Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with and without affective dysregulation and their families.

Analyzing COVID-19-related stress in children with affective dysregulation (AD) seems especially interesting, as these children typically show heightened reactivity to potential stressors and an increased use of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies. Children in out-of-home care often show similar characteristics to those with AD. Since COVID-19 has led to interruptions in psychotherapy for children with mental health problems and to potentially reduced resources to implement treatment strategies in daily life in families or in out-of-home care, these children might show a particularly strong increase in stress levels. In this study, 512 families of children without AD and 269 families of children with AD reported on COVID-19-related stress. The sample comprised screened community, clinical, and out-of-home care samples. Sociodemographic factors, characteristics of child and caregiver before the pandemic, and perceived change in external conditions due to the pandemic were examined as potential risk or protective factors. Interestingly, only small differences emerged between families of children with and without AD or between subsamples: families of children with AD and families in out-of-home care were affected slightly more, but in few domains. Improvements and deteriorations in treatment-related effects balanced each other out. Overall, the most stable and strongest risk factor for COVID-19-related stress was perceived negative change in external conditions-particularly family conditions and leisure options. Additionally, caregiver characteristics emerged as risk factors across most models. Actions to support families during the pandemic should, therefore, facilitate external conditions and focus on caregiver characteristic to reduce familial COVID-19-related stress. Trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS), ADOPT Online: DRKS00014963 registered 27 June 2018, ADOPT Treatment: DRKS00013317 registered 27 September 2018, ADOPT Institution: DRKS00014581 registered 04 July 2018.

Reaction of Pertechnetate in Highly Alkaline Solution: Synthesis and Characterization of the Nitridotrioxotechnetate Ba[TcO3 N].

The preparation of novel technetium oxides, their characterization and the general investigation of technetium chemistry are of significant importance, since fundamental research has so far mainly focused on the group homologues. Whereas the structure chemistry of technetium in strongly oxidizing media is dominated by the Tc O 4 - ${{\left[{\rm { Tc}}{{\rm { O}}}_{{\rm { 4}}}\right]}^{-}}$ anion, our recent investigation yielded the new Tc O 3 N 2 - ${{\left[{\rm { Tc}}{{\rm { O}}}_{{\rm { 3}}}{\rm { N}}\right]}^{{\rm { 2}}-}}$ anion. Brown single crystals of Ba[TcO3 N] were obtained under hydrothermal conditions starting from Ba(OH)2 ⋅ 8H2 O and NH4 [TcO4 ] at 200 °C. Ba [ Tc O 3 N ] ${{\rm { Ba[Tc}}{{\rm { O}}}_{{\rm { 3}}}{\rm { N]}}}$ crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system with the space group P21 /n (a=7.2159(4) Å, b=7.8536(5) Å, c=7.4931(4) Šand ß=104.279(2)°). The crystal structure of Ba [ Tc O 3 N ] ${{\rm { Ba[Tc}}{{\rm { O}}}_{{\rm { 3}}}{\rm { N]}}}$ consists of isolated Tc O 3 N 2 - ${{\left[{\rm { Tc}}{{\rm { O}}}_{{\rm { 3}}}{\rm { N}}\right]}^{{\rm { 2}}-}}$ tetrahedra, which are surrounded by Ba2+ cations. XANES measurements complement the oxidation state +VII for technetium and Raman spectroscopic experiments on Ba[TcO3 N] single crystals exhibit characteristic Tc-O and Tc-N vibrational modes.

Examination of the short-range structure of molten salts: ThF4, UF4, and related alkali actinide fluoride systems.

The short-range structures of LiF-ThF4, NaF-AnF4, KF-AnF4, and Cs-AnF4 (An = Th, U), were probed using in situ high temperature Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. Signally, the EXAFS spectra of pure molten ThF4 and UF4 were measured for the first time. The data were interpreted with the aid of Molecular Dynamics (MD) and standard fitting of the EXAFS equation. As in related studies, a speciation distribution dominated by [AnFx]4-x (x = 7, 8, 9) coordination complexes was observed. The average coordination number was found to decrease with the increasing size of the alkali cation, and increase with AnF4 content. An average coordination number close to 6, which had not been detected before in melts of alkali actinide fluorides, was seen when CsF was used as solvent.

Detection of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET) using semi-quantitative [68Ga]DOTATOC PET in combination with multiphase contrast-enhanced CT.

Aim: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) pose a diagnostic challenge with respect to the physiologic somatostatin receptor expression in the uncinate process representing a potential pitfall for receptor imaging with PET/CT. Methods: We identified 49 PNETs from a total of 316 consecutive [68Ga]DOTATOC PET/CT examinations for whom the detections rates of PET and multiphase contrast enhanced (CE-) CT could be retrospectively compared and 38 PNETs for which SUV max and SUV max target-to-liver ratios could be calculated for the tumors and the uncinate process. Results: The detection rate of PET (83.7%) was higher than of the different CT phases (arterial: 59.2%, P=0.017; portal-venous: 38.8%, P<0.001; venous: 46.9%, P=0.001; multiphase: 71.4%, P=0.286). Compared to the other method PET revealed 28.6% additional lesions and multiphase CE-CT 16.3%. The portal-venous phase revealed only lesions that were also detected in the arterial or venous phase. The detection rate for PNETs in the uncinate process (N.=9) was 66.7% for PET versus 55.6% for multiphase CE-CT. SUV max and SUV max target-to-liver ratios differed significantly (P<0.001) for PNETs (mean, range: SUV max,14.6, 1.4-69.3; SUV max target-to-liver ratio, 3.2, 0.69-23.1) and uncinate process (4.32, 0.8-13.5; 0.94, 0.51-1.56), however with a wide overlap. Conclusion: Patients with PNETs should undergo [68Ga]DOTATOC PET/CT with at least an arterial and venous phase CT scan. SUV max and SUV max target-to-liver ratios provide additional information but do no reliably separate PNETs from normal tracer uptake in the uncinate process.

Herbivory-associated degradation of tomato trichomes and its impact on biological control of Aculops lycopersici.

Tomato plants have their leaves, petioles and stems covered with glandular trichomes that protect the plant against two-spotted spider mites and many other herbivorous arthropods, but also hinder searching by phytoseiid mites and other natural enemies of these herbivores. This trichome cover creates competitor-free and enemy-free space for the tomato russet mite (TRM) Aculops lycopersici (Acari: Eriophyidae), being so minute that it can seek refuge and feed inbetween the glandular trichomes on tomato cultivars currently used in practice. Indeed, several species of predatory mites tested for biological control of TRM have been reported to feed and reproduce when offered TRM as prey in laboratory experiments, yet in practice these predator species appeared to be unable to prevent TRM outbreaks. Using the phytoseiid mite, Amblydromalus limonicus, we found exactly the same, but also obtained evidence for successful establishment of a population of this predatory mite on whole plants that had been previously infested with TRM. This successful establishment may be explained by our observation that the defensive barrier of glandular plant trichomes is literally dropped some time after TRM infestation of the tomato plants: the glandular trichome heads first rapidly develop a brownish discoloration after which they dry out and fall over onto the plant surface. Wherever TRM triggered this response, predatory mites were able to successfully establish a population. Nevertheless, biological control was still unsuccessful because trichome deterioration in TRM-infested areas takes a couple of days to take effect and because it is not a systemic response in the plant, thereby enabling TRM to seek temporary refuge from predation in pest-free trichome-dense areas which continue to be formed while the plant grows. We formulate a hypothesis unifying these observations into one framework with an explicit set of assumptions and predictions to be tested in future experiments.

Characterization of a kg-scale archaeological lead-based PbWO4 cryogenic detector for the RES-NOVA experiment.

Core-collapse Supernovae (SNe) are one of the most energetic events in the Universe, during which almost all the star's binding energy is released in the form of neutrinos. These particles are direct probes of the processes occurring in the stellar core and provide unique insights into the gravitational collapse. RES-NOVA will revolutionize how we detect neutrinos from astrophysical sources, by deploying the first ton-scale array of cryogenic detectors made from archaeological lead. Pb offers the highest neutrino interaction cross-section via coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEνNS). Such process will enable RES-NOVA to be equally sensitive to all neutrino flavours. For the first time, we propose the use archaeological Pb as sensitive target material in order to achieve an ultra-low background level in the region of interest (O(1 keV)). All these features make possible the deployment of the first cm-scale neutrino telescope for the investigation of astrophysical sources. In this contribution, we will characterize the radiopurity level and the performance of a small-scale proof-of-principle detector of RES-NOVA, consisting in a PbWO4 crystal made from archaeological-Pb operated as cryogenic detector.

Secular equilibrium assessment in a CaWO4 target crystal from the dark matter experiment CRESST using Bayesian likelihood normalisation.

CRESST is a leading direct detection sub-GeVc-2 dark matter experiment. During its second phase, cryogenic bolometers were used to detect nuclear recoils off the CaWO4 target crystal nuclei. The previously established electromagnetic background model relies on Secular Equilibrium (SE) assumptions. In this work, a validation of SE is attempted by comparing two likelihood-based normalisation results using a recently developed spectral template normalisation method based on Bayesian likelihood. Albeit we find deviations from SE in some cases we conclude that these deviations are artefacts of the fit and that the assumptions of SE is physically meaningful.

Early interleukin 12 production by macrophages in response to mycobacterial infection depends on interferon gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha.

Interleukin 12 (IL-12) produced by macrophages immediately after infection is considered essential for activation of a protective immune response against intracellular pathogens. In the murine Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) model we assessed whether early IL-12 production by macrophages depends on other cytokines. In vitro, murine bone marrow-derived macrophages produced IL-12 after infection with viable M. bovis BCG or stimulation with LPS, however, priming with recombinant interferon gamma (rIFN-gamma) was necessary. In addition, IL-12 production by these macrophages was blocked by specific anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) antiserum. Macrophages from gene deletion mutant mice lacking either the IFN-gamma receptor or the TNF receptor 1 (p55) failed to produce IL-12 in vitro after stimulation with rIFN-gamma and mycobacterial infection. In vivo, IL-12 production was induced in spleens of immunocompetent mice early during M. bovis BCG infection but not in those of mutant mice lacking the receptors for IFN-gamma or TNF. Our results show that IL-12 production by macrophages in response to mycobacterial infection depends on IFN-gamma and TNF. Hence, IL-12 is not the first cytokine produced in mycobacterial infections.

Humic acid metal cation interaction studied by spectromicroscopy techniques in combination with quantum chemical calculations.

Humic acids (HA) have a high binding capacity towards traces of toxic metal cations, thus affecting their transport in aquatic systems. Eu(III)-HA aggregates are studied by synchrotron-based scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) at the carbon K-edge and laser scanning luminescence microscopy (LSLM) at the (5)D(0) --> (7)F(1,2) fluorescence emission lines. Both methods provide the necessary spatial resolution in the sub-micrometre range to resolve characteristic aggregate morphologies: optically dense zones embedded in a matrix of less dense material in STXM images correspond to areas with increased Eu(III) luminescence yield in the LSLM micrographs. In the C 1s-NEXAFS of metal-loaded polyacrylic acid (PAA), used as a HA model compound, a distinct complexation effect is identified. This effect is similar to trends observed in the dense fraction of HA/metal cation aggregates. The strongest complexation effect is observed for the Zr(IV)-HA/PAA system. This effect is confirmed by quantum chemical calculations performed at the ab initio level for model complexes with different metal centres and complex geometries. Without the high spatial resolution of STXM and LSLM and without the combination of molecular modelling with experimental results, the different zones indicating a ;pseudo'-phase separation into strong complexing domains and weaker complexing domains of HA would never have been identified. This type of strategy can be used to study metal interaction with other organic material.

Speciation, thermodynamics and structure of Np(V) oxalate complexes in aqueous solution.

The speciation, thermodynamics and structure of the Np(v) (as the NpO2+ cation) complexes with oxalate (Ox2-) are studied by different spectroscopic techniques. Near infrared absorption spectroscopy (Vis/NIR) is used to investigate complexation reactions as a function of the total ligand concentration ([Ox2-]total), ionic strength (Im = 0.5-4.0 mol kg-1 Na+(Cl-/ClO4-)) and temperature (T = 20-85 °C) for determination of the complex stoichiometry and thermodynamic functions (log ß0n(T), ΔrH0n, ΔrS0n). Besides the solvated NpO2+ ion, two NpO2+ oxalate species (NpO2(Ox)n1-2n; n = 1, 2) are identified. With increasing temperature a decrease of the molar fractions of the 1 : 1 - and 1 : 2 - complexes is observed. Application of the law of mass action yields the temperature dependent conditional stability constants log ß'n(T) at a given ionic strength which are extrapolated to IUPAC reference state conditions (Im = 0) according to the specific ion interaction theory (SIT). The log ß0n(T) values of both complex species (log ß01(25 °C) = 4.53 ± 0.12; log ß02(25 °C) = 6.22 ± 0.24) decrease with increasing temperature confirming an exothermic complexation reaction. The temperature dependence of the thermodynamic stability constants is described by the integrated van't Hoff equation yielding the standard reaction enthalpies (ΔrH01 = -1.3 ± 0.7 kJ mol-1; ΔrH02 = -8.7 ± 1.4 kJ mol-1) and entropies (ΔrS01 = 82 ± 2 J mol-1 K-1; ΔrS02 = 90 ± 5 J mol-1 K-1) for the complexation reactions. In addition, the sum of the specific binary ion-ion interaction coefficients Δε0n(T) for the complexation reactions are obtained from SIT modelling as a function of the temperature. The structure of the complexes and the coordination mode of oxalate are investigated using EXAFS spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. The results show, that in case of both species NpO2(Ox)- and NpO2(Ox)23-, chelate complexes with 5-membered rings are formed.

Innovation in qualitative interviews: "Sharing Circles" in a First Nations community.

There is growing recognition that different research approaches are necessary to understand the complex interaction between individual and social processes that contribute to risk-taking and injuries. Therefore, qualitative studies have an important role in injury prevention research. This article describes qualitative research in general and outlines some of the ways qualitative research can add to our understanding of injury. It also describes the role, format and methods of interviews (person-to-person and focus groups) commonly performed in qualitative studies, and proposes a novel approach to interviewing that has special relevance and value in injury research with indigenous populations. This methodology adapts focus group methods to be consistent with the goals and procedures of the traditional First Nations communities' Sharing Circles. This adaptation provides a culturally appropriate and sensitive method of developing a deep and broad understanding of indigenous participants' verbal descriptions of their feelings, their experiences and their modes of reasoning. After detailing of this adaptation of the Sharing Circle as a vibrant and vital interview and analysis method, the use of Sharing Circle interview methodology will be illustrated in a study investigating how an Alberta First Nations community experiences and deals with disproportionate levels of injuries arising from impaired driving, outlining important findings uncovered using this novel interviewing method. These findings have been informative to First Nations communities themselves, have informed policy makers provincially and nationally, and have instigated culturally appropriate intervention techniques for Canadian First Nations communities.

Sorption of Eu(III) on Eibenstock granite studied by µTRLFS: A novel spatially-resolved luminescence-spectroscopic technique.

In this study a novel technique, micro-focus time-resolved laser-induced luminescence spectroscopy (µTRLFS) is presented to investigate heterogeneous systems like granite (mainly consisting of quartz, feldspar, and mica), regarding their sorption behavior. µTRLFS is a spatially-resolved upgrade of conventional TRLFS, which allows point-by-point analysis of single minerals by reducing the beam size of the analytic laser beam to below the size of mineral grains. This provides visualization of sorption capacity as well as speciation of a luminescent probe, here Eu3+. A thin-section of granitic rock from Eibenstock, Saxony, Germany was analyzed regarding its mineralogy with microprobe X-ray fluorescence (µXRF) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). Afterwards, it was reacted with 5.0 × 10-5 mol/L Eu3+ at pH 8.0 and uptake was quantified by autoradiography. Finally, the µTRLFS studies were conducted. The results clearly show that the materials interact differently with Eu3+, and often even on one mineral grain different speciations can be found. Alkali-feldspar shows very high uptake, with an inhomogeneous distribution, and intermediate sorption strength. On quartz uptake is almost 10-fold lower, while the complexation strength is higher than on feldspar. This may be indicative of adsorption only at surface defect sites, in accordance with low hydration of the observed species.

Geant4-based electromagnetic background model for the CRESST dark matter experiment.

The CRESST (Cryogenic Rare Event Search with Superconducting Thermometers) dark matter search experiment aims for the detection of dark matter particles via elastic scattering off nuclei in CaWO 4 crystals. To understand the CRESST electromagnetic background due to the bulk contamination in the employed materials, a model based on Monte Carlo simulations was developed using the Geant4 simulation toolkit. The results of the simulation are applied to the TUM40 detector module of CRESST-II phase 2. We are able to explain up to ( 68 ± 16 ) % of the electromagnetic background in the energy range between 1 and 40 keV .

Oil workers and seat-belt wearing behaviour: the northern Alberta context.

OBJECTIVES: Seat-belt wearing rates in the North reflect workers in the oil industry, necessitating sociocultural descriptions on the issue. The objective of this study was to describe how the social context influences oil workers' views of risk and seat-belt wearing behaviour in northern Alberta. STUDY DESIGN: The study design was qualitative research. Focus groups were held with oil workers in three northern Alberta locations. METHODS: Forty-five oil industry workers participated in 3 focus groups held in a different northern Alberta location, each consisting of 15 participants. Focus group discourse was centred on a series of questions that were clustered around the following themes: (1) propensity to take risks; (2) work patterns and workplace routines; (3) driving history and patterns; (4) self-disclosed seat-belt wearing behaviour; and (5) social relationships. RESULTS: Northern oil workers believe that taking safety risks is an essential characteristic of who they are and where they work. Employers demand consecutive number of hours on the job and offer attractive incentives for working overtime that encourages risk-taking. Risk-taking also appears in driving where workers take numerous risks to get home after they have worked 12-hour shifts for 14 consecutive days. Most are situational seat-belt wearers, buckling up in inclement weather, at the presence of numerous logging trucks and the threat of drunk and/or fatigued drivers. Without prompting, northern oil workers consider fatigued driving as the most dangerous driving risk they experience in the north. Nearly every respondent has experienced fatigued driving after completing his last work shift in a 14-day rotation. CONCLUSIONS: Seat-belt wearing initiatives for oil workers during off-work driving should be led by the oil industries. For example, they could support and encourage the police to increase their enforcement, lobby the government for higher penalties, punish their workers who are caught not wearing seat belts and collaborate with local communities to develop programs that will increase awareness of seat-belt wearing. Because workers described fatigued driving as the key risk in the North, oil industries should become engaged in interventions, with seat-belt wearing as a vital component of fatigued driving.

Thermodynamic description of Tc(iv) solubility and carbonate complexation in alkaline NaHCO3-Na2CO3-NaCl systems.

The solubility of 99Tc(iv) was investigated in dilute to concentrated carbonate solutions (0.01 M ≤ Ctot≤ 1.0 M, with Ctot = [HCO3-] + [CO32-]) under systematic variation of ionic strength (I = 0.3-5.0 M NaHCO3-Na2CO3-NaCl-NaOH) and pHm (-log[H+] = 8.5-14.5). Strongly reducing conditions (pe + pHm≈ 2) were set with Sn(ii). Carbonate enhances the solubility of Tc(iv) in alkaline conditions by up to 3.5 log10-units compared to carbonate-free systems. Solvent extraction and XANES confirmed that Tc was kept as +IV during the timeframe of the experiments (≤ 650 days). Solid phase characterization performed by XAFS, XRD, SEM-EDS, chemical analysis and TG-DTA confirmed that TcO2·0.6H2O(am) controls the solubility of Tc(iv) under the conditions investigated. Slope analysis of the solubility data in combination with solid/aqueous phase characterization and DFT calculations indicate the predominance of the species Tc(OH)3CO3- at pHm≤ 11 and Ctot≥ 0.01 M, for which thermodynamic and activity models are derived. Solubility data obtained above pHm≈ 11 indicates the formation of previously unreported Tc(iv)-carbonate species, possibly Tc(OH)4CO32-, although the likely formation of additional complexes prevents deriving a thermodynamic model valid for this pHm-region. This work provides the most comprehensive thermodynamic dataset available for the system Tc4+-Na+-Cl--OH--HCO3--CO32--H2O(l) valid under a range of conditions relevant for nuclear waste disposal.

New application for haplotype-specific extraction: Separation of mitochondrial DNA mixtures.

A particularly challenging aspect of forensic casework is the accurate interpretation of samples that contain DNA from more than one contributor, since DNA analysis of specific identification markers often results in ambiguous mixed profiles. Physically separating the various haploid components of a diploid or polyploid DNA sample or of a specimen containing DNA from multiple individuals can resolve this problem. We adapted and combined previously developed methods of haplotype-specific extraction (HSE) to separate and analyze mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in samples containing DNA from two individuals. After optimizing conditions and probes, we performed HSE to separate mitochondrial DNA mixtures, which manifest as mixed nucleotide calls at single base positions. We were able to subsequently identify the DNA of the two individuals by sequencing. Based on our findings from this proof-of-concept experiment, this novel assay will be useful for distinguishing among the mtDNA of individuals in mixed DNA samples.

The role of the 5f valence orbitals of early actinides in chemical bonding.

One of the long standing debates in actinide chemistry is the level of localization and participation of the actinide 5f valence orbitals in covalent bonds across the actinide series. Here we illuminate the role of the 5f valence orbitals of uranium, neptunium and plutonium in chemical bonding using advanced spectroscopies: actinide M4,5 HR-XANES and 3d4f RIXS. Results reveal that the 5f orbitals are active in the chemical bonding for uranium and neptunium, shown by significant variations in the level of their localization evidenced in the spectra. In contrast, the 5f orbitals of plutonium appear localized and surprisingly insensitive to different bonding environments. We envisage that this report of using relative energy differences between the 5fδ/φ and 5fπ*/5fσ* orbitals as a qualitative measure of overlap-driven actinyl bond covalency will spark activity, and extend to numerous applications of RIXS and HR-XANES to gain new insights into the electronic structures of the actinide elements.

CAT-ACT-A new highly versatile x-ray spectroscopy beamline for catalysis and radionuclide science at the KIT synchrotron light facility ANKA.

CAT-ACT-the hard X-ray beamline for CATalysis and ACTinide/radionuclide research at the KIT synchrotron radiation facility ANKA-is dedicated to X-ray spectroscopy, including "flux hungry" photon-in/photon-out and correlative techniques and combines state-of-the-art optics with a unique infrastructure for radionuclide and catalysis research. Measurements can be performed at photon energies varying between 3.4 keV and 55 keV, thus encompassing the actinide M- and L-edge or potassium K-edge up to the K-edges of the lanthanide series such as cerium. Well-established X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy in transmission and fluorescence detection modes is available in combination with high energy-resolution X-ray emission spectroscopy or X-ray diffraction techniques. The modular beamline design with two alternately operated in-line experimental stations enables sufficient flexibility to adapt sample environments and detection systems to many scientific challenges. The ACT experimental station focuses on various aspects of nuclear waste disposal within the mission of the Helmholtz association to contribute to the solution of one of the greatest scientific and social challenges of our time-the safe disposal of heat producing, highly radioactive waste forms from nuclear energy production. It augments present capabilities at the INE-Beamline by increasing the flux and extending the energy range into the hard X-ray regime. The CAT experimental station focuses on catalytic materials, e.g., for energy-related and exhaust gas catalysis. Characterization of catalytically active materials under realistic reaction conditions and the development of in situ and operando cells for sample environments close to industrial reactors are essential aspects at CAT.

The role played by a former federal government residential school in a First Nation community's alcohol abuse and impaired driving: results of a talking circle.

OBJECTIVES: The study's objective was to better understand alcohol abuse and impaired driving behaviors in a First Nations community as it reflects systemic issues linked to historical, family and community experiences. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Fifteen 18- to 29-year-old drivers participated in an exploratory eight-hour Talking Circle held according to traditional cultural practice. Four First Nations researchers, trained in Talking Circle protocol, and a Band Elder facilitated the data collection, data analysis according to emerging themes, and data verification. RESULTS: Federal government residential schools contribute to intergenerational effects which impact impaired driving in a northern First Nations community. Traditional parental role modeling has changed dramatically. Rather than guide children through a communally shared development process, many parents now expect their children to assume adult roles by expecting them to take care of their guardians when they drink excessive amounts of alcohol. Because a wall of silence exists between the young and old, many young people seek refuge with friends and peers, who subsequently influence them to abuse alcohol and engage in impaired driving. Many older Band members no longer serve as leaders for young people. Instead, they behave like peers and engage in activities that facilitate alcohol abuse and impaired driving. CONCLUSIONS: Historical institutions like federal government residential schools have contributed to systemic socio cultural problems which influence alcohol abuse and impaired driving. Hence there is a need for community-based intervention strategies that promote cultural healing. The healing journey can start with First Nations communities providing their people opportunities to share their stresses and traumas in supporting and nurturing environments.