Intimate partner violence victimization among non-heterosexuals: prevalence and associations with mental and sexual well-being

This study focused on intimate partner violence (IPV) among non-heterosexuals in Flanders. Prevalence rates were explored and compared with heterosexual IPV using a first representative sample consisting of 1690 heterosexuals and non-heterosexual individuals. A second convenience sample consisting of 2401 non-heterosexual individuals was used to determine differences between women and men and to explore associations between IPV and victims' well-being. Physical and psychological IPV inflicted by the current/former partner were reported by 14.5 and 57.9 % of the non-heterosexuals, respectively. Non-heterosexuals and heterosexuals were equally likely to report physical and psychological IPV. Furthermore, non-heterosexual women and men reported similar physical, sexual, and psychological IPV. However, female victims experienced more frequent acts of psychological IPV. IPV was negatively associated with victims' well-being

Correlation of clinical and physical-technical image quality in chest CT : a human cadaver study applied on iterative reconstruction

Background: The first aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between clinical and physical-technical image quality applied to different strengths of iterative reconstruction in chest CT images using Thiel cadaver acquisitions and Catphan images. The second aim was to determine the potential dose reduction of iterative reconstruction compared to conventional filtered back projection based on different clinical and physical-technical image quality parameters. Methods: Clinical image quality was assessed using three Thiel embalmed human cadavers. A Catphan phantom was used to assess physical-technical image quality parameters such as noise, contrast-detail and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). Both Catphan and chest Thiel CT images were acquired on a multislice CT scanner at 120 kVp and 0.9 pitch. Six different refmAs settings were applied (12, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150refmAs) and each scan was reconstructed using filtered back projection (FBP) and iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE) algorithms (1,3 and 5 strengths) using a sharp kernel, resulting in 24 image series. Four radiologists assessed the clinical image quality, using a visual grading analysis (VGA) technique based on the European Quality Criteria for Chest CT. Results: Correlation coefficients between clinical and physical-technical image quality varied from 0.88 to 0.92, depending on the selected physical-technical parameter. Depending on the strength of SAFIRE, the potential dose reduction based on noise, CNR and the inverse image quality figure (IQF(inv)) varied from 14.0 to 67.8 %, 16.0 to 71.5 % and 22.7 to 50.6 % respectively. Potential dose reduction based on clinical image quality varied from 27 to 37.4 %, depending on the strength of SAFIRE. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that noise assessments in a uniform phantom overestimate the potential dose reduction for the SAFIRE IR algorithm. Since the IQF(inv) based dose reduction is quite consistent with the clinical based dose reduction, an optimised contrast-detail phantom could improve the use of contrast-detail analysis for image quality assessment in chest CT imaging. In conclusion, one should be cautious to evaluate the performance of CT equipment taking into account only physical-technical parameters as noise and CNR, as this might give an incomplete representation of the actual clinical image quality performance

Selective Synthesis of Unsaturated Macrocycles by Ligand-Controlled Depolymerisation of 1,4 - Polybutadiene

status: publishe

Mineralogical characterization of cassiterite concentrates from quartz vein and pegmatite mineralization of the Karagwe-Ankole and Kibara Belts, Central Africa

The Mesoproterozoic Kibara belt (TUB) and the Karagwe-Ankole Belt (KAB) in Central Africa are characterized by the presence of numerous rare metal mineralized Sn-(Nb-Ta) pegmatites and Sn-W mineralised quartz veins that are related to a S-type granite generation formed at 986 +/- 10 Ma. Cassiterite concentrates have been studied by different petrographic and mineralogical techniques. The concentrates have been collected from the rock and mineral collection of the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA) and originate from historical exploitations of eluvial and alluvial cassiterite deposits. No quantitative study of the concentrates has been envisaged since no information is available about the history of the samples prior to sampling. Microscopic investigation revealed the presence of cassiterite crystals with metallic and non-metallic luster, of which the latter show growth zoning. The color from the cassiterite crystals can vary from transparent colorless to black non-transparent. The variation in color in a single grain can be as varied as the color variation between grains for an entire concentrate. The mineralogical composition of the cassiterite concentrates contains minerals that are typical gangue and accessory minerals in the primary mineralization and that were liberated during weathering. In addition, minerals can be found that result from the weathering from the metasedimentary and doleritic host-rocks of the primary mineralization. Except the occasional presence of a certain mineral or a special color for a certain cassiterite, no systematic variation can be observed between the concentrates from the different locations. Often, the mineral and color variation in one concentrate can be as large as for concentrates found from different locations

Effect of temperature on the in vitro reproduction of Aphelenchoides rutgersi

Summary -The effect of temperature on egg production, hatching and the Iife cycle from adult to adult of Aphelenehoides rutgeni was investigated in vitro. The optimum temperature for the reproduction of A. rulgersi was 28 oc. At this tempe rature, a freshly matured female deposited on average 60 eggs during the first 11 days of its reproductive period; hatching started on day 2; egg viabiliry was about 80 % in sterile tap water and over 95 % in axenic mectium; minimum development time was 6 days; and the time required for a 100 % increase in adult females was slightly more than 8 days. At 33 oC, A. rulgersi was unable to increase its population. As the temperature decreased below 28 oC, fewer eggs were produced, hatching started later, and both minimum and mean generation time were at least 2 days longer. Résumé

Valorization of polybutadiene waste streams to unsaturated macrocycles with Ru metathesis catalysis

status: accepte

Timing of veining and Variscan deformation in the Stavelot-Venn Massif (Belgium)

Petrographic investigation of the Grand-Halleux boreholes identified different generations of quartz veins that were formed during different periods of fluid migration in an environment that was decreasingly influenced by compressive deformation. The Ar-40-Ar-39 dating of muscovite associated with shear zones crosscutting two quartz vein generations indicated an age of 318 +/- 4.7Ma, which allows determining the position of the different vein generations in relation to the Variscan deformation in the Stavelot-Venn Massif. This age also determines the approximate age for the Variscan syn-orogenic metamorphism in the Stavelot-Venn Massif. Younger extension veins and prismatic quartz crystals in open spaces are associated with different generations of carbonates, associated with Pb-Zn-Cu mineralisation. This implies that this mineralisation did not form during Caledonian metamorphism or early Variscan orogenic metamorphism, but has a late to post-Variscan age. It could be linked to the post-orogenic expulsion of metamorphic fluids, but a link with the younger Pb-Zn mineralisation in the Variscan front zone is favoured based on the presence of high-salinity low temperature fluids