Efficacy of brief motivational intervention at army conscription to address alcohol use and related problems: a randomized controlled trial

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of brief motivational intervention (BMI) in reducing alcohol use and related problems among binge drinkers randomly selected from a census of 20 year-old French speaking Swiss men and to test the hypothesis that BMI contributes to maintain low-risk drinking among non-bingers. Methods: Randomized controlled trial comparing the impact of BMI on weekly alcohol use, frequency of binge drinking and occurrence of alcohol-related problems. Setting: Army recruitment center. Participants: A random sample of 622 men were asked to participate, 178 either refused, or missed appointment, or had to follow military assessment procedures instead, resulting in 418 men randomized into BMI or control conditions, 88.7% completing the 6-month follow-up assessment. Intervention: A single face-to-face BMI session exploring alcohol use and related problems in order to stimulate behaviour change perspective in a non-judgmental, empathic manner based on the principles of motivational interviewing (MI). Main outcome measures: Weekly alcohol use, binge drinking frequency and the occurrence of 12 alcohol-related consequences. Results: Among binge drinkers, we observed a 20% change in drinking induced by BMI, with a reduction in weekly drinking of 1.5 drink in the BMI group, compared to an increase of 0.8 drink per week in the control group (incidence rate ratio 0.8, 95% confidence interval 0,66 to 0,98, p = 0.03). BMI did not influence the frequency of binge drinking and the occurrence of 12 possible alcohol-related consequences. However, BMI induced a reduction in the alcohol use of participants who, after drinking over the past 12 months, experienced alcohol-related consequences, i.e., hangover (-20%), missed a class (-53%), got behind at school (-54%), argued with friends (-38%), engaged in unplanned sex (-45%) or did not use protection when having sex (-64%). BMI did not reduce weekly drinking in those who experienced the six other problems screened. Among non-bingers, BMI did not contribute to maintain low-risk drinking. Conclusions: At army conscription, BMI reduced alcohol use in binge drinkers, particularly in those who recently experienced alcohol-related adverse consequences. No preventive effect of BMI was observed among non-bingers. BMI is an interesting preventive option in young binge drinkers, particularly in countries with mandatory army recruitment.

Performance analysis of software run-time behaviour using 3D-visualisation

Monimutkaisen tietokonejärjestelmän suorituskykyoptimointi edellyttää järjestelmän ajonaikaisen käyttäytymisen ymmärtämistä. Ohjelmiston koon ja monimutkaisuuden kasvun myötä suorituskykyoptimointi tulee yhä tärkeämmäksi osaksi tuotekehitysprosessia. Tehokkaampien prosessorien käytön myötä myös energiankulutus ja lämmöntuotto ovat nousseet yhä suuremmiksi ongelmiksi, erityisesti pienissä, kannettavissa laitteissa. Lämpö- ja energiaongelmien rajoittamiseksi on kehitetty suorituskyvyn skaalausmenetelmiä, jotka edelleen lisäävät järjestelmän kompleksisuutta ja suorituskykyoptimoinnin tarvetta. Tässä työssä kehitettiin visualisointi- ja analysointityökalu ajonaikaisen käyttäytymisen ymmärtämisen helpottamiseksi. Lisäksi kehitettiin suorituskyvyn mitta, joka mahdollistaa erilaisten skaalausmenetelmien vertailun ja arvioimisen suoritusympäristöstä riippumatta, perustuen joko suoritustallenteen tai teoreettiseen analyysiin. Työkalu esittää ajonaikaisesti kerätyn tallenteen helposti ymmärrettävällä tavalla. Se näyttää mm. prosessit, prosessorikuorman, skaalausmenetelmien toiminnan sekä energiankulutuksen kolmiulotteista grafiikkaa käyttäen. Työkalu tuottaa myös käyttäjän valitsemasta osasta suorituskuvaa numeerista tietoa, joka sisältää useita oleellisia suorituskykyarvoja ja tilastotietoa. Työkalun sovellettavuutta tarkasteltiin todellisesta laitteesta saatua suoritustallennetta sekä suorituskyvyn skaalauksen simulointia analysoimalla. Skaalausmekanismin parametrien vaikutus simuloidun laitteen suorituskykyyn analysoitiin.

Problems of the randomization test for AB designs

N = 1 designs imply repeated registrations of the behaviour of the same experimental unit and the measurements obtained are often few due to time limitations, while they are also likely to be sequentially dependent. The analytical techniques needed to enhance statistical and clinical decision making have to deal with these problems. Different procedures for analysing data from single-case AB designs are discussed, presenting their main features and revising the results reported by previous studies. Randomization tests represent one of the statistical methods that seemed to perform well in terms of controlling false alarm rates. In the experimental part of the study a new simulation approach is used to test the performance of randomization tests and the results suggest that the technique is not always robust against the violation of the independence assumption. Moreover, sensitivity proved to be generally unacceptably low for series lengths equal to 30 and 40. Considering the evidence available, there does not seem to be an optimal technique for single-case data analysis

Determination of compression behaviour of coating layer

The strength properties of paper coating layer are very important in converting and printing operations. Too great or low strength of the coating can affect several problems in printing. One of the problems caused by the strength of coating is the cracking at the fold. After printing the paper is folded to final form and the pages are stapled together. In folding the paper coating can crack causing aesthetic damage over printed image or in the worst case the centre sheet can fall off in stapling. When folding the paper other side undergoes tensile stresses and the other side compressive stresses. If the difference between these stresses is too high, the coating can crack on the folding. To better predict and prevent cracking at the fold it is good to know the strength properties of coating layer. It has measured earlier the tensile strength of coating layer but not the compressive strength. In this study it was tried to find some way to measure the compressive strength of the coating layer and investigate how different coatings behave in compression. It was used the short span crush test, which is used to measure the in-plane compressive strength of paperboards, to measure the compressive strength of the coating layer. In this method the free span of the specimen is very small which prevent buckling. It was measured the compressive strength of free coating films as well as coated paper. It was also measured the tensile strength and the Bendtsen air permeance of the coating film. The results showed that the shape of pigment has a great effect to the strength of coating. Platy pigment gave much better strength than round or needle-like pigment. On the other hand calcined kaolin, which is also platy but the particles are aggregated, decreased the strength substantially. The difference in the strength can be explained with packing of the particles which is affecting to the porosity and thus to the strength. The platy kaolin packs up much better than others and creates less porous structure. The results also showed that the binder properties have a great effect to the compressive strength of coating layer. The amount of latex and the glass transition temperature, Tg, affect to the strength. As the amount of latex is increasing, the strength of coating is increasing also. Larger amount of latex is binding the pigment particles better together and decreasing the porosity. Compressive strength was increasing when the Tg was increasing because the hard latex gives a stiffer and less elastic film than soft latex.

Learning in Consumer Behaviour

Tämän kandidaatintyön tavoitteena on esittää kuvaus kulutusoppimisen teorioista ja tämän lisäksi kuvata käytännön sovelluksia liittyen kulutuskäyttäytymiseen ja mainontaan. On olemassa kaksi keskeistä ajattelutapaa liittyen oppimisen teorioihin. Ensimmäisen suuntauksen kannattajat näkevät oppimisen puhtaasti behavioristisena, eli että se on seurausta toistoista, ja siten ne näkevät yksilön "mustana laatikkona", jossa syötteenä on ärsyke ja suoritteena on tietty käytös. Toisen suuntauksen kannattajien mielestä oppiminen on kognitiivinen prosessi; kaikista yksinkertaisimmista tapauksista lähtien yksilö prosessoi informaatiota ratkaistakseen omia ongelmiaan. Käytännössä kumpaakin teoriaa tarvitaan selittämään oppimista ilmiönä, koska oppiminen on yhdistelmä toistoja ja kognitiivisia prosesseja. Työmme näyttää kuinka markkinoijat hyödyntävät näitä kahta teoriaa käytännössä mainonnassaan, tarkoituksenaan tuotemerkkinsä ja tuotteidensa asemointi markkinoilla suhteessa kilpailijoihinsa.

Corrosion behaviour of boiler tube materials during combustion of fuels containing Zn and Pb

Många förbränningsanläggningar som bränner utmanande bränslen såsom restfraktioner och avfall råkar ut för problem med ökad korrosion på överhettare och/eller vattenväggar pga. komponenter i bränslena som är korrosiva. För att minimera problemen i avfallseldade pannor hålls ångparametrarna på en relativt låg nivå, vilket drastiskt minskar energiproduktionen. Beläggningarna i avfallseldade pannor består till största delen av element som är förknippade med högtemperaturkorrosion: Cl, S, alkalimetaller, främst K och Na, och tungmetaller som Pb och Zn, och det finns också indikationer av Br-förekomst. Det låga ångtrycket i avfallseldade pannor påverkar också stålrörens temperatur i pannväggarna i eldstaden. I dagens läge hålls temperaturen normalt vid 300-400 °C. Alkalikloridorsakad (KCl, NaCl) högtemperaturkorrosion har inte rapporterats vara relevant vid såpass låga temperaturer, men närvaro av Zn- och Pb-komponenter i beläggningarna har påvisats förorsaka ökad korrosion redan vid 300-400 °C. Vid förbränning kan Zn och Pb reagera med S och Cl och bilda klorider och sulfater i rökgaserna. Dessa tungmetallföreningar är speciellt problematiska pga. de bildar lågsmältande saltblandningar. Dessa lågsmältande gasformiga eller fasta föreningar följer rökgasen och kan sedan fastna eller kondensera på kallare ytor på pannväggar eller överhettare för att sedan bilda aggressiva beläggningar. Tungmetallrika (Pb, Zn) klorider och sulfater ökar risken för korrosion, och effekten förstärks ytterligare vid närvaro av smälta. Motivet med den här studien var att få en bättre insikt i högtemperaturkorrosion förorsakad av Zn och Pb, samt att undersöka och prediktera beteendet och motståndskraften hos några stålkvaliteter som används i överhettare och pannväggar i tungmetallrika förhållanden och höga materialtemperaturer. Omfattande laboratorie-, småskale- och fullskaletest utfördes. Resultaten kan direkt utnyttjas i praktiska applikationer, t.ex. vid materialval, eller vid utveckling av korrosionsmotverkande verktyg för att hitta initierande faktorer och förstå deras effekt på högtemperaturkorrosion.

Chaotic Behaviour of Active Magnetic Bearing System by Time Series Analysis

Chaotic behaviour is one of the hardest problems that can happen in nonlinear dynamical systems with severe nonlinearities. It makes the system's responses unpredictable. It makes the system's responses to behave similar to noise. In some applications it should be avoided. One of the approaches to detect the chaotic behaviour is nding the Lyapunov exponent through examining the dynamical equation of the system. It needs a model of the system. The goal of this study is the diagnosis of chaotic behaviour by just exploring the data (signal) without using any dynamical model of the system. In this work two methods are tested on the time series data collected from AMB (Active Magnetic Bearing) system sensors. The rst method is used to nd the largest Lyapunov exponent by Rosenstein method. The second method is a 0-1 test for identifying chaotic behaviour. These two methods are used to detect if the data is chaotic. By using Rosenstein method it is needed to nd the minimum embedding dimension. To nd the minimum embedding dimension Cao method is used. Cao method does not give just the minimum embedding dimension, it also gives the order of the nonlinear dynamical equation of the system and also it shows how the system's signals are corrupted with noise. At the end of this research a test called runs test is introduced to show that the data is not excessively noisy.

Factors affecting a woman's decision to leave an abusive relationship : the theory of planned behaviour /

The present study tested the appHcabiUty of Ajzen's (1985) theory of planned behaviour (TPB), an extension of Fishbein and Ajzen's (1975) theory of reasoned action (TRA), for the first time, in the context of abused women's decision to leave their abusive relationships. The TPB, as a means of predicting women's decision to leave their abusive partners' was drawn from Strube's (1988, 1991) proposed decision-making model based on the principle that the decision-making process is a rational, deliberative process, and regardless of outcome, was a result of a logical assessment of the available data. As a means of predicting those behaviours not under volitional control, Ajzen's (1985) TPB incorporated a measure of perceived behavioural control. Data were collected in two phases, ranging from 6 months to 1 year apart. It was hypothesized that, to the extent that an abused woman held positive attitudes, subjective norms conducive to leaving, and perceived control over leaving, she would form an intention to leave and thus, increase the likelihood of actually leaving her partner. Furthermore, it was expected that perceptions of control would predict leaving behaviour over and above attitude and subjective norm. In addition, severity and frequency of abuse were assessed, as were demographic variables. The TPB failed to account significantly for variability in either intentions or leaving behaviour. All of the variance was attributed to those variables associated with the theory of reasoned action, with social influence emerging as the strongest predictor of a woman's intentions. The poor performance of this model is attributed to measurement problems with aspects of attitude and perceived control, as well as a lack of power due to the small sample size. The insufficiency of perceived control to predict behaviour also suggests that, on the surface at least, other factors may be at work in this context. Implications of these results, and recommendations such as, the importance of obtaining representative samples, the inclusion of self-esteem and emotions as predictor variables in this model, a reevaluation of the target behaviovu" as nonvolitional, and longitudinal studies spanning a longer time period for future research within the context of decision-making are discussed.

Gas chromatographic electron capture negative ionization mass spectrometric (GC/ECNI/MS) determination of unique fluorinated compounds in the sediments of Lake Ontario and the effect of high-boiling alcohols (as injection solvents) on chromatographic behaviour of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in gas chromatography

Part I - Fluorinated Compounds A method has been developed for the extraction, concentration, and determination of two unique fluorinated compounds from the sediments of Lake Ontario. These compounds originated from a common industrial landfill, and have been carried to Lake Ontario by the Niagara River. Sediment samples from the Mississauga basin of Lake Ontario have been evaluated for these compounds and a depositional trend was established. The sediments were extracted by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and then underwent clean-up, fractionation, solvent exchange, and were concentrated by reduction under nitrogen gas. The concentrated extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography - electron capture negative ionization - mass spectrometry. The depositional profile determined here is reflective of the operation of the landfill and shows that these compounds are still found at concentrations well above background levels. These increased levels have been attributed to physical disturbances of previously deposited contaminated sediments, and probable continued leaching from the dumpsite. Part II - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is the most common method for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from various matrices. Mass discrimination of high-boiling compounds in gas chromatographic methods is well known. The use of high-boiling injection solvents shows substantial increase in the response of late-eluting peaks. These solvents have an increased efficiently in the transfer of solutes from the injector to the analytical column. The effect of I-butanol, I-pentanol, cyclopentanol, I-hexanol, toluene and n-octane, as injection solvents, was studied. Higher-boiling solvents yield increased response for all PAHs. I -Hexanol is the best solvent, in terms of P AH response, but in this solvent P AHs were more susceptible to chromatographic problems such as peak splitting and tailing. Toluene was found to be the most forgiving solvent in terms of peak symmetry and response. It offered the smallest discrepancies in response, and symmetry over a wide range of initial column temperatures.

Negative affect mediates the relationship between the Cortisol Awakening Response and Conduct Problems in boys

Ce mémoire débute avec deux chapitres portant sur les problèmes des conduites et la régulation du stress, notamment sur l’axe hypothalamique-pituitaire-surrénal (HPS). Ensuite, la littérature est résumée et nous voyons que les études qui cherchent à établir un lien entre les problèmes des conduites et l’axe HPS ont trouvé des résultats différents et parfois contradictoires. Le chapitre suivant illustre les problèmes méthodologiques qui pourraient expliquer ces résultats différents. Vient ensuite l’étude présentée dans ce mémoire qui cherche à établir un lien entre la réponse cortisolaire à l’éveil (RCE), considérée comme un bon indice du fonctionnent de l’axe HPS, et les problèmes de conduites chez l’enfant. De plus, les émotions négatives ont été associées avec les problèmes des conduites ainsi qu’aux dysfonctions de l’axe HPS, notamment le RCE. L’étude présentée dans ce mémoire cherche aussi à établir si les émotions négatives pourrait être une variable médiatrice dans la relation potentielle entre la RCE et les problèmes des conduites. L’étude révèle que pour les garçons mais pas pour les filles, une RCE réduite est associée avec les émotions négatives, ce qui est successivement associé avec les problèmes des conduites. Le dernier chapitre du mémoire examine les implications théoriques de cette médiatisation et propose également des pistes psychobiologiques pour expliquer les différences sexuelles observées.

A Study on the Engineering Behaviour of Grouted Loose Soils

The constructional activities in the coastal belt of our country often demand deep foundations because of the poor engineering properties and the related problems arising from weak soil at shallow depths.The soil profile in coastal area often consists of very loose sandy soils extending to a depth of 3 to 4 m from the ground level underlain by clayey soils of medium consistency.The very low shearing resistance of the foundation bed causes local as well as punching shear failure.Hence structures built on these soils may suffer from excessive settlements.This type of soil profile is very common in coastal areas of Kerala,especially in Cochin. Further,the high water table and limited depth of the top sandy layer in these areas restrict the depth of foundation thereby further reducing the safe bearing capacity.

A Study of the Physical and Engineering Behaviour of Cochin Marine Clays

With the increase in population, housing and construction of various facilities have been a problem with urbanization. Having exhausted all the trouble free hand, man is nowon the lookout for techniques to improve areas which were originally considered uninhabitable. Thus this study is based on the nature and engineering behavior of soft clays covering long stretches of coastal line and methods to improve their geotechnical properties .The main aim of the present investigation is to study in detail the physical and engineering behavior of the marine clays of Cochin. While it is well known that the marine clays have been posing numerous problems to foundation engineers all along, the relevant literature reveals that no systematic and comprehensive study has been attempted to date. The: knowledge gained through the study is suitably used to improve these properties with appropriate additives.

Egalitarian behaviour in multi unit combinatorial auctions

En entornos donde los recursos son precederos y la asignación de recursos se repite en el tiempo con el mismo conjunto o un conjunto muy similar de agentes, las subastas recurrentes pueden ser utilizadas. Una subasta recurrente es una secuencia de subastas donde el resultado de una subasta puede influenciar en las siguientes. De todas formas, este tipo de subastas tienen problemas particulares cuando la riqueza de los agentes esta desequilibrada y los recursos son precederos. En esta tesis se proponen algunos mecanismos justos o equitativos para minimizar los efectos de estos problemas. En una subasta recurrente una solución justa significa que todos los participantes consiguen a largo plazo sus objetivos en el mismo grado o en el grado más parecido posible, independientemente de su riqueza. Hemos demostrado experimentalmente que la inclusión de justicia incentiva a los bidders en permanecer en la subasta minimizando los problemas de las subastas recurrentes.

Nocturnal ranging behaviour of urban hedgehogs, Erinaceus europaeus, in relation to risk and reward

Urban areas have both positive and negative influences on wildlife. For terrestrial mammals, one of the principle problems is the risk associated with moving through the environment whilst foraging. In this study, we examined nocturnal patterns of movement of urban-dwelling hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in relation to (i) the risks posed by predators and motor vehicles and (ii) nightly weather patterns. Hedgehogs preferentially utilised the gardens of semi-detached and terraced houses. However, females, but not males, avoided the larger back gardens of detached houses, which contain more of the habitat features selected by badgers. This difference in the avoidance of predation risk is probably associated with sex differences in breeding behaviour. Differences in nightly movement patterns were consistent with strategies associated with mating behaviour and the accumulation of fat reserves for hibernation. Hedgehogs also exhibited differences in behaviour associated with the risks posed by humans; they avoided actively foraging near roads and road verges, but did not avoid crossing roads per se. They were, however, significantly more active after midnight when there was a marked reduction in vehicle and foot traffic. In particular, responses to increased temperature, which is associated with increased abundance of invertebrate prey, were only observed after midnight. This variation in the timing of bouts of activity would reduce the risks associated with human activities. There were also profound differences in both area ranged and activity with chronological year which warrant further investigation.

A simple column model to explore anticipated problems in variational assimilation of satellite observations

We investigate a simplified form of variational data assimilation in a fully nonlinear framework with the aim of extracting dynamical development information from a sequence of observations over time. Information on the vertical wind profile, w(z ), and profiles of temperature, T (z , t), and total water content, qt (z , t), as functions of height, z , and time, t, are converted to brightness temperatures at a single horizontal location by defining a two-dimensional (vertical and time) variational assimilation testbed. The profiles of T and qt are updated using a vertical advection scheme. A basic cloud scheme is used to obtain the fractional cloud amount and, when combined with the temperature field, this information is converted into a brightness temperature, using a simple radiative transfer scheme. It is shown that our model exhibits realistic behaviour with regard to the prediction of cloud, but the effects of nonlinearity become non-negligible in the variational data assimilation algorithm. A careful analysis of the application of the data assimilation scheme to this nonlinear problem is presented, the salient difficulties are highlighted, and suggestions for further developments are discussed.