Seeing is believing: an educational outreach activity on disinfection practices

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Skin and soft-tissue infections are very common among persons who inject drugs. They occur when microbes pass under the protective layer of the skin and proliferate. This happens when harm reduction recommendations such as skin aseptia before injection and sterile injection equipment usage are not properly followed.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A group of active drug users involved in a health promotion project as peer educators were asked about their formation needs. To address their inquiries concerning skin and soft-tissue infections, we devised with them a series of workshops touching upon common infections, the microflora, and microbial transmission.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Participants learned to identify common infections and how to properly react in case of an abscess, cellulitis or phlebitis. They saw microscopic objects, found out about the high prevalence of microbes in their environment and on their skin, and could appreciate the efficiency of different washing and disinfection techniques. They visualized how easily microbes can spread from person to person and from contaminated objects to persons.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In the weeks following this activity, some participants demonstrated and reported healthy behavioural changes regarding their own injection practices. Furthermore, they shared their newfound knowledge and began enforcing its application among people they inject drugs with. Most participants greatly appreciated this activity and valued it as being highly efficient and tangible. Note: A French version of this paper is available on the <it>Journal</it>'s web site [see Additional file <supplr sid="S1">1</supplr>].</p> <suppl id="S1"> <title> <p>Additional File 1</p> </title> <text> <p>Article en Français (article in French). Une version française de l'article a été préparée par les auteurs. Elle est disponible à partir du site Web du <it>Harm Reduction Journal</it>.</p> </text> <file name="1477-7517-5-7-S1.doc"> <p>Click here for file</p> </file> </suppl

Spectrally narrow polarisation conversion in a slow-light photonic crystal waveguide

A narrow-band (3dB bandpass < 2 nm) transmission notch based on polarisation conversion within a SOI photonic crystal waveguide is demonstrated. Signal contrast between quasi- TE and TM eigenstates exceeding 40 dB is achieved. Further, multiple resonant wavelength coupling between the two eigenstates is also observed

Physical and mathematical modeling of awave energy converter equipped with a negative spring mechanism for phase control

A wave-energy converter has been studied through the combination of laboratory experiments and numerical simulations. The converter model is a semi-submerged axi-symmetric buoy with a circular cross section with a diameter of 26 cm at the water plane. The buoy is pitching about a fixed external axis oriented such that the buoy works primarily in heave. The laboratory model is equipped with a spring mechanism referred to as WaveSpring, which works to shift the resonance period and increase the response bandwidth of the system. A controlled electric actuator was connected and programmed to provide a velocity-proportional force for power extraction. The buoy mass was varied at two levels and the experimental setup was exposed to a selection of regular and irregular waves. The power take-off (PTO) damping was set as a function of sea state. A mathematical model for global motion response was developed based on linear hydrodynamic theory and rigid-body dynamics. Comparison of laboratory measurements and numerical simulation results shows that the dominant physical effects have been well captured by the mathematical model. Overall, the study gives an experimental verification that a negative spring mechanism mounted in parallel with the power take-off machinery of a wave energy converter may be used to increase the average converted power