Body of Knowledge: Field Use of Direct-Reading Instruments for Detection of Gases and Vapors

AIHA and its members and volunteers worked collaboratively to develop the technical framework, known as the Body of Knowledge (BoK), that outlines the knowledge and skills a competent person should possess and be able to demonstrate when operating direct-reading instruments (DRIs) for detection of gases and vapors

White Paper: Electronic Cigarettes in the Indoor Environment

Dr. Marcham was the team leader of this project and was one of 14 members who created this white paper. Electronic-cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are battery-powered devices of many different configurations that deliver vaporized nicotine and other chemicals or flavorings to users, but that do not contain tobacco or require combustion. E-cigarettes have an internal, rechargeable, battery-operated heat source that converts liquid nicotine and/or flavorings into a mist or vapor that the user inhales. These devices are frequently promoted as a healthier or safer alternative to traditional cigarettes for users and bystanders. Consequently, there has been growing interest among manufacturers and others to allow e-cigarettes to be used indoors and in other settings where traditional cigarettes have previously been banned. There has, however, been conflicting and at times confusing information presented to the public regarding the public health risks and benefits associated with e-cigarettes. This white paper attempts to present the best available science on the subject today

White Paper on PCBs in the Built Environment

Dr. Marcham was part of the 9-member team that wrote this paper. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of man-made chemicals associated with a potential risk to human health and the environment. They were used in many building materials, particularly caulking, grout, expansion joint material and paint, from approximately 1950 to 1978. Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) have published extensive material evaluating human health impacts from exposure to PCBs. The apparent public health risks, including developmental effects in children, reproductive effects and long-term risks for cancer development, have driven consideration for actions, including further research into chronic health effects, mechanisms of contact, and assessing actual and potential exposures, both in public and commercial buildings, and in the workplace, where direct and incidental exposures may occur

Assessing ballast treatment standards for effect on rate of establishment using a stochastic model of the green crab

This paper describes a stochastic model used to characterize the probability/risk of NIS establishment from ships' ballast water discharges. Establishment is defined as the existence of a sufficient number of individuals of a species to provide for a sustained population of the organism. The inherent variability in population dynamics of organisms in their native or established environments is generally difficult to quantify. Muchqualitative information is known about organism life cycles and biotic and abiotic environmental pressures on the population, but generally little quantitative data exist to develop a mechanistic model of populations in such complex environments. Moreover, there is little quantitative data to characterize the stochastic fluctuations of population size over time even without accounting for systematic responses to biotic and abiotic pressures. This research applies an approach using life-stage density and fecundity measures reported in research to determine a stochastic model of an organism's population dynamics. The model is illustrated withdata from research studies on the green crab that span a range of habitats of the established organism and were collected over some years to represent a range of time-varying biotic and abiotic conditions that are expected to exist in many receiving environments. This model is applied to introductions of NIS at the IMO D-2 and the U.S. ballast water discharge standard levels designated as Phase Two in the United States Coast Guard'sNotice of Proposed Rulemaking. Under a representative range of ballast volumes discharged at U.S. ports, the average rate of establishment of green crabs for ballast waters treated to the IMO-D2 concentration standard (less than 10 organisms/m3) is predicted to be reduced to about a third the average rate from untreated ballast water discharge. The longevity of populations from the untreated ballast water discharges is expected to be reducedby about 90% by treatment to the IMO-D2 concentration standard

Health seeking behaviors among Syrian refugee women: A scoping review

Objective: The aim of this scoping review was to explore what is known about the health seeking behaviors among Syrian refugee women within hospital and community settings. The objectives were to explore health seeking behaviors of Syrian refugee women and highlight specific issues that are important to Syrian refugee women related to seeking for health care. In addition, to uncover potential obstacles/barriers that face Syrian refugee women while seeking for health care. Methods: Arksey and O’Malley (2005) framework for scoping review was utilized to guide the review process and to explore health seeking behaviors of Syrian refugee women. Various databases such as, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Science direct and SocINDEX were utilized in the review. The search strategy consisted of broad queries, in the title, abstract, full texts and keyword fields. The search included studies published from 2011 on, that is, from the time the Syrian conflict started (March 2011) and were limited to those in the English language. Thematic analysis was undertaken to synthesize extracted data. Results: A total of 19 studies were selected for this review. The data from this review were organized along two thematic categories (accessibility of health care services) and (awareness of health care needs and available health care services). Accessibility of health care services was the most frequently reported theme throughout this area of the literature and is most often include (financial barriers, language barriers, availability of culturally and gender appropriate health services). Awareness of health care needs and available health care services was the second commonly encountered theme within the area of Syrian refugee’s women health seeking behaviors. Conclusions: Having available and accessible health care services for Syrian refugee women in host countries is a fundamental human right that can enhance Syrian refugee women health, wellbeing and quality of life. An awareness of the potential health seeking behaviors, obstacles/barriers and challenges that facing Syrian refugee women may help to promote their accessibility to health services and consequently improve their health and wellbeing. Practitioners can use this review findings to inform future policy, education and developments in practice. Further research is required to develop and evaluate initiatives that target the identified barriers and help Syrian refugee women to fulfil their unmet health care needs

VCU Media Lab

We propose the establishment of a VCU Media Lab – a professional creative media technology unit whose mission is to support the development, design, production and delivery of innovative media, multimedia, computer-based instruction, publications and tools in support of VCU education, research and marketing initiatives. This centrally administered, budgeted and resourced facility will acknowledge, refine, focus and expand media services that are currently being provided at VCU in a decentralized manner

THE INFLUENCE OF MOOD DURING TREADMILL RUNNING ON BIOMECHANICAL ASYMMETRY OF THE LOWER-LIMB

This study aimed to investigate if mood effects lower-limb biomechanical asymmetry during running. Twenty runners (13M, 7F; age 22-58 years), performed four 3-minute runs at their 5km pace (3.3 ± 0.3 m/s), preceded by a mood questionnaire. Baseline data were captured, followed by randomised mood conditions: anger, happiness, and sadness; elicited with film clips and music. Symmetry angles used for analysis. In the sadness condition, compared with baseline, biomechanical asymmetry significantly increased (p \u3c .05) by 3.7% at ground contact for hip abduction, and at toe-off for knee abduction by 0.6% and internal rotation by 1.1%. Toe-off plantarflexion asymmetry decreased by 2.2% with anger, compared to baseline. Happiness did not appear to affect asymmetry. Results suggest sadness may increase asymmetry and associated overuse injury risk, and anger may facilitate symmetry

VCU-UNITE: Identifying Recognition Mechanisms for University-Community Engagement

The aims of the project were to determine what process would be appropriate to recognize significant contributions of university and community partners to joint community engagement projects. Our view was that several different award ceremonies exist in VCU, none of which are well attended and suggesting that this form of recognition may not be a high priority for participants. Thus, we sought to determine the awareness and extent of involvement of VCU faculty, staff and students in community engagement projects, and to find out what format of recognition process would be appealing to both university and community participants. We gathered this information through surveys and focus groups, analyzed the data and determined that university and community partners had differing views on what types of recognition would be desirous. Next, we designed a web portal through which nominations could be made by members of the university and by the community. We propose a streamlined nomination and online review process, leading to a quarterly award consisting of a letter of thanks from the Division of Community Engagement, and a photograph and narrative placed on the VCU website. Recipients of quarterly awards would automatically compete for an annual award, such as P&T credit or additional community leave time (university), or a scholarship, a plaque, or recognition at a VCU event (community)

Phrenic nerve injury secondary to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in pregancy: A case report

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used to provide acute respiratory and/or hemodynamic support to patients with severe, refractory respiratory failure. Phrenic nerve injury with subsequent hemidiaphragm paralysis should be included in the differential diagnosis of pregnant women with persistent hypoxia after ECMO cannulation