Increasing Parental Awareness And Monitoring: The Development And Evaluation Of A Web-based Program To Empower Parents To Reduce

Parent attitudes about underage alcohol use and parent monitoring of the activities of their adolescent children have been found to be directly related to the likelihood of underage alcohol use. Unfortunately, there are relatively few programs or resources available to parents to assist them to reduce their children\u27s potential for early and problematic alcohol involvement. In an effort to address this need, the present project entailed the development and evaluation of a web-based psychoeducational program entitled, Increasing Parental Awareness and Monitoring (iPAM). This online program begins to fill the gap in effective and convenient programming focused on development of parent skills and awareness. The content of the program is based on parenting factors that have been consistently found to correspond to underage alcohol use. The format includes engaging and interactive components that function to promote increased parent knowledge of the problem of underage drinking. In addition, the program is designed to alter permissive or ambivalent attitudes regarding underage alcohol use, and increase parental behaviors that have shown to be effective in reducing youth alcohol involvement. A randomized controlled trial was conducted (n = 34 control; n = 33 experimental) with parents of adolescents in Central Florida who were asked to complete measures before exposure to the program and again approximately one month later. Findings revealed significant differences between the iPAM group and the control group. Specifically, an increase in parent knowledge about underage alcohol use and increased parental monitoring of their adolescent children was revealed. There was also a main effect for time with regard to increased parent-child communication about alcohol. Additionally, while both groups revealed increased communication, the experimental group revealed greater frequency of communication about alcohol although not significantly

Improving planning and prospective memory in a virtual reality setting: investigating the use of periodic auditory alerts in conjunction with goal management training on a complex virtual reality task in individuals with acquired brain injury

Abstract Introduction: Deficits in planning and prospective memory are common after brain injury and contribute to difficulties participating in everyday activities. Recent research has suggested that using non-contingent auditory alerts may facilitate a ‘goal-review’ process and improve performance on tasks that make demands on executive functions. This study investigated whether combining alerts with a brief goal management training (GMT) programme would improve performance on a complex virtual reality task. Method: Twenty individuals with evidence of executive impairment completed two versions of the Removals Task, one trial with auditory alerts following a GMT session, and the other trial in standard, non-alerted conditions. Nineteen healthy controls were recruited to complete the task with no alerts or GMT. Results: The brain-injury group were significantly poorer than the controls on some measures of the task in non-alerted conditions. GMT and auditory alerts did not improve performance (though a sub-group analyses revealed improvement for 6 participants on one task measure). Discussion: Ceiling effects, brevity of the GMT procedure and paradoxical effects of the alerts on the measures are discussed as some possible reasons for failure to find significant differences. Sensitivity of the Removals Task to detect executive impairment and its efficacy as a potential cognitive rehabilitative assessment tool is investigated in light of differing findings between studies. Conclusion: The Removals Task revealed differences in performance between individuals with executive dysfunction and healthy controls on some measures. While a sub-group of participants did show improvement in the alerted condition for one measure, GMT and auditory alerts failed to improve performance in the brain-injury group on the majority of task measures. Limitations of the current study are acknowledged and recommendations for future research are given

Cloning and characterisation of MHC class 1 genes in cattle

The bovine MHC class I loci have largely been characterised using immunological techniques. This has identified in excess of thirty alleles all corresponding to one locus, BoLA-A . Detailed analysis of bovine MHC class I genes was undertaken using recombinant DNA technology in an effort to expand on this knowledge.A bovine liver cDNA library was constructed in Xgt10 and screened with a human class I MHC DNA probe. Two bovine class I cDNA clones were isolated. The largest clone, pBoLA-1, size 1263bp, was incomplete lacking a transcription initiation codon and a polyadenylation signal. pBol_A-1 on translation into amino acid sequence could encode a mature protein of 339 amino acids. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of pBoLA-1 to two other bovine cDNA clones revealed that pBoLA-1 may be allelic to one of them. Analysis of these bovine clones facilitated the identification of putative species specific residues. Extensive comparison of pBoLA-1 protein to class I proteins of other species revealed that the protein was more similar to class la proteins than to class lb proteins. The second cDNA clone, pBoLA-2, was approximately 600bp in size. pBoLA-2 mapped to the 3' end of pBoLA-1, extending it to 1.7kb, the approximate size of class I transcripts. The exact nature of the sequence encoded by pBoLA-2 was not established, although Northern blots suggested it may contain a repeated element.Two bovine genomic clones (which were isolated from a bovine genomic DNA library by Dr Jean-Luc Vilotte using the pBoLA-1 cDNA clone as a probe) were chosen for further characterisation. The first, phage 41, encoded two non-contiguous hybridising pieces of DNA. Restriction enzyme digests of this phage were compared on a Southern blot to similar digests of genomic DNA, the isolated phage clone appeared to contain a sequence which was probably present. as 1 copy in the genome. The conclusion reached was that phage 41 carries two class 1 genes, seperated by ISRb. This close proximity of class 1 genes has also been observed in mouse. The second genomic clone, phage 33, encoded a class I pseudogene. The gene lacked a defined 5' end but shared 52-76.5% nucleotide similarity with pBoLA-1 stretching over exons five to eight.Lastly, pBoLA-1 was used to dissect the detailed multi-band hybridisation pattern obtained when probing Southern blots. Use of 5' and 3' probes allowed an estimate of at least 2-3 bands recognised in common. Use of a 5' probe at high stringency revealed that pBoLA-1 only detected polymorphic bands, these by inference are class la genes with nonpolymorphic bands corresponding to class lb genes. The polymorphic bands recognised by pBoLA-1 were correlated to the BoLA-A serological type of the animal. Bands which segregated with BoLA-w6.2, -w8 an6-w10 were identified.Knowledge of the class I genes of the bovine MHC was extended from a single serologically defined locus to a large multi-gene family. This multi-gene family consists of class la genes which include pBoLA-1 and possibly class lb genes as defined by genomic clones and Southern blotting analysis of bovine DNA

Process modeling of US retail craft buyer decision making

The study examines decision making strategies of United States retail craft buyers. Four objectives guided the research: (1) profile craft buyer behavior, (2) describe buyer preferences for U.S. or international craft, (3) compare selection methods for textile crafts to other craft media, and (4) compare findings to existing models of buyer behavior and propose a revised model;Theoretically, the study was based on two models of buyer behavior, Sheth\u27s theory of retail buying and Samli, Grewal, and Mathur s theory of international buyer behavior. A composite model was developed incorporating these theories with available information on craft buyers obtained in interviews and observations during wholesale markets. The components in the proposed model generated the focus of the research inquiry;The research consisted of two stages of investigation. Stage I provided a contextual description of craft retailing for Stage II. The process involved mailing a 14-page questionnaire to a systematic sample of 779 craft buyers in the United States. Conceptual content of the instrument included information on buyers, craft businesses, craft products, customers, and strategies for decision making in wholesale markets. The results were generated from a response rate of 48.7%. Stage II consisted of 45 in-depth telephone interviews with respondents from Stage I. The criteria for sampling were willingness to be interviewed and marketing both U.S. and international craft in the business. The interviews addressed buyer experiences in the business and specific market and craft product decisions. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using the constant comparative method;Results indicate that buyers are diverse in their experiences and approaches to buying craft. Four primary themes (individual perspectives, business environment, global market, and market environment) emerged as the basis for a holistic grounded theory of retail craft buyer behavior. Several subthemes further explain buyer behavior. A revised model of retail craft buyer behavior illustrates the penetrating influence of the individual in buying decisions. The research contributes new concepts to existing buyer behavior. Recommendations are made for future research

Low-Income Uninsured Perceptions, Beliefs, and Level of Knowledge Concerning Primary Care Services

In the United States, there is an issue with low-income uninsured patients using emergency services for nonurgent conditions instead of using primary care services. Primary care services are more beneficial than emergency services for such patients, in that they can receive continual or follow-up care through primary care and thus achieve better health outcomes over the long term. Though information is available concerning factors in (or the rationale for) low-income uninsured patients choosing the emergency department (ED) instead of primary services for nonurgent conditions, research focusing on low-income uninsured patients\u27 perspectives, beliefs, and level of knowledge about this matter is missing from the literature. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to gain an understanding of the perspectives, beliefs, and level of knowledge of low-income uninsured patients about primary care services and to explore whether patient education can improve access to primary care. The health belief model was used to explore 6 concepts: perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, cues to action, and self-efficacy. Criterion sampling was used to recruit 10 participants, an interview tool was used to collect data, and the data was analyzed deductively. Results revealed that members of the low-income uninsured population believed primary care to be better than the ED because it offers cost-effectiveness, preventative care, efficiency, and familiarity. Results indicated that lack of money or insurance prevented participants from using primary services. This study may bring awareness that leads to the improvement of patient education and navigation, the reduction of ED usage, and an increase in primary care utilization

The dilemma of development policy in the Third World and some ramifications for women

The first part of this thesis deals with the theoretical approaches to development and a discussion of the dilemma facing the policy makers in choosing the best approach to the Third World. I then offer examples from South Africa and India which support the premise of economic prosperity versus ethical concerns; Lastly, the ramifications for women affected by Third World Development are presented with an emphasis upon the disruptive influences of advanced capitalist countries in their attempt to modernize technology and promote industrialization. The complexity of societal implications is explored from economic and political to social and cultural concerns

Building Capacity for Cancer Control in Appalachia

Data from the central Appalachian Region show disparities in excess morbidity and mortality in cancers of the lung and colon, and historical disparities in cervical cancer incidence and mortality. Contributing to the cancer burden are limited access to quality care, lack of insurance, lack of education. and limited literacy skills. There are, however, characteristics of the people of this region that have contributed to the successful implementation of community initiated interventions. The Community Cancer Education Program is a grassroots initiative designed to encourage and empower community organizations to implement effective cancer education projects. This Program allows health issues identified as important at the local level to be addressed with audiences not otherwise reached. This presentation will describe the region and the factors that led to enhanced cancer control capacity

Criminal Offenders in Ohio Nursing Homes: Facility Practices, Prevalance and Problems

This brief report presents findings from the 2009 Ohio Biennial Survey of Nursing Facilities. Respondents answered a brief series of questions about practices related to prospective residents with criminal backgrounds and current residents with violent and sex offender backgrounds

A Comparison of Courtship Behaviors of Two Generations of HBCU Male Students in Georgia

The research was funded through the Center for Undergraduate Research at Albany State University. Abstract This paper is the completion of a replication of an earlier project which contributes to research on families, specifically courtship behaviors, attitudes, and strategies by young men of color in dating and searching for a life partner. Prior research indicates that males select female partners on physical attractiveness, and sex role socialization. Data collection via SurveyMonkey obtained 68 respondents, and a final sample size of 56 after filtering via four screening measures. The adjusted sample size of 48 participants ensured that all of those in the sample identified as single, heterosexual, Black/African American males. Data obtained is compared to data from 1948 with a similar population. Preliminary results indicate that the top two reasons for dating are companionship and finding a suitable life partner/mate. Spearman’s rho correlation indicated several statistically significant monotonic relationships between the “Appropriate Behavior in Courtship” statements. Limitations include validity/reliability of the measure of “courtship behaviors” statements as it was not created as a scale, and items were unable to be reverse coded due to a lack of additional information from the original study. Keywords: courtship, dating, marriage, Historically Black Colleges & Universities, African American Males DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/10-4-14 Publication date: February 29th 202