scholarly journals Hazardous Drinking among Students over a Decade of University Policy Change: Controlled Before-and-After Evaluation

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 2137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kypros Kypri ◽  
Brett Maclennan ◽  
Kimberly Cousins ◽  
Jennie Connor
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Population Policy ◽  
Code Of Conduct ◽  
Alcohol Policy ◽  
Absolute Difference ◽  
Effect Estimate ◽  
Policy Reforms ◽  
Student Body ◽  
University Policy ◽  
Before And After

Background: Responding to high levels of alcohol-related harm among students, a New Zealand university deployed a security and liaison service, strengthened the Student Code of Conduct, increased its input on the operation of alcohol outlets near campus, and banned alcohol advertising on campus. We estimated the change in the prevalence of alcohol consumption patterns among students at the university compared with other universities. Methods: We conducted a controlled before-and-after study with surveys in residential colleges at the target university in 2004 and 2014, and in random samples of students at the target university and three control universities in 2005 and 2013. The primary outcome was the prevalence of recent intoxication, while we analysed drinking per se and drinking in selected locations to investigate mechanisms of change. Results: The 7-day prevalence of intoxication decreased from 45% in 2004 to 33% in 2014 (absolute difference: 12%; 95% CI: 7% to 17%) among students living in residential colleges, and from 40% in 2005 to 26% in 2013 (absolute difference: 14%; 95% CI: 8% to 20%) in the wider student body of the intervention university. The intervention effect estimate, representing the change at the intervention university adjusted for change at other universities (aOR = 1.30; 95% CI: 0.89 to 1.90), was consistent with a benefit of intervention but was not statistically significant (p = 0.17). Conclusion: In this period of alcohol policy reform, drinking to intoxication decreased substantially in the targeted student population. Policy reforms and coincidental environmental changes may each have contributed to these reductions.

An Assessment of Environmental Changes in Three Lakes from King's County (Nova Scotia, Canada) Using Diatom-Based Paleolimnological Techniques

2008 ◽  
Vol 43 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 85-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua R. Thienpont ◽  
Brian K. Ginn ◽  
Brian F. Cumming ◽  
John P. Smol
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Lake Management ◽  
River System ◽  
210Pb Dating ◽  
Hydroelectric Power ◽  
Diatom Assemblages ◽  
Shoreline Development ◽  
Before And After

Abstract Paleolimnological approaches using sedimentary diatom assemblages were used to assess water quality changes over the last approximately 200 years in three lakes from King's County, Nova Scotia. In particular, the role of recent shoreline development in accelerating eutrophication in these systems was assessed. Sediment cores collected from each lake were analyzed for their diatom assemblages at approximately 5-year intervals, as determined by 210Pb dating. Analyses showed that each system has changed, but tracked different ecosystem changes. Tupper and George lakes recorded shifts, which are likely primarily related to climatic warming, with diatom assemblages changing from a preindustrial dominance by Aulacoseira spp. to present-day dominance by Cyclotella stelligera. In addition to the recent climatic-related changes, further diatom changes in the Tupper Lake core between approximately 1820 and 1970 were coincident with watershed disturbances (farming, forestry, and construction of hydroelectric power infrastructure). Black River Lake has recorded an increase in diatom-inferred total phosphorus since about 1950, likely due to impoundment of the Black River system for hydroelectric generation and subsequent changes in land runoff. Before-and-after (i.e., top-bottom) sediment analyses of six other lakes from King's County provided further evidence that the region is being influenced by climatic change (decreases in Aulacoseira spp., increases in planktonic diatom taxa), as well as showing other environmental stressors (e.g., acidification). However, we recorded no marked increase in diatom-inferred nutrient levels coincident with shoreline cottage development in any of the nine study lakes. Paleolimnological studies such as these allow lake managers to place the current limnological conditions into a long-term context, and thereby provide important background data for effective lake management.

scholarly journals A network-based approach to deciphering a dynamic microbiome’s response to a subtle perturbation

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace Tzun-Wen Shaw ◽  
An-Chi Liu ◽  
Chieh-Yin Weng ◽  
Yi-Chun Chen ◽  
Cheng-Yu Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Ecosystem Functioning ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Ecosystem Dynamics ◽  
Environmental Research ◽  
Human Society ◽  
The Past ◽  
Environmental Perturbations ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Occurrence Patterns

Abstract Over the past decades, one main issue that has emerged in ecological and environmental research is how losses in biodiversity influence ecosystem dynamics and functioning, and consequently human society. Although biodiversity is a common indicator of ecosystem functioning, it is difficult to measure biodiversity in microbial communities exposed to subtle or chronic environmental perturbations. Consequently, there is a need for alternative bioindicators to detect, measure, and monitor gradual changes in microbial communities against these slight, chronic, and continuous perturbations. In this study, microbial networks before and after subtle perturbations by adding S. acidaminiphila showed diverse topological niches and 4-node motifs in which microbes with co-occurrence patterns played the central roles in regulating and adjusting the intertwined relationships among microorganisms in response to the subtle environmental changes. This study demonstrates that microbial networks are a good bioindicator for chronic perturbation and should be applied in a variety of ecological investigations.

scholarly journals Aras Valley (northwest Iran): high-resolution stratigraphy of a continuous central Tethyan Permian–Triassic boundary section

Fossil Record ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Gliwa ◽  
Abbas Ghaderi ◽  
Lucyna Leda ◽  
Martin Schobben ◽  
Sara Tomás ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Carbon Isotopes ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Triassic Boundary ◽  
Nw Iran ◽  
Environmental Setting ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Permian Extinction ◽  
Permian Mass Extinction ◽  
Permian Triassic Boundary

Abstract. The Permian–Triassic boundary section in the Aras Valley in NW Iran is investigated with respect to carbonate microfacies, biostratigraphy (particularly conodonts, nautiloids, and ammonoids), chemostratigraphy (carbon isotopes), and environmental setting. Correlation of the data allows the establishment of a high-resolution stratigraphy based on conodonts (with four Wuchiapingian, 10 Changhsingian, and three Griesbachian zones), ammonoids (with nine Changhsingian zones), and carbon isotopes; it forms the base for the reconstruction of the environmental changes before and after the end-Permian extinction event at the studied locality. In the Aras Valley section, there is no evidence for the development of anoxic conditions, associated with the end-Permian mass extinction.

Were the Italian policy reforms to contrast favoritism and foster effectiveness in faculty recruitment successful?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Abramo ◽  
Ciriaco Andrea D’Angelo
Keyword(s):  
Research Performance ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Performance Ratings ◽  
Policy Reforms ◽  
Faculty Recruitment ◽  
High Performing ◽  
Policy Initiatives ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Policy Measures

Abstract In this work, we assess whether and to what extent the latest Italian national policy initiatives intended, among others, to contrast favoritism and foster recruitment effectiveness have resulted in the desired effects. To answer the question, we propose two related analyses. One compares the research performance ratings of recruits in two subsequent five-year periods, before and after the introduction of the above policy measures. The second analysis compares the effectiveness of recruitment by all Italian universities, in the above two subsequent five-year periods. The results from the comparisons show a decline of both unproductive and high-performing recruits, and no overall improvement in the effectiveness of recruitment.

scholarly journals Early-Life Intake of an Isotonic Protein Drink Improves the Gut Microbial Profile of Piglets

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 879
Author(s):  
Stefan G. Buzoianu ◽  
Ava M. Firth ◽  
CallaBria Putrino ◽  
Fabio Vannucci
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
16S Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Bacterial Populations ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Microbial Profile ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Potential Alternative ◽  
Rrna Gene Sequencing

A healthy microbial community in the gut of piglets is critical to minimize the negative performance consequences associated with dietary and environmental changes that occur at weaning. Tonisity Px, an isotonic protein drink, is a potential alternative to balance the gut microbiota as it contains key ingredients for nourishing the small intestine. In the present study, 16 litters comprising 161 piglets were randomly allocated to a group to which Tonisity Px was provided from days 2 to 8 of age (TPX group) or to a control group, to which no Tonisity Px was provided. The TPX group also received Tonisity Px in the 3 days before and after weaning. At days 9, 17, and 30 of age, fecal and ileum samples were collected from piglets belonging to both groups and analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, semiquantitative PCR of Rotavirus serogroups, and semiquantitative Escherichia coli culture. Overall, Tonisity Px increased the abundance of beneficial bacterial populations (Lactobacillus and Bacteroides species) and reduced potentially pathogenic bacterial populations (E. coli and Prevotellaceae), in both the pre-weaning and post-weaning periods.

Installing Needle Disposal Boxes Closer to the Bedside Reduces Needle-Recapping Rates in Hospital Units

1993 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 140-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Makofsky ◽  
James E. Cone
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Standard Errors ◽  
Hospital Unit ◽  
Hospital Units ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Previous Round ◽  
Surgical Unit

AbstractObjective:To compare the proportion of recapped needles, an injury surrogate measure, in disposal boxes on two different types of hospital units, both before and after an intervention.Design:Prospective nonrandomized intervention trial.Setting:A major public teaching hospital.Participants:Specific hospital units. We selected two types of hospital units for study: the first type of hospital unit (medical-surgical ward) had existing mounted in-bathroom needle disposal boxes, and the second type of hospital unit (intensive care unit) had unmounted needle disposal boxes in the room but not necessarily near the patient's bedside.Intervention:The installation, in the medical-surgical wards only, of mounted needle disposal boxes on the wall near the patient's bed. The box location in the intensive care units remained the same. In both types of unit, a new mailbox-slot disposal box (SAGE) also was substituted for the previous round-top container.Results:The baseline proportion of recapped needles in the first medical-surgical unit was 32.6% (±3.8%) and in the second medical-surgical unit it was 27.4% (± 4.0%) in the bathroom needle disposal boxes, which was similar to the observed proportion (34.7 ± 6.4%) in the intensive care unit boxes. Following the intervention, the proportion of recapped needles was significantly reduced in the disposal containers adjacent to the bedside in medical-surgical units, to 27% (a difference of 2.9 standard errors of the baseline distribution) in the first unit and 18.2% (a difference of 4.6 standard errors) in the second. In the intensive care unit, where boxes were not moved but new mailbox-types were simply substituted, no significant change was noted (36.6%, a difference of 0.59 standard errors). A statistically significant reduction was observed in the proportion of needles recapped in both wards combined following the intervention (30.2% to 26.2%, a difference of 2.9 standard errors).Conclusion:Environmental changes alone are an effective means of altering the risk to healthcare workers from sharp instruments. The use of needle-box counts provides a sensitive and stable instrument to measure injury surrogates and, indirectly, behavioral change in hospital workers.

Too sick to work, too healthy to qualify: a cross-country analysis of the effect of changes to disability benefits

2019 ◽  
Vol 73 (8) ◽  
pp. 717-722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasja Koitzsch Jensen ◽  
Henrik Brønnum-Hansen ◽  
Ingelise Andersen ◽  
Karsten Thielen ◽  
Ashley McAllister ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Problems ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Work Demands ◽  
Policy Reforms ◽  
Disability Benefits ◽  
Disability Benefit ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Permanent Disability ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Employment Rates

BackgroundDenmark and Sweden have implemented reforms that narrowed disability benefit eligibility criteria. Such reforms in combination with increasing work demands create a pincer movement where in particular those with moderate health problems might be unable to comply with work demands, but still not qualify for permanent disability benefits, ending up with temporary means-tested or no benefits. This paper examines whether this actually happened before and after the reforms.MethodsThe Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) study waves 1–2 and 4–6 in Denmark and Sweden for the age group 50–59 years (N=5384) was used to analyse changes in employment rates and benefits among people with different levels of health before, during and after disability benefit reforms. Interaction between time and health in relation to employment versus permanent or temporary benefits was used as a criterion for whether our hypotheses was confirmed.ResultsOverall, employment rates have increased in the age group, but only among the healthy. The OR for receiving temporary or no benefits increased from 1.25 (95% CI: 0.81 to 1.90) before to 1.73 (95% CI: 1.14 to 2.61) after policy reforms for the 29% with moderate health problems and from 2.89 (95% CI: 1.66 to 5.03) to 6.71 (95% CI: 3.94 to 11.42) among the 11% with severe health problems. The interaction between time and health was statistically significant (p<0.001).ConclusionPeople with impaired health and workability are forced into a life with temporary means-tested or no benefits when pressed by rising work demands and stricter disability benefit eligibility criteria.

scholarly journals IDENTIFICATION OF FUNGI ISOLATED FROM BATHROOMS IN FEMALE STUDENTS’ HOSTEL, UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, BENIN CITY

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-35
Author(s):  
C. L. Ozoaduche ◽  
I. B. Idemudia
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Aspergillus Nidulans ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Benin City ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Mucor Mucedo ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Identification Of Fungi ◽  
Microbiological Techniques

Fungi are specifically dangerous as they exhibit a significant tolerance to environmental changes and can proliferate under low relative humidity, unlike bacteria. They produce spores that are easily dispersed by air hence they are ubiquitous. The study aimed at identifying the fungal isolates present in the bathrooms located on the three floors of the hostel, University of Benin, Benin City. Samples were collected from the walls of the bathrooms using sterile swab sticks and were identified using standard microbiological techniques. The isolated fungi were Aspergillus nidulans, A. niger, A. tamarii, A.  flavus, Candida albicans, Penicillium cyclopium, P. oxalicum, Mucor mucedo, Trichophyton rubrum and Rhodotorula species. From the ground floor bathrooms, Candida albicans (23.40%) were most frequently isolated, Aspergillus nidulans (55.56%) were mostly isolated from the first floor and Mucor mucedo (56.00%) were the most isolated from the second floor.  After washing the bathrooms, Mucor mucedo was scarcely isolated from the walls of the bathrooms. The findings were processed statistically using the two-tailed test to detect the significant difference between the groups of means for the fungal counts from each floor. A significant difference (p<0.05) in the fungi isolated before and after washing was found. Isolated fungi from this study are known to be of public health importance hence, strict hygiene practices should be observed by those using the bathrooms.

scholarly journals Perbedaan pH Saliva Sebelum Dan Sesudah Mengunyah Permen Karet Xylitol Pada Pemakai Alat Orthodonti Cekat

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-19
Author(s):  
Gita Komala Dewi ◽  
Susilarti Susilarti ◽  
Almujadi Almujadi
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Salivary Flow ◽  
Oral Bacteria ◽  
Wilcoxon Test ◽  
P Value ◽  
Orthodontic Appliance ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Salivary Ph ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Fixed Orthodontic Appliance

Orthodontic treatment may lead to environmental changes in the oral cavity that may occur in a number of users of the orthodontic appliance, such as changes in bacterial concentration, salivary buffering capacity, salivary acidity (pH) and salivary flow rate. Xylitol stimulates salivary flow and helps restore saliva acid/base balance because it cannot be converted to acid by oral bacteria. To identify the difference in salivary pH before and after chewing xylitol gum in the users of fixed orthodontic appliance. This research is quasi-experimental with one group pretest-posttest design. Samples were students of SMA Kolombo Sleman who used a fixed orthodontic appliance. Data were analyzed using a Wilcoxon test. The salivary pH of the users of a fixed orthodontic appliance before chewing xylitol gum mostly belonged to acid criterion (43.8%), and the base criterion (34.3%). After chewing xylitol gum, the salivary pH of the users of fixed orthodontic appliance mostly belonged to a neutral criterion (78.1%). The results of the Wilcoxon test showed that the salivary pH before and after chewing gum xylitol in the users of fixed orthodontic appliance had a P value of 0.027 <α 0.05. There is a significant difference in salivary pH before and after chewing xylitol gum in users of fixed orthodontic appliance.

scholarly journals Environmental Changes Produced by Household Consumption

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (18) ◽  
pp. 5730
Author(s):  
Miguel A. Martínez ◽  
Ángeles Cámara
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Household Consumption ◽  
Retail Trade ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

This paper analyzes the impact of the fall in household consumption after an economic crisis in Spain on greenhouse gas emissions. To this end, household consumption is differentiated by the age of the main provider by using a conversion matrix that relates consumption groups to activity sectors. A multisectoral model was used to quantify and compare the environmental impact caused by the consumption of each age group, indicating that the older the age of the main household provider, the smaller the reduction in GHG emissions associated with their consumption. The results facilitate an analysis of how the greenhouse gas emissions of the different sectors of the Spanish economy, associated with the population under study, varied before and after the 2008 crisis, and confirm that the sectors with the greatest reduction in emissions were, in this order, extractive industries, construction, manufacturing industry, wholesale and retail trade and transport and storage. This is relevant for decision making in the field of environmental policies in crises, akin to the one the world is currently experiencing.

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