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Introduction: For a more rapid rollout of staff influenza vaccination, medical student assistance with a vaccination program was sought during a time when the healthcare workforce was facing unprecedented pressures. This study explored the experience of both the students and supervising nursing staff involved. Innovation: Volunteer medical students were recruited to assist nurse immunisers in a staff influenza vaccination program. The education of medical students involved three components: an online educational session, written and video resources and direct supervision by trained nursing staff. Evaluation and outcomes: Qualitative data was collected from online surveys completed by medical students and structured interviews conducted with students and supervising nursing staff. The interviews underwent thematic analysis. Seventy-four percent (17/23) of medical students completed the survey. Three students and two supervising nurses completed interviews. Ninety-four percent of students strongly agreed they were confident in performing intramuscular injections after participating in the program compared with only 12% prior to participation. The interviews identified that medical students were motivated by gaining clinical experience, feeling useful during the pandemic and an altruistic desire to assist the healthcare workforce. Nursing staff displayed some initial hesitation working with medical students, which was alleviated after their competence was demonstrated. What's next? Clinical opportunities that allow medical students to learn or refine skills, whilst also assisting in areas of need, serve a dual purpose in the setting of the pandemic. This program highlights the benefits to students of participating in a staff vaccination program and provides evidence for their involvement in the ongoing rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the efficacy, safety and acceptability as well as the patient demographics of three newly developed emergency department–embedded Psychiatric Assessment and Planning Units located in Metropolitan Melbourne at Austin, Peninsula and Eastern Health Services. Methods: The evaluation reviewed a 12-month period of service activity from 1 September 2017 to 31 August 2018, when all three Psychiatric Assessment and Planning Units services were operational. A 12-month period from 1 September 2014 to 31 August 2015 was compared as the pre-Psychiatric Assessment and Planning Units period. Mixed qualitative and quantitative methods were used. This included semi-structured interviews of 30 Psychiatric Assessment and Planning Units patients and 30 emergency department staff (10 of each for all 3 sites), patient survey, statistical analysis of Client Management Interface data for the emergency department and related Psychiatric Assessment and Planning Units as well as audit of RISKMAN registers. Results: There were 365 Austin, 567 Eastern and 791 Peninsula Psychiatric Assessment and Planning Units admissions. Psychiatric Assessment and Planning Units were generally well accepted by patients and emergency department staff, relatively safe, operating within the Key Performance Indicators with mixed effect on emergency department flow. Austin emergency department processing times improved post-Psychiatric Assessment and Planning Units (4 hours 57 minutes to 4 hours 19 minutes; p < 0.001) while deteriorating at Eastern and Peninsula. Adjustment Disorder and Depression and Borderline Personality Disorder were the most common admission diagnoses. While the Psychiatric Assessment and Planning Units had mixed utility on emergency department processing times, they appear to serve a demographic not previously accommodated in traditional emergency department psychiatry models. Conclusion: The emergency department–embedded Psychiatric Assessment and Planning Unit model of care appears effective on some measures, safe and acceptable to patients and staff. The Psychiatric Assessment and Planning Units seem to service a group not previously accommodated in traditional emergency psychiatry models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of West Indian Medical Journal is the property of West Indian Medical Journal (WIMJ) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) is an indicator trait for pulmonary hypertension and for the risk of developing high-altitude disease (HAD) in cattle. Pulmonary arterial pressures provide a tool for selection of breeding cattle for tolerance to high altitude in mountainous regions of the United States. The objective of this study was to evaluate relationships between growth performance traits and yearling PAP (42.4 ± 9.9 mmHg; n = 5,776; elevation 2,150 m) using data from 1993 to 2014 in the John E. Rouse Colorado State University Beef Improvement Center (CSU-BIC) Angus herd. The breeding program used sires (n = 299) from both low- and high-elevation environments. We hypothesized that little to no genetic relationship exists between PAP and birth weight (BWT; direct and maternal), weaning weight (WW; direct and maternal), yearling weight (YW; direct and maternal), and postweaning gain (PWG). Historic selection of natural service sires from within the herd required a PAP of ≤ 42 mmHg. Outside AI sires (n = 156) used in this breeding program were not PAP tested and therefore were used with little knowledge of these sires’ high-altitude adaptability. Performance traits (± SD) routinely recorded included BWT (36.2 ± 5.1 kg; n = 8,695), WW (213.5 ± 31.8 kg; n = 8,010), YW (345.6 ± 83.8 kg; n = 5,580), and PWG (122.0 ± 63.7 kg; n = 5,449), where PWG represented the total weight gained from weaning to yearling age. Four-trait analyses using REML were conducted with an animal model. The heritability estimates (± SE) for PAP (0.26 ± 0.03), BWT direct (0.42 ± 0.04) and maternal (0.14 ± 0.02), WW direct (0.29 ± 0.04) and maternal (0.19 ± 0.03), YW direct (0.45 ± 0.04) and maternal (0.23 ± 0.03), and PWG (0.14 ± 0.02) were in the range of those reported in previous literature. Estimates of genetic correlations (± SE) revealed weak relationships between PAP and direct and maternal BWT, direct and maternal WW, direct and maternal YW, and PWG of 0.15 ± 0.09, 0.14 ± 0.10, 0.23 ± 0.09, −0.01 ± 0.10, 0.12 ± 0.08, 0.00 ± 0.09, and −0.10 ± 0.10, respectively. The results of this study suggest that selection for lower PAP measures should have minimal influence on the growth performance of yearling Angus bulls and heifers at the CSU-BIC, supporting our hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of West Indian Medical Journal is the property of West Indian Medical Journal (WIMJ) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article discusses the community-based approaches' impact on pharmacies in expanding their public health role specially in the prevention of HIV in New York City. It mentions that there were thirteen pharmacies participated in New York's Expanded Syringe Access Program that permits nonprescription syringe sales to reduce incidence of syringe-sharing among injection drug users (IDUs). The pharmacies were enrolled in an intervention, linking IDU syringe costumers to medical/social services. The result of the research among the intervention pharmacies notes that community-based participatory aided in implementing a pilot structural intervention for promoting drug use understanding and HIV prevention among pharmacy-related services.

We found that procaspase 8 was overexpressed in non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) compared with matched normal tissues. The caspase 8 inhibitor FLICE-inhibitory protein (FLIP) was also overexpressed in the majority of NSCLCs. Silencing FLIP induced caspase 8 activation and apoptosis in NSCLC cell lines, but not in normal lung cell lines. Apoptosis induced by FLIP silencing was mediated by the TRAIL death receptors DR4 and DR5, but was not dependent on ligation of the receptors by TRAIL. Furthermore, the apoptosis induced by FLIP silencing was dependent on the overexpression of procaspase 8 in NSCLC cells. Moreover, in NSCLC cells, but not in normal cells, FLIP silencing induced co-localization of DR5 and ceramide, and disruption of this co-localization abrogated apoptosis. FLIP silencing supra-additively increased TRAIL-induced apoptosis of NSCLC cells; however, normal lung cells were resistant to TRAIL, even when FLIP was silenced. Importantly, FLIP silencing sensitized NSCLC cells but not normal cells to chemotherapy in vitro, and silencing FLIP in vivo retarded NSCLC xenograft growth and enhanced the anti-tumour effects of cisplatin. Collectively, our results suggest that due to frequent procaspase 8 overexpression, NSCLCs may be particularly sensitive to FLIP-targeted therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Polymicrogyria is a disorder of cerebrocortical migration resulting in increased numbers of small, disorganized gyri. This disorder occurs in Standard Poodles and in cattle. Objectives: To describe the clinical, electroencephalographic, imaging, and histopathologic features in poodles with polymicrogyria. Animals: Five Standard Poodles with histologically confirmed polymicrogyria. Methods: Retrospective case series. Cases were obtained by personal communication with 1 of 2 authors (TJVW, DPO). Results: All dogs had cortical blindness and other neurologic abnormalities including gait and behavioral changes. Magnetic resonance imaging of 3 dogs showed multiple disorganized gyri, which were especially apparent on T2-weighted dorsal plane images. Electroencephalogram (EEG) of 1 dog revealed epileptiform discharges, including both spike and spike and wave discharges with voltage maximum potentials over the parietal/occipital region. The EEG supported that the repetitive behavior displayed by the dog was a complex partial motor seizure. One dog had concurrent hydrocephalus. All dogs had occipital lobe involvement and 2 dogs had involvement of other lobes. Clinical Importance: The cases presented here demonstrate a larger age range (7 weeks to 5 years) and a decreased frequency of associated hydrocephalus when compared with the previous report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computational fluid dynamic modelling was carried out on a series of pipe bends having R/r values of 1.3, 5, and 20, with the purpose of determining the accuracy of numerical models in predicting pressure loss data from which to informone-dimensional loss models. Four separate turbulence models were studied: the standard k-ϵ model, realizable k-ϵ model, k-ω model, and a Reynolds stress model (RSM). The results are presented for each bend in the form of upstream and downstream pressure profiles, pressure distributions along the inner and outer walls, detailed pressure and velocity fields as well as overall loss values. In each case, measured data were presented to evaluate the predictive ability of each model. The RSM was found to perform the best, producing accurate pressure loss data for bends with R/r values of 5 and 20. For the tightest bend with an R/r value of 1.3, however, predictions were significantly worse due to the presence of flow separation, stronger pressure gradients, and high streamline curvature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four short-chain perfluoropolyethers (PFPEs) with varied architectural modifications have been studied rheologically using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulation and experiment. An explicit-atom potential, which treats all fluorine atoms equivalently, is not capable of reproducing the experimentally observed trends in viscosity among the four compounds. Rather, the parameters of the potential governing the interaction of fluorine must reflect the proximity of the fluorine to the oxygen in the ether linkage. Defining four different types of fluorine atoms, we are able to reproduce the experimentally observed trends in viscosity among the four compounds. We examine the effect of this potential change on the structural properties as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prediction of the pressure drop for turbulent single-phase fluid flow around sharp 90° bends is difficult owing to the complexity of the flow arising from frictional and separation effects. Several empirical equations exist, which accurately predict the pressure loss due to frictional effects. More recently, Crawford et al. [1] proposed an equation for the prediction of pressure loss due to separation of the flow. This work proposes a new composite equation for the prediction of pressure drop due to separation of the flow, which incorporates bends with ratio R/r < 2. A new composite equation is proposed to predict pressure losses over the Reynolds number range 4 x 103-3 x 105. The predictions from the new equation are within a range of -4 to +6 per cent of existing experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of polymer molecular mass on the phase behaviour and solubility limits of polymer/liquid crystal mixtures is studied for blends of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and the small-molecule liquid crystal, 4'-octyl-4-biphenylcarbonitrile (8CB). The phase diagrams from optical microscopy show a limit to the effect of increasing polymer molecular mass. The Flory–Huggins theory (FH) for polymer solutions is used to extract the interaction parameter, ?, from the phase diagrams. The initial FH fits are performed with the assumption that ? is independent of polymer molecular mass, but result in poor correlation to the microscopy data. When ? is allowed to scale with M w , however, the FH fits are consistent with the limiting molecular mass behaviour. This result represents, to our knowledge, the first time that this scaling behaviour has been observed in polymer/liquid crystal blends. The solubility limit, ß, of 8CB in PMMA for each polymer molecular mass is also determined and, when compared with the results of previous studies, support the concept that ß is independent of both polymer composition and molecular masses when the polymer molecular mass exceeds ca . 5×10 5 g mol -1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The RICE proficiency testing scheme for asbestos fibre counting operated until 1992 with industrial samples and with reference counts produced by an image analyser (Magiscan). The visual counts produced in RICE by the participating laboratories have now been used to develop a reliable reference count for these industrial samples. Concurrently with the routine participation in RICE. laboratones also counted samples from asbestos clearance operations, these counts were used to develop suitable reference counts and performance limits for this type of sample. The width of this satisfactory performance interval is proportional to the natural variation in the data on the samples and is therefore a fixed interval on the log scale (of sample density) for high density samples and a fixed interval on the square-root scale for low density samples (where counting normally stops after a fixed number of fields). These developments led to the introduction of visual reference counts and clearance samples into RICE during 1992. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Regular Interlaboratory Counting Exchanges (RICE) and the Asbestos Fibre Regular Informal Counting Arrangement (AFRICA) were initiated as U.K. and international schemes, respectively, to improve standards of counting asbestos fibres using phase contrast optical microscopy. In both schemes, reference samples are evaluated by participating laboratories in rounds of sample exchanges, and counting performance is assessed by comparing laboratory counts with reference counts. Their development is summarized from inception to the present day. This summary includes descriptions of the scope and scale of membership, the nature of reference samples and reference counts, and their main operational features. Criteria for classifying laboratory performance as satisfactory or unsatisfactory, based on performance ratings of counts in a single round and categories of counts over four consecutive rounds, are described. In the first round of RICE, systematic differences up to 150-fold occurred between mean laboratory counts, with 300-fold differences being observed for single samples; 77 laboratories were rated 1 (the best performers; i.e. those laboratories providing counts closest to the reference values), 48 laboratories were rated 2, and 50 laboratories were rated 3 (the worst performers; i.e. those laboratories providing counts furthest from the reference values). Performance improved appreciably in the next round; of the 175 original participants, the numbers of laboratories rated 1, 2 and 3 were 125, 44 and 6, respectively. Further improvements were achieved and maintained in subsequent rounds. Similar patterns of both short- and long-term improvement also occurred in AFRICA. Progress in developing both schemes further is described, particularly in relation to the nature of the reference samples and reference counts. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The results of airborne dust measurements undertaken in the European MMMF manufacturing industry in conjunction with a retrospective epidemiology study were reported at a WHO conference in 1982. Subsequently, a reference scheme was instigated to develop reference evaluation procedures for use in epidemiology and to harmonise interlaboratory differences using these methods. These developments have resulted in an increase in the reported fibre concentrations for the above study by approximately three times. Estimates of the average airborne respirable fibre concentrations for combined occupational groups in glasswool manufacture ranged from <0.01 fibres/ml to 0.10 fibres/ml and from 0.02 fibres/ml to 0.14 fibres/ml in the rockwool plants.Information about the technical history of the factories has been obtained and the validity of using current fibre concentrations to estimate workers' past exposure is discussed. Three changes in production have been identified as having a potentially important effect on fibre levels: nominal fibre size, addition of oil to MMMF and labour intensive batch production techniques. It has been estimated that changes in these parameters may have reduced fibre levels by up to ten times. Based on the plant technical histories the production at each factory has been divided into three phases for use in the epidemiological analysis described in another paper at this symposium. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the mid-1970s, a meeting held at WHO in Copenhagen launched a research programme on the health effects of man-made mineral fibres. As part of this programme, a WHO/EURO Reference Scheme was initiated in 1980 to improve comparability of data obtained from epidemiological studies and thus reduce the level of uncertainty in the risk assessment process. The scheme involved developing reference methods for evaluating airborne MMMF concentrations and size distributions by phase contrast optical microscopy (PCOM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These methods were tested in a series of inter-laboratory counting trials. Interim progress in the scheme was published in 1985. This paper updates the work of the scheme and confirms that the previously published improvements in reproducibility of measurement have been maintained. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The European Reference Method (ERM) specified in the CEC Directive on Asbestos requires fibre counting to cease after 100 fibres have been counted or 100 fields of view have been evaluated, whichever is reached first, with a minimum of 20 fields being examined. With this stopping rule, more of the filter area is evaluated at lower concentrations than is examined when the concentration is around the compliance limit. This paper describes an investigation carried out to identify and test alternatives to the ERM stopping rule which would reduce the counting effort at low concentrations whilst retaining an acceptable degree of accuracy. Simulation studies were performed on available data, involving random selections of fibres and fields. This, together with theoretical considerations, led to the definition of two candidate stopping rules applicable to assessing compliance with the European control limit for chrysotile and amosite of 1.0 fibre ml. These candidate rules are: (a) count until at least 135 fibres have been counted or until 30 fields have been examined; a minimum of 20 fields must be examined; (b) examine 20 fields; if fewer than 75 fibres, or more than or equal to 105 fibres have been counted, then stop counting. Otherwise, continue counting until at least 180 fibres have been counted or until 40 fields have been examined. The two selected candidate rules were compared with the ERM rule in a small experimental trial. Evaluated fibre densities obtained by the candidate and ERM rules did not differ systematically. For concentrations below about 0.8 fibres ml, the time involved in applying the candidate rules progressively decreased as concentration decreased; at low concentrations, application of the candidate rules took as little as one-fifth of the time of the ERM rule. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The United Kingdom Central Reference Scheme for asbestos counting has been expanded by initiating a series of regular interlaboratory counting exchanges (RICE) to minimize national within- and between-laboratory differences in asbestos fibre counts obtained by the membrane filter method. The scope of the present RICE operation is described and results are presented depicting current interlaboratory differences. National scatter is unacceptably large; up to ten-fold systematic differences occur between visual-counting laboratories, whilst random differences in counts of up to 100-fold occur on the same sample. For the reference samples evaluated, counts made by Magiscan automated image analysers are generally near the national mean and differences between Magiscans are usually small compared with differences between visual-counting laboratories. Results obtained by an experienced group of laboratories relative to Magiscan have been used to derive a categorization procedure for assessing laboratory performance. Some details are given concerning future operation of RICE with a view to improving national reproducibility. A European-based scheme similar to RICE is needed to help ensure that the community asbestos directive applies uniformly in CEC countries. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]