Using exposure bands for rapid decision making in the RISK21 tiered exposure assessment.

The ILSI Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) Risk Assessment in the Twenty-first Century (RISK21) project was initiated to address and catalyze improvements in human health risk assessment. RISK21 is a problem formulation-based conceptual roadmap and risk matrix visualization tool, facilitating transparent evaluation of both hazard and exposure components. The RISK21 roadmap is exposure-driven, that is, exposure is used as the second step (after problem formulation) to define and focus the assessment. This paper describes the exposure tiers of the RISK21 matrix and the approaches to adapt readily available information to more quickly inform exposure at a screening level. In particular, exposure look-up tables were developed from available exposure tools (European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals (ECETOC) Targeted Risk Assessment (TRA) for worker exposure, ECETOC TRA, European Solvents Industry Group (ESIG) Generic Exposure Scenario (GES) Risk and Exposure Tool (EGRET) for consumer exposure, and USEtox® for indirect exposure to humans via the environment) and were tested in a hypothetical mosquito bed netting case study. A detailed WHO risk assessment for a similar mosquito net use served as a benchmark for the performance of the RISK21 approach. The case study demonstrated that the screening methodologies provided suitable conservative exposure estimates for risk assessment. The results of this effort showed that the RISK21 approach is useful for defining future assessment efforts, focusing assessment activities and visualizing results.

Exploring the general motor ability construct.

Malaysian students ages 12 to 15 years (N = 330; 165 girls, 165 boys) took the Australian Institute of Sport Talent Identification Test (AIST) and the Balance and Movement Coordination Test (BMC), developed specifically to identify sport talent in Malaysian adolescents. To investigate evidence for general aptitude ("g") in motor ability, a higher-order factor analysis was applied to the motor skills subtests from the AIST and BMC. First-order principal components analysis indicated that scores for the adolescent boys and girls could be described by similar sets of specific motor abilities. In particular, sets of skills identified as Movement Coordination and Postural Control were found, with Balancing Ability also emerging. For the girls, a factor labeled Static Balance was indicated. However, for the boys a more general balance ability labeled Kinesthetic Integration was found, along with an ability labeled Explosive Power. These first-order analyses accounted for 45% to 60% of the variance in the scores on the motor skills tests for the boys and girls, respectively. Separate second-order factor analyses for the boys and girls extracted a single higher-order factor, which was consistent with the existence of a motoric "g".

Social factors, social support and condom use behavior among young urban slum inhabitants in southwest Nigeria

Objectives: Despite widespread knowledge that condoms offer protection against STIs/HIV when used correctly and consistently; many young people do not regularly use condoms; thus leading to new sexually transmitted infections; including HIV and AIDS. This study explored condom use behaviour; specifically the extent to which beliefs; self efficacy; risk perception and perceived social support act as predictors of use or non-use of condoms among sexually active young people aged 15-24 years. Methods: Data was obtained from sexually active 448 boys and 338 girls; who were selected through multistage sampling techniques. Analysis of data; which was done with EPI Info and SPSS version 12; focused on predictors of condom use or non-use. Result: Generally; there is widespread knowledge and low levels of condoms use; despite high levels of risky sexual behaviour. Although; half of boys and one third of girls report ever using condoms; a considerably lower proportion of male and female adolescents regularly use condoms. Logistic regression models show that among girls; those who perceived social support from peers and non-parental figures were more likely to use condoms while among boys; earning an income; high risk perception and self efficacy were associated with higher odds of condom use. Conclusions: Programs aiming to increase condom use among young people need to address these factors through community-based strategies

Generalized monotonic regression using random change points.

We introduce a procedure for generalized monotonic curve fitting that is based on a Bayesian analysis of the isotonic regression model. Conventional isotonic regression fits monotonically increasing step functions to data. In our approach we treat the number and location of the steps as random. For each step level we adopt the conjugate prior to the sampling distribution of the data as if the curve was unconstrained. We then propose to use Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation to draw samples from the unconstrained model space and retain only those samples for which the monotonic constraint holds. The proportion of the samples collected for which the constraint holds can be used to provide a value for the weight of evidence in terms of Bayes factors for monotonicity given the data. Using the samples, probability statements can be made about other quantities of interest such as the number of change points in the data and posterior distributions on the location of the change points can be provided. The method is illustrated throughout by a reanalysis of the leukaemia data studied by Schell and Singh.

Simultaneous derivatization and trapping of volatile products from aqueous photolysis of thiamethoxam insecticide.

An aqueous photolysis study was conducted with radiolabeled thiamethoxam, 4H-1,3,5-oxadiazin-2-imine, 3-[(2-chloro-5-thiazolyl)methyl]tetrahydro-5-methyl-N-nitro, to establish the relevance of aqueous photolysis as a transformation process for (14)C-[thiazolyl]-thiamethoxam. (14)C-[thiazolyl]-thiamethoxam was applied to sterile sodium acetate pH 5 buffer solution at a dose rate of approximately 10 ppm. The resulting samples were incubated for up to 30 days at 25 degrees C under irradiated and nonirradiated conditions. The irradiated samples were exposed to a 12-hour-on and 12-hour-off light cycle. Volatile fractions accounted for up to an average of 56.76% of the total dose for the irradiated incubations and <0.08% for the nonirradiated incubations. These fractions were proposed to be a mixture of carbonyl sulfide (COS) and isocyanic acid (CONH). Verification of these components was accomplished by trapping with cyclohexylamine and formation of the thiocarbamate and the isocyanic acid derivatives. A similar method of trapping thiocarbamate metabolites was reported (Chen and Casida, 1978) where filter paper saturated with isobutylamine in methanol was arranged to trap (14)COS and (14)CO(2) under a positive flow of O(2) at 25 degrees C. Mass spectroscopy of the derivatized components confirmed the presence of carbonyl sulfide as the cyclohexylamine thiocarbamate and of isocyanic acid as its cyclohexylamine derivative. Evidence from this study indicates that thiamethoxam degrades significantly under photolytic conditions.

Coping with performance slumps: factor analysis of the Ways of Coping in Sport Scale.

The measurement properties of the Ways of Coping in Sport Scale (WOCS) were examined using performance slumps as a frame of reference. Confirmatory factor analysis failed to support the factor structure previously proposed by Madden et al. (1987, 1989, 1990), and additional analyses were undertaken to develop and validate an alternative model. Results indicated that the data best fit a 4-factor model, but that a 5-factor model might also be justified. Relevant factors included Seeking of Social Support, Denial/Avoidance, Wishful Thinking, Effort/Resolve, and Emotional Control. Discussion focuses on the implications of these findings for athletes, coaches and sport psychologists as well as the need for further examination of slump-related coping instruments.

Recruitment and retention of home care aides. Promoting employee longevity.

Home care aides play an essential part in home care services, yet agencies experience a high turnover rate in this position--an average of 50% annually. One Medicare-certified agency determined to address and resolve the situation.

Analysis of ectopic pregnancies resulting from in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

The purpose of this study was to analyse the risk factors, stimulation characteristics, site and outcome of pregnancy and future fecundity of patients who develop ectopic pregnancies after in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Of 3145 transfer cycles between January 1981 and July 1989, 27 (3.3%) of the resulting 825 pregnancies were ectopic. There was a significantly greater incidence of a prior ectopic pregnancy in the study group compared to the controls. Compared to matched controls with intrauterine pregnancies, the study group had significantly higher peak oestradiol levels. Twenty-one ectopic pregnancies were ampullary, two were interstitial, one was abdominal, one was cervical and two were heterotopic. Sixteen of the patients subsequently underwent 40 IVF attempts with a pregnancy rate of 28% per transfer. We conclude that patients with a prior ectopic pregnancy are at risk for an IVF ectopic pregnancy. The subsequent IVF outcome of those who develop ectopic pregnancies after IVF is encouraging.

Say no to financial help?

With reference to your feature on multiple births and their financial implications (Nursing Standard August 22-28 1990), my concerns are: a) Were the parents informed prior to treatment that multiple births might result?

Combined extra- and intra-uterine pregnancy--a diagnostic problem. A case report.

Diagnosis of concomitant intra- and extra-uterine pregnancy is difficult in the pre-operative period; however, it is important to take a good history and carry out a thorough examination based on a high index of suspicion.

The role of the private general practitioner in the clinic-based primary health care service in KwaZulu.

Attitudes of practising private general practitioners to limited integration in the primary health care team in KwaZulu are evaluated and presented in the light of need, draft policy and experience in other parts of the world.

Community-based infant and child mortality rates for peri-urban Pietermaritzburg.

Infant and child mortality rates outside of hospital practice are not widely available for the black population of the RSA, since identification and recording of births and deaths within the community has not been widely established. This community-based study of peri-urban Pietermaritzburg is compared with similar studies covering other areas of the RSA. The recent literature is evaluated with a view to determining possible approaches to reducing mortality rates among infants and children under 5 years in the RSA.