A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF RISK PREFERENCE ELICITATION PROCEDURES USING MAIL SURVEY RESULTS

Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, Risk and Uncertainty,

HIV and mobility in the Lake Victoria Basin agricultural sector: A literature review

The Lake Victoria region has the highest HIV prevalence in the East African Community, which comprises Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi. This region also has a significant concentration of commercial agricultural plantations, which rely on mobile workers, an extensive system of out-grower schemes, and linkages with neighboring communities and transportation routes. This paper reviews the relationships between the various components of the plantation system and the spread of HIV, which is a complex and dynamic process. There has been relatively little research on these dynamic interactions, and the relevant policies and programs are generally silent on mobility-induced vulnerability to HIV. As such, this review first examines how the conditions and structure of the migration process may increase HIV vulnerability for migrants, thereby illuminating key challenges. Second, the review considers what may be done to address these issues, particularly within the plantation system. A comprehensive response to HIV would require that the plantation companies engage in efforts against HIV/AIDS across its entire time line (that is, ranging from efforts to prevent infection to attempts to mitigate its full impact on both agricultural workers and the business as a whole). Despite the logic of this argument, we do not yet have strong financial evidence proving that companies should invest in a comprehensive strategy. This critical gap should be addressed. For example, pilot programs on select plantations could be used to show the cost-benefits of addressing HIV/AIDS through a well-designed set of interventions aimed at the different target groups.HIV/AIDS, Mobility, Migrant workers, Agricultural plantations,

Injuries in the Chinese Arena Football League: American Versus Chinese Players.

Background: Arena football is an indoor version of American football played in indoor arenas on a smaller field with 8 players per team. Only 1 study has evaluated injury rates in arena football, and no study had compared 2 distinct cohorts of players. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare injury rates in American versus Chinese athletes in the Chinese Arena Football League. Our hypothesis was that the rate of significant injuries (≥7 days of time lost from play) would be statistically significantly higher in Chinese athletes. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Each of the 6 teams included in this study comprised 11 American and 11 Chinese athletes, for a total of 132 included athletes (66 Chinese, 66 American). All players stayed in the same hotel, trained and played in the same facilities, and were covered by the same medical staff. A total of 18 games were played consecutively in 6 cities from October 1 to November 6, 2016. At least 4 Chinese players had to be on the field for each team at all times during game play. Results: American athletes were significantly older, taller, and heavier than Chinese athletes. The total exposure was 759 athlete-hours, and there were 80 reported injuries, with 74 (92.5%) occurring during games (overall injury rate, 105.4 injuries per 1000 athlete-hours). For American athletes, the exposure was 387 athlete-hours with 38 injuries observed, and the injury rate was 98.2 injuries per 1000 athlete-hours. For Chinese athletes, the exposure was 372 athlete-hours with 42 injuries observed, and the injury rate was 112.9 injuries per 1000 athlete-hours. There was no statistically significant difference in exposure or overall injury rate between American and Chinese athletes. The rate of significant injuries was 30.3 per 1000 athlete-hours; there were 17 such injuries in Chinese athletes compared with 6 such injuries for American athletes. The rate of significant injuries was 45.7 (Chinese) and 15.5 (American) injuries per 1000 athlete-hours, and the relative risk for Chinese versus American athletes for significant injuries was 3.0 (95% CI, 1.2-7.8; Conclusion: The overall risk of injuries was similar between Chinese and American athletes, but Chinese athletes showed statistically higher rates of significant injuries than their American counterparts. Years of experience was the only factor that was associated with severe injuries. As professional sports become more global, medical personnel must take into account the distinct differences and levels of experience between the national and international professional athletes. The results of this study will be used to make recommendations to develop preventive training measures, including techniques to improve tackling

Traumatic Bilateral Pneumothoraces due to Sternal Wire Migration

Sternal wound complications after cardiac surgery are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Wire migrations associated with sternal dehiscence can lead to catastrophic haemorrhage unless intervened in time. We present a case of sternal wire migration causing bilateral pneumothoraces

The impact of parents\u27 categorization of their own weight and their child\u27s weight on healthy lifestyle promoting beliefs and practices

Objective. To evaluate parents’ beliefs and practices related to childhood obesity and determine if these are influenced by parent’s perception of their own weight or their child’s weight. Methods. Parents of obese (n = 689) or normal weight (n = 1122) children 4–15 years in Georgia, USA, were randomly selected to complete a telephone survey. Frequency of child obesity-related perceptions, beliefs, and practices were assessed, stratified by parent-perceived self-weight and child weight status, and compared using Chi-squared tests and multivariate logistic regression. Results. Most parents, regardless of perceived child weight, agreed that child overweight/obesity can cause serious illness (95%) but only one-half believed it was a problem in Georgia. Many (42.4%) failed to recognize obesity in their own children. More parents who perceived their child as overweight versus normal weight reported concern about their child’s diet and activity and indicated readiness for lifestyle change. Parents’ perception of their own weight had little additional impact. Conclusions. While awareness of child overweight as a modifiable health risk is high, many parents fail to recognize it in their own families and communities, reducing the likelihood of positive lifestyle change. Additional efforts to help parents understand their role in facilitating behavior change and to assist them in identifying at-risk children are required

A Qualitative Evaluation of Mental Health Clinic Staff Perceptions of Barriers and Facilitators to Treating Tobacco Use

Introduction: Veterans with mental health disorders smoke at high rates, but encounter low rates of tobacco treatment. We sought to understand barriers and facilitators to treating tobacco use in VA mental health clinics. Methods: This qualitative study was part of a trial evaluating a telephone care coordination program for smokers using mental health services at six VA facilities. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 14 staff: 12 mental health clinic staff working at the parent study\u27s intervention sites (n = 6 psychiatrists, three psychologists, two social workers, one NP), as well as one psychiatrist and one psychologist on the VA\u27s national tobacco advisory committee. Interviews were transcribed and inductively coded to identify themes. Results: Five barriers themes emerged: (1) competing priorities, (2) patient challenges/resistance, (3) complex staffing/challenging cross-discipline coordination, (4) mixed perceptions about whether tobacco is a mental health care responsibility, and (5) limited staff training/comfort in treating tobacco. Five facilitators themes emerged: (1) reminding mental health staff about tobacco, (2) staff belief in the importance of addressing tobacco, (3) designating a cessation medication prescriber, (4) linking tobacco to mental health outcomes and norms, and (5) limiting mental health staff burden. Conclusions: VA mental health staff struggle with knowing that tobacco use is important, but they face competing priorities, encounter patient resistance, are conflicted on their role in addressing tobacco, and lack tobacco training. They suggested strategies at multiple levels that would help overcome those barriers that can be used to design interventions that improve tobacco treatment delivery for mental health patients. Implications: This study builds upon the existing literature on the high rates of smoking, but low rates of treatment, in people with mental health diagnoses. This study is one of the few qualitative evaluations of mental health clinic staff perceptions of barriers and facilitators to treating tobacco. The study results provide a multi-level framework for developing strategies to improve the implementation of tobacco treatment programs in mental health clinics

The Impact of Parents’ Categorization of Their Own Weight and Their Child’s Weight on Healthy Lifestyle Promoting Beliefs and Practices

Objective. To evaluate parents’ beliefs and practices related to childhood obesity and determine if these are influenced by parent’s perception of their own weight or their child’s weight. Methods. Parents of obese ( = 689) or normal weight ( = 1122) children 4–15 years in Georgia, USA, were randomly selected to complete a telephone survey. Frequency of child obesity-related perceptions, beliefs, and practices were assessed, stratified by parent-perceived self-weight and child weight status, and compared using Chisquared tests and multivariate logistic regression. Results. Most parents, regardless of perceived child weight, agreed that child overweight/obesity can cause serious illness (95%) but only one-half believed it was a problem in Georgia. Many (42.4%) failed to recognize obesity in their own children. More parents who perceived their child as overweight versus normal weight reported concern about their child’s diet and activity and indicated readiness for lifestyle change. Parents’ perception of their own weight had little additional impact. Conclusions. While awareness of child overweight as a modifiable health risk is high, many parents fail to recognize it in their own families and communities, reducing the likelihood of positive lifestyle change. Additional efforts to help parents understand their role in facilitating behavior change and to assist them in identifying at-risk children are required

Silicon Carbide Growth Using Laser Chemical Vapor Deposition

Silicon Carbide (SiC) has been grown from methyltrichlorosilane (MTS) and hydrogen using the Georgia Tech Laser Chemical Vapor Deposition (LCVD) system. A morphology study of LCVD-SiC fibers and lines was completed. Graphite and single crystal silicon were used as the substrates. In order to provide guidance to future growth of SiC, thermodynamic calculations for the C-H-Si-Cl system were performed using the SOLGASMIX-PV program.Mechanical Engineerin

Development of an antimicrobial blended white LED system containing pulsed 405-nm LEDs for decontamination applications

This study details the design, build and testing of a prototype antimicrobial blended white light unit containing pulsed red, yellow, green and 405nm LEDs. With a push for alternative methods of disinfection, optical methods have become a topic of interest. Ultra-violet (UV) light is widely known for its antimicrobial properties however; 405nm light has demonstrated significant antimicrobial properties against many common hospital acquired pathogens. In this study, a pulsed, blended, white-light prototype with a high content of 405 nm antimicrobial light, was designed, built and tested. Antimicrobial efficacy testing of the prototype was conducted using Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas. aeruginosa, two bacteria which are common causes of hospital acquired infections. These were exposure to 3 different light outputs from the prototype and the surviving bacteria enumerated. Results showed that the mixed light output provided a much better CRI and light output under which to work. Also, the light output containing 405 nm light provided an antimicrobial effect, with decontamination of 103 CFUml-1 populations of both bacterial species. The other light content (red, yellow, green) had no beneficial or adverse effects on the antimicrobial properties of the 405nm light. The results suggest that with further development, it could be possible to produce an antimicrobial blended white light containing pulsed 405nm light that could supplement or even replace standard white lighting in certain environments