Women's perceptions of effects of war on intimate partner violence and gender roles in two post-conflict West African Countries: Consequences and unexpected opportunities

Background The aim of this paper is to explore women's perceptions of the causes of intimate partner violence (IPV) in West Africa, and the ways in which they understand these causes to interact with the experiences of war. Methods The study was conducted in two locations in Sierra Leone and two in Liberia, using focus group discussions (N groups =14) and individual interviews (N-=-20). Results Women perceive the causes of IPV to be linked with other difficulties faced by women in these settings, including their financial dependence on men, traditional gender expectations and social changes that took place during and after the wars in those countries. According to respondents, the wars increased the use of violence by some men, as violence became for them a normal way of responding to frustrations and challenges. However, the war also resulted in women becoming economically active, which was said by some to have decreased IPV, as the pressure on men to provide for their families reduced. Economic independence, together with services provided by NGOs, also gave women the option of leaving a violent relationship. Conclusions IPV was found to be a significant problem for women in Sierra Leone and Liberia. The interactions between war experiences and financial and cultural issues are multi-faceted and not uniformly positive or negative.sch_iih8 [12]pub3561pu

Interlaboratory Comparison of Extractable Organofluorine Measurements in Groundwater and Eel (Anguilla rostrata): Recommendations for Methods Standardization

Research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) frequently incorporates organofluorine measurements, particularly because they could support a class-based approach to regulation. However, standardized methods for organofluorine analysis in a broad suite of matrices are currently unavailable, including a method for extractable organofluorine (EOF) measured using combustion ion chromatography (CIC). Here, we report the results of an international interlaboratory comparison. Seven laboratories representing academia, government, and the private sector measured paired EOF and PFAS concentrations in groundwater and eel (Anguilla rostrata) from a site contaminated by aqueous film-forming foam. Among all laboratories, targeted PFAS could not explain all EOF in groundwater but accounted for most EOF in eel. EOF results from all laboratories for at least one replicate extract fell within one standard deviation of the interlaboratory mean for groundwater and five out of seven laboratories for eel. PFAS spike mixture recoveries for EOF measurements in groundwater and eel were close to the criterion (±30%) for standardized targeted PFAS methods. Instrumental operation of the CIC such as replicate sample injections was a major source of measurement uncertainty. Blank contamination and incomplete inorganic fluorine removal may introduce additional uncertainties. To elucidate the presence of unknown organofluorine using paired EOF and PFAS measurements, we recommend that analysts carefully consider confounding methodological uncertainties such as differences in precision between measurements, data processing steps such as blank subtraction and replicate analyses, and the relative recoveries of PFAS and other fluorine compounds.publishedVersio

Proceedings of the 3rd Biennial Conference of the Society for Implementation Research Collaboration (SIRC) 2015: advancing efficient methodologies through community partnerships and team science

It is well documented that the majority of adults, children and families in need of evidence-based behavioral health interventionsi do not receive them [1, 2] and that few robust empirically supported methods for implementing evidence-based practices (EBPs) exist. The Society for Implementation Research Collaboration (SIRC) represents a burgeoning effort to advance the innovation and rigor of implementation research and is uniquely focused on bringing together researchers and stakeholders committed to evaluating the implementation of complex evidence-based behavioral health interventions. Through its diverse activities and membership, SIRC aims to foster the promise of implementation research to better serve the behavioral health needs of the population by identifying rigorous, relevant, and efficient strategies that successfully transfer scientific evidence to clinical knowledge for use in real world settings [3]. SIRC began as a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded conference series in 2010 (previously titled the “Seattle Implementation Research Conference”; $150,000 USD for 3 conferences in 2011, 2013, and 2015) with the recognition that there were multiple researchers and stakeholdersi working in parallel on innovative implementation science projects in behavioral health, but that formal channels for communicating and collaborating with one another were relatively unavailable. There was a significant need for a forum within which implementation researchers and stakeholders could learn from one another, refine approaches to science and practice, and develop an implementation research agenda using common measures, methods, and research principles to improve both the frequency and quality with which behavioral health treatment implementation is evaluated. SIRC’s membership growth is a testament to this identified need with more than 1000 members from 2011 to the present.ii SIRC’s primary objectives are to: (1) foster communication and collaboration across diverse groups, including implementation researchers, intermediariesi, as well as community stakeholders (SIRC uses the term “EBP champions” for these groups) – and to do so across multiple career levels (e.g., students, early career faculty, established investigators); and (2) enhance and disseminate rigorous measures and methodologies for implementing EBPs and evaluating EBP implementation efforts. These objectives are well aligned with Glasgow and colleagues’ [4] five core tenets deemed critical for advancing implementation science: collaboration, efficiency and speed, rigor and relevance, improved capacity, and cumulative knowledge. SIRC advances these objectives and tenets through in-person conferences, which bring together multidisciplinary implementation researchers and those implementing evidence-based behavioral health interventions in the community to share their work and create professional connections and collaborations

Olfactory environmental enrichment of felids and the potential uses of conspecific odours : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Zoology at Massey University

The potential of olfactory stimulation as a tool for the environmental enrichment of captive felids was investigated at Orana Wildlife Park in Christchurch. Six cheetah (Acyninox jubatus), two serval (Felis serval) and one tiger (Panthera tigris) were given various scents: male domestic cat urine; a synthetic analogue of domestic cat facial pheromone; mouse odour; peppermint and catnip, in order to determine whether scent as an environmental enrichment can effectively modify felid behaviour. All of the scents elicited a response that was significantly different to the control presentation. The synthetic feline facial pheromone elicited the greatest response, particularly from the females in the study. However, despite these results, the interest shown in the scents was limited, and due to the small sample size and other constrictions that arise from working with a zoo, the effectiveness of scent as a tool for environmental enrichment remains inconclusive and further research is needed. The further possibilities of scent as an environmental technique were investigated at Massey University's Feline Nutrition Unit. Anoestrous and oestrous female domestic cats (Felis catus) were presented the urine collected form four entire male domestic cats. The social dominance ranking between the four males and the additive relationship between the males and the females in the study was established. Females were presented with different combinations of the male urine in an observation room and their behaviour recorded. The latency to approach each urine sample, the duration of sniffing, the number of flehmen responses and the number of visits to each sample were recorded as measures female interest in the urine samples. The overall level of responsiveness appears to be quite similar during anoestrous and oestrous. During anoestrous females will investigate urine samples, however they do not appear to discriminate between the urine of different males. In oestrous the female response appears to be much more selective. A strong effect of relatedness was found for oestrous females investigating the urine of a related male. The higher the degree of relatedness to the male the lower the interest shown by the oestrous female. The dominant male also appeared to be preferred overall, and the most subordinate male preferred least overall. The dominance hierarchy could not be replicated in this study and any effect shown for dominance rank may potentially be the result of some other characteristic unique to that male. In terms of environmental enrichment potential, the time spent investigating the urine patches was limited, however the fact that oestrous females show different levels of interest in response to the urine of different males suggests that conspecific urine holds information of interest and may be useful as an enrichment tool

'I don't need an eye for an eye': Women's responses to intimate partner violence in Sierra Leone and Liberia

This paper explores the possibilities for agency in intimate partner violence (IPV) situations from the perspective of women in Sierra Leone and Liberia using focus group discussions (N groups = 14, N participants = 110) and individual interviews (N = 20). Findings identify multiple interrelated factors influencing the decisionmaking of women experiencing IPV. At the individual level, emotional factors and women's knowledge of their rights and options influence their decision-making. At the relational level, the role of neighbours, family and friends is crucial, both for emotional support and practical assistance. At the community level, more formal structures play a role, such as chiefs and women's groups, though their effectiveness varies. At the structural level are barriers to effective responses, including a poorly functioning criminal justice system and a social system in which children often stay with fathers following separation or divorce. Strong cultural beliefs operate to keep women in abusive relationships. We identify implications for prevention and response services and make practice recommendations. Since the desire of most women experiencing IPV was to live in peace with their husbands, interventions should respect women's priorities by focusing more on prevention and interventions to end the violence, rather than solely assisting women to leave violent relationships.sch_iih11pub3966pub1-

Study of a Smith-Purcell Radiation-Based Longitudinal Profile Monitor at the CLIO Free Electron Laser

International audienceWe report on measurements of Coherent Smith-Purcell radiation at the CLIO Free Electron Laser. Smith-Purcell radiation is emitted when a grating is brought close from a bunch of relativistic particles. When the bunch is sufficiently short coherent radiation is emitted. This coherent radiation encodes the longitudinal form factor of the bunch and can therefore be used as a longitudinal profile monitor. With its short pulses and high charge the 45 MeV Linac of CLIO is a good location to test advanced longitudinal profile diag- nostics. The results will be compared with measurements using the RF dephasing. induced energy dispersion

Synchronization of a Photo-Injector and a High Power Laser With Independent Clocks

International audienceThe plasma acceleration project ESCULAP (ElectronS CoUrts pour L'Acc\'el\'eration Plasma) aims at studying electrons injection into a laser plasma accelerator. This requires the injection of short electron bunches generated by the photo injector PHIL (Photo injector at LAL) into a plasma wave by the high power femtosecond Laser LASERIX. As a first step we have studied how to synchronize PHIL and LASERIX. As these two machines had not been initially designed to work together, simple synchronization solutions were not available. We detail here the synchronisation scheme that we have tested and the experimental results obtained

Depth dose measurements in water for 11C and 10C beams with therapy relevant energies

Owing to the favorable depth-dose distribution and the radiobiological properties of heavy ion radiation, ion beam therapy shows an improved success/toxicity ratio compared to conventional radiotherapy. The sharp dose gradients and very high doses in the Bragg peak region, which represent the larger physical advantage of ion beam therapy, make it also extremely sensitive to range uncertainties. The use of beta(+) - radioactive ion beams would be ideal for simultaneous treatment and accurate online range monitoring through PET imaging. Since all the unfragmented primary ions are potentially contributing to the PET signal, these beams offer an improved image quality while preserving the physical and radiobiological advantages of the stable counterparts. The challenging production of radioactive ion beams and the difficulties in reaching high intensities, have discouraged their clinical application. In this context, the project Biomedical Applications of Radioactive ion Beams (BARB) started at GSI (Helmholtzzentrum fur Schwerionenforschung GmbH) with the main goal to assess the technical feasibility and investigate possible advantages of radioactive ion beams on the pre-clinical level. During the first experimental campaign C-11 and C-10 beams were produced and isotopically separated with the FRagment Separator (FRS) at GSI. The beta(+)-radioactive ion beams were produced with a beam purity of 99% for all the beam investigated (except one case where it was 94%) and intensities potentially sufficient to treat a small animal tumors within few minutes of irradiation time, similar to 10(6) particle per spill for the C-10 and similar to 10(7) particle per spill for the C-11 beam, respectively. The impact of different ion optical parameters on the depth dose distribution was studied with a precision water column system. In this work, the measured depth dose distributions are presented together with results from Monte Carlo simulations using the FLUKA software