A theory-based approach to understanding condom errors and problems reported by men attending an STI clinic

The official published version can be accessed from the link below - Copyright @ 2008 Springer VerlagWe employed the information–motivation–behavioral skills (IMB) model to guide an investigation of correlates for correct condom use among 278 adult (18–35 years old) male clients attending a sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic. An anonymous questionnaire aided by a CD-recording of the questions was administered. Linear Structural Relations Program was used to conduct path analyses of the hypothesized IMB model. Parameter estimates showed that while information did not directly affect behavioral skills, it did have a direct (negative) effect on condom use errors. Motivation had a significant direct (positive) effect on behavioral skills and a significant indirect (positive) effect on condom use errors through behavioral skills. Behavioral skills had a direct (negative) effect on condom use errors. Among men attending a public STI clinic, these findings suggest brief, clinic-based, safer sex programs for men who have sex with women should incorporate activities to convey correct condom use information, instill motivation to use condoms correctly, and directly enhance men’s behavioral skills for correct use of condoms

Southwest Research Institute assistance to NASA in biomedical areas of the technology utilization program Final report, 1 Nov. 1967 - 30 Nov. 1968

Southwest Research Institute activities in technology utilization program in biomedical areas, Nov. 1967 - Nov. 196

DISTRIBUTED BROKERAGE OFFICES THROUGH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

This paper describes some novel ways in which Edward D. Jones and Co., a successful brokerage firm with 1650 offices nationwide, uses information technology to pursue a unique market niche: single-broker offices in communities too small to support a traditional, typically much larger, brokerage branch office. The paper focuses on the use of mainframes with "dumb" CRT terminals, rather than workstations or personal computers, to coordinate distributed operational work on a day-to-day basis.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

Chandra and RXTE Spectra of the Burster GS 1826-238

Using simultaneous observations from Chandra and RXTE, we investigated the LMXB GS 1826-238 with the goal of studying its spectral and timing properties. The uninterrupted Chandra observation captured 6 bursts (RXTE saw 3 of the 6), yielding a recurrence time of 3.54 +/- 0.03 hr. Using the proportional counter array on board RXTE, we made a probable detection of 611 Hz burst oscillations in the decaying phases of the bursts with an average rms signal amplitude of 4.8%. The integrated persistent emission spectrum can be described as the dual Comptonization of ~ 0.3 keV soft photons by a plasma with kT_e ~ 20 keV and an optical depth of about 2.6 (interpreted as emission from the accretion disk corona), plus the Comptonization of hotter ~ 0.8 keV seed photons by a ~ 6.8 keV plasma (interpreted as emission from or near the boundary layer). We discovered evidence for a neutral Fe K\alpha emission line, and we found interstellar Fe L_II and Fe L_III absorption features. The burst spectrum can be fit by fixing the disk Comptonization parameters to the persistent emission best-fit values, and adding a blackbody. The blackbody/seed photon temperature at the peak of the burst is ~ 1.8 keV and returns to ~ 0.8 keV over 200 s. The blackbody radius is consistent with R_bb = 10.3-11.7 km assuming a distance of 6 kpc; however, by accounting for the fraction of the surface that is obscured by the disk as a function of binary inclination, we determined the source distance must actually be near 5 kpc in order for the stellar radius to lie within the commonly assumed range of 10-12 km.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ; 13 pages, 6 figure

Who is to blame? The relationship between ingroup identification and relative deprivation is moderated by ingroup attributions

Contradictory evidence can be found in the literature about whether ingroup identification and perceived relative deprivation are positively or negatively related. Indeed, theoretical arguments can be made for both effects. It was proposed that the contradictory findings can be explained by considering a hitherto unstudied moderator: The extent to which deprivation is attributed to the ingroup. It was hypothesised that identification would only have a negative impact on deprivation, and that deprivation would only have a negative impact on identification, if ingroup attributions are high. To test this, attributions to the ingroup were experimentally manipulated among British student participants (N = 189) who were asked about their perceived deprivation vis-à-vis German students, yield ing support for the hypotheses

Investigation of the Photophysical Properties of a Eu3+ Coordination Polymer Bearing an α-Nitrile Substituted β-Diketonate Ligand via Emission and Ultrafast Transient Absorption Spectroscopy

Reaction of the β-diketone ligand, 2-cyano-1,3-phenyl-1,3-propandione (LH), with hydrated EuCl3 in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen), results in the crystallisation of a one-dimensional Eu3+ coordination polymer of formulation [Eu(Phen)(L)3]∞, formed by coordination of the nitrile group of an O,O′-bound ligand to a neighbouring metal centre. An investigation of the metal-centred emission of the polymer, both in the solid state and solution, revealed red emission characterised by relatively long-lived excited state lifetimes and high intrinsic quantum yields. However, analysis of the overall quantum yield and sensitisation efficiency reveals that ultrafast processes in the ligand potentially inhibit Eu3+ sensitisation. Further investigations into these processes using transient absorption spectroscopy suggest that substitution at the α-C position may significantly decrease sensitisation via the antenna effect

What makes you not a Buddhist? : a preliminary mapping of values

This study sets out to establish which Buddhist values contrasted with or were shared by adolescents from a non-Buddhist population. A survey of attitude toward a variety of Buddhist values was fielded in a sample of 352 non-Buddhist schoolchildren aged between 13 and 15 in London. Buddhist values where attitudes were least positive concerned the worth of being a monk/nun or meditating, offering candles & incense on the Buddhist shrine, friendship on Sangha Day, avoiding drinking alcohol, seeing the world as empty or impermanent and Nirvana as the ultimate peace. Buddhist values most closely shared by non-Buddhists concerned the Law of Karma, calming the mind, respecting those deserving of respect, subjectivity of happiness, welfare work, looking after parents in old age and compassion to cuddly animals. Further significant differences of attitude toward Buddhism were found in partial correlations with the independent variables of sex, age and religious affiliation. Correlation patterns paralleled those previously described in theistic religions. Findings are applied to spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and for the teaching of religious to pupils of no faith adherence. The study recommends that quantitative psychometrics employed to conceptualize Buddhist values by discriminant validity in this study could be extended usefully to other aspects of the study of Buddhism, particularly in quest of validity in the conceptualization of Buddhist identity within specifically Buddhist populations

How unique is the Asymptotic Normalisation Coefficient (ANC) method?

The asymptotic normalisation coefficients (ANC) for the vertex $^{10}$B $\to$ $^9$Be + p is deduced from a set of different proton transfer reactions at different energies. This set should ensure the peripheral character of the reaction and availability of data for the elastic channels. The problems associated with the characteristics of the data and the analysis are discussed. For a subgroup of the set of available data, the uniqueness property of the extracted ANC is fulfilled. However, more measurements are needed before a definite conclusion can be drawn.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures, to be published in Phys Rev

Development and geometry of isotropic and directional shrinkage crack patterns

We have studied shrinkage crack patterns which form when a thin layer of an alumina/water slurry dries. Both isotropic and directional drying were studied. The dynamics of the pattern formation process and the geometric properties of the isotropic crack patterns are similar to what is expected from recent models, assuming weak disorder. There is some evidence for a gradual increase in disorder as the drying layer become thinner, but no sudden transition, in contrast to what has been seen in previous experiments. The morphology of the crack patterns is influenced by drying gradients and front propagation effects, with sharp gradients having a strong orienting and ordering effect.Comment: 8 pages, 11 figures, 8 in jpg format, 3 in postscript. See also http://mobydick.physics.utoronto.ca/mud.htm

The effectiveness of manual stretching in the treatment of plantar heel pain: a systematic review

Background: Plantar heel pain is a commonly occurring foot complaint. Stretching is frequently utilised as a treatment, yet a systematic review focusing only on its effectiveness has not been published. This review aimed to assess the effectiveness of stretching on pain and function in people with plantar heel pain. Methods: Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, and The Cochrane Library were searched from inception to July 2010. Studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria were independently assessed, and their quality evaluated using the modified PEDro scale. Results: Six studies including 365 symptomatic participants were included. Two compared stretching with a control, one study compared stretching to an alternative intervention, one study compared stretching to both alternative and control interventions, and two compared different stretching techniques and durations. Quality rating on the modified Pedro scale varied from two to eight out of a maximum of ten points. The methodologies and interventions varied significantly between studies, making meta-analysis inappropriate. Most participants improved over the course of the studies, but when stretching was compared to alternative or control interventions, the changes only reached statistical significance in one study that used a combination of calf muscle stretches and plantar fascia stretches in their stretching programme. Another study comparing different stretching techniques, showed a statistically significant reduction in some aspects of pain in favour of plantar fascia stretching over calf stretches in the short term. Conclusions: There were too few studies to assess whether stretching is effective compared to control or other interventions, for either pain or function. However, there is some evidence that plantar fascia stretching may be more effective than Achilles tendon stretching alone in the short-term. Appropriately powered randomised controlled trials, utilizing validated outcome measures, blinded assessors and long-term follow up are needed to assess the efficacy of stretching