Evidence-Based Bullying Prevention Programs in Elementary Schools

Youth bullying has gained national attention in recent years and is continuing throughout our educational systems. With technology advancing, students are now faced with an increased chance of being bullied inside and/or outside of school. As members of the school system, children need preventive supports to address this growing issue. Although a large amount of research has focused on bullying prevention programs in middle and high school, this review specifically looks at the prevention of school bullying during a child’s elementary years (e.g., Kindergarten through fifth grade). Failure to address school bullying as young as elementary school-age can have harmful effects on a student’s education and mental health. This project is a systematic review of evidence-based bullying prevention programs and their effectiveness among elementary school-aged children. From selected databases, the following search terms were used: “Evidence-based,” “Bullying prevention programs,” and “Elementary Schools” or “Kindergarten,” “first grade,” “second grade,” “third grade,” “fourth grade,” “fifth grade.” All empirical articles that meet inclusionary criteria were presented one-by-one followed by a synthesis of the literature found. This synthesis will guide recommendations for practice and future research

Epidemiology of Controlled Substance Prescription Drug Utilization in Texas: an Analysis of Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Data

Background: Prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic levels, leading to dire health outcomes and economic implications. Both patient-level and environmental-level factors are believed to contribute to higher rates of prescription drug abuse. While national estimates of abuse have been extensively studied, this phenomenon has not been examined in the State of Texas. The objective of this research was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with multiple provider episodes in Texas. Methods: This study was a retrospective, cohort analysis of data obtained from the Texas prescription drug monitoring database (PDMP) which was linked with Texas county-level census data. Descriptive statistics and multi-level model regression analysis were employed to determine the prevalence of multiple provider episodes (MPE) and analyze the association between patient-level, prescription utilization and county-level factors with MPEs. Results: Opioid prescriptions, especially hydrocodone-combination products (38.64%), were the most frequently utilized controlled substance prescriptions (CSPs) dispensed. The prevalence of MPEs was 185.16 per 100,000 population. Among those identified in the MPE cohort, 76.98% utilized CSPs >150 days and 11.48% had a daily morphine equivalent (MED) ≥100 mg/day. Residing in metropolitan areas, traveling >100 miles to obtain prescriptions, chronic use of CSPs, younger age, and high daily MED were all factors significantly associated with an increased risk of MPE. Conclusion: Prescription drug abuse has been identified as a major public health problem in Texas. Prescription drug abuse prevention efforts need to be addressed at both the patient-level and through legislation regarding public health and policy.Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department o

Editorial: Towards leaner and more effective value chain development

Value chain development (VCD) is a common term in today’s development lexicon1, where its use tends to conjure passionate ideas about how development programming can support smallholder participation in growing markets in the interest of economic growth, job creation, gender empowerment, and sustainable use of natural resources, among other goals. Since the early 2000s, Enterprise Development and Microfinance (EDM) has featured considerable debate on how to design market-oriented development interventions with smallholders, often based on positive experiences by a given NGO or project in a particular context. Early articles helped to put VCD on the development agenda, while advancing innovation in market-based project design and implementation. However, after more than a decade of it being firmly placed on the agenda, we still know relatively little about VCD. Apart from isolated case studies, the question of whether VCD has lived up to the expectations of smallholders, of the private sector, and of development agencies remains an open one. This double edition of EDM addresses the design, implementation, and impact of VCD support to smallholders and to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as an important, yet under-researched dimension of VCD. The eight articles look into the needs and opportunities for increasing the effectiveness of VCD support services, with discussions on: the role of NGOs or governments in VCD; how large-scale buyers and certification programs shape VCD; and the role of finance and impact bonds in VCD. Advancing ideas on how to get the right mix of services, at the right time, to the right people, taking into account variations in the context in which livelihoods and business activities are embedded, will help stakeholders to effectively deliver on poverty and broader development goals

The use of seagrass (Zostera muelleri) habitat by Canada geese (Branta canadensis) in Waikato estuaries.

Seagrass beds are highly biodiverse habitats delivering key ecosystem functions and services to mankind. Zostera muelleri is New Zealand’s single seagrass species, and occurs intertidally within several estuaries and sheltered harbours. However, these habitats are globally in decline due to the impacts of multiple stressors including eutrophication, turbidity, coastal urbanisation, sedimentation, and sea level rise. Herbivory by waterfowl is a relatively unknown biotic disturbance that may cause additional stress to these vulnerable seagrass habitats. Canada geese (Branta canadensis) were introduced to New Zealand in 1905, and have since been increasing in numbers since a change in species management. In response to increase in Canada geese populations and use of estuaries along the West coast, the Waikato Regional Council commissioned this MSc (Research) study to investigate the consumption of Zostera by Canada geese in Kawhia and Whāingaroa (Raglan) harbours, West coast of the North Island, New Zealand. In order to better understand the grazing pressure placed on seagrass habitats, a three part investigation was conducted. Behaviours of Canada geese on Zostera beds were observed in January and February (2019), at two sites in Whāingaroa Harbour, with geese numbers varying between 8 to 200 at any one time. Observations indicated that foraging incorporated a large proportion of their behavioural budget (> 85%), and birds utilised several destructive methods to forage on both above and below-ground Zostera biomass. Foraging was significantly reduced by disturbance events less than 30 m away and was also influenced by group size. Repeat observations in June and July 2019, were not possible as geese were no longer present on the Zostera beds. Canada geese samples were collected to investigate bird diet across a temporal scale; from Kawhia between July to November 2019 (n = 33), and from Raglan between August to September 2020 (n = 26). Gut contents analysis showed that more than 70% of specimens consumed solely pasture in the two hours prior to sampling. Bayesian mixing models in MixSIAR were used for δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C stable isotope analysis to evaluate the assimilated diet three to four days (plasma), three to four weeks (red blood cells) and several months (primary feathers) prior to sampling. Pasture was the dominant food source (75 to 93%) contributing to all three tissue types. This study aimed to provide insight into the consumption of seagrass (Zostera muelleri) by Canada geese, and determine the proportion of their diet that came from Zostera relative to pasture grass. Although Canada geese were observed feeding on Zostera during the dry summer months, gut and isotope samples could not support this, as they were collected during the winter/spring months. This difference indicates that the period where Canada geese exploit seagrass was not captured in the isotope study. Post-moult gut and tissue sampling (from late January) would confirm if these birds use the more digestible Zostera to meet their nutritional demands during the dry summer season as pasture grass becomes less nutritious or digestible

Pour une interopérabilité dynamique

peer reviewedThis paper focus on the process of sharing data in two contexts : while the work is in progress within a team and while the data is shared in between teams. For these two contexts, we interrogate the technologies and processes available to answer interoperability requirements. Both interoperability by open format and dynamic web based interoperability emerge as major technologies from the state of the art. Theirs specificities, strengths and limits are interrogated, in the perspective of the feedback from their implementation in architectural practice. Résumé Cet article s'intéresse à deux contextes de partage de données : celui des travaux en cours menés en interne par un intervenant du projet et celui du partage avec les autres intervenants. Pour ces deux contextes, nous explorons et comparons les pratiques d'interopérabilité en oeuvre dans la conception architecturale, du point de vue des pratiques professionnelles et des outils et méthodes. L'interopérabilité par format ouvert et l'interopérabilité dynamique émergent tout particulièrement de cette analyse. Leurs spécificités, leurs implémentations dans la pratique et leurs complémentarités sont interrogées. Cette analyse est mise en regard avec des retours d'expérience d'une agence d'architecture

Hepatitis C Virus Detection and Management After Implementation of Universal Screening in Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Accurately identifying cases of hepatitis C virus has important medical and public health consequences. In the setting of rising hepatitis C virus prevalence and highly effective treatment with direct-acting antivirals, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine guidelines recently changed to recommend universal screening for hepatitis C virus during pregnancy. However, there is little data on the influence of this policy change on case identification and management. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the influence of universal hepatitis C virus screening on our patient population. Our primary objective was to determine if there was a difference in the detected hepatitis C virus prevalence after the policy change. Our secondary objectives were to determine which factors were associated with a positive test for hepatitis C virus and to examine postpartum management of pregnant patients living with hepatitis C virus, including the (1) gastroenterology referral rate, (2) treatment rate, (3) infantile hepatitis C virus screening rate, and (4) factors associated with being referred for treatment. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort study of deliveries that occurred before (July 2018–June 2020) and after (July 2020–December 2021) the implementation of universal hepatitis C virus screening. Information on hepatitis C virus and HIV status, if patients were screened for hepatitis C virus, history of intravenous drug use, and basic demographic information were abstracted from the electronic medical records. A subset of patients was administered a questionnaire regarding hepatitis C virus risk factors. For all patients who tested positive for hepatitis C virus, information on if they were referred for treatment in the postpartum period and if their infant was screened for hepatitis C virus were abstracted from the electronic medical records. RESULTS: A total of 8973 deliveries occurred during this study period. A total of 71 (0.79%) patients had a detectable viral load. With implementation of universal screening, hepatitis C virus screening rates increased from 5.78% to 77.25% of deliveries (P\u3c.01). The hepatitis C virus prevalence rates before and after universal screening was implemented were 0.78% and 0.81%, respectively (P=.88). There were significant demographic shifts in our pregnant population over this time period, including a reduction in intravenous drug use. A subset of 958 patients completed a hepatitis C virus risk factor questionnaire, in addition to undergoing universal hepatitis C virus screening. Ten patients screened positive with universal screening; only 8 of these individuals would have been identified with risk-based screening. Among the patients with a detectable viral load, 67.61% were referred for treatment and 18.75% were treated. A multivariate logistic regression model indicated that intravenous drug use was associated with significantly decreased odds of being referred for treatment (odds ratio, 0.14; 95% confidence interval, 0.04–0.59; P=.01). At the time of our evaluation, 52 infants were at least 18 months old and thus eligible for hepatitis C virus screening. Among these infants, 8 (15.38%) were screened for hepatitis C virus, and all were negative. CONCLUSION: Following the practice shift, we saw a significant increase in hepatitis C virus screening during pregnancy. However, postpartum treatment and infant screening remained low. Intravenous drug use was associated with a decreased likelihood of being referred for treatment. Pregnancy represents a unique time for hepatitis C virus case identification, although better linkage to care is needed to increase postpartum treatment

Evaluation of Parameters for Confident Phosphorylation Site Localization using an Orbitrap Fusion Tribrid Mass Spectrometer

Confident identification of sites of protein phosphorylation by mass spectrometry (MS) is essential to advance understanding of phosphorylation-mediated signaling events. However, development of novel instrumentation requires that methods for MS data acquisition and its interrogation be evaluated and optimized for high throughput phosphoproteomics. Here, we compare and contrast eight MS acquisition methods on the novel tribrid Orbitrap Fusion MS platform, using both a synthetic phosphopeptide library and a complex phosphopeptide-enriched cell lysate. As well as evaluating multiple fragmentation regimes (HCD, EThcD and neutral loss triggered ET(ca/hc)D), and analyzers for MS/MS (orbitrap (OT) versus ion trap (IT)), we also compare two commonly used bioinformatics platforms, Andromeda with PTM-score, and MASCOT with ptmRS, for confident phosphopeptide identification and, crucially, phosphosite localization. Our findings demonstrate that optimal phosphosite identification is achieved using HCD fragmentation and high resolution orbitrap-based MS/MS analysis, employing MASCOT/ptmRS for data interrogation. Although EThcD is optimal for confident site localization for a given PSM, the increased duty cycle compared with HCD compromises the numbers of phosphosites identified. Finally, our data highlights that a charge-state dependent fragmentation regime, and a multiple algorithm search strategy, are likely to be of benefit for confident large-scale phosphosite localization