Alcohol misuse, drinking contexts and intimate partner violence in St. Petersburg, Russia: results from a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Alcohol misuse has been linked to intimate partner violence (IPV). However, this association is not usually examined in Russia. Moreover, more investigation is required as to whether specific drinking contexts are also associated with IPV. The objectives of this study are: to investigate whether alcohol misuse is associated with IPV and to further examine whether specific drinking contexts among drinkers are associated with IPV.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A questionnaire was used to collect information on demographics, health status, alcohol use, and violence involving sexual partners among 440 participants who were recruited from an STI (sexually transmitted infection) clinic center in St. Petersburg, Russia for a cross-sectional study from 2008 to 2009. Multivariate logistic regression was used for analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overall, 47.0% participants were classified as misusing alcohol and 7.2% participants perpetrated IPV in the past three months. Participants with alcohol misuse were 3.28 times (OR: 3.28; 95% CI: 1.34-8.04) as likely as those without alcohol misuse to perpetrate IPV. Among participants who had consumed alcohol in the past three months, those who usually drank on the streets or in parks (OR: 5.62; 95% CI: 1.67-18.90) were more likely to perpetrate IPV.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Both alcohol misuse and certain drinking contexts (e.g., drinking on the streets or at parks) were associated with IPV. The association between drinking contexts and IPV needs further investigation, as do the underlying mechanisms for this association. IPV prevention initiatives might benefit from reducing alcohol misuse. Drinking contexts such as drinking on the streets or at parks as well as the factors related to the use of alcohol in these contexts may also need to be addressed.</p

Avaliação do carvão produzido a partir de resíduos da produção de sementes de brachiária.

EVINCI. Resumo

Examining Ecological Succession of Diatoms in California Current System Cyclonic Mesoscale Eddies

The California Current System is a diatom-dominated region characterized by seasonal coastal upwelling and additional elevated mesoscale activity. Cyclonic mesoscale eddies in the region trap productive coastal waters with their planktonic communities and transport them offshore with limited interaction with surrounding waters, effectively acting as natural mesocosms, where phytoplankton populations undergo ecological succession as eddies age. This study examines diatom community composition within two mesoscale cyclonic eddies that formed in the same region of the California Current System 2 months apart and in the California Current waters surrounding them. The diatom communities were analyzed in the context of shifting environmental gradients and through a lens of community succession to expand our understanding of biophysical interactions in California Current System cyclonic eddies. Diatom communities within each eddy were different from non-eddy communities and varied in concert with salinity and dissolved iron (Fe) concentrations. The younger, nearshore eddy displayed higher macronutrient and dissolved Fe concentrations, had higher values for diatom Shannon diversity and evenness, and had nutrient ratios indicative of either eventual silicic acid (Si) or Fe limitation or possibly co-limitation. The older, offshore eddy displayed low macronutrient and dissolved Fe concentrations, was likely nitrate-limited, and had lower diatom Shannon diversity and evenness indices. Sequences from the genus Rhizosolenia, some of which form vertically migrating mats to bypass nitrate limitation, dominated in the older eddy. This is of potential significance as the prevalence of Rhizosolenia mats could impact estimates of carbon cycling and export in the wider California coastal area

Lattice Instability and Competing Spin Structures in the Double Perovskite Insulator Sr2FeOsO6

The semiconductor Sr2FeOsO6, depending on temperature, adopts two types of spin structures that differ in the spin sequence of ferrimagnetic iron - osmium layers along the tetragonal c-axis. Neutron powder diffraction experiments, 57Fe M\"ossbauer spectra, and density-functional theory calculations suggest that this behavior arises because a lattice instability resulting in alternating iron-osmium distances fine-tunes the balance of competing exchange interactions. Thus, Sr2FeOsO6 is an example for a double perovskite, in which the electronic phases are controlled by the interplay of spin, orbital, and lattice degrees of freedom.Comment: 8 Pages, 3 Figure

Impaired CO₂ sensitivity of astrocytes in a mouse model of Rett syndrome

Rett syndrome, a prototypical neurological disorder caused by loss of function of the transcriptional regulator methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) gene, is associated with a severely disordered breathing pattern and reduced ventilatory CO(2) sensitivity. In a mouse model of Rett syndrome (MeCP2 knockout), re-introduction of the MeCP2 gene selectively in astrocytes rescues normal respiratory phenotype. In the present study we determined whether the metabolic and/or signalling functions of astrocytes are affected by testing the hypotheses that in conditions of MeCP2 deficiency, medullary astrocytes are unable to produce/release appropriate amounts of lactate or detect changes in [Image: see text]/[H(+)], or both. No differences in tonic or hypoxia-induced release of lactate from the ventral surface of the medulla oblongata or cerebral cortex in brain slices of MeCP2-knockout and wild-type mice were found. In brainstem slices of wild-type mice, respiratory acidosis triggered robust elevations in [Ca(2+)](i) in astrocytes residing near the ventral surface of the medulla oblongata. The magnitude of CO(2)-induced [Ca(2+)](i) responses in medullary astrocytes was markedly reduced in conditions of MeCP2 deficiency, whereas [Ca(2+)](i) responses to ATP were unaffected. These data suggest that (i) metabolic function of astrocytes in releasing lactate into the extracellular space is not affected by MeCP2 deficiency, and (ii) MeCP2 deficiency impairs the ability of medullary astrocytes to sense changes in [Image: see text]/[H(+)]. Taken together with the evidence of severely blunted ventilatory sensitivity to CO(2) in mice with conditional MeCP2 deletion in astroglia, these data support the hypothesis of an important role played by astrocytes in central respiratory CO(2)/pH chemosensitivity. KEY POINTS: Rett syndrome is a prototypical neurological disorder characterised by abnormal breathing pattern and reduced ventilatory CO(2) sensitivity. Medullary astrocytes are a crucial component of central CO(2)/pH chemosensitivity. . This study tested the hypotheses that methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) deficient medullary astrocytes are (i) unable to produce/release appropriate amounts of lactate, and/or (ii) unable to sense changes in [Image: see text]/[H(+)]. . We found no differences in tonic or hypoxia-induced release of lactate from the ventral surface of the medulla oblongata or cerebral cortex between MeCP2-knockout and wild-type mice. . Respiratory acidosis triggered robust [Ca(2+)](i) responses in wild-type astrocytes residing near the ventral surface of the medulla oblongata. CO(2)-induced [Ca(2+)](i) responses in astrocytes were dramatically reduced in conditions of MeCP2 deficiency. . These data suggest that (i) ‘metabolic’ function of astrocytes in releasing lactate into the extracellular space is not affected by MeCP2 deficiency, and (ii) MeCP2 deficiency impairs the ability of medullary astrocytes to sense changes in [Image: see text]/[H(+)].

Scientific Opportunities for Heterogeneous Catalysis Research at the SuperXAS and SNBL Beam Lines

In this short review, we describe the complementary experimental capabilities for catalysis research at two beam lines available to the Swiss community, SuperXAS at SLS (Swiss Light Source, Villigen) and SNBL (Swiss Norwegian Beam lines) at ESRF (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble). Over the years, these two facilities have been developed to provide powerful techniques for structural studies under in situ and operando conditions. These techniques, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) in combination with Raman or infrared spectroscopy provide new avenues for structure–performance studies of catalysts. Several exemplary studies are used to demonstrate the capability of these facilities

Balanço hidrológico da microbacia do córrego lageado, Município de Uberaba-MG, para o ano de 2012.

O manejo integrado em microbacia hidrográfica implementa uma nova maneira de se planejar e usar os recursos naturais, indo de encontro ao desenvolvimento sustentável. A compreensão do balanço hídrico, mesmo que de forma simplificada, é importante para o entendimento dos processos de degradação e conservação dos recursos naturais relacionados ao uso do solo e da água. Dentro deste contexto, o presente estudo teve por objetivo fazer o balanço hídrico da microbacia do córrego Lageado, situada no município de Uberaba, MG, para o ano de 2012. A escolha desta microbacia para este trabalho baseou-se na sua importância como terceiro maior manancial pertencente à APA (Área de Proteção Ambiental) do rio Uberaba e por estar parcialmente dentro do perímetro urbano. Nas últimas décadas, esta microbacia hidrográfica passou por intensas transformações relacionadas ao uso e à ocupação do solo