A theory-based approach to understanding condom errors and problems reported by men attending an STI clinic

The official published version can be accessed from the link below - Copyright @ 2008 Springer VerlagWe employed the information–motivation–behavioral skills (IMB) model to guide an investigation of correlates for correct condom use among 278 adult (18–35 years old) male clients attending a sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic. An anonymous questionnaire aided by a CD-recording of the questions was administered. Linear Structural Relations Program was used to conduct path analyses of the hypothesized IMB model. Parameter estimates showed that while information did not directly affect behavioral skills, it did have a direct (negative) effect on condom use errors. Motivation had a significant direct (positive) effect on behavioral skills and a significant indirect (positive) effect on condom use errors through behavioral skills. Behavioral skills had a direct (negative) effect on condom use errors. Among men attending a public STI clinic, these findings suggest brief, clinic-based, safer sex programs for men who have sex with women should incorporate activities to convey correct condom use information, instill motivation to use condoms correctly, and directly enhance men’s behavioral skills for correct use of condoms

Research Mentoring and Scientist Identity: Insights from Undergraduates and their Mentors

Background Mentored research apprenticeships are a common feature of academic outreach programs that aim to promote diversity in science fields. The current study tests for links between three forms of mentoring (instrumental, socioemotional, and negative) and the degree to which undergraduates psychologically identify with science. Participants were 66 undergraduate-mentor dyads who worked together in a research apprenticeship. The undergraduate sample was predominantly composed of women, first-generation college students, and members of ethnic groups that are historically underrepresented in science. Results Findings illustrated that undergraduates who reported receiving more instrumental and socioemotional mentoring were higher in scientist identity. Further, mentors who reported engaging in higher levels of negative mentoring had undergraduates with lower scientist identity. Qualitative data from undergraduates’ mentors provided deeper insight into their motivation to become mentors and how they reason about conflict in their mentoring relationships. Conclusions Discussion highlights theoretical implications and details several methodological recommendations

Satellite Temperature Monitoring and Prediction System

This system used data from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) to derive and display surface temperature distributions throughout peninsular Florida on cold nights. These distributions, in conjunction with ground meteorological data, provide inputs to mathematical models which predict temperature distributions up to 10 hours in advance. This system is being developed by scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) in cooperation with and sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Kennedy Space Center (KSC) supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS). The system has been installed in the NWS facility at Ruskin, Florida, and has been operated in an experimental mode by NWS forecasters for the past three winters. The primary purpose of the system is to provide a tool for use by NWS weather forecasters to permit more timely more complete and more accurate temperature data for use by agricultural interests on nights when their crops are threatened by a cold wave. This better information can result in more timely decisions in the use of frost protection techniques thus deriving substantial benefits in terms of cost savings and crops protected and salvaged

Institutional Identity and Self-Esteem among African American Males in College

This article explores the relationship between self-esteem and institutional identity among 411 Black male college freshmen. Institutional identity, especially a sense of belonging, did correlate with self-esteem at both Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominately White Institutions (PWIs), though for different reasons

Outcomes of a residential respite service for homeless people with tuberculosis in London, UK: a cross-sectional study

Background: Many countries are seeking to eliminate tuberculosis (TB), but incidence remains high in socially excluded groups such as people experiencing homelessness. There is limited research into the effectiveness of residential respite services (RRS), which provide accomodation and social and clinical support for homeless people with active TB. // Methods: We used a register of all cases of TB diagnosed in London between 1 January 2010 and 3 October 2019 to compare characteristics and outcomes of patients treated in an RRS with patients receiving standard care. The primary outcome was successful treatment completion. We used logistic regression to compare likelihood of completing treatment, and simulation to estimate the absolute change in treatment completion resulting from this service. // Results: A total of 78 homeless patients finished an episode of TB treatment at the RRS. Patients treated in the RRS were more likely than patients treated in standard care to have clinical and social risk factors including drug resistance, history of homelessness, drug or alcohol use, and need for directly observed therapy. After adjusting for these factors, patients treated in the RRS had 2.97 times the odds of completing treatment (95% CI = 1.44–6.96). Treatment ended in failure for 8/78 patients treated in the RRS (10%, 95% CI = 5%–20%). We estimated that in the absence of the RRS, treatment would have ended in failure for 17/78 patients (95% CI = 11–25). // Conclusion: The residential respite service for homeless TB patients with complex social needs was associated with better treatment outcomes

Health Risk of Obesity in Native American Adolescents

Recent reports demonstrate the need to improve methods for identifying obesity among adolescent minority populations, especially among Native American adolescents. Our study examined several anthropometric measures to see which one was the best indicator of obesity for Native American adolescents. We compared our data with that provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANESIII). We examined which measures diï¬ered signiï¬cantly from the NHANESIII, and which were most eï¬ective for measuring obesity in Native American adolescents. Our study population represented a cross-sectional, epidemiological population (N=183) of Native American students (ages 14-18) from diverse tribal backgrounds at an urban residential high school. We obtained baseline anthropometric measurements of height, weight, waist, triceps skin-fold, and calf skin-fold measures from the Native American students and compared this information with reference data to assess weight classiï¬cation by body mass indices for our population. Under the conditions of our study, we found the calf skin-fold measure to be the best indicator of normal weight in male Native American adolescents, and the triceps skin-fold measure to be the best indicator of obesity in male Native American adolescents. The assessment of health risk by anthropometric measures we obtained appears appropriate for predicting obesity and developing eï¬ective interventions for Native American adolescents in general. Correlations between anthropometric measures and obesity in our study population may prove of signiï¬cant interest for monitoring obesity prevention initiatives for Native American adolescents

Older female children experience poorer quality of life when levels of perceived racial bias are high

Background: Individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience significant health problems that result in unpredictable pain episodes and frequent healthcare utilization. Disparities in clinical care and emergency room visits in which medical providers mistrust the severity of reported pain symptoms may contribute to health-related stigma. In addition to stigma related to seeking care for acute pain, racism is a source of stigma with associated systemic inequities for this majority Black population. There is currently limited research into the effects of health-related stigma and racial bias on the underserved SCD population; however, the small body of research has found barriers to healthcare utilization, greater pain burden, and increased emotional distress. There is little known about the influence of health-related stigma and racial bias on quality of life (QOL) of children with SCD. The present study assessed these relationships, and additionally, we sought to understand whether there were differences in this relationship with regards to demographic factors (e.g., age, gender). / Methods: Data was collected from African-American children with SCD aged 8 - 16 years (57% male, 63% HbSS) who received care at a medical center in the United States. Sixty-three percent of children were receiving chronic transfusion therapy or pheresis and 37% were receiving hydroxyurea therapy. Children completed the Childhood Stigma Scale (adapted for SCD), the Child Perceptions of Racism in Children and Youth scale (PRaCY), and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory for SCD (PedsQL). Caregivers provided demographic information. / Results: We first assessed whether age, gender, and health-related stigma predicted QOL and demonstrated a significant overall model, F(7, 22) = 4.59, p = .003, r = .46. Health-related stigma (p = .007) predicted QOL, but neither age or gender were significant predictors. The next model assessed whether age, gender, and racial bias predicted QOL and demonstrated a significant overall model, F(7, 22) = 4.59, p < .001, r = .52. Specifically, age (p = .03), but neither gender or racial bias were significant predictors. Of interest, there was a significant interaction between age, gender, and racial bias (p = .02), which indicated that males generally had higher QOL that did not differ as a function of racial bias or age. Similarly, females who reported low levels of racial bias had higher QOL that did not differ as a function of age. In contrast, females who reported high levels of racial bias had QOL that differed as a function of age. Specifically, older female children who reported high levels of perceived racial bias had poorer QOL (see Figure 1)

Evidence for equilibrium iron isotope fractionation by nitrate-reducing iron(II)-oxidizing bacteria

Iron isotope fractionations produced during chemical and biological Fe(II) oxidation are sensitive to the proportions and nature of dissolved and solid-phase Fe species present, as well as the extent of isotopic exchange between precipitates and aqueous Fe. Iron isotopes therefore potentially constrain the mechanisms and pathways of Fe redox transformations in modern and ancient environments. In the present study, we followed in batch experiments Fe isotope fractionations between Fe(II)_(aq) and Fe(III) oxide/hydroxide precipitates produced by the Fe(III) mineral encrusting, nitrate-reducing, Fe(II)-oxidizing Acidovorax sp. strain BoFeN1. Isotopic fractionation in ^(56)Fe/^(54)Fe approached that expected for equilibrium conditions, assuming an equilibrium Δ^(56)Fe_(Fe(OH)3–Fe(II)aq) fractionation factor of +3.0‰. Previous studies have shown that Fe(II) oxidation by this Acidovorax strain occurs in the periplasm, and we propose that Fe isotope equilibrium is maintained through redox cycling via coupled electron and atom exchange between Fe(II)_(aq) and Fe(III) precipitates in the contained environment of the periplasm. In addition to the apparent equilibrium isotopic fractionation, these experiments also record the kinetic effects of initial rapid oxidation, and possible phase transformations of the Fe(III) precipitates. Attainment of Fe isotope equilibrium between Fe(III) oxide/hydroxide precipitates and Fe(II)_(aq) by neutrophilic, Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria or through abiologic Fe(II)_(aq) oxidation is generally not expected or observed, because the poor solubility of their metabolic product, i.e. Fe(III), usually leads to rapid precipitation of Fe(III) minerals, and hence expression of a kinetic fractionation upon precipitation; in the absence of redox cycling between Fe(II)_(aq) and precipitate, kinetic isotope fractionations are likely to be retained. These results highlight the distinct Fe isotope fractionations that are produced by different pathways of biological and abiological Fe(II) oxidation

Adapting SAM for CDF

The CDF and D0 experiments probe the high-energy frontier and as they do so have accumulated hundreds of Terabytes of data on the way to petabytes of data over the next two years. The experiments have made a commitment to use the developing Grid based on the SAM system to handle these data. The D0 SAM has been extended for use in CDF as common patterns of design emerged to meet the similar requirements of these experiments. The process by which the merger was achieved is explained with particular emphasis on lessons learned concerning the database design patterns plus realization of the use cases.Comment: Talk from the 2003 Computing in High Energy and Nuclear Physics (CHEP03), La Jolla, Ca, USA, March 2003, 4 pages, pdf format, TUAT00