Health and Cultural Determinants of Voluntary HIV Testing and Counseling Among Middle-Aged and Older Latina Women

The rate of cases of HIV/AIDS in older people is increasing; indeed one out of every four people with HIV/AIDS is over age 50. This study describes the correlates of HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) using structural equation modeling techniques for a sample of 135 middle-aged and middle-aged and older Latinas in South Florida. Over 60% of participants had been tested for HIV. Provider endorsement was found to be the strongest predictor of VCT (odds ratio [OR] = 6. 38), followed by having a clinic as a regular source of healthcare (OR = 3.88). Social work implications are provided.     

Experience With a Drug Screening Program at a School of Pharmacy

Abstract

Substance use and abuse among pharmacy students is a concern of pharmacy schools, boards of pharmacy, and training sites alike. Pharmacy students must complete approximately 30% of their academic coursework in experiential settings such as community pharmacies, hospitals, and other health systems as part of any accredited pharmacy school's curriculum, and these training sites are starting to require drug testing of pharmacy students as part of their contractual agreements with schools of pharmacy. The authors describe the implementation of a mandatory random urine drug screening program at their school as well as the changes that occurred owing to assessment of the program. The authors report the basic results to date of the drug screening program. The authors also speculate on secondary benefits of the drug screening program. Finally, the authors describe current and future evaluations that they are undertaking regarding this program.     

Prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing and Associated Risk Factors in College Students

Abstract

Objective: This study documents the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing in a sample of college students and examines associated demographic and behavioral characteristics. Participants: College students aged 18 or older were randomly selected to participate in a health behavior survey at a southeastern university in September 2011. Methods: Only sexually active students were included (N = 905). Relationships between demographic and sexual behavior characteristics were explored using logistic regression and classification regression tree (p ≤.05). Results: Only 36.2% reported having been tested for HIV. Age was the most significant factor associated with testing. Factors associated with those least likely to be tested were race and anal sexual activity. Unsafe sexual behaviors were also associated with lower rates of HIV testing. Conclusions: Findings support the need for targeted HIV interventions on college campuses. Such interventions need to be tailored for at-risk students and take into consideration factors likely to contribute to HIV testing.     

Voluntary Pension Saving for Old Age: Are the Objectives of Self‐responsibility and Security Compatible?

Fiscal pressure and demographic change lead governments to seek ways of reducing state expenditure on pensions. Individuals are asked to take more responsibility, and funded, supplementary pension schemes have been established in many countries. This article looks at schemes that are voluntary – the NEST or Personal Accounts scheme in Britain and the Riester Pension scheme in Germany. It examines the debate about whether it is worthwhile for some people to participate in pension schemes that are not mandatory – particularly those with low incomes and/or potentially broken careers. The small pensions they accumulate in such schemes merely offset entitlements to means‐tested pension benefits, leaving them no better off in old age. Concerns about the behavioural consequences of pension means‐testing are not new. Nonetheless, few policymakers have been willing to look at when and how such concerns were expressed in the context of voluntary pension savings. Equally, they have seldom been prepared to explain the costs involved in guaranteeing savings‐based pensions or the implications that the lack of offering such a guarantee might have for individual behaviour. The state has sought for people to take greater ‘self‐responsibility’ for their retirement income, but many people wish for some certainty with respect to the pensions they can expect. These goals might well be in conflict. Whether the ‘state pension for the 21st century’, as proposed by the UK government, will succeed in satisfying the objectives both of the state and of pension savers remains an open question.     

Brain–Computer Interface Devices: Risks and Canadian Regulations

Implantable Brain–Computer Interface (BCI) devices are currently in clinical trials in the U.S., and their introduction into the Canada could follow in the next few years. This article provides an overview of the research, developments, design issues, and risks in BCIs and an analysis of the adequacy of the regulatory framework in place for the approval of medical devices in Canada, emphasizing device investigational testing. The article concludes that until better safeguards are in place, to best protect potential research subjects, BCIs should not be approved for investigational testing in Canada.     

基于PID控制的4工位冰箱性能测试试验室研制

介绍了PID控制技术在冰箱试验室的温湿度控制中的应用，依据国家标准GB／T8059．2-95要求，设计并建造了一套全自动电冰箱热工性能测试的试验系统，完成试验室空气处理系统、工况参数PID控制系统和电气系统设计以及软件编程等工作，并进行了调试电冰箱热工性能测试项目的试验。     

概化理论在语言测试新进展中的应用

概化理论是一种发展较晚但功能全面的现代测试理论,能有效地设计、分析和评估测试项目。直到上个世纪八九十年代,RobertBrennan等人开发了GENOVA等一系列应用软件后,概化理论才在心理和教育测量领域的研究中逐渐受到重视,此后,运用概化理论研究实际问题的项目也逐渐多了起来。概化理论与项目反应理论属于不同的理论范畴,它们的基本假设也有很大的差别。     

TESTING FOR PERIODIC STATIONARITY

This paper proposes a test for the null hypothesis of periodic stationarity against the alternative hypothesis of periodic integration. We derive the limiting distribution of the test statistic and its characteristic function, which are the same as those of the test developed in Kwiatkowski, Phillips, Schmidt and Shin.[15] We find that some parameters, which we must assume under the alternative, have an important effect on the limiting power, so we should choose such parameters carefully. A Monte Carlo simulation reveals that the test has reasonable power but may be affected by the lag truncation parameter that is used for the correction of nuisance parameters.     

Algorithms for approximate conditional inference

This paper presents a method for listing the sample space for a conditional distribution in a discrete generalized linear model. This tabulation is used in conjunction with saddlepoint methods to approximate the associated conditional probabilities. These probabilities are used to calculate conditional p-values.     

多方位语文考核方法的框架构建

大学语文的考核应从记录归纳能力、口头表达能力、阅读理解能力、书面表述能力、语文知识 5个方面入手。我们对此进行了实践探讨 ,尚需完善