Combining Internet Monitoring Processes, Packaging and Isotopic Analyses to Determine The Market Structure: Example of Gamma Butyrolactone

The Internet is becoming more and more popular among drug users. The use of websites and forums to obtain illicit drugs and relevant information about the means of consumption is a growing phenomenon mainly for new synthetic drugs. Gamma Butyrolactone (GBL), a chemical precursor of Gamma Hydroxy Butyric acid (GHB), is used as a "club drug" and also in drug facilitated sexual assaults. Its market takes place mainly on the Internet through online websites but the structure of the market remains unknown. This research aims to combine digital, physical and chemical information to help understand the distribution routes and the structure of the GBL market. Based on an Internet monitoring process, thirty-nine websites selling GBL, mainly in the Netherlands, were detected between January 2010 and December 2011. Seventeen websites were categorized into six groups based on digital traces (e.g. IP addresses and contact information). In parallel, twenty-five bulk GBL specimens were purchased from sixteen websites for packaging comparisons and carbon isotopic measurements. Packaging information showed a high correlation with digital data confirming the links previously established whereas chemical information revealed undetected links and provided complementary information. Indeed, while digital and packaging data give relevant information about the retailers, the supply routes and the distribution close to the consumer, the carbon isotopic data provides upstream information about the production level and in particular the synthesis pathways and the chemical precursors. A three-level structured market has been thereby identified with a production level mainly located in China and in Germany, an online distribution level mainly hosted in the Netherlands and the customers who order on the Internet

The effect of the Brexit vote on the variation in race and religious hate crimes in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

This paper examines possible mechanisms behind the spike in racially or religiously-aggravated (RR) offences after the Brexit vote. It adds to the current literature in five significant ways: (1) it provides the first Brexit-related RR hate crime comparison between England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; (2) it reports on results from a national-level panel model that adds to the debate in the literature on whether pro-leave or pro-remain areas saw greater increases hate crimes; (3) it assesses the role of demographic characterises on the variation in hate crime; (4) it compares the effect of the vote with other ‘trigger events’; and (5) it uses social media data to control for variation in hate crime victim and witness reporting

Measurement of hadronic cross section and preliminary results on the pion form factor using the radiative return at DAPHNE

In the fixed energy environment of the $e^{+}e^{-}$ collider DA$\Phi$NE, KLOE can measure the cross section of the process $e^{+}e^{-} \to$ hadrons as a function of the hadronic system energy using the radiative return. At energies below 1 GeV, $e^{+}e^{-} \to \rho \to \pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ is the dominating hadronic process. We report here on the status of the analysis for the e^{+}e^{-} \to \ppg channel, which allows to obtain a preliminary measurement of the pion form factor using an integrated luminosity of $\sim73 pb^{-1}$.Comment: Invited talk at the Seventh International Workshop on Tau Lepton Physics (TAU02-WE07), Santa Cruz, Ca, USA, Sept 2002, 9 pages, LaTeX, 9 eps figure

Effect of weight at weaning on the growth of Tabapuã calves during wet season under grazing.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of live weight (LW) at weaning on the growth of pure Tabapuã calves under grazing during wet season. The experiment was conducted from October 28, 2021 to March 15, 2022, totaling 140 days. Calves were maintained in Urochloa brizantha cv. BRS Paiaguás pastures, receiving protein-energy supplementation of 0.4% of LW (12.0% of crude protein and 67.3% of TDN). The experimental design was completely randomized with three treatments and 14 replicates, totaling 42 calves. The experiment was carried out at the ABCZ experimental farm Orestes Prata Tibery Júnior, Uberaba, MG, Brazil, (lat. 19º 47' 68'' S; long. 47º 58' 50'' W, 788 m asl.). The local climate is semi-humid tropical climate, with mean air temperature of 24.1 °C, annual rainfall of 1.430 mm and relative humidity of 67%. The soil is classified as Dystrophic Red Latosol, Sandy Frank and smooth relief. The experimental area of pasture consisted of 20.3 ha of BRS Paiaguás, divided in 8 paddocks of 2.53 ha. Pastures were grazed at rotational stocking system and the forage allowance was maintained at 6% of the LW with variable stocking rate (SR). Forty-one Tabapuã calves registered at birth as pure of origin (PO), were evaluated as testers, with average age of 12 months and were separated in three weaning weight treatments: 1. Light mean LW 196 kg; 2. Intermediate mean LW 235 kg; and 3. Heavy mean LW 268 kg. Forage samples presented 16.9% of crude protein and 62.3% of TDN, 61.7% of NDF (neutral detergent fiber) and 29% of ADF (acid detergent fiber). Mean SR was 5.7 AU/ha and mean forage mass was 3.723 kg/ha. The average daily live weight gain (ADG) was not affected by the treatment effect (P<0.05). Mean ADG was 0.780+0.104, 0.776+0.104 and 0.781+0.104 kg/head/day for Light, Intermediate and Heavy, respectively. The mean LW gain per area (GA) was 608 kg LW/ha, corresponding to 20.3 @/ha. Although there was no difference in LW gain, the differences in LW remained until the end of the growing period, being 380+43, 427+43 and 462+43 kg for Light, Intermediate and Heavy treatments, respectively. These differences emphasize weaning weight is an important factor for early finishing of Tabapuã beef cattle, reducing time and costs of the livestock cycle

Measurement of the ratio Gamma(K_L -> gamma gamma)/Gamma(K_L -> pi^0 pi^0 pi^0) with the KLOE detector

We have measured the ratio R=Gamma(K_L -> gamma gamma)/ \Gamma(K_L -> 3 pi^0) using the KLOE detector. From a sample of ~ 10^9 phi-mesons produced at DAFNE, the Frascati phi-factory, we select ~ 1.6 10^8 K_L-mesons tagged by observing K_S -> pi^+ pi^- following the reaction e^+ e^- -> phi -> K_L K_S. From this sample we select 27,375 K_L -> gamma gamma events and obtain R = (2.79 \pm 0.02_{stat} \pm 0.02_{syst}) \times 10^{-3}. Using the world average value for BR(K_{L} -> 3 pi^0), we obtain BR(K_{L} -> gamma gamma) = (5.89 \pm 0.07 \pm 0.08) \times 10^{-4} where the second error is due to the uncertainty on the 3 pi^0 branching fraction.Comment: 14 page

Uso del aparato bucal “PMpositioner” en el tratamiento del ronquido y la apnea obstructiva del sueño.

La elección de un aparato bucal apropiado para lograr los mejores resultados en el tratamiento de la apnea obstructiva del sueño es importante.El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto de un aparato bucal específico, el PMPositioner, para el tratamiento del ronquido y la apnea obstructiva del sueño leve, a través de polisomnografía y la Escala de Epworth del sueño, después de seis meses de uso del mencionado aparato. Se incluyeron en el estudio 17 pacientes divididos en dos grupos: un grupo de roncadores (n=7) y otro grupo (n=10) con apnea obstructiva leve. Los resultados fueron significativos para el segundo grupo, revelando una disminución en el índice de apneahipoapnea de 7,4 ± 5,0 a 3,0 ± 2,5 (p <0,05), un aumento de la saturación de oxígeno en un rango de 88,0 ± 6,0 a 90,0 ± 2,8 (p <0,05), aumento del sueño REM de 16,0±4,0 a 19±6,0 y una mejora de la somnolencia en la Escala Epworth de 12,5±5,4 a 7,4±2,4. Se constató una disminución en los ronquidos y los síntomas subjetivos. PMPositioner, fue efectivo en el tratamiento de los ronquidos y la apnea obstructiva leve, la reducción de la somnolencia y de otros síntomas

Hate crimes against trans people: assessing emotions, behaviors and attitudes towards criminal justice agencies

Based on a survey of 593 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the United Kingdom, this study shows that direct anti-LGBT hate crimes (measured by direct experiences of victimization) and indirect anti-LGBT hate crimes (measured by personally knowing other victims of hate crime) are highly prolific and frequent experiences for LGBT people. Our findings show that trans people are particularly susceptible to hate crimes, both in terms of prevalence and frequency. This article additionally highlights the negative emotional and (intended) behavioral reactions that were correlated with an imagined hate crime scenario, showing that trans people are more likely to experience heightened levels of threat, vulnerability, and anxiety compared with non-trans LGB people. The study found that trans people are also more likely to feel unsupported by family, friends, and society for being LGBT, which was correlated with the frequency of direct (verbal) abuse they had previously endured. The final part of this study explores trans people’s confidence levels in the Government, the police, and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in relation to addressing hate crime. In general, trans people felt that the police are not effective at policing anti-LGBT hate crime, and they are not respectful toward them as victims; this was especially true where individuals had previous contact with the police. Respondents were also less confident in the CPS to prosecute anti-LGBT hate crimes, though the level of confidence was slightly higher when respondents had direct experience with the CPS. The empirical evidence presented here supports the assertion that all LGBT people, but particularly trans individuals, continue to be denied equal participation in society due to individual, social, and structural experiences of prejudice. The article concludes by arguing for a renewed policy focus that must address this issue as a public health problem

Sleep study, respiratory mechanics, chemosensitive response and quality of life in morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Obesity is a major public health problem in both developed and developing countries alike and leads to a series of changes in respiratory physiology. There is a strong correlation between obesity and cardiopulmonary sleep disorders. Weight loss among such patients leads to a reduction in these alterations in respiratory physiology, but clinical treatment is not effective for a long period of time. Thus, bariatric surgery is a viable option.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The present study involves patients with morbid obesity (BMI of 40 kg/m²or 35 kg/m²to 39.9 kg/m²with comorbidities), candidates for bariatric surgery, screened at the Santa Casa de Misericórdia Hospital in the city of Sao Paulo (Brazil). The inclusion criteria are grade III morbid obesity, an indication for bariatric surgery, agreement to participate in the study and a signed term of informed consent. The exclusion criteria are BMI above 55 kg/m², clinically significant or unstable mental health concerns, an unrealistic postoperative target weight and/or unrealistic expectations of surgical treatment. Bariatric surgery candidates who meet the inclusion criteria will be referred to Santa Casa de Misericórdia Hospital and will be reviewed again 30, 90 and 360 days following surgery. Data collection will involve patient records, personal data collection, objective assessment of HR, BP, neck circumference, chest and abdomen, collection and analysis of clinical preoperative findings, polysomnography, pulmonary function test and a questionnaire on sleepiness.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This paper describes a randomised controlled trial of morbidly obese patients. Polysomnography, respiratory mechanics, chemosensitive response and quality of life will be assessed in patients undergoing or not undergoing bariatric surgery.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>The protocol for this study is registered with the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials - ReBEC (RBR-9k9hhv).</p