Public Perception of Pesticide Exposure in Vermont

Introduction: A pesticide is any substance intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest.1 The public generally believes that insects, diseases, and other pests need to be controlled but is also becoming concerned about the impact of pesticides on their health and the local ecosystem. Pesticide exposure occurs with public and private use. Studies indicate consumers have diverse levels of awareness, knowledge, and attitudes regarding pesticide use and health risks.2 The goal of this project is to identify levels of awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward pesticide usage in Vermont to help State agencies focus public awareness and education.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1217/thumbnail.jp

S and MA Involvement by Mission Phase

No abstract availabl

Cremations, Dental Amalgams, and You

Introduction: In Vermont, cremation has increasingly become an alternative to interment of an intact body. Many of the bodies being cremated contain dental amalgams, which are commonly used by dentists to repair dental erosion and caries (cavities). They are an economical option for caries repair, and remain popular. Roughly one third of all caries fillings done in 2002 in the U.S. utilized amalgam. Amalgam is a metal alloy containing as much as 50% mercury by volume, a metal that is a known toxicant. Dental amalgams, may constitute a source of low level, continual exposure for those with these dental devices in situ and may be released to the atmosphere upon cremation. The goal of this project was to investigate: 1. The status of the scientific opinion on potential health effects that may be associated with having dental amalgams. 2. To help refine State estimates of potential mercury emissions from Vermont crematoria.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1075/thumbnail.jp

Heat vs. Health: Wood Smoke in Vermont

Introduction. Given rising energy prices in recent years, wood burning stoves offer an attractive and affordable means of home heating. Unfortunately, wood smoke emissions have been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular disease and, in some cases, premature death. Recent studies have also discovered known carcinogens in wood smoke emissions.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1092/thumbnail.jp

A systematic review of literature on homicide followed by suicide and mental state of perpetrators

Background: Homicide followed by suicide is rare, devastating and perpetrated worldwide. It is commonly assumed that the perpetrator had a mental disorder, raising concomitant questions about prevention. Though events have been reported, there has been no previous systematic review of the mental health of perpetrators. Aims: Our aims were twofold. First, to identify whether there are recognisable subgroups of homicide–suicides in published literature and, secondly, to investigate the relationship between perpetrator mental state and aspects of the incident. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of published literature on studies of homicide followed within 24 h by suicide or serious suicide attempt that included measures of perpetrator mental state. Results: Sixty studies were identified, most from North America or Europe. Methodologically, studies were too heterogeneous for meta‐analysis. They fell into three main groups: family, mass shooter, and terrorist with an additional small mixed group. There was evidence of mental illness in a minority of perpetrators; its absence in the remainder was only partially evidenced. There was no clear association between any specific mental illness and homicide–suicide type, although depression was most cited. Social role disjunction, motive, substance misuse and relevant risk or threat behaviours were themes identified across all groups. Pre‐established ideology was relevant in the mass shooter and terrorism groups. Prior trauma history was notable in the terrorist group. Conclusion: Research data were necessarily collected post‐incident and in most cases without a standardised approach, so findings must be interpreted cautiously. Nevertheless, they suggest at least some preventive role for mental health professionals. Those presenting to services with depression, suicidal ideation, relationship difficulties and actual, or perceived, changes in social position or role would merit detailed, supportive assessment over time

Public Awareness and Perception of Ionizing Radiation

Introduction. Exposure to ionizing radiation has potential for acute and chronic health effects. Within the general public, there is discrepancy between perceived and actual health risks. It is vital to assess existing knowledge and perceptions about ionizing radiation among Vermonters.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1188/thumbnail.jp

Development of a Bait for the Oral Delivery of Pharmaceuticals to White-Tailed Deer (\u3ci\u3eOdocoileus virginianus\u3c/i\u3e)

Solid and liquid baits were tested for the delivery of drugs to white-tailed deer. The solid bait was compromised of a mineral block paired with apple, peanut butter, or acorn extract. The liquid bait was compromised of water, apple juice, glycerine, salt, and either peanut butter or apple odor. Although both solid and liquid baits were attractive to deer, the latter may be more useful because consumption can be measured directly, ingestion by nontarget animals is minimized, and bait degradation by weathering is reduced

Fiber optic parametric amplification (FOPA) simulation in a highly nonlinear fiber (HNLF) / Thong May Han

Four wave mixing (FWM) is a nonlinear e�ect observable in optical �bers when light of two or more wavelengths are launched into the �ber. Parametric ampli�cation is a consequence of FWM, where depending on the phase di�erence between the waves, power transfer between the interacting waves could take place. We are interested in the generation of this phenomenon in optical �bers to create Fiber Optical Para- metric Ampli�ers (FOPA). In this paper, we simulated the parametric ampli�cation process in a highly nonlinear �ber (HNLF), focusing on the e�ect of di�erent values of the initial linear phase mismatch ��, pump power Pp, and nonlinear coe�cient . It was found that in terms of the initial �� value, a value closer to zero will result in a higher maximum signal and idler power. Also, we observed that a larger pump power and caused parametric ampli�cation to happen within a shorter length of �ber, as well as giving us a bigger maximum gain. These results will be useful in optimizing the ampli�cation process with respect to the �ber length involved

Suicide in high security hospital patients

Purpose People with mental disorder and people who are violent are separately recognised as being at high risk of suicide. People detained in high security hospitals are recognised for their violence to others, but perhaps less so for their suicide potential. We aimed to investigate suicide rates among such patients during and after their high security hospital residency, and to establish risk factors for suicide. Methods We extracted data from the Special Hospitals’ Case Register on each person resident at any time between 1 January 1972 and 31 December 2000. Suicide rates were calculated for the whole period. We compared rates to the general population using standardised mortality ratios (SMRs). We used poisson regression to estimate the effects of gender, legal category of detention, offending history and length of admission on the suicide rate. Results Of the 5,955 individuals, 218 completed suicide. The suicide rate was nearly 7 times higher among resident men (SMR 662, 95% CI 478–845) and over 40 times higher in resident women (SMR 4,012, 95% CI 2,526–5,498) than in the general population; it was 23 times higher (SMR 2,325, 95% CI 1,901–2,751) and 45 times higher (SMR 4,486, 95% CI 2,727–6,245) among post-discharge men and women, respectively. The suicide rate was significantly higher among women than men inside high security but not after discharge. Conclusions The suicide rate among high security hospital patients was significantly higher than in the general population. Women were especially at risk while resident, whereas for men, the risk was higher after discharge