We Was Somebody

As the number of people who inject drugs (PWID) in Philadelphia increases, more healthcare professionals find themselves treating patients suffering from IV drug addictions. Unfortunately, many of these busy healthcare professionals have little education on the biochemistry of addiction and obstacles between people who inject drugs (PWID) and their recovery. We Was Somebody, a fictional play inspired by the stories of PWID in Kensington, Philadelphia, aims to promote understanding and empathy for the complexity of addiction and ultimately improve the quality of healthcare provided to the human beings affected by it. The content of the play comes from peer-reviewed scientific literature, personal interviews with counsellors and psychiatrists, and anecdotes from PWID. The fictional narrative format protects the anonymity of those still living in the Kensington area while preserving the integrity of their experiences; recurring themes from their stories became cornerstones of the play. Furthermore, a play proved the most effective way to distill two years of observations, experiences, and relationships into a digestible two-hour presentation for medical students and healthcare professionals. We Was Somebody illustrates how communities can fail PWID, veterans, and the homeless. It debunks the myth that addiction is a moral failure. It addresses how we as a society hypocritically condemn addicts who use to cope with disease or trauma, yet we ignore professionals and students who use to cope with the emotional and physical stress of their work. Most importantly, We Was Somebody forces the audience to see addicts as people first. The results of this project successfully raise awareness of this marginalized population to the audience. For some viewing healthcare professionals and medical students, it may reshape their prejudice against PWID. Regardless, simply initiating empathetic conversations within the medical community about this prevalent issue will improve future quality of and access to healthcare for PWID

Biodiesel production from low quality crude jatropha oil using heterogeneous catalyst

In this study, transesterification of low quality crude jatropha oil (acid value > 4mgKOH/g & water content > 1000 ppm) to biodiesel using modified natural zeolite as a solid catalyst was carried out. The effects of various factors consist of the reaction time, molar ratio of methanol to oil, reaction temperature, mass ratio of catalyst to oil and catalyst reusability were investigated. The experimental treatments of a 20:1 molar ratio of methanol to oil, addition of 5wt% catalyst, 70 °C reaction temperature using low quality crude jatropha oil resulted in optimum yield in which the biodiesel content exceeded 96.5% at 6 h. Along with, the recycling experiment results showed modified natural zeolite catalyst had a long catalyst lifetime which maintained sustainable activity (at least 96.5wt% of ester content according to EN14214 limitations) even after being reused for 3 cycles on low quality raw feedstock. The present finding is potential to simplify the biodiesel production and refining process in rural area. This study simplified method of biodiesel production from low quality raw feedstocks with economic and high efficiency catalyst

Study of biodiesel & biodiesel blends deterioration mechanism

Biodiesel is receiving increasing attention as an alternative, non-toxic, biodegradable, and renewable diesel fuel. Due to its chemical structure, it is more susceptible to deteriorate during storage upon exposure to air and under high temperature (heat) condition. The aim of this paper was to clarify the deterioration mechanism of biodiesel and biodiesel blends focusing on Soy Methyl Ester (SME). This study examined the deterioration of SME biodiesel and biodiesel blends under condition 140°C heating and 285.7/hour aeration rate for 24 hours. The results showed 2 layers of fuel as upper layer and sludge as bottom layer were formed after deterioration. Fuel analysis results showed a drastic increase in the acid value, viscosity, oxidation product compound when the fuel deteriorated after 24 hours. Deterioration compound were examined by GC-MS and FD-MS analysis which demonstrated that aldehyde, ketones, short chain carboxylic acids as dominant compounds. The mechanism of biodiesel deterioration (e.g. primary oxidation, secondary oxidation and sludge formation) has been discussed. This finding provided useful information to both biodiesel producers and users for improving biodiesel storage system to maintaining biodiesel quality are related to corresponding deterioration mechanisms

Vexing issues of knowledge sharing: The case study of the wiki initiative in a Malaysian public organization

While many organizations have benefited from the existence of Internet-based web applications such as wikis and blogs as tools for knowledge sharing , many others have failed. In the end, wikis and blogs are reduced to just as the facilities to provide one-way information about the organization. Gone is the exuberance when the wiki or blog was first launched.Failures of wikis in promoting knowledge sharing are mostly not because their poor design.Many fail because of poor understanding of the ecosystem within which effective wikis operate.To emphasize, this paper presents a case study of a wiki initiative mooted by a public organization to manage and share knowledge.Notwithstanding the many initiatives introduced to encourage active knowledge sharing participation, maintaining a sustainable knowledge sharing culture within the organization can be very complex.The case study provides useful examples of this and lessons that can be learnt.The findings suggest that that the variables surrounding the organization can be unique.It is necessary to endeavor and continuously learn to determine the critical success factors and the ecosystem before successful and sustainable wiki portals for knowledge sharing can effectively be promoted

Quantitative and Qualitative Findings and Implications of an Intercultural Sensitivity Assessment Among Employees at a Large Health System

Tuesday, November 10, 2009: 2:45 PM Jarret R. Patton, MD , Department of Pediatrics, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA Jay Baglia, PhD , Department of Family Medicine, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA Lynn M. Deitrick, RN, PhD , Department of Community Health, Health Studies and Education, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA Anthony Nerino, MA , Department of Community Health, Health Studies and Education, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA Eric J. Gertner, MD, MPH , Department of Medicine, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA Judith N. Sabino, MPH , Cultural Awareness, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA MaryKay Grim, BS , Human Resources, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA Debbie Salas-Lopez, MD, MPH , Department of Medicine, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PABackground: As our nation welcomes people from many cultures, it is essential that healthcare providers understand the cultural background of their patients. In response to this diversity, community hospitals are systematically strengthening and improving services to address the cultural needs of their multi-cultural patient populations. As part of a multi-faceted, system-wide cultural awareness initiative, our health network conducted a baseline intercultural sensitivity assessment of its employees. Research Objectives: To establish measures of intercultural sensitivity among employees through the use of a validated instrument. Population: 9,000+ physicians, nurses, technicians and non-clinical employees of a large health network in mid-Eastern Pennsylvania. Methods: All employees were invited to complete the IRB-reviewed, web-based Intercultural Sensitivity Scale (Chen and Starosta 2000). The ICS scale measures attitudes about interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds. The five sub-scales include: 1) interaction engagement, 2) respect for cultural differences, 3) interaction confidence, 4) interaction enjoyment, and 5) interaction attentiveness. Three open-ended questions asked how the network could enhance cultural sensitivity. Two other questions asked for learning preferences (i.e., e-learning, Grand Rounds) and topic information (i.e. diet, religious practices). Demographic information (i.e., age, position, years of service hospital) was also acquired. Results and Conclusions: A 35% (n=3446) response rate was achieved. Characteristics of the respondent sample were highly similar across age, length of employment, racial and ethnic status, gender and proportions of staff positions. With regard to two of the five sub-scales, the survey revealed relative strength in interaction enjoyment while respect for cultural differences exposed an interesting bi-modal distribution – with many staff achieving perfect scores in this area and another large contingent scoring well below the mean. Baseline measures informed educational interventions, assessed training needs, enabled evaluation of interventions, and revealed individual and/or institutional factors that impeded or enhanced responses to patient experiences of healthcare disparities. Initial findings suggest general staff preferences for diversity workshops and cultural fact sheets as the preferred mode of instruction. Employees requested information about religion, attitudes about death and dying, and attitudes about health care institutions relevant to cultures represented in our local community. Practice Implications: Baseline results are used to direct network initiatives (i.e. creating health information repository, ensuring language-appropriate services, and strengthening educational programs) and to measure intervention outcomes. Along with obtaining uniform racial/ethnic patient data, this information is essential in comprehensive organizational change regarding culturally-appropriate service delivery and will ensure the delivery of equitable health care. Learning Objectives: 1. Explain how quantitative and qualitative results inform system-wide planning related to cultural competency. 2. List the key findings from this assessment 3. Describe a research methodology to measure the intercultural sensitivity of a health care organization employee population. Keywords:Cultural Competency, Hospitals Presenting author\u27s disclosure statement: Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am co-chair of Lehigh Valley Health Network\u27s Cultural Awareness Initiative. The abstract describes a baseline assessment that was part of this initiative. Any relevant financial relationships? No I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation

Development of fast check test kit for biodiesel quality monitoring

Determination of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) content in petroleum diesel blends and monitoring of unreacted glycerides in biodiesel after transesterification are important aspect of blending process and production as well as quality control of distribution operations. In this study, fast check analysis method with special measuring device and chemical solvent mixture were developed to provide on-site analysis check for biodiesel quality monitoring. Biodiesel Test Kit have shown comparable result with ASTM D7371 with correlation coefficient (R2 > 0.99) for biodiesel-diesel blends B5, B10 and B20. Result has indicated biodiesel sample from various feedstock such as Palm, Jatropha and Soybean are not affected the accuracy of biodiesel test kit. The use of Triglycerides Test Kit in determination of triglyceride content in biodiesel from various feedstock have shown good correlation coefficient (R2 > 0.99) for triglycerides 3, 4 and 5%(v/v). Again, biodiesel derived from Palm, Jatropha and Soybean do not affect the accuracy of triglycerides test kit. The developed methods are providing fast, simple and affordable on-site fast check analysis in measuring FAME content in diesel and triglycerides content i

Climate Variability and Ross River Virus Transmission in Townsville Region, Australia 1985 to 1996

Background How climate variability affects the transmission of infectious diseases at a regional level remains unclear. In this paper, we assessed the impact of climate variation on the Ross River virus (RRv) transmission in the Townsville region, Queensland, north-east Australia. Methods Population-based information was obtained on monthly variations in RRv cases, climatic factors, sea level, and population growth between 1985 and 1996. Cross-correlations were computed for a series of associations between climate variables (rainfall, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, relative humidity and high tide) and the monthly incidence of RRv disease over a range of time lags. The impact of climate variability on RRv transmission was assessed using the seasonal auto-regressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model. Results There were significant correlations of the monthly incidence of RRv to rainfall, maximum temperature, minimum temperature and relative humidity, all at a lag of 2 months, and high tide in the current month. The results of SARIMA models show that monthly average rainfall (β=0.0012, p=0.04) and high tide (β=0.0262, p=0.01) were significantly associated with RRv transmission, although temperature and relative humidity did not seem to have played an important role in the Townsville region. Conclusions Rainfall, and high tide were likely to be key determinants of RRv transmission in the Townsville region

Effect of Pacing Site on the Atrial Electrogram at Target Sites for Slow Pathway Ablation in Patients with Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75513/1/j.1540-8159.1994.tb02394.x.pd