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Negative attitudes and stigmatization of substance-using patients lead to treatment avoidance and poor physical and health outcomes. Research suggests that training in substance use disorders is a vital tool to abate negative attitudes among health workers. The present longitudinal study trained students and experienced practitioners from various disciplines on the evidence-based Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model. The study found significant improvements in the attitudes of students—but not practitioners—who were trained during the program. The paper discusses policy and implementation implications to support and complement sustained impact of training on models such as SBIRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative attitudes and stigmatization of substance-using patients lead to treatment avoidance and poor physical and health outcomes. Research suggests that training in substance use disorders is a vital tool to abate negative attitudes among health workers. The present longitudinal study trained students and experienced practitioners from various disciplines on the evidence-based Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model. The study found significant improvements in the attitudes of students--but not practitioners--who were trained during the program. The paper discusses policy and implementation implications to support and complement sustained impact of training on models such as SBIRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to describe the development, actions, and evaluation of a university-based, transdisciplinary coalition so that the model may be replicated in other university or multidisciplinary systems. The University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) Mental and Behavioral Health Coalition addresses Nevada's workforce shortages through multi-disciplinary faculty collaboration among seven training programs at UNLV that produce mental health professionals. The coalition's collaborative approach to solution-generating work has served as a catalyst for professional integration in the community as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The illegal practice of using cyanide (CN) as a stunning agent to collect fish for both the marine aquarium and live fish food trades has been used throughout the Indo-Pacific for over 50 years. CN fishing is destructive to all life forms within the coral reef ecosystems where it is used and is certainly one of many anthropogenic activities that have led to 95% of the reefs in the Indo-Pacific being labeled at risk for degradation and loss. A field-deployable test for detecting fish caught using CN would assist in combating the use of this destructive practice, however, no reliable and robust test exists. Further, there is little toxicokinetic data available on marine fish to support the development of such a test, yet such data is critical to establishing the concentration range and time scale over which such a test would be viable. This study presents the first direct measurement of the half-life of the metabolite thiocyanate (SCN) after pulsed exposure to CN in a marine fish. SCN was measured in the plasma of Amphiprion ocellaris after exposure to 50 ppm CN for three exposure times (20, 45, and 60 s) using HPLC-UV and a C30 column pre-treated with polyethylene glycol. Plasma SCN levels observed are dose-dependent, reflecting a longer time for conversion of CN to SCN as the dose of CN increases. SCN plasma levels reached a maximum concentration (1.2--2.3 ppm) 12--20 h after exposure to CN. The half-life for the elimination of SCN was 1.01 ± 0.26 days for 45 s exposure and 0.44 ± 0.15 days for 20 s exposure. Fish were also directly exposed to SCN (100 ppm for 11 days) and the observed half-life for SCN elimination was 0.35 ± 0.07 days. Plasma SCN levels did not return to control levels, even after 41 days when exposed to CN but did return to control levels after 48 days when exposed to SCN. The similar half-lives observed for CN and SCN exposure suggests that SCN exposure can be used as a proxy for measuring the rate of SCN elimination following CN exposure. In order for plasma SCN to be used as a marker for CN exposure, these results must be extended to other species and endogenous levels of SCN in wild caught fish must be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonbloating perennial legume birdsfoot trefoil (BFT, Lotus corniculatus L.) is well suited for ruminant production on pastures, supporting greater weight gain and milk production than other forages. This study evaluated establishment options available to organic producers on subsequent BFT stands. We applied all combinations of spring vs. autumn planting, broadcast seeding rates of 3, 7, 20, and 34 kg pure live seed (PLS) ha-1, and use of an annual oat (Avena sativa L.) companion crop during establishment. These options were assessed using a split-split-split plot experimental design with four replications. Dry matter (DM) production and forage nutritive value under irrigation were assessed for 3 yr, and foliar cover was assessed on mature stands. In the first year after planting, DM production was less at 3 kg PLS ha-1 than at 20 or 34 kg ha-1, greater at 34 than at 7 kg PLS ha-1, and was reduced by a companion crop. Second and third year DM production for all treatments was similar and greater than 6000 kg DM ha-1. In the first year after planting, crude protein concentration was less, while neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber concentrations were greater compared with subsequent years. In the third year after planting, cover of BFT was greater than 70% for all treatments. On the basis of this study, early autumn planting of BFT without a companion crop at rates from 7 to 20 kg PLS ha-1 is recommended for organic establishment of BFT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birdsfoot trefoil (BFT, Lotus corniculatus L.) is a nonbloating perennial forage legume well suited to ruminant production on pastures. It is persistent under irrigation in cool, dry western US climates, and has been found to increase meat and milk production compared with other forages. The establishment of BFT pastures was evaluated on five commercial organic dairy farms in southern Idaho and northern Utah. Participating producers broadcast seeded 4-ha BFT pastures between 26 July and 8 September 2011 at a rate of 25 kg pure live seed ha. Birdsfoot trefoil and weed densities were systematically sampled 17 to 23 days after first BFT emergence in autumn 2011 and again in spring 2012. On all farms, BFT seedling density was high, averaging 690 plants m in the autumn after planting and 340 plants m the following spring. However, weed density varied between 130 and 750 plants m in the autumn of 2011 and 240 and 410 plants m in the spring of 2012. On the three farms where weed density was equal to or greater than BFT density in the spring of 2012, spring BFT cover averaged less than 10 %. On the two farms where spring weed density was less than BFT density, spring BFT cover was 48 and 66 %. These two pastures produced 6000 to 7600 kg of dry matter ha by 20 June 2012 and were well enough established to support grazing for the remainder of the summer. Birdsfoot trefoil establishment was enhanced under sprinkler compared with flood irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem dry matter accumulation is correlated with a decline in digestibility in both birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L. [BFT]) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and the shear force required to harvest mature BFT stems can inhibit BFT grazing by ruminants. Decline in digestibility and increase in shear force are both correlated with increase in stem lignin content. Alfalfa stem development has been well documented, and our objective was to analyze stem development, lignification and tannin in BFT stems using alfalfa as a benchmark. The sixth internode from the base of ten BFT and two alfalfa control plants was sampled from 3 to 15 wk of stem regrowth in midsummer. Lignification occurred primarily in stem secondary xylem and was apparent in the xylary ring of Internode 6 by 5 wk of regrowth. The xylary ring reached maximum thickness by 7.5 wk of regrowth in both BFT and alfalfa but developed at a more rapid rate and to a greater thickness in BFT. Flowering in BFT began at 5.5 wk of regrowth, and full bloom was reached by 6.5 wk of regrowth. The number of cells containing tannin remained constant with stem development, which would decrease stem tannin concentration with internode maturation. Internode 6 of BFT is located 60 to 120 mm from the base of stems, within the recommended cutting height of 75 mm, with sufficient leaves and branches at subtending nodes to support shoot regrowth. These data relate growth and lignification in lower stems of BFT to grazing management recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expanding upon social-learning and vulnerability-stress-adaptation approaches to marriage, the impact of multiple dyadic behaviors on marital satisfaction trajectories was examined in 101 couples. Semi-structured interviews were administered separately to husbands and wives at three months of marriage. Interviewers generated objective ratings for five domains: emotional closeness/intimacy, sexual intimacy/sensuality, interspousal support, decision-making/relational control, and communication/conflict management. Marital satisfaction was assessed four times over three years. Dyadic behaviors were associated with initial levels and rates of change in satisfaction, demonstrating the unique contributions of each relational skill on marital development. For husbands, sexual intimacy was the strongest predictor of change whereas for wives, communication/conflict management was the strongest predictor of change compared to other domains. Theoretical, methodological and clinical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there are indications that mental illness is prevalent among older persons only a small percentage of the elderly receive mental health services. This is especially true for older members of minority groups. One mental health program is providing preventive services for the elderly including the rural and minority aged. This paper describes the program content, methodology, and impact. Those techniques which have effectively contributed to building group cohesiveness and individual self-esteem are listed. Implications for utilizing this approach to extend mental health services to older persons are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]