On variations of volumetric activity of 90Sr and 137Cs in the Baltic Sea coastal waters near the shore of Lithuania in 2005–2009

The article presents the measurement results of the volumetric activity (VA) of artificial radionuclides (90)Sr and (137)Cs in the coastal waters of the Baltic Sea near the Curonian Peninsula in 2005–2009. The annual average values for this period of time were 12 Bq/m(3) ((90)Sr) and 40 Bq/m(3) ((137)Cs). Considerable variations in the VA of the radionuclide in individual measurements compared to the average results were observed. The extreme values were 6 and 16 Bq/m(3) for (90)Sr and for (137)Cs—27 and 75 Bq/m(3). It is proposed to allow such variations under the influence of a variety of external factors such as hydro meteorological situations, inflowing rivers and bays, storm activity and etc. Besides, a possibility of penetration of radionuclides into the sea waters from the additional radioactive sources is not excluded

General hospital staff worries, perceived sufficiency of information and associated psychological distress during the A/H1N1 influenza pandemic

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Health care workers (HCWs) presented frequent concerns regarding their health and their families' health and high levels of psychological distress during previous disease outbreaks, such as the SARS outbreak, which was associated with social isolation and intentional absenteeism. We aimed to assess HCWs concerns and anxiety, perceived sufficiency of information, and intended behavior during the recent A/H1N1 influenza pandemic and their associations with psychological distress.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>Between September 1^stand 30^th, 2009, 469 health-care workers (HCWs) of a tertiary teaching hospital completed a 20-item questionnaire regarding concerns and worries about the new A/H1N1 influenza pandemic, along with Cassileth's Information Styles Questionnaire (part-I) and the GHQ-28.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>More than half of the present study's HCWs (56.7%) reported they were worried about the A/H1N1 influenza pandemic, their degree of anxiety being moderately high (median 6/9). The most frequent concern was infection of family and friends and the health consequences of the disease (54.9%). The perceived risk of being infected was considered moderately high (median 6/9). Few HCWs (6.6%) had restricted their social contacts and fewer (3.8%) felt isolated by their family members and friends because of their hospital work, while a low percentage (4.3%) indented to take a leave to avoid infection. However, worry and degree of worry were significantly associated with intended absenteeism (p < 0.0005), restriction of social contacts (p < 0.0005), and psychological distress (p = 0.036). Perceived sufficiency of information about several aspects of the A/H1N1 influenza was moderately high, and the overall information about the A/H1N1 influenza was considered clear (median 7.4/9). Also, perceived sufficiency of information for the prognosis of the infection was significantly independently associated with the degree of worry about the pandemic (p = 0.008).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A significant proportion of HCWs experienced moderately high anxiety about the pandemic, and their degree of worry was an independent correlate of psychological distress. Since perceived sufficiency of information about the A/H1N1 influenza prognosis was associated with reduced degree of worry, hospital managers and consultation-liaison psychiatry services should try to provide for HCWs' need for information, in order to offer favourable working conditions in times of extreme distress, such as the current and future pandemics.</p

RESEARCH ON THE INFLUENCE OF AN ACOUSTIC FIELD ON PARTICLE COHESION IN LIQUID / AKUSTINIO LAUKO ĮTAKA DALELIŲ SUKIBIMUI SKYSTYJE

Iron is one of the most common natural elements. When iron concentration in water is more than 0,3 mg/l, it causes the formation of rust drain tag or changes the colour of the fabric during washing. Thus, the use of the acoustic field to improve water quality is a very relevant topic. Acoustic oscillations are currently widely used in various industrial sectors, including water treatment, metallurgy, chemical and food industry, equipment manufacturing and medicine. When materials are affected by acoustic fields, physical-chemical processes begin. Acoustic fields cause material dispersion, emulsification, coagulation and degassing (gas removal) as well as influence the crystallization and melting processes. Acoustic vibrations may also cause various chemical transformations such as oxidation, polymerization processes and depolymerisation. The utilization of acoustics to enhance water oxidation and precipitation of coarse impurities further extends the scope of the use of this physical method. Santrauka Lietuvos požeminiame vandenyje geležis yra svarbiausias komponentas, pažeidžiantis geriamojo vandens kokybės normatyvinius reikalavimus, todėl tiriamas akustinio lauko naudojimas šioms dalelėms sukibti skystyje. Šiuo metu garso virpesiai yra plačiai taikomi įvairiose pramonės šakose: metalurgijoje, chemijos ir maisto pramonėje, gaminant įrenginius ir medicinoje. Akustikos naudojimas oksidacijos procesui vandenyje sustiprinti, nusodinant stambiąsias priemaišas, dar labiau išplečia šio fizikinio metodo taikymo sritį. Raktiniai žodžiai: akustinis laukas; garso dažnis; koaguliacij

Understanding, compliance and psychological impact of the SARS quarantine experience

This study examines a cohort of persons quarantined during the 2003 SARS outbreak in Canada and describes their understanding of, difficulties and compliance with, and the psychological impact of the quarantine experience. A mailed questionnaire was administered to 1912 eligible adults and included the Impact of Events Scale – Revised (IES-R) to assess symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Self-reported compliance with all required quarantine measures was low (15·8±2·3%), although significantly higher when the rationale for quarantine was understood (P=0·018). Health-care workers (HCW) experienced greater psychological distress, including symptoms of PTSD (P<0·001). Increasing perceived difficulty with compliance, HCW, longer quarantine and compliance with quarantine requirements were significant contributors to higher IES-R scores. The low compliance with quarantine requirements introduces concerns about the effectiveness of quarantine as a public health measure. Improvements in compliance and reduced psychological distress may be possible by minimizing duration, revising requirements, and providing enhanced education and support

Suicide deaths by intentional self-poisoning in people with cardiovascular disease

Objective: We aimed to characterize self-poisoning deaths in people with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and compare to other suicide decedent groups. Methods: Suicide deaths by self-poisoning in people with CVD (n = 151) were compared to suicide deaths by other methods in people with CVD (n = 260) and suicide deaths by self-poisoning in people without CVD (n = 509). Sub-analysis of the CVD self-poisoning group compared people with depression and without depression. Toxicology reports were compared between intentional self-poisoning groups. Results: A higher proportion of suicide deaths were due to self-poisoning in the CVD group compared to the non-CVD group. People with CVD were less likely to have any identified stressor (excluding medical stressor) prior to dying from self-poisoning compared to those without CVD. Female sex, past suicide attempts, living circumstances, and comorbid substance abuse were each significantly associated with self-poisoning as the method of suicide in people with CVD. Opioid, any antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) were commonly identified as lethal in people with CVD. Compared to people in the CVD self-poisoning without depression group, people in the CVD self-poisoning with depression group were more likely to have lethal levels of TCAs. Conclusions: Our findings characterize suicide deaths in people with CVD, and identified notable differences based on method of death and presence of depression