Routes for Specialization in Psychology throughout Europe

The specialization of psychology helps to delineate fields in the practice of psychology. When establishing professional qualification criteria, associations seek to promote, in their members, scientific skills and knowledge considered fundamental for the practice of psychology in a given area. The present study reports on a survey of the member associations of the European Federation of Psychologists Associations (EFPA). The survey inquired about: (a) the initial requisites for entering the profession and (b) additional requisites for specialization. Of the 37 associations contacted, 14 replied and we retrieved the information of 12 associations from their official websites. The results indicate that specialization is widespread throughout Europe and is independent of the regulation of the profession. In almost half of the countries considered, the specialization process is completed in universities—it is frequently associated with the postgraduate level of the EuroPsy—and relies on conventional learning methods. The number of existing specialties in psychology is very high, but the traditional areas (clinical and health, education, and social/organizational) are more prevalent. The results are discussed in light of the advantages, but also the challenges posed by the specialization in psychology. A continuous model of the specialization of psychology is proposed with two stages: broad and advanced psychology area

Sexual and gender-based violence in the European asylum and reception sector: a perpetuum mobile?

Background: Refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants are at risk of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and subsequent ill-health in Europe; yet, European minimum reception standards do not address SGBV. Hence, this paper explores the nature of SGBV occurring in this sector and discusses determinants for ‘Desirable Prevention’. Methods: Applying community-based participatory research, we conducted an SGBV knowledge, attitude and practice survey with residents and professionals in eight European countries. We conducted logistic regression using mixed models to analyse the data in R. Results: Of the 562 respondents, 58.3% reported cases of direct (23.3%) or peer (76.6%) victimization. Our results indicate that when men were involved, it most likely concerned sexual perpetration (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 4.09, confidence interval [CI]: 1.2; 13.89) and physical victimization (aOR: 2.57, CI: 1.65; 4), compared with females, who then rather perpetrated emotional violence (aOR: 1.85, CI: 1.08; 3.13) and underwent sexual victimization (aOR: 7.14, CI: 3.33; 16.67). Compared with others, asylum seekers appeared more likely to perpetrate physical (aOR 7.14, CI: 4; 12.5) and endure socio-economic violence (aOR: 10, CI: 1.37; 100), whereas professionals rather bore emotional (aOR: 2.01, CI: 0.98; 4.12) and perpetrated socio-economic violence (aOR: 25.91, CI: 13.41; 50.07). When group perpetration (aOR: 2.13, CI: 1.27; 3.58) or victimization (aOR: 1.84, CI: 1.1; 3.06) occurred, it most likely concerned socio-economic violence. Conclusion: Within the European asylum reception sector, residents and professionals of both sexes experience SGBV victimization and perpetration. Given the lack of prevention policies, our findings call for urgent Desirable Prevention programmes addressing determinants socio-ecologically

Intravesical Ty21a treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer induces immune responses that correlate with safety and may be associated to therapy potential

Background Standard of care treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with intravesical Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG) is associated with side effects, disease recurrence/progression and supply shortages. We recently showed in a phase I trial (NCT03421236) that intravesical instillation in patients with NMIBC with the maximal tolerated dose of Ty21a/Vivotif, the oral vaccine against typhoid fever, might have a better safety profile. In the present report, we assessed the immunogenicity of intravesical Ty21a in patients of the clinical trial that had received the maximal tolerated dose and compared it with data obtained in patients that had received standard BCG. Methods Urinary cytokines and immune cells of patients with NMIBC treated with intravesical instillations of Ty21a (n=13, groups A and F in NCT03421236) or with standard BCG in a concomitant observational study (n=12, UROV1) were determined by Luminex and flow cytometry, respectively. Serum anti-lipopolysaccharide Typhi antibodies and circulating Ty21a-specific T-cell responses were also determined in the Ty21a patients. Multiple comparisons of different paired variables were performed with a mixed-effect analysis, followed by Sidak post-test. Single comparisons were performed with a paired or an unpaired Student’s t-test. Results As compared with BCG, Ty21a induced lower levels of inflammatory urinary cytokines, which correlated to the milder adverse events (AEs) observed in Ty21a patients. However, both Ty21a and BCG induced a Th1 tumor environment. Peripheral Ty21a-specific T-cell responses and/or antibodies were observed in most Ty21a patients, pointing the bladder as an efficient local immune inductive site. Besides, Ty21a-mediated stimulation of unconventional Vδ2 T cells was also observed, which turned out more efficient than BCG. Finally, few Ty21a instillations were sufficient for increasing urinary infiltration of dendritic cells and T cells, which were previously associated with therapeutic efficacy in the orthotopic mouse model of NMIBC. Conclusions Ty21a immunotherapy of patient with NMIBC is promising with fewer inflammatory cytokines and mild AE, but induction of immune responses with possible antitumor potentials. Future phase II clinical trials are necessary to explore possible efficacy of intravesical Ty21a

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Refugees, Asylum Seekers & Undocumented Migrants

In 2006 the European Refugee Fund undertook a call for proposals, which resulted in the project presented in this report. The 18-month project started on 1 August 2007 and ran until 31 January 2009. The general aim of the project was to improve the SRH of refugees and asylum seekers in the EU, by setting up a network for the promotion of the SRH&R of refugees and asylum seekers in Europe and beyond

Influence of growth temperature and carrier flux on the structure and transport properties of highly oriented CrO2 on Al2O3 (0001)

In this work we report on the structure and magnetic and electrical transport properties of CrO2 films deposited onto (0001) sapphire by atmospheric pressure (AP)CVD from a CrO3 precursor. Films are grown within a broad range of deposition temperatures, from 320 to 410 degrees C, and oxygen carrier gas flow rates of 50-500 seem, showing that it is viable to grow highly oriented a-axis CrO2 films at temperatures as low as 330 degrees C i.e., 60-70 degrees C lower than is reported in published data for the same chemical system. Depending on the experimental conditions, growth kinetic regimes dominated either by surface reaction or by mass-transport mechanisms are identified. The growth of a Cr2O3 interfacial layer as an intrinsic feature of the deposition process is studied and discussed. Films synthesized at 330 degrees C keep the same high quality magnetic and transport properties as those deposited at higher temperatures

More Stable Productivity of Semi Natural Grasslands than Sown Pastures in a Seasonally Dry Climate

In the Neotropics the predominant pathway to intensify productivity is generally thought to be to convert grasslands to sown pastures, mostly in monoculture. This article examines how above-ground net primary productivity (ANPP) in semi-natural grasslands and sown pastures in Central America respond to rainfall by: (i) assessing the relationships between ANPP and accumulated rainfall and indices of rainfall distribution, (ii) evaluating the variability of ANPP between and within seasons, and (iii) estimating the temporal stability of ANPP. We conducted sequential biomass harvests during 12 periods of 22 days and related those to rainfall. There were significant relationships between ANPP and cumulative rainfall in 22-day periods for both vegetation types and a model including a linear and quadratic term explained 74% of the variation in the data. There was also a significant correlation between ANPP and the number of rainfall events for both vegetation types. Sown pastures had higher ANPP increments per unit rainfall and higher ANPP at the peak of the rainy season than semi-natural grasslands. In contrast, semi-natural grasslands showed higher ANPP early in the dry season. The temporal stability of ANPP was higher in semi-natural grasslands than in the sown pastures in the dry season and over a whole annual cycle. Our results reveal that, contrary to conventional thinking amongst pasture scientists, there appears to be no increase in ANPP arising from replacing semi-natural grasslands with sown pastures under prevailing pasture management practices in seasonally dry climates, while the temporal distribution of ANPP is more even in semi-natural grasslands. Neither sown pastures nor semi-natural grasslands are productive towards the end of the dry season, indicating the potential importance of the widespread practice of retaining tree cover in pastures

Chronic airflow obstruction and ambient particulate air pollution

Smoking is the most well-established cause of chronic airflow obstruction (CAO) but particulate air pollution and poverty have also been implicated. We regressed sex-specific prevalence of CAO from 41 Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study sites against smoking prevalence from the same study, the gross national income per capita and the local annual mean level of ambient particulate matter (PM2.5) using negative binomial regression. The prevalence of CAO was not independently associated with PM2.5 but was strongly associated with smoking and was also associated with poverty. Strengthening tobacco control and improved understanding of the link between CAO and poverty should be prioritised