agencies and is the largest provider of abortion services. Given the lack of understanding regarding the complex interplay of factors that influence the incidence of successive episodes of abortion, MSI commissioned a mixed method study to investigate different aspects of young women's experiences of one or more unintended pregnancy ending in abortion. This paper reports on the second component of the study: a quantitative survey. It draws on the survey results to identify ways in which local sexual health strategies and services can support young women after abortion, helping them to improve their reproductive control and avoid further unintended pregnancies

‘Repeat abortion’, a phrase to be avoided? Qualitative insights into labelling and stigma

Background In recent years there has been growing international interest in identifying risk factors associated with ‘repeat abortion’, and developing public health initiatives that might reduce the rate. This article draws on a research study looking at young women's abortion experience in England and Wales. The study was commissioned with a specific focus on women who had undergone more than one abortion. We examine what may influence women's post-abortion reproductive behaviour, in addition to exploring abortion-related stigma, in the light of participants' own narratives. Study design Mixed-methods research study: a quantitative survey of 430 women aged 16–24 years, and in-depth qualitative interviews with 36 women who had undergone one or more abortions. This article focuses on the qualitative data from two subsets of young women: those we interviewed twice (n=17) and those who had experienced more than one unintended/unwanted pregnancy (n=15). Results The qualitative research findings demonstrate the complexity of women's contraceptive histories and reproductive lives, and thus the inherent difficulty of establishing causal patterns for more than one abortion, beyond the obvious observation that contraception was not used, or not used effectively. Women who had experienced more than one abortion did, however, express intensified abortion shame. Conclusions This article argues that categorising women who have an abortion in different ways depending on previous episodes is not helpful. It may also be damaging, and generate increased stigma, for women who have more than one abortion

Exploring provider preference and provision of abortion methods and stigma: secondary analysis of a United Kingdom provider survey

Introduction: Method choice is an important component of quality abortion care and qualitative research suggests that abortion stigma can influence provider preference and provision of abortion methods. This study is the first to explore the relationships between abortion providers' method preferences, their provision of medication or instrumentation abortion or both methods, and abortion stigma. Methods: We conducted secondary analysis of a survey of United Kingdom (UK) abortion providers (N = 172) to describe and compare providers' self-reported method preferences and provision. We used multinomial logistic regression to assess the association between method preference and provider experiences of abortion stigma (measured using a revised Abortion Provider Stigma Scale (APSS)), adjusting for relevant provider and facility characteristics. Results: Almost half (52%) of providers reported that they only provided medication abortion care, while 5% only provided instrumentation abortion care and 43% provided both methods. Most (62%) preferred to provide both methods while 32% preferred to provide only medication abortion and 6% only instrumentation abortion. There was no significant difference in revised APSS scores by provider method preference or provision. Discussion: Most surveyed UK abortion providers prefer to offer both methods, but over half only provide medication abortion. This may reflect patients' preferences for medication abortion, and health system and legal constraints on instrumentation abortion. Addressing these systemic constraints on method provision could expand patient choice. Providers' method preference was not significantly associated with provider stigma but future research should consider the influence of structural stigma on method provision at the health system level

Demography and ecology of southern right whales Eubalaena australis wintering at sub-Antarctic Campbell Island, New Zealand

Since the decimation of the southern right whale Eubalaena australis population in New Zealand by whaling, research on its recovery has focused on the wintering ground at the Auckland Islands, neglecting potentially important wintering habitat at Campbell Island. For the first time in 20 years we conducted an expedition to sub-Antarctic Campbell Island to document and describe E. australis occupying this wintering habitat. We used a variety of methods including photo-identification, genetic and stable isotope analyses of tissue samples, and visual surveys of abundance and distribution, to provide details on the demography, population connectivity and ecology of E. australis wintering at Campbell Island. Our primary findings include (1) a lack of calves observed at Campbell Island, (2) an age-class bias toward sub-adults encountered at Campbell Island, (3) nine photo-identification matches between individuals observed at Campbell Island and previously documented elsewhere in New Zealand, (4) no genetic differentiation between E. australis at Campbell Island and the broader New Zealand population, (5) increased abundance estimates of E. australis at Campbell Island over the last 20 years, and (6) indications that E. australis forage within the sub-Antarctic region based on stable isotope analyses. Our results confirm that the Auckland Islands are currently the only significant calving area for E. australis in New Zealand, and therefore previous abundance estimates based on demographic data from the Auckland Islands are applicable to the entire New Zealand population of E. australis. However, future periodic surveys to Campbell Island are recommended to monitor population recovery and expansion.PostprintPeer reviewe

The Newcastle 85+ study: biological, clinical and psychosocial factors associated with healthy ageing: study protocol

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The UK, like other developed countries, is experiencing a marked change in the age structure of its population characterised by increasing life expectancy and continuing growth in the older fraction of the population. There is remarkably little up-to-date information about the health of the <it>oldest old </it>(over 85 years), demographically the fastest growing section of the population. There is a need, from both a policy and scientific perspective, to describe in detail the health status of this population and the factors that influence individual health trajectories. For a very large proportion of medical conditions, age is the single largest risk factor. Gaining new knowledge about why aged cells and tissues are more vulnerable to pathology is likely to catalyse radical new insights and opportunities to intervene. The aims of the Newcastle 85+ Study are to expose the spectrum of health within an inception cohort of 800 85 year-olds; to examine health trajectories and outcomes as the cohort ages and their associations with underlying biological, medical and social factors; and to advance understanding of the biological nature of ageing.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cohort of 800 85 year olds from Newcastle and North Tyneside will be recruited at baseline and followed until the last participant has died. Eligible individuals will be <it>all </it>those who turn 85 during the year 2006 (i.e. born in 1921) and who are registered with a Newcastle or North Tyneside general practice. Participants will be visited in their current residence (own home or institution) by a research nurse at baseline, 18 months and 36 months. The assessment protocol entails a detailed multi-dimensional health assessment together with review of general practice medical records. Participants will be flagged with the NHS Central Register to provide details of the date and cause of death.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The Newcastle 85+ Study will address key questions about health and health-maintenance in the 85+ population, with a particular focus on quantitative assessment of factors underlying variability in health, and on the relationships between health, nutrition and biological markers of the fundamental processes of ageing.</p

Allele-Specific HLA Loss and Immune Escape in Lung Cancer Evolution

Immune evasion is a hallmark of cancer. Losing the ability to present neoantigens through human leukocyte antigen (HLA) loss may facilitate immune evasion. However, the polymorphic nature of the locus has precluded accurate HLA copy-number analysis. Here, we present loss of heterozygosity in human leukocyte antigen (LOHHLA), a computational tool to determine HLA allele-specific copy number from sequencing data. Using LOHHLA, we find that HLA LOH occurs in 40% of non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) and is associated with a high subclonal neoantigen burden, APOBEC-mediated mutagenesis, upregulation of cytolytic activity, and PD-L1 positivity. The focal nature of HLA LOH alterations, their subclonal frequencies, enrichment in metastatic sites, and occurrence as parallel events suggests that HLA LOH is an immune escape mechanism that is subject to strong microenvironmental selection pressures later in tumor evolution. Characterizing HLA LOH with LOHHLA refines neoantigen prediction and may have implications for our understanding of resistance mechanisms and immunotherapeutic approaches targeting neoantigens. Video Abstract [Figure presented] Development of the bioinformatics tool LOHHLA allows precise measurement of allele-specific HLA copy number, improves the accuracy in neoantigen prediction, and uncovers insights into how immune escape contributes to tumor evolution in non-small-cell lung cancer