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Over the last 20 years, the Canadian Blood Services' (CBS) Donor Health Assessment Questionnaire (DHAQ), used to screen prospective blood donors to determine their eligibility, has grown in complexity and length. Its growth is inextricably linked to the evolution of the environment within which CBS operates from unregulated collection and distribution of labile blood products to a fully regulated environment and to the need to satisfy both Health Canada and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements. Within this context, the development of the CBS DHAQ has been characterized by addition of questions and items without any periodic reevaluation of the need for retaining existing questions and/or items. In this review, we apply principles from cognitive science relating to how people think when answering questionnaires to the situation of blood donors completing the DHAQ. We show that some items that were added at different times in separate questions, for reasons that were historically relevant, could be now asked more simply with a single question. The historical development of the DHAQ, resulting in the condensing of many items into lists, the use of complex wording, and the sheer number of items included in the questionnaire make accurate retrieval of information from the donor's memory difficult. Thus, we believe that redesigning the DHAQ will improve the quality and accuracy of the donors' answers to screening questions.Copyright © 2007 by Elsevier Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Discrimination disrupts sleep and contributes to race-based health inequities for Black Americans, but less is known about the psychological mechanisms underlying this relation. The current work tests whether emotion invalidation, termed Social Pain Minimization (SPM), mediates discrimination's negative effects on sleep quality. We focus on the experiences of Black Americans because of racism's disproportionate effect on the health outcomes of Black individuals in the U.S., Methods: Four studies with cross-sectional (Studies 1a-1b) and cross-lagged panel designs (Studies 2-3; N total  = 1,176) were used. Discrimination and SPM were assessed with established measures and self-reported sleep quality was assessed with three different operationalizations including the short form Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Sleep-Related Impairment (SRI) subscale and composites of the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)., Results: Cross-sectional (Studies 1a-1b) and longitudinal mediation analyses (Studies 2-3) indicated discrimination's negative effect on sleep quality partially operated through SPM (Study 1a, 95% CI = [-.24, -.016]); Study 1b, 95% CI = [-.22, -.03]; Study 2, 95% CI = [-.268, -.007]]; Study 3, 95% CI = [-0.043, -.002])., Conclusion: Beyond its direct negative effect on sleep, discrimination also operates through SPM to reduce sleep quality. Emotion invalidation stemming from discrimination damages sleep.

Weight stigma, and more specifically, anti-fat attitudes, is associated with disordered eating. Furthermore, these anti-fat attitudes influence various appearance ideals. Muscle dysmorphia (MD) is characterized by preoccupation with the muscular ideal and is a potential form of disordered eating commonly experienced by men. Despite theory suggesting that anti-fat attitudes may contribute to MD, research has yet to examine associations between anti-fat attitudes and MD symptoms. Therefore, the current study investigated longitudinal relationships between anti-fat attitudes and MD symptoms. Participants were 269 U.S. men recruited from Prolific who completed three self-report surveys each separated by one month. Primary analyses examined longitudinal relationships between specific anti-fat attitudes and MD symptoms using an adapted three-wave cross-lagged panel model. Results demonstrated that believing that fat people do not have willpower was longitudinally associated with desires to increase muscle size at multiple time points. Furthermore, MD-specific functional impairment predicted fears of becoming fat longitudinally. Practically, men may desire to increase their muscularity to demonstrate their own willpower and distance themselves from anti-fat stereotypes. Thus, clinicians may consider targeting weight stigmatizing attitudes to reduce MD symptom severity among their male clients., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are elevated among active-duty service members (ADSM) and veterans compared to the general population. Hence, it is a priority to examine maintenance factors underlying suicidal ideation among ADSM and veterans to develop effective, targeted interventions. In particular, interpersonal risk factors, hopelessness, and overarousal have been robustly connected to suicidal ideation and intent., Methods: To identify the suicidal ideation risk factors that are most relevant, we employed network analysis to examine between-subjects (cross-sectional), contemporaneous (within seconds), and temporal (across four hours) group-level networks of suicidal ideation and related risk factors in a sample of ADSM and veterans ( participant n = 92, observations n = 10 650). Participants completed ecological momentary assessment (EMA) surveys four times a day for 30 days, where they answered questions related to suicidal ideation, interpersonal risk factors, hopelessness, and overarousal., Results: The between-subjects and contemporaneous networks identified agitation, not feeling close to others, and ineffectiveness as the most central symptoms. The temporal network revealed that feeling ineffective was most likely to influence other symptoms in the network over time., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that ineffectiveness, low belongingness, and agitation are important drivers of moment-to-moment and longitudinal relations between risk factors for suicidal ideation in ADSM and veterans. Targeting these symptoms may disrupt suicidal ideation.

Objectives: Pharmacists constitute a crucial component of the healthcare system, significantly influencing the provision of medication services and ensuring patient safety. This study aims to understand the characteristics and risk factors for complaints against pharmacists through Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) published decisions., Methods: This study adopts a retrospective, qualitative approach. An inductive content analysis technique was used to analyze 37 complaints against pharmacists published decisions from the New Zealand Health and Disability Commissioner website to investigate a range of underlying risk factors contributing to the occurrence of complaints against pharmacists., Results: A set of 20 categories of risk factors emerged through the content analysis and were subsequently grouped into five overarching themes: pharmacist individual factors, organizational factors, system factors, medication-specific factors, and external environmental factors., Conclusions: The findings of this study provide valuable insights that expand the understanding of risk management in pharmacist practice, serving as a valuable resource for regulatory bodies, policymakers, educators, and practitioners. It is recommended not only to focus solely on individual pharmacists but also to consider integrating their environment and individual behaviors to proactively address situations prone to errors and subsequent complaints., Competing Interests: The authors disclose no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: With conference attendees having expressed preference for hybrid meeting formats (containing both in-person and virtual components), organisers are challenged to find the best combination of events for academic meetings. Better understanding what attendees prioritise in a hybrid conference should allow better planning and need fulfilment., Methods: An online survey with closed and open-ended questions was distributed to registrants of an international virtual conference. Responses were then submitted to descriptive statistical analysis and directed content analysis., Results: 823 surveys (Response Rate = 4.9%) were received. Of the 813 who expressed a preference, 56.9% (N = 463) desired hybrid conference formats in the future, 32.0% (N = 260) preferred in-person conferences and 11.1% (N = 90) preferred virtual conferences. Presuming a hybrid meeting could be adopted, 67.4% (461/684) preferred that virtual sessions take place both during the in-person conference and be spread throughout the year. To optimise in-person components of hybrid conferences, recommendations received from 503 respondents included: prioritising clinical skills sessions (26.2%, N = 132), live international expert presentations and discussions (15.7%, N = 79) and interaction between delegates (13.5%, N = 68). To optimise virtual components, recommendations received from 486 respondents included: prioritising a live streaming platform with international experts' presentations and discussions (24.3%, N = 118), clinical case discussions (19.8%, N = 96) and clinical update sessions (10.1%, N = 49)., Conclusions: Attendees envision hybrid conferences in which organisers can enable the vital interaction between individuals during an in-person component (e.g., networking, viewing and improving clinical skills) while accessing virtual content at their convenience (e.g., online expert presentations with latest advancements, clinical case discussions and debates). Having accessible virtual sessions throughout the year, as well as live streaming during the in-person component of hybrid conferences, allows for opportunity to prolong learning beyond the conference days., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Aims: We aimed to explore pharmacists' attitudes and support toward medically assisted dying (MaiD) through the End of Life Choice Act 2019 (EOLC), their willingness to provide services in this area of practice, and the influences on their decisions., Methods: The study was conducted via an anonymous, online Qualtrics TM survey of pharmacists. Registered New Zealand pharmacists who agreed to receive surveys from the two Schools of Pharmacy as part of their Annual Practicing Certificate renewal were invited to participate through an email with a Qualtrics URL link. The survey contained questions regarding demographics, awareness, knowledge, support for, and attitudes and willingness to participate., Results: Of the 335 responses received, 289 were valid and included in the analysis. Most participants supported legally assisted medical dying (58%), almost a third of participants did not support it (29%), and 13% of respondents were unsure. The five primary considerations that participants perceived to be beneficial included support from legislation, respect for patient autonomy, discussions around morality, ending suffering, and preserving dignity. The main concerns were legal, personal bias, palliation, stigmatisation, and vulnerability., Conclusions: The influences on the decision by pharmacists to support and willingness to participate in the provision of services consistent with the EOLC are complex and multifactorial. Diverse factors may influence attitudes, of which religion is the most significant factor in not supporting the Act or willingness to participate. Clarity and standardised guidance to ensure that assisted dying queries are appropriately managed in practice would help to address any potential access issues.

Background: Professional misconduct has evolved into a worldwide concern, involving various forms and types of behaviours that contribute to unsafe practices. This study aimed to provide insights into the patterns characterising pharmacist misconduct and uncover underlying factors contributing to such instances in New Zealand., Methods: This research examined all cases of pharmacist misconduct sourced from the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (HPDT) database in New Zealand since 2004. Characteristics of the sampled pharmacists and cases were extracted, followed by a systematic coding of the observed misconduct issues. Identification of risk factors was accomplished through content analysis techniques, enabling an assessment of their prevalence across various forms of misconduct., Results: The dataset of pharmacist misconduct cases comprised 58 disciplinary records involving 55 pharmacists. Seven types of misconduct were identified, with the most commonly observed being quality and safety issues related to drug, medication and care, as well as criminal conviction. A total of 13 risk factors were identified and systematically classified into three categories: (1) social, regulatory, and external environmental factors, (2) systematic, organisational, and practical considerations in the pharmacy, and (3) pharmacist individual factors. The most frequently mentioned and far-reaching factors include busyness, heavy workload or distraction; health impairment issues; and life stress or challenges., Conclusions: The patterns of pharmacist misconduct are complicated, multifaceted, and involve complex interactions among risk factors. Collaborative efforts involving individual pharmacists, professional bodies, responsible authorities, policy-makers, health funders and planners in key areas such as pharmacist workload and well-being are expected to mitigate the occurrence of misconduct. Future research should seek to uncover the origins, manifestations, and underlying relationships of various contributing factors through empirical research with appropriate individuals., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Identifying the risk and predicting complaints and misconduct against health practitioners are essential for healthcare regulators to implement early interventions and develop long-term prevention strategies to improve professional practice and enhance patient safety. This scoping review aims to map out existing literature on the risk identification and prediction of complaints and misconduct against health practitioners. This scoping review followed Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage methodological framework. A comprehensive literature search was conducted on MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases and finished on the same day (6 September 2021). Articles meeting the eligibility criteria were charted and descriptively analysed through a narrative analysis method. The initial search generated 5473 articles. After the identification, screening, and inclusion process, 81 eligible studies were included for data charting. Three key themes were reported: methods used for identifying risk factors and predictors of the complaints and misconduct, synthesis of identified risk factors and predictors in eligible studies, and predictive tools developed for complaints and misconduct against health practitioners. The findings reveal that risk identification and prediction of complaints and misconduct are complex issues influenced by multiple factors, exhibiting non-linear patterns and being context specific. Further efforts are needed to understand the characteristics and interactions of risk factors, develop systematic risk prediction tools, and facilitate the application in the regulatory environment., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of International Society for Quality in Health Care.)

Conferences enable rapid information sharing and networking that are vital to career development within academic communities. Addressing diverse attendee needs is challenging and getting it wrong wastes resources and dampens enthusiasm for the field. This study explores whether, and how, motivations for attendance can be grouped in relation to preferences to offer guidance to organizers and attendees. A pragmatic constructivist case study approach using mixed methods was adopted. Semi-structured interviews completed with key informants underwent thematic analysis. Survey results outlining attendees' perspectives underwent cluster and factor analysis. Stakeholder interviews (n = 13) suggested attendees could be grouped by motivations predictable from level of specialisation in a field and past engagement with conferences. From n = 1229 returned questionnaires, motivations were clustered into three factors: learning, personal and social. Three groups of attendees were identified. Group 1 (n = 500; 40.7%) was motivated by all factors. Group 2 (n = 345; 28.1%) was mainly motivated by the learning factor. Group 3 (n = 188; 15.3%) scored the social factor highest for in-person conferences and the learning factor highest for virtual meetings. All three groups expressed a preference for hybrid conferences in the future. This study indicates that medical conference attendees can be clustered based on their learning, personal and social motivations for attendance. The taxonomy enables organizers to tailor conference formats with guidance on how to utilize hybrid conferences, thereby enabling better catering to attendees' desires for knowledge gain relative to networking., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: Eating disorders (EDs), fear of COVID-19, and insomnia have all increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in Western societies. Additionally, fear of COVID-19 and sleep disturbances relate to ED symptoms in Western societies. However, it is unknown whether fear of COVID-19 and insomnia relate to ED symptoms in non-Western countries, such as Iran. Thus, this study examined the relation between fear of COVID-19, insomnia, and ED symptoms among Iranian college students. Specifically, we hypothesized that insomnia and fear of COVID-19 would each uniquely relate to ED symptoms and the interaction between insomnia and fear of COVID-19 would also associate with increased ED symptoms., Method: College students ( N =1,043) filled out measures assessing fear of COVID-19, insomnia, and ED symptoms. We ran moderation analyses using linear regression for global ED symptoms and negative binomial regressions for binge eating and purging., Results: Fear of COVID-19 and insomnia had unique effects on global ED symptoms and binge eating. Insomnia, but not fear of COVID-19, had a unique effect on purging. No significant interaction effect was found., Discussion: This study was the first to examine the association between fear of COVID-19 and insomnia on ED symptoms in Iran. Fear of COVID-19 and insomnia should be incorporated into novel assessments and treatments for EDs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Authors.)

(1) Background: The safe performance of pharmacists is an important issue for patients and regulators. It is recognized that pharmacists interact with a variety of healthcare professionals and act as a bridge between other healthcare providers and systems and patients in the health setting. There has been growing activity in exploring factors that impact optimal performance and determinants that are linked with medication errors and practice incidents. The aviation and military industries have used S.H.E.L.L modeling to identify how personnel interact with factors that affect outcomes. A human factors approach is a useful angle to take when trying to improve optimal practice. Little is known about the experiences of New Zealand pharmacists and S.H.E.L.L factors that affect day-to-day practices in their work environment. (2) Methods: We investigated environment, team, and organizational considerations as the determining factors of optimal work practices using an anonymous online questionnaire. The questionnaire was built from a modified version of the software, hardware, environment, and liveware (S.H.E.L.L) model. This identified components of a work system that were vulnerable and that provided risks to optimal practice. Participants were New Zealand pharmacists approached through a subscriber list provided by the regulatory authority of the profession. (3) Results: We received responses from 260 participants (8.56%). The majority of participants indicated that optimal practice was occurring. More than 95% of respondents agreed that knowledge, fatigue interruptions, complacency, and stress affected optimal practice. Equipment and tools, medication arrangement on the shelf, lighting, physical layout, and communication with staff and patients were important factors for optimal practice. A smaller cohort of participants, 13 percent ( n = 21), stated that dispensing processes, dissemination, and enforcement of standard operating procedures and procedural guidance did not affect pharmacy practice, 21.3% responded that professional and ethical requirements did not affect optimal practice, 20% stated that having a staffroom affected optimal practice, 20% did not think substance use affected optimal practice, and 30% did not state that cultural differences affected optimal practice. Optimal practice is constrained when there is a lack of experience, professionalism, and communication among staff, patients, and external agencies. COVID-19 also has had an impact on pharmacists both personally and in their work environments. Exploring how the pandemic has affected pharmacists and their work environment warrants further research. (4) Conclusions: Pharmacists across New Zealand agreed that optimal practices were occurring and considered other factors that were perceived to not affect optimal practice. A human factor S.H.E.L.L framework has been used to analyze themes to understand the optimal practice. The rising body of international literature on the effect of the pandemic on pharmacy practice serves as a foundation for many of these themes. Longitudinal data would be useful in exploring some factors, such as pharmacist well-being over time.

Background: Suicide is one of the most commonly reported causes of death in individuals with eating disorders. However, the mechanisms underlying the suicide and disordered eating link are largely unknown, and current assessments are still unable to accurately predict future suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The purpose of this study is to test the utility of two promising proximal risk factors, sleep quality and agitation, in predicting suicidal ideation in a sample of individuals with elevated suicidal thoughts and behaviors, namely those with eating disorders., Methods: Women ( N = 97) receiving treatment at an eating disorder treatment center completed weekly questionnaires assessing suicidal ideation, agitation, and sleep. General linear mixed models examined whether agitation and/or sleep quality were concurrently or prospectively associated with suicidal ideation across 12 weeks of treatment., Results: There was a significant interaction between within-person agitation and sleep quality on suicidal ideation [ B (s.e.) = -0.02(0.01), p < 0.05], such that on weeks when an individual experienced both higher than their average agitation and lower than their average sleep quality, they also experienced their highest levels of suicidal ideation. However, neither agitation nor sleep quality prospectively predicted suicidal ideation., Conclusions: This study was the first to examine dynamic associations between interpersonal constructs and suicidal ideation in individuals with eating disorders. Results suggest that ongoing assessment for overarousal symptoms, such as agitation and poor sleep quality, in individuals with eating disorders may be warranted in order to manage suicidal ideation among this vulnerable population.

Background: Ample studies have tested how viewing bodies on social media impacts eating disorder symptoms; however, the relationship between viewing food images on social media and disordered eating remains understudied. This study investigated whether viewing images of healthy, palatable food on Instagram impacted disordered eating attitudes across two samples of undergraduate women., Methods: This pre-registered online study was conducted at two sites. Participants identifying as female (study 1 n = 222; study 2 n = 214) were randomly assigned to view one of two Instagram feeds - either a feed featuring low calorie, aesthetically pleasing foods or a control condition featuring travel images. Participants completed state measures of disordered eating intentions, self-esteem, and body image before and after viewing the feeds., Results: A main effect of condition on disordered eating intentions was found at the Midwestern site, but not the Southeastern site., Conclusions: Viewing healthy palatable food images on Instagram could increase risk for disordered eating behaviors among college females. If findings are replicated, individuals vulnerable to disordered eating may benefit from removing these types of feeds from their social media. Further research is needed to determine whether other forms of visual content on Instagram may be associated with disordered eating., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and eating disorders (EDs) frequently co-occur. Intrusive thoughts are a mechanism that may maintain this comorbidity. This study used network analysis to identify central ED-related intrusive thoughts and tested which intrusive thoughts connected ED and OCD symptoms. Two cross-sectional graphical LASSO networks were computed using a sample of 353 non-clinical participants (mean age = 35.38, SD  = 9.9, 40% female, 81.6% Caucasian) with elevated disordered eating symptoms. Model 1 included just ED-related intrusive thoughts, and Model 2 included ED-related intrusive thoughts, ED, and OCD symptoms. In Model 1, we found that thoughts about one's bodily appearance (i.e., looking horrible, getting fat, gaining weight) were most central. In Model 2, we found that desire to lose weight, eating in secret, and shape dissatisfaction were most central. We identified one illness pathway (i.e., difficulty concentrating due to thoughts of food/calories) connecting intrusive thoughts, ED symptoms, and OCD symptoms. However, intrusive thoughts did not bridge ED and OCD symptoms. Hence, we found some evidence that ED-related intrusive thoughts may contribute to ED and OCD symptoms based on thought content and frequency. However, other aspects of intrusive thoughts should be considered to ascertain whether they do in fact significantly contribute to ED and OCD comorbidity. Prevention efforts targeting ED-related intrusive thoughts may attenuate ED and OCD symptoms among subclinical individuals.

Introduction: Muscle Dysmorphia (MD) is a severe subtype of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) that shares symptomatic overlap with eating disorders. Although associations between eating disorders/BDD and suicidality are well documented, research has rarely examined associations between MD symptoms and suicidality, which is concerning given MD is associated with additional suicide risk factors compared with these disorders. Further, existing associations between MD symptoms and suicidality have yet to establish temporal ordering for these relationships. Therefore, the current study investigated longitudinal relationships between MD symptoms and suicidal ideation to establish the direction of the MD-suicidality relationship., Methods: Participants were 272 US men displaying sub-clinical MD symptoms who completed self-report measurement at three time points over 6 weeks. Longitudinal relationships between MD symptoms and suicidal ideation were examined using a three-wave autoregressive cross-lagged model., Results: Certain MD symptoms were longitudinally predicted by suicidal ideation. Specifically, suicidal ideation longitudinally predicted increased drive for size and appearance intolerance., Conclusions: Results may suggest that individuals engage in MD symptoms potentially to cope with distressing thoughts of suicide. Clinicians should provide clients with comorbid MD and suicidality with appropriate coping tools to manage distress from suicidal thoughts outside of engaging in compulsive exercise characteristic of MD symptoms., (© 2022 The American Association of Suicidology.)

Muscle dysmorphia (MD) is a severe psychiatric illness; however, little is known regarding risk factors for MD development. Conformity to masculine norms may represent a risk factor for MD, but research has yet to establish temporal ordering for these relationships. Masculine discrepancy stress (distress at not amounting to masculine stereotypes) could represent a mechanism underlying these relationships. Therefore, the current study examined longitudinal relationships between conformity to masculine norms, masculine discrepancy stress, and MD symptoms. Participants were 272 men displaying elevated MD symptoms who completed self-report questionnaires at three timepoints. An autoregressive cross-lagged mediation model was specified to examine relationships between conformity to masculine norms and MD symptoms and test if masculine discrepancy stress mediated these relationships. Masculine discrepancy stress did not mediate relationships between masculine norms and MD symptoms. However, MD symptoms predicted increased masculine discrepancy stress, and conformity to masculine norms was related to MD symptoms. MD symptoms were both a predictor and outcome of masculine norms, and signs for relationships differed on the masculine norm endorsed. Conformity to masculine norms may represent a risk factor and outcome for MD symptoms. If clinicians provide clients with tools to reduce rigid adherence to masculine identities, this may prevent MD symptom development., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite the severity and high rate of co-occurrence between eating disorders (ED) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), less is known regarding the longitudinal sequencing of their comorbidity and whether and how their symptoms may influence one another over time. The current study sought to answer these questions by testing if a bidirectional, longitudinal relationship exists between ED symptoms and OCD obsessions and compulsions., Methods: We examined the relationship between ED symptoms, obsessions and compulsions across five time points, each one week apart using auto-regressive cross-lagged panel modeling. The final sample consisted of 358 individuals from the community with moderate levels of ED and OCD symptoms, the majority of whom identified as White and male., Results: Bivariate correlations revealed that ED symptoms, obsessions and compulsions were associated with one another across the five weeks. Two cross-lagged panel models indicated that ED symptoms predicted OCD symptoms at numerous time points and vice versa. However, we found this significant longitudinal associations across only certain weeks. Notably, the models found that only ED symptoms and OCD obsessions predicted one another across different time points across the five weeks; ED symptoms and OCD compulsions did not predict one another., Limitations: Due to the non-clinical nature of the sample, there is limited generalizability to clinical populations., Conclusions: Our results provide preliminary evidence that there is a bidirectional, longitudinal relationship between ED symptoms and OCD symptoms among a community sample, particularly with respect to cognitive as opposed to behavioral symptoms., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Coal is primarily a fuel material but lately it has been utilized as an adsorbent for removing toxic metal ions. However, its usage for removing organic pollutants is not well studied. We report here a systematic study on the use of coal samples of varying carbon contents as adsorbents for removing Basic Blue 41 as a model cationic dye. The coal samples were collected from coal mines and were thoroughly characterized. The concentrations of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur contents were measured by CHNS analyzer. The concentrations of aluminum, silicon, sulphur, titanium and iron were determined by EDXRF, which corresponded to silicon dioxide (quartz) and aluminium silicate (kaolinite) as the major mineral inclusions, corroborated by XRD results and micrographs showing elemental maps determined from SEM-EDAX. The coal samples with low carbon content revealed higher adsorption capacity (q e  ∼ 8.0-9.3 mg/g) of Basic Blue dye at optimized adsorbent dose (2 mg/mL), pH 9 and contact time (120 min). The adsorption kinetic studies satisfied pseudo second order model and the intra-particle diffusion of the dye was evident. The dye adsorption followed Langmuir adsorption isotherm, and the q max values ranged between 17 and 30 mg/g for low carbon content coal. The FT-IR, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area and zeta potential results of the coal samples could explain the adsorption phenomenon of cationic dye. The kinetic and thermodynamic studies revealed that the adsorption of Basic Blue 41 dye was based on chemisorptions mechanism., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although no severity specifiers are noted in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - 5 for other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED), shape/weight overvaluation is a proposed eating disorder (ED) severity specifier. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) Trees to empirically determine values of shape/weight overvaluation that differentiate OSFED severity. We additionally tested whether the SEM Tree-defined thresholds or a clinical cutoff for shape/weight overvaluation differentiated severity more meaningfully., Methods: Participants were 690 females with OSFED presenting to residential ED treatment. SEM Tree analyses specified an outcome model of OSFED severity and then recursively partitioning the outcome model into severity groups. The SEM Tree-defined and clinical cutoff severity groups were compared on clinical characteristics., Results: SEM Trees identified one split that occurred at value 5.12 on our shape/weight overvaluation items from the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire. The subgroup with higher overvaluation had significantly greater intensity of ED and depressive symptoms and longer lengths of stay. The subgroups created from the shape/weight overvaluation clinical-cut off value of 4 differed on the same clinical characteristics as the SEM Tree-derived groups, with the exception of laxative use frequency. Effect sizes were larger for the clinical cutoff as compared to the SEM Tree severity specification scheme., Limitations: These cross-sectional data were used from a predominately white and female residential treatment sample; this likely skewed the subgroups and may limit generalizability., Conclusions: Shape/weight overvaluation can meaningfully differentiate OSFED severity. The clinical cutoff slightly outperformed the empirically determined thresholds for shape/weight overvaluation., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

This study examined implicit attitudes towards different eating disorder (ED) relevant stimuli- emaciation, hard-exercise, the self, and eating related stimuli-and their relationship with explicit ED symptoms in two symptomatic samples of college-aged women. Study 1 found that positive implicit attitudes towards eating and self-relevant images were associated with greater state body image satisfaction and self-esteem and with less ED-related intentions. Study 2 found that positive implicit attitudes towards eating and self-relevant images were associated with less trait global ED psychopathology and distress and greater self-esteem. Overall, positive implicit evaluations of eating and self-related stimuli were negatively associated with ED symptoms and related psychopathology and positively related to self-esteem. However, implicit attitudes towards emaciation and hard exercise were not associated with explicit ED symptoms in either sample. These findings suggest that implicit attitudes towards eating and self-related stimuli, in particular, may be viable targets for reconditioning in novel treatment paradigms such as therapeutic evaluative conditioning interventions., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Eating disorders (ED) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are highly comorbid, but little is known about how this comorbidity is maintained. Prior research suggests that obsessive thoughts and perfectionism may be shared maintenance factors for EDs and OCD., Methods: The current study used network analysis to (1) identify bridge pathways in an ED-OCD comorbidity network and (2) test if perfectionism symptoms bridge between ED-OCD symptoms in a combined network model including ED, OCD, and Perfectionism symptoms. Participants (N = 1,619) were a mixed sample of undergraduate students and individuals diagnosed with EDs., Results: Difficulty controlling thoughts was the symptom with the highest bridge centrality in both models, connecting with ED-related worry and doubts. In the ED-OCD-Perfectionism comorbidity network, doubts about simple everyday things and repeating things over and over bridged between ED and OCD symptoms. Additionally, specific and distinct pathways were identified between OCD and two types of ED pathology: restricting (checking compulsions and rigidity around food) and binge eating (hoarding and binge eating symptoms)., Limitations: Due to the cross-sectional nature of the data, no directional inferences can be made. Due to a higher OCD symptom prevalence rate than reported in previous studies, our undergraduate sample may not be representative of other college populations., Conclusions: The presence of intrusive cognitions and maladaptive perfectionism may contribute to the maintenance of co-occurring ED and OCD symptoms. These findings begin to delineate specific pathways among OCD and ED symptoms, which can be used in the development of interventions to disrupt connections among these disorders., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction and Aims: The non-medical use of prescription stimulants such as methylphenidate, dexamphetamine and modafinil is increasing in popularity within tertiary academic settings. There is a paucity of information on awareness, attitudes, and acceptability by professionals of use in this context. This study aimed to investigate professionals' knowledge of and attitudes towards the use of cognitive enhancers (CEs) in academic settings, and their willingness to use a hypothetical CE., Design and Methods: A mail survey was sent to doctors, pharmacists, nurses, accountants and lawyers in New Zealand. These disciplines were chosen as they require professional registration to practice. The questionnaire comprised four sections: (1) demographics, (2) knowledge of CEs, (3) attitudes towards the use of CEs, and (4) willingness to use hypothetical CEs., Results: The response rate was 34.5% (414/1200). Overall, participants strongly disagreed that it was fair to allow university students to use CEs for cognitive enhancement (Mdn = 1, IQR: 1,3), or that it is ethical for students without a prescription to use cognitive enhancers for any reason (Mdn = 1, IQR: 1,2). Professions differed in their attitudes towards whether it is ethical for students without a prescription to use CEs for any reason (p = 0.001, H 31.527)., Discussion and Conclusion: Divergent views and lack of clear consensus within professions and between professionals on the use of CEs have the potential to influence both professionals and students as future professionals. These divergent views may stem from differences in the core values of self-identity as well as extrinsic factors of acceptability within the profession in balancing the elements of opportunity, fairness and authenticity in cognitive enhancement. Further research is required to inform the development of policy and guidelines that are congruent with all professions., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: Few evidence-based treatments for eating disorders (EDs) exist. Imaginal exposure therapy is a key component of effective treatment for anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, imaginal exposure has not been systematically tested as a treatment for EDs. The current study aimed to develop and test online imaginal exposure as a treatment for EDs., Methods: The current study tested a four-week trial of online imaginal exposure for EDs (N = 229 participants with EDs recruited globally). Participants completed diagnostic interviews and four sessions of weekly online imaginal exposure, in which they wrote about and imagined a core ED fear (identified with a therapist). Participants completed measures of ED symptoms and fears (i.e., fear of weight gain, food) at pre-imaginal exposure, post-imaginal exposure, and six-month follow-up. Participants were recruited and participated in the protocol from November 2016 to October 2018., Results: All primary outcomes (ED symptoms, ED fears) significantly decreased at study completion and six-month follow-up with medium-to-large effect sizes. State anxiety across the exposure and follow-ups significantly decreased, specifically from initial sessions to follow-up. Worry, but not depression, significantly decreased., Limitations: This study was an open case trial and did not include a control condition., Conclusions: Significant decreases in ED symptoms and fears occurred during the course of imaginal exposure treatment. Online imaginal exposure is a feasible treatment for EDs and is associated with decreases in core ED symptomatology, which are comparable in magnitude to decreases seen from other evidence-based treatments. A future randomized-controlled trial is needed., Clinical Trials Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03712748., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Anorexia nervosa (AN) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are highly comorbid. However, little research has examined which specific cognitive-behavioral aspects (e.g., checking, obsessing) of OCD are most relevant in those with AN. Furthermore, there is no research examining aspects of OCD in Atypical AN. The current two studies (N = 139 and N = 115 individuals diagnosed with AN/Atypical AN) examined a) which aspects of OCD were most related to AN symptomatology and b) if there were differences in OCD between individuals diagnosed with AN vs Atypical AN. We found that obsessing was most related to AN symptoms. We also found that there were no substantial significant differences between AN and Atypical AN. These findings add to the literature suggesting minimal differences between AN and Atypical AN, specifically regarding OCD symptomatology. These findings clarify that obsessions (rather than compulsions) may be the specific aspect of OCD most warranting treatment intervention in AN and Atypical AN., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Mangroves have wide applications in traditional medicines due to their several therapeutic properties. Potentially toxic elements (PTEs), in mangrove habitats, need serious concern because of their toxicity, bioaccumulation capacity and ecotoxicological risks. In the current study, we aimed to examine sediment quality and bioaccumulation of PTEs in a mangrove-dominated habitat of Sundarban, India, and their relation with antimicrobial property of ten mangrove species of the region. Antimicrobial activity of different solvent fractions of mangrove leaves was assessed against seven microorganisms. The highest antimicrobial activity was detected in ethyl acetate and acetone-extracted fractions of Avicennia alba. Various sediment quality indices revealed progressively deteriorating nature of surface sediment having moderate contamination, however, low ecotoxicological risk. The accumulation factors (AF) for different PTEs indicate a gradual metal bioaccumulation in leaf tissue. Antimicrobial activities indicated both positive and negative correlations with manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) concentrations of mangrove species. Concentration of Mn showed a significant correlation with almost all the fractions, whereas Cu had correlation with ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol fractions (P < 0.05). The AF of Mn and Cu exhibited correlation with antimicrobial activities of acetone and methanol fractions, whereas Fe and Zn had correlation with hexane and ethyl acetate fractions. Overall, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn concentrations of Acanthus ilicifolius and Avicennia alba leaves and in the surface sediments demonstrated the strongest association (P < 0.05) with their antimicrobial activity as also depicted in correlation and cluster analysis studies. Thus, this study will help to establish a link between the PTEs in mangrove ecosystem with their bioactivity.

Zn stress seriously induces various toxic responses in Withania somnifera L., when accumulated above the threshold level which was confirmed by investigating the responses of protein, expression of antioxidant enzymes, and elemental profiling on accumulation of Zn. Zn was supplemented in the form of ZnSO 4 (0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 μM) through MS liquid medium and allowed to grow the in vitro germinated plants for 7 and 14 days. The study revealed that when the application of Zn increased, a significant reduction of growth characteristics was noticed with alterations of proteins (both disappearance and de novo synthesis). The activity of CAT, SOD, and GPX were increased up to certain concentrations and then declined, which confirmed through in-gel activity under different treatments. RT-PCR was conducted by taking three sets of genes from CAT (RsCat, Catalase1, Cat1) and SOD (SodCp, TaSOD1.2, MnSOD) and found that gene RsCat from CAT and MnSOD from SOD have shown maximum expression of desired genes under Zn stress, which indicate plant's stress tolerance mechanisms. The proton-induced X-ray emission study confirmed an increasing order of uptake of Zn in plants by suppressing and expressing other elemental constituents which cause metal homeostasis. This study provides insights into molecular mechanisms associated with Zn causing toxicity to plants; however, cellular and subcellular studies are essential to explore molecule-molecule interaction during Zn stress in plants.

Sundarban along with its networks of rivers, creeks and magnificent mangroves form a unique ecosystem. Acid sulphate soils have developed in this ecosystem under anoxic reducing conditions. In the present study, we have investigated the distribution of acid sulphate soils along with its elemental characterization and possible sources in four reclaimed islands of Indian Sundarban like Maushuni (I1), Canning (I2), Bally (I3) and Kumirmari (I4). Elements show moderate to strong correlation with each other (P < 0.01; P < 0.05). Except Si, Ca and Pb, a higher enrichment factor was observed for K, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn. Geo-accumulation index values of all sampling locations reveal that Cr, Fe, Cu and Zn are in I geo class 1. The pollution load index value of the reclaimed islands of Indian Sundarban varies between 1.31 and 1.48. The observation of this study could help to strategize policies to mitigate and manage acid sulphate soils in Indian Sundarban., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ecosystem and biodiversity of India's coastal areas dominated with mangrove forest have been threatened by growing anthropogenic activities. The present work aims to investigate the contamination of wetland sediments with trace elements and assess the sediment quality at different sampling locations in eastern and western costal region dominated with mangrove forest. The longitudinal profile of trace elements in sediments from different sampling locations analyzed by employing Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometer shows variations in distribution of elements like Al, Si, K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb. The enrichment factor (EF) and Geo-accumulation index (I geo ) values suggested depletion of clay minerals and enrichment of heavy metals like Cr, Cu Fe and Mn. Depending on the variations in Igeo values, the elements are put into I geo Class 0 to 3 levels of contamination. Contamination factor (Cf) and pollution load index (PLI) suggested deterioration of sediments analyzed in the present study. Assessment of ecological risk potential of elements suggests that few elements (Cr and Cu) are moderately contaminated and may cause environmental stress on the exposed flora and fauna., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Cognitive enhancement is the use of prescription stimulant medicines by healthy individuals for nonmedical use in academic settings. Commonly used cognitive enhancers (CEs) include methylphenidate, amphetamines, and modafinil. To understand the motivation to use CEs, it is important to look beyond prevalence and explore the extent to which attitudes, beliefs, and intentions predict the decision to use CEs., Objective: The study aimed to investigate what factors explain the decision to use CEs among tertiary students in New Zealand, using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB)., Methods: Students from the Schools of Pharmacy, Nursing, Medicine, Law, and Accounting at a university in New Zealand were invited to complete a paper-based questionnaire. The questionnaire elicited students' attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control toward illicit use of CEs using TPB. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted., Results: Response rate was 88.6% (442/499). Students who perceived CE use to be socially and ethically acceptable were more likely to use CEs (odds ratio, OR: 1.56, 95% confidence interval, 95% CI: 1.153-2.105, p = 0.004). Students who were concerned about the health impact of CE use were less likely to use CEs (OR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.492-0.826, p = 0.001). Students who believed that CE use was approved were more likely to use them (OR: 1.648, CI: 1.193-2.278, p = 0.002)., Conclusion: This research supports the notion that the decision to use CEs is not just an autonomous choice that occurs in isolation. Attitudes on the ethical and social acceptability of CE use were more likely to drive the decision to use CEs. The study provides the impetus for an integrative discussion by health care professionals and academics on the impact of attitudes, social norms, and advocates on the decision to use CEs.

This work describes the micro-spatial variation of elemental distribution in estuarine sediment and bioaccumulation of those elements in different mangrove species of the Indian Sundarbans. The potential ecological risk due to such elemental load on this mangrove-dominated habitat is also discussed. The concentrations of elements in mangrove leaves and sediments were determined using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Sediment quality and potential ecological risks were assessed from the calculated indices. Our data reflects higher concentration of elements, e.g., Al, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb, in the sediment, as compared to that reported by earlier workers. Biological concentration factors for K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn in different mangroves indicated gradual elemental bioaccumulation in leaf tissues (0.002-1.442). Significant variation was observed for elements, e.g., Ni, Mn, and Ca, in the sediments of all the sites, whereas in the plants, significant variation was found for P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn. This was mostly due to the differences in uptake and accumulation potential of the plants. Various sediment quality indices suggested the surface sediments to be moderately contaminated and suffering from progressive deterioration. Cu, Cr, Zn, Mn, and Ni showed higher enrichment factors (0.658-1.469), contamination factors (1.02-2.7), and geo-accumulation index (0.043-0.846) values. The potential ecological risk index values considering Cu, Cr, Pb, and Zn were found to be within "low ecological risk" category (20.04-24.01). However, Cr and Ni in the Sundarban mangroves exceeded the effect range low and probable effect level limits. Strong correlation of Zn with Fe and K was observed, reflecting their similar transportation and accumulation process in both sediment and plant systems. The plant-sediment elemental correlation was found to be highly non-linear, suggesting role of some physiological and edaphic factors in the accumulation process. Overall, the study of micro-spatial distribution of elements can act as a useful tool for determining health of estuarine ecosystem.

Hooghly Estuary along with the Sunderban mangroves forms one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. We investigated the vertical and horizontal distribution of elements at nine sampling locations in this estuary for assessing the degree of elemental contamination. The elemental concentrations were analyzed by an Energy Dispersive X-ray Flurosence spectrometer (EDXRF). A higher enrichment factor (EF) value of trace elements (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn) is evident considering all the sampling locations. Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) values of all the sampling locations and core depth reveals Cr and Cu are under Igeo Class I level of contamination. The value of the pollution load index (PLI) varies between 0.94-1.65 with maximum at Chemaguri and minimum at Haldi Estuary and Petuaghat. The overall variation in elemental concentration may be due to differential discharge pattern of storm water and agricultural run-off, industrial effluent and domestic sewage., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction and Aims: Cognitive enhancers (CE) such as methylphenidate, amphetamines and modafinil are becoming more commonly used in non-medical situations. This study explored the prevalence and motivations for CE use in a New Zealand university., Design and Methods: Students from the Schools of Pharmacy, Nursing, Medicine, Law and Accounting at a university in New Zealand were invited to complete a paper-based questionnaire that elicited their views on the prevalence, reasons for use and attitudes towards use of CEs. Questionnaires were distributed at the end of a third-year lecture (August-October 2012). Reasons for use and attitudes towards use was measured using a 7-point Likert scale from strongly agree (1) to strongly disagree (7). Descriptive and prevalence statistics were calculated. Inferential statistics were generated to explore the overall associations between CE use and how the respondents had first learnt about CEs, and to investigate reasons for CE use., Results: The response fraction was 88.6 % (442/499) and the prevalence of CE use was 6.6% (95% confidence interval 4.5-9.0). Commonly cited reasons for use were to get high [M = 4.43, standard deviation (SD) 2.36], experimentation (M = 4.17, SD 2.36), increase alertness (M = 3.55, SD 2.48), to help concentrate (M = 3.48, SD 2.42), to help stay awake (M = 3.20, SD 2.33), to help study (M = 3.10, SD 2.47) and to concentrate better while studying (M = 3.00, SD 2.43)., Discussion and Conclusions: Use of CEs was uncommon in contrast to the prevalence reported in the USA. The reasons for use also varied depending on which CE was used. Students who use CEs have differing attitudes towards their acceptability, which warrants further research about how these attitudes influence their use and attitudes towards academic performance. [Ram S(S), Hussainy S, Henning M, Jensen M, Russell B. Prevalence of cognitive enhancer use among New Zealand tertiary students. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;35:245-351]., (© 2015 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.)

Background: Environmental pollution has become a global health risk. Exposure to pollutants at the work place, i.e. occupational exposure, is one of the areas that need immediate attention. The civic drainage workers are exposed to pollutants present in the wastewater they handle and most of them are toxic heavy metals. Exposure to such pollutants may be a health hazard, since it can lead to the imbalance in nutrient elements status., Design and Methods: In the present study, profiling of trace elements in the blood of drainage worker population from an Indian megacity, Kolkata, was carried out by energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) and compared with the control group population of the same area., Results: The elements detected by EDXRF spectrometry include P, S, Cl, K, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Br, and Rb. By using ANOVA with 5% significance level, we observed significant alterations in the trace elements status, iron over loading, selenium deficiency, and in Cu-Zn ratio. Gender specific variations within the same population were also observed., Conclusions: The results indicate that the drainage workers have altered elemental profile in comparison to that of control population. Significance for public healthEnvironmental pollution is a global health risk and awareness among sewage workers is growing very slowly in many developing countries. Due to this fact, workers are often exposed to different pollutants which are responsible for several health complications. Imbalances in the presence of trace elements in blood are a symptom of different health status and could also indicate new health perspectives for the future. In the present scenario, this paper is essential since this kind of analysis has not been done yet, especially regarding the health status of sewage workers. We hope this initial study will be a starting point for future investigations.

Growth chamber experiments were conducted to investigate the comparative effect of 24-epibrassinolide (EBL) and 28-homobrassinolide (HBL) at 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 μM concentrations by foliar application on radish plants growing under Zn(2+) stress. In radish plants exposed to excess Zn(2+), growth was substantially reduced in terms of shoot and root length, fresh and dry weight. However, foliar application of brassinosteroids (BRs) was able to alleviate Zn(2+)-induced stress and significantly improve the above growth traits. Zinc stress decreased chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids levels in radish plants. However, follow-up treatment with BRs increased the photosynthetic pigments in stressed and stress-free plants. The treatment of BRs led to reduced levels of H2O2, lipid peroxidation and, electrolyte leakage (ELP) and improved the leaf relative water content (RWC) in stressed plants. Increased levels of carbonyls indicating enhanced protein oxidation under Zn(2+) stress was effectively countered by supplementation of BRs. Under Zn(2+) stress, the activities of catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and superoxidase dismutase (SOD) were increased but peroxidase (POD) and glutathione reductase (GR) decreased. Foliar spraying of BRs enhanced all these enzymatic activities in radish plants under Zn(2+) stress. The BRs application greatly enhanced contents of ascorbate (ASA), glutathione (GSH), and proline under Zn(2+) stress. The decrease in the activity of nitrate reductase (NR) caused by Zn(2+) stress was restored to the level of control by application of BRs. These results point out that BRs application elevated levels of antioxidative enzymes as well as antioxidants could have conferred resistance to radish plants against Zn(2+) stress resulting in improved plant growth, relative water content and photosynthetic attributes. Of the two BRs, EBL was most effective in amelioration of Zn(2+) stress.

In the present study the response of antioxidant enzyme activities and the level of expression of their corresponding genes on bioaccumulation of iron (Fe) were investigated. In vitro germinated Withania somnifera L. were grown in Murashige and Skoog's liquid medium with increasing concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 µM) of FeSO4 for 7 and 14 days. Root and leaf tissues analyzed for catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX, EC 1.11.1.7), have shown an increase in content with respect to exposure time. Isoforms of CAT, SOD and GPX were separated using non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and observed that the isoenzymes were greatly affected by higher concentrations of Fe. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis performed by taking three pairs of genes of CAT (RsCat, Catalase1, Cat1) and SOD (SodCp, TaSOD1.2, MnSOD) to find out the differential expression of antioxidant genes under Fe excess. RsCat from CAT and MnSOD from SOD have exhibited high levels of gene expression under Fe stress, which was consistent with the changes of the activity assayed in solution after 7 days of treatment. Analysis by proton induced X-ray emission exhibited an increasing uptake of Fe in plants by suppressing and expressing of other nutrient elements. The results of the present study suggest that higher concentration of Fe causes disturbance in nutrient balance and induces oxidative stress in plant.

Withania somnifera L. seedlings were grown in half-strength MS (Murashige and Skoog) basal medium for 4 weeks and then transferred to full-strength MS liquid medium for 3 weeks. The sustainable plants were subcultured in the same medium but with different concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 μM) of Cu for 7 and 14 days. The growth parameters (root length, shoot length, leaf length and total number of leaves per plant) showed a declining trend in the treated plants in a concentration dependant manner. Roots and leaves were analyzed for protein profiling and antioxidant enzymes [catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX, EC 1.11.1.7)]. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of crude protein extracts showed the appearance of some new proteins due to Cu treatment. In plant samples grown with 25 and 50 μM of Cu, a rapid increase in antioxidant activities were noticed but at higher concentration (100 and 200 μM) the activities declined. Isoforms of CAT, SOD and GPX were separated using non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and concentration specific new isoforms were noticed during the study. Isoforms of the antioxidant enzymes synthesized due to Cu stress may be used as biomarkers for other species grown under metal stress.

The present study was focused on the effect of increasing urbanization including industrial and traffic activity on the accumulation of heavy metals and possible damage of selected physiological parameters (composition of assimilation pigments, membrane lipid peroxidation, and membrane integrity) of an epiphytic foliose lichen, Flavoparmelia caperata (L.) Hale. The lichen samples were collected from three different localities in and around Kolkata, India, two sites being from the urban area and one from the relatively non-polluted sub-urban area. The results showed that thalli from the urban sites have significantly higher concentrations of Fe, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Pb compared to those collected from the sub-urban site. Physiological parameters of damage also exhibited stress symptoms in thalli from the urban sites--decreased chlorophyll a indicating less photosynthetic efficiency, and increase in lipid peroxidation and electrolyte conductivity indicating cell membrane injuries. Correlation studies among metals pinpointed vehicular traffic as the main source of pollution in this area.

Plant canopies act as absorbers of air-borne dust particles. Characterization of the dusts present over the leaf surfaces can indicate the nature of contaminant present in the surrounding area and possible sources as well. Dust particulates get adsorbed on both the surfaces of leaves, however more dust particulates get deposited on the upper surface. These dusts contain many inorganic elements, which were analyzed in the present study. For the present investigation, SEMEDS technique used to characterize the dusts adsorbed over the leaf surfaces. Using SEMEDS the samples were analyzed by two types of methods i.e. point analysis and elemental mapping. Both the methods showed the presence of elements like Si, Al, Fe, Mg, and Ca in the dusts adsorbed over the leaf surfaces. Thus, SEMEDS can be used for in situ air pollution monitoring using tree leaves from the area concerned., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In order to ascertain possible correlation between alterations in trace elemental profile and the progression or regression of two most common potentially malignant disorders affecting oral cavity, namely oral submucous fibrosis and leukoplakia, blood from 60 patients from each group of patients as well from 30 healthy individuals was analyzed for elemental profiling employing EDXRF technique. Out of the 16 detected elements (K, Si, Ca, V, Cr, Ni, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Co, and Pb), Mn, Fe, Zn, Br, and Co showed remarkable alteration in their profile in both leukoplakia and oral submucous fibrosis patients with respect to the normal healthy individuals. While Zn, Br, and Fe reflected similar changes--showing gross depletion in both the diseased groups, Mn and Co depicted inverse pattern of alterations in their concentrations in the two types of precancerous disorders when compared to the control subjects.

Background and Objectives: Predonation screening questions about sexual risk factors should provide an extra layer of safety from recently acquired infections that may be too early to be detected by testing. Donors are required to read a definition of sex as it applies to predonation screening questions each time they come to donate, but how well donors apply such definitions has not been evaluated. We aimed to determine how donors define sex when answering screening questions., Materials and Methods: In total, 1297 whole blood donors were asked in a private interview to select from a list of sexual activities which ones they believed were being asked about in sexual background questions. Donors' definitions were coded as under-inclusive, correct or over-inclusive in relation to the blood services' definition. Qualitative interviews were carried out with 21 donors to understand reasoning behind definitions., Results: Most donors had an over-inclusive definition (58.7%) or the correct definition (31.9%). Of the 9.4% of donors who had an under-inclusive definition, 95% included both vaginal and anal sex, but not oral sex. About 9% in each group were first-time donors (P > 0.05) who had never read the definition. The qualitative interviews indicated that donors reason their definition based on their own concept of transmissible disease risk., Conclusion: Donors apply a range of definitions of sex when answering questions about their sexual background. This may be due to different concepts of risk activities, and required reading of the definition has little impact.

Background: The Canadian donor health assessment questionnaire (DHAQ) has developed gradually over many years. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the format and method of administration of the DHAQ influences donor attentiveness., Study Design and Methods: Between May 2004 and September 2005, a total of 1,397 donors participated in the study by completing the DHAQ by one of three methods: the current Canadian Blood Services (CBS) format and method of administration, which is partly self-administered and partly interviewer-administered (Method 1); the DHAQ reformatted to the AABB Uniform Donor Health Questionnaire format and self-administered (Method 2); and an audiovisual computer-assisted self-interview (CASI; Method 3). This was followed by a short, scripted interview assessing recall of 17 specific items queried on the DHAQ. Time to completion of the DHAQ and degree of familiarity with computer use were also assessed., Results: The percentages of donors identifying all 17 items correctly were 9.4, 20.9, and 34.8 percent and the mean percentages recall of items were 53.9, 56.0, and 69.8 percent with DHAQ administration Methods 1, 2, and 3, respectively (p < 0.0001). This difference was largely attributable to the poor recall of items queried as part of a list in Method 1. Mean times to complete the DHAQ were 3.1, 3.8, and 8.1 minutes for Methods 1, 2, and 3, respectively. More than 95 percent of donors had used a personal computer in the past year., Conclusion: The current format of the Canadian DHAQ is not optimal for donor attention to specific questions asked as part of a list. Attention was improved by use of AABB uniform donor history questionnaire format and was best with use of a CASI format.

Background: The donor health assessment questionnaire (DHAQ) plays an important role in ensuring blood safety. The Canadian DHAQ has been developed over many years on an ad hoc basis and has never been evaluated in light of cognitive science principles. In addition, donor attitudes about its mode of administration have not been assessed., Study Design and Methods: Between May and August 2005, a total of 456 donors participated in the study by completing the DHAQ, followed by a short, scripted interview assessing recall (as an indicator of attention to the questions) of 17 specific items queried on the DHAQ and attitudes toward interviewer or self-administration of the DHAQ., Results: Overall, 7.5 percent of donors were able to correctly identify all 17 items. Recall was best for questions asked as individual items (87%-99%) and decreased substantially for items that are part of a list (55%-91%). Position effects were demonstrated, with items at the end of a list being the most frequently forgotten. Twenty percent of repeat donors favored the current practice of interviewer administration of high-risk questions, whereas 80 percent were neutral or favored self-administration., Conclusion: The current format of the Canadian DHAQ is not optimal for donor attention to specific questions asked as part of a list. The majority of repeat donors are ready for a change in the method of administration of the DHAQ. Studies on donor recall may help guide evidence-based changes to the DHAQ.

Brassinosteroids are now considered as the sixth group of hormones in plants. As brassinosteroids influence varied growth and development processes such as growth, germination of seeds, rhizogenesis, flowering, senescence and abscission, they are considered as plant hormones with pleiotropic effects. The effect of 28-homobrassinolide and 24-epibrassinolide on ripening of tomato pericarp discs was studied. Application of brassinosteroids to pericarp discs resulted in elevated levels of lycopene and lowered chlorophyll levels. In addition brassinosteroid-treated pericarp discs exhibited decreased ascorbic acid and increased carbohydrate contents. Fruit ripening as induced by brassinosteroids was associated with increase in ethylene production. The study revealed the ability of brassinosteroids in accelerating fruit-senescence.