School-based prevention for adolescent Internet addiction: prevention is the key. A systematic literature review

Adolescents’ media use represents a normative need for information, communication, recreation and functionality, yet problematic Internet use has increased. Given the arguably alarming prevalence rates worldwide and the increasingly problematic use of gaming and social media, the need for an integration of prevention efforts appears to be timely. The aim of this systematic literature review is (i) to identify school-based prevention programmes or protocols for Internet Addiction targeting adolescents within the school context and to examine the programmes’ effectiveness, and (ii) to highlight strengths, limitations, and best practices to inform the design of new initiatives, by capitalizing on these studies’ recommendations. The findings of the reviewed studies to date presented mixed outcomes and are in need of further empirical evidence. The current review identified the following needs to be addressed in future designs to: (i) define the clinical status of Internet Addiction more precisely, (ii) use more current psychometrically robust assessment tools for the measurement of effectiveness (based on the most recent empirical developments), (iii) reconsider the main outcome of Internet time reduction as it appears to be problematic, (iv) build methodologically sound evidence-based prevention programmes, (v) focus on skill enhancement and the use of protective and harm-reducing factors, and (vi) include IA as one of the risk behaviours in multi-risk behaviour interventions. These appear to be crucial factors in addressing future research designs and the formulation of new prevention initiatives. Validated findings could then inform promising strategies for IA and gaming prevention in public policy and education

Comparison between emissions from the pyrolysis and combustion of different wastes

A comparison between different emission rates of various pollutants obtained from various wastes is presented. The studied wastes were the following: polyethylene (PE), tyres, sewage sludges, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), cotton textiles, polyester textiles, meat and bone meals (MBMs), varnish wastes, olive oil solid waste (pomace), waste lube oils and paper waste. The decomposition of these wastes was studied in a horizontal laboratory scale reactor under fuel-rich conditions, and the analysis of the pollutants evolved comprised several compounds such as light hydrocarbons, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). From the studied wastes, a general behaviour was deduced regarding the evolution of semi-volatile compounds with the increase of temperature, both in pyrolysis and combustion. The results showed that the emissions of some compounds decreased with increasing oxygen ratio. Compounds with this behaviour were mainly volatile hydrocarbons, which were consumed in presence of oxygen. In addition, compounds with oxidized structure were present a maximum with oxygen ratio. Intermediate compounds with very high resistance to the oxygen under the working conditions increased continuously in concentration when the oxygen ratio increased. With reference to behaviour versus temperature there were compounds whose yields decreased with increasing temperature, such as volatile hydrocarbons and semi-volatile compounds. Also some pollutants are promoted at intermediate temperatures, e.g. light hydrocarbons, semi-volatile compounds, many monoaromatic compounds and many polyaromatic hydrocarbons.Financial support from Generalitat Valenciana (Spain) project GV06/069, and the Spanish MCT research project CTQ2005-05262/PPQ