An exploratory study of image and performance enhancement drug use in a male British South Asian community

Background: Consumerism of image and performance enhancement drugs (IPEDs) is a world-wide public health concern. Given anecdotal reporting of increased normalisation of IPED use and uptake of British South Asian male IPED users at UK needle and syringe exchange services, the study aimed to explore use of IPEDs among this under-researched ethnic group. Methods: 20 in depth interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of British South Asian males attending harm reduction outreach in the North East of England. The interviews explored motives for use of IPEDs, sourcing routes, information seeking, injecting behaviours and cultural and community sensitivities around IPED use among this group. The data was collected and analysed using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach (IPA). Results: Motives for use centred on the achievement of enhanced definition and density of muscle, and improved recovery from training and injuries. All participants reported initial stimulation of interest and triggers to seek information on IPEDs due to social media, community and peer messages. Diverse forms of IPED use were described, with rational and moderated use common among older participants. In contrast younger participants adopted more excessive use in seeking short cuts to attaining muscle size. Sourcing of androgenic–anabolic steroids (AAS) and growth hormones from originating countries (Pakistan, India) was reported, along with diversification of entrepreneurial activity into IPED dealing networks. Sellers were generally reported to provide effective and reliable products and mentoring to inexperienced users. Group injecting practices were common. IPED use was observed by some as health promotion medium within religious contexts. Crime deterrence and drug abstinence occurred for some while involved in AAS cycles. Conclusions: The study is intended to contribute to health policy and practice debate around the targeting of dedicated education, outreach and harm reduction for ethnic groups engaged in IPED use

Cross-linguistic constraints and lineage-specific developments in the semantics of cutting and breaking in Japonic and Germanic

Semantic variation in the cutting and breaking domain has been shown to be constrained across languages in a previous typological study, but it was unclear whether Japanese was an outlier in this domain. Here we revisit cutting and breaking in the Japonic language area by collecting new naming data for 40 videoclips depicting cutting and breaking events in Standard Japanese, the highly divergent Tohoku dialects, as well as four related Ryukyuan languages (Amami, Okinawa, Miyako and Yaeyama). We find that the Japonic languages recapitulate the same semantic dimensions attested in the previous typological study, confirming that semantic variation in the domain of cutting and breaking is indeed cross-linguistically constrained. We then compare our new Japonic data to previously collected Germanic data and find that, in general, related languages resemble each other more than unrelated languages, and that the Japonic languages resemble each other more than the Germanic languages do. Nevertheless, English resembles all of the Japonic languages more than it resembles Swedish. Together, these findings show that the rate and extent of semantic change can differ between language families, indicating the existence of lineage-specific developments on top of universal cross-linguistic constraints

Effecten van een didactische interventie bij het leren in kleine groepen in de basisvorming.

This article reports on two intervention studies into the effects of a training in the use of social and/or cognitive strategies on the learning outcomes of students in secondary mathematics education. Special attention is given to differential effects for high- and low-achieving students. The studies were addressed to the following research question: What are the general and differential effects of training in the use of social and/or cognitive strategies on the results of learning in secondary mathematics? In the first study three instructional programs for co-operative learning were compared: (i) an experimental program with special instruction in the use of social strategies, (ii) an experimental program with special instruction in the use of cognitive strategies, and (iii) a control program without training in either cognitive or social strategies. The programs were identical with respect to mathematical content and general instructional settings (a combination of whole-class instruction, working in co-operative groups and individual work). The research was conducted in two schools for secondary education and in 21 classes, involving a total of 511 students. The design was a pretest-posttest control group design, using two experimental groups and one control group. The data were analysed from a multi-level perspective. The outcomes of the investigation clearly show the effects of the intervention. Teaching cognitive and social strategies has the expected, positive effects. In addition to this main effect, a compensatory effect for the low-achieving students was found. The low-achieving students in the experimental conditions outperformed their counterparts in the control group.In the experimental program of the second study students were trained in cognitive strategies and social strategies. To put it differently, the training involved mathematical problem solving and strategies for effective group work: social and cognitive strategies were integrated. As in the first study, students in the control group did not receive any strategy instruction. In general, the outcomes of the second study confirmed the positive results of the first study, however it turned out that low achieving students in the experimental program had about the same learning gains as their counterparts in the control program. The differences in outcomes concerning the low achieving students are discussed in detai

Community pharmacist experiences of providing needle and syringe programmes in Ireland

Background: Community pharmacists are increasingly acknowledged as under-utilized, important and accessible health providers in providing harm reduction support to drug users via needle and syringe programmes (NSP), provision of advice, HIV/Hepatitis testing and as referral mechanism to social, medical and treatment services. We report here on qualitative findings as part of the evaluation of the pilot Pharmacy Needle Exchange (PNEX) programme in Ireland. Objectives: The aim was to understand and illustrate pharmacist experiences of providing NSP. Methods: Of the 107 eligible pharmacies, a total of 70 participated in the national evaluation. Telephone interviews (n=17) and one to-one interviews (n=13) using a semi-structured guide were conducted with 30 pharmacists. Analysis of data was conducted using the Empirical Phenomenological Psychological (EPP) five step protocol. Results: Pharmacist experiences illustrated the largely positive nature of providing NSP, and highlighted needs to develop harm reduction training for pharmacists and appropriate strategies to raise awareness, provide exchange packs to meet the specific needs of the diverse populations of people who inject drugs and ensure the development of trusting relationships and opportunities to engage within a confidential service. Conclusions: Further enhancement of NSP coverage and targeted service delivery within national care pathways for drug and alcohol services is warranted

Воздействие высокоэнергетических пучков быстрых электронов на полимерные радиационно-защитные композиты

Исследовано влияние пучков быстрых электронов на структуру и свойства радиационно-защитных композиционных материалов, капсулированных в полимерные термопластичные оболочки. Представлены результаты теоретических расчетов пробега быстрых электронов в полимерном композите, оценка защитных характеристик и экспериментальные результаты по изменению мощности дозы электронного излучения за слоями полимерного композита с объемным электрическим зарядом. Исследована аморфно-кристаллическая структура, макросвойства и деструкция полимерного композита.Досліджено вплив пучків швидких електронів на структуру і властивості радіаційно-захисних композиційних матеріалів, капсулірованих в полімерні термопластичні оболонки. Представлено результати теоретичних розрахунків пробігу швидких електронів в полімерному композиті, оцінка захисних характеристик і експериментальні результати по зміні потужності дози електронного випромінювання за шарами полімерного композиту з об'ємним електричним зарядом. Досліджена аморфно-кристалічна структура, макровластивості та деструкція полімерного композиту.In work influence of bunches of rapid electrons is explored on a structure and properties of radiation-protective materials of compositions, kapsulirovannykh in polymeric termoplastichnye shells. The results of theoretical calculations of run of rapid electrons are presented in polymeric kompozite, estimation of protective descriptions and experimental results on a change power of dose of electronic radiation after the layers of polymeric kompozita with a by volume electric charge. An amorphously-crystalline structure and destruction of polymeric kompozita, is explored

The Reality of Functionally Graded Material Products

Rapid Manufacturing utilizes the application of different materials in parts by stacking a sequence of layers. Based on the requirements of the part, mixtures of materials, so-called Functionally Graded Materials, can be used to compose the product functionality. This process depends completely on the availability of CAD information of the part geometry. Unfortunately, commercially available CAD-systems do not allow the design of graded material structures. TNO developed a computer tool which enables the user to specify Functionally Graded Materials. The system is based on a new approach to define the material composition at any point in the solid.Mechanical Engineerin