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Social media recruitment is no longer an uncharted avenue for survey research. The results thus far provide evidence of an engaging means of recruiting hard-to-reach populations. Questions remain, however, regarding whether the data collected using this method of recruitment produce quality data. This article assesses one aspect that may influence the quality of data gathered through nonprobability sampling using social media advertisements for a hard-to-reach sexual and gender minority youth population: recruitment design formats. The data come from the Survey of Today’s Adolescent Relationships and Transitions, which used a variety of forms of advertisements as survey recruitment tools on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Results demonstrate that design decisions such as the format of the advertisement (e.g., video or static) and the use of eligibility language on the advertisements impact the quality of the data as measured by break-off rates and the use of nonsubstantive responses. Additionally, the type of device used affected the measures of data quality.

Presented in this article is a case study of Black students’ enrollment, persistence, and graduation at Cityville University, an urban commuter institution. We combine quantitative data from the University’s Office of Institutional Research and the U.S. Department of Education with qualitative insights gathered in interviews with students, faculty, and administrators. We then use tenets, theses, and propositions from Critical Race Theory to analyze structural problems that undermine persistence and degree completion, sense of belonging, and academic achievement for Cityville’s Black undergraduates.

Access to school health clinics and nurses has been linked with improved student achievement and health. Unfortunately, no studies have examined how many students report using school clinics or nurses and for which services. This study addressed this gap with data from a nationally representative sample of 15- to 25-year-olds. Respondents who reported being in high school were provided a list of services and asked whether they had gone to a school nurse or clinic for any of the listed services. Nearly 90% reported having access to a school clinic or nurse. Among students with access, 65.6% reported using at least one service. Non-White students and younger students were more likely to report having access to a clinic or nurse. These results show many students have access to clinics or nurses and are using these services, although not uniformly for all services.

Background Much has been written about Black undergraduate men's out-of-class engagement and social experiences, identity development, participation in intercollegiate athletics, and college enrollment and completion rates. Too little is known about their academic readiness and first-year college adjustment. Purpose The purpose of this study was to understand Black male students’ academic transition experiences in the first college year, with a particular emphasis on how they resolved academic challenges with which they were confronted. Setting This study was conducted at 42 colleges and universities in 20 states across the United States. Six institution types were included: private liberal arts colleges, public research universities, highly selective private research universities, public and private Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and comprehensive state universities. Participants The sample was comprised of 219 Black undergraduate men, mostly juniors and seniors, who maintained high cumulative grade point averages, were extraordinarily engaged in a range of student organizations, held multiple leadership roles on campus, cultivated meaningful relationships with faculty and administrators, participated in enriching educational experiences (e.g., study abroad programs), and earned numerous merit-based awards and honors for their college achievements. Research Design Qualitative research methods were used in this study. Specifically, phenomenology was used to understand what Black male students experienced in the first college year and how they experienced the transition phenomenon. Data Collection and Analysis Individual, face-to-face interviews were conducted with all 219 participants. Each interview was 2-3 hours. Moustakas’ (1994) process for phenomenological data analysis and Harper's (2007) trajectory analysis technique were used to analyze data collected for this study. Findings Two thematic categories of findings are presented in this article. First are reflections from students who experienced turbulence in their transitions from high school to higher education. Being underprepared for the academic rigors of college, the surprising mismatch between academic effort and first-year grades, the racial composition dissimilarities between their high schools and college campuses, and feelings of cultural misfit were factors to which participants attributed their initial adjustment challenges. The second category includes insights from achievers who transitioned seamlessly to college. They attributed their successful starts to strong academic preparation, prior experiences in demographically comparable educational environments, participation in summer bridge and college transition programs, and academically profitable relationships they cultivated in student organizations. Recommendations This article ends with several suggestions for helping Black undergraduate men adjust more seamlessly and resolve surprising academic transition issues encountered in the first college year.

The overwhelming majority of published scholarship on urban high schools in the United States focuses on problems of inadequacy, instability, underperformance, and violence. Similarly, across all schooling contexts, most of what has been written about young men of color continually reinforces deficit narratives about their educational possibility. Taken together, images of Black and Latino male students in inner-city schools often manufacture dark, hopeless visualizations of imperiled youth and educational environments. Using photographic data from a study of 325 college-bound juniors and seniors attending 40 public New York City high schools, this article counterbalances one-sided mischaracterizations of young men of color and the urban schools that educate them. Specifically, visual sociology and critical race methodologies are used to construct anti-deficit counternarratives about boys of color and urban education.

During the last several decades, research concerning the developmental trajectories, experiences, and behaviors of college men as “gendered” persons has emerged. In this article, we first critically review literature on Black men’s gender development and expressions within college contexts to highlight certain knowledge gaps. We then conceptualize and discuss progressive Black masculinities by relying on Mutua’s germinal work on the subject. Further, we engage Black feminist scholarship, both to firmly situate our more pressing argument for conceptual innovation and to address knowledge gaps in the literature on Black men’s gender experiences. It is our belief that scholars who study gender development and expressions of masculinities among Black undergraduate men could benefit from employing autocritography, and its built-in assumptions, to inform several aspects of their research designs. Autocritography is a critical autobiography that some Black profeminist men engage to invite readers into their gendered lifeworlds.

Background Educational attainment is associated with a plethora of positive economic and social implications for individuals, institutions, and the broader society. One factor that has been identified as an important predictor of students’ educational attainment is their educational expectations. Thus, understanding how educational expectations are shaped is important to comprehending how success can be fostered among students from diverse racial backgrounds. Purpose of the Study This quantitative study is aimed at understanding the process by which students from various racial backgrounds cultivate and reformulate their educational expectations during the high school years. Three research questions were explored in this study: (1) How do various academic and interpersonal factors directly affect students’ educational expectations? (2) How do academic and interpersonal factors indirectly affect students’ educational expectations via their self-perceptions? and (3) How do those effects vary across different racial groups? Populations and Participants The National Education Longitudinal Study (NELS) survey was first administered to students in the spring of eighth grade, and the first two follow-up surveys were administered in the spring of those students’ 10th- and 12th-grade years. Students who participated in the NELS surveys from the base year to the second follow-up (88:92) were included in the omnibus analysis, resulting in an overall sample size of 12,144. That sample was divided into Asian (n = 764), Black (n = 1,041), Latina/o (n =1,444), Native American (n= 399), and White (n = 7,626) subsamples, and a parallel analysis was conducted to allow for the comparison of effects across various racial subpop-ulations. Research Design Using a pretest-posttest design and structural equation modeling techniques, we created a structural model and examined how academic and interpersonal factors directly and indirectly, via self-efficacy and locus of control, influence students’ educational expectations. Particular attention is given to how those effects vary across racial subpopulations. Conclusions and Recommendations Relationships between the results of this inquiry and earlier studies are complex, with some of our findings confirming and some contradicting those of other researchers. The results of this analysis indicate that the process by which students formulate and reformulate their educational expectations during the high school years varies across racial groups. Recommendations for future research involve considering racial, gender, socioeconomic, and other differences in examining students’ educational expectations and outcomes. We also recommend that future research focus on understanding the reasons why such racial differences exist.

Aspects of masculine socialization among Black men who have sex with men (MSM) and potential corresponding influences on high-risk sexual behaviors are explored in this study. Individual interviews were conducted with 29 Black MSM in Atlanta, Georgia. Findings included (1) formative masculine socialization experiences marked by an absence of biological fathers and Black male role models, (2) negative perceptions of “gay” identities and communities, (3) race and racial identification as intersecting influences on masculine and sexual identities, (4) the influences of masculine socialization and beliefs on partner selection and sexual behaviors, and (5) general themes of trust, control, “heat of the moment” sex, and low self-love as primary factors influencing condom use. Implications for future research and HIV prevention efforts targeting Black MSM are discussed.

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon is a well-known source of inter-annual climate variability for both precipitation and temperature in the northern Great Plains of the United States. In order to determine if ENSO has similar impacts on wind speed and wind power, we applied statistical methods, including the sign test and resampling, to hourly airport wind speed measurements for the past half century at two airports in North Dakota and at another two in South Dakota. There is strong statistical evidence that ENSO has a small effect on wind speeds in some months, which affects the amount of wind power a typical utility scale wind turbine can produce. During the El Niño phase, we found monthly mean wind power production to decrease generally, consistent with the mean wind speed decreasing and the probability of a low-speed wind event increasing, at two locations in South Dakota. The ENSO connection was weaker and harder to detect in North Dakota, but we found evidence that the sign of the change appeared generally to be consistent with that in South Dakota. These effects were smaller than the general variability of wind speeds, but nevertheless were detectable as ‘signals within the noise’.

More than two-thirds of all African American males who begin college never finish. This and a legion of other discouraging facts about African American males are the usual headlines. But what about those among this population who beat the odds, make the most of college, and achieve in multiple ways inside and outside of the classroom? Who are they, and what can they teach us?

A synthetic programme produced a series of compounds related to natural prostaglandins, which are known to affect the growth of a number of viruses. Several of the compounds showed potent biological activity including antiviral effects. The compound CTC-8 [(S)-4-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one] contains the cyclopentenone ring of prostaglandin A1, but the extended side chains common to the prostaglandin family are truncated. The present study demonstrates that CTC-8 inhibits HSV-1 replication in cell culture at sub-toxic concentrations. The antiviral effect was evidenced by reduction in infectious virus yield, although the compound was not effective in the standard plaque-reduction assay. Time-of-addition studies and other experiments provide a possible explanation for these results by suggesting that the antiviral activity is confined to a single cycle. Under the standard conditions of high-multiplicity infection in BHK cells it was notable that CTC-8 is most effective when added for a short period 6–8 h post-infection. Furthermore, multiple passage of HSV-1 in the presence of CTC-8 did not result in the selection of resistant mutants. The results of these and other experiments are consistent with the hypothesis that the mechanism by which CTC-8 inhibits virus replication involves a cellular target. These results encourage further research into the therapeutic potential of this series of compounds.

Objective: To illustrate the benefit of the factorial design in randomized controlled trials of leg ulcers. Design: A 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design. Setting: Hospital leg ulcer clinics in Edinburgh and Falkirk. Patients: Adults with at least one unhealed leg ulcer of determined origin, present for at least 2 months and greater than 1 cm in diameter. Interventions: Pentoxifylline (Trental) 400 mg, three times daily, versus placebo Main outcome measure: Complete healing of all ulcers within 24 weeks. Results: Of 525 patients screened, 200 pure venous ulcers were randomized (58.5% healed by 24 weeks), 45 complex venous ulcers were randomized (57.8% healed) and 41 arterial patients were randomized (excluding bandaging comparisons) (19.5% healed). There were no interactions between treatments. Conclusion: The factorial design was feasible to administer and allowed three therapeutic questions to be investigated using the same resources as would have been needed to answer a single question.

A heat transfer tunnel used for local convective heat transfer coefficient measurements on liquid crystal instrumented models is described. The tunnel uses the new mesh heater device to produce a good approximation to a step change in the test section flow temperature. A simple analytical model of the cooling performance of cylindrical extended surfaces is derived from empirical relations obtained from the literature. Experiments conducted on a smooth cylinder and selected cylindrical finned geometries are discussed. In the configurations investigated, the relative sizes of the fin diameter to the fin array greatly exceed any geometries previously reported. The use of liquid crystal mapping techniques is shown to provide the full distribution of local heat transfer coefficients across the fin surface. This enables a greater understanding of the convective cooling process than could be obtained from the simple average measurements of h previously reported in the literature. Existing finned tube correlations are shown to be unable to predict the measured heat transfer levels. The investigation shows that correct selection of fin geometry can result in a significant increase in overall convective cooling performance.

Following an earlier demonstration of an antiviral effect against varicella-zoster virus (VZV, human herpesvirus 3) using 2-hydroxymyristic acid (2-hydroxytetradecanoic acid; 2-HM), an inhibitor of protein myristoylation, both 2-HM and 2-hydroxypalmitic acid (2-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid; 2-HP) have been tested against a range of viruses. Although both compounds inhibit the replication of varicella-zoster virus (VZV; human herpesvirus 3) they do not inhibit the replication of closely related herpesviruses. They do, however, inhibit the replication of both poliovirus (a member of the Picornaviridae) and the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1; a member of the Retroviridae). Neither compound is toxic to adherent cells by dye uptake assay, although limited toxicity is apparent to non-adherent cell lines at high concentrations. The mechanisms underlying these effects are discussed. A diminished effect of 2-hydroxymyristic acid when the compound is dissolved in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) rather than ethanol is reported, and the implications for the use of DMSO as a ‘universal solvent’ for compound screening noted. Finally, it is suggested that targeting of ‘virus-essential’ cellular functions may provide an alternative route for inhibiting viral replication.

Inhibitors of N-myristoyltransferase (NMT) have been shown to inhibit retrovirus replication, notably that of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), where the absence of protein myristoylation inhibits viral replication. The authors have assayed 14 compounds derived from myristic acid for activity against varicella-zoster virus (human herpesvirus 3; VZV) by plaque reduction assay. Seven showed cytotoxicity and of the others, two failed to inhibit VZV replication. One of these was N-myristoylglycinaldiethylacetal (GoA), which has been reported to be active against HIV. 12-(methoxy) dodecanoic acid (13-oxamyristic acid), which has also been reported to inhibit HIV replication, was found to inhibit VZV replication but was cytotoxic at high concentrations. The greatest inhibitory effect without apparent toxicity was induced by 2-hydroxytetradecanoic acid and its enantiomers. The results of these assays provide further evidence that inhibitors of NMT have potential as antiviral agents against the many viruses with myristoylated proteins.

Objective: To determine whether elastic or non-elastic bandaging is more effective in healing chronic venous ulcers. Design: Randomized trial with factorial design and interaction analysis, enabling independent evaluation of both bandaging and dressings within the single-trial format. The duration of treatment was 12 weeks or until ulcer-healing, whichever occurred sooner. Setting: The Leg Ulcer Clinics of Edinburgh and Falkirk and District Royal Infirmaries, Scotland. Patients: 132 patients with chronic leg ulcers and clinical evidence of chronic venous disease, and excluding those with Doppler ultrasound ankle/brachial pressure indices of less than 0.8, diabetes or rheumatoid disease. There were 28 withdrawals who were classified for analysis as treatment failures. Interventions: Elastic or non-elastic multilayer bandage systems were applied using similar application techniques by a team of trained nurse specialists. All other treatments were standardized, including the randomization of dressings to either a knitted viscose or a hydrocellular polyurethane dressing. Main outcome measure: Complete ulcer healing. Results: In the elastic group 35 out of 65 ulcers (54%) healed within 12 weeks compared with 19 out of 67 (28%) in the non-elastic group (95% confidence limits for percentage healed, 9% to 42%). Ulcer pain was also reported significantly less often in the elastic group (48% of visits versus 29%; p=0.03). Conclusion: When applied by similar multilayer bandaging techniques, elastic bandaging was significantly better than non-elastic bandaging in the treatment of chronic venous leg ulcer.

Objective: To compare a new ‘advanced’ hydrocellular Polyurethane dressing (HPD) (Allevyn) with a traditional simple non-adherent knitted viscose dressing (KDV) (Tricotex) in the treatment of chronic venous leg ulcers. Design: A randomized trial of factorial design, with interaction testing, to allow the evaluation of two different therapeutic components (dressing and bandages) within a single trial. The treatment period was 12 weeks or until healing, whichever occurred sooner. Setting: The Leg Ulcer Clinics of Edinburgh and Falkirk and District Royal Infirmaries, Scotland. Patients: 132 patients with chronic venous leg ulcers were randomized, 66 to HPD and 66 to KVD. Principal exclusions were patients with diabetes, rheumatoid disease or Doppler ankle/brachial pressure indices of less than 0.8. There were 28 withdrawals (15 KVD, 13 HPD). These were considered as treatment failures. Interventions: Dressings and bandaging were applied by specialist leg ulcer nurses using standard techniques throughout, the bandaging being randomized to either elastic or non-elastic multilayer systems. Main outcome measure: The principal end-point was ulcer healing. Also monitored were healing rates, pain and the frequency of dressing changes. Results: Pain relief was significantly better in the HPD group ( p=0.01). Thirty-one (47%) of the HPD patients healed within 12 weeks compared with only 23 (35%) of the those treated with KVD (95% confidence limits for difference, −5% to +29%). The higest healing rates (61% for all ulcers and 74% for those less than 10 cm2) were observed in the subgroup in which HPD was used in combination with an elastic bandaging system. Conclusion: Patients treated with HPD did significantly better in terms of pain relief, although the higher healing rates observed in this group failed to reach significance at the 5% level.

Malnourishment is a common finding in hospitalised elderly patients. It is often addressed by the provision of nutritional supplements, in the form of sip-feeds. Patients ' intake of these is frequently inadequate. We assessed the palatability of sip-feed nutritional supplements and other high-energy foods to elderly medical in-patients. Using the Lickhert Scale, 49 subjects rated the taste of a previously selected sip-feed supplement and five other high-energy foods, cheese biscuit, plain potato crisps, chocolate, cherry-flavoured cereal bar and stout beer. Subjects rated the taste of sip-feeds as favourably as all other offered foods, with the exception of the lower rated stout beer (p=0.0001). Taste alone is unlikely to account for the poor intake of sip-feed nutritional supplements by elderly hospital patients.

We undertook a postal survey of hospices and home-care services in the UK, to describe the use of portable syringe drivers in such units, their perceived clinical indications and disadvantages and the rules governing their use. Considerable agreement was found among hospice, combined and home-care units concerning the importance of portable syringe drivers in the treatment of patients with vomiting, intestinal obstruction and dysphagia. Home-care teams in particular perceived the benefits of an alternative route for analgesia. Combined units actually used more portable syringe drivers despite reporting more disadvantages to patients, staff and carers. Doctors most often made the decision to commence treatment with a portable syringe driver, often at the suggestion of a nurse. Doctors were also responsible in most instances, for the prescription of the rate of delivery, but nurses usually carried out the tasks of drawing up the infusion and inserting the needle. The presence of other rules did not seem to diminish the number of syringe drivers in use.

The proficiency of 70 Army automotive mechanics in performing two repair tasks was examined under controlled test conditions. The tasks were installation of a generator and a starter on a tank engine. The subjects were assigned to one of 10 job-experience (JE) categories based on the number of times they had performed the repair tasks. The 10 experience categories ranged from no previous experience to nine or more times. Six dimensions of maintenance proficiency were measured: quality checks, adherence to procedures, repair time, information use, tool selection, and tool use. Overall, proficiency improved markedly for mechanics in the 0 to 5 JE range, peaked between 5 and 6 JE, and declined somewhat for mechanics with more than 6 JE. The job-experience/proficiency function was similar for both repair tasks and all six dimensions of proficiency. The results indicate that job experience could be a valid predictor of maintenance proficiency and training needs if based on an analysis of a larger sample of representative maintenance tasks and validated with a larger subject population.

Link analysis procedures were developed and evaluated to aid law-enforcement agencies integrate collected information and develop hypotheses leading to the prevention and control of organized crime. The procedures were designed to portray the relationships among suspected criminals, to determine the structure of criminal organizations, and to identify the nature of suspected criminal activities. An experiment was conducted in which 29 teams of law enforcement intelligence analysts completed link analyses from information contained in identical data bases. The results compared favorably with criterion solutions prepared earlier. Subsequent field applications of link analysis by trained law enforcement officers confirmed the utility and potential value of these procedures.