The Effect of Barriers to Treatments, and the Attitudes and Beliefs toward Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) on the Readiness to Change within Young Adults Engaging in Regular Alcohol and Opioid Use.

People who use substances vary in terms of the problems they experience and the degree to which they feel change is needed. Among those who are interested in making changes, many have qualms and questions about doing so, despite the potential positive benefits of reducing use. Young adults who use substances are especially unlikely to receive substance-focused treatment. It is unclear to what extent this is due to limited access to treatment, a lack of desire to change, beliefs that existing treatments are unlikely to be beneficial, or a combination of factors. This study will examine the associations of perceived readiness to change, access to treatment, and attitudes toward medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder in an internet sample of young adults (18-24) who regularly use alcohol and opioids and are not currently in treatment. Results will shed light on why young adults engaging in regular substance use rarely receive substance use treatment, potentially informing future efforts to address this critical issue

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Young Adults Regularly Using Alcohol and Opioids

The COVID-19 pandemic, via the need for social distancing, has had an enormous impact on how individuals use substances that we are only beginning to understand. Some factors (e.g., increased social isolation) may have led to increased substance use, while others (e.g., restrictions on access) may have made it harder to use. The impact of COVID-19 is particularly important to understand in individuals whose use puts them at high risk of overdose. Our study sought out how exactly substance use patterns changed due to the pandemic in young adults reporting regular use and co-use of alcohol and opioids. Participants were recruited as part of an internet survey advertised via Facebook and other social media sites. Results will explore whether participants perceived changes in their alcohol and opioid use and co-use, their desire to use, and their ability to access alcohol and opioids. Logistic regression will be used to examine whether feelings of isolation and loneliness were associated with increases in substance use. Findings will provide insight into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a high-risk group of individuals

The Relationships Between Perceived Social Support, Discrimination, Distress, and Alcohol Usage

Those who identify with a sexual minority identity are more likely to experience stress in day to day life due to their identity. Given that alcohol use has been a recorded outlet for stress release, it was hypothesized that the discrimination and distress in those with a sexual minority identity would be positively associated with alcohol consumption. Additionally, it was hypothesized that there would be a negative association between perceived social support and alcohol consumption in individuals who identify as a sexual minority. Regression analysis failed to support all three hypotheses. However, significantly associated correlations were found between: Sexuality and Distress (r=-.368, p\u3c.001), Sexuality and Perceived Social Support (r=1.90, p\u3c.036), Perceived Social Support and Discrimination (r=.296, p\u3c .001), Perceived Social Support and Distress (r=-.407, p\u3c.001), and lastly Distress and Discrimination (r=-.247, p\u3c.006). The only one found without a significant association was Sexuality and Discrimination. (r=1.67, p\u3c.066). This could indicate that people are experiencing less discrimination based on their sexuality. These results also suggest that alcohol use may not be a stress outlet source for this particular sample. For future research it is recommended that a larger sample size of sexual minority individuals are used as in this study the majority identified as bisexual

E.M.B.E.R. Home Protection

Despite the increased danger of wildfires in states such as California and Colorado, there is yet to exist a product that can autonomously extinguish the spot fires that ignite from windblown embers. This device could reduce countless civilian casualties and prevent millions of dollars in property damage. This is not to mention allowing homeowners to evacuate with a greater peace of mind. Mass ownership of this product would be analogous to the “herd immunity” of vaccines, where neighbors ultimately protect each other and save money through self-insurance. There are products on the market, generally in the commercial domain, that can protect a building from wildfire. However, these devices come at a high cost that eliminates even the upper-middle class household. The device we are building is unlike anything in current existence because it utilizes thermal imaging technology to reduce the water consumption related to firefighting. Through brainstorming and research, an understanding of the scope and specifications involved with this project was developed. These ideas were compiled and compared using various decision-making tools. After working our ideations into one solid design, we performed the necessary analyses and gathered parts and materials. The physical components were manufactured and assembled to create a stationary rotating device with a vertical array of sprinkler nozzles. Upon completion of the mechanical system, it was integrated with an electronic assembly that uses a single-board computer to analyze thermal imaging data from a FLIR camera, control rotation of the device, and dispense water in the appropriate direction

A School Perspective on School-Embedded Initial Teacher Education

School-university partnerships have been developed to invigorate initial teacher education (ITE). Such partnerships potentially offer rich educational opportunities to pre-service teachers. This paper examines integrated and school-embedded approaches to ITE in the Australian context, drawing on a case study analysis of a three-year, ITE school-university-system partnership named inSITE. inSITE is explored from the perspective of the school educators directly involved in its design and delivery. Complexity science provided the theoretical framework for inSITE and signalled its principles of holism, integration and reflective practice. The factors that contributed to and inhibited school-based initial teacher education from a school’s perspective are identified. The paper concludes that, given conducive conditions, an integrated, embedded and reflective approach can address the prevailing theory-practice dualism of ITE and may offer an important third way to prepare new teachers. The challenges and opportunities for school-embedded ITE in Australia are highlighted

A Mokken analysis of the literacy in musculoskeletal problems questionnaire

© 2017 The Author(s). Background: Limited health literacy is known to impact on medication adherence, hospital readmission and potentially poorer health outcomes. The literature on the health literacy of those with musculoskeletal conditions suggests greater functional limitations and increased pain levels. There are a number of measures of health literacy. One that specifically relates to musculoskeletal complaints is the Literacy in Musculoskeletal Problems (LiMP) questionnaire. The LiMP contains 9 multiple choice items that cover anatomy, musculoskeletal conditions and the diagnosis of musculoskeletal complaints. The aim of the study was to evaluate the dimensionality and internal structure of the LiMP in patients attending for osteopathy care at a student-led clinic, as a potential measure of musculoskeletal health literacy. Method: Three hundred and sixty-one (n = 361) new patients attending the Victoria University Osteopathy Clinic completed the LiMP and a demographic and health information questionnaire prior to their initial consultation. Mokken scale analysis, a nonparametric item response theory approach, was used to evaluate the dimensionality and structure of the LiMP in this population, to ascertain whether the questionnaire was measuring a single latent construct - musculoskeletal health literacy. McDonald's omega and Cronbach's alpha were calculated as the reliability estimations. The relationship between the LiMP and a single item screen of health literacy was also undertaken. Results: The 9 items on the LiMP did not form a Mokken scale and the reliability estimations were below an acceptable level (alpha and omega < 0.45). LiMP items 5 and 8 were more likely to be answered correctly by those with higher health literacy (p < 0.05), however the effect sizes were small ( < 0.20). Conclusion: Calculation of a total score for the LiMP, as advocated by the original authors, is not supported based on data in the present study. Further research is required to explore the relationship of the LiMP items to demographic and clinical data, and to other broader measures of health literacy. Further research may also develop a health literacy measure that is specific to patients seeking manual therapy care for musculoskeletal complaints

Backbone Interactions Between Transcriptional Activator ExsA and Anti-Activator ExsD Facilitate Regulation of the Type III Secretion System in \u3cem\u3ePseudomonas aeruginosa\u3c/em\u3e

The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a pivotal virulence mechanism of many Gram-negative bacteria. During infection, the syringe-like T3SS injects cytotoxic proteins directly into the eukaryotic host cell cytoplasm. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, expression of the T3SS is regulated by a signaling cascade involving the proteins ExsA, ExsC, ExsD, and ExsE. The AraC-type transcription factor ExsA activates transcription of all T3SS-associated genes. Prior to host cell contact, ExsA is inhibited through direct binding of the anti-activator protein ExsD. Host cell contact triggers secretion of ExsE and sequestration of ExsD by ExsC to cause the release of ExsA. ExsA does not bind ExsD through the canonical ligand binding pocket of AraC-type proteins. Using site-directed mutagenesis and a specific in vitro transcription assay, we have now discovered that backbone interactions between the amino terminus of ExsD and the ExsA beta barrel constitute a pivotal part of the ExsD-ExsA interface. Follow-up bacterial two-hybrid experiments suggest additional contacts create an even larger protein–protein interface. The discovered role of the amino terminus of ExsD in ExsA binding explains how ExsC might relieve the ExsD-mediated inhibition of T3SS gene expression, because the same region of ExsD interacts with ExsC following host cell contact

The Effects of COVID-19 Social Restrictions and Subsequent Informal Support Limitations on Intimate Partner Violence: An Opinion Piece

Two years since the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) was declared a worldwide pandemic, there have been more than 460 million people infected and more than 6 million deaths (1). As the highly infectious Omicron strain continues to spread worldwide, case numbers are again trending upwards in many countries. Daily, there are on average, over a million new cases and over 5,000 deaths being recorded [as of 15/03/2022; (1)]. Similar to previous times of crisis (e.g., natural disasters), an increase in violence has been observed (2), and this has been disproportionately seen in intimate partner violence against women [IPVAW; (3, 4)]. Whilst it is noted that men can be victims of interpersonal violence, the majority of this violence is perpetrated against female intimate partners (5). Additionally, while IPVAW occurs among all social groups, ethnic minorities and migrant women are more vulnerable (6). IPVAW is categorized by acts of a physical, sexual, and/or psychological nature committed by either a current or former partner (7). IPVAW is underpinned by a perpetrator's use of coercive control, which is the patterned and repetitive use of various violent behaviors to frighten or punish the survivor (8). IPVAW can have long term negative consequences, with survivors experiencing reduced quality of life outcomes (9). This opinion article considers what risk factors COVID-19 and its restrictions have exacerbated, and how restrictions have reduced the efficacy of informal supporters

Enhancing Oxygen Uptake Efficiency Through Nasal Breathing in Aerobic Exercise

An individual’s ability to use oxygen to sustain aerobic performance, as denoted by the oxygen uptake efficiency (OUE), is calculated by dividing oxygen uptake (VO2) by ventilation (VE). Whether nasal breathing (NB) during exercise would improve OUE more significantly compared to combined breathing (CB) remains uncertain. PURPOSE: To determine the effects of utilizing NB during exercise on OUE. METHODS: Fourteen males (age: 20.57 ± 1.22 yrs; BMI: 26.03 ± 3.16 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to the NB (n = 8) or CB (n = 6) group for a 4-week supervised aerobic exercise intervention conducted four times per week for 30 minutes at moderate intensity (70% maximal heart rate). VO2max tests were performed during the pre- (week 0) and post-study (week 4) periods on a recumbent bike to determine the change in OUE, VO2, and VE at varying intensities (40%, 55%, 70%, 85%, and 100% of VO2max). The OUE was calculated as VO2 (L) ÷ VE (L). A one-way ANCOVA, controlling for OUE, VO2, and VE at pre-study, was utilized to examine if NB elicited cardiorespiratory adaptations that were superior to the CB training at post-study. A paired-sample t-test examined changes in OUE, VO2, and VE throughout the GXT from week 0 to week 4. Data are presented as mean ± standard error. RESULTS: The NB group demonstrated significantly greater [F(1,11) = 7.213, p = 0.021] OUE (0.048 ± 0.002) at 85% of VO2max than the CB (0.037 ± 0.003) group. Similarly, the NB group had a significantly greater (p = 0.014) OUE (0.025 ± 0.001) at 100% of VO2max than the CB (0.021 ± 0.001) group. Only the NB group experienced significant improvements after exercise training in VO2 at 40% ( p = 0.003, 12.02 ± 0.50 to 13.72 ± 0.59 mL·kg·min-1], 55% (p = 0.006, 16.68 ± 0.71 to 18.87 ± 0.81 mL·kg·min-1), 70% (p = 0.005, 21.16 ± 0.93 to 24.00 ± 1.01 mL·kg·min-1), 85% (p = 0.004, 25.81 ± 1.11 to 29.03 ± 1.23 mL·kg·min-1), and 100% VO2max (p = 0.005, 30.31 ± 1.30 to 34.18 ± 1.48 mL·kg·min-1). While not statistically significant, the NB group displayed a trend of reduced VE compared to the CB group. CONCLUSION: The integration of NB during aerobic exercise enhanced the OUE, particularly at higher intensities, compared to CB. This adaptation is noteworthy, as the NB group achieved a comparable range of VO2 as the CB group while maintaining a lower VE after just 1-month of training. This denotes that NB could promote enhanced oxygen movement. Future studies are warranted to investigate additional health adaptations resulting from such training benefits