Exploring the Effectiveness of the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team at a Washington State Hospital

Patient-to-staff assaults have become a barrier to workplace safety at U.S. psychiatric hospitals. Assaults on staff result in loss of productive social service for the mentally ill; increases in labor, industrial, and medical costs from claims; and psychological scars, such as posttraumatic stress disorder, that may never completely heal. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the effectiveness of the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) at the Washington state hospital in reducing patient assaults on staff. There is very little research to substantiate the effectiveness of the PERT program as a conduit of workplace safety in psychiatric institutional care and none demonstrating that PERT is a useful program at the Washington state hospital. The theoretical approach in the current study for examining how organizations function with cohesiveness under certain organizational equilibrium constraints was Bandura’s social learning theory. A quantitative archival analysis design was used to determine relationship between several levels of an independent variable (time) and the dependent variable (number of assaults) via a time-series procedure, the one-way within subjects ANOVA. Results showed that there was an increase in assaults in the 6 months post-PERT implementation compared to the 6 months before but a reduction of work loss. Decreased work loss after assaults could lead to less severe injuries due to the PERT response to incidents. Reducing injuries could lead to positive social change by affecting the psychological and physical well-being of patients and staff. For patients, it could promote healing and recovery as they discharge from the hospital and re-enter society

Die Entwicklung eines Theorie-Praxisseminars mit multiperspektivischen Unterrichtsvideos an der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg

Universitäre Lehrkräftebildung steht seit jeher vor der Herausforderung, Studierende adäquat auf die unterrichtlichen Anforderungen in heterogenen Lerngruppen vorzubereiten. Zur Vermittlung entsprechender diagnostischer und unterstützender Handlungskompetenzen wurde im Rahmen des Projekts ZZL-Netzwerk ein innovatives universitäres mathematikdidaktisches Seminar u.a. mit multiperspektivischen Unterrichtsvideos in Kooperation von Lehrkräften und Wissenschaftler/-innen entwickelt. Die diesbezügliche Evaluationsstudie erfolgt im Rahmen eines Pre-Post-Designs mit Kontrollgruppe

A minimaj-preserving crystal on ordered multiset partitions

We provide a crystal structure on the set of ordered multiset partitions, which recently arose in the pursuit of the Delta Conjecture. This conjecture was stated by Haglund, Remmel and Wilson as a generalization of the Shuffle Conjecture. Various statistics on ordered multiset partitions arise in the combinatorial analysis of the Delta Conjecture, one of them being the minimaj statistic, which is a variant of the major index statistic on words. Our crystal has the property that the minimaj statistic is constant on connected components of the crystal. In particular, this yields another proof of the Schur positivity of the graded Frobenius series of the generalization $R_{n,k}$ due to Haglund, Rhoades and Shimozono of the coinvariant algebra $R_n$. The crystal structure also enables us to demonstrate the equidistributivity of the minimaj statistic with the major index statistic on ordered multiset partitions.Comment: 17 pages; v2 contains minor changes suggested by referee, references update

Contextual influences on physical activity and eating habits -options for action on the community level

Background: This conceptual paper aims to illustrate the ways in which communities are able to advance health improvements on a population level. Outcome measures may include increased physical activity and healthier eating habits in particular, as well as an improved health-related quality of life and social cohesion as more generic outcomes. Main body: The paper begins by asking initial questions: Why did previous health-specific interventions only show moderate effects on an individual level and mixed effects on a population level? What is the added value of a community-based public health perspective compared to the traditional biomedical perspective when it comes to prevention? Why are we living the way we are living? Why do we eat what we eat? Why do we move the way we move? Subsequently, we illustrate the broad spectrum of contextual interventions available to communities. These can have geographical and technological as well as economic, political, normative and attitude-specific dimensions. It is shown that communities have a strong influence on health-related contexts and decision-making of adults, adolescents and children. In addition contextual characteristics, effects, mediators, moderators and consequences relevant for health can differ greatly between age groups. Both small-scale settings and overarching sectors possess physical, economic, political and sociocultural characteristics that can be proactively influenced by community decision-makers in the sense of a “health in all policies”-strategy. Short conclusion: After presenting various interdisciplinary approaches to community-based health interventions, the manuscript closes with the following core message: Successful community-based health promotion strategies consist of multilevel – multicomponent interventions on the micro, meso and macro-level-environments

Backside Wear Analysis of Retrieved Acetabular Liners with a Press-Fit Locking Mechanism in Comparison to Wear Simulation In Vitro

Backside wear due to micromotion and poor conformity between the liner and its titanium alloy shell may contribute to the high rates of retroacetabular osteolysis and consequent aseptic loosening. The purpose of our study was to understand the wear process on the backside of polyethylene liners from two acetabular cup systems, whose locking mechanism is based on a press-fit cone in combination with a rough titanium conical inner surface on the fixation area. A direct comparison between in vitro wear simulator tests (equivalent to 3 years of use) and retrieved liners (average 13.1 months in situ) was done in order to evaluate the backside wear characteristics and behavior of these systems. Similar wear scores between in vitro tested and retrieved liners were observed. The results showed that this locking mechanism did not significantly produce wear marks at the backside of the polyethylene liners due to micromotion. In all the analyzed liners, the most common wear modes observed were small scratches at the cranial fixation zone directly below the rough titanium inner surface of the shell. It was concluded that most of the wear marks were produced during the insertion and removal of the liner, rather than during its time in situ

A utilização de práticas complementares por enfermeiros do Rio Grande do Sul

Considering that complementary practices use in Nursing is still little debated, this work aimed to investigate who are currently the nurses from Rio Grande do Sul, specialized in some integrative therapy and which ones they in their professional and/or personal practice. It was carried out a descriptive exploratory study of qualitative nature with five nurses registered in the Regional Counsel of Nursing - COREN/RS and with some involvement with the Brazilian Association of Natural Therapies in Nursing - ABRATEN. Answered questionnaires by research subjects’ analysis demonstrated a variety of practices modalities that are care possibilities used by the Nursing with the team, patients and community. The lack of disciplines that approach the integrative therapies area in the curriculums of Nursing courses and the spreading of these positive experiences were told by these professionals who today commit themselves with the study of complementary practicesLa utilización de prácticas complementarias en Enfermería aún es poco discutida, ese trabajo ha objetivado investigar quiénes son actualmente los enfermeros de la Provincia brasileña de Río Grande del Sur especializados en alguna terapia integrativa y cuáles son las que utilizan en sus prácticas profesionales y/o personales. Estudio exploratorio descriptivo de carácter cualitativo hecho con cinco enfermeros registrados en el Consejo Regional de Enfermería- COREN/RS y con algún envolvimiento junto a la Asociación Brasileña de Terapias Naturales en Enfermería– ABRATEN. El análisis de los cuestionarios contestados por los sujetos de la investigación demostró una variedad de modalidades de prácticas que son posibilidades de cuidado utilizados por la Enfermería junto al equipo, a los pacientes y a la comunidad. La falta de asignaturas que aborden el área en los currículos de los cursos de Enfermería y la divulgación de esas experiencias positivas han sido relatadas por esos profesionales que hoy se empeñan en el estudio de las prácticas complementarias.Tendo em vista que a utilização de práticas complementares na Enfermagem ainda é pouco discutida, esse trabalho objetivou investigar quem são atualmente os enfermeiros do Rio Grande do Sul, especializados em alguma terapia integrativa e quais são as utilizadas por eles em suas práticas profissionais e/ou pessoais. Estudo exploratório descritivo de caráter qualitativo realizado com cinco enfermeiros registrados no Conselho Regional de Enfermagem – COREN/RS e com algum envolvimento junto a Associação Brasileira de Terapias Naturais em Enfermagem – ABRATEN. A análise dos questionários, respondidos pelos sujeitos da pesquisa, demonstraram uma variedade de modalidades de práticas que são possibilidades de cuidados utilizados pela Enfermagem junto à equipe, aos pacientes e à comunidade. A falta de disciplinas que abordem essa área nos currículos dos cursos de Enfermagem e a divulgação dessas experiências positivas foram relatadas por esses profissionais que hoje se empenham no estudo das práticas complementares

Licit and illicit substance use patterns among university students in Germany using cluster analysis

Schilling L, Zeeb H, Pischke C, et al. Licit and illicit substance use patterns among university students in Germany using cluster analysis. SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PREVENTION AND POLICY. 2017;12(1): 44.The use of multiple licit and illicit substances plays an important role in many university students' lives. Previous research on multiple substance use patterns of university students, however, often fails to examine use of different illicit substances and/or hookah. Our objective was to complement and advance the current knowledge about common consumption patterns regarding illicit substances and hookah use in this group. Students from eight German universities completed an online survey as part of the INSIST study ('INternet-based Social norms Intervention for the prevention of substance use among STudents') regarding their consumption of alcohol, tobacco, hookah, cannabis and other illicit substances. Cluster analysis identified distinct consumption patterns of concurrent and non-concurrent substance use and multinomial logistic regressions described key sociodemographic factors associated with these clusters. Six homogeneous groups were identified: 'Alcohol Abstainers' (10.8%), 'Drinkers Only' (48.2%), 'Drinkers and Cigarette Smokers' (14.6%), 'Cannabis and Licit Substance Users' (11.2%), 'Hookah Users with Co-Use' (9.8%) and 'Illicit Substance Users with Co-Use' (5.4%). Illicit substance use clustered with the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis. Hookah use was regularly associated with alcohol consumption, less commonly associated with tobacco or cannabis use and very rarely associated with use of other illicit substances. Individuals consuming licit and illicit substances or hookah were mostly male and lived together with other students. Characteristics such as the number of years an individual had spent studying at a university, subject of study, immigrant background and religious affiliation were less commonly associated with cluster membership. Although we found substance use patterns in our sample largely similar to previous reports, we identified an important subgroup of individuals using both illicit and licit substances. These individuals may benefit especially from targeted interventions that focus on modifying addictive behavior patterns

Health outcomes in offspring born to survivors of childhood cancers following assisted reproductive technologies

Purpose: An increasing number of childhood cancer survivors are using assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to overcome treatment-related fertility impairment. We report perinatal and health outcomes of offspring born to survivors following ART. Methods: The FeCt Multicenter Offspring Study surveyed the health of offspring of childhood cancer survivors. Health outcomes in offspring born to survivors following ART (n = 57, 4.6%) or after spontaneous conception (n = 1182) were assessed in the German cohort (n = 1239) using bivariate analysis. Findings were put into the context of the general German population by health outcome assessment in 1:1 matched-pair analysis (n = 2478). Results: Nearly twice the survivors used ART compared with numbers reported for the German general population (4.6% vs. 2.6%). Successful pregnancies were achieved after a median of two cycles, mainly using non-cryopreserved oocytes/sperm. Multiple sibling births (p < 0.001, 28.1% vs. 3.0%) and low birth weight (p = 0.008; OR = 2.659, 95% CI = 1.258-5.621) occurred significantly more often in offspring born to survivors who utilized ART than spontaneously conceived children, whereas similar percentages were born preterm or too small for their gestational age. ART did not increase the prevalence of childhood cancer or congenital malformations in offspring born to survivors. Conclusion: ART use by childhood cancer survivors was successful with both fresh and cryopreserved oocytes/sperm, and did not influence perinatal health or health outcomes when known confounders were taken into account. Implications for cancer survivors: Oncofertility is an important component of patient care. Our study implicates that the utilization of ART by adult survivors of childhood cancer does not put offspring at additional risk for adverse perinatal or health outcomes

Fomitiporia mediterranea M. Fisch., the historical Esca agent: a comprehensive review on the main grapevine wood rot agent in Europe

International audienceFomitiporia mediterranea M. Fisch. (Fmed) is a basidiomycete first described in 2002, and was considered up to then as part of Fomitiporia punctata (P. Karst) Murrill. This fungus can degrade lignocellulosic biomass, causing white rot and leaving bleached fibrous host residues. In Europe Fmed is considered the main grapevine wood rot (Esca) agent within the Esca disease complex, which includes some of the most economically important Grapevine Trunk Diseases (GTDs). This review summarises and evaluates published research on Fmed, on white rot elimination by curettage or management by treatments with specific products applied to diseased grapevines, and on the relationship between wood symptoms and Grapevine Leaf Stripe Disease (GLSD) in the Esca disease complex. Information is also reviewed on the fungus biology, mechanisms of pathogenicity, and their possible relationships with external foliar symptoms of the Esca disease complex. Information on Fmed control strategies is also reviewed

Identification of starting points to promote health and wellbeing at the community level – a qualitative study

Background: As health is influenced by the social, economic and environmental conditions in which individuals live, local communities are an ideal setting to promote health and wellbeing. However, up to now various health promotion interventions at the community level have had limited success, perhaps related to an incomplete understanding of local contexts and priorities. We therefore aimed to develop a broader and deeper understanding of topics or issues that were most salient to residents of a South-West German community by exploring their perceptions of needs, challenges, barriers and existing resources related to health and well-being. Methods: As an initial step of a multi-year community-based participatory research project, we conducted semi-structured interviews with key informants (n = 30) from various community settings (e.g., child care, elderly care, businesses, non-profit organizations, village councils, and local government). The terms “health” and “wellbeing” were included in the stem of each question in the semi-structured interview guide to enable a focus on related perceived needs, challenges, barriers and existing resources. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative content analysis techniques. Results: Themes emerging from our interviews appeared to center primarily in three distinct areas: natural resources and built environment, access to services, and social cohesion including subthemes on the importance of social engagement and volunteerism, sense of community, and shared identity. Conclusions: That health and wellbeing were not identified explicitly as a priority by key informants suggests that these should not be presented as the primary focus of a community-wide initiative. Instead themes with a higher priority should be addressed in ways that can lead to better health and wellbeing as a secondary goal