Challenges with using estimates when calculating ART need among adults in South Africa

Background. The Foundation for Professional Development (FPD) collects information annually on HIV/AIDS service provision and estimates service needs in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (CTMM). Methods. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) data from the Department of Health and Statistics South Africa (SSA) mid-year population estimates were used to approximate the ART need among adults in the CTMM. Results. According to SSA data, ART need decreased dramatically from 2010 to 2011 and was lower than the number of adults receiving ART. Although the noted difference was probably due to changes in the calculations by SSA, no detailed or confirmed explanation could be offered. Conclusions. We provide a constructive contribution to the discussion regarding the use of model-derived estimates of ART need

The Impact of Social Identities on the Presentation and Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder

The overall theme for this European-style dissertation is an examination of how social identities are represented in treatment studies for social anxiety disorder and how fears of confirming stereotypes about one’s social identities affect social anxiety disorder in the form of stereotype confirmation concerns. In the first chapter, I introduce social anxiety disorder (SAD), describe cognitive behavioral therapy for SAD, review recruitment strategies to increase the representation of social minority groups in treatment research, discuss the importance of accurately reporting the social identities represented in samples, describe the particular relevance of stereotypes for social anxiety disorder, and provide a theoretically grounded rationale for the ways in which stereotype confirmation concerns may impact the experience and treatment of social anxiety disorder. For the second chapter, I present a study that examines the extent to which the demographic characteristics of participants (e.g., age, gender) are reported in treatment outcome research for social anxiety disorder. The findings from this study illuminate who participates in clinical trials for social anxiety (and therefore, to whom they may apply), as well as the infrequency with which some social identities are reported. Failure to report demographic characteristics of participants treated for social anxiety disorder makes it impossible to determine the external validity of the empirical literature. It also begs the question of whether we may be failing to identify salient constructs related to the social identities of our participants that affect our understanding of the social anxiety disorder and its treatment. The third and fourth chapters present two papers on the effects of stereotype confirmation concerns on both the experience and the treatment of social anxiety disorder. The final chapter describes how the series of studies presented in this dissertation fits into research on social anxiety disorder, as well as directions for future research

The effect of stereotype confirmation concerns on fear of negative evaluation and avoidance for those with social anxiety disorder

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between stereotype confirmation concerns (SCC) and fear of negative evaluation (FNE). It is hypothesized that SCC will predict FNE, and that this effect will be moderated by race, such that SCC and FNE will be stronger among African Americans than among European Americans. A sample of 53 Caucasians and 41 African Americans were diagnosed with social anxiety. A hierarchical multiple regression was run to predict FNE with SCC, race, and the product of the two. The final model explained 27.9% of the variance in participants’ FNE. Race significantly moderated the effects of SCC on FNE; SCC had a stronger effect on FNE for Caucasian (b = .380, p \u3c .01) than for African Americans (b = .140, p \u3c .05). This study shows that it may be helpful in treatment of social anxiety to address stereotype confirmation concerns and to discuss social situations during which negative stereotypes become salient

Sharing the vision:representing the matters of concern for design-led fledgling companies in Scotland

Design is being performed on an ever-increasing spectrum of complex practices arising in response to emerging markets and technologies, co-design, digital interaction, service design and cultures of innovation. This emerging notion of design has led to an expansive array of collaborative and facilitation skills to demonstrate and share how such methods can shape innovation. The meaning of these design things in practice can't be taken for granted as matters of fact, which raises a key challenge for design to represent its role through the contradictory nature of matters of concern. This paper explores an innovative, object-oriented approach within the field of design research, visually combining an actor-network theory framework with situational analysis, to report on the role of design for fledgling companies in Scotland, established and funded through the knowledge exchange hub Design in Action (DiA). Key findings and visual maps are presented from reflective discussions with actors from a selection of the businesses within DiA's portfolio. The suggestion is that any notions of strategic value, of engendering meaningful change, of sharing the vision of design, through design things, should be grounded in the reflexive interpretations of matters of concern that emerge

Autism Spectrum Disorder: Parenting Stress, Family Functioning and Health-Related Quality of Life

The prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is 1 in 110 persons in the U.S. Both parents of children with ASD are under stress that may impact their health-related quality of life (HRQL) (physical and mental health). The purpose of the current study was to explore the relationship of parenting stress, support from family functioning and the HRQL (physical and mental health) of both parents. Female (n = 64) and male (n = 64) parents of children with ASD completed Web-based surveys examining parenting stress, family functioning, and physical and mental health. Results of a Wilcoxon signed-ranks test showed that female parent discrepant (D) scores between “what is” and “should be” family functioning were significantly larger than male parents, p = .002. Results of stepwise linear regression for the male-female partners showed that (1) higher female caregiving stress was related to lower female physical health (p \u3c .001), (2) a higher discrepancy score in family functioning predicted lower mental health (p \u3c .001), accounting for 31% of the variance for females and (3) male parent personal and family life stress (p \u3c .001) and family functioning discrepant (D) score (p \u3c .001) predicted poor mental health, with the discrepancy score accounting for 35% of the variance. These findings suggest that there may be differences in mothers\u27 and fathers\u27 perceptions and expectations about family functioning and this difference needs to be explored and applied when working with families of children with ASD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved

The Influence of Career-Technical Student Organizations on Non-Traditional and Traditional Community College Students

Student organizations have been contributing to adult education for years. The need to recruit non-traditional students and retain them is very important to the financial support of the career and technical program. If a career-technical student organization (CTSO) can encourage retention and completion of traditional and non-traditional students in a field of study, the state might realize the need to increase the funding provided to the advisers/instructors of the CTSO and the financial support of the CTSO. This study investigated what motivates a student to become an active member in a CTSO and to what extent the CTSO contributed to non-traditional and traditional students\u27 GPAs and completion/graduation rates. Permission from a rural community college in MS was given to view data of career and technical students enrolled in 2006-2007, specifically CTSO membership, identification of traditional and non-traditional students, GPAs for each quarter, and graduation rates. Rosters from four CTSOs were used: Phi Beta Lambda, National-Technical Honor Society, Health Occupations Students of America, and SkillsUSA. The qualitative portion interviewed 24 students using a set of core questions that identified some of the factors that influenced them to join or not to join a CTSO, the impact the CTSO did or did not have on their college experience, the benefits gained from being active, and the possible reasons for not joining a CTSO. The research found that non-traditional CTSO members achieved higher GPAs and higher graduation rates than non-traditional students who were not CTSO members. Traditional CTSO members achieved higher GPAs and higher graduation rates than the traditional students who were not CTSO members. Therefore, the CTSOs were associated with higher GPAs and higher graduation rates for all members. While these variables are correlated, interviews revealed that non-traditional students were highly motivated to graduate irrelevant of CTSO membership. Non-traditional students were found to be self-motivated and would probably have completed with higher GPAs and graduation status because they attend college with a specific purpose in mind. Support through CTSO funding and CTSO recruitment strategies are recommended. Funding and recruitment programs need to be implemented to inform students of the CTSO benefits

The Role of Gender and Racial Stereotypes in State Judicial Elections

What information do voters rely on in nonpartisan judicial election? When voters lack a partisan cue, they turn to other cognitive shortcuts to make an adequate decision with the least amount of effort required. In these situations, gender and race can play subtle, yet important roles in how voters perceive and evaluate candidates. This paper presents the results of a randomized experiment examining the influence of gender and race cues on voter perceptions in state judicial candidates. Results show that gender and race cues influence voter’s perceptions of state judicial candidates. Specifically, white candidates are seen as more qualified than African American candidates, while female candidates are seen as more qualified than male candidates

FAA Pre-Emption: When Should Conflicting State Law Be Pre-Empted by the FAA - Weston Securities Corp. v. Aykanian

Since the creation of the F.A.A., courts, including the United States Supreme Court, have considered whether the F.A.A. pre-empts conflicting state law. Although courts generally find that the F.A.A. pre-empts state substantive and procedural law when it stands as an obstacle to Congress\u27 goal of enforcing arbitration,5 the Massachusetts Court of Appeals, in Weston Securities Corp. v. Aykanian, made its own determination on this issue, since it was a case of first impression for the court. The court faced the question of whether a Massachusetts procedural rule, which did not allow an immediate appeal from an order to arbitrate, was pre-empted by the F.A.A. The court\u27s holding expanded the federal policy favoring enforcement of arbitration agreements in Massachusetts by upholding a state procedural rule that promoted arbitration agreements by disallowing certain judicial appeals. The court, therefore, held that the rule was not pre-empted by the F.A.A., even though it contradicted the F.A.A.\u27s corresponding rule

Reducing Disparities Beginning in Early Childhood

Research shows that many disparities in health and well-being are rooted in early childhood. These disparities reflect gaps in access to services, unequal treatment, adverse congenital health conditions, and exposures in the early years linked to elevated community and family risks. Early health risks and conditions can have long-range implications for physical, emotional, and intellectual development as well as health. Their contribution to disparities in health status, disabilities, and educational achievement is well documented. But many risks can be addressed in the early years, starting with quality prenatal care and interventions in the earliest stages of life. Thus, literally, reducing disparities begins with babies. Risks for disparate outcomes disproportionately affect young children, low-income children, and minority children. Poverty brings risks for children of all races; however, racial/ethnic status is an independent risk factor. Young children are more likely than older children to live in families without economic security. Of the 10.2 million U.S. children ages birth through 5 years, 42 percent lived in low-income families (with income below twice the federal poverty level—FPL) and 20 percent lived in poor families (income below 100 percent of FPL) in 2005. Minority young children also are overrepresented among the 2.2 million U.S. children ages birth through 5 who live in extremely poor families (income below 50 percent of FPL). The younger the child, the more harmful poverty is to developmental outcomes. Below we highlight patterns of disparities in both risks and outcomes, and access and treatment

State of the States' ECCS Initiatives

The primary purpose of the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration's (MCHB-HRSA) State Maternal and Child Health Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) grants is to assist states and territories in their efforts to build and implement comprehensive statewide systems of care that support family and community approaches to promote positive early development and early school success for young children. These grants originated with a MCHB-HRSA Strategic Plan for Early Childhood that called on State Title V MCH programs to use their leadership and convening powers to foster the development of cross-agency early childhood systems development planning. Building a more comprehensive early childhood system requires intentional efforts to bridge the gaps created by multiple, discrete funding streams for early childhood services to create a deliberate framework to foster integrated early childhood service systems at the federal, state, and community levels. This Project THRIVE Short Take summarizes the results of Project THRIVE's review and analysis of state ECCS plans, reports, and other related documents related to early childhood systems