Is there any Internet Governance out there?

This year has seen significant developments in internet governance, including the Brazilian government’s attempt to create a truly multistakeholder global process in the wake of the Snowden revelations, and the US government’s announcement of its intention to transition domain name functions to the global multistakeholder community. Andrew Puddephatt, executive director of Global Partners Digital, spoke at a seminar last week organised by the LSE Media Policy Project, the International Institute of Communications, and the Internet Society, on upcoming challenges in this area

Mapping Digital Media: Freedom of Expression Rights in the Digital Age

Assesses the Internet and the World Wide Web as a platform for freedom of expression, ways to address the jurisdictional vacuum, and new tools to promote freedom of expression as well as new threats. Calls for standards on how to protect it online

cis-Dimethyl­bis(triphenyl­arsine)platinum(II)

In the title compound, [Pt(CH3)2(C18H15As)2], the PtII atom adopts a distorted cis-PtAs2C2 square-planar coordination geometry. In the crystal, mol­ecules inter­act via aromatic π–π stacking inter­actions [centroid–centroid separation = 3.6741 (18) Å]

Selective Oxygen Atom Insertion into an Aryl-Palladium Bond

The chemistry of a palladium(II) complex containing both an alkyl- and an aryl-palladium bond is reported. The reaction of [Pd(CH2CMe2C6H4)(MesN=CHCH=NMes)] with bromine or iodine leads to reductive elimination of 1,1-dimethylcyclobutabenzene with formation of [PdX2(MesN=CHCH=NMes)] (X = Br, I). However, the reaction with hydrogen peroxide gives [Pd(CH2CMe2C6H4O)(MesN=CHCH=NMes)] by overall oxygen atom insertion into the aryl-palladium rather than the alkyl-palladium bond. This complex [Pd(CH2CMe2C6H4O)(MesN=CHCH=NMes)] reacts with bromine, iodine, or hydrogen peroxide to give 3,3-dimethyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran and the corresponding complex [PdX2(MesN=CHCH=NMes)]. The mechanisms of reaction and basis for selectivity are discussed. The results support the view that oxygen atom insertion is a mechanistically viable pathway for selective catalytic oxidation of hydrocarbons by the green oxidant hydrogen peroxide

Understanding alcohol use and changes in drinking habits among people with a severe mental illness: a qualitative framework analysis study

Introduction: Individuals with a severe mental illness (SMI) are more likely to drink at harmful levels or abstain. While it is known that drinking patterns change over time, the reasons for this among those with a SMI are unclear. This study aimed to (i) explore the experiences with alcohol, particularly in relation to mental health symptoms, and (ii) how drinking patterns have changed over time, among individuals who have a SMI diagnosis, who either currently drink alcohol or no longer drink.Methods: One-to-one semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted to address the study aims. Current drinkers' alcohol use was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test. A framework analysis was used to address the study aims with a specific focus on the differences in the experiences with alcohol use between current and former drinkers.Results: 16 participants were interviewed, and five themes were developed. The analysis highlighted how alcohol was increasingly used to cope with (i) trauma, (ii) SMI-related symptoms, or (iii) stress. Among those with a SMI, non-drinking was facilitated through declines in SMI-related symptoms, previous negative consequences due to alcohol and changing the social environment. Current drinking habits were facilitated through changes in the reasons for drinking and adopting different alcohol moderation techniques.Discussion: Among those with a SMI diagnosis and who either currently drink alcohol or no longer drink, our findings support the self-medication hypothesis and drinking motives model. However, our findings indicate the need for further development of drinking to cope with a focus on symptoms of a SMI and trauma. Our findings also have implications on specialist alcohol and mental health services, the need to improve individuals' understanding of SMI, and the need to identify reasons for drinking among those with a recent diagnosis of a SMI

The Socioeconomic Patterning of Alcohol Use and Mental Health Comorbidity

Some individuals with a mental health problem are more likely to drink at harmful levels and report using alcohol to cope with declines in their mental health whilst others no longer use alcohol due to declines in their mental health. Individuals of lower socioeconomic status (SES) are disproportionately more likely to experience alcohol harms and poorer mental health, respectively, compared to those of higher SES. It is also suggested that other factors, such as neighbourhood disadvantage and social support, play a role in these co-occurrences. This thesis aims to understand the prevalence of alcohol use across a range of mental health problems in the general population, examine the role of SES and other factors on this co-occurrence, and explore experiences of alcohol use and how it is used over time among individuals with a mental health problem living in the general population. Using a multi-methods approach, this thesis conducts a systematic review and meta-analysis to establish the prevalence of alcohol use among individuals with and without common mental disorders (CMD). A secondary data analysis using a large, representative survey in England, 2014 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, is then used to establish the prevalence of alcohol use (including non-drinking) across a range of mental health problems. This thesis then focusses on individuals who meet criteria for a mental health problem to establish how i) individuals are clustered based upon different indicators of SES, ii) SES is associated with alcohol use and, iii) the indirect effect of social support and neighbourhood disadvantage on this co-occurrence. Finally, qualitative interviews explore changes in drinking based upon the mental health symptoms individuals experience and how these differ among drinkers and non-drinkers who have a severe mental illness (SMI). Findings from the thesis show that individuals with a CMD are twice as likely to report an alcohol use disorder compared to those without. Secondary data show that those meeting criteria for a range of mental health problems are more likely to be non-, hazardous or harmful/probable dependent drinkers, compared to low-risk drinkers. This data also shows that, among those with a mental health problem, lower SES groups are more likely to be non-drinkers, compared to those of higher SES. Qualitative findings show that alcohol is used to cope specifically with trauma, mental health symptoms or stress among individuals with a SMI. Non-drinkers change their drinking habits before or during getting formal support and after experiencing significant declines in their mental health. Whereas drinkers change their drinking habits either during or after getting formal support and now currently drink alcohol for enjoyment and in a controlled way. The evidence lends support for the self-medication and drinking motives models and highlights that the co-occurrence of alcohol and mental health problems are complex. Findings have important implications for how drinking habits may change over time and the role of mental health, previous trauma and appropriate and timely support

Pincer-plus-one ligands in self-assembly with palladium(ii): a molecular square and a molecular tetrahedron

The combination of a palladium(ii) precursor with a diimine-phenol ligand and an oxidant (H2O2 or O2) under different conditions has, serendipitously, given both a molecular square and a molecular tetrahedron by self-assembly of building blocks comprising palladium(ii) centres coordinated to the oxidised forms of the ligand