Predictors of Oral Health Behaviors: Examining the Effect of Patient Perceived Humanistic Attitude in the Context of the Health Belief Model

The purpose of this study was to test the explanatory power of The Health Belief Model with the added environmental condition of perceived humanistic attitude of a dental hygienist in its ability to predict individual\u27s performance of oral disease prevention behaviors. A cross section survey of an intact group of 1,943 full time employees of Old Dominion University was conducted. The response rate was 52% (n = 1001). An exclusionary rule eliminated respondents who did not have a dental hygienist provide preventive services during dental visits. Seven hundred and fifty four were included in the study analyses. The study participants included 67% female, 69% White, 63% married with an average age of 45 (SD = 10.78). Classified employees represented 46%, faculty represented 37%, and administrative employees represented 16% of the study population. Partial support for The Health Belief Model was found in predicting oral disease prevention behaviors (brushing, flossing, performing homecare, receiving recommended dental treatment, maintaining regular dental check-up, and visiting a dental provider within a year. Further, support was found for adding perceived humanistic attitude of dental hygienists as an environmental condition for predicting oral disease prevention behaviors of the employees. Data analyses revealed that individuals who perceived that they were susceptible to oral disease were less likely to perform oral disease prevention behaviors. This finding was the opposite of what was expected based upon the precepts of The Health Belief Model. Perceived benefit was not found to be a strong predictor of performing oral disease prevention behaviors. While perceived seriousness, perceived lack of barriers, and perceived humanistic attitude of dental hygienists were found to be strong predictors of engaging in oral disease prevention behaviors

Memory B cells and CD8⁺ lymphocytes do not control seasonal influenza A virus replication after homologous re-challenge of rhesus macaques.

This study sought to define the role of memory lymphocytes in the protection from homologous influenza A virus re-challenge in rhesus macaques. Depleting monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were administered to the animals prior to their second experimental inoculation with a human seasonal influenza A virus strain. Treatment with either anti-CD8α or anti-CD20 mAbs prior to re-challenge had minimal effect on influenza A virus replication. Thus, in non-human primates with pre-existing anti-influenza A antibodies, memory B cells and CD8α⁺ T cells do not contribute to the control of virus replication after re-challenge with a homologous strain of influenza A virus

No heir apparent? Exploring the workers' co-operative model as a solution to the continuity of family businesses

Family businesses, with no apparent heir, face the risk of discontinuity. While a number of family businesses rely heavily on non-family employees, the role of non-family employees in the continuity of family businesses is under-researched. The workers’ co-operative model offers one way to address this gap as it represents a model whereby non-family employees gain a stake in ownership whilst the family remains involved. In practice, conversion to ensure continuity is actively promoted in a number of countries. In this paper, the authors explore the role of the workers’ co-operative model as one possible solution to succession difficulties facing family firms. Based on the reported experiences in a number of countries, we identify the motivations behind conversion, the barriers faced and the benefits accruing. We find that, in theory, the worker co-operative model merits the attention of family business scholars as a means of securing continuity and survival of family business. We explore the factors that appear to aid or hinder successful conversions in practice and we make recommendations to policy-makers surrounding the supports required to encourage and facilitate successful conversion

Adoption, adaptation, stabilization and stagnation: software appropriation over time

Persistent use of an information technology is necessary if it is to enhance productivity and user satisfaction. In this paper, we examine the process of appropriation of an application software over time, to gain a deeper understanding of the influences that encourage productive and persistent use. In a longitudinal study in an educational setting, through intensive field research, we identify changing expectations and influences that encourage persistent use of a technology above and beyond adoption. We identify further appropriation beyond initial stabilization and suggest that easy access to ongoing training is a driving force in avoiding stagnation and encouraging productive use

A Unified Approach to Attractor Reconstruction

In the analysis of complex, nonlinear time series, scientists in a variety of disciplines have relied on a time delayed embedding of their data, i.e. attractor reconstruction. The process has focused primarily on heuristic and empirical arguments for selection of the key embedding parameters, delay and embedding dimension. This approach has left several long-standing, but common problems unresolved in which the standard approaches produce inferior results or give no guidance at all. We view the current reconstruction process as unnecessarily broken into separate problems. We propose an alternative approach that views the problem of choosing all embedding parameters as being one and the same problem addressable using a single statistical test formulated directly from the reconstruction theorems. This allows for varying time delays appropriate to the data and simultaneously helps decide on embedding dimension. A second new statistic, undersampling, acts as a check against overly long time delays and overly large embedding dimension. Our approach is more flexible than those currently used, but is more directly connected with the mathematical requirements of embedding. In addition, the statistics developed guide the user by allowing optimization and warning when embedding parameters are chosen beyond what the data can support. We demonstrate our approach on uni- and multivariate data, data possessing multiple time scales, and chaotic data. This unified approach resolves all the main issues in attractor reconstruction.Comment: 22 pages, revised version as submitted to CHAOS. Manuscript is currently under review. 4 Figures, 31 reference

Problem drug users' experiences of employment and the benefit system

This report presents the findings of a study commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to examine the issues surrounding employment and benefit uptake in England by individuals who use illicit drugs, in particular heroin and crack cocaine. In addressing these issues, the study also explores the wider context of education, training, drug use and treatment. This report has two key elements a review of the literature on drug use and benefit uptake, and a qualitative component that included face-to-face interviews with 75 drug users and ten professionals who work with drug users to explore specific issues in detail. The research was carried out by a team from the Centre for Drug Misuse Research at the University of Glasgow and the Centre for the Analysis of Social Policy at the University of Bath

Writing Panels Articulate Extension Public Value in the West

In every era, publically funded programs seek to document their value. During the centennial celebrations of Cooperative Extension\u27s legislation and establishment, this cry for data became even louder and the demand more intense. The Western Extension Directors Association (WEDA) tasked their Western Region Program Leadership Committee (WRPLC) to determine common measures in hopes that 15 Western States could aggregate data and effectively present results of Extension\u27s work to stakeholders. Panels of experts from western land-grant universities were convened for an orientation to public value and a 24-hour lock down writing session. This tool resulted in six formatted white papers

Using a cell phone-based glucose monitoring system for adolescent diabetes management

INTRODUCTION: Mobile technology may be useful in addressing several issues in adolescent diabetes management. PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility and acceptability of a cell phone glucose monitoring system for adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their parents. METHODS: The authors recruited patients with type 1 diabetes who had been diagnosed for at least 1 year. Each adolescent used the system for 6 months, filling out surveys every 3 months to measure their usability and satisfaction with the cell phone glucose monitoring system, as well as how use of the system might affect quality of family functioning and diabetes management. RESULTS: Adolescents reported positive feelings about the technology and the service, even though a concerning number of them had significant technical issues that affected continued use of the device. Nearly all thought that the clinic involvement in monitoring testing behavior was quite acceptable. The use of the Glucophone™ did not, however, significantly change the quality of life of the adolescents, their level of conflict with their parents, their reported self-management of diabetes, or their average glycemic control within the short time frame of the study. CONCLUSIONS: As a feasibility study of the technology, this work was successful in demonstrating that cell phone glucose monitoring technology can be used in an adolescent population to track and assist in self-monitoring behavior. The authors speculate that explicitly attempting to change behavior, perhaps with the use of behavioral contracts, would enhance the technology's ability to improve outcomes

Attributes And Characteristics That Contribute To Successful Female Leadership In Secondary Education

132 leavesThe current research indicates that gender underrepresentation in upper management is a broad, global issue. According to data from the Iowa Department of Education (2010), most female principals (50.4%) are at the elementary level while only 23.7% female principals are at the secondary level and 76.3% males. The underrepresentation of females can be noted in business, the armed forces, higher education, around the world, and in public education. Limited research has been done on women in educational leadership, with even less in regard to women leadership at the secondary level. Based on the large number of females represented in the teaching occupation, it would seem logical that the proportion of female leaders in education would be reflective of the profession as a whole, whether it is at the elementary, secondary level, or central office. Through the lens of Critical Feminist Theory and multiple case qualitative design, this researcher examined the lives and experiences of four women who have maintained successful and effective careers in secondary education. By gathering in-depth information of actual successful secondary female principals the researcher was able to add to the current literature and accomplish four objectives: (a) Create an awareness of the skill set, style, and background needed that allows a female educator to consider and pursue a secondary principalship, (b) Offer necessary information for female educators who pursue a secondary principalship to be aware and prepared for the obstacles and challenges they will encounter, (c) Encourage females who fear advancement in secondary education due to stereotypes and/or leave the profession due to negative experiences, and (d) Provide substantive information to administrator preparation programs that will assist in designing instruction to support women interested in becoming secondary principals