Cocaethylene (CE) is a cocaine metabolite formed during alcohol and cocaine co-consumption. To our knowledge, no previous studies were conducted assessing CE as a biomarker indicating chronic excessive alcohol consumption in a suspected high-risk population. In this study, we hypothesized that hair CE can be an effective marker for alcohol consumption in a high-risk population. We recorded cocaine, benzoylecgonine, and CE levels in hair samples from individuals, establishing the predictive value of CE by comparing it to hair levels of the widely used hair fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE), direct markers of chronic excessive alcohol consumption. CE had 14.04% sensitivity and 95.18% specificity in samples separating FAEE positive/negative results. The positive predictive value was 0.66, showing that the results for individuals with CE positive results were more than likely to be FAEE positive, but not conclusively. Thus, CE cannot be used as a definitive marker, indicating chronic excessive alcohol consumption.

A qualitative study was conducted to identify perceptions of high-risk pregnant Aboriginal women during pregnancy. Five women were interviewed by the researcher who is also Aboriginal. Each woman was a client of the Healthy Mother Healthy Baby pregnancy outreach program in Saskatoon, and was considered to be at high-risk for poor pregnancy outcomes. Interviews were conducted utilizing a phenomenologically-based model of research, from which emerged themes or commonalities of thought between each woman during this time of their lives. The themes were discussed with Aboriginal women elders who worked with Aboriginal families in Saskatoon, for further insight and discussion of the findings. The themes were collated under one general theme called `hopes and dreams.' Each theme included the interest of these women to `want to' move ahead with their lives in the area of improving their relationships with their offspring, their partners, and within themselves. Though each women talked about these areas as being important, all except one did not manifest them in their lives.<p> The implications for the delivery of health care services include the need for health care workers to gain further understanding of the positive motivational factors of high-risk pregnant Aboriginal women that work towards achieving long-term positive behavioural changes, and thus reduce the risks of poor pregnancy outcomes. Other recommendations from this research for health promotion programs include the development of a partnership with the urban Aboriginal community in delivering culturally-based services and teachings to complement the educative and supportive model of program delivery.

Purpose: The study examines the risk a rising from the acquisition of shares, and its relation to the expected return. We would like to see how a high-risk portfolio is related to a low-risk portfolio. Although studying the portfolios annual performance. Theory: The theories that have been used in the study are, Capital asset pricing model, CAPM and portfolio theory. Method: The study is based on a quantitative method, the time interval is from 2008 to 2010.The annual reports, historical stock prices for companies and the index are used to perform calculations based on the essay theories. Conclusion: The beta value has positive liner correlation with the expected return. When there are bad times in the world, the companies are negatively affected regardless of industry. The Portfolios developed in the same direction during the time period. / Syfte: Studien undersöker riskens förhållande till avkastningen som uppstår vid investering i aktier. Även hur en högriskportfölj förhåller sig till en lågriskportfölj samt portföljernas årliga utveckling. Teori: De teorier som använts i undersökningen är, Capital assets pricing model– CAPM och portföljteori. Metod: Studien utgår från en kvantitativ metod. Tidsintervallet är från år 2008 till 2010. Årsredovisningar, historiska aktiekurser för bolagen samt index används för att kunna genomföra uträkningar som baseras på uppsatsen teorier. Slutsats: Betavärdet har ett positivt linjärt samband med den förväntade kurstillväxt. Vid dåliga tider i världen drabbas alla bolag negativt oavsett bransch. Portföljerna utvecklades i samma riktning under tidsperioden.

<p>This study aims to compare the sexual behaviour patterns of male elite student athletes, male student recreational sports (RSP) and male student non-athletes at the University of Botswana in relation to high-risk sexual behaviours. High-risk behaviors in the domain of sexual behaviour were investigated in relation to the determinants of risk behaviour such as multiple partnerships, condom use, and history of sexually transmitted infections, the partners past sex life, current sexual life, casual sexual partners and age of first exual experience. The purpose was to establish which group of the male students is more at risk of HIV infection due to its engagement in high-risk sexual behaviour. Data was collected by means of an anonymous self-report questionnaire. Participants included 235 male students (94 non-athletes, 92 athletes and 50 elite athletes) at the University of Botswana. Selfreport questionnaires were administered, which included items from the 2005 Youth Risk Surveillance System (YRBSS), Student Life Style questionnaire, as well as items from a questionnaire assessing knowledge and practice of safe sex amongst Rhodes University students (Simpson, 1996).</p>

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Cocaethylene (CE) is a cocaine metabolite formed during alcohol and cocaine co-consumption. To our knowledge, no previous studies were conducted assessing CE as a biomarker indicating chronic excessive alcohol consumption in a suspected high-risk population. In this study, we hypothesized that hair CE can be an effective marker for alcohol consumption in a high-risk population. We recorded cocaine, benzoylecgonine, and CE levels in hair samples from individuals, establishing the predictive value of CE by comparing it to hair levels of the widely used hair fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE), direct markers of chronic excessive alcohol consumption. CE had 14.04% sensitivity and 95.18% specificity in samples separating FAEE positive/negative results. The positive predictive value was 0.66, showing that the results for individuals with CE positive results were more than likely to be FAEE positive, but not conclusively. Thus, CE cannot be used as a definitive marker, indicating chronic excessive alcohol consumption.

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Families with serious and/or chronic child protection risks often have complex personal and social issues. Statutory child protection services must manage escalating child protection reports with limited resources. Addressing families at immediate risk often takes precedence over comprehensive family assessment and planned intervention, so the child protection issues in the lower priority families persist, and child protection reports continue. The Montrose Home-Based Family Assessment Program assesses Department of Community Services registered families who are at risk of child removal because of chronic and/or severe child protection issues. Using an ecological perspective, the Montrose team conducts a five day comprehensive assessment in the family's home and community, and develops a caseplan to address child protection risks and family support needs. The assessment is voluntary, and the family is encouraged to participate in identifying the child protection issues and developing solutions. The primary goal of this study is to compare child protection outcomes, three years after referral, for 100 families who participated in a Montrose Assessment, and 100 Comparison Group families. The research questions also explore the relationship between demographic, family, parent, child and child protection service factors and child protection outcome. Outcome is measured by Family Outcome, Children's Outcome, Legal Status, Children's Placement, subsequent Child Protection Reports and Substantiated Child Protection Reports, and Type of Abuse. The results suggest that home-based family assessment is a cost-effective model that can measurably reduce the likelihood of further abuse, court intervention and out of home care even for complex, high risk families. The study also identifies specific child, parent and child protection service related variables that are significantly associated with child protection outcome. These findings have major relevance for current child protection policy and practice, and also for broader social policy that impacts on high risk families.

No description available.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-03T16:34:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ROSELY AP PRANDI PERRONI2008.pdf: 566093 bytes, checksum: 70c7e75a870e8253d8a39b755bd7a0f2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-02-29 / This research investigates the influence of ludical interventions on the reduction of maternal anxiety in mothers of hospitalized preterm newborns, in a university hospital of grande são paulo. Thirty mothers who had premature births are studied, aging from 16 to 40 years old and up to secondary-level schooling, through evaluative-interventive-evolutive study. It begins with a semidirected psychological interview, with the objective of drawing the gestational record, followed by the application of the irritability-depression-anxiety scale IDA, aiming to identify the level of maternal anxiety, and the neonatal perception inventory IPN-I, to verify the expectation of the mothers in relation to the crying, eating and vomit behavior of their preterm babies. After this, ludical interventions are made in 16 meetings, once a week, during 60 minutes, according to the piagetian model, that stimulates affective-emotional and cognitive processes. The data related to the gestational record show that 75% are in the second pregnancy and have already had a miscarriage or fetal death; they have an average gestational age of 31 weeks; average baby´s birth weight of 1,640 kg and average time of hospitalization of 39.93 days. In the analysis of the IDA relating to the anxiety, 75% show a score of high intensity (11.25), also high in relation to the depression (10); the average score (3.73) of the exteriorized irritability is the same of the interiorized irritability (3.23). The correlation between depression and anxiety indicates that an emotional reaction follows the other, and there´s no significant important difference between them (p=0.306). The IPN-I proves that the 30 mothers have compatible expectations of their babies with the babies in general, showing average scores of 8.63 and 9.20 respectively, confirmed by the score 10.0 showed in 75% of the sample, what shows a high expectation in the aspects of sleeping, eating and vomit of the babies. The qualitative analysis reveals that the creation of ludical groups is favorable, with a great joint and motivation of the mothers, favoring the reduction of the anxiety, the adaptation to the reality lived, and the interaction between mother and baby in a healthy way during the hospitalization. The study presents the interventive trajectory of three emblematic cases of different levels of anxiety, ilustrating this evolution. These data suggest that this type of intervention is characterized as a measure of prevention, promotion and preservation of the physical and psychical health of the mother and the premature newborn, with repercussions in the family and in the society.(AU) / Esta pesquisa investiga a influência de intervenções lúdicas na diminuição da ansiedade materna com mães de recém-nascidos pré-termo hospitalizados, em um hospital universitário da Grande São Paulo. São estudadas 30 mães que tiveram parto prematuro, com faixa etária entre 16 e 40 anos e escolaridade até 2º grau, por meio de estudo avaliativo-interventivo-evolutivo. Inicia-se por uma entrevista psicológica semidirigida, com o objetivo de traçar o histórico gestacional, seguida de aplicação da Escala de Ansiedade, Depressão e Irritabilidade IDA, visando identificar o nível de ansiedade materna e do Inventário de Percepção Neonatal IPN-I para verificar a expectativa das mães em relação ao comportamento de choro, alimento e vômito de seus bebês pré-termo. A seguir são efetuadas intervenções grupais lúdicas em 16 encontros, um a cada semana, de 60 minutos, segundo modelo piagetiano, que estimula processos afetivosemocionais e cognitivos. Os dados relativos ao histórico gestacional revelam que 75% das mães encontram-se na segunda gestação e já sofreram aborto ou óbito fetal; têm ida de gestacional média de 31 semanas; peso médio do bebê ao nascer de 1.640g. e tempo de internação médio de 39,93 dias. Na análise do IDA em relação à ansiedade, 75% delas apresentam escore de alta intensidade (11,25), também alto quanto à depressão (10); o escore médio (3,73) da irritabilidade exteriorizada acompanha o da irritabilidade interiorizada (3,23). A correlação entre depressão e ansiedade indica que uma reação emocional segue a outra, não havendo diferença significativa importante entre ambas (p=0,306). O IPN-I comprova que as 30 mães têm expectativas em relação ao próprio filho similares aos bebês em geral, mostrando escores médios de 8,63 e 9,20, respectivamente, confirmados pelo escore 10,0 apontado em 75% da amostra, o que configura uma alta expectativa quanto aos aspectos de sono, alimentação e vômito dos bebês. A análise qualitativa revela que a criação de grupos lúdicos mostra-se favorável, com alta adesão e motivação das mães, favorecendo a diminuição da ansiedade, a adaptação à realidade vivida e a interação mãe-bebê de forma saudável durante a internação. O estudo apresenta a trajetória interventiva de três casos emblemáticos de diferentes níveis de ansiedade, ilustrando esta evolução. Estes dados sugerem que esta modalidade de intervenção caracterize-se como uma medida de prevenção, promoção e preservação da saúde física e psíquica da mãe e do recémnascido prematuro, com repercussões na família e na sociedade.(AU)

The study examine if there is a direct link between adolescents with psychopathic traits and delinquency, secondly if there is a direct link between neighborhood and delinquency. Gender differences were also examined as a control variable. The third aim is to look at the interaction between psychopathic traits and neighborhood on delinquency. We hypothesized that adolescents with psychopathic traits are more likely to engage in delinquent behaviour. We also hypothesized that adolescents who lives in high-risk areas are more prone to engage in delinquent acts. Regarding gender, we believe that boys have higher risk of becoming delinquent. We hypothesized that the interaction between psychopathic traits and high-risk neighborhood would increase the likelihood to engage in delinquent behaviour. The study is conducted by self-report of 1.485 adolescents (10–18 years of age) in a medium-sized city in Sweden. Analyses show that adolescents with high levels of psychopathic traits are more engaged in delinquency. Regarding neighborhood the analyses showed that high-risk neighborhood increases the risk for adolescents to engage in delinquent behaviour. The findings suggest that boys in high-risk areas is more likely to engage in delinquent behaviour compared to girls. Last, the moderation analysis shows that neighborhood accentuated the differences in delinquency between adolescents who has low, medium or high levels of psychopatic traits. In low-risk neighborhoods there are few differences in delinquency between adolescents who has low, medium or high levels of psychopathic triats. In high-risk neighborhoods there are substantial differences between adolescents who has low, medium or high levels of psychopathic traits. This suggest that the effect personality risks have on delinquency is accentuated by contextual risk factors. / Denna studie undersöker om det finns ett samband mellan ungdomar med psykopatiska drag och brottslighet, det andra syftet med studien är att undersöka om det finns ett samband mellan bostadsområde och brottslighet. Könsskillnader undersöktes också som en kontrollvariabel. Det tredje och sista syftet är att undersöka interaktionen mellan psykopatiska drag och bostadsområde på brottslighet. Vår hypotes var att ungdomar med psykopatiska drag är mer benägna att engagera sig i brottsligt beteende. Vår hypotes var även att ungdomar som bor i högriskområden är mer benägna att delta i brottsliga handlingar. När det gäller kön tror vi att pojkar har högre risk att bli brottslingar. Vår tredje hypotes är att samspelet mellan psykopatiska drag och högriskområden skulle öka sannolikheten för att delta i brottsligt beteende. Studien genomförs av självuppskattning av 1.485 ungdomar (10-18 år) i en medelstor stad i Sverige. Analyserna visar att ungdomar med höga nivåer av psykopatiska drag är mer engagerade i brottslighet. Gällande bostadsområde visar analysen att högriskområden ökar risken för ungdomar att engagera sig i brottsligt beteende. Resultaten tyder på att pojkar i högriskområden har en större sannolikhet att engagera sig i brottsligt beteende jämfört med tjejer. Slutligen visar moderationsanalysen att bostadsområde framhäver skillnaden i brottslighet hos ungdomar som har låg, mellan eller höga nivåer av psykopatiska drag. I lågriskområden är det få skillnader i brottslighet hos ungdomar som har låg, mellan eller höga nivåer av psykopatiska drag. I högriskområden är det väsentliga skillnader hos ungdomar som har låg, mellan eller höga nivåer av psykopatiska drag. Detta tyder på att den effekt som personlighetsrisker har på brottslighet accentueras av kontextuella riskfaktorer.