An experiment in public education

This is a reprinted version of the article written by Dr. Thelma V. Owen and Dr. M. G. Stemmermann that was originally published in Mental Hygiene, Vol. 43, No. 1., in January 1959. The article discusses the negative outcomes of mental illness stigma and the regression in care and treatment that stigma causes. As part of their writings, they are able to include operations of Owen Clinic as positive examples and ways to curve stigma and provide better care. They detail the Club formed by ex-patients and family who began different methods of advocation, from helping new patients to giving panel discussions to various groups. The article contains the remarks given by the panel members. These panels were significant sources of community outreach and mental health awareness in the area and showcase just how instrumental Owen Clinic was in changing rural mental health attitudes.https://mds.marshall.edu/owen_clinic_institute/1027/thumbnail.jp

Recycling belite cement clinker from post-demolition autoclaved aerated concrete – assessing a new process

Increasing post-demolition autoclaved aerated concrete (pd-AAC) waste is mainly landfilled due to its physical properties and lacking recycling processes. A promising technology is the production of recycled belite cement clinker, which can partially substitute Portland cement clinker. This paper presents experimental data of recycled belite cement clinker production from pd-AAC that has been successfully demonstrated on technology readiness level 4–5 and its associated lifecycle assessment. Different supply chains for pd-AAC and energy are examined. The closed-loop pd-AAC recycling via the belite route that aims for Portland cement clinker substitution shows significant potential savings in environmental impacts. These savings could reach 0.77 kg CO2-Eq/kg pd-AAC compared to the status quo (landfilling) by using renewable electricity, and 0.34 kg CO2-Eq/kg pd-AAC by using natural gas. The gained reduction of around 13.5 % is significant considering that it is the result of substituting only 15.5 % of the overall input material

Chemo-mechanical characterization of hydrated calcium-hydrosilicates with coupled Raman- and nanoindentation measurements

Celitement is a new type of cement that is based on hydraulic calcium-hydrosilicate (hCHS). It is produced by mechanochemical activation of Calcium-Silicate-Hydrates (C-S-H) in a grinding process. Due to the lack of typical clinker minerals, its CaO/SiO_{2} (C/S) ratio can be minimized from above 3 (as in Ordinary Portland Cement) down to 1, which significantly reduces the amount of CO_{2} released during processing. The reaction kinetics of hCHS differs from that of classical clinker phases due to the presence of highly reactive silicate species, which involve silanol groups instead of pure calcium silicates and aluminates and aluminoferrites. In contrast to Portland cement, no calcium hydroxide is formed during hydration, which otherwise regulates the Ca concentration. Without the buffering role of Ca(OH)_{2} the concentration of the dissolved species c(Ca^2+) and c(SiO_{4}^4−) and the corresponding pH must be controlled to ensure a reproducible reaction. Pure hCHS reacts isochemically with water, resulting in a C-S-H phase with the same chemical composition as a single hydration product, with a homogeneous distribution of the main elements Ca and Si throughout the sample. Here we study via nanoindentation tests, the mechanical properties of two different types of hardened pastes made out of Celitement (C/S = 1.28), with varying amounts of hCHS and variable water to cement ratio. We couple nanoindentation grids with Raman mappings to link the nanoscale mechanical properties to individual microstructural components, yielding in-depth insight into the mechanics of the mineralogical phases constituting the hardened cement paste. We show that we can identify in hardened Celitement paste both fresh C-S-H with varying density, and C-S-H from the raw material using their specific Raman spectra, while simultaneously measuring their mechanical properties. Albeit not suitable for phase identification, supplemental EDX measurements provide valuable information about the distribution of alkalis, thus further helping to understand the reaction pattern of hCHS

The distribution of selected localized alien plant species in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Reports were scanned in black and white at a resolution of 600 dots per inch and were converted to text using Adobe Paper Capture Plug-in.Prior to this study, the alien plant control program at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park was hampered by the paucity and quality of alien plant distribution maps. A systematic program to map important localized alien plants was conducted 1983-1985 to determine the need and feasibility of controlling key alien plant species, establish a baseline for assessing the spread of these species, infer range expansions, locate all populations of a target species to assure thorough treatment, and assess the effectiveness of control programs. Thirty-six species were mapped, with emphasis given to localized alien plant species and those listed as target species in the 1982 Resources Management Plan (National Park Service 1982). The studies focused on Ainahou Ranch, Kilauea Crater, and the Coastal Lowlands west of the 1%9-1974 Mauna Ulu flows. The species distributions were mapped on topographic maps at 1:24,000, 1:12,000, or 1:6,000 scales, although most species are displayed in this report on smaller scale maps. In addition, species profiles are provided. These characterize importance to management, significance as a pest in native ecosystems, effective treatment methods, and history of management. There were two important findings from the distribution studies. Eleven species, previously not targeted for management, were identified from mapping efforts to be invasive and require control efforts. These are Formosan koa, slash pine, loquat, sisal, orange pittosporum, oleaster, English ivy, paperbark, blackwood acacia, kudzu, and guavasteen. The second finding is that five target species were found to be much more widespread than previously thought. These include silky oak, koa haole, fountain grass, Russian olive, and raspberry. This finding lead to an approach in which control efforts on widespread species were carried out only in intensive management units called Special Ecological Areas. Additional distribution mapping studies are recommended for widespread species.National Park Service Contract No. CA 8004 2 000

Gastric cancer and Helicobacter pylori: a combined analysis of 12 case control studies nested within prospective cohorts

BACKGROUND: The magnitude of the association between Helicobacter pylori and incidence of gastric cancer is unclear. H pylori infection and the circulating antibody response can be lost with development of cancer; thus retrospective studies are subject to bias resulting from classifi- cation of cases as H pylori negative when they were infected in the past. AIMS: To combine data from all case control studies nested within prospective cohorts to assess more reliably the relative risk of gastric cancer associated with H pylori infection.To investigate variation in relative risk by age, sex, cancer type and subsite, and interval between blood sampling and cancer diagnosis. METHODS: Studies were eligible if blood samples for H pylori serology were collected before diagnosis of gastric cancer in cases. Identified published studies and two unpublished studies were included. Individual subject data were obtained for each. Matched odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated for the association between H pylori and gastric cancer. RESULTS: Twelve studies with 1228 gastric cancer cases were considered. The association with H pylori was restricted to noncardia cancers (OR 3.0; 95% CI 2.3–3.8) and was stronger when blood samples for H pylori serology were collected 10+ years before cancer diagnosis (5.9; 3.4–10.3). H pylori infection was not associated with an altered overall risk of cardia cancer (1.0; 0.7–1.4). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that 5.9 is the best estimate of the relative risk of non-cardia cancer associated with H pylori infection and that H pylori does not increase the risk of cardia cancer. They also support the idea that when H pylori status is assessed close to cancer diagnosis, the magnitude of the non-cardia association may be underestimated

Genetic Structure of the Polymorphic Metrosideros (Myrtaceae) Complex in the Hawaiian Islands Using Nuclear Microsatellite Data

Five species of Metrosideros (Myrtaceae) are recognized in the Hawaiian Islands, including the widespread M. polymorpha, and are characterized by a multitude of distinctive, yet overlapping, habit, ecological, and morphological forms. It remains unclear, despite several previous studies, whether the morphological variation within Hawaiian Metrosideros is due to hybridization, genetic polymorphism, phenotypic plasticity, or some combination of these processes. The Hawaiian Metrosideros complex has become a model system to study ecology and evolution; however this is the first study to use microsatellite data for addressing inter-island patterns of variation from across the Hawaiian Islands.Ten nuclear microsatellite loci were genotyped from 143 individuals of Metrosideros. We took advantage of the bi-parental inheritance and rapid mutation rate of these data to examine the validity of the current taxonomy and to investigate whether Metrosideros plants from the same island are more genetically similar than plants that are morphologically similar. The Bayesian algorithm of the program structure was used to define genetic groups within Hawaiian Metrosideros and the closely related taxon M. collina from the Marquesas and Austral Islands. Several standard and nested AMOVAs were conducted to test whether the genetic diversity is structured geographically or taxonomically.The results suggest that Hawaiian Metrosideros have dynamic gene flow, with genetic and morphological diversity structured not simply by geography or taxonomy, but as a result of parallel evolution on islands following rampant island-island dispersal, in addition to ancient chloroplast capture. Results also suggest that the current taxonomy requires major revisions in order to reflect the genetic structure revealed in the microsatellite data

A systematic review of high-fibre dietary therapy in diverticular disease

The exact pathogenesis of diverticular disease of the sigmoid colon is not well established. However, the hypothesis that a low-fibre diet may result in diverticulosis and a high-fibre diet will prevent symptoms or complications of diverticular disease is widely accepted. The aim of this review is to assess whether a high-fibre diet can improve symptoms and/or prevent complications of diverticular disease of the sigmoid colon and/or prevent recurrent diverticulitis after a primary episode. Clinical studies were eligible for inclusion if they assessed the treatment of diverticular disease or the prevention of recurrent diverticulitis with a high-fibre diet. The following exclusion criteria were used for study selection: studies without comparison of the patient group with a control group. No studies concerning prevention of recurrent diverticulitis with a high-fibre diet met our inclusion criteria. Three randomised controlled trials (RCT) and one case-control study were included in this systematic review. One RCT of moderate quality showed no difference in the primary endpoints. A second RCT of moderate quality and the case-control study found a significant difference in favour of a high-fibre diet in the treatment of symptomatic diverticular disease. The third RCT of moderate quality found a significant difference in favour of methylcellulose (fibre supplement). This study also showed a placebo effect. High-quality evidence for a high-fibre diet in the treatment of diverticular disease is lacking, and most recommendations are based on inconsistent level 2 and mostly level 3 evidence. Nevertheless, high-fibre diet is still recommended in several guideline

Genetic polymorphisms of MMP1, MMP3 and MMP7 gene promoter and risk of colorectal adenoma

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) have been shown to play a role in colorectal cancer (CRC). More recently, MMP1, MMP3 and MMP7 functional gene promoter polymorphisms have been found to be associated with CRC occurrence and prognosis. To document the role of MMP polymorphisms in the early step of colorectal carcinogenesis, we investigated their association with colorectal adenoma risk in a case-control study comprising 295 patients with large adenomas (LA), 302 patients with small adenomas (SA) and 568 polyp-free (PF) controls. METHODS: Patients were genotyped using automated fragment analysis for MMP1 -1607 ins/del G and MMP3 -1612 ins/delA (MMP3.1) polymorphisms and allelic discrimination assay for MMP3 -709 A/G (MMP3.2) and MMP7 -181 A/G polymorphisms. Association between MMP genotypes and colorectal adenomas was first tested for each polymorphism separately and then for combined genotypes using the combination test. Adjustment on relevant variables and estimation of odds ratios were performed using unconditional logistic regression. RESULTS: No association was observed between the polymorphisms and LA when compared to PF or SA. When comparing SA to PF controls, analysis revealed a significant association between MMP3 -1612 ins/delA polymorphism and SA with an increased risk associated with the 6A/6A genotype (OR = 1.67, 95%CI: 1.20–2.34). Using the combination test, the best association was found for MMP3.1-MMP1 (p = 0.001) with an OR of 1.88 (95%CI: 1.08–3.28) for the combined genotype 2G/2G-6A/6A estimated by logistic regression. CONCLUSION: These data show a relation between MMP1 -1607 ins/del G and MMP3 -1612 ins/delA combined polymorphisms and risk of SA, suggesting their potential role in the early steps of colorectal carcinogenesis

Clinicopathologic study associated with long-term survival in Japanese patients with node-negative breast cancer

This study was undertaken to determine the absolute and relative value of blood vessel invasion (BVI) using both factor VIII-related antigen and elastica van Gieson staining, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), p53, c- erb B-2, and conventional prognostic factors in predicting relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates associated with long-term survival in Japanese patients with node-negative breast cancer. Two hundred patients with histological node-negative breast cancer were studied. We investigated nine clinicopathological factors, including PCNA, p53, c- erb B-2 using permanent-section immunohistochemistry, clinical tumour size (T), histological grade (HG), mitotic index (MI), tumour necrosis (TN), lymphatic vessel invasion (LVI) and BVI, followed for a median of 10 years (range 1–20). Twenty-one patients (10.5%) had recurrence and 15 patients (7.5%) died of breast cancer. Univariate analysis showed that BVI, PCNA, T, HG, MI, p53, c- erb B-2 and LVI were significantly predictive of 20-year RFS or OS. Multivariate analysis showed that BVI (P = 0.0159, P = 0.0368), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) (P = 0.0165, P = 0.0001), and T (P = 0.0190, P = 0.0399) were significantly independent prognostic factors for RFS or OS respectively. BVI, PCNA and T were independent prognostic indicators for RFS or OS in Japanese patients with node-negative breast cancer and are useful in selecting high-risk patients who may be eligible to receive strong adjuvant therapies. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig