The relationship between self-esteem, self-efficacy and sense of belonging in young adolescents at school

Research emphasises the importance of adolescents\u27 psychological sense of belonging in relation to academic, motivational, psychosocial, developmental, and behavioural outcomes, particularly during transition to high school. However, adolescents\u27 adjustment during transition period does not occur in isolation, it occurs in conjunction with normative biopsychosocial change-related effects. As most of adolescents biopsychosocial needs are negotiated in high school, the school\u27s social context assumes a fundamental role in facilitating successful adolescent adjustment, and school belonging. Features of the high school context such as perceived peer, parent, and teacher support have an influence on adolescents\u27 perceived belonging. Similarly, the educational values, in terms of goal structures, and emphasis on expectancy for success, that schools and teachers adopt is positively associated with adolescent perceived self-efficacy and feelings of self-worth. However, relatively few studies have examined school belonging in relation to competency beliefs and self-worth per se. Much of the existing research has primarily focused on academic and motivational outcomes, suggesting that future research in this area is necessary\u27

The concept of and the need for confidentiality concerning pregnancy out of wedlock as seen by eleven unmarried mothers

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit

Geotextile separators for dust suppression on gravel roads

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (February 7, 2007)Includes bibliographical references.Thesis (M.S.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2006.Dissertations, Academic -- University of Missouri--Columbia -- Civil engineering.Dust can be a health concern because of its potential to contain respirable particles. The US EPA and state environmental agencies developed and implemented a reporting system for the amount of particulate (PM10) derived from various sources including gravel roads. Although numerous techniques are used in attempts to control the dust generated from gravel roads, all have limitations and the search for more effective means of reducing dust levels from gravel roads continues. Geotextile separators offer the potential to reduce dust while providing enhanced driving characteristics and reduced maintenance of the roads. A field demonstration program was initiated to quantitatively document the dust suppression effect of geotextile separators on unpaved, gravel-surfaced roads. Six sampling events were taken to evaluate the effectiveness of using geotextiles as a dust suppressant. Results indicated that the dust collected on the downwind side were always significantly higher than the dust collected on the upwind side. Initially, dust collected on the control section was 70 to 80% less than the pre-geotextile dust levels, for the downwind side

Le Travail de Proximité auprès des Usagers de Drogues en Europe : Concepts, pratiques et terminologie

Traduction française, déposée à l'OCDE, de : Outreach Worg Among Drug Users in Europe. Concepts, Practice and Terminology, EMCDDA, June 1999, Insights Series, 2Il s'agit d'un état des lieux du développement du travail de proximité dans chaque pays de l'Union Européenne. Ce travail s'appuie sur l'analyse de la littérature et sur une enquête faite en 1998 pour l'Observatoire Européen des Drogues et de la Toxicomanie. Sont abordés l'histoire du travail de proximité, sa définition, les questions de terminologie, les différentes formes de travail et les modèles d'intervention rencontrés, et enfin les objectifs et les méthodes du travail de proximité. Les points communs entre les pays et les divergences dans les choix et les pratiques ressortent de l'ensemble de ce tableau qui est une première approche de ce suje

Pilot Phase II Trial of Bevacizumab Monotherapy in Nonmetastatic Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Introduction/Background. Nonmetastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is a challenging disease state. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of bevacizumab in nonmetastatic CRPC patients. Patients. Patients with prostate cancer who developed PSA recurrence after local therapy were included if they had absence of bone or visceral metastases and PSA progression despite androgen deprivation therapy. Methods. Bevacizumab 10 mg/kg intravenously was administered every 14 days until PSA progression, development of metastasis, or unacceptable toxicity. Results. 15 patients were enrolled and treated with bevacizumab for a median duration of 3.1 months. Median baseline PSA was 27 ng/mL, and seven patients had Gleason Score ≥8. Five patients had declined in PSA during the treatment. Median PSA doubling time was prolonged from 4.7 months pretreatment to 6.5 months. Median time to PSA progression and new metastasis were 2.8 and 7.9 months, respectively. There were three grade 3 adverse events (one proteinuria and two hypertension) and one pulmonary embolism. There was no treatment-related mortality. Conclusion. Bevacizumab therapy had minimal impact on the disease course of nonmetastatic CRPC, and investigation of novel strategies is needed

A cross-national study on gender differences in suicide intent

BACKGROUND: Suicide accounts for over 58,000 deaths in Europe per annum, where suicide attempts are estimated to be 20 times higher. Males have been found to have a disproportionately lower rate of suicide attempts and an excessively higher rate of suicides compared to females. The gender difference in suicide intent is postulated to contribute towards this gender imbalance. The aim of this study is to explore gender differences in suicide intent in a cross-national study of suicide attempts. The secondary aims are to investigate the gender differences in suicide attempt across age and country. METHODS: Data on suicide attempts (acquired from the EU-funded OSPI-Europe project) was obtained from eight regions in Germany, Hungary, Ireland and Portugal. Suicide intent data was categorized into 'Non-habitual Deliberate Self-Harm' (DSH), 'Parasuicidal Pause' (SP), 'Parasuicidal Gesture' (SG), and 'Serious Suicide Attempt' (SSA), applying the Feuerlein scale. Gender differences in intent were explored for significance by using X2)-tests, odds ratios, and regression analyses. RESULTS: Suicide intent data from 5212 participants was included in the analysis. A significant association between suicide intent and gender was found, where 'Serious Suicide Attempts' (SSA) were rated significantly more frequently in males than females (p < .001). There was a statistically significant gender difference in intent and age groups (p < .001) and between countries (p < .001). Furthermore, within the most utilised method, intentional drug overdose, 'Serious Suicide Attempt' (SSA) was rated significantly more often for males than females (p < .005). CONCLUSIONS: Considering the differences in suicidal intent between males and females highlighted by the current study, gender targeted prevention and intervention strategies would be recommended

Multiple Independent Origins of Apicomplexan-Like Parasites

The apicomplexans are a group of obligate animal pathogens that include Plasmodium (malaria), Toxoplasma (toxoplasmosis), and Cryptosporidium (cryptosporidiosis) [1]. They are an extremely diverse and specious group but are nevertheless united by a distinctive suite of cytoskeletal and secretory structures related to infection, called the apical complex, which is used to recognize and gain entry into animal host cells. The apicomplexans are also known to have evolved from free-living photosynthetic ancestors and retain a relict plastid (the apicoplast), which is non-photosynthetic but houses a number of other essential metabolic pathways [2]. Their closest relatives include a mix of both photosynthetic algae (chromerids) and non-photosynthetic microbial predators (colpodellids) [3]. Genomic analyses of these free-living relatives have revealed a great deal about how the alga-parasite transition may have taken place, as well as origins of parasitism more generally [4]. Here, we show that, despite the surprisingly complex origin of apicomplexans from algae, this transition actually occurred at least three times independently. Using single-cell genomics and transcriptomics from diverse uncultivated parasites, we find that two genera previously classified within the Apicomplexa, Piridium and Platyproteum, form separately branching lineages in phylogenomic analyses. Both retain cryptic plastids with genomic and metabolic features convergent with apicomplexans. These findings suggest a predilection in this lineage for both the convergent loss of photosynthesis and transition to parasitism, resulting in multiple lineages of superficially similar animal parasites

Implementation of a new clinical and organisational practice to improve access to primary care services : a protocol for an effectiveness-implementation hybrid study

Introduction In Canada, as in most Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, healthcare systems face significant challenges in ensuring better access to primary care. A regional healthcare organisation in Quebec (Canada) serving a population of approximately 755 459 citizens has implemented a standardised access approach to primary care services for this population. The objective of this new clinical and organisational practice is to ensure that users benefit from the same referral process, regardless of the entry point, in order to be directed to the right services. This new practice integrates a shared decision-making process between the user and the professional, and a collaborative process between different health professionals within and between services. The objective of our research is to identify and characterise the conditions of implementation of this practice. Methods This effectiveness-implementation hybrid investigation will use an embedded single-case study, defined in this case as the process of implementing a clinical and organisational practice within a healthcare organisation. Further to an evaluation conducted during a preliminary phase of the project, this study consists of evaluating the implementation of this new practice in four medical clinics (family medicine groups). A qualitative analysis of the data and a quantitative preimplementation and postimplementation analysis based on performance indicators will be conducted. This study is ultimately situated within a participatory organisational approach that involves various stakeholders and users at each step of the implementation and evaluation process

Burden of disease and circulating serotypes of rotavirus infection in sub-Saharan Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Two new rotavirus vaccines have recently been licensed in many countries. However, their efficacy has only been shown against certain serotypes commonly circulating in Europe, North America, and Latin America, but thought to be globally important. To assess the potential impact of these vaccines in sub-Saharan Africa, where rotavirus mortality is high, knowledge of prevalent types is essential because an effective rotavirus vaccine is needed to protect against prevailing serotypes in the community. We did two systematic reviews and two meta-analyses of the most recent published data on the burden of rotavirus disease in children aged under 5 years and rotavirus serotypes circulating in countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Eligible studies were selected from PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library, EmBase, LILACS, Academic Search Premier, Biological Abstracts, ISI Web of Science, and the African Index Medicus. Depending on the heterogeneity, DerSimonian-Laird random-effects or fixed-effects models were used for meta-analyses. Geographical variability in rotavirus burden within countries in sub-Saharan Africa is substantial, and most countries lack information on rotavirus epidemiology. We estimated that annual mortality for this region was 243.3 (95% CI 187.6-301.7) deaths per 100,000 under 5 years (ie, a total of 300,000 children die of rotavirus infection in this region each year). The most common G type detected was G1 (34.9%), followed by G2 (9.1%), and G3 (8.6%). The most common P types detected were P[8] (35.5%) and P[6] (27.5%). Accurate information should be collected from surveillance based on standardised methods in these countries to obtain comparable data on the burden of disease and the circulating strains to assess the potential impact of vaccine introduction