ANCOVA Study of Psychotherapy Treatment of Internet Pornography Addiction in Heterosexual Men

Internet pornography has grown to become a problem that exists within the United States and across the globe. For those who suffer from this problematic behavior experience individual and familial problems as well as cause damage to the psyche, professionally and sexually. Those who suffer from addiction do not possess the ability to be able to stop the behavior on their own. Treatment is needed to help internet pornography users and addicts to recover while minimizing relapse from its consumption. This research proposal is a randomized, controlled, clinical ANCOVA study that will determine the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance Commitment Therapy for reducing Internet pornography viewing and behaviors among male heterosexual Internet pornography addicts. Treatment will take place for eight week period and consist of 75 male participants who are randomly assigned to either the CBT, ACT or wait-list control groups. Participants will be assessed at pretest (week 1), posttest (week 9) and three month follow-up (week 13) on the SIS/SES SAST-R, CPUI and AAQ-II measures. The study will define Internet pornography addictive behaviors, negative consequences and explain internal, external, construct and statistical construct validity with regard to the study’s design. Success of the study would provide effective treatment protocol and lessen the destruction of Internet pornography addiction on addicts who seek treatment as well as provide a format for therapists to follow as this is a new type of addiction, which has yet to be universally defined

The Niger Food Crisis: Causes and Implications for Research and Development from an Integrated Agricultural Economics Perspective

During the 2004 food crisis in Niger, the weakness of the main production system, millet, to produce enough food to sustain short term crises, has been revealed. Questions arise how the Nigerian smallholder systems can be assisted by research and development policies to intensify production and improve food security. The paper assesses technical options according to their economic sustainability. A sequence of models is applied: On plot level, production functions of inter cropping systems were estimated to determine yields and their variability of the major crops. These data were fed in a nonlinear program to test the inn ovations, first at stable prices, then at declining prices that were obtained from an interregional trade model. The latter was shocked by the excess obtained from the innovations' surpluses. Results show that due to risk aversion and price volatility of output markets, farmers adopt intensive innovations less than expected. Instead, they switch to low-input techniques. Recommendations derived from the study are that research has to develop low-risk technologies to intensify Nigerian millet systems, and that domestic market policies have to stabilize prices in order to reduce market risks and set incentives for intensification. Price stabilization has to be done in a market-conform way, through buying and selling of millet, but not through price fixing or subsidizing.Food security, Niger, small scale farming, risk management, Food Security and Poverty, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, O13, Q01, Q12, Q16,

Assessing the effectiveness of a longitudinal knowledge dissemination intervention: Sharing research findings in rural South Africa

Knowledge dissemination interventions (KDIs) are integral to knowledge brokerage activities in research as part of the ethics of practice, but are seldom evaluated. In this case study, we critically reflect on an annual KDI as part of knowledge brokerage activities in the MRC/Wits-Agincourt Unit health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) in rural South Africa from 2001 to 2015. The HDSS findings on births, deaths and migrations, as well as nested research project results, were shared with villagers, village leaders and service providers. The data used for this case study comprised secondary analysis of 13 reports and 762 evaluation forms of annual village-based meetings; records of requests for data from stakeholders; and qualitative analysis of 15 individual and five focus group interviews with local leaders and service providers involving 60 people. Over time, the KDI evolved from taking place over one week a year to being extended over six months, and to include briefings with service providers and local leaders. Attendance at village-level meetings remained low at an average of 3 per cent of the total adult population. Since 2011, the KDI village-based meetings have developed into an embedded community forum for discussion of topical village issues. There has been a decrease in requests for health-care and other services from the research unit, with a concurrent increase in research-related questions and requests for data from service providers, village leaders and political representatives. We conclude that, in this setting, the dissemination of research findings is not a linear exchange of information from the researchers to village residents and their leadership, but is increasingly multi-directional. KDIs are a key component of knowledge brokerage activities and involve, influence and are influenced by other aspects of knowledge brokerage, such as identifying, engaging and connecting with stakeholders and supporting sustainability

Some aspects of the natural control of larval Heliothis armigera (Hubn.) in maize.

Heliothis armigera (Hübner) is the most common pest attacking maize on the Darling Downs and in some seasons can be present in economic numbers, particularly on the newly emerged silks of the maize cob. In spite of the size of the population on infested cobs, the damage caused by its presence seems to be consistent from season to season. During the study it was established that, irrespective of the initial egg density recorded on the silks, the population of final instar larvae per infested cob rarely exceeded unity. The mortality factors associated with an infestation on maize were monitored and the extent of egg and larval parasites and diseases was established as being insignificant in causing this decline. These results would be expected in view of the protection afforded by the tight husks around the cob. The decline in population within the cob has therefore been associated with the activity of intraspecific competition (namely cannibalism) with the major proportion of the total population decline taking place during the first and second instars. This time period coincides with the stage of larval feeding when larvae begin to enter the cob by feeding along the silks. For most lines of maize, this area represents a restricted "arena" where larval density increases towards the cob and, as such, provides a greater opportunity for conflict between larvae. Laboratory studies of the nature of larval growth were undertaken in order to prepare a suitable method of sampling and identifying field populations of H. armigera. The relationship of development time to temperature was examined using the Thermal Summation method. From the analysis of these data the Threshold of Development was estimated to be 10.7° and the development time 260 day degrees (in excess of 10.7°) for development from hatching to final instar. In order to identify the stage of development of the larvae, head capsule measurements were made of laboratory bred larvae. However, it was established that the use of head capsule widths did not give a consistent indication of the stage of larval development due to variation recorded in the number of larval moults. The cause of this variation was outside the scope of this study but was considered to be due to the nutritional qualities of the larval food. This nutritional deficiency increased development time and resulted in more moults. For field collected material the recording of head capsule widths indicated that there were commonly six larval instars but these were not precisely defined. There was a large degree of overlap in the head widths of third, fourth and fifth instar larvae. A method of rearing Heliothissp. on an artificial diet is discussed but its usefulness is considered as limited to four consecutive generations, after which larval and pupal development times become more variable, the incidence of malformed adults increases and the pupal weight decreases

Emissions from Animal Agriculture—16.5% Is the New Minimum Figure

Knowledge production within the climate sciences is quickly taken up by multiple stakeholders, reproduced in scientific citation and the broader culture, even when it is no longer accurate. This article accomplishes two goals: firstly, it contributes to the clarification of the quantification of emissions from animal agriculture, and secondly, it considers why the dominant framing of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) on this subject focuses on maximizing production efficiency. Specifically, analysing the FAO’s own work on this topic shows that the often-used FAO estimate that emissions from animal agriculture amount to 14.5% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is now out of date. In returning to the FAO’s own explanation of its data sources and its more recent analysis of emissions from animal agriculture, this article finds that the figure of minimum estimate should be updated to 16.5%. The tendency of the FAO to prioritize a technological approach focused on making animal production more “eco-efficient” is critically examined in light of many other evidence-based calls for reductions in animal consumption. An explanation for this FAO approach is offered in terms of a type of epistemological bias

Conservation of barbel (Barbus barbus) in the River Great Ouse

There have been growing fears relating to the distribution and a perceived lack in natural recruitment of barbel in European rivers. This project reviewed existing literature, examined the suitability of Environment Agency data to assess barbel populations and designed investigations to identify possible bottlenecks in recruitment focusing on all life history stages and environmental influences, with the intention of developing a practical management plan for the River Great Ouse fishery that can be applied to other rivers.This study examined seasonal movements of 20 wild barbel via radio telemetry in a nine kilometre river stretch on the upper Great Ouse, recording weekly movements over an 18 month period. The project aimed to ascertain the effects of environmental influences on movement and habitat use. Radio tracking over 100 consecutive days throughout the spring periods in 2010 and 2011 gave an understanding of their daily movements, identified barriers limiting longitudinal movements and located active spawning gravels. Health of spawning gravels was assessed by monitoring changes in diatom growth and hyporheic water quality during the embryonic development stage. Representative freeze core samples from spawning gravels were used to assess fine sediment infiltration. Larval drift measured the number of larvae leaving the spawning grounds, a range of methodologies were used to capture 0+ to 3+ barbel. Habitat and feeding preferences were then evaluated.It was found that temperature and flow impacted movement, individuals moved through the entire river stretch, despite the presence of a weir that was previously thought of as impassable. Variations in sediment loading were found between spawning habitats, but fine sediment and organic matter were improved with gravel jetting. Larval drift and electric fishing were found to be the most effective methods for catching young barbel, but the necessary habitats to support these young fish were not readily available within the study stretch

The Role of Hearing Health Care Education on the Perceptions and Knowledge about Hearing Loss among African American Adults

Hearing loss negatively impacts a person's quality of life. Only 20% of 46 million Americans with hearing loss seek amplification treatment. It is imperative to address the disparity within the general public between those who have hearing loss and those who seek treatment for hearing loss. The goal of this research project is to determine whether education, through in-person presentations, can be used to improve their knowledge on hearing loss. Sixty African Americans between 50 and 90 years of age participated in the study. Participants were given a pre-presentation questionnaire, followed by a presentation was that discussed: the types and causes of hearing loss, treatment for hearing loss, and the effects of hearing loss. Participants then filled in a post-presentation questionnaire and hearing tests were conducted to test their outer, middle, and inner ear functions. Results indicated that in-person presentations increased participants’ knowledge about hearing loss and hearing health care. Participants responded to the presentations extremely positively, and indicated that further discussion about hearing health care is both wanted and needed. However, additional research needs to be done to determine whether the presentations have encouraged participants to seek treatment for hearing loss.B.A. (Bachelor of Arts

Clinical Application of Speech Science in Accent Management

In our multilingual society, speech-language pathologists often encounter normal speech variations in people who speak English as a second language. These differences result from the influence of their first language(s) on their English, and are distinct from disorders of articulation and phonology. However, many individuals still wish to more closely approximate “American English.” The clinical application of advances in speech science allows assessment of perception and production of speech across individuals. These can aid in describing non-native English accents by providing live feedback. To bridge theoretical and clinical aspects of speech science, one full-time faculty member and one adjunct faculty member initiated an independent study program with one graduate and one undergraduate student in the School of Communication Disorders and Deafness. The students led an accent management program at a local YMCA branch in Metuchen, New Jersey for six participants. With faculty guidance, advanced speech science software was used to provide biofeedback with traditional approaches to improve participants’ production of English speech sounds. This article discusses pre- and post-accent training outcomes, and the unique experiences of student-peer mentoring in conjunction with student-faculty collaboration