Book review: paper tiger: law, bureaucracy and the developmental state in Himalayan India by Nayanika Mathur

Following eighteen months of intensive fieldwork, in Paper Tiger: Law, Bureaucracy and the Developmental State in Himalayan India author Nayanika Mathur details the everyday absurdities of bureaucracy in the Himalayan borderlands, showing the frequent gulf between ‘real life’ and the abstract workings of the law. Elisabetta Iob highly recommends this accessible, witty and vividly written book as an outstanding and essential example of ethnographic research

Prediction of ductile fracture in anisotropic steels for pipeline applications

Large diameter steel pipelines for gas transportation may experience extreme overloads due to external actions such as soil sliding, faults movements, third part interactions. In these scenarios the material undergoes severe plastic strains which locally may reach the fracture limits. Due to the manufacturing process, the steels used in such applications have an anisotropic behavior both for plasticity and fracture. In this paper two steel grades have been characterized in view of anisotropic plastic fracture. Fracture tests have been planned to characterize the fracture behavior under different stress states and in different directions to define the anisotropic sensitivity. Finite element modelling, incorporating an anisotropic plasticity formulation, has been used to calculate the local fracture parameters in the specimens and to define the complete ductile fracture locus. An uncoupled damage evolution law has been finally used to evaluate the fracture limits on real pipelines failed in full scale laboratory tests. The strain to fracture prediction has been verified by local strain measurements on the fractured pipes. The model robustness has been also verified on global parameter predictions, such us the burst pressur

Depression and adverse childhood experiences: Interplay between psychosocial, biological, and genetic factors across the life course

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as abuse and family dysfunction, are among the most potent psychosocial risk factors for depression. Stress-induced dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis and inflammatory systems might underlie the psychobiological impact of ACEs on depression. However, the evidence for the role of these biological mechanisms is weak owing to a limited availability of longitudinal data and other methodological issues. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether genetic influences could contribute to these relationships. This PhD consists of six studies seeking to elucidate the neuroendocrine, inflammatory, and gene-environment mechanisms through which ACEs might influence the risk of depression across the life course. Studies 1-4 focused on older adults, using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Study 1 showed that older adults affected by ACEs exhibited chronically elevated systemic inflammation. In contrast, ACEs were unrelated to hair cortisol. Study 2 revealed that higher inflammation and cortisol levels were associated with persistent depressive symptoms over time. These relationships were stronger with somatic than with cognitive-affective symptoms. Study 3 demonstrated that ACEs were related to depression partly via elevated inflammation. Study 4 further showed that ACEs and polygenic susceptibility were independently and interactively associated with depression and inflammation. Studies 5-6 focused on young people, using data from the Twins Early Development Study and the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. In Study 5, ACEs were associated with elevated depressive symptoms in young adulthood partly through lower salivary cortisol levels in adolescence, independently of genetic factors. Study 6 demonstrated that ACEs across different early-life periods (prenatal period, childhood, and adolescence) were associated with elevated depressive symptoms in young adulthood. In contrast, the associations of ACEs and depression with early-life inflammation were weak. These findings offer novel insights into the biological embedding of ACEs and can stimulate new mental health interventions

Adverse childhood experiences and depressive symptoms in later life: Longitudinal mediation effects of inflammation

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with both inflammation and depression. However, few studies have examined the role of inflammation as a possible biological mechanism underlying the association of ACEs with depression in later life using longitudinal data. This study investigated the longitudinal mediation effects of inflammation in the relationship between ACEs and depressive symptoms in older adults. / Methods: We utilised data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (N = 4382). ACEs (i.e. threat, family dysfunction, low parental bonding, loss experiences) were assessed retrospectively at wave 3 (2006/07). C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory marker, was measured at waves 2 (2004/05), 4 (2008/09), and 6 (2012/13). Depressive symptoms were ascertained from wave 6 to 8 (2016/17). The mediation analysis was conducted using parallel process latent growth curve modelling. / Results: Greater ACEs cumulative exposure was associated with higher CRP and depressive symptoms at baseline (βCRPi = 0.066[0.030–0.102]; βDEPi = 0.149[0.115–0.183]) and with their increase over time (βCRPs = 0.205[0.095–0.315]; βDEPs = 0.355[0.184–0.526]). Baseline CRP levels were positively associated with baseline depressive symptoms (βDEPi = 0.145[0.104–0.186]) and their trajectory (βDEPs = 0.215[0.124–0.306]). The mediation analysis indicated that higher baseline CRP levels mediated respectively 7% and 5% of the total effect of ACEs cumulative exposure on the baseline value and change in depressive symptoms. These mediation effects were larger for Loss experiences (i.e. 20% and 12% respectively) than for other types of ACEs. In addition, they were independent of possible confounders and additional mediators including adult socioeconomic position and lifestyle factors. / Conclusion: ACEs were related to higher depressive symptoms partly via elevated CRP levels. Inflammation might be one of the psychobiological mechanisms underlying the link between ACEs and depression. Psychosocial and behavioural interventions to prevent and reduce the negative impact of ACEs might help to lower the risk of inflammation and depression in the population

Mental health, financial, and social outcomes among older adults with probable COVID-19 infection: A longitudinal cohort study

We investigated the immediate and longer-term impact (over 4-6 months) of probable COVID-19 infection on mental health, wellbeing, financial hardship, and social interactions among older people living in England. Data were analysed from 5146 older adults participating in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing who provided data before the pandemic (2018-19) and at two COVID-19 assessments in 2020 (June-July and November-December). The associations of probable COVID-19 infection (first COVID-19 assessment) with depression, anxiety, poor quality of life (QoL), loneliness, financial hardship, and social contact with family/friends at the first and second COVID-19 assessments were tested using linear/logistic regression and were adjusted for pre-pandemic outcome measures. Participants with probable infection had higher levels of depression and anxiety, poorer QoL, and greater loneliness scores compared with those without probable infection at both the first (ORdepression = 1.62, P-value = 0.005; ORanxiety = 1.59, P-value = 0.049; bpoorQoL = 1.34, P < 0.001; bloneliness = 0.49, P < 0.001) and second (ORdepression = 1.56, P-value = 0.003; ORanxiety = 1.55, P-value = 0.041; bpoorQoL = 1.38, P-value < 0.001; bloneliness = 0.31, P-value = 0.024) COVID-19 assessments. Participants with probable infection also experienced greater financial difficulties than those without infection at the first assessment (OR = 1.50, P-value = 0.011). Probable COVID-19 infection is associated with longer-term deterioration of mental health and wellbeing and short-term increases in financial hardship among older adults. It is important to monitor the mental health of older people affected by COVID-19 and provide additional support to those in need

Floristic and characterization of grassland vegetation at a granitic hill in Southern Brazil

A floristic and vegetation study was carried out in the grassland formations at Morro São Pedro, Porto Alegre municipality, Rio Grande do Sul State, a granitic elevation area, so far poorly surveyed, that cradles important natural vegetation remnants of the region. After the study, which lasted from April 2005 to March 2009, we found 497 angiosperm species, distributed in four main grassland formation types: dry grassland, rocky grassland, humid grassland and wetlands. Among the species list three species are noteworthy: Alstroemeria albescens, a new species for the science, Lepuropethalon spathulatum, a new record for Southern Brazil, and Thrasyopsis juergensii, a new record for the Pampa biome. Based on our results and on support from other papers we concluded that ca. 65% of the grassland species present in the granitic hills of the region belong to seven main botanical families (Asteraceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, Cyperaceae, Rubiaceae, Verbenaceae and Apiaceae). The species belonging to these families are also determining in the vegetation phytophysiognomical and structural composition, so that cespitous grasses predominate in the landscape, shaping a continuous gramineous layer. The grasslands at the granitic hills of the municipality have an insular present distribution, isolated in patches at hilltops, due to the presence of forests in the slopes. They show a high number of species that can be found in higher numbers in dry areas than in humid areas, and there is a gap in works concerning the characterization of humid grasslands and wetland formations inserted at hilltops. Despite the significant plant diversity of these grasslands, their representation in conservation units at the municipality is virtually inexistent.  Foi realizado um estudo florístico e vegetacional nos campos do morro São Pedro, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, uma área de elevação granítica, ainda pouco estudada, que conserva importantes remanescentes de vegetação natural da região. Após a realização do estudo, com duração de abril de 2005 a março de 2009, obteve-se a catalogação de 497 espécies de angiospermas nativas distribuídas em quatro tipos de formações campestres principais: campo seco, campo rupestre, campo úmido e banhado. Dentre a lista de espécies, destacam-se Alstroemeria albescens, uma espécie nova para a ciência, Lepuropethalon spathulatum, uma nova citação para a Região Sul do Brasil, e Thrasyopsis juergensii, uma nova citação para o bioma Pampa. Com base nos resultados obtidos e o suporte de outros trabalhos realizados, conclui-se que cerca de 65% das espécies campestres de morros graníticos da região pertencem a sete famílias botânicas principais (Asteraceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, Cyperaceae, Rubiaceae, Verbenaceae e Apiaceae). As espécies destas famílias também são determinantes na composição fitofisionômica e estrutural da vegetação, predominando na paisagem as gramíneas cespitosas, formando um estrato contínuo de tapete graminoso. Os campos dos morros graníticos do município têm distribuição atual em forma insular, isolado em manchas nos topos destas elevações devido à presença de florestas nas encostas. Apresentam elevado número de espécies que se concentram em maior número nas áreas secas do que nas áreas úmidas, havendo uma lacuna de trabalhos de caracterização de formações de campos úmidos e banhados de topos de morro. Apesar da significativa diversidade vegetal destes campos, sua representatividade em unidades de conservação é praticamente nula no município.

The relationship of adverse childhood experiences, hair cortisol, C-reactive protein, and polygenic susceptibility with older adults’ psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to poorer mental health outcomes, and growing evidence implicates biological and genetic pathways from early adversity to psychopathology. However, little is known about the relationship of ACEs and their underlying biological and genetic mechanisms with older people’s mental health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. We tested the associations of ACEs, hair cortisol, C-reactive protein (CRP), and polygenic scores (PGS) with depression, anxiety, and loneliness among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, accounting for the potential interplay of ACEs with biological and genetic risk markers. Data were drawn from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, a prospective cohort study of older adults living in England. Retrospective information on ACEs were collected in 2006/7, while CRP and hair cortisol were measured at wave 6 (2012/13). Psychological distress was assessed before the pandemic (2018–19) and at two COVID-19 assessments in 2020 (June-July and November-December). Associations were tested on 2050 participants using linear/logistic regression models adjusted for pre-pandemic outcome measures and mixed-effect models to assess changes before and during the pandemic. The results showed that ACEs were associated with higher levels of depression (OR = 2.55[95%CI:1.81,3.59]) anxiety (OR = 1.84[95%CI:1.13,3.01]), and loneliness (b = 0.28[95%CI:0.14,0.42]) during the pandemic. Hair cortisol was related to an increased risk of depression (OR = 1.15[95%CI:1.04,1.26]), and CRP was associated with greater loneliness scores (b = 0.16[95%CI:0.03,0.30]). The relationship between cortisol and psychological distress was larger among participants with ACEs (e.g., ORdepression = 1.07[95%CI:1.00,1.14]). Further, individuals with high CRP experienced greater increases in feelings of loneliness from before to during the pandemic, compared to those with lower CRP levels (interaction effect=0.23; 95%CI:0.1–0.37). Individuals with 2+ ACEs experienced greater increases in depressive symptoms compared to those with none (interaction effect=2.09; 95%CI:1.1–3.98). Higher levels of hair cortisol were also related to worse changes in depressive symptoms across timepoints (interaction effect=1.84;95%CI:1.41–2.41). These results highlight the lasting impact of biosocial vulnerabilities on older adults’ mental health responses to new environmental stressors. They also implicate biological mechanisms in the pathophysiology of later-life psychological distress

Analysis of anisotropic hardening in high strength steel (HSS) in line pipes for strain-based applications

In this paper are reported the results of an extensive and innovative mechanical characterization carried out on three large diameter line pipes for gas transportation useful to calibrate a new plasticity finite element numerical simulation (FEM) model developed at Rina Consulting – Centro Sviluppo Materiali. In particular, the anisotropic hardening for the materials has been characterized by tensile tests carried out in the base material of the pipe with tensile specimen extracted along different orientations, considering also the pipe through thickness direction