Level of Parent Involvement in a Multicomponent Treatment Package as a Predictor of Overall Behavioral Effects in Preschool Children At-Risk for ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most diagnosed form of psychopathology in the preschool population (Armstrong & Nettleton, 2004) with recent research suggesting approximately 12% of the preschool population meets diagnostic criteria for ADHD (Lavigne, LeBailly, Hopkins, & Binns, 2009). Potential negative outcomes of ADHD include hyperactivity, concentration difficulties, discipline problems, tantrums, attention seeking behavior, and poor sibling relationships (Lee et al., 2007). Long-term follow-up studies have indicated a high stability of these characteristics resulting in a range of potential negative outcomes (Lee, Lahey, Owens, & Hinshaw, 2007; Lahey, Pelham, Loney, Kipp, Ehrhardt, Lee, et al., 2004). With a sample of 71 preschool-aged children at risk for ADHD, the current study evaluated the impact of parent participation, defined as dosage, in a multi-component treatment protocol including family education and consultation based on individualized assessment-based intervention in the home setting on behavioral outcomes for young children at-risk for ADHD at baseline and 1 year post-enrollment. Results indicate greater dosages of parent involvement in family education and consultation did not result in a statistically significant improvement in positive behavior ratings including social skills, conduct problems, oppositional behavior and did not have a positive influence on parent-child interactions. However, the magnitude of variance accounted for in the models investigating family education and deviant behavior, consultation and social skills, and consultation and parent-child interactions was nearly in the moderate range, suggesting insufficient power likely impacted the lack of statistically significant results. Results indicate numerous families did not engage in the interventions provided, therefore recommendations for improving family access to interventions in practice are discussed as well as areas for future research

Reversible photochromic polynorbornenes bearing spiropyran side groups for layer-by-layer coatings

A great number of stimuli-responsive materials have been reported in the recent years and they find applicability in fields ranging from optoelectronics, surface coatings, photonics and biomedicine. A particular attractive class of stimuli-responsive materials is comprised by photo-responsive materials as light is an environment-friendly stimulus and can be applied remotely, in a non-invasive manner. Photo-responsive materials have been the subject of many investigations over the past decade due to their potential applications, particularly in the design and development of memory devices, artificial muscles, soft-actuators and drug delivery, among others[1]. In the field of photo-responsive polymers, the layer-by-layer (LbL) approach offers a simple and effective method to fabricate uniform thin films capable of photo-modulation. In this context, we are focusing our investigations on the synthesis of LbL coatings based on new photochromic norbornenes polymers bearing spiropyran side groups. We have shown that these LbL coatings are capable of disassembling upon photostimulation. When used for the coating of microcapsules, these polymers have the ability to be used for photo-controlled drug delivery. [1] L. Florea, D. Diamond, F. Benito-Lopez, Macromol. Mater. Eng. 2012, 297, 1148

Inter Non Alia (Abstract)

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Biodegradation of BTX vapors in a compost medium biofilter

NRC publication: Ye

Photoswitchable Layer-by-Layer Coatings Based on Photochromic Polynorbornenes Bearing Spiropyran Side Groups

Herein, we present the synthesis of linear photochromic norbornene polymers bearing spiropyran side groups (poly­(SP-R)) and their assembly into layer-by-layer (LbL) films on glass substrates when converted to poly­(MC-R) under UV irradiation. The LbL films were composed of bilayers of poly­(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly­(MC-R), forming (PAH/poly­(MC-R))_<i>n</i> coatings. The merocyanine (MC) form presents a significant absorption band in the visible spectral region, which allowed tracking of the LbL deposition process by UV–vis spectroscopy, which showed a linear increase of the characteristic MC absorbance band with increasing number of bilayers. The thickness and morphology of the (PAH/poly­(MC-R))_<i>n</i> films were characterized by ellipsometry and scanning electron microscopy, respectively, with a height of ∼27.5 nm for the first bilayer and an overall height of ∼165 nm for the (PAH/poly­(MC-R))₅ multilayer film. Prolonged white light irradiation (22 h) resulted in a gradual decrease of the MC band by 90.4 ± 2.9% relative to the baseline, indicating the potential application of these films as coatings for photocontrolled delivery systems

Invasive Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections among Cardiothoracic Surgical Patients Exposed to Heater–Cooler Devices

Invasive nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections may result from a previously unrecognized source of transmission, heater–cooler devices (HCDs) used during cardiac surgery. In July 2015, the Pennsylvania Department of Health notified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about a cluster of NTM infections among cardiothoracic surgical patients at 1 hospital. We conducted a case–control study to identify exposures causing infection, examining 11 case-patients and 48 control-patients. Eight (73%) case-patients had a clinical specimen identified as Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). HCD exposure was associated with increased odds of invasive NTM infection; laboratory testing identified patient isolates and HCD samples as closely related strains of M. chimaera, a MAC species. This investigation confirmed a large US outbreak of invasive MAC infections in a previously unaffected patient population and suggested transmission occurred by aerosolization from HCDs. Recommendations have been issued for enhanced surveillance to identify potential infections associated with HCDs and measures to mitigate transmission risk