Measuring the Discrepancy Between Current and Ideal Spiritual and Religious Functioning in Problem Drinkers

The idea that spiritual and religious functioning (SRF) is associated with alcohol misuse is generally supported, but problems with typical research methods limit the utility of findings. Problems in SRF were conceptualized as discrepancies between current and ideal SRF. Two separate studies were conducted to develop and evaluate a scale to measure the subjective importance and adequacy of aspects of SRF that seem to be associated with alcohol problems. The 1st study suggested that a questionnaire developed to evaluate self-reported ratings of current and ideal SRF is both internally consistent and temporally stable. In the 2nd study, the questionnaire was administered to persons seeking treatment for alcohol problems and persons who indicated that they had never sought treatment for an alcohol problem. Results indicate that those with a drinking problem were more likely to report substantial discrepancies between current and ideal SRF, supporting the validity of the measure as an indicator of problems in SRF. The usefulness of this method for treatment and research is discussed

ПОКАЗНИКИ ЕНЕРГЕТИЧНОГО ОБМІНУ В СЕРЦЕВІЙ ТКАНИНІ ЕКСПЕРИМЕНТАЛЬНИХ ТВАРИН ЗА УМОВ ВПЛИВУ КАДМІЙ ХЛОРИДУ

Introduction. Cadmium chloride can enter the body of humans and animals with food, drinking water and atmospheric air. Their effect is to suppress the functional state of mitochondria, which leads to the depletion of energy resources and the violation of a number of vital processes. Cadmium, penetrating into cells, interacts with mercaptogroups, suppresses enzyme systems of energy supply, by replacing bivalent metals that are part of enzymes. The aim of the study – to determine the state of energy metabolism in the cardiac muscle of experimental animals (rats) under conditions of cadmium chloride. Research Methods. Intoxication was carried out by intravenous administration of cadmium chloride at a dose of 1/10 LD50 for 10 days. Animals were divided into two groups: intact and experimental, which were injected with cadmium chloride. The material was collected after decapitation under tiopental anesthesia at 1st, 14th, 28th day after the completion of the administration of the toxicant. Indicators of energy metabolism were determined as follows: the activity of ATPase, lactate dehydrogenase was determined by the enzymatic method; concentration of glucose – glucoxidase method, the level of pyruvate, lactate and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was determined spectrophotometrically. The content of macro- and micronutrients (Cd, Zn, Cu, Mg) was determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results and Discussion. The obtained results testify to the increased use of glucose by the cardiac muscle in anaerobic way, as there is an increase in the concentration of lactic acid. This is confirmed by the literature sources on the development of hypoxia under the conditions of cadmium ions. At that time, the level of adenosine triphosphoric acid decreases as well as the activity of ATPase in the heart tissue. We also observed the increase in the content of magnesium (the activator of ATPase) and zinc (the activator of lactate dehydrogenase) in the heart of experimental animals. Conclusion. The conducted studies indicate a violation of the energy supply of tissue of the heart muscle for cadmium intoxication, which is confirmed by the activation of glucose anaerobic oxidation, a decrease in its level and the content of ATP in the myocardium.Вступление. Катионы кадмия могут поступать в организм человека и животных с пищей, питьевой водой и атмосферным воздухом. Их действие заключается в угнетении функционального состояния митохондрий, что приводит к истощению энергетических ресурсов и нарушению ряда жизненно важных процессов. Кадмий, проникая в клетки, взаимодействует с меркаптогруппами, подавляет энзимные системы энергообеспечения путем замещения двухвалентных металлов, входящих в состав энзимов. Цель исследования – выяснить состояние энергетического обмена в сердечной мышце экспериментальных животных (крыс) в условиях влияния кадмий хлорида. Методы исследования. Интоксикацию осуществляли путем внутримышечного введения кадмий хлорида в дозе 1/10 LD50 в течение 10-ти дней. Животные были разделены на 2 группы: 1-я интактные; 2-я – экспериментальные, которым вводили кадмий хлорид. Забор материала проводили после декапитации под тиопенталовым наркозом на 1-е, 14-е, 28-е сутки после завершения ввода токсиканта. Показатели энергетического обмена определяли следующим образом: активность АТФ-азы, лактатдегидрогеназы – энзиматическим методом; концентрацию глюкозы – глюкооксидазным методом; уровень пировиноградной, молочной аденозинтрифосфорной (АТФ) кислот – спектрофотометрически; содержание макро- и микроэлементов (Cd, Zn, Cu, Mg) – с помощью атомно-абсорбционного спектрофотометра. Результаты и обсуждение. Полученные результаты свидетельствуют об усиленном использовании глюкозы сердечной мышцей анаэробным путем, так как наблюдали повышение концентрации молочной кислоты. Это подтверило литературные данные о развитии гипоксии в условиях действия ионов кадмия. В то же время отмечено снижение уровня аденозинтрифосфорной кислоты, а также активности АТФ-азы в ткани сердца. Установлено увеличение содержания магния (активатора АТФ-азы) и цинка (активатора лактатдегидрогеназы) в сердце экспериментальных животных. Вывод. Результаты проведенных исследований указывают на нарушение энергетического обеспечения тканей сердечной мышцы в условиях кадмиевой интоксикации, что подтверждается активацией анаэробного окисления глюкозы, снижением ее уровня и содержания аденозинтрифосфорной кислоты в миокарде.Вступ. Катіони кадмію можуть надходити в організм людини і тварин з їжею, питною водою й атмосферним повітрям. Їх дія полягає у пригніченні функціонального стану мітохондрій, що призводить до виснаження енергетичних ресурсів та порушення ряду життєво важливих процесів. Кадмій, проникаючи в клітини, взаємодіє з меркаптогрупами, пригнічує ензимні системи енергозабезпечення шляхом заміщення двовалентних металів, які входять до складу ензимів. Мета дослідження – з’ясувати стан енергетичного обміну в серцевому м’язі експериментальних тварин (щурів) за умов впливу кадмій хлориду. Методи дослідження. Інтоксикацію здійснювали шляхом внутрім’язового введення кадмій хлориду в дозі 1/10 LD50 протягом 10-ти днів. Тварин було поділено на 2 групи: 1-ша – інтактні; 2-га – експериментальні, яким вводили кадмій хлорид. Забір матеріалу проводили після декапітації під тіопенталовим наркозом на 1-шу, 14-ту, 28-му доби після завершення введення токсиканту. Показники енергетичного обміну визначали таким чином: активність АТФ-ази, лактатдегідрогенази – ензиматичним методом; концентрацію глюкози – глюкооксидазним методом; рівень піровиноградної, молочної, аденозинтрифосфорної (АТФ) кислот – спектрофотометрично; вміст макро- та мікроелементів (Cd, Zn, Cu, Mg) – за допомогою атомно-абсорбційного спектрофотометра. Результати й обговорення. Отримані результати свідчать про посилене використання глюкози серцевим м’язом за анаеробним шляхом, оскільки спостерігали підвищення концентрації молочної кислоти. Це підтвердило літературні дані про розвиток гіпоксії за умов дії іонів кадмію. Водночас відмічено зниження рівня аденозинтрифосфорної кислоти, а також активності АТФ-ази у тканині серця. Встановлено збільшення вмісту магнію (активатора АТФ-ази) та цинку (активатора лактатдегідрогенази) в серці експериментальних тварин. Висновок. Результати проведених досліджень вказують на порушення енергетичного забезпечення тканин серцевого м’яза за умов кадмієвої інтоксикації, що підтверджується активацією анаеробного окиснення глюкози, зниженням її рівня та вмісту аденозинтрифосфорної кислоти в міокарді

Detection of abandoned mineshafts using towed-array capacitive resistivity and real-time kinematic GPS navigation

The UK has a long history of mining but it was not until 1875 that the accurate mapping of mine workings and the submission of abandonment plans became a legal requirement. Where mineshafts are indicated on plans, they may be mislocated due to poor or inaccurate surveying. Consequently, the redevelopment of derelict land in the built environment frequently encounters potential geohazards, such as old adits, bell pits and shafts. These mining relics pose a serious risk to health and safety. This paper demonstrates how the combination of modem geophysical survey techniques with state-of-the-art satellite-based positioning may assist in the detection of such features. Recent advances in these fields offer the possibility of using towed-array resistivity instruments in conjunction with highly accurate (sub-decimetre) real-time kinematic global positioning systems (RTKGPS). Here we describe the use of multi-offset towed-array capacitive resistivity (CR) with GPS navigation for mapping resistivity over a known mineshaft in the historic mining area of Bonsall Leys in Derbyshire, UK

Seasonal dynamics of Arctic soils: Capturing year-round processes in measurements and soil biogeochemical models

The Arctic is undergoing rapid changes in climate, altering the status and functioning of high-latitude soils and permafrost. The vast majority of studies on Arctic soils and permafrost are conducted during the summer period due to ease of accessibility, sampling, instrument operation, and making measurements, in comparison to during winter and transition seasons. However, there is increasing evidence that microbial activity continues in Arctic soils outside of the summer period. Moreover, it is becoming clear that understanding the seasonal dynamics of Arctic soils is of critical importance, especially considering that the under-studied winter is the period that is most sensitive to climate warming. Soil biogeochemical models have advanced our understanding of the functioning and fate of soils in the Arctic, however it is vital that seasonality in biotic and abiotic processes is accurately captured in these models. Here we synthesize recent investigations and observations of the year-round functioning of Arctic soils, review soil biogeochemical modelling frameworks, and highlight certain processes and behaviors that are shaped by seasonality and thus warrant particular consideration within these models. More attention to seasonal processes will be critical to improving datasets and soil biogeochemical models that can be used to understand the year-round functioning of soils and the fate of the soil carbon reservoir in the Arctic

UK Geoenergy Observatories: new facilities to understand the future energy challenges

Decarbonisation of energy supplies will require development of new technologies to store energy, heat and waste gases and to act as alternatives to batteries are required for storing renewable energy to make it available during periods of peak demand. The subsurface has the potential to deliver these new technologies through Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), aquifer storage of heat and compressed air, and extracting geothermal energy. The heterogeneity of the subsurface and lack of detailed knowledge of its static and dynamic properties makes modelling of the efficacy of such proposed technologies difficult. Geoscientists require new experimental facilities where subsurface properties can be studied at unprecedented detail to underpin realistic simulations. The British Geological Survey, on behalf of the Natural Environment Research Council, is developing two new experimental facilities. The planned UK Geoenergy Observatory at Ince Marshes in Cheshire will allow a wide variety of datasets to be gathered on rocks, fluids and fluid transport, bespoke experiments to be undertaken and the properties of a volume of the rock to be understood. It will consist of four different arrays of newly-drilled and extensively-cored boreholes which will characterize the subsurface in greater detail than has previously been possible

Scope to predict soil properties at within-field scale from small samples using proximally sensed γ-ray spectrometer and EM induction data

Spatial predictions of soil properties are needed for various purposes. However, the costs associated with soil sampling and laboratory analysis are substantial. One way to improve efficiencies is to combine measurement of soil properties with collection of cheaper-to-measure ancillary data. There are two possible approaches. The first is the formation of classes from ancillary data. A second is the use of a simple predictive linear model of the target soil property on the ancillary variables. Here, results are presented and compared where proximally sensed gamma-ray (γ-ray) spectrometry and electromagnetic induction (EMI) data are used to predict the variation in topsoil properties (e.g. clay content and pH). In the first instance, the proximal data is numerically clustered using a fuzzy k-means (FKM) clustering algorithm, to identify contiguous classes. The resultant digital soil maps (i.e. k = 2–10 classes) are consistent with a soil series map generated using traditional soil profile description, classification and mapping methods at a highly variable site near the township of Shelford, Nottinghamshire UK. In terms of prediction, the calculated expected value of mean squared prediction error (i.e. σ2p,C) indicated that values of k = 7 and 8 were ideal for predicting clay and pH. Secondly, a linear mixed model (LMM) is fitted in which the proximal data are fixed effects but the residuals are treated as a combination of a spatially correlated random effect and an independent and identically distributed error. In terms of prediction, the expected value of the mean squared prediction error from a regression (σ2p,R) suggested that the regression models were able to predict clay content, better than FKM clustering. The reverse was true with respect to pH, however. We conclude that both methods have merit. In the case of the clustering the approach is able to account for soil properties which have non-linearity's with the ancillary data (i.e. pH), whereas the LMM approach is best when there is a strong linear relationship (i.e. clay)

Childhood Physical Neglect Is Associated With Exaggerated Systemic and Intracellular Inflammatory Responses to Repeated Psychosocial Stress in Adulthood

Experiences of child maltreatment are associated with a host of adverse mental and physical health outcomes in adulthood. Altered reactivity to psychosocial stress exposure may partially explain known associations between early experiences of maltreatment and later life health. The present study focuses on examining whether experiences of child maltreatment are associated with physiological reactions to initial and repeated psychosocial stress in adulthood. To this end, 44 healthy adults (52% male, aged 18–65) completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire to provide information about exposure to child maltreatment and completed the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) on 2 consecutive days. Peripheral blood was collected prior to as well as 30 and 120 min following the TSST on each day. Plasma Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and gene expression of IL-6, IL-1β, nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB), and inhibitor of kB (IkB) were measured from each blood sample. Total CTQ scores were unrelated to plasma IL-6 and gene expression (ps > .10) but a history of childhood physical neglect was associated with increased interleukin-1β (β =.35; p =.02; R2 =.19) and nuclear factor-kB (β =.30; p =.046; R2 =.13) expression following initial stress. Following repeated exposure to the TSST, childhood physical neglect was associated with increased plasma IL-6 reactivity (β =.34; p =.02; R2 =.16) and increased expression of nuclear factor-kB (β =.31; p =.04; R2 =.08). Finally, childhood physical neglect was associated with decreased habituation following repeated exposure to the TSST. Other CTQ subscales were not related to plasma IL-6 and gene expression when considered individually. Results from this study are suggestive of a unique effect of childhood physical neglect on the physiological stress response following initial and repeated exposure to a common psychosocial stressor. This provides important directions for future research because the effect of childhood physical neglect on long-term neglect are not well understood and in need of further investigation

Efficient multiscale imaging of subsurface resistivity with uncertainty quantification using ensemble Kalman inversion

Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is widely used to image the Earth's subsurface and has proven to be an extremely useful tool in application to hydrological problems. Conventional smoothness-constrained inversion of ERT data is efficient and robust, and consequently very popular. However, it does not resolve well sharp interfaces of a resistivity field and tends to reduce and smooth resistivity variations. These issues can be problematic in a range of hydrological or near-surface studies, for example mapping regolith-bedrock interfaces. While fully Bayesian approaches, such as those using Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling, can address the above issues, their very high computation cost makes them impractical for many applications. Ensemble Kalman inversion (EKI) offers a computationally efficient alternative by approximating the Bayesian posterior distribution in a derivative-free manner, which means only a relatively small number of 'black-box' model runs are required. Although common limitations for ensemble Kalman filter-type methods apply to EKI, it is both efficient and generally captures uncertainty patterns correctly. We propose the use of a new EKI-based framework for ERT which estimates a resistivity model and its uncertainty at a modest computational cost. Our EKI framework uses a level-set parametrization of the unknown resistivity to allow efficient estimation of discontinuous resistivity fields. Instead of estimating level-set parameters directly, we introduce a second step to characterize the spatial variability of the resistivity field and infer length scale hyperparameters directly. We demonstrate these features by applying the method to a series of synthetic and field examples. We also benchmark our results by comparing them to those obtained from standard smoothness-constrained inversion. Resultant resistivity images from EKI successfully capture arbitrarily shaped interfaces between resistivity zones and the inverted resistivities are close to the true values in synthetic cases. We highlight its readiness and applicability to similar problems in geophysics