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AMOS OZ Writer, activist, icon ROBERT ALTER 200pp. Yale University Press. 16.99 [pounds sterling] (US $26). In the epilogue to his short biographical study of his friend of more than [...]

Two language teachers offer guidance to help other English-as-a-Second-/Foreign-Language educators incorporate pronunciation activities into oral communication courses as well as other instructional settings. (Author/VWL)

Used data from the Current Population Survey to examine the schooling progress of Asian, Hispanic, black, and white students. Consistent with national trends, females progressed in schools as rapidly as, or more rapidly than, males of their same ethnic and immigrant generation group. The only exceptions were white women in the immigrant generation, who attained less than male counterparts. (SM)

Data from 204 young physicians (147 men, 57 women) revealed that parenthood significantly reduced women's, but not men's, practice hours. No significant gender differences existed for nonparents. Gaps between ideal and actual practice hours were smaller for mothers than for other groups, suggesting that mothers were more satisfied than other groups with work-family balance. (Author/NB)

The factors and temporal trends associated with discontinuation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) among 936 HIV-infected women enrolled in the Women's Interagency HIV Study are characterized. A multivariate analysis of post-HAART initiation exposures found that high HIV RNA levels and high depressive symptom scores were associated with HAART discontinuation.

A survey of Massachusetts teenagers who were sexually active found that many had never been tested for HIV. Only 22% of the 567 teenagers reported having been tested for HIV, 10% for personal reasons. Teenagers most likely to be tested questioned the effectiveness of condoms in preventing transmission of the virus, and had had multiple sexual partners. The results indicate that physicians can strongly promote HIV testing among teens. Adolescents who had discussed AIDS with their doctors were 2.6 times more likely to have been HIV tested than those who had not., Objective. To assess sexually active adolescents' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing and to determine the factors important in their decision to obtain voluntary HIV testing. Design. Anonymous, random, digit-dial telephone survey undertaken in 1993. Setting. Massachusetts households. Participants. Adolescents, 16 to 19 years of age. Results. Of the 567 adolescents surveyed who had sexual intercourse within the past year, 127 (22%) had received HIV testing with 54 (10%) stating that this testing was for personal reasons. A "great deal" or "some" worry about getting HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was expressed by 51%, and 56% felt that it was at least a little likely that they will get AIDS. Misconceptions were common about aspects of HIV testing: 35% did not believe or did not know that the HIV test results were kept in confidence, 19% thought that AIDS testers informed patners if the results were positive, and 30% did not think that the HIV test was very accurate. Although 92% (452/490) had seen a physician in the past year, only 30% (136/452) had ever discussed AIDS with a doctor. Multivariable analysis identified five factors as independently associated with voluntary adolescent HIV testing: 1) having had more than one sexual partner within the past year [odds ratio (OR): 2.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5, 5.5]; 2) believing that condoms are only somewhat effective at preventing the spread of AIDS (OR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.4, 4.8); 3) having discussed AIDS with a doctor (OR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.4, 4.8); 4) not having had a teacher discuss AIDS (OR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.2, 4.2); and 5) believing that a positive test result means one has AIDS as opposed to carrying the virus (OR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.1, 3.7). High-risk behavior of infrequent condom use and a history of a sexually transmitted disease were not significantly associated with voluntary HIV testing. Conclusion. Among sexually active Massachusetts adolescents, voluntary HIV testing is uncommon. Teens who have had multiple sexual partners and who do not believe condoms are effective in preventing transmission were most likely to have been tested. Issues requiring clearer communication to patients include the testing process, its availability, and confidentiality. Physicians can play an influential role in the promotion of HIV testing by discussing HIV risk behaviors with patients and offering those at risk voluntary HIV counseling and testing. Pediatrics 1997;100:371-377; human immunodeficiency virus, HIV testing, adolescents., In this second decade of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic, the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection to uninfected persons continues with more frequent occurrence in adolescents as [...]

Growers in very competitive markets with depressed crop prices want germplasm with the potential for creating niche markets with higher value. This has resulted in genetically manipulating crops like potatoes to change starch characteristics. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) may be suitable for separating out starch from potato genotypes. Using DSC shows that potato starch samples from various genotypes have differing thermal properties which correlate with the starch's other physical and chemical characteristics. It may be possible to tailor starch properties through genetic engineering using DSC.

Research on immigration and attainment in U.S. schools typically does not separate out generation of U.S. residence, a critical factor in attainment. This article explores immigrant generation effects (native, child of immigrant, immigrant) on schooling attained for Asians, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic whites, using Current Population Survey data. Previously unpublished cross-sectional data are presented. Regressions predicting school years completed show variable generation-by-ethnicity effects. Asian attainment increases sharply between immigrant and child-of-immigrant generations, leveling off thereafter. Hispanic attainment improves with successive generations of U.S. residence. Non-Hispanic white attainment peaks in the child-of-immigrant generation and declines for later generations.

Examines value development in medical school of 200 men and women recent graduates. Questionnaire data collected at three times support results of other studies suggesting that: (1) medical students undergo cycles of value development during medical school, and (2) women show stronger humanitarianism and interest in work conditions than do men. (Author/SA)

Women and men medical students' (N=192) intended commitments to profession and family were explored at three times during their training. Over time all students' intended hours in profession increased and hours in family decreased. Global-level measures suggested change in division of domestic labor among women and men, but specific-level measures suggested persistence of traditional patterns. (Author/ABL)