A study of interpersonal factors influencing drinking patterns among abusive drinkers, non-abusive drinkers, and non-drinkers of alcohol.

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influenced various drinking patterns. The population consisted of 114 men.This study found differences in interpersonal needs among the three drinking groups studied. The Rotter and DRIE indicated that all groups scored in an internal direction suggesting that I-E directionality does not predict drinking behaviors. The Control factor was significantly lower on the FIRO-B among all three groups. The interaction of the other factors on the FIRO-B indicate that the need for Inclusion and Affection varies within the groups. This information suggests that the consumption of alcohol is influenced in accordance with the degree of needs, as measured by this instrument.The data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance. The study found that Abusive Drinkers, Non-Abusive Drinkers, and Non-Drinkers all scored within an internal direction on Rotter's I-E Scale with the Non-Abusive Drinkers tending toward a more external direction. This population also scored within an internal direction on the DRIE Scale with the Abusive Drinkers tending to score toward a more external direction. The FIRO-B data indicated that the Abusive Drinkers had lower scores in all areas. Combining the Expressed and Wanted dimensions, similar patterns emerged among the three drinking conditions. Affection, Inclusion, and Control scores were in a descending order with the Control score being significantly smaller than the other two scores. The Expressed dimension reveals similar patterns for the Abusive and Non-Abusive drinking groups with little variation between Inclusion and Affection but the Control score was significantly lower. The Non-Drinking group had higher scores in the area of Control and identical mean scores for Inclusion and Affection. The Wanted dimension indicated lower total mean scores in Control for all drinking groups with Inclusion and Affection following in ascending order. The score for Wanted Affection is significantly greater than the other scores. The Non-Abusive drinking group had the greatest variability among the three scores and the Abusive drinking group had the least variability. In both the Expressed and Wanted dimensions, the Non-Abusive drinkers had the highest total mean scores whereas the Abusive drinkers had the lowest total mean scores. Between the two dimensions and among the three areas assessed, the scores are lower in Wanted Inclusion and Control and higher in Wanted Affection.For purposes of this investigation, an abusive drinker was defined as an individual who was arrested and determined by the court to be intoxicated. Non-abusive drinking was defined as moderately drinking not more than three (3) times a week and never having been arrested for intoxicated behavior. A questionnaire designed by John Hopkins Hospital was further used to screen for individuals who might tend to be abusive drinkers. Non-drinkers were defined as those who do not consume alcohol. Instruments used in this study were Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control Scale, Drinking Related Internal-External Scale (DRIE), and Fundamental Interpersonal Relationship Orientation (FIRO-B) Scale. One score is obtained from each of the Rotter and DRIE Scales while six scores are obtained from the FIRO-B Scale. The FIRO-B Scale reports a Wanted and Expressed dimension in three areas: Inclusion, Control, and Affection

Managing the interrelations among urban infrastructure, population, and institutions

"Increases in urban populations, aging infrastructures and global environmental change have begun to highlight the need and urgency to address urban resilience through research and stakeholder-based dialog. The number of case studies for individual locations and on individual challenges - such as meeting water or energy demands - are increasing. Many of those studies reveal the complexity of managing interrelations among population, infrastructure, and institutions, though many ultimately choose a narrow, sector-specific approach to the issue. Few approaches have built on insights from complexity theory and related bodies of knowledge which are more consistent with the perspective that urban infrastructure systems are tightly coupled with one another and must respond to often subtle, long-term changes of technological, social and environmental conditions. Drawing on that knowledge, and building on insights from previous case studies, this paper explores the potential roles of complexity theory in guiding investment and policy decisions in the urban context, focusing on strategies to promote resilience and adaptability in the light of population, infrastructure, and institutional dynamics." (author's abstract

Deciphering isotopic signals of monsoon-induced upwelling in foraminifera from the Western Arabian sea sediment trap

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 1997.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 31-36).by Dana Ruth Stuart.M.S

Chemical and mechanical defenses vary among maternal lines and leaf ages in Verbascum thapsus L. (Scrophulariaceae) and reduce palatability to a generalist insect

Includes bibliographical references (pages 10-11).Intra-specific variation in host-plant quality affects herbivore foraging decisions and, in turn, herbivore foraging decisions mediate plant fitness. In particular, variation in defenses against herbivores, both among and within plants, shapes herbivore behavior. If variation in defenses is genetically based, it can respond to natural selection by herbivores. We quantified intra-specific variation in iridoid glycosides, trichome length, and leaf strength in common mullein (Verbascum thapsus L, Scrophulariaceae) among maternal lines within a population and among leaves within plants, and related this variation to feeding preferences of a generalist herbivore, Trichopulsia ni Hübner. We found significant variation in all three defenses among maternal lines, with T. ni preferring plants with lower investment in chemical, but not mechanical, defense. Within plants, old leaves had lower levels of all defenses than young leaves, and were strongly preferred by T. ni. Caterpillars also preferred leaves with trichomes removed to leaves with trichomes intact. Differences among maternal lines indicate that phenotypic variation in defenses likely has a genetic basis. Furthermore, these results reveal that the feeding behaviors of T. ni map onto variation in plant defense in a predictable way. This work highlights the importance of variation in host-plant quality in driving interactions between plants and their herbivores.Published with support from the Colorado State University Libraries Open Access Research and Scholarship Fund

Isoprenoid biosynthesis inhibition disrupts Rab5 localization and food vacuolar integrity in Plasmodium falciparum

The antimalarial agent fosmidomycin is a validated inhibitor of the nonmevalonate isoprenoid biosynthesis (methylerythritol 4-phosphate [MEP]) pathway in the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Since multiple classes of prenyltransferase inhibitors kill P. falciparum, we hypothesized that protein prenylation was one of the essential functions of this pathway. We found that MEP pathway inhibition with fosmidomycin reduces protein prenylation, confirming that de novo isoprenoid biosynthesis produces the isoprenyl substrates for protein prenylation. One important group of prenylated proteins is small GTPases, such as Rab family members, which mediate cellular vesicular trafficking. We have found that Rab5 proteins dramatically mislocalize upon fosmidomycin treatment, consistent with a loss of protein prenylation. Fosmidomycin treatment caused marked defects in food vacuolar morphology and integrity, consistent with a defect in Rab-mediated vesicular trafficking. These results provide insights to the biological functions of isoprenoids in malaria parasites and may assist the rational selection of secondary agents that will be useful in combination therapy with new isoprenoid biosynthesis inhibitors

Food Rescue Services, Barriers, and Recommendations in Santa Clara County

Food Shift's report outlining existing food rescue services, policies, and barriers in Santa Clara County, CA, as well as our suggested steps of action to make food rescue more efficient, effective, and equitable.California's Silicon Valley is one of the wealthiest places in the United States where job growth, income, and venture capital flourish at or near record highs. Despite these positive trends, many people in the region are struggling just to get enough food. In Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties 1 in 4 people and 1 in 3 children are at risk of hunger and food stamp participation in the region hit a 10-year high in 2012. Meanwhile, 40% of all food produced in the US is wasted. The reality of hunger and wasted food is costly to the environment, the economy, and the health of our communities. The costs of uneaten food and empty bellies are often hidden but are significant. Each year hunger costs our nation $130.5 billion in health care for hunger-linked medical issues,$19.2 billion in reduced educational and workplace productivity, and $17.8 billion of charitable contributions to address hunger, totaling to$167.5 billion per year. In California, the cost of hunger was $19.6 billion in 2010. Meanwhile, the US spends$165 billion each year on food that just gets thrown away and then pays $750 million each year for its disposal. Wasted food is a disaster for the environment too as it wastes valuable resources like water and energy and is the third largest greenhouse gas emitter globally behind China and the US

Common mental health diagnoses arising from or coinciding with menopausal transition and prescribing of SSRIs/SNRIs medications and other psychotropic medications

Background: Women with menopausal transition (MT) have an elevated risk of experiencing common mental health diagnoses (CMHD: depression or anxiety). There is no recent data comparing the rate, and treatment, of CMHD between men and women. // Methods: In this population-based study, incidence rates (IR) per 100 person-years-at-risk (PYAR) for men and women ≥45 years registered with an UK primary care practice between 2010 and 2021 were estimated. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) of CMHD were estimated using men as a reference. We measured first prescriptions for psychotropic medications received within 12 months after CMHD. For selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) /selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), we measured the IR of prescribing per 100 PYAR, by 10-year bands. Proportion of SSRIs/SNRIs prescribing was estimated per 100 persons. // Results: Rates of anxiety and depressive disorders were 1.68 and 1.69 per 100 PYAR in women aged 45–54 years-old compared to 0.91 and 1.20 per 100 PYAR in men, with IRR of 1.84 (95 % CI 1.72–1.97) and 1.44 (1.35–1.53) respectively. SSRIs/SNRIs were the most prescribed medication; in 2021, IRs for SSRIs/SNRIs were 13.4 per 100 PYAR in both sexes. In 2021, the proportion of SSRIs/SNRIs prescribing was 50.67 per 100 women and 41.91 per 100 men. // Limitations: MT is assumed based on women's age as menopause onset is rarely recorded in primary care databases. // Conclusions: Women ≥45 years experienced more CMHD compared to men, especially 45–54 years-olds, which coincides with MT. The proportion of SSRIs/SNRIs prescribing was higher in women

Trends in the incidence of dementia in people with hypertension in the UK 2000 to 2021

INTRODUCTION: We investigated trends in the incidence of dementia in UK adults with hypertension. METHODS: Primary care electronic health records from IQVIA Medical Research Data UK, previously known as THIN, were used to identify 2,133,118 adults aged ≥40 years with hypertension over 2000 to 2021. The annual incidence rate and average annual percentage change in recorded dementia diagnoses were estimated and stratified by sex, 10-year age bands, Townsend deprivation quintiles and dementia subtype. RESULTS: The crude incidence rate of dementia in people with hypertension increased from 1.98 (95% confidence internal [CI] 1.89-2.07) per 1000 person-years at risk (PYAR) in 2000 to 5.29 per 1000 PYAR (95% CI 5.07-5.53) in 2021, corresponding to an average annual increase of 4.1% (95% CI 3.3-5.0). Those aged ≥80 years, the most economically deprived (Townsend = 5), and Alzheimer's disease subtype reported the highest incidence rate within their respective categories. DISCUSSION: The annual incidence rate of dementia in the hypertensive population has increased over the last 22 years. HIGHLIGHTS: New dementia diagnosis in the hypertensive population has increased over 22 years.The Alzheimer's disease subtype reported the highest incidence rate in people with hypertension.Difference in dementia incidence between hypertensive females and males has reduced.Difference in dementia incidence among deprivation categories has reduced in recent years

The effects of selenium feed supplements on the oxidative stability indicators of egg yolk during the laying period

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of four types of selenium (Se) feed supplements on the indicators of the oxidative stability of egg yolk. A total of 1,740 Bovans Brown laying hens were divided into 4 experimental and 1 control group. The diets fed to the experimental groups were supplemented with 0.2 mg/kg of Se, provided as sodium selenite, Se-enriched yeast, synthetic L-selenomethionine and hydroxy-analogue of selenomethionine. The highest concentrations of MDA, an indicator of secondary lipid oxidation, were confirmed in the Control Group eggs (P < 0.001). Egg yolks from the Control Group were found to have the highest lightness (P = 0.032), the lowest colour chroma and the lowest proportions of the red and yellow colours (P < 0.001). The highest vitelline membrane strength was measured in eggs from groups fed diets supplemented with organic Se (P < 0.001). No significant differences were found between groups in the total fatty acid content, the content of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids or the n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratios. Our study confirmed the effect of Se feed supplements on the concentration of MDA and the colour indicators of egg yolk and on the vitelline membrane strength

Global Learning for Health Equity: A Literature Review

BACKGROUND: In high income countries struggling with escalating health care costs and persistent lack of equity, there is growing interest in searching for innovative solutions developed outside national borders, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Engaging with global ideas to apply them to local health equity challenges is becoming increasingly recognized as an approach to shift the health equity landscape in the United States (US) in a significant way. No single name or set of practices yet defines the process of identifying LMIC interventions for adaptation; implementing interventions in high-income countries (HIC) settings; or evaluating the implementation of such projects. OBJECTIVES: This paper presents a review of the literature describing the practice of adapting global ideas for use in the US, particularly in the area of health equity. Specifically, the authors sought to examine; (i) the literature that advocates for, or describes, adaption of health-related innovations from LMICs to HICs, both generally and for health equity specifically, and (ii) implementation practices, strategies, and evidence-based outcomes in this field, generally and in the area of health equity specifically. The authors also propose terminology and a definition to describe the practice. METHODS: The literature search included two main concepts: global learning and health equity (using these and related terms). The search consisted of text-words and database-specific terminology (e.g., MeSH, Emtree) using PubMed, Embase (Elsevier), CINAHL (Ebsco), and Scopus in March 2021. The authors also contacted relevant experts to identify grey literature. Identified sources were categorized according to theme to facilitate analysis. In addition, five key interviews with experts engaged with global ideas to promote health equity in the United States were conducted to develop additional data. RESULTS: The literature review yielded over ninety (n = 92) sources relating to the adaptation of global ideas from low resource to higher resource settings to promote health equity (and related concepts). Identified sources range from those providing general commentaries about the value of seeking health-related innovations outside the US border to sources describing global projects implemented in the US, most without implementation or outcome measures. Other identified sources provide frameworks or guidance to help identify and/or implement global ideas in the US, and some describe the role of the World Health Organization and other international consortia in promoting a global approach to solving domestic health equity and related challenges. CONCLUSIONS: The literature review demonstrates that there are resources and commentary describing potential benefits of identifying and adapting novel global ideas to address health equity in the US, but there is a dearth of implementation and evaluation data. Terminology is required to define and frame the field. Additional research, particularly in the area of implementation science and evidence-based frameworks to support the practice of what we define as \u27global learning\u27 for health equity, is necessary to advance the practice