Evaluating the Impact of Florida's "Stand Your Ground" Self-defense Law on Homicide and Suicide by Firearm: An Interrupted Time Series Study.

: In 2005, Florida amended its self-defense laws to provide legal immunity to individuals using lethal force in self-defense. The enactment of &quot;stand your ground&quot; laws in the United States has been controversial and their effect on rates of homicide and homicide by firearm is uncertain. : To estimate the impact of Florida's stand your ground law on rates of homicide and homicide by firearm. : Using an interrupted time series design, we analyzed monthly rates of homicide and homicide by firearm in Florida between 1999 and 2014. Data were collected from the Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) web portal at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We used seasonally adjusted segmented Poisson regression models to assess whether the onset of the law was associated with changes in the underlying trends for homicide and homicide by firearm in Florida. We also assessed the association using comparison states without stand your ground laws (New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Virginia) and control outcomes (all suicides and suicides by firearm in Florida). October 1, 2005, the effective date of the law, was used to define homicides before and after the change. : Monthly rates of homicide, firearm-related homicide, suicide, and suicide by firearm in Florida and the 4 comparison states. : Prior to the stand your ground law, the mean monthly homicide rate in Florida was 0.49 deaths per 100 000 (mean monthly count, 81.93), and the rate of homicide by firearm was 0.29 deaths per 100 000 (mean monthly count, 49.06). Both rates had an underlying trend of 0.1% decrease per month. After accounting for underlying trends, these results estimate that after the law took effect there was an abrupt and sustained increase in the monthly homicide rate of 24.4% (relative risk [RR], 1.24; 95%CI, 1.16-1.33) and in the rate of homicide by firearm of 31.6% (RR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.21-1.44). No evidence of change was found in the analyses of comparison states for either homicide (RR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.98-1.13) or homicide by firearm (RR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.99-1.17). Furthermore, no changes were observed in control outcomes such as suicide (RR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.94-1.05) and suicide by firearm (RR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.91-1.06) in Florida between 2005 and 2014. : The implementation of Florida's stand your ground self-defense law was associated with a significant increase in homicides and homicides by firearm but no change in rates of suicide or suicide by firearm.<br/

Molecular marker analysis of Lr34 in Canada Western Red Spring wheat cultivars

Trabalho final de mestrado integrado em Medicina (Medicina Interna-Nutrição Clínica), apresentado à Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de CoimbraO Carcinoma Colorretal é uma neoplasia frequente, particularmente nos Países Ocidentais, tendo-se observado um aumento na sua incidência em Portugal nos últimos 30 anos. Pensa-se que para este aumento tenha contribuído decisivamente a progressiva mudança do estilo de vida, particularmente no que diz respeito à alimentação e atividade física, tendencialmente reduzida. Vários estudos sugerem uma relação direta entre a alimentação e o CCR, ditando o possível papel da alimentação como fator de risco ou fator protetor de CCR. A carne vermelha e processada, bem como o consumo de álcool, estão frequentemente associados ao aumento de risco de CCR. Por outro lado, frutos, vegetais, outros alimentos ricos em fibras e peixe, associam-se a um risco diminuído de CCR. Os mecanismos subjacentes à alimentação não são ainda totalmente conhecidos. Até ao momento foram descritas funções essenciais dos componentes dietéticos na inibição ou progressão da inflamação do cólon, evento fundamental na carcinogénese colorretal e transversal a todas as situações de CCR. Objetivos: Comprovar a relação entre a alimentação e o risco de CCR; identificar quais os alimentos que estão associados a um aumento ou à diminuição do risco da doença; identificar os mecanismos subjacentes ao efeito potenciador ou protetor que os alimentos conferem; identificar através dos quais os alimentos interferem na carcinogénese colorretal; definir quais as estratégias necessárias para otimizar a prevenção primária desta doença. Métodos: Foi efetuada uma revisão pormenorizada com base na literatura recente e disponível na base de dados PubMed e B-on, referente ao possível papel da alimentação no desenvolvimento de Carcinoma Colorretal e os mecanismos pelos quais exerce a sua ação. Conclusões: os resultados dos estudos analisados sugerem que o CCR pode em grande parte percentagem de casos ser prevenido através do recurso à adoção de uma alimentação e estilo de vida saudáveis. As carnes vermelhas e processadas estão associadas a um aumento do risco desenvolver Carcinoma Colorretal, principalmente devido à produção de aminas heterocíclicas, devendo o seu consumo ser reduzido. or outro lado, o peixe produz um efeito oposto, exercendo um efeito protetor, principalmente através da diminuição da produção de mediadores pró-inflamatórios. Também os frutos e vegetais se associam a um risco menor de desenvolver esta neoplasia, devendo o seu consumo ser elevado. As propriedades quimiopreventivas destes alimentos devem-se, sobretudo, à inibição da inflamação no cólon, e também a mecanismos antioxidantes, pró-apoptóticos e de paragem do ciclo celular.Introduction: Colorectal carcinoma is a tumor with high incidence rate, particularly in Western countries, having been noticed an increase in incidence in Portugal in the past 30 years. It is widely accepted that progressive changes in lifestyle, regarding diet and reduced physical activity has decisively contributed to this increase. Several studies suggest a direct relationship between diet and CRC, dictating the possible role of diet as a risk factor or protective factor for CRC. Red and processed meat and alcohol consumption are often associated to increased risk of CRC. On the other hand, fruit, vegetables, other fiber rich foods and fish are associated to decreased risk of CRC. The underlying mechanisms of diet are not yet fully known. Up until now the essential functions of dietary components have been described as to inhibiting or helping to progress inflammations of the colon, the key event in colorectal carcinogenesis and transversal to all situations of CRC. Objectives: Demonstrate the relationship between diet and the risk of Colorectal Carcinoma; identify which food is associated with an increased or decreased risk of disease; identify the mechanisms of diet underlying the potentiating effect; determine necessary strategies to optimize the primary prevention of this disease. Methods: A detailed review was performed, based on the literature available on CRC and the mechanisms by which exerts its action. Conclusions: The results of the studies reviewed suggest that the CCR can be largely prevented by adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle. Red and processed meat are associated with increased risk of CRC, mainly due to the production of heterocyclic amines and its consumption should be reduced. On the other hand, fish produces an opposite effect, exerting a protective effect, mainly by decreasing the production of pro-inflammatory mediators. Fruit and vegetables are also associated with decreased risk of developing the disease, and its consumption should be increased. The chemopreventive properties of these foods are due mainly to the inhibition of colon inflammation, as well as antioxidant, pro-apoptotic and cell cycle arrest mechanisms

Effect of growth temperature and V/III-ratio on the surface morphology of MOVPE-grown cubic zincblende GaN

The influence of growth temperature and V/III-ratio on the surface morphology of (001) cubic zincblende GaN epilayers during metal organic vapour phase epitaxy growth has been investigated using atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The zincblende phase purity as determined by X-ray diffraction was found to be above 98% for most GaN epilayers studied. As the growth temperature was increased from 850 °C to 910 °C and as the V/III-ratio was separately increased from 38 to 300, surface features were found to be elongated in the [1-10] direction, and the ratio of the length to width of such surface features was found to increase. Faceting was observed at V/III-ratios below 38 and above 300, which in the latter case was accompanied by a reduction of the zincblende phase purity. An explanation for these morphological trends is proposed based on effects such as the reduced symmetry of the top monolayer of the (001)-oriented zincblende GaN lattice, diffusion of Ga and N adatoms on such a surface, and the relative energies of the crystal facets.We would like to thank Innovate UK for the financial support within the Energy Catalyst Round 2 - Early Stage Feasibility scheme (Ref. 132135) and Energy Catalyst Round 4 - Mid Stage Feasibility scheme (Ref. 102766). We acknowledge the support of EPSRC through grant no. EP/M010589/1 and grant no. EP/R01146X/1. DJW would like to thank the support of EPSRC through grant no. EP/N01202X/1

Nanomechanics of graphene oxide-bacteriophage based self-assembled porous composites.

Graphene oxide, integrated with the filamentous bacteriophage M13, forms a 3D large-scale multifunctional porous structure by self-assembly, with considerable potential for applications. We performed Raman spectroscopy under pressure on this porous composite to understand its fundamental mechanics. The results show that at low applied pressure, the [Formula: see text] bonds of graphene oxide stiffen very little with increasing pressure, suggesting a complicated behaviour of water intercalated between the graphene layers. The key message of this paper is that water in a confined space can have a significant impact on the nanostructure that hosts it. We introduced carbon nanotubes during the self-assembly of graphene oxide and M13, and a similar porous macro-structure was observed. However, in the presence of carbon nanotubes, pressure is transmitted to the [Formula: see text] bonds of graphene oxide straightforwardly as in graphite. The electrical conductivity of the composite containing carbon nanotubes is improved by about 30 times at a bias voltage of 10 V. This observation suggests that the porous structure has potential in applications where good electrical conductivity is desired, such as sensors and batteries

Vertical leakage mechanism in GaN on Si high electron mobility transistor buffer layers

Control of leakage currents in the buffer layers of GaN based transistors on Si substrates is vital for the demonstration of high performance devices. Here, we show that the growth conditions during the metal organic chemical vapour deposition growth of the graded AlGaN strain relief layers (SRLs) can significantly influence the vertical leakage. Using scanning capacitance microscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy, we investigate the origins of leakage paths and show that they result from the preferential incorporation of oxygen impurities on the side wall facets of the inverted hexagonal pyramidal pits which can occur during the growth of the graded AlGaN SRL. We also show that when 2D growth of the AlGaN SRL is maintained a significant increase in the breakdown voltage can be achieved even in much thinner buffer layer structures. These results demonstrate the importance of controlling the morphology of the high electron mobility transistor buffer layer as even at a very low density the leakage paths identified would provide leakage paths in large area devices.This work was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council under Grant Code Nos. EP/K014471/1 and EP/N01202X/1 and the European Research Council under the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme Grant Agreement No. 279361 (MACONS)

Eta Carinae and the Luminous Blue Variables

We evaluate the place of Eta Carinae amongst the class of luminous blue variables (LBVs) and show that the LBV phenomenon is not restricted to extremely luminous objects like Eta Car, but extends luminosities as low as log(L/Lsun) = 5.4 - corresponding to initial masses ~25 Msun, and final masses as low as ~10-15 Msun. We present a census of S Doradus variability, and discuss basic LBV properties, their mass-loss behaviour, and whether at maximum light they form pseudo-photospheres. We argue that those objects that exhibit giant Eta Car-type eruptions are most likely related to the more common type of S Doradus variability. Alternative atmospheric models as well as sub-photospheric models for the instability are presented, but the true nature of the LBV phenomenon remains as yet elusive. We end with a discussion on the evolutionary status of LBVs - highlighting recent indications that some LBVs may be in a direct pre-supernova state, in contradiction to the standard paradigm for massive star evolution.Comment: 27 pages, 6 figures, Review Chapter in "Eta Carinae and the supernova imposters" (eds R. Humphreys and K. Davidson) new version submitted to Springe

Light echoes reveal an unexpectedly cool Eta Carinae during its 19th-century Great Eruption

Eta Carinae (Eta Car) is one of the most massive binary stars in the Milky Way. It became the second-brightest star in the sky during its mid-19th century "Great Eruption," but then faded from view (with only naked-eye estimates of brightness). Its eruption is unique among known astronomical transients in that it exceeded the Eddington luminosity limit for 10 years. Because it is only 2.3 kpc away, spatially resolved studies of the nebula have constrained the ejected mass and velocity, indicating that in its 19th century eruption, Eta Car ejected more than 10 M_solar in an event that had 10% of the energy of a typical core-collapse supernova without destroying the star. Here we report the discovery of light echoes of Eta Carinae which appear to be from the 1838-1858 Great Eruption. Spectra of these light echoes show only absorption lines, which are blueshifted by -210 km/s, in good agreement with predicted expansion speeds. The light-echo spectra correlate best with those of G2-G5 supergiant spectra, which have effective temperatures of ~5000 K. In contrast to the class of extragalactic outbursts assumed to be analogs of Eta Car's Great Eruption, the effective temperature of its outburst is significantly cooler than allowed by standard opaque wind models. This indicates that other physical mechanisms like an energetic blast wave may have triggered and influenced the eruption.Comment: Accepted for publication by Nature; 4 pages, 4 figures, SI: 6 pages, 3 figures, 5 table