Pulsed processing by cold plasma, applied to industrial emission control.

A promising pollution control technology is cold plasma driven chemical processing. The plasma is a pulsed electric gas discharge inside a near atmospheric-pressure-temperature reactor. The system is energized by a continuous stream of very short high-voltage pulses. The exhaust gas to be treated flows through the reactor. The methods applied involve the development of robust cold plasma systems, industrial applications and measuring technologies. Tests of the systems were performed at many industrial sites and involved control of airborne VOC (volatile organic compound) and odor. Electrical, chemical and odor measuring data were collected with state-of-the-art methods. To explain the test data an approximate solution of global reaction kinetics of pulsed plasma chemistry was developed. It involves the Lambert function and, for convenience, a simple approximation of it. The latter shows that the amount of removal, in good approximation, is a function of a single variable. This variable is electric plasma power divided by gas flow divided by input concentration. In the results sections we show that in some cases up to 99% of volatile pollution can be removed at an acceptable energy requirement. In the final sections we look into future efficiency enhancements by implementation of (sub)nanosecond pulsed plasma and solid state high-voltage technology and by integration with catalyst technology.

Psychological Impacts of Retained Bullets From the Perspective of Survivors.

INTRODUCTION: Despite a high prevalence of retained bullet fragments (RBFs) after firearm related injury (FRI) there is limited data on the full spectrum of their consequences, particularly the psychological impacts on those injured. Further, the experiences of FRI survivors with RBFs are missing from existing literature. The objective of this study was to explore the psychological impacts of RBFs on individuals who have experienced recent FRI. METHODS: Adult (18-65 years) survivors of FRI with radiographically confirmed RBFs were purposively selected from an urban Level 1 trauma center in Atlanta, Georgia, to participate in an in-depth interview. Interviews were conducted between March 2019 and February 2020. Thematic analysis was used to identify a range of psychological effects from RBFs. RESULTS: Interviews from 24 FRI survivors were analyzed: the majority of participants were Black males (N = 22, 92%) with a mean age of 32 years whose FRI occurred ∼8.6 months prior to data collection. The psychological effects of RBFs were grouped into four categories: physical health (eg, pain, limited mobility), emotional well-being (eg, anger, fear), social isolation, and occupational welfare (eg, disability leading to inability to work). A range of coping mechanisms were also identified. CONCLUSION: Survivors of FRI with RBFs experience a range of psychological impacts that are far-reaching and affect daily activities, mobility, pain and emotional wellbeing. Study results indicate a need for enhanced resources to support those with RBFs. Further, changes to clinical protocols are warranted on removal of RBFs and communication about the effects of leaving RBFs in situ.

A pilot behavioural and biological surveillance survey for HIV and other bloodborne infections among Aboriginal people in Regina, Saskatchewan.

BACKGROUND: Aboriginal people in Canada are disproportionately affected by HIV and other blood-borne infections. A-Track is a national public health surveillance system designed to monitor HIV and related infections, behaviours and socio-demographic factors among Aboriginal populations in Canada. The pilot survey for the A-Track surveillance system, the first of its kind in Canada, was conducted in Regina, Saskatchewan and implemented via a community and public health partnership. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of HIV, hepatitis C, syphilis and associated risk behaviours and socio-demographic factors among Aboriginal people in Regina, Saskatchewan. This focus of the pilot survey was to provide this surveillance information for public health action and to determine whether this type of public health surveillance activity could be conducted in an urban setting across Canada. METHODS: Survey participants were self-identified Aboriginal people (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) or those who claimed Aboriginal ancestry and between the ages of 16 and 60 years. These individuals were also asked to provide a blood sample for HIV, hepatitis C and syphilis antibody testing. Descriptive analyses were performed with sex-based comparisons. RESULTS: There were 1064 people who participated in the survey. Their average age was 33 years and 51% were male. The majority of participants (93%) lived in urban Regina at the time of the survey. Just over half (53.2%) of all participants had been removed from their families during childhood; 29.9% had lived in a residential or boarding school during childhood; and 57.7% had lived at some point in a correctional facility. Among the 1,045 participants who provided a blood sample of sufficient quantity for testing, 5.2% were HIV seropositive and 55.8% of these were aware of their HIV status. The lifetime exposure to hepatitis C was 41.6%, with significantly higher proportions of males than females testing positive for hepatitis C exposure. Syphilis seroprevalence was very low (<1%). Almost three-quarters (71.5%) of participants reported being tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime and among those ever tested, 67.6% had been tested during the 12 months prior to the interview. CONCLUSION: Aboriginal people are disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Canada. The findings from the A-Track pilot survey can be used to inform and evaluate prevention and treatment services for HIV and other related infections among Aboriginal people. Lessons learned from the pilot survey could also be used to guide the possible implementation of A-Track in other urban and/or reserve locations in Canada.

Contraceptive use dynamics of Asian women in Britain.

In-depth interviews were conducted with married Asian women from Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds, to investigate patterns of contraceptive use and influences on contraceptive decision making. The results show two distinctively different contraceptive 'lifecycles'. Non-professional women typically have little knowledge about contraception until after their marriage or first birth. Their patterns of contraceptive behaviour show low levels of contraceptive use until after their first birth, when condom use is most prevalent. Non-professional women are influenced by their extended family, religion and cultural expectations on their fertility and family planning decisions. Professional women show an entirely different pattern of contraceptive behaviour. They are more likely to have knowledge about contraception before marriage, use some method of contraception throughout their childbearing years (typically the pill) and cite personal, practical or economic considerations in their fertility decisions rather than religious, cultural or extended family influences.

PIP: In-depth interviews on the patterns of contraceptive use and influences on contraceptive decision making were conducted among married Asian women from an Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi background. The data collected showed that there are significant variations in Asian women's reproductive strategies. Variations are evident in knowledge about family planning methods, timing of a first birth and timing of first use of contraception, birth spacing, and fertility. There are two distinctively different patterns of contraceptive use among Asian women: those of professional and nonprofessional women. Nonprofessional women usually have little knowledge about contraception until after their marriage or first birth. This is evident in their patterns of contraceptive behavior, which show low levels of contraceptive use until after their first birth. In contrast, professional women are more likely to have significant knowledge about contraceptive options before marriage and are able to make informed choices on their contraceptive needs. Unlike nonprofessional women, their fertility and family planning decision are not influenced by family, religion, or cultural expectations, but rather cites personal, practical, and economic considerations on their fertility decisions.

Safer sex at holiday centres: providing contraceptive services to seasonal workers.

Many seasonal workers experience an increase in sexual activity whilst employed at a holiday centre. Evidence of sexual risk-taking while at a holiday centre has important social and health implications for purchasers and providers of sexual health services in areas which experience an annual influx of seasonal workers. This research investigates the contraceptive behaviour of seasonal workers and focuses on their access to contraception and sexual health services. In-depth interviews were conducted with seasonal workers at holiday centres along the south coast of England. Respondents were, interviewed at the beginning of the season and again, five months later at the end of the season. This longitudinal methodology enabled changes in contraceptive behaviour to be identified as well as the strategies for seeking contraception and sexual health services throughout the season. The results of this study show that there are a range of different motivations which influence seasonal worker' use of contraception and sexual risk-taking while at a holiday centre. Categories of contraceptive protection are developed to assist purchasers and providers to identify the variety of sexual health needs of workers at holiday centres and determine the most effective strategies for delivering contraceptive and sexual health services to these workers. The paper describes the motivations which influence contraceptive use and sexual risk-taking amongst seasonal workers, identifies the contraceptive and sexual health needs of these workers, and discusses the difficulties workers experienced in meeting these needs while at a holiday centre.

PIP: This research investigates the contraceptive behavior of seasonal workers at holiday centers along the south coast of England and focuses on their access to contraception and sexual health services. A longitudinal methodology was employed in order to identify the changes in contraceptive behavior, as well as strategies for seeking contraception and sexual health services throughout the season. The results showed a range of different motivations that influenced seasonal workers' use of contraception and sexual risk-taking while at a holiday center. This range includes those who are primarily concerned with pregnancy prevention or the protection against STDs, those whose contraceptive intentions are influenced by alcohol or desire for sexual pleasure, and those whose attitudes towards contraceptive use continually lead to experiences of unsafe sex. Categories of contraceptive protection have been developed to assist purchasers and providers in identifying the variety of sexual health needs of workers at holiday centers. The six styles of protection that describe seasonal workers' practices are: pregnancy prevention, relationship orientated, determined users, situational, passive, and unconcerned. The most effective strategies determined for delivering contraceptive and sexual health services to these workers are information provision and accessibility of contraceptive services.

Asian women's use of family planning services.

Detailed research on the family planning needs of Asian women is extremely important in informing public policy in the new purchaser-provider environment of the National Health Service (NHS), which was introduced in 1991. In depth interviews were conducted with Asian women of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds in the South and West Regional Health Authority area, to investigate their family planning behaviour and use of family planning services. This research shows significant diversity in the knowledge and use of contraception between married professional women, married non-professional women and unmarried women. This paper examines the different family planning service implications for each group of women. The results show that professional married women and unmarried women are able to meet their family planning needs by utilising existing family planning services. However, married non-professional women experience significant difficulties in using family planning services largely due to communication problems with health professionals and their low levels of personal autonomy. Most Asian women in this study showed a strong preference for a female GP and a non-Asian GP for sexual health and contraceptive services.

AIDS--knowledge, attitudes and practices among STD clinic attenders in the Cape Peninsula.

This study aimed to determine knowledge about, attitudes to and practices associated with AIDS among sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic attenders in the Cape Peninsula. A questionnaire containing open and closed questions in the appropriate language (English, Afrikaans or Xhosa) was administered by trained clinic staff to 306 patients in 9 of the 29 STD clinics in the region. The median age of attenders was 25 years. The median period of residence in the peninsula was 7 years. There was inadequate awareness of the asymptomatic carrier state, the incurability of AIDS and ways to prevent AIDS. Sexual practice was a high risk: 70.4% of male attenders reported 2 or more partners since the beginning of the year (average 9 months); 39.5% of men reported more than one episode of STD in the previous 2 years. Prostitution was perceived to be common in attenders' communities. There was a low perception of risk to self, and intention to change behaviour was low. More information about AIDS was requested by 98% of patients. These findings are discussed with reference to the health belief model, Fischbein and Ajzen's theory of reasoned action and Catania et al.'s AIDS risk reduction model. This study supports the urgent need for AIDS education and counselling programmes for patients with STDs in the region. Recommendations include the need to address the beliefs and attitudes that affect behaviour, as well as to convey knowledge.

The circumstances and contributions of older persons in three Asian countries: preliminary results of a cross-national study.

"This article examines some of the findings from surveys carried out in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand as part of a cross-national study of ageing sponsored by the World Health Organization. It finds that the majority of elderly in these countries live in households with their children and in many cases also with their grandchildren. The elderly also contribute significantly to household activities. In the future, the special needs of very old women will have to be addressed as it will be difficult for their children to meet those needs without assistance."

An evaluation of the national measles vaccination campaign in the new shanty areas of Khayelitsha.

A local component of the national measles vaccination campaign was evaluated in an area undergoing rapid urbanisation near Cape Town. Four serial cross-sectional cluster samples were used. Proven vaccination coverage before the campaign was 55.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 46-66%), immediately afterwards it was 71.1% (95% CI 65-77%), and 6 months later 73.6% (95% CI 67-80%). The increase was not sustained among Transkei-born children. Significant determinants of vaccination coverage were: place of birth (chi 2 = 9.7; 2 df; P = 0.008); less than or equal to 6 months stay in Cape Town (odds ratio (OR) 2.22; 95% CI 1.2-4.0%); and home birth (OR 3.21; 95% CI 1.2-8.4%). The value of campaigns in controlling measles, as well as the role of a comprehensive health care service are discussed.