Effects of an emotional intelligence program in variables related to the prevention of violence

In recent decades, numerous studies have shown a significant increase in violence during childhood and adolescence. These data suggest the importance of implementing programs to prevent and reduce violent behavior. The study aimed to design a program of emotional intelligence (El) for adolescents and to assess its effects on variables related to violence prevention. The possible differential effect of the program on both genders was also examined. The sample comprised 148 adolescents aged from 13 to 16 years. The study used an experimental design with repeated pretest-posttest measures and control groups. To measure the variables, four assessment instruments were administered before and after the program, as well as in the follow-up phase (1 year after the conclusion of the intervention). The program consisted of 20 one-hour sessions. The pretest-posttest ANCOVAs showed that the program significantly increased: (1) El (attention, clarity, emotional repair); (2) assertive cognitive social interaction strategies; (3) internal control of anger; and (4) the cognitive ability to analyze negative feelings. In the follow-up phase, the positive effects of the intervention were generally maintained and, moreover, the use of aggressive strategies as an interpersonal conflict-resolution technique was significantly reduced. Regarding the effect of the program on both genders, the change was very similar, but the boys increased assertive social interaction strategies, attention, and emotional clarity significantly more than the girls. The importance of implementing programs to promote socio-emotional development and prevent violence is discussed.

Fatores de riscos ocupacionais e agravos à saúde dos trabalhadores de enfermagem de uma unidade ambulatorial especializada

O objeto deste estudo trata do impacto do ambiente de trabalho no processo de saúde-doença dos trabalhadores de enfermagem de uma unidade ambulatorial especializada da cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Os objetivos foram: identificar os riscos ocupacionais no ambiente laboral dos trabalhadores de enfermagem da unidade em estudo; descrever a percepção do trabalhador de enfermagem sobre os impactos dos riscos ocupacionais em sua saúde; analisar o ambiente laboral destes trabalhadores com vistas à identificação de fatores de riscos que interferem negativamente na saúde; propor medidas de prevenção para minimização de impactos negativos na saúde dos mesmos, com destaque para a elaboração do Mapa de Riscos. Como suporte teórico, foram abordados conceitos e pressupostos relacionados às doenças do trabalho e sua relação com riscos ocupacionais, contextualizando-os com a configuração do mundo do trabalho em saúde, sua organização e processo laboral, assim como as vivências de prazer e sofrimento que podem alterar a saúde dos trabalhadores. Pesquisa exploratória e descritiva, de natureza qualitativa. Os sujeitos foram 40 trabalhadores de enfermagem, incluindo enfermeiros, técnicos e auxiliares de enfermagem. Os instrumentos de coleta foram a entrevista semiestruturada e a observação não participante, aplicados entre março/abril e junho/setembro de 2011, respectivamente. E cruzando as informações coletadas a partir dos dois instrumentos, buscou-se captar dados que possibilitasse a elaboração do Mapa de Risco dos setores com mais problemas em termos de deixar vulnerável a saúde dos trabalhadores, sendo elaborado Mapa de Risco da UCAMB e da CME. Enfatiza-se que houve assinatura prévia do Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido e que a pesquisa foi aprovada pelo comitê de ética do Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto sob número de protocolo 2528. O método de análise escolhido foi do tipo: análise temática de conteúdo, o qual possibilitou o surgimento de três categorias: riscos ocupacionais visíveis e invisíveis para o trabalhador de enfermagem; o processo de adoecimento do trabalhador no e pelo trabalho; melhorias das condições de trabalho: contribuições para proteção da saúde dos trabalhadores. Os resultados evidenciaram que o risco mais freqüentemente revelado foi de acidente, principalmente por materiais perfurocortantes, seguidos de exposição aos riscos biológicos. Porém, houve sujeitos que não perceberam a presença dos riscos ou reduziam a gravidade dos mesmos para o processo saúde-doença. As repercussões dos riscos ocupacionais no corpo dos trabalhadores foram identificadas como: estresse, varizes e distúrbios osteomusculares. Algumas sugestões elaboradas pelos sujeitos para a melhoria das condições de trabalho foram: realização de reformas estruturais, modernização dos equipamentos, incremento quantitativo dos recursos humanos, melhoria na organização do trabalho, implementação de um Núcleo da Saúde do Trabalhador. Considera-se que os objetivos deste estudo foram atingidos, no entanto, existe a clareza de que há muito a ser pesquisado sobre riscos ocupacionais e suas repercussões nos trabalhadores, assim como as intervenções necessárias para a prevenção e promoção da saúde do trabalhador. Sugerem-se novas pesquisas, como também repensar nas estratégias de ensino de formação dos trabalhadores de enfermagem, e também se faz relevante a participação da categoria em movimentos sociais para a construção de políticas públicas nesta área.

Harmful algal blooms in coastal waters: options for prevention, control and mitigation

This report is the product of a panel of experts in the science of blooms of unicellular marine algae which can cause mass mortalities in a variety of marine organisms and cause illness and even death in humans who consume contaminated seafood. These phenomena are collectively termed harmful algal blooms or HABs for short. As a counterpart to recent assessments of the priorities for scientific research to understand the causes and behavior of HABs, this assessment addressed the management options for reducing their incidence and extent (prevention), actions that can quell or contain blooms (control), and steps to reduce the losses of resources or economic values and minimize human health risks (mitigation). This assessment is limited to an appraisal of scientific understanding, but also reflects consideration of information and perspectives provided by regional experts, agency managers and user constituencies during three regional meetings. The panel convened these meetings during the latter half of 1996 to solicit information and opinions from scientific experts, agency managers and user constituencies in Texas, Washington, and Florida. The panel's assessment limited its attention to those HABs that result in neurotoxic shellfish poisoning, paralytic shellfish poisoning, brown tides, amnesic shellfish poisoning, and aquaculture fish kills. This covers most, but certainly not all, HAB problems in the U.S.

Ciguatera Fish Poisoning: treatment, prevention and management

Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP) is the most frequently reported seafood-toxin illness in the world, and it causes substantial physical and functional impact. It produces a myriad of gastrointestinal, neurologic and/or cardiovascular symptoms which last days to weeks, or even months. Although there are reports of symptom amelioration with some interventions (e.g. IV mannitol), the appropriate treatment for CFP remains unclear to many physicians. We review the literature on the treatments for CFP, including randomized controlled studies and anecdotal reports. The article is intended to clarify treatment options, and provide information about management and prevention of CFP, for emergency room physicians, poison control information providers, other health care providers, and patients.

Phosphate treatment of frozen prawns. Pt. 1. Screening of various phosphates for prevention of drip loss

Various phosphates and their mixtures were screened for their efficiency of preventing drip loss in frozen prawns. The effectiveness of the phosphates decreased in the following order: Sodium tripolyphosphate — Sodium pyrophosphate — Sodium hexametaphosphate Sodium metaphosphate — Sodium dihydrogen phosphate; the last two being ineffective. Even though thaw drip loss was reduced by the above treatments the organoleptic quality of the thawed as well as cooked products was unsatisfactory, discoloration being the major defect. A solution of a mixture of 12% sodium tripolyphosphate and 8.6% sodium dihydrogen phosphate or 2% citric acid in water when used as dip prevented thaw drip loss, improved cooked yield and organoleptic quality without adversely affecting the biochemical characteristics. Commercial scale trials showed that the results are highly reproducible.

Blackening of canned prawn and its prevention

The paper gives an account of the types of blackening associated with canned prawn in brine and their control. It was found that blackening caused by iron sulphide could be controlled by maintaining proper titratable acidity of fill brine in cans. The paper also elaborates on the factors responsible for or governing this critical titratable acidity. In regard to copper sulphide blackening, control was found to be difficult by maintaining the acidity or by additives such as EDTA when the copper content in the material went above the critical level.

Removal of fungus and prevention of fungal reinfestation in stored dry salted fish

A simple and effective method is described for converting dry fish products infested with fungus and red halophilic bacteria to acceptable ones. Washing, drying and then smearing with a mixture of 3% sodium propionate in dry, refined salt in a ratio of 1 part mixture: 10 parts dry fish resulted in the fish having a shelf life of 5 months.

Prevention of infestation by Dermestes maculatus Degeer in east African dried fish by solar treatment

East African sun-dried fish infested by Dermestes maculatus were exposed to tropical sunlight at ambient temperature and analysed for insect mortality and weight losses. Solar treatment for 6 to 8 lo was highly effective for one layer of split sun-dried fish and 100% insect mortality was toted, while pest species were still present in the four layer batch. Weight losses between 1.2% and 10.2% were recorded, the top layer suffering the highest loss. The high surface temperature of 60°C caused fish to become brittle and quality losses occurred. A reduction in length of exposure/temperature is probably a presupposition for application of the method to local conditions.

Prevention of infestation by Dermestes maculatus Degeer in east African dried fish using pyrethrum and piperonyl butoxide

East African sun-dried fish dipped for 4 seconds in different solutions of pyrethrum and piperonyl butoxide were analysed for insecticide residue limits. All analyses showed residues above the FAO/WHO MRL; exceeding factors of between 7.6 (22.9 ppm) and 1.6 (5.3 ppm) were found for pyrethrum while exceeding factors between 5.1 (102 ppm) and 1.7 (33.1 ppm) were common for piperonyl butoxide after 6 months storage at ambient temperature. All insecticide treated fish, regardless of dip concentration, were observed to be less susceptible to infestation by Dermestes maculatus than samples of untreated fish. No dry weight losses due to insect infestation were recorded, however moisture evaporation caused weight losses between 6 and 8% during the period. Further investigations showed that careful handling and a dip concentration more in accordance with FAO/WHO MRL than the commercial practice will reduce the cost of insecticides from K.sh. 0.72 to K.sh. 0.23 per kg pyrethrum treated fish.

Indigenous traditional technical knowledge of disease cure and prevention through fish consumption

Our knowledge regarding ethno-medico zoology is scanty and scattered. The present work is an endeavour to collect information on indigenous traditional knowledge (ITK) of disease cure through fish consumption, prepare a consolidated report on this aspect and to document our ITK so that in the long run after due verification (by Medical experts), such ITK can be patented. We also suggest for the recognition of the age old tribal medicine and establishment of a national research institute for tribal medicines at suitable place for the welfare of all the human beings.

Evaluation and comparison of ozone, hydrogen peroxide and physical treatment on fungal infection prevention and hatching rate of Iranian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus)

Ozone due to having low half-life and devoid of environmental harmful effects is recognized as one of the most effective disinfectant and fungicide in aquaculture. The objective of this study is to consider the effects of periodicay ozonation, hydrogen peroxide treatment, and physical treatment capability in hatching rate enhancement. Three concentrations of 0.05, 0.1 and 0.15 ppm ozone (10 min) and peroxide hydrogen with dose of 500 and 1000 ppm in two procedures accompanied with physical treatment and without physical treatment were examined on hatching rate. In the first year, Egg ozonation (0.1 ppm) with physical treatment have been resulted the greatest hatching rate (81.4%). In the second year, egg treatment with 1000 ppm hydrogen peroxide with physical treatment have been showed the greatest hatching rate (78%). Average hatching rate for the blank control treatment (without disinfectin and physical treatment) was 32.7%. From the economic viewpoint, 0.05 ppm ozone with physical treatment, due to considerable minimizing at consumption energy and ozonation system retention costs, indicated as the best treatment than other ozone treatments for fungal control. Very low correlation (r=-0.14) have been observed between hatchery water temperature and fungal infection percentage in control treatment.