Is football coming out? Anti-gay attitudes, social desirability, and pluralistic ignorance in amateur and professional football

Past work consistently points to improved attitudes towards gay athletes and growing support for homosexuality, yet reports of a homophobic climate in amateur and professional football persist. Here, we explore two potential explanations for the prevalence of homophobia in football despite low levels of anti-gay attitudes: social desirability and pluralistic ignorance. We conduct an online survey among a football-affine and socio-demographically diverse sample in the UK. We find that anti-gay attitudes are rare. Importantly, estimates from a list experiment do not differ from the prevalence measured by direct questions, providing no evidence of social desirability. By contrast, second-order beliefs about anti-gay attitudes substantially and consistently exceed attitudes, pointing towards pluralistic ignorance as the most likely explanation. We conclude by emphasizing the need for transparent communication to reduce pluralistic ignorance and correct misperceptions among players, officials and supporters.

The impact of an unequal distribution of education on inequalities in life expectancy

Prior research has found socio-economic determinants such as education to affect health outcomes. Yet, education is not distributed equally among the population. This article attempts to quantify the impact of unequal distribution of education on inequalities in life expectancy. We calculate a Gini coefficient of longevity from the life tables provided by the Human Mortality Database and a Gini coefficient of education using data on educational attainment from Barro and Lee (2013). We estimate linear regression models to examine the relationship between inequality in education and inequality in life expectancy at the country level for up to 31 European countries between 1970 and 2010. Results provide empirical evidence for a statistically significant positive association between educational inequality and inequalities of longevity. Confounding factors reflecting individual health behaviour such as cigarette or alcohol consumption do not exert a separate statistically significant effect on inequality in life expectancy. Findings are robust to alternative calculation of key variables, dropping a potential outlier, and an alternative estimation approach. These findings suggest that not only education, but also equality in education is a crucial factor for health outcomes. Continuing efforts should be directed towards the reduction of educational inequality in order to reduce inequality in longevity within a country.

In silico design, synthesis, and screening of novel deoxyhypusine synthase inhibitors targeting HIV-1 replication

The human enzyme deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS) is an important host cell factor that participates in the post-translational hypusine modification of eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF-5A). Hypusine-modified eIF-5A plays a role in a number of diseases, including HIV infection/AIDS. Thus, DHS represents a novel and attractive drug target. So far, four crystal structures are available, and various substances have been tested for inhibition of human DHS. Among these inhibitors, N-1-guanyl-1,7-diaminoheptane (GC7) has been co-crystallized in the active site of DHS. However, despite its potency, GC7 is not selective enough to be used in drug applications. Therefore, new compounds that target DHS are needed. Herein we report the in silico design, chemical synthesis, and biological evaluation of new DHS inhibitors. One of these inhibitors showed dose-dependent inhibition of DHS in vitro, as well as suppression of HIV replication in cell cultures. Furthermore, the compound exhibited no cytotoxic effects at active concentrations. Thus, this designed compound demonstrated proof of principle and represents a promising starting point for the development of new drug candidates to specifically interfere with DHS activity.

Branched Grafting for Aortoiliac Aneurysms

PURPOSE

To evaluate a novel approach to preserve pelvic perfusion during endovascular AAA repair in patients with common iliac aneurysms extending to the iliac bifurcation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A multicenter prospective analysis of patients undergoing implantation of a branched endograft designed to perfuse the internal iliac artery was conducted. All patients enrolled were considered high risk for open surgical repair and presented with common iliac artery aneurysms greater than 20mm and anatomy amenable to implant the branched device. Preoperative high resolution spiral CT, and follow-up CT studies in addition to abdominal radiographs were obtained at discharge, 1, 6, 12, and 24 months.

RESULTS

Between 2003 and 2006, 52 patients (53 internal iliacs) were implanted with an investigational device. Mean common iliac aneurysm maximal diameter was 38 mm. The branch graft was combined with a proximal standard bifurcated component (61%), a fenestrated or a visceral branch component (33%), an aortouni-iliac component (2%), and alone in 2 patients (4%, following prior aortobi-iliac repair). Technical success was achieved in 94% of patients. Within the first month, 6 (11%) internal iliac branches occluded. No occlusions were noted after 1 month. The mean follow-up was 14.2 months. Common iliac aneurysm shrinkage was noted in 42% and 81% of patients at 6 and 12 months. There were no rupture, aneurysm related deaths or conversions, but there were 7 deaths during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The placement of endovascular prostheses that maintain antegrade perfusion of one or both internal iliac arteries is feasible, and early results provide evidence for optimism with regard to safety and efficacy.

Use of high temperature-resistant sorbents as simulants for testing

The amended Council Directive 82/711/EEC will include the test conditions for plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs at high temperature. The most stringent test condition (excluding susceptor materials) will be heating of the material for 2 h at 175 degrees C in a conventional oven. For fatty foodstuffs, olive oil (simulant D), synthetic triglycerides or sunflower oil shall be used for the test. If these simulants are found inappropriate, other simulants and conditions of time and temperature may be used. In order to perform a correct evaluation of such materials one must distinguish between volatile and non-volatile migrants, between additives and decomposition products, and between overall and specific migration. No universally applicable simulant has been found yet which is able to provide all the data needed for evaluation. The advantages and limitations of a high temperature-resistant simulant will be described.

Genetic polymorphism of the single locus probes pL159-1 and pL355-8

The genetic polymorphism of the single-locus probes pL159-1 (D18S17) and pL355-8 (D20S15) was investigated in 445 unrelated individuals using PstI as restriction enzyme. Fragment size calculations were obtained using the molecular weight size marker MW-SBH. The basic relationship between migration distance and molecular weight was transformed using an exponential function. Fragment size frequency data show 2 peaks for pL159-1 at 4.36kb (2.36%) and 4.67 kb (6.29%) and one peak for pL355-8 at 6.04 kb (5.73%). The rate of heterozygosity exceeded 70% for both probes.

[Conceptional basis and institutional structure of seniors' studies according to the "Dortmund-Model" (author's transl)]

Based on a concept of self-organization of older people and on the initiative of older Dortmund citizens a cooperative model of seniors' studies, the "Seniors" Academy is presented. The chances, but also the legal, organizational as well as the corporate difficulties of institutionalizing seniors' studies are identified.

[Effect of inorganic and yeast-borne tin on rats]

Tin incorporated in baker's yeast was applied to male Wistar rats over 21 days. The doses corresponded to 1/500 or 1/50 of LD50 of SnCl2 x 2H2O and 1/50 of LD50 of SnCl2 x 2H2O. The effects on activities of certain selected enzymes as well as on tin levels in liver and kidneys were tested. Some of the enzymes tested were found to reflect even exposures much below the point recordable from accumulation of the metal. Serum lactate-dehydrogenase is recommended as a sensitive indicator enzyme in the context of tin exposure.

[Effects of tin on rats. II. Comparison of the effects of tin (II) chloride and yeast-incorporated tin]

After application of SnCl2 and tin incorporated into baker's yeast, the effects on carbonic anhydrase (CA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (AP) and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) were measured. The tin contents of liver and kidneys were determined. CA and GPx are not affected. AP and LAP are inhibited by high concentrations of tin (as SnCl2). Tin incorporated into yeast exerts no effect. Inorganic tin produces increases in liver and kidneys.

[Effect of the trace element supply on element dependent enzymes in man]

Whole blood samples from 40 male and 40 female individuals were analyzed for zinc, copper, selenium and iron, and in part also for cadmium and lead. Correlations were established between the element contents and the activities of blood enzymes (carbo-anhydrase, leucine aminopeptidase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, glutathione peroxidase). The zinc-copper ratio exerted no effect on the zinc-dependent enzymes. There was a correlation between the glutathione peroxidase activity and the selenium content in whole blood (r greater than 0.73). A cluster analysis was performed. In women, the authors stated a significant effect of oral contraceptives especially on the zinc and copper balance. It was evidenced that detectable (more marked) changes in the mineral equilibrium are not produced in all cases by the contraceptives. Nevertheless, changes in the mineral equilibrium are likely to occur in 25% of all women. In the present study further changes (for example in enzymes) were observed in 50% of all women. The results obtained from the male individuals were indicative of certain relationships between the zinc-copper ratio and the content of total lipids or lipid fractions in human blood.

Automated donor-recipient identification systems as a means of reducing human error in blood transfusion

Clerical and administrative errors are the most common mistakes in blood banking, with errors of sample or patient identification accounting for the majority of mistakes. In an effort to reduce the incidence of human errors, three automated donor-recipient identification systems were developed and were evaluated under clinical conditions. After two years of development and bench testing, each set of equipment was tested, along with established procedures, at a large clinical center, a medium-sized community hospital and a regional donor center. Although none of the systems, as tested, proved acceptable under clinical conditions, a great deal was learned about prototype equipment testing in the clinical setting. Future development of identification systems for clinical use should respond to carefully defined problems, apply in all areas of the hospital or donor center, and be convenient and reliable. The development of the equipment should involve established manufacturers and be subject to exacting preclinical testing.