The case for a smokers' licence.

The history of tobacco control has seen the introduction of policies initially considered radical, but which rapidly came to be considered normal and essential to the goals of reducing use and the burden of disease that tobacco causes. No other consumer product is subject to total advertising bans. None are required to be sold in plain packaging, as will be the case in Australia from December 2012. Again uniquely, 47 nations now require large graphic warnings on tobacco packaging. Smokefree public transport, workplaces, restaurants, bars, and stadiums are now the rule rather than the exception in an increasingly large number of nations. The legally binding World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control which requires such measures has been ratified by 174 nations. Despite these developments, the sale of tobacco and cigarettes is subject to trivial controls compared with other dangerous products that threaten either public or personal health or safety. In this paper, I outline a proposal for a major new development with potential to reduce tobacco use: the smokers’ license, and consider its likely benefits and the main objections

Context-dependence of grandmother effects & selection on post-reproductive life

In cooperatively breeding species, the amount of help provided and the outcomes of that help can vary greatly under different contexts, such as helper age, sex of the offspring, or age of the offspring. Contextual variation in the outcomes of help has been less well studied from an evolutionary perspective in humans. As the indirect fitness gains from grandmothering have been hypothesised to have contributed to the evolution of prolonged post-reproductive life, we now need to understand the contexts under which grandmothering is or is not beneficial. Without knowledge of whether there is contextual-dependence in the outcomes of grandmother presence, we cannot hope to understand the role of grandmothering in the evolution of extended post-reproductive life. Using an extensive genealogical dataset from pre-industrial Finland with natural fertility and mortality rates, I investigate how survival and fertility outcomes of grandmother presence may differ under different contexts and discuss how this may affect selection on lifespan. I first quantify the demographics of grandmotherhood, providing information on the opportunity and need for help. I then focus on five main contexts: i) age of grandchildren, ii) lineage of grandmother (paternal or maternal), iii) sex of grandchildren, iv) adverse birth status (e.g. born as a twin), and v) grandmother age. I found that before the demographic transition to lower fertility and childhood mortality, the opportunity for grandmothers to help (i.e. presence) was relatively stable. Post-transition, grandmothers were alive for more of their grandchildren’s lives, but an increasing percentage of grandmothers lived in other parishes, changing the opportunity to help and the dynamics of the grandmother-grandchild relationship. I found that grandmother presence was only beneficial for grandchildren of a certain age (2-5 years old), and then only if the maternal grandmother was present. Maternal grandmother presence also reduced the time between births but did not have any effect on age at first birth. There was a slight sex bias in outcomes of grandmother help, but not enough to have driven the differences between maternal and paternal lineages. Surprisingly, grandmothers did not mitigate most of the adverse birth statuses, only improving survival outcomes for those born preceding a short (<24 months) birth interval. I also found that grandmother age was important, with younger maternal grandmothers beneficial to grandchild survival whereas older and weaker paternal grandmothers were detrimental to the survival of their infant grandchildren. In identifying and investigating different contexts of grandmothering, I have shown that beneficial outcomes of grandmother presence are not guaranteed, and, in some contexts, grandmothers may even have adverse effects. My novel findings suggest that any selection for extended post-reproductive lifespan from grandmothering will, therefore, be somewhat weaker than previously considered, at least in agricultural populations such as this. Future work should further investigate the context-dependence of grandmothering to help clarify the magnitude of grandmothering’s role in the evolution of post-reproductive lifespan.Yhteisöllisesti elävien eläinten toisille yksilöille tarjoaman avun määrä ja kelpoisuusvaikutukset voivat vaihdella suuresti eri olosuhteissa, kuten sekä auttajan että avun saajan iän ja sukupuolen mukaan. Erilaisten olosuhteiden vaikutusta auttamisen seurauksiin on tutkittu ihmisillä vähän evolutiivisesta näkökulmasta. Koska evolutiivisen hypoteesin mukaan isoäitien avun tuoma epäsuora kelpoisuus on vaikuttanut pitkän menopaussin jälkeisen eliniän evoluutioon ihmisillä, tulee ymmärtää, millaisissa tilanteissa tai olosuhteissa isoäidin apu on tai ei ole hyödyllistä kelpoisuuden kannalta. Ilman tietoa olosuhteiden vaikutuksesta isoäitivaikutusten voimakkuuteen on mahdotonta ymmärtää isoäitiyden roolia pitkän menopaussin jälkeisen eliniän selittäjänä. Historiallisista suomalaisista kirkonkirjoista kerätyn kattavan aineiston avulla tutkin, kuinka isoäidin läheisyys vaikutti sekä lastenlasten elossasäilymiseen, että aikuisten lastensa hedelmällisyyteen erilaisissa olosuhteissa, ja pohdin näiden vaikutusten yhteyttä pitkän eliniän evoluutioon. Ensimmäiseksi tarkastelen isoäitiyden demografiaa ja selvitän miten paljon isoäideillä oli tilaisuuksia auttaa jälkeläisiään esiteollisena aikana Suomessa, eli miten pitkään isoäiti oli elossa lastenlasten syntymän jälkeen ja asuiko hän lastenlastensa lähettyvillä. Tämän jälkeen tarkastelen isoäitivaikutuksia viidessä eri kontekstissa: i) lapsenlapsen iän, ii) isoäidin sukulinjan (oliko sukulaisuus isän- tai äidinpuoleista), iii) lapsenlapsen sukupuolen, iv) tai muun epäsuotuisan syntymähetken olosuhteen (esim. kaksosuus), ja v) isoäidin iän suhteen Esiteollisena aikana ja ennen väestöllistä muuntumista kohti alhaista syntyvyyttä ja kuolleisuutta isoäitien ja lastenlasten yhteinen jaettu elinaika ja näin ollen isoäitien mahdollisuus auttaa pysyi melko muuttumattomana. Myöhemmin, väestöllisen muuntumisen jälkeisenä aikana isoäidit olivat elossa pidempään lastenlastensa elämässä, mutta enenevissä määrin he kuitenkin asuivat eri kunnissa kuin lapsenlapsensa, mikä vaikutti isoäitien mahdollisuuksiin auttaa. Tutkimukseni paljasti, että isoäidit vaikuttivat positiivisesti lastenlastensa elossasäilyvyyteen lastenlasten ollessa 2-5 vuoden ikäisiä, ja vain äidinpuolen isoäitien vaikutus oli positiivinen. Äidinpuolen isoäitien läsnäolo lyhensi myös aikuisten tyttärien synnytysvälejä, mutta ei kuitenkaan vaikuttanut ensimmäisen lapsen saanti-ikään. Tytöt ja pojat hyötyivät hieman eri tavoin isoäitien läsnäolosta, mutta tämä ero ei ollut riittävä selittämään äidinäidin ja isänäidin vaikutusten eroa. Yllättäen, isoäitien läsnäolo ei auttanut useimmissa tutkituissa epäsuotuisissa syntymäolosuhteissa; isoäiti paransi ainoastaan niiden lasten elossasäilyvyyttä, jotka saivat pikkusisaruksen alle 2-vuotiaina. Isoäidin oma ikä oli tärkeä, sillä vaikka nuoremmat äidinäidit paransivat lastenlastensa elossasäilyvyyttä, vanhat yli 75-vuotiaat, ja heikommassa kunnossa olevat isänäidit lisäsivät imeväisikäisten lastenlastensa kuolleisuutta. Tutkimalla isoäitien vaikutuksia eri olosuhteissa, voin todeta, että positiiviset isoäitivaikutukset eivät ole aina havaittavissa ja jossain olosuhteissa isoäideillä voi olla jopa haitallisia vaikutuksia. Tutkimustulokseni osoittavat, että luonnonvalinnan vaikutus menopaussin jälkeiseen elinikään isoäitivaikutusten kautta saattaa olla heikompaa kuin aikaisemmissa tutkimuksissa on arvioitu, ainakin tutkimuspopulaation kaltaisissa maatalousyhteisöissä. Tulevissa tutkimuksissa tulisikin huomioida isoäitivaikutusten riippuvuus erilaisista olosuhteista ja selvittää isoäitivaikutusten voimakkuus/suuruus pitkän menopaussin jälkeisen eliniän evoluution selittäjänä

Symptoms, Diseases and Aberrant Behaviours Attributed to Wind Turbine Exposure

Dissertação de mestrado em Medicina (Patologia Experimental), apresentada à Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra.Os implantes dentários são atualmente uma opção terapêutica amplamente utilizada na substituição de dentes perdidos, devido ao seu excelente prognóstico e longevidade. A investigação tem demonstrado que uma das primeiras causas que impedem a osteointegração de um implante é os micromovimentos excessivos entre a superfície do implante e o osso peri-implantar. Contudo, micromovimentos dentro de níveis controlados influenciam positivamente a formação de osso na superfície de um implante. Até à data, não existe nenhum método clínico disponível para medir micromovimentos. O principal objetivo deste trabalho é o de validar o método de correlação de imagem como método alternativo para avaliar a reabilitação protética com implantes dentários. O processo de validação inclui medições em dois modelos experimentais e num ensaio clínico. Secundariamente, este projeto pretendeu contribuir para compreender quais os fatores que influenciam a ocorrência de micromovimentos, particularmente se a alteração da geometria dos pilares protéticos de “Standard” (SD) para “Platform-Switching ” (PS) influenciou no grau de micromovimentos. O primeiro modelo experimental consistiu na medição de micromovimentos num ensaio piloto in vitro com um modelo laboratorial de “viga simplesmente apoiada”, solicitada por uma carga concentrada aproximadamente a meio vão. As medições foram executadas apenas na direção vertical por CID 3D, com o sistema Vic-3D 2010 (Correlated Solutions®, Columbia, USA), para aferir a técnica. Considerou-se admissível um erro da ordem de 10%. Posteriormente utilizou-se o Método dos Elementos Finitos (MEF), para simular o ensaio e calcular o deslocamento esperado. Em simultâneo, os resultados obtidos foram comparados com a solução analítica. Os resultados permitiram concluir que o sistema de correlação de imagem Vic-3D pode ser utilizado como método alternativo para avaliar experimentalmente o deslocamento de estruturas tipo viga. O segundo modelo experimental consistiu num modelo animal ex vivo com mandíbulas de porco frescas isoladas onde foram colocados 30 implantes endósseos e pilares de cicatrização (SD e PS, n=15 para cada grupo). Sobre estes exerceu-se uma carga compressiva vertical de 100N. A medição dos micromovimentos efetuou-se pelo programa Vic-3D 2010. Os resultados obtidos foram comparados com os valores de ISQ (Implant Stability Quotient) do sistema de AFR (Osstell® ISQ, IntegrationDiagnostic, Suécia) obtidos previamente. Pelos resultados, verificou-se uma correlação entre a mobilidade medida por CID 3D e os valores de ISQ, mas apenas na direção mésio-distal (U). O ensaio clínico consistiu na medição dos micromovimentos de 32 implantes endósseos, inseridos em pacientes reabilitados com dois ou mais implantes adjacentes na região posterior da mandíbula e com dois pilares protéticos diferentes, PS e SD [n(SD)=18 e n(PS)=14]. As medições foram executadas por CID 3D, após a aplicação de uma carga oclusal mínima de 30N, aferida através de uma célula de carga (Applied Measurements Ltd., Berkshire, UK) e do sistema de design de software LabVIEW 2010 (National Instruments®, Texas, USA). Pelos resultados, verificou-se uma correlação entre a mobilidade medida por CID 3D e os valores de ISQ. Dentro das limitações deste estudo, o método de CID 3D parece ser capaz de medir os micromovimentos de implantes dentários. Os resultados parecem estar correlacionados com os valores de AFR.Dental implants are now a widely used treatment option in replacing missing teeth due to its excellent prognosis and longevity. Research has shown that one of the major causes that prevent osseointegration of an implant is excessive micromovements between the implant surface and the peri-implant bone. However, micromotion at controlled levels positively influences the formation of bone at an implant surface. To date, there is no clinically available method for measuring micromovements. The main objective of this work is to validate the method of image correlation as an alternative method to assess the prosthetic rehabilitation with dental implants. The validation process includes measurements in two experimental models and in clinical trials. Secondly, this project aimed to contribute to understanding the factors that influence the occurrence of micro-movements, particularly if the change in the geometry of the abutments of Standard (SD) for "Platform-Switching" (PS) influenced the degree of micromovements. The first trial consists in the measurement of micromotion in a pivotal trial in vitro with a laboratory model of "simply supported beam", requested by a concentrated load approximately half will. The measurements were performed only in the vertical direction by 3D DIC, with the Vic-3D 2010 system (Correlated Solutions®, Columbia, USA), to assess the technique. It is considered allowable error of the order of 10%. Subsequently, we used the Finite Element Method (FEM) to simulate the assay and calculate the expected displacement. At the same time, the results obtained were compared with analytical solution. The results showed that the correlation system image Vic-3D can be used as an alternative method to evaluate experimentally the displacement of beam type structures. The second trial consists in an animal model with ex vivo porcine fresh isolated mandibles which were placed 30 endosseous implants and healing abutments (PS and SD, n = 15 for each group). Exerted on these was a vertical compressive load of 100N. Micromovements measurements were made by the program Vic-3D 2010. The results were compared with the ISQ (Implant Stability Quotient) values of the RFA (Osstell® ISQ IntegrationDiagnostic, Sweden) system, previously obtained. The results showed a correlation between mobility measured by 3D DIC and ISQ values, but only in the mesiodistal direction (U). The third trial consisted in measuring the micro motion of 32 endosseous implants inserted in rehabilitated patients with two or more adjacent implants in the posterior jaw, and with two abutments different PS and SD [N (SD) = 18 n (PS) = 14]. The measurements were performed by CID 3D after application of at least 30N occlusal load as measured by a load cell (Applied Measurements Ltd., Berkshire, UK) and software design 2010 LabVIEW (National Instruments®, Texas, USA). The results showed a correlation between mobility measured by 3D CID and the RFA values of ISQ. Within the limitations of this study, 3D DIC method seems to be able of measuring dental implants micro movements. The results appear to be correlated with the ISQ values of AFR.Estudo cofinanciado pela Fundação Para A Ciência e Tecnologia via Projeto PTDC/SAL-BEB/108658/2008 e pela F.E.D.E.R. via “Programa Operacional Fatores e Competitividade” do QREN com a referência COMPETE: FCOMP-01-0124-F.E.D.E.R.-01096

Analysing Mindset Theory and Strategies Supporting the Implementation of Real PE to Develop a Growth Mindset Culture

Growth mindset continues to be a popular topic of conversation in the field of education and Physical Education (PE). However, despite the existence of various schemes for delivering curriculum PE, there are limited studies analysing how they seek to directly develop children’s mindsets. This study analyses the process taken for one of these frameworks, Real PE, to be implemented within a school to develop their growth mindset culture, drawing upon the theories of key educational thinkers. The study is based upon the authors’ experiences as PE Subject Leader and member of the school Senior Leadership Team (SLT) within a single-form entry primary school in Leicestershire, United Kingdom; testimonials from other schools who utilise Real PE and existing literature on the effectiveness of growth mindset.Implementing a growth mindset culture is not straightforward; although important, it is not solely about intelligence and praising effort, nor a battle of fixed versus growth mindsets as within PE, mixed mindsets exist, and, the fixed mindset should be legitimised. Therefore, a long-term, rigorous approach to change considering policies, individual beliefs, training needs, strategies and feedback methods needs to be developed. This study adds to the growing conversation about growth mindset and seeks to support other school settings considering embedding mindset culture within their school setting and PE provision

Reviewer refusal rates for 300,866 requested reviews in 20 BMJ Group journals

Data were extracted from the BenchPress editorial management system for 20 journals which each had data for the years 2002-2010.We examined whether there were differences among journals on reviewer refusal rates. Across all journals, nearly one in three requests to review were declined (range 21.2-39.8)

On-line abuse and trolling by pro-tobacco and vaping activists

This is a collection of abusive tweets and posts on blogs made by pro-smoking and pro-vaping individuals, often anonymous, about Simon Chapman, emeritus professor of public health at the University of Sydney. Professor Chapman has published sceptical papers and commentaries about claims made for the safety and effectiveness of e-cigarettes and has been trolled on social media for several years. This selection was assembled by Professor Chapman as a public record of this abuse

Factoid Forensics: Have “more than 40” Australian families abandoned their homes because of wind farm noise?

Background Anti wind farm activists repeatedly claim that families said to be adversely affected by noise from wind turbines “abandon” their homes. In Australia, a claim of “more than 40 families” has been made by a prominent anti wind farm activist. Methods Six sources (parliamentary submissions, media reports, an anti wind farm website, wind industry sources, correspondence with known anti wind farm activists, and with three politicians opposed to wind farms) were used to find evidence of home “abandonments”. Results Claims about 12 Australian households permanently (n=10) or periodically (n=2) leaving their homes were found. However, no house appears to have been permanently “abandoned” without sale, as the expression implies. These 12 cases need contextualizing against considerations that several of those involved were either dedicated activists against wind farms from times sometimes pre-dating their construction, were engaged in protracted negotiations for home purchase with wind companies, had pre-existing health problems, grievances with the wind company over employment or had left the area for unrelated reasons of employment elsewhere. Conclusions The statement that “more than 40” houses have been “abandoned” because of wind turbines in Australia is a factoid promoted by wind farm opponents for dramatic, rhetorical impact. Other considerations are often involved in abandonment unrelated to the claims made about wind farm noise