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Objective: To describe the partner notification experiences of individuals diagnosed with chlamydia and to determine what supports might best assist them. Goal: To determine what supports might best assist chlamydia infected individuals to notify their partners. Study Design: A telephone survey was undertaken with men and women recently diagnosed with chlamydia across 3 Australian jurisdictions between August 2007 and January 2008. Results: Of the 286 individuals who agreed to be contacted about the study, 202 (71%) completed the survey. Twenty-three percent (333/1458) of recent partners were notified: men who had sex with men (MSM) notified 15% (133/880) of their partners, heterosexual men 31% (114/370), and women 46% (86/188) of their partners (P < 0.001). Overall, 84% (169/202) of individuals notified at least one partner. The main reasons for informing partners were out of concern for them (44%) or because it was considered “the right thing to do” (37%). The preferred methods for contacting partners were telephone (52%) and face-to-face (30%). E-mail (8%) and short message service (SMS) (11%) were less commonly used; however, if offered a website with anonymous e-mail and SMS services, nearly half of individuals indicated they would find this useful. Of those who had not informed all partners with known contact details (n = 94), 34% reported that if web-based tools were available they would have contacted more partners. Over half of participants would like to have been given antibiotics to give to their partner. Conclusion: The availability of tailored resources may assist in improving partner notification for chlamydia.

Background. We have undertaken a cross-sectional study that investigates the association between bacterial vaginosis (BV) and sexual practices in sexually experienced and inexperienced women. Methods. Participants were 17–21-year-old females who attend Melbourne University, Australia. Study kits that contained an information and consent form, questionnaire, swab, and slide were distributed. Information regarding demographic characteristics and a broad range of sexual practices were collected. Gram-stained, selfcollected vaginal smears were scored with the Nugent method. Associations between BV and behaviors were examined by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results. BV was diagnosed in 25 (4.7%) of 528 women (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.1%–6.9%). Importantly, BV was not detected in women ( ) without a history of coital or noncoital sexual contact (0%; 95% CI, n p 83 0%–4.3%). BV was detected in 3 (3.8%) of 78 women (95% CI, 0.8%–10.8%) with noncoital sexual experience only and in 22 (6.0%) of 367 women (95% CI, 3.8%–8.9%) who reported penile-vaginal sex. BV was associated with a history of any genital contact with a sexual partner ( ). BV was strongly associated with 13 penileP p .02 vaginal sex partners in the prior year (adjusted odds ratio, 7.1; 95% CI, 2.7–18.4) by multivariable analysis. Conclusions. This study shows a strong association between BV and penile-vaginal sex with multiple partners but found no BV in sexually inexperienced women, once a history of noncoital sexual practices was elicited. Our findings indicate that BV is not present in truly sexually inexperienced women.

Objective: To examine practices of general practitioners' (GPs) in relation to partner notification for chlamydia and identify the supports they would find most useful to assist them. Goal: To identify innovative resources that could improve partner notification for chlamydia in primary care. Study Design: A postal survey was undertaken that involved GPs from several jurisdictions across Australia between August and December 2007. GPs were randomly selected from a national database. Results: Of 521 eligible GPs, 234 (45%) returned a completed questionnaire. Ninety-five percent (n = 223) felt that it was their role to discuss partner notification with patients diagnosed with chlamydia; however, only 45% (105/232) were sure how best to assist their patients with this. Considerable variation was shown in the way partner notification was undertaken, including how far back in time GPs recommended contacting partners. GPs considered a wide range of possible resources useful, including a website supporting patients (90%), information sheets generated by practice software when chlamydia is diagnosed (90%), printed information packs for patients (85%), a website designed to assist GPs (80%), and referral to these websites via positive laboratory results (85%). Forty-three percent currently undertook patient delivered partner therapy for chlamydia. Conclusion: GPs want and need greater guidance and resources to assist them with partner notification for chlamydia. Resources utilizing the internet and practice software and mechanisms where GPs are automatically directed to these when chlamydia is diagnosed have wide appeal and the potential to improve the effectiveness of partner notification for chlamydia.

The authors, both of whom are outside the network of scholars and practitioners typically associated with Reading Recovery, describe the instructional and teacher professional development components of the program and review related research. They then explore the theory and instructional assumptions on which RR is based, positing that both have implications for effective classroom instruction. In fact, they argue that the theory and assumptions of RR can be considered as core to good literacy instruction for all children.

This study evaluated Let Them Know (http://www.letthemknow.org.au), an online partner notification website offering e-mail and text message notification services to individuals diagnosed with chlamydia. A substantial and increasing number of text messages were sent, pointing to the potential for improved partner notification rates.

The purpose of this qualitative interview study was to illuminate mentor and intern participants' relationships in one state-mandated beginning teacher internship program. We analyzed interview data from 29 mentors and interns using within- and cross-case analysis and generated categories and properties with supporting interview excerpts to show how mentors and interns interpreted and adapted their roles. Findings of the study indicate that mentors and interns jointly construct their relationships; these relationships are undergirded by the respect and trust the two individuals have for each other. Furthermore, interns appear to need mentors who first, and foremost, support them as fledgling teachers. Interns also need mentors who assume flexible roles and who adapt their roles based on interns' needs.

This study examines the content of eight of the current generation of basal reading series to determine how and the extent to which lessons and activities that promote metacomprehension behaviors necessary for independent strategic reading were included in the second‐, fourth‐, and sixth‐grade levels of these series. The data derived from page‐by‐page inspections of current programs suggest that basal authors have made considerable efforts to incorporate activities and lessons that promote or foster strategic reading through comprehension skill instruction, through explicit strategy instruction, and in the context of directed reading activities that accompany reading selections.

Background: Partner notification for patients diagnosed with chlamydia is a strategy recommended to interrupt transmission of infection, and patients are commonly encouraged by health practitioners to contact their sexual partners themselves. Few studies, however, have ascertained the psychosocial impact of the chlamydia diagnosis and its effect on partner notification. Methods: In-depth telephone interviews were conducted with 25 women and 15 men aged 18–55 years, diagnosed with chlamydia from clinics in Victoria, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland. Reactions to chlamydia diagnosis, as well as reasons for, and feelings about, telling their sexual partners about this infection were explored. Results: Common reactions to initial diagnosis were surprise, shock and shame. The majority of both men and women saw partner notification as a social duty. Some cited concerns about their own health and the health of others as a reason for telling partners and ex-partners about the diagnosis. An infrequent reason offered for partner notification was to confront a partner to clarify fidelity. Reasons for not contacting a partner were typically fear of reaction or a lack of contact details. Although participants reported sexual partners exhibiting a variety of reactions when told of the diagnosis, results showed that for almost everyone, the experience of notifying their partner was better than they had expected. Conclusions: Findings suggested that partner notification by people diagnosed with chlamydia is achievable but that many require support from their health practitioner to achieve the skills and confidence necessary during this difficult time.

Background Partner notification is accepted as a vital component in the control of chlamydia. However, in reality, many sexual partners of individuals diagnosed with chlamydia are never informed of their risk. The newer technologies of email and SMS have been used as a means of improving partner notification rates. This study explored the use and acceptability of different partner notification methods to help inform the development of strategies and resources to increase the number of partners notified. Methods Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 40 people who were recently diagnosed with chlamydia from three sexual health centres and two general practices across three Australian jurisdictions. Results Most participants chose to contact their partners either in person (56%) or by phone (44%). Only 17% chose email or SMS. Participants viewed face-to-face as the "gold standard" in partner notification because it demonstrated caring, respect and courage. Telephone contact, while considered insensitive by some, was often valued because it was quick, convenient and less confronting. Email was often seen as less personal while SMS was generally considered the least acceptable method for telling partners. There was also concern that emails and SMS could be misunderstood, not taken seriously or shown to others. Despite these, email and SMS were seen to be appropriate and useful in some circumstances. Letters, both from the patients or from their doctor, were viewed more favourably but were seldom used. Conclusion These findings suggest that many people diagnosed with chlamydia are reluctant to use the new technologies for partner notification, except in specific circumstances, and our efforts in developing partner notification resources may best be focused on giving patients the skills and confidence for personal interaction.

As part of a larger, combined qualitative-quantitative methods study of partner notification, 40 in-depth telephone interviews were conducted with patients diagnosed with Chlamydia from clinics in Victoria, ACT and Queensland to determine their usage and opinions of different methods partner notification. Overwhelmingly, personal methods such as telling partners face-to-face or over the phone were preferred to impersonal methods such as email, SMS and letter. Face-to-face was considered the "gold standard" in partner notification because it demonstrated courage, caring and respect. Phone contact, while considered insensitive and cowardly by some, was often used because it was quick, convenient and less confronting. Email was viewed as only being acceptable in certain circumstances, such as if the partner was overseas, because it was seen as impersonal and uncaring. SMS was considered the least acceptable method for telling partners with most interviewees seeing it as cold, disrespectful and "gutless". However, interviewees who were fearful of their partner's reaction or who had high numbers of casual partners were enthusiastic about an anonymous SMS facility. For both emails and SMS, interviewees were concerned that the message could be misunderstood, not taken seriously or shown to others. Letters, both from the patients or from their doctor, while not viewed as unfavourably as the newer technologies were less likely to be used. These findings suggest that people diagnosed with Chlamydia are reluctant to use the new technologies for partner notification, except in specific circumstances, and our efforts in developing partner notification resources may best be focused on giving patients the skills and confidence for personal interaction.

Partner notification for patients diagnosed with chlamydia is recommended to assist in controlling the increasing incidence of this often asymptomatic but treatable infection. Few studies, however, have ascertained the views on partner notification from those who are often expected to perform it - the individuals who have been diagnosed with chlamydia. As part of a larger combined qualitative-quantitative methods study of partner notification, 40 in-depth telephone interviews were conducted with people diagnosed with chlamydia from clinics in Victoria, ACT and Queensland. Reactions to chlamydia diagnosis, as well as reasons for, and feelings about, telling their sexual partners about this infection were explored. Common reactions to initial diagnosis were surprise, shock and shame, as well as relief about being able to put a name to symptoms. Many spoke of relief on learning the condition was treatable. Both men and women commonly saw partner notification as a social duty, and cited concerns about their own health and the health of others as a reason for telling partners and ex-partners about the diagnosis. An infrequent reason offered for partner notification was to confront a partner to clarify fidelity. Reasons for not contacting a partner were typically fear of reaction, or a lack of contact details. Although participants reported sexual partners exhibiting a variety of reactions when told of the diagnosis, results showed that for almost everyone, the experience of notifying their partner was better than they had expected. Views about taking antibiotics to the partner varied according to the currency of the relationship, with some feeling it could be offered as appeasement, and others feeling it might be seen as intrusive. Overall, the findings from this study suggest that partner notification by people diagnosed with chlamydia is achievable, with many of these results likely to be transferable to other settings.

As part of a larger, combined qualitative-quantitative study of partner notification, 40 semi-structured in-depth telephone interviews were conducted with General Practitioners (GPs), from Victoria, ACT and Queensland, who had diagnosed at least one case of chlamydia in the last year. Rural doctors and those who had experience working with Aboriginal patients were over-sampled to ensure their views were represented in the study. The interviews explored GPs' current practices with regard to partner notification for chlamydia, barriers they perceived to partner notification for chlamydia in the general practice setting and what resources/incentives they felt would improve partner notification for chlamydia. The GPs in our study primarily ask the index patient to carry out partner notification themselves. It was relatively rare for GPs to have experience of notifying partners on the patient's behalf. Half of the GPs report that they only encourage notification of the patient's current/immediate past partners. There was considerable confusion amongst the GPs interviewed as to the role of government partner notification officers. Many thought that support from a government agency would allow partner notification to occur more effectively. Some were under the impression that this process is automatically activated when they 'notify' that they have diagnosed someone with chlamydia. Some of the main barriers perceived include confusion about issues of privacy and confidentiality with regard to partner notification and the sense that there is a lack of clarity as to what is expected of them in terms of partner notification for chlamydia. Most GPs feel that access to decision support tools and clear guidelines would be helpful. Financial incentives for doing partner notification were seen as particularly important to fund allied health workers' time rather than to pay GPs themselves e.g. for practice nurses and Aboriginal health workers. GPs were enthusiastic about computer based resources to aid in partner notification

Handicapped Children Act has been acclaimed as "one of the most significant milestones in the history of American education" (1: 1). The provisions of this law will affect handicapped children, who make up 10 to 12 percent of the school-age population in the USA. The purpose of this article is to identify materials that may be used in the regular elementary-school classroom to create an awareness of the abilities of handicapped children. Monson and Shurtleff (2) demonstrated that children's attitudes toward

perpetuating. Johnson and Pearson (2) asserted that any basic word list intended for instructional use for beginning readers must meet two criteria. First, the list must be based on the language of children: the words should be part of children's listening and speaking vocabularies. Second, the words should occur frequently in printed materials. The second criterion is easy enough to meet. Kugera and Francis (3), Carroll, Davies, and Richman (4) and Harris and Jacobson (5) have produced welldocumented computer studies of massive quantities of written language. The studies have identified high-frequency words in printed materials. Comparable studies of high-frequency words in children's oral language have not appeared in the recent literature. Most of the studies of oral vo

The problem of computing an optimal search plan for a moving target is addressed. The majority of the report describes numerical techniques which have been developed to compute optimal search plans for the very broad class of problems in which the target's motion can be modeled by a discrete-time stochastic process and the detection function is exponential. A very efficient algorithm is given to find optimal search plans when the target's motion is modeled by a mixture of discrete time and space Markov processes. A second algorithm is presented to solve the variation of this problem that one encounters when the search effort at each time period is restricted to be uniform over an arbitrary rectangular region. The latter is intended to approximate the problem of choosing a sequence of sonobuoy fields to maximize the probability of detecting a submarine. Examples show that one can often find rectangular plans that are almost as effective as the optimal plan. In addition to the above, an algorithm is presented to find optimal plans for arbitrary discrete time target motion processes which can be modeled by Monte Carlo simulation. All the algorithms have been programmed in FORTRAN and run on a Prime 400 minicomputer. Examples of optimal plans calculated by these algorithms are presented.

We report significant failure rates (28%, 95% confidence interval 15%–45%) after administering 1 g azithromycin to men with Mycoplasma genitalium–positive nongonococcal urethritis. In vitro evidence supported reduced susceptibility of M. genitalium to macrolides. Moxifloxacin administration resulted in rapid symptom resolution and eradication of infection in all cases. These findings have implications for management of urethritis.

Background Genital chlamydia is the most commonly notified sexually transmissible infection (STI) in Australia and worldwide and can have serious reproductive health outcomes. Partner notification, testing and treatment are important facets of chlamydia control. Traditional methods of partner notification are not reaching enough partners to effectively control transmission of chlamydia. Patient-delivered partner therapy (PDPT) has been shown to improve the treatment of sexual partners. In Australia, General Practitioners (GPs) are responsible for the bulk of chlamydia testing, diagnosis, treatment and follow up. This study aimed to determine the views and practices of Australian general practitioners (GPs) in relation to partner notification and PDPT for chlamydia and explored GPs' perceptions of their patients' barriers to notifying partners of a chlamydia diagnosis. Methods In-depth, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 40 general practitioners (GPs) from rural, regional and urban Australia from November 2006 to March 2007. Topics covered: GPs' current practice and views about partner notification, perceived barriers and useful supports, previous use of and views regarding PDPT. Transcripts were imported into NVivo7 and subjected to thematic analysis. Data saturation was reached after 32 interviews had been completed. Results Perceived barriers to patients telling partners (patient referral) included: stigma; age and cultural background; casual or long-term relationship, ongoing relationship or not. Barriers to GPs undertaking partner notification (provider referral) included: lack of time and staff; lack of contact details; uncertainty about the legality of contacting partners and whether this constitutes breach of patient confidentiality; and feeling both personally uncomfortable and inadequately trained to contact someone who is not their patient. GPs were divided on the use of PDPT - many felt concerned that it is not best clinical practice but many also felt that it is better than nothing. GPs identified the following factors which they considered would facilitate partner notification: clear clinical guidelines; a legal framework around partner notification; a formal chlamydia screening program; financial incentives; education and practical support for health professionals, and raising awareness of chlamydia in the community, in particular amongst young people. Conclusions GPs reported some partners do not seek medical treatment even after they are notified of being a sexual contact of a patient with chlamydia. More routine use of PDPT may help address this issue however GPs in this study had negative attitudes to the use of PDPT. Appropriate guidelines and legislation may make the use of PDPT more acceptable to Australian GPs.