Not all screens are created equal: examination of surface features and other physical properties of commonly used screen materials for smoking drugs.

Background: Brass screens are considered an essential part of the safer drug smoking/inhalation supplies and are widely distributed by harm reduction programs in Canada. However, the use of commercially available steel wools as screens for smoking crack cocaine remains a common practice among people who smoke drugs in Canada. Use of these steel wool materials is associated with different adverse effects on health.

Developing national best practice recommendations for harm reduction programmes: Lessons learned from a community-based project.

Through promotion of consistent, evidence-based policy and practice, best practice recommendations can improve service delivery. Nationally relevant best practice recommendations, including guidance for programmes that provide service to people who use drugs, are often created and disseminated by government departments or other national organisations. However, funding priorities do not always align with stakeholder- and community-identified needs for such recommendations, particularly in the case of harm reduction.

Intercrystalline distal-effect on the afterglow phenomenon in photoluminescent SrAl2O4:CeIII, Ln nanotube growth.

We report a new method for the synthesis of photoluminescent SrAl(2)O(4):Ce(3+), Dy(3+), Eu(2+) nanotubes, PL-SNT:Ce(III), Ln, using solid-state reaction and post-annealing approach. This new optical nanotubular structure was characterized by HRTEM, SEM, AFM, EDX, steady-state and time-resolved PL spectroscopy. A series of f-f and f-d-transitions with light emission in structured bands peaking at 488 nm arising from the polymorphism of the host lattice was correlated with an intercrystalline distal-effect on the afterglow phenomenon.

Delivering primary care to homeless persons: a policy analysis approach to evaluating the options.

Homeless persons are numerous, carry a significant burden of illness and face challenges in accessing care. A search of the literature revealed insufficient empirical sources to permit the use of standard systematic review methodology to determine the most effective way to deliver point-of-first-contact healthcare to homeless people. Instead, we used a policy analysis approach.