607 research outputs found
The development of tape recorded discussions and check lists for evaluating progression in grades one through four.
Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit
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Conceptualizing the Multidimensional Nature of Self-Efficacy: Assessment of Situational Context and Level of Behavioral Challenge to Maintain Safer Sex
A. Bandura (1991) argued that self-efficacy measurement should be specific both to the situation in which the behavior occurs and level of challenge in that situation. Measures consistent with the 2 dimensions were developed with graded challenge levels and differing gender-appropriate situations. Participants were 1,496 controls in the National Institute of Mental Health Multisite HIV Prevention Trial recruited from STD clinics and health service centers (925 women and 571 men). The authors tested 4 separate-sex confirmatory factor analysis models as follows: (a) Condom negotiation efficacy as a unitary construct across situations and gradation of difficulty; (b) situation as preeminent, which transfers across skills whatever the gradation of difficulty; (c) skill as predominant, irrespective of situation; and (d) a multidimensional design that simultaneously accounts for both situation and graded difficulty. Consistent with Bandura's theory, the multidimensional model provided the best fit for both samples
AMP!: A Cross-site Analysis of the Effects of a Theater-based Intervention on Adolescent Awareness, Attitudes, and Knowledge about HIV
AMP! (Arts-based, Multiple component, Peer-education) is an HIV intervention developed for high school adolescents. AMP! uses interactive theater-based scenarios developed by trained college undergraduates to deliver messages addressing HIV/STI prevention strategies, healthy relationships, and stigma reduction towards people living with HIV/AIDS. We used a pre-test/post-test, control group study design to simultaneously assess intervention effect on ninth grade students in an urban county in California (N = 159) and a suburban county in North Carolina (N = 317). In each location, the control group received standard health education curricula delivered by teachers; the intervention group received AMP! in addition to standard health education curricula. Structural equation modeling was used to determine intervention effects. The post-test sample was 46% male, 90% self-identified as heterosexual, 32% reported receiving free or reduced lunch, and 49% White. Structural models indicated that participation in AMP! predicted higher scores on HIV knowledge (p = .05), HIV awareness (p = .01), and HIV attitudes (p = .05) at the post-test. Latent means comparison analyses revealed post-test scores were significantly higher than pre-test scores on HIV knowledge (p = .001), HIV awareness (p = .001), and HIV attitudes (p = .001). Further analyses indicated that scores rose for both groups, but the post-test scores of intervention participants were significantly higher than controls (HIV knowledge (p = .01), HIV awareness (p = .01), and HIV attitudes (p = .05)). Thus, AMP!’s theater-based approach shows promise for addressing multiple adolescent risk factors and attitudes concerning HIV in school settings
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Sensitivity Analysis and Potential Uses of a Novel Gamma Interferon Release Assay for Diagnosis of Tuberculosis
Sputum smears for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) are the primary methods for diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in many countries. The tuberculin skin test (TST) is the primary method for diagnosis of latent TB infection (LTBI) worldwide. The poor sensitivity of the former and the poor specificity of the latter warrant the development of new tests and strategies to enhance diagnostic capabilities. We evaluated the sensitivity of an “in-tube” gamma interferon release assay (IGRA) using TB-specific antigens in comparison to the TST and the sputum smear for AFB in TB cases in South Africa. The sensitivity of the IGRA for TB was considered a surrogate of sensitivity in LTBI. Among 154 patients with a positive culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the sensitivity of the IGRA for the diagnosis of TB varied by clinical subgroup from 64% to 82%, that of the TST varied from 85% to 94%, and that of two sputum smears for AFB varied from 35% to 53%. The sensitivity of the IGRA in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected TB cases was 81%. HIV-infected TB patients were significantly more likely to have indeterminate IGRA results and produced quantitatively less gamma interferon in response to TB-specific antigens than HIV-negative TB patients. The overall sensitivity of the TST in all TB cases was higher than that of the IGRA (90% versus 76%, respectively). The combined sensitivities of the TST plus IGRA and TST plus a single sputum smear were 96% and 93%, respectively. The TST combined with IGRA or with a single sputum smear may have a role in excluding the diagnosis of TB in some settings
Assessment of Hunger and Appetite and Their Relationship to Food Intake in Persons With HIV
Assessments of hunger and/or appetite are common methods of screening for development of illnessrelated anorexia. There are limited data to determine whether these methods predict actual food intake in
persons with HIV disease. Therefore, the authors examined the relationship between self-reported food intake and subjective ratings of hunger and appetite in
31 adults with HIV infection. Participants also indicated presence of additional factors that can decrease amount of food eaten. Subjective ratings of appetite
and hunger correlated with each other but not with food intake. Twenty-four additional factors that can affect food intake were reported to be present. The most common were illness-related and factors such as
eating with friends or family. These results indicate that measures of hunger and appetite are not sufficient to screen for decreased food intake. Additional factors
that can affect food intake should also be included in a comprehensive assessment of adults with HIV infection.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69210/1/Assessment of Hunger and Appetite and Their Relationship to Food Intake in Persons with HIV Infections.pd
CHANG-ES IV: Radio continuum emission of 35 edge-on galaxies observed with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array in D-configuration, Data Release 1
We present the first part of the observations made for the Continuum Halos in
Nearby Galaxies, an EVLA Survey (CHANG-ES) project. The aim of the CHANG-ES
project is to study and characterize the nature of radio halos, their
prevalence as well as their magnetic fields, and the cosmic rays illuminating
these fields. This paper reports observations with the compact D configuration
of the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) for the sample of 35 nearby
edge-on galaxies of CHANG-ES. With the new wide bandwidth capabilities of the
VLA, an unprecedented sensitivity was achieved for all polarization products.
The beam resolution is an average of 9.6" and 36" with noise levels reaching
approximately 6 and 30 microJy per beam for C- and L-bands, respectively
(robust weighting). We present intensity maps in these two frequency bands (C
and L), with different weightings, as well as spectral index maps, polarization
maps, and new measurements of star formation rates (SFRs). The data products
described herein are available to the public in the CHANG-ES data release
available at www.queensu.ca/changes. We also present evidence of a trend among
galaxies with larger halos having higher SFR surface density, and we show, for
the first time, a radio continuum image of the median galaxy, taking advantage
of the collective signal-to-noise ratio of 30 of our galaxies. This image shows
clearly that a typical spiral galaxy is surrounded by a halo of magnetic fields
and cosmic rays.Comment: 70 pages, of which 35 pages present the data of each galax
Constitutional Analogies in the International Legal System
This Article explores issues at the frontier of international law and constitutional law. It considers five key structural and systemic challenges that the international legal system now faces: (1) decentralization and disaggregation; (2) normative and institutional hierarchies; (3) compliance and enforcement; (4) exit and escape; and (5) democracy and legitimacy. Each of these issues raises questions of governance, institutional design, and allocation of authority paralleling the questions that domestic legal systems have answered in constitutional terms. For each of these issues, I survey the international legal landscape and consider the salience of potential analogies to domestic constitutions, drawing upon and extending the writings of international legal scholars and international relations theorists. I also offer some preliminary thoughts about why some treaties and institutions, but not others, more readily lend themselves to analysis in constitutional terms. And I distinguish those legal and political issues that may generate useful insights for scholars studying the growing intersections of international and constitutional law from other areas that may be more resistant to constitutional analogies
CHANG-ES XI: Circular Polarization in the Cores of Nearby Galaxies
We detect 5 galaxies in the CHANG-ES (Continuum Halos in Nearby Galaxies --
an EVLA Survey) sample that show circular polarization (CP) at L-band in our
high resolution data sets. Two of the galaxies (NGC~4388 and NGC~4845) show
strong Stokes \%, two (NGC~660 and NGC~3628) have
values of \%, and NGC~3079 is a marginal detection at \%. The two strongest galaxies also have the most luminous X-ray
cores and the strongest internal absorption in X-rays. We have expanded on our
previous Faraday conversion interpretation and analysis and provide analytical
expressions for the expected signal for a general case in which the cosmic
ray electron energy spectral index can take on any value. We provide examples
as to how such expressions could be used to estimate magnetic field strengths
and the lower energy cutoff for CR electrons. Four out of our detections are
{\it resolved}, showing unique structures, including a {\it jet} in NGC~4388
and a CP `conversion disk' in NGC~4845. The conversion disk is inclined to the
galactic disk but is perpendicular to a possible outflow direction. Such CP
structures have never before been seen in any galaxy to our knowledge. None of
the galaxy cores show linear polarization at L-band. Thus CP may provide a
unique probe of physical conditions deep into radio AGNs.Comment: 30 pages, 4 figures, accepted to MNRA
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