Publications

In order to correctly and consistently use condoms as protection during sex, individuals first typically engage in preparatory behaviors such as acquiring a condom. This paper explores Filipino men’s efficacy beliefs about condom acquisition using data from the 2003 National Demographic & Health Survey. Results show that many Filipino men believe they could obtain a condom for themselves if they wanted to, though these efficacy beliefs were related to embarrassment about buying condoms, prior heterosexual experience, and socioeconomic status, but not to knowledge of condoms’ protective ability or to other demographic factors. The critical role of embarrassment as a social emotion surrounding condom acquisition as well as the importance of examining preparatory behaviors for research and intervention purposes are discussed.

The effect of nonstationarity in time series columns of input data in principal components analysis is examined. Nonstationarity are very common among economic indicators collected over time. They are subsequently summarized into fewer indices for purposes of monitoring. Due to the simultaneous drifting of the nonstationary time series usually caused by the trend, the first component averages all the variables without necessarily reducing dimensionality. Sparse principal components analysis can be used, but attainment of sparsity among the loadings (hence, dimension-reduction is achieved) is influenced by the choice of parameter(s) (λ _1,i ). Simulated data with more variables than the number of observations and with different patterns of cross-correlations and autocorrelations were used to illustrate the advantages of sparse principal components analysis over ordinary principal components analysis. Sparse component loadings for nonstationary time series data can be achieved provided that appropriate values of λ _1,j are used. We provide the range of values of λ _1,j that will ensure convergence of the sparse principal components algorithm and consequently achieve sparsity of component loadings.

Purpose:.To determine if time of Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) determination can be a reliable tool to detect risk to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Method: PWV was determined by a non invasive method using the left external carotid artery as the central point and left dorsalis pedis artery as the peripheral point. Pulses were recorded from electronic sensors simultaneously with a single lead ECG and time delay between the two pulses computed. Shorter time indicates decreased arterial wall elasticity. Family history (FH) taken; waist circumference (WC) and BP measured.
Materials: Total of 339 clinically asymptomatic Filipino subjects in a rural area were examined. Of these 176 w/ FH of CVD; 58 w/ abnormal WC; 58 w/ borderline hypertension; and, 8 w/ definite hypertension. 98 subjects without these negative parameters were considered normal.
Results: PWV time in normal subjecs - 0.151 sec. In abnormal subjects PWV time in sec. - 1) w/ + FH of CVD - 0.140; 2) w/ abnormal WC - Males - 0.132, Females - 0.127; 3) w/ borderline hypertension - 0.122; and 4) definite hypertensives - 0.105 - all significant statistically below the normal
Discussion: Positive FH of CVD, increased WC and hypertension are accepted high risk
factors to develop CVD. In our study, we showed that subjects with these aggravating
parameters showed significantly lower PWV time compared to normals. It follows, therefore, that individuals with low PWV time can be considered to have high risk to develop CVD, It can therefore be a useful screening tool for CVD 

Conclusion: PWV time determination can be a useful tool to detect individuals who have high risk to develop CVD.

In contemporary ethical theorizing, Wittgenstein is categorized as a particularist (O Neill 1996). Moral claims are reached and advanced not in terms of abstract universal principles but in terms of acquired sensitivities to the requirements of particular situations. Because of this, his position is taken to have the same limitations that come with relativism. These include arbitrariness, self refutation and outright endorsement of evil practices. The paper argues that this reading is mistaken. Though Wittgenstein emphasized flexibility and variability, there are passages in his later work which allow for a notion of moral universality that escapes the limitations of relativism. Wittgenstein’s moral position cannot simply be assimilated with existing forms of ethical relativism and moral objectivism. (http://wittgensteinrepository.org/agora-alws/article/view/2829/3382)