The prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continues to be a significant challenge to public health in the United States. While educational institutions, health professionals, and community outreach programs have helped the rates of transmission on local, national, and global scales, we are still seeing a rise in contraction and spreading of these infections. Half of these STI cases are from individuals ages 15 -24 years of age. For that reason, we must explore why this age group has the highest cases of STI rates (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], Sexually Transmitted Disease Transmission 2015). The focus of this project is to explore the relationship between sex education programs in Georgia public schools and their contribution to rise in STIs in this state. Here I argue that the curriculum of these programs affect students in numerous ways through teaching concepts, curriculum choices, romanticized ideology of sex, scare and shame tactics, and inaccurate information. With the consideration of these factors and student testimony, the sex education programs’ contribution to the high rates of STIs in Georgia are assessed.

Dans ces dernières années, les Systèmes de Transport Intelligents (STI) ont été considérés comme l'un des domaines de recherche les plus émergents en raison de leur rôle prometteur dans l'amélioration de la gestion du trafic et de la sécurité routière. Les applications coopératives de sécurité, étant les plus cruciales, ont gagné beaucoup d'intérêt. L'efficacité de ces applications dépend largement de l'échange efficace de deux principaux types d'informations. L'information de localisation périodique correspondant à l'information de localisation du voisinage et l'information événementielle qui est transmise en multi-sauts et générée lors de la détection d'une situation d'urgence. En raison de la caractéristique à grande échelle des STI, cette information fait l'objet du problème de congestion dans le réseau. L'objectif de cette thèse est d'assurer un contrôle fiable et robuste des informations de sécurité permettant de réduire la congestion du canal tout en tenant en compte des exigences des applications de sécurité. Nous examinons la diffusion de l'information événementielle en proposant une approche a multi-sauts qui a montré une amélioration de la réception de l'information. Cependant, cette approche reste très sensible à la charge de canal résultant de transmissions de l'information de localisation périodiques. D'autre part, la transmission efficace de l'information événementielle repose essentiellement sur la détection précise des événements de sécurité et en conséquence sur la précision de l'information de localisation. Ainsi, nous proposons un mécanisme de contrôle de l'information de localisation afin de fournir une meilleure précision et limiter la charge du canal. Les approches proposées dans cette thèse ont profondément étudié le compromis entre le respect des exigences des applications de sécurité et la gestion efficace de la congestion dans le réseau véhiculaire. / In the last decades, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) have been considered as one of the most emerging research area due to their promising role in promoting traffic efficiency and enhancing road safety. ITS cooperative safety applications, being the most vital and critical, have gained a lot of attention. The effectiveness of these applications depends widely on the efficient exchange of two main types of information. The periodic awareness corresponding to the one-hop location information of surrounding environment and the multi-hop event-driven information generated at the detection of a safety situation. Due to the large scale characteristic of ITS, this information is expected to be subject to severe congestion which might impact its reliable reception. The goal of this thesis is to focus on the reliable and robust control of safety-related information by reducing the channel congestion and at the same time taking into account the requirements of safety applications. We address first the event-driven safety information. We proposed a multi-hop policy showed to improve the dissemination of the event-driven information. However, it remains strongly sensitive to the channel load resulting from periodic awareness transmissions. On the other hand, the effective transmission of event-driven information depends primarily on the accurate detection of safety events and accordingly on the accuracy of awareness. Thus, we provide an efficient awareness control mechanism in order to provide better accuracy and limit the channel congestion. The approaches proposed in this thesis have deeply investigated the trade-off between ensuring the requirements of cooperative safety and the efficient management of congestion in vehicular network.

Places like nightclubs or pubs are frequently visited in order to find partners for love, sex and relationships. This study examins behavioral patterns and trends among young adults in these environments. A computer-based questionnaire has been implemented on entertainment establishments - two studentclubs, one youth club and three nightclubs - in Malmoe and Lund in southern Sweden. The emprical material contains at most 149 answers, and at least 109. Sex, love and relationships are less important than expected, but are still some of few big reasons for visiting nightclubs. Expectations of meeting somebody for sex are medium, the sexual encounter is expected to take place within the next 24 hours, in one of five cases directly on site, containing primarily intercourse, kissing and petting, and resulting in love or a ”fuck-buddy”-relationship. Most of the respondents are looking forward to see their new sexual partner again, while the sex is expected to feel less positive one week later, especially among the regular visitors. Most of the respondents assume they will be able to influence the type of sexual actitvity, and most of them consider reducing risks of STI transmittion. Still, many respondents never consider reducing risks, and quite few think they are not going to reduce the risks, or don´t know how to reduce them. Disinterest and lack of knowledge are the main reasons not knowing how to reduce the risks. The theoretical frame consists of Goffmans ”The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life”.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

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Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2015-05-22T11:12:34Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Lucilla Ribeiro Àvila - 2012.pdf: 1507401 bytes, checksum: bf2c2e095da09a43d8131413a5b45a44 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2015-05-22T11:14:19Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Lucilla Ribeiro Àvila - 2012.pdf: 1507401 bytes, checksum: bf2c2e095da09a43d8131413a5b45a44 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-22T11:14:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Lucilla Ribeiro Àvila - 2012.pdf: 1507401 bytes, checksum: bf2c2e095da09a43d8131413a5b45a44 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-17 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Introduction: Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is the most common etiologic agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil. About 1 to 10% of patients infected with this species of parasite develop the mucosal leishmaniasis, whose lesions are progressive, destructive and are characterized by a strong specific immune response. The mechanisms for the development of mucosal leishmaniasis are poorly known, but it is possible that proteins associated with virulence of the parasite, such as META2 LRR17 and/or related with the induction of a strong immune response, such as STI and TSA, participate in the pathogenesis disease, causing the appearance of metastases in the mucosa. Objective: To evaluate the expression of proteins META2, LRR17, STI1 and TSA in promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis derived from cutaneous or mucosal lesions. Methods: It was used three isolates from cutaneous lesions of patients (JCJ8c, and RPL5c SMB7c) and three isolates from mucosal lesions (ASL9m, and JBC8m PPS6m). Amastigotes of the isolates were obtained after inoculation of biopsies in mice knockout in interferon gamma and promastigotes in logarithmic or stationary phase obtained in culture in Grace's medium. The kinetics of growth in culture of isolates was performed by counting daily over ten days in the flow cytometer. The expression of proteins of each isolate was assessed by immunoblotting technique and by flow cytometry, the latter being used only to evaluate the expression of proteins whose expression was significant difference between isolates from cutaneous or mucosal lesions. Results: Promastigotes in stationary phase of the isolates SMB7c and JBC8m were the most expressed the protein META2. The greatest expression of this protein in parasites coincided with more severe lesions, since despite of isolated SMB7c being of cutaneous origin, the patient also presented mucosal lesion, and in the isolated JBC8m the patient presented return of lesions. Proteins LRR17 and STI1 were not expressed in significant amount in both promastigotes and amastigotes of different isolates. TSA protein was expressed at higher levels in promastigotes stationary phase and amastigotes of the xi isolates from patients with mucosal lesions, and this difference was also observed in flow cytometric analysis. Conclusion: The results suggest an association of META2 protein, which is related to the virulence of the parasite, with the generation of more severe lesions in the mucosal, since the highest expression of the protein was isolate from patients with mucocutaneous lesions and patients whose treatment was not effective. TSA, which is associated with antigenicity and virulence of the parasite was also expressed in greater amount in isolates from patients with mucosal lesions. The hypothesis is that, despite TSA protein to induce a protective immune response could be conferring protection in the Leishmania after entering the phagolysosomes by being an antioxidant protein. This protection favored the persistence of parasites and later generation of mucosal lesions. / Introdução: A Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis é o agente etiológico mais frequente da leishmaniose tegumentar no Brasil. Cerca de 1 a 10% dos pacientes infectados com essa espécie de parasito desenvolvem a leishmaniose mucosa, cujas lesões são progressivas, destrutivas e caracteriza-se por uma forte resposta imune específica. Os mecanismos para o desenvolvimento da leishmaniose mucosa são pouco conhecidos, porém é possível que proteínas associadas à virulência do parasito, como a META2 e o LRR17 e /ou relacionadas com a indução de uma forte resposta imune, como a STI e a TSA, participem da patogênese da doença, ocasionando o aparecimento de metástase na mucosa. Objetivo: Avaliar a expressão das proteínas META2, LRR17, STI1 e TSA em formas promastigotas e amastigotas de Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis oriundas de lesões cutâneas ou mucosas. Métodos: Foram utilizados três isolados oriundos de lesões cutâneas de pacientes (JCJ8c, RPL5c e SMB7c) e três isolados oriundos de lesões mucosas (ASL9m, JBC8m e PPS6m). Formas amastigotas dos isolados foram obtidas após o inóculo das biópsias em camundongos deficientes em interferon gama e as formas promastigotas em fase estacionária ou logarítmicas obtidas em cultura em meio de Grace. A cinética do crescimento dos isolados em cultura foi realizada através de contagem diária durante dez dias em citômetro de fluxo. A expressão das proteínas de cada isolado foi avaliada através da técnica de immunoblotting e por citometria de fluxo, sendo esta última utilizada somente para avaliar a expressão de proteínas cuja diferença na expressão foi significante entre os isolados de lesões cutâneas ou mucosas. Resultados: Promastigotas em fase estacionária dos isolados SMB7c e JBC8m foram as que mais expressaram a proteína META2. A maior expressão desta proteína nos parasitos coincidiu com lesões mais graves, visto que o isolado SMB7c apesar de ser de origem cutânea, o paciente apresentou também lesão na mucosa e no isolado JBC8m o paciente teve o retorno das lesões. As proteínas LRR17 e STI1 não foram expressas em quantidades significativamente diferentes tanto em promastigotas quanto em amastigotas dos diferentes isolados. A proteína TSA foi expressa em maior quantidade nas formas promastigotas em fase estacionária e em amastigotas dos isolados oriundos de pacientes com lesão mucosa, sendo que essa diferença também foi observada na análise citométrica. Conclusão: Os resultados sugerem uma associação da proteína META2, que está relacionada com a virulência do parasito, com a geração de lesões mais graves nas mucosas, visto que a maior expressão da proteína foi em isolados de pacientes com lesão mucocutânea e de pacientes que o tratamento não foi eficaz. A TSA, que está associada à antigenicidade e também virulência do parasito foi mais expressa em isolados oriundos de pacientes com lesão mucosa. A hipótese é que, a proteína TSA apesar de induzir uma resposta imune protetora, estaria conferindo proteção da leishmânia após a entrada no fagolisossomo por ser uma proteína antioxidante. Esta proteção favorecia a persistência dos parasitos e mais tarde a geração de lesões na mucosa.

Ljudberikelser används ofta i kontorsmiljöer för att göra det mer behagligt att arbeta genom att sänka taluppfattningsförmågan, i framför allt kontor med öppen planlösning. (Page, 2020). Traditionellt sett så har dessa ljudberikelser bestått av olika typer av brus för att höja bakgrundsnivån i kontoret. Vi tittar på ljudberikelse, inte ur en ingenjörsperspektiv, utan ur ett ljuddesignperspektiv och hur vi kan använda våra kunskaper och erfarenhet för att driva frågan om hur vi kan skapa en mer avsiktligt designad arbetsmiljö i kontor. I den här arbetet så undersöker vi hur en designer kan utnyttja verktyg som symbolism och legatomusik till att skapa en ljudberikelse för en kontorsmiljö. Detta för att skapa en tydlig struktur och ge en stadig grund för framtida ljuddesigners att designa en ljudmiljö som är mer behaglig för kontorsarbetare. I det teoretiska ramverket så tar vi upp relevant forskning som visar att denna vinkel på design av ljudberikelse har en vetenskaplig och etablerad grund. Med denna forskning så har vi utvecklat en metod med en tydlig struktur för hur en ljudberikelse till kontorsmiljöer kan designas, och hur designen kan vara så tillfredsställande som möjligt för ens specifika målgrupp. / Sound enrichment is often used in office environments to make it more comfortable for work by lowering speech intelligibility, primarily in open plan offices. (Page, 2020). Traditionally these sound enrichments have consisted of different types of noise to heighten the background noise in the office. We look at sound enrichment, not through the perspective of an engineer, but through the perspective of sound designers and how we can use our knowledge and experience to drive the question of how we create a more intentionally designed work environment in an office. In this work we investigate how a designer can utilize tools like symbolism and legato music in order to create a sound enrichment for an office environment. We do this in order to create a clear structure and solid groundwork for future sound designers to design a sound environment that is more pleasant for the office workers. In the theoretical framework we will bring forth relevant research that shows how this angle of design of sound enrichment has a scientific and established foundation. With this research we have developed a method with a clear structure for how a sound enrichment for office environments can be designed, and how the design can be as satisfying as possible for a specifically targeted group.

Interest of STI policies to influence the innovation behaviour of firms has been increased considerably. This gives rise to the notion of behavioural additionality, broadening traditional evaluation concepts of input and output additionality. Though there is empirical work measuring behavioural additionalities, we know little about what role distinct firm characteristics play for their occurrence. The objective is to estimate how distinct firm characteristics influence the realisation of behavioural additionalities. We use survey data on 155 firms, considering the behavioural additionalities stimulated by the Austrian R&D funding scheme in the field of intelligent transport systems in 2006. We focus on three different forms of behavioural additionality project additionality, scale additionality and cooperation additionality and employ binary regression models to address this question. Results indicate that R&D related firm characteristics significantly affect the realisation of behavioural additionality. Firms with a high level of R&D resources are less likely to substantiate behavioural additionalities, while small, young and technologically specialised firms more likely realise behavioural additionalities. From a policy perspective, this indicates that direct R&D promotion of firms with high R&D resources may be misallocated, while attention of public support should be shifted to smaller, technologically specialised firms with lower R&D experience.

Abstract Prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis in STI-samples from Västra Götaland county with Aptima™ TV Assay on Panther™ System Also, evaluation of Aptima™ TV Assay on Panther™ System with comparison with Xpert® TV Kit on GeneXpert® Trichomonas vaginalis is a parasite that is spread by sexual contact, it is also the biggest sexually transmitted infection in both the United States and Europe. The prevalence in Sweden today is unknown as no national basic data exist. The routine procedure of identification is Wet-Smear although nucleic acid amplification enable a higher level of specificity and sensitivity. Panther™ System and GeneXpert® are two systems using RNA respectively DNA for analysis. The objective of the study was primarily to investigate the prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis in STI-samples from Västra Götaland county with Aptima™ TV Assay on Panther™ System and secondarily to evaluate Aptima™ TV Assay with comparison to Xpert® TV Kit on GeneXpert®. The evaluation and prevalence study took place at Clinical Microbiology, Unilabs AB, Skaraborgs Hospital Skövde during the period of April-May 2017. The results of the evaluation indicate that Aptima™ TV Assay is specific for Trichomonas vaginalis and that the sensitivity falls within the detection limits for the kit. Therefore, the kit is suitable for use in the prevalence study. The prevalence study displayed a positive outcome on two out of 606 analyzed patient samples, corresponding to 0.3%. The conclusion is that the prevalence is enough for further studies.