Marital status and suicidal ideation among Australian older adults: the mediating role of sense of belonging

See also Corrigendum: Suzanne McLaren, Rapson Gomez, Peter Gill and Jessica Chesler (2015). Marital status and suicidal ideation among Australian older adults: the mediating role of sense of belonging – CORRIGENDUM. International Psychogeriatrics, 27, pp 155-155. doi:10.1017/S1041610214002166

Analysis induced reduction of a polyelectrolyte

The polymer, poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA), is shown to undergo chemical change via a reduction mechanism during X-ray analysis. Examination of the N 1s spectrum of PDDA shows a time dependence on the degree of reduction, together with clear amplification of the extent of reduction through the charge compensation system and X-ray irradiation

The Effects of Methylphenidate on Cognitive Control in Active Methamphetamine Dependence Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Methamphetamine (MA) dependence is associated with cognitive deficits. Methylphenidate (MPH) has been shown to improve inhibitory control in healthy and cocaine-dependent subjects. This study aimed to understand the neurophysiological effects before and after acute MPH administration in active MA-dependent and control subjects. Fifteen MA-dependent and 18 control subjects aged 18–46 years were scanned using functional magnetic resonance imaging before and after either a single oral dose of MPH (18 mg) or placebo while performing a color-word Stroop task. Baseline accuracy was lower (p = 0.026) and response time (RT) was longer (p < 0.0001) for the incongruent compared to congruent condition, demonstrating the task probed cognitive control. Increased activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and parietal cortex during the incongruent and Stroop effect conditions, respectively was observed in MA-dependent compared to control subjects (p < 0.05), suggesting the need to recruit neural resources within these regions for conflict resolution. Post- compared to pre-MPH treatment, increased RT and DLPFC activation for the Stroop effect were observed in MA-dependent subjects (p < 0.05). In comparison to MPH-treated controls and placebo-treated MA-dependent subjects, MPH-treated MA-dependent subjects showed decreased activation of parietal and occipital regions during the incongruent and Stroop effect conditions (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that in MA-dependent subjects, MPH facilitated increased recruitment of the DLPFC for Stroop conflict resolution, and a decreased need for recruitment of neural resources in parietal and occipital regions compared to the other groups, while maintaining a comparable level of task performance to that achieved pre-drug administration. Due to the small sample size, the results from this study are preliminary; however, they inform us about the effects of MPH on the neural correlates of cognitive control in active MA-dependent subjects

A study of the distribution of Salmonella serovars in an integrated pig company

A total of 3220 faecal samples from 161 pig farms (rearing and finishing units) belonging to an integrated pig enterprise were collected over a period of 18 months. Salmonella was found in 630 (19.5%) of the samples. At the farm level, 111 of 161 premises (69%) had at least one Salmonella- positive sample. 72.8% of rearing units and 66.6% of finishing units were positive for Salmonella; 61.4% of isolates were S. Typhimurium (387/630 isolates), and 25% of isolates were S. Derby (157/630). S. Panama, which was the third most common serovar (4.9% of isolates), is rarely found in pigs or other animals in the UK and appeared to be largely specific to this company, being found in the multiplier herd as well

You say you want a data revolution? Taking on food systems accountability

Dramatic improvements in data availability and quality are needed to meet the challenge of monitoring and analyzing food systems, so that appropriate policies and actions to improve human and planetary health can be identified and data-informed accountability mechanisms put in place to strengthen food systems governance. Studying food systems is complex due to diverse actors and interlinking processes that operate on multiple spatial and temporal scales, and their multiple outcomes, which may be subject to hidden feedback mechanisms and tradeoffs. However, descriptive research to characterize food system components and make comparisons across geography, income groups, and population groups is an important foundation. The first part of this article details a series of critical data gaps and limitations that are currently hindering food systems learning and accountability, also comparing these gaps across regions and income groups. The second part of the article introduces the Food Systems Dashboard, a new data visualization tool that aims to improve access to and usage of food systems-related data, thus strengthening the data value chain and better informing policies and actions intended to improve diets, nutrition, livelihoods, and environmental sustainability.1

Boronic acids for functionalisation of commercial multi-layer graphitic material as an alternative to diazonium salts

A novel radical-based functionalisation strategy for the synthesis of functionalised commercially obtained plasma-synthesised multi-layer graphitic material (MLG) is presented herein. 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl boronic acid was utilised as a source of 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl radicals to covalently graft upon the graphitic surface of MLG. Such a methodology provides a convenient and safer route towards aryl radical generation, serving as a potential alternative to hazardous diazonium salt precusors. The structure and morphology of the functionalised MLG (Arf-MLG) has been characterised using XPS, Raman, TGA, XRD, SEM, TEM and BET techniques. The XPS quantitative data and Raman spectra provide evidence of successful covalent attachment of 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl groups to MLG

On Dialectics and Human Decency: Education in the Dock

Set against the backdrop of the contemporary crisis of capitalism and world-historical events, this article examines the advance of globalized imperialism from the perspective of a Marxist-humanist approach to pedagogy known as ‘revolutionary critical pedagogy’ enriched by liberation theology. It is written as an epistolic manifesto to the transnational capitalist class, demanding that those who willingly serve its interests reconsider their allegiance and calling for a planetary revolution in the way that we both think about capitalism and how education and religion serves to reproduce it at the peril of both students and humanity as a whole