Attempted suicide in Sri Lanka –An epidemiological study of household and community factors

An individual's suicide risk is determined by personal characteristics, but is also influenced by their environment. Previous studies indicate a role of contextual effects on suicidal behaviour, but there is a dearth of quantitative evidence from Asia.Individual and community level data were collected on 165,233 people from 47,919 households in 171 communities in rural Sri Lanka. Data were collected on individual (age, sex, past suicide attempts and individual socioeconomic position (SEP)) and household (household SEP, pesticide access, alcohol use and multigenerational households) level factors. We used 3-level logit models to investigate compositional (individual) and contextual (household/community) effects.We found significant variation between households 21% (95% CI 18%, 24%) and communities 4% (95% CI 3%, 5%) in the risk of a suicide attempt. Contextual factors as measured by low household SEP (OR 2.37 95% CI 2.10, 2.67), low community SEP (OR 1.45 95% CI 1.21, 1.74), and community 'problem' alcohol use (OR 1.44 95% CI 1.19, 1.75) were associated with an increased risk of suicide attempt. Women living in households with alcohol misuse were at higher risk of attempted suicide. We observed a protective effect of living in multigenerational households (OR 0.53 95% CI 0.42, 0.65).The outcome was respondent-reported and refers to lifetime reports of attempted suicide, therefore this study might be affected by socially desirable responding.Our study finds that contextual factors are associated with an individual's risk of attempted suicide in Sri Lanka, independent of an individual's personal characteristics

Permeability evolution during progressive development of deformation bands in porous sandstones

[1] Triaxial deformation experiments were carried out on large (0.1 m) diameter cores of a porous sandstone in order to investigate the evolution of bulk sample permeability as a function of axial strain and effective confining pressure. The log permeability of each sample evolved via three stages: (1) a linear decrease prior to sample failure associated with poroelastic compaction, (2) a transient increase associated with dynamic stress drop, and (3) a systematic quasi-static decrease associated with progressive formation of new deformation bands with increasing inelastic axial strain. A quantitative model for permeability evolution with increasing inelastic axial strain is used to analyze the permeability data in the postfailure stage. The model explicitly accounts for the observed fault zone geometry, allowing the permeability of individual deformation bands to be estimated from measured bulk parameters. In a test of the model for Clashach sandstone, the parameters vary systematically with confining pressure and define a simple constitutive rule for bulk permeability of the sample as a function of inelastic axial strain and effective confining pressure. The parameters may thus be useful in predicting fault permeability and sealing potential as a function of burial depth and faul

Sex education and self-poisoning in Sri Lanka: an explorative analysis

BACKGROUND: Self-harm and suicide are important causes of morbidity and mortality in Sri Lanka, but our understanding of these behaviours is limited. Qualitative studies have implicated familial and societal expectations around sex and relationships. We conducted an explorative analysis using case-control data to investigate the association between sex education and self-poisoning in Sri Lanka. METHODS: Cases (N=298) were self-poisoning inpatients on a toxicology ward, Teaching Hospital Peradeniya. Controls (N=500) were sex and age frequency matched to cases and were outpatients/visitors to the same hospital. Participants were asked whether they had received sex education, and to rate the quality and usefulness of any sex education received. Logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, and religion quantified the association between receipt, quality and usefulness of sex education and self-poisoning. We tested whether the associations differed by sex. RESULTS: Roughly 1-in-3 cases and 1-in-5 controls reported having not received sex education. Individuals who did not receive sex education were nearly twice as likely to have self-poisoned than those who did (OR 1.68 (95% CI 1.11-2.55)). Those who reported the sex education they received as not useful were more likely to have self-poisoned compared to those who reported it useful (OR 1.95 (95% CI 1.04-3.65)). We found no evidence of an association between self-poisoning and the self-rated quality of sex education, or that associations differed by participant sex. CONCLUSION: As sex education is potentially modifiable at the population-level, further research should aim to explore this association in more depth, using qualitative methods and validated measurement tools. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-12374-4

Herpesviral ICP0 Protein Promotes Two Waves of Heterochromatin Removal on an Early Viral Promoter during Lytic Infection

ABSTRACT Herpesviruses must contend with host cell epigenetic silencing responses acting on their genomes upon entry into the host cell nucleus. In this study, we confirmed that unchromatinized herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) genomes enter primary human foreskin fibroblasts and are rapidly subjected to assembly of nucleosomes and association with repressive heterochromatin modifications such as histone 3 (H3) lysine 9-trimethylation (H3K9me3) and lysine 27-trimethylation (H3K27me3) during the first 1 to 2 h postinfection. Kinetic analysis of the modulation of nucleosomes and heterochromatin modifications over the course of lytic infection demonstrates a progressive removal that coincided with initiation of viral gene expression. We obtained evidence for three phases of heterochromatin removal from an early gene promoter: an initial removal of histones and heterochromatin not dependent on ICP0, a second ICP0-dependent round of removal of H3K9me3 that is independent of viral DNA synthesis, and a third phase of H3K27me3 removal that is dependent on ICP0 and viral DNA synthesis. The presence of ICP0 in transfected cells is also sufficient to promote removal of histones and H3K9me3 modifications of cotransfected genes. Overall, these results show that ICP0 promotes histone removal, a reduction of H3K9me3 modifications, and a later indirect reduction of H3K27me3 modifications following viral early gene expression and DNA synthesis. Therefore, HSV ICP0 promotes the reversal of host epigenetic silencing mechanisms by several mechanisms

Evaluating deformation behavior of a TBC-System during thermal gradient mechanical fatigue by means of high energy X-ray diffraction

Applications of TBC-systems involve complex thermal mechanical loading pattern including transient thermal gradients across the coated system, which result in multiaxial stresses and stress gradients affecting the damage behavior. In an ongoing research, starting more than 10 years ago, the authors developed laboratory test facilities for evaluating the damage behavior of TBC-systems for gas turbine blades in aeroengines under realistic thermal mechanical loading conditions [1]. Fatigue tests involving thermal gradients have been conducted and damage behavior in dependence of load pattern and pre heat treatment has been intensively investigated on TBC-systems comprising a partially yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) topcoat and a MCrAlY bond coat both applied by electron physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) onto nickel based super alloys serving as substrate [2]. Numerical analyses by means of FE-calculations did provide hypotheses explaining the observed damage behavior [3], but even though the results are plausible they did depend on reasonable assumptions on materials properties since reliable data on the properties of the thin coating layers are still lacking, especially for high temperatures. High energy X-ray diffraction can provide the requested information since it is possible to achieve information on the local deformation processes in each layer with high spatial resolution, and short acquisition times allow for in situ investigation of time dependent deformation processes. A new test facility based on concepts after [1] for cyclic thermal loading of tubular specimens and applying a controlled thermal gradient across the coated specimen’s wall has been developed for implementation into an electro-mechanical test machine at the advanced photon source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory. A precision positioning rig allows for exact µm-positioning of the entire test machine with respect to the focused X-ray beam, and X-ray diffraction patterns were taken using a 2D detector, giving accurate 360° lattice parameter data [4]. Tests have been performed with varying thermal and mechanical load schemata intending to determine material properties from the respective strain response. The beam energy was 65 keV, and throughout all experiments the beam scanned through the coating layers with a window and step size of 30 µm. Strain data were acquired in plane parallel to the specimen’s length axis and out of plane. Results of the strain data evaluation will be presented and discussed. Exemplary results are: - Elastic properties of the YSZ showed a gradient across the coating thickness reflecting the microstructure gradient of the YSZ resulting from the EB-PVD process. - The YSZ strain was – below the deposition temperature - in plane compressive and out of plane tensile, which is a consequence of (i) the higher thermal expansion coefficient of YSZ with respect to the substrate and (ii) the cylindrical specimen geometry with the YSZ at the outer surface. [1] M. Bartsch, G. Marci, K. Mull, C. Sick, Adv. Eng. Mater. (1999), 1(2), 127–9 [2] M. Bartsch, B. Baufeld, S. Dalkilic, L. Chernova, M. Heinzelmann, Int. J. Fatigue (2008) 30, 211–8 [3] M. T. Hernandez, A. M. Karlsson, M. Bartsch, Surf. Coat. Technol. (2009) 203, 3549–58 [4] S.F. Siddiqui, K. Knipe, A. Manero, C. Meid, J. Wischek, J. Okasinski, J. Almer, A.M. Karlsson, M. Bartsch, S. Raghavan, Review of Scientific Instruments (2013) 84, 08390

Domestic violence and self-poisoning in Sri Lanka

Background. There is increasing evidence that domestic violence (DV) is an important risk factor for suicidal behaviour. The level of risk and its contribution to the overall burden of suicidal behaviour among men and women has not been quantified in South Asia. We carried out a large case-control study to examine the association between DV and self-poisoning in Sri Lanka. Methods. Cases (N = 291) were patients aged ⩾18 years, admitted to a tertiary hospital in Kandy Sri Lanka for self-poisoning. Sex and age frequency matched controls were recruited from the hospital’s outpatient department (N = 490) and local population (N = 450). Exposure to DV was collected through the Humiliation, Afraid, Rape, Kick questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression models were conducted to estimate the association between DV and self-poisoning, and population attributable fractions were calculated. Results. Exposure to at least one type of DV within the previous 12 months was strongly associated with self-poisoning for women [adjusted OR (AOR) 4.08, 95% CI 1.60–4.78] and men (AOR 2.52, 95% CI 1.51–4.21), compared to those reporting no abuse. Among women, the association was strongest for physical violence (AOR 14.07, 95% CI 5.87–33.72), whereas among men, emotional abuse showed the highest risk (AOR 2.75, 95% CI 1.57–4.82). PAF % for exposure to at least one type of DV was 38% (95% CI 32–43) in women and 22% (95% CI 14–29) in men. Conclusions. Multi-sectoral interventions to address DV including enhanced identification in health care settings, community-based strategies, and integration of DV support and psychological services may substantially reduce suicidal behaviour in Sri Lanka

Differential cargo mobilisation within Weibel-Palade bodies after transient fusion with the plasma membrane.

Inflammatory chemokines can be selectively released from Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs) during kiss-and-run exocytosis. Such selectivity may arise from molecular size filtering by the fusion pore, however differential intra-WPB cargo re-mobilisation following fusion-induced structural changes within the WPB may also contribute to this process. To determine whether WPB cargo molecules are differentially re-mobilised, we applied FRAP to residual post-fusion WPB structures formed after transient exocytosis in which some or all of the fluorescent cargo was retained. Transient fusion resulted in WPB collapse from a rod to a spheroid shape accompanied by substantial swelling (>2 times by surface area) and membrane mixing between the WPB and plasma membranes. Post-fusion WPBs supported cumulative WPB exocytosis. To quantify diffusion inside rounded organelles we developed a method of FRAP analysis based on image moments. FRAP analysis showed that von Willebrand factor-EGFP (VWF-EGFP) and the VWF-propolypeptide-EGFP (Pro-EGFP) were immobile in post-fusion WPBs. Because Eotaxin-3-EGFP and ssEGFP (small soluble cargo proteins) were largely depleted from post-fusion WPBs, we studied these molecules in cells preincubated in the weak base NH4Cl which caused WPB alkalinisation and rounding similar to that produced by plasma membrane fusion. In these cells we found a dramatic increase in mobilities of Eotaxin-3-EGFP and ssEGFP that exceeded the resolution of our method (∼ 2.4 µm2/s mean). In contrast, the membrane mobilities of EGFP-CD63 and EGFP-Rab27A in post-fusion WPBs were unchanged, while P-selectin-EGFP acquired mobility. Our data suggest that selective re-mobilisation of chemokines during transient fusion contributes to selective chemokine secretion during transient WPB exocytosis. Selective secretion provides a mechanism to regulate intravascular inflammatory processes with reduced risk of thrombosis

Commit* to change? A call to end the publication of the phrase ‘commit* suicide’

Background: Countering stigma is a fundamental facet of suicide prevention efforts. Integral to this is the promotion of accurate and sensitive language. The phrase ‘commit* suicide’ has prompted marked opposition primarily due to the connotations of immorality and illegality. Methods: The study investigated the frequency of the use of the wordstem ‘commit’, in relation to self-harm and suicidal behaviours, in the three leading suicide-specific academic journals between 2000 and 2015. Results: One third (34%) of articles published since the year 2000 used the word ‘commit*’ when describing an act of self-harm or suicide. Over half of these articles (57%) used the phrase on more than one occasion, with 6% using it more than 10 times in the same manuscript. The percentage of papers utilising the word ‘commit*’ has fluctuated over time, but there is a promising downward trend in the use of this phrase from 33% in 2000 to 13% in 2015 (p < 0.001). Discussion: We advocate for the implementation of publication requirements regarding the language used when discussing suicide. Whilst we call for collective responsibility amongst academics and clinicians, editors hold a unique position in ensuring that outdated, inaccurate and stigma-laden terms are expunged from the scientific literature