xv, 179 leaves : / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (M.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Medicine, 1974

Thesis (M. Ed.(Educational psychology))-University of Pretoria, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Studies from developing countries disagree on whether mobility is a risk factor or a protective factor for HIV risk. The difference is often determined by gender. Few studies exist, however, examining the relationship among high risk populations in developed nations. This study seeks to examine that relationship in 10 high risk ZIP codes of Atlanta, Georgia using data gathered from the Geography Project by Rothenberg and colleagues. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between HIV risk and five independent variables of mobility. Results were stratified by gender. After controlling for demographic and behavioral variables, use of public transportation by men was significantly protective of HIV risk. Significant associations were also observed with ever injection drug use and recent condom use, indicating that high risk behaviors may be the real driver of the epidemic in these neighborhoods.

This dissertation aims at analyzing complex problems arising in the context of dynamical networks, proteomics, and disease prevention. First, a new graph-based method for proving global stability of synchronization in directed dynamical networks is developed. This method utilizes stability and graph theories to clarify the interplay between individual oscillator dynamics and network topology. Secondly, a graph-theoretical algorithm is proposed to predict Ca2+-binding site in proteins. The new algorithm enables us to identify previously-unknown Ca2+-binding sites, and deepens our understanding towards disease-related Ca2+-binding proteins at a molecular level. Finally, an optimization model and algorithm to solve a disease prevention problem are described at the population level. The new resource allocation model is designed to assist clinical managers to make decisions on identifying at-risk population groups, as well as selecting a screening and treatment strategy for chlamydia and gonorrhea patients under a fixed budget. The resource allocation model and algorithm can have a significant impact on real treatment strategy issues.

The present research was archival in nature. It was divided into three phases involving a comprehensive psychometric examination of a newly developed risk assessment measure designed to assess risk for sexual violence, guide treatment planning, assess readiness to change, and evaluate whether positive changes in risk are linked to reductions in recidivism risk among sexually offending youth–the Violence Risk Scale: Youth Sexual Offender version (VRS:YSO). Phase I focused on an examination of the basic psychometric properties of a young offender version of the Violence Risk Scale–Sexual Offender Version (VRS–SO; Wong et al., 2003), subsequently referred to as the VRS:YSO. The tool revision was based on a thorough review of the literature on male youth and adults who have sexually offended and selected readings on youth violence, as well as a review of a measure designed to assess risk for violence among violent youth (i.e., the VRS:YV). The developers of the VRS–SO completed the structural revisions to the tool. The resulting risk assessment measure included six static and 17 dynamic risk variables that are empirically and/or theoretically associated with an increased risk for sexual violence among youth. As part of its initial psychometric examination, the VRS:YSO was rated retrospectively from the comprehensive files of 99 male sexually offending youth who had received outpatient sex offender services (i.e., assessment and/or treatment) from the Saskatoon Health Region, Child and Youth Services (CYS)–Young Offender Program (YOP) from 1995 to 2008. Overall, the VRS:YSO showed good-to-excellent interrater reliability, sound item properties (i.e., internal consistency and item-total correlations), and a factor structure that is consistent with research on sexually offending youth and adults, as well as other measures designed to assess risk for sexual violence in youth. Phase II focused on the validation of the VRS:YSO through examining the concurrent, postdictive, predictive, and incremental validity of the measure. Moreover, the psychometric properties of existing specialized risk assessment measures (i.e., J-SOAP-II, ERASOR, and J-SORRAT-II) were examined to inform the limited, albeit growing, literature on risk assessment with sexually offending youth. All measures were rated from the same comprehensive youth files as in Phase I. Youth were followed-up for an average of 11.83 years (SD = 3.42, range = 3.89-17.41) starting from their first contact with the community post-adjudication (i.e., release from custody or commencement of a community sentence). Overall reconviction rates were 8% for sexual, 24% for any violent (sexual and nonsexual), and 37% for general (any) offending. In sum, there was good preliminary evidence for the concurrent and, to some extent, postdictive validity of the VRS:YSO. Furthermore, there was good evidence for the predictive validity of the measure, particularly with respect to any violence (sexual and nonsexual) and general (any) recidivism. There was also encouraging evidence, albeit offset seemingly by a small post-treatment N and thus restricted power, on the potential value of the therapeutic change score in the prediction of recidivism risk. These findings supported the value of the VRS:YSO as a new specialized risk assessment measure for sexually offending youth, particularly as it uniquely includes a systematic rubric for assessing change. Moreover, there was good evidence for the predictive validity of the J-SORRAT-II and certain components of the J-SOAP-II for sexual recidivism. There was also good evidence for the predictive validity of the J-SOAP-II and the ERASOR for violent (sexual and nonsexual) and general (any) recidivism. Lastly, Phase III examined the role of psychopathy-related personality features (as measured by the PCL:YV) in the criminal and treatment outcomes of youth who have sexually offended. The PCL:YV was rated from the same comprehensive youth files (in conjunction with the other measures referenced above). Overall, the PCL:YV significantly predicted violent (sexual and nonsexual) and general (any) reoffending, particularly among offenders with any peer/adult victims, but not sexual reoffending. Increasing psychopathy-related personality features were significantly associated with non-completion of treatment. Clinical implications of research findings, along with limitations and future research directions for each of the three phases of this research were discussed.

Syfte: Undersöka preventivmedelsanvändning, sexuellt riskbeteende gällande könssjukdomar och oönskade graviditeter samt skillnader i sexuellt riskbeteende mellan olika ursprung, självförtroende och ålder vid sexuell debut hos kvinnor i åldern 14-31 år. Metod: En enkätundersökning, konsekutivt urval, utförd på RFSU-kliniken under år 2011 inkluderade 419 kvinnor. Resultat: Kondom var det vanligaste preventivmedlet vid första samlaget och p-piller var vanligast vid senaste samlaget. Nästan hälften, 48,7 %, hade haft en könssjukdom, klamydia var vanligast. Över hälften, 60,2 %, hade riskerat att få en könssjukdom och 45,6 % hade riskerat att bli oönskat gravid under de senaste tolv månaderna. Den främsta anledningen till detta var på grund av att de struntade i kondom ”i stundens hetta”. Kvinnor som haft sin sexuella debut i yngre ålder angav oftare att de haft en könssjukdom och någon gång under de senaste tolv månaderna riskerat att bli oönskat gravid. Kvinnor som skattat sitt självförtroende som högt struntade oftare i att använda kondom ”i stundens hetta”. Slutsats: Över hälften hade ett sexuellt riskbeteende gällande könssjukdomar och oönskade graviditeter. Kvinnor som hade sin sexuella debut i yngre ålder samt kvinnor som skattade sitt självförtroende högt visade oftare på ett sexuellt riskbeteende. Det fanns ingen signifikant skillnad mellan svenskfödda och utlandsfödda gällande ett sexuellt risktagande. / Aim: Investigate contraceptive use, sexual risk behavior regarding sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) and unwanted pregnancies and examine differences in sexual risk behavior regarding different backgrounds, self-confidence and age at first intercourse in women aged 14-31 years. Method: Consecutive sample including 419 women with a questionnaire, at a RFSU-clinic in Stockholm, 2011. Results: Condoms were most common at first intercourse and oral contraceptives most common at latest intercourse. Almost half had had an STD, Chlamydia the most common. Almost 60 % risked getting STD’s and 45,6 % risked unwanted pregnancies at sometime during the last twelve months. Main reason why participants risked this was because they ignored the condom in “the heat of the moment”. Women who had their first intercourse at a young age more often have had an STD and during the last twelve months risked an unwanted pregnancy. Women with a high self-confidence more often ignored using a condom in “the heat of the moment”. Conclusion: Over half of the participants had a sexual risk behavior regarding STD’s and unwanted pregnancies. Women who had their first intercourse at a young age and women with a high self-confidence showed signs of sexual risk-taking. There’s no significant difference between Swedish born and foreign born participants regarding sexual risk-taking.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (M. Med. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 35-42).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Library wanting Figure 11 which is missing from manuscript. Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 102-120). Also available on the Internet.

Diss. Tromsø : Universitetet i Tromsø, 2006.