Effect of Phase Changes on the Axial Modulus of an FeMnSi-Shape Memory Alloy.

The axial modulus () of FeMnSi-based shape memory alloys (FeMnSi-SMAs) is a parameter introduced in this study to characterize the relationship between stress and strain behavior at the early stage of tensile loading. () can be used to correctly estimate and model the interaction forces between FeMnSi-SMAs and other materials. Unlike the conventional Young's modulus, which is usually given at room temperature, the () is evaluated at different temperatures and strongly depends on phase transformation and plastic deformation.

Socio-demographic factors predicting HIV test seeking behaviour among MSM in 6 EU cities.

Background: HIV testing is generally accepted as being the lynchpin of a prevention strategy to tackle the HIV epidemic among MSM. However, few studies have analysed in detail the factors that influence HIV test seeking behaviour.

Methods: The objective of this article is to analyse the relationship between HIV test seeking behaviour and individual, social and demographic factors in a sample of MSM recruited though a multi-centre bio-behavioural cross-sectional study.

Bio-behavioural HIV and STI surveillance among men who have sex with men in Europe: the Sialon II protocols.

Background: Globally, the HIV epidemic continues to represent a pressing public health issue in Europe and elsewhere. There is an emerging and progressively urgent need to harmonise HIV and STI behavioural surveillance among MSM across European countries through the adoption of common indicators, as well as the development of trend analysis in order to monitor the HIV-STI epidemic over time. The Sialon II project protocols have been elaborated for the purpose of implementing a large-scale bio-behavioural survey among MSM in Europe in line with a Second Generation Surveillance System (SGSS) approach.

Heterogeneity of community-based voluntary, counselling and testing services for HIV in Europe: the HIV-COBATEST survey.

This study reports the first EU-wide survey of community-based voluntary counselling and testing services (CBVCTs), with the following aims: to assess the current availability of CBVCTs and how the concept of CBVCT is understood; to describe CBVCT modalities and strategies; and to measure the use of rapid tests within CBVCTs. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in two different key informant groups: HIV/AIDS National Focal Points (NFPs) and CBVCTs from the EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries. A definition of CBVCTs was reached.

Antiretroviral therapy and reasons for not taking it among men having sex with men (MSM)--results from the European MSM Internet Survey (EMIS).

Background: The preventive effects of antiretroviral treatment (ART) on onward transmission of HIV are a major reason for broadening eligibility for ART. In the WHO European Region, surveillance reveals substantial differences in access to ART across regions and sub-populations. We analysed self-reported data on ART and reasons for not taking ART from EMIS, a large Pan-European Internet survey among men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM).

Psychosocial correlates of HIV testing among men who have sex with men in Italy: a cross-sectional study.

The objective of this study was to understand the psychosocial correlates of men having sex with men (MSM) who have never been tested (never testers), MSM who have been tested in the last 12 months (recent testers), and MSM who have been tested before (remote testers). A sample of 14,409 Italian HIV-negative adult MSM was recruited via instant messages to the members of five international commercial websites and through clickable banner advertisements on different websites. The most important correlates of never testers compared to recent testers were younger age, sexual orientation concealment, unawareness of free HIV services, having had a partner of unknown serostatus, and lower levels of HIV testing self-efficacy (i.

Internalised homonegativity predicts HIV-associated risk behavior in European men who have sex with men in a 38-country cross-sectional study: some public health implications of homophobia.

Objectives: Internalised homonegativity (IH) is hypothesised to be associated with HIV risk behaviour and HIV testing in men who have sex with men (MSM). We sought to determine the social and individual variables associated with IH and the associations between IH and HIV-related behaviours.

Design And Setting: We examined IH and its predictors as part of a larger Internet-delivered, cross-sectional study on HIV and health in MSM in 38 European countries.

HIV bio-behavioural survey among men who have sex with men in Barcelona, Bratislava, Bucharest, Ljubljana, Prague and Verona, 2008-2009.

Data from 23 European countries show that the annual number of HIV diagnoses in men who have sex with men (MSM) increased by 86% between 2000 and 2006. This paper reports the main preliminary results of a bio-behavioural survey in MSM with a specific focus on HIV prevalence and use of United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) indicators in six cities in Southern and Eastern Europe. Time-location sampling (TLS) was used.