Cross-national variations in reported discrimination among people treated for major depression worldwide: The ASPEN/INDIGO international study

Background: No study has so far explored differences in discrimination reported by people with major depressive disorder (MDD) across countries and cultures. Aims: To (a) compare reported discrimination across different countries, and (b) explore the relative weight of individual and contextual factors in explaining levels of reported discrimination in people with MDD. Method: Cross-sectional multisite international survey (34 countries worldwide) of 1082 people with MDD. Experienced and anticipated discrimination were assessed by the Discrimination and Stigma Scale (DISC). Countries were classified according to their rating on the Human Development Index (HDI). Multilevel negative binomial and Poisson models were used. Results: People living in 'very high HDI' countries reported higher discrimination than those in 'medium/low HDI' countries. Variation in reported discrimination across countries was only partially explained by individual-level variables. The contribution of country-level variables was significant for anticipated discrimination only. Conclusions: Contextual factors play an important role in anticipated discrimination. Country-specific interventions should be implemented to prevent discrimination towards people with MDD

Solid acid catalyzed aldol dimerization of levulinic acid for the preparation of C10 renewable fuel and chemical feedstocks

The acid catalyzed condensation of levulinic acid was studied using a series of solid acid catalysts: Amberlyst-15, SiO2-SO3H, Dowex50WX8, Carbon-SO3H, TiO2-SO3H, Al2O3-SO3H, H3PW12O40, and Nb2O5.H2O under neat conditions at 110–130 °C. The major dimerization product was identified as tetrahydro-2-methyl-5,γ-dioxo-2-furanpentanoic acid. In addition, four minor products were identified as diastereomeric pairs of 3-(2-methyl-5-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-4-oxopentanoic acid and 3-acetyl-2-methyl-tetrahydro-5-oxo-2-furanpropanoic acid by spectroscopic and computational methods. A mechanism is proposed to explain the formation of five dimerization products where the major product is formed via the aldol condensation of C5 enol form of levulinic acid and four minor products are arising from the aldol condensations C3 enol form of levulinic acid. The highest total yield 56% was obtained with the use SiO2-SO3H as the solid acid catalyst and the reminder of the mass balance was unreacted levulinic acid. The SiO2-SO3H catalyst could be recycled four times with some loss in catalytic activity

Exploitation of neglected horseradish peroxidase izoenzymes for dye decolorization

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is enzyme first described more than 200 years ago and yet there are still some aspects of this potent enzyme to be tackled. Researchers were focused on most abundant isoenzyme HRP CIA while remaining, particularly anionic isoenzymes were discarded in purification process. This work describes exploitation of those isoenzymes for removal of recalcitrant pollutants such as reactive dyes. Results demonstrated that not only these enzymes can decolorize dyes but also in some cases anionic forms are more efficient than commercially produced cationic HRP form. Enzyme concentration of 0.14 U ml(-1) was found to provide maximum dye removal at optimized reaction conditions with dye concentration of 30 mg I-1. Majority of dyes tested were successfully decolorized at pH 5 or 7 while some dyes like Orange 2 and Reactive black 5 are decolorized most efficiently at pH 9. Anionic isoenzymes act by disrupting chromophore of Reactive black 5 while cationic HRP oxidize dye but leaves chromophore present. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

A model of internalized stigma in parents of individuals with disabilities

Background: Stigma has negative impacts on both individuals with disabilities and their caregivers, including poor mental health and social isolation. In the present study, we aimed to test a model of stigma internalization among parents of individuals with disabilities, as this process in not yet completely understood. Aim: Specifically, we explored effects of experienced stigma and neuroticism on affiliate stigma and examined whether perceived stigma and self-blame are mediators in a stigma internalization model. Methods: We recruited 82 parents of individuals with disabilities in Serbia over the course of six months. Parents were asked about perceived stigma, experienced stigma, affiliate stigma, self-blame, and they completed an assessment of personality traits. Results: Both experienced stigma and neuroticism were positively correlated with affiliate stigma. In addition, perceived stigma was a mediator between these variables: parents who experienced stigma more and had higher neuroticism scores reported higher degrees of perceived stigma, which in turn positively affected affiliate stigma. Self-blame was not a significant mediator in the tested model. Conclusion: We conclude stigma internalization among parents of individuals with disabilities is a complex process, involving experienced stigma, neuroticism, and perceived stigma. Interventions should include multiple paths to adequately support parents to combat stigma