Cruise Report r/v "ALKOR " Cruise- No. AL449

January 31 – February 12 2015 Purpose of the cruise Biogeochemical cycling of nutrients in the coastal area of the Baltic Sea in the vicinity of a major Baltic Sea River, Vistuls River, in the framework of the BONUS project COCOA, nutrient cocktail in the coastal zon

ARE THERE GENDER-SPECIFIC DIFFERENCES IN ELEMENTARY MOTOR SPEED ABILITY?

The purpose of this study was to analyse gender-specific differences in elementary motor speed ability. The reliability of 7 tests with 15 items was investigated using intra-classcoefficients. Gender-specific differences of performance were analysed using independent samples t-tests. There were no differences between men and women in elementary motor speed. The structure of the elementary motor speed ability (reaction time, tapping, reactive speed and arbitrarily initiated speed) was investigated with confirmatory factor analysis. Here, we identified gender-specific differences in the structure using structural equation models. The models are characterized with a good model fit. Based on the present findings, conclusions for a gender-specific training of elementary motor speed abilities are derived

First Responder Mental Health

Communities spend thousands of dollars on first responders to protect them physically: body armor for law enforcement officers, heat resistant gear for firefighters, gloves and reflective clothing for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel. Supporting and investing in programs related to first responders’ mental health is equally important in keeping their minds safe. First responders train long hours each year to stay prepared for almost any situation. In the past, training has centered around physical safety and job efficiency. In recent years, efforts have been made to include mental health training and reduce the stigma associated with mental health for first responders (Rose et al., 2015). It’s easy to realize that first responders endure hazardous conditions, traumatic events, and long hours on the job, but much of the stress comes from the everyday job requirements. This fact sheet examines burnout, compassion fatigue, stigma, and protective factors, as well as providing valuable resources to address the mental health concerns of first responders

A Hybrid Peer Support Training Model for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Utah State University (USU) Extension created a hybrid educational program to address barriers to participation of the Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) trainings before and during COVID 19. This article provides an overview of the CPSS pilot program and discusses early program outcomes

Stigma and Mothers Using Opioids

Parenting and pregnancy in the context of substance use is a complicated topic. Many public health officials, social workers, policy makers, and community members want to provide effective support and treatment for the child and for the parent. But when stigma, prejudice, or misinformation occur, parents who use substances can be exposed to added barriers to accessing care and support. This fact sheet addresses solutions to these barriers

Posttranslational regulation of Fas ligand function

The TNF superfamily member Fas ligand acts as a prototypic death factor. Due to its ability to induce apoptosis in Fas (APO-1, CD95) expressing cells, Fas ligand participates in essential effector functions of the immune system. It is involved in natural killer cell- and T cell-mediated cytotoxicity, the establishment of immune privilege, and in termination of immune responses by induction of activation-induced cell death. In addition, Fas ligand-positive tumours may evade immune surveillance by killing Fas-positive tumour-infiltrating cells. Given these strong cytotoxic capabilities of Fas ligand, it is obvious that its function has to be strictly regulated to avoid uncontrolled damage. In hematopoietic cells, the death factor is stored in secretory lysosomes and is mobilised to the immunological synapse only upon activation. The selective sorting to and the release from this specific lysosomal compartment requires interactions of the Fas ligand cytosolic moiety, which mediates binding to various adapter proteins involved in trafficking and cytoskeletal reorganisation. In addition, Fas ligand surface expression is further regulated by posttranslational ectodomain shedding and subsequent regulated intramembrane proteolysis, releasing a soluble ectodomain cytokine into the extracellular space and an N-terminal fragment with a potential role in intracellular signalling processes. Moreover, other posttranslational modifications of the cytosolic domain, including phosphorylation and ubiquitylation, have been described to affect various aspects of Fas ligand biology. Since FasL is regarded as a potential target for immunotherapy, the further characterisation of its biological regulation and function will be of great importance for the development and evaluation of future therapeutic strategies

Pregnancy and Substance Use

The use of alcohol and other harmful substances, such as cocaine, opioids, and marijuana during pregnancy has increased over the last decades (Sebastiani et al., 2018). Using these substances can be very harmful to the unborn baby and mother (Viteri et al., 2015). This fact sheet covers (1) the consequences of substance use and (2) the current recommendations for substance use during pregnancy

Evidence-Based Alternative Pain Management Techniques for Chronic Pain

Chronic pain and opioid use have become topics of importance as opioid overdose deaths have risen to epidemic proportions throughout the nation. Chronic pain lasts for long periods of time and can be caused by a past injury or have no known cause. Opioids have been utilized to treat pain in the past, but it has been discovered that opioids are better used to treat acute pain and not chronic pain. Opioids can have negative consequences including changes to the brain, depression, increased pain, constipation, sedation, and even death. This fact sheet reviews and explains some of the most successful evidence-based non-opioid methods to manage chronic pain. The methods discussed include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Yoga, Tai Chi, and Mindfulness

Mindfulness for Chronic Pain Management

Chronic pain often occurs even after healing in the injury site because of changes in the way the brain perceives pain. Mindfulness is a simple mental activity, proven to reduce pain and the need for pain medication. Mindfulness increases the ability to mentally regulate pain, emotion, and behavior, alters the way the brain processes rewards, and restores positive feelings. Mindfulness can be learned in a class or at home and is an accessible alternative for managing pain