Young People & Drugs : Critical Issues for Policy : proceedings of a half day seminar held November 22, 1997 Trinity College Dublin.

This seminar brought together experts in the field to discuss the drugs situation, how it affects young people, and to highlight issues pertinent to policy making for this area. Howard Parker spoke on drugs awareness normalisation among teenagers and the ways in which current (specifically UK) awareness projects fail to reach teens. Barry Cullen illustrated the consequences of failing to recognise the distinction between drug use and problem drug use within communities. David Treacy highlighted that while community youth workers are often the only adult a young person can talk to candidly about their drug taking careers, youth workers fail to recognise the restrictions under which the statutory sector operate. Owen Metcalfe illustrated how drug policies are hindered by a lack of data and called for more emphasis to be placed on preventative measures such as providing recreational facilities for young people. Mary Ellen McCann explained how Ballymun Youth Action Project attempted to engage teens and gain their respect, but was hindered by statutory agencies not understanding the needs of community organisations

The Combined Otto and Stirling Cycle Prime-Mover-Based Power Plant

An exploratory study of the combined Otto and Stirling cycle prime mover is presented. The Stirling cycle acts as the bottoming cycle on the Otto cycleexhaust, the aim being the generation of additional mechanical power which may subsequently be converted to electrical power. It is postulated that theincreases in brake power and efficiency afforded by the addition of the Stirling cycle are of sufficient magnitude to offset the inherent increase in plant cost andcomplexity. The analysis necessitated the development of thermodynamic models for both the Otto cycle and Stirling cycle engines and relationships to link the two together through the Stirling cycle hot-side heat exchanger. The models are derived using the principles of Finite Time Thermodynamics (FTT), a field which is considered to offer reasonably good simulation capability for a comparably low level of model complexity. The Otto cycle FTT model isdeveloped from an existing model available in the literature. The Stirling cycle FTT model represents a new contribution to the literature. Both models arevalidated as part of the present work. They are subsequently combined using expressions derived for the Stirling cycle hot-end heat exchanger and thecombined performance is simulated. Finally a techno-economic analysis is performed to compare the economic performance of the combined system witha base-case single cycle system; this is done for mono-generation and polygenerationscenarios. It is seen from the analysis that the combined cycle system offers an economically attractive investment when analysed for NetPresent Value, Internal Rate of Return and Simple Payback Period

Needs analysis and review of drug free support initiative.

The aims of this review as set out by CCLDTF are to: • Assess the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of the current initiative • Identify additional or alternative support needs that may respond to the social, economic, environmental and intellectual needs of those a)who are drug free and b) those wishing to become drug fre

The rise and fall of heroin use in an inner city area of Dublin.

This study examined the extent of heroin use in a Dublin south inner-city electoral ward, during the period 1979 to 1985. There were 82 completed questionnaires out of a possible total of 103, giving a response rate of 80%. Each of the 82 respondents had a fixed address in the area during the period, and all of them had a history of heroin use, which was validated through medical records. The extent of heroin use in the area was greatest in the 1977/81 period, and the researchers found that it was particularly marked in the under-25 age groups, especially among males aged 15 to 19 years. However, the authors found that, since 1981, there had been a marked decline in heroin use in the area

Validation of a Simulation Model for a Combined Otto and Stirling Cycle Power Plant

A project has been underway at the Technological University Dublin (DIT) to investigate the feasibility of a combined Otto and Stirling cycle power plant in which a Stirling cycle engine would serve as a bottoming cycle for a stationary Otto cycle engine. This type of combined cycle plant is considered to have good potential for industrial use. This paper describes work by DIT and collaborators to validate a computer simulation model of the combined cycle plant. In investigating the feasibility of the type of combined cycle that is proposed there are a range of practical realities to be faced and addressed. Reliable performance data for the component engines are required over a wide range of operating conditions, but there are practical difficulties in accessing such data. A simulation model is required that is sufficiently detailed to represent all important performance aspects and that is capable of being validated. Thermodynamicists currently employ a diverse range of modeling, analysis and optimization techniques for the component engines and the combined cycle. These techniques include traditional component and process simulation, exergy analysis, entropy generation minimization, exergoeconomics, finite time thermodynamics and finite dimensional optimization thermodynamics methodology (FDOT). In the context outlined, the purpose of the present paper is to come up with a practical validation of a practical computer simulation model of the proposed combined Otto and Stirling Cycle Power Plant

A report on the history, extent and effects of heroin use in the electoral ward, Merchants Quay F 1979 - 1985.

A study on the extent and effects of heroin use in a small inner city community in the period 1979-1985 was conducted. A total of eighty-two persons were interviewed and all gave a history of heroin use. The extent of heroin use in the area was greatest in the 1979-1983 period and during this time it was concentrated in 15-19 year old males. Since 1983 there has been a clear decline in the total numbers of persons in the area who have ever used heroin, who are currently using heroin and in the numbers of those who are using heroin for the first time, a trend which coincides with the inception of a Concerned Parents Group. The profile of the heroin user is similar to the one described in previous Medico-Social Research Board studies

Who is in the transition gap? Transition from CAMHS to AMHS in the Republic of Ireland

Objective: The ITRACK study explored the process and predictors of transition between Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS) in the Republic of Ireland. Method: Following ethical approval, clinicians in each of Ireland's four Health Service Executive (HSE) areas were contacted, informed about the study and invited to participate. Clinicians identified all cases who had reached the transition boundary (i.e. upper age limit for that CAMHS team ) between January and December 2010. Data were collected on clinical and socio-demographic details and factors that informed the decision to refer or not refer to AMHS and case notes were scrutinised to ascertain the extent of information exchanged between services during transition

Impact of Cold Plasma Processing on Major Peanut Allergens

Cold plasma is emerging as a novel food processing technology, with demonstrated efficacies for microbial inactivation and residual chemical dissipation of food products. Given the technology’s multimodal action it has the potential to reduce allergens in foods, however data on the efficacy and mechanisms of action are sparse. This study investigates the efficacy of cold plasma on major peanut allergens (Ara h 1 and Ara h 2). For this purpose, dry, whole peanut (WP) and defatted peanut flour (DPF) were subjected to an atmospheric air discharge using a pin to plate cold plasma reactor for different treatment durations. With increases in plasma exposure, SDS‑PAGE analysis revealed reduced protein solubility of the major peanut allergens. Alterations in allergenicity and structure of Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 were examined using ELISA and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Competitive ELISA with proteins purified from plasma treated WP or DPF revealed reduced antigenicity for both Ara h 1 and Ara h 2. The highest reduction in antigenicity was 65% for Ara h 1 and 66% Ara h 2 when purified from DPF. Results from CD spectroscopy analysis of purified proteins strongly suggests the reduction in antigenicity is due to modifications in the secondary structure of the allergens induced by plasma reactive species. Cold plasma is effective at reducing peanut protein solubility and causes changes in allergen structure leading to reduced antigenicity