2,853 research outputs found
The decline in youth drinking in England – is everyone drinking less? A quantile regression analysis
Background and Aims: Youth alcohol consumption has declined significantly over the past 15 years in many high income countries, which may have significant public health benefits. However, if the reductions in drinking occur mostly among lighter drinkers who are at lower risk, then rates of alcohol-related harm among young people today and adults in future may not fall in line with consumption. There is conflicting evidence from Swedish school studies with some suggesting all young people are drinking less while others suggest alcohol consumption among heavier drinkers may be stable or rising while average consumption declines. This paper extends the geographic focus of previous research and examines whether the decline in youth drinking is consistent across the consumption distribution in England.
Design: Quantile regression of 15 waves of repeat cross-sectional survey data.
Setting: England, 2001-2016.
Participants: 31, 882 schoolchildren (50.7% male) aged 11-15 who responded to the Smoking Drinking and Drug Use amongst Young People surveys.
Measurements: Past-week alcohol consumption in UK units at each fifth percentile of the consumption distribution.
Findings: Reductions in alcohol consumption occurred at all percentiles of the consumption distribution analysed between 2001 and 2016 but the magnitude of the decline differed across percentiles. The decline in consumption at the 90th percentile (β = -.21, CI = -.24, - .18) was significantly larger than among either lighter drinkers at the 50th percentile (β = - .02, CI = -.02, -.01) or heavier drinkers at the 95th percentile (β = -.16, CI = -.18, -.13).
Conclusions: Alcohol consumption among young people in England appears to be declining across the consumption distribution, and peaks among heavy drinkers. The magnitude of this decline differs significantly between percentiles of the consumption distribution, with consumption falling proportionally less among the lightest, moderate and very heaviest youth drinkers
Antegrade pressure measurement as a diagnostic tool in modern pediatric urology
The antegrade pressure measurement (APM) or perfusion pressure-flow test (Whitaker test) is a method of antegrade measurement of pressure in the upper urinary tract. In this study, we present the long-term follow-up results of APMs performed in our institution in the late 1980s and early 1990s to see whether the diagnostic decisions that were based on the outcomes of the test prove to be correct in the long term. We conducted a retrospective study by searching our hospital's electronic database. We found a total of 16 APMs performed between 1987 and 1995 (10 boys, six girls; mean age 61 months). In nine cases, action was undertaken immediately after the APM had been performed; in seven cases, this was a surgical procedure (re-implantation/re-calibration or pyeloplasty) after obstruction was demonstrated. In two cases (both postoperative after previous pyeloplasty), absence of obstruction was demonstrated and nephrostomy tubes were subsequently closed. In one case, this resulted in hydronephrosis that had to be treated with a new JJ stent. In all the seven cases in which no action was deemed necessary as a result of the outcome of the APM, long-term follow-up showed that intervention had indeed not been necessary. Although not often used anymore, the APM seems to be a safe and valuable diagnostic tool in the work up for possible urinary tract obstruction in children, especially in cases in which there is serious doubt concerning conservative watchful waitin
Analyzing Powers and Spin Correlation Coefficients for p+d Elastic Scattering at 135 and 200 MeV
The proton and deuteron analyzing powers and 10 of the possible 12 spin
correlation coefficients have been measured for p+d elastic scattering at
proton bombarding energies of 135 and 200 MeV. The results are compared with
Faddeev calculations using two different NN potentials. The qualitative
features of the extensive data set on the spin dependence in p+d elastic
scattering over a wide range of angles presented here are remarkably well
explained by two-nucleon force predictions without inclusion of a three-nucleon
force. The remaining discrepancies are, in general, not alleviated when
theoretical three-nucleon forces are included in the calculations.Comment: 43 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication by Phys. Rev.
Experimental search for evidence of the three-nucleon force and a new analysis method
A research program with the aim of investigating the spin dependence of the
three-nucleon continuum in pd collisions at intermediate energies was carried
out at IUCF using the Polarized INternal Target EXperiments (PINTEX) facility.
In the elastic scattering experiment at 135 and 200 MeV proton beam energies a
total of 15 independent spin observables were obtained. The breakup experiment
was done with a vector and tensor polarized deuteron beam of 270 MeV and an
internal polarized hydrogen gas target. We developed a novel technique for the
analysis of the breakup observables, the sampling method. The new approach
takes into account acceptance and non-uniformities of detection efficiencies
and is suitable for any kinematically complete experiment with three particles
in the final state.Comment: Contribution to the 19th European Few-Body Conference, Groningen Aug.
23-27, 200
Youth Drinking in Decline
Young people in England are drinking less. Evidence from multiple surveys shows a consistent
pattern over 10-15 years of reduced participation in drinking, reduced consumption levels
among drinkers, reduced prevalence of drunkenness and less positive attitudes towards
alcohol. Similar changes are seen across the UK, Europe, North America and Australasia. The
downward trends are also not limited to alcohol. Declines are also seen in smoking and illicit
drug use among young people.
This report launches a new four-year study funded by the Wellcome Trust, which aims to
examine the patterns and causes of the decline in youth drinking. In this first publication, we
bring together data from two long-running, nationally-representative surveys, the 1988-2016
Smoking Drinking and Drug Use amongst Young People in England surveys (SDD) and the
2001-2016 Health Surveys for England (HSE), to present the most comprehensive picture to
date of the downturn in alcohol use among young people aged 8 to 24
Successful private–public funding of paediatric medicines research: lessons from the EU programme to fund research into off-patent medicines
The European Paediatric Regulation mandated the European Commission to fund research on off-patent medicines with demonstrated therapeutic interest for children. Responding to this mandate, five FP7 project calls were launched and 20 projects were granted. This paper aims to detail the funded projects and their preliminary results. Publicly
available sources have been consulted and a descriptive
analysis has been performed. Twenty Research Consortia
including 246 partners in 29 European and non-European
countries were created (involving 129 universities or public funded research organisations, 51 private companies with 40 SMEs, 7 patient associations). The funded projects investigate 24 medicines, covering 10 therapeutic areas in all paediatric age groups. In response to the Paediatric Regulation and to apply for a Paediatric Use Marketing Authorisation, 15 Paediatric Investigation Plans have been granted by the EMAPaediatric Committee, including 71 studies of whom 29 paediatric clinical trials, leading to a total of 7,300 children to be recruited in more than 380 investigational centres.
Conclusion: Notwithstanding the EU contribution for each
study is lower than similar publicly funded projects, and also considering the complexity of paediatric research, these projects are performing high-quality research and are progressing towards the increase of new paediatric medicines on the market. Private–public partnerships have been effectively implemented, providing a good example for future collaborative actions. Since these projects cover a limited number of offpatent drugs and many unmet therapeutic needs in paediatrics remain, it is crucial foreseeing new similar initiatives in forthcoming European funding programmes
Clustering of health-related behaviours within children aged 11–16: a systematic review
Objective
We aimed to systematically review and synthesise evidence on the clustering of a broad range of health-related behaviours amongst 11–16 year olds.
Method
A literature search was conducted in September 2019. Studies were included if they used cluster analysis, latent class analysis, prevalence odds ratios, principal component analysis or factor analysis, and considered at least three health-related behaviours of interest among 11–16 year olds in high-income countries. Health-related behaviours of interest were substance use (alcohol, cigarettes and other drug use) and other behavioural risk indicators (diet, physical activity, gambling and sexual activity).
Results
The review identified 41 studies, which reported 198 clusters of health-related behaviours of interest. The behaviours of interest reported within clusters were used to define eight behavioural archetypes. Some included studies only explored substance use, while others considered substance use and/or other health-related behaviours. Consequently, three archetypes were comprised by clusters reporting substance use behaviours alone. The archetypes were: (1) Poly-Substance Users, (2) Single Substance Users, (3) Substance Abstainers, (4) Substance Users with No/Low Behavioural Risk Indicators, (5) Substance Abstainers with Behavioural Risk Indicators, (6) Complex Configurations, (7) Overall Unhealthy and (8) Overall Healthy.
Conclusion
Studies of youth health behavioural clustering typically find both a ‘healthy’ cluster and an ‘unhealthy’ cluster. Unhealthy clusters are often characterised by poly-substance use. Our approach to synthesising cluster analyses may offer a means of navigating the heterogeneity of method, measures and behaviours of interest in this literature
Coherent strong-field control of multiple states by a single chirped femtosecond laser pulse
We present a joint experimental and theoretical study on strong-field
photo-ionization of sodium atoms using chirped femtosecond laser pulses. By
tuning the chirp parameter, selectivity among the population in the highly
excited states 5p, 6p, 7p and 5f, 6f is achieved. Different excitation pathways
enabling control are identified by simultaneous ionization and measurement of
photoelectron angular distributions employing the velocity map imaging
technique. Free electron wave packets at an energy of around 1 eV are observed.
These photoelectrons originate from two channels. The predominant 2+1+1
Resonance Enhanced Multi-Photon Ionization (REMPI) proceeds via the strongly
driven two-photon transition , and subsequent
ionization from the states 5p, 6p and 7p whereas the second pathway involves
3+1 REMPI via the states 5f and 6f. In addition, electron wave packets from
two-photon ionization of the non-resonant transiently populated state 3p are
observed close to the ionization threshold. A mainly qualitative five-state
model for the predominant excitation channel is studied theoretically to
provide insights into the physical mechanisms at play. Our analysis shows that
by tuning the chirp parameter the dynamics is effectively controlled by dynamic
Stark-shifts and level crossings. In particular, we show that under the
experimental conditions the passage through an uncommon three-state "bow-tie"
level crossing allows the preparation of coherent superposition states
Three dimensional hysdrodynamic lattice-gas simulations of binary immiscible and ternary amphiphilic flow through porous media
We report the results of a study of multiphase flow in porous media. A
Darcy's law for steady multiphase flow was investigated for both binary and
ternary amphiphilic flow. Linear flux-forcing relationships satisfying Onsager
reciprocity were shown to be a good approximation of the simulation data. The
dependence of the relative permeability coefficients on water saturation was
investigated and showed good qualitative agreement with experimental data.
Non-steady state invasion flows were investigated, with particular interest in
the asymptotic residual oil saturation. The addition of surfactant to the
invasive fluid was shown to significantly reduce the residual oil saturation.Comment: To appear in Phys. Rev.
Macroscopic Equations of Motion for Two Phase Flow in Porous Media
The established macroscopic equations of motion for two phase immiscible
displacement in porous media are known to be physically incomplete because they
do not contain the surface tension and surface areas governing capillary
phenomena. Therefore a more general system of macroscopic equations is derived
here which incorporates the spatiotemporal variation of interfacial energies.
These equations are based on the theory of mixtures in macroscopic continuum
mechanics. They include wetting phenomena through surface tensions instead of
the traditional use of capillary pressure functions. Relative permeabilities
can be identified in this approach which exhibit a complex dependence on the
state variables. A capillary pressure function can be identified in equilibrium
which shows the qualitative saturation dependence known from experiment. In
addition the new equations allow to describe the spatiotemporal changes of
residual saturations during immiscible displacement.Comment: 15 pages, Phys. Rev. E (1998), in prin
- …