Nettle-induced Urticaria Treatment Study (NUTS): demonstrating the joy of research through a randomised, blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

The use of dock leaves to ease the discomfort of nettle stings is a well-known folk remedy in the British Isles, yet has never been tested in a clinical trial. A group of Emergency Department doctors designed and conducted the Nettle-induced Urticaria Treatment Study (NUTS) as a research training and team-building exercise to address this gap in the Emergency Medicine evidence base.

Assessing Tobacco Treatment Engagement in Assertive Community Treatment Programs.

OBJECTIVE: Despite high tobacco use prevalence among those with serious mental illnesses, few Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) programs provide tobacco treatment. Understanding the factors associated with the intentions to engage in tobacco treatment from both provider and consumer perspectives is important. The purpose was to examine ACT providers' intention to provide and consumer intention to engage in tobacco treatment. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey of ACT program providers (N = 51) and consumers (N = 43) from four community mental health centers. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine factors associated with the intentions to provide or engage in tobacco treatment from among attitudinal, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control variables. RESULTS: Providers reported positive attitudes, high degree of perceived behavior control, and high intentions for delivering tobacco treatment, but poor perceptions of subjective norms. These results were like consumers' intentions to engage in tobacco treatment. In regression analysis, only subjective norms and perceived behavior control were significant predictors for providers' intentions to provide tobacco treatment, but there were no significant predictors of consumers' intentions to engage in tobacco treatment. Both providers and consumers endorsed poor implementation of evidence-based tobacco treatment. CONCLUSION: Poor engagement in tobacco treatment within ACT programs indicates the need for policymakers to support tobacco treatment within the services. This finding calls for training of mental and behavioral health providers while supporting tobacco-free initiatives in ACT treatment service settings.

Testing landmark redundancy for sex-based shape analysis of the adult human os coxa.

OBJECTIVES: To test the individual effectiveness of common landmarks used in sex estimation of whole adult coxal bones in sex-based shape analysis and propose a method to determine how many principal components of sex-based shape to include for discriminant function analysis. METHODS: Three-dimensional models (NextEngine desktop laser scanner) of left and right os coxae from 396 individuals (William Bass Skeletal Collection, Forensic Anthropology Centre, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN) were subjected to shape analysis using 32 landmarks (Landmark 3.6, Institute for Data Analysis and Visualization). Each landmark was individually removed and subjected to a new principal component analysis to identify the effect omitting a landmark has on PC1/PC2 ordination. Landmarks that poorly discriminated sex-based shape were considered redundant for analysis on sex estimation. RESULTS: This study identified 17 landmarks that represent sex-based shape of right and left coxal bones most effectively, these are: the anterior superior iliac spine; posterior superior iliac spine; posterior inferior iliac spine; iliac crest; apex of the auricular surface; greater sciatic notch; ischial spine; superior, inferior and distal points on ischial tuberosity; superior, inferior and midpoint on the symphyseal face; arcuate eminence; ischiopubic ramus; posterosuperior and anterosuperior points on the acetabular rim. The first and second PCs of the 17-landmark configuration correctly predicted sex in 98.5% of cases; better than a 32-landmark configuration (96%) and better than previous landmark studies on whole coxal bone sex-based shape. CONCLUSIONS: These 17 landmarks represent more meaningful data for sex-based shape analysis in PC1 and 2 and concentrate meaningful sex-based shape data to the first five PCs that make up over 50% of the total shape variance.

SERIAL ULTRASOUND TO ESTIMATE FETAL GROWTH CURVES IN SOUTHERN TAMANDUA (TAMANDUA TETRADACTYLA).

From 2012 to 2015, 16 pregnancies were monitored by ultrasonography in nine tamanduas ( Tamandua tetradactyla ) housed in three zoological facilities. Sonographic measurements were recorded to establish fetal growth curves using thoracic and skull landmarks described for giant anteaters ( Myrmecophaga tridactyla ). All pregnancies resulted in the uncomplicated delivery of healthy offspring, thus gestational development was considered normal. These data may be used as a reference for normal fetal development with potential for estimating parturition date in the absence of breeding data.

Factors Associated With Staff Engagement in Patients' Tobacco Treatment in a State Psychiatric Facility.

BACKGROUND: Persons with mental illnesses (MI) who use tobacco are likely to experience poorer physical health and worsened psychiatric symptomology as compared to their non-tobacco-using counterparts. Therefore, engaging them in treatment is an important aspect of evidence-based care. OBJECTIVE: To use the theory of planned behavior to examine factors associated with intentions to provide and the provision of evidence-based tobacco treatment. DESIGN: This study is based on a cross-sectional analysis of survey data from 195 staff at a state psychiatric hospital. RESULTS: When controlling for demographic variables, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control toward providing tobacco treatment were associated with intentions to provide tobacco treatment, but only subjective norms and perceived behavioral control were associated with reported provision of evidence-based tobacco treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding factors that influence provider delivery of tobacco treatment can better determine strategies to reduce the disproportionate tobacco use and related illnesses in behavioral health settings.

Cross-cultural acceptability and utility of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire: views of families.

BACKGROUND: Screening children for behavioural difficulties requires the use of a tool that is culturally valid. We explored the cross-cultural acceptability and utility of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire for pre-school children (aged 3-5) as perceived by families in New Zealand. METHODS: A qualitative interpretive descriptive study (focus groups and interviews) in which 65 participants from five key ethnic groups (New Zealand European, Maori, Pacific, Asian and other immigrant parents) took part. Thematic analysis using an inductive approach, in which the themes identified are strongly linked to the data, was employed. RESULTS: Many parents reported they were unclear about the purpose of the tool, affecting its perceived value. Participants reported not understanding the context in which they should consider the questions and had difficulty understanding some questions and response options. Maori parents generally did not support the questionnaire based approach, preferring face to face interaction. Parents from Maori, Pacific Island, Asian, and new immigrant groups reported the tool lacked explicit consideration of children in their cultural context. Parents discussed the importance of timing and multiple perspectives when interpreting scores from the tool. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, this study posed a number of challenges to the use of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in New Zealand. Further work is required to develop a tool that is culturally appropriate with good content validity.

Molecular structure of 1,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1,1,2,2-tetramethyldisilane in the gas, liquid, and solid phases: unusual conformational changes between phases.

The molecular structure of 1,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1,1,2,2-tetramethyldisilane has been determined in three different phases (solid, liquid, and gas) using various spectroscopic and diffraction techniques. Both the solid-state and gas-phase investigations revealed only one conformer to be present in the sample analyzed, whereas the liquid phase revealed the presence of three conformers. The data have been reproduced using computational methods and a rationale is presented for the observation of three conformers in the liquid state.

Secondhand smoke exposure is associated with smoke-free laws but not urban/rural status.

UNLABELLED: The objective was to determine secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure with and without smoke-free laws in urban and rural communities. The research hypothesis was that SHS exposure in public places could be improved by smoke-free law regardless of urban and rural status. Indoor air quality in hospitality venues was assessed in 53 communities (16 urban and 37 rural) before smoke-free laws; 12 communities passed smoke-free laws during the study period. Real-time measurements of particulate matter with 2.5 µm aerodynamic diameter or smaller (PM2.5) were taken 657 times from 586 distinct venues; about 71 venues had both pre- and post-law measurements. Predictors of log-transformed PM2.5 level were determined using multilevel modeling. With covariates of county-level percent minority population, percent with at least high school education, adult smoking rate, and venue-level smoker density, indoor air quality was associated with smoke-free policy status and venue type and their interaction. The geometric means for restaurants, bars, and other public places in communities without smoke-free policies were 22, 63, and 25 times higher than in those with smoke-free laws, respectively. Indoor air quality was not associated with urban status of venue, and none of the interactions involving urban status were significant. SHS exposure in public places did not differ by urban/rural status. Indoor air quality was associated with smoke-free law status and venue type. IMPLICATIONS: This study analyzed 657 measurements of indoor PM2.5 level in 53 communities in Kentucky, USA. Although indoor air quality in public places was associated with smoke-free policy status and venue type, it did not differ by urban and rural status. The finding supports the idea that population in rural communities can be protected with smoke-free policy. Therefore, it is critical to implement smoke-free policy in rural communities as well as urban areas.

Dual home screening and tailored environmental feedback to reduce radon and secondhand smoke: an exploratory study.

Combined exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) and radon increases lung cancer risk 10-fold. The authors assessed the feasibility and impact of a brief home screening and environmental feedback intervention to reduce radon and SHS (Freedom from Radon and Smoking in the Home [FRESH]) and measured perceived risk of lung cancer and synergistic risk perception (SHS x radon). Participants (N = 50) received home radon and SHS kits and completed baseline surveys. Test results were shared using an intervention guided by the Teachable Moment Model. Half of the participants completed online surveys two months later. Most (76%) returned the radon test kits; 48% returned SHS kits. Of the returned radon test kits, 26% were >4.0 pCi/L. Of the returned SHS kits, 38% had nicotine > .1 microg/m3. Of those with high radon, more than half had contacted a mitigation specialist or planned contact. Of those with positive air nicotine, 75% had adopted smoke-free homes. A significant increase occurred in perceived risk for lung cancer and synergistic risk perception after FRESH.

Structures of, and related consequences of deprotonation on, two C(s)-symmetric arachno nine-vertex heteroboranes, 4,6-X2B7H9 (X = CH2; S) studied by gas electron diffraction/quantum chemical calculations and GIAO/NMR.

Gas-phase structure determinations have been performed for arachno-4,6-(CH2)2B7H9 and arachno-4,6-S2B7H9 by combining quantum-chemical calculations and gas electron diffraction (GED) data. In addition, the monoanion derivatives of each of the aforementioned species have been studied using ab initio calculations. In all cases, comparison with experimental (11)B NMR chemical shifts have been achieved by calculating the appropriate NMR chemical shifts using GIAO-MP2 methods and the IGLO-II basis set for various geometries, both experimental and calculated. The NMR parameters calculated for the geometry obtained from the SARACEN GED refinement appeared to be quite reasonable, and in general, the fit between theoretical and experimental δ((11)B) NMR was found to be consistently good for all four species investigated.

The Torres Indigenous Hip Hop Project: evaluating the use of performing arts as a medium for sexual health promotion.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: The Torres Indigenous Hip Hop Project (the Project) was conducted in the Torres and Northern Peninsula Area of Queensland during early 2010. This paper provides a critical analysis of project outcomes and identifies criteria that may form a suitable framework for the assessment of proposals for sexual health promotion using performing arts-based approaches in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander settings. METHODS: A case study method was used. The first phase of analysis assessed whether project objectives were met using data collected during project planning and implementation. The second phase used these findings, augmented by interviews with key personnel, to respond to the question 'How could this be done better?'. RESULTS: The Project required significant human and organisational implementation support. The project was successful in facilitating event-specific community mobilisation. It raised awareness of sexual health disadvantage and engaged effectively with the target group. It laid important groundwork to progress school-based and community mechanisms to address regional youth disadvantage. Against these benefits are issues of opportunity cost and the need for ongoing resources to capitalise on the opportunities created. CONCLUSIONS: With substantial support and planning, such approaches can play an important role in engaging young people and bridging the gap between clinical interventions and improvements in health deriving from community-driven strategies. SO WHAT? This paper contributes to existing literature by identifying key elements of an effective approach to using performing arts in sexual health promotion in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander settings. It also provides guidance when consideration is being given to investment in resource-intensive health promotion initiatives.

West Nile Virus and Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Co-Infection in a Novel Host at the Nashville Zoo.

On August 30, 2017, one of five bontebok in a mixed-species exhibit at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere exhibited acute hind-limb ataxia and altered demeanor. Pathological examination demonstrated meningoencephalitis and spinal myelitis. Coinfection of West Nile virus (WNV) and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) was revealed by quantitative real-time and traditional reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assays and virus isolation/whole genome sequencing from brain tissue, respectively. Whole genome sequencing was conducted for EHDV. Mosquito testing from September 19 to October 13, 2017, demonstrated a higher WNV infection rate in mosquitoes at the zoo compared with the rest of Nashville-Davidson County. EHDV is endemic in wild white-tailed deer (family Cervidae) in Tennessee, and the prevalence in wildlife depends on environmental influences. This case illustrates the potential susceptibility of exotic zoo animals to endemic domestic arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) and reinforces the importance of cooperative antemortem and postmortem surveillance strategies among human, wildlife, and domestic animal health agencies.

Dimethylalkoxygallanes: monomeric versus dimeric gas-phase structures.

The molecular structures of the vapors produced on heating dimethylalkoxygallanes of the type [Me(2)Ga(OR)](2) have been determined by gas electron diffraction and ab initio molecular orbital calculations. In the solid state [Me(2)Ga(OCH(2)CH(2)NMe(2))](2) (1) and [Me(2)Ga(OCH(2)CH(2)OMe)](2) (2) adopt dimeric structures, although only the monomeric forms [Me(2)Ga(OCH(2)CH(2)NMe(2))] (1a) and [Me(2)Ga(OCH(2)CH(2)OMe)] (2a) were observed in the gas phase. For comparison the structure of the vapor produced on heating [Me(2)Ga(O(t)Bu)](2) (3) was also studied by gas electron diffraction. In contrast to 1 and 2, compound 3 is dimeric in the gas phase, as well as in the solid state. The gas-phase structures of 1a and 2a exhibit five-membered rings formed by a dative bond between Ga and the donor atom (N or O) from the donor-functionalized alkoxide. In 3 there is no possibility of a monomeric structure being stabilized by the formation of such a dative bond since only a monofunctional alkoxide is present in the molecule.

Factors associated with workplace violence among healthcare workers in an academic medical center.

PURPOSE: We examined demographic, work-related, and behavioral factors associated with witnessing and/or experiencing workplace violence among healthcare workers. DESIGN AND METHODS: Utilizing a correlational design, we analyzed the data to determine the associative factors related to workplace violence among the participants. FINDINGS: More than half of the participants (54.5%) reported witnessing (23.8%) or experiencing (30.7%) workplace violence. There were significant differences between health provider groups in witnessing or experiencing workplace violence (Χ2 = 41.9[df12], p < 0.0001). Moreover, the experience of workplace violence differed by practice setting (Χ2 = 65.9[df14], p < 0.0001), with highest rates occurring in psychiatric (45.1%) and emergency (44.1%) services. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Findings may inform research, policies, and practice interventions to assess risks for workplace violence and implement preventative policies within high-risk professional groups and settings.

Investigation of an outbreak of COVID-19 among U.S. military personnel and beneficiaries stationed in the Republic of Korea, June-July 2021.

On 28 May 2021, leisure travel restrictions in place to control coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were eased among vaccinated U.S. military personnel and beneficiaries stationed in South Korea (USFK) allowing access to bars and clubs which were off limits. We describe results from an investigation of the largest severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak as of November 2021 among USFK personnel following this change in policy. Data such as SARS-CoV-2 real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results, demographic characteristics, symptom and vaccination histories, and genome sequences were analyzed. Of a total 207 new cases of COVID-19 diagnosed among USFK members from 15 June to 27 July 2021, 113 (57%) eligible cases were fully vaccinated, of whom 86 (76%) were symptomatic. RT-PCR cycling threshold values were similar among vaccinated and unvaccinated members. Whole genomic sequencing of 54 outbreak samples indicated all infections were due to the Delta variant. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two sources of SARS-CoV-2 accounted for 41% of infections among vaccinated and unvaccinated members. Vaccinated personnel were not at risk of severe illness; however, 86% experienced symptoms following infection. There were no hospitalizations among COVID-19 cases, most of whom were young military service members. Rescinded restrictions were reinstated to control the outbreak. Masking was mandated among all personnel predating U.S. national recommendations for indoor masking in high COVID-19 transmission areas. Increased vaccination with continued vigilance and extension of COVID-19 mitigation measures are warranted to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

The gas-phase equilibrium structures of Si8O12(OSiMe3)8 and Si8O12(CHCH2)8.

The equilibrium molecular structure of Si(8)O(12)(OSiMe(3))(8) has been determined in the gas phase by electron diffraction (GED). With OSi-containing substituents on the cage silicon atoms, this molecule contains a moiety, which would, if reproduced in a periodic manner, yield a zeolite-type structure. Extensive ab initio calculations were used to identify two conformers of this molecule, with D(4) and D(2) point-group symmetries; the D(4)-symmetric conformer was approximately 1.2 kJ mol(-1) lower in energy. With 132 atoms in each conformer, this is one of the largest studies to be undertaken using gas electron diffraction. Semiempirical molecular-dynamics (SE-MD) calculations were used to give amplitudes of vibration, vibrational distance corrections (differences between interatomic distances in the equilibrium structure and the vibrationally averaged distances that are given directly by the diffraction data), and anharmonic constants. The structure of Si(8)O(12)(CHCH(2))(8) has also been determined by GED. Calculations showed that the vinyl groups are fairly unhindered and rotate between three minimum-energy positions. Ultimately, all possible combinations of the vinyl groups in these low-energy positions were accounted for in the GED model.

Hip hopping the gap--performing arts approaches to sexual health disadvantage in young people in remote settings.

OBJECTIVE: Closing the gap in Indigenous health and wellbeing in remote settings in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area of Far North Queensland (FNQ) includes addressing a well-documented sexual health disadvantage among young people. Community mobilization around the underlying risk factors influencing sexual health is required. METHOD: Performing-arts-based workshops were conducted in schools and after-school venues in four remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander locations in FNQ in early 2010, to initiate consciousness-raising around the real dimensions of youth sexual health risk. Specific objectives included strengthening operational partnerships at school-level and developing ongoing consultative processes in each location for sexual health reference group development. RESULTS: Results include a significantly strengthened productive partnership with primary and high schools in each location and sixteen production-ready hip hop songs exploring a range of physical, emotional and sexual health themes authored by the students and recorded on site. Additional outcomes included the willingness of community councils and civil society organizations to support local sexual health reference group activity. CONCLUSIONS: This initiative, the Indigenous Hip Hop Project, although accompanied by opportunity costs including alternative, more core business uses of staff time and program budget, has demonstrated the power of tapping the creative energy of young people at risk and the potential for mobilizing communities to activism around sexual health disadvantage.

Air quality in and around airport enclosed smoking rooms.

INTRODUCTION: Smoking rooms have been installed in some airports to allow indoor smoking. There have been few field studies to measure fine particle leakage in operational smoking rooms. The objective of the research was to assess air quality inside and outside the 4 smoking rooms located within a medium-sized, regional commercial airport. METHODS: Particulate matter less than 2.5-microm (PM(2.5)) concentrations were simultaneously measured inside and outside the 4 smoking rooms in the airport and in the public lobby. The monitoring was conducted during normal hours of operation. Numbers of people and smokers were counted. The airport had separate ventilation systems for all 4 rooms checked by the airport prior to monitoring, and they were operating properly. RESULTS: Although there were few smokers in each room, average PM(2.5) concentrations inside the smoking rooms were significantly higher than the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for 24 hr (35 microg/m(3)). Fine particles from secondhand smoke (SHS) leaked to the outside in 3 of the 4 smoking rooms, exposing workers and the public. DISCUSSION: Although the ventilation systems in the smoking rooms were operating properly, fine particles from SHS leaked to the surrounding smoke-free areas in the airport. Indoor space inside airports should be completely nonsmoking, and enclosed smoking rooms are not recommended.

Low symmetry in molecules with heavy peripheral atoms. The gas-phase structure of perfluoro(methylcyclohexane), C6F11CF3.

When refining structures using gas electron diffraction (GED) data, assumptions are often made in order to reduce the number of required geometrical parameters. Where these relate to light, peripheral atoms there is little effect on the refined heavy-atom structure, which is well defined by the GED data. However, this is not the case when heavier atoms are involved. We have determined the gas-phase structure of perfluoro(methylcyclohexane), C(6)F(11)CF(3), using three different refinement methods and have shown that our new method, which makes use of both MP2 and molecular mechanics (MM) calculations to restrain the peripheral-atom geometry, gives a realistic structure without the need for damaging constraints. Only the conformer with the CF(3) group in an equatorial position was considered, as ab initio calculations showed this to be 25 kJ mol(-1) lower in energy than the axial conformer. Refinements combining both high-level and low-level calculations to give constraints were superior both to those based only on molecular mechanics and to those in which assumptions about the geometry were imposed.