HIV Risk among MSM in Senegal: A Qualitative Rapid Assessment of the Impact of Enforcing Laws That Criminalize Same Sex Practices

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk for HIV in Senegal, with a prevalence of 21.5%. In December 2008, nine male HIV prevention workers were imprisoned for “acts against nature” prohibited by Senegalese law. This qualitative study assessed the impact of these arrests on HIV prevention efforts. A purposive sample of MSM in six regions of Senegal was recruited by network referral. 26 in-depth interviews (IDIs) and 6 focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in July–August 2009. 14 key informants were also interviewed. All participants reported pervasive fear and hiding among MSM as a result of the December 2008 arrests and publicity. Service providers suspended HIV prevention work with MSM out of fear for their own safety. Those who continued to provide services noticed a sharp decline in MSM participation. An effective response to the HIV epidemic in Senegal should include active work to decrease enforcement of this law

Basic Concepts and Recent Advances of Crystallographic Orientation Determination of Graphene by Raman Spectroscopy

Graphene is a kind of typical two-dimensional material consisting of pure carbon element. The unique material shows many interesting properties which are dependent on crystallographic orientations. Therefore, it is critical to determine their crystallographic orientations when their orientation-dependent properties are investigated. Raman spectroscopy has been developed recently to determine crystallographic orientations of two-dimensional materials and has become one of the most powerful tools to characterize graphene nondestructively. This paper summarizes basic aspects of Raman spectroscopy in crystallographic orientation of graphene nanosheets, determination principles, the determination methods, and the latest achievements in the related studies