Chemical fingerprinting of naphthenic acids and oil sands process waters-A review of analytical methods for environmental samples

This article provides a review of the routine methods currently utilized for total naphthenic acid analyses. There is a growing need to develop chemical methods that can selectively distinguish compounds found within industrially derived oil sands process affected waters (OSPW) from those derived from the natural weathering of oil sands deposits. Attention is thus given to the characterization of other OSPW components such as oil sands polar organic compounds, PAHs, and heavy metals along with characterization of chemical additives such as polyacrylamide polymers and trace levels of boron species. Environmental samples discussed cover the following matrices: OSPW containments, on-lease interceptor well systems, on- and off-lease groundwater, and river and lake surface waters. There are diverse ranges of methods available for analyses of total naphthenic acids. However, there is a need for inter-laboratory studies to compare their accuracy and precision for routine analyses. Recent advances in high- and medium-resolution mass spectrometry, concomitant with comprehensive mass spectrometry techniques following multi-dimensional chromatography or ion-mobility separations, have allowed for the speciation of monocarboxylic naphthenic acids along with a wide range of other species including humics. The distributions of oil sands polar organic compounds, particularly the sulphur containing species (i.e., OxS and OxS2) may allow for distinguishing sources of OSPW. The ratios of oxygen- (i.e., Ox) and nitrogen-containing species (i.e., NOx, and N2Ox) are useful for differentiating organic components derived from OSPW from natural components found within receiving waters. Synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy also provides a powerful screening technique capable of quickly detecting the presence of aromatic organic acids contained within oil sands naphthenic acid mixtures. Synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy provides diagnostic profiles for OSPW and potentially impacted groundwater that can be compared against reference groundwater and surface water samples. Novel applications of X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) are emerging for speciation of sulphur-containing species (both organic and inorganic components) as well as industrially derived boron-containing species. There is strong potential for an environmental forensics application of XANES for chemical fingerprinting of weathered sulphur-containing species and industrial additives in OSPW.

Educational approaches for preparing social work students for interdisciplinary teamwork on geriatric health care teams

Interest in teamwork has fluctuated over the last several decades, with recent renewed interest. As social workers become more involved in working with older people in the coming years, their success will hinge on collaboration with other health providers. Schools of social work and clinical sites must address this through the development of educational curricula and clinical programs which prepare social workers to work on interdisciplinary geriatric health care teams. Based on the experience of the national Geriatric Interdisciplinary Team Training (GITT) Program, this article presents an overview of the necessary team skills for social workers, educational methods for teach ing teamwork developed at the GITT sites, and some teaching challenges.

Specialized dementia programs in residential care settings

The authors conducted a telephone survey in 7 states to determine the prevalence of residential care specialized dementia programs (RC-SDPs) and to identify a sample of homes (n = 56) for more detailed study. The 56 homes were site visited, and data were gathered on facility administration, therapeutic environment, and characteristics of 259 randomly selected residents. Comparison data from 138 nursing home Special Care Units (NH-SCUs) and 1,340 of their residents were obtained from 4 studies conducted in the same 7 states. RC-SDPs were smaller, provided a more homelike environment, and had a higher proportion of residents paying privately, compared with NH-SCUs. Mean levels of cognitive and physical impairment among residents were higher in NH-SCUs; prevalences of psychotropic medication use and problem behaviors were similar. Among RC facilities, small homes were more homelike, provided fewer structured activities, and charged less than larger facilities. RC-SDPs include 5 types: small, independently operated homes; multiple small homes with joint administration; larger, all-dementia facilities; SDPs operated within larger, exclusively RC facilities; and RC-SDPs in multilevel facilities.

Maintaining social initiations of withdrawn handicapped and nonhandicapped preschoolers through a response-dependent fading tactic

The effects of a teacher-implemented intervention and fading package on the social initiations of three withdrawn preschool children were investigated. Subjects' social initiations and any peer responses were recorded sequentially during free play. Intervention involved teacher prompting and contingent praise of specific social initiations (sharing, assisting, verbally organizing play) by each subject toward an available peer. Results indicated that teacher prompts and praise increased the frequency of subjects' target initiation, target initiations typically received a positive peer response, subjects' extended interactions with peers also increased, abrupt, complete removal of teacher prompting resulted in similarly abrupt reductions in subjects' social initiations, whereas response-dependent fading maintained subjects' initiations and interactions above baseline levels. Follow-up data 2 1/2 months later showed that the social initiations and interactions of two of the children remained above baseline levels.