Cross-sectional study of risky substance use by injured emergency department patients

INTRODUCTION: Survey data regarding the prevalence of risky substance use in the emergency department (ED) is not consistent. The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of risky substance use among injured ED patients based on the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST v3.0). A secondary objective was to report on the feasibility of administering the ASSIST to this population, based on the time to conduct screening. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used screening data from a randomized controlled trial. Injured ED patients completed the ASSIST on a tablet computer, and an ASSIST score was computed that indicated the need for a brief or intensive treatment intervention (risky use) for alcohol and other substances. For a subsample, data on time to complete each step of screening was recorded. RESULTS: Between July 2010 and March 2013, 5,695 patients completed the ASSIST. Most (92%) reported lifetime use of at least one substance and 51% reported current risky use of at least one substance. Mean time to complete the ASSIST was 5.4 minutes and screening was considered feasible even when paused for clinical care to proceed. CONCLUSION: Estimates of risky substance use based on the ASSIST in our large sample of injured ED patients were higher than previously reported in other studies of ED patients, possibly due to the current focus on an injured population. In addition, it was feasible to administer the ASSIST to patients in the course of their clinical care.Published versio

Demixing of aqueous polymer two-phase systems in low gravity

When polymers such as dextran and poly(ethylene glycol) are mixed in aqueous solution biphasic systems often form. On Earth the emulsion formed by mixing the phases rapidly demixes because of phase density differences. Biological materials can be purified by selective partitioning between the phases. In the case of cells and other particulates the efficiency of these separations appears to be somewhat compromised by the demixing process. To modify this process and to evaluate the potential of two-phase partitioning in space, experiments on the effects of gravity on phase emulsion demixing were undertaken. The behavior of phase systems with essentially identical phase densities was studied at one-g and during low-g parabolic aircraft maneuvers. The results indicate the demixing can occur rather rapidly in space, although more slowly than on Earth. The demixing process was examined from a theoretical standpoint by applying the theory of Ostwald ripening. This theory predicts demizing rates many orders of magnitude lower than observed. Other possible demixing mechanisms are considered

Reference gene selection and RNA preservation protocol in the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, for gene expression studies

This work was supported by a Knowledge Transfer Network BBSRC Industrial Case (#414 BB/L502467/1) studentship in association Zoetis Inc.Peer reviewedPostprin

Characteristics and energy dependence of recurrent galactic cosmic-ray flux depressions and of a forbush decrease with LISA Pathfinder

The final publication is available at IOS Press through http://dx.doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aaa774Galactic cosmic-ray (GCR) energy spectra observed in the inner heliosphere are modulated by the solar activity, the solar polarity and structures of solar and interplanetary origin. A high counting rate particle detector (PD) aboard LISA Pathfinder, meant for subsystems diagnostics, was devoted to the measurement of GCR and solar energetic particle integral fluxes above 70 MeV n-1 up to 6500 counts s-1. PD data were gathered with a sampling time of 15 s. Characteristics and energy dependence of GCR flux recurrent depressions and of a Forbush decrease dated 2016 August 2 are reported here. The capability of interplanetary missions, carrying PDs for instrument performance purposes, in monitoring the passage of interplanetary coronal mass ejections is also discussed.Peer ReviewedPreprin

Entrepreneurship in a Transition Economy: An Examination of Venture Creation in Hungary

This study examines entrepreneurs and new ventures in a transition economy, Hungary, and identifies what variables distinguish between Hungarian entrepreneurs and their new ventures in the pre-1988 transition period from that which followed. The variables that discriminate most strongly are their business strategies. The newer firms had a concentration strategy while the older firms had a new product development strategy. Other variables that discriminated between the groups include reacting to the political environment, satisfaction with firm performance, encouragement from investors, recent investment in building improvement, and family history of entrepreneurship. The newer entrepreneurs had more family role models of entrepreneurship

Alliances and Networks: Cooperative Strategies for Small Businesses

Research on large firms shows that cooperative strategies have the potential to improve performance by helping firms gain access to necessary resources, enter new markets, and spread the risk over several partners. Interviews with thirty-four small business managers show small firms also can profit from using a cooperative network. Highly-allied small businesses entered alliances to gain resources and based their alliances on a distinctive competence. The highly allied businesses grew more rapidly than the less allied firms. Mutual goals and joint decision making were viewed as critical to the high level of satisfaction achieved

Formalized Planning in Small Business: Increasing Strategic Choices

A study of 188 small businesses was conducted to examine three distinct relationships in the planning process planning formality in relation to strategic decision processes, planning formality in relation to the strategies adopted, and planning formality in relation to firm performance. The results demonstrated that firms with formal planning emphasized more aspects of the strategic choice process, adopted a wider range of competitive and cooperative strategies, and grew more rapidly than did non-formal planners

Opportunities For Evaluating Malaria Vaccines In Indonesia

Di Indonesia, khususnya di Irian Jaya dan daerah malaria tinggi lainnya terdapat kesempatan yang sangat baik untuk mengevaluasi vaksin malaria. Hal ini antara lain disebabkan tersedianya data epidemiologi termasuk insidens, risiko malaria yang tinggi dan merata pada berbagai kelompok umur, jenis kelamin dan pekerjaan, adanya kelompok masyarakat yang sesuai untuk penelitian (transmigran dan angkatan bersenjata), lokasi desa yang memungkinkan randomisasi serta tersedianya fasilitas laboratorium di dekat daerah penelitian. Pemberantasan malaria dengan vaksinasi diharapkan akan menjadi fokus dari penelitian kesehatan menjelang akhir abad ke-20. Indonesia yang terdiri dari berbagai pulau memungkinkan konsolidasi pemberantasan malaria secara bertahap. Pengalaman yang diperoleh dengan pemberantasan malaria di suatu pulau akan sangat bermanfaat untuk menghadapi masalah yang lebih berat yakni malaria di daratan luas seperti Afrika atau daratan Asia Tenggara

Epidemic Malaria Among Transmigrants in Irian Jaya

Malaria merupakan masalah kesehatan yang penting untuk masyarakat transmigrasi di daerah endemisitas malaria tinggi seperti Irian Jaya. Di Arso, epidemi malaria timbul setelah dua sampai enam bulan sesudah tibanya transmigran baru. Dalam tiga bulan angka parasitemia bisa mencapai 70% dan hampir 10% dari transmigran mendapat malaria berat yang membutuhkan rujukan ke rumah sakit dalam enam bulan p< rtama. Usaha penanggulangan malaria di daerah seperti Arso menghadapi berbagai tantangan dan hambatan karena tingginya derajat resistensi parasit terhadap klorokuin, fasilitas dan kemampuan untuk diagnostik yang terbatas, sulitnya pengendalian vektor (An. punctulatus group) dan tidak adanya strategi untuk menghilangkan sumber infeksi yang asimptomatik. Berbagai USAha yang dapat mengurangi risiko epidemi malaria di daerah transmigrasi Irian Jaya ialah antara lain pemberian profilaksis selama tiga bulan (selain klorokuin perlu dipertimbangkan pemberian primakuin bagi transmigran yang tidak hamil dan tidak menderita defisiensi G-6-PD), peningkatan fasilitas diagnostik dan pengobatan/termasuk rujukan untuk kasus malaria berat), pemakaian kelambu; penemuan kasus aktif untuk menghilangkan gametocytemia yang asimptomatik (selama enam bulan) serta penyuluhan dan partisipasi masyarakat dalam pemberantasan malaria (termasuk pembinaan kader kesehatan). Untuk melaksanakan kegiatan tersebut di atas perlu disediakan tenaga dan sumber dana yang khusus