bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
When and Why Do Young People in the United Kingdom First Use Sexual Health Services?
Authors: Stone Nicole , Ingham Roger 
Published: September 2004

CONTEXT: Many young people think about and take steps to obtain adequate protection only after having sexual intercourse for the first time. Consequently, they are at increased risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.METHODS: Between June and August 1999, a self‐administered questionnaire was distributed to attendees at UK youth‐targeted sexual health services to investigate when and why they first use a sexual health service, reasons for delaying use, and sexual behavior and contraceptive practice before first use. RESULTS: Of the 747 respondents, 29% had used a sexual health service before ever having sex, most commonly “to be prepared.” In contrast, 61% of respondents had used a service after sexual debut; some of these had obtained condoms elsewhere (25% of women and 33% of men who gave a reason for delay) or had not known about services or their location (11‐19%). Among the women, 20‐24% had been embarrassed or scared, or concerned about confidentiality or age; 32% had visited a provider because they had had unprotected sex. Sixty‐three percent of men who had delayed using a service reported that the ability to obtain free condoms had prompted their first visit. Only 43% of respondents who postponed service use had practiced contraception consistently before visiting a provider.CONCLUSIONS: Young people need to be realistic about the possibility of having sex. Service use could be increased by providing more youth‐specific services and by improving publicity and links between the youth, education and health sectors to dispel fears and myths about services.
Heterosexually Active Men's Beliefs About Methods For Preventing Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Authors: Gillmore Mary Rogers , Stielstra Sorrel , Huang Bu , Baker Sharon A. , Beadnell Blair , Morrison Diane M. 
Published: September 2004

CONTEXT: Most research on heterosexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) has focused on women. However, heterosexual transmission of STDs cannot be prevented without a better understanding of men's, as well as women's, sexual beliefs and behaviors.METHODS: Heterosexually active men's beliefs about four methods of STD prevention–abstinence, mutual monogamy, use of male condoms and use of female condoms–were elicited through open‐ended interviews. A survey based on these responses was administered to a random sample of 486 heterosexually active men, and scores were calculated to examine their beliefs about each behavior. Additional analyses explored how these beliefs were related to men's characteristics and to their actual behavior.RESULTS: The men held both positive and negative beliefs about the outcomes of using each method and thought that their partners, close friends, health care providers, family members and, to some extent, friends at church had opinions about whether they should use each method. Multiple regression analyses showed that the men's beliefs were related to their marital status and, to some extent, their race or ethnicity and education. Beliefs about the outcomes of practicing abstinence, practicing mutual monogamy and using male condoms with steady partners were significantly related to these behaviors; beliefs about whether they had support for practicing monogamy or using male condoms with steady partners were significant predictors of doing so.CONCLUSIONS: Encouraging safer‐sex practices among heterosexually active men will require addressing their beliefs and perceived norms about alternative methods of preventing STDs.
Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Nonlatex Condom: Results from a Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Walsh Terri L. , Frezieres Ron G. , Peacock Karen , Nelson Anita L. , Clark Virginia A. , Bernstein Leslie 
Published: September 2004

CONTEXT
: To reduce unintended pregnancy and HIV infection, it is critical to develop reliable male condoms that will attract consumers who reject conventional latex condoms.
METHODS
: In a prospective clinical trial conducted in 1998‐2000, 830 monogamous couples were randomized in equal numbers to use either a nonlatex condom or a commercial natural latex condom for six months as their only method of birth control. Couples completed detailed reports for the first five condom uses and recorded intercourse and condom use in coital diaries. Pregnancy rates associated with typical and consistent condom use were calculated using life‐table analysis. Rates of clinical failure (condom breakage or slippage) were determined for the first five condom uses.
RESULTS
: During the first five uses, the nonlatex condom had a higher frequency of breakage or slippage during intercourse or withdrawal (4.0%) than latex condoms (1.3%); the breakage rate for the nonlatex condom was about eight times that of latex condoms. The six‐cycle typical‐use pregnancy rate did not differ significantly between users of non‐latex (10.8%) and latex condoms (6.4%). The six‐cycle consistent‐use pregnancy rate was higher for nonlatex condom users than for latex condom users (4.9% vs. 1.0%).
CONCLUSIONS
: The data present strong indirect support for public health messages that promote the use of latex condoms and, for individuals who cannot or are unwilling to use latex condoms, the use of nonlatex condoms for prevention of pregnancy and disease.
Child Disability and Mothers' Tubal Sterilization
Authors: Park Jennifer M. , Hogan Dennis P. , Goldscheider Frances K. 
Published: September 2004

CONTEXT: The needs of children with disability can be substantial, leading some parents to consider contraceptive sterilization to prevent additional births.METHODS: Matched records from the 1993 National Health Interview Survey and the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth were used to investigate the relationship between child disability and mothers' sterilization. Data included the birth records of 8,711 children, information on older children in the household, and the mothers' background and reproductive characteristics. Logistic and Cox regression models were used to estimate the effect of the birth of a child with a disability on the risk of mothers' sterilization.RESULTS: The birth of a child with disability has no effect on the likelihood that a mother will undergo sterilization within the next month; however, women who have an older child with severe disability are more likely than those whose older children are nondisabled to undergo sterilization within a month after the birth of another child (odds ratio, 2.6). Severe disability in a newborn significantly increases the risk of sterilization 1‐36 months after birth (risk ratio, 1.7); severe disability among older children also appears to increase the risk of sterilization 1‐36 months after birth (1.5), although this result was only marginally significant.CONCLUSIONS: Women often respond to the birth of children with disabilities by changing their fertility plans, although usually not immediately unless they have older children with severe disability. These findings are consistent with parents' desire to have a nondisabled child and with their need to care for an exceptional child by forgoing additional births.
IUD‐Related Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Among Navajo Area Indian Health Service Providers
Authors: Espey Eve , Ogburn Tony , Espey David , Etsitty Virgil 
Published: September 2004

CONTEXT: The IUD once accounted for about half of contraceptive use among Navajo women but is now little used in this population, which has a high rate of unintended pregnancy. Identifying barriers to use–including those stemming from providers’IUD‐related knowledge, attitudes and practices–could help expand use of the method. METHODS: In 2000, 107 Navajo Area Indian Health Service providers who offer contraceptive services completed a mailed survey. Responses of women's health providers and other types of providers were compared, using the Cochran‐Mantel‐Haenszel method. RESULTS: Overall, 69‐78% of providers had good factual knowledge about the IUD and felt adequately prepared to insert a device or counsel women about it; considerably larger proportions of women's health providers than of others felt able to counsel about and insert IUDs. Sixty‐five percent of providers (88% of women's health providers and 50% of others) currently inserted IUDs, and only 8% (none of them women's health providers) never recommended the method. The main reasons providers cited for not recommending the IUD were concerns about its safety and about side effects (mentioned by 69% and 44%, respectively); these concerns did not differ by provider type. CONCLUSIONS: Provider education and training should focus on insertion techniques and on the safety of available IUDs. Training should be targeted not only to women's health providers, but to family practice physicians, nurse practitioners and other providers who offer family planning counseling and services.
Where Does Reproductive Health Fit Into the Lives of Adolescent Males?
Authors: Marcell Arik V. , Raine Tina , Eyre Stephen L. 
Published: September 2004

CONTEXT: To develop interventions to promote responsible sexual behaviors and design reproductive health services for adolescent males, we need a better understanding of the context of reproductive health in adolescent males’lives. METHODS: A total of 32 males (mean age, 15.5 years) were recruited from two urban high schools. At each school, three group sessions, consisting of both individual free‐listing activities and focus group discussions, were conducted; each addressed issues related to one of three domains–masculinity, responsibility and priorities. Data from the focus groups were examined through standard content analyses. RESULTS: Participants identified school, family, future career and sports as their current life priorities; health was not a top concern. Pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were not seen as interrelated health concepts. STIs were considered a health issue, whereas pregnancy was perceived as a negative event that could prevent achievement of specific life goals. At times, notions regarding how a male behaves reflected traditional masculine beliefs: that violence is justified as a way to protect oneself, that having sex is part of a male's role in a relationship and that males should handle health issues by themselves. CONCLUSIONS: To meet the reproductive health needs of adolescent males, program developers should consider how other life priorities and traditional masculine beliefs may serve as barriers to care and how to ensure that services reflect the adolescent male's perspective.
Genetic Predisposition of the Interleukin-6 Response to Inflammation: Implications for a Variety of Major Diseases?
Authors: Bennermo Marie , Held Claes , Stemme Sten , Ericsson Carl-Göran , Silveira Angela , Green Fiona , Tornvall Per 
Published: September 2004

Abstract
Background: A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the promoter region of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene at position −174 (G&gt;C) has been reported to be associated with a variety of major diseases, such as Alzheimer disease, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease, cancer, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, sepsis, and systemic-onset juvenile chronic arthritis. However, authors of previous in vitro and in vivo studies have reported conflicting results regarding the functionality of this polymorphism. We therefore aimed to clarify the role of the −174 SNP for the induction of IL-6 in vivo.
Methods: We vaccinated 20 and 18 healthy individuals homozygous for the −174 C and G alleles, respectively, with 1 mL of Salmonella typhii vaccine. IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured in the blood at baseline and up to 24 h after vaccination.
Results: Individuals with the G genotype had significantly higher plasma IL-6 values at 6, 8, and 10 h after vaccination than did individuals with the C genotype (P &lt;0.005). There were no differences between the two genotypes regarding serum concentrations of IL-1β and TNF-α before or after vaccination.
Conclusions: The −174 G&gt;C SNP in the promoter region of the IL-6 gene is functional in vivo with an increased inflammatory response associated with the G allele. Considering the central role of IL-6 in a variety of major diseases, the present finding might be of major relevance.
Home truths: women writing science in the nuclear dawn
Authors: Newell Dianne 
Published: September 2004

This paper develops a political reading of women writers’/writer-editors’ involvement in the American atomic age, Cold War-era fields of science fiction and popular science writing. Judith Merril (1928-97) in her post-war science-fiction writing and Rachel Carson (1907-64)
in her international best-selling anti-pesticide polemic, Silent Spring (1962), capitalized on popular, mass-market literary genres as vehicles for social criticism in what Jessica Wang calls an ‘Age of Anxiety’ in which open criticism of American science, government, and the industrial-military
complex carried high personal risk. Importantly, both explicitly politicized images of domesticity, thus joining women’s history to some of the most sweeping changes of the twentieth century.
(Erratum : Dianne Newell's name was presented incorrectly in the article published as Diana
Newell.)
Use of near infrared spectroscopy to predict the mechanical properties of six softwoods
Authors: Kelley S.S. , Rials T.G. , Groom L.R. , So C.-L. 
Published: September 2004

Abstract
The visible and near infrared (NIR) (500–2400 nm) spectra
and mechanical properties of almost 1000 small clearwood
samples from six softwood species: Pinus taeda
L. (loblolly pine), Pinus palustris, Mill. (longleaf pine),
Pinus elliottii Engelm. (slash pine), Pinus echinata Mill.
(shortleaf pine), Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws (ponderosa
pine), and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco
(Douglas fir) were measured. Projection to Latent Structures
(PLS) modeling showed that the NIR spectra of
these softwoods could be used to predict the mechanical
properties of the clear-wood samples. The correlation
coefficients for most of these models were greater than
0.80. All six softwood species were combined into one
data set and a PLS model was constructed that effectively
predicted the strength properties of any of the individual
softwoods. Reducing the spectral range to
between 650 and 1050 nm only causes a slight decrease
in the quality of the models. Using this narrow spectral
range enables the use of smaller, faster, lighter, less
expensive spectrometers that could be used either in the
field or for process control applications.
Modeling the process of desorption of water in oak (Quercus robur L.) wood
Authors: Dedic A.D. , Petrovic A.L. , Nesic M.Z. 
Published: September 2004

Abstract
The paper describes a three-dimensional model with
non-constant coefficients for the heat and mass transport
process in desorption of water in wood. The model
is based on conservation of mass and energy and uses
various parameters obtained by comparing experimental
data with numerical results. In this way, the relations
between some parameters and average temperature and
moisture content are obtained in the form of analytical
expressions. Experimental results obtained for temperature
profiles during drying of oak wood samples are compared
with the model results. Satisfactory agreement is
obtained over a range of drying air temperatures and
velocities.
Application of ionic liquids for electrostatic control in wood
Authors: Li X. , Geng Y. , Simonsen J. , Li K. 
Published: September 2004

Abstract
Wood products with anti-electrostatic properties have
wide applications in many fields. However, wood is an
insulator and does not itself have anti-electrostatic ability.
This study investigated several ionic liquids as anti-electrostatic
agents for wood. Ionic liquids are liquids at room
temperature (or close to room temperature), possess no
vapor pressure and are excellent conductors for electric
current. Maple and pine veneers were either soaked in or
brushed with five ionic liquids: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium
tetrafluoroborate, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium
hexafluorophosphate, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride,
1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate and
1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate. The
ionic liquid-treated wood specimens were then measured
for surface resistivity and volume resistivity in accordance
with ASTM standards. The effects of application
method (brushed vs. soaked) and storage time were
investigated. All the ionic liquids studied were effective
anti-electrostatic agents for pine and maple. For all ionic
liquids tested, pine had lower resistivity, and thus higher
anti-electrostatic ability, than maple.
Production of 2,5-dimethoxyhydroquinone by the brown-rot fungus Serpula lacrymans to drive extracellular Fenton reaction
Authors: Shimokawa T. , Nakamura M. , Hayashi N. , Ishihara M. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThe brown-rot fungusSerpula lacrymansMAFF 420003 was grown in a liquid culture medium containing 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and 1% glucose as carbon sources. Although little extracellular cellulase was secreted, the fungus produced an oxidized quinone-type chelator, 2,5-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (2,5-DMBQ). The concentration of 2,5-DMBQ in the medium reached a maximum of 90 μmm after a month of cultivation.S. lacrymanscould reduce 2,5-DMBQ to 2,5-dimethoxyhydroquinone (2,5-DMHQ), thus a biological Fenton reaction was adopted by the fungus. The changes in the molecular weight distribution of CMC and arabinogalactan were analyzed after the addition of 2,5-DMHQ and Fe3+. CMC was apparently depolymerized by the reaction, but the same reaction conditions showed no significant effect on arabinogalactan. These differences suggest the specificities of the biological Fenton reaction via 2,5-DMBQ toward soluble polysaccharides. In addition, the crystallinity index of α-cellulose did not decrease as a result of the reaction with 2,5-DMHQ and Fe3+. These results provide indirect evidence thatS. lacrymansemploys a biological Fenton reaction mediated by a quinone-type chelator, and preferentially degrades amorphous regions of cellulose rather than crystalline regions in the non-enzymatic cellulose degradation.
The use of organo alkoxysilane coupling agents for wood preservation
Authors: Hill C.A.S. , Farahani M.R.M. , Hale M.D.C. 
Published: September 2004

Abstract
Corsican pine (Pinus nigra) sapwood was treated with
methanolic solutions of two organo alkoxysilanes ([γ-(methacryloxy)propylx] trimethoxy silane (TMPS), or vinyl
trimethoxy silane (VTMS)). Various treatment parameters
were studied in order to determine the optimum method
for obtaining a stable weight percentage gain. For TMPS,
it was found that best results were obtained when a free-radical
initiator was used in conjunction with the silane.
This indicates that polymerisation of this species occurs
via the pendant methacryloxy moeity, a result confirmed
by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the
treated wood. For VTMS, wood moisture content had a
profound influence upon the weight percentage gain due
to treatment, with higher weight percentage gains
obtained as wood moisture content was increased. This
indicates that polymerisation in this case occurred via the
formation of silanol groups to form siloxane linkages.
Solid-state NMR confirmed that the double bond of the
organo-functional group was intact after polymerisation
had occurred. Modified wood samples were then prepared
using optimised treatments for each silane. The
wood was prepared to a variety of weight percentage
gains and the effect of treatment on the dimensional stability
and decay properties of the treated material studied.
Treatment of Corsican pine sapwood with the two
organo-alkoxy silanes, resulted in only moderate increases
in dimensional stabilisation, with anti shrink efficiency
values (after 5 water-soak/oven-dry cycles) no greater
than 40%. Treatments were found to be relatively stable
to hydrolysis. Some differences were observed in the
effectiveness of the two silanes in providing protection.
Full decay protection required high treatment levels with
the silanes.
Oligolignans in Norway spruce and Scots pine knots and Norway spruce stemwood
Authors: Willför S. , Reunanen M. , Eklund P. , Sjöholm R. , Kronberg L. , Fardim P. , Pietarinen S. , Holmbom B. 
Published: September 2004

Abstract
Oligolignans present in substantial amounts in Norway
spruce and Scots pine knots were characterised. The
hydrophilic knotwood substances were extracted and
different chromatographic methods were applied to
obtain fractions for analysis by GC, GC-MS, HR-EI-MS,
LC-ESI-MS, NMR, and FTIR. β-O-4-Linked guaiacylglyceryl
ethers of hydroxymatairesinol (Ia, Ib, Ic), secoisolariciresinol
(II), lariciresinol (III), isolariciresinol (IV), lignan
A (V), liovil (VI), conidendrin (VII), and pinoresinol (VIII)
were identified in the spruce knotwood extract and β-O-4-linked guaiacylglyceryl ethers of nortrachelogenin (IX)
and secoisolariciresinol (II) in the pine knotwood extract.
The structures of allo-hydroxymatairesinol-4′-guaiacylglyceryl
ether (Ia), hydroxymatairesinol-4-guaiacylglyceryl
ether (Ib), hydroxymatairesinol-4′-guaiacylglyceryl ether
(Ic), secoisolariciresisinol-4-guaiacylglyceryl ether (II), and
lariciresinol-4′-guaiacylglyceryl ether (III) were determined
via GC-MS, HR-MS, and 1H and 13C NMR analyses. The
structures of (Ia), (Ic), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), and (IX) have not
been reported earlier. Spruce stemwood, both heartwood
and sapwood, also contained oligolignans in small
amounts. In addition, some dilignans with four phenylpropanoid
units were tentatively identified in the hydrophilic
knotwood substances.
Estimation of green moisture content distribution in hemfir timber by stochastic simulation
Authors: Elustondo D. , Avramidis S. , Oliveira L. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThis paper describes an improved stochastic model designed to simulate systems, such as green timbers, that cannot be analyzed as a unit but as a collection of a large number of similar components. The stochastic model provides a piecewise green moisture content frequency distribution curve by using nondestructive measurements such as of timber weight. A new, relatively simple two-parameter function was designed to describe the log-normal moisture concentration distribution above the fiber saturation point, and the parameters of this function were determined by fitting the experimental timber weights with the results of the stochastic model. The simulated green moisture content distributions showed good agreement with the experimental data for Pacific coast hemlock (hemfir) timbers, thus providing a piece of information that is indispensable for applying stochastic simulation to industrial drying of timbers.
Theoretical exploration of factors affecting dielectric constants of masson pine
Authors: Hou Z.-Q. , Chen Z. , Wright R.S. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractA theoretical model to calculate the dielectric constant of masson pine (Pinus massoniana) in the longitudinal direction was developed by considering the effect of wood moisture content, density, ratio of earlywood to latewood, and the volume fraction of ray cells. The calculated results were used to explore the relationship between dielectric constant and moisture content, density, and other factors. The results indicated that the dielectric constant of masson pine increased with the moisture content. From 0% to 30% moisture content, the longitudinal dielectric constant increased more than 5 times from 2.3 to 13.3. In the range of density from 0.450 to 0.650 (g cm−3at 15% moisture content, the longitudinal dielectric constant increased from 7.7 to 10.0. However, the longitudinal dielectric constant decreased as the volume fraction of ray cells increased.