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The postdisaster experiences of 167 social work students in the aftermath of the Great Flood of 2016 were examined. Using a cross-sectional survey design and validated self-report measures, the current study examined the association between students' protective factors (hope, altruism, spiritual support; at 8, 20, and 12 items, respectively) and six adaptive coping mechanisms, and further sought to determine whether such associations varied according to students' race (white vs. African American). Six hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were conducted using each of the adaptive coping strategies (acceptance, active coping, positive reframing, self-distraction, planning, and venting). Results showed that students' race moderated the associations between altruism and active coping, spiritual support and active coping, spiritual support and self-distraction, altruism and planning, spiritual support and planning, and altruism and venting. The decomposition of the significant interactions indicated that the effect of altruism on active coping, planning, and venting was greater among white than among African American participants; the effect of spiritual support on active coping, self-distraction, and planning was greater among African American than among white participants. Recommendations include educating all students about risks incurred when working with traumatized populations. Research examining postdisaster coping responses of social workers can inform culturally responsive supervision approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The postdisaster experiences of social work students have been the focus of a growing corpus of research in the past two decades; however, few investigations have been conducted in the context of catastrophic flooding events. The present study examined coping responses and mental health among 186 social work students in the aftermath of the Great Flood of 2016. The majority showed clinical levels of depression, at 59.1%, with 16.3% reporting substance use as coping and 3.6% scoring at or above the clinical level for posttraumatic stress symptoms. Well over half of the students (54.3%) employed 6 or more of 10 adaptive coping strategies. Students' negative emotions, negative reactions, and flood-related stressors correlated with all 10 of the adaptive coping responses. Negative reactions were associated with symptomology and coping via substance use. African- American students showed higher scores than their European-American counterparts on all measures of adaptive coping, protective factors, mental health symptomology, and substance use as coping. There is a need to inform faculty, field staff, and supervisors about the potential risks when distressed students provide postdisaster services to traumatized populations. Culturally responsive and trauma-informed supervision approaches are recommended to cultivate students' resilience and prevent distress and secondary traumatization.

Introduction: We sought to develop evidence-based recommendations for the prehospital evaluation and treatment of adult and pediatric patients with a seizure and to compare these recommendations against the current protocol utilized by the 33 EMS agencies in California.Methods: We performed a review of the evidence in the prehospital treatment of a patients with a seizure. We compared the seizure protocols of each of the 33 EMS agencies for consistency with these recommendations.  We analyzed the type and route of medication administered, number of additional rescue doses permitted, and requirements for glucose testing prior to medication. The treatment for eclampsia and seizures in pediatric patients were analyzed separately.Results: Protocols across EMS Agencies in California varied widely.  Multiple drugs, dosages, routes of administration, re-dosing instructions, and requirement for blood glucose testing prior to medication delivery were identified. Blood glucose testing prior to benzodiazepine administratin is required by 61% (20/33) of agencies for adult patients and 76% (25/33) for pediatric patients. All agencies have protocols for giving intramuscular benzodiazepines and 76% (25/33) have protocols for intranasal benzodiazepines. Intramuscular midazolam dosages ranged from 2 to 10 mg per single adult dose, 2 to 8 mg per single pediatric dose, and 0.1 to 0.2 mg/kg as a weight-based dose. Intranasal midazolam dosages ranged from 2 to 10 mg pr single adult or pediatric dose, and 0.1 to 0.2 mg/kg as a weight-based dose. Intravenous/intrasosseous midazolam dosages ranged from 1 to 6 mg per single adult dose, 1 to 5 mg per single pediatric dose, and 0.05 to 0.1 mg/kg as a weight-based dose. Eclampsia is specifically addressed by 85% (28/33) of agencies.  Forty-two percent (14/33) have a protocol for adminstering magnesium sulfate, with intravenous dosages ranging from 2 to 6 mg, and 58% (19/33) allow benzodiazepines to be administered.Conclusion: Protocols for a patient with a seizure, including eclampsia, and febrile seizures, vary widely across California. These recommendations for the prehospital diagnosis and treatment of seizures may be useful for EMS Medical Directors tasked with creating and revising these protocols.

We report a dual-wavelength-pumped all-fiber continuous-wave laser operating at the extended wavelength of 3.79 µm that reaches a record output power of 2.0 W. This represents, to the best of our knowledge, the highest output power reported at the longest spectral range for a fiber laser. The laser cavity, made of a heavily erbium-doped fluoride fiber and bounded by two photo-inscribed fiber Bragg gratings, reaches a slope efficiency of 46.5% with respect to the absorbed 1976 nm pump power. The system exhibits an absorption dependency of the 1976 nm pump on the launched 976 nm pump and a quenching behavior dependency on the output coupler reflectivity. The all-fiber design of the cavity allows significant power scaling of the laser and ensures its long-term stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a nationally representative sample of young adults, this study examines COVID-induced financial hardship and its association with suicide risk (N = 1,087). About 40% experienced one or more financial hardship, a third reported having suicidal ideation, and 1.57% reported suicide attempt. The association between financial hardship and suicide risk was cumulative: Those reporting four or more financial hardships were 2.61 times more likely to report suicidal ideation and 24.27 times more likely to report a suicide attempt. The finding that COVID-related financial insecurity was associated with drastically elevated suicide risks highlights the need to assess financial hardship for suicide risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reviews literature describing truancy and its correlates, and it analyzes the current research on truancy prevention programs. Few truancy prevention programs exist in elementary school settings. This article describes Truancy Assessment and Service Centers, a theory-driven program providing case management services to children in 85 percent of public elementary schools in Louisiana. TASC referral, assessment, and intervention procedures are explicated, and the TASC process is illustrated with case examples of children assessed at different levels of risk. The article concludes with a discussion of the evaluation plan, preliminary evaluation results, and implications for school social work research. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)

The current study examined mental health symptomology, substance use, and adaptive coping among 416 social work students following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Among participants, 47% scored at or above the clinical level for depression, with 6% of students showing clinical PTSD-like symptoms, and 16.9% reporting substance use. Two thirds (66.9%) employed 8 of the 10 adaptive coping responses. Negative cognitive and emotional reactions to the hurricanes correlated positively with mental health symptomology and 7 of the 10 adaptive coping responses. In the aftermath of a natural disaster, it is critical to provide students with education, information, and close supervision to address issues around impairment and vulnerability and to maximize resilience. (Contains 3 tables.)

This article reviews research-based knowledge about service learning in social work education. Student learning outcomes common to both service learning and social work education are examined, and the research-based literature on service learning in social work is analyzed. Service-learning practice issues in social work education are described: creating learning activities distinct from those required in field practica, managing conflicts of interest among students employed in the field, minimizing professional ethics violations, and assisting students who observe unprofessional practice behaviors. Recommendations for planning, implementing, and evaluating service-learning projects in social work education are provided to strengthen scholarship in this area. (Contains 1 table.)

The article deals with the functional advantages of natural waxes in traditional soaps. It is pointed out that the production of soap has been known since at least 2800 BC and has been further developed over the centuries. In recent years, the demand for hand soap has increased significantly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The article examines the use of natural waxes from Koster Keunen, Inc. as raw materials for soap formulations and finds that the addition of waxes to soaps can lead to improved properties such as hardness, hydrophobicity, and innovative INCI declarations. It is noted that waxes can yield complex soaps that differ from conventional soaps. The document describes a funding program for young aspiring scientists, with funding of up to €3,000 possible. The website is referred to for further information. In addition, the document contains information on the saponification of natural waxes for soap production. Various natural waxes and their chemical properties are listed. Experiments on the effects of adding natural waxes to soap recipes are described. It is recommended to use natural waxes as additives in an amount of no more than 15%, as they can otherwise be problematic. Some natural waxes such as myrtle wax, cocoa butter, and lauryl laurate are described as advantageous for soap production. The article focuses on the effects of different natural waxes on the properties of soaps. An internal test group evaluated the cleaning properties and foam formation of the soaps, as well as color and scent. An experienced soap manufacturer determined the degree of thickening of the soaps and recommended recipe proportions and applications. The results show that natural waxes can improve certain properties of soaps. It is noted that the use of natural waxes in soaps allows for new formulations and creative possibilities while considering sustainability and naturalness. [Extracted from the article]

Humans have been manufacturing soap since at least 2800 B.C., modifying and perfecting their recipes over the centuries. Today’s traditional soap bars are made via saponification of triglycerides: the alkaline hydrolysis of fatty ester bonds, leading to mainly C16-C18 fatty acid soaps and glycerol. In this paper, we explore the use of Natural Waxes from Koster Keunen, Inc. as starting raw materials in soap formulations, both alone and as additives to traditional triglycerides. Twelve Natural Waxes were blended with olive oil at 50/50 ratios, each blend was fully saponified, and the reaction products were evaluated for different properties and compared to a standard olive oil soap bar. It was determined through experimentation that each Saponified Natural Wax or Saponified Natural Wax Blend made a chemically complex finished soap, with different properties from the control and from each other. Some of the benefits encountered included improved bar hardness, a longer lifespan, more hydrophobicity, and innovative INCI declarations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]