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Assigning an appropriate density-modulus relationship is an important factor when applying inhomogeneous material properties to finite element models of bone. The purpose of this study was to develop a customized density-modulus equation for the distal ulna, using beam theory combined with experimental results. Five custom equations of the form E= ap(b) were used to apply material properties to models of eight ulnae. All equations passed through a point (1.85, Ec), where p = 1.85 g/cm3 represents the average density of cortical bone. For custom equations (1) to (3), Ec was predicted using beam theory, and the value of b was varied within the range reported in the literature. Custom equations (4) and (5) used other values of Ec from the literature, while keeping b constant. Results obtained from the custom equations were compared with those from other equations in the literature, and with experimental results. The beam theory analysis predicted Ec = 21 +/- 1.6 GPa, and the three custom equations using this value tended to have the lowest errors. The power of the equations did not affect the results as much as the value used for Ec. Overall, a customized density-modulus relationship for the ulna was generated, which provided improved results over using previously reported density-modulus equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The U.S. Navy Sexual Assault Intervention Training (SAIT) program for women was evaluated in a randomized clinical trial. The SAIT uses multiple presentation modalities (lecture, slides, discussion, film) to provide information related to sexual assault, including risk factors, consequences, prevention, and relevant military regulations. Female personnel who had completed basic training (N = 550) participated in the SAIT or a Comparison condition, and then completed measures of rape knowledge, empathy for rape victims, and acceptance of rape myths (false beliefs about rape justifying sexual violence). Results showed that the SAIT increased factual knowledge about rape. In addition, the SAIT increased empathy with rape victims in some groups of women. However, the program did not reduce women's rape myth acceptance. Given the enormity of the problem of sexual assault and these promising initial findings, additional research on the efficacy of the SAIT is clearly warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substantiation rates for alleged incidents of spouse (N = 33,787) and child (N = 31,986) maltreatment reported to the U.S. Air Force (AF) Family Advocacy Program between 2000 and 2007 were examined. For spouse maltreatment, physical abuse and multiple forms of maltreatment were most likely to be substantiated and neglect was least likely to be substantiated. For child maltreatment, emotional abuse was most likely to be substantiated and physical abuse was least likely to be substantiated. Substantiation rates were higher for referrals by military professionals than for referrals by civilian professionals or nonprofessionals; considerable variation in substantiation rates within each of these categories also was observed. Overall, AF substantiation rates were higher for spouse than for child maltreatment, and substantiation rates for child maltreatment were higher in the AF than in the general U.S. population. Substantiation rates have declined over time in both the AF and the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A randomized clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the Navy Sexual Assault Intervention Training (SAIT) program for men. A four-group Solomon design was used to control for possible pretest sensitization effects. Male Navy personnel (N = 1,505) were assessed for rape knowledge, rape myth acceptance (two scales), and rape empathy after participating in the SAIT program or viewing an educational video about HIV/AIDS (comparison condition). The SAIT program was found to be effective in increasing rape knowledge, reducing rape myth acceptance, and increasing empathy for rape victims. As expected, men who had exhibited previous coercive sexual behavior, compared with those who had not, reported lower levels of knowledge, higher levels of rape myth acceptance, and less rape empathy. However, the SAIT program was generally effective in changing men's knowledge, beliefs, and feelings on the key measures, regardless of participants' histories of coercive sexual behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study describes the sources of Air Force (AF) Family Advocacy Program referrals (N = 42,389) for child and spouse maltreatment between 2000 and 2004. Sources of referrals were stable over time, with military sources accounting for the majority of both child and spouse referrals. Most (85%) of spouse maltreatment referrals came from AF law enforcement, medical and psychological staff, command, and victim self-referrals. For child maltreatment, most referrals (71%) were from law enforcement, medical and psychological staff, command, social services, and friends or relatives. Differences in the sources of referrals across different types of maltreatment were greater for child than for spouse maltreatment. Comparison of the sources of child maltreatment referrals in the AF and U.S. samples revealed substantial similarity. However, self-referrals by the victim or offender were more common in the Air Force, whereas referrals by friends and relatives or by school or child care staff were more common in the U.S. sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A prospective study examined whether adult premilitary sexual victimization predicted women's military attrition. In a survey of female Navy recruits (N = 2,431), 56% reported some form of adult unwanted sexual contact before entering the military, with 25% reporting completed rape. Approximately one-third of respondents left the Navy before completing their 4-year term of service. When rape, attempted rape, and lower-level unwanted sexual contact were considered simultaneously, only rape predicted attrition. Women who reported premilitary rape, compared with those who did not, were 1.69 times more likely to leave the military. The pattern of results held across the 4-year period examined and after controlling for demographic predictors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A prospective study of U.S. Navy recruits (N = 5,498) examined whether premilitary intimate partner violence (IPV) was associated with attrition. Overall, more than one-fourth of recruits reported premilitary physical IPV and more than two-thirds reported premilitary verbal IPV. Women reported more perpetration and receipt of IPV than men, and married or cohabiting respondents reported more IPV than single respondents. Both perpetration and receipt of IPV significantly predicted attrition within 4 years. However, after controlling for other forms of IPV, only receipt of physical IPV significantly predicted attrition. In only one analysis did associations between IPV and attrition vary according to marital status or gender; premilitary receipt of verbal IPV had different effects on women and men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A longitudinal design was used to compare rates of severe intimate partner violence (SIPV) perpetration during the year before enlistment and the second year of service in a sample of 542 female and 421 male Navy personnel. Overall, 11% reported perpetration of SIPV during the year before service. Premilitary SIPV perpetration rates were significantly higher for women (20%) than for men (4%). After 2 years of service, the overall percentage reporting past-year perpetration of SIPV increased slightly (14%, compared with a premilitary rate of 11%). The patterns of changes in rates of SIPV perpetration varied for men and women. Across time, SIPV perpetration increased among men (from 4% to 16%) and decreased among women (from 20% to 12%). Respondents who were female, younger, and minority reported higher rates of premilitary SIPV perpetration. No demographic factors were associated with reports of SIPV perpetration during the second year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a prospective study of U.S. Navy recruits (n = 5,491), we examined the relationship between childhood exposure to family violence (child physical abuse, child sexual abuse [CSA], and domestic violence) and attrition. Overall, 55% of recruits experienced one or more forms of childhood family violence and 34% of recruits attrited within 4 years after enlistment. Considered separately, each form of childhood violence was significantly associated with attrition. When considered simultaneously, all three types of childhood violence were associated with attrition in men, but only CSA was associated with attrition in women. Men and women who experienced all three types of childhood violence were 303% and 139%, respectively, more likely to attrite than recruits who reported no childhood violence. In analyses examining the timing of attrition, CSA was associated with early attrition, whereas child physical abuse and domestic violence were unrelated to timing of attrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]