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Aims To (a) assess the HIV/ AIDS knowledge and sources of HIV/sexually transmitted infection ( STI) information among sexually abstinent college students in China; (b) examine whether constructs from the transtheoretical model ( TTM) are applicable to this study population regarding condom use intention; and (c) evaluate the association between genders and TTM constructs, and HIV/ AIDS knowledge. Background Chinese college students are vulnerable to HIV and other STIs. Strategies targeting abstinent students are more cost-effective than providing treatment for diseases. Methods We surveyed 390 students enrolled in two universities in China. Data were collected from June 2009 to March 2010. Results Only 11% and 24% were aware of HIV spread by infected semen and of the protective effects of condom use against HIV. The mass media were major sources of HIV/ STI information. Individuals who had higher levels of self-efficacy and reported more perceived benefits and fewer perceived barriers were more likely to be in TTM contemplation stage of condom use than those in precontemplation. Females were less likely to discuss HIV/ STIs through online chat or email with strangers than males. Individuals who had higher levels of self-efficacy and reported more perceived benefits and fewer perceived barriers were more likely to be in TTM contemplation stage of condom use than those in precontemplation. Conclusion Sexually abstinent college students in China may be more likely to transition from precontemplation to contemplation if they know the benefits of condom use for the prevention of HIV/ STIs and if they learn to successfully minimize potential barriers related to condom use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, graphene oxide/styrene-butadiene rubber (GO/SBR) composites with complete exfoliation of GO sheets were prepared by aqueous-phase mixing of GO colloid with SBR latex and a small loading of butadiene-styrene-vinyl-pyridine rubber (VPR) latex, followed by their co-coagulation. During co-coagulation, VPR not only plays a key role in the prevention of aggregation of GO sheets but also acts as an interface-bridge between GO and SBR. The results demonstrated that the mechanical properties of the GO/SBR composite with 2.0 vol.% GO is comparable with those of the SBR composite reinforced with 13.1 vol.% of carbon black (CB), with a low mass density and a good gas barrier ability to boot. The present work also showed that GO-silica/SBR composite exhibited outstanding wear resistance and low-rolling resistance which make GO-silica/SBR very competitive for the green tire application, opening up enormous opportunities to prepare high performance rubber composites for future engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nanotherapeutic strategy is well recognized as the therapeutic approach of the future. Numerous reports have demonstrated the use of nanoparticulate drug carriers for the development of targeted nanotherapeutics by, for instance, incorporation of a moiety that specifically targets certain diseased cells. However, systematic investigation of this aspect has been inadequate, especially with regard to nanosystems with remotely controlled drug delivery. The authors previously designed a magnetic-responsive core–shell drug delivery nanosystem which proved to be technically feasible in vitro. In the present study, this nanosystem is modified for targeted delivery of an anticancer agent (encapsulated camptothecin (CPT)) to cancer cells overexpressing epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) with accurate intracellular drug release. The endocytosis of the nanocarriers by cancer cells, the pathway of cellular uptake and the subsequent intracellular controlled drug delivery were systematically investigated. It was found that the modified nanocarriers showed reasonably high drug load efficiency for CPT and a high uptake rate by cancer cells overexpressing EGFR through clathrin-mediated endocytosis. The intracellular release of the CPT molecules via an external magnetic stimulus proved to be technically successful and ensured much higher therapeutic efficacy than that obtained with the free drug. This study employs multiple functions for nanotherapeutic treatment of specific target cells, i.e. cell-specific targeting, controlled cellular endocytosis and magnetic-responsive intracellular drug release. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose. The aim of this study is to explore whether/which job coach factors were significantly associated with the community-based employment service (CBES) programme outcome measures in Taiwan. Method. This study used the 2003-2005 CBES programme for People with Disabilities Database in Taipei City in Taiwan (n = 3924) to do a secondary data analysis using hierarchical multiple linear regression. Results. This study found that 'occurrences of the services provided by the job coaches' variable was definitely the dominant predictor and explained additional 19.6% and 27.8% of the variances of annual salary and annual working month outcome measures, respectively. In addition, among six composition variables of 'occurrences of the services provided by the job coaches', 'occurrences of follow-up guidance', 'occurrences of intensive guidance', and 'occurrences of consultation before interviews with employer/director of human resources' were more powerful than the other three in predicting outcomes. Conclusions. Job coach factors in this study were significantly correlated with CBES programme outcome measures for people with disabilities in Taiwan after controlling for the socio-demographic variables. It indicates that the more inputs in the people with disabilities made by job coaches equates to better outcomes in this Taiwan case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the correlates for nonuse of condoms and the factors that affect stages of change for regular condom use among college students in Taiwan. Cross-sectional, quantitative survey design. A total of 996 college students were recruited from two universities in Northern Taiwan. Questionnaires collected data on demographic information, condom use, HIV/AIDS knowledge, confidence in using condoms in different situations, and perceived benefits and barriers to using condoms. The common reasons for not using condoms were trust in the partner (21.30%), partner dislike for condoms (19.49%), and perception of low risk (18.77%). Most sexually active students (52.4%) were in the earliest 2 stages of readiness to change (i.e., precontemplation, contemplation). Participants in action/maintenance were (a) 43.4% less likely to show a high knowledge score, (b) 4.08 times more likely to present high self-efficacy, and (c) 2.24 times more likely to be more religious than those in contemplation/preparation. Among a highly literate group, college students, condom use is inconsistent and readiness to change is not imminent. This study reveals that preventive steps targeted at young adults should address other concerns related to condom use such as trust in partners and the alleged appeal of unprotected sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Trigger finger is most common in the ring finger, but the reason for this is not known. We hypothesized that the compliance of the A1 pulley might be one of the factors responsible for this phenomenon. The purpose of this study was therefore to compare the compliance of the normal A1 pulley of the thumb, index, middle, ring and little fingers using human cadavers. METHODS: Eight normal thumbs, index, middle, ring and little fingers from eight fresh frozen human hand cadavers were used in this experiment. The compliance of the A1 pulley was measured by the resistance when passing a tapered metal rod through the A1 pulley. The slopes of the linear region of radial force/increasing area ratio curve were calculated and analyzed. FINDINGS: The mean slope of the linear region of the radial force/increasing area ratio curve was significantly different among the five digits (p<0.05). Post hoc analysis indicated that the mean slope for the middle finger A1 pulleys was larger than the thumb and little finger A1 pulleys (p<0.05). INTERPRETATION: The findings did not support our clinical hypothesis that A1 pulley stiffness would parallel the relative frequency of trigger finger by digit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Clinical diagnosis and classification of trigger fingers is traditionally based on physical examinations and certain obvious symptoms. However, it might lack quantitative evidence to describe the different graded trigger digits. This study provides quantitative evidence of kinematics and functional differences among different graded trigger fingers based on Froimson's classification. METHODS: Forty-seven patients with fifty-five trigger fingers and graded twenty-three, eleven, and twenty-one fingers as grades II, III, and IV, respectively. The QuickDASH questionnaire evaluated the subject's self-perception of hand symptoms and functions. The study measured maximal workspace of the fingertip motion and range of motion of the finger joints during an assigned tendon-gliding task using an electromagnetic tracking device. In addition, R(alpha), defined as the ratio range of angular acceleration during finger extension to the range during finger flexion of each joint, quantified the triggering effect. FINDINGS: The QuickDASH score results show that functional performances have significant differences among three grades (P<0.05). Workspace, range of motion of proximal interphalangeal joint and R(alpha) of proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal joint of trigger fingers also significantly differ among three grades (P<0.05). These findings quantitatively show that trigger fingers in different impairment levels have different kinematics and functional performances. INTERPRETATION: The results serve as evidence-based knowledge for clinics. The more practical and immediate application of this study would be to facilitate the assessment, design and execution of rehabilitation for patients with trigger fingers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To explore sexual behaviours and condom use and differences in specific items of perceived benefits and barriers to condoms using the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) stages among college students in southern Taiwan. Background: The TTM suggests that individuals in the action or maintenance stage exhibit higher levels of perceived benefits and lower levels of perceived barriers related to condom use than people in the precontemplation, contemplation or preparation stage. Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional design with cluster sampling among college students from two universities in southern Taiwan. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires, including demographic data, Sexual History and Condom Use Scale and Condom Use Decisional Balance Scale. Results: Of the 279 participants, 57% were sexually active, of these only 11.9% used condoms consistently. Respondents in the TTM stage of action/maintenance perceived greater benefits in relation to feeling more responsible ( P = 0.031) and protecting their partners as well as themselves ( P = 0.028), and perceived more barriers in believing that using condom needs to rely on partner's cooperation ( P = 0.046) than participants in precontemplation. Participants in precontemplation and contemplation perceived more barriers related to worry about making their partner angry if condoms were used than those in action/maintenance ( P = 0.008). Conclusion: Low levels of condom use among Taiwanese college students remain a significant public health concern. HIV prevention programmes for college students in Taiwan may be enhanced if they incorporate readiness to change and perceived benefits and barriers. Future research should include a larger sample with diverse groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV infection rates in Taiwan have been growing at nearly 15% per year since 1997, one of the fastest rates in Asia. Little is known about the knowledge, attitudes, and sexual behaviors of college-age young adults in Taiwan. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, sources of HIV information, and behaviors related to HIV among college students; it also explored variables associated with the knowledge and attitudes about HIV among college students in Taiwan. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire from 132 Taiwanese college students enrolled in two private universities. Study results showed that fewer than half (48.5%) of the participants were aware that HIV could be spread through infected semen, and, nearly a quarter of participants believed that HIV could be contracted through mosquito bites, toilet seats, or swimming pools. Only 29.5% reported ever having had sex. This research provides additional insights that may be used to develop effective HIV prevention strategies in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To introduce the Spaso technique for reducing anterior shoulder dislocation by reporting the success rate of the Spaso technique performed by junior emergency medicine residents.Design: Retrospective case series.Setting: Urban accident and emergency department.Participants: Patients with anterior shoulder dislocations.Interventions: The Spaso technique was applied by the emergency medicine residents to reduce anterior shoulder dislocation.Results: The emergency medicine residents applied the Spaso technique to reduce 16 cases of anterior dislocated shoulder during the study period. The Spaso technique was successful in 14 of 16 cases. The overall success rate was 87.5% (95% CI 60.4, 97.8%). No complications were noted.Conclusion: A new method has been introduced for reduction of anterior shoulder dislocation by reporting the experience of junior residents. The Spaso technique is simple, effective and able to be performed by single operator. Although the sample size was small, the result of the study could provide background information for planning a properly designed randomised controlled trial to evaluate the Spaso technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision-making pervades the human experience. The human decision process is driven by rational reasoning, which is the capacity to use the faculty of reason to facilitate logical thinking and to derive uncertain but sensible arguments from existing knowledge and the observed fact. Knowledge refers to the accumulation and the continuous neurological organization of information via the repeated exposure to its effective usage. Functionally, a decision support system seeks to provide a systematic and human-like way to data analysis by synthesizing an expert’s knowledge and reasoning capability to support the decision process of the user. However, conventional knowledge engineering and decision support systems often performed poorly when they are applied to problem domains festered with uncertain information, where the quality of the observed data is compromised by measurement noises. This paper presents T2-GenSoFNN, a brain-inspired fuzzy semantic memory model embedded with Type-2 fuzzy logic inference for learning and reasoning with noise-corrupted data. The proposed T2-GenSoFNN model is applied to the modeling of human insulin levels for the proper regulation of blood glucose concentration in diabetes therapy. The results are encouraging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Taiwan, family caregivers play a crucial role in the treatment of patients with mental illness. Attention to family caregivers' satisfaction with home care for mental illness could have a significant impact on the well-being of family caregivers, as well as on the health of the patients with mental illness for whom they care. A descriptive, cross-sectional design has been used to assess the level of family caregivers' satisfaction with home care for mental illness since the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) in Taiwan, and to identify the family caregivers' unmet needs for home care in cases of mental illness. Data were collected using the self-administrated questionnaire completed by a convenience sample of 75 primary family caregivers of the patients with mental illness from a psychiatric hospital in Taipei, Taiwan. The result showed that most family caregivers were highly satisfied with home care provided to them and their relative with mental illness. Timeliness of home care provided in an emergency was the most prevalent unmet need. The implementation of the NHI has improved family caregivers' perceptions of costs of home care services. There is a need to improve NHI policy and home care programmes to provide more holistic services for the patients with mental illness and their family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cerebellum is a brain region important for a number of motor and cognitive functions. It is able to generate error correction signals to drive learning and for the acquisition of memory skills. The cerebellar model articulation controller (CMAC) is a neural network inspired by the neurophysiologic theory of the cerebellum and is recognized for its localized generalization and rapid algorithmic computation capabilities. The main deficiencies in the basic CMAC structure are: 1) it is difficult to interpret the internal operations of the CMAC network and 2) the resolution (quantization) problem arising from the partitioning of the input training space. These limitations lead to the synthesis of a fuzzy quantization technique and the mapping of a fuzzy inference scheme onto the CMAC structure. The discrete incremental clustering (DIC) technique is employed to alleviate the quantization problem in the CMAC structure, resulting in the fuzzy CMAC (FCMAC) network. The Yager inference scheme (Yager), which possesses firm fuzzy logic foundation and maps closely to the logical implication operations in the classical (binary) logic framework, is subsequently mapped onto the FCMAC structure. This results in a novel fuzzy neural architecture known as the fuzzy cerebellar model articulation controller-Yager (FCMAC-Yager) system. The proposed FCMAC-Yager network exhibits learning and memory capabilities of the cerebellum through the CMAC structure while emulating the human way of reasoning through the Yager. The new FCMAC-Yager network employs a two-phase training algorithm consisting of structural learning based on the DIC technique and parameter learning using hebbian learning (associative long-term potentiation). The proposed FCMAC-Yager architecture is evaluated using an extensive suite of real-life applications such as highway traffic-trend modeling and prediction and performing as an early warning system for bank failure classification and medical diagnosis of breast cancer. The experimental results are encouraging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perceptual multistability during ambiguous visual perception is an important clue to neural dynamics. We examined perceptual switching during ambiguous depth perception using a Necker cube stimulus, and also during binocular rivalry. Analysis of perceptual switching time series using variance–sample size analysis, spectral analysis and time series shuffling shows that switching times behave as a 1/ f noise and possess very long range correlations. The long memory feature contrasts sharply with the traditional satiation models of multistability, where the memory is not incorporated, as well as with recently published models of multistability and neural processing, where memory is excluded. On the other hand, the long memory feature favors the concept of “dynamic core” or coalition of neurons, where neurons form transient coalitions. Perceptual switching then corresponds to replacement of one coalition of neurons by another. The inertia and memory measures the stability of a coalition: a strong and stable coalition has to be won over by another similarly strong and stable coalition, resulting in long switching times. The complicated transient dynamics of competing coalitions of neurons may be addressable using a combination of functional imaging, measurement of frequency-tagged magnetoencephalography and frequency-tagged encephalography, simultaneous recordings of groups of neurons in many areas of the brain, and concepts from statistical mechanics and nonlinear dynamics theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have performed the first global QCD analysis to include the CCFR and NuTeV dimuon data, which provide direct constraints on the strange and antistrange parton distributions,s(x) and. To explore the strangeness sector, we adopt a general parametrization of the non-perturbativefunctions satisfying basic QCD requirements. We find that the strangeness asymmetry, as represented by the momentum integral, is sensitive to the dimuon data provided the theoretical QCD constraints are enforced. We use the Lagrange multiplier method to probe the quality of the global fit as a function of [S-] and find -0.001<[S-]<0.004. Representative parton distribution sets spanning this range are given. Comparisons with previous work are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stages of change for physical activity among family caregiversAim. This paper reports a study exploring the factors that affect stages of change for regular physical activity in family caregivers in Taiwan. Background. In Chinese society, family caregivers play a significant role in the treatment of mentally ill patients in home care because of Chinese cultural obligations. Prochaska and DiClemente's transtheoretical model suggests that individuals adopting physical activity behaviour move through five stages of change. Discovering the factors that affect the stages of change for physical activity of family caregivers of mentally ill patients could have a significant impact on the health of this population, as well as on the health of the patients for whom they care. Methods. Family caregivers' stages for regular physical activity were assessed using The Stages of Change for Regular Physical Activity Questionnaire. Demographic factors were measured using The Family Caregiver's Demographic Characteristic Questionnaire. Data were collected from 108 primary family caregivers of mentally ill patients receiving home care from a psychiatric hospital in southern Taiwan. Results. Older caregivers were more likely to be in the action/maintenance stage compared with younger caregivers age [r(s)(108) = 0.24, P < 0.05]. Caregivers' stages of change were significantly associated with caregivers' relationship to the patient [chi(2)(6, n = 108) = 13.68, P = 0.03], and marital status [chi(2)(4, n = 108) =10.56, P = 0.03]. Conclusions. The findings on relationships between stage of change for physical activity, caregivers' age, relationship to the patient, and marital status represent a first step in better understanding those who do and do not intend to engage in a regularly active lifestyle among family caregivers in Taiwan. This study reveals that cultural issues may play a critical role in physical activity behaviour among Taiwanese family caregivers and need to be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method of synthesising wide-band directional lumped-element couplers with an arbitrary coupling coefficient is presented. The proposed synthesis method can realise a co-directional type lumped-element coupler with a wider operational bandwidth than conventional design methods while maintaining good amplitude and phase relationships of the output ports. Two coupler prototypes with coupling coefficients of 10 and 20 dB are designed and fabricated to verify the design concept. The measurements are very close to the theoretical predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of containment and swaddling on premature infants' heart rates (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO(2), and the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) scores after heelstick. The study used a cross-over experimental design, 32 premature infants with gestational age < 37 weeks, bodyweight

Neural fuzzy networks proposed in the literature can be broadly classified into two groups. The first group is essentially fuzzy systems with self-tuning capabilities and requires an initial rule base to be specified prior to training, [7]. The second group of neural fuzzy networks, on the other hand, is able to automatically formulate the fuzzy rules from the numerical training data. Examples are the Falcon-ART, [12] and the POPFNN family of networks, [14]. A cluster analysis is first performed on the training data and the fuzzy rules are subsequently derived through the proper connections of these computed clusters. This correspondence proposes two new networks: Falcon-FKP and Falcon-PFKP. They are extensions of the Falcon-ART network, [12] and aimed to overcome the shortcomings faced by the Falcon-ART network itself, i.e., poor classification ability when the classes of input data are very similar to each other, termination of training cycle depends heavily on a preset error parameter, the fuzzy rule base of the Falcon-ART network may not be consistent Nauck, [13], there is no control over the number of fuzzy rules generated, and learning efficiency may deteriorate by using complementarily coded training data. These deficiencies are essentially inherent to the fuzzy ART, [3] clustering technique employed by the Falcon-ART network. Hence, two clustering techniques--Fuzzy Kohonen Partitioning (FKP) and its pseudo variant PFKP, [1] are synthesized with the basic Falcon structure to compute the fuzzy sets and to automatically derive the fuzzy rules from the training data. The resultant neural fuzzy networks are Falcon-FKP and Falcon-PFKP, respectively. These two proposed networks have a lean and efficient training algorithm and consistent fuzzy rule bases. Extensive simulations are conducted using the two networks and their performances are encouraging when benchmarked against other neural and neural fuzzy systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proposes a novel neural fuzzy architecture named the generic self-organizing fuzzy neural network (GenSoFNN). Overview of GenSoFNN; Simulation results and analysis; Conclusion.

This paper is concerned with the evaluation of a squeeze flow rheometer for determining the viscosity of a highly viscous filled viscoplastic fluid which is representative of the behavior of some propellants. Ordinarily materials of this nature are difficult to characterize using conventional capillary and rotary rheometers because of melt and edge fracture. A model system was chosen because its viscosity could still be measured up to reasonable shear rates of about 1 s−1 in a parallel disk rheometer. The power-law, Bingham, and Herschel-Bulkley empiricisms of the generalized Newtonian fluid were fitted to the steady shear viscosity data. The lubrication approximation was then used to predict the squeezing force as a function of gap height and the results compared to experimentally determined values. The best results were obtained for the Herschel-Bulkley model and in this case the lubrication approximation predictions were on the average some 20% lower than the experimental values between gap to radius ratios of 0.15 and 0.35. A finite element simulation of squeezing flow was carried out to assess the limitations of the lubrication approximation. The numerical solution was found to give a good description of the squeezing force for gap to radius ratios between 0.18 and 0.35. It was estimated that the error involved in the lubrication approximation was about 25% at a gap to radius ratio of 0.3 and decreased to below 2% at a gap to radius ratio of 0.05 for the material studied. Experiments were carried out to assess the effect of slip on the squeezing flow measurements using both roughened and lubricated plates. It was found that no significant slip occurred at squeezing speeds up to about 2.4 mm/s. Lubrication was found to reduce the squeezing force by an order of magnitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parton distribution functions consistent with neutrino and muon deep inelastic scattering as well as Drell-Yan pair production results have been extracted. This analysis incorporates experimental systematic errors which are the dominant errors in recent deep inelastic scattering experiments. The dependence of the results on factors such as kinematic cuts in the data, heavy target corrections, and choice of initial functional form are also explored. The form adopted is motivated by perturbative QCD and particularly useful in exploring the small- x extrapolation of the distributions. This is crucial for studying the range of predictions for Collider, HERA, and SSC/LHC cross sections. Representative distribution function sets are presented in a very compact parametrized form both in the DIS and MS-bar renormalization schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent accurate data on F( x, Q) and on F ( x, Q) from HERA at small-x require a more precise treatment of charm production in the global analysis of parton distributions. We improve on existing global QCD analyses by implementing the leptoproduction formalism of Aivazis et al. which represents a natural generalization of the conventional zero mass QCD parton framework to include heavy quark mass effects. We also perform analyses based on the fixed-flavor-number scheme, which is widely used in the literature, and demonstrate their uses and limitations. We discuss the implications of the improved treatment of heavy quark mass effect in practical applications of PQCD and compare our results with recent related works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]