Web-based Media Literacy to Prevent Tobacco Use among High School Students

Facilitator-led smoking media literacy (SML) programs have improved media literacy and reduced intention to smoke. However, these programs face limitations including high costs and barriers to standardization. We examined the efficacy of a Web-based media literacy program in improving smoking media literacy skills among adolescents. Sixty-six 9th grade students participated in a Web-based SML tobacco education program based on health behavior theory. Pre- and post-test assessments demonstrated statistically significant changes in the primary outcome of total SML as well as each of the individual SML items. However, there were inconsistent changes in other theory-based outcomes including attitudes and normative beliefs

Machine direction registration dynamics model of a rotary printing press

We derive an analytical model of the machine direction registration dynamics of a continuous-web, electronic line shaft (ELS) rotary printing press. We use the model to quantify the affect of tension disturbances on machine direction registration dynamics with different control schemes. With standard ELS registration control schemes, we show the benefits of using a compensator roller vs. electronic differential gear (advance or retard print cylinder's angular position). Next, we develop a novel cascaded reference control scheme for an electronic differential gear controlled ELS printing press that allows it to rival the performance of a compensator roller controlled ELS printing press. Finally, we demonstrate the benefits of using a cascaded reference empirically on a 6-station rotogravure ELS printing press

Permeation Fill-Tube Design for Inertial Confinement Fusion Target Capsules

A unique approach for permeation filling of nonpermeable inertial confinement fusion target capsules with deuterium— tritium (DT) is presented. This process uses a permeable capsule coupled into the final target capsule with a 0.03-mm-diameter fill tube. Leak free permeation filling of glow-discharge polymerization (GDP) targets using this method have been successfully demonstrated, as well as ice layering of the target, yielding an inner ice surface roughness of 1-µm rms (root mean square). Finally, the measured DT ice-thickness profile for this experiment was used to validate a thermal model’s prediction of the same thickness profile

Is Unaided Active Learning an Effective Teaching Method for Those with Learning Disabilities?

The work presented here aims to address a critical knowledge gap in the engineering education literature through a preliminary study meant to determine if active learning is more effective when students with learning disabilities are first front-loaded with information. These preliminary findings aimed at not only determining if the work should be continued in the future, but also at evaluating if frontloading resulted in: (1) increased student engagement and (2) increased learning effectiveness. Preliminary findings conclude that students with documented, and undocumented, learning disabilities did have an increased understanding of the course content as a result of combining frontloading and active learning

Formation of Ferroelectrically Defined Ag Nanoarray Patterns

In order to produce the most effective Ag nanoarrays for plasmon enhanced fluorescence and Raman scattering made using ferroelectric substrates, the optimum conditions for the creation of arrays must be identified. We study here Ag nanopattern arrays formed using ferroelectric lithography based on periodically proton exchanged (PPE) template methods. We examine different conditions in regard to deposition of Ag nanoparticles and analyze the plasmon enhanced signal from the resulting nanoarray. We apply FLIM (fluorescence lifetime imaging) to assess different Ag nanoarray preparation conditions on fluorescence emission from selected fluorphores. In addition, we apply Raman and luminescence spectroscopy with AFM (atomic force microscopy) to study the plasmon enhancement of luminescence and Raman from the Ag nanoarrays

Interpreting declines in HIV test positivity:an analysis of routine data from Zimbabwe's national sex work programme, 2009–2019

Introduction: Early diagnosis of HIV is critical for epidemic control. To achieve this, successful testing programmes are essential and test positivity is often used as a marker of their performance. The aim of this study was to analyse trends and predictors of HIV test positivity over time and explore how an understanding of seroconversion rates could build on our interpretation of this indicator among female sex workers in Zimbabwe. Methods: We analysed HIV test data from Zimbabwe's nationally scaled sex work programme between 2009 and 2019. We defined test positivity as the proportion of all tests that were HIV positive and measured new diagnoses by estimating seroconversion rates among women with repeat tests, defined as an HIV-positive test after at least one HIV-negative test in the programme. We used logistic regression to analyse test positivity over three time-periods: 2009–2013, 2014–2017 and 2018–2019, adjusting for potential confounding by demographic factors and the mediating effects of time since last HIV test. We calculated the seroconversion rates for the same time-periods. Results: During the 10-year study period, 54,503 tests were recorded in 39,462 women. Between 2009 and 2013, 18% of tests were among women who reported testing in the previous 6 months. By 2018–2019, this had increased to 57%. Between 2018 and 2019, test positivity was 9.6%, compared to 47.9% for 2009–2013 (aOR 6.08 95% CI 5.52–6.70) and 18.8% for 2014–2017 (aOR 2.17 95% CI 2.06–2.28). Adjusting for time since last test reduced effect estimates for 2009–2013 (aOR 4.03 95% CI 3.64–4.45) and 2014–2017 (aOR 1.97 95% CI 1.86–2.09) compared to 2018–2019. Among 7573 women with an initial HIV-negative test in the programme and at least one subsequent test, 464 tested HIV positive at a rate of 3.9 per 100 pyar (95% CI 3.5–4.2).Conclusions: Test positivity decreased among women testing through the programme over time, while seroconversion rates remained high. These declines were partly driven by changes in individual testing history, reflecting comprehensive coverage of testing services and greater knowledge of HIV status, but not necessarily declining rates of seroconversion. Understanding testing history and monitoring new HIV infections from repeat tests could strengthen the interpretation of test positivity and provide a better understanding of programme performance.</p

Temporal trends in, and risk factors for, HIV seroconversion among female sex workers accessing Zimbabwe's national sex worker programme, 2009–19:a retrospective cohort analysis of routinely collected HIV testing data

Background: The frequency of new HIV infections among female sex workers in sub-Saharan Africa is poorly understood. We used routinely collected data that enable unique identification of repeat HIV testers to assess temporal trends in seroconversion and identify associated risk factors for female sex workers accessing Sisters with a Voice, Zimbabwe's national sex worker programme. Methods: We pooled HIV testing data gathered between Sept 15, 2009, and Dec 31, 2019, from 36 Sisters programme sites in Zimbabwe. We included female sex workers aged 16 years or older with an HIV-negative test and at least one subsequent programme test. We calculated HIV seroconversion rates (using the midpoint between the HIV-positive test and the last negative test as the seroconversion date) and estimated rate ratios to compare 2-year periods by using Poisson regression, with robust SEs to account for clustering by site and adjusting for age and testing frequency to assess temporal trends. We did sensitivity analyses to explore assumptions about seroconversion dates and the effects of variation in follow-up time on our conclusions. Findings: Our analysis included data for 6665 female sex workers, 441 (7%) of whom seroconverted. The overall seroconversion rate was 3·8 (95% CI 3·4–4·2) per 100 person-years at risk. Seroconversion rates fell with time since first negative HIV test. After adjustment, there was evidence of a decrease in seroconversion rates from 2009 to 2019 (p=0·0053). In adjusted analyses, being younger than 25 years, and having a sexually transmitted infection diagnosis at a previous visit, were significantly associated with increased seroconversion rates. Our findings were mostly robust to sensitivity analyses, but when 1 month before an HIV-positive test was used as the seroconversion date, seroconversion rates no longer fell with time. Interpretation: We identified high rates of seroconversion shortly after linkage to programme services, which emphasises the need to strengthen HIV prevention programmes from first contact with female sex workers in Zimbabwe. New infections among female sex workers remain challenging to measure, but longitudinal analysis of routine testing data can provide valuable insights into seroconversion rates and associated risk factors. Funding: UN Population Fund, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, US Agency for International Development, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.</p