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

Outgroup, alignment and modelling improvements indicate that two TNFSF13-like genes existed in the vertebrate ancestor

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Conceptual Architecture to Measure the Effects of Subauroral Polarization Streams on Radar Operations

This thesis provides the initial conceptual development of taking into account subauroral polarization streams when preparing for a radar operation. The DoDAF views created to portray the architecture consisted of operational, capabilities, data and information, and finally system views to ensure consistency and realistic outcomes. OV-2 was the significant view because it set the baseline for required actions necessary for the proposed results the Flow Integration of Ionospheric Activity and Radar Evaluation (FIIARE) system would produce. FIIARE is a computer based system concept that performs consolidations and produce predictions using algorithms from the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI). The data portrayed in the views would come from National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration and Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN). Data from both agencies would then be utilized in the FIIARE system to prepare the radar operators for calibrating the radar to perform in any area of responsibility (AOR). The overall purpose of this thesis is to develop the initial concept of deciding whether SAPS cause clutter during radar operations. There is a negative impact on the mission due to clutter that SAPS could cause in a 24-hour period. To get better data and estimate how much SAPS effects radar operations, the execution of over the horizon radars and documentation of clutter should use the high-level architecture as a baseline

Analytic perturbation theory in QCD and Schwinger's connection between the beta-function and the spectral density

We argue that a technique called analytic perturbation theory leads to a well-defined method for analytically continuing the running coupling constant from the spacelike to the timelike region, which allows us to give a self-consistent definition of the running coupling constant for timelike momentum. The corresponding $\beta$-function is proportional to the spectral density, which confirms a hypothesis due to Schwinger.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figure

Recovery Following Acute Pontine Hemorrhage

Massive pontine hemorrhage does not always carry a fatal prognosis. A case report is presented in which many of the features usually associated with a fatal outcome were seen: severe disturbance of consciousness with early onset of coma, decerebrate posturing, systolic BP ranging from 200 mm Hg to 250 mm Hg, and hypopnea. Intensive supportive therapy was instituted during the critical phase, and the patient recovered. Electrophysiological studies helped to define the neurological deficit

A colonic splenic flexure tumour presenting as an empyema thoracis: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The case report describes the rare presentation of a 79-year-old patient with a locally perforated splenic flexure tumour of the colon presenting with an apparent empyema thoracis in the absence of abdominal signs or symptoms.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>Initial presentation was with a non-productive cough, anorexia and general malaise. An admission chest X-ray and subsequent computed tomographic image of the thorax showed a loculated pleural effusion consistent with an empyema. The computed tomography also showed a thickened splenic flexure. Thoracotomy was performed and a defect in the diaphragm was revealed after the abscess had been evacuated. A laparotomy was carried out at which point a tumour of the splenic flexure of the colon was found to be invading the spleen and locally perforated with subsequent collection in communication with the thorax. The tumour and spleen were resected and a transverse end colostomy was fashioned.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>One must consider the diagnosis of pathology inferior to the diaphragm when an apparent empyema thoracis is encountered even in the absence of clinical signs or symptoms.</p

An expression map for Anopheles gambiae

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Quantitative transcriptome data for the malaria-transmitting mosquito <it>Anopheles gambiae </it>covers a broad range of biological and experimental conditions, including development, blood feeding and infection. Web-based summaries of differential expression for individual genes with respect to these conditions are a useful tool for the biologist, but they lack the context that a visualisation of <it>all </it>genes with respect to <it>all </it>conditions would give. For most organisms, including <it>A. gambiae</it>, such a systems-level view of gene expression is not yet available.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have clustered microarray-based gene-averaged expression values, available from VectorBase, for 10194 genes over 93 experimental conditions using a self-organizing map. Map regions corresponding to known biological events, such as egg production, are revealed. Many individual gene clusters (nodes) on the map are highly enriched in biological and molecular functions, such as protein synthesis, protein degradation and DNA replication. Gene families, such as odorant binding proteins, can be classified into distinct functional groups based on their expression and evolutionary history. Immunity-related genes are non-randomly distributed in several distinct regions on the map, and are generally distant from genes with house-keeping roles. Each immunity-rich region appears to represent a distinct biological context for pathogen recognition and clearance (e.g. the humoral and gut epithelial responses). Several immunity gene families, such as peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) and defensins, appear to be specialised for these distinct roles, while three genes with physically interacting protein products (LRIM1/APL1C/TEP1) are found in close proximity.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The map provides the first genome-scale, multi-experiment overview of gene expression in <it>A. gambiae </it>and should also be useful at the gene-level for investigating potential interactions. A web interface is available through the VectorBase website <url>http://www.vectorbase.org/</url>. It is regularly updated as new experimental data becomes available.</p