John James Dougherty

Nonmedical Use of Stimulants Among Medical Students

CONTEXT Proliferation of the use of psychopharmacologic drugs for the treatment of individuals with attention and behavior disorders has promoted discussion of the illicit use of such drugs to enhance academic performance. Previous research has focused on the use of such drugs by undergraduate students; however, inquiry into the nonmedical use of prescription stimulants by medical students is warranted because of the unique qualities of the medical school environment (including academic pressure, stress, and competition with peers) and the demographic characteristics common to many medical students. OBJECTIVE To examine the nonmedical use of prescription stimulants among osteopathic medical students, focusing on such key associated variables as academic stress, social network connections, and use of other substances. METHODS In 2012, first- and second-year students at a large osteopathic medical school were surveyed on the nonmedical use of prescription stimulants, stress, social networks, perceptions of drug use, and related topics. Data were compared with national data and assessed using analysis of variance and χ(2) statistical tests. RESULTS A total of 380 students completed the survey. Of those, 56 (15.2%) reported using prescription stimulants nonmedically to help them study in medical school. This percentage is significantly higher than the national estimated rate of diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in similar populations (t=3.72, P<.001). Both positive perceptions of the nonmedical use of stimulants (F=14.89, P<.001) and the use of other substances (χ(2)=18.00, P<.001) were positively associated with the nonmedical use of stimulants. Social network connections did not positively predict use by medical students, and certain types of social connectivity had a negative association with use. CONCLUSION In contrast with research on undergraduate populations, addressing academic stress and feelings of competitiveness may not be viable strategies for mitigating nonmedical use of stimulants among medical students.

Advances in Protective Device Interlocking for Improved Protection and Selectivity

The protection engineers challenge is balancing protection and system reliability (selectivity). Engineers may bias towards protection at the cost of system reliability or towards desired (or code required) selectivity, at the cost of protection. The need for compromise is often accepted as an unalterable reality. Simultaneously, the need for greater personnel safety has added a desire for space protection in addition to the usual bus protection imperative. The Industry has provided devices, techniques and schemes to minimize, and even eliminate, this compromise. Tools include smarter instantaneous sensing algorithms, differential protection, zone-selective-interlocking and arc flash relays. Zone-selective-interlocking is a cost effective solution for low voltage (LV) and medium voltage (MV) applications. Today zone-selective-interlocking spans different voltages, between inverse protection characteristics, such as short-time slopes and fast instantaneous protection, in both low and MV systems. However, traditional schemes must still nest pickup current thresholds to accommodate sensing tolerances. Arc flash relays have emerged as excellent space protectors but present concerns in LV applications. This paper reviews recent improvements in zone-selective-interlocking capabilities and presents schemes, developed by the authors, which eliminate the need for nesting pickup levels of multiple devices and for successfully mixing arc flash and current sensing devices into one system to simultaneously provide fast, reliable and sensitive protection.

Advances in protective device interlocking for improved protection and selectivity

The protection engineers challenge is balancing protection and system reliability (selectivity). Engineers may bias towards protection at the cost of system reliability or towards desired (or code required) selectivity, at the cost of protection. The need for compromise is often accepted as an unalterable reality. Simultaneously, the need for greater personnel safety has added a desire for space protection in addition to the usual bus protection imperative. The Industry has provided devices, techniques and schemes to minimize, and even eliminate, this compromise. Tools include smarter instantaneous sensing algorithms, differential protection, zone-selective-interlocking and arc flash relays. Zone-selective-interlocking is a cost effective solution for low voltage (LV) and medium voltage (MV) applications. Today zone-selective-interlocking spans different voltages, between inverse protection characteristics, such as short-time slopes and fast instantaneous protection, in both low and MV systems. However, traditional schemes must still nest pickup current thresholds to accommodate sensing tolerances. Arc flash relays have emerged as excellent space protectors but present concems in LV applications. This paper reviews recent improvements in zone-selective-interlocking capabilities and presents schemes, developed by the authors, which eliminate the need for nesting pickup levels of multiple devices and for successfully mixing arc flash and current sensing devices into one system to simultaneously provide fast, reliable and sensitive protection.