Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to study the possible existence of day-of-the-week effects and month-of-the-year effects in the Singapore stock market over the period January 1st 1993 to December 31st 2011. The findings are analysed with the intention of developing investment strategies and to investigate if behavioural finance can help to explain the existence of seasonal anomalies.  Background: A number of previous studies have found evidence of seasonal anomalies in global stock markets, and by challenging the core assumptions of market efficiency, such anomalies may make it possible to predict the movement of stock prices at certain periods during the year. Consequently, there may be substantial profit-making opportunities that clever investors can benefit from, raising two important questions: (1) can such anomalies be strategically used to outperform the market and (2) why do such cyclical return patterns exist? Method: Daily closing prices from the Singapore Straits Times Index (STI) are used to compute average daily and monthly returns, which are further analysed through the use of statistical significance analysis and hypothesis testing to identify the possible existence of day-of-the-week effects and month-of-the-year effects in the Singapore stock market.  The results of the statistical investigation are used to develop investment strategies that are designed to take advantage of both positive and negative effects, and the theories of behavioural finance are applied to help explain why seasonalities occur at certain points in time. Conclusions: This study finds evidence of several seasonal anomalies in the Singapore stock market. Both day-of-the-week effects and month-of-the-year effects are present in the STI over the full sample period. Many of these effects can be explained by behavioural finance, and used to develop investment strategies that outperform the market.

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There is a dearth of literature to guide the development of community-based HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) prevention and sexual health promotion programs within Inuit communities. The aim of this research project was to create a dialogue with Inuit women to inform future development of such programs. This study employed Indigenous methodologies and methods by drawing from Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and postcolonial research theory in a framework of Two-Eyed Seeing, and utilizing storytelling sessions to gather data. Community-Based Participatory Research Principles informed the design of the study, ensuring participants were involved in all stages of the project. Nine story-sharing sessions took place with 21 Inuit women ages 18-60. Participants identified several key determinants of sexual health and shared ideas for innovative approaches that they believe will work as prevention efforts within their community. These research results build upon the limited knowledge currently available about perceptions of HIV and STI among Inuit women living in the remote north. / Graduate / 0573 / jenny.r.rand@gmail.com

Although Sweden invests a great deal of money and effort in prevention work, STIs are a major problem in our society. Young people are at high risk both when it comes to unwanted pregnancies and STIs and several studies have revealed that the condom use is quite low. Condom use is a complex issue. There are often several factors that interact and affect the decision to use or not use condom. The result in this thesis shows that young people have behavioral expectation to use condom, especially for anal sex and vaginal sex with a casual partner (both known and unknown). At the same time, the condom use is low irrespective of type of partner and type of sex. Approximately 20 % of the participants never used a condom during the preceding 12 months. Most of the participants said that reason for their use or non-use was based on partner evaluation. However, our participants indicate that there often is a deeper reason why they do not use condoms. Women talk about their male partner’s resistance against condom use. Men in the other hand mention the problem with fit and feel especially problems related to erection problems when they have been drinking alcohol. One of the most interesting findings is that the participants’ view of sex affected their condom use. Those with a relaxed view (e.g., did not connect love with sex and had had more sexual partners during the past 12 months) had fewer occasions of unprotected vaginal intercourse compared with the participants with a traditional view (e.g., often associated sex with vaginal penetration).The most important thing we need to do is increase ’men’s sense of responsibility and involve them in the prevention work. It is also important that the condom counseling is individualized. It is not enough to simply speak about condom use in general; instead we need to relate condom use to sexual practice and partner type but also to the individuals’ specific condom problem. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 1: Epub ahead of print. Paper 2: Manuscript. Paper 3: Manuscript.</p>

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-23T13:56:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Mara revisao final.pdf: 498609 bytes, checksum: cc7be7d2202495ba3a6b3454b6856ee3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-12-05 / Medidas preventivas e assistenciais para mulheres são importantes para a saúde pública. Os riscos associados com a saúde das mulheres incluem gravidez e maior chance de contrair DST, incluindo AIDS. Descrever a prevalência de DST, o perfil de comportamento e os aspectos relacionados à saúde reprodutiva das mulheres residentes em uma região de saúde do Município de Vitória, Brasil. Estudo transversal realizado de julho de 2003 a març o de 2004 em umaárea assistida pelo Programa de Saúde da Família, entre m ulheres de 15 a 49 anos.Uma entrevista face a face com dados sócio demográficos, clínicos e comportamentais foi realizada. Uma amostra de sangue foi coletada para testes de HIV, HBV,HCV e Sífilis; espécimes genitais foram coletadas para Citologia, Gram e Cultura, e uma amostra de urina foi coletada para PCR- Chlamydia trachomatis. A análise estatística usou métodos descritivos e análise multivariada dos dados. Este estudo foi submetido e aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética da Universidade Federal do Estado do Espírito Santo. Durante o estudo, 300 mulheres foram incluídas. A média de idade foi 30,0 (distância interquartil (IQR) 24; 38) anos; a média de idade do primeiro intercurso sexual foi de 17,3 (DP 3,6) anos e a média de idade da primeira gravidez foi 19,2 (DP 3,9) anos. Cerca de 70% delas teve até 8 anos de estudo; 5% relataram ISTs prévias; 8% abuso de drogas ilícitas e 11% estupro. Apenas 23,7%relataram uso regular de condom. Problemas clínicos relatados: úlcera genital (3,0%); disúria (7,7%); descarga vaginal (46,6%); prurido (20,0%) e dor pélvica (30,7%). Teste de HIV prévio foi relatado por 43,6% e 15,3% nunca haviam feito Citologia Oncótica. As prevalências das infecções foram: Chlamydia trachomatis 7,4%; gonorréia 2,0%; tricomoníase 2,0%; vaginose 21,3%, candidíase 9,3%; relatos citológicos sugestivos de HPV 3,3%; sífilis 3,0%; HIV 3,3%; HBV 1,0% e HCV 1,3%. As mulheres são uma população vulnerável em relação à sexualidade. Elas não percebem nelas mesmas o risco para DST e não se protegem. Esses resultados encontraram elevada freqüência de DST e mostraram a necessidade de medidas de prevenção, incluindo, entre outros, rastreamento para IST e programas de redução de risco. / Preventative measures and assistance for women are important for public health. The risks associated with women s health include pregnancy and higher rate of contracting STIs, including AIDS. To describe STI prevalence, behavior profile and reproductive health aspects of women living in a health region of Vitoria Municipality, Brazil. Cross-sectional study from July 2003 to March 2004 in an area assisted by Family Health Program. The study was performed among women, 15 to 49 years old. A face-to-face interview with sociodemographic, clinical and behavioral data was performed. A blood sample was collected for HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis tests; genital specimens were collected for Pap smear, Gram stain and culture, and a sample of urine was collected for PCR-Chlamydia tracomatis. The statistical analysis used descriptive methods and multivariate methods. This study was submitted and approved by Ethics committee from Federal University of Espírito Santo State. During the study, 300 women were included. Median age was 30.0 (interquartile range (IQR) 24; 38) years old; mean age of the first intercourse was 17.3 (SD 3.6) years and mean age of first pregnancy was 19.2 (SD 3.9) years. About 70% of them had up to 8 years of education; 5.0% reported previous STIs; 8.0% illicit drug abuse and 11.0% rape. Only 23.7% reported consistent condom use. Clinical problems reported: genital ulcer (3.0%); dysuria (7.7%); vaginal discharge (46.6%); itching (20.0%) and pelvic pain (30.7%). Previous HIV test was reported by 46.3% and 15.3% had never done Pap smear. The prevalence of infections were: Chlamydia tracomatis was 7.4%; gonorrhea 2.0%; trichomoniasis 2.0%; vaginosis 21.3%; candidiasis 9.3%; HPV-related cytological changes 3.3%; syphilis 3.0%; HIV 0.3%; HBV 1.0% and HCV 1.3%. Women are vulnerable population related to sexuality. They do not feel themselves at risk for STI and they do not protect themselves. These resultsfound high frequency of STI and show the needs for prevention measures, including, among others, screening for STI and programs of risk reduction.

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No. of bitstreams: 1 Danielle Albuquerque Pires Rocha.pdf: 1640322 bytes, checksum: 517abde36a5e28961792c6d782a3d48b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-06-25 / FAPEAM - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas / The lack of precision and speed in the laboratory diagnosis of some sexually transmitted infections (STI) are commom problems faced by professionals working in this area. Additionally, the lack of some of them in the public health system become more difficult to elucidate the diagnosis. Because of these difficulties, the STI are underdiagnosed, being treated indiscriminately, using only clinical diagnosis. The molecular diagnostic methods have arisen in recent years as an excellent alternative to fill some of the gaps left by traditional methods. The aim of this research was to study the epidemiology of some sexually transmitted pathogens at molecular level, using molecular biology techniques in women attended in public health system in the city of Coari, Amazonas, Brazil. Samples were collected from 361 women for cervical cytology (Pap Smear) and molecular examination. We carried out molecular diagnosis using the technique of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR for some sexually transmitted pathogens, which were: Human Papillomavirus, Herpes Simplex Virus 2, Human Cytomegalovirus, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Thichomonas vaginalis. The results showed that 47.8% of these women were infected by any of the pathogens. There was a high prevalence of infection with Human Papilomavirus (29.1%), followed by T. vaginalis (12.7%), Human Cytomegalovirus (8.3%), C. trachomatis (6.4%), N. gonorrhoeae (1.4%) and Herpes Simplex Vírus 2 (0.6%). The prevalence of HPV type in the infected women was HPV 16 (58.1%), followed by HPV 58 (20.0%). The satisfactory slides for cytological diagnosis (n=321) showed that 7 women (2.1%) showed abnormal cytology (ASCUS, LSIL and HSIL), 5 of them being infected by HPV. There were no statistically significant associations between sexually transmitted infections and the variables related to socio-demographics, medical history and sexual behavior. / A falta de precisão e rapidez no diagnóstico laboratorial de algumas doenças sexualmente transmissíveis (DST) são problemas enfrentados pelos profissionais que atuam nesta área. Além dessas dificuldades inerentes aos testes, a falta de alguns deles na rede pública de saúde dificultam ainda mais a elucidação de diagnósticos. Por causa dessas dificuldades, as DST são subdiagnosticadas, sendo tratadas indiscriminadamente, valendo-se apenas do diagnóstico clínico. Os métodos moleculares de diagnóstico têm surgidos nos últimos anos como uma excelente alternativa para preencher algumas dessas lacunas deixadas pelos métodos tradicionais. Esta pesquisa teve como finalidade estudar a epidemiologia de alguns patógenos sexualmente transmissíveis a nível molecular, valendo-se para isso de técnicas de biologia molecular, em mulheres atendidas na Atenção Primária à Saúde do Município de Coari, Amazonas (AM). Foram colhidas amostras cervicais de 361 mulheres para exame citológico (Papanicolaou) e exame molecular. Foi realizado o diagnóstico molecular através da técnica de Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase (PCR) e PCR em tempo real para alguns patógenos sexualmente transmissíveis, que foram: Papilomavírus Humano, Herpes Vírus Simples 2, Citomegalovírus Humano, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae e Trichomonas vaginalis. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que 47,8% dessas mulheres estavam infectadas por algum dos patógenos estudados. Constatou-se alta prevalência de infecção por Papilomavírus Humano (29,1%), seguida pelo T. vaginalis (12,7%), Citomegalovírus Humano (8,3%), C. trachomatis (6,4%), N. gonorrhoeae (1,4%) e Herpes vírus Simples 2 (0,6%). O tipo prevalente de HPV nas mulheres infectadas foi o HPV 16 (58,1%), seguido pelo HPV 58 (20,0%). As lâminas citológicas satisfatórias para diagnóstico (n=321) mostraram que 7 mulheres (2,1%) exibiram alterações citológicas (ASCUS, LSIL e HSIL), estando 5 delas contaminadas pelo HPV. Não foram encontradas associações estatisticamente significativas entre as infecções por patógenos sexualmente transmissíveis e variáveis relacionadas à condições sócio-demográficas, história clínica e comportamento sexual.

Hydrological modeling, like runoff modelling for flood prevention, is based on digital elevation models (DEMs). The fact that the DEMs do not represent existing road culverts can lead to considerable hydrological misinterpretations. In order to overcome this limitation, a GIS method was developed to automatically adjust the elevation model, hydrologically enforcing the DEM, so that the results of hydrological modeling accounts for flow through culverts. The hydro-enforced DEM showed to better represent the drainage network than the former DEM when compared with the river map. The topographic wetness index is the most commonly applied topographic index and a good indicator of soil moisture distribution. It has been integrated into many hydrological models and pollution risk indices as well as into the prediction of wetland distribution. Using the hydro-DEM from the previous step and the soil map in conjunction with the TWI, an improved TWI was achieved, namely a soil-topographic wetness index (STI). The linkages between specific soil types and TWI or STI values were analyzed. They revealed a clear linkage between STI values and soil type based on the soil transmissivity (R2=0.77). However, the TWI values showed low correlations to the soil types (R2=0.02). As a specific application, both TWI and STI were tested for the detection of wetlands. Wetlands are important ecosystems which act as buffer zones by filtering pollutants and slowing floodwater. Being able to identify their distribution is important in landscape planning and ecology. A wetland threshold value was determined for each index and their results where compared with the wetland map from the property map (assumed as ground truth) and with the potential wetland area. Finally, a visual validation was performed with the use of an aerial photography. The results showed that the STI performed slightly better than the TWI for the detection of wetlands, detecting 3% more wetlands. The impact of the soil map on the topographic wetness index was therefore determined as positive.

MAAS / Centre for African Studies / Zimbabwe launched the Voluntary medical male circumcision programme (VMMC) in November 2009, with the primary aim of curbing sexual transmitted infections (STI’s). In 2010, the district of Mazowe managed to adopt voluntary medical male circumcision programme to curb sexual transmitted infections. It is of concern that the voluntary medical male circumcision programme has been below expectations in Mazowe district. Hence, the aim of the study was to explore the effectiveness of the voluntary medical male circumcision programme among secondary school learners in Mazowe district. Furthermore, the primary goals of the study were firstly check the levels of understanding about the voluntary medical male circumcision programme among secondary school learners in Mazowe district. Secondly, explore the reasons behind the low rate of the voluntary medical male circumcision programme among secondary school learners. Thirdly, investigate whether cultural beliefs influence the learners’ choice. Lastly, recommend possible ways of improving the uptake of the voluntary medical male circumcision programme among secondary school learners in Mazowe district. A qualitative research method used in the study. Also, un-structured interviews and focused group discussions. The researcher conducted interviews using purposeful sampling method on three secondary schools in Mazowe district, Zimbabwe and about forty respondents participated in the study. The study adopted a planned behaviour and person/client centered approaches. The thesis’s conclusions deduced that most of the male respondents are not ready or willing to receive circumcision due to fear of being screened for HIV/AIDS, the cost of the procedure, pain, bleeding, to mention but a few. Furthermore, the researcher identified that in the Shona culture, medical male circumcision is rarely unknown. In addition, the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare must introduce new ways of circumcision to avoid bleeding, pain and must remove the screening of the HIV testing procedure before one is circumcise. Therefore, by these outcomes the Ministry of Child and Health Care Centre will try to find strategies in which they can scale the programme, since the study highlighted that most males are not going for circumcision, hence their lives are in predicament. More so, the study recommends v that researchers must obtain consent and ethical clearance from different relevant place so that data there will not be harm to respondents. Also, there is a need to look for policies in which the government will use to assess strategies to scale the programme, since it is of paramount importance to test the VMMC programme about the impact that it is giving to the community and to find out whether it is helpful or not. More so, in terms of future researchers, there is a need to reconnoiter barriers that hinders males from circumcised. Hence, fourth, this will motivate number of District schools to bring awareness towards males to take part in the programme and prevent males from being susceptible to the infections as recommended by the WHO in 2007. In addition, decentralizing the programme to the community, stakeholders would be able to work hand in hand with the District to make sure that the rate of the VMMC is up and those males take part in the programme willingly. Hence, this will create an efficacy of the programme since all stakeholders and the community will scale up the programme since the priority of all sides will be to scale the programme. Furthermore, clearing misconceptions associated with male learners (witchcraft, pain, bleeding, and religion, to mention but the few), providing them with right mentality about the good side of the programme. In addition, there is a need for the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare to amend new polices that allows free male circumcision, especially in public hospitals, hence, through these amendments, males might be willing to get the services. Lastly but not least, the Department of Education in Zimbabwe must set up tight mechanism for assessment for the programme, especially at secondary and high schools. This will in turn, develop an effective assessment system to see how effective the programme is in the districts. Finally, it is of paramount importance that the National HIV/AIDS council collaborates with the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare in decentralizing the service of the VMMC, since some respondents were concerned that the distance to the service centers were a hindrance for circumcision. / NRF

Quantification of progesterone and 17-β estradiol in mouse serum by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry Authors: Benjamin Kennard, Allison Cobble, Amy Gravitte, Keleigh Galloway, Jen Kintner, Jennifer Hall, Stacy Brown Introduction: In the United States, Chlamydia trachomatis is a commonly appearing sexually transmitted infection1. It affects the U.S. healthcare system to a tune of about $500 million dollars annually2. In women, it generally appears asymptomatic and can lead to severe secondary complications such as pelvic inflammatory diseases or infertility1. Female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone, are being identified to have a role in chlamydial infection. Specifically, this study aims to create quantification methods to detect levels of estrogen and progesterone in mice, infected with Chlamydia muridarum, plasma samples. Methods: Progesterone samples were prepared using solid-liquid extraction (SLE+) cartridges with ethyl acetate as the elution solvent. Estradiol samples were prepared using liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) with methyl tert-butyl ether and subsequent derivatization with DMIS. Following sample preparation, hormones were quantified in samples using LC-MS/MS with a gradient elution of 1 mM ammonium fluoride in water and acetonitrile. The separation was achieved using a UCT C18 column (100 x 21.mm, 1.8 μm particle size) maintained at 50oC. The mass spectrometer was set up to isolate molecular ions for progesterone (m/z 315.0910) and derivatized estradiol (m/z 431.1835). Quantification was facilitated by the use of deuterium-labeled internal standards and their corresponding molecular ions in the mass spectrometer (d9-progesterone; m/z 324.1230 and d5-estradiol; m/z 436.2922). Results: Several aspects of the assay presented have been optimized for maximum analyte recovery and analytical sensitivity, including column choice, mobile phase, derivatizing agents for estradiol, and extraction protocols for progesterone. The LC-MS/MS method was investigated for precision and accuracy over three separate days. The dynamic range of the progesterone assay was 5 – 100 ng/mL, with a limit of detection of 1 ng/mL. Likewise, the estradiol assay was linear in the range of 5 – 100 ng/mL, with a limit of detection of 0.5 ng/mL. The average precision, represented by % RSD was 0.74 – 8.5% and 6.3 – 13.4% for progesterone and estradiol, respectively. The accuracy of the method, represented by % error was 1.6 – 14.4% and 4.0 – 10.5% for progesterone and estradiol, respectively. Successful validation was defined as < 15% RSD and error (< 20% at the limit of quantification), per current FDA Guidelines. Conclusions: The developed LC-MS/MS method is specific for progesterone and estradiol, and the extraction is suitable for preparation of mouse serum samples. This assay could be successfully applied to hormone quantification in mouse samples to support the investigation of the link between chlamydia infection and hormone levels in female animals. References 1. Chlamydia - 2017 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveillance. https://www.cdc.gov/std/stats17/chlamydia.htm. Accessed October 23, 2018. 2. Owusu-Edusei K, Chesson HW, Gift TL, et al. The Estimated Direct Medical Cost of Selected Sexually Transmitted Infections in the United States, 2008. Sex Transm Dis. 2013;40(3):197-201. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0b013e318285c6d2

The college student population has a high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STI)s due to their participation in higher risk sexual behaviors such as serial relationships, drug and alcohol use and abuse, and inconsistent use of condoms. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between student exposure of sexual education and their sexual behaviors among college going students in Virginia. Guided by the health belief model, this quantitative cross-sectional study involved a random selection process to recruit college students to test the hypothesis. The research questions were designed to examine participants' exposure to sexual education, sexual behaviors, perceptions of contracting STIs with no condom use, and their perceptions of STI education added to college curriculums. The sample included 656 participants who ranged between 18-24 years old and were enrolled in a Virginia 4-year public university. Data were collected through an online survey. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the variables sexual education (independent) and sexual behaviors (dependent). Prior research has indicated that STI prevention education programs implemented within a schools' curriculum has assisted in bridging the gap between public health and education. The study results have shown that the students who had some form of sexual education and were sexually active are less likely to participate in risky sexual practices. The study also indicated that 92.5% of the participants perceive that adding STI courses to the college curriculum will help prevent STIs among college students. These results highlight the sexual health of Virginia college students and promote positive social change among Virginia's college campuses by identifying the inconsistencies of STI knowledge and practices, which can encourage better education.