Are there gender differences in perceived sexual self-efficacy among African-American adolescents?

Background: African American adolescents accounted for more than half of all HIV/AIDS cases in 2009. Behavioral Strategies are needed to help lessen the incidence of HIV/AIDS among this population. Purpose: The aim of his study was to examine sexual self-efficacy practices and beliefs among African American adolescents. We also examined gender differences between African American adolescents to better understand their perceptions of sexual self-efficacy, condom use intention, and other safer sex practices and beliefs. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 214 African American adolescents using survey instruments to examine their beliefs, perception and intentions on the use of condoms, sexual self-efficacy and safe sex practices. Participants were recruited though a mass media campaign and local youth serving organizations within Sedgwick County, KS. Results: Our findings indicate significant differences exist between genders in perception of sexual self-efficacy among African American adolescents. Females were found to have higher perceived sexual self-efficacy compared to males. Having high negotiation skills and a sexual partner who approved of condom use were significant predictors for high perceived sexual self-efficacy. Conclusions: African American adolescent females were more likely to have higher perceived sexual self-efficacy then African American male adolescents. Because of the dynamics that exist in male and female relationships and the mediating role sexual self-efficacy might play in engaging in safe sex practices, it is important to design gender specific interventions in order to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS and other STDS/STI’s

The effects of yarrow (<i>Achillea millefolium</i>) and herbal supplements on growth performance and nutrient utilisation of broiler chickens

The use of antimicrobial growth promoters in European poultry production will be banned in 2006, which has made it economically viable to investigate the use of other acceptable compounds, such as botanical products. Botanical products have a wide range of known pharmacological effects which could be exploited, for example carvacrol, found in oregano, has antibacterial properties. Six experiments investigated the effects of botanical products on broiler growth performance. Two experiments were carried out to identify potentially useful products from a choice of six (garlic - Allium sativum, horseradish - Amoracia rusticana, juniper - Juniper communis, milk thistle - Silybum marianum, oregano - Origanum vulgare and yarrow - Achillea millefolium). Garlic powder and yarrow supplementation improved FCE (P>0.05) by 12 and 13% relative to controls in the second experiment. Two further experiments were floor-pen studies to examine the effects of both garlic and yarrow on growth performance. No performance benefits were associated with garlic supplementation (P>0.05). Feeding yarrow supplemented diets resulted in improved weight gain (P0.05) Yarrow contains 'bitter' sesquiterpene compounds (cadinene and germacrene), which may stimulate digestive enzyme production, so the fifth experiment examined the effects of dietary yarrow on digestive enzyme activity and nutrient availability of birds fed control and low nutrient density basal diets. Yarrow supplementation increased intestinal lipase activity and improved diet AME in birds fed high nutrient density diets but not in birds fed low nutrient density diets (yarrow x diet density interaction P<0.05). Therefore, the final experiment examined the interactions between yarrow supplementation and fat source. Yarrow supplementation improved growth performance (P<0.01) of birds fed saturated fat sources with a concomitant increase in gizzard bile acid concentrations (P<0.01), which may indicate increased gastrointestinal reflux

BODY OF KNOWLEDGE: BLACK QUEER FEMINIST THOUGHT, PERFORMANCE, AND PEDAGOGY

This dissertation, "Body of Knowledge: Black Queer Feminist Thought, Performance, and Pedagogy," considers the ways in which the body, identity, and performance function as "equipment" for teaching and learning in the college classroom and beyond. The project identifies, names, and examines the ways in which the body functions as a text for some instructors who self-identify as Black queer feminist women, as they draw attention to or deflect attention from their own corporeal presence as racialized, gendered, and sexualized subjects in the feminist classroom and in the broader campus community. For pedagogues whose "embodied text" highlights the nexus of race, gender, and sexuality, identity informs and constructs the classroom. These intersections can disrupt the classroom, and shape the pedagogical project. This dissertation explores the ways in which such pedagogues work to harness their "otherness," or differences from expected teaching identity, and to engage their creative pedagogical power through embodiment and performance. Using two feminist case studies and a self -study, I employ an intersectional feminist approach that envisages the body as a text for teaching about race, gender, and sexuality in higher education. This project theorizes and applies a framework for studying the intersection of creative pedagogy and subversive identity by emphasizing the utility of embodied performance as an instructive tool. The work draws from and contributes to scholarship on intersectionality, the lived experiences of women of color and queer women; and the traditions of feminist studies, Black studies, LGBTQ studies, and feminist and critical pedagogies, particularly addressing the experiences and concerns of teachers in higher education with multiple intersecting identities who work across multiple disciplines. Documenting, the experiences, challenges, and reflections of three Black queer feminists for whom teaching itself is both a commitment and an identity, is as much a contribution as more abstractly theorizing a Black queer feminist pedagogy

What Works? What Doesn\u27t Work? What Action Can we Take?

This session demonstrated an effective and engaging exercise that empowers library staff to take action! Participants learned how to lead library strategic planning processes, change implementation, and assessment activities in a welcoming, non-intimidating manner that fosters an environment of ongoing collaboration, solutions-based results, reflection, and improvement

The Relationship of Blood Glucose Control Level and Memory in Type II Diabetic Patients

Background: Diabetes is a prevalent chronic illness, affecting up to 23.6 million people in the United States. The association of diabetes and cognitive dysfunction is well recognized, and many have suggested memory to be among the cognitive functions most affected. The proposal of chronic hyperglycemia having a negative effect on cognition independent of other risk factors has yet to be determined. Methods: An extensive literature search was performed using Medline, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases. Titles and abstracts were screened for relevancy and discarded if clearly not eligible. The full text of potential studies was reviewed for at least one objective measurement of memory in type II diabetic participants with correlation to level of control as measured by HbA1c. The references of selected studies and review articles were evaluated for additional publications. Results: The majority of reviewed studies did not find a significant association between HbA1c and performance on tests of verbal and visual memory. Extensive variation in study design was found including control over confounding factors and selection of cognitive testing. Conclusion: Studies on the relationship between level of control of diabetes and cognition are both limited and confounded by lack of control of comorbitities within study designs. Further research within carefully designed longitudinal studies is necessary to better understand any existing relationship between level of glucose control and cognition, and may spotlight the need for specialized education and support regarding disease self-management for people with type II diabetes

Rapid Detection of the Varicella Zoster Virus

1.Technology Description-Researchers discovered that when the Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) reactivates from latency in the body, the virus is consistently present in saliva before the appearance of skin lesions. A small saliva sample is mixed with a specialized reagent in a test kit. If the virus is present in the saliva sample, the mixture turns a red color. The sensitivity and specificity emanates from an antibody-antigen reaction. This technology is a rapid, non-invasive, point of-of-care testing kit for detecting the virus from a saliva sample. The device is easy to use and can be used in clinics and in remote locations to quickly detect VZV and begin treatment with antiviral drugs. 2.Market Opportunity- RST Bioscience will be the first and only company to market a rapid, same day test kit for the detection of VZV in saliva. The RST detection test kit will have several advantages over existing, competitive technology. The test kit is self contained and laboratory equipment is not required for analysis of the sample. Only a single saliva sample is required to be taken instead of blood or cerebral spinal fluid. The test kit is portable, sterile and disposable after use. RST detection test kits require no electrical power or expensive storage equipment and can be used in remote locations. 3.Market Analysis- According to the CDC, it is estimated that 1 million cases of shingles occur each year in the U.S. with more than half over the age of sixty. There is a high demand for rapid diagnostics by the public. The point-of-care testing (POCT) market is growing faster than other segments of in vitro diagnostics. According to a July 2007 InteLab Corporation industry report the overall market for POCT was forecast to increase from $10.3 billion in 2005 to$18.7 billion by 2011. The market value of this test kit has not been determined. 4.Competition- The VZV vaccine prevents 50% of cases and reduces neuralgia by 66%. The most popular test detects VZV-specific IgM antibody in blood. Other tests include running a sample in a polymerase chain reaction analyzer, enzyme immunoassay, latex agglutination, indirect fluorescent antibody and fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen assay. These existing tests require laboratory analysis by trained personnel, expensive equipment, invasive procedures and a longer period of time to obtain test results

Reinventing Central Office

This report presents a provocative description of a school system where resources, authority, and accountability reside primarily at the school level

Return of Results from Research Using Newborn Screening Dried Blood Samples

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/115943/1/jlme12299.pd