BACKGROUND: Alcohol use in South Africa (SA) is increasing. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that SA is the third-largest drinking population in Africa, with the highest rate of fetal alcohol syndrome in the world. Internationally, parental drinking during childhood is a risk factor for poor child mental health, behavioural problems and weaker educational outcomes in middle childhood. However, parental alcohol use in Africa is under-researched, and much of the literature on maternal alcohol consumption is restricted to clinical and pregnancy samplesOBJECTIVES: To investigate alcohol use and hazardous drinking (HD) among mothers/primary caregivers of children aged 7 - 11 years in a rural SA cohort. We explored risk factors for drinking and the association between HD and child behaviour/cognitionMETHODS: The primary outcome measure was the WHO Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) using the standardised cut-off for HD (>8). Secondary measures were the Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Scale (PHQ-9), Patient Health Questionnaire General Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), Parenting Stress Index, short form (PSI-36), Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL, parent reported), Kaufman Developmental Assessment Battery (KABC-II) for child cognition, and Neuropsychological Assessment Battery, 2nd edition, subtests (NEPSY-II) for executive function. We compared characteristics of those drinking/not drinking, using χ² tests, and modelled outcomes on parenting stress, cognitive outcomes and CBCL scores for children using logistic regression analysis. We grouped mothers/ caregivers engaged in HD to examine its effect on parent/child outcomes using t-tests to test for significant differencesRESULTS: Of 1 505 women (1 266 mothers and 239 caregivers) with 1 536 children, 12% reported consuming alcohol and 3% reported HD. Higher maternal/caregiver age (31 - 40 years, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.57 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.4 - 0.9); >41 years, aOR 0.30 (95% CI 0.2 - 0.5)), education (matriculation, aOR 0.49 (95% CI 0.3 - 0.9); post matriculation, aOR 0.30 (95% CI 0.1 - 0.6)), and a stable relationship with the father (aOR 0.6 (95% CI 0.4 - 1.0)) were associated with no alcohol use. Food insecurity increased the odds of alcohol use (aOR 1.52 (95% CI 1.1 - 2.1)), while parental mental health (parenting stress, anxiety) and child mental health problems were associated with approximately double the odds of consuming alcohol in univariate analysis. Children of HD mothers/caregivers had higher mean scores for psychological problems (CBCL total score: no HD (mean 45.0) v. HD (mean 48.9); p=0.029) and lower cognitive scores (KABC Learning Scale: no HD (mean 14.3) v. HD (mean 12.8); p=0.017CONCLUSIONS: While HD rates were low, maternal/caregiver alcohol use negatively impacted on parenting and children's behavioural/ cognitive outcomes. International evidence suggests that integrated approaches engaging parents and families may be more effective for parent-child outcomes than individual psychiatric or medical care for the parent on their own

Coronary artery disease is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the world and associates with important emotional and social consequences. Physical activity seems to slow down the start and the progression of the cardiovascular illnesses but also presents benfits on psychosocial health. The present study is amied to analyze the relationship between the practice of physical activity and quality of life, psychological wellbeing and depression in patients with coronary illness. The sample was composed by 275 subjects, aged between 54 to 98 years. They were applied a Sociodemograpahic Questionnaire, the Questionnaire of Health SF-36, the Scale of Geriatric Depression (GDS), the Scale of Psychological Wellbeing (EBP) and the Yale Physical Activity Scale (YPAS). Results obtained indicated that the practice of physical activity associated in patients with coronary illness to an improvement in the distinct scales of the Questionnaire of Health SF-36 and in the Scale of Geriatric Depression, confirming his importance for the maintenance of health-related quality of life in these patients.

A doença coronaria é uma das principais causas de morbilidad e mortalidade no mundo e associa-se com importantes consequências emocionais e sociais. A actividade física parece reduzir o início e a progressão das doenças cardiovasculares mas também apresenta benefícios sobre a saúde psicosocial. O presente estudo tem como objectivo a análise da relação entre a prática de actividade física e a qualidade de vida, o bem-estar psicológico e a depressão numa mostra de pacientes com doença coronaria. A mostra estava composta por 275 pessoas, com idades entre 54 a 98 anos. Aplicou-se um Cuestionario Sociodemográfico, o Cuestionario de Saúde SF-36, a Escala de Depressão Geriátrica (GDS), a Escala de Bem-estar Psicológico (EBP) e o Cuestionario de Actividade Física de Yale (YPAS). Os resultados obtidos puseram de manifesto que a prática de actividade física se associava em pacientes com doença coronaria a uma melhora nas diferentes escalas do Cuestionario de Saúde SF-36 e na Escala de Depressão Geriátrica, confirmando sua importância para a manutenção da qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde nestes pacientes.

La enfermedad coronaria es una de las principales causas de morbilidad y mortalidad en el mundo y se asocia con importantes consecuencias emocionales y sociales. La actividad física parece ralentizar el inicio y la progresión de las enfermedades cardiovasculares pero también presenta beneficios sobre la salud psicosocial. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo el análisis de la relación entre la práctica de actividad física y la calidad de vida, el bienestar psicológico y la depresión en pacientes con enfermedad coronaria. La muestra estaba compuesta por 275 personas, con edades entre 54 a 98 años. Se aplicó un Cuestionario Sociodemográfico, el Cuestionario de Salud SF-36, la Escala de Depresión Geriátrica (GDS), la Escala de Bienestar Psicológico (EBP) y el Cuestionario de Actividad Física de Yale (YPAS). Los resultados obtenidos pusieron de manifiesto que la práctica de actividad física se asociaba en pacientes con enfermedad coronaria a una mejora en las distintas escalas del Cuestionario de Salud SF-36 y en la Escala de Depresión Geriátrica, confirmando su importancia para el mantenimiento de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en estos pacientes.

Secondary organic aerosols (SOA) constitute a significant fraction of the atmospheric particulate matter. Theses particles are formed as a consequence of the oxidation reaction of certain organic gases that leads to the formation of low-volatility compounds. As for other pollutants, air quality models allow the simulation of particle levels and thus models constitute a powerful tool in air quality management. Nevertheless, the accepted use of models must be based on the validation of its capacity to reproduce observed concentrations. Air monitoring sites provide measured information of a large variety of ambient pollutants. Unfortunately, measurements on SOA are not normally available, as current monitoring networks do not include instrumentation to distinguish primary from secondary sources of organic carbonaceous aerosol. This paper presents a set of photooxidation experiments performed in the European Photorreactor (EUPHORE) smog chamber (CEAM, Spain) under different experimental conditions to investigate SOA formation. The use of chambers allows the isolation of atmospheric chemistry and aerosol formation processes. Thus, although these measurements were obtained at initial precursor concentrations higher than those in atmospheric conditions, they constitute a valuable set of information for SOA model evaluation purposes.

Los aerosoles orgánicos secundarios (AOS) constituyen una fracción de las partículas atmosféricas. Este tipo de partículas se forman como consecuencia de la reacción de oxidación de ciertos gases orgánicos, lo que conduce a la formación de compuestos de baja volatilidad. Del mismo modo que para otros contaminantes atmosféricos, los modelos de calidad del aire permiten la simulación de partículas, una herramienta muy útil en tareas de gestión de la calidad del aire. Sin embargo, el uso adecuado de estos modelos debe basarse en la validación de su capacidad para reproducir las concentraciones observadas. Las estaciones de monito-reo de la calidad del aire registran información sobre una amplia variedad de contaminantes atmosféricos. Desafortunadamente, no se dispone habitualmente de medidas de AOS, ya que la instrumentación que se tiene en dichas redes de monitoreo no permite la diferenciación de las fuentes primarias y secundarias de los aerosoles orgánicos. Este documento presenta una serie de experimentos de fotooxidación realizados en las cámaras de simulación del Fotorreactor Europeo (CEAM, España) en diferentes condiciones experimentales con objeto de obtener datos sobre la formación de AOS. El uso de este tipo de cámaras permite aislar los procesos químicos y de formación de aerosoles, por lo que los datos presentados en este estudio tienen un considerable valor para propósitos de evaluación de modelos de formación de AOS, al igual que para el estudio del comportamiento de este tipo de partículas.

A determinação da distribuição espacial de propriedades do solo é importante para entender as limitações para a nutrição de plantas e estabelecer o manejo apropriado do recurso solo em áreas recentemente incorporadas ao uso agrícola, principalmente onde os levantamentos de solos disponíveis são do tipo exploratório. Como modelo de estudo, este trabalho enfoca a variabilidade espacial do teor de argila (At) e do teor de potássio trocável (Kt) por meio de semivariogramas em amostras de solos coletadas em julho de 1994, no sul do estado de Mato Grosso. Métodos geoestatísticos foram usados para descrever a variabilidade espacial e para estimar estas propriedades ao longo de dois transectos cortando diferentes unidades de mapeamento de solos. A técnica de interpolação por Krigagem ordinária estimou apropriadamente os valores em áreas não amostradas, além de identificar os locais onde as amostragens de solos devem-se concentrar nos futuros trabalhos de levantamentos de solos. Os atributos estudados foram influenciados principalmente pelas diferentes classes de solo e apresentaram moderada dependência espacial e anisotropia no horizonte estudado. Levantamentos para avaliar a fertilidade dos solos e informações provenientes de mapas de solos podem ser analisados, por métodos geoestatísticos, pelas instituições de planejamento e assistência técnica, para complementar informações para o planejamento do uso da terra, como também para estimar indicadores da qualidade do solo com base nos princípios da sustentabilidade das terras. Parâmetros dos semivariogramas de At e Kt associados às classes de solos podem ser usados para reduzir o esforço de amostragem destes atributos na área estudada. O uso das informações dos levantamentos de solos permitiu reduzir o esforço de amostragem para a At, em até cerca de sete vezes.

The determination of the spatial distribution of soil properties is important to understand soil constraints to plant nutrition and appropriate management of soil resources in recently cultivated areas, particularly where only data from exploratory soil surveys are available . This study addresses spatial variability of clay content (At) and exchangeable potassium (Kt) in soil samples collected in July of 1994, located in Southern Mato Grosso, Brazil. Geostatistical methods were used to describe the spatial variability and predict these soil properties along two transects, crossing different soil mapping units and land use types. By ordinary kriging, values in unsampled areas were appropriately estimated and places where more intensive sampling is required were identified. Both soil properties studied were influenced mainly by different soil class and exhibited a moderate spatial dependence and anisotropy in the horizon studied. Surveys of soil fertility, plus data gathered from soil survey, can be analyzed by geostatistical methods by decision-makers, to support management planning and to predict indicators related to soil quality as a measure of sustainability. Parameters from semivariograms associated to soil classes can be used to reduce sampling efforts to estimate At and Kt distribution and patterns in the area studied. Soil survey information allowed to reduce the sampling effort for the At about seven times.