Effect of an Injury Awareness Education Program on Risk-Taking Behaviors and Injuries in Juvenile Justice Offenders: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background Risk-taking behavior is a leading cause of injury and death amongst young people. Methodology and Principal Findings This was a retrospective cohort study on the effectiveness of a 1-day youth injury awareness education program (Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth, P.A.R.T.Y.) program in reducing risk taking behaviors and injuries of juvenille justice offenders in Western Australia. Of the 3659 juvenile justice offenders convicted by the court magistrates between 2006 and 2010, 225 were referred to the P.A.R.T.Y. education program. In a before and after survey of these 225 participants, a significant proportion of them stated that they were more receptive to modifying their risk-taking behavior (21% before vs. 57% after). Using data from the Western Australia Police and Department of Health, the incidence of subsequent offences and injuries of all juvenile justice offenders was assessed. The incidence of subsequent traffic or violence-related offences was significantly lower for those who had attended the program compared to those who did not (3.6% vs. 26.8%; absolute risk reduction [ARR] = 23.2%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 19.9%–25.8%; number needed to benefit = 4.3, 95%CI 3.9–5.1; p = 0.001), as were injuries leading to hospitalization (0% vs. 1.6% including 0.2% fatality; ARR = 1.6%, 95%CI 1.2%–2.1%) and alcohol or drug-related offences (0% vs. 2.4%; ARR 2.4%, 95%CI 1.9%–2.9%). In the multivariate analysis, only P.A.R.T.Y. education program attendance (odds ratio [OR] 0.10, 95%CI 0.05–0.21) and a higher socioeconomic background (OR 0.97 per decile increment in Index of Relative Socioeconomic Advantage and Disadvantage, 95%CI 0.93–0.99) were associated with a lower risk of subsequent traffic or violence-related offences. Significance Participation in an injury education program involving real-life trauma scenarios was associated with a reduced subsequent risk of committing violence- or traffic-related offences, injuries, and death for juvenille justice offenders

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Dynamic photoinhibition exhibited by red coralline algae in the red sea

This research was funded by a Natural Environment Research Council Studentship (NE/H525303/1) and a Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS) Fellowship to HLB and a Royal Society of Edinburgh/Scottish Government Fellowship (RES 48704/1) to NAK.Background: Red coralline algae are critical components of tropical reef systems, and their success and development is, at least in part, dependent on photosynthesis. However, natural variability in the photosynthetic characteristics of red coralline algae is poorly understood. This study investigated diurnal variability in encrusting Porolithon sp. and free-living Lithophyllum kotschyanum. Measured parameters included: photosynthetic characteristics, pigment composition, thallus reflectance and intracellular concentrations of dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP), an algal antioxidant that is derived from methionine, an indirect product of photosynthesis. L. kotschyanum thalli were characterised by a bleached topside and a pigmented underside. Results: Minimum saturation intensity and intracellular DMSP concentrations in Porolithon sp. were characterised by significant diurnal patterns in response to the high-light regime. A smaller diurnal pattern in minimum saturation intensity in the topside of L. kotschyanum was also evident. The overall reflectance of the topside of L. kotschyanum also exhibited a diurnal pattern, becoming increasingly reflective with increasing ambient irradiance. The underside of L. kotschyanum, which is shaded from ambient light exposure, exhibited a much smaller diurnal variability. Conclusions: This study highlights a number of dynamic photoinhibition strategies adopted by coralline algae, enabling them to tolerate, rather than be inhibited by, the naturally high irradiance of tropical reef systems; a factor that may become more important in the future under global change projections. In this context, this research has significant implications for tropical reef management planning and conservation monitoring, which, if natural variability is not taken into account, may become flawed. The information provided by this research may be used to inform future investigations into the contribution of coralline algae to reef accretion, ecosystem service provision and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Dynamic photoinhibition exhibited by red coralline algae in the red sea BMC Plant Biology Dynamic photoinhibition exhibited by red coralline algae in the red sea

Abstract Backgroun

The card™ system for improving the vaccination experience at school: Results of a small-scale implementation project on student symptoms

Background: Many students are afraid of receiving vaccinations at school. We implemented a novel, multifaceted knowledge translation intervention incorporating evidence-based vaccination coping strategies-The CARDTM System (C-Comfort, A-Ask, R-Relax, D-Distract)-and evaluated impact on student attitudes, knowledge, coping strategies used, and symptoms during school-based vaccinations. Methods: Mixed methods. Ten schools participated in a controlled clinical trial: five experimental and five control. Experimental School (ES) students completed a knowledge and attitudes survey during an in-class CARDTM educational session prior to school vaccinations and selected coping strategies for upcoming vaccinations. Control School (CS) students received the usual vaccine education lesson, which did not include information about or selection of coping strategies. At all schools and during both vaccination clinic visits (fall and spring), injecting nurses recorded specific coping strategies used, and students independently rated their fear, pain, and dizziness during vaccinations. Focus groups were conducted at five schools after all clinics were completed (three ES, two CS). Results: ES students had higher knowledge (P\u3c0.001), less fear (P=0.03), and greater willingness to be vaccinated (P=0.001) after the in-class education session. Students rated the education as understandable, sufficient, useful, and that it prepared them for vaccinations. During school vaccination clinics, ES students selected more coping interventions than CS students. There were fewer students with high levels of fear (P=0.008) and dizziness (P=0.04) in the ES group. In round 2, fewer students (P=0.02) in the ES group returned to the clinic postvaccination because they were feeling unwell. ES students participating in focus groups scored higher on their knowledge test (P\u3c0.001) compared with CS students and reported learning and benefitting from CARDTM. Discussion: This small-scale implementation study provides preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of CARDTM in improving vaccination experiences for students at school. Future research is recommended that examines CARDTM in different settings to confirm these results

The CARD™ System for improving the vaccination experience at school: Results of a small-scale implementation project on program delivery

Objective: We conducted a small-scale implementation study that integrated The CARDTM System (C-Comfort, A-Ask, R-Relax, D-Distract)-a multifaceted knowledge translation intervention designed to improve the vaccination experience at school-within the school vaccination program. Methods: Mixed methods design, including a controlled clinical trial and focus group interviews. The experimental group included five schools whereby CARDTM was implemented. The control group included five schools whereby no changes were made. Focus groups were held at the end of the school year. For nurses trained in CARDTM, additional focus groups were held at CARDTM training and after the first round of vaccine clinic visits. Outcomes included vaccination rate at school and adult stakeholder perceptions. Results: Altogether, 323 students attended study schools. Fifty-five nurses, school staff, and parents participated in 15 focus groups. The school vaccination rate did not differ (P\u3e0.05) between groups for round 1 clinics (76% versus 77%) or round 2 clinics (68% versus 70%). Participants reported acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, and satisfaction with CARDTM. Experimental group nurses were able to integrate CARDTM within usual activities, including clinic planning, student education, and clinic-day set-up and student vaccinations. Students in experimental schools were described by nurses and school staff as more prepared and less fearful during vaccinations. Nurses reported that CARDTM built on their practice; they had higher confidence in their ability to assess pain and fear and higher satisfaction with their ability to manage it. Nurses also reported improved collaboration with students and with each other. All stakeholder groups recommended continuing CARDTM. Some additional time was required, primarily related to clinic planning activities and data collection for study purposes. Conclusion: CARDTM is a promising new approach for improving the delivery of vaccinations at school. Exploration of approaches to increase parental reach and monitoring of vaccination uptake rate over time are recommended

Flow chart showing data sources and outcomes of the study subjects.

<p>SD, standard deviation.</p

Interactions between effect of the education program on risk of subsequent offences and probability of being referred to the education program.

<p>Interactions between effect of the education program on risk of subsequent offences and probability of being referred to the education program.</p

Multivariate analysis showing the effect of attending the injury awareness program on risk of subsequent risk of committing traffic- or violence-related offences, with or without adjusting for potential selection bias for attending the program.

<p>IRSD, Index of Relative Socioeconomic Advantage and Disadvantage. Age, gender, and ethnicity were removed during the modeling process because the associated p values were >0.25. The Hosmer-Lemeshow chi-square statistics of Model 1 and 2 were 8.0 (p = 0.334) and 9.1 (p = 0.337), respectively.</p