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The aim in this study was to validate the Auckland Individualism-Collectivism Scale (AICS) across populations from 5 different countries and identify better ways to interpret the scores. Data were collected from New Zealand, Portugal, China, Italy, and Romania. The results indicate
that the AICS is not only valid but also highly reliable (α > .70). Cluster analysis identified 4 clusters: low collectivism – high individualism; high collectivism – midlevel individualism; high collectivism – high individualism; and low collectivism – low
individualism. Each group included individuals from all 4 clusters. The advantages of the AICS, the use of cluster analysis in cross-cultural measures, and the importance of these measures within the psychoeducational context are discussed.

23rd International Symposium on Ballistics, Tarragona, Spain, 16-20 April 2007 ; The feasibility and engineering design of a conceptual "non-explosive" explosive shaped charge tool that can be adapted for purposes of mitigating and neutralizing explosive ordnance during military and homeland security operations is reported. Nitromethane, a low-cost commercial solvent, is used as the energetic material. This inexpensive liquid is ideally suited for the application because of its relative insensitivity and ease of loading. The conceptual device is packaged in a shaped plastic container with a hollow-cavity that is sufficiently flexible to permit a wide range of liners of equal included volume which can be added just prior to deployment, along with automated injection of a sensitizer. The range of performance of a 25mm device against Composition B and TNT is reported. There are also reported effects on key design parameters such as sensitizer concentration, charge diameter, initiation front geometry, run-up distance, charge confinement, liner configuration, and charge performance. Observed variations in detonation velocity during initial stages of run-up and the use of the Lee-Tarver model in correlating jet impact initiation are also reported. ; The work reported herein was partially supported by the Office of Naval Research under the direction of Dr. Brian Armquist, and by graduate educational funding from Naval Postgraduate School. The authors thank Dr. Ernie Baker of the US Army Research, Engineering and Development Command and Dr. Brendon Grove, Schlumberger Oil Perforating Center, for their generous contribution of the liners tested in this program.

Background: The way in which a government chooses to finance a health intervention can affect the uptake of health interventions and consequently the extent of health gains. In addition to health gains, some policies such as public finance can insure against catastrophic health expenditures. We aimed to evaluate the health and financial risk protection benefits of selected interventions that could be publicly financed by the government of Ethiopia. Methods: We used extended cost-effectiveness analysis to assess the health gains (deaths averted) and financial risk protection afforded (cases of poverty averted) by a bundle of nine (among many other) interventions that the Government of Ethiopia aims to make universally available. These nine interventions were measles vaccination, rotavirus vaccination, pneumococcal conjugate vaccination, diarrhoea treatment, malaria treatment, pneumonia treatment, caesarean section surgery, hypertension treatment, and tuberculosis treatment. Findings: Our analysis shows that, per dollar spent by the Ethiopian Government, the interventions that avert the most deaths are measles vaccination (367 deaths averted per USD100 000 spent), pneumococcal conjugate vaccination (170 deaths averted per USD100 000 spent), and caesarean section surgery (141 deaths averted per USD100 000 spent). The interventions that avert the most cases of poverty are caesarean section surgery (98 cases averted per USD100 000 spent), tuberculosis treatment (96 cases averted per USD100 000 spent), and hypertension treatment (84 cases averted per USD100 000 spent). Interpretation: Our approach incorporates financial risk protection into the economic evaluation of health interventions and therefore provides information about the efficiency of attainment of both major objectives of a health system: improved health and financial risk protection. One intervention might rank higher on one or both metrics than another, which shows how intervention choice—the selection of a pathway to universal health coverage—might involve weighing up of sometimes competing objectives. This understanding can help policy makers to select interventions to target specific policy goals (ie, improved health or financial risk protection). It is especially relevant for the design and sequencing of universal health coverage to meet the needs of poor populations. ; publishedVersion