Improving assessment of alcohol treatment barriers among Latino and White adults with an alcohol use disorder: Development of the barriers to specialty alcohol treatment scale.

INTRODUCTION: The present study's aims were two-fold. First, we sought to validate a novel measure to assess barriers to specialty alcohol treatment among White and Latino individuals with an alcohol use disorder (AUD): The Barriers to Specialty Alcohol Treatment (BSAT) scale. Second, we sought to demonstrate that the BSAT scale could be used to explain Latino-White disparities in barriers to alcohol treatment. METHODS: In 2021, we recruited an online national sample of 1200 White and Latino adults with a recent AUD. Participants completed an online questionnaire that included the BSAT items. Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses were conducted to validate the BSAT. Multiple group analyses across race/ethnicity and language were also performed using the final model. RESULTS: The final model consisted of 36 items across 7 factors that reflect barriers related to low problem recognition, recovery goals, low perceived treatment efficacy, cultural factors, immigration-related concerns, low perceived social support, and logistical barriers. The final model's factor structure and factor loadings held up across race/ethnicity and language. The top endorsed barriers were low problem recognition, recovery goals, low perceived social support, logistical issues, and low perceived treatment efficacy. Compared to Whites, Latinos were more likely to report perceived lack of social support, logistical barriers, low perceived treatment efficacy, cultural barriers, and immigration-related concerns as barriers. CONCLUSION: Findings provide empirical support for the validity of the BSAT scale, which offers improved measurement of specialty alcohol treatment barriers and can be used to explore Latino-White disparities in a future study.

Low-protein medium affects the 293SF central metabolism during growth and infection with adenovirus.

In this study the metabolism of 293SF cells grown in serum-free and low-protein medium was analyzed. This cell line is known for its ability to replicate recombinant adenovirus, mainly used in gene therapy applications. A complete model composed of the main glycolytic, glutaminolytic, and amino acids pathways, as well as the internalization fluxes of certain compounds into the mitochondria, is used for metabolic flux calculations. The pentose-phosphate cycle is also added to the biochemical reactions set and was independently measured with labeled 14C-glucose. Different feeding strategies in two different media were analyzed with the model, and the theoretical ATP production was also calculated. The two media were similar in their glucose and amino acid composition, but one contained BSA at 1g/L whereas the other had a very low protein content. Use of low-protein medium resulted in up to fourfold higher adenoviral vector production. In this medium, glucose utilization was more efficient, as it entered the TCA cycle more efficiently. Also, lower glutamine and amino acids consumption were observed as well as lower lactate and ammonia production. This increased TCA activity led to a twofold higher ATP production in the low-protein medium.

Surfactants and the environment.

Synopsis As a result of their use in detergents and personal products and their subsequent disposal, anionic surfactants may achieve a wide distribution in the environment. It is therefore important to assess the hazard that this use might present to the environment. In order to do this it is necessary to estimate the highest concentrations which are likely to occur at key points in the environment. These estimates may be based on a knowledge of the quantities used and the per capita consumption of water, and take account of the physico-chemical properties, biodegradation and treatability of the surfactant. The margin of safety between these estimates and the lowest concentrations causing adverse effects on sewage treatment operations, aquatic organisms and crops may then be determined. Laboratory studies on linear alkyl benzene sulphonates, primary alkyl sulphates, linear alkyl ether sulphates and secondary alkane sulphonates suggest that their current levels in detergents and personal products present no hazard to the environment. This conclusion is confirmed by the results of environmental monitoring.

The use of phosphate in detergents and possible replacements for phosphate.

About 5% of the total phosphate mined worldwide is used in detergents. The chemical form in which phosphate is used in detergents is predominantly pentasodium triphosphate (PSTP). The most significant feature for the use of PSTP in detergents is its ability to form soluble and strong complexes with calcium and magnesium ions. This provides a strong synergism with regard to detergency when PSTP is used in combination with synthetic surfactants. Other important features of PSTP are its ability to disperse dirt in the washing solution, its weak alkalinity, its crystalline form when dry (which enables production of crisp powders) and, last but not least, its toxicological acceptability. The development of PSTP for use in detergents has a history of over 25 years. In certain areas of highly developed countries where effluents from major centres of population can reach stagnant surface waters a rapid increase of eutrophication of these surface waters is observed. Phosphates are being recognized as one of the essential nutrients contributing to the eutrophication and detergents are one of the many sources of phosphate discharged to the environment. This is now causing demands for reduction in or even banning of the use of phosphates in detergents. Major reserach projects and some practical approaches to meeting these demands are described. The potential environmental impact of removing phosphate from detergents remains, however, doubtful, as it has been demonstrated in Sweden that phosphate removal by sewage treatment is the most effective measure to control phosphate discharges. This makes the case of phosphates in detergents an example of how science and technology can become entangled with politics.