The role of landholder education in adoption of soil health management systems

Management for soil health has received increasing attention, but, despite this, adoption of soil health management plans (SHM) has been slow and is possibly affected by landholder education. This paper investigates the role of landholder education in the adoption of SHM systems, using salinity and sodicity as indicators. Through the use of a landholder response mail based survey consisting of likert scale rank questions, categorical responses and open ended questions, education was shown to mildly affect the adoption of SHM programs, but was not considered an overriding impediment by landholders. However, there is a disparity between education as an impediment and landholders knowledge. This disparity is potentially overcome by a reliance on agronomists and extension officers to guide landholders through SHM issues that they find complex. In terms of managing soils for salinity, education was shown to be adequate, although for sodicity education is still a major limiting factor

Psychometric evaluation of the Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory (MDDI) among cisgender gay men and cisgender lesbian women

Despite increasing empirical interest in muscle dysmorphia (MD), a dearth of research has assessed this construct in sexual minority populations. In particular, the psychometric properties of one of the most widely used measures of MD symptoms—the Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory (MDDI)—have not been evaluated in sexual minority populations despite emerging evidence suggesting differential risk for MD symptoms across sexual orientation groups. In this study, we assessed the psychometric properties of the MDDI in a sample of 715 cisgender gay men and 404 cisgender lesbian women ages 18–50 years who participated in a large-scale national longitudinal cohort study of sexual and gender minority adults. The factor structure of the MDDI was examined in each sample using a two-step, split-sample exploratory and confirmatory factor analytic approach. Exploratory factor analysis supported a three-factor structure in both samples, which were confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis. Moreover, results supported the internal consistency reliability and convergent validity of the MDDI subscales in both samples. Cumulatively, these findings suggest that the MDDI is an appropriate measure of MD symptoms among cisgender gay men and cisgender lesbian women

Associations among romantic and sexual partner history and muscle dysmorphia symptoms, disordered eating, and appearance- and performance-enhancing drugs and supplement use among cisgender gay men

This study examined relationship status (e.g., single versus not single) and number of sexual partners in relation to muscularity- and disordered eating-related attitudes and behaviors among 1090 cisgender gay men enrolled in The PRIDE Study in 2018. Participants completed measures assessing muscle dysmorphia (MD) symptoms, disordered eating attitudes and behaviors, and appearance- and performance-enhancing drug or supplement (APEDS) use. In linear regression models adjusting for theoretically relevant covariates, neither relationship status nor number of past-month sexual partners was associated with disordered eating attitudes. In terms of MD symptoms, single (versus not single) relationship status was associated with greater appearance intolerance, and a greater number of sexual partners was associated with greater drive for size and functional impairment. In adjusted logistic regression models, a greater number of past-month sexual partners was associated with use of anabolic-androgenic steroids, synthetic performance-enhancing substances, protein supplements, and creatine supplements, as well as greater likelihood of engaging in compelled/driven exercise. Across all associations, effect sizes were generally small. Overall, results support that inquiring about sexual partners may have utility in evaluating risk for muscularity-oriented attitudes and behaviors among cisgender gay men. Future work will need to replicate these findings, particularly in more diverse samples

Transmission electron microscopy of a model crystalline organic, theophylline

We report on the use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to analyse the diffraction patterns of the model crystalline organic theophylline to investigate beam damage in relation to changing accelerating voltage, sample temperature and TEM grid support films. We find that samples deposited on graphene film grids have the longest lifetimes when also held at -190 °C and imaged at 200 kV accelerating voltage. Finally, atomic lattice images are obtained in bright field STEM by working close to the estimated critical electron dose for theophylline

"Sunshade World": a fully coupled GCM evaluation of the climatic impacts of geoengineering

Sunshade geoengineering - the installation of reflective mirrors between the Earth and the Sun to reduce incoming solar radiation, has been proposed as a mitigative measure to counteract anthropogenic global warming. Although the popular conception is that geoengineering can re-establish a 'natural' pre-industrial climate, such a scheme would itself inevitably lead to climate change, due to the different temporal and spatial forcing of increased CO2 compared to reduced solar radiation. We investigate the magnitude and nature of this climate change for the first time within a fully coupled General Circulation Model. We find significant cooling of the tropics, warming of high latitudes and related sea ice reduction, a reduction in intensity of the hydrological cycle, reduced ENSO variability, and an increase in Atlantic overturning. However, the changes are small relative to those associated with an unmitigated rise in CO2 emissions. Other problems such as ocean acidification remain unsolved by sunshade geoengineering

Resolving inequalities in care? Reduced mortality in the elderly after acute coronary syndromes. The Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project 2003-2010

Aims: To examine age-dependent in-hospital mortality for hospitalization with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in England and Wales. Methods and results: Mixed-effects regression analysis using data from 616 011 ACS events at 255 hospitals as recorded in the Myocardial Ischemia National Audit Project (MINAP) 2003-2010; 102 415 (16.7%) patients were aged /=85 years. Patients >/=85 years with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were less likely to receive emergency reperfusion therapy than those /= 85 years, in-hospital mortality reduced from 30.1% in 2003 to 19.4% in 2010 (RR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.38-0.75, P/= 85 years, from 31.5% in 2003 to 20.4% in 2010 (RR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.42-0.73, P< 0.001). Findings were upheld after multi-level adjustment (base = 2003): male STEMI 2010 OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.48-0.75; female STEMI 2010 OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.42-0.71; male NSTEMI OR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.42-0.60; female NSTEMI OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.40-0.59. Conclusion: For patients hospitalized with ACS in England and Wales, there have been substantial reductions in in-hospital mortality rates from 2003 to 2010 across all age groups. The temporal improvements in mortality were similar for sex and type of acute myocardial infarction. Age-dependent inequalities in the management of ACS were apparen