Factors Contributing to Violence Against Children: Insights From a Multi-informant Study Among Family-Triads From Three East-African Refugee Camps.

Parental violence poses a considerable, yet mitigable risk for the mental health and well-being of refugee children living in resource-poor refugee camps. However, little is known about potential risk factors for parental violence in these settings. Using an ecological systems perspective and a multi-informant approach, we investigated ontogenic (parental childhood experiences of violence), microsystem (parents' and children's psychopathology) and exosystem (families' monthly household income) risk factors for child-directed parental violence in a sample of 226 Burundian families living in refugee camps in Tanzania. Data were collected through individual structured clinical interviews with mothers, fathers, and children. In the child-report path model [χ2 (6) = 7.752, p = .257, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.99, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.036 (p = .562)], children's posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, externalizing symptoms and paternal PTSD symptoms were positively associated with violence by both parents. Maternal psychosocial impairment was positively associated with child-reported paternal violence. In the parent-report path model [χ2 (6) = 7.789, p = .254, CFI = 0.97, RMSEA = 0.036 (p = .535)], children's externalizing problems as well as a lower monthly household income were positively related to maternal violence. Each parent's childhood victimization was positively linked to their use of violence against children. Maternal psychosocial impairment and paternal alcohol abuse were positively associated with paternal violence. Child and paternal psychopathology, maternal psychosocial impairment, parents' childhood victimization, and families' socioeconomic status may be important targets for prevention and intervention approaches aiming to reduce parental violence against refugee children living in camps.

Synergistic antimicrobial activities of epigallocatechin gallate, myricetin, daidzein, gallic acid, epicatechin, 3-hydroxy-6-methoxyflavone and genistein combined with antibiotics against ESKAPE pathogens.

AIM: To verify synergistic effects, we investigated the antimicrobial activity of seven phenolic phytochemicals (gallic acid; epicatechin; epigallocatechin gallate; daidzein; genistein; myricetin; 3-hydroxy-6-methoxyflavone) in combination with six antibiotics against multidrug-resistant isolates from the ESKAPE group. METHODS AND RESULTS: To investigate single phytochemicals and combinations, initial microdilution and checkerboard assays were used, followed by time-kill assays to evaluate the obtained results. The research revealed that phenolic compounds on their own resulted in little or no inhibitory effects. During preliminary tests, most of the combinations resulted in indifference (134 [71.3%]). In all, 30 combinations led to antagonism (15.9%); however, 24 showed synergistic effects (12.8%). The main tests resulted in nine synergistic combinations for the treatment of four different bacteria strains, including two substances (3-hydroxy-6-methoxyflavone, genistein) never tested before in such setup. Time-kill curves for combinations with possible synergistic effects confirmed the results against Acinetobacter baumannii as the one with the greatest need for research. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the potential use of antibiotic-phytocompound combinations for combating infections with multi-resistant pathogens. Synergistic combinations could downregulate the resistance mechanisms of bacteria. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study is to demonstrate the potential use of phenolic natural compounds in combination with conventional antibiotics against multidrug-resistant bacteria of the ESKAPE group. Due to synergistic effects of natural phenolic compounds combined with antibiotics, pathogens that are already resistant to antibiotics could be resensitized as we were able to reduce their MICs back to sensitive. In addition, combination therapies could prevent the development of resistance by reducing the dose of antibiotics. This approach opens up the basis for future development of antimicrobial therapy strategies, which are so urgently needed in the age of multidrug-resistant pathogens.

Universal behavior of coupled order parameters below three dimensions.

We explore universal critical behavior in models with two competing order parameters, and an O(N) âŠ•O(M) symmetry for dimensions d≤3. In d=3, there is always exactly one stable renormalization group fixed point, corresponding to bicritical or tetracritical behavior. Employing pseudospectral techniques to solve functional renormalization group equations in a two-dimensional field space, we uncover a more intricate structure of fixed points in d<3, where two additional bicritical fixed points play a role. Towards d=2, we discover ranges of N=M with several simultaneously stable fixed points, indicating the coexistence of several universality classes.

Measuring the spatial polarization distribution of multimode beams emerging from passive step-index large-mode-area fibers.

We measure the polarization state of each guided transversal mode propagating in step-index large-mode-area fibers (V≈4) using a correlation-filter based measurement technique in combination with a Stokes parameter measurement. The entire emerging beam, expressed in terms of a phase-dependent superposition of linearly polarized modes, demonstrates spatially varying polarization properties. By knowing the information about modal amplitudes and phase differences, full information about the optical field is available.