Psychosocial factors influencing risk-taking in middle age for STIs

Objectives To increase the knowledge of the psychosocial factors influencing sexual risk-taking for STIs among adults in late middle age. Methods Individual interviews were conducted either face to face or by telephone with 31 heterosexual men and women aged between 45 and 65. They were recruited from NHS sexual health services (n=16) and council run culture and leisure facilities (n=15) in a large Scottish city. A total of 18 women and 13 men were interviewed. All interviews were transcribed in full and thematically analysed. Results Analysis detailed important psychosocial and sociocultural factors; the prioritisation of intimacy above and beyond concerns about risks for STI in sexual partnerships; the importance of unwanted pregnancy in shaping risk perceptions throughout the life course; vulnerability associated with periods of relationship transition (eg, bereavement, divorce or separation); social norms and cultural expectations relating to age-appropriate sexual and health-seeking behaviours. Conclusions This is the first qualitative study to examine the factors associated with sexual risk-taking among heterosexual adults in late middle age in the UK. Many factors associated with sexual risk-taking are similar to those reported within other populations. However, we also detail population-specific factors, which should be considered in terms of the development of interventions for ‘at risk’ older adults, or the tailoring of wider behaviour change interventions to this specific age group

The variance of lexical diversity profiles and its relationship to learning style

Studies in lexical diversity have shown an approximate relationship with learner instruction. Learners with more L2 instruction tend to display less repetition of words and so greater lexical diversity. However, at higher L2 levels of proficiency this relationship does not always occur. This study examines the lexical diversity scores in L2 texts. Lexical diversity scores are examined in relationship to a learning style framework of memory and analysis. The results show that variance in analytic ability scores can account for a proportion of variance in lexical diversity. It was also found that the type of writing task also affects lexical diversity. These results suggest that learners who are more grammatically able may be more likely to restructure their language. The findings illuminate Dynamic Systems Theory; in particular, how lexical diversity is shaped to some extent by differences within individuals and task conditions

When tourism comes to you (but you still have to go get it, dawg): The Rickmobile and transmedia tourism/fandom

This paper analyzes the Rickmobile as a site of mobile media pilgrimage and fan tourist destination. The Rickmobile is a mobile, pop-up merchandise car themed and designed around eponymous Rick Sanchez from the cult cartoon Rick and Morty. As a material fan object and as an object of fan tourism, the Rickmobile becomes a site of overlapping discourses surrounding the historical context of cult merchandising, media pilgrimage, and social media ‘pre-textual’ fan reporting (Hills 2015b). At the same time, it problematizes traditional fan studies’ examinations of active and passive fan labor. This paper argues that the Rickmobile functions as a pseudo transmedia extension, allowing fans to create one type of active Rick and Morty fan experience, but to be used as a different type of passive industrial Rick and Morty experience

Communication System For Firefighters

Currently firefighters use two-way radios to communicate on the job, and they are forced to write reports based on their memory because there is not an easy way to record the communications between two-way radios. Firefighters need a system to automatically document what happened while they were responding to a call. To save them a significant amount of time when creating reports, our solution is to implement an application that allows firefighters to take pictures, record video and communicate in real time with their team of on-site responders. The proposed system will use a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) hosted on the fire truck itself to act as an access point (AP) to which the firefighters can connect. This AP will also save communication between firefighters to a local storage location. Upon return to the fire station, the AP will route all of the information stored locally to a larger database. For now, Wi-Fi will be our communication medium, with a prediction that our technology can eventually be extended to include radio signal

Analysis and quantification of the benefits of interconnected distribution system operation

In the UK, the Capacity to Customers (C2C) project is underway to determine the potential benefits of increased interconnection in distribution systems, combined with demand side response technology. Managed contracts with customers, i.e., the agreement that certain loads are interruptible following system faults, allows distribution circuits to be loaded beyond the limits presently required for security of supply. This potentially permits load growth but avoids the cost and environmental impact of conventional network reinforcement. This paper provides the results of electrical system modelling to quantify the benefits of the C2C operation, using actual circuit data and typical load distributions. Based upon simulations of these circuits, it is shown that increased interconnection generally leads to minor improvements in electrical losses and system voltage. By connecting managed (i.e., interruptible) loads, circuits typically can be loaded significantly further than the present practice in the UK—an average increase of 66% for radial operation and 74% for interconnected systems

Optical polarimetry of bipolar planetary nebulae

Chapter 1 gives a brief review of the relevant aspects of stellar evolution leading to the formation of a planetary nebula. Included in this review is a discussion of the most important factors which appear to dictate the shaping and general characteristics of these nebulae. Chapter 2 follows with a review of polarization theory and its use in the study of planetary nebulae and the interstellar medium. This includes a description of the basic reduction procedures which are used to produce the polarization maps of later chapters. Discussion of the reduction process is accompanied by the analysis and interpretation of linear polarization data from the observation of an extragalactic source. Chapter 3 presents multicolour polarimetry data for the young bipolar planetary nebula M2-9. Much of the polarization data confirms previously gathered results and shows that extreme levels of polarization occur in the outer regions of the nebula. Polarization structure within the central regions of M2-9, however, appear to contradict a number of previously gathered results and suggest that the central illuminating source of the nebula is extended. The data conclusively proves that the mirror-symmetric condensations have changed position. An estimation of the rotation period of the condensations has been made using calculations which trace their lateral displacement. The result of these calculations agrees well with previously gathered results. Chapters 4 and 5 present new multicolour polarimetry data for the evolved bipolar planetary nebulae NGC 2440 and NGC 2818. Results provide evidence for the existence of bipolar rotating episodic jets in the evolved Type I bipolar nebulae. The data also shows that both nebulae possess low polarization levels and a lack of clear structure within the polarization pattern. Consequently, the dust distribution of planetary nebulae must become less favourable for the production of radiation scattering with age

Nitrogen and phosphorus cycling strategies in two tidal freshwater macrophytes, Peltandra virginica and Spartina cynosuroides

Monotypic stands of the macrophytes Peltandra virginica and Spartina cynosuroides, which shared a common boundary, were studied at Sweethall Marsh, a tidal freshwater marsh located on the Pamunkey River within the Chesapeake Bay estuarine system, Virginia. Compartmental models indicate that both Peltandra and Spartina take up, internally cycle, and release to the environment, significant levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. Models also suggest that Peltandra and Spartina and their associated sediment compartments are capable of regulating nitrogen and phosphorus fluxes through their uptake and storage capacity. Nitrogen use efficiency was significantly higher in the shoots and roots of Spartina compared to Peltandra, while rhizome use efficiency was slightly higher in Peltandra. Phosphorus use efficiency was significantly higher in shoots, roots, and rhizomes of Spartina than in Peltandra. Lower use efficiency in Peltandra demonstrates a greater demand of nutrient per unit biomass than Spartina. Nitrogen and phosphorus recovery efficiency was higher in Peltandra. Efficiency indexes suggest that although Spartina appears to use nitrogen and phosphorus more efficiently for growth, Peltandra recovers and stores these nutrients more efficiently. Peltandra shoot, root, and rhizome tissue nutrient levels appear independent of sediment nitrogen and phosphorus availability. Spartina shoot, root, and rhizome nitrogen levels, however, appear dependent on sediment total nitrogen and total phosphorus. The relationship of Peltandra tissue nutrient levels to sediment availability is explained in terms of the rhizome storage capacity and reallocation of nitrogen and phosphorus to support productivity patterns. Spartina, however, must rely more on de novo root uptake to meet nutrient demands. Shoot, root, and rhizome nitrogen and phosphorus standing stocks were strongly correlated in both Peltandra and Spartina while sediment standing stocks were not. Nitrogen to phosphorus ratios were higher in the shoots than the roots and rhizomes of both Peltandra and Spartina reflecting the levels of nitrogen required to support photosynthesis. Nitrogen to phosphorus ratios varied over the sampling period, however appeared to converge on an optimum ratio. The correlation of nitrogen and phosphorus suggests an interaction between these nutrients although this relationship is unclear. Apparently both Peltandra and Spartina reallocate, as well as require, nitrogen and phosphorus in certain ratios which maximize productivity, uptake, and carbon assimilation

Zealous pursuit: a commercial perspective on e-Learning standards

The aims of the SCORM and IMS specifications are widely supported, with the IMS Question and Test Interoperability specification of particular interest within the CAA community. This paper suggests that, despite the widespread support, these specifications will have a large market impact, but fail to fulfil their key objectives. This is because they address a poorly-bounded problem domain and thus will remain incomplete, do not have a single creator, are too large for reliable implementation, offer little real incentive for most suppliers to make them work other than for demonstrations, and do not have an integral enforcement mechanism. It is also suggested that these standards will stifle innovation, and force small companies and individuals to pay the same price for some tools as large corporates