The effect of a number of possible risk factors for stroke were examined in a nested case-control study of participants in the prospective Royal College of General Practitioners' Oral Contraception Study. The case were 253 women who had a first ever stroke or episode of amaurosis fugax between 1968 and 1990. Three age-matched controls were selected for each case. Current users of the pill had an increased risk of total and fatal stroke. Former users had a small elevated risk of total stroke and a stronger risk of fatal stroke. The effects in former users appeared to be restricted to women who smoked. The elevated risk of total stroke among former users appeared to diminish with time although a persisting risk of fatal or haemorrhagic stroke could not be excluded. Smoking increased the case fatality rates of pill users who had a stroke. The effects of the pill in women with other factors for stroke were explored, but were inconclusive. The newer oral contraceptives were associated with a lower risk of stroke than older preparations, a benefit which has occurred because of changes in pill formulation rather than more selective prescribing by doctors. Smoking enhanced the risk of cerebrovascular disease in hypertensive, and possibly diabetic, women. The largest population attributable proportions were associated with smoking (36%), ever use of oral contraceptives (23%), manual social class (21%) and hypertension (19%). The successful elimination of cigarette smoking must remain a public health priority.

This dissertation provides a comprehensive analysis of shareholder rights plans and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) for a unique class of securities, i.e., the Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) between 1988 and 2000. This research seeks to establish what form of management, ownership structure and financial characteristics are exhibited by REITs which adopted antitakeover amendments as well as determine their impact on REIT values and the market for corporate control. While merger and acquisition transactions involving public REITs have much in common with M&A transactions involving other public companies, the role of governance has not been explored in REITs for these transactions. This paper finds that while firm specific variables can differentiate between targets and acquirers, the role of the governance structure appears to be quite limited. In fact, REITs seem to be driven by firm level performance.

This dissertation provides a comprehensive analysis of shareholder rights plans and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) for a unique class of securities, i.e., the Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) between 1988 and 2000. This research seeks to establish what form of management, ownership structure and financial characteristics are exhibited by REITs which adopted antitakeover amendments as well as determine their impact on REIT values and the market for corporate control. While merger and acquisition transactions involving public REITs have much in common with M&A transactions involving other public companies, the role of governance has not been explored in REITs for these transactions. This paper finds that while firm specific variables can differentiate between targets and acquirers, the role of the governance structure appears to be quite limited. In fact, REITs seem to be driven by firm level performance.

This study examines the reproductive strategies of the Pill-box crab, Halicarcinus innominatus, at the Oaro Platform (24 km south of the Kaikoura Peninsula, New Zealand). As necessary components of reproductive strategies, the population dynamics, reproductive biology and mating behaviour of H. innominetus were examined from December 1997 through December 1998. There were obvious sexually dimorphic differences in secondary sexual traits in this species. Both males and females display a wide range of sizes over which individuals can moult to maturity. H. innominatus females displayed continuous breeding throughout the year, resulting in continuous recruitment. Females were found to outnumber males in each month. However, when comparisons were made between mature males and females with different brood stages (i.e. 0-5), males outnumbered each female type in each month. Investigations into the reproductive biology of H. innominatus females revealed that brood development and ovary development were in phase. This resulted in the ability of females to produce several broods in quick succession. Ovary development began before the moult to maturity, allowing for immediate production of a brood after the moult to maturity. Egg incubation periods were dependent on water temperature, being longest in the winter and shortest in the summer. Egg numbers were found to increase with female body size, but mortality of eggs through development was apparent. Sperm storage was found to occur in this species with possible layering of different ejaculates. Copulations were only observed between males and females in hard-shell conditions. Males mated more often with females carrying stage 5 broods, but also mated with all other female types, including pre-pubescent females. Postcopulatory mate guarding only occurred with stage 5 females. Males can detect females of different reproductive condition, which seems to be linked to the developmental stages of the females' ovaries. In conclusion, H. innominatus males seem to have two tactics to their reproductive strategies: mating with any receptive female, but only guarding stage 5 females.

No description available.

Objective: To study midwives management, practice and reasoning regarding contraceptive counseling for women who are experiencing "mild" side effects of the pill Methods: Four focus groups, made up of three to five midwives per group, participated in focus group discussions. Qualitative design with the method “Think-Aloud” has been used to collect data and the material was analyzed using content analysis. Results: The study identified three categories, the first "How midwives practice regarding the side effects of the pill," shows that midwives have a systematic approach when meeting with women who are experiencing side effects of the pill. The next category "Using a holistic and professional approach for women" highlights that the midwives take women's side effects seriously and that midwives respect individual woman’s autonomy. Finally in the third category "Lack of evidence about side effects becomes a women's dilemma" here midwives describe varying ways of interpreting side effects as well as attitudes and socio-economic conditions in society that affect women's choice of contraception. Conclusion: The midwives express that side effects such as loss of libido, depression and weight gain are complex and often difficult to attribute solely to the pill. The midwives' work is characterized by a holistic approach. We see the benefits of sharing information in groups, therefor we suggest that midwives create mediums where they can learn from each other by sharing their valuable experience and knowledge.

Erectile performance anxiety (EPA) is a subset of sexual anxiety characterized by a fear of erectile failure. EPA has been shown to play a pivotal role in male sexual problems including premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction (Loudon, 1998; Perelman, 2006). EPA affects approximately 14% to 23% of U.S. men across age groups (Laumann, Paik, & Rosen, 1999), and is the most common proximal cause of psychogenic ED (Hale & Strassberg, 1990; Hedon, 2003; Perelman, 1994; Rosen, 2001). Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors such as sildenafil citrate (brand-name Viagra) are the first line of pharmacological treatment for ED. Recreational use of PDE5 inhibitors -- defined as unprescribed use with the goal of sexual enhancement and prevention of erectile failure among men without clinically significant erectile difficulties. Approximately 13.4% of young men between the ages of 18 - 30 report using PDE5 inhibitors recreationally. The most commonly reported reason for off-prescription use is to enhance one's sexual performance, i.e., longer lasting erections or impress one's sexual partner (Bechara, Casabe, De Bonis, Helien, & Bertolino, 2010; Harte & Meston, 2011; Holt, 2009; Korkes, Costa-Matos, Gasperini, Reginato, & Perez, 2008; Musacchio, Hartrich, & Garofalo, 2006). Reducing anxiety -- specifically EPA is often given as a reason for recreational use, though to a lesser extent (Korkes et al., 2008; Schnetzler, Banks, Kirby, Zou, & Symonds, 2010). However, PDE5 inhibitors do not exert a significant increase in penile tumescence among men without erectile dysfunction (Mondaini et al., 2008). The actual sexual enhancement from recreational use of PDE5 inhibitors among this population would be limited in that blood flow to the healthy erectile tissue is already optimal. The proposed study aimed to examine the effects of an erection-enhancing pill description misattribution on anticipatory anxiety and subsequent subjective and physiological sexual response to an audiovisual erotic stimulus. Participants underwent two assessments of their subjective and physiological arousal response to an erotic film after randomization to one of three conditions (erection-enhancing pill description, memory-enhancing pill description, or a no pill control). It was hypothesized that compared to those in the memory-enhancing pill group and the no pill control group, participants in the erection-enhancing pill group would respond with greater anticipatory anxiety and dampened penile tumescence in response to a subsequent no-pill erotic film presentation. Results of the study provided partial support for the hypothesized negative effects of the pill attribution manipulation. In the subset of subjects with complete pre and post-manipulation physiological data, those led to believe they ingested an erectile-enhancing herb showed a dampening of erectile tumescence to a subsequent erotic film presentation. Also, consistent with prediction, erectile performance anxiety was associated with decreased tumescence after the bogus "average" erectile performance feedback compared to baseline. These findings suggest that pill attribution may influence sexual arousal to some extent, despite methodological issues such as partial physiological data loss and believability of the pill instructional set manipulation. / text

This study examines the reproductive strategies of the Pill-box crab, Halicarcinus innominatus, at the Oaro Platform (24 km south of the Kaikoura Peninsula, New Zealand). As necessary components of reproductive strategies, the population dynamics, reproductive biology and mating behaviour of H. innominetus were examined from December 1997 through December 1998. There were obvious sexually dimorphic differences in secondary sexual traits in this species. Both males and females display a wide range of sizes over which individuals can moult to maturity. H. innominatus females displayed continuous breeding throughout the year, resulting in continuous recruitment. Females were found to outnumber males in each month. However, when comparisons were made between mature males and females with different brood stages (i.e. 0-5), males outnumbered each female type in each month. Investigations into the reproductive biology of H. innominatus females revealed that brood development and ovary development were in phase. This resulted in the ability of females to produce several broods in quick succession. Ovary development began before the moult to maturity, allowing for immediate production of a brood after the moult to maturity. Egg incubation periods were dependent on water temperature, being longest in the winter and shortest in the summer. Egg numbers were found to increase with female body size, but mortality of eggs through development was apparent. Sperm storage was found to occur in this species with possible layering of different ejaculates. Copulations were only observed between males and females in hard-shell conditions. Males mated more often with females carrying stage 5 broods, but also mated with all other female types, including pre-pubescent females. Postcopulatory mate guarding only occurred with stage 5 females. Males can detect females of different reproductive condition, which seems to be linked to the developmental stages of the females' ovaries. In conclusion, H. innominatus males seem to have two tactics to their reproductive strategies: mating with any receptive female, but only guarding stage 5 females.

The opioid crisis has reached unprecedented levels with the rise in deaths rising fivefold from 2001. The crisis’ has effected many communities throughout the United States and requires deep intervention in order to minimize the number of individuals dying from opioids. The heart of the problem lies in prescription opioids and heroin, one cannot talk about prescription opioids without speaking of the dangers of heroin. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the results of state and federal policies in handling the epidemic and recognizing the need for a comprehensive, multi-tiered strategy for grappling with the crisis. This paper was divided into four sections: The Nature of the Problem, Education, Supply Reduction and Treatment of Addicts and Death Prevention. The results were compiled by analyzing government statistics and peer-reviewed journals for solutions to the larger questions of how did the epidemic start, what methods can minimize illicit drug use and how do we restrict the supply of prescription opioids and heroin effectively while creating accessible treatment for individuals suffering from pain and/or addiction? The results concluded that creating educational programs based around the dangers of opioids and treatment options, while not definitive, can reduce the number of individuals suffering from addiction by allowing them to abstain from illicit drug use. This requires an immense number of state and federal resources to be dedicated to the epidemic, but considering that thousands are dying from it every year, there needs to considerable funding, energy and effort expended on grappling with the crisis.

OBJECTIVE:: Evidence-based interventions for pill swallowing training exist but are primarily implemented in pediatric specialty hospitals. Given increasing interest in the translation of brief and effective interventions to the wider population, there is a need to examine medication acceptance in a normative sample. METHODS:: Participants (N ≤ 304) completed the Medication Acceptance Survey, which assessed child/adolescent liquid and pill medication history and acceptance as well as parental interest in pill swallowing training. RESULTS:: Results showed that 30 "40% of youth had rejected/refused a pill or liquid formulation. Over half were unable to swallow a standard size pill or small capsule. Despite these difficulties, most parents did not express interest in an empirically supported pill swallowing training intervention. CONCLUSIONS:: The results provide directions for future research as well as the translation of pill swallowing interventions to primary care.