Prevalence of Cytauxzoon felis (Protista: Apicomplexa) in Feral Cats in Russellville Arkansas

Abstract Cytauxzoon felis (C. felis) is a protozoan hemoparasite of domestic and wild felids. Transmitted by ixodid ticks, the sylvatic reservoir for this organism in North America is the bobcat (Lynx rufus) in which the infection is apparently self-limiting. In domestic cats (Felis catus), C. felis causes a highly fatal disease with a distribution that covers much of the central, southcentral and southeastern U.S. and parallels that of the primary vector, the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum). Interestingly, there appears to be an increased survival rate in domestic cats in the geographic area of the Ozark Plateau. In this study, convenience blood samples from apparently healthy feral cats were microscopically evaluated for the presence of C. felis merozoites. Positive samples were submitted for PCR confirmation by a commercial laboratory. Results indicated a prevalence of 13% (4/32) in this population. Understanding the prevalence of C. felis infection in feral cats is central to evaluating their potential role as a reservoir for the disease and may also further our understanding about the variable pathogenicity of this organism

Current status of cycling lanes at University of Johannesburg

Abstract: The aim of the study was to find out if the University of Johannesburg (UJ) students were aware of the cycling lanes which are found between the three UJ Campuses (Auckland Park, Bunting Road and Doornfontein). Furthermore, the study was interested in finding out the reason behind the low utilization of cycling lanes. This study was driven by the empty cycling lanes that have been around for almost two years since their completion and have mostly been under-utilized. Out of 600 students who were targeted to respond to the questionnaires, only 480 students responded. 66% of the students are aware of the cycling lanes and only 13% have already utilized the lanes. More than 80% of the students do not own/have bicycle for daily use but 60% of the students agreed that if there was a bike sharing system on the campuses, they would be willing to learn how to cycle as well as to use the system. It has been found that UJ students are not resisting to cycle but rather that there is a lack of awareness, relevant training programs and facilities. The research used a mixed method approach through observations and a quantitative survey

Design of a Guidebook for the Acquisition and Use of Driving Simulators for Training Transit Bus Operators

The Transit Cooperative Research Program of the Transportation Research Board recently sponsored an 18-month research program to develop a set of Guidelines that transit agency trainers and managers could use to (1) determine if driving simulators could help meet training objectives and (2) if so, what kind of simulators to acquire. The end product of this research is a set of task-based criteria that lead to specific simulator characteristics. That is, one should purchase a training simulator based upon what tasks need to be trained. This paper reports on the limited available data on the effectiveness of driving simulators for training, the task clusters various technologies can train, and the decision aids developed for transit agencies that actually have applicability to any potential user of training simulation. The project included a literature review, visits to driving simulator users nationwide, a review of European simulator programs, and the collection of training data and accident data from both users and non-users of driving simulators. Instructors, students, course graduates, and managers were interviewed. The results of the research are presented and a simulator evaluation methodology is proposed

Blending the Old and the New: Qualitative Data Analysis a s Critical Thinking and Using NVivo with a Generic Approach

In this article the authors seek to make the case that qualitative data analysis can be explained within the framework of critical thinking and incorporates within this framework the role of technology – specifically NVivo. First they discuss critical thinking from the perspectives of Bloom, Adler, and Polanyi. They then link critical thinking to the concept of a general inductive approach to qualitative analysis as described by Thomas. Finally, they illustrate connections of both critical thinking and the general inductive approach to technology using NVivo screenshots

Daily Mood-Drinking Slopes as Predictors: a New Take on Drinking Motives and Related Outcomes

Motivational models of alcohol consumption have articulated the manner in which positive and negative experiences motivate drinking in unique social contexts (e.g., Cooper, Frone, Russell & Mudar, 1995). Daily process methodology, in which daily events, moods and drinking behaviors are reported daily or multiple times per day, has been used to examine behavioral patterns that are consistent with discrete motivations. We advance the notion that repeated patterns of drinking in various social contexts as a function of positive or negative mood increases can provide evidence of individual-level if-then drinking signatures, which in turn can predict drinking-related outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of slopes to predict longer term drinking motivations and alcohol problems, employing a daily process study of non-clinical moderate alcohol drinkers (N=47; 49% women). Participants responded to thrice daily interviews administered via handheld computer for 30 days, followed by a longitudinal telephone survey for 12 months. Participants’ daily mood-drinking relationships were extracted from HLM and employed as predictors of 12-month outcomes in multiple regression analyses. Daily mood-drinking patterns demonstrated significant variability across persons, such that moderate drinkers could be reliably differentiated based on those patterns in terms of distinct drinking-related outcomes. Among the results, negative mood-solitary drinking slopes were associated with lower subsequent coping motives; yet, positive mood-solitary drinking slopes were predictive of higher coping and lower social motives. Conversely, positive mood-social drinking associations were predictive of higher enhancement motives and b-MAST scores. Results are interpreted in light of motivational models of consumption

Efficacy of HIV/STI behavioral interventions for heterosexual African American men in the United States: a meta-analysis

This meta-analysis estimates the overall efficacy of HIV prevention interventions to reduce HIV sexual risk behaviors and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among heterosexual African American men. A comprehensive search of the literature published during 1988–2008 yielded 44 relevant studies. Interventions significantly reduced HIV sexual risk behaviors and STIs. The stratified analysis for HIV sexual risk behaviors indicated that interventions were efficacious for studies specifically targeting African American men and men with incarceration history. In addition, interventions that had provision/referral of medical services, male facilitators, shorter follow-up periods, or emphasized the importance of protecting family and significant others were associated with reductions in HIV sexual risk behaviors. Meta-regression analyses indicated that the most robust intervention component is the provision/referral of medical services. Findings indicate that HIV interventions for heterosexual African American men might be more efficacious if they incorporated a range of health care services rather than HIV/STI-related services alone

Diagnostic cues used by female consumers to evaluate work wear assortments of major South African department stores

This study investigates the relative importance of diagnostic cues used by female consumers in an emerging market to evaluate work wear assortments in major South African department stores. The cue diagnostic framework was used as a theoretical perspective for the study together with conjoint analysis to provide insights into the relative importance of diagnostic cues in terms of specified attribute levels as well as attribute ranking of importance. A survey research design was employed for the study. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire and completed by 121 (N=121) female consumers residing in Gauteng. A non-probability sampling technique was used to recruit these working women who were between the ages of 20 and 60 years with some form of higher education or training. The results indicate that these female consumers have set preferences when purchasing work wear from department stores in South Africa. Certain product cues/attributes were found to be more prominent than others while some were used in conjunction with other attributes to collectively strengthen the importance of these attributes in the decision making process. The findings of this study contribute to existing literature on consumer preferences in emerging markets and the apparel attributes that inform these preference structures. This research will be useful for researchers as well as marketers who are interested in marketing campaigns, product assortment planning and retail settings.http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=257842017-01-30am2016Consumer Scienc

The role of information exposure in female university students’ evaluation and selection of eco-friendly apparel in the South African emerging economy

Increasing consumption in the South African emerging economy necessitates stringent effort toward developing environmental information campaigns that stimulate preferences for eco-friendly alternatives. This qualitative study explores the role of exposure to information about the environmental impact of the apparel supply chain in female students' evaluation and selection of apparel. Based on the outcome of garment selection exercises and focus group discussions, participants were not swayed by exposure to hang tags, audio-visual or printed information sources to prioritize eco-friendly features in their choice of product, nor were they willing to compromise on attributes such as price for the sake of the environment. Participants' recommendations include standardized eco-labels to facilitate identification of eco-friendly alternatives and message content that is short, precise and factual. Interpersonal communication could represent an influential source of information and merits further investigation into the relevance of normative social influence on pro-environmental apparel behavior in the South African emerging economy.http://ctr.sagepub.com/hj201

Impact of Developmental Cigarette Smoke Exposure on Offspring Number and Birth Weight

Impact of Developmental Cigarette Smoke Exposure on Offspring Number and Birth Weight Megan Jacobs, Isaiah Burciaga, Katelyn Chism, Selma Podbicanin, Julia Corman, Anna-Lee Harris, Rachel Neal, Cynthia Corbitt University of Louisville, Department of Biology Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States. Kentucky has the second highest rate of maternal smoking in the country at 15.7%, though the true number is most likely higher due to false self-reports. Maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy permanently alters intrauterine growth, limits oxygen and nutrient delivery, and is correlated with low birth weight, premature birth, and birth defects. In addition to nicotine, cigarettes contain toxins including cadmium, benzene, arsenic, and formaldehyde. This project focuses on the effects of prenatal cigarette exposure on offspring weight and litter size. We developed a murine model of developmental cigarette exposure utilizing Marlboro Red Cigarettes, as they are the most popular cigarette brand in the world. Female mice were exposed to cigarette smoke for 3 hrs/day starting at 4 days prior to mating and continuing until delivery. At birth, offspring number and general health metrics were collected. No significant differences between our exposure groups were found for litter size or litter weight. This outcome differs from the parent model of 6 hrs/day of CSE, after which low birth weight is exhibited. It should be noted that there was a failed litter of 2 pups from both the sham and CSE groups and that 7 of the mice did not become pregnant, so our sample size is lower than what is typically required to find statistically significant effects of CSE on birth weight in the parent model