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Movement Science and Sport Psychology
Diogo Monteiro
School of Sports of Rio Maior, Polytechnic Institute Santarém, Portugal
Marinella Coco
Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Italy
Helder M. Fernandes
Center for Research on Sport, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), Portugal
Data Availability Statement
Front. Psychol., 14 January 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02881
Determinants of the Intention to Use Performance-Enhancing Substances Among Portuguese Gym Users
Ana Sofia R. Tavares1,2*, António Fernando Rosado1, João Marôco3, Luis Calmeiro4,5 and Sidonio Serpa1,6
1Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
2H&TRC–Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL – Lisbon School of Health Technology, Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
3William James Centre for Research, ISPA – University Institute of Psychological, Social and Life Sciences, Lisbon, Portugal
4School of Applied Sciences, Abertay University, Dundee, United Kingdom
5Institute of Environmental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
6Lusophone University, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Lisbon, Portugal
The purpose of this study is to examine the determinants of the intentions to use prohibited performance-enhancing substances (PES) and to test the Theory of Planned Behavior's usefulness in predicting self-reported PES use in both genders. A convenience sample of Portuguese gym users (n = 453) completed an anonymous web-based survey. Structural equation modeling, multigroup analysis, and t-test with the Welch correction for heterokedastic variances were used. At the structural level, results support attitudes, beliefs, and subjective norms in predicting intentions to PES use in gym users, with subjective norms being its strongest predictor. Moreover, results showed a significant association between self-reported PES use and intentions to use. The predictive model was invariant across genders; however, compared to males, females believed less in the performance-enhancing effects of PES, were less prone to the influence of significant others, and had weaker intentions to use these substances. Psychological strategies should be based on subjective norms, alongside beliefs and attitudes, toward PES use as these variables influence the intention to use PES in this particular population.
Nowadays, the use of prohibited performance-enhancing substances (PES) to improve one's ability – commonly known as doping – is widespread across many levels of sport and exercise participation (Goulet et al., 2010; Ntoumanis et al., 2014). At professional and Olympic/Paralympic levels, athletes are responsible for confirming that the substances that they consume are not on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List, which is published yearly. At recreational level, no such regulation exists, although Denmark is one of the few countries with drug control procedures in gyms and fitness centers (Thualagant and Pfister, 2012). According to WADA (2015, p. 18), "doping is defined as the occurrence of one or more of the anti-doping rule violations set forth in article 2.1 through article 2.10 of the Code." However, this official definition of doping was developed in the context of elite sports to prevent the utilization of methods or substances designed to improve performance; hence, it may not be relevant for gym users. Indeed, the use of illegal substances in fitness contexts generally has esthetic purposes aimed at improving body appearance (Thualagant, 2012). Additionally, the health risks gym users are exposed to are potentially more severe than for athletes because consumption is often done in the absence of regulatory guidelines or medical supervision. The long-term use of these substances (e.g., anabolic-androgenic steroids or AAS, stimulants, erythropoietin, human growth hormone, diuretics) without proper control has been associated with several physical disorders (e.g., metabolic, endocrine, infectious, hepatic, renal, cardiovascular disorders) and psychological symptoms (e.g., depressive symptoms, antisocial and violent behaviors, suicidality) that may lead to irreparable health consequences (Baron et al., 2007; Pope et al., 2014). Therefore, while the term doping is mostly associated with competitive sports, the term performance-enhancing substances will be adopted in this article to refer to their use in the fitness context where there is no competitive performance goal.
In a recent systematic review, it was shown that among gym/fitness center users, the prevalence of reported PES use (namely, AAS) across 26 studies ranged from 4.7 to 70%. Furthermore, the majority of AAS users had limited knowledge of these substances and often underestimated their side effects. The presence of high prevalence rates coupled with a lack of knowledge of the risks associated with the use of PES may represent a public health concern (Tavares et al., 2019a). Therefore, researchers have highlighted the importance of promoting knowledge of psychosocial factors that predict doping intentions and behavior (e.g., Ntoumanis et al., 2014). Such importance rests on the assumption that behavioral choices are affected by personal control factors, social influences, and belief systems concerning the consequences of the behavior (Lucidi et al., 2008).
According to Petroczi and Aidman (2009), doping in sport is a predetermined and intentional behavior predicted by pro-doping attitudes. Therefore, to effectively prevent PES use in gym/fitness contexts, theories of health behavior need to be considered; these theories provide a framework for identifying the determinants of behavior (Lucidi et al., 2004) and are typically rooted on social-cognitive and motivational models from social psychology (Chan et al., 2015). Specifically, integrative models that derive from general models of behavioral prediction, such as the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB; Lazuras, 2016), Sports Drug Control Model, Life Cycle Model, Trans-contextual Model, or the Theory of Triadic Influence (Lazuras, 2016; Kavussanu and Ring, 2017), have been applied to the study of doping in sport. All of these models emphasize the role of decision making, arguing that doping use is goal-directed, intentional, and self-regulated. However, none of these models incorporate measures of contextual influences (e.g., sociocultural, socioeconomic) or ways of analyzing the effects of these contexts on doping decisions. This is problematic as these contexts have a profound effect on PES initiation (Lazuras, 2016).
The TPB (Ajzen, 1991) is one of the most commonly used frameworks to describe individuals' doping intentions and behavior (Chan et al., 2015) because it includes a series of non-volitional behaviors (Goulet et al., 2010; Zelli et al., 2010). According to Lazuras et al. (2010), the TPB has been applied to samples of adolescents, non-professional athletes, and gym users to study PES use (e.g., Lucidi et al., 2008; Wiefferink et al., 2008), which illustrates its suitability as a theoretical framework for doping research in populations other than elite athletes.
The TPB, an extension of the theory of reasoned action (TRA; Ajzen and Fishbein, 1980), considers the role of personality factors and social influences in the prediction of behavioral intentions and behavior (Ntoumanis et al., 2013). The theory suggests that the intention to perform a specific behavior is the immediate antecedent of that behavior, which in turn is influenced by three conceptually independent variables (Ajzen, 2002; Chan et al., 2015): attitudes toward the behavior (i.e., the favorable or unfavorable evaluations of performing the behavior); subjective norms (i.e., the perceived social pressure to perform or not to perform the behavior), and perceived behavioral control (PBC; the perceived controllability of the behavior).
The TPB's constructs (attitudes, subjective norms, and PBC) are supported by corresponding salient beliefs – behavioral, normative, and control beliefs, respectively (Ajzen, 1991). Attitudes toward the behavior are determined by specific behavioral beliefs, which reflect the "perceived likely consequences of engaging in PES use behavior, weighted by an evaluation of these consequences" (Kirby et al., 2016, p. 8). Subjective norms are the result of the interaction between normative beliefs, which assess the individual's perceptions of the expectations of significant others, and the individual's motivation to comply with such expectations. Finally, PBC is thought to be a function of control beliefs (i.e., factors that can enable or inhibit the target behavior and consequent behavior perceived impact) weighted by the perceived power one has over of each factor (Ajzen, 1991; Kirby et al., 2016). As attitudes, subjective norms, and PBC "may serve as proxy indices of behavior through their direct relationship with behavioral intention and indirect relationship with behavior," assessing an individual's behavioral intention may be sufficient to better understand PES use and its antecedents (Kirby et al., 2016, p. 8).
In addition to the central variables of TPB, researchers have also explored the demographic predictors of PES use, and results have demonstrated significant associations between current use, past use, and gender (Ntoumanis et al., 2014). Although findings concerning gender as a predictor of vulnerability to use PES are equivocal (Devcic et al., 2018), it appears that males tend to be more susceptible to doping or PES use than females, placing them at a greater risk of adverse health events (Pedersen, 2010; Ntoumanis et al., 2013; Backhouse et al., 2015). Previous studies in competitive athletes and gym users showed that current or past behaviors predict both intentions to use PES and future behavior (Armitage and Conner, 2001; Ajzen, 2002; Wiefferink et al., 2008; Lazuras et al., 2010). Indeed, gym users who were already PES users tend to have more favorable attitudes toward their use. In addition, these individuals were at a higher risk of repeated use (Wiefferink et al., 2008; Dunn et al., 2009). Finally, the intentions to use these substances effectively predicted the corresponding behavior (Goulet et al., 2010).
The present study explores the determinants of intentions to use PES in a sample of gym/fitness center users in Portugal. Research on this population is limited, thus this study may provide comprehensive information about intentions toward PES use to inform the development of prevention programs and protect gym/fitness users' health (Backhouse et al., 2014; Molero et al., 2017). To examine the psychosocial mechanisms that may lead to PES use, we adopted an approach based on TPB. This approach has been the prevailing framework in doping behavior research in sport (e.g., Lucidi et al., 2008; Goulet et al., 2010; Ntoumanis et al., 2013) and gym/fitness contexts (Wiefferink et al., 2008). For this purpose, we used the "Questionnaire of Attitudes toward Doping in Fitness" (QAD-Fit; Tavares et al., 2019b), which is anchored in the TPB. Although the concept of perceived behavioral control distinguishes this theory from the TRA, this contruct was not measured in the present questionnaire for two reasons. First, the factor perceived behavior control was removed from the analysis because it did not meet confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) criteria (Tavares et al., 2019b). These difficulties with the PBC factor are not unique. A perceived behavioral control factor did not emerge in Serpa Leitão et al.'s (2001) study with athletes and non-athletes. In addition, Lucidi et al. (2008) also showed a weak influence of PBC on intentions using a similar scale.
Second, it was expected that the majority of the subjects in the present study had not had previous experience with PES use. According to Ajzen (2001), perceived behavior control only has an influence on intention and behavior if individuals have a reasonable idea of the actual control they have over it.
The aims of the present study were threefold: (1) to evaluate whether the intention to use PES in a sample of gym users could be predicted by the variables considered within the TPB, (2) to examine TPB's usefulness in predicting PES in both genders, and (3) to evaluate whether intentions to use PES predict PES use. Based on the reviewed literature, it is expected that: (1) the TPB variables will significantly predict PES use intentions in our sample of gym/fitness center users; (2) the predictive model in study will be invariant across genders, and males will have more favorable attitudes, subjective norms, beliefs, and intention to use PES than females; and (3) intentions will predict self-reported PES use.
A sample consisting of 453 Portuguese gym/fitness center users (age range = 16–79; mean age = 35.64 years; SD = 13.08) participated in this research. Of all participants, 277 were females (61.1%), 175 were males (38.6%), and one did not respond (0.3%). Participants were involved in several gym activities: 57% cardio fitness, 56.5% recreational bodybuilding, 27.8% stretching, and 27.2% localized gymnastics. At the time of data collection 11.1% (n = 50) of the participants reported current use of PES. Although we used a non-probabilistic convenience sampling, the sample size required for this study was calculated by an a priori sample size calculator for structural equation models (Soper, 2017). Considering a model with four latent variables and 16 observed variables, to achieve a power of 0.9, an anticipated effect size of 0.2 with a probability level of 0.05, it was determined that 434 participants would be required. The participants met the following inclusion criteria: participation in any gym activity; being over the age of 16; being able to read; and having access to a smartphone, tablet, or PC to enter in the online platform through which the survey was administered. This investigation was not deemed to cause physical or psychological harm to respondents. However, participants were informed that they could find some questions uncomfortable; hence, the informed consent form made clear that participation was voluntary and that their responses were confidential and anonymous. Furthermore, they had the right to leave any questions unanswered or withdraw from the study at any time, without having to provide reasons or suffering any consequences. Participants who were 16–17 years of age were informed that they should discuss the study with their parents or legal guardians and were asked to confirm in the online consent form that they had done so. This procedure was sanctioned by the university ethics committee.
Self-Reported Use of PES
To assess self-reported PES use, participants answered "yes" or "no" to the following question: "As part of your practice, have you ever taken performance-enhancing substances?" Participants were categorized into two groups: (a) those who have never used PES and (b) those who had used or currently use PES. The reason for this categorization was to determine the risk of PES use among these groups (Barkoukis et al., 2013). As a criterion for the PES, the WADA Prohibited List was followed; therefore, vitamins and dietary supplements were not considered.
QAD-Fit
The variables derived from the TPB (attitudes, subjective norms, beliefs, and PES use intention) were measured by the QAD-Fit. This instrument contains 16 items that measure four dimensions: attitudes (assessed by the mean of five items; e.g., "Selling PES should be punished"), subjective norms (assessed by the mean of three items; e.g., "I would take PES, if most people I know approved of it"), beliefs (assessed by the mean of three items; e.g., "Performance-enhancing substances help to improve physical abilities"), and intention (assessed by the mean of five items; e.g., "I would take PES to achieve my goals in the practice of physical activity"). All items were answered on a 7-point Likert-type scale ranging from (1) totally disagree to (7) totally agree. A higher score indicates a more positive attitude toward PES consumption. QAD-Fit is a psychometric valid instrument for Portuguese gym/fitness users. Specifically, the total composite reliability (CR) was 0.85, with values of 0.74 for beliefs, 0.84 for attitudes, 0.86 for subjective norms, and 0.97 for intentions (Tavares et al., 2019b).
After the approval of the study protocol (no. 38/2017) by the Ethical Committee of the Faculty of Human Kinetics of the University of Lisbon, participants were recruited by gyms and fitness center clubs in the Great Lisbon area, who advertised the study through their institutional e-mail and Facebook accounts. Prior to data collection, the survey web link directed potential participants to an informed consent page, where additional information was provided and the methods to ensure anonymity and confidentiality were described. Then, a web-based survey administered via REDCap software (Version 5.11.4, Vanderbilt University) was utilized to collect (1) demographic data; (2) self-reported use of PES (doping behavior); and (3) attitudes, subjective norms, beliefs, and PES use intention. The questionnaires took approximately 15 min to complete. The data collection procedures did not allow any data to be traced back to individual participants or their Internet providers. Also, encryption procedures were utilized during data transfer.
A two-step approach to maximum likelihood (ML) structural modeling was performed using IBM SPSS AMOS 24.0 (Analysis of Moment Structures; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, United States). First, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to estimate the measurement components of the constructs in the TPB. Indicators loaded on their underlying factors, and inter-factor correlations were allowed. The factors' measurement errors were estimated as well. Assessment of model fit was based on multiple indicators (Hu and Bentler, 1999; Marsh, 2007), namely, chi-square (χ2) statistical test, the ratio of chi-square to its degree of freedom (χ2/df), comparative fit index (CFI), parsimony comparative fit index (PCFI), parsimony goodness-of-fit index (PGFI), Tucker-Lewis index (TLI), standardized root means square residual (SRMR), and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA). The fit of the model was considered good for CFI above 0.95, TLI greater than 0.95, SRMR less than 0.08, and RMSEA below 0.06 (Bentler and Bonett, 1980; Blunch, 2008; Arbuckle, 2009; Byrne, 2010; Kline, 2011; Marôco, 2014).
The composite reliability (CR) was used as a measure of internal consistency of the factors, where values greater 0.70 indicate good reliability (Fornell and Larcker, 1981). Convergent validity and discriminant validity were assessed to test construct validity. To evaluate convergent validity, the average variance extracted (AVE) was estimated, where values greater than 0.50 show convergent validity (Fornell and Larcker, 1981). The condition to ensure discriminant validity was that the AVE for each construct was larger than the interconstruct squared correlation (Fornell and Larcker, 1981).
Second, the structural model (whereby the measurement and structural components were simultaneously estimated) was performed to test the first and second hypotheses. Each factor was specified to predict its respective indicators. Then, attitudes, subjective norms, and beliefs – allowed to freely intercorrelate with one another – were set to be predictive of intentions to use PES in the global sample (n = 453).
Once successfully ascertained that the structural model could predict intentions to use PES, a multigroup analysis was conducted to identify differences on the path coefficients among models for the gender groups. Analysis of the invariance for the structural model was performed with maximum likelihood estimation with the Emulisrel6 method by constraining a series of nested models to test, sequentially, for configural, metric (factor loadings), scalar (items' intercepts), and structural weights (for the causal model). Invariance was probed using the ΔCFI criterion (Cheung and Rensvold, 2002) over the Δχ2 criterion (Satorra and Bentler, 2001) given the fact that the latter is too restrictive (Marôco, 2014).
To compare TPB variables (i.e., attitudes, subjective norms, and beliefs) and intentions to PES use mean scores between genders, a t-test with the Welch correction for heterokedastic variances was used on the latent factor scores. To compute the standardized effect size, Cohen's d was calculated (Hong et al., 2003).
Considering that self-reported PES use is a dichotomic variable (i.e., yes/no), to test the hypothesis that the use of PES would be predicted by intentions, a probit regression of PES use on intentions was performed with the Lavaan package (Rosseel, 2012) using the diagonally weighted least squares (DWLS) estimator for categorical variables, from the R statistical software (R Core Team, 2019).
Preliminary Analyses
Summary measures, skewness (sk), kurtosis (ku), and a histogram for each of the 16 items are presented (Table 1) and were used to access distributional properties and psychometric sensitivity. Absolute values of sk smaller than 3 and ku smaller than 7 were considered indicative of no strong deviations from the normal distribution (Finney and DiStefano, 2013; Marôco, 2014). The Mardia's coefficient (133.18) exceeded minimum values for the multivariate normality, reason why a Bollen-Stine bootstrap (B-S) on 2000 samples was used for subsequent analysis (Nevitt and Hancock, 2001).
Table 1. Questionnaire of Attitudes toward Doping in Fitness items descriptive statistics.
Table 2 shows the descriptive statistics of the whole sample for attitudes, subjective norms, beliefs, and intention. Mean values are below 4 for all variables, showing that gym users were against the use of PES.
Table 2. Correlation, means, standard deviations, CR, AVE, and discriminant validity.
The Measurement Model
Results from the confirmatory analysis are presented in Figure 1. All items had statistically significant factor loadings (p < 0.001). The fit of the TPB model to the sample data was appropriate [χ2 (97) = 204.383, B-S p < 0.001, CFI = 0.981, TLI = 0.976, RMSEA = 0.049; with a 90% CI of 0.040 and 0.059, SRMR = 0.045]. Considering that they are part of the same framework, the TPB's constructs were found to be correlated, with the highest correlation between subjective norms and beliefs (r = 0.53, p < 0.001) and the weakest correlation between attitudes and subjective norms (r = 0.42, p < 0.001).
Figure 1. Hypothesized model on the TPB with a sample of gym users.
Within the measurement component, all indicators were found to be reliably associated (p < 0.001) with their latent factors. The reliability coefficients were greater than 0.70, and all variables are close to or exceeded the level greater than 0.50 of AVE for convergent validity, ranging from 0.49 to 0.87. Indeed, the discriminant validity of all variables was supported, since the AVE estimates for each construct were larger than the interconstruct squared correlations (Fornell and Larcker, 1981). Overall, the measurement model was within the required criteria and showed good psychometric properties (Table 2).
The Structural Model
At the structural level, results support the TPB framework in predicting intentions to PES use in our gym users sample. The overall structural model with the DWLS estimation showed a good fit to the data [χ2 (113) = 97.597, p = 0.849, CFI = 1.000, TLI = 1.00, RMSEA = 0.000, 90% CI 0.000–0.000, SRMR = 0.051]. The structural component revealed that subjective norms (β = 0.50, p < 0.001), beliefs (β = 0.35, p < 0.001), and attitudes (β = 0.21, p < 0.001) predicted intentions, and 75% of the variance associated with PES use intention was accounted for by its three predictors (attitudes, subjective norms, and beliefs) (Figure 1).
In general, the model fit for structural models was found to be satisfactory for both female [χ2 (98) = 207.983 (B-S p < 0.001), χ2/df = 2.122, CFI = 0.964, TLI = 0.956, RMSEA = 0.064, 90% CI 0.052–0.076, SRMR = 0.051] and male [χ2 (98) = 166.134 (B-S p < 0.001), χ2/df = 1.695, CFI = 0.972, TLI = 0.966, RMSEA = 0.063, 90% IC 0.046–0.079, SRMR = 0.051] subsamples. Then, we tested the hypothesis that the model was invariant across genders. As shown in Table 3, the results of the goodness-of-fit [χ2 (196) = 374.117 (B-S p < 0.001), χ2/df = 1.917, CFI = 0.968, TLI = 0.960, RMSEA = 0.045, 90% CI 0.038–0.052, SRMR = 0.052] for the configural invariance test indicate that the structural patterns are similar across groups. This implies that the configural model can be used as a baseline to compare with other restricted models in the invariance hierarchy. Second, metric invariance was performed by constraining the factor loadings to be equal across groups. The results of the metric invariance model [χ2 (208) = 398.791, (B-S p = 0.016), χ2/df = 1.917, PCFI = 0.837, CFI = 0.965, TLI = 0.960, RMSEA = 0.045, 90% CI 0.038–0.052, SRMR = 0.051] suggest a good model fit. Also, the result of the chi-square difference test between the configural model and the metric model is not significant (p = 0.164), and the change value of CFI (ΔCFI = 0.003) smaller than 0.01 indicates that metric invariance is achieved (Cheung and Rensvold, 2002; Byrne, 2010; Marôco, 2014). Third, a scalar invariance test was performed by restricting the intercepts across groups to be invariant. The chi-square difference between the metric model and the scalar model is not significant (p = 0.189) and the change value of CFI (ΔCFI = 0.005) is smaller than 0.01, suggesting that the scalar invariance hypothesis is supported (Cheung and Rensvold, 2002). Since the three invariance tests were all satisfied, the hypothesis of invariance of the predictive model across genders could not be rejected.
Table 3. Model fit indices for invariance tests in the structural model (male/n = 175; female/n = 277).
After verifying the scalar measurement invariance between genders, we tested the hypothesis that males would show more favorable attitudes, subjective norms, beliefs, and intentions to use PES than their female couterparts. T-tests with the Welch correction for heterokedastic variances were used to compare the mean score differences across genders. Mean score estimates are displayed in Table 4, indicating significant differences in intentions, subjective norms, and beliefs. There was no significant difference in attitudes. The mean scores of female gym users were lower than those of the male gym users by 0.61, 0.24, 0.29, and 0.26 for intention to use PES, subjective norms, beliefs, and attitudes, respectively. Effect sizes for intentions, subjective norms, beliefs, and attitudes are small (Cohen, 1988).
Table 4. Results of the gender difference analysis.
Intentions and the Prediction of PES Use
To test the hypothesis that the use of PES (self-reported) would be predicted by intentions, we used R/Lavaan for the probit regression model using the DWLS estimator appropriate for the nominal nature of the PES use variable (Figure 2). Attitudes (β = 0.21; p < 0.001), subjective norms (β = 0.50; p < 0.001), and beliefs (β = 0.35, p < 0.001) were signficant predictors of intentions explaining 75% of its variance (R2 = 0.752). In turn, intentions predicted the PES use (self-reported) (β = 0.66, p < 0.001) explaining 44% of its variance (R2 = 0.442).
Figure 2. Hypothesized model on the TPB to predict PES use in gym users.
Taking into consideration that the use of PES in fitness context is a public health concern (Tavares et al., 2019a), the current study adopts a TPB-based framework to explore the determinants of intentions to use PES in a sample of gym/fitness center users in Portugal. Because the research on PES use among gym users is limited (Molero et al., 2017), this study is partially grounded on previous research on doping in sports. Although the context and motivation related to the use of doping substances differ (e.g., performance enhancement in athletes versus improvement of bodily appearance in gym users), behaviors have similar characteristics (e.g., use of same kind of substances).
The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the intention to use PES can be predicted by the variables considered within the TPB and whether gender influences these relationships. Based on previous findings, it was expected that TPB variables would predict intentions to use PES in our sample of gym users (e.g., Lucidi et al., 2004, 2008; Lentillon-Kaestner and Carstairs, 2010; Chan et al., 2015). As hypothezised, attitudes, subjective norms, and beliefs significantly predicted intention to use PES, accounting for almost 75% of its variance. Participants' rejection of PES use appears to be supported by unfavorable attitudes and intentions toward the behavior and low perception of social pressure with regard to the behavior. Although in general, the beliefs were slightly negative, participants consider that consumption of these substances has some advantages. Structural component analysis revealed that subjective norms were the strongest predictor of intention to use PES, suggesting that the gym user psychosocial environment, namely, the influence of significant others, may be the primary drive of the decision to use PES. This finding is not consistent with other studies since this dimension is often the weakest predictor of intentions within the TPB (Armitage and Conner, 2001; Lucidi et al., 2004). Yet, identical results were obtained by Serpa et al. (2003) in their study with young athletes, stressing the crucial role played by social pressures and social norms, meaning that behaviors and opinion of significant others may help shape the individual's intentions to use PES (Serpa et al., 2003; Lucidi et al., 2004). This result may be justified by possible sociocultural factors present in the current sample and by the use of a reliable multi-item scale to measure subjective norms (three items), instead of single-item measures (e.g., Lucidi et al., 2004). We also found a positive relationship between gym users' attitudes toward PES use and intention to use PES; however, attitudes were the weakest predictor of intentions. These results, according to Jalleh et al. (2014), emphasize the complexity of the attitude-behavior relationship and the difficulty of predicting behavior. Indeed, the behavior is influenced by a variety of situational (e.g., dynamics of peer interaction, significant others and influence of role models, accessibility of PES alternatives) and environmental (e.g., easy access to PES, pharmacological and medical advancements, medicalization, political, and sociocultural context) factors that interact to promote or prevent PES use (Petróczi and Aidman, 2008).
It was also hypothesized that the predictive model would be invariant across genders (Lucidi et al., 2004). Findings from the multigroup analysis confirm this hypothesis and support the generalizability of the proposed model across gender groups. According to Lucidi et al. (2004), generalizability across groups is a powerful indicator of the model's validity and of its capability to coherently represent the processes supporting behavioral decision making.
We also hypothesized that males were more susceptible to PES use than females. As expected, in line with other studies (Serpa et al., 2003; Pedersen, 2010; Ntoumanis et al., 2013; Backhouse et al., 2015), females believed less in the performance-enhancing effects of substances, were less susceptible to the influence of significant others, and had weaker intentions to use PES than males. This gender difference was small but statistically significant. Thus, to improve the effectiveness of PES use prevention interventions in gym users, TPB's constructs need to be considered differently in females and males. For example, males should receive specific information about the negative health consequences of the use of these substances, including the fact that they often occur several years after their use, while females should understand the importance of maintaining a healthy and balanced eating regimen and a proper physical training program. However, in contrast with some studies (Pedersen, 2010; Ntoumanis et al., 2013; Backhouse et al., 2015), no gender differences in attitudes toward PES use were found. This apparent inconsistency with the literature may be due to contextual specificities (i.e., sports socioeconomic context), as the economic incentive is not a major motivator to initiate PES use in the fitness milieu compared to sports (Lazuras, 2016).
Finally, we hypothesized that intentions would predict self-reported use of PES. In alignment with findings of Goulet et al. (2010), our results show a significant relationship between self-reported PES use and intentions to use. In the present study, intention to use PES predicted 44% of the variance in self-reported PES use; despite the tendency for participants to underreport this behavior (Lazuras et al., 2010), the strong predictive capacity of intentions confirms the volitive self-determined characteristic of PES use (Goulet et al., 2010).
While providing insightful findings about the determinants of intentions to PES use in gym users, this study has some limitations. First, because we did not use a random-stratified sampling technique, we cannot assume that the present sample is representative of the population of Portuguese gym users, which affects generalizability of the results. Despite this, self-selected samples have been used in prior studies and may be a viable option to target specific groups (Dunn et al., 2009), such as gym users. Second, although the tested model is theoretically anchored, this study involves a cross-sectional design that precludes the inference of causality. It would be important to use experimental and longitudinal designs to make causal inferences to identify the mechanisms that contribute to the development of positive intentions to use PES and to determine how attitudes change through time. Third, PES use was assessed by self-report; hence, results may have been influenced by response bias and social desirability (Gucciardi et al., 2010). However, we attempted to avoid bias and encouraged honest responses by ensuring anonymity; specifically, participants received the questionnaires by mail and through a social network (Facebook) and completed the questionnaires in complete privacy with no personal identification being collected. Fourth, we assessed self-reported PES use only in terms of current PES use while ignoring previous use. As a consequence, we did not identify participants who had used PES before the time of the assessment or the duration of current PES use. For a more complete picture of PES use in gym users, these issues need to be considered in future studies.
Future research should also explore how different facets of the normative conduct significantly predict intentions among gym users. Identification of these facets has been considered vital to improve our understanding of the role of normative beliefs and processes not accounted by subjective norms (Lazuras et al., 2010).
The present study provides information that can contribute to building multifaceted interventions for the prevention of PES use in gym/fitness context. A major conclusion is that subjective norms are the most important predictor of intention to use PES. Taking the most important significant others into consideration (e.g., friends, training colleagues, instructors), prevention strategies may focus more efficiently on the processes of social/normative influence and on moral and ethical standards, relying on the credibility of these reference groups to promote behavior change (Donovan et al., 2002; Lucidi et al., 2004; Wiefferink et al., 2008). Additionally, interventions should provide opportunities for changes in cognitions and intentions in favor of PES use prevention (Donovan et al., 2002; Wiefferink et al., 2008; Bahrke, 2012). Strategies reinforcing the negative impact of such substances in users' health and the promotion of the replacement of positive attitudes toward PES use into negative ones should also be implemented. Concerning preventive measures, attention should be paid to gender, personality factors (e.g., low self-confidence, perfectionism), and PES users/non-users' expectancies (e.g., positive expectancies regarding the use of these substances and identification with peers who promote health risk behavior) as influencing factors of PES use susceptibility. Interventions targeting persistent users should also ensure social support and the opportunity to reduce health risks (e.g., using health checkups, develop awareness about the severity of associated ill-health conditions).
The datasets for this article are not publicly available because the datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Requests to access the datasets should be directed to ana.tavares@estesl.ipl.pt.
This study was carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the Ethical Committee of the Faculty of Human Kinetics. All subjects gave written informed consent in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The protocol was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Faculty of Human Kinetics.
AT and SS were enrolled in the study design and data collection. AT, SS, and LC wrote the first draft of the manuscript. AT, AR, and JM participated in the data analysis and wrote the methodology and results. AT, SS, AR, JM, and LC participated in the final revisions of the manuscript, read and approved the final version of the manuscript, and agreed with the order of the presentation of the authors.
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Keywords: gender, gym users, performance-enhancing substances, psychological strategies, social-cognitive determinants, structural equation modeling
Citation: Tavares ASR, Rosado AF, Marôco J, Calmeiro L and Serpa S (2020) Determinants of the Intention to Use Performance-Enhancing Substances Among Portuguese Gym Users. Front. Psychol. 10:2881. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02881
Received: 08 July 2019; Accepted: 04 December 2019;
Published: 14 January 2020.
Diogo Monteiro, Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior, Portugal
Helder Miguel Fernandes, Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), Portugal
Marinella Coco, University of Catania, Italy
Copyright © 2020 Tavares, Rosado, Marôco, Calmeiro and Serpa. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Ana Sofia R. Tavares, ana.tavares@estesl.ipl.pt


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Q: Convergence of $\sum^{\infty}_{n=1}\dfrac{1}{n^{2+x}}$ Does $$\sum^{\infty}_{n=1}\dfrac{1}{n^{2+x}}, \ x \geq 0$$ converge uniformly on specified intervals?
I know that $\sum^{\infty}_{n=1}\dfrac{1}{n^{2}}$ converges when $|x|<1$. But what about $n^{2+x}$?

A: The given series is the  Riemann zeta function  and it's convergent if and only if
$$2+x>1\iff x>-1\iff x\in(-1,+\infty)$$

A: Hint: If $x \geq 0$ then $2 + x \geq 2 \Rightarrow n^{2 + x} \geq n^2$ thus $$\frac{1}{n^{2 + x}} \leq \frac{1}{n^2}$$

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Home / FEATURES / Gerald Asamoah tackles racism in German school
Gerald Asamoah interracts with pupils under the program fighting against discrimination of every kind at the Rosa Parks School in the western German city of Herten / Photo: Rosa Parks Schule
Gerald Asamoah tackles racism in German school
Gerald Asamoah was once a star in the German national football team. Now he works with young people at the Rosa Parks School in Herten to promote tolerance and understanding, so that xenophobia and violence don't take root, reports Gaby Reucher.
He'd been there just a little while ago, that big-name football player, Gerald Asamoah. The students at the Rosa Parks comprehensive school in the western German city of Herten had been waiting, expectantly, for him. He doesn't often have time to visit, but when he does, he spends his time with the kids.
"He's really approachable for the students and sets a great tone with them," said Stephanie Brzoza, a teacher at the school who serves as the contact for the school project. "When he comes here and speaks to the students, they love him."
This time, he even sang with them – a birthday medley for Rosa Parks, the US civil rights activist whose name the school bears. The visits with young people are something Gerald Asamoah enjoys. "It's really nice. You see how engaged the young people are with you. They're ready to learn from you to accept where you're coming from," said Asamoah in an interview with the German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle or DW about the project.
What connects Asamoah to the Rosa Parks School
From the outside, the Rosa Parks School doesn't look all that inviting: a large building from the 1970s made of gray cement has been done up with a few wall murals and yellow window frames.
Yet before you even cross the threshold at the school's entrance, you know what they stand for. On one side of the entry foyer is an emblem stating that this is a school "without racism," and which stands "for courage." Above the entrance is the maxim: "Without courage and inspiration, dreams will die – the dream of freedom and peace."
Gerald Asamoah is one of three supporters of the program fighting against discrimination of every kind at the Rosa Parks School. He is regularly engaged in the project.
Murat Turcan, a student in the 11th grade can remember how the students had prepared for the football star's first visit to the school four years ago. "We were fascinated by his visit, when he described how he was cursed and insulted. He showed us that you can accomplish anything, no matter your skin colour if you push through. He didn't allow them get him down."
At the time, the class had bet against their teacher, Stephanie Brzoza, saying that a star like Asamoah would never come to a school like theirs to speak about his experiences with racism. But the children lost the bet.
"We were so nervous on the day that Asamoah came," said Murat. "I still get butterflies in my stomach when I think about it."
Courage against xenophobia
The former student who served as a class liaison, Florian Thielemann, worked hard to have the Rosa Parks School officially named a "school without racism." That's the motor that drove the movement to get Gerald Asamoah engaged in the project. "Asamoah stands for tolerance and is against racism. That's in our best interests." With letters and good reasons, the students won Asamoah over. "We have a school with a large percentage of immigrant students. It's imperative to act courageously."
The city of Herten, with its 62,000 inhabitants, lies in the middle of Germany's western Ruhr region. Around 14 per cent of the population has a history of migration. The unemployment rate lies around 12 per cent. That's reflected in the school, where around 50 to 60 per cent of the students are from a cultural background that is not immediately German.
'School without racism – school with courage'
"School without racism – school with courage" is a Europe-wide project for tolerance and education that is supported by the European Union. Schools which would like to hold the title have to fulfill specific requirements.
"The students are required to not tolerate racist acts and instead lead the way against such actions," said the school's principal, Thomas Aehlig.
At least 70 per cent of all students and those who are employed at the school have to sign a statement saying that they want to actively work against racism and discrimination. Beyond that, they need to have individuals who act as a sort-of mentor, adopting the school and creating a project on the topic of "school without racism," each year.
"That's not just a title or a label that's been attached to our school. It's important to me that we also display that during our lessons," said Aehlig.
Gerald Asamoah was quickly won over. "I liked the idea a lot and really stand behind it," said the footballer, who in the meantime has gone on to support five schools across Germany in the project. "Adults can't change much, their mind is already made up, even if I try to speak to that person. But with young people, you can really talk to them and make it clear: We are all the same. The children are our future."
Every year, there are different projects on the subject of racism and courage at the Rosa Parks School. In one of them, the students created an "anti-racism bus" in Herten. This year, a class of students comprised of recently arrived refugees will be brought into the project.
"We're going to create a large poster with the class of refugees," said student head Sarah Ates. "We want to create a sign that we stand for tolerance and with it, show that refugees are welcome here."
Rosa Parks as a role model
For his educational work on the subject of racism, former student Florian Thielmann has received the school's Rosa Parks Prize, awarded annually on 4 February, the birthday of the civil rights activist.
Parks is best known for being arrested after refusing to move to the back of a city bus in 1955, when the segregation of black and white people was still prevalent in the US.
"The prize serves not only as a symbol against racism, it also shows civic courage and engagement through projects that nurture co-operation," said religion teacher Renate Tellgmann. In 2005, Tellgmann worked with her students to have the name of the school changed to the Rosa Parks School. "As a result of the name, students are made aware of the connections across time, such as the discriminatory laws from the Nazi era or dring Apartheid in South Africa."
At the moment, Trump has been a big topic of discussion. "And of course, the refugees who are here. One of our higher-level students uses the free lessons she has to teach German to the refugee students."
Racism still prevalent in many heads
Of course, racism and discrimination still exists at the Rosa Parks School, said Tellgmann. But there are always students who are willing to step in.
Outside of school, it's something else. Jessica Nsanda, for example, recently had her hair touched while riding in the tram. And when a woman saw her mobile telephone, the woman said to the person next to her. "They come to Germany and give their money away for mobiles," Jessica told a small group of students who'd gathered. She shrugged. "What am I supposed to do? That's the image people have of us."
"People are always touching my hair. I hate it. That's why I always kept my hair short," said Johannes Cronauer, a former student who was active in the "anti-racism bus" project.
Social worker Martin Schwirske reinforces the students in their activism, coordinating the school's working group, "school without racism." He's proud of the students' projects. Of course, one cannot just rest on his laurels and decide that the "school without racism" seal is enough. The subject is one that must be confronted repeatedly in various projects and that message needs to be promoted to the outside, he said. For him, it's clear, "A school without racism is not a condition, it's an objective."
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Nigerian Diaspora Germany holds funeral for Dr. Daniel Kutchin
The Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Germany (NIDOG) has announced the funeral arrangement for the late …
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
from __future__ import unicode_literals

from django.apps import apps
from django.db import models
from django.utils.lru_cache import lru_cache
from django.utils.encoding import python_2_unicode_compatible
from model_utils import FieldTracker

from nodeconductor.core import models as core_models
from nodeconductor.logging.loggers import LoggableMixin
from nodeconductor.quotas.fields import CounterQuotaField, LimitAggregatorQuotaField
from nodeconductor.quotas.models import QuotaModelMixin
from nodeconductor.structure import models as structure_models

class SaltStackService(structure_models.Service):
    projects = models.ManyToManyField(
        structure_models.Project, related_name='saltstack_services', through='SaltStackServiceProjectLink')

    @classmethod
    def get_url_name(cls):
        return 'saltstack'

    class Meta(structure_models.Service.Meta):
        verbose_name = 'SaltStack service'
        verbose_name_plural = 'SaltStack service'

# to avoid circular imports
def _get_sharepoint_tenant_model():
    from ..sharepoint.models import SharepointTenant
    return [SharepointTenant]

def _get_exchange_tenant_model():
    from ..exchange.models import ExchangeTenant
    return [ExchangeTenant]

def _get_site_collection_model():
    from ..sharepoint.models import SiteCollection
    return [SiteCollection]

def _get_mailbox_models():
    from ..exchange.models import User, ConferenceRoom
    return [User, ConferenceRoom]

class SaltStackServiceProjectLink(structure_models.ServiceProjectLink):
    service = models.ForeignKey(SaltStackService)

    class Meta(structure_models.ServiceProjectLink.Meta):
        verbose_name = 'SaltStack service project link'
        verbose_name_plural = 'SaltStack service project links'

    class Quotas(QuotaModelMixin.Quotas):
        exchange_storage = LimitAggregatorQuotaField(
            default_limit=50 * 1024,
            get_children=lambda spl: spl.exchange_tenants.all(),
            child_quota_name='mailbox_size'
        )
        sharepoint_storage = LimitAggregatorQuotaField(
            default_limit=10 * 1024,
            get_children=lambda spl: spl.sharepoint_tenants.all(),
            child_quota_name='storage',
        )
        sharepoint_tenant_number = CounterQuotaField(
            target_models=_get_sharepoint_tenant_model,
            path_to_scope='service_project_link',
            default_limit=-1,
        )
        exchange_tenant_number = CounterQuotaField(
            target_models=_get_exchange_tenant_model,
            path_to_scope='service_project_link',
            default_limit=-1,
        )
        site_collection_count = CounterQuotaField(
            target_models=_get_site_collection_model,
            path_to_scope='user.tenant.service_project_link',
            default_limit=-1,
        )
        mailbox_count = CounterQuotaField(
            target_models=_get_mailbox_models,
            path_to_scope='tenant.service_project_link',
            default_limit=-1,
        )

    @classmethod
    def get_url_name(cls):
        return 'saltstack-spl'

@python_2_unicode_compatible
class SaltStackProperty(core_models.UuidMixin, core_models.NameMixin, LoggableMixin, models.Model):
    backend_id = models.CharField(max_length=255, db_index=True)

    tracker = FieldTracker()

    class Meta(object):
        abstract = True

    def __str__(self):
        return self.name

    @classmethod
    def get_type_name(cls):
        return '%s.%s' % (cls._meta.app_label, cls._meta.model_name)

    @classmethod
    def get_type_display_name(cls):
        return '%s %s' % (cls._meta.app_label.title(), cls._meta.verbose_name)

    def _get_log_context(self, entity_name):
        context = super(SaltStackProperty, self)._get_log_context(entity_name)
        context['property_type'] = self.get_type_name()
        return context

    @classmethod
    @lru_cache(maxsize=1)
    def get_all_models(cls):
        return [model for model in apps.get_models() if issubclass(model, cls)]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
https://www.myjoyonline.com/new-zealand-politician-cycles-to-hospital-in-labor-gives-birth/-------https://www.myjoyonline.com/new-zealand-politician-cycles-to-hospital-in-labor-gives-birth/
New Zealand politician cycles to hospital in labor, gives birth
28 November 2021 12:02pm
New Zealand MP Julie Anne Genter cycled to the hospital to give birth.
New Zealand Member of Parliament Julie Anne Genter got on her bicycle early on Sunday and headed to the hospital. She was already in labor, and she gave birth an hour later.
"Big news!" the Greens politician posted on her Facebook page a few hours later. "At 3.04am this morning we welcomed the newest member of our family. I genuinely wasn't planning to cycle in labor, but it did end up happening."
The island nation of 5 million already has a reputation for down-to-earth politicians. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern famously took maternity leave while in office and brought her three-month-old to a United Nations meeting as she was still breastfeeding.
"My contractions weren't that bad when we left at 2am to go to the hospital — though they were 2-3 min apart and picking up in intensity by the time we arrived 10 minutes later," Genter wrote.
"Amazingly now we have a healthy, happy little one sleeping, as is her dad," said Genter, a dual New Zealand-US citizen who was born in Minnesota and moved to the Pacific country in 2006.
Genter — her party's spokesperson for transport issues and whose Facebook profile includes "I love my bicycle" — also biked to the hospital in 2018 to give birth to her first-born, local media said.
Julie Anne Genter
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text:
Посольство Республіки Македонія в Києві () — офіційне дипломатичне представництво Республіки Македонія в Україні, відповідає за підтримання та розвиток відносин між Республікою Македонія та Україною.

Історія посольства

Відносини між Україною і Македонією було започатковано 23 липня 1993 року визнанням Україною державної незалежності Колишньої Югославської Республіки Македонія.
Дипломатичні відносини було встановлено 20 квітня 1995 року шляхом обміну нотами між МЗС України і МЗС Македонії. У грудні 1997 року в Києві було відкрито Посольство Республіки Македонія.
У червні 2000 року було відкрито дипломатичне представництво України в Республіці Македонія.
У листопаді 2001 року було відкрито Посольство України в Республіці Македонія.

Посли Республіки Македонія в Україні
 Владо Блажевскі (1997 — 2003)
 Мартін Гулескі (2003 — 2008)
 Ілія Ісайловскі (2008 — 2009)
 Ацо Спасеновскі (2010 — 2014)
 Столе Змейкоскі (2014-2019)
 Крум Ефремов (2019-).

Див. також
 Українсько-македонські відносини
 Український дипломатичний корпус
 Список дипломатичних місій України
 Посольство України в Македонії

Примітки

Посилання
 Посольство Республіки Македонія в Україні

Македонія
Українсько-північномакедонські відносини
Україна

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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text:
Sister Wives' Kody Brown: 'I Never Want to See My Wives Sharing a Kitchen'
by Lorenzo Longhitano
An awkward Thanksgiving. After Janelle Brown and Christine Brown both chose to go to Utah and spend the holiday with their kids, Kody Brown spent the day with Meri Brown, Robyn Brown and Robyn's kids.
While there was much debate leading up to who would be where for Thanksgiving, Kody, 52, seemed happy to have Meri, 50, and Robyn, 43, with him. However, he wasn't thrilled with what he saw at Robyn's house.
Sister Wives' Kody and Meri Brown's Ups and Downs Through the Years
While Meri usually cooks the turkey, Robyn called her ahead of time to ask if she could do it this time. So, Meri came over and they prepared everything together.
Courtesy of TLC
"It's quiet here. It's been peaceful," Kody explained. "It's great having Meri around. We don't have a strained relationship. We just don't have a full marriage. … I'm basically just trying to have a good, amicable relationship with Meri. But it's no more than that. It's not a marriage."
A Breakdown of Where Kody Brown Stands With His Sister Wives
For years, Meri and Kody have had an up and down relationship. The pair got married in 1990 and welcomed daughter Mariah five years later. In 2014, he and Meri legally divorced but stayed in a spiritual union, so that he could adopt Robyn's three children from a previous marriage. After she faced a catfishing scandal in 2015, the duo have been having a tough time and he's since shared that they're now strictly friends.
During Sunday's episode, Meri explained that she is "really comfortable" with Robyn in the kitchen, and Robyn agreed. "Meri and I actually work really well in the kitchen together," she explained. "I don't know how it would be if we lived together and shared a kitchen, but when we work together for holidays, we actually work really well together."
Still, Kody wasn't exactly happy about the situation.
"I would never again, for the rest of my life, ever want to have wives sharing a kitchen. There is a tendency from what I've seen to be this vying for power and position or relinquishing power and position to get along," he said during a confessional. "Personally, out of just knowing women's nature, I don't give a damn about what polygamists believe about what you should do with wives to make them grow and become celestial. I never want to see my wives sharing a kitchen ever."
'Sister Wives' Family Guide: Get to Know Kody Brown's Spouses and Kids
Later in the episode, the family patriarch again brought up how different this year's Thanksgiving was with only eight of them.
"It's quiet, it's easy. I'm not saying that's what I want," Kody told the cameras. "You want an easy life, be a monogamous."
Sister Wives airs on TLC Sundays at 10 p.m. ET.
0 comments on "Sister Wives' Kody Brown: 'I Never Want to See My Wives Sharing a Kitchen'"


Securities allegations can involve either publicly-traded companies, or investments in private firms. Either way, these disputes require Fulcrum's core skills of (i) assessing the fairness of accounting presentations, (ii) analyzing of damages associated with capital markets, and (iii) valuing of businesses and intangible assets.
Determined economic losses suffered by lenders on security interests in a company whose financial statements had been falsified. Estimated the value of the company, which determined the implied value of the security interest at issue under the assumption that proper financial disclosures had been made at earlier dates. Company value estimates at different dates were based on a variety of factors including: actual market transactions, change in financial conditions, analysis of importance of various financial results to the market place, and statistical evidence.
Estimated economic losses suffered by a bondholder whose bonds' value fell allegedly as a result of the inadequacies of the bonds' servicer. Estimated the value of the bonds under the assumption that the bonds had been serviced properly. Bond-value estimates were based on a variety of factors including: actual market transactions, change in market and financial conditions during the relevant time period, comparable bond values, analysis of the relative importance of various economic and financial results to the market place, and other statistical evidence.
On behalf of a class of purchasers of a publicly traded stock on national and international stock exchanges, used advanced econometric methods (e.g., Dickey-Fuller tests) to determine whether the market for the stock shares during the class period reflected and incorporated information – whether or not the stock exchanges were efficient markets for the stock (i.e., tested if the stock followed a "random walk" commonly used as evidence of an efficient underlying market).
Determined the intrinsic value of a Fortune 500 company's stock price for a securities litigation case. Created multiple models under various scenarios. Performed industry and company specific research. Utilized discounted cash flow analysis, guideline company multiples, and transaction multiples as indications of value.


Maximizing time in the Walt Disney World parks is one of my favorite things, so I am so glad that you asked this great question!
When you have a FastPass+ window of one hour for any experience, keep in mind that you are able to enter that experience at the start of that window. So, if you arrive to meet Cinderella at 9:30, you will likely be finished well within that hour. As such, book your next FastPass+ to begin at 10:30, trying to keep your three FP+ experiences close to each other, to enable easier access.
If you are in Magic Kingdom Park, arrange your second FP+ to be in an area that's close to the first that morning. This Magic Kingdom map will help you gauge the distance between attractions; we like to focus our travels in one particular area, then travel a little further later in the day.
You might want to schedule a Walt Disney World Advanced Dining Reservation for lunch or an early dinner after your first three FastPass+ experiences, then take some time to reconnect, relax and recharge over a great meal, choosing your fourth FastPass+ as you do so. This is a great way to chat about the fun you've had and to plan more for the rest of your day!
Have a magical visit, Angel! Be sure to send more questions as you think of them, too; we love to help!


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Some progressives believe EMILY's List has outlived its usefulness and is now functioning as just another branch of the Democratic establishment.
The stage at EMILY's List's pre-Oscars brunch on Feb. 27 in Los Angeles.
There are an unprecedented number of women running for office in 2018, but the preeminent group dedicated to electing Democratic women who support abortion rights has become ensnared in the party's post-2016 infighting. Some say the group, EMILY's List, has been subsumed by the evil status quo empire it once hoped to subvert.
"When you become kind of a political institution, you take less political risk," she said.
"They have successfully elected so many women, that they don't get to be punk rock anymore," said a Democratic strategist who has worked with the group.
EMILY's List has become "one of the pillars" of the Democratic establishment, wrote progressive-friendly publication Splinter in a February story titled, "How EMILY's List Lost Its Way." The Intercept in January deemed it one of several groups that "represents the party's central authority." A person working with a progressive group highlighted EMILY's List support as a mark against candidates the group was not backing when speaking of House Democratic primaries last month.
The tension between EMILY's List and the left that's now boiling over is not new. In its most recent incarnation, EMILY's List became a target of Bernie Sanders' supporters after backing Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2016. But in this political moment, where regular voters are increasingly aware of and arguing over the political institutions behind the candidates, those tensions have become part of the public discussion.
That's especially true of the Democratic primary in Texas's 7th District. There are two women who support abortion rights running in that runoff race, lawyer Lizzie Pannill Fletcher and activist Laura Moser. Moser has the backing of many of the progressive groups affiliated with Sanders and has been spurned by House Democrats' official campaign arm. EMILY's List endorsed Fletcher, and spent about $250,000 supporting her candidacy during the primary.
"This is a new time for Democratic politics, and there's so many women," she continued. "The problem used to be getting women to run, and now that we have these multiple races with two abortion-rights supporters, with two-plus women supporting abortion rights, like, they need to give a long, hard look at what they're evaluating, what their criteria are, how to make these choices."
Some of this can be written off as sour grapes.
"EMILY's list endorsed me in November and has been supportive of me because I earned that endorsement," Fletcher told BuzzFeed News in February, saying she didn't see its endorsement as any different than, say, the Sanders-aligned Our Revolution endorsing Moser. EMILY's List's efforts, she noted, had been promoting her in a positive way; the group had not done any negative advertising against any other candidate.
"Given that there are so many races on the map this cycle, we have to be strategic about where we make decisions about resources and that means targeting states and districts where we can make the most difference and elect the most women," said Christina Reynolds, vice president of communications for EMILY's List, said of how they prioritize.
There's rarely any kind of uproar when, say, unions endorse, as they did against Fletcher. Or when one of the groups aligned with Sanders gets involved in a race.
But few groups occupy the political real estate that EMILY's List does.
"EMILY's List is like the gold standard."
But critics say EMILY's List's criteria for endorsing candidates — women who, Reynolds said, support abortion rights and are, based on an assessment by EMILY's List and its allies, "running a strong, professional campaign that will flip a seat and add another woman's voice to the table" — is insufficient for a moment when the divides in Democratic politics run along very different axes.
Democrats are now rarely divided over abortion. A challenge to incumbent Illinois Democratic Rep. Dan Lipinski, who is anti–abortion rights, made headlines last month in part because, in 2018, Lipinski is so unusual among Democratic members of Congress. And this cycle, being a woman candidate is no longer such a rarity: A record number of women are seeking office on both sides of the aisle this year.
Donald Trump's victory in 2016, and what has followed in its wake, called into question the conventional wisdom about how political institutions evaluate and campaign for candidates. EMILY's List's critics say the group needs to grapple with the new political order, and with whether its old candidate criteria need to change.
There is little conflict in this year's Senate campaigns, where primary challenges are a non-factor and Democrats' two best opportunities to pick up a seat are in races with women candidates backed by EMILY's List. But on the House side, where Democrats are trying to sort through ideological rifts within the party, EMILY's List's engagement has raised some hackles.
"I don't know if identity politics is enough, period. And especially this session I don't know if it's enough," said Rep. Mark Pocan, cochair of the Progressive Caucus, which, like other groups, has gone against EMILY's List in a handful of campaigns and been allied with them in others.
"If big groups like them with a lot of big money to help candidates don't push for as big change, it kind of acts as a deterrent for groups that do," said Alexandra Rojas, campaign director for Justice Democrats, a group that evolved out of Sanders' campaign.
"EMILY's List is in the business of electing pro-choice Democratic women who will be champions for women and hardworking families. That just isn't possible without defending a woman's right to choose, full stop," said Reynolds, when asked whether the group feels compelled to engage with divisions animating Democratic politics at the moment.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi onstage with her grandchildren at an EMILY's List event at the Democratic National Convention on July 27, 2016, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
EMILY's List's traditional criteria for viability can shut out women of color, detractors argue. EMILY's List has, in fact, endorsed many candidates of color in recent years. According to numbers provided by the group, 40% of the candidates that have been elected to Congress with its support were women of color. This cycle, EMILY's List is backing, among others, Veronica Escobar and Sylvia Garcia, either of whom, if elected, would be the first Latina member of Congress from Texas; Lauren Underwood, the first black woman to run in Illinois' 14th district; and Stacey Abrams, who would be Georgia's first black governor, if elected. In 2016, the group backed former Rep. Donna Edwards, who is black, in a Senate primary against then-Rep. Chris Van Hollen, an endorsement that aligned EMILY's List with some of the progressive groups that are critical of the group.
For EMILY's List critics, that example is Lucy Flores.
Flores was endorsed by EMILY's List for her state assembly bids in 2010 and 2012, and when she ran for lieutenant governor of Nevada in 2014. But when she got into a multi-candidate primary for a Nevada congressional seat in 2016, EMILY's List opted to endorse another woman in the race — Susie Lee. Flores has made no secret of her fury with the group.
The group's organizers "just discard you, just, like a commodity, when in a particular race there's somebody who can raise more money for themselves but also for EMILY's List," she told BuzzFeed News. Sanders, whom she endorsed in 2016, sent a fundraising email for Flores suggesting EMILY's List had dropped its support for her because she was backing him.
"They continue to exist as if they're these big champions of women, but really what they are is a champion of rich white women," said Flores, who is Hispanic.
The situation "raised some flags," said Peeler-Allen.
"As a female progressive candidate of color, I mean, I didn't even feel like I was welcome to EMILY's List," said Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is now mounting a long-shot primary bid against Rep. Joe Crowley in New York with the backing of Justice Democrats. She cited Flores as evidence.
"Most activists advised me at the beginning of my campaign, 'it's nice to reach out, but if you're pressed for time, it's probably not going to happen,'" Ocasio-Cortez recounted.
Some on the Sanders-aligned left object that the nebulous "beyond that" criteria often finds EMILY's List on the same side as the official Democratic campaign arm. But Democrats elsewhere on the ideological spectrum have noted the group's stated priorities sometimes seem at odds: Sometimes the woman candidate in a primary is not competitive. For instance, in some crowded House primaries this cycle — particularly a handful in California — EMILY's List–backed candidates look unlikely to be able to break into the top tier, raising questions as to how EMILY's List will deploy its resources in those races.
Hillary Clinton speaks at EMILY's List's 30th Anniversary Gala at the Washington Hilton on March 3, 2015, in Washington, DC.
So far this cycle, Women Vote!, EMILY's List's independent expenditure arm, has spent more than $1 million supporting candidates it has endorsed — four candidates in Texas and two in Illinois. And EMILY's List has raised and transferred over $1 million directly to the candidates it endorsed.
The energy and agony on the left following the 2016 elections has given life to a whole host of groups that help women run for office. But no group is poised to usurp EMILY's List's role in Democratic politics. And some of the groups that find themselves alternately working with or against EMILY's List see demonizing them as counterproductive.
"We sometimes work together, and sometimes we're up against each other. But you would be hard-pressed for me to say that any of that extends beyond those specific races," said Amanda Litman of Run for Something. EMILY's List still gives "indispensable" guidance to campaigns, one Democrat said of her time working on a campaign the group supported.
"Since Election Day 2016, more than 34,000 women have reached out to us about running for office," said Reynolds. "I think that says it all. But we absolutely welcome more organizations who want to help elect more pro-choice Democratic women."
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a candidate for Congress endorsed by Justice Democrats. A previous version of this story misstated her relationship with the group.


If you haven't checked out UK rock outfit Tigress you should definitely give their new video a watch. The track "Headaches" is from their new EP Like It Is which I had plenty of good things to say about. You can read the EP review here. While the instrumentals are minimal through a lot of the track they kick in when needed and mostly serve as a backdrop for Katy Jackson's vocal delivery. The track will have no problems finding fans with the punk / pop crowd and probably fans of rock in general. If you haven't yet gotten on board you can follow the band on Facebook and Twitter. If you like what you've heard be sure to pick up a copy of the album or some merch through their website. It's well worth your time and money.


Featuring a business centre, Skylink Suites Bed & Breakfast operates a 24-hour front desk to assist guests. It is barely 200 m away from the South Extension Bus Station. Free parking facility is available. Popular attractions like India Gate, Kalkaji Temple and Jantar Mantar are within 12 km from Skylink Suites Bed & Breakfast. The New Delhi Railway Station is 12 km away while the Indira Gandhi International Airport is 15 km away. Fitted with a minibar and tea/coffee maker, each air-conditioned room is equipped with a heater, desk and flat-screen satellite TV. The private bathroom includes shower and basic amenities. The property offers services like safety deposit, luggage storage and currency exchange. Guests interested in cooking can use the shared kitchen. Travel arrangements and car rental can be done at the tour desk. Room service is available. You can also enjoy a number of FREE perks during your stay, like WiFi and parking.


text:
Home Mystery Booms Unexplained Loud Booms in Northampton UK: An Underground Explosion? – June 5...
Underground Explosion
Unexplained Loud Booms in Northampton UK: An Underground Explosion? – June 5 2013
Three "explosions" heard in the early hours of the morning in Northampton are being treated as unexplained. The fire service said the first "explosion" was reported at 02:59 in St Mary's Street, followed by a call from Castle Street at 03:34 and Silver Street at 05:19.
Some think the "loud bang" was similar to that of a shotgun blast. Western Power Distribution said there had been a power cut in the Abington area of Northampton at about 04:40 which could have produced a bang.
In total, about 900 houses lost their power. Connections were restored by 05:20. An underground explosion? Fireworks?
Northamptonshire Police find the bangs are a "bit of a mystery" but no investigations are ongoing.
Feel free to give me some more information!
All the best and keep safe!
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Loud booms
mystery explosion
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Northampton Residents Report 'Booms' Like Gunfire Apr 23, 2015 At 12:08 pm
[…] publicized, occurred in May of the following year. The 2013 Northampton incident was also linked to power outages in the area, yielding similar descriptions of the sound appearing to resemble loud […]
Northampton Residents Report Bangs Like Artillery Fire Apr 23, 2015 At 12:07 pm