New insights into 17th and 18th century glass from Portugal: study and preservation

Early Modern glass from the Iberian Peninsula has - so far - seldom been investigated. The project, combining chemical analysis with a stylistic approach, and focusing on composition and technology, aims to characterise glass objects circulating in the national territory, in an attempt to identify their origins and to eventually bring to light a Portuguese centre of glass production. The chemical composition of more than 200 glass fragments was determined by means of μ-PIXE down to a level of tens of μg/g. The results obtained allowed one to select some objects to further extend the analysis to the trace and rare earth elements (REE) down to the ng/g level, through the use of LA-ICP-MS. Glass colours and natural hues were studied by means of UV-Vis reflectance spectroscopy and, when necessary, enamels were studied by means of μ-EDXRF and μ- Raman microscopy. From all the objects analysed, it was possible to conclude that the great majority of the glass dating upto the 17th century, is of a soda-lime-silica type, which indicates a Mediterranean tradition. Venetian or façon-de-Venise shapes were identified, and for some of them a Venetian provenance was confirmed. For other façon-de-Venise shapes, the composition presented differences that led to the conclusion that new façon-de-Venise production centres could be recognised. From the only assemblage containing glass fragments dated to the medieval period, it was possible to attest the presence of Venetian glass in the Portuguese territory from at least the 14th century. Additional objects showed particular compositional features, such as high and very high alumina contents for instance, that, as far as it is known, do not match up with any of the known glass production centres in Europe. Allying the stylistic characteristics with the glass chemical composition, allowed one to identify some objects possibly belonging to a Portuguese production. Several glass fragments belonging to wine bottles were retrieved from archaeological excavations in Lisbon and were chemically characterised. The chemical analysis revealed an HLLA composition for all of them. For some of these fragments it was possible to propose an English provenance. Besides the chemical characterisation, a systematic analysis of the bottle shape was proposed since the shape can be an important factor in determining its chronology. A small percentage of the fragments were identified chemically as having mixed-alkali compositions, potassium-rich glass, and lead glass compositions. The latter two chemical formulations were found among the assemblages from Lisbon and the objects with these compositions were dated to the 18th century. These constitute evidence that Portugal followed European tendencies in their glass and its compositions. This is the first systematic chemical characterisation of Early Modern glass circulating in Portugal, providing new insights into trade between Portugal and its trade allies. As a part of the study, and to prolong the survival of these glass assemblages, simple and low cost optical sensors were developed for the in situ detection of the organic pollutant formic acid, which is emitted by materials usually used in storage and in the display of glass. The detection of the presence of this acid can play an important role in the preservation of this valuable heritage; glass

Intended and unintended consequences of the implementation of minimum unit pricing of alcohol in Scotland: a natural experiment

AbstractBackgroundScotland was the first country to implement minimum unit pricing for alcohol nationally. Minimum unit pricing aims to reduce alcohol-related harms and to narrow health inequalities. Minimum unit pricing sets a minimum retail price based on alcohol content, targeting products preferentially consumed by high-risk drinkers. This study comprised three components.ObjectivesThis study comprised three components assessing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related attendances in emergency departments, investigating potential unintended effects of minimum unit pricing on alcohol source and drug use, and exploring changes in public attitudes, experiences and norms towards minimum unit pricing and alcohol use.DesignWe conducted a natural experiment study using repeated cross-sectional surveys comparing Scotland (intervention) and North England (control) areas. This involved comparing changes in Scotland following the introduction of minimum unit pricing with changes seen in the north of England over the same period. Difference-in-difference analyses compared intervention and control areas. Focus groups with young people and heavy drinkers, and interviews with professional stakeholders before and after minimum unit pricing implementation in Scotland allowed exploration of attitudes, experiences and behaviours, stakeholder perceptions and potential mechanisms of effect.SettingFour emergency departments in Scotland and North England (component 1), six sexual health clinics in Scotland and North England (component 2), and focus groups and interviews in Scotland (component 3).ParticipantsResearch nurses interviewed 23,455 adults in emergency departments, and 15,218 participants self-completed questionnaires in sexual health clinics. We interviewed 30 stakeholders and 105 individuals participated in focus groups.InterventionMinimum unit pricing sets a minimum retail price based on alcohol content, targeting products preferentially consumed by high-risk drinkers.ResultsThe odds ratio for an alcohol-related emergency department attendance following minimum unit pricing was 1.14 (95% confidence interval 0.90 to 1.44; p = 0.272). In absolute terms, we estimated that minimum unit pricing was associated with 258 more alcohol-related emergency department visits (95% confidence interval –191 to 707) across Scotland than would have been the case had minimum unit pricing not been implemented. The odds ratio for illicit drug consumption following minimum unit pricing was 1.04 (95% confidence interval 0.88 to 1.24; p = 0.612). Concerns about harms, including crime and the use of other sources of alcohol, were generally not realised. Stakeholders and the public generally did not perceive price increases or changed consumption. A lack of understanding of the policy may have caused concerns about harms to dependent drinkers among participants from more deprived areas.LimitationsThe short interval between policy announcement and implementation left limited time for pre-intervention data collection.ConclusionsWithin the emergency departments, there was no evidence of a beneficial impact of minimum unit pricing. Implementation appeared to have been successful and there was no evidence of substitution from alcohol consumption to other drugs. Drinkers and stakeholders largely reported not noticing any change in price or consumption. The lack of effect observed in these settings in the short term, and the problem-free implementation, suggests that the price per unit set (£0.50) was acceptable, but may be too low. Our evaluation, which itself contains multiple components, is part of a wider programme co-ordinated by Public Health Scotland and the results should be understood in this wider context

Artificial fertilization with donor gametes : a medical social work perspective

English: Artificial fertilization with donor gametes is becoming more popular amongst infertile couples as an alternative to childlessness. It allows the couple the opportunity to experience a pregnancy and the birth of their child, who is fifty percent blood-related. This form of treatment involves various medical, legal, ethical-moral, religious and psycho-social aspects, and couples requesting this form of treatment usually have limited knowledge of these aspects, are unable to make an informed decision and are unaware of the possible long-term implications. Applied and developmental research was implemented in this study. The research designs were exploratory and descriptive and the nature of this research was both quantitative and qualitative. The research population of 30 respondents were all included in this study. The hypotheses for this study were formulated as follows: Hypothesis 1: When couples request artificial fertilization with donor gametes, they have limited knowledge of all the medical, legal, ethical-moral, religious and psycho-social aspects related to this treatment. Hypothesis 2: If couples are prepared for artificial fertilization with donor gametes by means of a holistic preparation session, they will gain more knowledge regarding all the aspects related to this treatment. Hypothesis 3: If couples undergo artificial fertilization with donor gametes, they will experience long-term psycho-social implications. vi The aims of this study included: Aim 1: To develop, implement, evaluate and describe a guideline for the holistic preparation of couples for artificial fertilization with donor gametes. Aim 2: To do a longitudinal study of the same respondents to determine the long-term psycho-social implications of successful or unsuccessful artificial fertilization with donor gametes. Aim 3: To provide a medical social work guideline for the counselling of couples undergoing artificial fertilization with donor gametes. These aims were all met by means of this study. In the first empirical study, the preparation session which was developed in this study, was implemented over a half-day session, individually with each couple using the A-B-A single system design and a questionnaire. A pre-test prior to and post-test after completion of the session was conducted. These respondents' knowledge on all the aspects related to this form of treatment, which was limited in the pre-test, had increased after completion of the session in the post-test. The session was evaluated to be of high value on the short-term, as it had increased their knowledge and provided them with a thorough perspective, supporting hypothesis 1 and 2. The second empirical study was conducted with the same respondents 7 years later, by means of a longitudinal survey, using personal interviews and a questionnaire. Respondents had either donor, adopted or own biological children or were childless and had experienced successful long-term psycho-social implications as a result of or unsuccessful artificial fertilization with donor gametes, supporting hypothesis 3. Respondents valued the preparation session highly on the long-term, as it had increased their knowledge and enabled them to make an informed decision. A preparation session was recommended as a necessity for all couples undergoing this form of treatment, as well as a need for long-term counselling. Recommendations included a preparation session being a prerequisite for all couples undergoing this form of treatment and the need for long-term counselling. A guideline was provided for this purpose.Afrikaans: Kunsmatige bevrugting met donor gamete, word steeds gewilder by onvrugbare egpare, as alternatief tot kinderloosheid. Dit bied 'n egpaar die geleentheid om 'n swangerskap en die geboorte van hulle kind, wat vyftig persent bloedverwant is, te ervaar. Hierdie soort behandeling behels verskillende mediese, wetlike, eties-morele, godsdienstige en psigososiale aspekte en egpare wat hierdie soort behandeling versoek, dra gewoonlik slegs beperkte kennis van hierdie aspekte, is nie daartoe instaat om 'n ingeligte besluit te neem nie en is onbewus van die moontlike langtermyn implikasies. Toegepaste en ontwikkelingsnavorsing is in hierdie studie aangewend. Die navorsingsontwerpe was verkennend en beskrywend en die aard van die navorsing was sowel kwantitatief as kwalitatief. Die universum van 30 respondente is in hierdie studie ingesluit. Die hipoteses vir die studie is as volg geformuleer: Hipotese 1: Wanneer egpare kunsmatige bevrugting met donor gamete versoek, het hulle slegs beperkte kennis van al die mediese, wetlike, etiesmorele, godsdienstige en psigososiale aspekte wat verband hou met hierdie behandeling. Hipotese 2: Indien egpare deur middel van 'n holistiese voorbereidingsessie vir kunsmatige bevrugting met donor gamete voorberei word, sal hulle meer kennis opdoen ten opsigte van al die aspekte wat verband hou met die behandeling. Hipotese 3: Indien egpare kunsmatige bevrugting met donor gamete ondergaan, sal hulle langtermyn psigososiale implikasies ervaar. Die doelstellings van die studie het die volgende ingesluit: Doelstelling 1: Om 'n riglyn vir die holistiese voorbereiding van egpare vir kunsmatige bevrugting met donor gamete te ontwikkel, implementeer, evalueer en beskryf. Doelstelling 2: Om 'n longitudinale studie van dieselfde respondente te onderneem, om die langtermyn psigososiale implikasies van suksesvolle of onsuksesvolle kunsmatige bevrugting met donor gamete te bepaal. Doelstelling 3: Om 'n geneeskundige maatskaplikewerk-riglyn vir die berading van egpare wat kunsmatige bevrugting met donor gamete ondergaan, te verskaf. Hierdie doelstellings is almal deur middel van hierdie studie bereik. In die eerste empiriese studie is die voorbereidingsessie individueel met elke egpaar oor 'n half-dag geimplementeer en die A-B-A enkelstelselontwerp en 'n vraelys is benut. 'n Voortoets asook 'n natoets is ui tgevoer, voor en na vol tooiing van die sessie. Die respondente het v66r die voorbereidingsessie, oor beperkte kennis van al die aspekte wat met die behandeling verband hou beskik, en het na die sessie vermeerderde kennis getoon. Die sessie is van hoe waarde beskou op die korttermyn, want hulle kennis is aangevul en 'n deeglike perspektief is voorsien, wat hipoteses 1 en 2 ondersteun het. Die tweede empiriese studie is sewe jaar later met dieselfde respondente ui tgevoer, deur middel van 'n longi tudinale opname, met gebruikmaking van persoonlike onderhoude en 'n vraelys. Die respondente het donor, aangenome, of eie biologiese kinders gehad, of was kinderloos en het langtermyn psigososiale implikasies ervaar as gevolg van suksesvolle of onsuksesvolle kunsmatige bevrugting met donor gamete. Hipotese 3 is deur hierdie bevindinge ondersteun. 'n Hoe waarde is aan die sessie geheg met die langtermyn evaluasie van die voorbereidingsessie, omdat dit hulle met kennis toegerus het, en hulle in staat gestel het om 'n ingeligte besluit te neem. Aanbevelings het sowel die voorbereidingsessie as vereiste vir alle egpare wat hierdie behandeling ondergaan, ingesluit, asook die behoefte aan langtermyn berading. 'n Riglyn is vir hierdie doel voorsien.Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 1996.Social Work and CriminologyDPhil (Social Work)Unrestricte

Intended and unintended consequences of the implementation of minimum unit pricing of alcohol in Scotland: a natural experiment

Background: Scotland was the first country to implement minimum unit pricing for alcohol nationally. Minimum unit pricing aims to reduce alcohol-related harms and to narrow health inequalities. Minimum unit pricing sets a minimum retail price based on alcohol content, targeting products preferentially consumed by high-risk drinkers. This study comprised three components. Objectives: This study comprised three components assessing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related attendances in emergency departments, investigating potential unintended effects of minimum unit pricing on alcohol source and drug use, and exploring changes in public attitudes, experiences and norms towards minimum unit pricing and alcohol use. Design: We conducted a natural experiment study using repeated cross-sectional surveys comparing Scotland (intervention) and North England (control) areas. This involved comparing changes in Scotland following the introduction of minimum unit pricing with changes seen in the north of England over the same period. Difference-in-difference analyses compared intervention and control areas. Focus groups with young people and heavy drinkers, and interviews with professional stakeholders before and after minimum unit pricing implementation in Scotland allowed exploration of attitudes, experiences and behaviours, stakeholder perceptions and potential mechanisms of effect. Setting: Four emergency departments in Scotland and North England (component 1), six sexual health clinics in Scotland and North England (component 2), and focus groups and interviews in Scotland (component 3). Participants: Research nurses interviewed 23,455 adults in emergency departments, and 15,218 participants self-completed questionnaires in sexual health clinics. We interviewed 30 stakeholders and 105 individuals participated in focus groups. Intervention: Minimum unit pricing sets a minimum retail price based on alcohol content, targeting products preferentially consumed by high-risk drinkers. Results: The odds ratio for an alcohol-related emergency department attendance following minimum unit pricing was 1.14 (95% confidence interval 0.90 to 1.44; p = 0.272). In absolute terms, we estimated that minimum unit pricing was associated with 258 more alcohol-related emergency department visits (95% confidence interval –191 to 707) across Scotland than would have been the case had minimum unit pricing not been implemented. The odds ratio for illicit drug consumption following minimum unit pricing was 1.04 (95% confidence interval 0.88 to 1.24; p = 0.612). Concerns about harms, including crime and the use of other sources of alcohol, were generally not realised. Stakeholders and the public generally did not perceive price increases or changed consumption. A lack of understanding of the policy may have caused concerns about harms to dependent drinkers among participants from more deprived areas. Limitations: The short interval between policy announcement and implementation left limited time for pre-intervention data collection. Conclusions: Within the emergency departments, there was no evidence of a beneficial impact of minimum unit pricing. Implementation appeared to have been successful and there was no evidence of substitution from alcohol consumption to other drugs. Drinkers and stakeholders largely reported not noticing any change in price or consumption. The lack of effect observed in these settings in the short term, and the problem-free implementation, suggests that the price per unit set (£0.50) was acceptable, but may be too low. Our evaluation, which itself contains multiple components, is part of a wider programme co-ordinated by Public Health Scotland and the results should be understood in this wider context. Future work: Repeated evaluation of similar policies in different contexts with varying prices would enable a fuller picture of the relationship between price and impacts.Additional co-authors: Oarabile Molaodi, Michele Open, Chris Patterson, Samantha Perry, Thomas Phillips, Gabriel Schembri, Janet Wilson, Chris Yap, Lyndal Bond, and Alastair H Leylan

Arabidopsis thaliana DNA gyrase: expression, characterisation and in vivo insight

DNA gyrase is a type II topoisomerase distinguished by its ability to introduce negative supercoils into double-stranded DNA in a reaction linked to ATP hydrolysis. The essentiality of gyrase in bacteria has permitted its exploitation as an antibacterial target. The unanticipated discovery of gyrase within the nuclear genomes of eukaryotes including Arabidopsis and Plasmodia, was made near to two decades ago. Despite this, our understanding of gyrase within these species remains limited. The work here aimed to heterologously generate eukaryotic gyrases in order to biochemically characterise and better understand their mechanism of actions, gain an insight into their in vivo functions and explore their potential for inhibition. The specific inhibition of gyrase within these species would facilitate the generation of novel herbicidal and antimalarial drugs. In vivo knockdown experiments of A. thaliana gyrase have confirmed the embryo-lethality of GyrA. Arabidopsis plants able to propagate with a knockdown of GyrB1 are dwarfed, chlorotic, have reduced numbers and lengths of lateral roots and altered thylakoid ultrastructure. An increase of GyrB1 transcript mediates a stress response within Arabidopsis. The functional cooperation to achieve supercoiling of a reconstituted gyrase comprising A. thaliana GyrA and E. coli GyrB has been shown. The catalysis of A. thaliana enzyme (GyrA and GyrB2) is differentially mediated by potassium glutamate levels. The A. thaliana DNA gyrase has been determined to be 45-fold more efficient for ATP-independent DNA relaxation than E. coli gyrase. A novel sensitive DNA decatenation substrate, ‘bis-cat’, comprising two singly-linked supercoiled plasmids of disparate sizes has been generated and compared to the current marketed decatenation substrate. The novel substrate determined A. thaliana gyrase to be 35-fold more effective for DNA decatenation than the E. coli enzyme. The herbicidal and bactericidal specificities of novel fluoroquinolone compounds have also been compared