An analysis of the production-regeneration system in the coastal upwelling area off N.W. Africa based on oxygen, nitrate and ammonium distributions

Using the hydrographic and nutrient data from the R/V Jean Charcot CINECA-V cruise and Broenkow\u27s (1965) mixing model, we have calculated the biologically induced changes in the oxygen, nitrate and ammonium distribution patterns of the upwelling system off Cape Blanc, N .W. Africa...

Lab-on-a-chip for biological fluids analysis by spetrophotometry

The healthcare sector is nowadays one of the most dynamic and where the novelty is a strategic and operational imperative. The possibility of increase the quantity and quality of clinical analysis, performed with instantaneous results and outside the clinical laboratories, contributes to a better quality in the health care services and also a better efficiency in the clinical and administrative processes [1]. This possibility can be achieved with the presented lab-on-a-chip for spectrophotometric analysis of biological fluids. It allows the selective measurement of the concentration of several biomolecules in biological fluids, with instantaneous results, at any location, with small quantities of reagents and samples and with low-cost. That measurement is based on colorimetric detection by the optical absorption in a part of the visible spectrum defined by the reaction of the specific biomolecule with a specific reagent. The device comprises a highly efficient and selective optical filtering and colorimetric detection system. This system allows the measurement with a regular white light illumination, thus avoiding the use of complex and expensive analysis systems like the ones that comprise spectrophotometers, for example. This feature highly facilitates portability and ensures analysis within consultation time, at a patient house (allowing a first trial) and in clinical laboratories or hospitals.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) SFRH/BD/1281/2000 Escola de Engenharia da Universidade do Minho - Projecto IN2TEC. Centro Algoritmi da Universidade do Minh

In or out? Barriers and facilitators to refugee-background young people accessing mental health services

Refugee young people have been identified as a group with high risk for mental health problems, due to their experience of trauma, forced migration, and stressors associated with settlement. A high prevalence of mental health problems is reported in this group, however some research suggests refugee young people have low rates of mental health service access. There is little information available on barriers and facilitators to mental service delivery for this group. Using data from 15 focus groups and five key informant interviews with a total of 115 service providers from 12 agencies in Melbourne, Australia, this paper explores barriers and facilitators to engaging young people from refugee backgrounds with mental health services. Eight key themes emerged: cultural concepts of mental health, illness, and treatment; service accessibility; trust; working with interpreters; engaging family and community; the style and approach of mental health providers; advocacy; and continuity of care

Improving access to and engagement with mental health services among young people from refugee backgrounds: service user and provider perspectives

Limited research has been conducted worldwide on the experiences that children and young people from refugee backgrounds have with mental health services, despite evidence that they have significant vulnerability to the development of mental health problems and to suicidal behaviour and that those with mental ill-health typically underutilise services. The authors were particularly interested in barriers and facilitators to service access and engagement, and conducted two qualitative research projects to improve understanding of the issues – the first with service providers experienced in the refugee area and the second with young refugee service users. The aim of this project was to compare the perspectives of professionals and service users and to identify similarities and differences. The perspectives of the service users and providers were strikingly similar. The analysis identified 21 implications for policy makers, agencies and practitioners, which ranged from issues concerning cultural sensitivity, background matching and mental health literacy to accessibility, setting boundaries and expectations and implementing a holistic and outreach approach. There is a range of specific, practical measures that policy makers and service providers can introduce to enhance access to and engagement with mental health services for young people from refugee backgrounds

Suicide first aid guidelines for Sri Lanka: a Delphi consensus study

Background: Sri Lanka has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. Gatekeeper programs aimed at specific target groups could be a promising suicide prevention strategy in the country. The aim of this study was to develop guidelines that help members of the public to provide first aid to persons in Sri Lanka who are at risk of suicide. Methods: The Delphi method was used to elicit consensus on potential helping statements to include in the guidelines. These statements describe information members of the public should have and actions they can take to help a person who is experiencing suicidal thoughts. An expert panel, comprised of mental health and suicide experts in Sri Lanka, rated each statement. The panellists were encouraged to suggest any additional action that was not included in the original questionnaire and, in particular, to include items that were culturally appropriate or gender specific. Responses to open-ended questions were used to generate new items. These items were included in the subsequent Delphi rounds. Three Delphi rounds were carried out. Statements were accepted for inclusion in the guidelines if they were endorsed (rated as essential or important) by at least 80 % of the panel. Statements endorsed by 70–79 % of the panel were re-rated in the following round. Statements with less than 70 % endorsement, or re-rated items that did not receive 80 % or higher endorsement were rejected. Results: The output from the Delphi process was a set of endorsed statements. In the first round questionnaire 473 statements were presented to the panel and 58 new items were generated from responses to the open-ended questions. Of the total 531 statements presented, 304 were endorsed. These statements were used to develop the suicide first aid guidelines for Sri Lanka. Conclusion: By engaging Sri Lankans who are experts in the field of mental health or suicide this research developed culturally appropriate guidelines for providing mental health first aid to a person at risk of suicide in Sri Lanka. The guidelines may serve as a basis for developing training for members of the public to provide mental health first aid to persons at risk of suicide as part of Sri Lanka’s suicide prevention strategy

Autofluorescence spectroscopy of a human gastrointestinal carcinoma cell line - design of optical sensors for the detection of early stage cancer

Human tissues show autofluorescence (AF) emission spectra when excited by ultraviolet or shortwavelength visible light. The intensity and shape of these spectra are dependent on the tissues pathological state and, therefore, its measurement gives information about the degree of malignant transformations that could lead to cancer. In this article, it is characterized the AF spectra of one human gastrointestinal carcinoma cell line (CACO-2). The obtained results showed significant AF signal for the presence of amino acids. The spectral information obtained can be used for the design of fluorescence optical sensors that will be incorporated on an endoscopic capsule, for measuring the AF emission spectra of normal and cancer cells. This integrated optical system will innovate on the diagnosis of early stage cancer

A Novel FRP Retrofit Solution for Improved Local and Global Seismic Performance of RC Buildings: Development of Fragility Curves and Comparative Cost-Benefit Analyses

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of a novel capacity-design based retrofit for improving both the local and global behaviour of existing reinforced concrete buildings using fibre-reinforced polymers. The approach was previously tested on beam-column joints and is here extended to the building level. A new fibre-element model for the global retrofit is proposed and validated against full-scale experiments. Non-linear push-over analyses confirm the adequacy of the retrofit and fragility analyses are used to compare it to a simpler local retrofit. Finally, cost-benefit analyses for three levels of seismicity highlight the cost-effectiveness of the global retrofit for moderate to high seismicity

Suicide first aid guidelines for Sri Lanka: a Delphi consensus study.

BACKGROUND: Sri Lanka has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. Gatekeeper programs aimed at specific target groups could be a promising suicide prevention strategy in the country. The aim of this study was to develop guidelines that help members of the public to provide first aid to persons in Sri Lanka who are at risk of suicide. METHODS: The Delphi method was used to elicit consensus on potential helping statements to include in the guidelines. These statements describe information members of the public should have and actions they can take to help a person who is experiencing suicidal thoughts. An expert panel, comprised of mental health and suicide experts in Sri Lanka, rated each statement. The panellists were encouraged to suggest any additional action that was not included in the original questionnaire and, in particular, to include items that were culturally appropriate or gender specific. Responses to open-ended questions were used to generate new items. These items were included in the subsequent Delphi rounds. Three Delphi rounds were carried out. Statements were accepted for inclusion in the guidelines if they were endorsed (rated as essential or important) by at least 80 % of the panel. Statements endorsed by 70-79 % of the panel were re-rated in the following round. Statements with less than 70 % endorsement, or re-rated items that did not receive 80 % or higher endorsement were rejected. RESULTS: The output from the Delphi process was a set of endorsed statements. In the first round questionnaire 473 statements were presented to the panel and 58 new items were generated from responses to the open-ended questions. Of the total 531 statements presented, 304 were endorsed. These statements were used to develop the suicide first aid guidelines for Sri Lanka. CONCLUSION: By engaging Sri Lankans who are experts in the field of mental health or suicide this research developed culturally appropriate guidelines for providing mental health first aid to a person at risk of suicide in Sri Lanka. The guidelines may serve as a basis for developing training for members of the public to provide mental health first aid to persons at risk of suicide as part of Sri Lanka's suicide prevention strategy

Oscillatory and alternate flows in a microfluidic device

The mixing properties of systems with oscillatory or alternate flows are studied by numerical methods. Preliminary results show that, for alternate flows, the contact area between high and low concentration regions increases and mixing is achieved from the combination of transversal diffusion and axial advection. The improvement in the mixing process shows that this method is very useful for designing mixers in lab-on-a-chip devices.R&D Centre Algoritmi - University of Minho Engineering School (program IN2TEC) - University of Minho

Biosystem with 16 highly selective optical channels for biological fluids analysis in the visible spectrum

This paper reports a biosystem (biological system) for analyzing biochemical substances in biological fluids. Rather than one channel, it comprises 16 highly selective optical channels that enable the measurement of the concentration of 16 different biochemical substances. An array of 16 optical filters with high reflectivity and low absorption loss has been designed using dielectric films. Each filter is sensitive in a single wavelength with a FWHM (Full Width Half Maximum) 52%. A commercially available band pass optical filter with a band pass wavelength in 450 600 nm is used to enable the use of a white light source for biosystem illumination. Preliminary tests with a single channel are successfully demonstrated.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - SFRH/BD/1281/2000, POCTI/33747/ESE/ /1999), FEDER